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Kickstarter

Lack of Kickstarter Spotlights

You may have noticed the lack of Kickstarter spotlights in the past couple weeks, the reason for that is a bit complicated but it comes down to a few factors.

Content

I have looked for a few hours here or there but haven’t found any KS campaigns that have really ‘WOWED’ me.  I am not saying they aren’t out there and I would be more than happy to get recommendations as to which ones to look at.  I don’t want to have a weekly piece on the site when I would, potentially, forced to pick the best worst game that is out there currently.  That is not something I want to do, and not something I will ever subject you to reading.

Time

I have had an insanely busy work load the past few weeks that has distracted me a bit from this page, sorry, I will definitely try to keep things updated better.  Our Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter pages are getting content every few days – sometimes I forget – sorry.  I want to be able to provide a seamless experience between all of the social platforms while still being able to create meaningful content.

…Doom

In recent weeks you may have felt a great disturbance in the force, like the sound of $122,874 being raised at the promise of a neat game where Cthulhu meets Monopoly only to have the publisher mismanage the funds to the point where the project has been scrapped.  Yes that’s right, The Doom That Came to Atlantic City’s kickstarter campaign has been abruptly cancelled after the publishing company The Forking Path essentially blew all of the money.

It is important to note that the actual game designers Keith Baker and Lee Moyer are not at fault, they simply created the game and do not have the resources to publish the game – essentially print the game, create the figures, and package everything for the shelf.  This was actually the pair’s second at bat with this game, it was first to be published by Z-Man Games, although it was cancelled due to some internal reorganization at Z-Man.  It is my opinion that Erik Chevalier the man running things at The Forking Path is directly responsible for the funds and the eventual cancellation of the project, only after the designers pursued legal council and forced TFP to come clean on the state of the project.  The game has also had its share of legal problems for looking and playing a little too much like Monopoly.  There is actually a really long thread about the entire history of this project that tends to paint Erik in a very negative light, probably rightfully so.  Check it out here.

That being said, I am a little leery to recommend games that are not a sure thing.  I will say that there will be more spotlights because I am passionate enough about gaming to not let this one Jaws moment scare me out of the water completely.  I only want to do my homework on the designer / publisher of a project before I jump into bed – or worse get someone else to – on a project because it has shiny minis.

Kickstarter Spotlight: THE AGENTS

This week’s kickstarter spotlight is a game currently looking to be funded for printing.  It is a card game called THE AGENTS.  In the game you take the role of several agents you assemble as a team, and the game uses a brand new card mechanic called double edged cards which makes you choose whether or not you score points or take advantage of a special character attribute.  Be ware though your opponent will reap the opposite choice of your decision. Meaning if you take the points they will get the skill and vice-versa.

This game gets our weekly spotlight because it seems simple enough to learn and step into, but still provide plenty of room for strategy and intense gaming sessions.  Our favorite kind of game!

theagents

From Kickstarter

A strategic 2-5 players card game of clever tactics & critical consequences, set in a world of spies, sabotage, secrecy and subterfuge.

Double Edged Cards

The Agents gameplay is based on a unique, new mechanic we like to call ‘Double-edged Cards’. Each Agent card features a ‘command’ on one end of the card and ‘points’ on the other end. However, the direction in which you place the card will determine from which asset you benefit. If you choose to perform the command, one of your opponents will get the points. If you keep the points for yourself, an opponent gets to perform the command.

doubleedged

Throughout the game, you’ll need both commands and points to advance. Commands will allow you to manipulate Agents, control your Factions, and influence other players. But you’ll need points to buy more Agents and Missions. And ultimately, the player with the most points wins.

Deciding how to place each card will require strategic precision and calculated foresight, as you try to further your own goals, and prevent your opponents from reaching theirs.

Want More Info? Check the Kickstarter

Kickstarter Spotlight: Shuriken Board Game

 

This weeks Kickstarter spotlight is a fast paced miniatures combat game called Shuriken.  It pits players against one another allowing them to wield an army of ninjas.  Throughout the game you will go head to head to see who can skillfully master the arts of ninjitsu.

This project looks like it could be a lot of fun, and is very early in it’s Kickstarter life cycle, I recommend you back it so that you can propel your clan to the heights of power and drive your enemies away from your game table. Or at least take a moment to toss a few shurikens into an empty pizza box.

From Kickstarter

“In Shuriken, players take control of 250 plastic ninja including unarmed, sword, shuriken, and master ninja. During the game the players place, move, and upgrade their ninja forces on the modular board as they attempt to learn new techniques and battle enemy ninja — often destroying the board in the process.

The winner is the player with the most victory points when the sun rises at the end of the night.”

shurikenbox

Here what you will find inside the Shuriken board game:

  • 250 plastic ninja miniatures (28mm): 50 each of 5 colors. Each color (one for each player) has 24 Unarmed Ninja, 12 Sword Ninja, 12 Shuriken Ninja, and 2 Master Ninja
  • 12 double-sided modular gameboard tiles
  • 20 Hour of Night cards
  • 80 Mission Cards
  • 5 Clan Cards
  • 10 custom 6-sided dice, black plastic with white icons
  • 42 tracking tokens (for tracking upgrades and noting damage to board tiles

shurikenninja swordninja

 

Check the Kickstarter

Kickstarter Spotlight: Boss Fight

BossFight

Outwit your friends. Kill the hero. Become the Final Boss. A fast-paced, strategic card game.

This weeks Kickstarter Spotlight goes to Boss Fight, a fast paced card game that has players take the role of a boss in a dungeon.  Each player is competing to be the one who kills the would be hero who happened to enter your dungeon and in turn taking the mantle of the Final Boss of the dungeon.  The game developer, James Johnson, describes the game as a hybrid of Magic the Gathering and Uno.  In short Boss Fight seems to be a great game to bring to the table any time you want a fast, yet competitive gaming experience between your friends.

It also is a game that is primarily finished.  While the funds from Kickstarter can be used to polish the game a bit more James and the rest of New Game+ Studios are using the Kickstarter platform to provide a bit of press on their product.  With an extremely low $2,000 goal in mind.  This project is also a member of the Kicking it Forward initiative, which means that James has promised to donate 5% of profits earned by this project back to other Kickstarter projects.

 

From Kickstarter

Game Mechanics

At the beginning of the game, a dealer shuffles and deals five cards to each player.  All players share the same single deck.

In Boss Fight, players only draw cards when they deal damage to the hero.  The amount of damage a card deals is circled in the upper right corner.  Do 1 damage, draw one card.  Do 3, draw three.  Do zero, and you don’t get to draw that turn!

It’s not just death and destruction, though.  Accidents happen.  Sometimes a healing spell backfires and manages to hit the hero, or incoming damage mysteriously turns into healing instead.  Potentially lethal Spells fizzle out.  Mighty, dangerous Minions fall into friendly Spike Pits.  The dungeon isn’t well-lit.

There are three basic types of cards:  Minions, Spells, and Traps.  Thoughtful use of all three types is critical for any prospective Final Boss.

BossFight_Minion BossFight_Trap BossFight_Spells

Expansion Ready!

The first expansion is tentatively titled Rooms, and introduces the titular Room card, which is permanent on the board until another Room replaces it or it is otherwise removed.  The premise is that these are special areas of the dungeon set up by the Bosses to hinder or help the Hero as he explores — think a convenient healing spring, or a room that suddenly fills with choking poison gas.

Want More Info Check Out The Kickstarter!

Kickstarter Spotlight: The Great Gaias

My child hood was spent gaming, and some of my favorite gaming memories are waking up as early as I could to play my favorite jrpgs (Final Fantasy 4, 6 & Chrono Trigger).  I absolutely loved the concept and genre.  I played most of the U.S. releases and would often replay my favorites.  That is why I think everyone should take a look at this weeks Kickstarter spotlight, The Great Gaias.

great-gaias-tome

The Story

“The Great Gaias is an ancient tome authored by the Gods that is able to reincarnate the souls of ones who have led a life that was supremely influential and helped shape history. The First Men, the Chosen Ones, having been granted immortality by the Gods and free will, were charged with the governance of lesser man and ruled justly and righteously their new city called Validus. After years of prosperity, a stranger from the east, Grindelwald Maultor, brought magic to the First Men, and with this new-found power came tyranny.

Using this mighty gift he corrupted the immortal First Men, transforming them to wickedness. The Gauf, as these ten immortal warlords were named, waged a bloodthirsty war against the other free folk of Tenat.  It wasn’t until the Warriors of Old, souls birthed from The Great Gaias, battled Validus, and pushed their forces back, imprisoning the immortal Gauf and Lord Maultor within an ancient Tower of the Gods.

Peace has reigned for a millennia, but a new age is dawning in which an ancient magic is returning to the world. The souls of the Great Gaias have all been reborn into existence once again, and the seals of the ancient tower are weakening. It is up to a small group of unlikely adventurers to uncover the past and fulfill an age-old prophecy that will undoubtedly shake the very foundations of the modern world and shape the direction of a new age.”

The Features

The Great Gaias is a throwback to the jrpg video games I loved growing up and is being developed by people who seem just as passionate as I am about the genre Horizon’s End.

  • Exciting player classes
  • No Leader
  • Dynamic Boss Fights
  • Interesting story line
  • Raise by use skills
  • Player created city
  • Over 50 playable hours
  • Crafting
  • Multiple Endings

And many, many more.

gaiasmap

Why Back It?

It is obvious that the folks at Horizon’s End care deeply about this project and the genre.  They are offering something that although a throwback, will stand on it’s own if the project is backed.  Not only that but I admire the story regarding the development status, specifically the come back story that could come from this when Hurricane Sandy is factored in.

horizonsend

If you like the project take a look at the official Kickstarter page and show some love to a great gaming genre and awesome looking game.

Want More Check The Kickstarter!

Kickstarter Spotlight: Civility

Civility:

Civility is a city management board game that pits players against each other in a race to expand your city to it’s ultimate stage.  It is still on kick starter at the moment and has not quite yet met it’s funding goals.  The game itself seems very interesting, and even in its early stages of development looks like it could be a lot of fun to play.  Warning I can’t quite comment on how the game plays because I have yet to play.  I do hope in the future I will be able to obtain a copy and let you all know first hand how great it is.

civility

What really drew me to this project is the obvious passion and work that has gone behind Ryan and his team.  They seem likable and I truly want their project to succeed.  In the end that’s what this site is for is to bring another voice for these games to you in hopes a few of you might like it enough to back it.

From Kickstarter

Civility is a board game for 2 to 4 (or 2 to 6 with optional expansion added on) players where players get to pick a city to control. There are 5 cities to choose from in the base game – Early Men, Fantasy, Modern, Utopian, and Medieval and 2 more so far with optional add-ons – Zombie, and Clone.  Each city has 4 unique abilities and different starting strengths.

A few examples –
Fantasy’s magic abilities allow them to manipulate dice each turn.
Medieval was a dark time so their starting technology and health is very low but their army starts off strong.
Utopians are a peaceful and advanced bunch so their technology and education start off very high but their army is very low.

Different cities will require completely different strategies and planning.  This, along with different status goals needed to win each game makes for a vastly different experience each time you play Civility.

Want More Info Check Out The Kickstarter