Gamefound Fall Feast

Earthborne Games – Hubworld Aidalon

This is going to be a competitive game. It’s still going to be a card game, but very different than Earthborne Rangers. The world setting looks very interesting to me, the artwork is fun and has a sci-fi element to it. They want to create a more thoughtful and complex card game, kind of like how there has been a lot of TCG/CCG’s in that area. So some of that feel but without chasing cards. More like a competitive living card game. Crowdfunding to launch the game and then release more stuff every six months to retail. Some Andoid Netrunner feel to the game from the sounds of it.

Archon Studios – Master of Orion: Ad Astra

It’s an adaptation of a video game. It’s a massive 4X video game so how will it work over to a video game. I think it looks like a standard 4X game, and that’s good because that’ll match the video game. And it looks like it’s going to be a very big game. Interesting to me, mainly because it’s based off of a video game, and it’s making me tempted to try out the game.

It’s not just going to focus on combat, which is kind of expected. And it’s going to be a long game about 120 minutes per player. Some interesting thing because it’s going to be manufactured in Poland at Archon’s own production facility. There is a solo mode as well.

Orange Nebula – Vestige

Orange Nebula always makes some interesting games, so I’m curious on this one. This is going to be a modern Euro set in space. You’re going to be covertly trying to work the underground and find a way to get off the moon. It’s going to be a resource management game. I am interested in this one because it’s Orange Nebula, but from the sound of it, I want to know a lot more about the game before I consider backing it. I like the idea of trying to get off a moon after technology and society has collapsed and everything is this underworld sort of theme. It’s not supposed to be too complex and approachable for Orange Nebula games.

Synergic Games – Rise of Myths: Cthulhu

Another Cthulhu themed game, this is going to be a cooperative rogue-lite deckbuilding game. I love the sound of all of that. And it’s interesting it’s only a max three player game, so it’s fairly specific. And you unlock content that you go, so more stuff that I like. This really sounds like a game for me. The style of play, I love deckbuilding. It is going to have a solo mode but also can be heavily cooperative with how card play interacts. All of this is awesome to me. There is some comic lore for each character which is cool for a follower gift.

CMON – Super Fantasy Brawl Reborn

I love Super Fantasy Brawl. Do I need more of it, I question that, I need to play all my stuff again. This is a fun battler with some great challenge of attack your opponents and more. But this is going to be a brand new game, and it is going to have a challenge system. But there is going to be an upgrade pack to make all the existing champions for the new game. I am a bit bummed about this, but I need to see what this changes.

As to why changes to the game? They want to keep some of the playstyle. And it is going to tweak new challenges for the game. They really didn’t say much more on it. But I think the main elements of the game. Plus TMNT Champion Packs plus more to come.

Skykingdom Games – The Waste of Parts

Skykingdom Games made Isofarian Guard a game that I really enjoy. This however is a one to five player cooperative game. You control a giant mech, I like that, it sounds awesome. You need to make it across the waste and scavenge pieces to keep your mechs going. That sounds very cool to me. I think that it’s pretty awesome in terms of a theme. And each player is in the mech together which is also a cool twist on it as well. This is much smaller game than Isofarian Guard in terms of how much space it’ll take and just the size of the game itself.

Rock Manor Games – Seas of Havoc Reprint and Expansion

I need to play my copy. I’ll leave it at that. Not really, but it’s something that you’ll be able to see reviews and thoughts on. Generally I’ve heard good things about the game. There is going to be an expansion as well. It’s been hard to find thus far and it’s been marked up a ton on the secondary market. So the hope is that it’ll be more available. I plan on getting this one played prior to the campaign to let you know if you find that your thoughts and tastes align with me. The expansion seems to add more variability versus adding in new elements to the game.

Nerdlab Games – Final Titan

This is going to be a drafting game with some auto battling. I want to know how this is going to go because it’s not a theme that immediately jumps out to me. Nerdlab games also put out Mind Bug. This is going to be a free for all battling game. And seems like a lot of die rolling and it could be pretty fun. It reminds me of a Dice Throne, but also they said 3-5 is probably the sweet spot which is interesting. You send in a champion each round, or you skip, and they want that decision making process, so it sounds like a one on one battle but when you go into battle is interesting.

Adam’s Apple Games – Tatsumi

This is going to be a thematic abstract game. I was hoping they’d be talking about Defenders of the Dictionary which I thought was a ton of fun at Gen Con. I’m kind of meh on games that are mainly abstract even with a theme. It’s a 1-4 player game with a solo experience which is interesting for an abstract game. I wonder how much of a puzzle it will be because I do enjoy a good solo puzzle. The artwork is cool on the game for sure.

Dark Horizon Games – Earth Under Siege Flashpoint Reprint and Nemesis Expansion

A stealth dungeon crawler game, so yes, it’s the type of game that I am interested in. The game has a very good score on BGG, which is exciting as well. It makes it one that I don’t need more of that style of game, but it’s also one that I’d probably like to play. It’s going to add in some side missions into a more involved adventure. So that’s an interesting way to add in an expansion as it’s going to take some standalone stuff and adds in a campaign for those. And it’s possible now to just be a boss battler game as well with the expansion.

Boom Studios – The Complete Jim Henson’s LABYRINTH Graphic Novel Collection

This might just actually be a graphic novel. Likely stuff that is tied to a Labyrinth board game, but also, kind of odd for Gamefound. So not something, even with liking Labyrinth that I’m all that interested in.

Archon Studios – Dungeons and Lasers Porthaven

This sounds like a mini which again isn’t really my thing. But a way to set-up a pirate campaign. They also have a supplement for that as well. So interesting, but definitely an easy pass for me. It’s like the Boom Studios one where it just isn’t for me.

Final Thoughts on the Fall Feast from Gamefound

Nothing from Awaken Realms, though they seem to do it once a year. I’m still very interested in the next game that they have coming. What is your favorite from the Gamefound Feast?

For me, I think that Rise of Myths: Cthulhu is really exciting. I’d love to play that one because there are so many things that I like about. The Waste of Parts is probably my second most exciting one from the list. That is just a theme that sounds different and unique. Plus there are a lot of very other interesting things on Gamefound right now as well. I need to play more games, figure out which to keep and maybe back a few more.

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How To Win at Stardriven: Gateway

I want to change things up about how I talk about these games. Often times I touch on how to win, but I want to make it a focus. Stardriven: Gateway is a game of collecting points. You get your points in a few different ways. The big way is getting influence out onto the main planets. You do this, generally, by completing missions. But at the end of the game, you also gain points for trained crew, total crew, and anomaly faced. Though, that scoring can change depending on the scenario you play.

The game end trigger is when one player has nine influence out on the board. At that point, the round is completed and one more full round happens.

How to Play Stardriven: Gateway

While this is a big space game with hexes and planets that you fly around, that board is almost secondary. Most of what you do is going to be on your player board. On your player board you are managing your crew by placing them in locations and then activating those locations with dice.

On your turn you always get two actions and any number of free actions. The actions are simple, either place a crew or activate a station with a crew with one of your dice. There is a third action, resting, which allows you to get back and reroll your dice. Only after you play out four of your dice. To activate a station on your ship, you need enough energy, so you sometimes need to take less ideal actions to be able to get energy back.

The free actions are things like upgrading your crew if you have experience, completing a mission or activating crew. Crew actions can vary a lot. You can exhaust them to refresh or re-roll dice or gain energy back. But how you activate them and if you use them to complete missions is part of the puzzle of the game.

Game Play Highlights

There is a lot that I like about Stardriven: Gateway. The biggest thing is the smoothness of the system. You know what you want to do on your turn, and other players are not going to affect it too much. Yes, a mission might get stolen out from under you, but generally the player interaction is limited. I’ll talk more about that later with how it might not be. The actions are consistent across the game, so that is what I mean by smooth.

And I really like the crew management aspect of the game. That is what is interesting to me on this game. Each faction has it’s own crew with their own abilities. So everyone is a bit asymmetric that way. And while a lot of the abilities fall into the categories of refresh a die, swap a die, or gain energy. But I like to use that to prolong when I need to pull back dice. If I can use them to squeak out an extra couple of actions more than other people, I feel like my efficiency is good.

The dice actions were interest as well. The number on the die is basically the amount of action points that you get. This might be for drawing more crew, or how far you can fly. Or if you can take out an enemy ship. No die is a complete dud, though, it always provides you some actions. But a worse role is going to be provide you fewer actions or less energy in return.

What I Need To See More Of

Firstly, they talked about how there are some scenarios that are competitive, like I played, and some that are cooperative. How is the cooperative going to work? That is the question that I have and will it feel compelling? I mainly ask that because I think cooperative will work, the game didn’t have much direct confrontation. But is it just going to be beat a score or something like that which you want to target?

The one thing that I said I’d talk more about is player combat in this as well. When going up against the enemy it makes sense. The system is enjoyable and simple. But there is options for players to go up against other players. That never happened in my play. And a lot of that was because I didn’t see a good reason for it. I think that everyone else in the playthrough thought the same. So is this just part of the game that is rarely ever used, is it maybe in a specific scenario there is reason? I want to know if I should ever focus on player vs player combat, because I’m not always the biggest fan.

Final Thoughts and Initial Impression

I like this game, a lot. It is a game that doesn’t feel over engineered in what it is doing. It is also a game that doesn’t feel like it doesn’t have real choices. That for me is a sweet spot because it’s easy enough to teach and play but won’t feel old or stale after a few plays. Even with the scenarios, the one I played will go completely differently next time I play it.

And I think another important factor about this game and you can take it for what it is worth, I want to play it again. I think that there are elements that I could do better and explore more. Like how I utilized my crew wasn’t always the best. So I think I can do even better than I did the first time. And I think that that feeling isn’t going to go away quickly with the factions and scenarios to explore in the game.

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Dice Tower Summer Spectacular Publisher Mega Announcements!

Motor City Gameworks

Three Sisters Essential Edition

Solo mode, campaign mode, and more added to Three Sisters. So it’s going to be still the same game, just added modules. A game that I need to try still, I believe that the group worked on Fleet: The Dice Game as well which I enjoy a lot. So this one is on my radar and gives me a great reason to make sure that I get my game played of Three Sisters to see if I’ll want to get this Essential Edition. Oh yeah, new sheets, new bits, new cards, a lot of different new things. Coming to Kickstarter around spring of 2025.

Allplay

They spent a good amount of talking about the games that they have coming out. Lure, Rivervalley Glassworks, and more that they’ve been talking about.

Things and Rings

It’s a party game where you’re trying to get rid of things into a Venn diagram in the right way. But only one person is going to know what way. This sounds like an interesting idea for a party game and is coming to retail soon. To me, this mean I hope I get to demo it at Gen Con and maybe pick it up there because in theory, it sounds like an interesting idea for a game.

Fairy

Allplay is bringing out a smaller line of games, even smaller than the Lure, Big Top and that size of box. Fairy is going to be a party game where you try and predict the next card coming up with hand gestures. To me, this doesn’t sound that fun, but it probably will be a good game for a lot of people and good goofy time when it is played.

Panda Panda

You’re trying to create a perfect hand of cards. At the start of the round if you have that hand that you need you say Panda Panda. Not much information on how you are building up or curating your hand, but it sounds like an interesting filler.

Rainbow

Another hand management game, this one sounds like a lot of fun to me. You’re playing out cards in sets and runs to get cards from the middle of the table. Those cards you get are going to be your scoring cards. But the twist is that the cards you play out, those are now going to be the next batch of scoring cards. I like this a lot as it gives me the feel of Scout and Mind Up! Two games that I’m having a lot of fun with.

Prey

Trick taking game alert, for me this one sounds interesting and again, I’ll reference Scout. In this one your hand goes two ways. You play out six tricks with the predator and then with prey. And you play out a hand of twelve cards, so it’s going to be knowing which direction to lean into. Do you want to spend your better cards as prey or predator to win tricks? And to win, you need to win an assigned number of tricks, so this sounds like an interesting puzzle.

Plus Partner Publishers

Allplay is helping out with a lot of companies for shipping and stuff like that. So they are talking about all of them as well. Definitely checkout their site as well because I think it sounds great.

Godot Games

Foxpaw

This game sounds like it has a lot going on. Prisoners dilemma and resource management and more. This definitely has a look and feel of something like Kiki’s, My Little Witch Academia, and Harry Potter. So you’re going to be trying to be the highest or best graded student from the sounds of it. And the artwork on the game looks great, as well. There are a lot of different locations on the board to take actions which should make for an interesting puzzle of a game. It seems like there is some take that in the game, which I’m never convinced about. It’ll be on Gamefound in January 2025.

Iello

King of Tokyo Duel

It’s a two player version. I like this idea a lot and it’s coming in Essen in October. This is a great thing in my opinion even if it isn’t a game that I’ll pick up. King of Tokyo out of the box is a multiplayer game, I’d probably say it’s at four minimum. So to get a two player version of the game, that sounds like a good plan. It’ll make it more accessible to more people who might not have that larger group. And the simplicity of King of Tokyo is a great selling point as well. This looks like more of a tug-o-war which is interesting.

Blue Orange

Next Station Paris

Another game in the next station game. This is a game that I really need to play as I think I have one of them in my collection. So expect me to try and get it to the table soon. Next Station Paris is going to continue in that line with obviously a new map of Paris and it’ll be available at Gen Con.

Link City

This is a cooperative city building game. You’re trying to expand the city but it’s about guessing where buildings should go and trying to figure out the plan of the person in charge. This sounds like an interesting party game or activity, but one that you might not want to take too seriously. Also it sounds like a solid option for people who don’t like traditional party games but want to come across better filler games. The game seems very loosey goosy, which I’m not sold about.

Shadow House Masquerade

This is a card bluffing who done it game. This again feels like it’s pretty light in terms of a game. This feels like a social deduction game and possible deduction as well. I need to know how much of it is deduction because I like deduction. But if it’s social deduction I’m not interested in that. So it’s one that I’ll look into. All of these Blue Orange games should be at Gen Con.

Odd Bird

Allplay did the video for them. A lot of it is about the games that are already out from Odd Bird. Feudum and Fled were the two games mentioned which I haven’t played either. So I can’t really comment on either of them. But good for Odd Bird getting the word out about their games and where to buy them at.

Wulfhorn

Rise of the Wastelands

This is going to be a 4x game that is currently on Kickstarter. The aesthetic of the game is amazing looking. You’re going to be exploring, exploiting, exterminating and whatever the last X is. This game definitely looks interesting to me but one that I’d love to get to try a demo of. It’s supposed to be a shorter 4x game, but how much shorter does that mean. And will it play only well at four or can it go down to two or not? I have a lot of questions but the game looks intriguing.

Till 5 Am

Qu’arz

This is a capture the flag game which sounds interesting. I like the pictures and again that aesthetic. It’s going to be competitive but I expect it’s going to be a very in your face game. That is what I expect from a capture the flag style game, which to me is going to be fun in some situations but not all of them. And that should tell you that I’m intrigued and interested in trying the game.

But I would 100% need to try the game before I’d buy it. I do see a lot of words on cards though, so I wouldn’t expect this to be a very light game. It’s going to be on Gamefound at the end of October.

Vesuvius Media

Jurassic Feud

This is going to be another game like Catapult Feud where you are trying to shoot things at the opponents pieces and knock them down. But now with dinosaurs. I have a ton of Catapult Feud and soon I’ll be ready to play it with my kid. But even as an adult it’s a fun game to play, so I’m curious to know if Jurassic Feud is going to add much more to the game. I hope not because the simplicity of this game is part of what makes it great. This is going to be on Kickstarter July 23^rd. This looks like it could be mixed pretty easily into Catapult Feud which I’m there for.

Benki Games

Pizzachef: The Next Generation

One that is already out. I don’t know about the game at all. So it is going to be one that I want to know about. And there is going to be a new version of the game, Pizza Chef: The Next Generation. I really don’t know what type of game it is, but I like the artwork on it.  And there is going to be an expansion for it as well. Pizza Chef: The Mean Chef. To me I’m worried that it’s going to be a take that game. Or at least the expansion might be. I’m not sure how I didn’t know about this one. But it sounds like a lot of fun potentially and one that I could like if there isn’t too much take that. And as they showed the game and there is definitely take that, but maybe not too much. This is coming to Kickstarter, the new version, August 5^th.

Phase Shift Games

Aetherspire

3D strategy games with a purpose. That’s the new thing that they are doing. They’ve done games like Dungeon Drop before. And they’ve done some abstract games before. But Aetherspire is going to be a 3D game where that 3D matters. It’s coming to crowdfunding, I believe Kickstarter in the fall of 2024. This is going to be a cooperative tower defense game where, obviously, it’s 3D and that is going to matter. But it’s not just tower defense you are going to be building it up as well. This looks like it could be fun, I hope it’s not just a gimmick, but even if it is, it’s a good looking gimmick even in prototype form.

CGE

Snatch It!

CGE is distributing it in English. This is going to be a game all about being frogs and gobbling up all sorts of tasty bugs. But you got to go fast before  others get them or steal them from you. This looks like a very light family style of game that will look perfect on a shelf at Target. Or it might be one that you give to the family who might not play board games but they have a kid who loves bugs and frogs just to introduce to them what non-Hasbro games are. I don’t think that this is going to be one for me, that said, I wouldn’t say no to trying it. First copies will be available at Gen Con.

Codenames App

Yup, there is going to be an app for it. If you love Codenames this is going to be a new way to play the game. I don’t love the game, so it’s not going to be for me. Unless it changes the game some way it’s probably not for me. It’s already out  for Czech players to test it out. And there is some single player content as well. There are some other new things as well which does make it slightly more interesting. It’s launching September 5^th. It’s just a one time purchase on it.

Fireside

Zoomies

This game has you being a dog walker. This looks like a pretty light game, which is how a lot of Fireside’s games have been. But not so simple that it’s just a kids game. I should say that the game seems simple more than light because you’re doing tile laying kind of like a Kingdomino but from your hand to optimize your point scoring. So this one looks interesting to me and it’s going to be at Gen Con. But it’ll be released this fall beyond Gen Con.

Rock Manor

Stardriven Gateway

I’ve already written about this one in the Feast. I’m going to be demoing at Gen Con as well so I’m super excited to try this one out.

Reprint Campaign for Seas of Havoc and First Mates Expansion

This is going to have another campaign coming up. So if you missed out on this one the first time, definitely check it out. This is another one that I own that I need to play. I in fact won  a copy of it through Board Game Revolution over on Facebook when it was on Kickstarter and it was the big Kickstarter version. So I really should get it to the table.

Disco Heist Laundry

You’re scheming kingpins and you need steal and launder your money. It is still in development at this point. But it has tableau building, area control and a 1980’s look. This one is also going to be able to be demoed at Gen Con. Though, it’s not one that I’ve signed up to demo.

Merchants of Magik Expansions

These are crowdfunded already. But with shipping happening now, they are going to be available to pick-up at Gen Con which is exciting. Another one of those roll and write games that I own and now I really need to get played.

Matagot

Kemet Rise of the Gods

This is an expansion to Kemet Blood and Sand. Kemet is not a game that I’ve played but I know it’s well liked. There are some interesting things about this game which I’m sure that I’d enjoy. But I’m not 100% sure it’s a game that I’ll get played that often. It’s coming to Gamefound on July 2^nd.

Kyoto no Neko

This is going to be a lighter game. And yes, it’s adorable for those wondering. It’s going to be taking on the role of small kittens roaming through the city of Kyoto. If you needed to sell me on the theme, say no more, that’s done the trick. You’re trying to be the first one to complete objectives of things that cats do. So the whole thing is going to be very cute and I’m hoping accessible to play.

With a theme like that, I don’t want much in terms of rules overhead. And the artwork is really cute on this game, and the kittens are adorable. It’s going to be an Essen Spiele release, and I’ll be seeking it out when I can.

Incredible Dream Studios

Callous’ Lab

This is going to be a game that debuts at Gen Con and is going to be available in retail in the later part of August. Though unless I’m mistaken, this is one that I already have that I bought through their site. So it is possible that it’ll be getting a wider release. And it’s part of the Kinfire Delve line. I probably don’t have that one but another two.

And to go along with that, a playmat for Kinfire Delve as well. The playmat looks great.

Broadway Games

Lifeboats

I’m pretty sure that this is a reprint of a game where you’re on lifeboats. Of course, not all can survive, so you need to try and keep your people on the boats. Because if they’re voted out they’ll drop into the water. This is going to be a pretty quick playing mean game. I don’t think it’s for my group, but if it’s for your group and you want to invite me over, I’d be cool with that. But I might be wrong and it might be fun if people don’t take it seriously. Possibly pre-order and pick-up at Gen Con, but I’m not sure.

This Bed is Mine

You are doing basically area control to see who can cover up as much of the bed as they can. This is going to be an abstract game, but not one that really is that interesting. I think a lot of people will like and enjoy it, but I tend not to like these very abstract games. Possibly pre-order and pick-up at Gen Con I’m not sure.

Floodgate

Hedge Mage

You’re a hedge mage building a hedge maze. This seems interesting, but not one that I’m going to be backing. It’s on Kickstarter right now. Probably one I’ll try and demo at Gen Con.

Landmarks

You’re trying to get your team to go to the right places, avoid traps and hopefully find, well, landmarks. This one looks interesting to me as well. The game play is simple but giving one word clues, I’ll be curious to see how it works as you try and help your teammates know where to navigate. This is going to be a Gen Con release, and Floodgate always has a lot of copies and fun around new releases like this one. It can cooperative or team versus team. And it’s a fast game as well, they are saying about 20 minutes.

Board and Dice

Minos

Board and Dice is knowing for doing a lot of big euro games. I am not the biggest euro game fan, so probably not for me. The aesthetic of the game is amazing. And it’s dice drafting  in it as well. There looks like there is a lot going on in it. Honestly, this is going to be one that I’m curious about the more they are talking about it. Can you build up the best society leading into bronze age. Plus , that dice drafting looks interesting. It’s going to be a Essen Spiel 2024 game.

Living Forest Duel

Nothing more on that one just know that it’s coming. If you’re a fan of Living Forest but maybe don’t think it works the best at two, that might be changing with this one.

IV Studio

Brink

It’s a worker placement set in the Moonrakers universe. There is a lot of stuff going on in the game. And it’s coming to Kickstarter in July on the 2^nd. I’m intrigued by it because IV Studios makes beautiful games, but I have yet to find a game from them that I really love. I know that isn’t a popular opinion on Mythic Mischief but that one wasn’t for me. Aesthetically, though IV Studio does make their games look so tempting. But I think that it’s going to be an easy pass for me on Kickstarter because, like most worker placement or euro games, I want to play them before I’d consider buying it.

Final Thoughts

This is a ton of things for sure announced on the Dice Tower Summer Spectacular. I am curious on a lot of them. Minos oddly enough is one of the ones that is towards the top for me. Some of that is because not too many of these announcements are those epic adventure sprawling games that I generally go towards. Of course, that said, there is Prey as well which to me looks like my type of jam. So I’m hoping that I’ll be able to demo a lot of these or spend more time finding out more about them because this certainly was very mega in terms of the size of the announcements.

Which is the one that stands out to you from the Dice Tower Summer Spectacular? Will you be trying to seek out any of them to demo or buy at Gen Con, or maybe be seeking out if you go to Essen Spiel, which I’d love to some year.

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GenCon Events

Too Many Bones

This one is because I own the game. I own the game, yet I don’t play my copy because I know how to play but don’t know how to play. I like with bigger games, I’m thinking of Burncycle last year, Lost Ruins of Arnak and Dwellings of Eldervale the year before, it’s a chance to learn the game. Someone who knows how to play the game is going to sit down and teach you the game. And then, for me, that means that I now can more easily teach and play it at home.

This year for GenCon Too Many Bones is that game. Chip Theory games I think are good for the list. A lot of them are complex with pretty dense rulebooks. So GenCon is a chance to really be able to learn a game and get the experience. At four players that might not be ideal experience, but it’ll be a good first one and help me get the game under my belt.

Stardriven: Gateway

Next up coming from Rock Manor Games is Stardriven: Gateway. I wrote about this one when I wrote about the Gamefound Feast. It still intrigues me as a game that has story to it and going to feel like an interesting space adventure. And while it is supposed to still have the grand vastness of space to it, it’s more about managing your crew. You take care of yourself and focus in on that crew level and the big things will happen.

Star Wars Unlimited

You know I like Star Wars Unlimited. This is mainly for two reasons that I want to get into this event. It’s another learn to play event, I don’t need to learn to play. But I think you might get a promo card, which is Grogu. But even if you don’t, it’s going to be playing with the new set. Yes that set will have been out for under a month, but it’s still under a month. And for an hour long session, it’s going to be a fun time to play the new stuff that I haven’t seen much.

Rebel Princess

This is one that I can’t remember if I’ve already ordered the game or not. I just know when I saw the game announced I was intrigued. You’re a princess who is basically trying not to be a princess in the “traditional” sense. And to do that, you’re playing a trick taking game. I like trick taking games a lot, so it was an easy one for me to consider picking up. And when I’m considering picking it up (or maybe did) then it’s one that I’d like to try at GenCon.

Metrorunner

Metrorunner is one that I added to the list because it’s from Thunderworks games. I haven’t played anything from Thunderworks that isn’t part of their Roll Player setting. Metrorunner is not from that setting so it’s going to be the first. I’m intrigued by the sound of it. And it’s a chance to try a game that I passed on when they did crowdfunding. So I’m curious to see what it’ll be like.

16th Annual Dice Tower Awards

Last year I went to the Dice Tower Awards and it was fun. I almost didn’t sign up for a ticket again this year. And I might have passed, or I would have passed had I gotten into one time for an event. But I like going to the Dice Tower Awards. They are fun, and it’s a chance to make that first day of GenCon last a little bit longer. But it is also a chance to not be on your feet for the whole time which is nice as well.

Is there anything super special about the event, not really? But it’s a fun event. It feels like a chance to just enjoy and celebrate games. For people like myself, I know a lot of the games already, but for the people that I’m going with, it’ll be a chance for them to see what a lot of the big newer games are.

Mistborn Deck Building Game

Finally, the event that I only got into because one of the people was in the 400’s on the queue. Mistborn is a setting that I like, don’t love. It is from Brandon Sanderson, an author who I really love. When he is having a game made from Brotherwise Games, I am interested. Plus I like deck building games a lot, so even more interested.

Why did these sell out so fast? Firstly, it’s a preview of the game, it might even almost be somewhat of a playtest of the game. I am not 100% sure on that. So people like those events, and it’s the first chance to see a game that is coming to crowdfunding. But it is also Brandon Sanderson so people will be interested because of that. The fact it filled up fast was not a surprise for me.

Final Thoughts and What I Missed Out On

Firstly, I like the number of events that I got into this year. For me, this is about the sweet spot in number of events. A few more than sometimes overlap prime walking the dealer hall time, but don’t worry, I plan to do a lot of that as well.

I didn’t miss out on much. Two Mistborn deck builder events were full before i got to my sign-up. But I got in another way, so that is amazing. Then a Stormlight RPG Demo, it is Brandon Sanderson’s series I like better, I am not surprised. The Elder Scrolls, a game coming from Chip Theory Games, I am already all in on it. It is not out yet, so people want to see it. And with Too Many Bones, I will be playing the game it is based off of. Finally, SETI, another learn to play event for a new game. I think it looks interesting, but I don’t feel bad missing on it.

Did you get into the events that you wanted?

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March Gamefound 2024 Feast Event

Go On Board: Cyberpunk 2077

A cooperative game set in the Cyberpunk 2077 world. I’m curious about this because Go On Board has made some fun games. This one definitely looks more interesting than the CMON one to me. Though, I am curious about that one as well. For me, this one that I’m going to follow. I also plan to dive into it as more information comes out. It’s an action adventure game, which I like, and, like I said, cooperative.

But Cyberpunk, for me, is a game, video game, that I am not that familiar with. But it’s supposed to surpass what is in The Witcher Old World. It has a campaign, which, we know I like them. For me a concern, there is a real time element to it, I need to see what it is.

https://gamefound.com/en/projects/go-on-board/cyberpunk-2077-the-board-game?ref=search

Skytear Horde

This is a reprint of a game that I really enjoy. I already went in on the “big box”. Is this going to fit in the big box, what do I need to know about this one. I want to get my new stuff and play that. But they are introducing something that I want. It’s going to be a campaign game now. It’s a few games, so as a solo experience, it’s going to be a shorter campaign. By campaign, more it’s probably strung together games.

Yup, this is going to be a hard one for me to pass on. I like that element of having a campaign, and there is going to be levelling up, which is something that I’m always there for. It’s supposed to be a rogue-like experience, so probably like a Slay the Spire. The previous one is coming in May, this one will launch after it.

https://gamefound.com/en/projects/skytear/skytear-horde-campaigns?ref=search

Rock Manor Games: StarDriven Gateway

I enjoy what Rock Manor games does, so, great, I’m going to be interested in another one. It’s going to be a space exploration, completing missions, possibly pick-up and deliver. How it’s trying to differentiate itself from other games in that you need to really manage your crew. It is, I believe going to be competitive, but there is a solo option. There are going to be different scenarios that you can play, but it’s going to have different goals. And some of the scenarios are going to be cooperative as well, which is interesting. I think it sounds like an interesting twist, and a dangerous game for me, because I’ll want to check it out.

https://gamefound.com/en/projects/mike/stardriven-gateway?ref=search

Mindbug

It’s going to be a continuation of Mindbug, Mindbug is a game that I own, but I need to play. This is the first one where it doesn’t interest me that much. And that’s mainly because I don’t know if it’s a game for me. There are elements that sound quite intriguing, but it isn’t one that stands too intriguing to me. Mainly, will it be something that I want to keep playing as mainly a two player game. I own too many two player card games to play, several of them TCG’s, Mindbug gives me that feel.

https://gamefound.com/en/projects/marvin-hegen/mindbug-battlefruits?ref=search

Dragori Games: Odalin – Dungeons of Doom

It’s a dungeon crawler, is this whole Feast just for me or mainly for me? I need to get my Tanares Adventures and try that to see if it’s a company that I want to checkout more of their games. This one looks very cool and sounds fun. One of the elements that they talk about in the game is how you can get a lot of items. It’s going to be a campaign game, but with some random dungeons and play it as a one off. And you might want to go back and farm or go back to one to find a secret passage. It’s another big dungeon crawl campaign, so of course I want it.

https://gamefound.com/en/projects/dragori-games/odalin-dungeons-of-doom?ref=search

Moon Crab Games – Leviathan Wilds

This is a reprint and expansion of the game. It’s mainly, I think a solo game. And the game itself looks really intriguing. However, it’s not one that I believe has delivered, from the sounds of it. I think that it might be one that I really enjoy. But I’m not going to be jumping into quite yet. But as an experience of the game, I expect it to be one that I’d enjoy.

https://gamefound.com/en/projects/moon-crab-games/leviathan-wilds-second-printing?ref=search

Phalanx Games – Hannibal and Hamilcar

I know nothing about this game, but it’s not a new one. I think I’ve seen a bit about it, it’s about 25 years old. For me, this doesn’t really feel like a game that I’d enjoy. There are probably some extra fancy stuff, but not that interesting for me. It’s going to be split into two boxes after they had put in one box. And, since there are minis, it’s time to make it fancy with some metal minis.

https://gamefound.com/en/projects/phalanx/hannibal-and-hamilcar?ref=search

Quined Games – Stupor Mundi

Another historically themed game, and it’s going to be a strategy game. This is a euro game that is going to be leaning into that beige look. For me, it’d be a try before I buy, not that it might not be a good game, but it’s hard for me to judge a lot of these games without playing them. I find that I like them, but which ones get played the most, it’s tough. But it sounds like a fairly interactive game, it’s not going to be a solo, you do your own thing euro game.

https://gamefound.com/en/projects/quined-games/stupor-mundi?ref=search#/section/project-story

Metis Creative – Historica Arcanum: Cults of London

This is a company that mainly has done RPG’s, but it takes their RPG setting. This is an asymmetric deck building game. I don’t think I’d have thought it was going to be like that. The aesthetic looks very intriguing. It’s a competitive game, though, which isn’t a bad thing. But it sounds like it’s going to be a highly social game, kind of that backstabbing feel. Which, I worry, might mean that it is a take that sort of game, which isn’t what I’m really looking for. If it’s not too much backstabbing, it might work, but from the sound of it, I don’t love it. I like the setting, though.

https://gamefound.com/en/projects/metis-creative/historica-arcanum-cults-of-london?ref=search

Bad Crow – Avatar: The Journey of Aang

It’s a cooperative journey of a game, I am super excited. I love Avatar, my wife loves it more than I do. Is this going to be a game that we can really dive into, I hope so. Man alive, this is an exciting announcement for me. I also wonder it’s going to be with the story that has existed. It takes a little bit to get to how it plays. It does sound like it’s going to be the main story of the show. And the players are going to be training Aang, helping him to get ready.

That itself sounds fun, as you learn new things and become better as being a bender. Plus then there are going to be press your luck elements that are going to be the different challenges that you do. It has a solo mode as a 1-4 player cooperative game. But there is a competitive mode as well, which is interesting, but probably one that I wouldn’t play too much.

https://gamefound.com/en/projects/companyofheroes/avatar-the-journey-of-aang-?ref=search

Final Thoughts

And that’s all of the games. This is truly a feast from Gamefound. For me, a few of them standout. Avatar: The Journey of Aang is probably my top one. It’s an IP that I really enjoy. It isn’t my favorite, but it is up there in terms of shows that I’ve seen. Likewise, more Skytear Horde sounds fun, Cyberpunk 2077, Odalin, and StarDriven Gateway all sound like they do things that I’d very much enjoy.

Let me know if any of these sound like games that you’d love to back or find out more about?

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Dice Tower Mega Announcement

Rock Manor Games

Maximum Apocalypse 2nd Edition

This is basically making it fitting the Wasted Wilds to make it easier to play and make it faster to play. There’s going to be more information coming, but just very quickly.

Brass Empire 2nd Edition

This is a steampunk deck building game. I am curious about it just because it’s deck building. But it seems like it’s very in your face compared to what I’d want, which is a shame. But then again, maybe I’d like it as a two player game.

Merchants of Magick Expansion

This is their crunchy roll and write game. It’s going to be coming up on Kickstarter with some new modules of the game. It’s not one that I’ve played, but if Rock Manor has some at Gen Con, I might pick up the base game. I think that it sounds interesting and of course I’d love to check it out prior to the crowdfunding campaign.

Bright Eye Games

The Plot Thickens

A cooperative story creation game. We actually talked about this yesterday on the Malts and Meeples for sale at Gen Con live stream. I am curious about it with the Science Fiction version to at least see what it’s like. But I don’t love it in theory.

Ponzi Scheme

This one is coming out in 2024. It’s a game about creating a ponzi scheme and seeing if you can stay afloat with the most money when someone goes bankrupt. It sounds okay, a light, silly game, I’m hoping.

Ares Games

Fire and Swords – War of the Ring The Card Games

This is an expansion, and there is a new expansion at Gen Con, but this one is going to be coming out in 2024. This one doesn’t interest me as much, but the one at Gen Con to make it soloable that one interests me. And if it’s an interesting game, I could see it being one that my wife likes as we’re both big Lord of the Rings fans.

Horrible Guild

Quicksand

A real time cooperative game. That isn’t my sort of game, I’m not a fan of real time. But it does sound fairly interesting to try once or twice because you are playing against puzzles. It’s just that I’m not a big fan of real time.

Sunrise Lane

This is a game from Dr. Reiner Knizia one of the most prolific designers. I’m somewhat interested in it, it’s about building out houses and scoring points. I like the idea of building out houses and how you build out houses. It sounds actually really good now that I hear more about the rules, because it looks very pretty on the table. And it has some fun scoring options with it. Sunrise Lane is very high up there for me from what’s been announced thus far.

Pencil First Games

Sunrise at the Studio

This looks like a small game, and it’s kind of in that Floriferous style of game, or at least box size. This one is a pottery themed games. I like this weight of game, and it has set collection, drafting, and shared goals. So this sounds a lot like Floriferous again, but I’m down for that.

Snowfall over Mountains

Pocket sized solo tile laying game. That is a lot of things that I like. I am very used to a lot of snow. But you build it out a map from your cabin to create different scoring options. This one looks very cool. Pencil First Games makes amazing looking games aesthetically and very fun games.

Stoneblade Entertainment

Solforge Fusion App

It’s meant to improve the game play. Your collection gets automatically imported. That said, this is not a game that I was ever interested in. They are demoing it, and showing stuff off at Gen Con. It’s a fine idea, you don’t have to buy stuff again; it’s still a very specific announcement.

CGE

Kutna Hora

The announcement for a game that is already out. It’s talking about how it is using Re-wood. Re-wood is similar to plastic, but it’s sustainable to use over and over again. And it’s going to be at a similar detail level for plastic components. A cool thing, for a game I’m not interested in. The game is going to be at Gen Con to demo.

Grey Fox Games/Ludeon Studios

Rimworld

A board game adaptation of a video game. I’m not familiar with the video game, but I like the aesthetic thus far. It’s going to be coming to Kickstarter. There is not much information on this, unless you are familiar with Rimworld. Could definitely be a cool one, but I’ll be waiting to see it on Kickstarter.

Board & Dice

Nucleum

This one is going to be a big hit for a lot of people. This is about the nuclear power plants and it’s a very heavy euro game. Unless I build up to something like this over time, I don’t think it’s going to be one for me. There’s definitely a lot going on in the game which is why I think that a lot of people will enjoy it. It’s coming out in October at Essen Spiel

Inside Up Games

Clock & Key

This is going to be a Kickstarter coming in 2024. Another puzzle sort of game like Block & Key which is one that I thought looked interesting but I’ve never tracked it down to learn. I’m curious to see if this game is going to be similar or not. It reminds me of the pipe connecting games, which is something that I do enjoy.

Kosmos

Ingenious

It’s a relaunch of this game, also another Reiner Knizia. Don’t know a ton about this one, but I have heard of it. I think it’s supposed to be a family style abstract game. Probably not one that I’ll look into too much

Dragon keepers

A dragon game where you are taking care of dragons. This is done through card play, and they like to talk about the cute dragons, not to Flamecraft level, but definitely cute.

Rebel Studio

Meadow Adventure Book

It’s now coming out in 2024. This is a campaign or scenario style game. It was going to be a 2023 game, but now it’s been pushed back.

Avel: the Card Game

This is going to be pushed back as well. The timeline is still be determined.

Klink

It’s a number game, supposed to be a quick game. It’s a small box game, not a ton of a details on it. General impression was that this is going to be a family weight filler style game. And this is going to be a card game, or at least an action selection or playing game. Coming in early 2024.

MLEM: Space Agency

Cats… in… space….

That seems like a dangerous combination. It’s going to be a fun game with hopes of creating some laughs. This is going to be a dice game, so I’m thinking it’ll be a pushing your luck kind of game. Another Reiner Knizia game, like I said, he’s very prolific.

Cardboard Alchemy

Bistro Bay

An animal cooking game, but not cooking animals, if that makes sense. This looks like the same artwork style as Flamecraft, so a ton of fun to see it. You are trying to do the best and impress the the food critic. I am going to be looking at this one coming to Kickstarter in 2024.

Pandasaurus

Unrest

An asymmetrical two player card game. The rebellion vs the empire. Now this is not a Star Wars game. The aesthetic of the game is pretty solid, but I’m not sold on it. I feel like it’s a bit like Hanamikoji in some ways with having limited actions, it’s intriguing that way. It could be good. November retail release, and not expensive.

Unexpected Games

3000 Scoundrels Expansion

It’s not a game that I’ve played, but from what I heard of the original game was that it was fine. I this is definitely one that I’d want to checkout. And it sounds like the expansion is going to improve some things or will help with some of the complaints that people had. Definitely makes it sound more intriguing to me. As I do like the Wild West theme. And it’ll now have a solo mode as well, which again interests me.

Arcane Wonders

Foundations of Metropolis

This is going to be a retail version of Foundations of Rome. I’m guessing that this is going to be a smaller version because Foundations of Rome is huge. No miniatures in it, but that might get me to play the game and buy the game. Still looks really good, and it’ll be coming to retail in 2024, I think they said early. This one I’m very excited for, again because it makes it more accessible for more gamers.

Final Thoughts

Goodness, this is a ton of write really fast. I try and pause the video as little as possible because it’d take so much longer if I did pause all the time. I did have to do that a few times. Which ones are most interesting to me, I’m going to say my Top 5 are Foundations of Metropolis, Bistro Bay, and Sunrise Lane, Sunrise at the Studio, and Snowfall over the Mountain.

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Osprey Games

Undaunted Battle of Britain

Take to the sky. It’s continuing the series of games. Undaunted games are deck building and war games. This is going to add in airplanes with is different. Undaunted is one that I would like to try. I really do enjoy deck building and while the theme isn’t my normal one that I love, I think that it could be a game that I enjoy a lot to play. And there is an expansion to what is already out there that makes it solo.

Arcane Wonders

10 Years of Arcane Wonders

A new logo for Arcane Wonders as they have reached 10 years. They talked about some games that they have already announced.

Foundations of Rome

New Kickstarter August 2nd. I believe this is going to have a new expansion. The announcement that they officially had was just the 10 years of being around and the new logo.

Horrible Guild

The Great Split

The Great Split is where you are drafting cards, collecting riches and trying to get the most prestigious of all of them. You split your cards and your opponent picks one, so you split and choose. Looks like a very light game but also one that is going to be a lot of fun as you try and figure out what to collect and how to get points. Honestly looks like one that I’ll enjoy a lot.

Pencil First Games

Floriferous Pocket Edition

Continues the trend of taking their games and making smaller editions of games. They take everything and basically make it smaller. So it’s going to be the same game but in a smaller package. I don’t know that it needs a smaller edition, the game is already small and I own it and I really enjoy it. But I’ll look at it as maybe a small stocking stuffer for people I know.

Forbidden Games

Mosaic Wars and Disasters

Adds in more cards to the base game. This is a civilization themed game. I am curious about the game as I’ve heard very good things. But It’s also a big game and that means that it is going to be a longer game. Mosaic was a try before I buy and Wars and Disasters seems intriguing but it doesn’t change the fact it’s a try before I buy. Coming to Kickstarter in September. This is a chance to get the game if you missed out on it though. And who knows, maybe I’ll back it if I can demo it at Gen Con.

Unexpected Games

3000 Scoundrels

Old west game that definitely looks to have some weird west vibes to it. And it is going to have cards and sleeves that change up characters. It seems to have a lot of interesting things to it. There are in fact 3000 unique scoundrels. It is going to be an engine building game with some push your luck as well to it. I really love the aesthetic of the game that’s for sure. More information is going to come out tomorrow for more details and is coming out Fall of 2022 or demo it at Gen Con.

Pegasus Spiele

Caldera Park

This is a tile placement game where you are trying to place large herds of animals. The active player is picking what you do and you play them on your own map. It sounds interesting, you try and place things out so that you can not block yourself out for what other people pick, because you are trying to get large herds. I like this a lot reminds me of Tiny Towns.

Spaceship Unity

A space themed game, I don’t know a ton about it at this point in time. It has some great artwork and a fun video introducing it. It is going to be a campaign game over 5 episodes. You need to interact with your own house, I am less convinced on that. They want it to be kind of that Star Trek or Orville theme but to me that sounds too odd.

Dan and Cora Hughes

Cora Quest: Keep on Questing

It’s a family dungeon crawling game. This is more for the game, more quests. It’s coming to Kickstarter in October. It’s going to be adding in more to the game, leveling up characters, more items things like that. Just basically more for the game, so if you like it, you know, and you know if you want more. And there is a box design contests or things for kids from all over the world to get artwork on the box.

Portal Games

Basilica

A 2nd of the game. I don’t know much about it, but it looks quite euro. A two player tile laying game. Ignacy described it as Carcassonne with combat and area control. I like tile laying, I don’t mind area control, especially as two players. So I am curious about it but it is a try before I buy easily. It’s going to be an Essen Spiel release.

Granna

Space Craft

You are building a space craft. You get different resources to let you buy different ship pieces. One interesting piece of the look is that the pieces click together. Plus you are trying to build your space craft to get orders completed. There is some interesting movement to gather your resources and how they are limited. This is one that I’m curious about just because it is building a space craft, and while it’s 2D it looks like a lot of fun. It’s going to be premiering at Essen Spiel.

Matagot

Peter Pan

It’s panic in Neverland as the lost children has been kidnapped. It looks like a game with players trying to figure out where the lost children were taken while avoiding Captain Hook. I think it looks like a lot of fun, it’s a dry erase board which allows you to figure out information. And there is a campaign mode which is interesting. It reminds me of Treasure Island but this one being cooperative is way more interesting to me.

Smirk and Dagger

Tesseract

An other dimensional tesseract is collapsing down. Can you figure out how to control it or will it blow up and destroy our earth. The goal of the game is to get cubes off of the Tesseract and get them into a matrix. If you can contain a cubes into matrix. It’s all about collecting different sets of cubes to fill up that matrix. Looks like a fun puzzle of a game and is going to be cooperative as well. Coming to Kickstarter in October. And it has a lot of cool dice in it.

Gale Force Nine

Enola Holmes: Finder of Lost Souls

It’s an all versus one game of reasoning and deception. I like the idea of a one versus all game where it is set-up with figuring out what the one has set-up. It’s made as a family weight game which to me is interesting but probably not for me. I find that one versus all are hard to get to the table. And it sounds like there is a bit of Mastermind element to it as well. For me, I’d play this but I don’t think I’d ever pick it up not because it looks bad, but it doesn’t look like it’s for me.

Plaid Hat Games

Hickory Dickory

You are trying to collect different things to get points. Now, that sounds boring or standard. But there is a clock with a moving hand around the board. Which I think is pretty interesting. And it isn’t just collecting sets, it’s collecting rows and columns. And the artwork is amazing for this game. I actually think I want to pick this one up because the game just looks so pretty on the table. And Q4 in 2022 for the release date.

Grey Fox Games

Prophets of Doom

You’re the leader of a doomsday cult but you are really bad at figuring out what is happening. You’re trying to get followers and build up your compound. It’s a fun theme and fairly unique. Honestly, don’t know what I think about this, the artwork is nice. The theme, like I said is fun, but also I don’t know too much about how it’s played. And it’s a Q1 game in 2023.

Reavers of Midgard Expansion

I haven’t played Champions or Reavers of Midgard. I think that they look pretty but also they don’t seem like my type of game. But if you like Reavers of Midgard, then this is going to be interesting to you. It’s a game that I wouldn’t mind playing. And it’s coming to Kickstarter or crowdfunding towards the end of 2022.

Navoo Games

Raising Robots

It’s interesting strategy game with robots for 1 to 7 players. I find that interesting because that’s a big number of players but they have engine building, simultaneous action selection and variable player powers. I really love the artwork from Howard McWilliam. The game looks like it’s going to be pretty heavy which is not a bad thing, but it might be heavier than the art makes it look. Looks like a try before I buy because there is a lot going on. And while you do stuff simultaneously, it looks like you pick actions and then set stuff up then everyone activates. It’s one you can checkout at Gen Con.

Rebel Studio

Meadow Downstream

An expansion for Meadow. It is releasing at Spiel Essen this year. There is a river board and water tiles that you use. It’s going to add more to Meadow and if you like Meadow then you are probably going to want more of this

Meadow Adventure Book

Another expansion but this one is going to be adding in scenarios. It will be legacy like experience in 2023. So think adding rules as you go and playing the specific scenarios. They said legacy like, though, so I am assuming somewhat replayable. Meadow is a game that I should try and checkout at Gen Con because I love the artwork and look but don’t want to take the plunge to buy it yet.

Chronicles of Avel: New Adventures

It’s adding in three more scenarios and three modules. This is going to be an expansion, if that’s not obvious, for Chronicles of Avel. This is a game that I keep on seeing at stores. I believe it’s an adventure game for a younger audience, or at least that is the feeling that I’ve gotten. I don’t know if this is making it more complex, but the game always interests me. Another one I’d love to checkout at Gen Con. And the components really do look amazing for this game.

Avel the Card Game

This is going to be a deck building game set in the Avel setting. There is no shuffling of the cards. This is going to be a bit of a step up, and is going to be a cooperative card game that they call as a next step game. That definitely makes me think that Chronicles of Avel might be too light for me, at least until the kid is a bit older, but this one could be intriguing for playing with more casual gamers.

Rock Manor Games

Set a Watch: Forsaken Isles

This is going to be a standalone expansion, which they have done before, for their Set A Watch game line. You face off against monsters, new ones, with new adventurers. But it still maintains mix and match ability with the other Set a Watch stuff you already have. This is one, Set a Watch, that is on my shelf that I need to get played. I am not sure that I need to grab more of it, but we’ll see once I get my copy of Set a Watch played, which I should soon.

City of Games

Race to the Raft

From the designer and company that brought you Isle of Cats, this is about the cats left behind. A cooperative game where you play as the cats to try and get the ones left behind off the island on the last remaining raft. It definitely is interesting to me. I like Isle of Cats and I want to try City of Kings. I like the idea of cooperative with those same cats and cat artwork. Definitely one I’ll be keeping an eye on.

WizKids

Ascending Empires Zenith Edition

A new version of Ascending Empires. I don’t know anything about this game, it’s a Sci-Fi themed 4x game with about a 60-90 minute play time. Whenever I hear 4x, I am intrigued, but I also know I have troubles getting the ones I own to the table. It’s a new edition so it’ll be interesting to checkout for me as there is a dexterity element to the game with how you move your ships. I do like games with dexterity but again, it is still 4x. For sure it is one that I’d want to try. And like a lot of games now, it is going to add modules to allow you to change it up. I often wonder how likely I am to play with a module, I need to try them in Isle of Cats.

CMON

Stranger Things Upside Down

If you could have seen me when I saw what the announcement was. It is by Rob Daviau from Pandemic Legacy which I love. And Cthulhu Death May Die which I need to see. I literally got goose bumps and I had to pause the video because I am so excited. There was an Asmodee Stranger Things social deduction game announced. This, however, is not that.

It is coming to retail in 2023. Not a ton of details yet for it, but I don’t need to know more about it. It is Rob Daviau, it is a cooperative game. And you are trying to save Hawkins from the Upside Down. I don’t need to know more, I will get this game. I don’t know that I have ever had a reaction to a board game announcement like I did now. Maybe for Frosthaven but that would be about it. Shut up and take my money!

Dire Wolf

Dune Imperium – Immortality

I really need to play Dune Imperium. I assume that anyone who knows the game is going to be exciting. This expansion is going to be more for the deck building element. Plus there is also going to be research track as well, which is interesting. It is definitely making the game more complex, and I think it could be exciting. Dune Imperium is one that I should track down and play, but it never shows up used that I’ve seen. Expected to be available around the end of 2022.

CGE

Deal with the Devil

It’s an engine building Euro game. it is going to have secret roles, though, which is going to be changing up the standard thing. The game looks interesting on the table with buildings that are player screens to hide who you are and what you want to do. Not my type of game, but it is going to have a table presence for sure. And there is going to be an app that hands out the roles as well, which is intriguing. I would try it just because it seems to add in a little bit more than just a standard Euro game but then again, there is social deduction. It is a Gen Con first look coming out around Essen Spiel.

Final Thoughts

There are a ton of games in this announcement. There are some that aren’t all that interesting to me, but then again, there are others that I am clearly excited for. I will be finding out everything I can about the Stranger Things game. Like I said, it is going to be on that I immediately seek out and it’s a theme that I want a great game with it. Rob Daviau is a designer that I want to doing it. But besides that, I got to say, I think that Race to the Raft and The Great Split interest me the most next.

What is the game that stood out to you that you want to try out or need to get?

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The $1 Crowdfunding Pledge

Let’s talk about the $1 pledge level. Why do I pledge at that level sometimes, and how often do I get more?

So what is a $1 pledge? It is basically a cheap way to get the updates on a Kickstarter campaign. With Gamefound you can follow along if you subscribe to it. But Kickstarter, is is $1 and often times it gives you access to the pledge manager as well.

The nice thing about a $1 pledge is that you don’t need all the money at once. If both Final Girl and Marvel Zombies run at the same time – they did – then you don’t need to give both of them a couple hundred dollars right at the same time. You back $1 now you can get one now and save up for the other one later.

But how often do I back for $1, once in a while, and I’d say maybe 2 out of the 6-7 that I did that with, I ended up adding in the pledge manager. One, for sure, that I did was The Witcher: Old World. And I believe there was another that I added. I don’t care enough, most of the time, to do $1 and get the updates.

The Drink

A Negroni again. It’s such a good drink, again a warm day and one that is nice to have on a day like that. But a good drink to have stuff around for. It is really one that I like to sip while grilling as well. On a hot summer day it is refreshing and with some ice in there, it doesn’t feel water down when the ice melts.

Upcoming Streams

Tomorrow I’ll be streaming, I think my plan is more Paper Dungeons. So join for some fun to play along. I’m still working my way through that campaign.

I talked about this on the stream, and maybe I’ll talk about it more tomorrow. But I am getting a gaming table with a topper. That will allow for me to leave a bigger campaign game set-up on the lower level and put the top on when I want to play something else. So once that comes, I am going to be getting back to streaming a larger game.

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Pros

• Proven Game System
• Proven Company
• Apocalypse/Post-Apocalypse Theme
• Price Point

Cons

• FOMO on old stuff

The Page

I think that Rock Manor Games did a very good job laying out this Kickstarter page. Like I said in the Pros section, they are a proven company with proven Kickstarter experience. So I am not super worried that they wouldn’t have a nice looking page, bu t the layout is solid to me.

There is a good sized section for game play as well. Now it does fall into an issue I have with other expansions or sequels. Do I know how to play the original game, if I do, it’s all fine. However, if I don’t, the explanation doesn’t give you a ton on how the basics of the game works, just what is new. This is fine, Maximum Apocalypse has it’s fans already who know the game. They want to know what the new stuff is, but for new people interested in it, a blurb, just even a short paragraph explaining would be nice.

The only other thing I’d knock them on is the shipping section. Now shipping prices are really competitive. In fact, I would say some of the best I’ve seen in a while, so I hope they didn’t price them too low or they wouldn’t jump too much in the pledge manager. But what I don’t like is that they aren’t directly on the page. When I am working, I don’t have access to Google Docs, so I can’t check the shared sheet to see prices and make a determination. Now this is more of a me issue. For a lot of people they won’t check at work or work will allow it. Still, would be nice to have the graphic.

The Game

So, the game is an existing game already, the game play is out there. I actually watched through game play on Rolling Solo for the original game, and then Quackalope for this Kickstarter. You can see the Quackalope game play below.

This game does a lot of things that I like. I don’t believe this is an easy game to beat, and I love games like that. Some people want to win cooperative games most of the time, I want to win them 25%-33% of the time. Now, I want to feel like I am close, and as you can see, Quackalope was and wasn’t close.

In Maximum Apocalypse, I like how the game pushes you in what you are doing and gives you lots of ways to lose, but mainly by someone dying. Just everything is trying to kill you. It also makes finding goods such as food and fuel that you need challenging, almost in a Dead of Winter sort of way.

Maximum Apocalypse: Wasted Wilds actually adds in two cool things for me. The first being that it is a campaign. They had scenarios that would get harder for the different factions in the original game, but it wasn’t a campaign. You could play them back to back to back, but the game itself wouldn’t remember what you’ve done. This one adds in that campaign element that it feels like the first one could have had. The second thing is the tribes in the game. Tribes basically give you the ability to create powerful enemies or powerful allies to hind or help you. I love that concept and that it gives you something else to manage in an already challenging game.

Back or Brick

So is this game a back or a brick for me? I am going to give this one a Back. However, I don’t know that I will be backing it. Yes, I can do that, I make the rules around here. I suspect that I’d really love this game, the campaign aspect is really cool, it is more a matter of budget. I need to pace myself in what I back, and I just got off backing Marvel United X-Men which wasn’t cheap.

That said, I think that anyone who backs this game, it is going to be a great game. As Quackalope says in their video, this is a bit of a messy game in terms of the randomness, but I really like that in a game, and with the theme and story, I feel like it works really well.

How about for you? Is Maximum Apocalypse: Wasted Wilds a Back or a Brick for you?

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