Kickstarter needs backing!

Campaign Trail

I saw this game being promoted many months ago and was not interested due to the current state of politics in this country. Based off of the box art and title, I did not want to give this project a chance. Since then I have read the current Kickstarter campaign site and see that this is a game about how campaigning works, or is supposed to work. The creator's father came up with the idea and now they have brought it to life after development since 2012. I hesitate to call this a game and would probably call it a simulator. You advertise, campaign, travel, debate and try to get enough voters in the electoral college to be elected President; and you do it all without getting in to actual politics.

This game comes to us from Cosmic Wombat Games and is their second Kickstarter campaign. They are doing things right by listening to their audience. I remember what turned me off initially was the logo they had with a boxing elephant and donkey. Now the box features a capitol dome and invites a more educational feel than a me vs. you fight. The best part though? A viable third party option! This game can teach us a few things about current American politics and can show us how a third party candidacy can affect the game.

As of 5/21 they are 96% funded with 12 days to go. For more info on the campaign, click here.

What do you think about this game? Would you play it? Will you back it? Anyone want to play it on Tabletopia?

One small step

One Small Step...

I am designing a Board Game! Yes, several months ago I began developing a game that is unique, fun and very versatile. The photo above is my hand-drawn first version of the game. It has been play tested be several friends and family and I am currently working on version two. After several plays I believe this game has a viable chance of becoming successful. Those that see my occasional posts on the blog know that I back Kick Starter projects frequently and I am now looking to start a project to feature on Kick Starter.

This is going to be a large task, possibly one of the largest tasks I have ever attempted, but with the help of friends and family, I hope to bring this game to a professional quality of manufacturing and artwork. I am currently assembling a team of artists and other business-savvy people to help with this endeavor. A timeline has not yet been set but the first step begins today. I will keep posting about progress towards a launch day and will keep you updated about the development of the game itself so that I can provide a top-quality game that you would be proud to show on your "shelfies."

About the game: The game is a cooperative board game for 1 - 4 players set in modern time. The premise is that the players are controlling a SWAT team attempting to bring a hostage situation to a successful resolution. The game uses resource management, press-your-luck, and grid-based combat mechanics. 6 (or more) situation variables allow for the game to have a high replay value.

What can you do? Share this with your friends and help me generate hype as we take this adventure together. In the Denver area? Keep following this blog as I will need play-testers to help fine tune the mechanics.

Until next time...

Aaron

A gateway to the hobby: "Takenoko" and "Chibis"

Takenoko: 2 -4 players, 45 minutes, Ages 8+

Overview: By placing tiles, growing and eating bamboo, complete goal cards to score the most points. The player that can balance growing their species (red, yellow, green) of bamboo with the appetite of the hungry panda will win the game.

Child Playability: Symbol reading required. Language reading skills not required. Low number counts. Bamboo pieces are small enough to be eaten.

Game play: Starting with an irrigation tile in the middle of the play area, roll a "weather die" that tells you to "gain 1 action", "rain" on 1 tile, take two of the same action, move a panda, obtain a tile improvement token, or pick one of the above. Then you get two actions to draw and place a new tile, irrigate, move the gardener (to grow bamboo), move the panda (to eat bamboo), or draw a new goal card.

Review: This is a fairly simple and light family game that is great to play after a dinner party or with your kids. The components are cute and well made and the tiles are sturdy. The art is great and the game play is easy to learn. If you have friends (especially of the female variety) that are not into board games so much, this would be a great way to introduce them to the hobby. The mini goals that need to be met throughout the game keep you engaged and make you keep thinking about how to meet your next objective. The strategy is light but still enough to not bore the moderate gamers.

You can block other players or set them back by trying to accomplish your own goals which can frustrate children...but they need to learn sometime and why not do it with a cute panda bear eating their bamboo goals? 

As a group game I find that it is great with 3-4 people that are looking for a light game. For a little more strategy and PVP action, a two player game is good as you really start to watch the other player's moves in an attempt to block their cards you think they have. Adding additional rules like discarding goals you already have completed or making incomplete goals count negative like in Ticket to Ride can add more stress for those looking to make it a more medium weight game.

Expansion: The expansion (Chibis) adds a female panda, babies (3 of each color), 6 new tiles and some new goal cards. The expansion adds a little more strategy to the game and a bit of luck as each of the babies give you a random bonus. Watching other players' bonuses from the babies can push you into trying to get certain ones if you know what is left as all 3 colors have the same 3 unique bonuses. The new tiles can make bamboo grow anywhere, one tile grow all three colors, and a new way to obtain goal cards. Chibis adds to the game without making it too complex and keeps it at a light - medium weight game that is still good for new gamers.

Recommended for: New gamers, Friends and family of gamers, Children.

Not recommended for: Moderate - Heavy gamers

Small World

 

Small World: 2 -5 players, 40 - 60 minutes, Ages 10+

Overview:
High replay value. Fantasy themed, competitive, turn based game play, amusing combinations of races/powers. Comes with expansions that can increase number of players to 6 (Realms), and races and powers.

Mid-game of a 5 player game

Game play: Races and power card are shuffled and matched making for almost endless possibilities. Each player begins their turn by using their starting points to buy a race/power combo that gives them a set, varying number of starting pieces. The player then uses those starting pieces to take over the