Below is a selection of games that stood out to us while browsing kickstarter.com.
Backing a project can be a great thing, but please do the research on a game before you put money into it. Happy exploring!
Miniatures Games
Role-Playing Games
Other Board Game Related Projects
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My only currently supported projects are Maha Yodha (which REALLY needs more people supporting it for the art and educational value alone), and The Worst Game Ever, combining all the actions your hate from all your favorite games and putting them all in one (enjoyable) experience. Cheap enough to be in it for the giggles alone.
I’m not backing as much as I used to. Saving some scrilla.
Does anyone know anything about Chicago Express? I like several of Queen Games’ other games, but don’t know much about this one. There doesn’t seem to be a game profile page for it here.
Still trying to decide about Maha Yodha. There’s a PnP uploaded to their BGG page but I haven’t had the chance to print it out yet.
I love how there are so many that they have to be categorized on here now. The age of gaming is upon us.
@Paladin I hate console fighters also – sadly The Boy likes them as much as much as a Boy would – so every now and again I am subjected to getting stuck in the corner and kicked in the ankle repeatedly in a relationship ritual until he goes on-line. BUT I do like watching him play on occasion because that’s fun while you drink some tea and it is neat to see all the characters unlock and crazy costumes and secret levels, etc.
But Battlecon that’s a console fighter I can play (without bruising my fingers or getting them tangled together) and better yet, WIN! We received our Devastation right around Christmas and had a blast. Each character has a different play style and difficulty so it is always fun to take new fighters for a spin while perfecting strategies for ones you like. Then – like a console game you can switch it all up with unlocked ‘costumes’ or weapons, or play modes. As a Variable Power genre fan – two thumbs up and a wicked smile! I enjoyed it so much that I became Level99 girl for the house and backed Argent even though worker placement leaves me chilly. I figured if Battlecon was an enjoyable console mash romp – Argent will definitely make me enjoy worker placement. I guess we’ll see.
But…I’ll be happy to make your wallet smile. Here’s something I threw together during Argent when Brad was trying to push a little Devastation also.
http://i1364.photobucket.com/albums/r739/HaiKulture/000_0040_zps89c9be06.jpg
All the baggies are the fighters with their cards, tokens, and various standees. The left side is all the bosses, strikers, weapons, base fighting cards, alternate styles, arenas, etc.
Multiply that by 2 for the way Battlecon:War Remastered is going and I think you’ll not only say ‘money well spent’, but give your wallet a pat on the back. 🙂
@Paladin – I keep a very similar spreadsheet! I’ve used it since I joined Kickstarter last November, so I don’t know what life is like without it. It’s great for keeping track of your overall budget and the relative value of each game. But it’s kind of sobering for tracking project receipt dates. Of the 6 I should have received by the end of May, only one (Krosmaster: Frigost) is in-hand – and it was 2 months late. The other five have had their expected delivery dates adjusted anywhere from June (Tortuga) to September (Fief). None of this discourages me from pledging – I don’t mind waiting for the best product – but being patient for something you want badly enough to shell out good money for 6+ months in advance isn’t always easy!
My active carry-overs include The Lord of the Ice Garden, 12 Realms: Ancestors Legacy without an apostrophe, Luchador!, Dungeon Dice, Realm of Heroes, Rive and Waggle Dance. I agree with @Hai that Rive has little to no chance of funding with such a high goal, but I’ll stay in to at least be notified of a future re-launch.
I have backed 3 new campaigns since last week:
The Outlaws – a little expensive for a card game, but the components look remarkable. 80 laser-etched metal tokens instead of standard cardboard? Sign me up.
Bedtime Heroes – cute kid-friendly card game, but it’s also pricey once you convert from Pounds. Looks like it will have trouble funding, though.
Forge War – I don’t do BGG, so I don’t know this Rahdo… but he/she sure seems to like this game…
Several weeks ago I made a spreadsheet of Kickstarter board games I’ve pledged to, pledge amounts, estimated delivery dates, and (if they’ve been delivered) actual delivery dates. There’s even two pledge columns, so I can see “invested money” that has currently produced no physical rewards.
If you enjoy clicking on “Pledge to this project”, never make a spreadsheet.
There’s a lot more appraisal and re-evaluation of my active Kickstarter pledges these days. If something expensive like Sentinels: Tactics comes along, I look at what can be chopped in favor of that game, or if it’s better not to drop that kind of cash on something that may not show up for 18 months.
Originally I was in for 12 Realms: Ancestors Legacy (I hate typing that — there needs to be an apostrophe somewhere). I was gung-ho at first, but as the project unfolded I saw a lot of developments I didn’t like. Ultimately I was driven away by the over-abundance of animal people and the fact that the new villain miniatures, if they’re even unlocked, will be an additional add-on amount over the $112 I had already pledged.
I really like Mr. B Games. He’s a good guy and always willing to work with backers. But after hemming and hawing over Realm of Heroes for a few days, I dropped my pledge. It just doesn’t feel like my kind of game.
In contrast, I only grabbed up an Early Bird of Progress: Evolution of Technology on a whim, because the Early Bird was available. After delving into the project more and watching a few videos, I am glad I did, though. The game play reminds me enough of 7 Wonders, which I love, that I think it will see a lot of play at my table. The fact that they are already queued at the factory and ready to print for an October delivery is just gravy.
Finally, let me tell you a long-winded story:
I don’t like fighting video games; I’ve never been good at them. Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat, Tekken — I don’t even know what the modern versions of those games are, but I’d be terrible at them. To be fair, though, I’m pretty terrible at all video games unless I’m playing a Fury Warrior in World of Warcraft and tapping keys in a scripted sequence [1 … 1 … 2 … 1 … 1 … 2 … 1 … 1 … 2 … 3!]
When I received my copy of Power Play from Level 99 Games on Tuesday evening, I wrote a message to the project creator, Brad, to tell him how impressed I was with the product. The game box was amazing, the whole thing was carefully packed — it was a much happier and more satisfying experience than my recent run-in with Three Fates Games and Let’s Kill Krampus.
During my exchange with Brad, he asked if I’d checked out BattleCON: War Remastered. I assured him that I had, but that I’m not a fan of fighting games. Brad countered that I might want to watch the videos, and that if I had someone I frequently play 1-on-1 games with (…Are you stalking me and The Lady, Brad?), it was worth giving another look.
Three videos later, I had pledged $170. Well played, Mr. Talton.
Seriously, though, BattleCON actually looks like a lot of fun, and I’m glad he encouraged me to give it a second glance, despite the crippling Wallet-Shattering / Jab it delivered. Of course, I could have easily gotten in on a less expensive level, but we all know I’d have just ended up running out to grab Devastation three days later.
I’ve been cutting back on KS projects recently, partially due to waiting for a couple upcoming projects later this month (New Dawn from Artipia, the “sequel” to Among the Stars; and Zombicide: Season 3), and partially to trying to cut back on the costs of all these projects, and trying to be much more particular about what I want to back.
That said, I’m in on Hollywood and Twilight Struggle Digital Edition right now. I considered Progress for a bit but ultimately decided to hold off as the gameplay seems somewhat dry. I dropped Evolution as well. I found the art didn’t really appeal to me, which is one of its major selling points, and I just wasn’t real excited about the game.
The digital edition of Twilight Struggle just launched and reached it’s funding goal on day 1.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/559431060/twilight-struggle-digital-edition
Not much going on for me as I sip my Lazy Kickstarter Tea
Button’d
Capes and Villains Approaching the Final 12ness. It had a very rocky campaign and probably could have done better if Marvel Dicemasters wasn’t the hot ticket no one can get and, well, if it hadn’t tripped over itself so much. In light of all post-campaign mutations going on out there, I think the mechanic changes that happened mid-campaign were for the better. Those shields were a bit gimmicky and fussy and fiddly and could be doom on the market. Like a fledgling cape, I think I am backing it more on ‘potential’ now which is what Kickstarter used to be about.
Other than that Dungeon Dice is in my queue. I am not a fan of push-your-luck dice games like Zombie Dice but I can’t say no to something like 3 POUNDS OF DICE!!!! even if I just wind up rolling in them Indecent Proposal style.
And Battlecon:War Remastered because I loathe console button mashers but Battlecon:Devastation is such a fast, fun, furious and deep in combination game. The Boy is grumbling that there is no ‘real conversion kit’ offered. In the end, I rather have a War that fully integrates with Devastation and the way the campaign is going there will be so much goodness by Endgame the reinvestment is a no-brainer. Besides I took over as Level99 backer for our household – so he has no say in the matter and was completely eye-rolled and ‘pooh-pooh’ out of the room.
XenoShyft:Onslaught I’m pretty sure The Boy is backing that one because if there was a T-shirt that said ‘I want to marry guys in armor fighting giant bugs’ he would wear it to the ceremony and that Blur song would be the wedding march.
Fencin’
Both Hollywood and Evolution are on the radar. I just can’t get my Ameritrash fingers to extend an Euro-pinky to push the button.
12 Realms looks pretty, but feels light.
Rive I really like the cut of your jib – but I don’t think the goal is in reach. Contrarywise Lord of the Ice Garden seems to have too much content for too little total funding.
The Odd Couples
Black Market Warehouse A few weeks ago Fire Squadron wanted to Loot Crate a ton of games for only 300K and a $300 pledge, now it’s one game for $15 dollars. I can’t figure out if they really want to make games or money.
Beowulf: Didn’t Fantasy Flight Games already do that…twice? I guess Grendel is the New Cthulhu.
Wow, that’s a lot of games!
Another one I’ve backed is the ever-so-cute Bedtime Heroes, which looks like a bit of light fun: http://kck.st/S2yqlv
My carryovers this week are Copper Country; 12 Realms: Ancestors Legacy (although my final pledge level will depend on where it ends up on stretch goals); Evolution; and Hollywood.
I’m very excited about Progress: Evolution of Technology. Just from watching Rahdo’s run-through, I’m already excited about 2 planned expansions (adding the 4th, 5th & 6th ages, and adding political & military advancements).
I also like Ghosts Love Candy as a fun, quick game. Waggle Dance is on my watch list.
A truly amazing week for kickstarter games!