The Second Print-and-Play Kit has Arrived!
Hello everyone!
This weekend those of us in Saint Paul had the good fortune to attend Protospiel Minnesota, where we played a lot of new games from promising designers and, of course, logged many games of Root as well as Patrick’s upcoming stand-alone game, Vast: The Mysterious Manor (KS to come Q2/Q3).
After the con, I went back to the office and spent the rest of the weekend and today preparing the next print-and-play kit for everyone. I’m so happy to be able to finally share this! Over the past two months, the design has gotten a lot of polish and everyone in the office is really happy with the game's progress.
There are too many changes to detail here in an update, but I’ll run you through the highlights:
- The deck has been tweaked and reorganized. This allowed me to really clean up the card layout. And, best of all, these changes have necessitated a lot more artwork for the game! Not all of the illustrations are done, however, so I’ve done my best with the pictures completed so far.
- The Alliance and Vagabond have had a significant reworking to provide a lot more challenge with fewer rules.
- The core systems in the game have been streamlined and polished. Combat is faster and the new ambush rules are more exciting. Many troublesome exceptions have been removed throughout, and certain systems (like retreating) ended up getting dropped because they just weren't seeing much play.
- The rules have been reorganized and given a lot of attention. At this point the rules reference booklet is almost complete outside of a few more editorial passes. We will be starting layout soon. Note that this rulebook is meant to be concise and easy to reference, so don't be put off by its somewhat legalistic concision. New players will be able to use the teaching guide.
- Speaking of which, the teaching guide is still underway. The text itself is done (thanks, in part, to our wonderful editor Joshua Yearsley). However, because layout and rulebook illustrations are so important to that booklet, we’ll be waiting until we have it a little further along before we share it.
In general, the game is continues to grow and is well underway. Speaking for the design, we’re pretty much on schedule. If you’d like to read more about the development process, today Katie Aidley published my design diary about the past couple of months on her blog. You can find it here.
Finally, the link to the print and play can be found here. (Note: if you have already printed a map, you won't find any major changes and can avoid printing it again.)
Thanks again for all of your continued support for this project. I hope you all enjoy the new kit!
Best,
Cole
Cole Wehrle Collaborator about 8 hours ago
@Jefferson, the card is correct. I'll put a correction in the rules, thanks!
Jose about 9 hours ago
@Tev looks awesome! I will setup mine this weekend.
Card cute titles FTW!
Jefferson about 10 hours ago
I think I noticed a Typo:
The "Charismatic" Eyrie leader card states to place viziers on RECRUIT and BATTLE.
However, the manual states to place viziers on RECRUIT and MOVE for the "Charismatic" leader.
Tev
Superbacker
about 20 hours ago
Printing now... finished the cards (printed on 28lb paper, then laminated), now for the board and pieces...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/tevk/25993017768/
Crawley 1 day ago
After reading the excellent design diary part about balancing the new deck, I poked around it a little bit, and found the crafting balance to be interesting. Excluding the three Tax Collectors because they require one of each nation (and because the Vagabonds are incapable of crafting them), the 3-cost Favor cards because there's only the one for each nation, and the wild Royal Claim card, we get a distribution that looks like this:
https://i.imgur.com/qr4oiRQ.png
The Fox nation is the most balanced, with five each 1-cost and 2-cost cards, leaning slightly towards items rather than improvements. But they also have the fewest available crafting cards by far, only 10 compared to 13 and 15.
Rabbits are fairly balanced between 7 items and 6 improvements but have much more 2-cost cards with 9 than their 1-cost cards, only 4.
Mice are almost opposite Rabbits with the greatest number of inexpensive cards at 11 (more than the Fox and Rabbit 1-cost cards combined, also more than all Fox cards), with zero 2-cost items and 4 each 1- and 2-cost improvements (these 4 being the Mice nation's only 2-cost cards).
Overall there are 20 items and 18 improvements. There are also 20 1-cost cards and 18 2-cost cards.
I'm not a game theorist or anything so I don't exactly know what this information means. Maybe Mouse clearing are more powerful for crafting because you need fewer of them to craft more things? Just thought it was interesting.
Cole Wehrle Collaborator 1 day ago
@tomboy,
Some answers:
1. That's right, the Vagabond rule is party an artifact. The new rule (which I'll upload tonight, reads as follows: Nimble. For the purposes of his own movement, the vagabond is always considered to rule the clearing where he is currently located.
2. Warriors in the operations box stay. They only get removed through the destruction of bases.
3. With two vagabonds there will be just one set of 3 quests and both vagabonds will use that one set. (I'll put in a clarification here)
4. There isn't meant to be a marker on that track, it's just a reminder about how many points each quest is worth.
5. Ah. Hmm. So after completing a quest, they draw a new quest and a new card from the deck. I'll update the rules to put that reference back in.
6. Dropped items go back to the item stock. I'll clarify.
Thanks for these excellent questions!
tomboy 1 day ago
Read through the rules, I like the changes, many things seem less complicated now, especially the new alliance mechanics, which seem much easier, but nicely thematic and fun.
The new card layout seems nice, though I miss the cute titles, and having the crafting requirement in two places looks a bit weird imo.
I can't wait to get the kit printed and try it out :)
A few questions regarding the rules:
1) If you don't rule the origin clearing, you can only move to clearings you rule. So you cannot move to unruled clearings / clearings where the ruler permits you to move anymore? If that's the case, the description for "nimble" is a bit weird, since it mentions permisson.
2) Woodland alliance operations box: do you have to spend(=remove) a warrior from the box for each action, or do they stay there?
3) With two vagabonds, are the 3/3 quest exclusive to only one of them, or can they do any of the 6 next to the map?
4) Vagabond quest scoring and the faction board: there is this one general track on the faction board, but the rules state to gain additional points only for completed quests with the matching nation. So there should be 3 markers there that advance separately?
5) Vagabond faction board & quest: says to draw a card, but this isn't mentioned in the rules.
6) What happens with the removed items of the vagabond in the case of exceeding his carry capacity, where do they go?
Cole Wehrle Collaborator 1 day ago
I suppose both. Mechanically I new it had to be separate from Daylight, but it was possible that the Birdsong/Evening phases could be flipped. It seemed more appropriate to have the sympathy spread in the morning and the raids to happen at night.
Christopher Parker 1 day ago
@Cole Oh, we've got play sequence right. My question relates to making the Woodland Alliance's Evening phase involve some combat and movement along with the upkeep everyone else has to do in their own Evening phases. Was this a choice inspired by theme (the Alliance striking and moving in the shadows) over mechanics or the other way around?
tomboy 1 day ago
@Cole thanks a lot, you are the best!
( and yay for the comeback of the cute titles :) )
David Altieri
Superbacker
1 day ago
Really digging the new car layouts.
Cole Wehrle Collaborator 1 day ago
@Christopher. You have the sequence of play wrong. Each player completes their own turn (Birdsong, Daylight, and Evening) before the next player in sequence.
Cole Wehrle Collaborator 1 day ago
Alright alright the cute titles will make it back in some fashion :D
Gary 1 day ago
+1 Jose! :-) the cute titles “visit friend”, “hard work” lends so much theme to this adorable game :D
Tim 1 day ago
Is anyone able to follow the print and play link? It does not work for me...?
Brian Ries 1 day ago
I have no idea if you want any 'clarification' questions here in this thread (let me know if I should ask elsewhere). But another question I had -- are the d4 still considered to have a range of 0-3 on the results? Or are you using standard d4s instead now? I don't think I stumbled upon the same combat rules as the previous version?
Christopher Parker 1 day ago
How does the Woodland Alliance attacking during Evening affect a player's turn? I like the thematic element of it, but I'm not sure I understand gameplay impact unless all players are playing Birdsong in turn order, then Daylight, then Evening,
Cole Wehrle Collaborator 1 day ago
Finally, just a general note that I'll be updating this rules pdf for the next couple days to respond to any typos or clarity issues that are found.
Cole Wehrle Collaborator 1 day ago
@jose That's right, the cards are not final. When I rebuilt the deck a lot more art is needed, so it missed this PNP deadline. I'm sure if you follow @d20plusmodifier on twitter though he'll be posting some beforehand if you're curious.
Cole Wehrle Collaborator 1 day ago
@tomboy, your wish is my command. The file now contains a version of the game deck without rounded corners.
Cole Wehrle Collaborator 1 day ago
@Brian, without the vagabond, you don't need to take the item. I'll add a clarification.
tomboy 1 day ago
@Cole I wish there was a version of the cards pdf where the cards are not rounded down, so if you just cut the sheet straight, it wouldn't look weird.
I'm looking forward to printing the new kit and trying it out!
Jose 1 day ago
Cool! Now time to print...
I liked the card names better how they used to be, not just the name of an item but like an event "visit to a friend", "hard work", etc.. it made more sense for everyone. Like, why would I craft a single sword being the Marquise, and gain a victory point with that. It is just the name though :P
By the way, the cards are not final, right? Some art is mixed up (crossbow -> two handed sword nun mouse)
Gary 2 days ago
Adorable... :-D
Brian Ries 2 days ago
I really like the update to Woodland Alliance. It's going to be fun to watch the sympathy grow into bases and outright battles. Great changes.
I have a question about items and the Not-Vagabond factions? When you craft an item, it goes into your play area? Does the Vagabond purchase those? Do you use those somehow? I was having hard time figuring that out. Thanks!
Tev
Superbacker
2 days ago
I think this is a typo:
"2.2.3. Tokens. If you are promoted to place a token," - should be "prompted", like 2.2.1 and 2.2.2?
Cole Wehrle Collaborator 2 days ago
@Veritas, Nope, you have to be the one to hit them. So, if they attack you next turn and you kill one, then you'll adjust your relationship.
Re: Woodland Alliance. If a player can't pay the card, they show their hand and then a card is drawn from the deck.
Good questions!
Veritas 2 days ago
As the Vagabond, does leading an allies troops into battle and losing some of them make you their enemy?
Veritas 2 days ago
I kinda miss the conspiracies and basic functionality of the Woodland Alliance. This new rule set is interesting though, but feels more like the other factions. I like most of the other changes though. It does feel like some of the complexity is being taken out of the game, not sure how I feel about that. I'll need to play it again.
I have a rules clarification question. When the Alliance takes a card from another player because they moved into the sympathetic clearing, is the card drawn from the hand or the deck if they don't have one of the correct suit?
Sam Button-Harrison
Superbacker
2 days ago
Wow! The new card layouts look great!
Patrick Leder 4-time creator
Superbacker
2 days ago
Zazh - Yeah we can do that.
Zach Farnsworth 2 days ago
Oh man, this is great news! Is the tapletop simulator version going to be updated as well?
Cole Wehrle Collaborator 2 days ago
The two-player rules are coming along nicely. Next up on my docket is finishing the Lizards and the Otters. Once I have those set I'll be able to put the final touches on the bots and then hit the scenarios. One two player scenario you can play right now is just Marquise vs. Eyrie, first to 50 points wins. It's pretty tricky for both parties! And, of course, there will be a ton of two player scenarios that should be finished within a month or so.
Nathan Spillman 2 days ago
How are the two-player rules/scenarios coming along? I’m excited t see how those are expected to work!