Octopus Overlords

hepcat wrote: Thu Mar 17, 2022 1:25 pm I did the All Gameplay so I wonder if they're shipping the All In first, and then the others afterwards.

On the kickstarted page the comments seemed to reflect that.

I will say, I was confused at first, as I didn't do the all in on the kickstarter pledge page.. But apparently when I put in the order, I upgraded to the All In. Man, I am a sucker for spending more money.. Sigh..

I didn't see "game mat included" at the All In level so I figured it wasn't worth it....

hepcat wrote: Thu Mar 17, 2022 1:36 pm I didn't see "game mat included" at the All In level so I figured it wasn't worth it....

Don't get me started on those damn game matts. I keep buying them even for games I only play a few times a year... Sigh..

The ones that don't actually have spaces for things on them I find useless. But draw a goddamn card shaped box....even one....on a mat, and I suddenly feel like I can't play without it.


...God, I'm a moron.

hepcat wrote: Thu Mar 17, 2022 1:38 pm The ones that don't actually have spaces for things on them I find useless. But draw a goddamn card shaped box....even one....on a mat, and I suddenly feel like I can't play without it.


...God, I'm a moron.

We both are, because that is my only requirement as well. Sigh..

Blackhawk wrote: Thu Mar 17, 2022 1:30 pm My biggest Kickstarter project to date - Conan by Monolith - is finally in the 'waiting for the damned email' state. This will be followed by the 'swear about UPS/Fedex' state, followed by the 'sitting on a shelf' state.

For me, the on the shelf state is usually followed by the "sold, unplayed at a loss" state. This is why I am trying not to do kickstarters anymore. Key word: trying.

One rule do try to follow is to play any game I get at least once. It makes me feel less wasteful...even if it really isn't.

hepcat wrote:The ones that don't actually have spaces for things on them I find useless. But draw a goddamn card shaped box....even one....on a mat, and I suddenly feel like I can't play without it.

If it makes you feel any better, I bought a playmat that even the developer doesn't endorse - they just included it by popular demand.

In EARTH, you have to construct a 4x4 tableau, so what better than a playmat with card outlines for said tableau? The problem is that you're never supposed to be restricted by your initial card placement, because the direction you decide to build could change based on the cards you draw and what strategy you decide to pursue.

Players using the playmat were assuming that if they placed their initial card say, on the far left, that they could not place a card to the left of it. But in fact, they're legally allowed to build "off the playmat" as long as the final tableau obeys the 4x4 structure.

Long story short, it makes sense to just not play with the playmat unless you want to have to deal with repositioning your cards all around if you change your building strategy. But it looked cool so I'm a dumbass.

Reminds me of Captain Sonar plotting.

Isgrimnur wrote: Thu Mar 17, 2022 3:47 pm Reminds me of Captain Sonar plotting.

Speaking of brilliant games that I can't really stand the concept of actually playing... Oh, we weren't speaking of those? Sorry.

I cause the deaths of over a hundred good sailors every time I try to play Captain Sonar…

The Late Pledge for Chronicles of Drunagor is coming to a close on March 31 and, despite having held off this long, my will to hold off is breaking. I think part of this is FOMO, part of this is that my other big dungeon game, Dungeon Universalis, seems to have gotten to the USA but still seems no closer to fulfillment. The buzz seems super strong on this one, but I have been bit by buzz before. Thoughts?

My other current obsession is that Burncycle also seems to be getting close to fulfillment. The boats docked and the game is hopefully closing in on distribution. I missed the KS, but buying direct isn't that much more money (particularly since I don't care about the extra bag and other stuff). Chip Theory is usually solid, although Cloudspire tends to just sit due to the complexity of the game. Burncycle also looks very unique - there just aren't that many "stealth robot infiltration programming" games.

baelthazar wrote: Sun Mar 20, 2022 5:05 pm The Late Pledge for Chronicles of Drunagor is coming to a close on March 31 and, despite having held off this long, my will to hold off is breaking. I think part of this is FOMO, part of this is that my other big dungeon game, Dungeon Universalis, seems to have gotten to the USA but still seems no closer to fulfillment. The buzz seems super strong on this one, but I have been bit by buzz before. Thoughts?

Just like everything else, I've heard very mixed things about Drunagor. I went kinda nuts, though it was to get most of the old stuff - not the new. I think the biggest complaint I heard was that the core box just wasn't enough - that you needed more monsters and heroes to really unlock the potential and add variety. At least...I think that's what I remember - it's been so damn long.

For Dungeon Universalis, I honestly am not expecting that until like May or June. It's going through FunAgain, which automatically adds a month to whatever they say it's going to take. From what I understand, it just hit the US ports this week, which then means travel to FunAgain (early April?) which means don't expect it until mid-to late May (IMHO). We'll see if I'm right...

Very different games though. Drunagor is going to be much, much lighter. I keep hearing that DU is the end-all system, but I just don't know. I purchased it because I think the days of getting boutique games imported from overseas is coming to an end (unless you're prepared to get really spendy) so I guess that's FOMO. I'm not even sure anymore.

All I know is that if 1/2 of my KS project deliver over the next 6-8 months, I'm going to need to make some decisions.

Smoove_B wrote: Sun Mar 20, 2022 6:31 pm All I know is that if 1/2 of my KS project deliver over the next 6-8 months, I'm going to need to make some decisions.

I feel this. I am not sure why I am getting itchy - Dungeon Universalis is likely to come in a month or so and, apparently, Perseverance: Castaway Chronicles is also likely to ship late March or early April. They are using Funagain as well, but Mindclash probably gets to push ahead in line, at least they seem to be expressing that sentiment in their shipping estimate. Supposedly, DUN is either headed by train to Funagain last week or actually at their site. Who knows.

Otherwise, I think a lot of mine are far out. I regret backing Everdell's "Big Edition," and there seems to be some trouble brewing in that KS. They abruptly changed names/producers, which put up a huge red flag. Hoplomachus Victorium is now June/July, rather than their original estimate of this month. That is about it this year, other than the Root Expansion (which I may turn around and sell).

I have most of what you have in the wings (minus the Everdell) but I also have a crap ton of Blacklist Games projects that may end up being delivered around the same time.

...or not. BLG doesn't have a lot of credibility right now with folks.

hepcat wrote: Mon Mar 21, 2022 11:32 am BLG doesn't have a lot of credibility right now with folks.

I can't imagine they're going to survive after all that's happened and I'm just hoping what's been paid for shows up - and that it's not somehow damaged or ruined from sitting in limbo at various warehouses.

It's still really unfortunate that Brady and Adam's reputations were roped into this as well.

Backed Kickstarter status check:

The Transcontinental: soon? the games reached port last month, but no update since then
Circadians: Chaos Order: in production; should arrive in a couple of months
Shikoku 1889: seems on track for late this year
Stationfall: seems on track for late this year
Distilled: seems on track for late this year, maybe early next year
John Company: still waiting on an updated production timeline, but "late this year" sounds right for this one, too
Glorantha: The Gods War: I expect that this will arrive right around the time Cthulhu rises up to devour the earth

Still live:
AB Con bundle of Nigerian board games: looks unlikely to fund
Gratuitous Ninja comic: will probably fund
Drive Thru Games fundraiser: still a bit short, but I think it'll reach its modest goal

Mine:

AuZtralia expansions - Shipped and have tracking number
Nemo's War expansions - No tracking number yet but US fulfillment has started
Hoplomachus: Victorum - As pointed out previously, delayed probably until summer. I'm not concerned about this one given that it's Chip Theory
Freedom Five - Last update said they weren't expecting to ship before Q4 this year, and they didn't sound super confident about that.
Earth - Since this one just launched, the current estimate is Jan 2023. Good KS record for this publisher so not too concerned about this one either.

MIND MGMT - Aug 2022 - It's a reprint right, so maybe?
Not So Neighborly - Oct 2022 - First kickstarter by some new designers but cards only
Paperback Adventures - Feb 2022 - Currently finalizing files, saying Aug/Sept
Zombicide - Undead or Alive - Mar 2022 - It's CMON, it wil show up eventually.

These are my last kickstarters unless the game is just an absolute must have perfect fit game (like MIND MGMT).

Smoove_B wrote: Mon Mar 21, 2022 12:57 pm

hepcat wrote: Mon Mar 21, 2022 11:32 am BLG doesn't have a lot of credibility right now with folks.

I can't imagine they're going to survive after all that's happened and I'm just hoping what's been paid for shows up - and that it's not somehow damaged or ruined from sitting in limbo at various warehouses.

It's still really unfortunate that Brady and Adam's reputations were roped into this as well.

And speak of the devil. I just got an update on their indiegogo campaign for the latest Street Master expansion and reprints that I sunk WAY too much money into that the games are still in China waiting to be shipped out, and that the Chinese government has shut everything down due to a Covid outbreak. So it's going to be even longer to get anything from that one...which is probably going to be true of all their other projects as I don't believe they've shipped out of China yet either.

AuZtralia Big Box is here! The tracking number was still showing in process so that was quite a surprise.

I love the insert tray, it fits everything from the core box and both expansions with no lid lift.



Maps fit on top there with instructions, etc. The only thing not pictured here is that they included card dividers; I haven't yet organized those in the three card slots.

I play primarily solo, so I thought the Revenge of the Old Ones expansion was going to be wasted on me. However, I was pleasantly surprised to discover they included solo rules for it as well. While it's essentially the same as playing solo in the base game, it does allow you to at least utilize the new components from the expansion. The bulk of my time, however, will be exploring the actual solo campaign for TaZmania.

My only complaint is against FedEx, and not Stronghold. They punched a hole in the shipping box that went clear through and popped a slight crack in the game box itself. Fortunately it's on the back, and a piece of tape to reinforce it makes it almost invisible unless you know where to look. Not really worth the time and effort to get it replaced, so I'll live with it.

Other than that, excited to finally have a good storage system for this game (my home-brewed foamcore insert was AWFUL). As one of those games in my collection that I'll never sell because I love it so much, it deserved this proper box.

Smoove_B wrote: Mon Mar 21, 2022 12:57 pm

hepcat wrote: Mon Mar 21, 2022 11:32 am BLG doesn't have a lot of credibility right now with folks.

I can't imagine they're going to survive after all that's happened and I'm just hoping what's been paid for shows up - and that it's not somehow damaged or ruined from sitting in limbo at various warehouses.

It's still really unfortunate that Brady and Adam's reputations were roped into this as well.

Every so often I wander onto their Fantasy Series KS to see how that's going since that project was going to be shipped out before Hour of Need due to...umm,reasons. Nothing much happening on that front.

• Etherfields - Looks like June/July
• Frosthaven - Also probably June/July
• Tanares Adventures - July/August
• Oathsworn - Currently saying June (but probably will be later)
• Vampire The Masquerade: Chapters - God only knows. Last update was they just finished the writing.
• Robinson Crusoe - Q3 2022
• The Pursuit of Happiness - They haven't hit production stage yet, so probably March 2023
• Bardsung - Surprised to get my Quartermaster notice
• Forest of Radogost - Address change just got locked down, so probably May/June
• Chronicles of Drunagor: Apocalypse - These folks ran into all sorts of issues around shipping costs and their well-meaning attempt to create a layaway plan of sorts so people could pay in pieces. I have November 2022, but wouldn't be surprised if this was Q1 2023 or later.
• Aeon Trespass: Odyssey - I'm guessing June, but that's kind of random. They are busy running the Kingdom Forlorn Kickstarter.
• Lands of Galzyr - Manufacturing began in March, so probably October 2022?
• Arydia: The Paths We Dare Tread - Dec 2022. This one is a little tragic, as the creator's child has cancer, so obviously this should take low priority in their lives (at least I hope so)
• Mythwind - Dec 2022
• Roll Camera! - Last update in Feb suggested a September 2022 fulfillment.
• Marvel United X-Men - May, which is honestly earlier than I wanted. I don't need more painting currently.
• ISS Vanguard - Q2 2023
• Fantasy miniatures series 1 (Altar Quest only) - We know about this

(looks around) No, I don't have a problem. Why do you ask?

• Arydia: The Paths We Dare Tread - Dec 2022. This one is a little tragic, as the creator's child has cancer, so obviously this should take low priority in their lives (at least I hope so)

This news hits hard. I read his last, personal, update and I really felt for him and his family. I feel for them in their battle.

• ISS Vanguard - Q2 2023

I did split shipping, so I hope they can get at least the base game out in July/August. I think you are right, without split shipping it will be closer to Q2, 2023.

• Tanares Adventures - July/August

Don't hold your breath on that. They took forever to get the reprint out in Wave 1 and mine was missing parts, which took an additional month or so to get replaced.

baelthazar wrote: Tue Mar 22, 2022 1:29 pm

• Tanares Adventures - July/August

Don't hold your breath on that. They took forever to get the reprint out in Wave 1 and mine was missing parts, which took an additional month or so to get replaced.

Thankfully, as you might guess, I'm not hurting for either games or things to paint. Honestly, the longer most of these take, the better.

Conan: The Conqueror (by end of March)
Nemo's War (March 2022)
Sword and Sorcery: Ancient Chronicles (Wave 2 Q1 2022)
Savage Pathfinder (May 2022)

That's it. That's all I'm still waiting for. It's kind of nice, though. It gives me something new to look forward to when I can't afford to spend.

Blackhawk wrote: Tue Mar 22, 2022 2:02 pm Sword and Sorcery: Ancient Chronicles (Wave 2 Q1 2022)

Oh yeah, I'm waiting on that one. We're playing the base game now and I'm hoping the expansion will arrive before we're done.

Just got my notice that my copy of Dead Reckoning should be here Thursday. My copy of the solo module for Core Worlds came last week. I need to break that open too.

My copy arrived Monday. The Dead Reckoning ship assembly is maddening bullshit. The cardboard punch out can tear as you bend it, and the instructions on the back of the ship storage box is bullshit. IKEA does better instructions.

And one of the stretch goals was to issue a second set of sleeves. It’s easy to assemble using the standard sleeves, then have to redo it all.

Still, I love the card crafting mechanic and want to see it in play. Too bad I’m at Adepticon this weekend. Where I’ll play someone else’s copy of Car Wars.

Malificent wrote: Tue Mar 22, 2022 4:32 pm

Blackhawk wrote: Tue Mar 22, 2022 2:02 pm Sword and Sorcery: Ancient Chronicles (Wave 2 Q1 2022)

Oh yeah, I'm waiting on that one. We're playing the base game now and I'm hoping the expansion will arrive before we're done.

Possibly an issue:

MINI UPDATE - A big setback to the North America fulfillment schedule. We were notified by our forwarder that one of the 4 North America containers (Container #1 Xin Chong Quing V.139N (Yantian to Vancouver BC)) was not loaded on the ship we were notified initially, but on a different one which departed almost one month later - COSCO NORTH AMERICA INC - XIN BEIJING / 130N. This container includes most of our Legendary single-wave pledges. Legendary + Bronze, Legendary + Gold, Legendary + Gold + Bronze (All-in) are not affected.

If you are a "Legendary only" backer (without a Gold or Bronze bundle added) and you are interested in an upgrade to one of the other pledge options, you can contact us with a message. A small quantity of these "upgraded" pledge bundles are still available. Cost is $95 to upgrade to Legendary+Gold, $ 40 to upgrade to Legendary+Bronze, $ 135 to upgrade to all-in - very few all-in sets available. We will send to the backers who are potentially interested a mail with the information how to do that.

Looks like I was Legendary + Gold, so I'm likely unaffected.

I just got my shipping notification for the Nemo's War expansion, so I'm looking forward to that. Not that I've played the base game thoroughly enough to really need the added content from the expansions, but like AuZtralia it's one of my "collector" games that I just have to have every bit of content for.

YellowKing wrote: Thu Mar 24, 2022 9:56 am I just got my shipping notification for the Nemo's War expansion, so I'm looking forward to that. Not that I've played the base game thoroughly enough to really need the added content from the expansions, but like AuZtralia it's one of my "collector" games that I just have to have every bit of content for.

I made that decision a few years ago - that it's better (for me) to have a few games that I really like that I can collect the goodies for than it is to have piles of different base games I'm so-so about. It takes less space and money (most of the time), and make me feel more invested in them.

Yeah, I've definitely gotten better over the years in being more selective with purchases. Not that I haven't succumbed to hype on occasion, or paid too much money for something I didn't play enough. But in general I only back second print Kickstarters or expansions for things I already own. The exception is if I demoed the game on TTS and really enjoyed it, which was the case for Freedom Five and Earth.

My collection, while not gargantuan, is still overdue for a purge. The older I get, the more I really want to hone in on quality over quantity. There's a lot of filler on my shelves that are good games, but that I know I'm never really going to play much anymore. I'd rather have that space to display the games I'm proud to own because I truly love their themes or mechanics.

Just got the Nemo's War expansion. Nicely organized and packed. Now I need to read up on what I actually got.

They also dropped off my Dead Reckoning All In gameplay pledge too. I've reviewed a video on assembling the ship piece already, as I've heard numerous horror stories.

During assembly, words were said. Curses uttered. My children were not used to daddy saying such things.

And I just got a shipping notice for Perseverance: Castaway Chronicles. I went all in on this one as Turczi is one of my favorite game designers.

Sheesh, everything is shipping at once it seems.

hepcat wrote: Thu Mar 24, 2022 3:57 pm And I just got a shipping notice for Perseverance: Castaway Chronicles. I went all in on this one as Turczi is one of my favorite game designers.

Sheesh, everything is shipping at once it seems.

AAAAAAHHHHH! I hope mine isn't stuck on the other boat and I get my shipping notice soon. I am super exciting for this one.

baelthazar wrote: Thu Mar 24, 2022 5:17 pm
AAAAAAHHHHH! I hope mine isn't stuck on the other boat and I get my shipping notice soon. I am super exciting for this one.

Now, now...don't sell yourself short. I think you're super exciting for all of them.

You got me.

I got my shipping notice too. That said, it was just label creation so the both of us may be waiting a bit.

Zarathud wrote: Thu Mar 24, 2022 2:55 pm During assembly, words were said. Curses uttered. My children were not used to daddy saying such things.

For anyone who also got Dead Reckoning, this video on assembling the ship made it super easy for me.