Octopus Overlords

Smoove_B wrote: ↑Mon Jul 29, 2024 12:42 pm

Isgrimnur wrote: ↑Fri Jul 26, 2024 11:14 pm 71 copies.

I like your enthusiasm, but it's never going to be re-printed, imho. I did score a un-punched and barely touched used copy for retail prices so I'm happy. I will of course keep my preorder status with GMT for the 2nd printing but I've given up; a decade out of print is a bridge too far.

70 copies

I swore off Kickstarters but think I may jump in on the Chip Theory Elder Scrolls game. I was originally going to pass because it looked like just Too Many Bones with a Skyrim skin. I never cared much for TMB, it was just way too complex for me. However, after spending quite a while walking through it with a very helpful Chip Theory dude, it looks like they really streamlined this Elder Scrolls version, removed much of the complexity, put a really gorgeous coat of paint on it, and created lots of flexibility on how to play. I was prepared to be disappointed, but came away really excited about it.

Looks like you can get in for another couple weeks (until Sept 6) and it has an expected delivery of October, so it's not like I'd have to wait a long time. Elder Scrolls: Betrayal of the Second Age.

I backed it. Yet another reason you need to come to the Chicago Octocons, Skinny.

In other news, I have yet another dungeon crawler. Fateforge: Chronicles of KKKKAAAAAHHHHHNNNNN debuted at Gencon but I didn't know about it at the time. When I got back, I read about it and promptly used a gift cert from Christmas I was hanging onto for Gamenerdz to get it and its expansion.

It's based on the combat system in the Vengence: Roll and Fight which I had, but promptly sold after one game. You see, Vengeance was a timed game, and I hate timed games. Everyone had to snatch dice from a shared pool and if you weren't fast enough, you were out. Not my cup of tea (same reason I got rid of the X Com board game).

But Fateforge uses that dice placement mechanic and ditches the timed stuff. I haven't played yet, but it looks quite good. It's app driven, so you can solo very easily with it.

In other, other news, my copies of Isofarian Guards and Dungeons of Infinity should be arriving soon.

So yeah, when I retire in a few years, I've got a lot of gaming to catch up on.

I have Fateforge set up on my table right now - just going through the intro/tutorial section. I remembered seeing it as a KS but I didn't back it. Saw it on sale (retail version) on Miniature Market a few weeks back and ordered a copy. It's out of stock everywhere but apparently coming back to Amazon in a week or so. I know the KS version has updated components, but I'm rather happy with the regular retail version and the discounted price.

The KS version has wooden discs instead of thick tokens. But if you have to put the damn stickers on those discs (which I suspect is the case), then I don't want it. I hate having to assemble games I buy.

If you haven't seen the cardboard enemy tokens yet, I think I'd actually describe them as thicc. But yeah, having color cubes and cardboard elements is honestly preferable to the meeple-like stuff that apparently came with the KS version.

Fair warning - the "tutorial" in the app doesn't actually step you through combat. It helps you with setup and getting ready to play, but the app is seemingly more about (1) the story and (2) tracking status in combat.

Yeah, i've been going through the rules as they make it clear in the intro of the manual that it wants you to read through them all before playing. It's basically the same combat mechanics as Vengeance, but without everyone smashing their knuckles together repeatedly in an attempt to grab the dice from the center of the table. Man, I hated that....

Yeah, I was also not a fan of that. I thought the solo game of Vengeance wasn't on a timer so that's on me. Didn't enjoy it at all.

I always read the rules first but was kinda hoping the app would help a little more with the first round. It's no big deal - there's plenty of good tutorial videos on Youtube so I can confirm my understanding and flow.

I'm surprised at how many glowing reviews it's getting for a dungeon crawler I wasn't even aware of until recently.

hepcat wrote: ↑Tue Aug 20, 2024 12:49 pm I'm surprised at how many glowing reviews it's getting for a dungeon crawler I wasn't even aware of until recently.

My wallet:

On pure impulse I backed The Cats of Mont Saint Michel. This is a solo/co-op dungeon crawler played on a notebook of maps. It's by the same designers of Escape From Stalingrad Z and Escape From Project Riese, the former of which I backed when it came out.

Stalingrad Z is a really cool and crunchy zombie game, and I loved it mostly because of the self-contained map notebook (I'm a sucker for those).

So when this came along and it's cute little cats fighting rats and roaches....I kind of had to have it. I really haven't watched any gameplay videos or anything, it was a total blind buy. I almost never do that, but I have faith in the designers and Raybox Games based on their previous efforts so I'm taking the chance.

I see they still have some copies of both Isofarian Guard and Dungeons of Infinity left on their webstore. I keep kicking around Isofarian Guard but I just can't ascertain what the draw is. Can someone explain it? Maybe it's the art, maybe it's the name, but I just don't get hyped up. I would love to know what people are so enthusiastic about it.

I've also been looking at Agemonia, which still has some stock on their website. That one looks pretty neat, but feel like it might serve the same purpose as Oathsworn.

baelthazar wrote: ↑Tue Aug 20, 2024 4:24 pm I see they still have some copies of both Isofarian Guard and Dungeons of Infinity left on their webstore. I keep kicking around Isofarian Guard but I just can't ascertain what the draw is. Can someone explain it? Maybe it's the art, maybe it's the name, but I just don't get hyped up. I would love to know what people are so enthusiastic about it.

1. They're dungeon crawlers.

2. I don't own them.

Is Isofarian Guard a dungeon crawler?

To me, it seems to be.

baelthazar wrote: ↑Tue Aug 20, 2024 4:38 pm Is Isofarian Guard a dungeon crawler?

No, I wouldn't describe it as such. It's more of an overland adventure game.

It's a campaign style RPG and one that I spent over a month straight playing last year; I never do that. Lots of reading (or listening if you're using Foreteller) so if you're not into that, you want to avoid it. There's also crafting (weapons, armor, etc...) and base building elements. So you're able to harvest things on map (like ore or wood) as well as get components from defeated enemies.

What I liked was that it is a bag builder - it was the first time I'd ever played a game in that style and I really enjoy the mechanics. There's just something about that extra tactile element with weighted poker chips (same manufacturer that Chip Theory uses) to resolve combat, create random events on the map, etc...

I basically stopped playing because they announced the updates/changes that are coming and I wanted to just wait and enjoy them when they were officially delivered (like the reorganized map). Some of them you could just do by changing basic gaming mechanics (like how you move around the map), but I figured I should just wait and give it a go with everything in 2.0 mode.

I really didn't have a problem with it as designed, but it was a bit grind-y and they fixed that element with the optional rules. I also found it a bit difficult because I wasn't really managing my bag (the chips) well - making sure to keep certain ones in there (extra ones, from skills) to help round out the basic/core ones you have all the time. It was just a very different way of thinking/playing that I hadn't experienced before and I really liked it.

Anyway, the components are A++, which I think is part of the price. But if you're into campaign style RPGs and like think-y combat that isn't Euro (like Gloomhaven), it was probably my favorite game of 2023.

Smoove_B wrote: ↑Tue Aug 20, 2024 5:19 pm

baelthazar wrote: ↑Tue Aug 20, 2024 4:38 pm Is Isofarian Guard a dungeon crawler?

No, I wouldn't describe it as such. It's more of an overland adventure game.

To me, that's still a dungeon crawler. From my perspective, if I'm playing a game with characters I level up and control throughout the game, and it has story parts broken up by combat parts, it's a dungeon crawler. An outside dungeon crawler, but a dungeon crawler all the same.

I think it's important to differentiate when the game is actually in dungeons (or caves, or interiors) vs a game that has you wandering around a giant map and exploring a game world. While both can scratch the same itch, I know there are people that have zero interest in wandering around a game world and would much prefer to explore an actual dungeon or lair.

Fair enough. I propose we use the word “crawler” then without locative noun.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go play Advanced Squad Leader. A new crawler I just got.

hepcat wrote: ↑Tue Aug 20, 2024 8:21 pm Fair enough. I propose we use the word “crawler” then without locative noun.

I think there might be a better way. We're going to name them after the level of wandering that happens on the following scale:

1 - Traveler
2 - Overnight
3 - Lone Survivor
4 - Deepwater Horizon
5 - Infinite

This one came out of the Zenobia Awards for historical tabletop games.

Pen-and-paper games absolutely had dungeon crawlers set in an overworld, but they were generally only considered such if they followed the pattern of 'rooms' that you move through fighting enemies, avoiding traps (quicksand is a 'trap', for instance), solving puzzles, and collecting loot. If it was more free-form (like travel with encounters), then it wasn't looked at as a dungeon crawler.

Dungeon crawlers don't require story. In fact, one of the features a lot of people like in PnP dungeon crawlers is that the plot is often an excuse for spelunking rather than an elaborately detailed story. It's a chance to kick down the door, kill the monster, and take the treasure.

But that's tabletop RPGs.

For board games, the BGG definition:

A tactical-combat, cooperative, player(s) vs. environment/overlord game with exploration and a story-based objective (e.g.; escape, kill the monster). Dungeon Crawlers often feature:

Character progression/leveling
Equipment/loot
Puzzle solving
Random events
Traps

Their page for Isofarian Guard puts it in the following categories:

Adventure
Card Game
Exploration
Fantasy
Fighting

Of course, like video games (is Diablo an RPG?), genres overlap and are somewhat subjective. If BGG is an authority, it isn't a dungeon crawler, but... shrug.

hepcat wrote: ↑Tue Aug 20, 2024 9:21 am In other, other news, my copies of Isofarian Guards and Dungeons of Infinity should be arriving soon.

I'm intrigued by Isofarian Guards, but not enough to pay over $200 for it.

I'm hoping Dungeons of Infinity will be here soon. Last I read it "is on the water". Been a long wait. It's THE game I've been looking forward to.

Fardaza wrote: ↑Wed Aug 21, 2024 10:15 am I'm intrigued by Isofarian Guards, but not enough to pay over $200 for it.

I totally get that. In a marketplace that's flooded with campaign-style RPGs, it's hard to know what is worth it. I've played (attempted) just about all of them and I invariably burn out or don't like something (mechanically) about them. Hopefully you can demo it somewhere to see if it's worth it, but for me it definitely has all the elements I need to stay interested.

I'm hoping Dungeons of Infinity will be here soon. Last I read it "is on the water". Been a long wait. It's THE game I've been looking forward to.

I was happy when Skybound Kingdoms took over; it really has been a damn long time in development but I'm also really looking forward to it - mainly because it's focused on dungeon crawling.

If you want any spoilers...

Smoove_B wrote: ↑Wed Aug 21, 2024 11:17 am
I was happy when Skybound Kingdoms took over; it really has been a damn long time in development but I'm also really looking forward to it - mainly because it's focused on dungeon crawling.

if my character EVER goes outside or into a non dungeon setting, I WILL be posting my grievances with you here!

Fardaza wrote: ↑Wed Aug 21, 2024 10:15 am

hepcat wrote: ↑Tue Aug 20, 2024 9:21 am In other, other news, my copies of Isofarian Guards and Dungeons of Infinity should be arriving soon.

I'm intrigued by Isofarian Guards, but not enough to pay over $200 for it.

I know people who spend that on dice, for cryin' out loud.

But yes, I've become a collector, not a player, over the last 6 or so years. I can no longer deny this. I'm trying to figure out ways to dump all the games I have in every closet in my apartment/on every shelf/in storage in the basement.

Blackhawk wrote: ↑Tue Aug 20, 2024 10:53 pm Pen-and-paper games absolutely had dungeon crawlers set in an overworld, but they were generally only considered such if they followed the pattern of 'rooms' that you move through fighting enemies, avoiding traps (quicksand is a 'trap', for instance), solving puzzles, and collecting loot. If it was more free-form (like travel with encounters), then it wasn't looked at as a dungeon crawler.

Dungeon crawlers set in the overworld sounds like a complicated way to say "Hexcrawl."

I'm still kicking around Isofarian Guard. The biggest thing that keeps me from doing it is the length of the scenarios. It does seem to fit a different niche than Oathsworn, if boss battling isn't the main focus.

Okay, I just took a crack at Fateforge. It's tougher than I expected. I had a party wipe thanks to reinforcements showing up in round 2. At first I thought "well, this is easy". Then the game basically said "you got cocky, so I'm going to mess with you".

I'm going to reset and try two other characters as the rogue and nobleman didn't quite make the cut this time.

Lordnine wrote: ↑Mon Jan 30, 2023 7:05 pm Just in case there is anyone interested here. Deep Shelf relaunched last week and it has blown past funding. Today is the last day to get the DinoGenics crossover promo pack for free.

I just got my copy today! (Hong Kong)

Will try do to an unboxing soon

EzeKieL wrote: ↑Wed Aug 28, 2024 11:21 am

Lordnine wrote: ↑Mon Jan 30, 2023 7:05 pm Just in case there is anyone interested here. Deep Shelf relaunched last week and it has blown past funding. Today is the last day to get the DinoGenics crossover promo pack for free.

I just got my copy today! (Hong Kong)

Will try do to an unboxing soon

Awesome! Let me know what you think.

Anyone else in on the Dungeons & Lasers? I am looking to expand into cave, caverns and mines as the WizKids Warlock tiles don’t cover that terrain. The Warlock tiles are awesome for stone and towns, and were terrible with their puke colored “caverns.”

I am - I really want to see how their pre-painted terrain looks. I love their miniatures - very easy to build and lots of great detailing. I backed to get the rocky caves pre-painted. I also just ordered a set of the pre-painted mines from Miniature market - they had it on sale.

Steppe and I saw that set at GenCon. Looked nice, although the cute Polish gal wasn’t impressed by his attempt to compliment her in Polish.

They have some better pics on the Gamefound page now, but they could show more. I figure getting it painted now is cheaper than retail unpainted and upgraded to 2 core + 3 subthemes. And 2 sets of the mines. I have a 6 x 3.75 ft boardgame table to fill.

Friggin' Blacklist Games. They're now dumping all the stuff for Street Masters on Amazon at a huge discount that was promised to backers via their indiegogo project years ago. And still no word on when Steamforge is sending those of us who backed the stuff after they promised to get that to us promptly.

I swear to god, if anyone who has even read one thing on them backs a project from Blacklist Games, they get what they deserve if when they rip you off.

That sucks. I got lucky in that I got the Street Masters big box from them many years ago right before they went to hell in a handbasket. Have not backed anything from them since.

I still have an entirely different game than Street Masters sitting in a damn warehouse with no way to get it.

I swear, that company needs to just go bankrupt and disappears completely. And the grifter running it now needs to be drummed out of games entirely.

Well, at least they picked an appropriately memorable name.

40 pounds of Isofarian Guard 2nd printing is coming my way. Should be here by Monday. I'll purchase a truss.

Deep Shelf has arrived! I have finished the organize-the-components metagame (challenging, but very satisfying). Now I need to find time to play the actual game.