There is a natural order to things in life. The sun shines, plants grow, animals eat the plants and then I eat the animals. The same circle is present in board gaming; publishers announce upcoming Kickstarter campaigns, we go nuts to back them, the game is made, we receive it then there’s some miserable sod who reviews it and says it’s shit.
Now that you’ve read our first of three articles telling you which campaigns to look out for in 2019, it’s my job to go through what we can look forward to receiving from some 2018 (or earlier!) campaigns that are currently either in production or on their way to us as I type this.
For some reason (which will probably become apparent after reading this article), I’ve got a reputation for backing a few Kickstarter campaigns here at Collider Towers. Obviously, I fervently deny this scandalous accusation as it implies some kind of addiction for which I need help. I am merely an avid enthusiast of the hobby. At least, that’s what I tell my therapist.
Now, on with the list of eagerly awaited joy. Or “All of the Kickstarters are belong to me” as I prefer to call it.
Cthulhu: Death May Die
We begin with a game that nobody here at Polyhedron Collider backed. That may sound like incongruous behaviour given the article title, but there's no denying the furore surrounding CMON's big project in 2018. I say "big" deliberately as the draw to Death May Die is of course the miniature of Cthulu (perhaps maxiature is more appropriate) which stands taller than the average toddler.
Death May Die sits firmly in the Lovecraftian mythos where players band together to battle the nefarious Cultists to ultimately weaken the summoned Elder God to the point where you can actually take him on. The culmination of which leaves the players moving their minis around the physical statue of Cthulu himself. Impressive, if a little ostentatious.
Simple as that. What could possibly go wrong?
It's certainly of interest to us here at Lovecraft...er..Collider Towers as we do love a bit of Mythos and there's no denying that CMON make a tasty miniature.
Death May Die is expected to ship around July 2019.
Neta-Tanka
It's hard to describe Neta-Tanka as there's a ton of innovative twists on existing mechanics, which is what caught my eye. That and the rather attractive artwork. At its core, Neta-Tanka is a worker placement game where you're trying to prove that your tribe's representative is worthy to succeed the aging Neta-Tanka who's about to pop his clogs and join the Elders in the Sky.
Generosity is key to the game (so I suspect I'll do badly) and resources aren't readily available unless you're nice to people (I'll definitely do badly). Put your nomads in the right place, get bonuses and show that your youngling is the wisest and most suitable would-be-Neta-Tanka.
This is definitely a game I've been keen on for ages and it falls into the "I can't put my finger on why" category. I look forward to finding out why.
Neta Tanka is due to ship around March 2019.
Tang Garden
I think I'm going to make a new rule. You don't score points for a game being pretty any more. It's like video games having nice graphics, it's expected now. So understand just how pretty Tang Garden has to be to get noticed for being pretty. It's also quite remarkable that it caught my eye as it sounds remarkably..."hippie" in its objectives.
Build a Zen garden "by creating the landscape, placing the scenery and projecting their vision through vertical panoramas" says the blurb. Which sounds more like the sort of crap spouted by a zealous marketer than a game designer, but nevertheless it sounds very different to the growing pile of card games, miniature fight-em-ups and "dudes on a map" games that Kickstarter seems to be awash with. And for that reason alone, it should make a welcome addition to my collection. Adding the visitors to the garden to soak up the atmosphere and we have a very placid, calming and enjoyable game on offer. That is until my potty mouth gets near it.
Tang Garden is due to ship around January 2019.
Ragusa
They say deflection is a common trait when refusing to admit one has a problem so I'm going to blame Rory for pointing our Ragusa to me and naturally forcing me to back it on principle alone. Ok, that's not true; he didn't force me per se, he just mentioned it and let my Acquisition Disorder do the rest.
Ragusa is a Euro in almost every sense and the game boasts "no luck" so of course I'm excited. But it gets better; it's almost like the buildings you make are the workers (and they stay put) and you're making use of the combinations of different types. Do all of that whilst making a name for yourself and completing missions. So I am reminded of Agra (which I love) and Rise to Nobility (which I also love). Ragusa is neither of those things, but if it's close, then I'll be a happy man.
Besides, Rory said I'd utterly love it, so how can I argue?
Ragusa is due to ship around August 2019.
Big City
Who's old enough to remember Sim City? Put your hand up Steve, you certainly are. Sadly, so am I, but let's be honest; Sim City was awesome. Take on the role of a strangely immortal mayor and run a town that grows from a field into a pollution and crime-infested sesspit. Marvellous.
Big City is pretty much that in board game form. So you build neighbourhoods, buildings, streets and the all important redevelopment. So those troublesome layabouts get their building knocked down to make way for another park or shopping mall.
The twist here is that it's actually the 20th Anniversary reprint with a juicy expansion. And we all love a good expansion, me most of all. This is also the Jumbo edition so the game has received a spit, polish and growth in every sense. A euro city builder with delightful building minis and a cracking game underneath.
Big City is due to ship around August 2019.
Pipeline
Being a resident of the UK, the word "privatisation" is one closely associated in reaction to terms like "influenza", "Donald Trump" or "botched prostate surgery". Now couple that with the fact that I actually work in the renewables sector, you'd think I'd be vehemently against a game where you take over oil production from the government so you can pipe that lovely black gold all over the world to make oodles of dosh.
Turns out, Pipeline is right up my...er...pipe. We have Jon to thank for digging this gem up to the point where we discussed it in an earlier podcast. Considering Pipeline is an economic euro, you'd think it's about the polar opposite of Jon's usual fayre, but even he's interested. Why wouldn't you love a crisply presented, euro game with an apparent mini-game of Pipe Dream (or Pipe Mania) in there too?
All based covered I think and we're certainly keen on seeing this at the Polyhedron Collider tables.
Pipeline is due to ship around May 2019.
Barrage
I stumbled across Barrage quite by accident whilst browsing Kickstarter one day and I'm rather glad I did. Say to me "Electropunk with Tesla Coils" and you'll have me mewing like a kitten. Throw that into a eurogame and I'm yours for the taking. And that's exactly what Barrage is; an alternative history game where all fossil fuels are almost gone so water is the way to power the world. Build enough power stations to fill increasing demand and beat your opponents.
Build efficient dams, turbines and ultimately Tesla coils to distribute the power and you'll win the game. Nikolai Tesla features prominently (obviously) but the idea of harnessing gravitational potential energy gets my physics brain tingling with excitement.
Barrage is due to ship around April 2019.
Lifeform
Turns out the chaps here at Polyhedron Collider like a bit of horror and suspense. Chuck in a gruesome murder and the possibility of screwing someone over and you're hitting several nails on heads with a hefty hammer.
We've gone googly over Nemesis, but that's quite combat heavy. Lifeform takes an alternative approach to alien incursion onto a spaceship by taking a more subtle approach: put a motley and completely underprepared crew on a ship with some kind of unknown entity and watch the carnage. Having spoken to the publisher, Tristan at Hall or Nothing, he's assured me that whilst Nemesis is like Aliens, Lifeform is like Alien.
Which sounds bloody awesome to me. And to Jon it seems too. Bring on the horror.
Lifeform was due to ship around December 2018, but the project has been delayed slightly. Almost like they're building suspense.
Hard City
It's probably obvious that I like a bit of heft and seriousness (not boring, Steve) in my games. Whilst that's true, I also like a good laugh and some mindless shooty bang fun. Bring on Hard City, an 80's Cop Game in the very purest sense.
Doctor Zero (oh yes, the cheese is layered on thick) has unleashed a horde of mutants on Hard City and the cops are the only ones who can save the citizens and eat all the doughnuts. Play as either Dr. Zero or the cops in this one vs. many action movie-cum-board game.
Steve and I had the pleasure of getting to try the prototype earlier in 2018 and it's fair to say we loved it. It's light to play, but heavy on the action with all the stereotypes you'd come to expect from a cross between Lethal Weapon, Die Hard and 48 Hours.
Hard City is due to ship around September 2019.
Nights of Fire: Battle for Budapest
Receiving this game should be considered a final act of penance on my part, for a number of reasons. Firstly, for two EXPOs running, I saw David Turczi at his stand and wanted to play Days of Ire and Nights of Fire. And for two EXPOs running, I failed. Secondly, we were a little underwhelmed with Petrichor when it came out although I was a huge fan of Anachrony, so whilst I call that karmatically even, I feel I need to make it up to him.
Nights of Fire is the sequel to Days of Ire and chronicles the Soviet counter-attack on Budepest following the arrest of the Hungarian Delegation, Operation Whirlwind. It's an asymmetric game for up to three players with different mechanics for each side and different for changing player counts. There's hidden information, hand building, strategy and some very striking artwork. All the things that gets a gamer like me foaming at the mouth, so bring it on. Days of Ire was also reprinted as part of the campaign so as I missed out the first time, I did the only polite thing and went all in.
There's no denying David knows what he's doing and I'm also looking forward to another of his works later this year too, so I think it's fair to say I'm verging on "fan".
Nights of Fire is expected to ship around March 2019.
Dark Domains
Just for once it'd be nice to see the bad guys win. It's all very well getting behind the supposed heroes, but what if your moral compass points...differently...to others? How is your niche catered for?
It seems these prayers have been answered in the form of Dark Domains, a worker placement for those with a less-than-wholesome moral centre. You play as the leader of a city, but one who is corrupt in every way possible. It's your job to make sure the city falls to the forces of darkness before the city as a whole twigs as to what your game is and calls in the forces of good to stop you. Like the Avengers or something. If it was the Champions of Chance, you'd succeed with your nefarious plans without so much as a ruffle in your hair.
Another game that falls into the "very beautiful" category, Dark Domains seems right up my evil, foreboding euro alley and I'm quite looking forward to turning the Harrows to the dark side.
Dark Domains is expected to ship around September 2019.
So there we are. Eleven games that have whet our appetites and given us something to look forward to in 2019 as the UK departs the EU badly, America wholly regrets its last public vote and Elon Musk continues his quest for Mars.
In our final article, we'll be looking at games that will be published by the more traditional methods where you can wander into a shop and hand over some dosh for a game that's definitely there and not some neolithic design dream.
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