Kickstarters a bit like Christmas, isn’t it? Those games you backed months, maybe even years ago, turning up on your doorstep long after you’d forgotten about them! (Or is it just me that manages to forget about stuff?) Just last week I had Founders of Gloomhaven drop at my door and in the very near future I should receive Mint Delivery, Brass and a metric tonne of poker chips that I might have accidentally splurged on when backing Brass. With these in mind, let’s have a look at current Kickstarter projects that could be landing with you at the end of this year!
Dungeons and Doggies
So, even as a cat lover, this is adorable! Dungeons and Doggies is a set of 13 pre-assembled miniatures along with all the rules you need to add them into your standard DandD campaign. This is Painting and Polygons first Kickstarter project so they have kept it simple with just the one pledge level, no add-ons, no stretch goals, making it easier for a first time creator and ensuring everyone is happy.
As well as your 13 figures you also get a rule set, helping you create an intelligent dog along with unique feats and canine class options that means you can jump into any 5th Ed DandD campaign. Alternatively, you’ll also get an independant adventure scenario called ‘Who Let the Dogs Out?’ that can be used with your canine chums or any other party. April Prime has done stunning artwork for this project and alongside everything else, you’ll also get some art prints of her work. All for a bargain 27GBP / 35USD.
This project is due to fulfill in May 2019, but in the meantime there’s talks of a Cats and Catacombs project launching at the end of the year - I’ll be all in on that one for sure!
https://kickstarter.com/projects/russrmc/animal-adventures-tales-of-dungeons-and-doggies
Escape Plan
Two of the biggest names in gaming have teamed up to bring us Escape Plan. Designed by Vital Lacerda with artwork by Ian O’Toole. What, you need more than that? After a successful bank heist, you and your fellow criminals are relaxing, enjoying the ‘fruits of your labour’ but somehow the police have got a lead. You need to make it out the city before getting caught, while grabbing as much of your cash en route. You can use all sorts of resources at your disposal: underground contacts, local gangs and disguises to try and get you the hell outta dodge, but your fellow criminals will all have similar ideas. In the end, only the player that escapes with the most loot can win!
While this is being talked about as a ‘lighter’ Lacerda game, it’s very relative and there’s still deep levels of complexity in it. As we’ve come to expect from his Kickstarters, there’s loads of high quality components and a metric tonne of stretch goal goodies (it funded in the first ten minutes of the campaign!)
At around 60GBP / 79USD this is one of the cheaper games, however UK shipping is a steep 20USD pushing it up to the $100 mark. Due to fulfil June 2019.
https://kickstarter.com/projects/eaglegryphon/escape-plan-by-vital-lacerda-with-artwork-by-ian-o
Call To Adventure
Designed by Chris and Johnny O'Neal in some ways this title couldn't be further than their previous title Boss Monster, the stunning art really shines however the sense of adventure shines through in both games. Call To Adventure is a character crafting game. The designers describe the game as being "...based on character-driven fantasy novels..." where "...facing a childhood rival or meeting your true love can be as important as slaying a dragon...". What if our hero falls in love with a dragon instead of slaying them? So each character's development seems driven by authentic story advancements through the 30 character and 60 story cards. Each character starting from different places, say a lowly Peasant or a high-born Noble with their own Origin, Motivation and Destiny, who then develop skills to take on challenges, or just push their their luck to reap rewards. With an expansion based on the work of NY Times bestselling author Patrick Rothfuss's The Name of the Wind there's a whole host of talent involved in this project.Starting from 31GBP / 40USD it is expected to fulfil in November 2018
https://kickstarter.com/projects/brotherwise/call-to-adventure-featuring-name-of-the-wind
Pumpkin Patch: Bad Seeds
We LOVE Halloween! Plus we love games that are small footprint, small price and this ticks both boxes! This is a two or three player card game. Players have a shared pumpkin patch and are competing to collect the most seeds. Each turn has three phases: plant a pumpkin and collect seeds according to what is around it, move a crow to block opponents and then discard pumpkins you don’t want in order to draw some you do want. Easy to learn, strategic to play and one you can throw in your handbag/glove box and take to play anywhere/
The art on this is lovely and it’s a total steal for 7GBP / 9USD.
https://kickstarter.com/projects/brouhahagames/pumpkin-patch-bad-seeds
