Boards, Spotlights and Fun!
about 6 years ago – Thu, Mar 01, 2018 at 01:36:56 PM

So people have been asking for the Double sided board looks, so here we go!

In most Demos, players have seen and played from the Shimmer District of Titan City. This is a nice looking, up kept part of the city that sits next to "The Case", Titan City's  jail with a Alpha Wing. See below;

Now as you can see, this Board is really fun to mix up with the outside Buildings and inside either being trees OR trees and a building. We have even had 2 Brownstones in the middle before. This board is supposed to look "nice" and like a cleaner part of the city.

Let's talk about the grittier part of Titan City. The grimy area of Wellstone Park in Titan City is home to many of the Fire Street Gang. 

So this district has a ton of one ways, and buildings wise, is meant to "feel" more congested. Even with 5 Buildings this can feel VERY congested for people. So let's talk about the boards for you all.

If you are familiar with the game "Guild Ball", our board is cut in a similar fashion, so while it is a 3 x 3 foot board, it is 2 pieces, so where is it cut?

So there is both side, with the red areas being the 12 x 36 Part that is separate. Now one thing this allows us/you to do with some Scenarios and some Skirmishes, is create different "L" or "T" shaped boards as well, so for any concerned about the board being stale and feeling stale, between the 3 setups, 2 pieces and 2 sides, with multiple shapes, there is a lot of options and room in this Titan City Board.

Q. Will there be more boards in the future?

A. This is ENTIRELY possible. We just aren't sure when. We will see how the campaign goes and how it progresses post campaign as well. 

Alpha Spotlights! 

So we have been doing Alpha Spotlights on Board Game Geek, but we understand not everyone uses Facebook, not everyone uses Board Game Geek, so with each update we do, any NEW spotlights will be highlighted with the graphic of a character. So at the bottom of each Update, if you see an Alpha you want to see spotlighted... spotlit? Spotlit! Click that Alpha and the BGG tab of that spotlight should pop up for you.

 We have covered all of those Alphas already, and another will be covered each day. Now, if you don't use Board Game Geek, we can understand not wanting to click over there, but know if you do, give it the green thumbs up and just by visiting you are helping the game!

You made it this far? Wow....

 Oh you want physically painted figures? A short preview:

Yes, we found a painter who will have these ready for that big final 48 hour push for sure everyone, so get hype, then keep that hype! 

Sunday Update!
about 6 years ago – Wed, Feb 28, 2018 at 08:13:42 PM

We are nearing that goal people! 

If all of our Backers continue to spread the word and we convert some of these 1$ Backers to full pledges we will be there in no time :D

So while I know it's not a huge update, we wanted to remind everyone of the $30 Add-On. We have had some questions about multiples, and yes, you can add and use multiple sets of scenery in a game of Alphas should you desire it. 

BUT, we had one big thing to show you for those who have been asking;

 A preview of the one and only Kid Tiger in the fur!!! 

Keep fighting to save and fund Titan City and we will continue doing our part! If you hadn't seen, Chris is doing daily Alpha Spotlights on Board Game Geek, where tonight he did Legend, the arcane archer himself! 

First 24 Hours down and we are ready to show off some coolness!
about 6 years ago – Tue, Feb 27, 2018 at 08:22:33 PM

Great first day everyone! I can see we are appealing to retailers more than we thought as well! Thank you all for a great first day! So, in case you didn't see, we added a few things to the front page!

First the guys added a skirmish video:

It's rough but it won't be the ONLY video as the campaign goes on so worry not fellow Alphas!

We added to the campaign page also, a closer look at the miniatures of the game,

 And in keeping with that, we want to get to some FUN stuff now!

 That's right Alphas, our first add-on is available now! Read on below for the details;

So how do you get these sweet scenery pieces? Just add the cost of them ($30 USD) to your pledge, and in the pledge manager you will be able to let us know which and how many add-ons you had!

Game wise, these add nothing that the tokens themselves don't add, BUT what they do add to is the immersion and aesthetics of the game and really any other game you could use them in! To be clear we have added these to the main campaign page, and also the STRETCH GOAL Ladder!!!

 So what about social stretch goals! We will be revealing some of those in the next update! But until then, make sure to join the Facebook Fanpage to discuss all things Alphas, or become a fan on the BGG Page for Alphas!

Con of the North, Updates and Getting Social!
about 6 years ago – Tue, Feb 27, 2018 at 08:22:30 PM

So Ben and Chris were at Con of the North this weekend promoting and demoing Alphas for backers and the general public!Below are some pictures of the guys in action;

Well, it went great! We gained another Store as a backer and a good deal of individuals, as well as a lot of positive feedback on the game, and a great many smiles we given. 

So what's next for the Kid Loves Tiger Games Team with Alphas? 

• Nick from Board Game Brawls review should be coming out this week, and that should give us a much needed boost!
• Chris will be on Lance Myxter's "Weekly Alaboom" to chat with Industry hubbubs and important people like Anthony Racano and Scott Alden about Alphas and other random things. 
• Chris has been working with a company ran by an amazing man named Byron, on some MDF buildings for the game to be an add-on likely POST campaign in the pledge manager, maybe sooner. At this point the buildings are being made at cost for you guys simply because they should be made, but if we get more backers, the margins may improve and we may put them in as a campaign add-on to give that funding a big boost!

• A Spotlight on the Scenery Add-On will be coming out in the next day or so so expect another update within a day or so regarding it and a Game Overview. 
• The Team will be starting Alpha Spotlights this week on BGG as well, where they talk Alpha Powers, Traits and strategies every day the rest of the campaign so get pumped and head over to BGG and Subscribe to Alphas and become a fan so you can see these entries! 

So what can we do for Alphas?

Well, here we go, a list of things you the backers, can help us with on the game!

• Visit the Board Game Geek Page and become a Fan and Subscriber of Alphas so you can read, interact and be a part of the conversation there and the future Alpha Spotlights the team publish! Also, while you are there, give a thumbs up to some of the Photos, comment if you like something or have any general gameplay questions or thoughts!
• Join the Alphas Fan Group! We honestly want this to be a page for people to share thoughts on the game, painted miniatures and overall discussion/strategy! It also lets you connect directly to an extent with 3/4 of the Alphas Team :D 
• Share the page with anyone and everyone you know, in every place you can think of. Despite Ads and review (s) and demoing, the number of eyes on the campaign alone is low, so let's get more people recruited to help save Titan City!

So while you guys are off helping spread the word, the team decided you needed to be rewarded for your efforts and rewards you shall have!

And aside from that, anyone who would be interested in talking to the team behind Alphas, send us a PM on the double and we will be available for them!

Kickstarter Continues and Spotlights!
about 6 years ago – Tue, Feb 27, 2018 at 08:22:27 PM

Welp, the Kickstarter soldiers on folks! We are expecting Nicks review any day now, ads going up on Darkstone and a few other places, but now is the time to boost us past that finish line!

If you are a $1 Backer, consider upping your pledge to boost support for the game, if you can't sound off on why you are following the campaign as we love to engage our backers. If it's for a pledge manager, remember that only happens with your help funding!

If you are a heroic Pledge level backer, thank you for your continued help sharing and spreading the word! Remember those Social Stretch Goals;

And here  is a look at one of the Alpha Spotlights Chris has been writing on Board Game Geek, he will be writing them every day until the campaign ends!

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Another day and another spotlight!  

Who is Nightstrike?  

Hiroshi Lee. World renowned archaeologist was on a dig in middle of the far east. He had been asked because when a delicate job needed to be done fast, he was the man to call. Precise and focused, he was the fastest, most reliable in the business.  

Hiro had grown up in the suburbs. Son of two well educated parents. He had few burdens that he himself had not chosen to take on. His father was a noted historian, so the move to archaeology was natural for him. A love for everything historical was in his blood.  

On his far eastern dig, while bantering with Sierra, his on again off again romantic interest, Hiroshi fell through part of the site. Though he had broke nothing... he awoke in a underground temple of a sort. Appearing in front of him was a giant shadowy dragon.

The Dragon was Ijiri, Dragon of the Dark. He explained to Hiroshi the battle, that had been going on for centuries. Ijiri the dark dragon had battled Tatsumi, dragon of the void. This eternal battle would go on forever. Each one having an avatar through their weapon, battling in a fateful encounter each time, until one fell. Another would pick up the blade, and the dance of the dragons would begin again.  

This power and blade the dragon was bestowing on him was essentially a death sentence. One day Tatsumi's avatar would come for him... and one day he would fall. Hiroshi knew that this gift was temporary, that he would need to make the most of THIS life. So he took up the blade, with all his brand new powers, and decided he would use his gifts for good. Becoming the Nightstrike, he would fight the darkness with the darkness he now controlled.  

Nightstrike Stats and Powers  

Nightstrike, with the powers of Ijiri and his blade, has 5 across the board for Health, Energy and Speed. In no way though does that make this swordsman average! In fact, the 5 Speed is nuts for non speedsters.  

His traits are more unique than the previous 2 spotlights. Nightstrike first has Teleportation. A trait that allows him to move ignoring.... everything, but at a higher cost. The trait in the middle, with the domino mask, is actually Infiltration! So not only does this trait allow you to move 8 spaces away from the deployment zone (ignoring all restrictions and rules for movement), and when in cover, you increase your defense dice strength by 1. This feeds Nightstrike's strategy pretty heavily so just wait until the closing. His remaining trait is really simple. Regeneration. When he activates, Heal 1 Injury.  

Onward to Ijiri's bestowed powers!  

Shade of the Dragon: This passive is crazy. It transforms the entire resolution system of Alpha's dice driven combat. Rather than simply hitting and blocking, now suddenly players are hesitating attacking Nightstrike, knowing he has a Black|Yellow on defense rolls and deals injuries when having hits of his own on defense! On top of turning combat on it's head, any double Alpha sign rolled can be spent on teleporting 2 spaces for him, ruining any best laid plan when done right.  

Dark Dragon Wisdom: If you thought the first passive was crazy, Nightstrike has a 2nd one. And this one changes Enhancement Cards... well, one Enhancement Card. Damage Enhancements regularly read like this;

so this Passive Power drives these type of Enhancements differently. Damage Enhancements now ADD a Red die to Nightstrike's attack, instead of boosting the strength of a die. It also let's you spend those Speed Enhancements to Teleport for free, letting you save that Energy for putting the hurt on your foes!  

Flash of Steel: The bread and butter of Nightstrike. Targeting a single foe within 3, this power can be brutal using his passives and traits for the opposing team. You will want to make it from "cover" if possible because of the range, but the damage potential is really high.  

Breath of Ijiri: A simple move, but powerful Dragon's Breath needs a walk through! Summoning the Dragon himself, Nightstrike sprays 3, letting friendlies in the spray shift away, and the coup de grace, the double Alpha symbol. Foes lose 1 Shield icon on defense. Wonderful. Especially when boosted with those damage enhancements.

Summary  

Nightstrike is a mid ranged combat specialist. He is mobile, because of his passives, attack powers and traits, but need to be protected. Even with a "thorns" style ability for his first passive, that still puts him at risk for fast KOs.

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Chris will be doing one of these PER day, so if you want to follow along, he has already covered Titan and Arc on BGG, with each one being voted on in the Alphas Fanpage on Facebook (though all of them will be covered by the end). If you want to find these, seek them out by clicking HERE to go to BGG and read them in the forums!

And, for our current Backers, have you added this to your pledge yet?

Well, that's all for tonight, thank you all so much! We are so close to funding and we know with your help we will get there and then some!