September Update
over 3 years ago
– Tue, Sep 29, 2020 at 02:18:41 PM
Let's start the week with the list from last month's update.
Terrain Implementation. If you remember the old work sheet (see below this), each one had a special function. We desired to do the same thing here. The question has been about balance in the new system. How much Energy should an action cost (if any)? That has been the tweaking and balancing of these actions. The other balance was that some needed to be "free" actions and some didn't, because their effects were too major/minor.
Balancing Volume 1. Not as much to report here. We have been testing 1 time per week on average for the last 4 weeks. We would be doing it more but it's our German Friends who have the means to do this and their gathering ability is currently hindered so it's slower than we would hope. Tweaks have been made and nothing is busted, so that's a huge step in the right direction. As we make tweaks to the value balancing though we are approaching the final graphic design. So next month we should be able to preview the file here for a new Scenario Sheet as opposed to what Chris and Ben were showing you on camera.
Rules. Outside of the Environmental Objects and setup, the rules reworking has gone very smoothly. Those are being edited right now for wording changes. A Preview of the new rulebook will be incoming and we would invite any and all suggestions when it is!
Setup Rules. These are done. As above, the work the guys did really cleaned this whole step up. Their ruleset now has a defined way to prevent advantages but give players enough freedom to feel part of the creation.
Graphic Design. We can safely say the new Card Design is done, and minor tweaks are being made to the scenarios and books!
Balance Tweaks. These are continuing and will until the end or until everything feels good. We don't think things need to be balanced to death, as well like each character in a vacuum feeling overpowered.
We haven't been able to have a large play session of the Story Scenario, but we are looking at having Chris and Ben put together a head to head match up this month showing the new rules. As always, if you for whatever reason are not receiving the updates through Kickstarter or, late backers are not getting them through Backerkit, just remember to check up at the end of each month for the Update! Without fail, we have not missed a month, so if you remember to check in at the end of the month, we will be here. If we get a head to head for next update, sound off with which characters you would be most excited to see!
August Update
over 3 years ago
– Mon, Aug 31, 2020 at 10:05:22 AM
I want to start the August Update with a breakdown from the development team of what needs work still. Now, some of the items will be much easier to check off the list than others. And some will require more proofing and editing than others.
So here is an overview of what is being worked on in some way shape or form, and needs to be finished next.
Implementing the Terrain to the new system. The team has been using some bare bones terrain features as they refined the new system. The next part of refinement will be geared to implementing the old Terrain and Object rules in unique and interesting ways that are similar and familiar to the previous one.
Balancing Volume 1. Currently, Blind Testing of our changes to the Volume 1 Story Scenarios highlighted in the previous update are underway. We can say, that, after the initial plays, the same things that caused us to re-evaluated the the game Scenarios no longer are a problem. Also if you watched the development video, you saw that we print new versions of Thugs and Villains on the Scenarios because we want them to feel dynamic and different for the scenarios than they do in the skirmish modes.
Rules. These are being re-written from the ground up at this moment. This has involved a lot of back and forth for clarifications but is progressing. Before the final rules are printed, we will be publishing them in an update, allowing everyone to get a crack at any potential mistakes, as well as questions that may come up when reading them without having played.
Setup Changes and Rules. One major thing they are still cleaning up is the setup rules. With a 3D city, a focus to setup has been making it thematic and fair. As one player may set things up for your team (with fewer travel powers) to be hindering. Also because of the thematic spacing, setup for objects in those spaces needs to be very specific.
Cleaning up the Graphic Design. The Energy Tracker for each Player, the Alpha Tokens to go there and the Scenario Cards and Books are all being cleaned up. What was shown in the video last month was rough and used for development and testing and by all means NOT final.
Balance Tweaks to Alphas and Power Cards. As mentioned in the videos, these values are being tweaked +1/-1 here and there. Nothing major to overhaul, just minor tweaks in blind testing.
There are some minor things here and there, but this is the bulk of work the team is tackling. With Minnesota's COVID cases, we are monitoring when the team may be able to have said play for you all, as well as the final testing they want to do here on scenarios.
Thanks for taking time to catch up with us and stay tuned for the next update. Remember, we update every month!
Developers Check in with you - July Update
over 3 years ago
– Sat, Aug 01, 2020 at 08:45:08 AM
So first I am happy to say, our developers sat down and did a break down of the changes they have been working on since the game went off the rails. The video can be seen here for you all.
Now, let's assume you don't care to watch the video. Well, I watched, pieced it together and took some notes. So if you wanted a summary of what they were saying and didn't care to chat with them in the comments of the video, I have you covered with a very brief summary. Unfortunately, if you want the detailed reasons, you gotta watch the video or listen to the video they recorded for you ;)
The first real topic they go over is the Grid. When KLTG first put this game in front of fans, it was with a 1" grid. As the game developed, we moved to a larger grid. Basic reasoning? It was simpler, more tactical and offered greater stories in your game.
That leads into the board size. They clarified there are 3 pieces still. That has been the plan since Chris got your feedback about the design. Now though, in a 2 or 3 player game, the board can be tightened for faster entry to the game, as well as expanded to the full 3 x 3 city when playing with 3-4 players depending on the scenarios.
After that they break into the character card anatomy and layout changes, as well as format of activations. We think these changes have made all the characters feel MORE unique and special as their development progressed.
They revisited the grid, as they discussed how YOU can choose which character gets blasted with ranged attacks in a space.
Following that came a break down of the energy system and how powers are activated round to round and turn to turn. Basically, a curve was added to make the game feel more natural!
After that, changes to the dice, and how those nuances effect combat were talked about. Simple but better is the motto.
This was followed by the introduction of Power Cards, an ultimate Power each character gives you that is wholly unique to them and limited depending on the scenarios.
The last 15~ish minutes are worth a watch by all because it talks about the games reason for delay, the work David has helped with, and how they are addressing it during this odd time for testing games in groups etc.
Thank you all so much for joining us for this Developer sit down, expect stuff like this to be in the updates moving forward, as they are more inclusive for you all to the process, but also more transparent to what has changed, why and how, and what that means for the game. As you can see, these changes make the game better and were how they began to balance the Scenarios.
June Update
almost 4 years ago
– Tue, Jun 30, 2020 at 09:48:18 PM
As the COVID situation continues, we still have not had a chance to get our team assembled. Rest assured, we will have them assembled in July, finally. As we prepare for July's work and wrapping up Alphas Volume 1, we have looked at our priorities and begun to layout a few things.
July's Update should have a list of what remains to be done. This was brought to our attention by one of our backers, and we think it would be a good idea to give you this list, and continue to update it as we go. Something like what video game companies do :D
We should also have something prepared to outline changes from the old system. Ben and Chris have worked pretty hard with David, our lead group tester, in highlighting WHAT has changed and WHY it had to.
Rulebook preview. When we begin to wrap things up, and it may spill out of July, that we will be previewing the final rules for everyone and welcome any and all feedback for it.
We hope everyone is remaining safe and sane in these crazy times!
May Update
almost 4 years ago
– Sun, May 31, 2020 at 09:55:03 PM
Well, as you all may know, certain sectors of Minnesota are open, but not all. We fall under one of those businesses that isn't essential to be open yet.
Now, that said we want you to know, where we CAN be working on Alphas, we have been. A final rulebook should be done very soon. Our team is editing the verbage now. But, we wanted to give you all a peak into the design changes to the scenarios in the Novel Story Scenarios!
Each still have a story build, but also now have a dashboard for the "Bad" side :D Take a look at the original concept of Scenario 1. Do note, this is before any editing or alignment changes.
Expect these to be "jazzed" up a bit on the final version printed, but when printing components at home and passing them back and forth to test, this conveys everything you need.
So what are you looking at?
In the Upper Left Hand corner of this dashboard, you will see the Unit Information available for our Villain side.
To the right of them lies the pool in which spare Thugs are placed while waiting to be deployed.
Below the Unit Cards lies an energy track for the Villain Actions. They have a larger pool than any hero as they share it between all of the Thugs.
Next to that lies the special powers for the Thugs. Each time a Player Character uses one of their Ultimate Powers, the Villains too unlock an Ultimate Power, so use them wisely!
The win conditions to this scenario also have players escorting the bumbling TCPD to safety and protecting the bystanders and Vaults being looted.
So yes, the scenarios now all feature multiple loss conditions for the heroes!
When the guys can assemble their team again, we do anticipate them filming or streaming a summary of the changes as we move to lock in on the final... well... everything.
