A new edition of the award-winning 3-player asymmetrical board game. New stretch goal to add a 4th asymmetrical player — The Hive!
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Hi folks,
I'm Alan Bahr, Associate Producer at Nocturnal Media. At this point, I'm sure you've all heard the terrible news about Stewart's passing. I can't imagine how hard it's been on everyone (I can only speak for myself), but now comes the point where we have to push forward, past the pain, sorrow, and confusion, and this update is the first step down that road. I'm popping in to make sure you know a few things.
The first being that someone from Nocturnal is here and we're not ignoring this Kickstarter.
Secondly, Steve Wieck (Stewart's brother) and I are sorting out the various Nocturnal projects that are outstanding (this is one), and we're figuring out what we need to do to keep things moving.
Expect a detailed plan of action in the near weeks (likely early next week, maybe a little later). Our every intention is to fulfill the outstanding Kickstarters, but our plans to do so might require some re-calibration before we proceed.
If you have any concerns, don't hesitate to reach out to me at my email: [email protected], and I'll do what I can to help.
Be aware, at this point, anything more concrete than "We're making plans, decisions and figuring out how to move forward" is unlikely, so please be patient with us.
- Alan
We almost made it to where we need to be for the June 1 target to return to Web & Starship. The impeding project goes to proof next week, so that's not quite off the table as hoped, but we did get a different late Kickstarter project (Storypath Cards, that funded immediately prior to W&S) completed this week for press, and that's means we can move on to W&S.
So, now we'll tackle the only substantial portion of Web & Starship that remains: the counters.
You'll recall that the images for the counters are finished. Here's a sample a shared in a prior update:
Now we just need to build our new versions of the original counter sheets with these images! This is no small undertaking, but thanks to an unpunched counter sheet from the original edition, we have all the reference that's required. Here are some images of that sheet:
Our next goal is to have the new counters finished for an update in mid-June and then stay on track to get the entire game to press by the end of the month. More soon!
Regrettably, the new Web & Starship did not make it to press months ago. The dice were indeed sent for manufacturing, but when the remainder of the game was not soon following, we delayed so the dice would not have to be stored while awaiting the boxed game. In anticipation of the game now finally reaching press-ready status, next week I'm asking the manufacturer to resume production of the dice.
I apologize for the now inexcusable delay. A variety of conflicts has kept completion of this game at bay, but the last of the interfering demands is wrapping up (must wrap up) by the end of May. As of June 1 the top priority will be the 1-2 weeks of work that remain on Web & Starship. That puts the entire game to press by the end of June.
In the long ago Update #8 I discussed adding a deck of System Cards to the Deluxe and Special editions of the game. As a reminder, this deck is as follows:
We will now include three copies of this deck in all versions of the game so that each player has an individual (private and secret) deck to consult when planning moves. It's an additional component that will ease, speed and improve play.
This is a small thing, but hopefully the spirit of the gift will ease the suffering of the delay.
I will update you again on May 31st to assure you that the game is entering final design by June 1 at the latest.
At long last have the second-best possible news to communicate to all of you very patient souls: Web & Starship components are press. (Best news is that it's shipped to you, and we'll get there soon.) I apologize for straining your patience, but the process from there to here has been a matter of many small hurdles rather than any one large milestone that seemed worthy of communicating.
The dice take longer than any of the printed materials (box, board, rules, etc.) so those have gone to production first. To simplify assembly of the games after the print run, all the dice will be the same larger size, which is an upgrade for the Standard Edition backers (who had been due the smaller 16mm die). We also determined it's only marginally more expensive to add to the custom dice production run rather than purchase non-custom dice, so the Standard Edition will include three custom dice (including a random 2d6 seems uncharitable!).
The remaining components are scheduled for press at the end of the month, so expect another short update in early February. A 30-day production and assembly process, followed by an unpredictable but call it 30-day "slow boat" freight delivery means that fulfillment could begin around the first week of April.
More soon!