An Overdue Update
over 7 years ago – Tue, Nov 15, 2016 at 04:52:07 PM

My apologies for failing to send timely updates for the new edition of Web & Starship. That shall be corrected henceforth as the domino-effect delays that resulted in this project running late have fallen and we're setting pieces upright again.

I do have some nice assets to share with you. The artwork for the deluxe edition is at the top of this update and the new map for the game board appears at the bottom of the page. The map we shared on the original project page didn't correctly reflect the differences between yellow and orange suns.

Due to the production delays, I will ship copies of Gladiator: Quest for the Rudis and Monster Mansion to those who pledged at reward levels that included those additional games. Of course, if you added either/both of these in BackerKit then you'll receive them in this pre-W&S fulfillment as well.

As for Web & Starship, the primary component that remains is the counter sheets. Unless the coming holidays cause excessive delays, the game will go to press before the end of the year and should be in your hands by the end of March.

Again, my apologies for the delay. As the production process concludes and the components go to press, I will consider ways to upgrade the game to salve the wound of the late delivery. Please share any suggestions!

Project Updates & Pledge Manager
almost 8 years ago – Tue, Jun 28, 2016 at 06:08:54 PM

Greetings! We're been working away here. Shortly after the project ended, Greg provided me with notes on some rules corrections and variations that I will incorporate into the rulebook. We've also made more corrections to the star map (the original WEG map made it difficult to see the difference between yellow and orange stars, and while the difference doesn't impact play, the new edition shouldn't be lesser than the original in any way!).

Also, the counter images are done. Here's a little taste that also makes for a nice text divider:

Plus, the pledge manager is ready. Shortly after I send this update I will trigger BackerKit to send all of you links to your checkout. There is no "survey" to answer other than make certain you enter a correct shipping address, though if you're interested in the other two games I offered — Gladiator: Quest for the Rudis or Monster Mansion — and you didn't include those in a pledge, then you'll find expansion decks for those games. They will ship at no extra charge, just like the main games.

Don't worry if your address changes later. In a few months I'll send a "final notice" and you can update the a new address at that time.

Pledge Manager Add-Ons

In addition to the other games and their expansion decks, there are two add-ons for Web & Starship that you can consider as you complete your pledge:

• Custom Dice: if you'd like an additional set of the 6d6.
• Star System Deck: a deck of cards that each features one star system in the game (see below for details).

The Next Step

It's now time to determine the exact components for each of the editions of the game. The Standard Edition is set. For the Deluxe edition, the Events cards are a great upgrade to the counters in the Standard edition (and Greg would like them included), and we now have two other decks to include in the upgraded editions: a "System Deck" and a "Secret VP Deck". TBD is whether it's easier and less expensive to simply include the Event counters in the Deluxe and Special edition too.

Here are the two extra decks for the Deluxe and Special editions:

The System Deck includes a card for each star system that lists the closest handful of star systems. This allows players to consider moves even more privately than a comprehensive distance chart. You may even opt to display cards for occupied systems. Everyone can then check that card to see what system is in movement range.

The good news is that there are 52 star system in the game, so this makes a convenient "poker deck" worth of extra cards, but that's an expensive additional component to print for every copy of the game. So, while I'd like to include three copies of this (one per player), the game will include one deck to share, though additional copies are available as an Add-On (see above).

The Secret VP Deck is a small deck of about a dozen cards that each lists a handful of star systems. At the start of play, every player will draw one of these cards to see which systems they need to control at the end of the game in order to gain bonus VP. The star systems that grant these bonuses will remain a secret until the end of the game.

Thanks for your great support! If we see a lot of pre-orders on BackerKit, then I'll be back in touch to potentially include Hive counters or even the full Hive expansion as a pre-order stretch goal. Therefore, please share the the pre-order link with friends and in social circles.

A Hive Precis
almost 8 years ago – Tue, May 24, 2016 at 12:07:19 PM

Greg has developed some great design ideas for a fourth player position that I’d like to share. Below is a summary of some of his notes about the Hive. He planned to develop these ideas into a fully playable position as a $20k stretch goal, but the Hive has clearly infected Greg. Here is his recent project comment (aka an acknowledgement of a “minor infection”):

No guarantees, but I have a pretty clear idea what I want to do with The Hive, and may work on it as a side project even if it it (as likely) doesn't get funding. If and when it becomes a reality (and, again, no guarantees), I'll ensure that all supporters here get access to it, if only as a print-and-play.

Of course, Greg means funding for the $20k stretch goal, not the project itself, which is successfully funded at $10k. You can guarantee the fate of the Hive if we stretch to $20k, but failing to reach that amount doesn’t necessarily mean the demise of the Hive!

Hive Counters at $15k

In fact, for the final day and a half of the project, I’m updating the stretch goals. The three range finders remain at $12,500, and if the press sheets have room, then I will also add the turn sequence cards. At $15k we will now add printed counters for the Hive. The exact number and mix of these counters is TBD, but after reading below you’ll have an idea of the kinds of counters that are required (Hive Infection markers, perhaps additional settlement counters for other positions, etc.). The rules and other components won’t be fully developed and guaranteed until $20k, but by the sound of it, even if we’re shy of $20k, Greg may develop these rules.

In the event we surpass $15k but fall short of $20k, then any other Hive components we produce will be made available via download. This would include items such from a Hive Tracking Sheet and a scenario involving the Hive all the way to complete rules, which we may call on backers to help playtest.

None of this is left to chance if we can surge in the final hours! Please share the project with your friends and convince them that they too need a new edition of this award-winning science fiction board game!

Here is a summary of Greg’s notes about the Hive:

In the early game, all Hive moves are secretly recorded, so that progression can be later checked by other players (as Pereen probes). To start, the Hive selects one starting world or ship to infect. When they infect a world, 1 settlement there is infected; if they infect a ship, they 'control' it, but it remains useable by the ostensible owner (Terran or Gwynhyfarr).

The infected settlement of any infected world increases by 1 each turn. Any ship that visits the world may be infected, by forgoing the 1 settlement increase at that world for that turn; any world visited by that ship has 1 settlement infected. If a unit from a world with any infected settlement moves through a gate to another world, the Hive may infect 1 settlement at that world by forgoing the 1 settlement increase at the starting world that turn.

The Hive may announce at any time that "a minor infection” is growing at one or more worlds, designating them. A Hive Infection marker is placed at that world so the other players know, and Hive infection at that world increases at 2 settlement per turn thereafter.

Once a minor infection is announced, the Terrans (only) my begin work on "diagnostic software". This requires substantial resources, but other (non-Hive) players may voluntarily contribute to the project. Once the project is complete, on the next turn, all infected settlement for the Terran and other players they choose to share the technology with are revealed, as are infected ships. Hive settlement markers are placed, but the Hive is not required (but may) take control of infected ships; infection markers are placed on uncontrolled but infected ships. Infected worlds with shared settlement (Hive/another player) remain under the control of the other player.

Once shared settlement at a world is revealed, ships visiting that world may not be infected, nor may gate-linked worlds visited by troops from that world.

If the Hive owns all settlement at a world, they may declare ownership; they immediately gain control of all ground troops there. Settlement and troop markers are replaced. They can also declare ownership of infected ships at any time, but since they'll need to pay maintenance on the following turn, it makes sense only to do so either during a war, or at the same time as a world or worlds.

Once diagnostic software is invented, the Terrans (only) may begin work on a cure for the infection. This is an even larger and more expensive undertaking, but as before, other (non-Hive) players may contribute resources. Once the cure is invented, the Terrans and other players they choose to share it with have the cure. A world where a player with the cure still has settlement no longer becomes more infected over time; instead, during a non-war, the infected settlement declines by 1 each turn, with the owner's settlement increasing by the same 1. Infected ships controlled by a player with the cure that have not already declared for the Hive do so immediately.

The Hive may not negotiate with other players until something (a world, a ship) has declared for the Hive, or diagnostic software is invented. That is, they are forbidden to speak, pass notes, IM, etc; it’s impossible to prevent a smile or nod, but even that is discouraged. The Hive may negotiate freely thereafter.

The Hive may build ships at formerly Terran and Gwynhyfarr worlds they control; ground troops at all; and gate probes at formerly Pereen worlds they control.

Additionally, if/when a war involving the Hive occurs at a world with shared settlement, the Hive may sacrifice settlement there in order to obtain ground troops.

During a war, non-Hive players may perform genocide operations against the Hive: ground units may eliminate some number of Hive settlement per war turn, and starships in orbit may do the same, but only if they have uncontested control of the world (ground troops) or space about it (ships). The Hive may do the same, reducing the non-Hive settlement of a world with ground troops or ships.

***

That’s a short for summary of the Hive in play, but Greg’s thinking is already quite clear. Still, there’s a lot here that will require playtesting. Balancing the cost of diagnostic software and cure versus how late in the game the Hive might wait to declare that first minor infection to gain POP rate increases, etc. etc. etc.

Greg expects the Hive to be mainly used in a 4-player game; but it may work in a 3-player game, using the "two player” rules (Terrans unplayed), with the Hive as a third player.

Pledge Manager Coming Soon
almost 8 years ago – Sun, May 22, 2016 at 05:46:05 PM

This post is for backers only. Please visit Kickstarter.com and log in to read.

Special Edition Update
almost 8 years ago – Tue, May 10, 2016 at 09:15:16 AM

The project is now 90% funded! Once we're funded, I'll share Greg's design ideas for The Hive.

In preparation for the final five days, I'm upgrading the rewards related to the SPECIAL EDITION of Web & Starship. This edition now includes a larger signed and numbered print that features an illustration of a Gwynhyfarr, Pereen AND Terran. This is retroactive to all the backers currently supporting any of the SPECIAL EDITION pledge levels, including the Earth Day Special for the Terran Special Edition.

The total number of all SPECIAL EDITIONS is 100 copies.

You can manage your pledge to change from a reward of a BASIC EDITION or DELUXE EDITION to the SPECIAL EDITION.

Thanks to everyone for your support. We've passed 100 backers!