Biddy & Walter, Ark Nova, Flamecraft (Rolling Realms Game 95 Round 3)

0:01 Hey there, I'm Jamie from Stonemire Games and I am still setting up for game round three of game 95 of Rolling Realms here. Looks like I'm close. Sorry, I was writing today's blog post, which I haven't yet posted today, but I'm about to after this. And I think we have it all together here. We have everything. I'm not showing anything I shouldn't show on camera here. I hope you're doing well. Thank you for joining me for this round of rolling realms. Whether you're watching live or in the future, feel free to comment if you're watching live. I'm happy to talk about anything, including what you were excited to play this weekend or do this weekend. Anything that you're up to this weekend. Um, we have a special realm, Biddy and Walter. Uh, Walter actually just walked under my desk right now. He's one of my cats. Uh, Biddy was uh was one of my cats. We have Arc Nova and Flamecraft as well. Some interesting realms here. I mean, the this is a Oh, yeah. Just an interesting cross-section of realms. Garrett says, "Can you say what the blog post will be about?" It will be about the current state of marketing for crowdfunding and for product launches in general, especially in the board game space. Um, yeah. So, it's almost done. I just didn't quite finish it. Uh, let's jump in. I'll talk about how these realms work as we play.

1:18 And if you have any ideas for blog posts that you would like to see me write about in the future, let me know. I have a list of topics, but I oftentimes have to think about those topics, even talk about them out loud on live casts and things like that before I figure out exactly what I want to say because I try to be constructive and positive even about difficult topics. Um, and so that's something that I I I am trying on today's post. Today's post is largely about a a publisher struggles to reach an audience on crowdfunding. and I am trying to present some solutions and just some um honest observations about about the current state of of marketing for for Kickstarter and and crowdfunding in general, not just Kickstarter.

2:05 Okay, what are we looking at here? A three and a four. So, Arc Nova, this is a a weird one. Uh you'll we'll outline a circle that we don't use. So you make that column stronger. Or you could use a number to gain the benefit equal to the number of circles there. So for example, if I don't use the three in arc nova, at the end of my turn, I will get to circle one of these uh circles here in Arnova, which will make this column stronger. Um and right now, if I used a four, I wouldn't gain anything because there none of these circles are are outlined. Flamecraft, I can assign a number to enchant. So I I'll I'll circle um but I don't I circle a resource but I don't actually gain anything. Or I can write a number specific numbers. So I could use say a three or a four right here to gather in a matching shop. So you'll gain that shop's outlined unmarked resources. Then you'll mark them and then activate the shop's ability like rewrite the same number to gather in any eligible shop. Um enchant anywhere outline a resource circle over here.

3:10 gain just to gain a resource. I can't use this one, but I could put the three here. I think that could be beneficial. And then Bidian Walter. So, at the start of every turn, which I should have done this, I need to mark an outline cat craving based on the dice sum. So, the dice sum here was seven. So, I need to mark this cat craving. So, it's a little bit of a pusher luck system. If I rolled another uh six to seven, I would have a grumpy cat because I don't have a toy for them to play with. Unfortunately, I didn't roll either of those numbers, so I won't be able to help out with that grumpy cat situation here. But I could use a four to circle two of the food dishes. H I think what I'll do is that I will use a four here and I will use a three over here. So if I write the three, if I write a three right there, I gain that shop's outlined unmarked resources. I don't have any resources that are outlined here. Then I'll then mark them.

4:08 Then activate the shop ability. So enchant anywhere. I can outline a resource circle. So I can choose one of these resource circles that I want to use later uh to outline. I think maybe I mean this is the one where I generate resources early. This is going to be pretty good. But rewriting the same number is also really good. You know, I'll go with this one. I'll go with this one right here. I'll outline that. Garrett says, "Ivy Studio recently announced new content in their optional web app for Tend, which likely likely will be the only way to play it." Here's a four and a six if you're playing along. Would you ever release, for example, Vantage content in Rule Pop only? It's an interesting question. I would say no because I in buying Vantage, you are buying a physical product, not a um not a not a hybrid product. You're not buying a digital hybrid project. Rule pop is optional. The use of rule pop is optional. I would say the closest that I would get is what I'm doing with uh Vantage in that every month or close to every month. I might change that over time, but currently every month I release a just a fun challenge that people can do. I put that out there in the Vantage newsletter, but it's completely optional. It isn't core to the gameplay. It's something that you can do as part of the gameplay. Um it's bo it's bonus content. So, I guess that's where the overlap is. How far do you go when you call it bonus contest?

5:29 But I lean towards no. I lean lean towards no because it when I'm doing that that I'm just like writing a prompt for you. I'm not actually creating a special new thing. Pete says, "Loving wingspan pocket and your customer service is replacing a damaged card in just a few days." Oh, thank you. Yeah, we uh we try our best with replacement parts and I'm sorry that you weren't able to play with that card. Garrett says, "More of a prompt as a possible blog topic about to do a digital implementation of ways to do a digital implementation of add-ons or apps." Something you probably have already blogged about. Michael is joining us as well, Garrett. I like that blog topic. Yeah, where where is that line? Um, okay. They're releasing new challenges and goals in the Apple only link. Yeah, challenges and goals. I think that's like if you were just giving players a prompt to use uh with all the existing things that they have in the box, I think that's a little bit different. I'm I'm I'm cool with that. Uh four and a six. And if I wasn't cool with that, that's okay, too. That's just just my opinion about it. Oh, and I didn't use the three in arc node. I have to choose one of those numbers I didn't use. I'm going to go with the three there. I would have done that even though like I'm doing that even though there's a four here because I wanted to do that.

6:37 Um four and a six. So, these add up to 10. So, I have to mark off a what is that? A nap time. So, I think I will use the six to go here just to make sure. I'm still pushing my luck a little bit here, but I don't have a two or a five in Walter. Um, so that was the six. The four I think I won't use an arc nova. Six counts as any number to use or as to use or as an unused number. That's helpful in arn nova. Um, the four I'll put put the four over in flamecraft, me thinks. So, let's see. If I put a four right here, rewrite the same number to gather in any eligible shop. I don't actually don't know if that's all that good.

7:24 Four might be better over here. I could also use the four just to circle a benefit. Why don't I do that? I'll just make this one really good and try to get some resources maybe on my next turn. And again, I did not use the number in Arc Nova. I haven't generated any resources yet. Oh, I should have done this. I should have gained I should have a coin and a heart from bidding Walter. Forgot about that. I didn't use a six in Arnova. So, I can circle anything I want. I will go with one more of these and then I'll probably start to get stars. Turn three. A five and a six. Chad says his family's hunkered down in our basement. Bad storms and funnel clouds outside. Oh, that's scary. Chad, I hope you're okay.

8:09 And that that it doesn't last. That's really scary if you've got funnel clouds out there. Uh, we have extreme heat in St. Louis. Um, but funnel clouds are are are way scarier. But it does say his son Owen is beating him in my first stone age. That's good. Good job, Owen. All right, five and a six. This is an 11. So I I I saved myself here. And I have a five, which I exa exactly what I wanted in Bedian Walter right there. So I'm going to use it right away in Bidian Walter. I do get a coin from that high roll. In Arc Nova, I don't have a three to use, but I will I will probably not use one of these numbers to start generates generating some stars. And I do have the six. So, I think I'll put a six right here. I'll mark both of these coins.

8:55 I also get a star where you outline both enchanted circles. So, I get a star for that. Uh the six gives me two coins. And then I gain either a pumpkin or a heart. I'm closer on hearts to getting some utility out of them. So, I'll go with a heart. And I haven't used Arn Nova, but do I want to start to do that? I mean, Archan Nova, I can really just focus on trying to get stars if I want. And I only technically need six turns and a little bit of luck to do that. I will say that I didn't use any I didn't use a six here. So, I'm going to circle a um circle a five right there. All right, turn four. A five and a one. Okay, five and a one. I mean, ideally, that's actually good. So, that means that I will probably use this five in Arnova to circle another one of those. Five and a one add up to six, which is a pumpkin in Bidian Walter. No risk of not getting what they need in Midian Walter. So, I'll probably use these numbers in other realms this turn if necessary. Again, I don't know if it's necessary to do that in Arnova. In flamecraft, where do I want to go in flame? I do need I need to start to circle more of these. Enchanting is also nice. So, I might keep enchanting. Yeah. What do I put? Oh, ones. I can't use ones in flamecraft. That's rough.

10:20 H. Well, I could put a five over here. We write the same number to gather in any eligible shop. Okay. So, I will put a five there. And I will also write that five down here. And I'll get I'll go with a I'll go with a pumpkin, actually. And then I still have a one to use. I could use it in Bidian Walter, but I think I'll just use it in Arc Nova. Fill in that circle. Get a pumpkin. All right. I did not use a five in Arnova. One roll die that I didn't use. So, I am going to circle that five. Chad says, "Clank looks fun."

11:09 Oh, I may have missed a comment from Austin. Hey, there's Austin. Sorry, I missed that. Austin says, "I rarely splurge on a pricey set of products, but since Clank is my favorite series, I couldn't help but go big on the Clank 10-year anniversary Kickstarter edition that launched today." Clank is a delight. I have Oh, I have a pair of ones here. I have a lot of Clank stuff. In fact, Clank has reached kind of a tipping point with me where I have so much Clank stuff that it is hard to get to the table now. So, I'm not going to back it, even though I do really love Clank. And I actually just need to find a way to maybe resort my stuff so that I do get it back to the table more often because I really do love Clank. Pair of ones. This is so such a low number that I don't get a resource, but I also don't have to circle anything in bidding Walter. Got a little bit lucky there. with with twos and twelves, you get lucky and biddy and Walter in a way without getting a resource.

12:06 Doesn't help me in arch nova at all unfortunately. Um so I might actually just use it in bidding walter but in flamecraft in flamecraft I can't use ones either there. So I have these pumpkins. Maybe I just need to use So I'll use two pumpkins to turn one of these into a two and I'll write it down right here. don't get to gather much, but I do get to outline some other place or or this place. I'll go with it. It seems like I need some pumpkins right now. And then I have one other one to use. I think this is maybe the best place to use it, unfortunately. Um, anything else I want to do? I do have a bunch of coins here that I could use in Arc Nova, but I don't see a strong reason to do that. I guess I could put all I could use all four of them here, which I might actually need. You know, I'll go for it.

13:00 I will use all four coins to circle. Oh, no. I can't do that. I can't circle. I can only circle the things that I the dice that I don't place. So, the die that I am not going to place here in Arnova is a one. All right, turn six. Here's a six and a three. I do like that being a higher roll. Uh Garrett did ask, sorry Garrett, I missed this. Uh any holiday weekend plans? I Yeah, actually I'm going to play um Drillers and Cano with a few friends on Saturday. Megan's family is in town or her parents are in town. So, we're gonna probably have some some food with them and feel like I have some other thing happening.

13:52 I have games. What else do I have? Games on Saturday. Oh, games on Sunday, too. Yeah, I have some games on Sunday. That's right. Austin says, "Any others in chat going to design day this year?" the Stomire Games design day. Garrett says, "Speaking of Kickstarter, I saw the largest stretch goal ever from Doublefind, $100 million, and if they hit it, they will make a sequel to the cult classic video game Brutal Legend." Wow, that is a lot of money. Are they Are they Have they already started the funding? And if so, where are they at in their funding? How close are they to that 100 million? I think the largest Kickstarter starter ever, wasn't it? Brandon Sanderson at like 40 million, something like that, which is wild.

14:37 Three and a six. Well, the three could finish off here if I wanted to do that in Flamecraft. The six could also go up here. Where do I need these numbers down here? Actually, three in Arnova could be great. Generate. Yeah, with a single three, I generate a bunch of resources. I also need to remember to do bidding walter. Um, so that is three coins. Biddy and Walter is a nine. So that is this one. So I probably need to use a three or I could push my luck a little bit for a grumpy cat. Um, oh, actually I have the six. I can just fill in two of them. Yeah, I'll do that. I love those big numbers in Bidian Walter. I'm probably safe for the rest of the round. We'll see. And then I can generate a number for Flamecraft.

15:28 Uh I do need I need to fill in three more numbers. Actually, four more numbers. So I need to fill in a number here. So I'll go with a two right there. When I do that, I fill in this. I get a pumpkin. And I get to outline another circle somewhere. Let's go with one over here. Oh, do I only get to Okay. I was thinking maybe I need to mark off all the numbers because I won't be able to mark off this this uh resource, but I will be able to circle it. Um, okay. Turn seven, a six and a two. Six and a two. Okay. So, Garrett says that uh double fine is currently at 400,000.

16:15 So, no shot they hit it. Garrett says, "But they have always been a bit silly and have just having some fun." That's fun. Yeah, I like that. Nate the Great says, "Have you played Merchants Cove?" I have not. Has anyone else here played Merchants Cove? I believe it's a highly asymmetric game. I am curious about it, but I've just never played it. Chad was just watching the Dice Tower top 10 for 2016 and Scythe was on their list. Yes, that year. Scythe and Terraforming Mars were like really really big games that year in 2016. Um, even though Scythe was both of them were just kind of getting started then, but they they got a lot of attention. Okay, six and a two. They add up to eight. So, put one there for Bid and Walter. Oh, and I didn't gain the coin last time. So, that's a coin from last time.

17:00 This is a coin from this time. Keep forgetting to do that in Walter. Oh, and last turn I also What were the numbers that I had? I had a six and a what was that? A smudge three. So, I think I would have Well, these won't help me, but I will uh fill in a four there as a a number that I did not use in Arc Nova. Oh, yeah, because I used the three. I didn't use the the uh the six. Okay, what can I do here? It's going to be I can't I can't catch up fully in Arn Nova. I think that's one of the reasons to start filling in the stars early because it is just a matter of the dice that you don't use. So, I will I will say early just so I don't forget that I will not use the six in arc nova and I will kind of hedge my bets and put it on the four there.

17:50 Um I think I won't do anything in Bidian Walter. The two I could get a star out of it. It isn't a lot, but it is probably useful. And the six. Yeah, I'll put the six right here. It's a little better for me to use a five because I could fill in the five twice. Why don't I do that? I will change this six to a five. I'll write it down right here to gain a heart. And I also get to write down that five someplace else. I'll write it down right there. So, this star and this star, I'm gaining those stars. And I also gain a resource out of this. I'll go for another pumpkin. Seem to be using pumpkins a lot this round. And I need a couple more numbers there. actually kind of need three more numbers in Flamecraft. I'll see if I can catch up. And I haven't utilized this as well as I should because I won't get to use that number twice.

18:44 I think that's good enough. So, I didn't use the six. I already marked Oh, actually, no. I didn't even use the two yet. Uh, I could use it in Arc Nova. I could use it. I don't need it in By Walter. I'll use it in Arc Nova to get a heart. Austin says he's never been to PAX, but he heard great things. Heard great things as well about PAX. A one and a two. A low roll. Not what I needed here. Star Wars Rebellion 2016. Yeah. Wow. That's that's a great one. 2016. Yeah, it was a stack year exactly 10 years ago. I wonder what was what was in the water 10 years ago that uh that made for so many great games. A one and a two. So they add up to three. So I just barely cross off one of these. I will be safe in Bidian Walter.

19:30 That does give me a pumpkin, which could be really helpful. Actually, the pumpkin. Yeah, we'll see what I do with that. I will use, let's just say that I'll use a the two to outline one of these. I'll outline this heart. The struggle is that neither of these help me in Arn Nova. I mean, the one, sure, I'll fill in this one and get a pumpkin. Um, but at best now at the end of the turn, I'm not going to use I have I didn't use the two. So, circle that in. So, at best case scenario, I am able to use the four and the five and get a bunch of stars in Arnova on my next turn. So, I need fours, fives, and sixes on my next turn. Oh, Feast for Odin was that year, too. Arkham Horror, the card game. Next versus minions. Wow. Wow. Ah, that's incredible. Austin says, "Sythe is on on my shelf of opportunity. I usually play with my parents and it may be too heavy for them, but I hope to try soon. It is it is a heavy game. Um, but I did try to do one of the things that I I in all all most of my favorite heavy games, there's a streamlined action system. And even though it looks like a lot inside, it is, you know, it's it's a fairly streamlined action system that I think can help a lot with actually having you just do stuff and and and figure it out as you go. But I'm speaking from a lot of experience with sides. So I can I can see why it's going to be intimidating and daunting for for someone trying it for the first time.

20:56 Um a one out of two. Maybe I need to do like a size pocket to help people get into it like we're doing with wingspan pocket. I think I've done everything I can here with these numbers. Let's do a final roll. What is that? This is This is not good. A one and a two. Oh no. Well, okay. Okay. Um, okay. A one and a two. [sighs] I'm looking at these numbers in particular. So, I guess this is a three.

21:42 So, get another pumpkin. Maybe that'll be useful. Um, the one is going to be very low utility. I will just use it to circle that resource. That gives me this star. I have both of those stars. So, everything but one star. I won't get that star. That's not bad. Chad says, "This is alltime number one. I don't see it changing. It's really what solidified my gaming career." I'm honored to hear that. Sythead, not sc. Um, yeah. Thanks. Thanks. It's it's one of those games where I feel like in some ways I have tried to recapture what made sides special both literally in expeditions and just in general as a designer since then. And um I think Vantage is my best attempt at doing that in a completely different way. Like trying not to copy anything about SC or not even copy it, but just try something completely different. And I I am really happy with how Vantage turned out. So maybe that's a good reminder to me that that I need to kind of go big on things that are different rather than trying to literally recapture that magic one and two. So at least I mean I have a bunch of happy kitties. Love having happy kitties.

22:51 I want my cats to be very happy. Walter's Walter's still under my desk here. So Arc Nova, I need to find a way to get some numbers. Unfortunately, fortunately, not unfortunately, but fortunately, I have some coins here. And I have this two, which really can't do much. Um, but I need more coins if I'm going to activate this twice. That's the problem. And copying. I don't have enough pumpkins to like copy anything. And I was actually checking. I was seeing if I could create a number and then copy it with hearts, but I don't think I can. Um, yeah, it gain a die of the same value as either roll dice. So, you're looking at the dice here. So, I think the best case scenario is that I use four of these coins to fill in these two circles and get two stars. I'm only going to end up with two stars in Arc Nova.

23:47 However, I can use the two that I haven't used yet and three pumpkins as a three to go here. And I actually do end up getting the star from Flamecraft. And I end up with some extra resources, which is fine. That's8. So 13.8 13.8 eight. Low score for the round, but still a tough interesting puzzle. This is why I love Rolling Realms. Chad says, "Yeah, for side the theme map mechanisms, the mix is just what I want. Advantage totally does capture the same same groundbreaking feel, but in a very different game." Thank you, Chad. I appreciate that. Well, thank you all for hanging out. Oh, Garrett, did I short myself a star?

24:40 Oh, in the addition. I did my math wrong. 14.8. Thank you, Garrett. Okay. So, it isn't my worst round of the game. I appreciate that. Thank you all for hanging out. It was always It's always good to see some familiar faces. And I I think Pete, I don't think I'd seen you drop in before. Um unless you are a Pete that I know from other places. Thank you for for dropping in to say hi. Uh I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday and a wonderful holiday weekend. Um yeah, let me know if you're watching this in the future. Feel free to share your score in the comments compared to my 14.8 and your total score for the game. I'd love to hear about that. Hey, Jeb and thanks for for chiming in as well. Oh, and Austin does say, I don't know if this is information you'd reveal, but I'm really curious how much all that artwork costs for Vantage. It's so much art. Uh, I don't know the exact number off hand, but I believe it's in the ballpark of around $100,000. It was a It was a massive investment in three amazing humans. No AIR. three amazing humans, Saurin, uh, Tina, Valentina, and Amelian, who uh, who it was a pleasure to work with them. A great investment in great people in my opinion. All right, have a wonderful weekend, a wonderful day, and I will see you all later. Take care. Bye.