[Kickstarter] Banner Saga: Warbands by Megacon Games - final 48 hours -last chance

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**yamato**

New blind bidding option for council decisions,..... may very likely be included in the rule book as an official alternate method.

This as been asked for by the backers:

They have also talked about alternate combat modes; again based on backer feedback.

Looks like they are really responding to comments on the KS page and the desires of the backers.

Here is another one,...... Single Player Mode:

I have been working on this element since our backers have asked for it. It has had rough testing at this point and works pretty well. It is a different game than multi-player Warbands, but feels right. It is a bit more abstracted, but very challenging. In fact, I've been able to play each mission twice and it is pretty fun.

It will go into heavy testing next week. Luckily, with it being single-player, we can get a lot of test games for it in a very short time.

I hope it satisfies. I like it. Tom really likes it. He plays the Thane a lot. I know with 1000 backers, we'll have 1000 different wants in terms of single-player. As I got into it, this is the direction that felt right:

This does not represent final written game rules. It represent my design as it stands now. Testing will change things, but it gives you a good idea of where I am headed.

One Player

The Thane is the only role "played". All non-Thane internal event cards are removed. All external and camp event cards remain.

The Thane starts with all Favors present.

Every mission objective is altered to: The Warband must reach the location with a fully upgraded Thane and with the Thane having more renown than any other role. If either of these conditions is not met, the mission is a failure.

The other roles are not managed. However, renown is tracked for each role (placed next to their miniature or identifying token). The Keeper, Quartermaster, and Warmaster begin with 0 renown. The Thane's starting renown is fluctuating based off testing at this point.

Renown

The single-player game is a renown race. The other roles (not managed) earn renown through the skirmishes. Using tactics in the skirmish to spread the renown around is very important and quite challenging.

Losing a skirmish is very bad in all player number versions of the game.

Renown is awarded in most events. However, the bonus renown for both roles agreeing is the key to the Thane winning. In internal events, if both parties agree there is a renown bonus. It is in place to make sure players don't game the system.

In the single-player game, all selections in the internal events are considered unanimous. Both parties are agreeing. The renown bonus will be given per the instructions on the card, except if the Thane spends the favor associated with the other role present on the front of the card. If he spends the favor associated with the other role making the decision with him, regardless of the instructions, the Thane gains the bonus renown.

Renown gained by using a token cannot be banked for the purchase of a token.

External Events

The Thane selects a choice in these events, and must spend 1 renown for Spring and Summer, and 2 renown for Fall and Winter. The resolution is played per the instructions on the card.

Camp Events

The Thane selects a choice in these events. The resolution is played per the instructions on the card.

Skirmish

All roles are present in the skirmishes. All roles begin with one follower. If the Quartermaster, Keeper, or Warmaster lose their follower in a skirmish, it is not replaced. The Thane can replace his follower if killed. If the Thane is injured and killed in a skirmish, he is dead and the mission is a failure.

Renown earned in a skirmish is awarded to the role whose bannerman or follower got the kill.

The Thane may spend renown to provide group willpower. This is the only way to get group willpower.

Loses

If ever an event resolution demands more than 100 clansman be removed, the Thane placed a pyre token for memories of the fallen. If ever an event resolution demands more than 10 varl, the Thane placed a pyre token for memories of the fallen. If anyone bannerman or follower is killed in a skirmish, the Thane placed a pyre token for memories of the fallen.

If memories of the fallen activates then the Thane must remove a favor. If he has no favors, he must remove 3 renown.

Supplies, warband strength, and casualties less than full tents are not tracked.

If the Defeated camp event card is present and can be won, then all roles will spend renown to overcome the cost. The Thane's renown is spent completely before taking renown from the other roles. Renown is removed as evenly as possible in this order: Warmaster, Keeper, Quartermaster.

**yamato**

A slight adjustment with the addition of some add-ons (which are free to the "Bannerman" level pledgers), and also the tweaking of the next stretch goal:

Based on backer feedback about wanting more "alternate" event cards (ones that have the same decision text, but with different outcomes); MCG have basically added 8 additional cards for top level pledgers; but also two more to the $140k stretch goal.

the new "choose your path" mission cards are a nice addition,..... again; based on backer feedback.

I'm not sure if this will see a great big push in the last 48 hours,........ advertising has been pretty non-existent to this point,.....

The campaign is very close to the 1000 backer goal,.... once it gets there; they may release some more info about the goals in the $200k area,....... we'll have to see.

**Alpharius**

I'll admit it - I'd forgotten all about this one!

I'm still interested, but yeah, this one's been a slog so far:

**highlord tamburlaine**

I'm still waiting to see what sort of Myth offerings they'll have, because that's all that is really interesting me here.

**yamato**

Final 48 hours! Last chance to get in,.... You need to be in at $15 level to get into the pledge manager.

$140k stretch goal reached:

The $200k goal has been released,... And it could get there,.... This is the Myth Module that many have been asking for. It looks like you'll need to either be in at the $200 level (or the $80 level plus $55 for the needed add ons).

**Sining**

This feels like a pretty disappointing KS

**Stormwall**

Sad to say it as I love Stoic, especially after they were sued by Candy Crush, and after this wonderful game!

(Over the use of the word "Saga." Yes it was that stupid.)

I feel like if they had included a let's play of the game, or marketed some of it better, it would have gone so much more smoothly as people would have understood what it was about.

I mean this game was and IS ART. The music, the game, all just pure art.

**Ian Sturrock**

I like the look of this a lot, but mostly on economic grounds, I am going to wait till it hits retail. Doesn't seem like the KS will be a massive saving (if any), and the KS exclusives are not very exciting.

**Bioptic**

They also seem to be remarkably stingy with putting additional cards in the game! I know that any new content needs balancing, but this is literally a game about going on a journey and debating with the other players on difficult decisions. Those choices are going to be of a massively diminished impact the second time you see them, even with the multiple alternate outcome versions. Surely more cards are more important than Kickstarter-exclusive miniatures of the tokens?

Then again, the Myth "Quest Expansions" are $15 for 30 cards, so this seems to be running theme with Megacon.

**yamato**

It's creeping up towards 150K..... They finally have adds up on BGG starting yesterday and there has been a little spike,.....

It would be nice if it got the the new $200k goal,..... but that is a long way off at this point

Automatically Appended Next Post:
$150K unlocked: only digital content SG so far

**yamato**

I don't even know how to describe this,..... I'll just leave this here,... Seems like an incentive to limp in or downgrade to the $15 level.

Stretch goals that have already been unlocked will remain unlocked. Additionally, if the 160k and 180k SGs are not unlocked, they will be added to the pledge manager as add-ons. Anyone at the Bannerman pledge receive these at no additional cost. Other pledge levels will need to add them once the PM opens.

Pledge Manager
Anyone at the $15 (Follower) pledge or higher receives an invite to the PM. The PM will be opened in early Jan. It will be run for 30 days. Only those people that backed the Warbands KS will be invited to PM.

Once the PM opens, pledges are able to be upgraded. Backers cannot lower their pledge level in the PM, nor can they receive a refund.

Your Version Is Special

We've always known this...but here is the secret. The KS version of Warbands is a limited-run collector’s edition. Your copy of Warbands has a print number on the box. We are only printing 2k. Both versions have the quality components you expect from a MegaCon game, but the KS version is going to have some special treatments on some cards and the box that the retail version won’t have. It is the premier version of the game. And you all get it with your pledge.

The retail version will have the same game content, but has no miniatures, no cool bases, banners, or bling. It is a version without plastic. Everything is a cardboard token.

Extras

All versions are also receiving alternate oversized skirmish card and additional external event cards. These were later SGs that we have decided to provide at no additional cost because they completes a printing sheet. It adds extra gameplay.

Production

The day we funded, the digital sculpts were sent to fabrication. We are using the same group that did Myth figures.

In early Jan, when the PM opens, we’ll send the printed materials to Panda. They are the same group that did Myth. After we get the final numbers from the PM, we’ll set the print run.

We are truly glad it stayed modest. We expect to have everything finished and delivered in the 2nd quarter.

Final two hours.

**rabidaskal**

I'm confused. The retail version will have no minis, only cardboard tokens? This seems like a strange thing to have kept secret and then suddenly revealed 2 hours before the KS ends. I would have thought advertising the game as special KS version would've brought it more backers to begin with, had they billed it as such from the start . . . .

**highlord tamburlaine**

Do they mean no minis at all, for anything, or no minis for the extra bling stuff the stretch goals provided?

I'd assumed it was the 3d tokens, but man, if they're ditching the minis completely... hmm. An odd move to say the least.

I wonder how their partners are feeling with the performance of this campaign?

**rabidaskal**

I went to peek at the KS itself, and the update says:

"The retail version will have the same game content, but has no miniatures, no cool bases, banners, or bling. It is a version without plastic. Everything is a cardboard token. "

Emphasis mine. So looking at the update and the comments section it does seem like the KS version is the only way to get the minis. As you said this is rather odd and I don't understand, wouldn't it be more expensive to make a limited run of the minis? Why limit it to the KS?

**yamato**

I'm guessing that this is a shift in plans; though it may have been a contingency plan all along.

If it was a huge KS then you see that there is great demand; maybe you publish it with minis at reatail,.... but this has been a modest campaign compared to other mini board games.

They have said all along that if it went to Retail, they would not be the publisher,.... it would go through Vs. Evil,..... so maybe they and/or Stoic are making the call on that?

Automatically Appended Next Post:
Oh, and yes,.... they said no plastic in the box at all,.... all cardboard counters,.... though I've felt from the beginning that the abstract nature of the combat lends itself better to colored discs anyway,....

so if you have a cardboard disc with a silver backed picture of a follower and a bronze on the flipside,.. .that would make plenty of sense.

**Ian Sturrock**

Gah. Shoulda hired a KS consultant I think. I've gone from stoked to interested to cautious to put off, since first hearing about this a week ago (via the A Song of Blades and Heroes fb page).

**yamato**

I think the real issue is that this was just a board game masquerading as a miniatures board game.

It's clear that the minis were a bit of a side show to the game,... The fact that they will have the retail version have no minis seems to back this up.

The pricing was a bit high too I think. If it had been a game like Myth or Recon with SG upon SG of new minis, stacking up for hundreds for the $200 pledge, that might have done really well. This is just not that game I think

**Ian Sturrock**

I love boardgames, and I am also always up for acquiring more fantasy minis for use in A Song of Blades and Heroes, which these would have fitted in well with. So you'd have thought that a boardgame that also came with decent fantasy minis would be an easy sell to me. And based on other Kickstarters, it would...