I have added the Render for Hephescus Zantt to the main post. Within a month I think all the models will be cast, so its getting very exciting!
Also, I will include an announcement here about the direction of the game which people may be interested to read. I
Hello,
Just an update to let you know what is going to be happening for the Roots of Magic over the next few months. Apologies in advance for a long post but we believe these decisions should be shared with the community. If you are being asked to invest time and/or money in our products then you have a right to see behind the curtain, so to speak.
Originally our idea was to deliver a low model count fantasy skirmish game straight off the bat, but over time this plan has been supplanted with a certainty that it is not the right way for the Roots of Magic. What we are proposing to do instead is release the ‘Wizard Duel’ variant of the game without relying on Kick Starter at this time. This will mean that all 6 Wizards (plus Vushka the Bear for a total of seven models) will be available to buy very soon, and to go with these models Grand Arcanum Games will be putting out a very Spartan-looking PDF version of the Beta rules and a PDF containing the very pretty game cards.
This will mean that to play the Roots of Magic at this level, you don't need to spend a penny if you do not wish to. You may proxy the models required and all materials necessary for playing will be available as free downloads from the Roots of Magic website (
www.therootsofmagic.com) when it is complete later in October. This will also mean that anyone that wants to buy the models for any reason not linked to playing the Roots of Magic will also be able to get their hands on the models earlier than planned. We humbly suggest that everyone should check out the rules regardless of what they would like the models for - they will be free and provide a game that is a good way to spend an entertaining 30-40 minutes with your friends.
The reasons for this change are plentiful and have been seriously considered for a while. Firstly, I have had some changes in my personal life recently and these could possibly affect my ability to support a Kick Starter in the next couple of months. Although I believe that Grand Arcanum Games will not merely be a one-man show for much longer (you note I use the term 'we' a lot), it is not fair to start something now that I may not be able to support 100%. The progress that has already been made with regards to the smaller variant of the game is huge, and therefore I can support that 100% myself with no risk being introduced.
The second, and we believe most important, reason is the state of miniature game Kick Starter funding in general. We are trying to create, produce, distribute, and market a game; an end to end process with a lot of moving parts. Something that we have noticed about recent
KS projects is that backers’ expectations and caution have increased over even the last year or so. Asking for their support for a first time venture that requires substantial financial backing means that despite our belief that the game, world, and miniatures are top notch, whether we could meet the target is very hard to predict.
We could easily go down the route of beginning a
KS project anyway; we have spent a lot of time, effort, and money on obtaining examples of what backers could expect to receive, and if it did not make its funding target we could continue regardless. So we are simply choosing to save the additional effort involved in that option and to use it in a more positive way. A lot of very nice looking games, with great models and viable rules sets have not managed to gain funding recently. We think the Roots of Magic have gone beyond many of them in terms of the work already done, but even so, it’s a risk that we don't believe is fully necessary.
The third reason relates to games that do Kick Start successfully, but due to the speed of delivery to market may not have enough of a player base to continue for the long term. I have backed a few
KS and for at least a couple of them it is now hard to get a game. Even though all the models and rules have been provided, the long wait between
KS enthusiasm and final delivery means that many people drift to other games and this can really kill a community just as easily as if it delivered poor rules or models.
We would like the Roots of Magic to have a more secure future by trying to assure a player base now and in years to come. If this means a phased approach in which we release a limited version of the game in the short term, build up the community via events/demos, and then
KS the Company-level version next year when a player base already exists, as long as it will mean people are still playing the Roots of Magic in years to come, we will gladly take that approach.
The fourth and final reason is that one of our aims has been to involve the community in the development and direction of the game. We believe this will now be easier to do if the game progresses in increments rather than big leaps. Our target is to release a great game for 5-8 models, but the aim of the people that want to play the game may be different. Within reason, we should listen to the requirements of players that have invested in the Roots of Magic. That is much easier to do in an iterative delivery approach than in a major release cycle.
If the players would rather see another wave of Wizards before they see a full game, then that is something we should consider. If players want to see Acolytes (apprentice Wizards) in action before the full game, again we should consider it. Our ambition for the game is to go long and go big. We believe that can only be possible with the close support of players, and a good way to earn that support is to display a willingness to deliver a game that people want to play.
So if you are still reading after all that, you may want to know what this all means in terms of approximate delivery dates. Notice the use of the word approximate! Grand Arcanum Games believes that we can easily deliver the free PDFs as soon as the website goes live, which is currently projected for late October. At this time we also hope to have the models available for sale in limited numbers which can be ordered from the site. On top of these, there will be tokens, markers, and other accoutrements made available to purchase to go with the game. These are not things that will stop you playing the game if you do not own them, but they will add some razzle-dazzle while playing and if you like that sort of thing, go for it!
What we will not have by this time are printed boxes for the models, or final prints of physical cards. In terms of the cards, this is an intentional choice to allow for feedback from the beta rules before committing to a final print run. The physical cards will be made available at a later date, and the price will be kept as low as possible for those that wish to purchase them. To be very clear they will be included with models at some point after they have been finalised, and therefore model costs will rise to reflect that. If there is a call for it we may have a ‘just the model’ option on the site.
The Kickstarter plan has now been put back to the end of Q1 2016 or early Q2 2016. It is still the only way at present we have of ensuring that the game can expand to the range of models we think it deserves, though as mentioned earlier, Grand Arcanum will be listening to feedback very carefully on the direction of the game and will act accordingly. The rules for the Company level game already exist, as does some art, model rules and some basic scenarios. We will continue to work on this so that when the
KS does happen, backers can clearly see what they will be getting.
In terms of what comes next in the short-to-medium term, one of our priorities is building a player base through demos and running events. As the ‘Wizard Duel’ variant of the Roots of Magic can be played within 30-40 minutes, this actually opens up some more interesting ideas for events. It certainly allows for more games and therefore a fairer representation on the leader board without having to seriously ramp up the time required.
We will also be commissioning some variant art and models as prizes for events, just to have something pretty to aim for! The background story of the Roots of Magic will be tied into events and also casual games. We plan on running some campaigns in which results in the game translate into story choices, new factions, and 'experienced' versions of current models.
Building a community of players is the life blood of the game that we have invested so much in, so it is of supreme importance to us. We will try to attend as many shows as possible, so people have an opportunity to meet with us and offer feedback, and also get some lowdown on upcoming developments. Salute 2016 is the first event planned for us to attend as a company, but with your support we will try to get further afield...
So hopefully you now have a better idea of what to expect in the next few months, and where we are looking to go beyond that. We also hope that you will see why the decision has been made to release the Roots of Magic in this way, and that you will remain patient for just a little longer. Soon the game will available for download, and we look forward to your feedback!
Magically Yours,
Grand Arcanum Games