Mine arrived a bit ago (USA) and finally found a little time to start going thourgh it and two tihngs jumped out;
First, damned impressive components. The miniatures are big and well executed, and the overall quality of things just seems pretty good.
Second... wow was the shipping rough. The biggest minatures are fit into a very solid piece of molded plastic. I'm talking about a completely rigid molded piece here, as thick (if not thicker) then the plastic you would have for a bucket or some-such, and it is cracked like someone took a hammer to it. I'm almost amazed how few miniatures have any damage (only one of the medium minis looks like it can't be fixed, most everything else seems to have snapped at a glue line).
Does anyone know offhand the address to send replacement part inquiries to? I'm sure I have it somewhere, but can't quite lay hands on it at the moment.
My inner tray was also broken but in such a way that shipping can have had nothing to do with it...
it must have been smashed before it was filled and boxed otherwise the card (and minis) on top of it would have been damaged too. I suspect the factory dropped a big stack of them but used them anyway
My inner tray was also broken but in such a way that shipping can have had nothing to do with it...
it must have been smashed before it was filled and boxed otherwise the card (and minis) on top of it would have been damaged too. I suspect the factory dropped a big stack of them but used them anyway
Actually, my tray was broken too, though I forgot to mention it...
Played a game today with the wife! She took yellow and black goat, while I ran GC and Nyar. She won out overall, on this highly judicious valentines' day. The Black Goat triumphed overall.
Edit: #2: Drunk Posting!
Jessuuus do we get way to many updates, talk about the opposite from KD:M, I had no idea I signed up for the Sandy Peterson newsletter on all things when I signed up for this game.
It took 38 days and 3 different shipments, but I finally got my copy yesterday. First shipment lost by USPS and second shipment lost by Newgistics, but finally have it thanks to help from Arthur at Peterson Games. Everything was in perfect condition. Started cleaning up mold lines last night and hopefully can start doing some painting by this weekend.
Are people actually bothering to paint the game pieces? Seems like a bad idea as it would make faction determination more difficult/gameplay harder. Besides, I believe we're getting most of the sculpts in metal as part of wave 2 as part of the 'collectors edition' or whatever (well, at least my pledge level is, dont know about others).
chaos0xomega wrote: Are people actually bothering to paint the game pieces? Seems like a bad idea as it would make faction determination more difficult/gameplay harder.
Yes, just not very well
Was going to keep the bases colored or put a ring around but eh, just keeping the factions within the same family of colors should be fine.
Also a couple of those guys aren't from this game, but I'm not taking a whole new picture just for you forum stranger!
Started working on zenithal highlights for some of the models last night:
Cthulhu:
Spoiler:
Narlythotep:
Spoiler:
Nightgaunts:
Spoiler:
Flying Polyp:
Spoiler:
King in Yellow:
Spoiler:
Mummies:
Spoiler:
Cultists:
Spoiler:
Deep Ones:
Spoiler:
I wanted to get the base color zenithal highlights down before adding any details. Still have a lot of work to do, but decent progress for one night. Just looking to get them to a decent table top standard.
In case any body who kickstarted this missed it, they have opened up the pledge manager in case you want to upgrade and add expansions at the kickstarter prices.
The upcoming second edition rule book and the Monsters of the Dreamland supplement will have more or less every Cthulhu Wars figure stated (they are not released yet but as a backer of the recent mini kickstarter I have been playtesting them).
The person who has it locally is using some washes (I think Minitaire ghost tints or similar?) and getting really good results just picking out a few details, then applying that. I'll see if I can nab some pics next time he's got the game with him!
Man, that's a hefty boardgame, I can see nerds two man lifting these from the shelf to the counter!
No damage at all, not even bent or scuffed cards. Odd mold line, but the quality is great. Very impressive product, bring on wave 2!
The models are really impressive in person. I'm also really enjoying the actual game play. All the factions feel unique and there are regular meaningful decisions to make. The ability to upgrade different spell books in any order and the different objectives required to do so kind of reminds me of a real time strategy game's tech tree progression.
I made my own foam tray for the models using 3 inch foam from Hobby Lobby which was about ~$6 retail with a 40% off one item coupon on their website. Glued the foam to a foam core bottom cut to fit the box. I also cut the bottom walls off the included insert for the GOO's so it all fits in the box, though the top sticks up about an inch higher than it would normally.
Hey fellow cultists - today Petersen Games announces are our next major game in partnership with the infamous Robot Entertainment! Orcs Must Die : The Board Game takes the tower defense game style and brings it to Kickstarter with terrific figures and game pieces (all 28mm scale, just like Cthulhu Wars).
We've been working on this prize project for several months now, cooperating with the brilliant minds of Robot Entertainment, and the game is far along. We'll have more exciting news (and pictures!) as we get closer to launching. Our current speculative launch date is about a month away.
At Petersen Games we are dedicated to fulfilling our promises. Check for exciting news on both Cthulhu Wars and Theomachy in the coming weeks.
Interesting to see the bit about "dedicated to fulfilling (their) promises". Only yesterday I received my base box from this Kickstarter - "only" 15 months late. Given that the base box is valued at about $100 in KS funds and I backed as a DVM ($525), they will have to forgive me but I'll be waiting for the other $400+ worth of product I've already paid for before even considering giving them any more money...
I used Magic Set Editor to do the loyalty card layouts, using the Modern Magic Card template. The set editor makes it easy to add art or pictures that match whatever proxy miniature you find.
Pictures of loyalty cards here.
When exporting the images from Magic Set Editor to print, I found I had to change the image size down to 3.48"x 2.49" to make it the same size as Magic cards, then I just stuck them in a sleeve with an extra Magic common card behind it.
Managed to get three games played so far, and really enjoyed it. There are a couple of parts and tokens I'm still confused by, though. I guess as long as we're enjoying it, it doesn't greatly matter!
I am a bit ticked that simpler things like shirts couldn't be sorted earlier, but in theory it's to save on shipping?
Yes nothing more concrete than this summer. They switched manufacturers and have high hopes, but they had high hopes with Panda too and had all kinds of unexpected delays and the games were not packed to specification leading to a lot more damaged parts than expected. Hopefully the new manufacturer fixes that, but until we get the product, who knows? There are some pictures of test production models from the new manufacturer in this thread.
Any rules confusion, post on Board Game Geek and the designers or someone in the community will answer you pretty quickly. That's pretty much the best source of info on what is going on with the game right now.
Wow. Loving the game, and really excited to get ahold of the expansions this summer...I've been holding off on a 5-player game until we can get the actual minis instead of PnP.
Still in utter amazement of this game as it presently plays, though shuddering with anticipatory delight as to the expansions arriving later this year. 22 plays since the beginning of March, and still the only obstacle is real-life-grownup-stuff. Everyone wants to play the amazing emergent potential of this game!
When they see the upcoming factions, the salivation continues....
Sounds fun. Shame my group's copy has been sitting at one guy's apartment since it arrived. Scheduling conflicts everywhere, and no idea when we'll actually get a chance to play it.
While I regard Cthulhu Wars as one of the best-balanced games I've created in my career, in this world of tears and impermanence, nothing is perfect. I am making the following three balance changes to be published in the second edition of the rules, as well as on the Petersen Games website.
SHUB-NIGGURATH faction card
How to Awaken Shub-Niggurath 1) You must have a Controlled Gate, plus at least two Cultists anywhere.
2) Pay 8 Power
3) Remove two Cultists from anywhere on the map. Place Shub-Niggurath on your Controlled Gate.
SHUB-NIGGURATH spellbook The Red Sign (ongoing) your Dark Young can now Build Gates, Control Gates, earn 1 Power each during the Gather Power phase, and add +1 apiece to Shub-Niggurath's Combat. They do not act as Cultists with respect to any other purpose.
GREAT CTHULHU faction card Spellbook requirement
In the first Doom phase, receive this spellbook. Also receive 1 Elder Sign.
Because they are sold out of all the expansions before they even ship, they are planning on doing another kickstarter this summer for people who bought the core game and want the rest of the expansions, plus they will add a few new things for those who already have everything.
Last I heard, they were planning on giving updated components with these rule changes to everyone who pledges a dollar or more to that kickstarter. The reason being to help cover shipping, make sure they have the correct address still, and to allow people who didn't kickstart to upgrade their components with these rule changes. Most board games don't even bother with balance tweaks unless they print a new edition, so it seems fair to me.
I think you may have misread the post- they're just making the 6-8 player map larger for all the people who had ordered that map expansion(or had just gotten the DVM pledge), not for all backers of Cthulhu Wars.
I think you may have misread the post- they're just making the 6-8 player map larger for all the people who had ordered that map expansion(or had just gotten the DVM pledge), not for all backers of Cthulhu Wars.
Sorry, I should have worded that differently. I was just so excited about the bigger map that will be coming with my shipment I didn't take the due diligence to clarify.
Thanks for pointing that out Drunken. I don't want to mislead anyone.
Jul 24 2015
Super Important Update - please examine this one!
Ultra-Important! Final Address Confirmation!
This is a critical update regarding final shipment of your Cthulhu Wars backer rewards as well as pre-ordered items! Please read extra-carefully! In a little more than a month everything will finally ship out in containers to regions around the world. We plan to provide you with tracking numbers for these container vessels as they cross over R’lyeh
But before we ship it all, we need to give you a chance to confirm your address one last time. If you are planning to move in the near future, please give us an address that is permanently accessible to you. We need this permanent address in case some issue with customs or unforeseen delays hamper your particular region's shipment.
Up until now, we have used Fundafull for our pledge manager needs. We are transitioning to a different system - CrowdOx. Your data is perfectly safe, but if you are a backer, you no longer need your Fundafull.com login for Cthulhu Wars.
In the next two weeks all backers and pre-order customers will be sent an email from support@crowdox.com. This email contains a link to take you to CrowdOx.com. Please follow the steps on the web-page. You will see your address and all the items you ordered. Update your address if necessary, and then press "save" or "confirm." (You will not be able to modify any of your ordered items.)
Once you have confirmed your address, you will be sent a receipt email. This again provides you with a list of all the items you ordered.
Expansion Rulebooks!
All of the expansion rulebooks are now available on our website! Curious about the rules for the new maps or factions? Go to our website (here) to check out and even download all 7 expansion rulebooks!
Core Game Balance Adjustments
Here is a document, prepared by fans Paul Cunningham and Sid Rain that contains some recent balance changes for the core game (here).
Ask Sandy Continues!
If you have any general questions regarding any of this or the upcoming Onslaught Two Kickstarter, feel free to ask Sandy (here). Or see the old thread here.
Factory Images!
Here are some pics as the factory finishes up the plastics before final collation:
c9486d221cbcb07122c48ccafe7ff0f7_originaA box of Rhan-Tegoth, Harbinger of the Old Ones.
3ffe6dfb878304f9c58e30231e2bbd68_originaA collectible Wendigo!
4a2e4efa41019cfbc724c0025f8026f0_originaAseembling Rhan-Tegoth, so you don't have to!
Edited by Orlando_the_Technicoloured, Today, 05:24 PM.
Oh my pickles, I am so glad I put $500+ into this to get the De Vermii Mysteris pledge level, I cannot wait. I just wish I could get an extra big box to put all these smaller boxes in.
Those look very nice. Although seeing the size of the boxes, I may have to sell off my expansions and collectors minis. Simply running out of space for more games and minis.
I think (if I remember right), they've got Ramsey Campbell to agree to have his stuff portrayed (not sure if there is an official 'licence' or he just said sure, go for it)
it's all done, minis, printing etc and is being boxed up ready for that trip across the oceans (the videos are set up to be used in the forthcoming Onslaught 2 KS, but what you see is what's coming to backers from CW)
The game is fun and well balanced for me at least and fits reasonally well into it's suggested play time (athough most of mine tend to run a little long, but then drinking, chatting and gaming tends to do that). Each elder god plays differently enough that you should be able to find one that suits your play style, and there are enough ups and downs that an early knock does not condemn you to loose. I'd give it 8/10 assuming you've got a big table to play on
(Note: yellow sign may well run away with the first few games until people get used to keeping an eye on his desecration tokens, so I'd avoid letting one player always take it, at least to start with)
if you don't care about the mythos the game is probably going to be a bit less fun (no chortling about 'wow, that's how they handle this power, or this story reference) and less joy in the (really good) miniatures
and if you don't care about the mythos it's going to be much too expensive compared to other boardgames,
$80 for a discounted premium game compared to $170 for CW
(although if you plan to paint the minis that would balance this out as there are a lot to do)
Sandy also mentioned he was going to create a skirmish game for the mini's, and you can use them for Strange Aeons (and the Call of Cthulhu RPG, of course).
just showing you the 1st player makers, collectors minis, bases, plastic gates and packaging for the exclusives from this campaign
and reminding you they threw in another 5 cultists (in the collectors colour) so if you want to home brew a faction you've got the minis you need to play it
Its an alright game for 2 players, its better with 3 or 4 as it helps prevent 'runaway games' where one player begins dominating the other and the second player doesn't have any way of countering it.
CSI has a 5% off everything sale going on today.
Cthulhu Wars is listed for $131.49 which is already a good price, however, with the 5% promo only going on today it drops it to $124.92 when you checkout with free shipping.
Still waiting for a shipping notice for mine :/ Seems the US shippers over promised for Christmas time shipping estimates. About 25% still waiting to be shipped.
Naturally I too am one of those stuck waiting for a shipping notice.
It stings all that much more that my Zombicide Black Plague shipping date keeps going farther and farther out. First it was Wednesday, then Thursday, then Saturday, now next Tuesday... ugh.
Arthur from Petersen games posted in the comments yesterday
Arthur 2 days ago
Just got off the phone with the US warehouse:
570 orders still to go at the end of today. They have been able to hit 300 a day, and they will be in on Saturday. So, they committed to me that Saturday will for sure be the last day any US order will be sent. They also confirmed that ALL orders should have tracking sent. It comes from
noreply at petersengames dot com
So, check your spam filters if you didn't get that. Their system shows that all packages sent also got a tracking email sent.
EU update
All shipments to countries actually in the EU have been shipped!
Countries that are in Europe, but not part of the EU (e.g., the Swiss and Norway) will be finished by Tuesday. They require an additional customs procedure. Sorry for the delay on those.
hopefully both the shippers are right in what they've told him
Arthur Petersen posted an update for anyone in the US who hasn't received their packages yet:
Hi everybody -
Spoke with our shippers on a very long conference phone call today, including the manager of the US warehouse, and his boss, and his boss, to resolve many outstanding issues.
The most direct and fastest way to resolve all of these issues (speaking of US), is to email:
fulfillment at jittransportation dot com
JIT Transportation are the actual US subcontracted shippers, and our conversation with them led to the conclusion that we need to publicly post this information, and have them deal as directly as possible with every edge case. We (Petersen Games) will be copied and involved in all of these individual issues as well.
I'm trying to finalise my pledge for this, but it's confusing as all hell. I'm a DVM backer from the first campaign (honestly I haven't had time to open any of it yet), and I've found something that says that the only things not included in Million Favoured Ones are:
Shining Trapezohedron
6-8 player maps for Primeval, Dreamlands, Yuggoth, Celaeno
Glow in the dark Cthulhu
Omega Master Rulebook
revised die cut faction cards
So it seems that it's still easiest to get the 6-8 Player Map Bundle (5 maps) because it's the sane price as the 4 that DVM backers need - apparently the process seems to have been why offer a discounted bundle for the DVM backers with just the 4 that they need.? So use the extra thick-card map to build warhammer scenery or something?
Colour Out of Space Gate Pack doesn't seem to be included? I can't see any reference to coloured gates as a product anywhere besides the pledge manager.
Homebrew Faction + Collectibles '15??
Finally - the Glow in the Dark Cthulhu - wasn't this a bonus freebie for signing up to their newsletter? I did so, but can't seem to see how to add this, or ensure that it's added to my pledge.
Shining Trapezohedron: you need this if you want to be a completionist (although whether it's really worth it as it stands, probably not especially as any sort of plastic tokens will be possible to 'read' by feel in the bag where the normal card ones can't be and the KS didn't get far enough to unlock plastic tokens to replace ALL the card ones in the game)
6-8 player maps for Primeval, Dreamlands, Yuggoth, Celaeno: You need these if you want to run larger scale games on these maps (note: they are just the larger map boards so you have to have bought the corresponding map expansion already)..... If I remember right the pack with all the 6-8 player maps is the same cost as adding those 4 separately as the earth map was intended to be 'free' as comptetionists from the first KS would already have it but Sandy was persuaded to offer each map individually too
Glow in the dark Cthulhu: If you were already subscribed to the Petersen games newsletter prior to the KS you'll get this free (they'll add it manually behind the scenes). If not you need to add it and pay for it in the PM
(people who can't remember if they were subscribed in time have asked for an email to confirm it, but nothing has been sent to anyone so far)
Omega Master Rulebook: If you want a hard copy of all the rules in one book you need to add it.....
(but you get a free pdf of it anyway and I'd lay odds the BGG crew will prod Sandy into changing at least one rule after its been printed so you'll still be juggling errata so personally I'm not bothering and sticking with the individual rule books in the game and each expansion)
Revised die cut faction cards: Minor wording changes on one or two of the cards you've already got with your expansions... Again get them if your really feel you have to but like with the Omega rule book I'll bet something changes after the new set is printed
Homebrew Faction + Collectibles '15??: I'm guessing here in part but I think I'm right
we got 6 cultists and 1 high priest free amongst the collectable figures in the first KS (in red/maroon plastic). During this KS one of the stretch goals unlocked a blank faction cards etc so combined you'll be able to make up your own home brew faction
(so I think you'll get whatever you need for that free so this is probably only if you want extra sets
I think there were 15 collectible figures unlocked free during the KS (basically all the brand new sculpts) so again I suspect this is only if you want extras of them
Thank you Orlando - that's very helpful.
I assume I'd have all of the expansions between DVM and MFO?
Actually, do you know of a DVM checklist anywhere so I can go through the three boxes of pledge stuff to make sure it's all there?
