Bloodborne: The Board Game is CMON's next Kickstarter campaign coming soon! This brand-new board game is based on the critically acclaimed action role-playing Playstation 4 game Bloodborne, published by Sony Interactive Entertainment.

 DaveC wrote:
Next KS

Bloodborne: The Board Game is CMON's next Kickstarter campaign coming soon! This brand-new board game is based on the critically acclaimed action role-playing Playstation 4 game Bloodborne, published by Sony Interactive Entertainment.

 LunarSol wrote:
Super curious that Steamforged isn't doing that one...

 Hanskrampf wrote:

 LunarSol wrote:
Super curious that Steamforged isn't doing that one...

Seeing how much Steamforged cashed in for Dark Souls, I think Sony might have upped the licence fees. That and Steamforged is nowhere near completion 2 years after the promised delivery date for Dark Souls and simply won't have the manpower to take on another big project for the next 2 years.

 Hanskrampf wrote:

 LunarSol wrote:
Super curious that Steamforged isn't doing that one...

Seeing how much Steamforged cashed in for Dark Souls, I think Sony might have upped the licence fees. That and Steamforged is nowhere near completion 2 years after the promised delivery date for Dark Souls and simply won't have the manpower to take on another big project for the next 2 years.

 Hanskrampf wrote:

 LunarSol wrote:
Super curious that Steamforged isn't doing that one...

Seeing how much Steamforged cashed in for Dark Souls, I think Sony might have upped the licence fees. That and Steamforged is nowhere near completion 2 years after the promised delivery date for Dark Souls and simply won't have the manpower to take on another big project for the next 2 years.

madzerker wrote:
I thought that Trudvang was going to be the next kickstarter for CMoN. That is the one I am really looking forward to.

 Gallahad wrote:

madzerker wrote:
I thought that Trudvang was going to be the next kickstarter for CMoN. That is the one I am really looking forward to.

Yeah, same here. I just doubt that there will be many interesting miniatures (for me) in Bloodborne since it is a video game property ( hence over designed in every way possible) and my tastes lie more classical design wise.

 DaveC wrote:
So I've repurposed the Expo thread for this as it didn't seem worthwhile to start a new thread.

Recent CMON games news


Trudvang Legends Board Game - KS Q2 2019

CMON Limited will be launching a Kickstarter campaign for Trudvang Legends, an upcoming storytelling board game based on the successfully crowdfunded Swedish RPG: Trudvang Chronicles. Steeped in epic Nordic and Celtic myths and sagas, players will take the roles of legendary heroes who make their mark on a dynamic, everchanging fantasy world.

Designed by Eric M. Lang, Guilherme Goulart, and Fel Barros, Trudvang Legends thrusts players into a cycle of epic sagas, where their achievements will change not only the world itself, but the very rules by which gods, peoples and nature interact. They will quest through an interwoven series of Adventure Books, and the results of their choices will echo through history: changing the relationships between sovereign nations, usurping kings, creating new waygates, or even locking and unlocking parts of the map.

Change in Trudvang Legends manifests physically, as parts of the board actually change, making the actions of previous hero generations affect future sagas. However, the changes are only as permanent as long as history remembers them, which makes the game endlessly replayable, and even playing the same Adventure Book repeatedly will have a completely different feeling, because the world itself has changed. Heroes, following a path of destiny, will even become historical fixtures as they become Kings, Guildmasters or even Gods!

Trudvang Legends features incredible art by Paul Bonner, Alvaro Tapia, Gio Guimarães, and Henning Ludvigsen and graphic design by Fabio de Castro and Júlia Ferrari. Heroes and monsters will be represented by highly-detailed miniatures sculpted by Juan Navarro Perez, Arnaud Boudoiron, Edgar Ramos, and Aragorn Marks.

“We, at RiotMinds, could not ask for a better partner than CMON to elevate the Trudvang franchise.” says Theodore Bergquist, co-founder of RiotMinds. “The work we’ve seen so far is absolutely stunning and all the Trudvang fans out there will see the world come to life for sure.”

“The world of Trudvang presents us with an exciting opportunity to create a really innovative game based on the cycles of history and legend,” said Lang. “We’re looking to push some boundaries with this game, and really commit to the concept of a living world.”

Trudvang Legends will launch on Kickstarter in Q2 of 2019.

Design Diary (Part 1): Where Did It All Begin?

“Bloodborne? I mean, I’m familiar with it, but no, I haven’t played it. I do know the basics, though. The setting is interesting, and people like the mechanics… Punishing but fair. You lose, it’s because you messed up, not because the game cheap-shotted you. I can get behind that.

Board game adaptation? Yeah, I’d have some ideas.”

I’m not sure how long ago that was, time sort of runs together from the beginning of a project to its end (heh, end, as if we’re there yet!) But the beginning does stand out, mixed together with initial design and concept sessions, art briefs, and, in a unique case to this project, acquiring a PS4 and the subsequent eleven+ Full Completion runs of the game.

Looking back, it does still feel like we started this project only a few months ago- time runs together as I said- and it takes Eric (Lang. Might have heard of him) reminding me that it has, in fact, the specific event I’m remembering took place over a year ago, and that wasn’t even near the actual beginning.

So where did it all begin? Well, specifics of that are not really all that interesting, so let’s fast forward a bit to one of our initial design meetings, and show a snippet of just where this game was born. Sadly, I do not remember exactly which convention it was at, but myself and Eric were sitting down in the later hours at our hotel, literally the only available time for these things, given how frantic conventions tend to be. This was one of the rare opportunities where we were physically in the same part of the world, so we had to make these sessions count. Fixing myself a complimentary cup of hotel-quality coffee (black) while Eric procured a sugar-laden fruit juice (little known fact: Eric Lang is part Fruit-fly), we sat down and began to compile the snippets of ideas and thoughts we’d been sharing over the last week or so:

“Alright, so as I said before, you know something I’ve always wanted to do? A dice-less, card-driven dungeon crawl. Remove as many aspects of “luck” as possible. Make it so your choices are what determine success and failure. Just so happens, that also describes Bloodborne.” I said, in a completely natural “this was not written as exposition and intro” way (again, my memory sometimes warps events).

“Deck-building. If we’re going to use cards, then let’s go all out. Not just have cards be a part, but be an essential part. We have a chance here to make something truly unique. Aww man, I’m gonna be honest, I’m super excited for this.” Eric replied, pulling a notebook from his backpack and flipping it open. Unsurprisingly, there were already scribbled notes and bullet points laid out- thoughts and ideas collected over the last week, pulled from nearly two-decades worth of game-design experience.

Before long, we had come to realize our initial “light design chat”, had spilled over into 3am… This did not bode well for the next day, convention still in full swing… But as I mentioned before, these face-to-face sessions were rare, and what was a couple nights without sleep in the grand scheme of the project? It’s not like those would be the only ones- oh no, far from it. Even then, we both knew this would be the new “normal” if we wanted to make this the best we could- and we weren’t going to accept anything less than that.

But for now, we had the beginning of an idea… And, despite usually trying to remain neutral when it came to projects, I had to admit I walked away excited.

Returning to my room, I brought up Youtube on my phone. The time was 3:15am, the video, something along the lines “The Lore of Bloodborne” clocked in at over 45 minutes… But hey, what was another hour in the grand scope of the project?

THE KING MARCHES TO WAR

Officially born as the son of Robert Baratheon, King Joffrey is a Lannister down to his core. Not much more than a boy, Joffrey now sits on the Iron Throne of Westeros, but can be found occasionally taking up sword against the enemies of the crown and House Lannister. Fortunately for his highness (and those supporting his rule), the white-cloaked Kingsguard are never far from his side, protecting his majesty whilst on the battlefield. This month, the lions of House Lannister can choose to test the young king’s mettle in battle or as a distant commander, adding King Joffrey Baratheon and his mighty Kingsguard unit to the A Song of Ice and Fire: Tabletop Miniatures Game. Let’s peek at how this unique all-character unit changes how House Lannister wages war.

Before looking at the Kingsguard as a unit, let’s look at the golden-haired reason why they would join up and stand against an opposing army, King Joffrey himself. Like some other Heroes in A Song of Ice and Fire: Tabletop Miniatures Game, Joffrey can be added to a House Lannister army in two different ways.

Joffrey Baratheon can be chosen either as the Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, a Non-Combat Unit orchestrating the ins and outs of battle from the Iron Throne, or as the First of His Name, the heart of the unique Kingsguard Combat Unit. When taking with the Kingsguard unit, he does so as the Army Commander. Joffrey brings his own flavor of Tactics Cards to the army, each showing the powerful influence of the King’s commands as well as the toll that serving the little tyrant has upon his own troops.

In addition to his potent tactical demands, the Non-Combat Unit version of Joffrey has the full might of the Iron Throne behind his decisions. No matter where on the Tactics Board Joffrey is placed as his action, the Lord of the Seven Kingdoms is also considered to be controlling the Crown zone, even if an opponent’s miniature is already controlling it! Exerting such control from King’s Landing reminds his own troops that the Boy King is watching, disquieting some soldiers who might fear Joffrey’s decisions as much as the enemy’s blades.

When King Joffrey dons his gilded armor and summons the Kingsguard to battle, he joins with SEVEN distinct heroes to form a single devastating Combat Unit. The Kingsguard are a deadly combination of skill, duty, and the best equipment the royal coffers can buy. As a unit with 8 non-restorable Wounds, the Kingsguard are utterly Fearless (never suffering penalties to Morale and are immune to the Panicked condition completely!) and will battle to their last breaths to protect the King, fighting at full offensive ability to the very last man, having a massive 8 dice melee Attack that hit naturally on 2+! That isn’t all, since their thick armor can withstand punishment like that of some cavalry, and once per round the Kingsguard can choose to strike back against those they defend successfully with automatic Hits.

The Kingsguard unit also flies the banners of the King’s official house, the rearing Baratheon stag. These four royal flag miniatures are unique to this unit, being removed to grant the Kingsguard one additional benefit per round when a banner is removed. These range from allowing the unit to Maneuver or Retreat for free, crippling a foe before a single swing is made, and more. While each banner triggers an ability only once, they could be all that it takes to break the enemy utterly if chosen at the right moment. Little can withstand the combined might of the Kingsguard unit in a melee, their white cloaks returning to King’s Landing stained scarlet with the enemy’s blood, but these Heroes can alternatively be chosen individually as Attachments! As long as the Kingsguard Combat Unit is not being fielded, any or all of the seven unique Kingsguard may be chosen as Attachments to lead other House Lannister Combat Units!

Each Kingsguard member is different. Ser Boros Blount inflicts automatic Wounds to enemies that attack his unit while House Lannister controls the Crown. The expert dueling skills of Ser Jaime Lannister inflicts extra damage on enemy units and can even outright slay Attachments that could be leading them! You might desire the veteran tenacity of Ser Barristan Selmy, who restores Wounds to his unit in the name of the Crown and bolsters their bravery. All seven Kingsguard members have their own reason for being called upon to lead a unit, possibly even being a greater asset than when they join up and fight as one to protect the impetuous King Joffrey.

No matter which way you choose to integrate the Kingsguard into your army, they will be a powerful force in combat and lets the enemy know that all of King’s Landing is against them on the field.

The Lannister Heroes II unit box will be available March 29.