PsychoticStorm wrote:
I don't know misc miniature games or boardgames? discussion seems an odd place for it to be.

Greetings backers!

This is the Update where I finally get to tell you what progress we've made and where things are at.

Scrap Yard Files
We discovered that the import issue that created the wood grain texture on the prototype tile was going to be a universal problem. This means we've had to go back and completely re-do the Scrap Yard tiles. All 16 of them. From scratch. It's not the fault of the designer, and so we're having to pay twice -- and it means that the files we were going to send in April still aren't finished. We hope to have the first tile back to the factory this week for another prototype run.

The good news in this is that the prototype served its purpose -- and all of the tiles are going to be perfect. If we hadn't taken this step you would have received product with a wood gr ain texture on... everything. This is better.


Surveys & Pledge Manager
We're plugging away at the pledge manager as I type. It turns out that handing over a list with a few hundred add-on items, in several categories, does not make one popular with the IT crowd. Who knew? Once the pledge manager is hammered out we'll send the surveys -- which we need to tailor to get the info we need for the pledge manager, of course.


New Stuff!
The endcap and Security Barrier for the "Urban Streets" wall set are curing in molds and will be poured on Thursday. I also have some proof of concept base casts next to me... but I don't like them so I'm going to start over. I'm funny that way -- but I should have clean bases to show you next week. I'm also told that I should have renders for the "Urban Streets" gate this week.

The 3D work for the "Rolling Fields" wall set has begun and I hope to be able to show you the first piece of that in the next week or two. The real trick now is figuring out how to get a nice stone texture without creating a mold made of undercuts that can only cast 1-2 times before it rips. EEP!

I'm going to get some face time with the tile designer this week to talk about the first two "Ruined Temple" tiles. As we went back-and-forth via email it became very clear that we really needed to talk about this one as it's easily the most complicated set we're going to do when it comes to asset design. There will be a LOT of little components.

 H.B.M.C. wrote:
That’s... really strange. Wonder how that got through?

OFFICIAL - Deadzone 4x4' Table!
Update #59 · Jun 1, 2013 · 21 comments



Word finally came back from Mantic that we can offer the Deadzone tile in a 4x4' (16 tile) option.

You will now find a "Deadzone" option for both Display Board and Tablescape Set in the pledge manager!

Speaking of the pledge manager....

The initial setup is now complete. We're working out what has to go into the surveys to make them useful -- and I'm finalizing the 8 tile sets for the Mini-Wargamer pledges. I'll have sketches of those posted before the pledge manager goes live. There's no point in asking you to pick themes a couple of months in advance without letting you see at least concepts for the final tile picks.

And speaking of tiles....

Two of the redone "Scrap Yard" tiles have been sent off to the factory. They will be processing the first of those next week to ensure that the wood grain issue has been corrected. If it has then we will start milling on all 16 of those tiles immediately.

More to come....

I have some new goodies sitting on my desk - and I'll have an Update for those in the next couple of days. Stay tuned....

 H.B.M.C. wrote:
I hope those are just concepts, because it's far too repetitive. Why are there so many manhole covers, and so close to one another?

 H.B.M.C. wrote:
I hope those are just concepts, because it's far too repetitive. Why are there so many manhole covers, and so close to one another?

Urban Streets Update - Walls Edition
Update #60 · Jun 2, 2013 · 2 comments

They say that a picture is worth a thousand words. This is good, because I can't imagine typing an 8,000 word update on the Urban Streets wall/fortification set for you.



On the left we have the endcap for the wall/fortification set -- two of which are included in every Deluxe reward level, or in any wall/fortification set add-on. But that piece on the right is the first cast (thus the primer residue) of our new Security Barrier! This piece is 2" wide and perfect for blocking the sidewalks on your Urban Streets tile set.



The front and back designs are different - so you have a caution stripe on the front, and a reinforced firing port in the rear. Nothing says urban security quite like shooting at people from behind a 10' tall concrete barrier!




And if shooting from behind barriers sounds good to you - then you can place the endcap between two sections of the Urban Streets wall/fortification set to create a firing point. Perfect for vehicles, artillery, mortars, and infantry alike.



And you can create a double-wide fire point just by putting the endcaps end-to-end.



Of course the entire set, including the Security Barrier, is fully compatible -- allowing you to create urban defenses (or pacification zones....) of any size.

Of course no good fortification set would be complete without a hefty gate....



And we have one of those too! This is the finished (and polished) render of the three piece gate set -- which has already been sent to the printer and will be in molds this month.



I really can't wait to get my hands on this one -- of course I'll probably say that about each of the new releases...

Stay tuned for more....

somewheresomehow wrote:
Kronk, it was said to be coming out July/August, during the campaign.

somewheresomehow wrote:
Kronk, it was said to be coming out July/August, during the campaign.

Scrap Yard - NEW SHOTS! (also the pledge manager)




If a picture is worth a thousand words, this video is worth... well... A LOT MORE!

But here are some pictures too.









I really can't say enough about how pleased I am with these new tiles -- BOTH of them, because I now have TWO Scrap Yard tiles on my desk. It's like Chaunxmawanzaramastice came early!!!!


What About the Pledge Manager?

I have, understandably, received a lot of questions about the pledge manager. It is actually ready to launch -- but we're holding for final artwork on the 8 tile Mini-Wargamer sets. I want to make sure everyone knows what they're getting before we finalize anything.

I should have that artwork in the next week or two -- but there's PLENTY of time between now and October to get things finalized. The longer we hold off on the pledge manager the less chance there is we'll need to change anything before we ship.


And the Other Tiles?

All 14 remaining "Scrap Yard" tiles will be sent to the factory today... along with a wired payment to get the ball officially rolling!

The "Urban Streets," and "Rolling Fields" tile renders you've seen are under review as I type. I hope to have first shot tiles for those themes by August -- and the other tiles are in the works.

I'm told that I should have my first "Ruined Temple" renders next week. This one has been the hardest as it includes so many individual assets, and we've learned a lot about how to manage them thanks tot he prototype tile.


And Then?

I'm already at work on two new tile theme designs - still in the concept stages - so we're already looking at expansion. I'm also talking to the factory about some engineering challenges I'd like to overcome so we can offer an even better vision for "Trench Works" when we're ready.

All-in-all everything is going smoothly. Slowly, to be sure, but smoothly. We're on schedule for an October delivery for "Scrap Yard" and trying to keep everything else on track.


THANK YOU!

Thank you all for the continued support -- and please remember that the comments, here and in the general comments, are still open. Feel free to as questions and make sure things are moving!

Ruined Temple - RENDERS!
Update #62 · Jun 30, 2013 ·





These are the first two tile renders, and what I'll be sending to the factory for review as soon as they finish with the current batch.

We decided to spice up the tiles with a few decorations, in part because it will make for more interesting bases when we get to that point.

What you see here is one of the foundation tiles - and the quarter amphitheater tile.

Pledge Manager Update

I'm going to make a point of mentioning the Pledge Manager in every update until it launches -- just so folks know where we're at. I'm still waiting on final artwork on tile selections for the "Mini-Wargamer" sets, and as soon as we have that I'll get it launched. The target is July, but without a specific date as we'd still have plenty of time before the first batch of tiles has to ship for October delivery.