Mwhahahahaha !

It’s Halloween! We are getting ready for hordes of trick-or-treaters, and will be giving extra candy to any dressed as ninjas—because we love us some ninjas.

But that is not for now! Now is for the Super Dungeon Explore and we have a lot of ground to cover, unfortunately not all of it is awesome. Sad face.

Production

In a word—dice.

Oh yes, pesky, lovely, rolly dice. This week, as we continued manufacturing and layout of core box components, we came to the determination that the existing silicon molds for the dice could not produce the consistent quality we needed for the box set. Which, unfortunately means we need to make new molds.

Not just any molds either. New metal machined molds of epic, precision diceness to make sure the entire production run of dice meets standard. (And, so that we never run into this again.) The downside of these new and epic metal dice molds….4-5 weeks to manufacture. Blerg.

Lets look at the complete manufacturing picture:

• Forgotten King Box Set: Models done. Dice getting new molds. See print below.
• Mistmourn Coast: Models done. Classic print layout done. Arcade print in editing.
• Pumpkin Patch: Models done. Classic print layout done. Arcade print in editing.
• Wandering Minstrel: Mold done, in QC. Classic print layout done. Arcade print in editing.
• Giri: Mold done, in QC. Classic print layout done. Arcade print in editing.
• Shadow-Mode Candy: Mold done, in QC. Classic print layout done. Arcade print in editing. Kunoichi Candy: Mold done in QC. Classic print layout done. Arcade print in editing.
• Ninja Cola: Mold done in QC. Classic print layout done. Arcade print in editing.
• Metal Princess Coin: Done!
• Token Pack: Mold done in QC.

FORGOTTEN KING PRINT

• Classic Mode Rulebook: Laid out, in final editing.
• Arcade Mode Rulebook: Laid out, in editing.
• Explorer’s Handbook: Done!
• Hero Cards: Done!
• Classic Monster Cards: Done!
• Arcade Monster Cards: Laid out, in final editing
• Explore Deck: Done!
• Arcade Command Deck: Done!
• Packaging: Core box done. Remaining packaging in layout.
• Dungeon Tiles: Done!
• Quick Start Rules: Laid out, in editing
• Coloring Book: awaiting layout
• Tile Effect Cards: Done!
• Core Treasure Deck: Done!
• Loot Deck: Done!
• Upgrade and Expansion Treasure: Done!

Not a lot of “punch-list” movement on the print front. Most of the week went into editing the rulebooks and arcade cards. Which is time consuming due to the sheer amount of content.

Fun fact: The Explorer’s Handbook is 20 pages. If you put all of the background fiction that we use on the back of the cards into a single document they make another 30 pages of fiction!

BLACKSMITH SHOP

• Tabbybrook Mage: Mold in progress. Classic print layout done. Arcade print in editing.
• Twilight Knight: Mold in progress. Classic print layout done. Arcade print in editing.
• Deeproot Wolfrider: Mold done in QC. Classic print layout done. Arcade print in editing.
• Bag O’ Squirrels: Models done. Classic print layout done. Arcade print in editing.
• Goro: Mold done in QC. Classic print layout done. Arcade print in editing.
• Bag O’ Slime: Mold in progress. Classic print layout done. Arcade print in editing.
• Dungeons of Crystalia Tiles: Layout Done. Awaiting printing. Slimes see above.
• Bag O’ Bones (Rattlebones): Models done. Classic print layout done. Arcade print in editing.
• Von Drakk Ghost House: Layout Done. Awaiting printing. Rattlebones see above.
• Emerald Valley Warband: Molds in progress. Classic print done. Arcade print in editing.
• Stilt Town Zombies Warband: Molds in progress. Classic print done. Arcade print in editing.
• Claws of the Wyrm Warband: Molds in progress. Classic print done. Arcade print in editing.

What is “In QC”

It means they have made the molds and are currently doing prototype QualityControl runs to make sure the final product is up to standard. This involves both the Chinese engineers working on the molds and us being mailed prototypes and providing feedback on adjustments that need to be made before manufacturing can start.

Kickstaaaarter..er..er..er..er 

(Read that heading like it is a booming shout with a cool echo effect.)

We have said it before, but it bears repeating, one of the fantastic things about Kickstarter is you get in on the ground floor and get to see the entire production process. You also see the ups and downs of development and production as it sails along. Our mission is to provide frequent and in depth updates so you remain fully informed on the process and get a stellar product!

Okay, enough with the business. Lets look at something awesome, like production plastics!

Plastic Miniatures

We recently received a care package with all of the currently complete production plastics and we took some pictures.

This is just the picture I took with my iphone. The tiles and cards are print proofs, that we trimmed to be able to playtest.

Of course we had to play a game, which resulted in an epic confrontation between Admiral Fuzzybottom and a Rabid Squirrel, in a crystal spring.

As one might expect, Admiral Fuzzybottom was a bit unhappy to be in water and promptly ate the squirrel to express his displeasure.

Okay, l know you want to see these too:

Fuzzybottom here is a fast little cat with 7 movement points. His STR is a solid 3 blue letting him hunt squirrels and monsters. His ARM is 2 stars which requires a nice hit from a monster to hurt him.

It was pointed out last week that I failed to mention how pets are destroyed. If a pet receives any wound they are destroyed and their model is removed from the dungeon map. Their master may then use the Conjure Pet support action (1 action point) to put the pet back on the board within 2 squares of their master.

The Admiral’s action is Happy Cat which is a Wave 3, Pull 2 support action. Of note is the fact that Happy Cat requires no roll. Making it so Admiral Fuzzybottom is a master at controlling monsters on the map. Just in case you need more Happy Cat action, Fuzzybottom’s master can use the action as well!

It Lives!

Gruesome George is the mini-boss that comes with the Stilt Town Zombies.

First thing you will see is his substandard STR and ARM of 2 blue dice. These stats are variable based on his Static Charge ability. Static Charge grants George +1 blue dice to both his STR and ARM for every wound token on his card. George has 6 hearts, so when he is on death’s door he can have up to 7 blue dice for STR and ARM!

All lending into that ability is a few key unique actions and abilities. Brilliant lets George send out a range 6 shot of electricity the bumps his STR by +1 red dice. It also causes one wound to George, bumping up his STR and ARM for the future.

If the Heroes gang up on him he can unleash a Static Discharge that hits every enemy model within 2 squares.

Lets not forget, he has the ability Mob to increase the carnage when he’s running with the rest of his Zombie kin.

Should George be near death the Consul can use Electric Jolt to heal one wound. He also has the ability Tough causing him to heal one wound every upkeep. George also has Immune: Status Effects (exclamation point icon), so their is no fear him getting bogged down.

George takes a bit of finesse to use. He tends to operate best when hovering at 2-4 wounds on him. Should Heroes just try to ignore him, using mob to his advantage can quickly make him a threat that needs to be dealt with.

No Glitter Here

Von Drakk comes in the Von Drakk Manor level box. You will receive his cards in the upgrade deck.

Von Drakk is a quick one with 8 movement points, and a boss standard of 4 action points.

His STR of 2 stars and 4 blue dice has the capability to dish out a lot of punishment. It is further enhanced by his Blood Drinker ability which lets him use any hearts he rolls to heal himself—just like a Hero! Nasty. This is especially important because Von Drakk clocks in with the lowest Hearts total for any Dungeon Boss at 6.

Von Drakk’s ARM is poor but he rarely uses it since he can make defense rolls using his super high DEX of 3 red dice.

As is fitting, Von Drakk is a master of the Undead and he has a whole host of 1 action point support actions that let him control his undead minions.

Army of Bone lets him Raise all bone piles within 3 squares. What’s a bone pile? When a skeleton from the Shallow Grave spawning point dies it leaves behind a bone pile. Raise lets the Consul replace the bone pile with new skeletons from the spawning pool. No spawning required!

Ghostly Vigor gives all undead within 3 squares +1 blue dice to their STR. Skeletons, Zombies, you name it. Even Von Drakk himself.

Thriller lets Von Drakk move all undead within 3 squares, 3 squares in any direction. Once again, that includes himself. Von Drakk loves a good undead dance.

Finally Hypnotic Gaze is not an augment and targets the Heroes instead, causing the status effect Slow on any Hero affected.

Controlling undead is nice and all but sometimes Von Drakk just gets mad, and needs to unleash the beast—

Nocturne

Von Drakk can Shapeshift into Nocturne. In his bestial form Nocturne is all about combat. He cashes in 2 blue dice for an upgraded 2 red dice increasing his combat potential.

Berserk is the big ability here, granting him a free (zero action points) Melee Attack. That’s right he has five attacks and can kill a Hero outright. Doooooom!

Fly increases his mobility, while his defense gets a slight bump with 2 blue 2 red dice.

Not surprisingly his unique actions are all offensive. Dead Cold hits every Hero in 3 square and inflicts the status effect Ice.

Feast supplements Blood Drinker, increasing his STR and healing Nocturne if it successfully inflicts a wound.

…..And another monster sized update. Goodness. It’s Halloween! Go Trick some Treats, always roll stars, and—

Sparkleburst!

(Only our elves sparkle as is proper.)