In Calla I wanted to have several races that players would enjoy that stepped outside the normal rpg races and were something truly unique and fantastical. Tonight I have been working on the Krake. The Krake are a fungal creature, they resemble a large octopus walking around on its tentacles. They have four very large tentacles, these lack the suction cups found on an octopus. They use these limbs to move around and manipulate objects. They are an intelligent race, but lack the ability to verbally communicate. Instead they use a complex sign language. Fortunately, they have a written language and have mastered most of the common written languages of Calla over the centuries they have been in contact with other races. Krake can hear, but they lack a mouth or respiratory system.
Krake eat by burying their tentacles in soil. They can also sustain themselves with refuse, or waste if that is all there is available. Their preference is nice clean topsoil. Krake normally rest while "eating", and do sleep in a fashion very similar to other races.
At the end of their life-cycle, roughly 30-40 years, a Krake will settle down. Finding a suitable location it will plant itself in fertile soil and begin the process of reproducing. A Krake can have between 2-6 children which will sprout from their submerged tentacles and grow alongside their parent. The parent Krake will spend the next year or so teaching the children and preparing them for their lives in the world. After a year the young Krake will be fully formed and will break free from the parent's body and the soil. Soon afterwards the parent will die, it's life-cycle completed.
Krake are ancient allies of the dwarven race. Many centuries ago it was the dwarves who discovered them and helped them to develop a complete writing system. Dwarves consider themselves to be caretakers for the Krakes, and guard their homeland as if it were their own. This long alliance has helped the Krakes to be accepted in wider society, and at this point in history are not looked upon with fear or indifference as they might have been if they had not had the dwarves to speak for them. For their part the Krakes have worked hard to be a honorable people.
Krake are strong, and intelligent. They are not beautiful, they are not fast, but they are very dexterous. Not many Krake are arcane casters, without the ability to speak they are limited to what spells they can cast. Many Krake are rangers, or barbarians as they have a strong tie to the earth and the wild. Many are also rogues, fighters, or noble paladins. Krake worship the Calla dieties, and call no particular god their own.
Monday, November 26, 2012
Monday, November 12, 2012
Post Con
MEPACON was a great little convention. There was not much in the way of vendors. A couple local game stores, the con itself, an author, a custom mini painter, and a table for a RPG friendly summer camp. But, what this con did have was fun! The attendees and con staff were warm, friendly folk who genuinely loved to see our new faces, and the faces of our four kids. There were several other young gamers there, and the kids all had a great time with their new friends. By the end of the first day, Christine and I agreed that it was a convention worth attending.
I didn't self-promote much at all while I was there. Focusing instead on playing games and talking with the other attendees. We purchased Lords of Waterdeep, and Small World Underground. I really wanted a copy of Castle Panic, but there were no copies available. It felt good to buy a couple big games from a small store at a local convention, rather than waiting until GenCon or Origins.
I did manage to finish all the artwork for my demo copy of Some Assembly Required. I located some generic bot minis, and an nice grid map to use. Now all I need to do is get that playtest group together.
I didn't self-promote much at all while I was there. Focusing instead on playing games and talking with the other attendees. We purchased Lords of Waterdeep, and Small World Underground. I really wanted a copy of Castle Panic, but there were no copies available. It felt good to buy a couple big games from a small store at a local convention, rather than waiting until GenCon or Origins.
I did manage to finish all the artwork for my demo copy of Some Assembly Required. I located some generic bot minis, and an nice grid map to use. Now all I need to do is get that playtest group together.
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
on the road to MEPACON
So with my growing pursuit of game design, I have started to gain interest in attending more of the smaller conventions that take place around my area of the country. The goal is to scout out 'local' conventions where there is a large enough audience to attend and demo and sell games. There is also the added benefit of being able to take the whole family along if we go to something that is only a few short hours in a car away.
This weekend we have set our sites on MEPACON in Clark's Summit, PA. I read a lot about the convention, and it looks to be a nice laid back affair that is family friendly. I see a lot of role playing games on the schedule, but also a lot of boardgames, and other more casual games as well. This I found very encouraging. Another nearby convention I was considering was crossed off the list because it focused very heavily on tabletop wargames, with little room for anything else. I want to make sure the places I attend are open to casual games, as most of my designs are of that nature.
This weekend I plan to travel with one completed game, one game that is ready to beta test, and another that is barely able to be demonstrated, really only discussed. My goal will be to draw folks in using the completed game, and if interested play-test my other game. I will keep the raw game to pull out if there is a lot of excitement, to help demonstrate the process that I go through with game creation. Naturally this is only what I plan to do now. When there I may be too busy, or just never get past playing my completed game. But, I like to think about what could happen, and ensure I am prepared.
So all of my energy has been focused on wrapping up a play test ready version of Some Assembly Required. We are just about there. I found robots for the playtest, I just need to give them a bit of a paint job. I think having a decent mini to move around will help folks understand what the end product will look like. Here is hoping that I can finish off the rest of the cards over lunch the next couple days.
Very exciting times.
This weekend we have set our sites on MEPACON in Clark's Summit, PA. I read a lot about the convention, and it looks to be a nice laid back affair that is family friendly. I see a lot of role playing games on the schedule, but also a lot of boardgames, and other more casual games as well. This I found very encouraging. Another nearby convention I was considering was crossed off the list because it focused very heavily on tabletop wargames, with little room for anything else. I want to make sure the places I attend are open to casual games, as most of my designs are of that nature.
This weekend I plan to travel with one completed game, one game that is ready to beta test, and another that is barely able to be demonstrated, really only discussed. My goal will be to draw folks in using the completed game, and if interested play-test my other game. I will keep the raw game to pull out if there is a lot of excitement, to help demonstrate the process that I go through with game creation. Naturally this is only what I plan to do now. When there I may be too busy, or just never get past playing my completed game. But, I like to think about what could happen, and ensure I am prepared.
So all of my energy has been focused on wrapping up a play test ready version of Some Assembly Required. We are just about there. I found robots for the playtest, I just need to give them a bit of a paint job. I think having a decent mini to move around will help folks understand what the end product will look like. Here is hoping that I can finish off the rest of the cards over lunch the next couple days.
Very exciting times.
Sunday, October 21, 2012
The Holidays
Its not often you hear from someone that they have been unable to work on projects due the holidays in October. But, around my house we take our Halloween very seriously. Everything is decorated, and this year's costume is almost ready for paint so I thought I'd take a few minutes to put up the old "I'm not dead post".
You're welcome. I plan to be back to work next month. See you then.
Monday, October 1, 2012
I'm never far from Calla
Work has been super slow, so game design has had a chance to shine lately. Although today I spent most of the day working on my Calla campaign instead of robots. Once Halloween has come and gone I'll be able to setup a nice playtest area for games.Until then, it won't make much sense with big party on the horizon.
My current efforts are focused around the magical side of Calla. I've spent a good deal of effort on those who hate magic, and even the divine, but not many words have been laid down on paper about the arcane masters of the world.
I started by working on two types of casters that displayed modern and ancient methods of weaving magic. The ancient method is code-named the naturalist. while the modern is the mechanic. A naturalist harness the energy found in physical objects and focuses that to cast spells. They craft "wands" which are capable of producing a specific spell effect. Focusing this energy depletes the stamina of the naturalist himself, which limits the number of times a day they can cast spells like a normal caster. The number of wands they can create is limited by experience, lesser spells (wands) allow a naturalist to select a higher level version of that spell later when they progress through levels. However, stats limit the maximum number of spells they can know per level just like a normal caster.
Now mechanics have studied how arcane magic works, and have applied this learning to creating spell effects without the need for spells. By performing complex calculations they can manipulate the energies found around them. They are limited in casting scope, by the nature of spells they can cast which are limited to effects based on the elements and the primals. (earth, air, fire, water, rage, fear, joy, sorrow)
A mechanic requires his calculator (abbacus or similar calculation device) to cast spells. Both hands must be employed and concentration is required. They learn spells (new calculations) as they progress in level. Their spells are unique in that they cause an immediate side effect when cast. For instance, when a mechanic casts sleep he selects a friendly target which has all fatigue removed from it. When he he casts heat metal, another target is cooled by the same amount. A mechanic does not have to memorize calculations prior to using them, rather he must eventually rest to clear his head in order to perform more calculations. This limits the mechanic to a set number of spells per day much like a normal caster.
So you can see that both example casters manipulate energy naturally found in the world to cast spells. I want a world where magic can be created in a myriad of ways, but is founded in the same basic understandings. Much like the sword, it will take a variety of forms and it will be made from many different materials, but the basic idea will be the same.
My current efforts are focused around the magical side of Calla. I've spent a good deal of effort on those who hate magic, and even the divine, but not many words have been laid down on paper about the arcane masters of the world.
I started by working on two types of casters that displayed modern and ancient methods of weaving magic. The ancient method is code-named the naturalist. while the modern is the mechanic. A naturalist harness the energy found in physical objects and focuses that to cast spells. They craft "wands" which are capable of producing a specific spell effect. Focusing this energy depletes the stamina of the naturalist himself, which limits the number of times a day they can cast spells like a normal caster. The number of wands they can create is limited by experience, lesser spells (wands) allow a naturalist to select a higher level version of that spell later when they progress through levels. However, stats limit the maximum number of spells they can know per level just like a normal caster.
Now mechanics have studied how arcane magic works, and have applied this learning to creating spell effects without the need for spells. By performing complex calculations they can manipulate the energies found around them. They are limited in casting scope, by the nature of spells they can cast which are limited to effects based on the elements and the primals. (earth, air, fire, water, rage, fear, joy, sorrow)
A mechanic requires his calculator (abbacus or similar calculation device) to cast spells. Both hands must be employed and concentration is required. They learn spells (new calculations) as they progress in level. Their spells are unique in that they cause an immediate side effect when cast. For instance, when a mechanic casts sleep he selects a friendly target which has all fatigue removed from it. When he he casts heat metal, another target is cooled by the same amount. A mechanic does not have to memorize calculations prior to using them, rather he must eventually rest to clear his head in order to perform more calculations. This limits the mechanic to a set number of spells per day much like a normal caster.
So you can see that both example casters manipulate energy naturally found in the world to cast spells. I want a world where magic can be created in a myriad of ways, but is founded in the same basic understandings. Much like the sword, it will take a variety of forms and it will be made from many different materials, but the basic idea will be the same.
Monday, September 24, 2012
Reaching Out
Posted an ad on Craigslist tonight to see if I can find local artists who want to work on games. I've decided that I need to have other hands doing some of the work involved in making a great game. So my first obvious choice is to start finding talented artists. My second will be to develop a team of dedicated play-testers.
This way I can focus on the design, instead of trying to create every aspect of the game. And, when a playable version is ready, have a group that I can call upon to provide feedback. So the search for artists has started, and the search for playtesters will go out on Facebook shortly.
In the meantime, I have almost finished all of the available strips for my webcomic. Once it is completed, the whole thing will get compiled into a book. Mostly this is so I can keep a copy on my shelf. Then it will be back to writing comics in a couple months, always a good way to eat up free time during the winter. Expect that I will plug it a bit here, even if it is a bit off topic.
This way I can focus on the design, instead of trying to create every aspect of the game. And, when a playable version is ready, have a group that I can call upon to provide feedback. So the search for artists has started, and the search for playtesters will go out on Facebook shortly.
In the meantime, I have almost finished all of the available strips for my webcomic. Once it is completed, the whole thing will get compiled into a book. Mostly this is so I can keep a copy on my shelf. Then it will be back to writing comics in a couple months, always a good way to eat up free time during the winter. Expect that I will plug it a bit here, even if it is a bit off topic.
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Game Update
Work has been keeping me super busy so not much progress on the game has been made the last couple of weeks. I have almost completed all of the cards for bodies and heads. I have a couple arms and some legs done as well. Hopefully I will be able to put together a working playtest copy soon.
In the meantime, I scored rather low in the latest Game Crafter contest. I decided to tip my hat to that aspect of the community since it really pulls attention away from my actual game designs in order to put something together before the deadline of each contest. By next summer, I hope to be all caught up, and able to entertain the idea of entering in a game contest every month or so again because the challenge is fun. I just can't keep up right now.
In the meantime, I scored rather low in the latest Game Crafter contest. I decided to tip my hat to that aspect of the community since it really pulls attention away from my actual game designs in order to put something together before the deadline of each contest. By next summer, I hope to be all caught up, and able to entertain the idea of entering in a game contest every month or so again because the challenge is fun. I just can't keep up right now.
Logo Update
So I have been working on making Imp Print a more serious affair. One of my hurdles was deciding on a name, then came the logo, and finally the mascot. Well I contracted an artist to design my mascot and I was really quite impressed with his work. I thought I would share. First I should start with the logo that he used as his inspiration to create the mascot.
From this humble imp logo I created myself on the computer one hot afternoon. He created this mascot.
Monday, September 3, 2012
Initial cards
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Christine cut up cards for me, and I took the time to start creating some really ugly prototypes for robot heads and bodies. Thought I would take a couple quick pictures before I called it a night.
Day 1
Today marks the first day for working on a new game concept that I originally started a few weeks back, but put aside in order to make an entry for the Steampunk design challenge. The idea is to create a super simple robot fighting game where the players assemble a random robot and then enter an arena to do battle. I have a basic system in mind, and a lot of ideas for the components. I started drawing a set of "robot pieces" to be used to assemble the robots.
My first hurdle will be to complete the artwork. The goal is 12 different components for each part. There is the head, body, legs, and both arms. Since the arms can be used for either one that really gives me just 48 different components to create the artwork for. One of my issues is I want them to line up in a nice clean fashion so that when the cards are placed together, it creates a nice image of a clunky robot. Not, a clunky image of a nice robot.
My first hurdle will be to complete the artwork. The goal is 12 different components for each part. There is the head, body, legs, and both arms. Since the arms can be used for either one that really gives me just 48 different components to create the artwork for. One of my issues is I want them to line up in a nice clean fashion so that when the cards are placed together, it creates a nice image of a clunky robot. Not, a clunky image of a nice robot.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
A little backfire
Received my copy of To Glory Rise. I don't like how the play mats came out. Image on back is too dark, image on front is too dark, markers on the front for the rolled dice are too small. Sigh. These were my first play mats, and I admit I may have wanted to do some research on how dark to make them before printing them. That's one to grow on.
I received my copy of Gridiron Dice as well. The dice stickers are also darker than I would like. Talk about a double whammy. After the contest, and some serious play-testing I will adjust the images and order another copy. I'm fairly certain I can get it right the second time around.
In the meantime, I submitted To Glory Rise to the contest. Let's all hold our breaths and hope that it at least makes it to the finals. That would be cool.
I received my copy of Gridiron Dice as well. The dice stickers are also darker than I would like. Talk about a double whammy. After the contest, and some serious play-testing I will adjust the images and order another copy. I'm fairly certain I can get it right the second time around.
In the meantime, I submitted To Glory Rise to the contest. Let's all hold our breaths and hope that it at least makes it to the finals. That would be cool.
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Looking Back, Looking Forward
Now that I have finished my goal of completing my entry for the Steampunk contest at Game Crafter, I plan to set my sights to release Some Assembly Required next month, and start putting together the photography for What's With All These Zombies.
During the creation of these games, I want to better document what steps I take and what is involved here.
We shall see if I can live up to my plans.
During the creation of these games, I want to better document what steps I take and what is involved here.
We shall see if I can live up to my plans.
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
photos part deux
It's basically a big experiment, and an excellent excuse to have fun taking provocative images. Remembering all my editing skills for Photoshop has been a big hurdle. But, once I got past that things really started falling into place with these.
More posts, as more work develops.
Monday, August 20, 2012
photos
Saturday, August 18, 2012
A Few Of My Favorite Things
Here I am writing instructions. This has to be my least favorite part of the game publishing process. Reorganizing my notes into an easy to understand set of instructions is like climbing a damn mountain to me. I can do it, I know I can. I even know that when I am done I will be able to look down and feel the thrill of having completed it. But, that mountain is so big I would just rather do it another day.
This is when I start creating new games. To busy myself with a new project so I don't think about having to complete the old so much. This is why I say I need a staff. One fine day I will be able to turn to a fellow named Johnson and say "Johnson! Do you have those instructions done for the new game?" Ah the future! Ever bright and magical.
This is when I start creating new games. To busy myself with a new project so I don't think about having to complete the old so much. This is why I say I need a staff. One fine day I will be able to turn to a fellow named Johnson and say "Johnson! Do you have those instructions done for the new game?" Ah the future! Ever bright and magical.
Monday, August 13, 2012
A quick look at To Glory Rise
Here are a couple of the play mats for the airships for To Glory Rise.
Here are a couple of the airship tokens.
The idea is a tabletop miniatures style game that is quite similar to Pirates in it's ease of play anywhere, anytime. Hopefully none of the other entries will have gone this route, and I will at least stand out in that respect. My original game design idea was a race to complete a death ray, but it just wasn't all that fun. After a few conversations at work, To Glory Rise started to really take shape in my head. Now to see if the judges like it as much as I do.
Welcome one and all
My name is Patrick Hill. I am a CRM developer by day, and a wanna be board game designer by early evening. I wanted to have a site to track my experiences as an indie designer. I've had my share of personal websites, and blogs in the past. This time I wanted the end product to be something a lot more creative than personal.
I should probably start with what I have done so far. I have a couple games up on Game Crafter, a game publishing site, you can find them here. The first game I ever published, was a card game called Holiday Beatdown. I made a silly game for my family to allow them to play different Christmas characters attempting to beat the snot out of each other. It's rather fun, if rather crude.
The next game I published was for a contest. The goal was to create a game that used resource tokens as a primary component. I made Bottle Barrel Brick. The goal of the game is to be the dwarf who makes the most beer, or digs up the most gold. It took about 3 hours total to rush it together and submit it for the contest. Most of my ideas form rather quickly, and this game was simple enough to get together in a short time.
I did not win. My instructions were terrible, and I had no artwork at all. I later revised the instructions, and will one day soon update them to include images, and an example of play.
The next contest was to create a RPG style game with different characters for the players to use. I designed a rather interesting game that all took place in the final moments of an adventure. However, I reached out to others to create artwork, and write back story for this game. This lead to delays in putting together the final design, and ultimately missing the due date for submission to the contest. To this day, it lies almost completed.
Currently I am working on the finishing touches of To Glory Rise! Its my steampunk contest submission. For this contest you had to include a steampunk theme, and a dice mechanic. I was able to come up with a fairly good idea in a few days. Making it work with some of the restrictions has been a bit tricky, but I think I have done it.
Tomorrow I will order a copy of the game and start playtesting when it arrives. Hopefully I will be able to playtest and make any changes I find are needed before the submission deadline at the end of the month.
I will also be ordering my Gridiron game. This also needs playtesting, and perhaps a bit of tweaking before it is available to the public.
For now, I will return to editing my instructions for To Glory Rise. I want to be sure everything reads through clearly before I try to playtest this.
I should probably start with what I have done so far. I have a couple games up on Game Crafter, a game publishing site, you can find them here. The first game I ever published, was a card game called Holiday Beatdown. I made a silly game for my family to allow them to play different Christmas characters attempting to beat the snot out of each other. It's rather fun, if rather crude.
The next game I published was for a contest. The goal was to create a game that used resource tokens as a primary component. I made Bottle Barrel Brick. The goal of the game is to be the dwarf who makes the most beer, or digs up the most gold. It took about 3 hours total to rush it together and submit it for the contest. Most of my ideas form rather quickly, and this game was simple enough to get together in a short time.
I did not win. My instructions were terrible, and I had no artwork at all. I later revised the instructions, and will one day soon update them to include images, and an example of play.
The next contest was to create a RPG style game with different characters for the players to use. I designed a rather interesting game that all took place in the final moments of an adventure. However, I reached out to others to create artwork, and write back story for this game. This lead to delays in putting together the final design, and ultimately missing the due date for submission to the contest. To this day, it lies almost completed.
Currently I am working on the finishing touches of To Glory Rise! Its my steampunk contest submission. For this contest you had to include a steampunk theme, and a dice mechanic. I was able to come up with a fairly good idea in a few days. Making it work with some of the restrictions has been a bit tricky, but I think I have done it.
Tomorrow I will order a copy of the game and start playtesting when it arrives. Hopefully I will be able to playtest and make any changes I find are needed before the submission deadline at the end of the month.
I will also be ordering my Gridiron game. This also needs playtesting, and perhaps a bit of tweaking before it is available to the public.
For now, I will return to editing my instructions for To Glory Rise. I want to be sure everything reads through clearly before I try to playtest this.
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