The DreadBall Xtreme Kickstarter is all ready to roll, launching on the 21st. I have, as you might have guessed, been quite busy in the last week, though oddly it’s not been the DBX that’s occupied most of my time. Deadzone and Mars Attacks went through the KS process last year, but this is only one early step in the process of getting the game made. I’ve been finishing off the ends of the DZ rules and tweaks, and having completed the MA core rules I’ve got the expansion books to get ready and get tested. So, as is often the way, I’ve got bits of all these games on my desk at the moment, all in very different stages of completion.
I’ve also got what is for me a very big personal project underway, though I’ll refrain from going into details till I know it’s confirmed. All this has kept me away from posting much over the last week. I have, however, been composing things in my head for DBX, all of which have been biding their time until the KS goes live. So I’ve got some design articles on that to come at the appropriate time in the KS process. What goes when depends on how well the KS goes and where it gets to. The core things like pitch design can go out at the start. We may or may not get to all the more esoteric corners so they’ll have to wait and see.
I’ll also be intrigued to see the Guild Ball KS campaign and what they’re up to. This launches tomorrow (20th), and it’s hard not to see them as going head-to-head with DBX for the same sports fans. Well, we shall see. From the little I’ve seen the games look pretty different and will scratch different gaming itches. Each will suit different folk better, and I’m sure a few people will back both. Personally I’m most interested in watching their gameplay videos to see how it looks on the table 🙂
Quirkworthy 
“I’ve also got what is for me a very big personal project underway, though I’ll refrain from going into details till I know it’s confirmed.”
Very interested in hearing more about this. Hopefully it gets the green light 🙂
It’s probably going to be about a month before I know.
Eternal battle/God of battles kickstarter?!
“Considered and not done”, as the doctors say.
I hope it’s a fantasy version of deadzone :-)…. Please.
Entirely possible, though not yet.
Good luck with it all. I hope the MA and DBX go well. I’m very disappointed with the Deadzone KS and though I have Kickstarted the MA I am skeptical at the best.
Will keep an eye out though.
Bill
Thanks Bill. Why are you disappointed with the DZ Kickstarter?
I waited 2weeks after receiving my fedex confirmation when I was told by FedEx that it had never been sent. Sent an email, got a response, then I got another confirmation. This time it actually shipped an I got it. Then the real issue, I ordered every army with a booster pack for all except enforcers. I received not ONE complete army. Sent in a request around the middle of Dec and have yet to hear anything or get anything! Haven’t even been able to play a game that I spent $385 for….have kinda lost all hope!
Bill
That all sounds less than ideal. Odd that FedEx should confirm sending something they never sent. I’ve passed this onto Mantic and they’ll look into it again.
When you say that you haven’t been able to play it do you mean that you’re missing rules and scenery too?
Missing some terrain but mostly it’s that none of the armies are near complete…the Rebs I only have the booster pack, it’s that kinda thing. As I am the one spearheading the game it’s hard to get anyone envolved without a army to show let alone 2 to play with. Bought 5 armies and I’m missing at least half of each it seems. Close on plague but even those I’m missing the basic troopers. Just frustrating and really kinda fearful for buying MA or anything else.
Bill
I’m sorry to hear that, Bill. As I said, I’ve passed on a message and I’d expect them to deal with it promptly when they get into the office tomorrow morning. Hopefully that should resolve things.
Thanks for looking into this for me.
Bill
About the fedex notice, there was an error when Mantic had started packing the package that sent a shipment notice too soon (I remember reading something like the fact that printing labels for the packages from the UPS system triggered an automatic e-mail while the packages where just starting)
Ah, I see.
I really like the mechanics of how models operate in Guild Ball but I prefer the fantasy-gladiatorial setting of Arena Rex from whence said mechanic appears to have been pinched. It’ll be easy for me to throw my dollars at Dreadball Xtreme in the upcoming face-off since I already have Arena Rex headed my way.
I also bought Arena Rex…just waiting for it as well. I have Dreadball but I’m need to research what the difference is or if there really is one. I have little knowledge of Guild Ball but since I’ve looked at all the others, Elfball, Blood Bowl, Dreadball and the mass produced one (can’t think of the name, I want to say power ball). What’s another one ??
I really need to figure out how to get the local group here to play it more often…he’ll, we ALL seem to own it!
Bill
Approaches like the Arena Rex mechanic turns up in older games too, so I think “pinched” is harsh. At least, from them. There’s very little in the way of mechanics that can’t be seen as an evolution of something older rather than an entirely new creation. If you know enough games you can usually see some precedents (even if the designer didn’t know them). This has always been the way with games and the received wisdom I’ve always heard is that you can’t copyright details of individual rules.
I guess the thing that surprised me was (to the Guild Ball guys’ credit) their mention of Arena Rex as being a very clear inspiration/influence on Guild Ball’s key game mechanic. Your point is well made in that there truly is little new under the gaming world’s sun but the net result of the Arena Rex reference left too strong a connection between the two. To be frank, and to maybe make a less specific/broader comment, I’m kind of surprised there isn’t more stuff on Kickstarter that has been “heavily influenced” by a (recently) prior game.
Designing and developing a game can take quite a long time, then you’ve got to make it. By the time it hits the stores the obvious influences may no longer be obvious. KS jumps in to show the public a game idea earlier in this process, so we should see a bit more of this. Even so, they say they’ve been working on this for a year IIRC.
No mention of Slaughterball? Another fantasy football type game, currently on Kickstarter. Stalled a bit, and seems to be lacking in hype, but this niche of boardgames is really filling up!
I’d not missed it deliberately, just not come across it.
It’s got 24 days left so it should be fine. It doesn’t appeal to me personally, but then I’m not really a fan of sports games.
Yeah, I know.
Sorry to hear you’re so busy. Hopefully as the dust settles and these Kickstarters die down we can hear more about your dream project. I do have a question about MA, I’m filling out my pledge and I’d like to compose a Martian Special Ops Force what would fit best rule-wise. I like the look of the Martian Marines but what would in your opinion fit that rubric at 100 points?
Busy is fine, Anthony. It pays the bills 🙂
I’m afraid I’m not going to be able to tell you much about the Martian Special Forces at present as the rules are not yet finalised. If that’s the area you want to focus on then you can see the sort of elite units that would fit. All I can recommend at this point is that you take some of each to give you the versatility, and then if you want more then go for the ones you like the look of 🙂
Hahaha. Thanks. I appreciate it. I’ll just use the rule of cool. If it’s cool, I’ll make it work. Thanks, Jake. I hope when you’re finished you’ll share it with us!