Jess’s Fave Five Kickstarters of the Week 11/22/19
Jess: Friday is here and with it comes a new wave of Kickstarters! Let’s see what this new crop of crowdsourcing has in store for us!
NAMIJI
Namiji is the next title in the Tokaido line and, considering Tokaido is one of my favorite games ever, I am sooooo excited! I got a chance to check a prototype out at Gen Con and it already looked awesome, but now with the rendered art I am in love. The basic idea is similar to Tokaido in that you will advance down the track taking the actions you want with the player in last place always going first. Where the game differs from Tokaido is that instead of walking down a road, you are going fishing.
As you circle the track you can collect fish, upgrade your equipment, and make offerings to the gods to gain their blessings. Namiji looks a little more involved than Tokaido and is definitely unique from its predecessor. I can’t wait to get a copy of this game! Learn more about Namiji on Kickstarter here.
Arkeis
Arkeis is another title I peeked at during Gen Con and boy howdy does this one look great too! It is a scenario-driven, cooperative exploration game set in ancient Egyptian ruins. As archaeologists, archivists, and other researchers, you will explore the mysterious and and dangerous tombs full of monsters and mechanical horrors.
Arkeis comes with a campaign book that allows you to record actions, upgrades, and curses that will have an impact on future games. It also has some stunning minis. If you like adventure games make sure to check out Arkeis on Kickstarter here.
Divinity Original Sin the Board Game
Based on a video game of the same name (which is awesome by the way) Divinity Original Sin: The Board Game is a cooperative adventure game with a unique, legacy-ish twist. The main drive of the game is reading from the storybook which will give you locations to explore. Each character has unique traits and powers that can help you in your adventures and in battling enemies.
The legacy-ish element comes in the form of the Chronicle System. Each copy of the game will have a unique code that will allow you to send the results of your adventures to the developers who will in turn use that information to create the next expansion for the game. Your choices can help impact future games, but are not designed to change your personal game. So no destroying cards or writing on board. The publisher estimates 1 playthough will net you 25% of the games content, so you may want to play it over and over again to see what you might have missed. This is a really interesting take on the idea of a evolving game and I can’t wait to see where it goes. Learn more about Divinity Original Sin: The Board Game on Kickstarter here.
Medici: The Dice Game
Medici: The Dice Game is a roll-and-write take on Reiner Knizia’s popular Medici board game. Players take on the role of customers looking to buy goods from far off lands. The dice determine which goods are available and what value they have.
Over three rounds, players will add up their purchases and determine who has monopolized the markets. Whoever earns the most points from their smart shopping, wins! Medici is a fantastic game and I’m pretty keen on roll-and-writes, so this one is an easy sell. Check Medici: The Dice Game out on Kickstarter here!
VENICE
Venice is a game of politics, money, and intrigue. Players play wealthy merchants looking to grow more powerful, but the Inquisition is lurking about ready to arrest them at a moments notice. Each turn they will move their gondolas around the board, activating assistants they pass. Those assistants will give them resources and money as well as taking actions for them. The resources that are procured can then be used to fulfill contracts.
The neat twist here is that anytime a players gondola passes another, their suspicion level with the inquisition will raise. Donations to the church or schools can lower it, but if you are not diligent in keeping your notoriety low, you can be arrested and unable to win the game. it looks real pretty and could be a fun take on the pick-up-and-deliver genre. Learn more about Venice here on Kickstarter.
What Kickstarters are you backing this week? Let me know in the comments below and Check back next week for more fun projects!