Super Snipers -July Update: Art finished, Insert, GenCon!
almost 3 years ago – Wed, Jul 12, 2023 at 12:34:36 PM

Art is Finished!

Hwa has completed the final Location for Super Snipers, wrapping up the last of the art for the game!  Introducing: The Garage!

Rulebook: 

Emily Willix (our editor) and I combed through the draft I posted last month and compiled a list of edits which Hwa is diligently working on implementing now.  I am really, really pleased with how the rulebook is turning out and feeling confident that you will be able to learn from it with minimal issues.

Insert:

I got to talk with Matt Healey - who has done the inserts for a tooon of games (Frosthaven being a great example)  - and he has created the insert for Super Snipers.  Take a look!

This will not only keep your game components safe and organized, it will make set up and breakdown a breeze.  

GenCon!

I am beyond excited to be heading to my first GenCon this year.  I will be bringing two updated prototypes of Super Snipers to teach and play.  I just saw (as of several minutes ago) that my request to add tickets have been approved so there are an additional 2 tickets for each learn-to-play event.  Get to these fast if you are interested!

Updated Prototypes!

I updated the prototypes with the new Target and Locate Grid art, new cards, and Hiding Discs.  Amazing work from the GameCrafter.  Take a look!

TTS:

The Tabletop Simulator Mod for Super Snipers is updated with all the new art and is playable now.  What are you waiting for?   Join the Discord to set up a game with me or others if you'd like to learn!

What's Next?

I'm heading on vacation next week and will be pretty focused on GenCon prep when I get back.  That said, the PnP is being assembled and should be good to go next month.  Once the next draft of the rulebook is ready (any day now), we will get it in front of as many eyes as possible as well as go over it with Emily.  Once that's done, it's just finalizing a few graphics on the box and time to prep the files for the manufacturer!  I really appreciate everyone's patience.

What's next for Galen's Games?

You may not have actually asked that, but I will answer anyway!  If you're just here for the Super Snipers news, feel free to ignore.  

I've been working hard on my new game, Dog Days, a 2-4 player puzzley Gateway game of bringing dogs to the park and trying to make them as happy as possible.  I'll be bringing this one to First Exposure at GenCon.

I'm undecided about self-publishing this one and am actively setting up some pitches to help me decide.  I do, however, know what I am doing next!  A series of 2-player Mint Tin Games.  Here's what's coming:

Dice Clash!

A 1-2 player head-to-head dueling game using an intense dice placement mechanic.  This is a co-design between myself and the great dudes at Crossbow Games.  Art will be done by Super Snipers artist, Hwa Siang. 

Heritage Farms:

Remember the old riddle about the Farmer who needs to get a chicken, fox, and bag of corn across the river, but only has space for one at a time in his boat?  Well, I've made a competitive two-player game out of that central concept!  This is a thinky but simple strategy game that plays in about 20 minutes.

Verdant Arizona:

This is a design by Robin David (designer of LetterPress) that I've signed.  Fans of Patchwork and Arboretum will enjoy this surprisingly cuthroat game about building the best Cacti Garden.  

Mint Tin Monster Mash-Up:

This one is designed by Chris Backe.  The concept is simple: you are mad scientists mashing together animals and then fighting them.  The mash-up will not only dictate the monster's stats, but create a unique "if-then" power for you to use to your advantage,  I will be working with the talented John DeCampos (Token Terrors) for the art on this one!

Well, that's it for now.  I hope everyone is enjoying their Summer and I hope I get to meet some of you at GenCon!

Galen.

June Super Snipers Updates
almost 3 years ago – Mon, Jun 26, 2023 at 10:10:06 AM

Hello!  Hope everyone is enjoying their Summer.

The latest news in the world of Super Snipers:

Rulebook:

Hwa has finished the graphical layout of the rulebook and I am currently working with my editor on the next draft.  Feel free to take a look at the current version and let me know your thoughts!  

Once we've nailed down the final version of the rulebook, I'll be sending it off to be translated into French, Italian and German!

Maps:

Hwa is working hard to get the final Locations and Target Grids finished up.  There's just one more to go!  Here's a preview of 3 of the 6 new Locations!

Timelines and Plans:

I will be reaching out this week to Matt Healey to do the box insert design now that the components are finalized and we know the final length of the rulebook.  Once the rulebook is in its final form and the remaining art is completed, it will finally be time to send the files over to Gameland.   I can say that, at this point, we will not be making our original delivery date of October.  The new hope is to get it to backers before the end of the year.  I will keep you updated and continue to do what I can on my end to make this happen as quickly as possible without compromising the final product.

Well, that's it for now.  I'll talk more about GenCon plans next month!

Galen.

Super Snipers May Update
about 3 years ago – Mon, May 22, 2023 at 12:59:12 PM

Hello!

   Unfortunately, I don't have a lot to write this month, so I will keep it short and sweet.

First: the less than great news...

Super Snipers is done except for a handful of art pieces and the rulebook.  And those last few steps are taking longer than anticipated due to a number of factors.  My last estimate for being ready to send files to the manufacturers was the end of this month.  But I won't be surprised if I need to push that forward.  There is still the possibility of getting everything delivered in October, but there is a very real possibility that we will be a little later.  I apologize, and will keep you updated as I have news.  

Looking ahead...

I am very excited to be attending GenCon this year!  While I won't have a booth as a publisher, I will be running a number of "learn to play" events for Super Snipers and plan to have an updated prototype from the manufacturer to show off.  I hope to meet some of you at the table!  You can find the events here.  

I will also be running playtests of one of my newer designs, Dog Days, in the First Exposure Hall.  This one is a 2-4 player game where you take on the roles of dog walking couples trying to give their dogs the best day at the park possible.  Each dog has their own unique needs, and squirrels and off-leash dogs add some playful chaos to this fast playing, lightweight strategy game.

Starting next month, I will start releasing a monthly newsletter for all things Galen's Games.  Keep an eye out in your inbox!

As always, feel free to join our Discord to connect around Super Snipers or any of my other projects.  We are starting testing on a 4-player mode, but I'm always happy to teach the base game and meet my backers!  https://discord.gg/CRJr6kf

Thank you all so much for believing in Super Snipers and I can't wait to be able to tell you when it will arrive!  My apologies that it may be longer than I had hoped.

Galen

Subhuti Finalized! Next steps.
about 3 years ago – Mon, Apr 24, 2023 at 10:25:17 AM

Hello everyone!  Hope you are all doing well and playing lots of fun games while waiting for Super Snipers to deliver!  I've got some news to share.

Subhuti finalized!

We have been through a number of different powers for Subhuti but I am proud to say that this is definitely the best version!  At the start of every round you will get to take a Focus (polyomino) from your opponent's starting 3 and put it on the card.  When you play an identical Focus (shape and color) you may also immediately play the Focus on the card as a free action.  What I love about this power:

• You get to mess with your opponent by temporarily taking one of their Focus out of their supply.  
• You can use your Recalibrate (used to be called Move) Bonus in order to steal the matching shape that will trigger the ability.  Your opponent can also steal the shape from you that would trigger the ability!
• Because the power is optional, you can choose not to trigger it and build up Focus on this card towards depleting your opponent's Focus AND setting up a potentially huge round later on.  If the game goes to the 5th round, you could have 5 Focus ready to trigger!
• Stealing identical Focus is risky but potentially rewarding.  You half your odds of having the power trigger, but double its efficiency when it does!
• Overall, it adds some push-your-luck and makes paying attention to your opponent extra important; two things that are not a large part of the game otherwise.

With this change, all cards and powers are finalized!!  I appreciate your patience.  Playtesting until we get it right is vital to the game being all that it can be.

Other Changes:

As we comb through and finalize the rulebook, I've made a couple of small changes.

• Re-calibrate (the power that lets you discard a Focus you've played or from your LOS) has been changed to "Clear".  As it is more obvious what it does and first-timers were assuming that they got to take the cleared piece and place it again because of the name....
• The Move Bonus is now Recalibrate because it does work like you would expect it to.
• I had toyed with the idea of using a couple of keywords in order to simplify and shorten the text on the Ability Cards, but have instead decided to spell them out as succinctly and clearly as possible on the cards.  With a game like this and 9 asymmetric characters with 2 powers each, a FAQ will be unavoidable, but I do want players to be able to understand the powers with just the primary terms and without needing to consult the rulebook.  
• I updated the rules for all the modes so that there are no more ties (and therefore no need for tie-breakers).

Live Demo on 4/29/23.

I will be demoing Super Snipers at Unplugged Gaming in Syracuse on Saturday, April 29th from 1-4pm.  If you are close by, come check it out!  Here's the link to their FB page where you can learn more about them and the event: https://www.facebook.com/unpluggedgamestore

What's Next?

Finalizing the rulebook is at the top of the list (it's getting there).  Playtesting will continue but will start focusing on 2 additional game modes I want to make available for people.  One is a 4-player mode that can be played with 2 copies of the game.  The other is a "Blitz Mode" that maintains continous action instead of the current reset after each kill.  If you would like to be involved in playtesting and/or get a walkthrough of the game on Tabletop Simulator, please join the Discord.

That's it for now.  Thanks for backing!

Galen

March Update: some small updates
about 3 years ago – Tue, Mar 21, 2023 at 11:42:12 AM

March 21st, 2023:

Hello everyone!  It is March 2023 and Super Snipers is nearing completion.   Playtesting has been going well and I'm about 99% sure I've arrived at the final powers for all the characters and AI versions.  Here are a couple of small updates from that world:

• Subhuti's power has been updated to allow him to keep any Focus he steals with the Move Bonus and place them immediately if they are the "Breath" type.   This is simpler to grasp, more immediately beneficial, and most importantly, balanced.
• After thinking about it over many, many tests, I have decided to increase the number of Innocents on Target I to 2.  The reason being that the difference between Target I and Target III is almost insurmountable.  Now, that was just part of the game and added some risk and reward to the Hiding Phase decisions, but new players put themselves in unwinnable situations enough times that I decided to change it.  Maps I-III still scale up in difficulty, but it is more incremental and no match up is a sure win or lose anymore.  
• I've been working with my playtesters to properly rank the challenge level of each Super Sniper and the difficulty of their AI counterparts so that new players can make informed choices.

Rulebook:  Hwa is working on professionalizing the rulebook and I'm excited by what I am seeing so far.  We want to make sure to get this part right!  Let me know if you'd be willing to give it a read through when it is ready.

Still to do:

• Art work for Targets IV-VI
• Updated Box art for the main game and the expansion
• Finish the rulebook
• Get the insert designed
• Get files to the manufacturer.

I'll keep you updated!  In the meantime, don't forget that the game is fully playable on TTS.

And please join our FB group and Discord if you haven't already.

Thanks,

  Galen