Two production issues caught and fixed
almost 2 years ago – Tue, Jun 28, 2022 at 12:26:07 AM

Thanks to LongPack's diligence, we identified and fixed two production issues. First, their production team created a white sample version of Worldbreakers:

This sample does not involved any printing, using blank cardboard for all of the components. Its purpose is to verify that all of the components fit in the box. In our case, they didn't:

Previously, the Worldbreakers box was 38 mm high (1.5 inches). That red arrow plus a safety margin translates to about 8 millimeter of missing box height, so the new box height is 46 mm (1.8 inches).

Next, during the printing of the pre-production sample, LongPack noticed an alignment mismatch with the punch board that includes the game counters:

As I discussed in a previous blog post, cutting alignment is notoriously difficult to get right. LongPack has an excellent reputation on that front, and I'm relieved that they noticed this problem even before shipping the pre-production sample to me. Fixing the issue took LongPack a couple of days, while waiting until I get the package and then starting to address it could have resulted in a much more significant production delay.

The good news is that the pre-production sample should be done in the next few days! Here are a few photos from Laura, our agent there:

We are getting closer to production, 8mm at a time ;-)

-- Elli (he/they) and the Worldbreakers Team

More markers + waiting for the digital sample
almost 2 years ago – Mon, Jun 13, 2022 at 04:16:06 PM

I sent all of the Worldbreakers assets to LongPack about two weeks ago and I am now waiting for them to print the digital sample. According to their estimate, it should be shipped to me within 1-2 weeks. As soon as I receive it, I will review it for any typos, coloring mismatches, or any other issues, update the files accordingly, send them to LongPack, and proceed with printing. All of which to say, we are still six weeks ahead of schedule, and just waiting on the printer to produce the digital samples.

More markers!

Meanwhile, I would like to tell you about a small, cool change to the box contents. Worldbreakers includes a large Khutulun +1 Strength marker, which is used alongside the special ability on the Khutulun, the True Daughter Worldbreaker card:

When you attack, you can place the Khutulun marker on the follower that gets the strength bonus.

Alongside the Khutulun marker, the punch boards in the Worldbreakers box include many more components. I initially planned to have one punch board with the Khutulun marker and a few other counters and two additional punch boards with just counters. During my discussion with LongPack I discovered that the most cost-efficient way to print punch boards is to stick to one design:

This means that Worldbreakers will now come with THREE hexagonal markers! The second marker will be used for Auspicious Smuggler:

Auspicious Smuggler includes one of the few memory-dependent effects in Worldbreakers. During playtesting, players pointed out that they sometimes forget the ability. You can now keep the marker in front of you as a reminder for the Smuggler's extra action.

The third marker is for Cunning Reclaimer:

I decided on this third marker as a treat for solo players. During the campaign, the automaton can play the Cunning Reclaimer and use her special ability when attacking you. This marker is helpful to keep track of the follower that can't block as you plan your defense and your next turn. Of course, you are more than welcome to use the marker in the two-player game as well.

-- Elli (he/they) and the Worldbreakers Team

Assets away!
almost 2 years ago – Wed, Jun 01, 2022 at 01:40:54 AM

Pre-production is done and all of the asset files for Worldbreakers: Advent of the Khanate have been reviewed and approved by LongPack, the manufacturer. Since LongPack agreed to review the files on a rolling basis, we completed this stage faster than I expected. As of today, we are six weeks ahead of schedule.

LongPack will now print a pre-production sample (or "proof") and ship it to me. I expect to receive it in 2-3 weeks. Jamie Perconti and I will review it, correct the asset files for any typos or other errors, and then production can begin in earnest.

While we wait, here is some eye candy. First, the top of the box:

Here is the bottom:

And the box for the card doubler:

Don't strain your eyes, here is the text for the card doubler:

This card doubler contains an extra copy of the 96 guild and neutral cards in Worldbreakers: Advent of the Khanate. It is not a complete game. These cards can be used in several ways:

New 4-Player Draft

This box includes rules for drafting Worldbreakers with four players, using cards from both the base game and the card doubler. Get your drafting to the next level with this exciting variant!

More Decks

In Constructed play, two players can simultaneously build decks that share the same guild cards.

Ready-to-play 2-Player Draft Set

The card doubler contains exactly the set of cards used to form the supply in the base game's Three Pile Draft format. Just shuffle and you're ready to draft!

If you haven't ordered a card doubler through the campaign, fear not! You can still grab it through the BackerKit survey ;)

-- Elli (he/they) and the Worldbreakers Team

Assets done, printer review and approval is ongoing
almost 2 years ago – Mon, May 16, 2022 at 08:01:09 PM

I am both happy and relieved to report that almost all of the Worldbreakers assets are done. All that remains are a few more tweaks to ~20 campaign cards and one last rulebook page which we added last-minute. In order to be as efficient as possible, I am sending the assets to LongPack's review in waves. This allows me to apply any feedback immediately instead of waiting for one big batch of comments.

In particular, the rulebook is 99% done, and you can download it in all of its glory! I would like to give a huge, huge, HUGE shoutout to Jamie Perconti, the Worldbreakers rule manager and co-designer, for all of their hard work writing, editing, proofreading, proofreading, and proofreading.

Here is one of my favorite pages, the play area spread:

Timeline Update

The original plan was the finish pre-production by the end of June. If things proceed in the current pace, I hope to get it all done by the end of May instead, putting us one month ahead of schedule. This is excellent news as it gives us a wider buffer for any delays such as COVID shutdowns. We are on track for the promised March 2023 delivery!

See you in two weeks,

-- Elli (he/they) and the Worldbreakers Team

Layout update: Cards are done, rulebook is at 90%
almost 2 years ago – Tue, May 03, 2022 at 02:19:04 AM

I am going through the process of laying out all of the components for the printing of Worldbreakers, proofreading and correcting the text along the way. I am excited to report that card layouts are 100% done. This has been a laborious process: I initially tried two automatic solutions (Nandeck and InDesign) but both of them left a lot to be desired. Moving a word down a line or shifting the mythium cost a few pixels can lead to significant aesthetic improvements. Thankfully, this was a fun way to revisit aspects of the game with which I have not interacted in a while, such as the Apprentices cycle:

I am really happy with how this cycle ended up, in art, flavor, and mechanics. They went through a bunch of changes over playtesting and the uniform "X → draw 1 card" showed up relatively late.

Looking at laying out the other components:

• Turn Tracker: Done.
• Rulebook: 90%. Everything is done except for the gameplay area and combat example.

EDIT: This incorrectly said 85% when I first sent the email. Sorry about that.

• Punch Boards: Individual counters are done. The original printer templates required four punch boards to fit all the counters. I reorganized them into three punch boards and I am waiting for new templates.
• Solo Campaign: 60%. Chapter 1-5 are done, and I am in the process of laying out chapters 6-10.
• Box: 50%. I have the front, still need to work on the back.

One surprise component which I am especially proud of is the four-player draft rules card. The Worldbreakers base box supports two-player draft. However, anyone who got the card doubler can play four-player draft as well. Since this is a separate product, I decided to include the rules there instead of in the main rulebook, which led to this little gem:

The cards were by far the most complex and I expect the rest of the components to take just a few more weeks. Once this is done, the next step will be sending the assets for design review by the printer. Hopefully that should be straightforward, since I have been keen on sticking to their templates.

Finally, a quick reminder that I am posting several updates a week on the Worldbreakers Twitter account, such as this post about the section of the rulebook that presents the three game modes. Follow me there if you are itching for more Worldbreakers news.

-- Elli (He/They) and the Worldbreakers Team