June Update: The Road to GenCon 2014
Goblin Toboggan Sell Sheet
The one page 'sell sheet' is ready to be shared with publishers. The goal is to simulate information that would be shared on the back of the game box to give a potential buyer a summary of the game to help them determine if they are interested. In this case, it is helping publishers determine if the game could be a fit for their product line. For those interested, the next step is to share demo copies for their review.
The latest version contains new boards, and new Goblin Toboggan pawn pieces for a more complete look. More importantly the gameplay has been improved with a new tile type and several new mischief cards with advanced options for manipulating the board and changing players luck. The new tiles add impassible barriers.
Play-testing revealed some minor issues with the last version of the mischief card deck leading to a few rules clarifications and corrections. In addition, I noticed that there were a few cards that players used very rarely, and have replaced those cards with some new additions that better fit the commonly used strategies.
I am also excited to share that I will be running a series of playtests in the First Exposure Playtest Hall at GenCon 2014. I am looking forward to collecting a wealth of feedback from dedicated gamers from across the country. I will also be making my first attempt at pitching the design to publishers at the Publisher/Designing Speed Dating Event hosted by James Mathe of Minion Games.
Play-testing revealed some minor issues with the last version of the mischief card deck leading to a few rules clarifications and corrections. In addition, I noticed that there were a few cards that players used very rarely, and have replaced those cards with some new additions that better fit the commonly used strategies.
I am also excited to share that I will be running a series of playtests in the First Exposure Playtest Hall at GenCon 2014. I am looking forward to collecting a wealth of feedback from dedicated gamers from across the country. I will also be making my first attempt at pitching the design to publishers at the Publisher/Designing Speed Dating Event hosted by James Mathe of Minion Games.
Play-tests, play-tests, and improvents
There has been a string of breakthroughs thanks to a series of intense play-tests run by new design partner Tristan Rios. First there have been some rule/format modifications. Player intuition kept reverting to moving the toboggan that a player had 'bet' on and so the bets did not stay secret long at all. As a result we have changed this format so that each player publicly chooses their toboggan at the start of the game, and can only move that piece. From there a play-test with some gamers who play collectible card games revealed opportunities to increase player strategy and interaction through the addition of more cards, the ability to play card combos, and a reduced focus on tile placement (now the order drawn is the order played, though a player can still rotate each tile as it is placed). This helped speed up the more individual aspects of a players turn and put more focus on the interactive and competitive elements.
We are currently on version 0.5, which includes updated boards, a heavily enhanced card deck, and even a new tile type. Current progress has us on track to start pitching version 1.0 at GenCon in August. Boards are being printed as I type so I hope to have an updated photo set posted soon. Conversation with Tristan has also planted a seed for a sequel (not an expansion) that will bring the characters and mechanics to a new setting with a new set of challenges for the players. Once things slow down with current projects I will be posting some updates on that concept.
We are currently on version 0.5, which includes updated boards, a heavily enhanced card deck, and even a new tile type. Current progress has us on track to start pitching version 1.0 at GenCon in August. Boards are being printed as I type so I hope to have an updated photo set posted soon. Conversation with Tristan has also planted a seed for a sequel (not an expansion) that will bring the characters and mechanics to a new setting with a new set of challenges for the players. Once things slow down with current projects I will be posting some updates on that concept.
Goblin Toboggan Update
Version 0.2 is now complete. The play-mat is complete, new hex-tiles have been added, the spell cards were created and tested, and then recreated to function better, and the win conditions were modified to make game play more engaging and strategic. A few additional rules changes have been made. After the next round of public play-testing I hope to post a print and play (PnP) .PDF version of the game for others (who have the patience to cut out 105 hexagons) to demo.
Project Update: Goblin Toboggan
A special thanks to those who participated in the play-test of Goblin Toboggan on 10/1/13 and to Game Empire in San Diego, CA for hosting the event. The feedback collected has been very helpful, and updates are in progress.
- First: The rules document has been updated to include diagrams of sled movement for enhanced clarity
- Second: A playmat has been designed to simplify game layout and the process of avalanche advancement. It also makes it easier for players to 'recenter' the game play area as the path grows longer.
- Third: A set of spell cards is being developed to provide players with another strategic option for influencing the game outcome.
- Other elements still under consideration include: additional tile types, a movement tracking system, and a more advanced wagering/scoring system.
Goblin Toboggan: The Beginning
Goblin Toboggan is a hex tile laying game for 2-6 players designed by Pat Marino. It is currently in play-testing phase with a goal of kickstarting a final version within the year.
Story:
The annual Goblin Toboggan race is about to begin and thousands have shown up to watch and to place bets on their favorite racers. Among the crowd are a group of wizards (the players) who are down on their luck and in need of some extra gambling winnings. In order to change their fortunes they will use every spell they know to manipulate the mountain and maximize their payout.
Story:
The annual Goblin Toboggan race is about to begin and thousands have shown up to watch and to place bets on their favorite racers. Among the crowd are a group of wizards (the players) who are down on their luck and in need of some extra gambling winnings. In order to change their fortunes they will use every spell they know to manipulate the mountain and maximize their payout.
Objective:
The objective is for players to manipulate both the board and the individual toboggan's in an effort to have their wagers pay out the largest amount.
The objective is for players to manipulate both the board and the individual toboggan's in an effort to have their wagers pay out the largest amount.