WE'RE FUNDED! HURRAH!
about 3 years ago – Fri, Apr 23, 2021 at 04:54:19 PM

Hello, Backers! Whoo-wee! Yay! Wow! How amazing is that? I want to thank each of you for backing Transmissions! Without you, we could not have done it. I am thrilled that you took a chance on this game with us. It's going to be so much fun!

When I first approached Matt about designing a board game in early June 2017, he was hesitant and even reluctant. Of course he didn't know me yet, but also these charming robots are so personal to him, so endearing, and are filled with childlike wonder combined with just a hint of humor. It's such a touching piece of work full of heart. But at the same time it was these very qualities and the gentleness they convey that drove me to design a game that really represented and also respected his world. I felt confident it was something that many others would enjoy. And his adorable robots needed to become miniatures for sure!

Over the next few years I worked out what a game could be in this world. Matt and I talked frequently and eventually he agreed to do it and wow, you can see how he contributed to the illustrations in this game! And if you hadn't heard about Matt until this game, then I am so glad you can now enjoy his world too! I feel we really need this place to visit now more than ever.

Over the next weeks of the campaign, we'll continue with stretch goals to enhance the quality of the experience with better components first. After that, we'll work toward at least a few 'gamerly' qualities in scoring with items and forest cards and some new really interesting ideas for robots!

To elaborate just a little more, if you didn't take note, there are sets of items and ideas in the game. That's because of the way the game works for various player counts, but also when you combine them in different ways, you get a different experience in the game. However, with 4 players, you always use all the items and ideas. I'm hoping we can get to some stretch goals that increase the variety by adding more items and ideas for all player counts - including 4 players. And as I said, this next set of ideas really deliver on some more advanced game play. We'll talk more as we get closer to them - after we improve the quality of the components! Together we can do it!

The other thing I want you to help with is the back of the player cards. Matt has so many wonderful illustrations! Take a moment and visit his web site here: https://www.mattdixon.co.uk/. Pick out your favorite illustration. What does it mean to you? Do you think it should be the back of one deck of the player's cards? Post a comment here and let's help make Transmissions even more wonderful for all of us!

All the best,

Adam

STRETCH GOALS ACHIEVED!
about 3 years ago – Fri, Apr 23, 2021 at 04:54:10 PM

Hello Backers! You are doing an amazing job with this campaign! Look at what you've accomplished in such a short amount of time! Incredible!

 You blew past the early stretch goals that enhance the production quality of the game. You got us thicker punch boards! I mean they were going to be fine, but now they'll be extra chunky! Then you got us linen cards! There are various levels of quality in playing cards with different cores and different finishes. But due to your work, we'll have very high quality cards that are great to the touch and shuffle well!

But you didn't stop there! You also achieved a very special production improvement. Now if you've watched the prototype presentations by various reviewers, you'll see the engrams were nice, large acrylic cubes. I thought they worked great and would have been fine. But our graphic designer Peter Gifford added some flourish in the rulebook on these components - to help out those who might be colorblind (I'm red/green color blind). For me, I like some additional information on components that help me tell colors apart. Well, I talked with our manufacturer Panda Games (they've done all my games so far) and they said, "Sure! We can apply an etching to acrylic cubes. Not a problem!" So we're going to do it! Very cool!

And yet somehow, that was not enough for you backers. You had to have something else added: double-thick player boards! What do these do? Well, you might have noticed you place item and ideas in these robot columns. And you store your engrams at the top. What if you didn't have to worry about bumping them? What if they just 'fit' in the areas of your player board? You got it! I've used double layer boards on my last game and wow, they make a huge difference in play! It's such a relief to have everything neatly tucked away. Speaking of tucking things away....

The next goal - which admittedly is a bit of a distance from here - will get a final upgrade to production: a custom insert! And not just any insert. We have just a few robots, but they are huge and need a nice place to rest when not in use, don't you think? And the idea, item, and pipe tiles - wouldn't it be nice to tuck them in their proper location? I'm in contact with Game Trayz, the name in custom inserts. Now, I don't know if we can get it done, but I'd like to try. Can we do it? Can we get to that stretch goal? Well, it's up to you! Let's make it happen! And you can help right now as I'm in discussions on feasibility. Let me know your favorite insert in a game you own. What's great about it? What do you not like? 

Thanks again for backing!

Adam

More Stretch Goals Ahead!
about 3 years ago – Fri, Apr 23, 2021 at 04:54:01 PM

Hello Backers! Well, this HAS been fun, hasn't it? We are moving at a very fast pace and I couldn't be happier! Thank you for your generous support! As an aside, I have updated the FAQ now (because there are some frequently asked questions), so check those out if you like.

And now, let's talk about what's next in Stretch Goals, shall we? We've got the custom insert! Done! We're working on that and I love all your feedback! The robots will be so comfortable! But what's next, you ask?

Transmissions at its heart is a family-style game - a gateway game - a gentle game that can be played by just about anyone. That's what we wanted, Matt and I. And I love it. But there are gamers too who want just a bit more. And I happen to be one of those as well! Maybe you are too? Well, this is exactly where our next stretch goals come in: making the game more 'gamerly' for the advanced player. We're going to add components for those who want a little more crunch in their gaming breakfast!

7 New Forest Cards! In Transmissions, forest cards give you boosts to actions, more resources, an extra turn, or some victory points. All of these are great and work great - and are very fun! But this extra set of forest cards add a new dimension to the game: you can score for making patterns of pipes! Make a t-intersection, make a curve, make a diamond shape - they give you a goal to shoot for, they add more competition, and they integrate scoring across the game. There are several different patterns - some more challenging than others with an appropriate reward for each! The forest is far more interesting! More risk and more reward!

7 New Ideas! These are new components for a robot engine - more powerful combos, more flexibility. For example, say you have a cool idea on the Yellow robot that converts electricity into a forest card. Then you buy the new 'use a left idea' for the Blue robot. When you move the Blue robot, he can use one of the Yellow robot's ideas! Since the Yellow robot is to the left of the Blue one on your player board, the Blue robot can 'borrow' the Yellow robot's idea and convert electricity! Maybe Yellow then gains a teleport move idea. Blue can use that too! This means where you place an idea matters - to the left, to the right - more combinations to try! More fun!

7 New Items! These items offer new scoring options: you can score bonus points for collecting ideas, or items, or even pipes! There are new pairs of items as well, including new sets of birds and butterflies. Wonderful! These cross-scoring items change the game, mix it up, encouraging more diverse possibilities and combos!

I'm really excited to take Transmissions forward with these add-on components. They provide more variety to each game and you can add the advanced components in slowly, after you get the hang of things and want a more challenging experience! They are all modular!

What are the games you enjoy that start off easy and get more complex as you play? Do you like modular games that let you swap out different things? I'd love to hear about your favorites!

Thank you very much for backing!

Adam

Insert Shipping Translation Goals!
about 3 years ago – Fri, Apr 23, 2021 at 04:53:51 PM

Hello Backers! Amazing progress these last couple of days! We've had some nice mentions by podcasters, blogs, and video reviewers! Thank you all for your continued support and help. I'm following your encouraging comments every day. It's only because of YOU that we're gotten this far! So what's up next?

INSERT

In the news, I did talk with GameTrayz last night and I think we're going to be able to work together! Hurrah! GameTrayz is a design house for custom inserts for hobby board games. They've done some 300 different hobby games now (a few of which I have) and they are known for outstanding quality to securely hold all your components. You wanted the extra security for those lovely, adorable robots! You're going to love the insert for sure! Thanks for making it happen!

SHIPPING

I'm still working on shipping logistics for more remote areas, so please stay tuned as I coordinate with our fulfillment partner, Quartermaster Logistics (QML). I know several are disappointed with shipping to Norway, Switzerland, and some additional areas of the globe. I do appreciate your patience as I try to navigate the challenging waters of shipping across the globe! It's not my first time to coordinate shipping, but there's a lot of new rules and regulations in play - and of course, it's really challenging with the amount of shipping happening now after the 'lull' last year.

TRANSLATION

Also, I have several volunteers asking to help with translating the rules. So far I have one or more individuals for Portuguese, Italian, French, German, Finnish, Hungarian, Dutch and Spanish. The main reason I'm waiting to announce these translations is I'm revising the rule book to include sections for the stretch goals (all of these will be add-on modules and will be an appendix in the back) and finalizing the solo rules. So more to come on that! If you'd like to help, please message me here on Kickstarter.

GOALS

And one last point for this update: MORE STRETCH GOALS! There are just a few more surprises coming up! I'm not one to simply stuff a game with things 'just because', so these are modules you can add to the game as you see fit! They are mainly ideas I tested for the game earlier, but removed to keep the game simple and approachable. These add more variety to game play and strategy options for gamers: new ways to score with ideas, new 'action' transformers that add choices to locations on the board, and new 'wild' items that pair with other items for more points! All in all, more fun!

Let me know if you have any question or concerns! I'm thrilled with your support, your wonderful encouragement, and your backing! You are making this game happen!

All the best,

Adam