Game Progress 5 – Supplements, Proof Copy, and Sneak Peeks
almost 6 years ago – Tue, Jul 17, 2018 at 08:36:42 PM

Hey there, Macs and Janes,  

I had planned to wait a little while longer before I posted the next update, but I have a few things I really want to share now, so here we go.  

CAPERS Supplements  

I ultimately ended up getting almost 120 positive responses to the CAPERS Game Line Survey. That makes me feel quite a bit more confident in the idea of creating some supplements for CAPERS.  

The tentative plan is as follows. I plan to produce three 50-ish page supplements, each themed but each also providing additional content that can be used for the base game easily enough. You can play the variant setting provided in a supplement using the CAPERS core game along with the supplement or you can play the standard CAPERS game and use the additional character options, powers, etc. to give you more options.

Whether I create all three supplements is going to be dependent on how well the first one does. Here are the basic summaries for each, though all the content is tentative at this point.  

• CAPERS Noir: Set in the 1940s, providing a crime noir setting featuring a full write-up of Los Angeles in the era. Additional character options like investigation rules, morality “slippery slopes,” and others. New Powers. The setting will also feature ghosts, spirits, and poltergeists and how they can be used to augment the grim and dirty crime noir setting.  
• CAPERS Covert: Set in the 1960s, providing a super-villain/super-spy theme tinged with elements of the heyday of Las Vegas. Complete setting info for Las Vegas in the era. Additional character options like vehicle chases/combat and Bond-style gadgets. Info on creating villain “lairs” and law enforcement organizations.  
• CAPERS Offworld: Tying together all three setting periods with a Buck Rogers/Flash Gordon style, old-school, early 20th-century space theme. Spaceships, space travel, portals. New Powers. Backdrop info for three or four unique worlds you can visit. And some space monsters. Think criminals and law enforcement in space, sort of an early 20th century version of Guardians of the Galaxy. This supplement might be a bit longer than the other two.  

Timelines on all of this are TBD, but I plan to keep things moving along. You shouldn’t have to wait TOO long for the first supplement.  

STAYING IN THE LOOP AFTER FULFILLMENT

I realize many people unsubscribe to the Kickstarter updates after rewards are distributed. If you want to make sure to keep up on progress toward supplements, go HERE and sign up for the NerdBurger Games Very Occasional Newsletter, if you didn't already do so in the backer survey. Newsletter goes out once per month maximum. 

First Proof Copy  

I’ve received the first physical proof copy of the book. Over the next few weeks, Mike, Owen, and I will review everything and make adjustments to tighten it up, then go to a proofreading stage. There will be some additional flavor added, illustrations juggled, etc. Here’s a look at the cover:

 A look at the interior:

Some Sneak Peeks  

Go HERE for a download of a few more pages from the game book. I’ve removed the background color to make it easier for you to print.  

That Other CAPERS Download  

Several of the people responding to the CAPERS Game Line Survey remarked about how they’d only seen the CAPERS Preview Edition. This is a reminder that there’s another download available. Check out Update #11, titled “More Preview Stuff Available for Backers Now!” for a link to more stuff. Just in case you missed it back in the day. This update is only available to backers.  

What’s Next  

Mike is wrapping up the city maps for the book. Owen is working on mini maps for the support materials. Beth is working on paper minis for the support materials.  

I’ll be meeting with Owen to further hammer out the card decks and maps. I’ll be meeting with Mike and Owen to finalize the book layout. Then we move to the proofreading pass to make sure everything is clear and typos are eliminated.  

Craig on the Intarwebz  

Learn more about things that are going on in NerdBurger Land here:  

TWITTER  

WEBSITE  

GOOGLE+  

Feel free to chime in with comments. I hope you’re getting excited, because we are. We’re getting close.    

Game on,  

Craig

Game Progress 4 – Artwork, Layout, and Supplements
almost 6 years ago – Mon, Jul 09, 2018 at 09:10:51 PM

Hey there, Macs and Janes,  

If I had to describe the past few weeks in three words, those three words would be BUSY BUSY BUSY. Here’s what’s going on. 

CAPERS Supplements 

 I’ve had about 80 people show interest in supplements for CAPERS. If you are interested in seeing supplements for the game and neglected to fill out the survey, please do so HERE. I need as much feedback on this as possible. Here’s why…

Eighty people is a little on the light side for producing supplements and staying the black financially, even on my tight budgets. I’ve crunched numbers and I feel like I’d need about 120 or so backers to reasonably create a supplement of anywhere between 40 and 90 pages. The backer buy-in would scale up for the size of the supplement, but costs would also increase (additional artwork, more layout/editing, etc.). 

I could offer the base game at a good deal as a backer level or add-on, but I don’t think I’d get THAT many people opting in. I’ve studied a number of Kickstarters for small indie RPG supplements and while they get some additional support at levels that include the core game, they don’t tend to get a LOT of new backers that way. I’m not ruling it out just yet. 

I’ll have to give it some more thought. 

GenCon Reminder 

I’ll be at GenCon. If you’re going to be there, make sure to look at the previous update for info on where I’ll be if you want to swing by and say hello. You can also check out the NerdBurger Schedule page HERE to learn more.

Book Layout 

Here’s a glimpse of how the interior of the book is shaping up. Layout guy Mike sends his regards. 

Final Artwork 

Beth has turned in all artwork for the book and cards. I have a proof copy of the book in the works that I’ll be bringing to GenCon to show off. And there are proof copies of the CAPERS playing cards and the Moxie deck in the works, too. 

Here’s a look at the four pieces I’ve previously shown off during sketch and ink phases. If you want to see how things progressed, go back to previous updates to see the earlier versions of these illustrations. 

What’s Next? 

All the book pieces are done. Now we just have to make sure it looks great and give it a proofread and some coordination (like the index). 

We’re also proofing the card decks. And Owen and Beth have moved on to creating maps and paper minis. It’ll take several weeks to get the rest of this together, but we are well on our way to fulfilling the Kickstarter…and ahead of schedule. 

Game on, 

Craig  

Game Progress 3 - Supplements, GenCon, and Moxie
almost 6 years ago – Mon, Jun 25, 2018 at 11:21:20 AM

Hey there, Macs and Janes,  

I waited a little longer than initially planned to fire off this update because a few things were in limbo, but now they’re no longer in limbo and here we are.  

Possible CAPERS Supplements  

Given how well CAPERS did on Kickstarter, I’m considering expanding the game with supplements. Based on the Kickstarter, sales once it’s available, and YOUR input here, I’ll give it some thought.  

If you’re interested in seeing more CAPERS content, please fill out this CAPERS Game Line Survey. It’s only six questions and will just take a minute or two. I realize this may seem a bit premature. But it’s probably the best time I have for getting feedback from the CAPERS supporters (you).  

IMPORTANT NOTE: Creating supplements and launching a more complete game line is a serious commitment and time/money investment for a little company like NerdBurger Games. If people don't respond to the idea here, it'll be MUCH more likely that I won't pursue it. If you want more CAPERS, now is the time to let me know. 

GenCon  

As it turns out, I’ll be at GenCon this year.  

• I’ll be at the IGDN booth all day Thursday, manning my own demo table. 
• Friday thru Sunday during the day, I’ll be spending some time running Games on Demand, interspersed with other stuff. 
• During the evenings, I have a couple of engagements, but hope to mostly be open.

There’s a lot of open time in the evenings and between things. If you’re going to be at GenCon and want to say hi, find me at the IGDN booth, at Games on Demand, or tweet me @nerdburgercraig. I’d love to meet you. 

I MIGHT even have an in-progress proof copy of CAPERS with me. :-)  

If you want to help me out for a bit on Thursday, email me at [email protected]. I’ll have an extra chair at the demo table and would appreciate some company and help in demoing/promoting NerdBurger Games. I’m sure I can find some way to reward you for some help, even if it’s just for an hour or two.  

If you’re interested in arranging an official NerdBurger meetup, email me at [email protected]. If enough people do, I’ll try to coordinate something.

Moxie Deck  

Owen and I have been working out what the Moxie Deck is gonna look like. We have several variants we’re exploring. Here’s a glimpse of where we stand. Two of those illustrations are going to get changed. And we have to make a call on the color of the card back. 

Game on,  

Craig

Game Progress 2
almost 6 years ago – Fri, Jun 01, 2018 at 12:27:19 PM

Hey there, Macs and Janes,  

Just a quick update to talk Backerkit and book progress.  

Backerkit  

The game is available at Backerkit for those who missed the Kickstarter. Tell your friends. The Backerkit pre-order is basically the Bootlegger backer level. Hit the link below.  

Just a reminder. If you were thinking of getting an additional book or more than one deck of playing cards, and you neglected to adjust your pledge during the Kickstarter, you can grab those add-ons now. Just hit the link below and click on the $10 additional book button and/or the $1 additional playing cards button. Please use the same email you use for Kickstarter so I can coordinate your add-on order with your Kickstarter backer info.  

CAPERS RPG on Backerkit  

The Book’s Cover  

Here’s a mockup of the book’s cover (front and back). The illustrations are sketch placeholders.  

Cover Mockup

More Interior Layout  

Here’s another full-page spread from Mike. There are a few tweaks left to do, but it’s mostly complete.  

Chapter 2 Mockup

More Artwork  

Here are the linework versions of the sketches I posted in the previous update. The artwork is coming along quite nicely.  

Four Pieces of Linework

Game on,  

Craig

Game Progress 1
almost 6 years ago – Tue, May 15, 2018 at 09:05:21 AM

Hey there, Macs and Janes,  

It’s time to reveal some game progress. But first, a couple bookkeeping items.  

Backer Survey Deadline  

Twenty backers have not yet filled out their surveys. If you haven’t done so, please fill it out soon. It’s only four questions, so it takes practically no time.  

The deadline for this is midnight Eastern on Saturday, May 19th. Less than one week away.  

If you do not fill out the survey by the deadline, I will do the following:  

• Use your Kickstarter name for the thank-you page. 
• Assume you wanted a discount link for a softcover book (not hardcover). 
• Assume you did not over-pledge for any add-ons.

This is the final warning. (Jacks and Jills backers, I’ll contact you about shipping addresses later. Sit-Down backers, I’ll contact you about playing the game with you later.)  

Add-Ons  

While I’m using Kickstarter’s backer survey function, I have set up the game on Backerkit for pre-order. People who didn’t get on board the Kickstarter can get the equivalent of the $15 Bootlegger level there.  

I have ALSO put the additional book and additional playing card add-ons onto Backerkit. So, if you were thinking of getting an additional book or more than one deck of playing cards, and you neglected to adjust your pledge during the Kickstarter, you can grab those add-ons now. 

Just go HERE and click on the $10 additional book button and/or the $1 additional playing cards button. Please use the same email you use for Kickstarter so I can coordinate your add-on order with your Kickstarter backer info.  

Writing  

Designers brought on to help fill out some stretch goal stuff have turned in their work. I’ve given it all a development and editing pass. I’m focused on finalizing PDF support material content and am over halfway done with that.  

Layout  

Here’s a look at a couple pages of the book’s interior.  

Graphics  

Here’s a look at a graphic Owen created, describing how to perform a Trait Check in the game. (Ignore the “Nerts!” bit. That’s gone from the final version.  

Artwork  

And here are some more sketches from Beth.  

Good stuff, all around.  

Project Thunderhawk  

I’ve started tinkering with a new game idea and I’m writing about it occasionally on my blog. First post is up HERE. If you'd like to pick my brain about it (and get at least SOME vague answers), pop over to the NerdBurger Games G+ Community. 

But don’t worry. This game is QUITE a ways down the road. My number one priority right now is wrapping up CAPERS and getting it to you.

Game on,  

Craig