2038: Production Issue Poll
Tom Lehmann
somewhat similar to the 18xx series of railroad games (we've licensed the
overall concepts from the 1829 designer, Francis Tresham) even though the
actual mechanics of play are almost entirely different.
As mentioned in my last message, I'm looking at various price/quality/playing
issues with respect to 2038: Tycoons of the Asteroid Belt. Here are two
areas I would appreciate input on:
* How "colorful" should the main map be?
There are three types of hexes on the map: Base hexes, Transshipment points
and empty hexes. The last is most of the map (106/122 hexes) and gets filled
during play with Asteroid tiles. These tiles will have a starry background,
an asteroid and either 1 or 2 color-coded mines. In addition, colored claim
chits will get placed on top of the mines during play.
The two specific items here are:
1. Should the hex types be clearly distinguished from each other by using
distinctive colors for each type (gray base hexes and red transhipment hexes)
so that they can be instantly distinguished from other hexes (whether or not
tiles have been placed in them) or should they share the starry background
and use distinctive "squares" of color plus artwork inside them to denote the
bases and transshipment payoffs?
1A: Color the base and transshipment hexes different colors.
1B: Use starry backgrounds and rely on interior art/colors to distinguish
bases and transshipment hexes from asteroid tiles.
2. Should the empty tiles be printed white with black borders (emphasizing the
fact that they are not yet filled), a pale shade of blue (less stark) or filled
with a starry background printed at muted (30%) intensity (giving the map more
of a space-like and less of an abstract look when first unfolded)?
2A: Color empty hexes white.
2B: Color empty hexes pale blue (no artwork).
2C: Color empty hexes in muted (pale) starry background colors.
The underlying issue here is one of decoration vs pure functionality. In my
earlier game, Time Agent, I also had very "busy" tiles and went with a minimal
use of color on the board itself so as to not provide any visual distractions
to the tiles. Some people have criticized that board as being "too stark",
particularly when they first unfold the game. Here I can provide very little
color, more but fairly "abstract" color or much more attractive but potentially
slightly confusing color on the board. Which is best?
* How should the stock mat be produced?
2038 has a stock mat (11x17") upon which 8 stock price counters are moved and
some stock certificates are placed as well as the main map (22x17) upon which
the asteroid tiles and claims are played. The main map will be mounted. The
cost of printing and mounting a separate stock mat is prohibitive for a single
game. Here is what the other 18xx games have done: 1830 combined the stock mat
and game board together; 1835 (selling for $60 US) provided a separate mounted
mat; 1829 used colored cardstock for its stock mat; and 1856 and 1870 ($45)
from Mayfair will have a separate mounted stock mat identical to both games
(which spreads the cost out among two games). One advantage of providing a
separate mat is that it can be arranged around the board as desired to fit
table space. Also, unlike 1830, 1856 or 1870, in 2038 there are no special
regions on the stock mat with special play properties that need to be
distinguished. Thus, the use of color on the stock mat in 2038 is purely
decorative.
3. Which of the following options would you prefer for the 2038 Stock mat:
3A: Provide a 4-color, mounted stock mat and raise the game price to US $55.
or keep the price at $50 and either:
3B: Provide a stock mat printed black on colored cardstock.
3C: Provide a 4-color mat on "medium weight" stock (about three times as thick
as cardstock), cut-scored so it folds flat with no "trampoline effect".
3D: Provide a black & white mat (using gray screens to keep it from being too
stark) on "heavy weight" stock (about six times as thick as cardstock;
this is starting to be quite substantial) and cut-scored so it folds flat.
3E: Merge the stock mat and board together (re-arranged slightly) into a
single mounted 24.5x22 game board, adding small amounts of color to the
stock tracks.
Note: You can't mix 3C and 3D to get a little bit of color on the heavy-weight
stock. Printers won't run that stock through 4-colored presses (damages the
press too much) but are willing to run it through a 2-color press (black plus
varnish).
E-mail responses to me with comments would be great; thanks for your time.
tom
Tom Lehmann
President, Prism Games