Steamwatchers - Something Epic

Board Games – Steamwatchers is a big box game with several expansions that add to the game play and introduce new elements. As a huge game these parts are pretty small but also pretty well detailed.

I don’t know that most people would spend time painting all these minis, but using a few techniques you can get some paint on them quickly to give the game a bit more life that the colored plastic provides.

The game sounds interesting, based on the info from the publisher:

Steamwatchers unfolds in a frozen Europe, broken by an ice age that followed a brutal water level increase. In those hostile conditions, nomadic clans struggle to survive with the regular and puzzling outbreak of steam columns everywhere on the continent. These columns are a testament to intense subterranean heat sources. They free earth from the grasp of ice and allow mankind to grow food once again. These oases of heat are vital for survival...and, unfortunately, only transient. To make things worse, a strange sickness spreads around them: The Bane. It affects both mind and body, and to this day, no cure has been found. Handling it is necessary to the survival of the clans.

Steamwatchers is a 2 to 5 player game in which you play as the leader of a nomadic clan. You will struggle over the geothermal resources of Europa in scenarios that last from 3 to 6 rounds. At the end of the last round of the chosen scenario, the winning clan is the one with the most geothermal resources (steam columns and farms), but a clan can claim victory before the end of the scenario by acquiring 10 geothermal resources.

Kickstarter Exclusives - Dark Rituals

Boardgames – Dark Rituals was very successful Kcikstarter and as such has a ton of extras that backers received as a benefit. This models are very cool and a nice bonus for backers.

Dwellings of Eldervale – Now with Sound Effects!

Board Games – Successful Kickstarter games can go bonkers with stretch goals. A great example of this is Dwellings of Eldervale, I mean seriously sound effect bases that have little to no value for gameplay but do push the “blinged out deluxe version” envelope. Apparently there are multiple versions of this game available with out all the extras that play exactly the same, which means if you didn’t back this you’ll likely be paying a premium if you want to track down the special version.

Anyway everything I’ve read and watch about this game is very positive. Not only are the super premium components great but the game also has a well developed story and solid mechanics.

Each of these minis can be represented with a cardboard standee in the basic version of the game but the miniatures are pretty solid and do come “pre-painted” in a weird color wash. It was easy enough to prime over that and paint these up to look pretty slick.

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Not Stars Wars or Aliens - Starcadia Expansions

Not Stars Wars or Aliens - Starcadia Expansions

Board Games – CMON loves their kickstarters and they love parody stretch goals so much so that it’s become expected anytime they launch a new project. Nostalgia and Fandom are big motivators and for people that pass or miss the initial offering it can be super annoying trying to collect everything for a game they decide they love.

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