Holidays, Kickstarter - Deadzone & Berserk

Happy Holidays Everyone!

I could say that I've been busy with holiday celebrations, and such, but that would only be partly true.  Yes, I did go to hang out with the family, but mostly, holidays and days off work just make me feel more lazy than normal, and that leads to a lack of motivation to do anything productive.  But I'm back in the swing of things now, and I have a couple things to share.

KickStarter

I love Kickstarter.  The thought of creating a project and letting regular people give funding or not to decide the fate of your concept is a great idea.  It allows you the opportunity to see if people will buy your product before you invest all the time and money into creating it.  Kickstarter allows that start-up "inventor" to make something that most companies would have never let off of the hypothetical "drawing board".

I have put money towards a number of things on Kickstarter that I thought were cool ideas.  I have mostly funded tabletop war games, but also some card games, a couple books and a video game.  Most of them have not come in yet, and won't probably be completed until next year at the very earliest, but this holiday season has seen a couple of them start to come back to me.  I have received the initial shipment for a game called Deadzone, made by Mantic, and a card game called Berserk: War of the Realms.  Both look fun and I have a bunch of pictures to show about both sets.

Berserk: War of the Realms

First off, in this post, I'd like to show Berserk: War of the Realms.  My understanding of this game is that it is already a game in Russia, and the Kickstarter was created to fund an English version.  It is a card game that incorporates dice into the card combat.  As with the last game I received, I haven't had a chance to read through all the rules, but I'll get to them eventually.

(I apologize in advance...some of the pictures are more blurry than originally thought)

Below is the box.  Nice colorful cover.

Inside there is the rule booklet, 2 game boards, 2 sets of counters, a number of dice, a few decks of cards, and then an expansion box was also included.  Supposedly because this is a Kickstarter exclusive, it comes with additional cards that would not come in the retail version of the game.

 Here is everything laid out.

Here is one of the deck of cards spread out.  Hard to see I know...

So here's a close up of some of the cards.  This is a dwarf deck, I guess.

I'll get some pictures playing the game when I round up some people to play it.  

Once I dig in to my Deadzone box, I'll make sure to post it as well.

Anyway, that's if for this post.  Thanks for checking it out.  I hope to have lots more stuff to share soon.

- Zach

Logic Puzzles: "Paint-Doku"

I like logic puzzles.  They are a nice change of pace from the fast paced games I usually play on my computer and consoles.  I usually enjoy them as a wind down mental exercise before I go to bed while I'm watching Netflix. 

One of the reasons I chose these types of puzzles is because I like them...and I've seen research that says working on logic puzzles increases your mental capacity, awareness, etc. etc.  These are good things in my mind (HA, get it?). 

Anyway...during college I used to keep a Sudoku book in my backpack next to my sketchbook.  That way if I got bored duri....in between classes...I could either sketch or work on a Sudoku puzzle. 

Most people have at least heard of Sudoku.  It is the number puzzle were there are 9 large squares, with 9 smaller squares in them.  Each puzzle then has a certain amount of given numbers randomly input in the smaller squares.  The idea is to use the numbers 1-9 to fill out the remaining smaller squares.  The catch is that each number can only be used once in each big square, row and column.  It is a great mental exercise as I said before.  The problem I have with Sudoku is it gets boring.  You are just staring at the same 9 numbers over and over again. 

Recently I came across a new type of puzzle in the same sort of style of Sudoku, but different enough that each puzzle feels like a new challenge...not the same thing over and over again.  The new puzzles I have been working on are called, "Paint-doku".  I have seen them called a couple of different names, but I like that one the best.  Below are the books I have been using.

There are two different kinds of these puzzles that I have been messing around with.  The first is the standard kind.  It's black and white, and is pretty straight forward.  The second kind is dual colored and requires a little bit more thinking (in my opinion).

The object of these types of puzzles is to use the numbers on the top and side to fill in squares.  Each number corresponds to the number of filled in squares in a row.  Each set of filled in squares must have at least one blank space in between it and the next number of squares (except when you add the second color).  Example: If the numbers are - 5 1 4 - that means that there are 5 in a row, then at least one blank.  Then there is a 1 and at least one blank before the last set of 4.  Once all of the numbers have been used, the completed puzzle has some sort of picture in it. 

When you add a second color, the blanks are only between the same color.  The opposite color can be touching the first color.  Example: If you had - 5 black, 1 red, 4 black, 2 black - there would be 5 black in a row, then possibly followed by a blank space, or the 1 red, which could then be followed by blank spaces or the 4 black.  After the 4 black, though, you would need at least 1 blank before the last 2 black.

Below is a close-up of each type of puzzle.  The left is the standard black and white, and the right is the dual colored puzzle.  Each dual colored puzzle has a recommended second color shown by the opposite numbers.  This puzzle's recommended second color is red.

Below are some examples of puzzles I have completed. 

I use dots for the blank spots in both sets.  In the two color version I use diagonal lines through a square rather than a different color.  I like to be able to correct my mistakes by erasing, and I make a lot of mistakes... so using a different colored pen or colored pencil that can't be erased would make it tough to complete a puzzle for me at least.

Long story short, these are fun little puzzles that work your brain.  They give me (and hopefully you too) a greater sense of accomplishment when they are complete than I get from the standard Sudoku puzzles.  I would recommend these if you are looking for something to work your brain, and get a neat little picture at the end.

If you have any thoughts or would like me to go more in depth in a step by step walk-through of a puzzle, let me know via the comments below.

- Zach



Loka: The Unboxing

So I picked up a new game this last week...well the game finally came to me in the mail...

Anyway, the game is called Loka and it is portrayed as "a Game of Elemental Strategy". I've heard it is like elemental Chess.  I haven't gotten to play it, or read through the rules, but I thought I would show everyone what comes in the box.

First off, here is the complete boxed set.

                                      

Well...cat not included...

Below is what it looks like when you open said box.

                     

The board is a nice 2-sided board.  One side looks like a standard chess board, and the other side looks like a 4-sided elemental board.
                                   

 

Here is what the rest of the set looks like inside the box.

 This is everything taken out of the box.

The rule book is approximately 20 pages.  Again, haven't read it yet...but I'll get to it eventually.

These are some sort of square counters.  Not sure what they are for yet.

Each of the elements/factions/armies, whatever you want to call them, comes in their own separate bag.

 

Below are all of the factions pulled out of their bags.  I can see the resemblance to chess pieces already. Each set contains what looks like a King, Queen, Horse, Mage, Elemental Creature and 4 soldier minion types (assuming pawns).

And last, but not least, an assortment of dice: d4, d6, d8, d12 and d20.  Not sure how these will play into a chess game, but it should be interesting.  

Well that's everything in the box.  Hopefully soon I will be able to get some people together and learn how to play it.

- Zach