They may not be actual secrets, but it's very rare that someone is actually willing to show what happens before a game reaches the stores and after it gets funded on Kickstarter. Let's discover the story of Exodus: Proxima Centauri and Exodus: Edge of Extinction and their route from Kickstarter success to delivery all over the world.
After the files are delivered to the printer, it's waiting time. Before anything is produced, we have to approve the preliminary printouts to be sure, that the final product is up to our and your expectations. From the rulebook and the box, to cards and punchboards, everything needs proper scrutiny and approval before it goes into production.
Punchboards setup
Right before checking out the punchboards - and don't worry, we're using a slightly thicker cardboard with the actual games.
While the litograph is not an essential part of the game, we want it to be the best it can be. And that means we need to color proof it as well.
Signing off the color proof for a lithograph
And here's another look at punchboards for approval - and with them, also player player boards. To put it shortly, everything needs to be carefully looked at.
Color proofs of player aids, punch board, player boards etc stacked over die cut samples
This is the machine responsible for creating the mighty fleets you will command in the vast space of the Exodus universe.
And here they are sorted by a man.
However, to finish the process a human touch is necessary. Separating ships from stray pieces of plastic, and getting rid of those unfortunate few that made it out damaged or incomplete is yet another step that brings the game closer to your door.
Almost a rainbow of dice as they arrive at our doorstep.
To make the games complete, we also need to add the dice. Once again they will go through and inspection to weed out the ones that are not up to par, before they are put into boxes.
Ships ready to form your fleets.
Finally, there is the matter of ships that arrived just like the dice, and are now ready to be added to each game. A long time of waiting (and some frantic work to proceed to next stages as fast as possible) we are now closer and closer to the moment the games are ready to be shipped to you.
Questions? Comments? Ask and see them answered! __________________
Kickstarting Exodus: Edge of Extinction has been a wild ride – and now, as the last day of the campaign is nearly upon, things are really heating up. Here is a quick look at what has been unlocked by our truly amazing backers.
As we reach the hectic 48 hour mark until project end, we look upon the list of stretch goals unlocked with what can be described only as a great pleasure. Once again, after our first Kickstarter campaign, we have earned the trust of many of our fans – and drew in more people to become a part of the Exodus universe and the ultimate 4X experience offered by the Edge of Extinction expansion. And to say we are extremely happy and grateful would be a vast understatement, as our current Kickstarter project went above and beyond all we could reasonably expect – with some time still left to reach even further!
Stretch Goal History
Throughout the campaign, we have managed to add to the Exodus box (which was pretty full to begin with) even more variability and more options, by successfully unlocking all of the stretch goals. This means that we added a double feature of new Combat Cards, an assortment of new Centaurian Resistance for all who buy a retail copy of Exodus: Edge of Extinction to enjoy.
We also managed to add not one but three packs of ships which will allow all who face off using the Edge of Extinction rules to command fleets bigger than those ever seen in the base game, as well as a set of extra combat dice to make properly displaying your new firepower appropriately impressive (not to mention faster and easier).
Our Kickstarter backers will also receive three more Combat Card sets, as well as a pack of all new political cards, to make the negotiation and bidding even more tense. The below stretch goals, including the Single Player Expansion are Kickstarter Limited material, which means that they are added to all Kickstarter copies, but will also be available separately via the BoardGameGeek store and on conventions NSKN Games would attend (until our stocks lasts).
The list of stretch goals ends on a set of more customized Action Cards, that provide each of the factions with yet another unique edge, and our ultimate goal: an impressive set of ship bases, that make the Exodus fleets hover over the game board proudly, making the game experience that much more immersive and impressive to look upon. And although the last of the stretch goals seemed like a distant dream (and something that started as an almost unreal idea with someone saying: "You know what would be really awesome?"), it is really here.
Beyond the Ultimate
Now, more than ever, it is a great time to become a part of the Exodus universe and pledge for your copy of the expansion – or a tasty bundle of the Revised Edition of Proxima Centauri and the Edge of Extinction. Become a part of the space empire building legend and help us finish off with an even louder bang.
How It Is Done
Finally, throughout the campaign we also managed to bring you two videos. The first one shows the NSKN’s own Agnieszka, Andrei and Błażej tearing themselves away from Kickstarter to play a game of expanded Exodus (and do away with any box size doubts) for your viewing pleasure:
The second one is a treat for all that have an artist in them – and for all who are curious how the amazing art of Exodus comes into being. Now you can watch Odysseas Stamoglou working on the cover art, peeking at the creative process behind the awesome sci-fi magic:
Exodus: Edge of Extinction and Exodus: Proxima Centauri have been seeking funding on Kickstarter for the past two weeks and things are looking good, even a little bit better than we expected. Funded in less than 3 days, our project has dug deep into the stretch goals pool and this is what we have achieved so far...
A lot of plastic space ships - on top of the 24 miniatures in the expansion box we managed to add another 6 Dark Raiders and two more packs of 6 War Cruisers and 6 Fighters are waiting to be unlocked
30 dice to make the combat quicker and more fun. Now the Edge of Extinction expansion combined with the base game Exodus: Proxima Centauri offer a total 0f 60 combat dice - 10 per player - making space battles an amazing experience
10 unique Centaurian Resistance cards to add even more diversity to the game and give a true 4x feeling
single player expansion - now you will be able to enjoy Exodus even if you group of friends is not around, with a rules and scenario book
We would like to thank all of you who supported our project and, with 9 days to go, we are hoping to add even more awesome stretch goals to the Exodus universe.
Last week is one to be remembered for NSKN Games. On Thursday we went live with our second Kickstarter project to seek support for Exodus: Edge of Extinction and 3 days later the project reached its funding goal of $28000 and even more, the first stretch goal is now unlocked and we are dangerously getting close to the second one. That is awesome! If you have not had a chance to see what Edge of Extinction is all about, you can see below a video preview of the expansion.
Last but not least, Versailles and Progress will be released in North America by our partners Passport Game Studios. And if you are in the Pacific Northwest/Seattle area, enjoy the Launching Party in Renton on January 23rd! Do not forget to RSVP and to have fun. :) You can also read an interesting story about how these games came to life in an interview with the NSKN on the Passport website. A short excerpt is below:
How did the ideas for Progress and Versailles come about?
Agnieszka: The idea for Progress: Evolution of Technology came while designing the first edition of Exodus: Proxima Centauri, specifically its technology tree.
We - both the designers of Exodus and Progress - are big fans of civilization games and the part we love the most is the technological development. Thus came to us this seemingly crazy idea to make a game which is just about building a tech tree, stripping it of all the other parts.
Andrei: Surprisingly, Versailles found its roots also in the Exodus universe. Originally themed as Exodus 2, a sequel to Exodus: Proxima Centauri, the game has become Versailles after extensive feedback from Daniele Tascini (the co-designer of Tzolk'in) and a few other great minds in the industry. What we call today Versailles was built around the idea of a worker movement game - a special type of worker placement in which all the workers are already set up on the game board and player get to move them in a rondel-like system following given paths.
With your help, we would like to reprint Exodus: Proxima Centauri and to bring to life its long awaited big expansion Exodus: Edge of Extinction. Let me tell you why we believe so much in this project... so follow me through a short journey through time. Like every other small child, ever since I can remember I was fascinated of what could lie far away between the starts. I was fascinated with Star Trek (and I am still a big fan) and I dreamed of one day flying out there, somewhere. Obviously that did not happen... so I had to use my imagination to be a space traveler. Fast forward. When I started thinking about game design back in 2008 I wasn't even familiar with the concept of empire building games, even though I had played a few. Twilight Imperium 3rd edition quickly became one of my all time favorite games, even though its length makes it hard to put on the table. However, I had my own vision of a space empire. one built by mankind and helping humanity finally find its place in the history of the universe. Fast forward. In 2011, right after NSKN's first Essen, I showed my coworkers the first prototype of Exodus: Proxima Centauri. The game implements most of the design paradigms I try to follow and some of my core beliefs: it's realistic as much as a sci-fi game can be, it has as little down time as possible through simultaneous decisions, it paints a slightly dystopian although pragmatic portrait of humanity and it is challenging and fun. For the first time I felt that I put part of myself in a board game and I felt proud of it. Fast forward.
First edition vs. Revised edition
After a first edition which brought us from agony (production quality problems) to ecstasy (good reviews) and back a few times, in 2013 NSKN Games published the Revised edition of Exodus: Proxima Centauri. The quality was great, the artwork massively improved - no more of those rookie mistakes caused by our previous lack of experience. I had finally become the co-designer of a board game which looks well, feels well and sells well. The game's fans had noticed the same thing as we, the designers, did. There was one missing part of the Exodus puzzle, the natural diversity of the factions. We, people as well as peoples, are inherently different in our ways of thinking and approaching life and leadership. Exodus should also reflect the diversity of mankind. So, we starter working on an expansion. Fast forward.
Exodus: Edge of Extinction game components
15th of January 2015. Edge of Extinction brings asymmetry to the game play through six very different, not-so-historically-accurate factions. The universe of Exodus extends far beyond the game play, it is my interpretation of one of the possible many-worlds. So, today, if you share this vision and you want to build your own space empire, we invite you to pledge for Exodus: Edge of Extinction.
Happy New Year everyone! After well-deserved holidays we have returned to work and gaming with renewed strength preparing the last details of our upcoming Kickstarter project for Exodus: Edge of Extinction. With that in mind we are presenting today the sixth and final faction of the expansion, the warmongers of Blackwater.
Blackwater faction sketch by Odysseas Stamoglou
Blackwater is the most conflicted oriented faction in Edge of Extinction. Their whole existence revolves around a single goal - their total domination over mankind. To implement this philosophy, they have developed powerful weapons, such as EMP Cannons, investing massively in offensive space combat technologies. The leaders of Blackwater are not naive and they acknowledge the threats posed by other warring factions, thus they did not neglect the development of defensive research, leaving almost no aspect of space conflict uncovered.
Precision and reliability – these are the concepts that made us into what we are today. But make no mistake, although we draw from the past, we are the future of mankind, whatever others might want you to believe. In the old days we were able to adapt, displaying power in all kinds of conflicts and proving that we will always exist and remain in a prestigious position of power and influence. Now comes the time when we take the gloves off, and swap our obscure influences for open and total domination. Blackwater is more of a corporation than a faction, changing and adapting with time, but still holding on to what made it economically strong before leaving Old Earth. Although much had to change in the faction’s structure, the basic ideas remained immutable, serving as obvious proof that some of humanity’s flaws prove to be an infinite resource to be properly exploited. Built around a vast economical power, Blackwater believes itself to be the true heir of humanity: a faction stemming from an organization that had existed on the top of the world’s food chain for decades before the Exodus. Now, through intensive development of space weapons, Blackwater is gathering strength to strike at its enemies with the cold precision and the dauntlessness that had forged its name in the old days. Blackwater is a goal oriented faction – perhaps even the single most objective-focused one in this new world – and the goal is to make the final transition from an almost all powerful organization to a truly omnipotent one. After all, the laws and regulations that had curbed the corporation time and time again back on Earth no longer apply, with almost no obstacles standing in the way of total domination. Now everything Blackwater does is means to an end, with no humanitarian laws putting a damper on what the faction’s specialists are able to achieve. And soon, very soon in fact, all those who want to win will find out they are playing a game not only invented but also arbitrated by one of the opponents. The one that is invading their borders, destroying their fleets and holding their assets, before their own aggression can finally be stopped. If you're curious about the other factions in Exodus: Edge of Extinction, check them out: Sirius Theocracy Arctic Dominion Han-Xia Dynasty Titan Diarchy Confederation of Sol __________________
We're presenting today the one but last faction of Exodus: Edge of Extinction, Confederation of Sol. Originally reuniting the peoples of Latin America, the Confederation has evolved past its historical ideological boundaries, while keeping the essence of its ancestry.
Confederation of Sol sketch by Odysseas Stamoglou
While the Confederation is not favoring open conflict, their history recorded many asymmetric responses they offered to various threats. They have mastered the weapons of mass destruction while developing almost impenetrable protection against them, making the Confederation less vulnerable to surprise attacks. And since the people of Sol do not like surprises of any kind, their technologies include Advanced Cloaking and Dark Energy Shield, making their space ships very difficult targets.
If the years since we left Earth has taught us something, it’s that we just want to exist. Without poverty, without threat, without revolutionists and warlords telling us what to do. We are happy with the status quo – or we would be, if other weren’t so unhappy with it. We don’t want a war, but if we are to face opponents who think they are stronger than us, then so be it. They will be in for a surprise. The Confederation of Sol originates from what was known back on Old Earth as Latin America – a place filled with wonder, but also with social inequalities and injustice. From corporations eagerly exploiting the people and the lands, to power hungry local leaders, the faction’s ancestors rarely had had an easy life of the rest of the world. That is probably why the Confederation now just wants to exist in peace and be left to its own devices. Many other survivor factions boast their reputed technology lead, the might of their fleets or the superiority of their way of life. In comparison, the Confederation of Sol does next to nothing in terms of flexing their political muscle or displaying their military might, believing that when the imminent conflict finally comes, there may still be hope that the warring factions will leave Confederation alone. Rapid technology development is not the main goal of the Confederation – or at least does not seem to be. A very cautious observer might notice, however, that research was a discreet focus of this particular faction. There are even those few who, after repeatedly provoking the Confederation, lived to tell the tale. And it is a horrifying tale of whole fleets silently materializing in the emptiness of the void to strike with surgical precision and wreak unspeakable havoc before disappearing once again, without a single ship lost. Survival and a relatively comfortable existence are the current goals for the Confederation’s leaders. Simply put, they want to live their own life and are perfectly content with letting other survivor factions do the same, going so far as to easily forgive minor infractions that would set others off – and buying time to mount a sudden, unstoppable and crippling counteroffensive. That is also why they fight most their battles on their own territory, and with ages of guerrilla warfare experience behind their belts, the members of the Confederation will usually only defend their homes, and do this effectively enough to put all else to shame. If you're curious about the other factions in Exodus: Edge of Extinction, check them out: Sirius Theocracy Arctic Dominion Han-Xia Dynasty Titan Diarchy __________________
The new faction of the Exodus expansion we are presenting today is Titan Diarchy. Before we get down to business, we want to thank you once again for helping us choose the name of the expansion, Exodus: Edge of Extinction.
Titan Diarchy sketch by Odysseas Stamoglou
Titan Diarchy has a special appetite for science and while they are willing to share some of their knowledge with the others, their awareness that knowledge is power guides their philosophy of existence. Several unique technologies give the Diarchy the upper hand in the tech race and provide them with the means to assert they supremacy through technology. Even if war is not their main focus, with their almost limitless access to science, Titan Diarchy has all the means necessary to reach to an immediate or long term threat.
We know what war is, we have seen scars left on our lands time and time again. We were taught that the future lies not with the strength of arms, but with humanity’s true achievements: scientific discoveries. Over time we have learned to excel in what everyone needs to build a better life. And we will share our knowledge with those able to aid us in further research, to build a better future for all mankind.
Although many survivor factions claim to be the most technologically advanced, the members of the Titan Diarchy are the true masters of research and the leaders of innovation. With the skills and traditions of the scientific and academic Europe of the Old Earth, the Diarchy is able to use its specialized workforce with utmost effectiveness and precision, becoming the only faction able to come up with a few groundbreaking discoveries in the time it takes others to make a single breakthrough. The technological lesson is, however, not the only one the Titan Diarchy decided to never forget. The 20th and 21st century wars left Europe destroyed and rebuilt time and time again, which taught the Diarchy that even though fighting on home territory comes with some advantages, the losses usually outweigh the benefits. This approach has seeped into the Diarchy’s attitude towards armed conflicts. Although the leaders of this scientific faction will always choose peaceful coexistence, they will not run from combat when war is inevitable. In fact, the Diarchy will be the first survivor faction to aggressively attack an opponent, trying to ensure any conflicts play out as far from their own borders as possible. The main goal of Titan Diarchy is not an all out war. Its members knows how to fight, but it is science they truly excel at. A strong belief that developing new technologies will allow all humanity to live in peace means that the faction’s leaders will always seek a peaceful resolution to any possible conflicts, trying to negotiate and share their technology for the greater good of mankind – and for a profit that will put them in a position of true power in the futuristic technological utopia they are hoping to build. If you missed our earlier articles, you can read here about Sirius Theocracy, Arctic Dominion and Han-Xia Dynasty. __________________
On behalf of the whole NSKN team I would like to thank every one of you who took the time to help us find a great name for our upcoming Exodus expansion. Whether it was a vote, an opinion, a piece of feedback or a proposal for the name itself, this could not have happened without you. So a big thank you for transforming the Exodus expansion into Exodus: Edge of Extinction. We had five proposals on the table and one of them stood out, both here - on the NSKN Game blog poll - and on BoardGameGeek. While you were casting your votes, we had a 'secret' internal meeting and everyone in the team also favored this cool name. So, with this much harmony we will proceed to create online material for Exodus: Edge of Extinction and keep working on the upcoming Kickstarter campaign. While we were busy looking for a name, our artists kept on working so that today we can show you 3 pieces of the final artwork...
On a completely unrelated topic, you can have a look at an interview recorded at Spiel 2014 by Paco from G*M*S Magazine with Agnieszka and Andrei, talking about the current and future games from NSKN.
We're taking a short break today from our weekly mini-series about the factions in the new expansion for Exodus: Proxima Centauri to ask for you help with a very important decision. The expansion has almost everything it needs to bring an improved gaming experience and the one thing missing is a cool name. We have created a poll (right hand side of this page) with five proposals, most of them from our very kind fans and friends. Please take a moment and cast your vote, every opinion counts! To have a better idea of what this expansion is all about let's see a few illustrations...
Arctic Dominion faction sketch by Odysseas Stamoglou
Han-Xia Dynasty faction sketch by Odysseas Stamoglou
You can also check our earlier posts about the making of the expansion and Exodus itself:
As promised, we continue to present the different factions present in the Exodus expansion. Before we get to the main topic of the day and talk about the Han-Xia Dynasty, let's have a quick look at early sketches of the artwork....
Box cover sketch
Han-Xia faction sketch
Han-Xia Dynasty is the faction with the best skills during space combat. Using Advanced and Fringe tactics, the Dynasty can create positive outcome out of almost any space confrontation. With their unique Hyperspace Drives, they also have the ability to move unrestricted throughout space, surprising their enemies and engaging in fights they almost always win. Without being neither moral nor immoral, their simple yet effective set of laws and amoral vision among the most powerful and fearsome factions, equaled perhaps only by Blackwater.
When others were leaving Earth in panic, escaping the cruel fate of a dead world, we were ready. We had the best and brightest of us chosen to become our future. We did not escape into the far blackness of space. We went as conquerors. We have a history longer than many other nations of the world. We stood the test of time when others faded. We flourished when others merely survived. As our fleets dominate the void of space, so will we dominate all those who try to oppose us. And who are you to judge our ways? The Han-Xia Dynasty originated in greater China, which probably explains why this specific faction seems more closely tied to its nationality than any other. Centred around effectiveness and unrelenting exploitation of its seemingly endless human potential, the Han-Xia adapted to the new world with astonishing speed, assimilating and modifying Centaurian technology faster than any other survivor group. Although the Centaurians welcomed humanity and peace and did a lot to impose their pacifistic doctrines upon their new protégés, the Han-Xia Dynasty knew from the start that humanity will need a single leader – a leader forged in the rapidly dying flame of an exploding enemy fleet. With that in mind, the Dynasty introduced a cruel but frighteningly effective training regime for their pilots, quickly building a force of specialists able to best any opponents in space combat. However, the war for domination requires not only strength, but also speed, and the Han-Xia’s ships are quickly becoming a legend, for the Dynasty is the only faction controlling the technology of faster than light travel – and this but one of many technologies the Han-Xia scientists were able to not only learn to use, but also modify heavily so that it would serve the Dynasty’s purpose. The Han-Xia Dynasty works with the fearsome effectiveness of a human hive, able to react to change with incredible speed and to respond violently to even the slightest of provocations. Some believe that it is because of its leaders inborn cruelty. Others, better schooled in the ways of Han-Xia know that the truth is far more terrifying. The Dynasty is here to rule, its purpose is clear, and it will not shy away from achieving its goal in the most effective way possible, even if the effectiveness means resorting to lethal brutality or cold genocide. If you missed our earlier articles, you can read here about the Sirius Theocracy and the Arctic Dominion. __________________
The Dominion is the single faction with the ability to convert resources into victory points. This ability is backed by their trading, banking and mining skills supported by specific technologies, allowing the Dominion to convert very fast their territorial claims into power. Another unique technology of the Arctic Dominion, the Quantum Reflection, is their key to take full advantage of fighting the Centaurian Resistance, getting both the victory points and the direct benefits from the resistance cards. Some see space as a dark, cold and unwelcoming place. In the ancient times seas were similarly perceived, but even then our ancestors braved the freezing blackness, acknowledging the dangers, but also seeing the possibilities it offered. They were warriors and traders; we are businessmen. If there is a price on something, and if it is the right price, we can deliver. And as far as we know, there is a price on everything. On Earth the Arctic Dominion grew where all else would either freeze, or have the right mind to leave. The cold and unwelcoming place of the northern part of North America and the territories north of Siberia, though rich with natural resources, forged the shrewdness and mettle of the people living there. With time it became clear that the common focus on turning a profit became more unifying than any particular nationalities and beliefs, becoming a deciding factor in the origin of Arctic Dominion. There is and has always been only one guiding force behind Arctic Dominion: money. Leaders of the faction believe that although Old Earth might be merely a legendary home world with a legacy many hope to fall into oblivion, there are still lessons that should never be forgotten. And for the Dominion, those lessons allow them to flourish and profit where others struggle for survival. Members of the Arctic Dominion are descendants of Earth’s miners, traders and bankers, today unified mostly by a mutual desire to build the wealth and power of their organization. A long tradition of trading with yesterday’s enemies and tomorrow’s allies makes them a group of business negotiators, with a level of skill unmatched by any other. Their economic potential allows them to also remain a challenging wartime opponent. It is not unknown for the Arctic Dominion to profit from their conflicts by auctioning off carefully obtained POV’s that are the key figures for other factions. Although concentrated on their own power, the Arctic Dominion managed to maintain the closest relations with the Centaurians, learning as much as possible from humanity’s benefactors and supplementing civil science research with a focus on Centaurian technologies that allow them to maximize the gains even from fighting off indigenous resistance. We will continue our detailed presentation of the expansion next week with the Han-Xia Dynasty.
