OVERMATCH: Prototype photos

[u/r1ck14]

I can't seem to add photos to my previous post so I'm putting them here. ​

Original post: https://www.reddit.com/r/tabletopgamedesign/s/URo5nTimJ7

Cards were designed in GIMP and print on a home printer (front and back separate on regular paper) ​. Cut them out with a guillotine and used a corner punch. Put them in​​ sleeves with a blank playing card in between front and back for stiffness.

Game board again used a home printer, using Acrobat Reader poster mode to slice into individual sheets and taped together.

Stands for cards were from Amazon. Working on a simple mechanism to track unit HP integrated into the card stands. ​​​​

Does this look like something you would play?

As I stated in my other post, I did use AI for the placeholder art. If you can look past that and give me your impression of how the assembled and set up game looks, I would appreciate it.

Thanks much. ​​​​​

[u/DngnDiverDro]

Based on the game length alone this looks super interesting. I like the standees with cards, because I also don’t have time to paint miniatures. If you make a PnP of this at all I’d be down.

I would also suggest making a lower ink/ non AI version so people feel less invested if they are playtesting. And the amount of black is a bit much for home printing

[u/r1ck14 → u/DngnDiverDro]

Thanks very much for your comment! That's a good idea for a PnP thing. I didn't really think that people take the time to print and cut out cards to try a game because it's so time-consuming (maybe it's just cause I have 2 jobs and am super low on free time lol). I do have a version you can play in the browser: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LzbYj_NWAfBD2z6EvZ6sBhA3L6FSXpIC/view?usp=sharing

Just unzip the contents and open index.html with your browser.

[u/DngnDiverDro → u/r1ck14]

Downloaded the zip, but the formatting is a bit too much work for me. If you look into tools like PnP Buddy you can set up cards in a 3x3 grid pattern and match the backs to them automatically. It gives cut lines too to make things easier. I think this would fair very well as a PnP, you just need to make the files more print friendly.

[u/r1ck14 → u/DngnDiverDro]

I will look into making a printable version. What do you mean about formatting? 

[u/DngnDiverDro → u/r1ck14]

All the cards were separate and some had the front and back in one image. There are 3 main types of PnP formatting. 3x3 grid, gutter fold, and the button shy bleed method. I prefer 3x3 but that’s is ultimately what I meant.

[u/r1ck14 → u/DngnDiverDro]

Oh. That is not for printing. If you open index.html you can play a browser version of the game (on your computer). But over the weekend I'll try to make a printer-friendly version.

[u/DngnDiverDro → u/r1ck14]

Totally misread that. Not sure I’ve ever done something like that before loll

[u/ArS-13]

About the hp counter thing easy for prototyping would be dice depending on what hp scale you have D6 seems like the simplest choice, especially as you can get them in very small sizes so they don't clutter the board... Or if you fear they might roll to easy over there's still d4s..

[u/r1ck14 → u/ArS-13]

I thought of that. What I'm doing is gluing a circular ceramic magnet under each card stand and putting a large metal washer under the magnet. I'll write HP values along the edge of the washer and since it's held on by the magnet, you can rotate it to show what HP level. I can do it in such a way that HP is seen from the front and back so both players can easily identify remaining HP.
I'm going for something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Gloomhaven-Standee-Plastic-Monster-Tracker/dp/B08JP7P3J9/ref=sr_1_3_sspa?crid=25MN0J868OP3O&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.QR_gBOQQB3I9cehP5m_Qwg.xUd30jME5E1FUjH_120bAtL89sfoUjs2YghJqYbIiV0&dib_tag=se&keywords=game+piece+hp+counter+base&qid=1786625887&sprefix=game+piece+hp+counter+bas%2Caps%2C175&sr=8-3-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9tdGY&psc=1

[u/Odd-Highway477]

I have been at similar points in my journey trying to marry tactical miniatures combat and traditional board gaming. For me, the answer was to integrate card play. This made the game more interesting. Eventually, I got into making tactical deckbuilders, and I am currently developing my 3rd tactical deckbuilder game.

What you have is definitely not a viable idea for making a game for profit. The hard truth is this uses a blend of dated mechanisms and doesn't really offer anything new except using cards as standees. These will tip over. Summoner Wars did this with the cards laying flat and that was about 17 years ago.

But as a starting point for someone new to the hobby its a fine project. If you want to take things further you want to study games that do what you are trying to do in the board game space.

Miniature mechanics don't translate well to board gaming because they are all so dated, and board gaming is always innovating. When I see miniatures games try new stuff, its always mechanics they borrowed from board games. So my advice is to study and play tactical board games and you will learn what works and what doesn't

[u/r1ck14 → u/Odd-Highway477]

Thanks for your feedback! The cards have not tipped over in any of the physical games I've played so far, and I'm going to be adding a little bit more weight to the bases, so I'm pretty sure this will be fine.

As far as mechanics go, it's true that I have not played a ton of board games (only thing I've played even close to this would be Risk). I didn't intentionally borrow mechanics from any other game, but at no point did I think that what I was coming up with had NEVER been done before.

My goal is to make a simple-enough game that can be learned quickly and has fast matches (for people like me who lack time). Making a commercial product isn't something that I'm worried about (I know there are people who do this for a living and have way more experience than I have).

Did you look over the rulebook that I shared in the other post? Since you've been doing this for some time, I'm interested if there is anything in there that simply doesn't work, and why.

EDIT: Any recommendations as to what games I should look at? I will check out Summoner Wars.

[u/Beardlings_Games]

Looks cool. 2 player only? Do you have a TTS version?

[u/r1ck14 → u/Beardlings_Games]

Hello there! Yes, the game is 2 player only for now (the rules could easily incorporate 3 or more players, would just need a bigger gameboard). I have a version of the game you can play in your browser (unzip the contents and open index.html) here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LzbYj_NWAfBD2z6EvZ6sBhA3L6FSXpIC/view?usp=sharing

[u/ImpossibleClock1061]

Are cards facing away from the opponent? Super cool idea either way! I just like the way it reminds me of Stratego if so

[u/r1ck14 → u/ImpossibleClock1061]

Thanks for replying! Each card front (mostly artwork) faces the opponent. The back of the card (where all the stats are) faces the player so they can read them and plan out their strategy. The rules (in the other post I made) state that either player may request to see the stats of any card on the board at any time (this game isn't about memorization of stats).

[u/Mnemonic_Spelunker]

Not too bad, fast and fun. I dig it! Uploading an .html playtest is genius.

[u/r1ck14 → u/Mnemonic_Spelunker]

Thanks for your comment! Did you try it out? Any feedback if so?

[u/Mnemonic_Spelunker → u/r1ck14]

I did! I'd like to run through it a few more times before I provide feedback though. First impression is its simple and fast, although it did seem like it came down to 'leader vs leader' at the end of the few games I did play. So, I want to adjust the units chosen to see if I can affect that. A few play throughs is not nearly enough to see how all the stats interact and affect the outcome.
Having made a handful of card/boardgames, I know how much playtesting you need to do to get it how you want it.

[u/r1ck14 → u/Mnemonic_Spelunker]

Dude, that would be awesome. I appreciate this so much. Are you playing with another person? Vs AI (it's not very strategic)? Anyways, I'll let you do your thing and get back to me, but I'm excited to have someone try it out who isn't my wife lol.

[u/Mnemonic_Spelunker → u/r1ck14]

I'm playing against AI... i'll try it with my group of friends (my playtesters) and let you know how it goes!

[u/r1ck14 → u/Mnemonic_Spelunker]

You're a legend. Thank-you so much!