Delivery Update, Power Struggles, Solo Scenarios, Sleeves, Events, Vídeo en Español!
We are putting all our efforts into finishing the game as fast as we can without compromising on quality, and that means it is hard to find the time to write updates amidst it all. But again we have packed this update as full of neat content as we can, and hopefully that can help make the extra wait more worthwhile. Near the bottom of this update you will find a link to an overview of all the Events in the game. Feel free to start proof reading the cards and commenting on this PDF, as well as on the scenarios that we are linking to in this update. We are grateful to receive any help we can get from the community. After all, you are the experts!
Time for a Timeline
Right now it feels like we are so close to the finish line, but it has kept eluding us for a while, and still there are a few things that remain. When we last spoke about timelines back in November, we were still hoping that bulk shipping would commence soon after Chinese New Year, and be complete by early May. But, unfortunately, having had to deal with periodic lock-downs, working remotely, and processing a lot of play testing feedback, we were not ready to push the mass production button before Chinese New Year. That unavoidably means that we have to announce a further delay on our previous estimates. The mass production process itself will take around 10 weeks, while the assembly of all the games is estimated to take 3 weeks. Below you can see the timeline we are frantically working towards at the moment, but it leaves little margin for error.
Click the timeline to see a bigger image.
Delaying things any further than this is something that would be as painful to us as it would be to you, but it would be worse if we messed up something due to rushing things. So we have to prepare you for the possibility that we may still need another 2–4 weeks more, to make sure that everything is as good as it can get, and humbly ask for your understanding in this matter. The bulk of the remaining work lies with the final revision of the rules. All the artwork has been completed, the graphic design work is 99% done, and all non-printed components are, as previously stated, ready. For cards, boards and punchboards there are now just some small details that remain to be fixed. The scenarios are also getting the finishing touches at the moment. We have been told that if everything other than the booklets is ready to go, mass production can commence, and we can have some more time on the booklets without causing further delays.
Here you can see the extensive list of components included in the Deluxe Edition. I cannot remember if we already told you, but the box is estimated to weigh a whooping 5.8 kg with everything in it. Further down this update you can read more about some of all that content which has been added or finished since the latest update.
Component list. Deluxe edition upgraded components in bold.
Backers who have pledged for the Spanish version of the game will sadly have to wait a while longer for their games to arrive, since there is so much content to translate. We are very sorry about this, and accept the full blame for the situation, since there was no way translation work could start before the English language content was finalized. Our partner, MasQueOca have published an update on this on their web site.
If you have any questions, please send an email to victor(at)aegirgames.com, and I'll happily help you with anything I can.
The Struggle is Real – Power Struggles
Having gone through the less fun part, we are very excited to present you with Power Struggles, the final component of the game to be revealed. These have been around in some form for a while, in internal testing, and limited testing on TTS among the Discord community, but last month they finally all saw the light of day officially.
Power Struggles are a set of mini cards that brings the focus to certain Battleground Areas on the map where real historical conflicts took place. They give players an opportunity to score additional Prestige here at a specific moment during the game, and are triggered by certain Events (once or twice per Age, depending on your set-up). The fact that all players score the Power Struggle simultaneously, means that each of the objectives can only be scored by one player. Power Struggles are designed to increase the level of tension in the game, and will will encourage PvP interaction and conflict, and the inclusion of these cards in your game is completely optional.
Each Power Struggle has some individual scoring criterions, but they all list a number of Battleground Areas which give extra at the end of the Round if you have a presence there. If you would like to know more about how Power Struggles work, we can recomment reading Mikhs' (Roberto's) excellent article about them on Board Game Geek.
Down to Byz-ness – Byzantium Solo Scenario
A New Dawn for Byzantium
Made for the numerous and passionate Second Rome enthusiasts of the Europa Universalis community, for all Byzantine souls living today, with some beautiful new illustrations made by Joeri Lefévre.
"We are gaining back the territories the Ottomans took from us. With our new allies, and a renewed and stronger Orthodox Church, we will bring the Roman Empire back to the heights of its former glory, and beyond. Because we fear neither barbarian heathens, nor insurgents or false pretenders!"
Blessed by the Byzantine Emperor
In this Solo Scenario, we are going back in time to undo those crucial moments where the old Byzantine Empire made those fatal mistakes. This challenging scenario will pit you against the deadly Ottoman armies and the Venetian maritime hegemony, where you must fight every inch of the way to regain Byzantium's position as the dominant force across the Mediterranean region – will Balkan, Anatolia, the Levant, and Italy, once again bend the knee and join the dominion of the true Roman Empire? There is no place to hide, so you will have to play your cards carefully, and defy the odds, to make this once so mighty empire again rise from the ashes like a phoenix, and claim its rightful place in the sun!
Thanks to Aaron Isley and Patrick Johnston-Hart for the invaluable help in developing this one.
Oh the Glory! – Ulm Solo Scenario
Follow the light
For this scenario, co-written with the legendary author of the AAR from EU3 and EU4, Svip (http://flagland.org/), get ready for something completely different!
Yes, for those who are unaware, the Ulm meme has been around for a decade, and Svip is the creator behind the original comic, which gave birth whole Ulm movement. Though the meme has taken on a life of its own, the comic has stood the test of time, with its trademark acid humour and wit. The "Glory for Ulm" scenario gives the beloved humour of the AAR a new life, in a new format, providing the wrapping for challenging and fun gameplay, for those who want start out with just one measly little province.
As a one province minor you have to develop, and expand discreetly, in order to be able to take on, and eclipse, your rivals. Stay under the radar of the Emperor, so you are ready when it is time to strike. But be careful, as France is also waiting to encroach on your immediate surroundings as soon as the opportunity arises.
You can see what's all about on this work in progress Scenario document and on our Discord, where community members are playtesting and posting their experiences with it.
Setting up the PPC – Eye Candy
Last Wednesday we set up the PPC in full, just to take some pictures, and to give you a feel of how it all looks when you are ready to start a game for real. Informative eye candy.
The trays make the set up go a lot quicker, and also function as an in game supply.
Welcome to Sleeve City
♪ ♫ Take me down to the All Sleeved City, where your cards are safe and all the edges are pretty. Oh won't you please take me home. ♪ ♫
Yes we finally have tested it – we wanted to be absolutely sure we could fit every card in the box before making any bold statements.
As you can see, you will be able to fit them in the box without using a chisel or hammer. It might not be perfect, but it works.
The boards will keep the cards in place for the most part, but you are probably going to see some cards sliding from one well to another during transport.
The ones that go on top, where the piece of foam has been removed.
We recommend ziplock bags for the ones on top. Sleeves are a slippery business.
These are the one we tried and fit perfectly
Important! The ones above are the sleeves we tested and found to be a good match. Other brands, even though they claim to have the exact same measurements, may not fit at all, or at least not as smoothly as these.
- UltraPro – Standard American Gaming Cards (56x87mm) and Mini American Gaming Cards (41x63mm)
- Board Game Sleeves – Non Glare Board Game Sleeves, Medium (Me 57x89) and Mini (Mi 41x63)
Complete Events Overview + New card back designs
Yes, this means that we have an Overview of all 221 Events included in the Deluxe Edition for you, and that they are being playtested while you read this. This also means that one of the biggest milestones to complete the game is virtually done, and that we now have full focus on finishing the definitive rulebook, incorporating all the latest revisions and input from the playtesting community. Do you want to be part of it, you say? Join the Discord!
Also, all the regular sized decks got some newly redecorated card backs.
Above you can see: Top row, Trade deck and Action decks (Administrative deck, Diplomatic deck, and Military deck). Bottom row, Event decks, Ages I through IV.
Vídeo en Español
En este vídeo en el que hacemos una pasada casi todas las reglas y la mayoría de los términos, te ayudará a hacerte una idea de como funciona el juego, incluso a poder jugar sin mirar las reglas. Gracias a Mikhs por la ayuda y a los de la comunidad española, que estuvieron haciendo preguntas y aguantándonos un buen rato.
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That was it. Take care!
Eivind & Víctor @aegirgames
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Also, please visit the Aegir Games’ Discord Server https://discord.gg/HaEv8dt and the Europa Universalis Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/europauniversalis.tbg
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