16 Sep 2348
over 5 years ago – Mon, Sep 17, 2018 at 06:57:25 PM

Diary, life has taken a turn for the exciting. Before we can even begin the actual building process, the raw materials need to be harvested from the Quarry. As I'm relatively fit, I was chosen to be on a team to head beneath the ice, into the surrounding darkness of the vast ocean.

I'm told the work is repetitive and sometimes menial, but being assigned to the Crystal Foundry means I don't have to live in the Shelters. Life in the Shelters is less certain: no steady work, and an energy outage in the Shelters can mean lives instantly lost.

There are 5 of us on a team: me, 2 other divers, and 2 marines. Our job is to locate large mineral deposits and put them on the submersible to be brought above. The 2 marines are there "purely as a precautionary measure". I'm told that there is sea life that can be hostile and aggressive.

Despite that, I'm actually kind of excited. I feel as if I've been chosen for a special task, and I've actually gotten to spend time and get to know my team. The other 2 divers are pretty cool, and they came through the Doorstep just before my ship. The marines seem okay, but they're a bit standoffish. They say that it doesn't pay to get to know new divers just yet.

Tomorrow will be training to go below, and if we perform reasonably well, we get issued our tools and get to work.

*****

Con Life

The last day of GrandCon was excellent to us. We got to play a pickup game with the "Voice of The Dice Tower", Eric Summerer!

Eric is a heckuva guy, and it's always special when one of the 'celebrities' of our industry takes time out of their busy con schedule. It was a fantastic game (though I'm biased). I got to try a completely new strategy, and while I didn't win--big surprise!--the game ended with a spread of 5 points. Intense.

This Week on Europa

I'm hustiling as hard as I can to make this campaign as successful as possible for all of us. Here's what's coming this week:

• Unlucky Frog Gaming podcast recording Mon 17 Sep
• Artemis Game Night at The Gaming Annex in Muskegon MI Tue 18 Sep
• Table Crashers online play through Wed 19 Sep 8:30p
• Artemis Game day at The Meeple Keep in Flossmoor IL Sat 22 Sat

Please be sure to subscribe, like, and follow these groups on your social media of choice.

What Else Can You Do?

We still don't have a numerical score for The Artemis Project on BGG, as there are not enough ratings yet. However, the scores we do have are high, and the comments are super. If you have a BGG account, give us a rating now.

That's all for today, Colonists. It's going to be an amazing week. Let get through those Expeditions and make that Snowcat ours. Vroom, vroom!

Playfully,

The GuildMaster

14 Sep 2348
over 5 years ago – Sun, Sep 16, 2018 at 01:52:14 PM

Dear Diary,

I've been assigned to Expedition Control. EC coordinates the Colonists that suit up on short notice to investigate strange findings or complete rescue missions.

While I didn't get hands on with any missions today, all of us got to watch Control coordinate the expedition teams as they came and went. I was surprised to learn that despite long rivalries between colonies, they often go on missions jointly. I guess some measure of cooperation makes sense.

While it was hard to see anything clearly from the observation deck, one of the Engineers returned with photos of some gigantic bones uncovered in a snow drift. Kind of eerie to think of alien megafauna out here. I guess I'll get the inside scoop when I'm up and running.

*****

Making Progress

Wow, Colonists! What an extraordinary day we had yesterday. I want you to know that for quite a few hours there I was chomping at the bit. The way our campaign hovered so painfully close the the $40K mark...phew! It would go up, then down, then up, then down, and then finally...sweet victory.

You can't even find drama like that on television. It was like a dam burst when we finally hit it. It was fantastic to cross the line for the 5th player stretch goal and be able to reveal what we have in store: more Events, more Expeditons, and that sweet, sweet Snowcat.

GrandCon

I spent the day at our local convention, and basically drove people crazy checking our campaign. Every so often people would walk up and give me a heartfelt "Congratulations!" and ask how it was going. Well, you know how it was going, lol.

Today, in addition to making the rounds and seeing many familiar faces, I accomplished 2 big things.

First, I played Into the Black Forest, a game by my fellow publisher Green Couch Games and Designed by Unreal Estate Designer Jason Slingerland.

It's on Kickstarter now. I told both Jasons today that I originally backed it for our friendship, but now I can say I backed it because it is a ton of fun. If your game night is missing a clever card game that plays casually but still has strategy, you should check it out.

I also got to spend time with one of my favorite convention people, Unreal Estate artist Corinne Roberts. It has been over a year since I've seen her, but it was like no time had passed.

Corinne threw in with the Guild before the Guild was a thing. And if you've seen Unreal Estate, you know that her art is a thing unto itself. It was a great time with great people.

What's Next

Tomorrow at the show is a big day for TAP, when we'll be doing 3 demos of 2 games simultaneously throughout the day. All seats are sold out. Pretty cool.

As for the campaign, I hope you are as excited as I am to knock out some smaller, yet equally important stretch goals. Keep spreading the word on social media, and that Snowcat will be ours in no time!

Playfully,

The GuildMaster

15 Sep 2348
over 5 years ago – Sun, Sep 16, 2018 at 01:52:04 PM

Reassigned, Diary! I thought I knew my which way was up, but it seems fate has chosen a new direction for me.

We won the bid to build a new Battery Bank, and as a result, all unassigned personnel--that includes me--are until further notice assigned to construction.

It's not what I expected, but it's not all bad. No one ever suffered from a day of honest labor. I just have many, many of them ahead of me.

*****

We had a remarkable day yesterday Colonists, and today we wake up more than 80% of the way to our next stretch goal for 2 new Event cards.

Daniel, Josh, and I will still be at GrandCon today and not home until late tonight. When we break through the next stretch goal, we may be still at the show or on the road or perhaps just collapsed from post-con exhaustion. We'll update the graphic asap.

GrandCon has been really good for TAP. All 3 events went off under the skillful teaching of Daniel, and not an empty seat remained. I've run a lot of events at a lot of conventions, and when there are 0 absences...well, that says something.

Today is the last day of GrandCon, and we're excited to let TAP make the final rounds of gamers. Our prototypes are still making their way around both the US and the UK, so keep your eye out for more content. Not because YOU need it--you're the true believers!!!--but so you can share it with others.

It is our collective enthusiasm that's going to keep Artemis on the minds of gamers around the solar system. Have a great day, and we'll have one final report on the weekend tomorrow.

Playfully,

The GuildMaster

13 Sep 2348
over 5 years ago – Sun, Sep 16, 2018 at 04:35:09 AM

Dear Diary,

You'd think 5 months in what's left of Antarctica was enough. It was not! Inasmuch as you'll always hate the weather, you learn to deal with it. (Although I'm already missing the beach...)

Today was a real reminder that we're not on earth anymore. In the middle of one of the many safety presentations there was a CRACK...the loudest sound I ever heard, actually felt. The ground more canted than shook. It was all I could do not to fall out of my chair. I've had butterflies since landing. Now I feel like there's a rugby team practicing in my stomach.

We all looked around stunned, making eye contact with each other. Turns out that the ice broke--shattered, really--beneath one of the battery banks. That's where harvested vent energy is stored. At least I'm not on that detail. And fortunately the Steward instructing our class was able to maintain calm.

Survived my first 'quake, I guess that's something.

Tomorrow's my first day on the job. Just a grunt, putting my past where it belongs. I'm eager for this fresh start.

*****

Colonists, another great day yesterday! Thank you for all you are doing to keep word of The Artemis Project moving around the internet.

The store visit last night went well. There weren't many people there, but of those that were, 3 sat down to play a game.

 It was fantastic to watch them go at one another.

All for U

While we have our eyes set firmly on the stars, we'd be silly not to take a moment to celebrate the delivery of Endeavor: Age of Sail. We are getting reports of fulfillment from all over the world, and it is so much fun.

The Family Gamers

After I got home last night and ate a late dinner, the very last thing I did was record with The Family Gamers podcast. As you can see, I had a little help unpacking my brand new mic.

I've been fortunate to call the hosts Andrew & Anitra--that's her!--friends ever since they had me on to discuss Pocket Ops, and then we got to spend time together at PAX Unplugged. Be sure to follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and subscribe to their podcast to hear my ramblings.

What's next?

Today looks like the day we stretch through a 5th player and then we reveal 3 NEW STRETCH GOALS. I'll give you two hints: content and bling.

Today is also the first day of GrandCon, our local convention. We'll be watching the campaign, but as I'll not be at my computer the entire day, please forgive if my responses are a bit slower.

And don't forget to visit Kicktraq. Day 2 and we are beginning at #5 on the Hot List! That's good stuff!

Playfully,

The GuildMaster

12 Sep 2348
over 5 years ago – Fri, Sep 14, 2018 at 10:09:40 PM

Dear Diary,

Day one on Europa. We landed--uneventfully. Isn't that the way of things? Sometimes uneventful is the best you can hope fo.

Despite the long journey of mostly sleep, I find myself exhausted.

It was an intense first day: getting my gear issued, finding my quarters, and getting the lay of the land. The Stewards are nothing if not efficient.

I'm filled with hope and dread. What we have carved out so far is remarkable. And when I look across the icy moonscape I see the potential. But there's so much work to be done! And danger.

Okay, I have to get sleep. Tomorrow will be a day of safety procedures...ugh.

*****

I actually began writing this update last night. It pays to be prepared, right? I figured I'd create a rough draft, see what transpired overnight with the campaign, then nip and tuck my way to something pithy, entertaining, and relevant!

Actual Europa

I also figured I might try to work in some fun science. Well, here's what I found, and it's fascinating and wondrous. Seriously, give it 2.5 minutes. I'll wait...

I mean...can you believe this is the world we live in?!?

Actual Campaign Stuff

First, thank you. My biggest fear in the creation of The Artemis Project was the unknown. Despite the successful playtests and reviews, the great reaction at cons, the past Kickstarters for games both big (Endeavor: Age of Sail) and small (Unreal Estate, Pocket Ops), I still wondered if the audience would be there. You were. So again, thank you.

So what have we accomplished? Well, we hit our funding goal in less than 7 hours. Not too shabby for a game with no minis. (However, we do have our own original rule book, so that's probably what did it.) We're well on our way to our first stretch goal and adding a 5th player. And there is so much more in store.

One Shade of Gray

Can I take a minute to highlight someone? Take a look at this picture.

You see that fantastic bald dome in the right foreground? Gray is a local Designer and a personal friend. And last night, with no prompting by me, he was at our local FLGS teaching The Artemis Project, in his Guild T-shirt no less!

And that is NOT one of my prototypes. That is a print & play that he put together, his own ink, his own time. Gray was at the very first playtest of TAP at Protospiel Chelsea in 2016, and he's been there every step of the way. If you ever have the chance to meet Gray at an event, make sure you tell him thanks, because thanks from me alone is not enough.

What's next?

Well, there's plenty. Tonight I'll be at another FLGS, Excelsior Games & Comics, teaching TAP. This weekend is our very own GrandCon. When I last checked there were still some seats left for our 3 Saturday events, taught by none other than co-Designer Daniel Rocchi.

The only further thing to ask of you, Pioneers, is to spread the word: like our Facebook page, comment on and share our Facebook posts, follow us on Twitter, and retweet our tweets.

Lastly, we need ratings! If you've had a chance to play TAP, please visit BoardGameGeek and give us a rating.

Colonists, the journey to Europa has just begun. Strap in for the ride.

Playfully,

The GuildMaster