Working on the game board virus

So I stayed up late last night and finished my design of the virus on the game board. So 9 of the hexes require rolling 1 Research icon to enter and 9 require 2 Research icons to enter.

Virus

Reworking the designs of the hexes and molecules

I haven't play tested this yet, but I printed out my example components and they look too small. I think players will have difficulty instantly identifying various proteins if they are on the opposite side of the board from them. So I made a few changes.

I have changed the round molecule token to a square shape. This allows me to add more proteins to the token and is a better use of space. Probably easier to punch out the pieces too.

Molecule

I have also changed the background image of the hex so it uses less black. The previous image would have sucked all the black out of my printer. I think it is easier on the eyes and it makes the Research icons stand out more. The molecule in the bottom, right hand corner shows a Biohazard symbol in the corner, so it reinforces that this is the protein symbol you need to roll in order to clear out all frozen Biohazard dice when on this hex.

I also added a light green see-through square where the molecule token would be placed.

Hex

And finally here is an image of the molecule placed on the hex:

Molecule on a Hex

So what do you guys think? Is the iconography clear? Does the hex layout work? How about the molecule layout?

I am really, REALLY looking forward to finishing this prototype and getting it to game night!

Virus Hexes

Virus Hexes

The game board is made up of 19 hexes, which represents the Virus the players are working together to find a cure for, and thus save humanity. 

There is a center hex (A1) where the players' pawns begin in. Then there is a ring of 6 hexes around the center hex (B1-B6). And then there is an outer ring of 12 hexes (C1-C12).

Each Hex has 3 features.

1. Each hex has a designation/label based on where it is on the virus: B4, C11, etc.

2. There is a number of Research icons the player needs to roll in order to research the molecule in that section of the virus. 

These icons will be displayed at the top of the hex, and there will be 1 or 2 of them. In game play this means the player must roll 1 or 2 research icons before they can place their pawn in this hex.

3. There is a protein displayed at the bottom of the hex. When a player rolls a biohazard symbol on a die, it locks the die and it can no longer be rolled. 

In order to unlock these dice with the biohazard icon, the player must roll the protein displayed on the hex they are currently in. If a player rolls that icon--and doesn't use it to destroy the Molecule--then they can use it to unlock all their biohazard dice.

In this particular hex the player must roll a yellow protein (unique) to unlock any biohazard dice they may have. In another hex they might only have to roll a blue protein (common).

Placing Molecules on Hexes

So at the start of the game--during the setup face--the players draw a face-down molecule token and place it randomly place it face up on an empty virus. They do this until all the hexes--except the center one (A1)--have a molecule.

In the example above it is coincidental that the molecule with B4 label was placed on the B4 Hex. In most cases they will not match. The only time you intentionally place the B4 Molecule on B4 Hex is during the Mutation phase, which happens twice during the game when you place 3 new molecules on the board. 

Infection: Countdown to Extinction - Components and Molecules

Components

• 1 game board
• 1 3-minute sand timer
• 4 standees
• 16 dice (4 each of 4 different colors)
• 36 round molecule tokens
• 24 used in a one or two player game
• 6 that would be added to a three player game
• 6 that would be added to a four player game

Molecule Tokens

The game would come with 36 double-sided molecule tokens. All tokens would have the same back, so you wouldn't what molecule it was until you flipped it over.

The 24 tokens used in the 1-2 player game would have 2-3 protein molecules.
The 6 tokens added in the 3 player game would have 4-5 protein molecules.
The 6 tokens added in the 4 player game would have 6-7 protein molecules.

All molecule tokens have 3 features:

1. They would display the proteins the player needs to roll on their dice in order to target and destroy that molecule. Molecules can have 2-7 proteins displayed, depending on how many players are playing.

2. They show a default starting hex (for example B4). This is the hex the token will placed in when adding tokens during the Mutation Phase. The Mutation happens twice during the game when the sand time runs out and you have to add 3 more molecules to the game. So the molecule above would be placed on Hex B4. If Hex B4 already has a molecule, then it gets replaced.

3.They show the number of players required in order for the molecule to be included in the game: 2 players (includes 1 player), 3 players and 4 players.

A Dice, Real Time, Multiplayer Cooperative version of INFECTION: Humanity's Last Gasp

Greetings Fellow Gamers (and Game Designers),

I have started working on a design on a version of INFECTION: Humanity's Last Gasp by VPG that will be a custom dice, real-time, multiplayer cooperative board game.

Infection: Humanity's Last Gasp

This would be a game inspired by such real-time games as Escape: The Curse of the Temple by Queen Games and the Engelsteins' Space Cadets by Stronghold Games.

Escape: The Curse of the Temple

Space Cadets

It would be for 1-4 players (so yes, it would still play as a solitaire game!!!) 

I am tentatively titling the game Infection: Countdown to Extinction.

The game would have 16 custom dice, 4 each of 4 different types. It would also have a game board, player pawns, cardboard tokens, and a 3-minute sand timer.

The game board would be a larger version of the virus from INFECTION (no vaccine or incubator areas) and players would place their pawns in the center hex (A1). 

Different molecules would be placed on the other 18 hexes (number depending on how many players were playing). One player would flip over the sand timer, and then all the players would roll their set of 4 dice to move to other hexes and try to roll the proteins needed to cure that molecule in that hex. 

Three times during the game the sand timer runs out. The first two times 3 new molecules will be added to the board in random hexes. They might even replace a molecule a player was working on destroying.

If the players don't destroy all the molecules on board by the time the sand timer runs out the third time, then they have lost the game.

More to come...

Pippin

At 12:10 AM on Wednesday, January 22nd, 2013, we put our beloved dog, Pippin, to rest. He fought a brave fight with medication and eventual transfusions but his little body couldn't survive the onslaught of attack to his red blood cells.

He was a nine year old, miniature poodle who had a very adventurous, highly intelligent and loving spirit. His love of play and people was infectious and helped Karen and I to live in the moment and cherish nature and all creatures great and small.

Some may say we just lost a dog but our hearts are telling us that we truly just lost our precious child. We will miss him greatly.

Ideas for Player Boards for Terror in Antarctica

Ideas for Player Boards for Terror in Antarctica

Player Boards

There are eight double-sided Researcher/Creature player boards, one for each playable character in the game. Each card would have the following attributes:

Researcher Side

•          Name
•          Job Title / Specialty
•          Picture of Character
•          Hit points
•          Movement
•          Special power
•          Starting equipment
•          Starting weapon

  Creature Side

•          Picture of Creature
•          Hit points
•          Movement
•          Special power