Damnation: The Gothic Game

Win an all in pledge of Damnation: The Gothic Game
over 4 years ago – Thu, Nov 04, 2021 at 03:29:22 PM

Hi everyone, 

I've got some exciting news to share with you - we've launched a new competition where you can win an all in pledge for Damnation: The Gothic Game. So that's the core game, the expansion, the bust, a pdf of the upcoming book, and anything else we add!

This is a Gleam competition that is being ran in collaboration with the brilliant Facebook Group, Board Game Revolution. There are lots of different ways to improve your odds as you'll see. For a chance to win visit to the Board Game Revolution post below:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/boardgamerevolution/permalink/2936352676656651/

If anyone has any questions, please post them in the comments.

The competition will end on the 17th of November, so get involved and I wish you the very best of luck :)

Kris

Let's talk about stretch goals and add ons!
over 4 years ago – Tue, Nov 02, 2021 at 02:47:22 AM

Hi everyone, 

I hope you're all well! Things are going brilliantly with the campaign right now, which is literally down to all of you for backing and supporting us with our first game. It's difficult to put into words how excited we are that the game is going to be made, and that you'll be play it at next year's Halloween parties :)

Since last Tuesday, we've had lots of suggestions from backers for possible stretch goals. This is definitely  something I want to make happen, because like you, I want to send you the best possible version of Damnation: The Gothic Game that I can make.

Here's a list of the ideas we've had so far from people:

• Acrylic standees
• Acrylic tokens
• Prints
• Improved quality Deathknell Cards
• Additional tokens for 8 player option
• 2 additional characters (to include 8 player option in the box)

Let me just say straight away that I can't guarantee that I can add all of this to the game. I am not going to jeopardise the project by overreaching - I hope you will all appreciate that. 

What I'd like to do with this update is use the comments here as an opportunity to share any ideas you have, or anything you'd like to see. We can discuss it together and if it's something we can look at then we will.

A couple of other things that people have been requesting:

• Double sided board
• Solo mode

Let me share my thinking with you in relation to these two suggestions.

Double sided board

I truly don't think a double sided board with a different layout would add much to the game in all honesty. First of all, it would be a real challenge to reconfigure the art because all the rooms are different sizes - it's all a single illustration. There's nothing modular about it. I'd rather invest the time and energy into something that will add more to the experience.

If I were to go down this route, I'd prefer to do it properly. I.e. develop a new, unique board with it's own themed rooms - perhaps set in the catacombs of the castle, or another sealed wing where a different monster holds dominion. This could be designed to be smaller and be a better fit for lower player counts. If I were to invest the time into a new map, I'd want it to really add something to the game.

Obviously this would not be a small undertaking, which is why I think it's probably something best considered in the future at this stage. I've said in the project timeline that I want to deliver this by August next year and I want to make sure I stick to that.

Solo mode

I'm happy to tell you that this is something I'm actively exploring, but(!) would absolutely be a future add on. Taking a game that's essentially a multiplayer battle royale and creating a coherent experience for one player will take time to get right. There's just no way I could do this justice within the timeframe I have outlined. As I've said, this is something I hope to offer as an add on in the future - it's something I'm actually very excited about and I think it could be pretty special. I will of course keep you all in the loop with any developments on this.

So it's over to you, you lovely people! Tell me what else you would like to see.

Best wishes, and thanks again for everything.

Kris

We've funded and the game will be made - Thank you!
over 4 years ago – Thu, Oct 28, 2021 at 12:43:31 PM

Thank you so, so much everyone. I honestly can't believe the start we've made and that I'm sat here writing the first update knowing that the campaign is already a success. It's an amazing feeling - thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Tomorrow, I'll be posting a more significant update, taking a brief look at the various extras we've developed for this campaign, including the free pdf copy of the Damnation: The Gothic Game novel. I have read a couple of excerpts from this and I couldn't be more excited.

We're going to have some readings from the author himself, Frazer Lee, who is a passionate fan of the original Gothic Game - and played a key role in getting the game stocked in The London Dungeon back in the early 90s.

If anyone has any questions about anything please just ask in the comments and I'll try and get back to you as soon as I can.

I'll be in touch soon,

Kris

There's a free book?! Here's some more information
over 4 years ago – Thu, Oct 28, 2021 at 12:06:53 PM

Hi everyone,

Hopefully you'll all be aware that every backer on this project will receive a free copy of a Damnation: The Gothic Game the novel, which is being written by award winning author, Frazer Lee. 

From the moment Frazer and I first began discussing this idea it has been an aspect of the campaign that has been hugely exciting for me, and I'm just so pleased that I can offer a pdf of the book as a thank you for supporting the game.

In this update we'll be learning a bit more about Frazer and his history with the 1992 original 'The Gothic Game.' I'm also excited to share with you, the first reading from the book, courtesy of Frazer himself! We'll have a second one to share with you a little further down the line as well as an interview.

About The Author

Frazer Lee is the author of seven novels including his Bram Stoker Award® nominated debut The Lamplighters, contemporary ghost story Greyfriars Reformatory, and the forthcoming Damnation: The Gothic Game. Winner of the Edgar Allan Poe Gothic Filmmaker Award, Frazer’s screenwriting and directing credits include the acclaimed horror films Panic Button and The Stay. Frazer is Reader in Creative Writing at Brunel University London, and resides with his family in Buckinghamshire, just across the cemetery from the real-life Hammer House of Horror. Visit him if you dare at www.frazerlee.com

Frazer Lee on 'Damnation' - the game & the book

I’m a big fan of The Gothic Game and have been ever since it came out in the 90s. I was working at The London Dungeon (where my Saturday job was scaring the life out of tourists!) and the Marketing Manager popped down and said they had this preview copy of this creepy new game. He asked me to take it home and play it, and tell him if I thought it would be a good addition to the gift shop. Of course it was love at first bite and I played it every Halloween after that fateful night!

When I heard Kris Rees at Blackletter Games was making a reboot I was so excited. When I saw what he was putting together, it just blew me away. I can’t wait to play the new version and try out the different characters and new features. And if I get bumped off early on it’s okay, I’ll just haunt all the other players to death!

It’s been a real joy to write the novelisation of the game and to work with Kris and his amazingly talented team of artists and creators. It has long been an ambition of mine to write a Dracula story, but I knew it would have to be a wicked new twist on the legend, and Damnation is exactly that. A deadly battle royale to the death and beyond in a crumbling Carpathian castle – what’s not to love?

Synopsis

The Carpathian Mountains, 1897. An impassable storm forces a group of travellers to disembark from their steam train and take shelter in a remote castle for the night. Their enigmatic host invites them to take part in some after-dinner entertainment. But as they each explore the castle’s rooms and passageways they discover they have become part of a deadly game. Only one guest may leave in the morning and it is up to each of them to use their wits, and weapons, to survive the night. For the others, Damnation awaits.

I hope you enjoy!

Kris

Damnation: The Gothic Game at two players
over 4 years ago – Thu, Oct 28, 2021 at 01:35:34 AM

So it wasn't all a dream!

Good morning everyone - I've been asked a by a few people for more information on the game at two players. The previous campaign listed the game as three player minimum, and reducing the player account to accommodate two was probably the biggest request we received!

Firstly, the game can be played at two players. The previous version could as well. I just happen to think that it's not especially suited to two players, which is why I listed it as three player minimum. 3 - 6 is more of a recommended player count.

That said, for this campaign I have been working on a game mode that works best with smaller player counts.

In a mode I'm calling 'Skirmish' each player will control two or three villains each and utilise a shared hand of cards for all their villains. As things currently stand, turns alternate regardless of how many villains a player has. So for example:

Player 1 has The Stranger left in play and Player 2 has The Mystic and The Collector still alive.

• Player 1 turn: Controls The Stranger
• Player 2 turn: Controls The Mystic
• Player 1 turn: Controls The Stranger
• Player 2 Turn: Controls The Collector
• And so on

This format means there's an inherent catchup mechanic and ensures that there's not too much of a gap between player turns.

This mode is still very much in testing. For example, we're running into some balance issues with The Vampire, but it's absolutely something we're working on and we will get right for the final product. We've set aside some time after the campaign to do some additional work in this area and I fully expect it to change and evolve the more we play it.

I will share any developments on this mode and as always, appreciate any thoughts, ideas, or feedback you might have on what you'd like to see.

Have a great day and I'll be posting an update later which will contain our first sample reading from the free book. You don't want to miss that!

Kris