Ballads & Tales - Why I am Backing (Crowdfund preview)

[@TheDungeonDive]

Stay up to date on the game here: www.balladsandtales.com/index.htm

[@jonanjello]

This looks incredible. Thanks for spotlighting this game, Daniel.

[@jarldjevel6111]

Ouch. It's been a long time since I've been so drawn to a game. Designers should never underestimate art in their game 😮. This looks fab.

[@xSean0607]

I love the randomness of the dice, I love the art, the boldness, the colors, the brightness, it all pops! About the gameplay I'm happy to hear they are also not shy about repositioning abilities, and that we have many options and decisions to take. The expansion is the cheery on top!

[@darrickdean1849]

Definitely going to check this out. Some of that art reminds me of older Dragonlance.

[@Angela-pe2hj]

The art is really good 😮 i love itt 👏🏻

[@Scotch5ailor]

Appreciate this detail and discussion. Well done!

[@TheDungeonDive]

Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@arcubal]

Dungeon crawlers are my jam bit its also a curse as I find myself judging them quite critically. First off, I adore the art. 💯 Rich and colourful, Valbona Atanaskovska's painted visuals really evoke nostalgia to a time when I was a young one, seeking adventure myself. This is even more underscored by the B/W line art on the cards! Oh my ❤ But this is also where the experience passes me by. I would've loved, loved, loved this in a time where very few tabletop adventures were available: pure, raw in theme and production and design - just a focus on adventure. Anno 2024, I am spoiled for choice and the gaming landscape is lush with gorgeous productions (Lands of Evershade), innovative gameplay (Story of Many), original themes (Tidal Blades 2), distilled gameplay (FateForge) or all of them (the excellent Agemonia). It's no longer enough to be a good game, no matter the amount of content (and B&T certainly has a great deal with those luscious adventure modules!), a game needs to be excellent and firing on all cylinders. So, again Bona's evocative art is simply outstanding but, at the end of the day, I need to 'feel' the game is bringing home a memorable experience and, watching the coverage, I'm sadly not feeling it. I am glad it funded though and wish the game all the success in the future! 🎉 Keep exploring!

[@craigivarson5191]

You just convinced me on this game that eluded my radar in the initial crowd funding campaign. I as well seek games that first have fantastic art. Secondly I especially love games that are targeted for adults in the theme and art and gameplay. Shout out to my favorite game designers who throw down the barriers with Adult themes and Art. Sean Aaberg, Nate Hayden, Warclaw,. We need more adult themed adult targeted games. I'm not asking for outright nastiness. But enough with the Disney, grade school themes. This game you display here with the alternative adult art sold me nit just with the adult targeted art but the game looks like a lot of fun. Waiting for the new campaign. Keep us posted. As always your videos are awesome.

[@pauls3585]

This looks cool. Thanks.

[@darrickdean1849]

I backed this yesterday. Still 21 days to go, so everyone go check it out! Nice seeing old-school art in the age of AI.

[@viktorijastankova]

Looks amazing 😊

[@haxan6663]

The art is great. Reminds me of Dungeon Crawl Classics. I will look out for this.

[@TheDungeonDive]

Yeah. I thought so, too. Has that style.

[@broavonyl5997]

Posting this for any gamers who like me have never played a skirmish game before, gamers that prefer grand adventure over small-scale scenarios, or any somewhat new board gamers that don't have a ton of different game experiences. I was drawn to this game because of the art. But I had my doubts because it's a skirmish game with Line of Sight rules. The overland adventure part is more of a bonus feature. The thought of constantly having to use a tool to check LoS was off-putting to me, but after some homework, I don't think it's that big of a deal. Using a small retractable key chain makes easy work of these cases. Plus there'll be plenty of LoS cases you can figure out by eye anyway. Skirmish games never seemed attractive to me, to be stuck in one specific scenario for the whole duration of the game. I always preferred games with the feeling of a grand adventure in which you would encounter 'multiple skirmishes' in all kinds of different locations, even though the execution of each one of these might be relatively simplistic and short. I've done some rules reading on Ballads & Tales and it's starting to click. I'm now beginning to understand why people like skirmish games. The single scenario IS your grand adventure, and within it are multiple different skirmishes and unexpected obstacles. All the while (at least in Ballads & Tales) you're trying to complete additional objectives. A friendly reminder to all gamers: Trying a new type of game can be uncomfortable and daunting at first. But it's very important to the let the game be itself. Don't have a concept in your head of what the game should feel like, because if it doesn't match your imagination you might write it off unfairly. The game might still be fun, just in a different way (of course you could still implement house rules to tweak things to better fit them to your liking). This all might sound obvious, which it is. But after pondering and researching I feel like I truly understand now. I'm a confident happy backer now :)

[@the_Mike_d]

The art really does look fantastic. I still think the best board game art I have belongs to Camp Grizzly, which unfortunately is impossible to get. But yes, this has a bit of a DCC vibe to it - lots of big monster eyes and tentacles and beaks - really unique and evocative. Even the black and white pencil drawings look great too - which I think is pretty rare to see. Definitely looking forward to the KS relaunch

[@erikacincaroska4833]

it looks amazing😊

[@JonG1970]

This one looks like a no-brainer. Looking forward to the Kickstarter. Hopefully they make some of those standees a little more manageable.

[@sethpeterson8261]

I was all in on this the first time it hit KS and have been following it since. The first time I saw it I wasn't so sure about the non-traditional, bright cheery art. But the more I took it all in the more I started to love it. Can't wait for the butt-naked sexy time expansion too. Really glad to see them getting the word out this time, here's hoping they find the success they deserve

[@MelvLi]

Looks like Heroquest but with Varieties and built-in Solo/ Travel mode! One thing that I like is that it seems to be a simple game at its core but with just enough complexity to keep an adult entertained. I have received League of Dungeoneer this year and still haven't started play just because of the complexity + book keeping etc. I really miss how Warhammer Quest ease players in with basic mode > advanced mode > rpg mode.

[@TheDungeonDive]

I totally agree.

[@HeaterCalhoun44]

Im already trying to find a copy of Arkham Horror 2E, and League of Dungeoneers because of you Daniel. Even when your intention isn't to influence buying decisions, your content is presented so well and so thoroughly that it makes me want to experience game worlds that you spotlight. You subconsciously owe my wallet an apology, good sir.

[@TheDungeonDive]

Haha. Sorry. ;). But thank you for compliment.

[@Cherry_lipstick06]

Great art👏🏼

[@JasonSetley]

I’m very intrigued with this. I hope they have a successful kickstart and maybe something I’d be interested in backing. Card design and layout is very important along with a good rulebook. I noticed a spelling error and the one that you were showing. I’m assuming this is old prototype very neat.❤

[@TheDungeonDive]

There are many spelling errors. It’s just a handmade prototype as I said.

[@marcnno6323]

This looks great. Even though I have too many games, with this art l'm going to back this. Doesn't seem it will be available in retail.

[@TheDungeonDive]

Yeah - not out yet. This is just a prototype. Will be hitting KS soon!

[@Archstanton2000]

Interesting piece of art. I saw a video about this game some time ago. Have you got conformed Information when it is going to be on Kickstarter? Greetings from Germany!

[@TheDungeonDive]

Sometime this month - November.

[@Naruga]

November 12th

[@irAbyssion]

I love the art and the Game board that looks like a dungeon version of Clue which is awesome. My biggest concern is the tile placement and doors and terrain, they seemed rather wobbly every time you interacted with them and I am very clumsy person. Did you have any issues with the chip/token loot being placed and picked up on those sheets? I would really like for some of the bestiary enemies to become playable characters, I am a sucker for Crow adventurers. Crow must have all the shiny loot, yes yes.

[@TheDungeonDive]

This is a total DIY prototype, so I imagine the full version will be more stable.

[@johronok4067]

I'm interested in backing this product.

[@broavonyl5997]

Heya, the art and ambience of this game is really intriguing. However I am a somewhat new boardgamer and have never played a game with Line of Sight rules before. And to be honest, they sound like they will hinder the gameflow quite a bit with ambiguities, or you'll constantly have to use a ruler which is off-putting to me. What do you think of these type of rules in general? And how was your experience with this prototype specifically? Thanks!

[@TheDungeonDive]

They’re pretty easy here. Nothing too complex and the rule book has good examples.

[@broavonyl5997]

@@TheDungeonDive Alright, I'm taking the gamble. Only one way to find out. I usually lean more towards adventure and exploration, but I can't get over the art and ambience here. If I were to own a fantasy skirmish game, let this one be it :P

[@yodaforclass]

This looks great, but I have a question...Does it add anything new to the genre?

[@TheDungeonDive]

No. But I put little value in novelty. 99% of all the games I love are like 99% the same. For me, novelty is highly overrated.

[@yodaforclass]

@@TheDungeonDive Fair enough. :) And, I mostly agree (and see the same thing in my own game choices). So, I guess you DO see a reason to own this if you someone owns other Dungeon Crawlers? If so, that's genuinely great. I'm really thinking about backing this one!

[@TheDungeonDive]

The main reason I am backing is because of the art.

[@saulaguilar1045]

Do you know if this Will have true solo? O you must control a group of adventurers?

[@TheDungeonDive]

No lone wolf mode. But can absolutely be played solo.

[@BalladsTales]

We often received requests for a Lone Wolf mode. And we also have ideas on how we can do this.

[@blainroman7317]

I particularly like the pencil sketch art. The oil paint art is also unique and bold. The game itself for me is like every other game of this genre. More of the same. What was the designers or artist thinking when offering R rated artwork! I really don't want to see kobolds wearing thongs, I mean damn!

[@TheDungeonDive]

Haha! Oh come one, a beefcake Kobold would be awesome! :)

[@d.aardent9382]

Yeah, i thought it was just me being morose and thinking that this just looks like every other dungeon crawling/fantasy board game ive seen presented the last several years. Maybe i missed something, but the board map looks highly restrictive or limited, as ot looks like the center building space takes up almost the entire map. Seems like theres not much too this.

[@Kekimus]

Brother i just backed 5 projects in a month. This goes in now….

[@p0ck3tp3ar]

Good sir, can I interest you in a Dungeon Dive insurance plan? For the low price of $99.99… 😁

[@Kekimus]

@@p0ck3tp3arFeels like a scam but feel like i need one. This is also the same feeling every time I back a project 🤔

[@yodaforclass]

Crud. Never mind. I'm out. I'm not backing this. It appears that the Adventure books, at least the Add-Ons, are Digital/PDF only! No thanks! When I play a board game, I expect to have everything in a physical format. I'm not interested in using a digital reader or making my own crappy copies. Yuck!

[@TheDungeonDive]

Oh well!

[@BalladsTales]

We have had several requests for printed versions. Now we have added the printed books as add-ons and pledges :)

[@Naruga]

I'm a simple person, I see fairy, I want. Also classic adventurers, save a house from kobolds, raid the houses bedroom and steal their belongings.

[@Archstanton2000]

Hope this one gets funded. Think with its Dungeon degenerates soft vibes it has got good chances on the market, since even DD has gotten more mainstream 😅

[@Grovion]

I must say though the game looks fun, the oversexualized women turn me off hard. It might be nostalgic to old ttrpgs and thats fine but it's not for me. I think there are other ways to let female characteres look cool and awesome. edit after seeing the whole video: Okay so the original version would have turned me off even more.. xD. To be clear: I don't say that its not okay to have more explicit art in a game. It's just nothing that appeals to me.

[@TheDungeonDive]

The artist is known for her nude and erotic art. It’s just her style.

[@5fingeredfisherman]

Man, this game would be great but the overly sexualized females kill it for me. The art, otherwise, looks amazing!

[@TheDungeonDive]

The artist is known for her erotic art and nude figure drawing. Thats her style and what she enjoys painting. I support her choices.

[@CholulaSauce]

if there is "over" is there "under"? 🤔

[@5fingeredfisherman]

@@TheDungeonDive oh that's good to know!

[@astrallass4634]

@tylergonlag7200 Yah same, I see big fantasy art boobs and I must move on. Thanks for the review Dungeon Dive, game also looks a bit fiddly for my bandwidth.

[@TheDungeonDive]

The artist is known for her erotic art and nudes.

[@josh1674]

I adore this art, but one of the first things I look at in a game is representation and I felt that there could've been more than three POC characters.

[@TheDungeonDive]

It's definitely a very western / traditional approach. I also like more diversity in games, but its not a deal breaker for me, but totally understand if it is. I think here it's such a personal art choice by the artist, and is a case of her painting what she knows.

[@clvrswine]

SMH. Looking for problems. What a way to approach what is supposed to be fun.

[@5fingeredfisherman]

@clvrswine nobody's "looking for problems". Some people value representation in their gaming spaces. No need to call out others for their preferences (unless those preferences are harmful).

[@TheDungeonDive]

You'll be happy to know that the designer told me they are going to add some more diversity in representation with the characters!

[@mattcat1201]

Will they be adding more clothing to the female characters? Or is the lead art designer still a 14 year old boy?... ​@@TheDungeonDive