Low: A Fantasy Adventure Game - Print & Play Version - test 1.

Testing out my new Print & Play files by trying to build a copy of the game.
Low is currently in Beta Testing. Version 1.0 will be released this spring/summer:
boardgamegeek....
www.makestuffg...

[@communis_]

I appreciate your commitment to accessibility and ensuring as many people possible can play your game. Watching you build this copy has me even more stoked for the final version. I've also been inspired to take a stab at building my own copies of older games after watching through your Ares Magazine videos. Keep up the amazing work!

[@bluebotic2327]

I had a blast with some of the Ares Magazine Games! I really liked Citadel of Blood, Rescue From the Hive (with the solo rules), and Wreck of the BSM Pandora. All three are good little-big theme-forward solitaire games.

[@wizardbrawl]

I'll 100% build this game when the files are available

[@bluebotic2327]

Excellent. I like you adventurous crafting spirit. I look forward to seeing pics of home builds someday.

[@ironartur]

i am 100% sure that i will build the pnp version you release, the bigger the better 😁, i enjoy building pnps

[@bluebotic2327]

That's awesome! Can't wait to get the PnP version out there. Probably in the next month or so.

[@RottenMechGaming]

Looking great! Tiles are looking very sharp, they will really help sell it.

[@bluebotic2327]

Thanks Rottenlead!

[@allluckyseven]

What I prefer to do with PNP stuff is to print the components onto single, full sheet labels, but they only come in letter sized paper as far as I'm aware. But it's way less messy than dealing with spray adhesive.

[@bluebotic2327]

Yeah, sticker paper is a good idea. All of the PnP files are letter sized (except the box art wrap).

[@KyawThurein]

Thanks for sharing the progress. I used to spend time building PNP games in the past, and I thoroughly enjoyed the process. That being said, it is hard to set aside time these days. Therefore, I would definitely go for the fully-fledged deluxe edition of this game on TGC.

[@bluebotic2327]

Yeah, it can be time consuming for sure.

[@anjovimusic]

I just happened to have made a DIY version of WizWar recently. Definately makes such a product more feasible, but would also love to get my hands on a gamecrafter version of this....Mind you...what i made probably looked more like something a 12 year old would've done in the 80s or something (had a comment along those lines that defiantly wasn't meant as an insult as much as it was nostalgic, but i got a good chuckle) xD I've just gotten the urge to pull out a project i was working on and try to vlog about it (was thinking of trying to make some rules videos on how to play and get it put together...it's more of a pnp pet project kind of game than a viable product at this point) I'd just make the pnp kit as accessible as possible (have options for more elaborate DIY projects, but also make it easier for those who just want to print out stuff asap and just proxy in other stuff from what they've got lying around). Looks gorgeous!

[@bluebotic2327]

Hey thanks! And yeah, you should work through your idea, whether you end up vlogging about it or not. I think chipping away at big create projects over long periods of time is a great way to practice 'the creative process as lifestyle'. It's a good way to focus energy and sharpen skills in a constructive way that could eventually lead to the creation of a complete physical artifact, either for your own sense of satisfaction, or possibly to share with the world. Win win.

[@David-zt7lr]

Inspiring, thanks for this DIY how-to! I'm eagerly looking forward to the game!

[@David-zt7lr]

Regarding your concerns for the time it takes to DIY the print-and-play version: I don't think that an afternoon, as you say, is too much to ask for! Crafting a game yourself can be a hobby on its own for many people (including me), and I would be sad if the only version of the game I could play was a reduced/light one.

[@bluebotic2327]

Just now seeing this comment. I totally agree. I love crafting games. I will make sure the Print and Play game is the full version.

[@AndrewSFTSN]

May not be for everyone, but once I discovered full-page postage label paper (with the peel adhesive backing) I just don't fuck with adhesives for PnP counters anymore. Too nasty and too many horrible situations in the past! Can't wait to PnP this once it's available.

[@bluebotic2327]

Yeah, letter sized labels are good. I'm not sure why I don't do that more. I'll try that for my next PnP. The chit and card files are all letter sized.

[@kevinstricklen7579]

I keep checking the BGG page for files. I look forward to checking this out more thoroughly.

[@bluebotic2327]

According to BGG documentation, it often takes 3 or 4 weeks for BGG to approve files after posting them (each file has to be reviewed by a human). So I've been reluctant to post files that are still works in progress. I'm still editing the rulebook and adventure book for clarity on an almost daily basis (based on lots of good feedback I'm still getting). I do hope to start posting more on BGG in the next 2 to 4 weeks as the rulebooks become closer to 'absolutely finished'. I also plan to start posting screenshots as I beta test. Eventually BGG will have many images and files for download.

[@kimr1508]

Really looking forward to the print n play release. I believe you in another video talked about making it free. I think you could easily charge a little bit of money for the files. I would buy it instantly 🙂

[@bluebotic2327]

I've gone back and forth about charging for the PnP version. Someone suggested I make a 'light' PnP version with only the first scenario. Maybe I'll make a light PnP version that's free and a full PnP version that's like $5 or something. I need to think on it. People will have to pay a premium for the boxed version, and not too many people are going to tackle building this thing from scratch. So I kind of want to reward those who do in some way.

[@kimr1508]

@@bluebotic2327 Good idea about light/easy build version. I think 5$ is a good price for the complete game. I don't mind spending a couple of hours building the game because Gamecrafter price + delivery to Denmark will probably be to expensive.

[@bluebotic2327]

@@kimr1508 Yeah I wish there was a better way to serve Europe. I'm actually looking into it. I'll be in Copenhagen in a couple months and am looking forward it!

[@nightbirdgames]

A simple taste could be a good idea for a print and play. Could give the player the first scenario to play + forgotten places but only with the chits that relate to the first scenario. If I had a print shop close to me I'd probably print more. Really cool to see DIY creations of games. Random question, but how was the dungeon 23 challenge going along? Those little tiles were cool and could make way for a smaller scale dungeon crawl game or as a resource for creating campaigns maybe. Like draw them from a bag or something.

[@bluebotic2327]

I hadn’t thought of that. Do like a 1 scenario print and play. It would be very manageable. Hard to know how useful or appealing it would be to potential gamers. I’ll have to think on it. The D23 is about 6 weeks behind. It’d be easy to catch up in a single day. I’ve become a little concerned about splitting my creative energy up while pushing to finish Low. I need to decide if I want to catch up on D23 or shelve it. I’m also eager to do a couple expansions for Low this year. More sandbox content. And maybe event card decks or something. Still thinking on that.

[@nightbirdgames]

@@bluebotic2327 Oh nice, an event card booster pack perhaps? Or tuckbox if its a lot of event cards. Plus you can add a small poker sized folio rules sheet to explain how the events work (assuming it'd be poker sized cards). That sounds like a great idea. Bit of art, bit of flavor, some event rules, etc... Companion animal cards maybe (could also be on poker cards)?

[@bluebotic2327]

@@nightbirdgames exactly. Now that the engine is mostly working, I’m excited to make expansions. I think the production cycle/turnaround on expansion content could be pretty quick. I love the idea of event cards that relate to each scenario or map tile set. Forgotten Places sandbox mode could really benefit from having random events. Yeah, I’m thinking poker sized. I’d want art and text. So smaller would be too small. And the 3.5 Inch square cards are too big I think for events. Companions! I love it. And conditions. Etc. Card pack expansions would be a very simple, cheap modular plug and play way to add more flavor to the game.

[@nightbirdgames]

@@bluebotic2327 Yeah Forgotten Places seemed like the right idea. Might be tricky to incorporate the event cards into the other scenarios, but I think a deck per map tile set would be really thematic. However, if your playing full sandbox and using all of the tiles and need to draw an event card, would you be drawing from a specific deck based on the map tile set your currently in or would a generic event deck that can fit for all map tile sets be better or at least easier for you? Gotta do a truffle pig, sniffs out food or something Idk lol. Maybe can carry some stuff for you. A small monkey (mischievous little devil). A bird (like a crow or raven or owl) that you have a psychic connection with. Can send them down straight lines to see what enemies are in a room or something before revealing them. A rat that mutates into some dog sized flesh creature and eats small enemies for you... just some ideas to get juices flowing.

[@bluebotic2327]

@@nightbirdgames yeah you’re right, I think linking event cards to map tiles gets tricky. A booklet would almost work better for assigning specific events to specific map tiles. I think a card deck probably works better as random events. Come to think of it. Like, you wouldn’t want to have to dig out a specific card to match it to a map tile. I like the ideas your spitballing for content. Fun stuff!!

[@johnmiddleton4291]

I got that damn Super 77 all over my arm once. It was not fun remove, believe it. I did a build of the redesigned Karim Magic Realm once and it took ages. I ended up passing it along to another gamer who loved it and bought a vintage copy. People have high pain thresholds to crafting games. Some youtuber I watch even crafted Warhammer Quest 95....

[@bluebotic2327]

Ha! Yeah, I'm a little scared of what it has probably done to my lungs. I'm sure some capillaries have been glued shut along the way. I just ordered a set of cards from MakePlayingCards.com today. If they look good, I might make them available to anyone that wants to just buy the 60 cards, but doesn't want to build the game, etc. Looks like there is a sibling company that does just chits too. Maybe I'll make a self serve a la carte option for the game.

[@johnmiddleton4291]

You really need to wear s mask spraying glue and paint. My dad has epoxy auto paint in one lung from years ago and its really screwed up his breathing now that he’s older.

[@bluebotic2327]

@@johnmiddleton4291 for sure! I will wear one moving forward! I had a lot of dangerous jobs when I was younger and was very under-protected while dong them and so I tend to be too lax about this stuff. For instance, when I was 17 and 18 I worked at a marina, acid washing boat hulls to removed lake scum, in shorts without a mask. I got many painful hydrochloric acid vaper lung burns (for $3.35/hour). Then I slept next to open mineral spirits for several years in art school after deciding I should oil paint in my bed room. And I smoked in college. Really stupid stuff like that. But I've spent the past 25 years trying to live smarter (except the micro-dosing of Super77). I hopefully my cells have mostly regenerated or something....

[@jorgenantonioelgueta7842]

I think it's a good idea. Maybe you could offer a poor man's version as an add-on during the crowdsale.

[@bluebotic2327]

I’ll definitely look into that. Great idea.