Sleeping Gods: My Favorite Game Mechanism

Jamey discusses his favorite mechanisms in the open-world cooperative game, Sleeping Gods.
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[@MjrLeegInfidel]

Jamey and Ryan need to teamup!

[@felixlersha]

That would be a match made in heaven. I always preorder whatever they produce anyway but it would be even more of a no brainer if they joined forces for at least one project.

[@jasonact]

You aren’t the first to suggest that. Many fans have made that recommendation, and I believe Jamey has noted it. If I remember correctly, he said that as much as he admires Ryan & his work, he and Ryan both prefer to work as the primary designer, and collaboration could be challenging. Perhaps his experience with Alex on Red Rising changes that, though.

[@Brockoly3]

I played two sessions yesterday for a total of about 7 hours and I can't wait to get it back to the table again. It feels like a culmination of all of Ryan's games up to this point, while at the same time felling new and innovative. I'm loving it!

[@Alfaddur]

Tell us more plz ! I am not a fan of coop games but these maps seem gorgeous ! How does it compare with N&F ?

[@Brockoly3]

@Alfaddur It takes the atlas and story book from Near and Far but if you reach the edge of the map, you just turn the page and keep exploring. Have you played Zelda:Windwaker? It's kind of like that, just a huge open world exploration game. One "game" is actually a 10-20 hour campaign. When you pull it out you can play one turn or 50. But after the campiagn you're only going to have explored a small part of the huge world, and will give you rewards that you can use based on your performance to carry into the next campaign. There are 13 different endings, hundreds of quests, puzzles, and discovery. It's fantastic. I'm playing solo, but you can add players in or out in seconds. Check out The Dungeon Dive's review kzbin.info/www/bejne/qYvLmJluhbZoncU

[@synnarc]

I’m really looking forward to playing this. Ryan is a great designer.

[@Daniel199423]

Just got this to the table last weekend, and I'm so happy I backed it. The exploration feels so open and inviting, much more so than with the few other exploration games I've played. I cant wait to get back to it!

[@erikpeters7072]

And the box itself is truly a work of art

[@do_hickey]

Jamey - This video is awesome and your enthusiasm for the game comes through clearly, thank you so much for the video. I also have to commend you on being able to be so open and positive regarding a product that is, ostensibly, produced by a competitor (knowing that in the end, gamers do have a limit on their funds, whether they act like it or not). Your good nature really shows through and makes me want to support you. I don't have cash (or playtime) for more games, but your attitude in this video really makes me want to consider supporting you by looking into a Stonemaier game next I purchase. And no, this isn't just brown-nosing or shilling (for all those people who will assume ill of me) - I legitimately had this reaction and wanted to share the positivity, especially with the angry, vitriolic place that the internet can be at times.

[@jameystegmaier]

Thank you! I learn so much from other designers and publishers, so I enjoy talking about the things in other games I love. :)

[@relytp51]

This game is shaping up to be one of the best.

[@ltlpayne]

Started the video to learn more about Sleeping Gods, spent the whole time staring at the box for Red Rising. So excited for that game!

[@Duracelbunny]

Love your enthusiasm Jamey :) Thanks for good heads up what the game is about

[@TheCoreus]

Really interesting ideas! Thanks for sharing Jamey!

[@bibleboardgames5199]

Thank you Jamey! Each time I hear about this game the mechanics and open adventure get more interesting. Thanks! - Ken

[@jameystegmaier]

It's a great game! I hope you enjoy it. :)

[@edenvernier4042]

Oh wow, this sounds incredible! Thanks for the video :)

[@SirThecos]

I can't wait for the game to arrive here - I instantly backed the Kickstarter since I really love Roam, Ryan's game before that. 😍

[@rb4551]

Its really getting stellar feedback from everyone so far. I have a copy here I just got but trying to finish My City first with my son and wife to jump into this. Also just got Dice Throne Adventure yesterday so man...its definitely a case where I wish I had more time lol

[@pobvox]

I heard about this game a few days ago, unfortunately missed out on the kickstarter. I'm really excited to play this and hopefully I can snag a retail copy soon

[@PlayGamzWithMe]

Excellent video!!

[@BillyIndiana]

Thanks for the overview of your favorite mechanisms. I recieved my copy & can't wait to try it!

[@tonybowers9490]

I backed it, have it, enjoying it.

[@anthonytsai2346]

Couldn’t agree more about the combat and the open world feel. I played for a couple of hours yesterday and am looking forward to exploring it. I really like the fate card system. Since you can draw those cards into your hand as well, I think it is possible to hold on to the lower number cards and potentially stack the deck in your favor!

[@jameystegmaier]

Ryan has a designer note about that in the rulebook (about manipulating the deck)--I agree that it's very clever.

[@JL-bt8sg]

I think the mechanism with the fate cards is pretty similar to the attack modifier deck in GH: JoTL and regular GH. The modifier deck basically decides how well or bad you will perform in an attack against a monster. But if your facing the boss you want to decrease the risk of just relying on the one card draw of the attack modifier. Therefore you can get advantages either by cards or items that you can buy. And in an advantage you draw two cards and pick the one that is more favorable to your attack. Unfortunately it works also the other way when the monsters attack you. But this sounds very similar. And the attack modifier in JoTL are one of my favorite mechanisms of GH. And also one of the most beautiful components of that game.

[@jameystegmaier]

Yes, it's similar--it's a mechanism I generally don't like. But that's why I really like that Sleeping God gives you an ability where you can draw another fate card instead of being relegated to a random element out of your control. I do like the idea of an ability where you draw 2 and pick 1 in this case, though.

[@JL-bt8sg]

@@jameystegmaier Agree. I think the alternative to a modifier or fate deck is to use dice instead which sometimes is a less fun option. I think one of the reasons for GH success is that Isaac has used an attack modifier deck instead of dice. And games that uses that effect is more attractive. At least to me. Anyway thank you for the great input on the SG mechanisms.

[@jameystegmaier]

@@JL-bt8sg Yeah, it's tricky. I generally think it's more fun for random elements (whether it's a card draw or a die roll) to impact player-controlled characters instead of enemy units. I want to spend time doing cool stuff for my character, not for the enemies. At the same time, enemies feel more "alive" if they have some element of unpredictability.

[@knighthawk3749]

@@jameystegmaier Your odds effect enemies as well. If you miss, then their attacks will be more effective. Also I do not know if you caught it, but modifiers from Adventure/Market cards and crew abilities can be used after the fate draw. And you can manipulate the fate deck by holding on to ability cards with low fate numbers so they do not get shuffled back in.

[@jameystegmaier]

@@knighthawk3749 Definitely, I love the deck manipulation!

[@VikingKittens]

Wonderful to hear you are both enjoying the game so far. I was wondering if you ended up playing the Print N Play scenario Sleeping Gods: Primeval Peril? (Short standalone campaign for two players, set on a dangerous river that winds through lush jungle.) I found it was a good starting place to get familiar with things like light combat and actions. Can't wait to play this :)

[@jameystegmaier]

I haven't played that scenario, but it's neat that Ryan provided it!

[@Joshua_Tymchyn]

Is the tutorial rulebook similar to the tutorial in Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion? I didn't care for base Gloomhaven, but Jaws was phenomenal because of that starting tutorial. Perfect way to ease players into the game.

[@MichaelASands]

Similar. It's shorter, but still introduces rules one by one.

[@janniskoberstein3310]

Dear Jamey, how is your exploration/open world game doing? I'm holding my fingers crossed every time you are teasing a new game. Is it still to early to get my hopes up to high?

[@jameystegmaier]

Thanks Jannis! It's a massive game, so it's taking me much longer to design than I'd hope (especially with a game company to run in the meantime). But I'm incredibly excited to share it when it's ready. :)

[@janniskoberstein3310]

@@jameystegmaier to quote a line from the preface of my favorite book Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss: "If you are ever going to do something, you should take your time and do it right!" ;)

[@BigBMor]

@@jameystegmaierAny news on the open world game?

[@jameystegmaier]

@@BigBMor I look forward to talking about the open world game when the time comes--stay tuned to our newsletter! :) stonemaiergames.com/e-newsletter/

[@Harbinjero]

My copy arrived today... but im at work :( Meanwhile.... Rodney Smith has a complete rules video for it, including combat.

[@gerbie42]

I generally tend to stay away from these kind of games because of the - too simplistic - reason that I already play D&Desque games so I could just play those if I want to play an open-world kind of campaign. That said, this one sounds very interesting, and you seem very excited about it! The book feeling like an open world yet contained in a book, sounds cool! The combat sounds like an interesting puzzle and most importantly, one you can solve with ALL players, which is key. And lastly the Fate thing.. rerolling, yes please. I very much dislike too much luck in games and if it has all-or-nothing situations it just feels like whoever has more luck wins (much less the case in cooperative games, but still) it's just a bad feeling, so having the opportunity to work around this a bit by either picking what you reroll or adding extra stuff to your roll is always a good mechanic.

[@knighthawk3749]

There is an another good mechanic. Since fate cards are the same as ability cards, you can hold on to the ones with low numbers and increase the average draw of the deck. My current game I just realized that 5 out of 6 1's were in hand so chance of drawing a 1 fell significantly. So you can somewhat manipulate the fate odds and that is actually a recommended strategy.

[@virondata]

Stupid Brexit is delaying our game.. i am looking so much forward to get this game and play it. I agree 100 percent with you. I am a big fan of Ryan´s games so far :)

[@dranawor]

Is that an exclusive first look at the Red Rising rulebook behind you???

[@jameystegmaier]

That is indeed the Red Rising rulebook. :)

[@npckse8508]

@@jameystegmaier Just happens to be sitting there in view of the cameras, completely by accident :)

[@DanielHCassidy]

So jelly you have this already. The combat system reminds me of a more in-depth version of the player v monster system in lords of Hellas.

[@zmollon]

Damnit I already have to finish my pandemic legacy season 1 campaign, then start and finish clank legacy, then start and finish forgotten waters.

[@esoteridactyl]

I missed the kickstarter and am hoping i didn't miss too much cool stuff :/

[@knighthawk3749]

Kickstarter did not have any exclusive gameplay items. You will just have to buy some of the stuff separately and it will not be available all at once. Tides of Ruin (highly recommended) will be in retail about a month or two after the base game. Dungeons expansion will take a few months longer.

[@calevenice]

What about Arkham Horror the card game's bag? 😂 Let's redraw from that.

[@jameystegmaier]

I would love the ability to redraw from that bag, as it's a major reason why I just can't get into the Arkham Horror LCG.

[@calevenice]

@@jameystegmaier I agree. The game doesn't feel thematic when you are trying to min-max to beat or avoid the bag.

[@robertcrist124]

You play until you want to stop, and just stop. You make it sound so easy to stop playing a Ryan Laukat game haha

[@Slugatron]

Missed the KS but looks like a great game. Just the art style doesn't appeal to me at all, especially the way the people are drawn. Other than that ill definitely give this one a try.

[@Brockoly3]

Wow. I know art is very subjective, but I think you're the first person I've ever heard that doesn't love Ryan Laukat's art. To each their own, but this really is a great game. Truly feels like an open world video game in board game form. Highly recommend it if you like exploration and discovery in your games.

[@StrangerrDanger]

@@Brockoly3 I'm in the same boat. Didn't like the art style, so it put me off from purchasing it. Im sure the game is fun though!