(or here’s a list of what launched yesterday that might deserve a closer look)

Project: Indian Ocean Region

Designer: John Gorkowski (Balance of Powers, Red Poppies: WWI Tactics, Red Poppies Campaigns: The Battle of Ypress)

Artist: Christopher Moeller (Betrayal at House on the Hill, Magic: The Gathering, Steam)

Publisher: Compass Games (Crusade & Revolution: The Spanish Civil War, 1936-1939, Enemy Action: Ardennes, Silent War)

Genre/Mechanisms: dice rolling, hexagon grid, modern warfare, nautical, negotiation, political, scenario/mission/campaign game, simulation, wargame

Player Count: 1-3

Solo Mode: yes

Complexity: heavy

Risk: medium-low

Summary: “Enables participants to play out possible future conflicts, circa 2025, from their political beginnings to military endings with the same game mechanics as used in the South China Sea game. Players assume the roles of nations or groups of nations and deal cards in multiple rounds of play each representing three to seven weeks to advance their separate agendas. Each card play might trigger armed conflict. If violence comes to pass, the time scale compresses to three to seven hours per turn and players deploy their military units to resolve matters by force. Those forces include: individual capital ships, pairs or triples of smaller vessels, squadrons of aircraft, and battalions of ground troops all waging war at the far end of logistical shoestrings.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $79

All-In (w/shipping): $146, also includes South China Sea

Campaign Ends: 12/5

Game Ships: Mar. 2021

Funding Status: Funded; currently at 147% with 12 days to go.