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

Project: 1861: Russia / 1867: Canada

Designer: Ian D. Wilson (1812: The Cradle of Steam Railways, 1858: The Railways of Iberia, 1861: The Railways of the Russian Empire)

Artist: Mike Hutton (1860: Railways on the Isle of Wight, 1861: The Railways of the Russian Empire, 1862: Railway Mania in the Eastern Counties)

Publisher: Grand Trunk Games (1861: The Railways of the Russian Empire, 1867: The Railways of Canada)

Genre/Mechanisms: 18xx, auction/bidding, economic, network/route building, stock holding, tile placement

Player Count: 3-6

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: heavy

Risk: high

Summary: The combined package includes 1861: The Railways of the Russian Empire, along with 1867: The Railways of Canada. The latter was originally created as an expansion to the former, but was reimplement as a standalone game. This Kickstarter is for both of these now-standalone 18xx train games.

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $80

All-In (w/shipping): $80, same as above

Campaign Ends: 11/17

Game Ships: June 2020

Funding Status: Funded; currently at 220%, with 26 days to go.

Project: Barrage: The 5th Player Expansion

Designers: Tommaso Battista (Barrage), Simone Luciani (Barrage, The Council of 4, Grand Austria Hotel, Lorenzo il Magnifico, Newton, Tzolk’in: The Mayan Calendar, The Voyages of Marco Polo)

Artist: Antonio De Luca (Barrage, Dojo Kun, Sine Tempore)

Publisher: Cranio Creations (Barrage, Dungeon Fighter, Escape from the Aliens in Outer Space, Newton, The Prodigals Club, Steam Park)

Genre/Mechanisms: action drafting, contracts, economic, end game bonuses, income, network & route building, turn order: stat-based, variable player powers, variable setup, worker placement

Player Count: 2-5

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: heavy

Risk: high

Summary: This campaign was designed largely to offer replacement components to backers of the original Barrage campaign who received damaged boxes, damaged components, and/or replacements for some components that were poorly designed. On the one hand, it’s a way for the original backers to get replacements free, or in some cases, very cheap. It’s also an opportunity to purchase wooden wheels to replace the original game’s poorly produced cardboard wheels, at a discount. Original backers can also pledge for the 5th player expansion at a discount. New backers can pledge for either, without the discount. But make note: copies of the base game are NOT available through this campaign, so a new backer would have to plan on picking up the base game at retail.

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $27

All-In (w/shipping): $35

Campaign Ends: 10/31

Game Ships: May 2020

Funding Status: Funded; currently at 515,260%, with 10 days to go.

Project: Gods of Metal: The Chosen Back on Tour!

Designer: Christopher Brown (Slaugherville)

Artist: Nicoleta Stavarache (Doppelganger, Dungeon Alliance, Lifeform)

Publisher: Laughing Rogue

Genre/Mechanisms: cooperative play, deck/bag/pool building

Player Count: 1-4

Solo Mode: yes

Complexity: medium-light

Risk: high

Summary: A cooperative deck builder where up to 4 players “band” together to “unleash the power of metal to destroy the Overlords and their demon hordes.”

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $38

All-In (w/shipping): $60

Campaign Ends: 11/19

Game Ships: Mar. 2020

Funding Status: Currently at 12%, with 29 days to go.

Project: Vector Wars

Designer: Eli Mamane

Artist: Hai Laren

Publisher: Eli Mamane

Genre/Mechanisms: 2 players, action queue, area majority/influence, dice rolling, grid movement, variable player powers

Player Count: 2

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: medium-light

Risk: high

Summary: A 2-player strategical area domination game set in a Tron-style universe dry of resources where clans fight in a virtual arena.

Base Pledge (w/shipping): $56

All-In (w/shipping): $92

Campaign Ends: 11/19

Game Ships: May 2020

Funding Status: Currently at 17%, with 28 days to go.