Watch the Countdown show. Production Time! Calendaring
about 4 years ago – Wed, Mar 18, 2020 at 08:50:05 PM

Watch the Countdown Show

If you missed it, we had a parade of friends help us celebrate the end of the Kickstarter. If you want to learn more about the Lost Worlds of Josh Kirby, and have some laughs, enjoy the show on our Facebook page: 

Production Time!

With the global COVID-19 crisis impacting so many, we want to start by asking you to be safe. Wash your hands, use your internet time to find the resources you need and sneak in a few board games if you are 'sheltered in place' with family and friends. 

Currently the Corona crisis is not impacting our work on The Lost Worlds of Josh Kirby. Our team is meeting (virtually) through next week to begin building the BackerKit survey tool, complete remaining design work for our upgraded components and the Mission Log. We have hours of virtual work ahead of us, which was the plan all along.

We have cancelled attendance at GAMA, and likely upcoming conventions like KublaCon. That is a business impact for us, so we are also reassessing our 2020 plans with an "eCommerce First" strategy.

Calendaring

With all this uncertainty unfolding across the globe, I am working to get our best estimate for production logistics from our supply chain. Currently our factory is reporting no impacts, and we have no Blockers in our way. If that changes, I will inform you all. 

Please be safe, wash your hands and try to keep the joy of gaming alive as we share a challenging 2020. 

Join us on our live show Thursday night. Play Mat Unlocks. Story Update #3
about 4 years ago – Wed, Mar 04, 2020 at 09:28:48 PM

Join us on live Thursday, 7pm PST

Help us celebrate! Join our Facebook Event tomorrow night and be part of the show. 

Click here , then join the event, there will be prizes!

Play Mats Unlock Stretch Goals...

...If you pre-order yours now

The Ark lands as Logan assesses his options. Just as the hatch opens and Tar’ellians begin charging the lowering gangway, he instinctively reaches for a side arm, only to glance against the gift in his pocket.

“Nothing left to lose by trying this,” he thinks, “and it is certainly a time of great need! Blue Worm, if this works I’m going to need your help to calm these people down!” With that, Logan draws the glowing red stone the Meek gave him from his flight suit. He stares to focus all of his anger at the android. In response, a beam of red light shoots out of his hand and spears the robot, searing a hole through its now melted power systems.

As the gem crumbles to powder, Logan feels a wave of surreal calmness wash over him, emanating from the Blue Worm. The Tar’ellians, who nearly completed their berserk charge up the ship's ramp, lower their weapons and look around as though searching for a comfortable place to sit and relax.

“Neat trick,” the Captain thinks to the Blue Worm. <<Yes, it is how we calm our food before we devour it>> the titanic grub happily shares. Logan suppresses a shudder.

Hoping his Translator will work with these nearly-human beings, Logan announces to the assembly, “Whatever rage you felt was based on lies told by this traitorous android. It was programmed to betray you all to the Titans!”

Blue Worm continues his soothing, humming drone. The Tar’elians have forgiven the ships crews with an almost primitive absent-mindedness.

Affected by the waves of calm, Logan is startled to see the sky trails of a squadron of alien ships. “That robot must have gotten his message out before I disabled it. How are we so swiftly out-witted?”

<<I will further review the robots transmission logs to see what I can learn. But first we must flee! The Tar’ellians on the Ark must accompany us, there is no time to debark them.>>

Whafting vertically through the clouds, the ship’s arrival on Tar’el comes to an abrupt end. The Ark rapidly ascends into space, trailed by the pursuing, missile-like ships.

Aiming for the Hypergate to escape, the Ark’s crew doesn’t immediately notice the enemy vessel between them and their escape into the rainbow of light. Waiting for them in the vastness of space is a dark foreboding battleship, the Dreadnought!

The Blue Worm wordlessly shares its fear of the infamous vessel with the Captain. <<The Sentient Network of robots must be in league with the Transcendent Master! That is the vessel he commands to conquer worlds…>>

The Ark is fast, but trapped between the behemoth ahead and the pursuing robot ships below, Logan realizes they must choose a fight. His human instincts kick in as he jumps into a pilot's chair and pushes the button to activate the control stick and pedals.

The Meek turn and nod to the confused Tar’elians among them, perhaps celebrating the accuracy of their decision to recruit a Human pilot.

Stick forward, the Ark curves the visual horizon. Straightening out and beginning a corkscrew roll, the massive vessel handles like a fighter jet in the vacuum of space. Logan aims directly for the chasing robotic vessels.

A console flickers on. A robot stares into a screen on Logan’s dashboard. A synthesized voice comes over the ship’s intercom. The AI of the Sentient Network speaks, [[ Earthman, simply hand over the lifeforms aboard your ship and your script is complete. We will complete our new command to eliminate them.]].

“Sure Toaster Man, I am coming to you right now.” Logan responds. Fortunately sarcasm is not in the Sentient’s programing.

The Ark suddenly veers to port, while the X-7 erupts from the nose of the larger vessel, now screaming towards the bot ships.

The Ark banks and runs for the Hyperspace Gate, approaching from one tangent. The X-7 begins an erratic shimmy through the automated pursuit ships, rocking to starboard as he winds through a hail of dazzling, lazer fire. Unfamiliar with the creativity of human behaviors, the processing delay of the Sentient Network ships gives Logan the edge as he curves his opposite tangent aimed at Hyperspace.

The Dreadnought, initially closing in on the Ark, must suddenly choose between the two vessels to track one through vortex of Hyperspace.

Without word or communication, the Dreadnought begins a lumbering turn to follow Logan in the X-7.

<<We shall search for you>> a familiar voice promises as the Captain rockets into the swirling lights of another Hyperspace jump. Without coordinates or experience, Logan hopes that his jump saves the crew, and escapes the Hyperspace Being pursuing him.

A swirl of color bathes the portholes of the X-7. Then the blackness of Deep Space returns. Looking ahead, a red and white planet swirls with gaseous clouds. A voice crackles in his helmet, “Welcome space traveller.”

Logan talks with a friendly voice over his intercom. Coordinates are exchanged, with a polite update on the pleasant atmosphere. It’s almost like talking to the flight tower on Earth. The rocket slowly descends, fins towards the ground. A well lit landing pad gleems under two gentle suns, providing a soft, almost morning light.

A pair of Humans walks towards the wide eyed pilot. “Welcome to planet Alari. Always pleasant to introduce a fellow Human to our corner of space” a youthful, smiling male offers as he gestures towards a walkway.

“But how are there Humans here? It is hard to accept there are Humans off the planet Earth.” Logan asks, following the pair.

The female setting the pace answers without a glance. “Humans have been exploring the galaxy for a long time, thanks to the Hyperspace Gates. It is possible your people were stranded on your planet and have forgotten over generations.”

Scanning as he walks, Logan notes that the white spires and gleaming technology is reminiscent of his short visit on the fallen Meek planet. To reinforce his deja vu, he notices Meek on this planet working on a construction project in the distance. Truly they are everywhere.

A brisk walk later, the pilot enters a public square that appears to be of ceremonial importance. Robots, aliens, more Meek. Humans of importance mingle among others that seem to be enslaved, based on their chains and scant clothing.

“Earthman, meet the Emissary of Alari; his lordship Kantu” The couple announce in unison with a curt bow towards the balding, white haired elder seated among the assembly.

“Earth is the name of your planet? Never heard of it.”, the stern faced aristocrate mocks. “No matter, you are welcome as one of us…” the elder grins, “in the service of the Master.”

And as if a cue was rehearsed, a tall, chiseled, blue skinned humanoid seems to lift above the assembled crowd. His tall hat and pupil-less eyes are unforgettable, Logan recognizes him as the leader of the massacre on the homeworld of the Meek.

“Your people call me Master, for there is no better description for their fate” the unwavering person speaks with a voice that booms over the din of the assembly. “Where other Transcendent open Hypergates in a foolish sentiment for lesser creatures, I have risen across the galaxy to impose order. As you would whip the horse who escapes the pen, I am the reaver of your disobedience.”

And with this arcane explanation, a blistering beam of yellow light erupts from the Master’s eyes. The searing ray pierces through Logan, penetrating his heart.

In an instant, the Captain crumples to the ground. Smoldering rises from his mid back. Lifeless.

“Now” The Master continues without changing his gaze. “We shall decode the Hypergates to find this scoundrels homeworld and cure it of its infectious willfulness.”

Now 50 Card Sleeves. Unlocks by Thursday? Join us live on Thursday, 7pm PST
about 4 years ago – Mon, Mar 02, 2020 at 09:26:32 PM

Now 50 Card Sleeves

We have unlocked enough World and Event Cards (42 so far...) that you will need more customer sleeves! 

We are rounding it up to 50 sleeves, because we want you to have back ups. If you want to protect your game with sleeves that match your game, simply add $12 to your pledge now... and get the added bonus of unlocking more stretch goals. 

Unlocks by Thursday? 

We are entering the final 72 hours! Kickstarter alerts are going off, Super Tuesday is stealing our Facebook time, and the BARD Games team is posting updates like Sentient Network throws robots at its competition! 

             But the fate of our funding campaign is now truly in your hands.

We have reviewed our funding, our costs, set reasonable goals and updated our page so you know what we hope to achieve with your help. 

If we can reach these funding goals, we will have just enough to reinvest in all this special content.  

There are 1000s of Kickstarter fans who are about to get their final day alerts. Please add to their excitement by challenging your gaming networks to discover the Lost Worlds of Josh Kirby. 

Join us live on Thursday, 7pm PST

We are doing our part too! One last public event to keep the interest high and answer any questions about our campaign. 

Join this Facebook Event and you are all set to help us countdown an amazing campaign. There will be prizes!

What is a Space Opera? Campaign Mode Explained!
about 4 years ago – Mon, Mar 02, 2020 at 12:26:49 AM

This update is taken from our company blog. Find more articles at https://www.bardgames.fun/bards-blog/

What is a Space Opera?

Emerging in the 1940’s as a new genre of science fiction, the space opera was a piece of creative storytelling that emphasized warfare, adventure, romance and risk taking, all taking place in space or non-terrestrial worlds. These space based conflicts focused on the story of how heroes fared against vile opponents with advanced technology and abilities. John Carter of Mars, The Martian Chronicles, Foundation, Dune and Starship Troopers are just a few of the most well known Space Opera novels.

Josh Kirby’s intricate details and alien vistas from the 50's - 80's epitomize the space opera era. His works inspired generations with epic space landscapes and larger than life images of humans in galactic situations.

To capture the Space Opera trope of 'good versus evil', a key component of The Lost Worlds of Josh Kirby is the Morality Tracker on each player board. 

Committing 'workers' to collect World Cards is an alignment choice. Settling worlds imposes your good will, and can add an end game scoring bonus as a "Savior". Conquering worlds subjugates them, leading to the "Tyrant" end game bonus. In both cases your action dice control is sacrificed for more end game victory points.  A third option is to play both sides of the moral spectrum, Saving and Conquering worlds in an attempt achieve a Scoundrel's victory, foregoing the end game bonus for maximum dice and decision control.

Ultimately, the Morality Track drives the game's Space Opera narrative. Players instinctively choose sides in a 'good versus evil' struggle for the galaxy. Expect evil players to develop a wicked cackle...

Campaign Mode

The core game is a fast paced, "roll actions, spend resources, unlock powers" style victory point game. The Morality Tracker, coupled with the story telling art of Josh Kirby, then drives a science-fantasy narrative. But, to be a true "Opera" players need to feel as though they are fighting for the Universe... and that is where Space Opera Campaign Mode begins.

Inspired by 'legacy style' games, Space Opera Mode introduces a large galactic map, 5 competing sci-fi Factions inspired by Kirby art and the ultimate race to unlock asymmetrical powers and win a massive victory across multiple games.

Each world you conquer (and between game scoring) permits players to place Faction Stickers and claim sectors on the Space Opera map. 

Driven by their performance during the game, players are now settling or conquering galaxies to unlock new powers, name sectors of space, develop Strongholds and unlock Hypergates. The player who amasses the most Campaign Points when the galaxy is fully explored wins.

And, linked to your decisions on your Player Board, your campaign score is heavily influenced by your Morality across multiple games. Now you can compare yourself to Buck Rogers, Ming the Merciless or Han Solo... if you win.

Space Opera mode has been tested with all the possible combinations of the base game, including the Epic Bonus Die and with/without Event Cards. In every case it plays wonderfully. Five semi-experienced players can complete Space Opera Mode in about 4-5 hours.

A significant advantage of our design is the sticker driven map can be folded. Put it away and reopen it to resume Space Opera Mode at any time. Your epic campaign can occur over several game nights without blocking your game table.

Another key design feature was ensuring that Campaign scoring is close. The winning strategy requires a careful eye on managing your Morality Tracker. This forces competitive players to reveal their 'morality' early in the campaign, and then eek out a victory based on the best game play.

Now the game flips from an easy to learn, casual play into an epic, strategic battle to outwit other players and impose your moral plans across the galaxy... in other words... a Space Opera!

Countdown Show - Thursday at 7pm. Titan Cards Unlocked
about 4 years ago – Sun, Mar 01, 2020 at 01:00:26 AM

Countdown Show - Thursday at 7pm

The team at BARD Games has partnered with so many reviewers, designers and players over the years to make The Lost Worlds of Josh Kirby. So, we are celebrating your Kickstarter success with a live stream event!

Join the Facebook Event, meet the team, reviewers and designers that made the worlds of Josh Kirby come alive, and post many, many comments in the live stream. We will announce contests, tell you more about production plans and just have a good time watching the Kickstarter countdown clock lock together. 

Everyone is invited, so tag your friends who may want to help us unlock some final stretch goals by joining the adventure in the final 2 hours! 

Titan Cards Unlocked

Speaking of unlocks.... Congratulations Backers! The Titan Horde has overrun Facebook with 76 shares, and counting. Three new World Cards are added to every game! 

I know I ask a lot from our backers, but we are entering the critical last day of the campaign this Thursday. Please continue to share your Kickstarter with your friends and favorite groups to help me fund even more content for every game.