I agree with Emile. I found the photo of the prototype board much more appealing as well, and I think it's largely because the continents on this version are lower contrast with muted colors. I thought the prototype was far more map-like in this regard, and that seemed to be the whole direction... maps scattered on a table.
I'm really looking forward to this game, and I hope the graphic design of board turns out all right. Everything else I've seen looks fantastic!
The prototype art was from Jarratt, both he and I were really impressed with what Josh had done.
Have you tried looking at the full size image? If you haven't give it a look, the details like the navigation lines really make the map elements stand out in my opinion.
I think as the map is a bit darker, it doesn't look as clear when viewed as a small image.
Either way I'll make sure Zev and Josh see the feedback.
Well I designed the original board so I really like the vote of confidence, but I think Josh has really captured what I was originally looking for here. If you look at the full-size version you'll really get a sense that these are old maps scattered across the table, especially in the curling in the corners and the torn edges.
I think mechanically the decision was made that the different regions should have different colour schemes to increase functionality and play. That was one criticism we had of the prototype board and I think Josh has done a really nice job of incorporating that while still making everything look like old maps.
Carl and Jarratt, looking at the full-size image actually does help a lot. Sorry for not doing that earlier. I really appreciate the level of detail. The colors are still not completely my cup of tea, but that's a highly subjective area, and I think I can recant my previous comment. I'm really impressed.
To all: If you haven't yet checked out the full-size version of this, please do so
I have to admit that looking at the full-size image does improve things.
The prototype conveys very clearly the image of maps scattered across a table. In the small version of the new board, the actual maps are very much faded out, while the castles dominate a lot. The result was that it felt like a box with castles, with something of a map in the background.
In the full size version, the maps (or the contours of the continents) are a lot more visible again. I think I'd still prefer it a bit more if they stould out just that tiny bit more (more difference in land and water colour, perhaps). But then again, that might also spoil it.
Still, it looks interesting... Hoping to see it in Essen.
First of all the Designer did a great job! But if I may give my opinion i'll be glad. The cards and the other components give me a more classic feel of the 16th century (like the classic fonts they used)than the board. The new design of the board give me that feel too if i looked at the original size and I see some details like the navigation lines. But the contours of the castles and marking places are very bold lined and it gives them more a modern look than a classical look. Maybe you should try them tinner. I think it will stimulate the classical look from the 16th century. The bold lines overal and the dark shadows make it a darker and less attractive. I should prefer some lighter colors like what you used more in the cards and it will give it a fresh look. Thanks for letting us posting some comments and I'm sorry for my poor English. I'm certain I't will become a beautiful result!
Great Cards and Components
I'm very interested and I'm hoping to see it in Essen. Thanks for putting these excellent scans and photos up.
Thank you everyone for the comments, compliments and criticisms... the design of the board is still underway but it is nearly complete... there may yet be changes to what you see here. One thing to also remember is that the cities and the connections will have tokens or player-markers in them at all times during the game, and that the card wells will have stacks of cards in them.
The main change to the board is of course the colour and the strong breakups from region to region. This was intentional, to promote clarity of gameplay. The original prototype map was indeed beautiful but difficult to scan and to easily tell areas apart.
One of the main landmarks in a game of Endeavor is when you "open up" regions via shipping, for card draws and eventual occupation and struggle for control of the cities and their connections. To highlight this, we wanted each region to visually separate from the rest, so that the board doesn't read like one big zone.
A primary goal of the map design was to make the regions clear and distinct from each other, and to increase focus on the significant gameplay features in each region; namely the cities, and the shipping tracks.
The shipping tracks stand out first, and for good reason... nothing happens in a region until you've collectively filled up its shipping track. Once that happens, the region's cards may be drawn and its cities/connections become fair game.
The actual map backgrounds beneath are not functionally important... it doesn't technically matter if Africa looks like Africa, or India like India etc; they're important thematically only. I thus made an effort to have the functional elements "pop" a little bit off the backgrounds. This is why you get the bolder outlines and shadows on items that are actually used... the intent is for the entire composition to look nice, but also to be easily "readable" in terms of gameplay.... to achieve this I have in some ways resorted to modern effects.
I believe the design works well... at a glance you can quickly recognize the divided regions, associate the cities and card wells to those regions by colour, and quickly survey the status of the cities and the connections.
Work continues on the game, thank you again for the commentary. Hopefully you all will be happy with the final results.
I would do all the things I have ever dreamed of doing. I would love to become a professional whistler.I'm pretty amazing at it now, but I wanna get, like, even better. Make my living out of it.
Bffffttt, Pffffttt, Buuuuurtt........
Board looks great, I'm adding this game to my notify list to keep abreast of what is going on with it and as a possible purchase when it is released.
The first thing that ran through my mind was: It reminds me of the map from Struggle of Empires. It looks far better, but the composition looks fairly likely.
