I like elephants. I like how they swing through trees.
I have to agree with zelador on this one in hoping that this isn't the final version. Man, I really hate to be critical. I'm not usually one to pooh-pooh the art in games, and I thought people were highly overreacting about the Comic Sans on the character cards, but I gotta tell ya... I do agree about that board. It's just... I don't know... looks like it should be for a kids' game about dinosaurs or something. It seems too rainbow and cheerful for something where the gameplay is supposed to depict an ominous onslaught of evil forces attacking. I mean, there are bright pink locations?! For a game that seems to model Pandemic quite closely, and has elements of Arkham Horror and Castle Panic and Ghost Stories, they really went in a different (and kind of weird) direction as far as the graphic artwork for the board.
Anyway, I still look forward to playing this and I'm sure I'll buy it, regardless, but I'd be hoping someone would create a custom board redesign that I could print out and mount onto a thrift store board.
The bright borders on the locations need to be toned down to a darker color that blends in with the rest of the board. Different shapes with just a black border might also work.
The text also look a little bit blah to me too. Too big,and a little hard to read. White text with black lettering borders would do the trick.
I don't see what the problem is. Yes, the colors are bright, but what's wrong with that ? It makes everything clear. I guess the colors match those of the minions or generals miniatures in some way and have a gameplay significance, so making them blend with the background is not a good choice. There's too much judgement here, based on too little information.
I don't see what the problem is. Yes, the colors are bright, but what's wrong with that ? It makes everything clear. I guess the colors match those of the minions or generals miniatures in some way and have a gameplay significance, so making them blend with the background is not a good choice. There's too much judgement here, based on too little information.
Hm, it's not about judgement, it's about personal tastes. And if so many people say they don't like it, than there is probably a lot of truth there... I also dislike this board very much - the colors are way too saturated and motley, the plain geometrical circles for locations seem too simplistic, the wriggly dotted connectors are off-topic and the central dots on the connectors which are of different colors are both hard to spot and plain ugly. I'm not discussing functionality here, but compared to other artwork for the game, especially the box cover, this seems like a bad prototype. I really hope this doesn't go into the final product!
I don't mind the look of the board, though I hope the pink looks a little more like purple in the final print. In general I do agree that the colours could use a little muting, but I'm not too bothered - at least it's very clear, and I'm assuming that the colours are associated with the different factions, as others have said.
I think it would look better if the colours were toned down a bit (just add some black to their mix) and the words were outlined just as thick so they can read more easily...
It looks like they hired an inexperienced graphic designer. Everything (including the cards shown so far) looks like a throwback to the '80 with the garish fonts and psychedelic colors. It really is a pity because other than the graphic design the overall production seems top notch.
I like elephants. I like how they swing through trees.
Barry Kendall wrote:
There are only a couple of pink rings, they're tolerable (there was a time a few centuries ago when "pink" was considered the most masculine color).
It's not about whether it's masculine... but that it contributes to the rainbows and gummi bears kind of look, which doesn't seem to be the right fit for what's being depicted.
I hope this is just the prototype board, and it isn't the final product. It's such a dissapointment when so effort goes into a game, and then it falls apart because it just doesn't look good.
Starting with "It's a heck of a lot better than anything I could have done," I still have to say this this really lacks suspension of disbelief characteristics. Takes me right out of the fantasy setting.
Horrible looking gameboard. I agree it completely ruins the fantasy setting. Unfortunately I enjoy playing fun games with good looking components =/ Ruins it for me here.
Just because you *can* do it yourself doesn't mean you *should*.
I swear, accessible desktop publishing has uglified things incredibly over the last decade. Poor design will never, ever save money. When will America learn?
Wow!!! I absolutely loved the sound of this game, then i saw the art & miniature design. The game board is simply ugly. So inconsistent to the dark epic feel of the game. Was going to buy, not any more.
wow... I am not turned off by this board at all. I am kind of surprised by the comments (but I never post at all so who am I to complain?). I saw this game listed on The Hotness and I am looking forward to it.
Just because you *can* do it yourself doesn't mean you *should*.
I swear, accessible desktop publishing has uglified things incredibly over the last decade. Poor design will never, ever save money. When will America learn?
I couldn't agree more. Desk top 'designers' are making my BDes worthless...
That aside, the overall design could have been so much better for such an interesting sounding game.
Beyond the artwork, the location names make it appear that they used a random name generator, and not a very good one at that. Name = {overused fantasy term} & {terrain type}. It unfortunately further engenders the "Candyland" feel. I would get it if the target audience were younger , but this one is supposedly for ages 13+.
I'm sorry to add more to all the previous complaints, but I downloaded this image to my computer, and found out that the pixel at location (494,396) has the color of Red:242 Green:163 Blue:0. I think the board will look much better if this will be changed to Red:248 Green:160 Blue:17. This can be adjusted slightly, but I will not buy the game if the Blue component of the RGB will stay at 0.
I'm guessing many of the cards and info in the game will be for specific locations/cities/circles on the map. The color coding may be nessessary for ease of locating certain areas easily.
Sounds like without the colors on the map (which have to match the color of the cards) it would be very "Where's Waldo" every time you have to find a location. If they toned down the colors, everyone is going to complain "I can't tell the colors apart, it's a total pita to figure out where things go!".
I don't care much about the colors of the circles, and it has been said in a forum thread that they will be textured. I can even get accustomed to the excessively orange map.
However, I really hate the overall design. The art inside the circles is awfully cropped and doesn't catch the viewer's attention. It would be nice if the pictures blended smoothly with the map, and the circles were replaced with icons. If you get Larry Elmore to do the art, at least make sure the viewer can appreciate it!
Right on. the main problem with this map is that it looks like a standard map with circles floathing on top with a very abstract feel as a result. There is no atmosphere, let alone a specific feel to each location. I love maps that put these little wonderful details in the different locations to give each of them a unique feel.
Again, the map of Middle Earth quest has a similar approach but is so much more esthetical, both in colours and in the integration of the location art into the framework of the locations. For me such detail and beauty makes all the difference in a game that is about storytelling, like every adventure/fantasy game should be about storytelling.
I'm aware this is somewhat of a fantasy-version of Pandemic and thus not in the same style of games like MEQ or Runebound, but that still doesn't justify the characterless look of the map.
It's sad really. I was looking forward to this game then I find this. The board looks like a 5th grade art project version of war of the ring.
The names of the places are...well...dumb. I can't see playing this with my group and saying I am going to the unicorn forest, then to the raven forest, and for a change of pace I will head to the minotaur forest. Seriously?
Agreed, ugly looking board. Take a look on the MEQ board or Carcassonne tiles or .. whatever. Sigh. right now I still believe I have to buy it, but I would hate to stop buying it as soon as I see it in a store in real shape.
While I also don't like the map, I just don't get why people here make such a big deal out of it. Imo, I'm much more interested in the game mechanics. Furthermore, Pandemics map is even uglier
Regardless, I will preserve judgment until I see the final version.
No, obviously not, but those areas I believe would have looked heaps better if they were irregular shapes blended into the map, maybe with slight bevelling.
But perfect cirlces with bright colour edges... takes away from the map in my opinion, but I'm sure that was already quite clear.
To all my geekfriends, I know I haven't been around much lately, but BGG is still my homepage and everyone is still in my heart everyday. Just so damn busy!
I look at this board and my eyeballs go into convulsions. I understand that there are a lot of locations and they need to stand out, but I do hope that this isn't a final version and that they come up with something a little less chaotic.
I think id prefer a (dare i say it) Risk style map with borders - you could then add in extra "areas" that show me whats blocking certain routes?
Whats stopping me going from Golden Oak forest to windy pass in the top left corner for example - a lake, mountains, a desert?
You could then even incorporate those locations as quest locations or maybe give the dwarf the ability to travel through mountains fast or some such. They'd never get invaded and could be travelled through for a greater action cost. You could even have "events for deserts/mountains/lakes on the darkness spreads cards, throwing nasties at players who try and cut through/quest in those locations.
Actuallly, I have kinda tried to blob a risk style map together to mirror the spread of locations on that map and its doable - its not professional standard or anything, but shows what I'm getting at - can you link to photobucket from here? If so, I'll put up an example of what Im getting at...
Of course, I know the games the game and I'm sure no ones looking to change the actual mechanics, so having such thoughts is immaterial! And I'm certainly not knocking the game, which is exciting me quite a bit (enough to have these ideas about it at least!). If it just wasnt for the graphic design here, this game would be pretty perfect from what i can see.
I like elephants. I like how they swing through trees.
I'm at a convention now and someone brought an advance copy... still not the final version, but I would say it's a very advanced prototype... and I must say, it does look a lot better in person when the colors are darkened and printed on the board. I'm hoping to get a chance to play it sometime.
In any case, I already preordered, but I'll be happy to retract some of my previous criticism having seen it now. It still seems a bit screwy in some respects, graphically speaking, but I don't think it will detract from the game.
I'm at a convention now and someone brought an advance copy... still not the final version, but I would say it's a very advanced prototype... and I must say, it does look a lot better in person when the colors are darkened and printed on the board. I'm hoping to get a chance to play it sometime.
In any case, I already preordered, but I'll be happy to retract some of my previous criticism having seen it now. It still seems a bit screwy in some respects, graphically speaking, but I don't think it will detract from the game.
I just played it on the same board you saw and it looks fine; I'm sure the final version will look great. It's a lot of fun and I'll definitely be grabbing a copy at Origins.
Shouldn't it be about gameplay and not the "look" of a game. I'll take a game which plays well and looks like crapola over one which has superb looks and sucky gameplay any day. This game seems like it is gonna be pretty sweet. Definitely on my list of games to get, especially because of the solo and cooperative play.
Truly horrible, so much so that when the inevitable redesign comes out it will probably be worth it for someone to take the time and construct a new board from scratch.
Looks like an 80's kids game with zero thought put into it with the names of the places and overall horribly basic design.
A shame with the great theme and miniatures in the box. Just removing the "Circles" would make about a 40% improvement but oh what a lost opportunity.
Shouldn't it be about gameplay and not the "look" of a game. I'll take a game which plays well and looks like crapola over one which has superb looks and sucky gameplay any day. This game seems like it is gonna be pretty sweet. Definitely on my list of games to get, especially because of the solo and cooperative play.
But we're not discussing whether we're going to get this great game with crapola artwork over another crapola game with great artwork. We're still referring to Defenders of the Realm, but expected it with better artwork. A great game with crapola artwork is still worse than a great game with great artwork.
It's sad really. I was looking forward to this game then I find this. The board looks like a 5th grade art project version of war of the ring.
The names of the places are...well...dumb. I can't see playing this with my group and saying I am going to the unicorn forest, then to the raven forest, and for a change of pace I will head to the minotaur forest. Seriously?
After your turn I'll block the Orcs at Wyvern Forest and make my way to Gryphon Forest through Golden Oak Forest so I can trade with the other guy my Father Oak Forest card so on his go he can get from Thorny Woods to Dark Woods without having to go through Whispering Woods. Unless the Orcs appear in Orc Valley. Seriously?
It's sad really. I was looking forward to this game then I find this. The board looks like a 5th grade art project version of war of the ring.
The names of the places are...well...dumb. I can't see playing this with my group and saying I am going to the unicorn forest, then to the raven forest, and for a change of pace I will head to the minotaur forest. Seriously?
After your turn I'll block the Orcs at Wyvern Forest and make my way to Gryphon Forest through Golden Oak Forest so I can trade with the other guy my Father Oak Forest card so on his go he can get from Thorny Woods to Dark Woods without having to go through Whispering Woods. Unless the Orcs appear in Orc Valley. Seriously?
Whatever dude, those names are totally rad.
If you ask me, Scorpion Canyon needs better marketing.
found out that the pixel at location (494,396) has the color of Red:242 Green:163 Blue:0. I think the board will look much better if this will be changed to Red:248 Green:160 Blue:17.
For the love of God man, do the doctors know you've stopped taking your medication? (493, 396) is (242, 163, 0) ; (494, 396) is (243, 164, 1)!
Your suggestion doesn't work in either location. It stands out and ruins the whole image. It's very garish.
The sad thing is that I let some of this criticism delay my purchase of the game. As my heroes are travelling or I'm studying the board, my imagination supplies far better images than any board ever could. Great game, great fun. Don't get hung up on the board.
I might be considered crazy, but I don't mind the colors. I have a few degrees of color blindness, so I like contrast!
As an example, I had a first edition board for Arkham Horror. It's all dark - greys and browns it seems to me. I can't hardly tell what colors the locations are to draw the cards! Here on BGG, I saw some peoples pics and THEIR boards where this lighter yellowish/tan color. I immediately picked up the phone and called Fantasy Flight to get one of the new boards. It is SO much easier to figure out the location colors. Now the cards themselves are another issue.
Shouldn't it be about gameplay and not the "look" of a game. I'll take a game which plays well and looks like crapola over one which has superb looks and sucky gameplay any day. This game seems like it is gonna be pretty sweet. Definitely on my list of games to get, especially because of the solo and cooperative play.
But we're not discussing whether we're going to get this great game with crapola artwork over another crapola game with great artwork. We're still referring to Defenders of the Realm, but expected it with better artwork. A great game with crapola artwork is still worse than a great game with great artwork.
I must agree. I recently played this game, loving the concept and the mechanics but I just couldn't get over the terrible design. I also heard somewhere that the images where painted by some famous fantasy artist...for one his work is wasted in the design...and for 2, it's REALLY campy. These are the types of illustrations I find on books at Barnes and Noble and don't even give a second thought to because usually when I open them up to read a few lines...well I find the same trash writing that is on the back side of the Boss cards...right, well I guess if thats what you want...
Mechanics: Great Concept: Good Artwork: Passable Writing: Birdcage lining Design: Visit to the eye doctor
In the end I strongly believe that ALL elements of a game should be considered...and the design has really not been considered.
I definitely understand that colors and shapes are used to distinguish importance through symbolism. Though the choice of terrible dotted lines from one garishly bordered circle with horribly chosen font titles to another is extremely confusing to the eye. I was sitting next to the board as where all the other people playing the game and EVERY single time a location needed to be found we bent over the board to find it. Not to mention the extremely bland overall map...i mean really who would want to save a kingdom where all the land looks like its been burnt and is bleeding.
For a game that seems to model Pandemic quite closely, and has elements of Arkham Horror and Castle Panic and Ghost Stories, they really went in a different (and kind of weird) direction as far as the graphic artwork for the board.
. The game board is simply ugly
. So inconsistent to the dark epic feel of the game. Was going to buy, not any more.
