4.14.2011

Aether Captains - Triad :: Contest

In celebration of my newest Aether Captains steampunk game - Triad, I am going to run a little contest.

The Prize: A retail ready copy of Aether Captains: Triad, complete with five 12mm dice (in a nice steampunkish gun metal gray with copper pips) and 50 euro-style wooden cubes all in a compact box (the box has room for the planned Triad 2 expansion deck with 3 all new games, currently under development).


The 3 games in Triad innovatively use 1 deck of 54 custom cards, all set in the steampunk-themed Aether Captains game world. Games are designed to share components and be able to be played quickly by 2 players in a compact space. The deck includes all cards to play each game, cards which become the game boards, and rules.

Intrigue: a 2 player game of area control across the city states of Arkady, using 24 eurocube style markers per player. Players take on the role of Grand Council members, vying for influence in the city states. Players use groups of matching cards to place 1-3 markers in each city state during their turns, trying for a majority, or can use cards to remove an opponent's influence. The game is played in 2 rounds, scoring each round, and takes 10-20 minutes.

Zeppelin Derby: a simple 2 player race game in the skies over Thoia. Players roll 5d6 and use cards as roll modifiers to race across a 3 card course. Cards include Dirty Tricks and Engineering bonuses. 5-10 minutes.

Celinian Trader: a pick up and deliver style game of trade on the Celinian Sea for 1 or 2 players. Needed are 14 eurocube style markers per player and 5d6. Players fill their holds with different types of goods - copper, glass, coal and linen - as they sail from port to port buying and selling goods, amassing their fortunes. The game is played over 4 rounds whose length is determined by a series of events both players are subject to. Different values for buying and selling are set by a Trade Market that changes prices from round to round. Competing for victory points, players may also purchase upgrades to their ships. This game is also suitable for solitaire play and takes 20-30 minutes.

All three games are designed to be quickly learned, easy to play and fun. Read more over here.



The Rules: To enter, simply post a comment here telling me what Aether Captains games you've played (and it is ok if you are new to the games and have not yet played any), what you've enjoyed about them if you have played them, and what you'd like to see in my next game design. From the comments posted I'll randomly pick a winner on May 1st, so be sure to check back then for the announcement. If you've won something on my blog before that is ok, you are welcome to enter this contest as well. Good luck to all.


37 comments:

Some Dude said...

I haven't had a chance to play any yet, but I definitely would if I won this copy!

Unknown said...

I haven't played the games but I like Steampunk so I thought I would check it out!

ThePatzer said...

I haven't taken the plunge to PnP any of the games yet but Capek Golems is of particular interest.

As an amateur game designer and profesional motion graphic artist I have to say that I'm really impressed with your output.

I work on the graphics even in the first prototype which slows me down but I just can't help myself. Do you face similar issues?

At any rate, your graphics are great and your games are intriguing. I hope to check out one or more soon!

Matt

trundorn said...

i'm playing Aether Captains and will test Capek Golems. i like your steampunk universe and games you create !
this contest is a very good idea.
let's try it !

Chuke95 said...

I haven't try any Aether Captains games now but they are under my scope (Triad and Clockwork Cabal first)
I really like the steampunk theme !

sweetgotham said...

Forget bother to enter; how can I just BUY the tricked out set? And no Golem :( that was the one I messed around with for the contest; would be nice to get a tricked out set of that too!

Igor Mascarenhas said...

I have not yet played any game but I just finished craft Clockwork Cabal and I'll play it tonight. I love the idea of Aethen Captains’ universe. Sometimes you are running to be the first, sometimes you are a leader of a ship or a pirate of zeppelin. All of this things make me love this game. I want see a Aethen Captain game that mix all of games, maybe a war that you can make golems, zeppelins to attack other players and make ships to get good and resources to give you advantages in game. All in a big map.

alkis21 said...

Not played yet but it is on my radar. Looks very beautiful, and has some unique elements. I am a sucker for print and play games.

Hank said...

I've played capek golems and really like it.

I'd like to see a game similar to rattus and pandemic, an event similar to the black plague.

gschmidl said...

I've been eyeing Captains for a few days now, I'll probably take the plunge soon!

Anonymous said...

I haven't played any of your games... yet! I keep meaning to do up a one of them to try, just can't decide which. They all look pretty dang cool/interesting.

Love the art-work on them all, even your none A.C. stuff: simple, functional, yet very aligned with the themes. But maybe what I like best about your stuff is that it's inspired me to think a little bit about some game designs of my own.

As far as your next game design... hmmmm... a full-scale, euro-style, multi-player, "big" game?

Keep up the good work!
kswingrber (from BGG)

GrognardDad (BGG user) said...

Haven't had a chance to play any, but looks like quite the varity of designs, and the artwork is incredible.

Jules Verne is very steampunk, particularly Disney's version of the Nautilus.
Have you considered an Solo Dungeon crawl style game using a submarine? Maybe do an alternate theme/skin for Clockwork Cabal (which does look interesting already).

Joan Ribera said...

I've played Capek Golems, just once. It was fun and tense, very inmersive, something I really like.

I'm waiting for the cubes to build Aether Captains, and your links to order Clockwork Cabal... and this one if I don't win the contest!

I have the materials to build Dread Supremacy, Pirates & Traders and Compass & Empire, I just need a better printer!

I'm not sure what I would like to see in your next game... I love your solo games, but I think it would be nice a multiplayer one, maybe a coop game. I would like to see a dark themed one (similar to Capek Golems).

Caleb said...

I've never heard of Aether Captains but I think Steampunk is awesome. Looks good!

willdesigns said...

I ve seen the art in your games as well as the mechanics and love the imaginery of a world like in Laputa: Castle in the Sky from Ghibli studios. I haven't printed the games yet but they are in my printer's queue for sure.

I ll give more feedback when I have some time to play :D

EurojuegosBsAs said...

This game has being on my radar for some time, but I've never found the time to actually test it. Good to see the final product. Nice packaging. Neat design. Great artwork. Kudos!

PS I love Zeppelins!

Luis Olcese said...

Saddly, none one yet, but I hope to change that.

Brian Lombard said...

Just discovered this series of games today. I am extremely interested in what you have going on here.

gonna pnp the first one in the series a bit later on.

this looks really good!

Arcangel Urbano said...

I wouldn't play it, but i want to do it!

Me parece muy interesante la propuesta. Espero poder conocerlo mejor.

Un abrazo.

Unknown said...

I have played and constructed Aether Captains, Aether Captains: Dread Supremacy and Compass and Empire over the past 2 months. Looking forward to making the others as I get the time and materials.

idolminds said...

I just recently came across your games on BGG and haven't had time to put them together to play. I hope to fix that soon. :)

Unknown said...

Looks great!I work with historical documents and the artwork is wonderful!

I'm getting into games again after a long absence and would love to win this.

Anonymous said...

I've made & played Empire & Compass so far, my kids liked it very much. I love your art, you already know that.

The weather finally dried up enough for me to put the first coat on the Triad cards, they look lovely. Thanks so much for creating these!

So don't include me in the contest, as I've already got a copy. :)

Celina from BGG

La Cantera said...

I haven't played the games but I like Zeppelins tematic...
sorry my bad english... SALUDOS DESDE ARGENTINA y nos gustaria mucho tener una copia de tu juego en nuestro pais!!!!

Amase Levasseur said...

Todd, you know I haven't played any of the Aether Captains games, but what an opportunity! My chances are slim as we know I do not even win when there's a 50% chance. :-) But I'll keep trying. Hugs for being a game giant!
Amase

Vince said...

I haven't played any of the Aether Captain games yet - too much playtesting of my own games, I'm afraid - but I've kept a list of the ones I'd like to try, and it kees getting longer.

I like the graphical consistency, and the way the games seem to have an either a very original or somewhat euro feel, but without the lengthy play times, over-complicated rules, and risky price tags.

Sean said...

I might as well throw my name into the pot...

My wife and I have played the One-page contest game Compass and Empire. This was my first time making dice, too! I plan on making several of the other Aether Captain games.

Anonymous said...

Hello.

I found out about your series from BGG (my name is dorktron2000 there) and I would love to try them out. I think steampunk is a largely untapped theme in boardgaming and would love to see more of it! Keep making what you love and thanks for letting me enter.

David J.

Capítulo Teixeira de Freitas nº50 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Hi,

I haven't played any yet, but i'd like playing 'Intrigue'. I really would like win this copy.

Good Luck for all..

Unknown said...

Hi

Great stuff Todd. I will be trying out all of your games, not sure which to start with yet. I love the them and the fact that all the games exist in this one universe is a real pull for me.

Other games? Bring in some Cthulhu mythos and more racing games Steam Cars / Land Leviathans maybe.

Unknown said...

Just got the Aether Captains dice game to print out and try, but I can't play it with my nephew. Would love to try Triad out.

Alex said...

I printed out and put together Aether Captains last week. I've only played it a few times, but it's been pretty fun. I like especially the design of the pieces: the way the zeppelin dice rotate to show damage, the artwork chosen for each of the pieces, the lovely tinted playing mat that gives the whole game the feel of an old silent film. It's incredibly nice to look at, yet still very functional and easy to use.

As for your next design, I kind of found myself wishing that there were a horror game in this setting. There are so many horror games that take their inspiration from movies like Evil Dead and Dawn of the Dead, but you could do something really interesting and different in a setting like this; something closer to the old Universal Horror movies or to the Castlevania games. I haven't tried Capek Golems yet, but maybe that will come close to fitting this steampunk-horror game idea I've had in my head.

Chili said...

I haven't played yet, but I love the theme! This looks beautiful.

Henry said...

New to the game but I'd love to win a copy. This is the kind of thing I can definitely play with my teenage son (and avid fan of steampunk).

Kakaris said...

KakarisMaelstrom from BGG. Honestly, this is the first I've heard of this game series but I'm always up for new 2 player games. Tell me more!

todd said...

The contest is now closed. Please see - this entry for the winner