project-image

Avertigos- A 3D Boardgame with Flying Sail-Ship Miniatures

Created by Siddharth Jain

A unique Board Game with moddable Sail-Ships miniatures engaging in innovative 3D Tactical manoeuvres on the Table top.

Latest Updates from Our Project:

Production Update 4
almost 6 years ago – Fri, May 11, 2018 at 01:35:37 AM

Ho Avertigos! 

The 3D file conversion was successfully completed. Lijia has created two 3D printed prototype sets, using the Production STP Files. They have dispatched these, along with the print component prototypes to us via express courier. 

While we wait to examine the prototypes and give our final feedback to them. Here are some pictures of the prototypes that they shared with us:

Moulded Components & Ships
Moulded Components & Ships

Several small tweaks and improvements have been made to the ships, modules and components during the 3D file refinement stages. Some of these have been implemented to make the models more production friendly (such as shut-offs. Read more here) while others are aesthetic or design refinements. 

Examples of aesthetic refinements are the the extra details and textures on the hulls and modules - while one major design refinement is the coupling system for the modules and the ships. 

In our original design, the modules had a generic square protrusion on their underbelly and the ships had a similar sized cavity on their decks where the modules  could be placed. 

In the refinement we've made these rectangular to prevent disallowed coupling (such as orienting a Rocketeer module to fire towards the wake of the ship). We've also added a specialised coupling template for the bow modules, so that these cannot be placed illegally in other sections of the ship.  

3D printed ships
3D printed ships
Destroyer STP Prototype
Destroyer STP Prototype

We expect to receive the prototypes within the next week. We will make another  detailed update, with pictures, after we've had a chance to examine them. 

After incorporating our final feedback, Lijia would have all the design candidates for the production process. They will then expedite the creation of the production dies and moulds based on these designs. A trial run will be made with the moulds and dies and after we've had a chance to examine those the production will begin. 

Thank you for your continued support and patience.  

As suggested by Joux A, we've created a print friendly version of the manual draft that can be downloaded here.

You may also leave your comments on the Facebook here.

Regards

Sid

A 'paying it forward" update
almost 6 years ago – Fri, Apr 20, 2018 at 12:21:13 AM

Ho Avertigos! 

We are working on refining the 3D files for the prototype production run and will post another production update next week. 

We are really grateful to the Kickstarter platform for providing us this opportunity and introducing us to you our magnificent backer community. So, we want to pay it forward. Here are 3 very different but richly thematic games that we have recently backed.   

1. Cat Rescue (Funded, Ending Today)

The adorable Cat Rescue game
The adorable Cat Rescue game

Cat Rescue is cooperative family game that promotes cat rescue and adoption. In the game, players work together to save as many cats from the street and their individual foster homes as possible, in order to score the most points and do the most good for these furry friends.

Cat Rescue Campaign Link

2. Sweet Mess (Funded, Ending Today)

Tempting Sweet mess game
Tempting Sweet mess game

Sweet Mess is a tasty resource gathering and engine building game for 2-4 players. The game uses a unique resource disbursement mechanism ("making a mess!") and an innovative resource placement mechanism where the resources act as workers. It incorporates a fun, fast gameplay style that invites new gamers while giving experienced gamers satisfying options. Strap on your apron! The player that completes the most delicious recipes will be the winner of the competition.

Sweet Mess Campaign Link 

3. 40 Thieves (Funded, Ending 26th April 2018)

Gorgeous 40 Thieves game
Gorgeous 40 Thieves game

In a medina on the borders of the kingdom thrives a dishonest merchant with excessive wealth. Gold coins, fabrics and carpets pile up in its hidden and well-guarded den. In the middle of his treasure are nine bluish sapphires of great purity. Nine precious stones that make you dream. In the city, looters, thieves, and other rogues start a challenge: Whoever steals the most of these stones this night will be crowned king of thieves. Will you answer the call? Will you brave the forty thieves who keep the loot?

40 Thieves Kickstarter Link

That's all folks. I'll be back with a production update for you next week.

Warmest Regards

Sid

Production Update 3
almost 6 years ago – Sat, Apr 14, 2018 at 01:21:01 AM

Ho Avertigos! 

The bulk of the production process has been proceeding smoothly and we are very happy working with the Lijia team. As posted in the last update, we have finalised the production candidates for a majority of the print and wood components of Avertigos, South China Sky. 

We've also finalised a draft of the illustrated manual and have uploaded it for your comments here (follow the picture link below)

Manual draft for review
Manual draft for review

However, the creation of the plastic moulds is going to take more time, than it was allocated on our "to do" list, and has put us behind our intended schedule. In particular, the conversion of the Avertigos 3D Assets from STL files to STP or Step files is taking longer than originally planned. 

We do all of our 3D design work in the 3DStudio Max software from Autodesk. We've been using Max for all our projects over the years and we are very familiar with the entire ecosystem. As Max outputs STL files this was our logical choice of format for designing all the ships and modules. 

3D Model Creation process
3D Model Creation process

Unlike the vast majority of miniatures based tabletop games in the market today, the Avertigos ships are composite miniatures that are meant to be moddable on the fly. Since we didn't have any particular precedents to follow, we had to anticipate user-experience issues and preemptively come up with elegant solutions for them.

Especially for the purposes of rapidly prototyping the various coupling points on the Ships and Modules - as they play such a critical part in the Avertigos Game design - we installed multiple desktop 3D printers and Laser cutters in our studio. As most desktop 3D printers use STL, this has worked out well in our pipeline.   

With this setup we were able to conceptualise, create, iterate and  refine our highly detailed and complex miniatures. All the 3D models that we have showcased for this project (and the many others that didn't make the cut) were printed and finished using this setup. 

Playware 3D Printers setup
Playware 3D Printers setup

We knew that STL is primarily a CAD format and for manufacturing we would have to convert these meshes to the CAM friendly solid format (For those of you who are interested in the process here is a video on the topic). 

For ease of use in a desktop environments STL files have a much lower fidelity than the kinds of files required for production. The refinement of the 3D Files, for manufacturing, began last year and we've put up our Sketchfab page to keep everyone updated on the progress. 

As ever, we believe that God is in the detail. The conversion, of the simple geometry of STL to the demanding fidelity required for production, routinely throws up curve balls and a lot of the issues can be hard to spot.  

Patrol STL to STP conversion issues
Patrol STL to STP conversion issues

For those of you who would like a closer look at the issues, I've created an album of the kinds of details of the refinements we are working to solve. (pardon the sloppy grammar in these files, they were not meant to be shared in a public forum)

The overrun has already cost us a week and a half and may take longer still, despite our best efforts at expediting the process. After the production 3D files are finalized we want to do a test run with the candidate moulds, as planned, and also have time for further refinement if needed. (For this our production team will be returning to China) 

The Ships are the heart and soul of Avertigos. We absolutely do not want to compromise their production quality in any way. As a team we have decided to push back the schedule, by an extra 6 weeks (from our original schedule), and make time and be doubly sure we get everything right.  

We also want to take a further buffer to ensure we can keep the new schedule. The new expected date for shipping will be the first week of July. For those of our backers that might have to update their shipping information; please message me directly. 

We thank you for your continued support and understanding and are committed to delivering 'The best Game of 2018'. 

Best Regards

Sid

Production Update 2
almost 6 years ago – Thu, Mar 29, 2018 at 10:25:01 PM

Ho Avertigos! 

We're really excited and we wanted to share this moment with you.

Our friends in Lijia just sent us our very first look of the production samples for some of the Avertigos print and wood components. 

First look at Avertigos Dice
First look at Avertigos Dice
Fearsome Meeple Warriors
Fearsome Meeple Warriors
Pilot and Module Boards
Pilot and Module Boards
Box and insert
Box and insert
Spot UV on box lid
Spot UV on box lid
The Game Boards
The Game Boards
Waiting for the Ships and Cards, Manuals, Pegs, Stands, Ranges et al
Waiting for the Ships and Cards, Manuals, Pegs, Stands, Ranges et al

Lijia has been working on preparing our 3D files for the mould making. A more detailed update will follow on that, along with the printing plates for the illustrated manuals. (Your help will be needed to proof read those.) 

It's a really fulfilling time for us. Watching this long and cherished dream of ours finally come together. 

Another very warm thank you, to each and every one of our backers. More exciting stuff coming soon. 

Warmest regards

Sid

Gong Xi Fa Cai Avertigos!
about 6 years ago – Thu, Feb 15, 2018 at 01:05:02 AM

Year of the Woof!
Year of the Woof!

Happy Lunar New Year 2018 Everyone! 

Its the year of the Earth Dog.

The Dog represents duty and loyalty and is a sign of defence and protection. This year everyone should be level headed and to err on the side of caution. Entrepreneurs are advised to focus on their most loyal clients. The Earth Dog sees strong gains in wood-related consumer industries overall. 

Back of the Box art
Back of the Box art

Last year I backed Cytosis by John Coveyou! This year he just created a new game...

This time about building Atom from subatomic Particles! It’s called Subatomic: An Atom Building Game. Here’s a link to their LIVE Kickstarter page 

There's a COLLECTOR’S EDITION available through the Kickstarter ONLY that includes metal coins as energy tokens, some custom screen printed wooden upgrades and other goodies.  

In Subatomic, players use Quarks to build Subatomic Particles and then use Subatomic Particles to build Atoms! 

It looks really different and fun so do go have a look.  

That's all for this update. We'll be back with more exciting news soon.

Gong Xi Fa Cai!

Sid