A cooperative board game about slaying monsters, slinging spells, and surviving magical corruption.
Latest Updates from Our Project:
May 2024 Update: Addresses Locking, Freight En Route, June Fulfillment Goal
17 days ago
– Wed, May 01, 2024 at 10:48:44 AM
Where are the Ships?!
It's May!
Welcome to another monthly Encounters: Shattered Wastes update. As you know from our April Update, manufacturing has completed and we successfully loaded our product onto three different freight vessels headed to the United States, UK, and Australia. As we mentioned previously predicting freight transit times can be difficult, but we are confident the product will arrive to its destinations sometime at the end of May.
For our internal timeline that means we will probably begin fulfillment in June, barring any major unforeseen import setbacks. We will have more information about this process in the next monthly update.
Addresses are Locking
You probably received an email from Backerkit confirming your shipping address. PLEASE double check that it is correct and make any necessary adjustments by 5/2/24. We are locking these addresses so we can get finalized packing lists to our fulfillment companies. This is so they can prepare to get Encounters to your doorstep as soon as they receive the bulk.
If you have an address change after 5/2/24 please email [email protected] so we can update it.
At this time if you have not paid for shipping for your copy of Encounters: Shattered Wastes then you will NOT be getting your game!
Pixel Art Progression
We have now concluded our various character spotlights, and we don't want to spoil any more in-game content. Instead we thought we'd share another look at our pixel art progression for our player characters. Some of you who followed our pre-campaign email list may recognize this.
It's always interesting to discover new mediums, and pixel artist kasatka_pixel was truly exceptional to work with. We were deeply inspired by the look of classic JRPGs, but also wanted to be a little more detailed than what you might expect from the 16-bit era. Here are a couple of zoomed in looks at the above progressions.
Many early iterations are simply rough drafts for posing, but you can see how quickly detail can be added. Pixel art was the perfect medium for our 2D standees and seamlessly blends our theme with gameplay components.
Heading to the Orchestra!
We have some very exciting news! Our composer Dión Morales will be live recording the Overture of The Shattered Wastes later this month! This is a fairly involved effort because sheet music had be written for all the various instruments (forgive us as we aren't very music savvy...we roll dice...) Here is a little bit of it for you more musically inclined individuals.
Soon!
THANK YOU once more for sticking with us. We know it's been over a year, but the finish line is in sight!
Hopefully some of you can start getting your games next month!
April 2024 Update: Unboxing Video, Getting on the Boat, Arrowmancer Spotlight
about 2 months ago
– Mon, Apr 01, 2024 at 02:49:46 PM
Unboxing Video
Happy April Encounters Backers!
Before we get into ANY other news, here is our long awaited Unboxing Video of our Deluxe Edition. Please enjoy!
Manufacturing Has Completed!
We are very happy to announce that we have finished all manufacturing for Encounters: Shattered Wastes. As you read this update we are finalizing our logistics to get the games on freighters and to their various fulfillment centers. This should finish up this week. It's very possible that copies begin to get sent to our Australian and Asia region backers as early as next month.
However, due to low water in the Panama Canal, and continued closure of the Suez Canal, the exact timing of fulfillment for our North/South American and European backers is TBD. We are hoping to start sending out copies in late May, but more likely is early June. The ocean is a large place after all.
If you have not confirmed your pledge and paid for shipping you will NOT be receiving a copy of Encounters: Shattered Wastes. We also can no longer process refunds.
Addresses are NOT Locked yet, HOWEVER, if you think you will be moving between now and June UPDATE YOUR ADDRESS and EMAIL us [email protected].
Character Spotlight: Arrowmancer
Unknown magic and marksmanship. Divination and accuracy. These are all tools the Arromancers of Bal Kiliath possess. Implementing a supernatural ability to see a moment into the future, these archers use their mastery of the arcane to wound their foes with spectral arrows imbued with knowledge of the future.
An Arrowmancer uses offense as the best defense, favoring sorcery that will attack their enemy. As their magic dwindles their inherent trait of inflicting wounds only gets better. Rumors around the realm accuse the Arrowmancers of using Shattered magic to create their ethereal bows. When an Arrowmancer Shatters, the golden glow of their newfound power infers collaboration rather than corruption.
Choose at least 1 Ability Attack when drafting your starting abilities, such as Aim or Tempest Blitz. This offers you the opportunity to deal wounds to the enemy even if it isn’t staggered. Both Hex Bolt and Aim are excellent Back Line Ability Attacks that make it easier to land your attacks. Tempest Blitz is especially powerful on the Arrowmancer because it deals damage equal to your roll. If an enemy Area has a lot of cards in it, the Arrowmancer could deal potentially 6 damage with a single attack, which would go to Wounds if they are in the Back Line. This is extremely powerful, but likely to lead to Shattering if not wielded carefully.
When the Arrowmancer Shatters, remember that due to their unique trait any Strength Card on the player board side can be targeted. When the attack hits, they can place a strength card from another area into their own. Rejected Servitude and Fragment of Purity also represent the Arrowmancer's resilience to the corruption that normally comes from being Shattered.
Music Update
We have more battle music for you to preview! This time we have 4 Minutes of the Specter! A ghostly possession based monster!
Thank You Thank You Thank You!
As games get closer to your doorstep we of course must THANK YOU for being so patient. It's been over a year since the Kickstarter concluded and though we were hit with some delays it's thanks to you that this amazing product is about to be a reality.
March 2024 Update: Production Wrapping, Final Call for Payment, Ronin Spotlight
3 months ago
– Fri, Mar 01, 2024 at 01:02:09 PM
Manufacturing Wraps This Month
The end is in sight!
Production is concluding by the end of this month and the games will be heading on boats to get shipped to fulfillment houses then straight to your doorstep! Unfortunately due to delays our warehouses have told us we'll need to pay 2024 shipping rates (which are higher than expected).
We will be absorbing those costs and not requesting any additional funds from backers.
We should have Master Production Copies any day now, and once we do we'll do a full unboxing video for everyone. Thank you for your continued patience!
Last Call For Payment!
This is VERY IMPORTANT!
Please Check the following:
You've completed your Pledge Manager Survey
You have been charged for your pledge/add-ons in BackerKit
You have been charged for shipping in BackerKit
Your address is current and up to date.
If ANY of the above have NOT been completed you will NOT receive your copy of Encounters: Shattered Wastes.
If you have any issues with the above OR if you are a retailer, email us at [email protected].
Addresses are NOT Locked yet, and you will have time to update them before your copy of the game is shipped to you.
We are still reaching out to those who have not paid for shipping or completed their pledge manager, but we are nearing the point of no return.
Freight Delays and Surging Prices
As mentioned in our last update, freight from China is a bit crazy at the moment. Here is a quote from Freightos.
"Despite the Operational Prosperity Guardian naval task force, Houthi attacks persist. Recent escalations involve an attack on a Maersk vessel, triggering heightened US response and UK considerations of targeting Houthi positions in Yemen. Iranian warship entry into the Red Sea and ongoing Houthi missile attacks further escalate regional tensions. Global freight encounters disruptions as container carriers reroute away from the Suez Canal, resulting in extended lead times and potential port congestion. Freight rates surge, with Asia-N. Europe rates are up 173%, Asia-Mediterranean prices doubling, and carriers implementing surcharges ranging from $500 to $2,700 per container."
So what does this mean for you? Well, nothing at the moment. We are trying to get a better handle on expected freight estimates and timelines. Those should come more toward the end of the month, however certain areas of the world can expect a delay in fulfillment compared to others.
Character Spotlight: Siren
Not all creatures of the deep desire to stay there. Despite the tales of enticing songs designed to lure sailors to their doom, most Sirens walk amongst the common folk, singing melodies in pubs or shanties on the open sea. Sirens enjoy studying the unique properties of fire, an explosive curiosity only found above water, making them particularly adept as pyrotechnic practitioners. The satisfying bang of a flintlock igniting is better than any chorus.
Using their rhythmic ability Sirens are able to inspire their allies to have a greater attack range on the battlefield. Using strategically placed explosives and some black powder firearms certainly doesn’t hurt as well.
It’s important to remember that the Siren’s trait Blackpowder Ballad allows them to target adjacent enemy Areas. This can be used to regenerate MP and make their spells more affordable. This means Sirens also work as excellent Support Ability users.
Inspiring Verse allows them to transfer their large MP pool to another Character who could make better use of it, such as the Slayer or Arithmagician. When paired with her trait she can ensure that the entire party has the MP it needs to take over the battle!
Healing Zephyr is a very strong card that can regenerate HP. If all characters are in the Front or Back line of the board then they ALL can benefit. E:SW is pretty stingy on its ways for character to gain health, so this one use ability can be a major boon against some of the stronger enemies in the game.
Finally we have Strategic Mastery, a reactive support card that pairs very well with the Siren. Every character has a die number that equates to a Critical Success. For the Siren, that number is 3. This ability can help her in two ways. If ANOTHER character in her area rolls a 3 on an attack, then she can use Strategic Mastery to make it a critical success! If the Siren rolls 2 dice on an attack (such as if she draws a 2 die magic attack after using Healing Zephyr) and one of them contains a 3 she can make it a crit! This dramatically increases the odds of dealing automatic damage and should not be underestimated.
When the Siren shatters she returns to her mermaid form and becomes quite resilient to corruption. However, in this form her fragility increases. With only 5 HP she is one of the weakest characters in the game.
To offset this weakness, the Siren draws 3 Shattered Abilities. When she makes use of one of them she can either gain a corruption to gain 1 HP, OR deal 1 damage to any Area. This pairs very well with a cheap free ability such as Cursed Chorus. It can even be used outside her activation with an ability such as New Teachings.
Music Update
Another month means another music preview! This time we have 4 minutes of The First Chosen! An enemy who has a tragic past. Is he really a bad guy?
Thank You for Being Amazing!
These next couple of months should bring much more news and much more hype! We once again thank you for your continued patience as we move toward finalizing production.
Next month we'll have a character spotlight on an arrow launching magical warrior!
February 2024 Update: Production Continues With Chinese New Year Delay, Ronin Spotlight
4 months ago
– Thu, Feb 01, 2024 at 05:43:24 PM
Production Delays
Hello Encounters Backers!
We unfortunately need to report some tough news. Our manufacturing partner has informed us that Encounters will NOT be finished by February 10th, which is the start of Chinese New Year. For those of you who are unaware, many businesses in China close during this 2 week period, which means no work will be done during that time. We were very much hoping to avoid this setback, however it means that we most likely won't be done making the game until mid-March. We wish we had better news, and trust us this was NOT what we wanted to hear.
If you're wondering the cause of the delays, you'll notice from our previous updates that there were a lot of issues with the molded insert. The initial design that was given to us from GameTrayz did not fit the cards properly. Then when we adjusted it, it did not fit sleeved cards well either. This was unacceptable to us, so we increased the size of the box from 295x295mm to 300x300mm to give just enough extra space to accommodate the better mold. Due to the back and forth this pushed us back, but now we are in business!
We've been told a Master Production Copy should be sent to us by the end of February, so hopefully next month we can show you a full unboxing.
Shipping Has Been Charged
Most Kickstarters charge for shipping once manufacturing begins, as the timeline solidifies during that time.
Ifwe did NOT charge you for shipping then you will NOT receive a copy of Encounters.
Address are NOT Locked yet, and you will have time to update them before your copy of the game is shipped to you.
If you were NOT charged for shipping, email us at [email protected].
If you don't confirm your address and completed the BackerKit pledge manager survey then you will NOT receive your copy of Encounters!
We are still reaching out to those who have not paid for shipping or completed their pledge manager, but time is running short on this.
Potential Freight Delays to Europe
Some of you may have heard that there seems to be another shipping crisis on the horizon. The Suez Canal has shut down, and Freight ships in that region are being attacked with frequent abundance. Because of this most shipping from China to Europe is being forced to sail around the bottom of Africa...the long way. This could end up being a potentially 3 week delay or more for Backers in Europe and is completely out of our hands. As we know more information we will of course update you. Thank you for your patience.
Character Spotlight: Ronin
A dereliction of duty exists within the past of all Ronin. They use the remembrance of their incompetence to remain calm on the battlefield, and regroup for another offensive. A Ronin finds no joy in the bloodshed of combat, instead finding moments of solace in their calm curation of various balms, potions, salves, and ethers.
A Ronin can act both as a dangerous attacker, or a valuable support piece providing rare items found in their travels to the rest of their allies. The Ronin excels at keeping their threat low and softening the consequences of failure.
The Item Ghost Nectar allows the Ronin to make devastating Ability attacks, such as Blade Blossom without the risk of gaining Threat. Blade Blossom Allows the Ronin to Attack each Area on the board in a devistating barrage! If the enemy is Staggered then this can inflict major wounds upon it!
Reaction Abilities that pair with Basic Attacks, like Blurring Feint, also make use of the Ronin’s Disgraced Wanderer trait. Once per round when the Ronin misses with a Basic Attack, they can perform a Recover Action, trigger Blurring Feint, then Perform ANOTHER Basic Attack without gaining any threat! A perfect and powerful combo!
When the Ronin Shatters they become very fragile, with only 5 HP, but are very resilient to corruption. Drawing 3 Shattered Abilities (which characters gain corruption to use), the Ronin is a strong glass canon who can make excellent use of their newfound powers.
Ultimate Control allows the Ronin to trigger any other Active Ability another character has equipped, even if it is not a Shattered Ability. Cheaper abilities have more utility, but if the Ronin wishes to gain a large amount of corruption then a powerful more expensive ability could be used as well.
Umbra Inferno is arguable the most powerful ability in the game. If there are a lot of enemy cards in one Area, the using this ability places at least 4 of them directly into wounds. If your corruption is even higher then a character could potentially do up to 12 damage with this card!
Finally we have Redemption, another way that a character can Reclaim themselves (Flip their card back over). When the Ronin reaches their corruption limit, this ability allows them to roll 2 dice. If they roll a 7 (Their critical value) OR the die faces match then they can Reclaim themselves OR another character. This has enormous utility, because it even allows you to bring back a Shattered Character who had previously succumbed to corruption.
Music Update
Another month means another music preview! This time we have 4 minutes of The Guardian!
Thank You for Your Patience!
THANK YOU for sticking with us. Delays are frustrating and we very much wanted to deliver on time, but we are still hoping to have it to your door by May!
Next month we'll have another Character Spotlight, one who wanders like the waves...
January 2024 Update: Credit Cards Charging January 20th for Shipping, Slayer Spotlight
4 months ago
– Fri, Jan 05, 2024 at 03:40:21 PM
Production Continues
Happy New Year Encounters Backers!
We have a lot to get through with this update so let's get to it! We are still continuing the manufacturing of the game, and the molded insert finally fits sleeved cards! We are crossing our fingers that production concludes before the Chinese New Year begins on February 10th, however that is starting to look less and less likely due to delays. Additionally, we've been notified of potential freight price increases as a response to low water levels in the Panama Canal. We are not impacted yet by this, but are very much hoping to get product on boats to the mainland as soon as possible. We'll know a lot more by next month.
Credit Cards are Being Charged January 20th
We will be charging for shipping on January 20th, so pleasemake sure your Credit Card information is up to date in BackerKit.
Ifwe cannot charge you for shipping then you will NOT receive a copy of Encounters.
After cards are charged we will no longer be able to process refunds either, as the funds will be used for fulfillment.
Address are NOT Locked yet, and you will have time to update them before your copy of the game is shipped to you.
Pledges are LOCKED, Please Contact Us With Issues!
We have locked all Backerkit Pledge Managers, and we no longer have any Deluxe Editions available.
If you aren't sure if you've completed your survey, please double check your pledge survey email. If you still have questions, email us at [email protected].
We have emailed several Deluxe Edition and Standard Edition Backers who have yet to complete their pledges. You MUST HAVE THE FOLLOWING:
Payment Information
A Valid Shipping Address
If you don't confirm your address and completed the BackerKit pledge manager survey then you will NOT receive your copy of Encounters!
Character Spotlight: Slayer
The Shattered Wastes is a place filled with countless monsters and beasts. Sometimes these creatures wander out of the wastes and it’s up to Slayers to vanquish them. When a warrior pledges to become a Slayer, they must first forge a unique weapon to prove their worthiness. This weapon is made by creating a bond with corrupted Shattered crystals from the wastes, and reclaiming them. Purging their essence of the corrupted Shattered magic. These weapons provide Slayers with immense power and the ability to more easily wear down the creatures of the wastes. There is a cost to all power however, and if these reclaimed weapons were to once more feel the taste of corruption, the Slayer would inevitably succumb with it.
The Slayer’s trait Reclaimed Blade makes Staggering an enemy during the middle of the Action Phase possible. Make sure your allies are ready to jump on this opportunity to inflict wounds. The Slayer is a more advanced character that is not recommended for beginners. It requires a strong understanding of both threat and MP management. However, those who are able to master a Slayer will find immense flexibility. The above recommended ability loadout for Journey Mode makes use of this.
Crippling Hit allows the Slayer to deal only a single damage without gaining any threat. When a strength card (the monster skull icon) is PLACED into another area on the board (such as fatigue) the character suffers no negative effects. Normally the Slayer deals 2 damage when he hits with that way-to-big sword, which will result in more threat gained (higher threat means more difficulty landing future attacks). Crippling Hit is a cheap option to only remove 1 high value card when needed, making it very good for threat management.
Tactical Instincts is a great support ability that grants an out-of-activation move action to another character. This can be paired with the Lancer's trait to net a free attack, or paired with the Monk's trait for free threat reduction. As you play Encounters you'll find that if you can find creative ways to move character's around the board without using the Move Action then you'll be much happier! You only get 2 actions every activation so you have to make them count!
Finally, Flash Beam is a strong, but very expensive sorcery ability. Roll 2 dice, and if the result is less than a 7 then it is critical! Critical damage is applied direction to wounds and no threat is gained (remember threat is BAD). This gives the Slayer a powerful punch to potentially deal wounds when the enemy isn't staggered.
You'll note for the Shattered Slayer we don't have any ability recommendations. This is because of a very unique trait called ImperfectVessel. The Shattered Slayer has a very high corruption limit of 12, but is on a ticking clock. Each rough he's guaranteed to gain at least 1 corruption. Remember, when a character's corruption (The eye symbol) reaches their limit they are removed from the board!
However, the Slayer gets a new Shattered ability each time he activates, which means he has the potential to draw something that will allow him to reclaim himself before it's too late!
Music Update
We have our first completed track! A small segment of The Sunken Beast's healthy theme can be listened to below, composed by Dión Morales.
