Playing Favorites

If you go to the Clout forum, you'll find a thread where we're discussing the limited nature of Clout factions. As each expansion is a new faction, it's impractical support each one eternally, at least with our current strategy. This has really got at least a few players pretty hot!

For the details of the discussion, click the link. I just want to share a bit about me and why I think this is an issue.

I don't have a favorite faction. When I played Magic I didn't have a favorite color (I had a least favorite color...white.) Most trading games are faction oriented in some manner, and I have never chosen just one and stuck to it. In fact, regardless of the game, I don't like to play the same faction twice in a row. For me, it's about variety. The more, the better. Those that have played me at conventions know I like to change stacks after every game. Not only that, I like to go up and rebuild and retune stacks after every game session, even if I won.

I think an individual's preference regarding single faction or multi-faction play is based on personal preferances in combination with game culture. As Magic was my game of choice, and color allegience was not considered a big deal, I never developed it. My observation of L5R players, on the other hand, leads me to believe they can be fiercely loyal to thier factions. I've seen a few Clout players who have also grown attached to their faction of choice. It seems there are many who fall into this category. That's just not me.

San Diego Comic-Con Day 1

Wow. The Con is incredible. Seriously, I'm blown away by how HUGE it is!

From a work standpoint I don't have much to report. We're doing demos, I'm running intro and starter events up in the farthest, darkest room of the gaming area (Stalag..er...Room 13) On the upside, I've got Stalag 13 all weekend. My own private Clout gaming room. I might try to do something creative if the same folks keep coming for the events.

Also as usual, the players I've met have been amazing. Really, really nice people. I don't think Magic players as a whole are near as nice as people to whom Clout seems to appeal. I mean, most Clout players have or do play Magic, but the nice ones seem to like Clout as well. Maybe I'm biased, I don't know.

Sadly, I forgot my camera so no pictures. That's a bummer because there really are some pretty darned cool things I could take pictures of. Well, lots of other people will be posting pictures, so I suppose you can see that stuff if you want to.

-Adam!!!

Heffalump Traps

Right now I'm reading House at Pooh corner to my 5 year old before he goes to bed. The last chapter I read involved Pooh and Piglet falling into a pit they had dug to catch the Very Fierce Heffalump.

I sort of feel like that's happened to me. I've found myself in at the bottom of a pit I dug myself. Despite the CLINCH medallions being available at Origins, I still don't have any to ship to TO's. My liberal policy regarding prize support has the new prize chips on e-bay before a single tournament has even taken place. I haven't compiled Venture points in so long, I barely remember how to do it. (update: while stuck in the San Fran airport, I updated the VP list!) My goal of a one day turnaround on e-mail is so lost some people think my e-mail has stopped working (it hasn't- Sorry Amy!)

All this and I'm not really as swamped as people think. I'm just disorganized.

Today I leave for San Diego Comic-Con. I'm looking forward to meeting several new Venture Demo Team members, running a really aggressive tournament schedule, and generally having a good time away from all of these largely self-made issues. When I return I'm going to take a look at everything, decide how to fix each issue, and then fix them.

Things will probably stay a bit screwed up for the rest of this month, but I'm shooting to be back on track in August (in time for Gen Con Indy to challenge my solutions.)

Other things I'm working on:

A system for getting prize support to international TO's.
New tournament guidelines for CLINCH.
Two documents: one for players and another for TO's. Very short, very open ended.
A league system for conventions that Ventures can also run on their own with just a printer, a sheet of round stickers, and some prize support.
A 'catalog' of items Ventures can purchase with their points.

At the end of the Pooh chapter, Christopher Robin came and rescued them. In my story, I'll be climbing out of the pit myself...then covering it with something...perhaps a new Clout Playmat!

-Adam

New Tournament Score Sheet - Draft

Based on my experiences at Origins I've put together what is the perfect tournament score sheet *for me*. Everybody is different, so I expect this will be too simplistic for some TO's. Me, I like simple. Go ahead and use and copy these sheets if you like them. If you do, provide feedback! I'd like to turn a version of this into some score pads, if people like them and the demand is there.

These are both in PDF format:

Score Sheet
Score Sheet Info

The idea is that they'll work for both One-on-One and Multiplayer Tournaments. Again, if you don't think a one-size fits all sheet will work, please let me know.

-Adam

CLOUT PIRATE-CHIP PHOTO PROMO

AHOY! Hidden City Games invites all scallywags, swashbucklers, able-bodied mariners and Clout fans to "get in the game" and join a randy crew of privateers at Gen Con Indy! Sail over to booth #845 to get yer photo taken and have yer ugly mug put on your own Clout chip! Then you’ll be a buccaneer in the red pirate faction with the launch of Redbeard’s Revenge, the new Clout expansion on sale first at Gen Con! Come dressed in your pirate finery or borrow our props – just be sure to get yer pirate on! Beware: Scurvy dogs and landlubbers will be keelhauled! ARRR!

(As there are no typos, you can tell I didn't write this myself! =-)

-Adam

Origins - Big Tournament!

This was the 28 player Starter tournament, plus the 4 player Constructed Stack off to the side. I'm there on the left. You can see Amy, Cythia, and Gap at the end of the right hand table. You can see that everyone is seated, the tournament hadn't quite begun yet.

These were, in fact, the first CLINCH tournaments ever!

Are you ready? LET'S THROW DOWN!

-Adam

Origins 2006

I can't overstate how successful Clout was at Origins this year. Where other vendors were complaining about light crowds and slow business we had our biggest weekend of of sales ever, hosted our biggest tournament ever (28 players), and were generally slammed doing demoes start to finish, all four days.

After such a successful convention, I'm expecting a flood of "my local store doesn't carry Clout, what can I do?" e-mails. While I don't have the final answer quite yet, in general the solution is to request a demo kit from me and show the store the game, and after a few demos the store will see how quickly people get into it. Clout is available through standard game distribution channels, so it's likely all the store needs to do is call their usual game supplier and ask for Clout. If not, they can contact me (adam hiddencitygames com) for info.

CLINCH launched at Origins, but it'll be a few more weeks before it can lauch everywhere else. I just don't have the metal Medallion chips yet. That said, the new prize chips are ready to go. Starting Monday, July 11th, Shrunken Heads and Helm of Leaderships will be things of the past. They will continue to be available as an option for Venture Demo Team members to purchase with points, but really they will become the standard give-away promo at conventions. We still have thousands...

Lastly, we still need volunteers for SanDiego Comic-Con, Wizard World Chicago, and Gen Con. Contact me if you'd like information on volunteering.

Welcome to Ohio!

Tonight is the calm before the storm. We've landed, we've checked in, we've eaten.

Tomorrow we PLAY (or work, depending on how you look at it.)

I've got the camera, expect pictures from Origins.

Also, e-mail is working fine again.

E-mail is down...again!

I don't know what the problem is, but for the second time in two weeks I can't get e-mail to work on my laptop. It's got to be a problem at the office (which I've called, but no word back yet!)

If anyone has written me over the weekend, I'll respond as soon as I can. I have been responding to PMs sent on the forum, but that's not my favorite way to communicate. (No spell check, for one!)

Origins Info for Volunteers:

Hotel: Crowne Plaza Downtown Columbus (adjacent to the convention center)
Origins info: http://www.originsgames.com/exhibitors

Exhibit Hall Hours
Thursday 10:00am - 6:00pm
Friday 10:00am - 6:00pm
Saturday 10:00am - 6:00pm
Sunday 10:00am - 4:00pm

In order to get ready each day, volunteers should show up between 9-9:30am (unless otherwise arranged.) I'll be down at 8am-ish for breakfast and would welcome company. I'll work out help with events once we're on the ground running.

Call me on my cell at 425-785-5214 for info or if you have questions. (That goes for anyone, really.)

-Adam

Art Madness Round 2

Here are the second round matchups of the Clout Art Madness forum event. Links to chip images thanks to Sporadicgames can be found in every poll entry (under where you vote.) Voting is open to all Clout Forum members, even if you just joined today and missed previous voting.

Each poll is open for two days and half of these polls will close tomorrow! What am I talking about? Check out the Clout Forum

Bone Wyrm (16-2)
vs
Island Elf Captain (11-8)

Ravening Dire Wolf (9-8)
vs
Gangris the Mad (13-4)

Pull Under (9-8)
vs
Garrich (13-6)

Fury of Nature (16-4)
vs
Infiltrator (13-7)

Shore Patrol (13-5)
vs
Zharak (10-8)

Oozab (15-2)
vs
Shaman Repoons (13-5)

Dragon Towncrusher (16-1)
vs
Outland Courier (15-5)

Coordinated Strike (15-3)
vs
Deluva's Chosen (12-6)

The numbers are the votes for-against from the first round of voting.

-Adam

Five Finger Dis-Count

Does the title make any sense at all? No. Oh well.

We ran across this a few months back and all had visions of dazzling the peeps at GenCon. As it turns out I suck at this sort of thing. Maybe you all can do better!

Poker Chip Tricks

-Adam

All Clout and No Robots Makes Adam a Dull Boy

This tape was made at Western Allied Robotics' last event in April. We're planning another event for early August.

http://www.on10.net/Blogs/TheShow/3488/

mARTch Madness!

Hidden City Games needs to choose a art for it's next (first?) Clout T-Shirt! We'd just argue, so I've put it to the fans to decide what they want on their shirt.

Art Madness is happening right now on the Clout Forum The forum members have already helped me select 32 of the most popular pieces of art in the Clout: Fantasy set, representing all six of the current factions. Now, the pieces are paired off in a single elimination battle to determine what piece is really the forum favorite, and our next T-Shirt design.

The first round is posted, and 1st round voting will begin closing tomorrow and will be completely closed on Thursday!

This is how they are set up, in order. Just add the lines. The winner of Bone Wyrm vs Forest Wyrm will go up against the Winner of Necromancer vs Island Elf Captain, and so on.

Art Madness Round 1 Matchups:

Bone Wyrm vs Forest Wyrm
Necromancer vs Island Elf Captain

Necro Lab vs Ravening Dire Wolf
Gagris the Mad vs Barge Captain

Banshee Wail vs Pull Under
Necro Neophyte vs Garrich

Fury of Nature vs Big Magic
Poison Mushroom vs Infiltrator

Shore Patrol vs Reef Outcast
Battle Maiden vs Zharak

Oozab vs Home Guard Squire
Shaman Repoons vs Merfolk Cavalry

Plains War Veteran vs Dragon Towncrusher
Outland Courier vs Water Nymph

Palimus the Ranger vs Coordinated Strike
Deluva's Chosen vs Juvenile Dragon

-Adam

Expect the Unexpected

Bella Sara

Check out the press release talking about Hidden City Games' next big thing, Bella Sara. Now, I don't really expect you guys to be that excited about this game, but you should know that we are all very, very excited about it. Like Clout, people just take to the game when they see it. Unlike Clout, the people taking to the game are little girls. So far, little girls in Denmark. Our goal is to spread Bella Sara to world beyond Scandinavia.

Excited? Well, if not, that's okay. =-)

How about this. We've designed and printed the first two sets of CLINCH promo prize chip sets. The first set is designed to support and tie-in with Defender of Undersea, the second supports Redbeard's Revenge.

With Clout Marvel Heroes being the next expansion due out after RR, the third CLINCH kit will feature new chips from ALL previous expansions, plus the two new factions of Marvel. That's right, the third CLINCH kit will feature 10 new chips, one for each faction plus two neutral. That is, unless the plan changes again. I don't think it will, which is why I'm writing this now.

The original CLINCH Marvel plan was to produce two kits that could be combined into one, but we decided our original Clout is Clout is Clout strategy is best. Each new Clout expansion, regardless of genre, is Clout. Different genres, one game. At best, Marvel and Fantasy fans will convert eachother. At worst, TO's will be stuck with a bunch of extra chips they don't need (I guess there's always e-bay...kidding!)

-Adam

Can't see, can't hear!

This is the only way I can get the word out, so I hope folks are reading this. My e-mail is currently down. I'll be going into the office tomorrow, in case the problem is with my laptop. I don't think it is, as my internet works fine otherwise. If you want to contact me, go ahead and use the forum PM or just post here.

Thanks!

-Adam

CLINCH Newz and Previewz

I'm going to break my own rules and predict the future:

CLINCH will debut at Origins 2006. Medallions will be here. Promo prize chips ARE here (arrived today!) I'll begin shipping on Monday after Origins, the first week of July, my normal OP shipping schedule.

This will be the last month to get Helm of Leaderships and Shrunken Heads.

Since my Armored Captain file got corrupted (I'll make another one, but not tonight) how about a couple of other CLINCH art previews!

Necro Adept by Clint Langly

Shore Patrol by Jennifer Meyer

Wizard World - Recap

Short Version: I had an awesome time!

Less Short Version: Flew in, Ran Tournaments with Swan, Flew home, Got Sick. (Con Crud, is the technical term.) EDIT: Just a minor cold. I'm fine now, thanks everyone!

I've already heard from so many of you who had a great time at WW, I can't tell you how great it is to get your e-mail and see you posting on the forums. It really makes the trip worth it, and not just in a ROI sort of way.

I'm pretty far behind with getting kits shipped, but I'm working to catch up as quickly as possible. Venture Points and shipping the Scouts, Hunters, etc. have taken a back seat to getting the Prize and Demo kits shipped, but I should have it all taken care of by Friday. *Should*, who knows what reality might do to me.

Thanks!

-Adam

Wizard World Philly Day 2

Wizard World Philadelphia


It's midnight here in the city of brotherly love, and because I fell asleep almost immediately after getting back to my room from the show, I'll probably be up until 3am. *sigh* Maybe inspiration will hit me and I'll get some work on my personal CCG done. (Not likely.)

My favorite story from today's event: One of the players (Adam, I think) from the morning's Starter Stack tournament was disappointed he couldn't come play in the 3pm constructed stack tournament because he had to go see "some guy speak". I'm pretty sure the speaker was Kevin Smith. Honestly, I'd ditch all you guys to see Kevin Smith if I thought I could get away with it. Adam, if you're reading this (and that is you're name), I hope you don't mind. It's was pretty good moment for me and I wanted to share.

Michael had a great TriGun Costume, complete with doughnuts!

Stuart adjudicating the final match of the constructed stack tournament between Carl (left) and Kurt (Right), both terrific players. Kurt took home the gold (in the form of a Bag of Greed + Loaded Chip Display). Congratulations Kurt!

Left to Right: Melinda, Mike, Adarian, Adam, Stuart.

Good night!

Adam

Wizard World Philly Day 1

A good day. I'm not sure it was a great day, but Fridays at cons rarely are. Despite Jetlag and foolishly following my workmates to an Irish pub last night the day went by extra smooth.

We had an Intro to Clout session, where the players played 3-player games. First with just Starter Games, then I provided boosters and they played with the slighly modified stacks. I'm really happy with it as a 'first tournament' format. This wasn't really a tournament, I just set up games and gave prizes to the players who won each game. Everyone got boosters and promos. [newt] They mostly got Helms and Shrunken Heads, mostly. [\newt] My favorite part of the tournament was a young girl named Danielle who (while a little loosey-goosey with the throwing rules) was still a dead-eye shot and won both her games. She seemed pretty sure she could beat her brother who plays Hero Clix. I think she's right! We'll find out tomorrow, as they both plan on playing.

Big thanks to Stuart (Swan on the forums) for helping me out. Out of 12 players, 8 were first timers and with 6 players we could have one judge per table. It worked out great. In addition to Venture Points, I've got to find way to thank him. We may be getting together later to play. It all depends on what the other folks want to do. He said they looked pretty tuckered out, and to be honest, so am I.

Tomorrow will be the big kahuna day. I'm running another Starter tournament at 11am (this time a proper tournament, rather than a series of indivudal games)

The plan: Lots of sleep, No Irish Pubs, Good Breakfast w/fruit, then CLOUT!

-Adam!!!

I'd like to thank the Academy

Clout's probably a longshot, but it's nominated in two Gamer's Choice Award categories.

Click Here to Vote

I'd love to see us win one for the Gipper. (For this production, Peter Adkison will be playing the role of "The Gipper")

-Adam