All physical work on this topic can be found on pages 3 - 4 of the black sketchbook, and page 1 of the black backlog.
Sketchbook (pages 3 - 4)
(Page 3)
'Colt Express'
- Designer: Christophe Raimbault
- Published: 2014
- Players: 2 - 6
- Publishers: Asmodee, Ludonaute
- Age: 10+
- Time: 30 - 45 minutes
- Game type: Programming, Western hold-up
"'Colt Express' is a railway-themed family board game designed by Christophe Raimbault, illustrated by Ian Parovel and Jordi Valbuena, published in 2014 by Ludonaute and distributed by Asmodee."
Choose which kind of board game you want. Do you want it European, which is about strategy, survival and long gameplay, or American, where players can be eliminated quickly.
Bang! is an American game.
Gameplay and general notes
You play as one of six outlaws (Tuco, Cheyenne, Doc, Belle, Ghost, Django) who each try to rob the train you are currently boarded on. You can steal jewels, money and most importantly a suitcase located in the engine car worth $1,000.
You plan your attack using action cards, all the while being mindful of your opponents who can shoot, punch, or out-manoeuvre you, and need to avoid the Marshal who travels through each part of the train.
It features a 3D-printed train which needs to be assembled.
Obviously, this game is part of the romanticised view of the American frontier where everybody is punching, shooting and stealing in a dynamic and exciting way.
Each character has 1 train car dedicated to them.
Each outlaw has a special ability to use.
Everyone has six bullet cards.
The game takes place over 5 rounds and each que card gives people some signs to sight-read to understand what the next moves are.
When you go under a tunnel, you each place a card face-down.
(Page 4)
Actions:
Move up or down (to the roof or from the roof)
Move horizontally from one car to another
You always must move.
Rob a passenger (take a gem or money bag) (only applies to those in a carriage)
Shoot a player (They have to be in an adjacent car or in clear sight lines on the roof)
Punch a player (Your target must be in the same car as you and you punch them to another car, they drop one of their items)
Move the Marshal
The player who shoots the most players wins 'the Gunslinger Prize' and $1,000
This is a strategy game where you have to think a few steps ahead of your opponents, for example you could get them to move next to the Marshal and have him shoot them.
Objective: Become the richest outlaw
This game now offers many expansion packs to enhance gameplay. These include:
1 for each of the main outlaw characters, known as 'Bandits'
A 'Horses & Stagecoach one
'Marshal and Prisoners', where you can play as the Marshal himself. It comes with a prison carriage to either rescue passengers from or incarcerate outlaws in. Alternatively, as an outlaw you can gain rewards by freeing your 'gang mates'.
Backlog (page 1)
Tuesday 19th November 2019 (James' Workshop All Day'
Researched into the first Western-themed board game I could think of, Colt Express. I decided it was about time to research into existing board games that share the genre of 'Western'.
This is so I can both gain some influence and see what I am up against as a board game designer. It is important to see what exists in a similar field so your work doesn't turn out like those things.
This improves experimentation and gives knowledge of how their game mechanics work, so you can get some ideas (within reason).
I wrote down general information about the game, such as the designers, date published, how many players you require, the age range and game type, as well as how the game works and the player's objective.
Gameplay, general notes and actions (pages 3 - 4 in the black sketchbook)
I also printed out my PowerPoint presentation prompt and stuck it in my sketchbook to demonstrate what research I gained during the preparation of my 2nd PowerPoint presentation. This is to show how much knowledge I have of the American frontier. I can also flick back through my notes in case I need to when I am creating game ideas. I believe it will come in useful during this time (Page 5 in black sketchbook).
Week 6: 04/11/2019 - 10/11/2019
Week 7: 11/11/2019 - 17/11/2019
Week 8: 18/11/2019 - 24/11/2019
Week 9: 25/11/2019 - 01/12/2019