40 Hours left and nearly 250% funded
over 2 years ago – Thu, Sep 09, 2021 at 08:49:40 AM

Hello everyone,

We are a little over 40 hours left in the campaign.  We have blown through and unlocked 10 stretch goals and are working on the next Mercenary Card, the Varangian Guard.  We have also revealed the Equine Contagion Calamity and the Equine Fertility Prosperity cards as the next stretch goal after the Varangian Guard.  There are rumors that we are closing in on the reveal for the Armenian Kingdom minor player physical cards, as an upcoming stretch goal.   

But next is the Varangian Guard, the world famous Guard of the Byzantine Emperors.

This Mercenary card packs a wallop as they have an attack of 5 just like the Viking HI, and when activated, they get a full 8 to help you win the battle.  Half of the activation cost goes to the NSE and half to the Byzantine Empire when used. 

So as we get into the end stretch, if I have to choose between different stretch goals, besides the addition of a minor player (which will require a minimum of $1500 in additional funding per minor), which of the following type is most preferred? Just let me know in the comments.

• Mercenary / Privateer card
• Calamity / Prosperity card pair
• A City Revolt Card
• Additional PnP (digital only) Scenario Content
• Additional PnP (digital only) Minor Players

I want to thank everyone who has pledge and helped make the best card expansion possible.

Jason.

6 Days left and we are at 198% funded
over 2 years ago – Sat, Sep 04, 2021 at 10:22:51 AM

Thanks to all of our loyal backers, we are at 198% funded and we only need 1 or 2 more backers to reach 200% and unlock the new Khazar Empire Minor Player stretch goal. When we reach this stretch goal, everyone who has pledge at the $41 or higher pledge level will also receive the printed Army, Fleet & Diplomat cards for the new minor player. This will be in addition to any minor players already included in your pledge levels.

And don't forget that we have now unlocked 6 stretch goals. Mercenaries & Privateers Intrigue card deck will now include 4 Siege Engine war cards (Red), 2 Roden's RaidersPrivateer cards, 3 Peasant's Revolt development cards (Green)+2 additional Call-up Militia counter cards, 4 City Fireespionage cards (Yellow)+2 Fire Brigade counter cards, new Print-n-Play content for 2 new Minor Players (Khazar Empire& Armenian Kingdom) and several scenarios for use with those add-ons.

So with only 6 days left in the KS campaign, don't miss out on getting all this value. Make sure you have backed at the $41 or higher level to receive the new Minor player, when we reach 200% funding.

Thank you all

Jason R. Williams

Funded over 175% of our goal and unlocked the PnP Armenian Minor Player
over 2 years ago – Thu, Sep 02, 2021 at 10:45:20 PM

Hello all,

We have now funded over 175% of our goal and we have unlocked the PnP Armenian Minor Player.

We have revealed a new stretch goal at the $3800 level which will add a new Intrigue card for everyone, the City Fire Espionage (yellow) category Intrigue card.  This card can be used to reduced a player built city.  It sounds like agents of some realms may have been sent out to set fires in your cities.  Hopefully you will find the Fire Brigade counter card which would put out this fire.  Make sure you always have your fire brigades ready if you cities somehow catch fire.

That also means we are less than $500 from getting to 200% funding and allowing everyone who has backed at the new Master Warrior's Reward level and above from getting the physical version of the Khazar Empire Minor Player as part of your reward.  Don't miss the new Stretch Goal by increasing your backing to at least the $41 level to earn this reward.

Thank you all for your support and remember to tell all your friends and share the KS.

Now a few words about the Armenian Kingdom

The medieval Kingdom of Armenia from 885 until 1045 AD, was controlled by the Bagratid dynasty. Originating as vassals of the Kingdom of Armenia of antiquity, this dynasty rose to become the most prominent Armenian noble family during the period of Arab rule and eventually as its own independent kingdom.  The Armenian Kingdom fought wars at times and has been allied with the Byzantine Empire and the Muslim Caliphates to the south over the years.  The Armenian Kingdom especially had many conflicts with the Khazar Empire to its north. 

Jason.

We have hit over 150% funded and unlocked the PnP of the Khazar Empire and scenario's
over 2 years ago – Tue, Aug 24, 2021 at 09:43:18 PM

Everyone,

We have unlocked the Print and Play (P-n-P) version of the Khazar Empire.  This means, all backers at the $8 Squire's level and above will receive a digital release allowing them to print the 5 Army Cards, 5 Fleet Cards, Diplomat Card, First Turn start sheet, Faction Markers, and cardstock (or can be used as stickers) variants for the wooden pieces (5 army markers, 5 fleet markers).   

This stretch goal has also revealed the physical card stretch goal for the Khazar Empire which will be at 200% funding level.  We will print a stream-lined version of the Khazar Empire when we reach this stretch goal.  This means we will print the 5 Army Cards, 5 Fleet Cards, the Diplomat Card, a first turn reference sheet (folded though) and the 28 Faction markers.  The stream-lined version will not include the wooden components (5 wooden Army cubes, 5 wooden fleet ships), the customized faction dice, or the extra black wet erase marker.  We have added a new reward level at the $41 level and at a $56 level to help fund these new add-ons.  The $41 new level will include the Warrior level and a Add-On Minor player of you choice.  The $56 level will include the Warrior level and 2 add-on minor players of your choice.  When the Khazar Empire physical stretch goal is unlocked, we will allow everyone to select this reward as one of your add-on minor players.  In the same fashion, when we unlock a stretch goal for the physical Armenian Kingdom cards, we will also allow backers to select that reward.  Later stretch goals can include adding the wooden components and / or dice to these physical rewards.

Some information on the Khazar Empire

The Khazar Empire was waning and almost gone by 1000 AD, with only a handful of city & settlements still Khazar controlled, mostly reduced by the Kievan Rus' Empire and wars to the south with the Armenian Kingdom and Arab & Muslim Empires.  Therefore our scenarios will take us back in time a bit, in the 8th century when the Khazar Empire was at its strongest and at its largest extant.  The Khazar Empire and its leaders started out as a Turkish nomadic tribe which settled in the region and built fortresses to help control the very lucrative silk & spice trade routes which went through the region from Byzantium to China.  The Khazar Empire eventually it extended along the northern shore of the Black Sea from the lower Volga and the Caspian Sea in the east to the Dnieper River in the west. The Khazars controlled and exacted tribute from the Alani and other northern Caucasian peoples; from the Magyars (Hungarians) inhabiting the area around the Donets River; from the Goths; and from the Greek colonies on the Crimean Peninsula. The Volga Bulgars and numerous Slavic tribes also recognized the Khazars as their overlords.  Although basically Turkic, the Khazar state bore little resemblance to the other Turkic empires of central Eurasia. It was headed by a secluded supreme ruler of semi-religious character called a khagan, and by tribal chieftains each known as a beg. The state’s military organization also seems to have been lacking when compared to other Turkic-Mongol empires. The Khazars seem to have been more inclined to a sedentary way of life, building towns and fortresses, tilling the soil, and planting gardens and vineyards. Trade and the collection of tribute were major sources of income.  Textual witnesses dating from the 9th and 10th centuries claim the Khazars adopted Judaism in the 8th century.

Now let's get moving onto these additional stretch goals, so everyone can get the Khazar Empire cards printed as part of our rewards.

New stretch Goals
over 2 years ago – Sat, Aug 21, 2021 at 07:54:08 PM

I have listened and I have updated the next several stretch goals.  We are literarily only $2 from the Peasant Revolt card stretch goal as I have reduced it to $2.5K.  Then at $3K. we will unlock a Print-n-Play version of a New Minor Player, Khazar Empire with several alternative scenarios.  Then when we get to $3.5K we will unlock the Print-n-Play version of a new Minor Player, Armenian Kingdom.  This will include additional scenarios including alternate times and wars between the Khazars and Armenians.