Cactus Game Design Message Boards

So a thought occurred to me the other day that Redemption has lost a tremendous amount of momentum and interest in the past few months and even more noticeable over the past few years. I feel the main reason is that the game is a niche game, meaning it is something that has a more focused following based on the content of the cards. Because of that, the funds to print new sets is hard to come by for Cactus. Perhaps the solution to both of these problems is crowdsourcing the next set, allowing the Redemption community to created, vote on and ultimately decide the contents of the new set (under the supervision of the PTB of course including Rob, the playtesters, and the elders). Once the set is completed a pdf of the new set would be made available for a small fee on the Cactus website to download (honors system of course but remembering that we are wanting to support Cactus who has given us Redemption). We would all be able to have a new set, print it off on sticker paper and make use of all of our old cards that never see play as backs for the new cards we would stick over the front of them. Obviously we would need to hammer out logistics of artwork, feasibility of something like this actually working to solidify the current Redemption community rather than divide it over who gets their card printed, etc. Just thought this was interesting enough to bring up for conversation.

Just as an FYI, Kickstarter is a form of crowdsourcing, so you can see the discussion we've all been having here: http://www.cactusgamedesign.com/message_boards/deck-building-and-design/kickstarter/

One related idea I always wanted to try was to get some sheets of mailing labels, and print a random special ability on each label. Simple generic abilities like "Draw a card," "Character may band with one character of same brigade," or "ALL players shuffle ALL cards in the field of play, set-aside areas and their hands (except this one) back into their draw pile.  Only cards in Land of Redemption and discard piles remain.  ALL players Draw 8 new cards.  Holder may begin a new turn."*

A player would get a sheet of special ability labels and would booster draft with like 4 packs each of Unlimited and Prophets. The player would then create the best deck that he/she could out of the 64 drafted cards and the special abilities.

*Probably not the last one--unless we also wanted to print errata labels.

With the continued advanced of technology Redemption should never need to go the self print route. Right now there are multiple POD companies who will produce custom cards. (See for example http://SuperiorPOD.com and http://DriveThruCards.com.)  If there ever is a crowd sourced expansion it would be easier (not to mention more professional looking) to have the final cards uploaded to one of more of those sites. (The existence of POD will possibly also extend the potential lifetime of Redemption as a formal product.)

A correction to Isidur's post: Legend of the Five Rings was never run under a PC nor has it been rebooted as an LCG under Fantasy Flight. It is a a continuing CCG that has been created by AEG, rolled into WotC, and then re-owned and run by AEG since 2001 or so.

Quote from: EmJayBee83 on March 23, 2014, 07:43:46 PM

A correction to Isidur's post: Legend of the Five Rings was never run under a PC nor has it been rebooted as an LCG under Fantasy Flight. It is a a continuing CCG that has been created by AEG, rolled into WotC, and then re-owned and run by AEG since 2001 or so.

oh woops I knew that I just worded it bad... sounded right in my head

np.  You covered all the salient history.  I just didn't want any L5R's who might find the boards to get a complex. 

I would probably stop playing the game if it went completely online for a while. The reason I kept playing Redemption was because of the Christian fellowship that comes with playing face to face. My favorite Redemption memories aren't any of my tournament victories, my best memories are the times when I got to have fellowship with my brothers and sisters in Christ and talk about The Lord. If Redemption was only online, one of my friends would not be a Christian right now. This is why I continue to support this awesome game Rob made that I am blessed to play.

This is not about going online with the game play. Please re-read the above posts. I agree that face to face gaming fellowship is one of the best parts of playing Redemption.

***You may be getting confused by the use of "PC" which was initially introduced in the 6th post down in reference to a Players Committee.

Oh oops I guess I should finish reading before posting. . There is a less than 0% chance that that will ever happen again.

Quote from: AJ on March 27, 2014, 03:58:18 PM

There is a less than 0% chance...

You owe me a nickel.

Correction I owe you

I agree with you that there are cards that are beyond broken. Honestly though, a few bans will fix those problems. Admittedly that will upset some players but that may need to happen for Redemption to continue.

The problem is, the meta has become so toxic that no influx of new cards can change it.
 
As long as cards like TGT, Mathew, AUtO, Edict, NJ, etc. exist, people will continue to abuse them.

Redemption cannot survive in it's current form. The only hope that the game has is a complete reboot, followed by an overhaul of the playtesting structure. 

  with this. The game cannot survive when all new cards have to be at the same absurd power level that the cards before them are. I also think they should make the jump from CCG to LCG ( I can't believe I am saying this) because buying APs is a lot easier for the players than buying multiple boosters to get the cards they need. It also makes it easier for veteran players to give advice to new players because instead of telling the to buy thousands of boosters until they get the card they need, the vets can just tell them which AP to buy. Just my