Entry for WME 0050 - Spirit of the Range (No Posting)

[CopperChaos]

Spirit of the Range

Game Overview:

Spirit of the Range is a resource management, exploration, and territory-building game where players take on the role of Wild Mountain Equids roaming a vast, untamed landscape. Players must collect resources, build their herd, conquer territories, and survive the wilderness while avoiding predators and harsh elements. The goal is to be the first Equid to establish a thriving and well-balanced herd with access to the best grazing grounds and territory.

The game combines the free-roaming, adventurous nature of Wild Mountain Equids with the strategic depth of a resource-building game. As you traverse the vast landscape, you’ll encounter different challenges—fighting off a pack of wolves, crossing a raging river, or even racing against a rival herd to claim the best grazing land. The mechanics also encourage cooperation, negotiation, and occasional betrayal among the herds, making each game feel dynamic and full of narrative possibilities.

[CopperChaos]

Game Pieces:

1. Map Tiles: The game board consists of hexagonal tiles that represent different landscapes such as:

- Grassland (supplies Forage),
- Forest (supplies Wood),
- Alpine (supplies Mineral),
- River (supplies Water),
- Arid (no supplies)
- Cultivated (supplies Forage & Water but poses danger of capture)

2. Resource Cards: Players collect resources like Forage, Wood, Water, and Minerals to help grow their herd, find shelter, and survive challenges.

3. Encounter Cards: Purchased with resource cards - 2 Forage, 1 Water

a. Equids: These represent different Wild Mountain Equids, each with unique abilities that can help boost a herd and contribute to herd size.

b. Predators: Predators like wolves, bears, and mountain lions can attack equids, forcing players to use their herd’s strength or shelter to fend them off.

c. Humans: Humans can both 1) assist by providing resources or 2) hinder by attempting capture; which may decrease herd size or require changes in current travel trails

d. Natural Events: Storms and other natural weather events can disrupt resource production or damage a herd's available shelter; endangering herd members.

e. Challenges: Trigger races and other challenges between rival herds; can both 1) earn bonus resources or 2) decrease herd size or territory

4. Achievement Cards:

- Grand Herd: this card deems a player’s herd superior and is awarded to a player’s herd that has enough herd members, territory, and trails to win the game.

- Prosperity: this card is awarded to the player who has the most herd members past 6 additional herd members. This achievement can be stolen from other players once they achieve 1 than the current highest herd count. For example, the current card holder has 7 additional herd members, another player can steal the card when they reach 8 additional herd members.

- Resilience: this card is awarded to the first player who has successfully avoided consequences from several encounter cards (excluding equid cards & encounter cards that provide resources)

5. Territory Tokens: Each player has a limited amount of territory tokens to claim areas of the board for their herd; earning resources from the various landscapes and finding shelter. Territory Tokens can be placed by trading in resources - 1 Water, 2 Wood, 1 Mineral

6. Trail Tokens: Each player has a limited amount of trail tokens that form special paths that can be constructed to move equids and herds faster through herd territories. Trail tokens can be placed by trading in resources - 1 Wood, 1 Mineral

7. Player Meeples: Players each have an Equid meeple (miniature model) that they move across the map, exploring different regions and interacting with other players’ herds.

- Core game meeples are available in 4 colors: red, blue, green, and yellow

[CopperChaos]

Game Mechanics:
Spirit of the Range is a strategic board game where players lead Wild Mountain Equid herds across a vast landscape. The goal is to explore new terrain, manage resources, and dominate key territories while avoiding dangers like predators, harsh weather, and human interference.

Gameplay Actions:
1. Movement and Exploration:

- On their turn, players roll a single die to move across the board. Each roll allows a player to either collect resources from the tile they land on or explore a new tile.
- Exploration is crucial, as it opens up new resource locations or even encounters with other wild animals, rival herds, or unpredictable events.

2. Herd Building:

- Players can “claim” new lands and add equids to their herd. The more equids a player has, the more resources they can produce each turn.

- Shelter & Protection: Equids who have territory claimed with territory tokens can find shelter. Shelters act as protection against encounters with predators and severe weather (see shelter prompt on encounter cards)

3. Resource Management:

- To expand your herd territory, find shelter, form trails, or trade with other players, you’ll need to manage your resources effectively. Resources are shared across all tiles a player controls, but must be used wisely.
- Players can trade with each other for resources but beware of untrustworthy traders; other herds might offer less-than-ideal deals.

4. Encounters:

- Encounter cards can be “bought” using resource cards. Encounter cards are essential to game play and offer the chance to expand your herd by finding new equids.
- Encounter cards also pose a risk as predator, human, natural event, and challenge cards might be drawn, which could disrupt resource production or endanger herd members.

5. Victory Conditions:

- The game ends when a player manages to earn the Grand Herd, effectively establishing dominance and survival of the fittest. The Grand Herd must consist of:

6 herd members (excluding the player meeple)
4 territory tokens that span across at least 3 different landscapes of the map
At least 2 established trail tokens

- Alternatively, players can play to a recommended score of 12 Herd Points. This method victory points can be earned based on herd size, territory control, and achievements.

Each additional herd member earns +1 Herd Point
Each placed territory token earns +1 Herd Point
Each Achievement card earns +2 Herd Points
Trail tokens do not contribute to Herd Points

Set up & Progression:
1. Initial Set-up:

- Board Creation: Shuffle and randomly place hexagonal terrain tiles in a hex grid pattern facedown,
- Starting Player Placement: Players choose a starting tile
- Resource Card Pool: Place all resource cards are placed within reach of all players or a player deemed the card distributor.
- Encounter Card Deck: Shuffle cards and place face-down within reach of all players
- Turn Order: For beginners, each player rolls the dice to determine which player goes first. The player who rolls the highest number will begin the game. For experienced players, the oldest player goes first. Player turns will then progress to the left of the first player.

2. Progression:

- Dice Roll: Each player starts their turn by rolling the dice to determine movement for their turn. Occupied tiles then earn resources.
- Exchange: Once the player has completed their dice roll and resources have been distributed to all players, the player has the opportunity to exchange their resources with other players. Only the player whose turn it is can initiate exchanges and trades with other players.
- Development: Once resource exchanges and trades have taken place, the player can use resource cards to gain encounter cards, place territory tokens, and/or place trail tokens.

3. Variations/Advanced Rules:

- Drought: In extreme situations, players must cope with droughts that lower water resources, affecting movement and herd growth.

- Migration: A phase of the game where Wild Mountain Equids must migrate to find new grazing grounds, requiring players to relocate their herds and reassess their resources.

[CopperChaos]

Setting & Plot:
The sun rises over the vast frontier, casting golden light across the open plains. A distant thunder echoes—not from the sky, but from the pounding of hooves as Wild Mountain Equid herds gallop across the landscape, searching for food, water, and a place to call home.

The land is a living, breathing entity— From the rolling high grasslands where herds graze under the open sky to the dense forests that provide shelter and safety, the land is both a haven and a challenge for survival. Mighty rivers carve through the terrain, offering a vital source of water but also posing a barrier to migration. In the alpine highlands, the air is crisp and thin, and only the strongest herds can endure the harsh conditions. The arid deserts, though barren, offer unexpected paths to new opportunities. Meanwhile, the fertile farmlands at the edge of human civilization hold the promise of food—but also the danger of capture.

This is a world where the rhythm of life is dictated by the changing seasons, the pursuit of sustenance, and the struggle for dominance. Predators lurk in the shadows, storms roll across the plains, and human encroachment threatens the balance of nature. Each herd must adapt, outmaneuver rivals, and find a way to secure its legacy.

In Spirit of the Range, players take on the role of herd leaders, guiding their Wild Mountain Equid and herd through an epic journey of exploration, survival, and competition. But survival alone is not enough. The herds must compete for dominance—securing the best grazing lands, outmaneuvering rivals, and avoiding the many dangers that lurk in the wild. The call of the wild beckons—will your herd rise above the rest and claim its place in history?

[CopperChaos]

Aesthetics:
The game takes on a rustic and natural appearance, with artwork inspired by classic wild west media, rural mountainscapes, and Wild Mountain Equids. Think of a vibrant and earthy color palette with artwork that emphasizes the freedom and wildness of wild mountain equids and their environment.

1. Overall Visual Style:

- Earthy, Natural Palette: Think warm, earthy tones—rusty oranges, sun-bleached yellows, deep greens, and the soft browns of dirt and wood. These colors would dominate the board, the tokens, and the components. The goal is to create a feeling of connection with the earth and natural environments.

- Textures: The board tiles would have a slightly textured appearance, giving them the feel of actual landscapes. For example, mountains have a rugged texture, grasslands a soft, flowing look, and rivers with gentle ripples. This would visually reinforce the idea of moving through and interacting with different landscapes found in the game.

2. Board Design:

- Hexagonal Tiles: Each tile would represent a specific landscape type and have a unique design. The textures would feel hand-painted, akin to illustrated maps and adventure books. The borders of the tiles would appear to be slightly weathered, as if they were parts of an old, treasured map.

- Grassland: Lush green plains with rolling hills and scattered wildflowers. The sky is open and expansive, representing freedom. Some tiles have a lone tree or a few scattered rocks, with minimal cover to give the idea of the equids running freely.
- Forest: Dense, shadowy woods with towering trees, their canopies overlapping to create dappled sunlight filtering through. A mix of earthy browns and soft greens would convey a peaceful yet mysterious environment.
- Alpine: Stark, rocky cliffs and towering peaks. The colors here are slightly cooler and depict a harsh, jagged texture to suggest danger and difficulty. Sparse vegetation like pines or tough grasses dot the mountain sides.
- River: Gentle, winding rivers with the smooth flow of water. These tiles have rippling water with crystal-clear reflections that feature some aquatic plants and tall reeds around the edges. The color of the water shifts from pale blues to deeper, murky tones to indicate different depths.
- Arid: A dry, windswept expanse with sparse vegetation. The colors are dustier and depict a barren and difficult area to survive.
- Cultivated: Fenced fields growing golden grains and drying grasses being prepared in hay stacks for harvest. Depicting the line between wilderness and civilization.
- Hoof Tracks: To reinforce the theme of wild mountain equids, there would be subtle hoof tracks stamped along the edges of tiles. These would be light, almost ethereal, suggesting the equids' passage through the wilderness without making it too overt.

3. Tokens:

- Player Meeples: The Wild Mountain Equid tokens should feel tactile and sturdy, made from materials like wood or resin. Each equid has a different pose and subtle details that give Wild Mountain Equids their unique look, such as wild manes.

- Territory Tokens: Designated by the color of the player; red, blue, green, and yellow. These are also printed on high-quality cardboard, cut into precise shapes tokens indicating certain areas of the board are claimed by a herd They are characterized by the depiction of gathered equids and found shelters.

- Trail Tokens: Characterized by a trail of hoof prints these tokens are printed on high-quality cardboard, cut into precise shapes to give the appearance of a well worn path from frequent herd travel. Each is designated by color for the player; red, blue, green, and yellow.

4. Encounter Cards:

- Equid Cards: For a more immersive experience, equid cards include artwork of various iconic official Wild Mountain Equids. Equids would be depicted with different poses (galloping, grazing, standing) depending on the abilities they offer. This adds a personal touch and uniqueness to each player's herd.

- Predator, Natural Event, Human, and Challenge Cards: The artwork for cards depicts scenic landscapes, such as a herd of Wild Mountain Equids galloping across the plains, a fierce predator lurking in the shadows of a forest, or a violent thunderstorm darkening the skies. Each event card would have illustrations that capture the moment in time—providing players with a sense of awe and danger.

- Tactile and Rich Illustrations: The card illustrations would have a rustic, hand-painted style, giving them a textured feel like older wild west based paintings and media. The edges of cards have a weathered look, as though they’ve been carried by the wind across the wilderness or passed down for generations.

- Minimalistic Font: The typography should be simple and elegant, with a handwritten feel to evoke a sense of personal connection with nature and exploration.

5. Resource Cards:

- Foliage: Represented by tall grass illustrations on a soft green card with the Resource Card Symbol and brown color scheme on the reverse side.
- Water: Represented by water droplets on a soft blue card with the Resource Card Symbol and brown color scheme on the reverse side.
- Wood: Represented by logs and branches on a dark green card with the Resource Card Symbol and brown color scheme on the reverse side
- Mineral: Represented by small crystals and stones, designed in translucent white or light gray on a dark blue gray card with the Resource Card Symbol and brown color scheme on the reverse side.

6. Packaging and Box Design:

- Rustic & Natural: The box design should feel like something you'd find at an old ranch or wilderness camp. It would keep to the theme of earthy colors and the font would have the same rustic, simple, handwritten style as game components.

- Game Boxes:

- Mass produced: game boxes would be made from cardboard, similar to other mass produced board games. Printed design would be textured to give a wood like appearance. The title could be embossed on the box with the silhouettes of Wild Mountain Equids running along the bottom in front of a mountain landscape. The box would have a slightly aged look, with soft edges or worn corners.
- Collector’s edition: game boxes would be produced in a lightweight but sturdy wooden box and Artwork would be converted to a wood burn design that could be stamped into boxes.

- Interior Details: The inside of the box would feature a landscape of the wilderness, providing players with a thematic, immersive experience as soon as they open it. It would include a lightweight plastic insert that keeps game components organized and easily accessible for quick set-up and clean-up. Rules and game mechanics would be included in a small pamphlet that utilizes the look of an old travel log or journal.

7.Sound/Feel of the Game (if digital or augmented):

- Ambient Sound: If this game ever gets a digital or augmented reality version, soft background sounds, like the wind rustling through the grass or the distant call of birds would be included throughout game play with soft music. These would create a calm but thrilling atmosphere as players navigate the game.

- Movement Sound: When player’s and their herds move across the board, you would hear soft, galloping sounds or faint neighing. Card actions and token placements would be accompanied by nature based sounds such as the faint whistle of the wind; making players feel like they're part of the open wilderness as the game progresses.

Overall, the aesthetics should evoke a deep connection with the natural world, reinforcing the themes of the open wilderness. Every design element, from the art style to the materials, would emphasize the beauty, the struggle, and the ruggedness of surviving in nature, while also giving players the sense of being a part of something bigger: the untamed world of Wild Mountain Equids.

[CopperChaos]

Production:
Producing Spirit of the Range would involve several stages, including game design, prototyping, manufacturing, packaging, and distribution. Each of these phases requires careful planning, creativity, and resources to ensure the game is well-crafted and appealing to players. Below is an overview of what production would entail:

1. Game Design and Development

a. Concept Development:

- Refining Rules and Mechanics: The first step is finalizing the game rules, mechanics, and structure. This includes deciding on how to balance resource collection, equid movement, predator events, and player interactions. Playtesting is key at this stage and has not been conducted at this time.
- Game Components: Determining the number and types of components—tiles, cards, and tokens. For example, it’d still need to be finalized how many resource cards, encounter cards, and tokens to include and the exact size of the game board.

b. Art and Aesthetic Design:

- Artwork: The next major step is working with illustrators or graphic designers to create the game’s artwork. This would involve designing the terrain tiles, cards, tokens, player meeples, and other components, as well as ensuring consistency in visual style (earthy, rustic, natural).
-Component Design: Deciding on the physical look and feel of the components—wooden player meeples, resource cards, encounter cards, tokens, the design of the hexagonal terrain tiles, and the card layout.

c. Prototyping:

- Physical Prototype: Creating an initial prototype using simple materials (e.g., paper or card stock) to test the gameplay mechanics, balance, and aesthetics.
- Playtesting: In-house or external playtesting is crucial to fine tuning gameplay mechanics and number of available game components. Various groups would play the game in its prototype form, taking note of any issues (imbalances, unclear rules, confusing mechanics) in order for adjustments to be made accordingly.
- Feedback Loop: After playtesting, iterating on the design to refine mechanics, fix bugs, and improve the overall game experience.

2. Pre-Production

a. Finalizing Materials and Production Specifications:

- Component Materials: Deciding on the materials for the game’s components, considering factors like durability, cost, and aesthetics.

For example:
Player Meeples: Wood or resin, each representing a Wild Mountain Equid in the game.
Cards: High-quality card stock with a matte finish for durability and ease of handling.
Tokens: Plastic, wood, or metal, depending on budget and desired tactile feel.
Hexagonal Tiles: Thick, high-quality cardboard with printed designs or textured surfaces.
- Manufacturing Specifications: This involves finalizing details such as dimensions, colors, and finishes for each component.

b.Graphic Design and Printing Prep:

Finalizing the layout for the box, board, rulebook, and cards. The graphic design would ensure consistency in fonts, colors, and overall design aesthetics, keeping everything cohesive with the Wild Mountain Equid theme.

3. Manufacturing and Production

a. Selecting a Manufacturer: The next step is selecting a manufacturer, typically one that specializes in board games. There are a number of board game manufacturers globally (such as Panda Game Manufacturing, Game Crafter, or LongPack Games), and getting multiple quotes from various manufacturers is necessary. Taking into account their reputation, reviews, past work, materials, and pricing.

b. Material Sourcing: The manufacturer would source materials based on the agreed specifications.

c. Mass Production of Components:

Tiles: Production of hexagonal tiles involves printing the designs (terrain, resource icons) on high-quality cardboard, cutting them into precise shapes, and adding a protective coating for durability.
Player Meeples: (wooden or resin) are produced and carefully painted or molded to look like Wild Mountain Equids in the designated player colors: red, blue, green, and yellow.
Cards: The card decks are printed with a design, including both encounter cards and resource cards. High-quality card stock ensures durability during gameplay.
Board: The game board would consist of the individual hexagonal tiles that can be shuffled into different configurations and placed randomly for unique gameplay each round.

d. Quality Control: Quality assurance is crucial. Every component needs to be checked for consistency in quality, dimensions, and printing clarity. Any defects in components (misprints, misshaped tokens, etc.) need to be addressed.

e. Assembly: Once all components are produced, they are assembled into the game box. This includes putting the rulebook, board, cards, tokens, and other pieces together, packaging them neatly to prevent damage during shipping.

4. Shipping and Distribution

a. Shipping Logistics: After manufacturing and packaging, games would be shipped to warehouses or distributors. This may involve shipping via sea freight for large orders, which takes time, but is cost-effective for bulk distribution. Contracts would have to be made with shipping partners and warehouses to ensure smooth delivery to retailers or directly to customers.

b. Retail Partnerships and Distribution Channels: For retail distribution, partnerships with board game stores and big-box retailers would have to be established. Primary distribution would likely go through online platforms like Kickstarter (for pre-orders and community support), and Amazon.

c. Marketing and Promotion: Marketing efforts would include creating promotional materials, trailers, and outreach via social media. Having a compelling story and aesthetic would help the game stand out and speak to fans of Wild Mountain Equids. Pre-order campaigns would likely be the primary source of sales within the WME community and be the general basis for gauging interest, building anticipation, and securing early funding.

5.Post-Production:

a. Customer Feedback: After the game is launched, it’s vital to listen to customer feedback, looking for any bugs or issues that might have been missed during playtesting (such as rule clarity, component quality, or balance problems). This feedback can be used for future expansions and reprints.

b. Expansions or Updates: You might want to release expansion packs down the road (e.g., new terrain types, rare Wild Mountain Equids, or more complex event cards). These expansions would follow a similar production cycle but on a smaller scale.

6. Cost Considerations:

a. Design & Artwork: Professional illustrators, graphic designers, and playtesters would charge fees depending on their experience and the complexity of the designs.

b. Production: Costs depend on the number of copies produced, the materials used, and the level of detail. A small run of high-quality components can be more expensive per unit, while large-scale production reduces costs. This would all have to be considered if funds are initially obtained through Kickstarter or based on pre-orders.

c. Shipping & Distribution: International shipping can be a significant cost, especially if shipping large quantities overseas or when avoiding expensive shipping charges for customers. Contracts for distribution would have to be considered carefully and may mean individual sales through online retailers such as Amazon, if prioritized before shelf availability in large retail box-stores.

d. Marketing & Promotion: Running social media campaigns, sending copies to reviewers can all add to the cost and should be considered when estimating necessary funding.

7. Timeline:

a. Design & Development: 6–12 months (including playtesting, final design, and refinement).
b. Manufacturing: 2–3 months (depending on order size and complexity).
c. Shipping & Distribution: 1–2 months (depending on shipping domestically or internationally).

[CopperChaos]

Spirit of the Range - Next Generation Expansion Pack

1. New Game Components:

a. Additional Player Meeples and Tokens

- 2 new player colors are added; white & black. Now allowing up to 6 players.

b. Additional Game Board Tiles and Border Pieces

- Players now have the ability to traverse a larger board and explore more of the untamed wilderness.

c. New Encounter Cards

New Equids are appearing, expanding the available herd members with new stunning art!
New Predator, Natural Events, and Challenges are also included; presenting new scenarios for exciting gameplay.

2. Rules for Foals:

a. Foal Birth:

- Breeding: Additional encounter card that can now be drawn and utilized if a player has at least 1 mare and 1 stallion Equid Card in their herd and the available resources.
- Foal Cards: Once born, a foal card contributes to herd size but foals do not immediately contribute to resources.

b. Foal Growth:

- Ageing: Foals mature into adult Wild Mountain Equids after a certain number of turns (e.g., 3 turns). During this time, they can't contribute to resource gathering but can be moved across the map and placed in safer or more strategic locations.

c. Protecting Foals:

- Vulnerable Stage: Foals are more susceptible to predators, storms, and other threats. If a foal is in a territory when a predator strikes, there’s a higher chance they’ll be caught, potentially reducing your herd’s size.
- Protection Mechanic: You can spend extra resources to protect foals. This creates a dynamic where you might sacrifice resources to ensure the safety of the younger members of your herd.

d. Foal Contribution:

- Resource Accumulation: Once foals mature into adults, they begin contributing to your herd’s resources. You now get more of whatever resources are produced from the tile they occupy.
- Foals can help speed up your expansion as they can be moved around quickly but do not need to be as heavily protected once mature.

3. New Strategic Depth:

a. Breeding for Expansion: Players may choose to prioritize breeding foals to rapidly increase the size of their herd and unlock more territories. However, there’s a balance—you need to protect the foals from encounters and ensure you have enough resources to raise and protect them.

b. Foal vs. Adult Decisions: Players might decide to focus on the adults in their herd for resource gathering early on, but the long-term strategy is about maintaining a healthy balance between adults and foals. The more foals you breed, the faster you can expand, but at the cost of needing to provide more protection and resources.

c. Foal Trade: While adult equids cannot be traded once earned through encounters, players have the opportunity to trade foals with other players to strategically boost their herd or exchange them for critical resources.

4. Victory Path with Foals:

a. The Grand Herd Victory could involve having a certain number of foals in your herd as part of the criteria, adding more weight to long-term growth strategies.

b. Foals also tie into territory control—the more foals your herd has, the faster you can spread to new areas and claim vital resources, but you’ll need to keep a careful eye on their protection, especially when encounter cards are drawn.