Steamforged Games: RuneScape Kingdoms Preview
Steamforged Games geben Ausblicke was man bei RuneScape Kingoms erwarten kann.
Announcing RuneScape Kingdoms: Shadow of Elvarg
Get ready to explore the sometimes epic, often irreverent world of Gielinor in RuneScape Kingdoms: Shadow of Elvarg, the cooperative campaign board game for 1-5 players.
Classic and fun, RuneScape Kingdoms: SoE isn’t about complex strategy. Instead, through rich narrative quests and lighthearted distractions, this fantasy adventure game is designed to give those who already love the franchise a whole new way to play, and provide a way for brand new ‘Scapers to immerse themselves in the exciting world of RuneScape.
Explore the kingdoms of Asgarnia and Misthalin from above with a game board styled like a fast-travel map, jumping from region to region as you level up your skills and complete quests. Zoom in for face-to-face encounters with iconic bosses, that become even tougher as you work your way toward the final quest!
Whether you’re slaying mighty monsters, crafting awesome gear, or gathering eggs to bake that game-changing cake, RuneScape Kingdoms: Shadow of Elvarg lets you play your way.
You choose what skills to max, which weapons to craft, and even where to explore next. Meander through Gielinor, sampling every side quest on the way, or keep your eyes on the prize and cut a straight path through the campaigns to take on challenging boss fights. With a classless progression system, every group member can contribute no matter how they play, maxing skills to level up and earn those all-important capes!
Whatever kind of ‘Scaper you choose to be, you’ll play an important role in the success of your group — because you never know when the fate of Gielinor will depend on baking the right pie!
‘RuneScape Kingdoms’?
Because it was really important to us for the board game to appeal to ‘Scapers of all of all kinds, it’s heavily inspired by content and references from both RuneScape and Old School RuneScape that will be familiar to players past and present.
We also created the board game as a way for brand new ‘Scapers to enjoy the rich world of Gielinor, even if you’ve never experienced the video games.
For all those reasons, it felt right to create a name that would embody what the board game is: A new way to explore the world of Gielinor.
And what exactly will you be exploring? Kingdoms, of course! Specifically, the kingdoms of Asgarnia and Misthalin. As the first realms created in the video games, and the core of the free-to-play areas, they’re rich in content and central to any new player’s journey. We wanted anyone experiencing new adventures in Gielinor on the tabletop to have that same sense of anticipation felt by any player starting out in RuneScape.
It would have been tough to pack every kingdom from the video game into a tabletop experience, and do them all justice. We wanted a game that was accessible as well as entertaining, and fitting a world’s worth of content into one board game would have made for one massive (and daunting) box!
Still, we haven’t even begun talking about expansions yet. And with a name like RuneScape Kingdoms, and 21 years of video game content to mine, who’s to say we couldn’t explore even more kingdoms as we add to the RuneScape tabletop experience…
But what about the other part of the name, you ask? A shadow looms over Gielinor, and we’re about to say hello to the one who’s casting it… with the first look at the board game miniatures!
For this, we’ll hand over to Jamie Perkins (Product Owner) to tell us more about the minis. Take it away, Jamie!
First Three Board Game Miniatures!
Not sure what a miniature is? Pause here for a second. Already know and keen to get to the good stuff? Keep scrolling!
What’s a Miniature?
A miniature is a small model, usually plastic, used to represent a character, enemy, or terrain piece in a board game. For example, the player character minis are scaled at 32mm on 25mm diameter bases. So, an average 6-foot-tall character would be roughly 32mm from foot to eye level. That’s a scale ratio of about 1:57!
The bigger, more imposing minis (we’re looking at you, bosses) will be scaled a little differently. Because these foes can be pretty gigantic in comparison to our brave adventurers, we’ve scaled them down a touch to fit with the experience. Each one stands on a 50mm base, with details to represent their unique scaling. Elvarg, for example, is 62mm to the tips of her wings, and her base is scattered with the relatively-scaled skulls of unfortunate adventurers!
Designing the Minis in RuneScape Kingdoms
To create the RuneScape Kingdoms minis, we worked with Jagex to develop a unique visual style that’d reflect the iconic outfits, NPC’s, and bosses from the past 21 years.
The look is inspired by RuneScape’s low-poly roots, but with all the detail you’d expect from a Steamforged mini. The first three minis will give you a taste of that style, and we can’t wait to reveal more in the coming weeks!
Playing with the Minis
In some board games, the mini you choose represents a specific type of character. Because set characters often come with specific equipment and abilities, the mini you choose will change how you play the game. In RuneScape Kingdoms, that’s not the case.
Instead, just like in the video games, your adventurer starts as a blank slate. No matter what miniature you choose, it’s entirely up to you how you build your skills, select equipment, and explore Gielinor.
You’ve got the freedom to pick a mini that represents the way you want to play the game, or to choose the one you most like the look of (or both!)
Of course, we still had ideas in mind when we designed the minis and chose their clothes. So, if you like thematic consistency, read on!
Knight
A melee powerhouse clad in trusty bronze armour, the knight faces every challenge with brash determination. No problem can’t be solved with a swing of their scimitar.
As voted for in the community survey, we armed the knight with melee equipment typically worn by players who are just starting out in RuneScape or Old School RuneScape: A bronze scimitar and shield, and bronze plate body, legs, and helm. Cheap and easy to acquire, it’s a straightforward route for getting to grips with melee combat.
Wizard
Through magic, all things are possible. Whether teleporting long distances, enchanting items with magical properties, or casting foes aside with elemental spells, the wizard is a blue-robed paragon of quick wit and explosions.
One of, if not the, earliest piece of magical equipment you can get your hands on in RuneScape or Old School RuneScape is the Staff of Air. Almost every budding wizard starts out their adventure with this trusty magic staff!
Not to mention blue wizard robes, which are an equally familiar sight among those recently initiated in the ways of magic…
Elvarg
Last but certainly not least, no hero is complete without their villainous counterpart. You’ll face many challenges on the way to face the mighty green dragon, Elvarg.
Take the ultimate champion’s test and put an end to the winged terror of Crandor, before Gielinor is consumed by shadow and fire…
What is the RuneScape Board Game? | Tabletop Tutorial Island Part 1
Hey there, ‘Scapers! Today, your tabletop RuneScape adventure truly begins… sort of.
Before you can play the RuneScape board game, we’ve got to print it. Before we can print it, it’s got to go to Kickstarter. And before it can go to Kickstarter, we need to tell YOU all about it!
So, in the coming weeks, we’ll be taking you on a Tutorial-Island-style tour of RuneScape Kingdoms: Shadow of Elvarg, the co-op campaign board game for 1-5 players.
Because RuneScape Kingdoms: Shadow of Elvarg draws from both RuneScape and Old School RuneScape, there’ll be lots of things familiar to those who play the video games. But because we’re translating digital mechanics to the tabletop, we’ll need to run through how those aspects work in the board game.
(Of course, that means the Old School RuneScape and RuneScape fans among you will be encountering places, NPCs and bosses you know and love in a whole new way. And here you were, thinking you’d never get to experience ‘new player’ feeling again)!
Now sit back, relax, and — if you’re a Gielinor veteran — cast your mind back to when you first set foot on the shores of Tutorial Island, many moons ago…
(Psst. If you haven’t already, go follow the Kickstarter now so you don’t miss the launch)
BUT WAIT. Before we dive in, we’ve got a brand new mini to show off!
Skiller!
We’ve already met the knight and wizard player avatars, which are both equipped with more combat-focused gear. While combat is a big part of the RuneScape video game experience, some of you prefer to concentrate on other skills. For you, we have the skiller mini!
There’s nothing combative about this player avatar. Instead, with their pickaxe, chef’s hat, and fishing rod, this mini pays homage to the many hours players have whiled away fishing for sardines and mining ore in the video games.
While cooking, fishing, and crafting are things you can do in the board game (although you’ll interact with those skills in different ways — more on this in next week’s post!) RuneScape Kingdoms: Shadow of Elvarg is a classless game. So, you don’t have to choose the skiller mini to do those things, nor are you limited to maxing skills if you play with the skiller.
Think of your mini more as a costume. No matter which one you choose, the way you play your character is entirely up to you!
What is RuneScape Kingdoms: Shadow of Elvarg?
by Jamie Perkins (Product Owner)
Hello again, everyone! I’m Jamie Perkins, Product Owner of RuneScape Kingdoms: Shadow of Elvarg here at Steamforged Games.
Over the next few weeks, we’ll be taking you through how to play the game (and sharing sneak peeks at cards and minis along the way!)
Today, we’re covering some core concepts by answering one key question:
What kind of game is RuneScape Kingdoms: Shadow of Elvarg?
Cooperative
RuneScape Kingdoms: Shadow of Elvarg is a cooperative game. Whether you’re playing solo or with up to four friends, you’ll be tackling this adventure on the same side.
While there are ‘player versus player’ (PvP) areas in the RuneScape and Old School RuneScape video games (hello there, Wilderness), most areas in both games are ‘player versus monster’ (PvM) experiences. Staying true to the heart of those experiences, RuneScape Kingdoms: SoE is a PvM board game.
As a group of players, you’ll effectively operate as a team (or clan, if you prefer), completing quests together and even sharing items and resources.
Open World
RuneScape Kingdoms: Shadow of Elvarg is an open world (sometimes called a ‘sandbox’) style boardgame. This means you’ll have the freedom to go about playing it almost any way you want – just like in RuneScape and Old School!
Want to hone your adventurer’s skills to the max? You can. Want to experience all the side quests before taking on the main story? You can! Want to explore Gielinor searching for all the cabbages you can find? YOU DO YOU!
Of course, it’s not all about meandering around town. Much like the Grandmaster Quests you’ve embarked on in the video games, RuneScape Kingdoms has an overarching narrative and a big finale – but you have complete freedom to progress the way you like.
Think of the board game like a nice dinner. There’s a starter, main course, dessert, and a cheese platter, sure. But there are also plenty of sides and appetisers to sample at your leisure!
Skilling
Levelling up your skills (or ‘skilling’) is absolutely central to any RuneScape experience, and this game is no different. Your adventurer’s skills are how they interact with the world around them. Simply put: the higher your skill levels, the more success you’ll have completing quests and exploring the game board.
Remember, though, that this is a co-op game. You don’t need to max out every single skill to win, even when playing solo (although it helps). It’s usually a good idea to specialise in a few skills that complement those of your fellow adventurers.
Choosing to specialise can even help you decide which mini to play with. Going all-in on melee and defence? Maybe you should play with the knight!
Narrative
At its core, RuneScape Kingdoms: Shadow of Elvarg is driven by rich narrative, inspired by the quests of RuneScape and Old School RuneScape. The game is littered with familiar quests, NPCs, and even the occasional niche reference. You’ll have the opportunity to assist the Lumbridge Castle cook, help the witch, Gertrude, find her missing cat, and — if you’re very unfortunate — have a close encounter with Death itself.
It’s important to note, however, that even if you’re intimately familiar with the video games, there are plenty of surprises waiting to be discovered!
RuneScape Kingdoms: SoE isn’t an exact translation of the video game narrative, either. Dialogue and elements of story have been iterated on to create an experience that’s both new and familiar for veteran players, and equally exciting for those who’ve never visited Gielinor before.
At every step, we’ve worked very closely with the game designers of both RuneScape and Old School RuneScape to make sure any new or evolved narrative feels suitably ‘RuneScapey’.
Campaign
Finally, RuneScape Kingdoms: Shadow of Elvarg is a campaign game. This means after each play session, you’ll be able to ‘save’ your progress and keep track of the game state for your next play session. It’s easy to pick up where you left off!
Can’t commit to an entire campaign? No problem! Gaming groups ebb and flow, and we understand not everyone has the time to play multiple sessions. So, we’ve designed RuneScape Kingdoms in a way that lets players join an active campaign partway through, or drop out of an active campaign, without disrupting the experience for everyone else.
Gameplay is also divided up into individual campaigns, which you’ll play through one-by-one. Each campaign is themed around an iconic quest from one of the RuneScape video games (you’ll also find other video game quests represented as side quests).
To create the campaigns in RuneScape Kingdoms: SoE, we’ve taken inspiration from low, middle and high-level quests in RuneScape and Old School RuneScape.
We’ve also created brand-new campaigns inspired by iconic bosses that don’t have their own quests in the video games! Want a narrative campaign featuring a boss you can only face in the TzHaar fight pits? You might just get one…
RuneScape Kingdoms Board Game Kickstarter Launching May 31st
Greetings, ‘Scapers. We’re super excited to finally reveal the RuneScape Kingdoms: Shadow of Elvarg Kickstarter campaign will launch Tuesday 31st May, 2022!
The Kickstarter will be live for just 10 days, so be sure to follow the campaign so you don’t miss out. And that’s not all we’ve got for you today. We’re ALSO super excited to unveil the core game box art!
Created especially for the board game, this custom artwork depicts Elvarg herself locked in a fiery battle with a brave knight. Elvarg is the main boss for the board game, so you’ll be working your way up to facing her fiery wrath as you play your way through the campaigns.
We’ll be revealing more about the gameplay, box contents, and other formidable bosses in the lead-up to launch right here on the Steamforged blog and over in the Facebook group. So, stay tuned if you want a sneak peek at what’s to come!
Quelle: Steamforged Games
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