project-image

The Rival Networks

Created by Gil Hova

A 2-player version of the tabletop board game The Networks.

Latest Updates from Our Project:

Plans for the next few days!
about 4 years ago – Thu, Jan 30, 2020 at 09:36:30 PM

Hi Rival Networks backer!

We are past the burst of pledges typical at the start of the campaign. At this point, it's normal and expected for the number of pledges per day to drop significantly. My friends at BackerKit call this "The Trough of Sadness." :)

All the same, we're probably going to hit the Executives stretch goal within the next few days, so let me tell you what we're in for...

When you play with Executives, each player will get 2 random Executive Cards out of the possible 9. You'll each choose one Executive Card and discard the other. This gives you a special power for the entire game.

Here are some sample Executives (NOTE: powers may change between now and publication):

Cable: Start the game with 2 random Ads. Start Seasons 2 and 3 with 1 random Ad.

Cheapo: Once per Season, when using a Network Card worth $6m or less, rotate this card instead of the Network Card.

Marketer: Once per Season, if you buy a Network Card with exact change, refresh the Star display and take a Star (visible or random). You may put this Star on any matching Show.

Gorilla: Once per Season, you may draw a random Star. Either place it on any matching Show, or place it face-down on any Show as a Star worth +1 Ratings Point.

If you've played the Executives expansion for the original game, you'll notice that the effects of the Executives for The Rival Networks aren't quite as pronounced. That's on purpose; we need powers that will fit better in the Rival Networks' streamlined design. 

In all modesty, I think this module is fantastic. The base Rival Networks game gives you a lot to explore, but Executives opens it up even more. We're currently testing all 9 Executives to make sure they all interesting and balanced, and I'm really enjoying the process.

So, what next?

If you'd like to keep the campaign moving forward, please keep spreading the word! Talk about it on social media, let your gaming group know, and so on. 

I'll be back in a couple of days as we get closer to reaching Executives!

Funding goal achieved!
about 4 years ago – Tue, Jan 28, 2020 at 10:55:06 PM

Hello, Rival Networks backer! Thanks so much for supporting this newest entry in The Networks family. 

I'm so thrilled to have hit our funding goal so quickly! Now we can have some fun.

We have a bunch of really excellent stretch goals planned, and I can't wait to start revealing them. Here's the first stretch goal that awaits us:

At $30,000, everyone will get a small 9-card expansion module called Executives. This is modeled after the Executives expansion for the original game, which introduces variable player powers. Each player gets two of these at the start of each game, and chooses the one they want to play with.

I've been testing this module since December, and I think it adds a lot of variety and juice to the game.

Executives will be available for everyone who buys The Rival Networks, including retail buyers.

Note that the graphic design of the cards pictured above is of the prototype I've been testing with. Final graphic design will come soon!

Add-ons

One of the most frequently-asked questions I've been getting all day is: Can we include any existing Networks games with this pledge? Since the base game and expansion are easily available in retail, I did not plan on supporting that at first.

But, I've been asked this question enough times that we're going to do it! We will handle it with the rest of the add-ons, through BackerKit. This means that, if you want to add something to your pledge, you don't need to do anything for now. The BackerKit pledge manager will open in early March, after this Kickstarter campaign has ended. You will be able to add on a bunch of Networks products then, and your card won't be charged until the games are about to be shipped.

You will be able to include the following items in your pledge (prices do not include shipping):

  • The Networks base game (+$50 USD)
  • Executives expansion (+$35 USD)
  • More Executives expansion (+$5 USD)
  • Replacement Network Cards (+$1 USD) - only for folks who do not have the Fourth Edition printing, from 2018. Check the bottom-right of your box bottom if you want to know!

What about the other expansions, like Telly Time and On the Air, you ask? Excellent question! These add-ons are going to be stretch goals. I'll reveal them as we get closer.

I'll update the campaign page with this information tomorrow.

That's all I have for now! I'm calling it an early night right now, so you may not get replies to comments or messages until tomorrow morning, New York time. Until then!