LATEST UPDATE FROM ARES

[Cmmdre]

Sails of Glory backers,

the production of Sails of Glory is in progress. The physical components (Sails, bases, as well as the wooden accessories created with Aerodrome) have been in progress for a few weeks now.

We finally completed the pre-production of all game files, excluding the rulebook (which is currently at the layout stage) for the core set and the Terrain Pack #1, and are at work on finalizing the Game Mat and Terrain Pack #2.

With this update, and the ones we will post through the month of July, we will show you the final form took by some components, and explain you something more about the game along the way.

Let's begin with the element at the core of the control of the ship - the Ship Mat.

NO IMAGE AVAILABLE IN THIS POST

The Ship Mat is composed of 2 parts.

Look at the thin red lines in the image - they are cut or punch lines. This means that the rectangular part at the top including all the counters can be punched out.

This is because the ship mat is "universal" - it's not linked to a specific ship (backers will receive one mat for each ship in your order). So everything you need to control one ship is included in the portion that you can punch out: The ammunition counters (to the right), the action counters (to the left).

The blank counter is used when during a grappling you have to pick either a blank counter or a boardng counter, to show your intention.

The elliptical counter below that is punched out in the middle, and used to indicate the sail setting.

After the section with the counters is puinched out, the hole will fit the ship log that comes with each ship- both the ship mat and ship log are produced on nicely thick cardboard, so the composition functions very well, and when playing with basic rules, you can save space and play with the ship log only without much problems.

At the bottom, you will find all the spaces to handle your ship - left to right, the special damage/0 damage box, the broadside and ammunition storage boxes, the sail setting, the planned action, and the unused actions.

The indents at the bottom fit the ship card, and the maneuver cards (when playing with Standard rules, you need both spaces).

You will notice some changes from previous versions, including some arising from feedback we received during the project, such as the change in position between the action boxes and the sail setting boxes.

This is all for now! And don't worry if you did not receive a Paypal payment request - That's because we still have not requested payments. We did not need the additional funds until now, and we hope you appreciate you can pay later rather than sooner!

Thanks for your support!

[Naharaht]

Here is a picture of the mat.

[calm]

Good to receive news of the progress in the production.

[Cmmdre]

Thank you for posting the image David.

[Capt P]

Picture from Origins of the game.

[Cmmdre]

Looks good Bob. Can't wait to get my copy and play!

[Nightmoss]

A number of people on Kickstarter are asking about the final SoG production shipping date. I thought folks might like to read this so the response from Ares today is pasted below:


@Ray, at the moment the schedule has not changed since what we announced in Update 45:

***
Taking into account all the factors above, we expect to be able to ship the production out of China at the end of August or in the first days of September (after the mass production of the ships is completed, we've to go through the assembly, final packaging, testing).
***

The next step where we can get a more accurate date, is when we are SHIPPING the product out of factory. At that point. we can have a more accurate delivery date to backers. Transit time from the factory to warehouse is about 4 weeks, so with the most current production estimate, we can estimate that the product will be in our warehouse, and shipping, around the end of September/first days in October.

I would definitely say we are NOT talking about shipping in November at the best of our current knowledge (but as all things being done, it's not done until it's done!).

Photos - we are working on them! The combo of getting this project to the printer, Galaxy Defenders to the printer, and ourselves to GenCon, is a bit heavy to handle, honestly. So please excuse for less communication than before, we're just working to get things done!

[Naharaht]

We will just have to be patient.

[7eat51]

Hmmm. I am slotted for an SoG game at Rock-Con at the end of October. I am starting to question this. Even if I get the game in time, I am not sure I will have sufficient playing time in to ensure I understand the system well-enough to run an event.

[calm]

Hmmm. I am slotted for an SoG game at Rock-Con at the end of October. I am starting to question this. Even if I get the game in time, I am not sure I will have sufficient playing time in to ensure I understand the system well-enough to run an event.

I put SoG in the backburner until it is really out and hit the shelves, and my hands.

[Cmmdre]

There's a brief overview of the game on this video from Gen-con.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=H6VC8oJw7hY

[Nightmoss]

There's a brief overview of the game on this video from Gen-con.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=H6VC8oJw7hY

Sure adds to the anticipation for the game. It's going to be a long 8 weeks, give or take.

[QfunK!]

There is a Con in this area called Carnage Con in November. The catalog is being finalized, so probably will not have a SoG game within, but the organizers have no problem with pick-up games, I hear. Maybe even if I have to set it up myself.

[Coog]

I've been watching another Kickstarter which had received the initial shipment four weeks ago and started shipping. They are only about halfway done. Even if Ares gets the games in mid October, everyone may not have their package right away, having to wait a few weeks as the orders get processed and mailed out. Just a thought for those planning games for conventions.

[Naharaht]

If I understand it correctly, the latest comment said that backers are going to be sent advance copies of the rules soon (presumably electronically), so it looks like things are starting to move.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/...ombat/comments

[7eat51]

The rules were posted for KS Backers only. So I've removed the link. -The Royal Hajj

[Berthier]

Beat me by 3 minutes Eric!

[CHolgren]

Glad to see some progress.

[Hobbes]

Updated the Kickstarter Page regularly, but when it happened I was in the laboratory.

Nice to see we are getting closer to the shipping date.

[Cmmdre]

Looking Good! At least I have something to whet my appetite.

[Nightmoss]

I've only glanced at the rule book, but it looks great. I think the listing of backers and a special thanks section is especially nice.

News on shipping is probably less favorable though? If they don't get the game out of China by October 10th it seems likely we'll not see any product until well into November?

[7eat51]

Beat me by 3 minutes Eric!

Yes, but you beat me to the Anchorage by 14 months. You win!

I think the listing of backers and a special thanks section is especially nice.

Very nice, indeed.

[Gaz67]

I think the listing of backers and a special thanks section is especially nice.

Agreed, hands up all those with a cheesy grin when they saw their name??

[Gunner]

Time to study. Let the lawyering begin.

[Gunner]

We will just have to be patient.

Reminds me of what one hungry vulture said to the other,
"Patients my a_ _. Let's kill something."

[PirateBlake]

Ahoy Coog! Think we be gettin them ships my MillenniumCon?

If so, we should do an open game demo on Sunday, what do you think?

[QfunK!]

Agreed, hands up all those with a cheesy grin when they saw their name??

\guilty

[Nightmoss]

Agreed, hands up all those with a cheesy grin when they saw their name??

/raised hand

[Gunner]

Agreed, hands up all those with a cheesy grin when they saw their name??

\guilty, but more cheese than grin as I was eating an omelet at the time.

[7eat51]

Agreed, hands up all those with a cheesy grin when they saw their name??

I would like to think debonair is the proper term.

[Cmmdre]

Agreed, hands up all those with a cheesy grin when they saw their name??

\Guilty as well. Nice touch though.

[David Manley]

Agreed, hands up all those with a cheesy grin when they saw their name??

I must admit to a wry smile of satisfaction :)

[Coog]

Ahoy Coog! Think we be gettin them ships my MillenniumCon?

If so, we should do an open game demo on Sunday, what do you think?

I'm thinking that the Ares warehouse may have the ships before Millenniumcon, but from watching another Kickstarter, I noticed something that should have been apparent to me all along. Although the warehouse will get the ships all at once, they will not mail them out all at once. Some lucky folks will get their ships within a week, others may have to wait a few weeks as all the orders get processed. It just depends when they get to our orders.

[csadn]

<- already trying to work up specs for Pirate-sized ships

[Cmmdre]

Too bad Carlos (calm) didn't get a copy of these rules before heading into the jungle.

[Andy Blozinski]

Ahoy Coog! Think we be gettin them ships my MillenniumCon?

If so, we should do an open game demo on Sunday, what do you think?

I'm trying to work directly with Ares to get something for a demo at MillenniumCon. Go take a look at game listing M47 on the MillenniumCon web site. No guarantees, but that's the plan...the hope.

http://millenniumcon.org/game_index/game_index.html

[The Royal Hajj]

Andy, redirect your con support request to me. I'm handling that for Ares going forward. Shoot me a PM and we'll start working out the details in case we do not have our personal stuff by then. Thanks.

[Cmmdre]

Ares latest update as of 10 hours ago.

If everything goes according to plan, the mass production shall be completed October, 10th. Remember the product is in China - after that, we need about 1 month to get the product in the US warehouse. In these days it's a holiday in China, so we hope to be able to confirm the product is shipping out of the factory with an update at the beginning of the next week.

[Nightmoss]

Ares latest update as of 10 hours ago.

If everything goes according to plan, the mass production shall be completed October, 10th. Remember the product is in China - after that, we need about 1 month to get the product in the US warehouse. In these days it's a holiday in China, so we hope to be able to confirm the product is shipping out of the factory with an update at the beginning of the next week.

Well, there goes my chance of winning a ship. More importantly, a lot of folks probably wont receive the game in time for Fall/Winter conventions. Bummer!

[Gunner]

I wonder how long it will take the distributor to sort every thing out and ship to the KS supporters?

[Gunner]

The first one to respond can have my date of Nov. 4th for the free ship. Even if you already picked a date.

[Cpt Kangaroo]

I'll take it!

My first pick was a little early.

[Gunner]

I'll take it!

You have it.

[Comte de Brueys]

So October 10th the games and minis just start their journey in China?

[Nightmoss]

So October 10th the games and minis just start their journey in China?

We'll only know for sure after Ares gets back to us next week. They are celebrating some holidays there so it sounds like a firm shipping date from China isn't known yet. It could easily slip past 10-10-13 I'm guessing?

[DeRuyter]

Well, there goes my chance of winning a ship. More importantly, a lot of folks probably wont receive the game in time for Fall/Winter conventions. Bummer!

Looks like we move back to holiday games! I run an annual Christmas game for my group - fingers crossed for SoG in time for the holidays.

[BSG_Fan]

In a comment on the Kickstarter page today, Ares said "early November is the most likely date at this time."

After the first delay I've always had in my head that Christmas was a more realistic delivery date, so I'm not necessarily disappointed. But even for me, to be constantly informed of delays is getting a little annoying. In my experience, any project almost always takes longer than you anticipate; I'd much rather have extra time factored in to the delivery estimate rather than have Ares keep speculating about the earliest that they could get the game shipped under the best of conditions. It's frustrating to constantly get messages like "OK, the game will be delayed a few weeks into September...oh, now it will be October...sorry, now it will be November." I'd much rather have Ares give us one message and say "Sorry, the release will be delayed until Christmas." And then if it doesn't take that long you get the pleasant surprise of, "Great news! The delay wasn't as bad as we expected, and we'll be able to ship a few weeks earlier than we told you."

[Cpt Kangaroo]

We need to keep in mind the factors involved, such as when a governent shuts down, customs type funtions will back up. It has to be very frustrating for Ares as well. The fact is, we are getting a lot closer to getting our stuff than two years ago when this ride started.

[Gunner]

We need to keep in mind the factors involved, such as when a governent shuts down, customs type funtions will back up. It has to be very frustrating for Ares as well. The fact is, we are getting a lot closer to getting our stuff than two years ago when this ride started.

Will we be saying the same thing in December, January??

[Moideeb]

I hope not!