I really enjoyed Wipers Salient and quickly became interested in “more of that,” but I also recognized a significant part of my enjoyment of that game stemmed from using Martin’s excellent Mandalorian retheme. I decided to retheme Going Ashore in Nandeck with a X-Files theme. Thematically, I think it works. Instead of invading enemy islands the player is completing 5 series of cases featuring various Monsters of the Week and Mytharc baddies. The player pays to move cards to the investigation phase and, from there, to an action phase where they can be used against the baddies to close cases.
Laminated 9-card sheets, as usual. I wanted to avoid having an overly dark color scheme, so I kept things minimalist on white cards so I didn’t need to worry too much about gutters or back alignment. I took a lot of design cues from Martin’s Wipers Salient Mandalorian retheme. Instead of creating a mat I designed the trackers and player aids to fit on cards.
The original game tracks enemy hit points with counters. I chose to implement a hit track on each enemy card instead. I also split up the morale track into ones and tens. You can still use counters but I think I prefer using the tracker on each card.
I learned a lot about Nandeck and design working on this project, and I had fun doing it, but boy it was a lot of work. Getting decent images was the tricky part. I wanted to go with illustrations from the comics, because I knew it would look better, but I ended up relying primarily on screenshots. Even though there are 10 seasons of the X-Files and tons of screenshots online it was hard to find good images and filter them in such a way they would print ok on my inkjet. Spray coatings improve inkjet quality substantially in these cases, especially when working with images that have a lot of black, but since I was using laminate the images had to stand for themselves. Having an excellent memory for TXF episodes helped a lot, because when I got the idea for a card I generally knew which episode to go to for an image. If I’d gone with a less-familiar theme I might not have been able to finish this project so quickly.
I am in no hurry to attempt another retheme, certainly not for a game with 100 unique cards, but at this stage I’m confident I can build just about any deck I need to build in Nandeck without much fuss and I could convert any PNP file to a 9-card layout with no trouble. Something like a Herbaceous retheme, which I originally cobbled together as a layered image in Gimp, would be very doable in Nandeck and would probably take less time since it’s easier for me to script, test, adjust than to fiddle with things in a photo editor.
One limitation I discovered is you cannot create image bleeds, images cannot be made to extend beyond the border of the card. You can create solid color bleeds however, and in many cases that will be all you need to create gutters.
LINK = enemy-card-data.ods
[all]=1-30
[icon_size] = 35
[icons_xpos] = -1
BORDER=RECTANGLE
DPI=300
UNIT=MM
PAGE=210,297,PORTRAIT,HV
CARDSIZE=63,88
MARGINS=1.5,1.5,1.5,1.5
'Cutting Guides and removing borders
BORDER=RECTANGLE,#000000,0.1,MARKDOT,#0000FF
FONT=Arial,128,,#000000
EDGE=1,NULL
DUPLEX = [all],31
DUPLEX = 32-34,35
PRINT=DUPLEX
IMAGE=[all],"txf-enemy/[image-filename].png",4%,15%,92%,75%
FONT=Y-Files,30,FT,#000000,#ffffff
roundrect=[all],0%,0%,100%,17%,#FFFFFF,#FFFFFF,1,5
TEXT=[all],[ModifiedTitle],3%,3%,94%,10%,CENTER,WWCENTER
IMAGE=[all],"pistol-gun-black2.png",[icons_xpos],25%,13,13,-15,T
FONT=Y-Files,[icon_size],BTFN,#FFFFFF
TEXT = [all], [Ammo], [icons_xpos],27%,20%,10%,center, center, 0, 100, 1
FONT=Y-Files,[icon_size],BTFN,#000000
TEXT = [all], [Ammo], [icons_xpos],27%,20%,10%
IMAGE=[all],"police-badge.png",{[icons_xpos]+1.5},45%,10,10,0,T
FONT=Y-Files,[icon_size],BTFN,#FFFFFF
TEXT = [all], [Shield], [icons_xpos],46%,20%,10%,center, center, 0, 100, 1
FONT=Y-Files,[icon_size],BTFN,#000000
TEXT = [all], [Shield], [icons_xpos],46%,20%,10%
IMAGE=[all],"full-folder2.png",{[icons_xpos]+1.5},62%,10,10,0,T
FONT=Y-Files,[icon_size],BTFN,#FFFFFF
TEXT = [all], [Hit], [icons_xpos],62%,20%,10%,center, center, 0, 100, 1
FONT=Y-Files,[icon_size],BTFN,#000000
TEXT = [all], [Hit], [icons_xpos],62%,20%,10%
roundrect=[all],0%,82%,100%,20%,#FFFFFF,#FFFFFF,1,5
FONT="Noto Sans",10,TF,#000000
TEXT=[all],[Special],5%,84%,85%,16%,CENTER,WWCENTER
FONT="Noto Sans",9,FTI,#000000
TEXT=[all],[Quote],5%,84%,85%,16%,CENTER,WWCENTER
[health_meter_ypos] = 70%
[health_meter_xpos]=85%
FONT=Y-Files,[icon_size],BTFN,#FFFFFF
IF = [Hit] > 1
IMAGE=[all],"circle1.png",[health_meter_xpos],63,9,9,0,T
IMAGE=[all],"circle2.png",[health_meter_xpos],54,9,9,0,T
ENDIF
IF = [Hit] > 2
IMAGE=[all],"circle3.png",[health_meter_xpos],45,9,9,0,T
ENDIF
IF = [Hit] > 3
IMAGE=[all],"circle4.png",[health_meter_xpos],36,9,9,0,T
ENDIF
IF = [Hit] > 4
IMAGE=[all],"circle5.png",[health_meter_xpos],27,9,9,0,T
ENDIF
IF = [Hit] > 5
IMAGE=[all],"circle6.png",[health_meter_xpos],18,9,9,0,T
ENDIF
IMAGE=31,"cardback-red-2.png",0,0,100%,100%,0,P
IMAGE=32,"aids/case-tracker.png",0,0,100%,100%,0,P
IMAGE=33,"aids/player-aid-card.png",0,0,100%,100%,0,P
IMAGE=34,"aids/txf-morale-tracker.png",0,0,100%,100%,0,P
IMAGE=35,"blankcard.png",0,0,100%,100%,0,P
LINK = player-card-data.ods
[all]=1-74
[icon_size] = 35
[starting_cards]=1-5
[icons_xpos] = -1
[num_xpos] = -1
[num_ypos] = 15
[num_spacing] = 13
BORDER=RECTANGLE
DPI=300
UNIT=MM
PAGE=210,297,PORTRAIT,HV
CARDSIZE=63,88
MARGINS=1.5,1.5,1.5,1.5
'Cutting Guides and removing borders
BORDER=RECTANGLE,#000000,0.1,MARKDOT,#0000FF
FONT=Arial,128,,#000000
EDGE=1,NULL
DUPLEX = [all],75
PRINT=DUPLEX
IF = [Action]<>[Blank]
IMAGE=[all],"txf-player/[image-filename].png",4%,15%,92%,65%,0,A
ELSE
IMAGE=[all],"txf-player/[image-filename].png",4%,15%,92%,78%,0,A
ENDIF
IF = [Action]<>[Blank]
FONT="Noto Sans",10,TF,#000000
roundrect=[all],0%,75%,100%,25%,#FFFFFF,#FFFFFF,1,5
TEXT=[all],[Action],5%,79%,85%,18%,CENTER,WWCENTER
ELSE
roundrect=[all],0%,90%,100%,10%,#FFFFFF,#FFFFFF,1,5
ENDIF
FONT=Y-Files,30,FT,#000000
roundrect=[all],0%,0%,100%,17%,#FFFFFF,#FFFFFF,1,5
IMAGE=[starting_cards],"small-x-icon.png",1,4,6,6
TEXT=[all],[ModifiedTitle],3%,3%,94%,10%,CENTER,WWCENTER
IMAGE=[all],"red-circle-icon.png",[num_xpos],{[num_ypos]+2},13,13,-15,T
FONT=Y-Files,[icon_size],BTFN,#FFFFFF
TEXT = [all], [Value], [num_xpos],{[num_ypos]+[num_spacing]/3},20%,10%,center, center, 0, 100, 1
FONT=Y-Files,[icon_size],BTFN,#000000
TEXT = [all], [Value], [num_xpos],{[num_ypos]+[num_spacing]/3},20%,10%
IMAGE=[all],"pistol-gun-black2.png",[num_xpos],{[num_ypos]+[num_spacing]},13,13,-15,T
FONT=Y-Files,[icon_size],BTFN,#FFFFFF
TEXT = [all], [Ammo], [num_xpos],{[num_ypos]+[num_spacing]+3},20%,10%,center, center, 0, 100, 1
FONT=Y-Files,[icon_size],BTFN,#000000
TEXT = [all], [Ammo], [num_xpos],{[num_ypos]+[num_spacing]+3},20%,10%
IMAGE=[all],"police-badge.png",{[num_xpos]+1.5},{[num_ypos]+[num_spacing]*2+1},10,10,0,T
FONT=Y-Files,[icon_size],BTFN,#FFFFFF
TEXT = [all], [Shield], {[num_xpos]},{[num_ypos]+[num_spacing]*2+1},20%,10%,center, center, 0, 100, 1
FONT=Y-Files,[icon_size],BTFN,#000000
TEXT = [all], [Shield], {[num_xpos]},{[num_ypos]+[num_spacing]*2+1},20%,10%
IMAGE=[all],"money-stack.png",{[num_xpos]+1},{[num_ypos]+[num_spacing]*3-1},12,12,0,T
FONT=Y-Files,[icon_size],BTFN,#FFFFFF
TEXT = [all], [Worth], [num_xpos],{[num_ypos]+[num_spacing]*3},20%,10%,center, center, 0, 100, 1
FONT=Y-Files,[icon_size],BTFN,#000000
TEXT = [all], [Worth], [num_xpos],{[num_ypos]+[num_spacing]*3},20%,10%
IMAGE=75,"cardback-red-2.png",0,0,100%,100%,0,P
At first this game didn’t quite click for me, but once I wrapped my brain around the differences between this and Wipers Salient I enjoyed it. It’s a longer, more difficult game with more strategic depth. I never played it with the original theme, but my instinct is it would have been more difficult to get into. As it is now, solving X-Files is fun and I included a few funny cards to help keep the theme light. I’ve since played Wipers Salient again and there is definitely room for both in my collection.
I was remarking to Marlin today on how we’ve gamified the current situation. It’s most obvious in the kitchen. Finishing off dry goods that have languished in the back of the pantry has gives us a sense of accomplishment. We’ve been working our way through the liquor cabinet, polishing off one bottle at a time. I’ve dedicated myself to finishing off a large container of steel-cut oats I bought when I didn’t know any better (quick oats are superior). Chores and to-do lists have become infused with new purpose. It’s interesting how the brain adapts circumstances to make them more tolerable.
FlowerfulI kept putting off getting seed and soil, and now there’s a shelter-in-place order and the decision has been made for me. Which can actually be said about a number of things I kept putting off in recent days, but you can’t order soil online. The seed catalogues are somewhat backed up on shipping, which is understandable, but it means I should not delay much longer. Now having herbs will be even more useful than before.
I made a list, called a Freaking Do This Already List, and it has things like, “Do the census so the government man doesn’t come to your house and ask questions about your family,” and “order pants that do not have holes in them,” and so forth. Seed is on the list. Maybe tomorrow. I just need to draw a name out of a hat and stop agonizing over who to buy from.
I’ve classified home composting as non-trivial. I’ve built and nurtured a fairly large composting plot, approximately 3x6, and I think it’s barely big enough to keep with the approximate 1.5 qts. of compost material we produce daily. I supplement it with extra leaves and reinforce the walls every 2 days or so. I’m starting to see lots of worms, but I have to keep layering it to prevent critters and fruit flies from getting into it and spring has only just begun. Turning the pile has become a bit of work, I had to start using a bigger shovel. I don’t mind at all, I find working on it oddly meditative, but the idea that people should compost their own organics is kind if silly. It’s definitely an investment in time and space that broadly needs to be handled by the municipality.
I keep meaning to put up an online photo gallery and of course have not, but I have at least been taking a lot of pictures since recreation is largely walking around outside looking at things and I might as well document what I’m looking at. There are some monstrous wisteria vines that have taken over a bunch of trees near the lake and they look amazing. My succulents survived being mowed over by well-meaning neighbors. Tulips are coming up. I will upload my pictures by god. I will make the time for it.
I decided against a player mat, opting for player aid cards instead. I’ve always liked cards because they fit with the deck and they’re modular. I used a descending morale tracker with 10’s and 1’s because that seemed most intuitive to me, it is based on the tracker in the original version of Agent Decker. The current design is honestly a bit too minimalist for my tastes, but the alternative was to go all-in on the spooky X-Files theme and I didn’t want a super-dark cardset–not only personal preference, but considering the volume of black ink.
I played a very enjoyable game of the prototype last night, and it was enjoyable in part because I happened to draw 3 appropriately-powered enemies for the first round. Enemy draw is purely random, and sometimes I’ll draw 3 really difficult enemies off the bat and I just kind of flounder.
This ties into another issue I had with my theme. Some of the villains are Monsters of the Week, some are mytharc, and some are series events (like evidence being stolen). The deck is designed to have extra enemies, so some will never enter play. I may at lease color-code MOTW/vs the others for a variant where you only draw MOTW the first two rounds, and make sure those are all assigned to weaker enemy cards.
I’m resisting making a Coronavirus tag. Ugh.
So, Week Two is down and the Administration has extended the social distancing recommendations through the month of April. We did anticipate this, I believe the local school system already announced closure through at least April.
There are good days and bad days. The weekends are actually harder for me. On the weekdays I have to juggle Minnow and work (now on overtime) and life stuff, and that keeps me busy. The weekends are “open” except, of course, they’re not at all open, we’re very limited in where we can go or what we can do and it starts to get at me a bit. The city has closed playgrounds and there have been issues with crowding at some of our parks now that the weather is improving.
The good news is the weather IS improving! We’re not to kayaking weather yet but it’s on the horizon. We’re having nice sunny days and unfortunately, a crap-ton of pollen. My allergies have improved over time but Minnow is quite susceptible and I feel bad for them, so we’re keeping them stocked with Child Zyrtek and trying to be smart about their exposure.
We’ve been working on things around the house. Going to the grocery once a week, instead of whenever we need something, has changed our perspective on the pantry and we’ve been able to clean out or finish off a lot of dry goods that were languishing. We’ve always been good about eating leftovers and not wasting food, but we’ve gotten more creative about odds and ends that accumulate and I have a few personal missions (finish off a bag of coconut flour, for instance).
We’re still working out issues with homeschool, it’s an evolving process, but I like to think by the start of Week Three we have a pretty solid routine and we’re just refining it as we go. Every few days for “craft time” we bake a dessert, usually a half-batch of low sugar-cupcakes or something like that. I added chores to the list for this week, we’re going to start having a kid-related chore (e.g. clean Minnow’s bathroom sink, wash bed sheets) each day. Craft time has been really miss or miss, it’s actually a good bit of work for me to find crafts for them to make and most of the time they’re not very engaged, but I think having a creative/maker block is important. I’ll figure something out.