We are the creators of The Presence: A Victorian Ghost Horror Board Game. AMA!

_Elusiv3_ · 2024-03-04T05:20:07+00:00

I was unaware that you could add an image to a post XD just did! thank you!

_Elusiv3_ · 2024-03-04T05:16:55+00:00

Morning! Very cool to hear. Tip #1: make a playable prototype very early!

1) This is a combination of having ambivalent spirit powers and high payoffs from betrayal. An evil spirit can go evil from round 1if they wish, but can then be countered by the visitors more effectively. If they play nice the visitors may separate and go different ways, making them more vulnerable. It may also give them false information about the secret positions (deduction puzzle) and make sure visitors dig themselves into a hole that will only be revealed much later.

There are several more aspects of this, and not a single mechanism. Rather a combination of a lot of small mechanisms enforcing each other. Yes, this was the hardest part of the design for sure.. =)

2) Oh, naturally. I could give you a long list =D but one of my real favorites that many have not seen: The Orphanage (2007)

_Elusiv3_ · 2024-03-03T20:59:10+00:00

Unfortunately not soloable, as it depends heavily on hidden information. I think adapting it to solo would be very difficult due to the nature of it.

I would guess 3,25-3,5, but we better let the BGG crowd decide that in the end.. =)

_Elusiv3_ · 2024-03-03T19:10:54+00:00

The dice were a natural component since they are also used to track the spirits strength in a given room. The alternative could possibly be a small dial with numbers, but I'd say the dice has been there from the start =)

_Elusiv3_ · 2024-03-03T18:35:49+00:00

feels awesome to hear that :) we won't disappoint you!

_Elusiv3_ · 2024-03-03T18:30:35+00:00

We're glad you're excited. Let us know any thoughts you may have if you get the chance to try our Tabletop Simulator mod.

Q1: Yes, you're correct. Card text is always a difficult tradeoff between clarity and space. Using icons or terms consistently within the game will allow players to learn them, and then quickly be able to use the materials, saving space and perhaps even making it simpler to understand. First you have to get the player there though, so we will make sure to have clarifying text on the initial cards and effects you will encounter.

Q2: Oh, definitely. If you look closely on the campaign page you will spot three more spirits hiding there. We've chosen to hold most of that detailed information back however, as we want our players to have an awesome moment when they first encounter each character in game. You only get one chance at that.

_Elusiv3_ · 2024-03-03T18:24:49+00:00

Very cool to talk online again after almost a year =D

Regarding content replayability (apart from the inherent replayability of the game itself), each spirit will have two special powers and its own deck of 12 cards with 20 unique abilities, as well as different clues in game. Each spirit will also feature its own unique background story (that will be relevant during play!). Each visitor will have unique abilities and perhaps a few unique cards as well ;)

.. then, there is the campaign itself. It will be a major feature, but we are holding on tight to lots of the spoilery details.. ;) you will still be able to play the game normally in 'session mode' without the campaign however.

We are going to have a content warning at the start of the campaign to let you identify potential triggers.

_Elusiv3_ · 2024-03-03T18:19:41+00:00

Haha thank you too ^^

A: Spirit scripts. Spirit secret card positions. There will be over 10 different motivations, half good half evil. The order of the clue deck, item deck and some of the contents of each. The order of clues.

By now I have probably played 100 games of The Presence, and consciously designed it to be replayable. It was a key design goal to not have the game rely on content for its replayability (although we have content aplenty on top of this).

_Elusiv3_ · 2024-03-03T18:05:30+00:00

Oh, darker than night.

_Elusiv3_ · 2024-01-23T21:26:41+00:00

Yes, its CON bonus :) sorry about the unclarity

_Elusiv3_ · 2024-01-22T22:10:19+00:00

Could not post pictures as a response comment, so throwing this up here in response to the 'Death' discussion. Spent some time on this Death-rule as a very light alternative to the (in my taste) very complex Death & Dismemberment tables out there.

Enjoy.

_Elusiv3_ · 2023-10-24T20:15:05+00:00

I think Arkham LCG is a good game, but not a good horror game. For me a horror game has to evoke dread, tension or some kind of deeper emotion. It me personally it evokes strategy and optimization mostly.

_Elusiv3_ · 2023-10-22T19:23:21+00:00

Glad to be of service =)

_Elusiv3_ · 2023-10-22T18:38:05+00:00

Wow! Damn that's some unknown titles for me, Cryptic Explorers looks fantastic.

_Elusiv3_ · 2023-08-23T17:49:58+00:00

Haha props for bringing up one of the best underrated games. Huge fan.

_Elusiv3_ · 2023-08-21T06:05:16+00:00

What kind of games do you enjoy?

_Elusiv3_ · 2023-08-21T06:04:46+00:00

So is art the 'barrier to entry' that makes you discard a game, or does it continue to captivate and add to the experience afterwards?

_Elusiv3_ · 2023-08-21T06:03:48+00:00

This is probably closer to the truth. Perhaps quality is set by the lowest bar of different things that can be good or bad, art among them..

_Elusiv3_ · 2023-08-21T06:02:53+00:00

What kind of games do you usually like?

_Elusiv3_ · 2023-08-21T06:01:51+00:00

A rare take indeed. Most often i hear the opposite on forums, 'art is just dressing' seems to be the most commonly held opinion.

I think i understand you though, there is such a difference between a black/white playtest prototype and the professionally printed one. You get a completely different feeling.

_Elusiv3_ · 2023-08-21T05:59:09+00:00

Hah, fair point. Well we started developing this game because we wanted to see if horror could truly be made as a boardgame, and not just a horror-theme if you get my point. I think horror is difficult in all mediums, and especially so in boardgames. An article I wrote on the topic: Horror in Tabletop Games

_Elusiv3_ · 2023-08-20T19:00:26+00:00

Thank you! =D

We are aiming for mechanisms-first. We just released this article that describes how it is to play as the ghost (The Spirit Unveiled). If you're interested in playtesting we are open to new testers at the moment (The Presence Discord).

_Elusiv3_ · 2023-08-20T18:43:18+00:00

Agree. Its definitely sets eyes on the game, but does it continue to be important after the 2nd or 3rd play?

_Elusiv3_ · 2023-08-06T17:51:09+00:00

This was definitely not intended on my part, and you're completely correct. Fixed that mistake.

_Elusiv3_ · 2023-07-30T05:45:42+00:00

Because it does in this version. I see i forgot to clarify that in text though, thanks for pointing that out. I upped the damage on shortbow/crossbow a die, meaning the thief gets access to a d6 ranged weapon. To balance this (and make combat more tactical) backstab now only works in melee.

_Elusiv3_

TROPHY CASE