KTBG/Burnt Island Games

Expanding a StoryBy Sean Jacquemain

Board games can take an interesting path from the first spark of an idea to the game that ultimately hits the table. Changes and edits to the gameplay, strategies, and narratives are quite common. That was certainly the case for Fall of the Mountain King (FMK).

When Adam Daulton first pitched the game that would become FMK, it had a totally different theme. It was set in a real historic period and explored conflicts that actually took place. The Burnt Island Games team loved the concept and the core mechanics of the game, but they had a different vision for the narrative arch.

“Right away, we saw the similarities with In the Hall of the Mountain King (HMK),” said publisher Helaina Cappel. “We could envision these same mechanics in the setting we had worked to establish in the original game.”

While Daulton’s game used totally new rules, the two games shared a mechanical DNA. Fans of HMK would definitely see the connections between the gameplay of both titles, but FMK offers a totally new experience with its own challenges and strategies.

HMK tells the story of exiled trolls returning home after being run out by gnomish invaders generations ago. The game focuses on rebuilding the mountain to its former glory. It always felt as if there was more story to tell in the lives of these trolls. What were their customs and politics? How was the mountain divided among the various clans? What did it look like before they were ousted? Finally, what took place in that dramatic battle that caused their downfall? These were questions that begged to be explored further, and with a ruleset that fit the theme, it seemed like the perfect fit.

Whenever a publisher returns to an established theme, there are benefits and drawbacks. You need to adhere to the spirit of the original game enough to satisfy fans, while creating enough of a new play experience that you’re not simply rehashing old ideas. It’s a tightrope to be walked with any design within an existing world.

As an additional challenge to setting FMK in the past as a prequel to HMK, the narrative had to connect with a specific set of circumstances. At the beginning of HMK, the mountain has just collapsed scattering the remaining gnomes and providing an opportunity for the trolls to return. FMK had to end with the defeat of a once proud civilization, but needed to explain victory conditions even in the context of a greater defeat.

For several months, Daulton and Burnt Island Games worked to establish the setting and refine the rules for fun strategic gameplay that makes sense in that context. As development continued, the Ancestry mechanic become more interesting and even better incorporated into the theme. Across three rounds, called Waves, the onslaught of gnomes threatens control of the mountain, and only through brave actions and clever decisions can a player prove themselves worthy of claiming a leadership role with the trolls as they bid their time in exile. Destiny is predetermined in FMK. Players will sit down to the table knowing their defence of the mountain will be in vain. They also know that in a few generations the trolls will return. Winning a game of FMK will ensure they will be the ones to lead the return to the mountain when that moment is right! Contact info@burntislandgames. com to become a retail backer for our

June 1 Kickstarter.

2021 Tabletop Game Industry RECRUITMENT

by Kim Shatzer

The growth of gaming in 2020 generated a hiring surge that flowed strong into 2021… with no signs of stopping. Large toy manufacturers, game studios, and tabletop businesses roared with hiring in the pandemic. The game makers thrived while small retailers and indie studios fell short on sales and customers in the lockdown. As Americans stayed home playing more games, it reshaped groupthink, socialization and entertainment value. Tabletop and the hobby industry, a lot like technology, get better over time. The lockdown reformatted how we hire for designers, writers, producers and publishing professionals. Artwork, game pieces, characters, participation and printing quality are top of mind for games made this year.

As a game recruitment professional, I get the privilege of seeing the industry from an outsider and insider vantage point. We analyze the game industry’s hiring patterns, but also the guts of studio projects like new board games, RPGs, marketing campaigns, sales tactics, product development, strategic partnerships and roadmap plans. Once we evaluate the scope of a job opportunity, we coach clients on hiring trends, candidate demands, hot portfolios and how to stay competitive to scoop up quality candidates with a love for tabletop.

DE&I is not only the hot topic of the year, it’s the hot topic of our lifetime. A large percentage of players and fans of tabletop games are diverse in demographic; therefore the production, branding, design and publishing teams need to represent and reflect that reality. Studios are paying attention to how DE&I play a part in the candidate application and interview process. Studios are newly committed to voicing public stances on diversity and current events. Game

studios and publishers are even hiring DE&I Directors, Diversity Consultants, Employee Success Managers, HR Leads and HBCU partnerships. I have also seen an uptick in support for nonprofits. (Some of my favorites include Black Girls Code, Take This, Gamers Outreach, Girls Who Code, Gamers Vote, Dress For Success, and AbleGamers!) Most importantly, game leaders are focusing on diversity efforts by representing diverse characters in games, packaging, merchandise, toys, and content.

Our niche Game Recruiters have an intimate understanding of candidate requests during the job search. Our finger is on the pulse of passive and active senior level job seekers. Here’s the top 3 questions we hear from tabletop candidates.

First, is the job remote forever? As Covid-19 rates improve, we’ll see how the cookie crumbles on this hot button topic. Odds are, you didn’t originally get into the gaming biz to work alone in your house; historically the best ideas, products, toys, games and storylines came from onsite teamwork and testing together.

Secondly, what are the stock plans,

profit share bonus, 401k match and performance bonus percentages, if any?

Candidates are well aware game revenue shot up 10-20% in 2020. Game stocks are on the rise as the world turns its focus to playing at home, collecting toys, completing puzzles and home entertainment. Passive and active job-hunting candidates want to know what their fair-share-slice of the sweat-equity-pie looks like. Fortunately, game studios are implementing salary banding within job grades to promote pay equity, hiring flexibility and accurate budgeting. This is a service we frequently consult with clients on.

Third, what are the consumer feedback practices? Tabletop companies listen to publishers and print partners yet also need to tune in to what buyers want to play with friends post-pandemic. With the rise in popularity for crowdfunding in tabletop, designers want to ensure they’re joining a tabletop company with a bright future and consumer-forward approach. The user experience and interface of a board game or TCG have dramatically improved in recent years. The design, storytelling and game actions (like rolling some dice, moving a piece or flipping a card) are getting more sophisticated. This trickles into an enhanced storyline, interaction, gameplay, escapism and fan loyalty.

No matter what game industry candidates want, or what game companies need – stay focused on, “What is my contribution to the game industry during the span of my career?” Luckily my game recruitment team has top notch talent acquisition strategies of matching great talent with great companies, yet our biggest contribution is the ability to find culture “adds,” instead of just culture “fits.”

Kim Shatzer is Managing Director and Founder of Onward Play, division of Onward Search. Onward Play is a nationwide game staffing agency specializing in freelance and direct hire. Onward Play’s niche is linking up creative, technical and production talent with incredible game, XR, and esports studios. The segments they cover include PC, Console, Mobile, VR, AR, MR, esports, toys, casino and tabletop. Visit www. OnwardPlay to learn more about their recruitment services.