Brikwars on the Delve Podcast

[bluebright]

When I spoke to Alex from the Mad Adventures Society about Brikwars he said "what's Brikwars? I've never heard of it."

Now of course we can't have that so I appeared on their podcast Delve to talk about what the heck Brikwars is and why it's such a fun game.

Let me know what you think of the episode!

[Quantumsurfer]

I appreciate that you tried to make it seem so fun. The best thing that you said was that you try to have the most fun even if you're losing.

I...feel like the guys running the podcast were distinctly unprepared for the subject matter, though. Not just BW, but wargames in general. I'm not mad, though, I've recently become acquainted with speaking unprepared on a public podcast. It's cringeworthy but I get it.

But whatever, you did a fairly good job at presenting the idea of the game to the uninitiated.

[stubby]

"The people that enjoy wargaming but also enjoy having a good time" - wow, there's a tiny niche! There have already been at least a couple of games named Brickhammer though.

The pacing conversation is what really jumped out at me, since it's been something I've been thinking about lately. The game kanon already has some strong fluff about minifigs needing to maintain Humans' attention in order to continue existing; I wonder if we could find a funny way to introduce a boredom roll each round to see if it's time to end the game and cut to the Kanon ending.

[Tzan]

If people are energized enough to make a boredom roll, the game continues.
If nobody can be bothered to roll the game ends.

1d6 roll:
0 - game ends
1-6 - game continues

[RedRover]

If people are energized enough to make a boredom roll, the game continues.
If nobody can be bothered to roll the game ends.

1d6 roll:
0 - game ends
1-6 - game continues

7 - sell all you possessions and become a recluse who practices witchcraft

[bluebright]

I appreciate that you tried to make it seem so fun. The best thing that you said was that you try to have the most fun even if you're losing.

I...feel like the guys running the podcast were distinctly unprepared for the subject matter, though. Not just BW, but wargames in general. I'm not mad, though, I've recently become acquainted with speaking unprepared on a public podcast. It's cringeworthy but I get it.

But whatever, you did a fairly good job at presenting the idea of the game to the uninitiated.

They did have about a month to prepare and I sent them all the links to the website but I guess they wanted me to explain it? Ah I dunno...and yeah understand the cringeworthy-ness too

"The people that enjoy wargaming but also enjoy having a good time" - wow, there's a tiny niche! There have already been at least a couple of games named Brickhammer though.

The pacing conversation is what really jumped out at me, since it's been something I've been thinking about lately. The game kanon already has some strong fluff about minifigs needing to maintain Humans' attention in order to continue existing; I wonder if we could find a funny way to introduce a boredom roll each round to see if it's time to end the game and cut to the Kanon ending.

Haha I think even Mike picked up on that too on Twitter hahaha. Also come to think of it I forgot to mention Mike at all...oooops, sorry Mike if your reading this!

Yeah pacing is what lead to me making Mothership. I've played a lot of Brikwars (like you would a regular board game) and it just needs more help in that area.

[stubby]

Yeah pacing is what lead to me making Mothership. I've played a lot of Brikwars (like you would a regular board game) and it just needs more help in that area.

I think the podcast guys got it right; it's a problem that all miniatures wargames share, and I don't think I've ever found one that solved it very well. I really do think a Human Interest roll might be the way to go. I have some ideas...

Toys are only animated as long as they maintain a Human's interest. Once the Humans get bored (according to a voluntary modified What I Say Goes contest), you cut to the Kanon Ending.

If you don't want to light the Kanon right away, but a player has to leave for some reason, then cut to rules for NPCing his forces (I already have some draft general-purpose NPC rules that I think are pretty funny).

If you don't want the whole battle to end, but parts of it stop mattering, some Selective Kanon rules to slap a Kanon Ending on the boring parts and tighten focus on whichever smaller parts of the battle still matter.

If you just want to ratchet things up (vs overly defensive players etc), then an Escalation Bonus to all Skill and Damage rolls, increasing each round.

[bluebright]

Yeah pacing is what lead to me making Mothership. I've played a lot of Brikwars (like you would a regular board game) and it just needs more help in that area.

I think the podcast guys got it right; it's a problem that all miniatures wargames share, and I don't think I've ever found one that solved it very well. I really do think a Human Interest roll might be the way to go. I have some ideas...

Toys are only animated as long as they maintain a Human's interest. Once the Humans get bored (according to a voluntary modified What I Say Goes contest), you cut to the Kanon Ending.

If you don't want to light the Kanon right away, but a player has to leave for some reason, then cut to rules for NPCing his forces (I already have some draft general-purpose NPC rules that I think are pretty funny).

If you don't want the whole battle to end, but parts of it stop mattering, some Selective Kanon rules to slap a Kanon Ending on the boring parts and tighten focus on whichever smaller parts of the battle still matter.

If you just want to ratchet things up (vs overly defensive players etc), then an Escalation Bonus to all Skill and Damage rolls, increasing each round.

I like the escalation bonus rule because we have too many players in our group that only play defensively. Granted they usually win but boy it's annoying!

[stubby]

I like the escalation bonus rule because we have too many players in our group that only play defensively. Granted they usually win but boy it's annoying!

The bane of all wargames. Are you using the Instant Benny rules? Deadly Ground is there to give offensive players a little help.

[bluebright]

I like the escalation bonus rule because we have too many players in our group that only play defensively. Granted they usually win but boy it's annoying!

The bane of all wargames. Are you using the Instant Benny rules? Deadly Ground is there to give offensive players a little help.

Nope, can you link me?

[stubby]

Are you using the Instant Benny rules? Deadly Ground is there to give offensive players a little help.

Nope, can you link me?

http://brikwars.com/rules/2010/1.htm#4

[bluebright]

Are you using the Instant Benny rules? Deadly Ground is there to give offensive players a little help.

Nope, can you link me?

http://brikwars.com/rules/2010/1.htm#4

And you've just made me realise my printed copy is still the 2005 rules thanks!