Poll for Swapping Stretch Goals
over 3 years ago – Tue, Jul 12, 2022 at 06:42:42 AM

Hello Dear Backers

After posting the last update, we had a discussion with some backers in the comments section about swapping the 80K Active Player Folding Fan for the 100K Engraving on deluxe Wooden Resources. It was decided that I should make a poll asking all backers whether they thought this idea was a good one.

So here it is, please click the image above or this link here to help us vote on this topic. After some consideration, I think it is better to only put these two options on the table, and keep the poll clean and simple.

I will make another post later to discuss the results with everyone, and we will see how it goes.

Mini Express now Live

Mini Express is a cube rail board game for 1 to 5 players in which you and other wealthy capitalists manage four railroad companies. There are only two actions in this game: Build Tracks and Buy Shares.

Yet these simple mechanics will lead to intriguing decisions between players throughout each game. It’s easy to learn, but still leads to an engaging and fulfilling experience.

To learn more about Mini Express, please head over to the campaign page to check it out. Thank you for the consideration!

Thank you reading this update. I would like to express my gratitude for your continued support in our project, and we are doing our best to deliver this game to you. Please let me know if you have any questions in the comments below.

Best Regards,
David Liu
Producer @ Moaideas Game Design

Sneak Peak of Wooden Insert & Bags
almost 4 years ago – Sun, Jul 03, 2022 at 09:52:45 PM

Hello Dear Backers

It's been a while since our last update, and we've been working to prepare for manufacturing. I sent the graphic files for Jiangnan to the factory in early June, and we've been going back-and-forth on issues like the layout of the punchboards, missing items, wrong back tiles, incorrect die lines, and tons of small details that go into checking the files and preparing them for print.

Due to the sheer amount of tiles in this game, as well as the lockdowns in the region surrounding the factory, has made this process slower than I'd expected. But finally this week we got all the punchboards files confirmed, and the factory will make a production sample so we can do a physical check before signing off on the main production run. We should be able to approve production in 2-3 weeks, barring any more major delays. We'll announce more specific dates as soon as we have them.

Wooden Insert Sample

I have also confirmed the design of the wooden insert with Crowbox, and a sample has also arrived so I can test the fitting. Currently I plan for the height for the Jiangnan box to be around 80mm. However, the height of the insert is 70mm, and we can't go any lower due to the boats. This means that when the map boards, bags, and rules are placed on top of the wooden insert, the top lid won't be able to close completely over the bottom of the box.

I've also considered increasing the box height, but anything more than 80mm would start to affect shipping costs to the hubs and fulfillment centers. Any extra height will significantly reduce how many units we could put on a freight pallet, and also the increased volume would result in higher last-mile shipping costs to backers.

I understand that it would be better to have the lid of the box close completely over the insert, but we have to work within the limits of the fulfillment process. I hope you can understand our dilemma and know that we didn't come to this decision lightly.

Mini Express Campaign

We're launching a campaign next week for expansion map packs to our previous game, Mini Express. Mini Express was a huge success on Kickstarter in 2020, and we're back to crowdfund the expansions, containing exciting new rules and extra components by experienced train game designers Tony Boydell (UK Map) and Hisashi Hayashi (JP Map).

Mini Express is a board game that uses a cube rail system and has simple mechanics combined with deep strategic player interactions. If you missed our previous campaign, this is your chance to get the base game and expansions at the same time. If this sounds interesting to you, please head over to the prelaunch page on Kickstarter and sign up to get notified when we launch.

Thank you so much for your patience and support during the process of manufacturing Jiangnan. We should have more status updates to show you once production starts rolling, so stay tuned.

Best Regards,
David Liu
Producer @ Moaideas Game Design

Pledge Manager Closing on May 30th
almost 4 years ago – Mon, May 02, 2022 at 11:52:01 PM

Hello Dear Backers

Previously we planned on keeping the pledge manager open until the end of June, but (1) we are having good progress on the graphics so I can submit files earlier (2) due to exchange rates & shipping price fluctuations it is always beneficial to start production earlier, so I am announcing that we will lock your orders around May 27th, then charge your cards on May 30th. You can still change your address until the end of August, but you won't be able to add items to your order.

Please check your mailbox or your email’s spam folder for an invitation to BackerKit, or press the "Get My Survey" button on this page to send it again. If you used Apple ID to log into Kickstarter or inputted a different email address than the one you used to back this campaign, then you won't be able to receive anything. Please message me so I can change the email associated with your order on BackerKit.

If you haven't completed your survey by the end of May, you will still be able to do so afterwards. We cannot guarantee that you will be able to purchase extra add-ons, but you must complete the survey so we know where to send your games and collect your shipping fees. If you do not complete the survey by the end of August, we might not be able to deliver your games to you this year, and there may be extra costs required.

TTS Module Updated

Over the past month, we have been constantly updating the Tabletop Simulator module with the newest graphics, so if you can't wait to play Jiangnan, you can check it out here on Steam. I also received an offer of help from staff of Tabletopia to convert the files for their platform, so we might be working together to create an online version there soon.

Locked Items in Your Cart

Due to an unintentional bug with the pledge manager, some of you may find that add-ons purchased on Kickstarter will be locked in your cart. If you want to swap them out, please contact me or BackerKit support to unlock it for you. Note that each time you start the survey from the beginning, it will load your KS add-ons and lock it again, so it will help if you can confirm your address and place a order first before we unlock the items for you.

Thanks again for all of your support. We’ve been working on a lot of things behind the scenes to make this project a great success. All of it is thanks to amazing backers like you who made it possible.

Best Regards,
David Liu
Producer @ Moaideas Game Design

Wooden Add-On Bundle
about 4 years ago – Sat, Apr 02, 2022 at 11:15:04 PM

Hello Dear Backers

It has been just 10 days since I started to send out BackerKit survey invites, and already over 730 backers have filled the survey and finished the checkout process, thank you!

I plan to keep the pledge manager open until the end of June, but please finish the checkout process as soon as possible so I can get a better grasp on manufacturing numbers.

Also, you need to know that your credit cards will only be charged when we lock your orders. I just learned that we can manually charge orders separately, so if you want to be billed earlier, send me a message and we can work something out.

Wooden Add-On Bundle

Many of you have asked if we can provide a discounted bundle for just the Wooden Insert & Wooden Action Tiles. After checking with the factory, and crunching the numbers internally, we've decided that yes, we will make a discounted bundle for just those two add-ons.

If you were a backer of the all-in pledge level and would like to switch your playmat to this instead, log into your pledge on BackerKit, click the colored "$139 Reward" text under "Your Pledge Level" along the top of the page, then click “switch pledge levels” to downgrade to the "$89 Deluxe Edition" pledge level. Then scroll down to the add-ons section, and add the Wooden Add-On Bundle to your order.

Thank you again for your great support and patience. I am working hard to make sure everyone has a great experience with BackerKit, and please let me know if you run into any problems.

Best Regards,
David Liu
Producer @ Moaideas Game Design

Smoke Test for Pledge Manager
about 4 years ago – Tue, Mar 22, 2022 at 10:42:37 PM

Hello Dear Backers

Good news, our pledge manager setup has been approved by BackerKit and we are almost ready to send out surveys. We will send a smoke test to 5% of backers today. A random selection of you guys will receive the links to the survey ahead of everyone else. Please complete the checkout process if you get a link, and let us know if there are any problems or if there is anything is not clear to you. Thank you so much for your help in testing our surveys!

Even when you complete it now, your credit cards will not be charged at this time, so you can still edit your order later. We will only charged your cards when we lock the pledge manager, and we will give you a heads up before we do that. 

We will wait two days to gather feedback and make any necessary changes. Once everything looks good, we will send the surveys out to the remaining backers. The pledge manager will be open until the end of June, but please complete it as soon as possible so we can calculate a better amount for manufacturing add-ons so we can fulfill the game on time.

Please let me know if you have any questions. Again, we would like to say thank you so much for your support. We are so grateful that you trusted us and decided to support our project.

Best Regards,
David Liu
Producer @ Moaideas Game Design