Factions of Sol

Exciting News: Our Second Prototype is Here!
7 months ago – Mon, Sep 18, 2023 at 04:19:52 PM

The short version:

• Our second prototype is here!
• After essential checks, the printing process will begin
   

The long version:

Hello everyone! We're thrilled to share exciting news: the second prototype of Factions of Sol has landed at our doorstep. This marks a major milestone on our journey to bringing the game to life. For those closely following our manufacturing updates, here's where we stand:

Recently, we ordered another prototype from our manufacturer to address specific concerns from the previous version. Quality is our priority, and after careful adjustments we're nearly set to start production.

Over the next few weeks, we'll meet with our manufacturer to provide feedback on this latest prototype and finalize production logistics. Once that's done, we're hitting the ground running with production!

But there's more! We're thrilled to offer you a sneak peek at our newest copy, showcasing the beautiful foil stamp you helped unlock during our campaign. We're delighted with the result, and you can get a close look in the video.

Thank you for your unwavering patience and support. If you have questions, comments, or just want to say hello, feel free to reach out or leave us a comment.

May Sol shine upon you,

The Mark IV Games Team

Timeline Update - Fulfillment Delay, New Planet Stands, and GenCon!
9 months ago – Mon, Jul 31, 2023 at 09:15:25 AM

The short version:

• Expected delivery for games is now the end of February. We’re deeply sorry for this delay. Read below to hear how we made our decision.
• We’ve changed the design of the Planet Stands add-on!
• Elam and Harry will be at GenCon!

Here's the long version:

Hello everyone! Here are some important updates on our fulfillment timeline.

Here’s the gist: Despite our best efforts, the proofing process has taken longer than we expected. Based on our current timeline, we’re hoping to have games in your homes by the end of February. We truly apologize for the change in plans, and we want to continue to be as transparent as possible with you all.

Our original timeline included one prototype copy followed by one round of edits. However, after several rounds of proofing in which we continued to find set-up errors, we’ve decided a second prototype is needed to make sure that Factions is a game we’re proud to give you. Given this change, and everything we’ve learned about the business of board games in the last year, we are pushing our timeline back 6 months.

The decision to adjust our timeline was not taken lightly. We know that you have placed a lot of faith in our ability to produce a beautiful game, and we don’t take your investment lightly. We’re committed to designing and manufacturing the best possible version of Factions of Sol. The last few months have been round after round of edits and talks with our manufacturer so we can ensure a high-quality game for you and your families to enjoy.

We understand that this isn’t the timeline you expected, and though it’s difficult, we would much rather have a high-quality product than rush the process. If you have any questions or concerns about the timeline change, feel free to reach out to us through Kickstarter. If you need to change your shipping address, you can do so through your BackerKit survey link, or by reaching out directly to us. You’ll also get plenty of reminders from us when we get closer to shipping.

There’s one other change we need to tell you all about: The planet stands. The original idea for this add-on was to have the planets on a tall stand so they would look like they were floating. However, in developing a stand that wasn’t in danger of constantly falling over, we needed a large, sturdy base that cluttered the board and made it hard to play the game.

This wasn’t good enough. However, we absolutely LOVED the acrylic planets– they were beautifully made and matched the style of the board perfectly. We really wanted to keep our promise to you, our backers, and offer a planet stand that was elegant, practical, and added to the game’s aesthetic instead of taking away. After talking with our manufacturer, we decided to make clear acrylic stands similar to these:

We LOVE this alternative– it’s simple, beautiful, and doesn’t get in the way of playing the game. However, we understand that this isn’t the concept you thought you were getting, and we sincerely apologize for that. If you would like to cancel your planet stand add-on, you will receive a full refund.

If you like this design and don’t want to cancel your order, you will still receive a $15 refund as an apology. And, if you’re interested in the original design, we’re happy to send you the .stl files for free so you can 3D print them yourself.

In other news, team members Elam and Harry will be at GenCon this weekend! The pair went last year and had a BLAST. This year, they’ll be taking our prototype copy with them, and if you’re around, they’d love to play it with you. If you’ll be at GenCon and want to try out Factions of Sol, message us on Kickstarter or Instagram–Elam and Harry would be happy to meet up with you for a game!

Thank you again for being on this journey with us. We can’t stress how much it means to have you all on board, and we look forward to making it all worth it.

As always, may Sol shine upon you,

The Mark IV Games Team

Our Newest Prototype is HERE!
11 months ago – Tue, May 23, 2023 at 11:35:43 AM

Here’s the short version:

•  We’ve received our first press proof (pics below)!
   

The long version:

Last week, our first pre-production prototype arrived, and the Chicago contingent of our team got up early to open it together–just like Christmas 🥹. This is the first time that we’ve been able to see our expansions and add-ons, so this prototype was extra special for us! Here are some of our favorite elements:

Overall, this prototype is even more gorgeous and high-quality than the versions we received last year. The colors are more vibrant, the board folds/unfolds better, and the faction mats are a much better size. And all the add-ons and expansions we saw were AWESOME. We’re really happy with what we got!

Still, though, they call it a prototype for a reason– it’s not perfect yet! We’ve already met with our manufacturer to fine-tune a few components and ensure the final copy will be the best possible version of Factions of Sol. We’ll receive a second prototype very soon, and once that’s approved, we’ll continue on to mass production!

Thank you all for your excitement and engagement. Kickstarter campaigns are a marathon, and we’re grateful to have all of you cheering us on–here’s to the finish line!

May Sol shine upon you,

The Mark IV Games Team

Press Proof? More Like Press GO!
about 1 year ago – Thu, Mar 23, 2023 at 03:29:54 PM

Here’s the short version:

• Manufacturing has officially started!
  

The long version:

We’re proud to say that we’ve officially started our manufacturing process! Over the next couple of weeks, HeroTime Games will be building our press-proof copy and setting up the machinery for our full manufacturing run. Once we receive our copy, the team will use it to check how the full game looks (in person!), and then fine-tune everything to make sure you’re getting the best game possible.

This will also mark the first time that anyone (outside of our lovely friends at HeroTime) will get to hold the amazing stretch goals and add-on features that you made happen, and we are  BEYOND excited to see them.

Next up is our full 1000 game manufacturing run. So stay tuned for details! Factions of Sol is closer than ever to arriving at your doorstep, and your support makes all the difference.

May Sol shine upon you,

The Mark IV Games Team

Final Steps Before Manufacturing!
about 1 year ago – Mon, Feb 13, 2023 at 12:37:00 PM

So here’s the short version:

• Every single one of our 100+ files has been submitted to the manufacturer!
  
• Expect another announcement in soon as we start production!
  
• You all loved our Underdogs factions so much, we put their solo cards in the base game! They also get Alliances in the Pluto Expansion.
  

Or, if you prefer, the long version:

Updates have been lacking lately, but for a good reason– after months of blood, sweat, and tears, we approved all 286 elements of Factions of Sol!! We read every piece of text in the game at least three times– I’m pretty sure we’ve memorized the entire game at this point.

And it was worth it– the game is cleaner and neater than ever before!

Truthfully, we’re so sure of our work that if you find a typo in your copy, we’ll send you a Factions of Sol T-shirt free of charge. Not kidding.

Getting back to the main topic of manufacturing, we expect to actually begin production in 1-2 weeks. Our files need to be approved by the manufacturer, but we hope that this process won’t take too long.

Expect another update as soon as production has begun!

Next on our list of updates for you, we decided to add a few more elements to the base game: solo play cards for the Voidwalkers and the Amalgamations! Go head to head against our two weirdest factions in our newly-updated solo game. The Underdogs also get their own Alliances in Greetings from Pluto!

Catch that? We updated our solo rules! Harry has been working hard to make it even more engaging. You can now create your own difficulty level by mixing and matching opponent factions and Stellar Events. Difficulty ranges from 1 (super easy) to 20 (nearly impossible).

Overall, the Factions of Sol team is so incredibly excited to be one step closer to bringing you all your new board game.

Next time, we’ll bring you more news on manufacturing and the expected delivery timeline. Keep an eye out for that! See you next time!

P.S.– This update contains a secret message. Did you find it?