Opening new diplomatic avenues for Coalitions
over 2 years ago – Fri, Jun 17, 2022 at 09:09:32 AM

Hello Everyone!

You’ll be glad to hear we’re progressing nicely with the development of Coalitions’ standalone expansions. First, we extensively playtested and successfully integrated all the smaller expansions into those two games (such as neutral/mercenary generals from the Soldiers of Fortune Expansion). Second, we came up with new improvements to the diplomatic aspects of not just Ancien Régime, Raison d’Etat and Realpolitik but also the core game.

We’ve introduced a new way of controlling multiple major powers in games with lower player counts (essentially, whenever Napoleonic Coalitions is played by 3-5 players or Raison d’Etat by 3-6 players). Originally, some players controlled two or even three specific powers as a way of balancing each player’s chances of winning the game. From now on, the control of ‘neutral’ powers will be decided by a special bidding session conducted at the beginning of each round. This way, the control over non-player powers can change at any point in the game, thus not only reflecting historical realities but also forcing players to take great care when moving allied generals. Also, it adds another layer to the diplomatic struggle in Coalitions.

In Realpolitik, we’ve introduced a new system for diplomatic realignment. Instead of a two opposing alliance blocks mechanism of all other Coalitions games and expansions, here players have a small deck of Diplomatic Cards that they can use to sign an alliance or a peace treaty, or declare war. The trouble is, all players play those cards in secret and the cards don’t have to match any verbal agreements made just a minute ago, creating a new avenue for the diplomatic rivalry between the players (and a new way to backstab your opponent!).

A new crowdfunding campaign has just begun!

While some in our team are busy developing Coalitions, others are working on another project that may pique your interest. We’ve just launched a brand new crowdfunding project, this time on Gamefound, featuring a different historically-themed area control game – Bretwalda!

It’s a game for 1-4 players set in a turbulent period of England’s Early Medieval history. Viking raiders are conquering swathes of land in the East. Paganism is being replaced by Christianity. And the four major Anglo-Saxon kingdoms (Northumbria, Mercia, Wessex, and East Anglia) are in a constant game of diplomacy, alliance building, and conflict to claim the crown of Bretwalda, the Britain-ruler.

The Bretwalda’s base pledge contains a staggering amount of 125 finely detailed high-quality miniatures, a gorgeous game board, four equally outstanding player boards, and hundreds of tokens and cards. If you want to know more details about the game, how it plays, and what’s it all about, check out the campaign’s page now. Hopefully, you’ll find Bretwalda as interesting as Coalitions!

Here: https://gamefound.com/projects/phalanx/bretwalda?refcode=e6b_uwrQ70yL-NxUfx282w

The first wave of games rescheduled
over 2 years ago – Thu, Apr 28, 2022 at 05:32:33 PM

Hello Everyone!

While we’d love nothing more than bring you the best news, it’s not always possible. Due to some changes to our schedule of work in general and playtesting of Coalitions’ expansions in particular, we’re not able to put all the game components into production just yet. That will, unfortunately, affect our plans to deliver the first wave of games, and it will have to be postponed until November-December 2022.

On the bright side, the additional two or three months we’ll gain will allow us to refine all the components and playtest expansions to a much greater degree. In addition, the Coalitions Pledge Manager and Late Pledge will remain open a little longer, until August 2022.

There’s one more piece of news regarding Coalitions. The core game rulebook has been submitted for proofreading, and once the pdf file has been compiled, we’ll post it in one of the future updates (that is to say, in a month or two) for your review.

Stay safe,
Srdjan, Adrian & PHALANX Team

The State of Raison d’Etat
almost 3 years ago – Thu, Mar 17, 2022 at 05:44:22 PM

Hello Everyone!

The last month was a time of tremendously intense playtesting and hard work on Raison d’Etat. After all, it is the largest standalone game based on the Coalitions system, with a double-sided board and several scenarios depicting vastly different 17th and early 18th century European conflicts, not to mention new playable powers – Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth on one side of the board, and Russia on the other.

We’ve also been playtesting the Soldiers of Fortune Expansion combined with Raison d’Etat and other Coalitions games to find the right balance of forces for each scenario.

Here are some pics from our latest playtests:

Stay safe,
Srdjan, Adrian & PHALANX Team

Coalitions still on schedule!
almost 3 years ago – Sat, Feb 12, 2022 at 08:42:10 AM

Hello Everyone!

We’re back after a longer break than usual – but a break only in terms of updating you, not in terms of working on Coalitions! Since New Year, we’ve been focusing on two specific Coalitions-related tasks.

First, we’ve been setting up the pre-production timetable and making sure everything is well on track. We’re happy to report the plans remain on schedule, and the Coalitions Pledge Manager and Late Pledge will remain open until July 2022.

Second, we’ve been hard at work playtesting Raison d’Etat. While everything is in place in terms of mechanics and rules, we’re still figuring out the best way to set up each scenario so that every faction has the same chances of winning the game. The game dynamics are much different than in the core game – as they should be! – leading to some interesting situations, and the diplomatic challenges facing the players are definitely more pronounced!

Here are some pics from our latest playtests:

From Napoleonic wars to the Vietnam war – Purple Haze’s campaign is about to end

In the meantime, a different part of our team has been working on another game that may pique your interest: Purple Haze. It’s not an illustrious and grand area control struggle for the domination of an entire continent, quite the opposite – it’s a very personal, thematic, and down-to-earth Vietnam War game. Atmospheric, narrative-heavy, dark, and gritty, with lots of twists.

With over 2100 backers and 430% of the initial pledge level reached, the Purple Haze’s campaign is just four days away from the finish line. We’ve already unveiled all four full expansions, including two that are entirely free to all base pledge backers!

If you’re interested in Purple Haze, you can check out the campaign’s page right here:
https://gamefound.com/projects/phalanx/purple-haze?refcode=HbxhjRPKp0OB6EC2l-JQPw

Stay safe,
Srdjan, Adrian & PHALANX Team

A new year for Coalitions
almost 3 years ago – Fri, Dec 24, 2021 at 01:03:51 AM

Hello Everyone!

We end 2021 – the year in which you helped make Coalitions a reality – on a positive note. We’re moving closer to the completion of the project, even though the development of Coalitions’ expansions will continue into the New Year. We’re taking a two-week break for the Holidays and New Year now to recharge our batteries, but after that we’ll once again go into high gear, testing new ideas and options, including those proposed by some of you, and balancing the gameplay.

The pre-production plans remain on schedule, and the Coalitions Pledge Manager and Late Pledge will remain open until July 2022.

Stay safe, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year,
Srdjan, Adrian & PHALANX Team