No online play?

[Caine]

as the title. I see it labeled as strictly local co-op

[LockeNKant]

Originally posted by Noremac:

Just wanted to add that I personally have bought Spirit Island and if they ever add good online multiplayer then I would probably be able to get 2-3 more people to buy the game and am sure other people are in the same situation.

Funny enough this same thing happened when playing Aeons End, I was playing through remote play and my brother was like "I will buy the game so we don't have to deal with remote play"... I had to tell him he actually can't... so only one of us owns the game instead of 3.

Yeah, my friend just got the bundle and we were hoping to stop playing Spirit Island on Table Top. We really like the automation and are hoping multiplayer comes out some time this year.

[ackmondual]

Originally posted by {ИЯm} Keith:

Originally posted by Khaos:

Hah, waste of money.

If I want to have people over for a board game we will...you know...play the board game. Not crowd around a computer.

Or you know, you could pay the list price of $59.53 USD to buy the board game off Amazon.com
You could then spend an even grater time then it takes to "each look at your cards" to set up the board, place and unplace the plastic invaders, wood dahan, etc. Hand manage the fear. Set up the fear deck. Shuffle the power cards, and dispense each spirits starting deck.
Then double check the rules to ensure that a power can be used the way you think it can. Then manage the blight. I'll while explaining the game, it's rules, etc to said friends who don't have a copy. Or you could have said friends each purchase a copy at like $60 so they know how to play.

----/!\ or you could buy htis reasonably priced PC game, that includes use of steams remote play for less and stay home instead of venturing out in a pandemic and or using gas, etc.

^^ This.

In Coronavirus times, we can at least entertain crowding around a computer monitor, and one person handling all the controls. Many in my game groups absolutely do NOT want to be playing with physical components.

.

Even without a pandemic (pre-COVID-19, or when we get to a point where meeting up will be safe again), I have one group where we STILL do this.
1) Playing on Steam/Switch/console is only a fraction of the price of what the physical game costs. Especially when you factor in expansions (*cough*. *Talisman*)

2) Rules enforcement are done for us
Yes, we've played IRL board games before and have done such that. And it's not the end of the world if we miss minor, or ever crucial rules. However, it's nice it does that. Examples include but not limited to Carcassonne, Potion Explosion, and Talisman. It's nice that the software game just deals with all the bookkeeping and rules for us. ESPECIALLY for the likes of Talisman and Sentinels Of The Multiverse, with all expansions piled on.

3) Save and suspend
Talisman has taken multiple sessions (longer games have taken up to 5 game sessions). It's nice to come back to it at a later time, without eating up somebody's table for weeks at a time

[Mr Suitcase]

Originally posted by MigrantP:

It's not something that can be added in a week or even in a month - it's a large project. We hope to add it in the future. We take the "agile" approach to releasing games;

Agile Approach? You're not just telling us a Story, right? You're promising this is going to be Epic? I'll Standup and Sprint to the checkout screens once I know for sure!

[{ИЯm} Keith]

Originally posted by Mr Suitcase:

Originally posted by MigrantP:

It's not something that can be added in a week or even in a month - it's a large project. We hope to add it in the future. We take the "agile" approach to releasing games;

Agile Approach? You're not just telling us a Story, right? You're promising this is going to be Epic? I'll Standup and Sprint to the checkout screens once I know for sure!

They aren't promising us it. They specifically said is was an optional bonus stretch type goal that they "may" do. IE it isn't a solid NO but a maybe if there's time, money, interest, etc. From past projects they've shown that the interest level isn't there. That being said, with the android release a multiplayer that isn't pass and play would be essential.

Perhaps you were hoping they'd take the Lotus Approach instead?

[μάλακα]

I don't like how a few people are being disrespectful to the developers in here. This looks like it is a high quality digital rendition, something that is not a sure thing for board games.

I just want to say that I will buy this, as soon as online multiplayer is added.

[jffdougan]

Handelabra is a small team - four or five full-time employees, if I remember correctly. Of their existing games:

* Sentinels of the Multiverse did not launch with multiplayer, but did get it before the first "season" of content was done.
* Bottom of the Ninth had it out of the gate.
* One Deck Dungeon (which I think in cardboard is a solo game) does not have it, although I believe they have brought all of the expansions to it, along with one or two digital-only characters.
* Aeon's End does not currently have it, but does have expansion content coming out. This one is probably the most fair comparison to Spirit Island, and I don't know the business details around how it has done.
* And then Spirit Island, which has been in full release for roughly a month. Aside from work on the Heart of the Wildfire promo/DLC spirit (which was previewed on their stream last night, 25 Aug 2020), they've said it should be reaching tablets before the year is over.

It's not like they're sitting idle.

[{ИЯm} Keith]

Originally posted by jffdougan:

Handelabra is a small team - four or five full-time employees, if I remember correctly. Of their existing games:

* Sentinels of the Multiverse did not launch with multiplayer, but did get it before the first "season" of content was done.
* Bottom of the Ninth had it out of the gate.
* One Deck Dungeon (which I think in cardboard is a solo game) does not have it, although I believe they have brought all of the expansions to it, along with one or two digital-only characters.
* Aeon's End does not currently have it, but does have expansion content coming out. This one is probably the most fair comparison to Spirit Island, and I don't know the business details around how it has done.
* And then Spirit Island, which has been in full release for roughly a month. Aside from work on the Heart of the Wildfire promo/DLC spirit (which was previewed on their stream last night, 25 Aug 2020), they've said it should be reaching tablets before the year is over.

It's not like they're sitting idle.

One Deck Dungeon is 2 player in Cardboard form. The digital is actually worse, part of the fun is the dice rolls.

The DLC's are probably more important. It adds cards / powers, and unique spirit play. Also a potential cash infusion.

So far these Devs have been really good about development. Bug fixes. Adding the thematic map. ETC.

[MigrantP]

FWIW, Mr. Suitcase was making puns about the Agile development process =)

[jffdougan]

Originally posted by MigrantP:

FWIW, Mr. Suitcase was making puns about the Agile development process =)

My response was intended more at Keith, who said, "From past projects they've shown that the interest level isn't there."

[Feral Yoda]

I find it extremely odd that people are demanding a feature before they buy. Sure, it's totally OK for people to do that, but why listen to you? You've put nothing up, you aren't willing to fund the game, and there is no grunted you won't change you're mind if they do add multiplayer. If I was a developer I'd be far more willing to listen to the wants of people who have already bought the game.

Besides, yes you can currently play multiplayer in various ways. Many of us do. It's not the most ideal to share the mouse, but it is doable.

And i'll say again, true multiplayer was a stretch goal (as was Branch and Claw) that was NOT met during the campaign for funding.

Plus we've still got stretch goals that were met that have not been released. I wouldn't expect multiplayer until well after those.

[{ИЯm} Keith]

Originally posted by jffdougan:

Originally posted by MigrantP:

FWIW, Mr. Suitcase was making puns about the Agile development process =)

My response was intended more at Keith, who said, "From past projects they've shown that the interest level isn't there."

I was talking about the interest level of players. Not the Dev.
Like 10% of players use the multiplayer or something low like that.

[jffdougan]

Originally posted by {ИЯm} Keith:

Originally posted by jffdougan:

My response was intended more at Keith, who said, "From past projects they've shown that the interest level isn't there."

I was talking about the interest level of players. Not the Dev.
Like 10% of players use the multiplayer or something low like that.

I'm sorry; I obviously misinterpreted you.

And yes, the dev team did mention around the time that the IGG campaign for Spirit Island was ongoing that they had data showing that roughly 90% of their games were played in solo mode. I believe they also mentioned that it was pretty typical for digital tabletop games as a whole.

[MigrantP]

Indeed. We're also aware that times have changed. We're putting together a survey to see what people think nowadays.

[{ИЯm} Keith]

Originally posted by MigrantP:

Indeed. We're also aware that times have changed. We're putting together a survey to see what people think nowadays.

I think for PC steam remote play or passing a mouse is acceptable. I do think that if you develop the Android version Pass and play will be insufficient. I've got most of everything Asmodee Digital (your competitor) makes.(digital board games) While a few of them are fun solo play games, most are great vs games. (like ticket to ride, etc)While my spouse and I do pass and play a cellphone, being able to play together with two devices is better. Plus passing a phone/tablet is a little awkward.

Again I still feel that Spirit Island is very good value. It's cheaper then the cardboard copy. Doesn't take a bunch of time or space to set up. Doesn't require reading the book for "how does that power work". I'm personally looking forward to more spirits as DLCs.

I think the "I won't buy this without multiplayer" statement lacks merit.

[ackmondual]

Originally posted by {ИЯm} Keith:

Originally posted by jffdougan:

* One Deck Dungeon (which I think in cardboard is a solo game) does not have it, although I believe they have brought all of the expansions to it, along with one or two digital-only characters.

One Deck Dungeon is 2 player in Cardboard form. The digital is actually worse, part of the fun is the dice rolls.

Well, you can play 1p or 2p, but because it's a fully-co-op game with no hidden information that's turn based, you can have one person controlling 2 heroes, or more players than heroes. For the former, ofc you just do everything yourself. For the latter, it becomes a "play by committee" type deal. Both work just fine, although actual enjoyment will vary by preferences.

The digital version doesn't implement this, but if you had 2 physical copies of the game, you can play 4p games.


I've played over 10K minutes on the app. It's one of those games where it's easier to talk about all the things they did wrong because there isn't that much to say wrong about it. As for "rolling dice", the app has in-game dice, so you must be referring to all the tactile stuff you get with physical components? If that's your thing, then I respect that. However, being able to cram in a whole game into my phone that I can play at my leisure, with the rules enforced for you, and that saves and suspends, is a very good tradeoff for not being able to physically chuck dice.