Welcome to Kickstart Monday! This is our weekly series featuring 2 or more crowdfunding projects that have caught our eye. We scour over platforms like Kickstarter and Gamefound to find projects that interest us. Check out our picks this week are:

Read on for why these games caught our eye…

Bare Bones

Our first project this week is Bare Bones from West Coast Bias Games on Kickstarter.

Bare Bones is a deckbuilding and dice drafting game for 2 to 4 players. Bare Bones was originally printed in 2024 but this Kickstarter campaign features upgraded components like higher quality cards, custom dice, and two new expansion packs.

In Bare Bones you will be building a deck of Dice Cards and Actions Cards. Dice Cards lets you roll a die matching the color of your card to generate points or coins. Each of the 7 colors of dice has a different set of six faces, for example the blue die (the least expensive die) has 3 ones, a two, a three and a four, while the most expensive black die has 2 fives and 4 sixes.

Action Cards on the other hand give you the ability to alter your hand of cards, your score or your dice. 7 different action cards are chosen for each game either by choosing a custom set or by selecting randomly. There are 20 total action cards available in the base game allowing for a huge number of different game setups.

On your turn you will draw a hand of 5 cards and then play your Dice Cards to roll dice and Action Cards to trigger their special abilities. For example you might play the Double Up action card to select 2 dice cards and roll 2 dice for each of those cards but forgoing any other Dice Cards you have in your hand that turn.

Most dice will provide points when you roll them but white dice will instead provide coins which you can use to buy additional Dice and Action cards to customize your deck. The player who has built the best deck and scored the most point by the end of the game will of course be the winner!

There are 3 pledge options for Bare Bones in this Kickstarter so let’s take a look at those now:

  • Bare Bones Second Edition Base Set – $35 – The upgraded Bare Bones second edition base set.
  • Bare Bones + Expansion Pack Combo – $50 – Includes the second edition base version of Bare Bones along with the Golden Dice and High Roller expansions.
  • Bare Bones Expansion Pack Combo – $15 – For owners of the first edition of Bare Bones. Just includes the Golden Dice and High Roller expansions.

The Kickstarter campaign for Bare Bones will end on January 24, 2025, so be sure to make your pledge before then.

Fox Paw

Our second game this week is Fox Paw on Gamefound from GodotGames.

Fox Paw is a fantasy themed worker placement game for 1 to 4 players where players take on the role of a new student invited to attend the Foxpaw school of Magic and Witchcraft. Drawing heavy inspiration from the Harry Potter universe you will join one of four houses as you start school at Foxpaw: Aquatis, Ignis, Tri-Frost and Shadow Vein.

You will spend 5 years (game rounds) at Foxpaw competing in Duels, participating in magical sports, learning spells, studying, getting into mischief and much more. Each turn you will place one of your wizard meeples (or your magical beasts) onto an action space to take that specific action. You’ll improve your talents at certain locations like gaining Strength at the Sports Field or Knowledge at the Library. Sometimes you’ll need to visit the Dormitory to rest and gain Energy and other action spaces can boost your reputation like going to the Teacher’s Lounge to suck up to a teacher.

Beyond your normal studies you will also participate in magical events such as Dragon Fighting or the TriMagic Triathlon. You’ll also have the opportunity to fulfill Prophecies which are an important source of endgame points. Getting up to Mischief can also be rewarding though, as Mischief cards can provide powerful advantages in different situations and can earn points in the end game as well. Ultimately the wizard or witch who has earned the most points for their house after 5 years and 3 magical events will be the winner!

Here are the available pledge levels for Fow Paw right now on Gamefound:

  • Fox Pledge – $45 – Fox Paw core game plus stretch goals
  • Phoenix Pledge – $64 – Fox Paw core game the Lost Roots expansion and stretch goals.
  • Principal Pledge – $95 – Fox Paw deluxe all in with Lost Roots expansion, double sided playmat and resource bags.

If you are looking to recreate the magic of going to a magic school in a Harry Potter style world I suggest you check out Fox Paw and make a pledge before February 7, 2025.

Did we miss your favorite project?

Thank you for checking out this week’s Kickstart Monday! If you find these interesting or want some attention on a Kickstarter or other crowdfunded projects that you would like to read more about please share your thoughts with us via our social media or email.

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