I am a huge fan of social media. I use both Facebook and Twitter a lot. And before I move further, let me throw here few examples.

I am in Bojszow, south of Poland and I tweet: 'I’ll be in Chicago next week. What places should I visit?’ In a moment my Twitter feed gets crazy. I get addresses of 3 game stores. I get address of Jazz cafe. I get address of super amazing book store. And I get this: 'I live in Chicago. Let’s meet and have a game or two.’ And soon after: 'I live in Chicago too. Game night? When you come?’

Few weeks later I am in Chicago at the train station. I tweet: 'I have train in 3 hours. I am in Chicago downtown. What do you recommend?’ In a moment my Twitter feed gets crazy again. I got one cool idea after another. That’s how I discover super cool mexican restro and that how I discover Chicago stuffed pizza.

I tweet: 'Wyndham hotel sucks!’. Two minutes later I get replay: 'I am at Wyndham too.’ Few hours later we play game at hotel lobby and have great time. First I teach Dan and his buddy Imperial Settlers and then they teach me Trieste. Another super fun evening. Because of one tweet.

***

There is this famous YouTube movie called Look Up about us being enslaved by smartphones and technology. Well… I couldn’t disagree more.

Because of Twitter technology I met Tony, Brian and Walt and had an amazing game night in Chicago. Because of Twitter technology Brian knew I was looking for Star Realms – so he took me to the local game store where I could buy Star Realms. Because of this technology I met Jeff (#1FanOfImperialSettlers ) and Chevee who both became Portal Games Team at Gen con and who are freaking awesome guys.

I could now post few hundred names and nicks of people whom I met at Gen con for the first time in person. People who I knew from social media, with whom I banter about games every day and who live few thousands miles away. With social media we stay in touch. With social media we make jokes, we talk, we explore and celebrate our hobby. And once a while, when we have a chance to meet in person, we do Look Up. And we have fucking awesome time.

This Gen con was an amazing experience. I was not stranger. I was not alone. Wherever I looked, there was a person I knew from social media. I was among my people.

Now I am back in Bojszow, Poland. I am back to Twitter. Till the next con. I Look up and I Look down. I have fun for the whole year with my gaming friends.

Here is interview with me at Indie Cardboard website where I talk about solo games, Imperial Settlers and some other stuff. Have fun!

I am back with article about Imperial Settlers. I did plan a short break from the game but things not always let you stick to the plan. Things like… like Eric W. Martin and his lack of love for theme in your game…

So here I am talking about the game again. Today’s stuff is totally not important. That stuff is not part of my Game Designer series. That stuff is boring. I know it. This is 5 most insignificant things about Imperial Settlers you ever heard.

But I had to write it. Blame Eric W. Martin.

1. 2 guys and some Resources.

In his preview of the game, Eric said (and I quote!): ’I can take two guys and transform them into wood. Don’t ask how that happens.’

Let me put it straight – you say something like that in front of me, and I will strangle you! You don’t transform guys! You do send them to the forest and they bring you wood! This action is all about – send two guys to bring you stuff. You can send them to bring wood or food or stone. They go and they bring! It’s not transforming, sir!

Euro gamer’s cynical question: 'If they bring wood, why you discard them? They went for wood and wood came back alone’?

Ignacy honest answer: You sir, don’t mess with me. I know Aikido.

2. to Raze means to Pillage!

In his review of the game, as far as I recall, Tom Vasel did the same – he did dare to explain rules of my game without mentioning theme.

When you raze a card you discard it and you  take stuff depicted on the card right corner. This stuff depicted on the card matches the card. If you Raze Wood supply, you will gain wood. If you Raze Coal mine you take workers and stone. If you Raze Pig farmer, you take Food and worker.

It’s not about discard a card to get resources.

It’s all about take this location, go there, burn everything, pillage and destroy, take the loot and forget about the rest.

Euro gamer’s cynical question: How exactly pillaging Forest look like? I mean how many knights you need to conquer the Forest and get loot?

Ignacy honest answer: Give me an axe and I’ll show you.

3. common Cards represent surroundings.

Common deck represent all this cute locations that are spread all over this land. That is why you gain a card when you build Watchtower (with such a building you can look what’s on the horizon). That is why Castle gives you more cards (you send troops to go into field and look who’s living there). That is why when you send 2 guys for a card it simply means they go for a long walk and investigate lands around you.

Euro gamer’s cynical question: Why Desert card from Egyptians deck let you discard cards from enemy hand? Sandstorm makes it impossible to know about neighborhood or…

Ignacy honest answer: I’ll just make you one.

4. Players board is border.

Players board makes everything set up clear and clean. In thematic terms it is border. Your faction cards, core of your Empire in on the left. Buildings from local residents are on the right. You know them, they work for you, but they are not part of the core.

You can rebuild them. You discard a common card from the table and build a faction card. Core of your Empire grows. When you begin the game, player board is in the middle. With each round you will have more cards on your left side and your core Empire will dominate on local residents. It looks cool.

And it has very clear mechanic reason – common locations can be Razed by opponents. By dividing those two types of cards we make it super clear for opponent. One look and he knows what buildings he can attack and which ones are protected.

Euro gamer’s cynical question: This time I have no…

Ignacy’s honest answer: You better!

5. Deal with other regions.

Common cards represent surroundings. You either build them and make them part of your Empire either Raze them and destroy (discard). Faction cards represents buildings of your kin. Your either build these buildings and make them part of your Empire, either at least you have a good relationship with them and make some deals. That is why we have this simple distinction:

– common card might be built or razed

– faction card might be build or signed deal with

How cool is that?!

Euro gamer’s cynical question: And you make a good relationship with people and sign deals always by giving them an apple, right?

Ignacy’s honest answer: I am done with you, sir! I’m done.

I could go on and on. I know, this is crazy. I am designer. I am super excited. I am super dedicated to the game and to every and each, even smallest one piece of it. I can’t wait for Gen Con. I can’t wait to see you playing the game.