The latest entry in our interview series Why You Should Back: Esopya on Kickstarter. We spoke with the creator and got information about his big crowdfunding undertaking. This has clearly been a long in the works project, with lots of passion behind it, that seems like a great mix of card mechanics. The Kickstarter launch date is November 15, 2021. Check out the link below to go directly to the Esopya Game Kickstarter page or continue on to read the interview with the creator.
UPDATE: This Kickstarter has been canceled.
Esopya Game on Kickstarter
1. How would you describe your product in a few sentences?
Esopya is a card game combined with a purely tactical board. Apply your deep strategy creating a deck from 9 different armies, manage your mana sources, and beat the rival realms.
2. Introduce the team (or person) bringing this to market? What is your background that brought you to launching this?
Well, before November 15, 2021 Esopya has always had just one person behind the scenes: me. I’m Daniele, a 34-year-old Italian guy, I’m a dad and games lover. Luckily, I will be supported by a team of experts from the moment that campaign starts, everyone will take care about a specific task like art / finance / game design / fulfilment / editor / translator etc.
Esopya was born in June 2018. A rather long convalescence forced me to look for something to do all day, besides being a dad of two children. So it was that my crazy mind decided to create a game and in these three and a half years, I have dedicated myself to everything that revolves around it: ideation, graphic design, web design, business processes, agreements with external freelancers, with producers, fulfillment and sellers.
I developed this game entirely by myself, applying my technical skills with graphics, and stubbornly trying to always hit the target and to proceed fearlessly in the face of any obstacle. I stumbled upon this ambitious project, with the determination to bring to market a fresh, new, compelling and never boring card game.
I always loved card games and RPGs, playing MTG and RPGs from 2000 until 2008. Then due to my move abroad after 2010, I gave up this hobby. To take it back stronger than before, in 2018 starting to create my own Game.
3. What existing games would you compare your game to?
Well, during the long playtesting phase, some players told me that Esopya has a mix of influences from games like MTG, Summoner Wars, Pixel Tactics, and I agree. I can find some things that are reminiscent of little mechanics from different games, especially if you think of a card game on a board.
4. What sets your game apart?
I really think that Esopya has something really special, from the Mana System (which is share with your opponents and completely disconnected from your own deck), until the faction scheme and hundreds of unique combos. I really focused on cards skill, trying to bring some fresh mechanisms to the game sector, mixing card game and board game, playing with tokens, score cubes and dices too. If you watch Esopya setted up on the table I’m sure you will be fascinated by it!
5. How can everyone be assured that they are going to get quality components and you are going to deliver on all the promises you are making?
To be sure that Esopya will be produced with the maximum quality, I will collaborate with a special german manufacturing if the project reaches its high goal. They are leaders in the board game production sector for 20 years at least, and they would take care of mass production. I immediately loved this company because they work respecting the environment, obtaining the FSC certification and with a care of every single detail. That means a lot to me and to the planet too. Esopya will have 95% paper and 5% wood components, so we will try to avoid the production of the game by including any kind of plastic material.
Regarding the process, during the very first phase after the campaign, we will take care of the art of the game. I will cooperate with an art director and a team of 12 illustrators, re-designing everything based on the manufacturing templates. The mass production should start in July 2022, and from January 2022 to that moment, I will constantly work on the game design and mechanisms with special collaborators who will support me also during the creation of other game modes that will have life in the future.
I am sure I have chosen an excellent team to make my first campaign noteworthy.
6. Why should someone back your project?
Because Esopya has 4 spectacular game modes: 1v1, 2v2, Solo & Co-Op
Because there is a huge LORE behind the game and narrative stories will be shared with our backers monthly, including a list of pre-built decks featuring the protagonists of these same stories
Because we will share some ‘puzzle adventures’ to keep you in training like ‘win against the rival, in 5 moves’ / ‘defeat this boss using only 10 cards’ / ‘defend your kingdom, surviving the hordes for 5 turns’
Well we are satisfied!
Great insight and enthusiasm from a passionate design team. This seems like a great addition to the already strong series. It has clearly been guided by a passionate individual who is putting together the right team to make an amazing product. Take a look at their Kickstarter or website for more info!
