Honing in on Game Mechanics for Shrumans

Shrumans Game Testing Review

 
 

Game testing at Diversions Tabletop Game lounge was a success! The tables were full and some groups even played multiple rounds. It is the best feeling to see people enjoying themselves and the feedback was incredible. I collected feedback forms and most were filled out completely. The Diversions attendees were on a mission and tabletop gamers don't hold back!

Here is a general sense of the feedback I received:

ACTION CARDS

  • Need more for variety and better interaction with other players

  • Some action cards like Parasitize have too much power. Make sure the action cards are balanced so a player does not have an outsized advantage

  • Add clarity to Actions

ECOLOGY CATEGORY
Each Shruman card has an M, S, or P in the bottom, right corner that represents the ecology, which is the fancy scientific word for how mushrooms get their nutrients. These letters stand for Mycorrhizal, Saprotrophic, and Parasitic. 

  • The purpose for the Ecology category was kind of confusing for players. It is not a category for creating sets, but has a small role in bonus points for P cards. This category needs a major rethinking to make sure M, S, and P all have a purpose. The solution I have in mind is an action card that is a "Discard 2" based on the Ecology, which will give players more opportunities to draw and build sets. 

 
 

GENERAL FEEDBACK AND ENDING THE GAME

  • More clarity is needed for the instruction cards

  • The way the game ends needs more structure. In the current iteration, the game ends when the draw pile runs out, but only after the "Forage Pile" (a second draw pile) is shuffled back into the draw pile. There is some confusion on when that happens and what to do with remaining cards in hand. 


After this game test, the revised game play is close to 80-90% completion. There will be another game test with the completed art so stay tuned on how you might be able to help with that!

Now is time for me to finish all the card art! Please share about Shrumans and encourage friends to follow me on social media! Having a following helps on the crowdfunding side when we eventually launch on Kickstarter. 

New Stickers are Here!

Stinkhorn Shrumans can now be enjoyed in sticker form along with a holographic set of Shrumans "Expressions"!

Find Stickers on my store!

More Shruman Cards and A Free Fungi Movie

Shruman Card Game Update

The game testing continues with the Shrumans card game and lucky for me, I have many with friends who are well-versed tabletop gamers! Here is a look at some of the new Shrumans being added as well as a first look at the Action Cards!

I am starting with line drawings with some simple color slapped on. This month I anticipate rendering the details for as many as I can manage!

The more Shrumans I draw, the harder it is to find unique poses and expressions. It's a fun challenge to have, but honestly some real-life mushrooms have fully-formed personalities.

This game has 3 Action cards so far with common card game moves that have a fungi flare. I am working on a 4th one that would add more strategical interest. I am open to feedback!

Other Fun-gi Things

There is a pay-what-you-can screening of Fungi: Web of Life at Iowa City's Film Scene this month, March 25. It will be playing at different movie theaters nationally and internationally. A list of showings can be found here, but not all cities are listed. See if they are playing at a city near you!

One great way to support Shrumans is through buying prints and stationery! Here are my store links! 

ONE BOOK, TWO BOOK FESTIVAL FEB 22-23

Iowa City has a children's book festival! I have not attended before, but the Schedule of Events looks super fun and catered towards kids, as it should be. I will have a booth at the Book Fair portion on February 22 from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm. With me will be a display of several book cover mock-ups as well as various Shruman merch including stickers and stationery.

Shruman Card Game Update

So far, I have a basic concept for the card design that displays the artwork prominently. It will show the corresponding mushroom common name and scientific name at the bottom. The colors relate to the "utility" of a mushroom: edible, inedible, medicinal, toxic, and so forth. Sets can be built based on utility (color) or variety, which are major appearance-based categorieses like gilled, puffball, bolete, and coral fungi. 

I have about 30 new Shrumans to illustrate and a main "action" card that will end the game when overturned. In all, there will be about 50 Shrumans! There is no shortage of fungal varieties and I have thoroughly enjoyed learning about these crazy buggers.

Above are the Shrumans I have so far! Most of these will make it into the final card art. 

Fungi Inspiration

In anticipation of the new Shrumans I am designing, here are a few images of some amazing fungi that will make an appearance!

Discount Prints

My print store with INPRNT has my vintage-style Shruman poster along with more of my illustrations. Right now, they have an up-to 40% site-wide discount happening!

Merry Christmas! Printable Christmas Card Featuring Mushroom Santa

The Christmas Card you didn't ask for but now you want undeniably…Mushroom Santa! Now available on Etsy as an instant download card you can print out DIY style.

One more mushroom fellow for the Shruman empire! I still have my mushroom people stickers available on Etsy as well that can be the perfect combo gift. :)