Big Boxes Inbound for Rococo and Kanban EV

Big Boxes Inbound for Rococo and Kanban EV
Board Game: Rococo
Rococo-old
• U.S. publisher Eagle-Gryphon Games has announced a January 22, 2020 preorder date for Rococo: Deluxe Edition, a new edition of the Rococo board game from designers Matthias Cramer, Stefan Malz, and Louis Malz that contains a revised base game, all previous expansions, a new solo mode expansion, new art and graphic design from Ian O'Toole, and add-ons such as Baroque era-inspired metal coins and an "Expert Tailors" expansion apparently not included in the Deluxe Edition itself. (Perhaps you need to wait for the Even Deluxer Edition due out in 2028?)

Here's an overview of the setting and gameplay:
Quote:
Welcome to the Rococo era. Louis XV reigns in France, and it's the height of fashion to attend his lavish balls where important luminaries dress up in extravagant gowns and fancy frock coats, all eager to surpass one another in elegance and grace. In just a few weeks, Louis XV is hosting the final Grand Ball of the season, and everyone is clamoring for you to provide them with an elegant frock coat here, a sumptuous gown there, or even a small sum to fund the great fireworks display. You quickly realize that it's not just about your tailoring business anymore; it's about creating a presence at the most prestigious ball of the era and the chance to gain everlasting fame and prestige.

In Rococo: Deluxe Edition, you are the owner of a distinguished tailoring business endeavoring to increase your prestige. Each turn, you play an employee card that allows you to perform a task, such as hiring a new employee for your staff, tailoring exquisite gowns and frock coats to rent or sell, or funding some of the many decorations. However, employees are not always able to perform all tasks, so you must plan carefully how you direct them, especially as each employee grants a unique bonus — including some that generate prestige.

Board Game: Rococo: Deluxe Edition

The Grand Ball ends after seven rounds with a huge fireworks display and final scoring. You will gain prestige points for the sumptuous gowns and frock coats you have rented out to guests at the ball, certain employee bonuses, and the festive decorations you have funded. Whoever has collected the most prestige at the end of the game wins.

Rococo: Deluxe Edition contains the previously released Jewelry Box expansion, the Festivity Dress expansion, and the Fancy Dresses promo, as well as a new "Madame du Barry" solo mode expansion. This version of Rococo features changes from the previous edition of the base game, along with premium components including custom poly-resin lace and thread tokens; gold foil heat-stamped, wooden player markers; velveteen cloth bags for garments, silk and jewelry tokens; and upgraded punch boards for the garments, silk, and coins.
Board Game: Fleet: The Dice Game
Board Game: Kanban: Driver's Edition
• EGG notes that a new printing of Fleet: The Dice Game will be available for preorder at that same time, along with the recently announced games Stolen Paintings and Gangster's Dilemma, which I covered in November 2019.

• Aside from those titles, in February 2020 EGG will Kickstart the latest title in its line of Vital Lacerda/Ian O'Toole shelfhoggers: Kanban EV, this being an updated version of the 2014 release Kanban: Automotive Revolution from Stronghold Games:
Quote:
Electric vehicles (EVs) have become more common since 2014 and are the future of the automobile industry. They are superior vehicles due to them being more efficient, easier to maintain, cleaner, and cheaper to run. They are computerized machines that use AI to improve safety and in the near future will provide autonomous driving. They receive software upgrades during their lifetime and are constantly improving, unlike their traditional combustion-engine counterparts, which start to become obsolete as soon as you start using them.

You will be overseeing the production of these vehicles in Kanban EV, with "kanban" (看板) being the name for a scheduling system that supports an efficient assembly line, just-in-time production, and a smooth workflow process. Over the course of the game, players take on the role of rookie employees who are trying to secure their career. You need to manage suppliers and supplies, improve and innovate automobile parts, and get your hands greasy on the assembly line in order to boost production and impress the factory manager.

You must make shrewd use of the recycling facilities and the limited factory supplies in order to appropriate parts when the suppliers come up short. Because the factory must run at optimum efficiency, production doesn't wait for you or for mistakes. Sandra, the factory manager, will review your performance and keep the factory on tempo.

Kanban EV is a game that focuses on resource and time management that puts you in the driver's seat of an entire production facility, racing for factory goals and the highest level of promotion. You earn production points (PP) for performing various actions in the game, and the player with the most PP at the end of the game wins.
Board Game: Kanban EV
Every O'Toole cover deserves framing...

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