Unpub Preview: The Manor

As we move towards upcoming Unpub events we’re going to preview some of the games which will be exhibited.

Adam Hake and C. Aric Hanley have created  a competitive, survival-horror board game, The Manor.  Players will be called on to outsmart other players, avoid deadly traps and a masked killer to  be the last one standing.The Manor will be appearing at the Unpub Mini at Epic Loot Games and Comics on Saturday March 30, 2013 from 11am to 5pm! 

Adam took the time to tell us about the development of this game...

What was your inspiration for The Manor? The Manor started as a fiction series C Aric Hanley (my partner) has been writing off and on for years. There were elements in it that seemed to transition well into a boardgame setting. Imagine "Big Brother" meets Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None. In terms of mechanics, there's a bit of Forbidden Island (modular design), Sentinels of the Multiverse (antagonist and environment effects controlled by decks of cards), and even Munchkin (screw your neighbor cards)

What is your favorite part of The Manor? Twists of fate. Even with a good hand of cards or good equipment, pure chance can punish you. It fits with the horror elements of the game.

To your knowledge, What do other people find most interesting about The Manor? There are several ways to try and play, either by directly attacking and eliminating other players, avoiding attacks, luring people into traps, or just spending the entire game spamming heal.

What has been the most challenging part of designing The Manor? Designing the game.  I'm new to game design, and trying to nail down a set of mechanics has proved the most difficult. The other big hurdle is balancing. Certain cards are more powerful than others, and there are fewer of them. It's finding the right balance between what works great mechanically, and yet still fits thematically.

What advice would you give to players attempting The Manor for the first time?  Ask questions. Read the rules. Ask more questions

What has surprised you most in play-tests of The Manor? How well things came together, and how different parts of the game influenced decisions or revisions in other parts.

People who like___________ will like The Manor. Why? Elder Sign & Sentinels of the Multiverse. These games have a degree of uncertainty and chance. However, Elder Sign and Sentinels are cooperative while The Manor is competitive.

What do you hope to accomplish at the Unpub Mini at Epic Loot Games and Comics on Saturday March 30, 2013 from 11am to 5pm? Find out if the game is mechanically sound.

Tell us anything else you want to say about The Manor that I haven't asked or you haven't said already. This will be the second playtest of the game and I have questionnaires prepared for playtesters.

Don't be scared to try this one. Horrible things await you...and well, that's the point! Play The Manor at Epic Loot on Saturday March 30, 2013 from 11am to 5pm!