Burning Suns is a new game by SunTzuGames. Emil Larsen, the game’s designer, sat down with me to discuss some of the games influences and interesting aspects. We also talked about his efforts getting the game launched on Kickstarter, and what he learned from previous attempts that help to make this latest Kickstarter a success. In talking to Emil, it was clear that he has put many hours into this project since its beginning.
The background story and material for Burning Suns is inspired by Emil’s love for a variety of science fiction media, ranging from Starcraft all the way to the Lego Space Shuttle set (which was also one of my favorites as a kid). Inspiration came from other games, such as Command & Conquer and Rebellion, and Emil thought that a science fiction based space tactical game would be something he would enjoy writing.
“I felt that it is something that many in the gaming community could connect to. SunTzuGames recently concluded a writers contest, where two Kickstarter backers of the Burning Suns project have been chosen to help write stories related to the game’s universe and setting,” Emil said.
Looking at the game itself, it is clear that Burning Suns is full of lots of great little miniatures, bits, and cards that will draw any lover of Science Fiction and big box style games.
While it is great to have lots of things to play with and sort when playing the game, Emil points out that many hours went into marrying the theme of the game with the mechanics and rules.
“In designing the game, a lot of focus is placed on presenting a game which can be played in a competitive format (such as tournaments), but still be something that friends can pick-up on a Friday night and just play for casual fun.”
The game design process also considers how all the components tie together to make the game accessible for people across a large portion of the gaming spectrum. Emil does note that the game is probably not for the casual gamers who only play Monopoly, though he emphasizes the ability to play the game for fun in many settings with a variety of player styles.
There are some daunting aspects to the rules for Burning Suns that might present a barrier for more casual gamers. In our discussion, Emil said that the combination of a new world and a different viewpoint on game mechanics may make it a bit difficult for first time players to grasp. In order to counter any disengagement players may have in these early stages, the game is specifically designed so that thematic aspects help to ease players into the rules of the game. Additionally, the design tries to slide players into the game so that by round three they have a good grasp of game play in general and can start to move forward on their own.
A 3D render of the base Dieships. If the stretch goals are met, each race will have unique designs.
There are some upsides to the games complexity, though.. Due to the high level of customization in Burning Suns, once a player does get a grasp of the rules they will find themselves able to choose different strategies and tactics in their approach and their faction selection to best suit their style of play. To give you a hint at how much customization is available, there are 729 different empires available for play which make for a large number of potential matchups, creating a good deal of replayability for those who purchase the game. Add in 300 unique pieces of art for the final game and you can see the value.
In the fun yet competitive spirit of the game, it is important to note that Burning Suns can be played between individuals, as well as in 2v2 team matches. The idea behind this is to emulate some of the design philosophy in Starcraft and the way in which the game matches players up to compete against one another. As the original Starcraft design allowed for many combinations of players competing with and/or against one another, Burning Suns has tried to capture a similar feel and give players more freedom about how to compete and work together.
One part of Burning Suns which I really liked was the “dieships” — little plastic miniatures shaped likes ships, and capable of holding dice. These ships serve as counters within the game mechanics, and seem to be a fun way to hold dice and make sure they stay stationary even if someone bumps your table. Emil said that he wanted minis that were different from other games, and brainstormed various ideas within a 3D program, before settling on the current design of several dieships. It is worth mentioning that these dieships are not only one of the fun and unique aspects of this game, but would be great for holding dice in any of your other science fiction themed roleplaying or board games. The plan is for SunTzuGames to eventually release the dieships separately from the game, but if you want to be one of the first at your table to get your hands on these minis, you will need to jump aboard the Kickstarter. If you look carefully at the Kickstarter pledge levels, you will also find that you can pledge to get more dieships.
Those looking to get into game design will note that the first attempt to fund Burning Suns on Kickstarter failed, but that the current iteration has hit over 140% of their funding goal. With this attempt at funding Burning Suns, there has been more transparency in the Kickstarter process. Emil has posted pie charts showing how the Kickstarter funds will be distributed throughout the design and manufacturing process. Despite not succeeding in his first attempt, Emil was very supportive of Kickstarter and feels that it helps backers get involved in the process of designing and creating games. Those who do back the Burning Suns project get an advantage over those who wait for a retail version of the game, as they will help name characters in the game, get first looks at potential expansions, and receive free Print-n-Play materials to go along with the game.
There are only a few days left in the Kickstarter, so if you like highly detailed games (especially ones with a science fiction theme), you should check out his Kickstarter page. Emil has put a lot of work in bringing this game to the market, and so far it looks like that hard work has really paid off.
