Time for some brand synergies and a little value chain optimization. I, along with a team consisting of Mark, Conner, and Kennita, have been working on bringing a board game to life for the last few months. The board game's title is “Know Your Ante?”, and it's going to be a trivia board game. Here is the description that will be on the back of the box to help provide a clear vision of the game’s concept and intended play experience:
“Like trivia? We got you covered. Like a wee bit of strategic wagering from time to time? This game will scratch that itch. Like a great time with friends that requires minimal planning and is a simple setup? This game is also for you. If none of these things interest you, maybe you should reevaluate your life choices.
Know Your Ante is like trivia at a high-stakes table where the winner takes all. The game's core is simple. Roll a die to determine the trivia category. Then, strategically wager from one of four options: Easy ($25), Medium ($50), Hard ($75), and Expert ($100), based on your knowledge and risk tolerance. There are also Hedge Cards, which are purchasable power-ups that add an extra layer of depth to the game and can help level the playing field.
No two players will play the game the same way: you could be a brainiac, a high-roller, slow and steady, a hedger, or play it by vibes. The questions are numerous, and the possibilities for fun are endless. Gather your friends today to earn the bragging rights of who truly Knows Their Ante.”
The categories in Know Your Ante are Media Mania (pop culture type questions), Playtimes & Pastimes (hobbies and sports), Flaura & Fauna (science), The Quil & Canvas (the arts), and Timelines and Territories (history and geography). The player will roll a die to determine the category of the question that will be read to them. Then, based on the category and strategy of the player, the player chooses the difficulty level of the question. The difficulty of the question that the player decides determines what their wager is; the wager amounts are Easy ($25), Medium ($50), Hard ($75), and Expert ($100). A correct wager pays out at even odds, returning the original stake plus the same amount in winnings. A $25 bet, for instance, would pay out $50. However, the Expert wager pays out $150 in profit, making the total payout $250. If the player is incorrect, they lose their entire wager for that question. Hedge cards can be purchased or won in-game and are played before a question is read to help the player answer the question or provide them with more strategic options. Currently, in the rules, all players start with $500 in poker chips, and the first to $1500 wins the game. If the group would like a longer game, they could play that it is the first player to $2000.
I first had a small granular thought of this idea for the game in the shower. I thought the idea could have some legs, but I knew I would need a lot of help, especially when it came time to make the marketing content for the game, such as promotional videos. My friend Mark was the perfect guy for the co-founder job to help get this project off the ground. I wrote the start of the concept in my notes app, then sent a screenshot of it to Mark. Since then, Mark and I have fleshed out the idea to where it is today. During this process, Mark and I quickly realized that we were not adept at writing trivia questions, so Kennita was brought onto the team to write the questions and aid in all creative aspects of the game. Currently, we already have a database of 1000 questions, and we plan to have around 2000 to 2500 in the final version of the game. Conner was the last person to join our team of board game peddler hopefuls. He knows board games better than anyone I know, and has helped establish a narrative for the game and much-needed added robustness to ensure that the gameplay strategies are balanced.
Right now, the goal is to get a prototype of the game from a manufacturer to use in promotional images and to have playthroughs with people not involved in the project to see if any rules need adjusting. The plan for funding is to run a crowdfunding campaign on a website like Kickstarter or Indiegogo. Unfortunately, with tariffs, the cost of a completed unit that would be ready to go on store shelves would cost $25 to $40. The way crowdfunding campaigns often work is that the entity that created the campaign promises the people backing the project their product at a reduced price if the campaign successfully reaches its funding goal. The ideal reduced price for the board game we have in mind for the campaign is $40. This will be a very difficult target to hit, given the quotes that manufacturers gave us for the cost of producing the entire board game (cards, chips, box, mat, dice, and box inserts). $40 for the final price in the crowdfunding campaign is also an incredibly challenging target, given that shipping has to be included in that total. I think it can be done, even if I need to have a sweatshop in my garage.
I’m looking forward to sharing this journey and providing updates on the project along the way.