Martial arts masters secretly train students while the emperor seeks to unite his people in this 60 minute board game for 2-6 players.
Latest Updates from Our Project:
Next Steps
over 6 years ago
– Wed, Dec 20, 2017 at 11:59:00 PM
Happy Holidays Backers!!!
We are really starting to pick up the pace with Wu Wei. I sent in all the final digital files to PandaGM and went through their exhaustive "Design Verification" process. The files have all passed with flying colors and have been sent to the factory team in Shenzhen, China. They are now creating a "Digital Proofs" of all the artwork. When that is ready I will review it and then (providing everything looks good) we will be moving on to the first physical copy of the printed files. This is called the "Pre-production Copy". As you can see, there's quite a long process for vetting your files and samples but all of this translates into a better product!
Next Steps
Design Verification (done)
Digital Proofs
Pre-Production Copy
3rd Round of Component Samples
Mass Production Copy
Ocean Freight Shipping
Distribution
Final Digital Files
In the final version of the digital files, I made a few cosmetic changes. I changed the black on the board to a richer black. I also changed the darker color around the element symbols on the tracking boards to match. I changed the center of the board from the Wu Wei logo to the tree (to emphasize the concept of the Tree of Life/Knowledge & Lineages & Changing Path and to make sure all the components are language independent). Lastly, I added the new Gray Wolf Games logo to the box and the back of the rule book.
Board Revisions
Tracker Boards Revised
Gray Wolf Games Trademark
I just received word from the US Patent and Trademark Office that the trademark for "Gray Wolf Games" is now official! "Wu Wei" and "Gray Wolf Games" are good to go for all future use. Hopefully that will be the end of all this legal stuff for a bit!
Trademark Approved
Prototype Sent to PandaGM Factory Team
During the process of creating prototypes, I discovered that the spacing for the holes on the board has to be perfect in order for the octagons to fit between the square tiles. I'm hoping to save some time and back-and-forth regarding the board's construction by giving them a physical prototype. I have no doubt that PandaGM will make something superior to my prototype but having a physical example can help bridge some of the language barrier.
Prototype
Rule Book Download
After two years of layout changes, text editing, and massive additions, the final rule book is final-ly available for download here: Wu Wei Rulebook
Thanks again for all your support. The overwhelming challenges of 2017 are finally coming to an end and 2018 is shaping up to be an exciting year for Gray Wolf Games! I will keep pushing forward on Wu Wei and I really look forward to sending you the finished product.
Sincerely,
Justin
A second round of samples with a little surprise
over 6 years ago
– Sat, Dec 02, 2017 at 08:58:43 PM
Howdy Backers!
Sorry it has been a little while since my last update! I've been busy trying to get Wu Wei polished and ready. I just received the second round of component samples from PandaGM and I'm excited to share the results with you!
Here's a picture of the whole game set up. The printed elements are still part of my original prototype. I'm sending all the final files for printed components off to PandaGM very soon. Hopefully I'll have the pre-production copy including the box in the near future.
In the meantime, the Snake and Crane cards have been changed slightly. Arrows have been added to indicate that you can continue to move after using the Snake or Crane powers. The dots on the yin yang have been removed from the inactive side of the Crane cards to make it easier to know which side is the active side.
Metallic gold has been added to the back of the square tiles as well as the yin yang tiles and the gathering marker.
The chi pieces have been revised to be slightly thicker with a clearer picture.
I also have a little surprise for all you backers! I've managed to add some custom bags for the chi pieces.
There's still a bit of work to do on color matching for the square tiles. The plastic tracker pieces also need to be painted metallic gold to match the gathering marker. The Emperor Dice and the towers still need some work. There are a lot of details to get right but things are progressing! Thanks for continuing to support this project!
Best, Justin
The Definitive Rulebook
over 6 years ago
– Fri, Sep 29, 2017 at 08:32:49 PM
Hello You Magnificent Backers!
The rule book is finally done! Special thanks to Dustin Schwartz (Rulebook Editor) and Mike Mullins (Solo Campaign Developer) for their incredible contributions to this project. I hope you will take a moment to look through the newly organized content (including 8 additional pages covering the exciting new solo campaign)!
It's been almost 7 years since the inception of this game and a solid 2 years of development for the graphic layout of these rules. I'm excited and relieved to share the new rulebook with you. Please let me know if you see anything I've missed in the comments section of this update!
I've also got some exciting news about one of the amazing quotes in the rulebook! Darlene Parker (daughter of Senior Grandmaster Edmund K. Parker, Sr.) has graciously allowed me to use the a quote from one of her father's books (Infinite Insights Into Kenpo - Volume 4) and the Universal Pattern symbol found in the famous Kenpo patch as the background. Here's an excerpt from her letter:
============================================================== As President of Kam IV, Inc. who owns all of Ed Parker Sr. Intellectual Properties, trademarks, logos, copyrights and image, you Justin Waggle, have permission to use the Universal Pattern symbol and following quote from Senior Grand Master Edmund K. Parker, Sr. in your rule book for Wu Wei: Journey of the Changing Path.
Sincerely,
Darlene Parker
President of Kam IV, Inc. Preserving the Legacy and Integrity of Ed Parker Sr. ==============================================================
Onward and upward! I'm still waiting on the second round of samples from PandaGM and I am very busy making the final preparations for all my printed components. I'm hoping I'll have everything locked down by the end of October and that we'll be headed toward the pre-production copy of Wu Wei! Don't worry! I will keep you all in the loop as things proceed!
Best, Justin
Solo Campaign and New Gray Wolf Games Logo!
over 6 years ago
– Wed, Sep 06, 2017 at 01:27:03 AM
Hello Illustrious Backers!
It has been another great month of discovery and progress! We finally finished the solo campaign and I am really excited to share the product of our efforts. The solo campaign will be added to the main rulebook in the near future and I will be releasing a fully-illustrated and revised rulebook as soon as I have time to incorporate all of this new material. Mike Mullins and Dustin Schwartz are amazing collaborators and I highly recommend working with them if you get the chance!
In the solo play mode, there are three successive stages: Evolving Traditions, Warring States, and Emerging Empire. You can attempt any of these as a single session, and there are options for fine-tuning the difficulty level within each stage.
You can also attempt a solo campaign, in which you must overcome all three stages, in progressive order. There are additional rules in play — including carryover effects between stages — when you attempt the campaign.
Solo Campaign Designer
— Justin Waggle
Solo Campaign Developer — Mike Mullins Rulebook Editing — Dustin Schwartz (therulesforge.com)
For those of you that are really interested in the solo campaign, I've uploaded a PDF with the raw text for the rule book here: Solo Campaign Rules (Raw)
New Gray Wolf Games Logo!
I've been working with a really talented logo designer named Jord Riekwel. You can check out his portfolio at larkef.com. And because I'm such a big fan of showing off the process, here are the logo sketches from beginning to end.
Thanks again for sticking with me on this journey! I'm waiting to hear back from PandaGM on the next round of component samples and I'm extremely busy prepping the print files with all the latest changes. I'll be in touch soon!
Best, Justin
P.S: If you haven't checked out my buddy Matt Austin's Kickstarter for The King's Guild, make sure you jump on board now! It looks like it's going to be a really great game and the stretch goals are starting to pile up! Here's the link:
The King's Guild Launching on Kickstarter
over 6 years ago
– Tue, Aug 22, 2017 at 06:24:33 PM
Howdy Backers!
I'm working on another update for you guys right now but I wanted to direct your attention to a newly launched Kickstarter from my pal Matt Austin over at Mirror Box Games. He's another comeback kid like myself and I really want to see his project succeed.
I've played this game a few times now and I really enjoy it! The artwork and components have taken a quantum leap since the first Kickstarter. If you like collecting resources to build items and complete quests, you will love this game!
Things are still moving full steam ahead on Wu Wei and I will have a new update for you guys soon! Thanks for your continued support!
