Since the very first mention of Roll Saga Baseball, we've had many requests by people interested in becoming an active and important part of the development process of the game. So, on October 1, 2016, we'll be officially launching the Roll Saga Baseball Developer Program, which has been designed to allow people the chance to be an important part of the creation process of new expansions and to get full credit and revenue as well.
Some of the opportunities that the program includes are:
Full Credit
As a developer, you'll receive full credit on all projects that you develop or collaborate on. This credit will extend throughout every medium in which the project is marketed.
Revenue Sharing
Once your project is ready, whether it's a player season, umpire season, or stadium expansion, you'll get paid every time it sells -- either individually or as part of a package.
Developer's Boxes
Being on the team also means that you get a special edition Developer's Box that not only has every component inside for developer-use, but is also packed with other tools and guides to assist you in your creations.
Communications & Collaborations
You'll be able to collaborate in real-time with other developers in the cloud or work solo at your own pace. We'll give you a professional email (yourname@rollsaga.com) and a dedicated phone number via our toll-free business service.
Alpha through Beta
As a team member, you'll also have exclusive access to other projects in development by other developers and creators. This exclusive access will extend to both Alpha and Beta projects.
Flexibility
Being a remote developer and collaborator puts you in charge of your own project and you'll set the hours consistent with any deadlines from your own location.
An Important Part
You'll not only be a part of the newest and most in-depth tabletop baseball game simulator, but you'll also be an integral part of its growth and success in the future.
How to Get Started
If you're ready learn more about how to get started being a developer, we're ready to give you the opportunity to develop new seasons, ballparks (modern or historical) and other expansions -- and get paid in the process.
Giving people an epic tabletop baseball game with no charts and a lot of visual.
On May 23, 2016 we officially started shipping Roll Saga Baseball following our successful 2015 Kickstarter campaign. With our game, tabletop baseball players not only get to manage their teams using a hybrid statistical and visual approach, but they get to do it in any ballpark of their choice.
We believe that a large part of our success so far comes from our design: we feel that a baseball game played non-digitally should not suffer from a lack of visual beauty, just because it deals in statistics. That’s why we've invested a lot of time, and as much money as a small Miami startup can muster, creating a premium tabletop baseball experience.
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| A tabletop baseball game should be more than just tables and charts |
We tried many different designs, materials, and concepts for play; but every time we ended up with something far more generic than we wanted. A tabletop baseball game should look like, well, baseball. And baseball is all about green grass, brown dirt, and the crack of the bat on long summer days. It’s most certainly not about black and white paper strips and cardboard cutouts.
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| The game mat - shown here without an overlay - is 27 by 27 inches |
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| When selecting the material for the game mats, a durable and flexible materials was used |
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| An animated GIF showing how the different Stadium Expansion overlays look when laid atop the game mat - transforming its appearance to that of another ballpark instantly |
Stadium Expansions
From that moment on, we decided to create a new overlay for every major league baseball stadium out there, and to have it easy to place on top of the game mat to convert it to that field. We designed each overlay to be an actual template that when laid atop the game mat in the outfield area, it would not only alter the appearance, but also provide accurate wall distances and heights; not to mention ballpark factors. |
| An early prototype of a Stadium Expansion being tested |
The players
We used the same cutting-edge strategy with our player standees. We made the bold decision to try and fit every single detail needed for that player to function in the game on the standee itself. We did that to create an experience that frees the players from chart flipping. Although we had quite a challenge in getting everything to fit on each separate standee, we were successful. And people love it. |
| At just 1.75 x .75 inches in size, each standee is packed with a lot of data in a small space to eliminate the need for charts |
These abilities, which are calculated from over forty columns of statistical data per player, accurately reflect the prowess and capabilities of that player when attempting an action: these abilities are the raw talent of the athlete and can dictate his success or failure for that action. Not only that, we also included simulation-based data for the players who wanted more of a replay-type experience: a game where the results are hyper-dependent on how the player actually performed during the season as opposed to how he could have performed.
Pitching mechanics
We also knew that for a game to really and accurately reflect baseball, the timeless duel between the pitcher and batter had to be authentically replicated without the use of motherboards and plasma screens. So we concentrated on the major types of pitches that are thrown in the game: from the slick and wily cutter to the profound and jaw-dropping Japanese shuuto. And we found that by incorporating cards to represent each pitch, along with the placement of a ball token on a pitching pad representing a strike zone, we achieved a result that truly mimics the action of the pitcher-batter matchup. |
| Showing a player holding the pitching cards corresponding to his pitcher on the mound's repertoire, Roll Saga Baseball uses a very unique pitching mechanism to replicate a pitcher's specific arsenal and skill-set |
Playing levels and rule flexibility
One of the downsides of our overzealous desire to include every single type of play and strategy, was that we ended up with our games lasting as long as baseball games in real life do – and sometimes even longer. But they didn’t have to be. Reaching out to our community, we discovered that while some players truly wanted the intense game of pitch by pitch, others did not - only wanting games that were fast and focused on results; while still others wanted a combination of the two, as well as the choice to go either way.So we went back to the drawing board and came up with a system of play where the players themselves choose the amount of depth and strategy that they want to use in-game, thereby setting their own time constraints. How did we do it? By letting the players decide what rules to include and what game speed and depth to play. Only have 20 minutes for a game? We got this. Want to play out a full 9-inning game with all the bells and whistles? You’re covered. Want to mix it all together and play light for 6 innings and heavy for three? No problem.
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| A screenshot of the actual Core Rulebook, which is included with all Core Boxes as well as posted online, showing the intense amount of detail and explicatory passages and figures |
The results
The results have been fantastic. And so far we have managed, with the great support of many Kickstarter backers and customers, to keep moving onward in design and development. We haven’t had a loss yet – only a few occasions where we learned a lesson or two.But these wins did not come without a lot of cost and heartaches. So many times we had to stop and reboot just to make sure we get it right. One area that was very much a challenge was the material choice and production for the stadium overlays. Time and time again we had to revisit the design and choice of materials to ensure that they would, as a final product, be worthy of the game itself.
The next steps
Launching Roll Saga Baseball was one big adventure, but this is only the start. Since we've launched, not only have we done well in our Kickstarter and post-Kickstarter orders, but our email fan base has continued to grow by so much that sometimes our inboxes are quite literally overflowing with questions and comments. Over the last few months, since the end of our Kickstarter in August of last year and the start of our shipping in May, we’ve continued to add on more and more features to the game, a lot of them based on assumptions. Sometimes our assumptions were right and sometimes they were wrong. Now it’s time to keep analyzing the data that we’ve garnered, heed the feedback that we've been given, and continue optimizing for the future. Bigger. Better. Faster. Smarter.Of course Roll Saga Baseball isn’t perfect yet and we’re working very hard to improve it, step by step. We’ve had our share of delays after getting started, but each time we overcame the challenges and never gave up the fight. And you know, for a small startup with big dreams in a very niche market, we’ve come a very long way. Feel free to send me any suggestions or thoughts to jody@rollsaga.com or at Twitter: @RollSaga.
Jody Pike
Lead designer of Roll Saga Baseball
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| Roll Saga Baseball Core Rulebook, 1st Ed. (150 pp) |
Core Rulebook in PDF
Many of you have been asking when we would post the online version of the Roll Saga Baseball Core Rulebook, 1st Edition (150 pages).
That time has come! Not only will this facilitate game play for those of you that have your own Roll Saga Baseball game, but it will also help those that seek to better understand the depth and flexibility of Roll Saga Baseball as a whole.
Questions
Remember that if you have any questions, we are available by chat, email, or telephone during regular business hours. No question is too small or trivial.
Cheers!
The Roll Saga Team
Website: https://www.rollsaga.com
Email: hello@rollsaga.com
Telephone Toll Free: 1-888-850-2025
Big congratulations to the three winners of our recently sponsored contest in which entrants could win either 5, 10, or even 15 free stadium expansions to go along with their preexisting order.
We're super excited to be able to add these extra goodies in the box for these lucky gentlemen!
We're super excited to be able to add these extra goodies in the box for these lucky gentlemen!
At long last we are excited and honored to announce that Roll Saga Baseball will officially begin shipping on April 25, 2016.
It's been a laborious journey these last seven months as we've strove to have everything just perfect for the official shipping launch.
Packing Up and Shipping Out
Now that we've honed every edge, tucked every corner, and smoothed-out every wrinkle to make sure that Roll Saga is the best that it can be, we're working hard to get all of the boxes packaged and out into the shipping matrices.
Marketing
In the next few weeks, you'll start to see us actively marketing the game as we start shipping, so don't be surprised if we pop up unannounced (but not uninvited) on your favorite social media or forum.
Live Chat
We've implemented a live chat feature on the website that allows all visitors to chat with us live instantaneously.
We keep the chat line live and open during our normal business hours of 9AM - 5PM, but you'll often see it after those hours when we're burning the midnight oil (which we do quite often).
It's a very quick way to get an instant answer from us or initiate a conversation without writing an email or calling us on the phone.
So, stop in anytime, if just to say hello.
Pricing
Now that we can see the whole picture and can properly evaluate all costs, we've set our prices to what they need to be in order for us to sustain an adequate margin and be able to keep producing Roll Saga for many, many years to come.
We're also working on a shipping structure for international buyers.
Appreciation
We never get tired of saying how thankful we are to all of you who supported us on the Kickstarter and all of you who pre-ordered afterwards on the website.
And we are doubly thankful that all of you have been so very patient with us as we've hustled to make everything the very best that it can be for you.
Thank you so much, everyone. We could not have done it without you - nor would we have ever wanted to.
NOTE:
This was a Roll Saga Baseball Newsletter reprint from March 11, 2016.
Email subscribers to the newsletter always receive news and updates first and have exclusive access to promotions.
If you'd like to be first on the list for updates and want access to exclusive deals and promos, please subscribe below.
This is truly a very exciting time for the Fish (and for fans like us) as the Marlins have undergone a long awaited and much anticipated change for the better.
We're loving Donnie Baseball here in the 305 and we're overwhelmingly ecstatic about Bonds.
But as we focus our gaze on reattaining the magic and glory of '97 and '03, we realize that for it to happen, we really need to be a lot stronger in four areas.
We went to work overnight to ensure that we're able to provide everyone with a stable means of acquiring support for any issues that may arise and need a quick response.
For us, it is very important that all customers feel the highest level of respect and security in knowing that no problem is too small to not warrant our attention and action.
So, what we did was this:
(1) On the website support page we beefed up the contact form so that it is a dedicated Support Request Form with radio buttons listing some of the subjects of support that may, as a matter of course, arise.
Upon completion of this form, it is given top priority to ensure that a quick resolution to any problem can be achieved.
(2) Outside of the website, we put together an external and stand-alone Support Request Form that can be emailed (by us) or accessed apart from RollSaga.com (by anyone) to enable those that cannot access the website to have the same support access as those that can.
Additionally, we placed access to this stand-alone Support Request Form on three of our social media channels:
For us, it is very important that all customers feel the highest level of respect and security in knowing that no problem is too small to not warrant our attention and action.
So, what we did was this:
(1) On the website support page we beefed up the contact form so that it is a dedicated Support Request Form with radio buttons listing some of the subjects of support that may, as a matter of course, arise.
Upon completion of this form, it is given top priority to ensure that a quick resolution to any problem can be achieved.
(2) Outside of the website, we put together an external and stand-alone Support Request Form that can be emailed (by us) or accessed apart from RollSaga.com (by anyone) to enable those that cannot access the website to have the same support access as those that can.
Additionally, we placed access to this stand-alone Support Request Form on three of our social media channels:
i. Twitter (on the profile),
ii. Facebook (the about page), and
iii. Google Plus (the about page, see the 'links' section) to make it easy to find.
Of course, we're only a phone call away at 1-888-850-2025 during regular business hours (Mon - Sat, 9 AM - 5 PM) and we can always be reached with an email sent directly to support@rollsaga.com.
We don't anticipate many support problems in the future, but we want you to be confident that if you do have an issue - regardless of what it is - we'll work very hard to make sure that it gets resolved.
The external Support Request Form can be viewed here.
The website Support Request Form can be viewed here.
Of course, we're only a phone call away at 1-888-850-2025 during regular business hours (Mon - Sat, 9 AM - 5 PM) and we can always be reached with an email sent directly to support@rollsaga.com.
We don't anticipate many support problems in the future, but we want you to be confident that if you do have an issue - regardless of what it is - we'll work very hard to make sure that it gets resolved.
The external Support Request Form can be viewed here.
The website Support Request Form can be viewed here.
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Yesterday, we were pleased to learn that the SSL certificate - that we have been actively seeking for a while - was granted. Now, when you navigate to our website at RollSaga.com, you'll see that you are instantly redirected to https://rollsaga.com.
In order for a company to attain this certificate across their site, many identification checks are performed to ensure that their internet business is a legitimate one.
That little 'https' with the glowing green padlock means a lot. And it's quite a big deal.
Hyper Text Transfer Protocol Secured (https) keeps your information safe across the internet and is the standard for any legitimate internet business. And while many online stores have 'https' in the payment gateway (when you're checking out), many of them do not have this encryption site-wide so that all of your data is protected regardless of the data or the page you're on.
This is part of our strong and continued commitment of ensuring that you not only get the very best product in material and design, but also that you, as a customer, are highly valued and your data (regardless of what it is) is protected to the highest of standards.
For those of you that would like to read more about Hyper Text Transfer Protocol and Secure Socket Layer data encryption, here's a great in-depth article by the webmaster at SSL Shopper.
We've implemented a huge upgrade to all Stadium Expansions. Now, each and every Stadium Expansion reflects the true characteristics of the ballpark so that the focus of game play stays on the field and not in reference charts or books.
At long last, we have been able to source and secure payment for the material needed to produce the stadium overlays -- which are such an integral part of the game and a feature that certainly infuses Roll Saga with uniqueness. We covered the issues that we had with the former material in our previous update, so if you missed it, please see Update #27 (A Little Bump in the Road) to be brought up to speed.
Unexpectedly, we've had to source this material in bulk from an international supplier as we were unable to find it for a reasonable price here in the U.S. at the sizes needed (at any quantity). This is good news and bad news. The good news is that the we can now give a definite fulfillment date, the bad news is that it will not be until April 16 of 2016 as the material will not even arrive to us until late February being that we've been given an usual term of 12 weeks for delivery.
Below is a the (now certain) time table:
- February 25, 2016 -- Material arrives to us.
- February 25 - April 1, 2016 -- Material templates and overlays for all backer's and pre-order's boxes are cut in-house.
- April 2 - April 16, 2016 -- Shipping fulfillment is completed and all backers receive their game boxes and expansion packs for both the 2014 and 2015 seasons.
We know that some of you, as backers, have sent in emails stating that you're wanting to give Roll Saga as a Christmas present. Attached to this update is a Gift Certificate that we've designed for you to be able to give to the person you've intended to receive the game. Just send me a message with the details of the name of the person that it's going to and we'll forward the finished digital copy to you. Also, if any of you would like a professionally printed copy of the gift certificate on card-stock for a physical exchange, we can arrange this as well - just let us know and we'll mail it out to you this coming week.
Also, because of this change in dates, we'd like to offer you the opportunity (if applicable) to change any 2014 selections to 2015 or vice versa as both of these seasons will be shipped at the same time. We know that some of you chose the 2014 season simply to be able to get the game faster, so if you'd like to change it to 2015, just let us know.
In closing, we deeply apologize for this delay as we know that a lot of you had your hearts set on getting the game this year, and the rest of you were looking to January of 2016. And while this delay is surely upsetting and a test of patience, all of you can rest assured that every single component of this game has been purchased and is sitting here awaiting the stadium material. So, if we can all just hold on a little longer, we'll have the game completed and onto the next phase of Roll Saga Baseball: universal acceptance and retail placement!
Best regards,
Jody
Email: jody@rollsaga.com
Phone: 1-888-850-2025
P.S. All of us here on the Roll Saga Baseball project are going to find Christmas a little bit sadder than planned due to this unexpected delay, but the hope of the next year will burn bright in our hearts and minds as we finally get the game out into the world!
“Hope, like the gleaming taper’s light, adorns and cheers our way; and still, as darker grows the night, emits a brighter ray.” ― Oliver Goldsmith
The above is an update originally posted on Kickstarter. To see the original update, please visit:
The Best Baseball Season of All Time has been decided and will be the very first historical season released for Roll Saga Baseball -- our new baseball board game that brings the excitement of the sport and the realism of the ballpark to your tabletop.
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| Wesley Noreen Westrum (November 28, 1922 – May 28, 2002) played 11 years for the New York Giants. |
During the processing of our orders in preparation to ship out the very first of the pre-orders, we've had many emails asking whether and when we'll release an historical season -- and, if so, which?
We've chosen to let you decide what will be our first historical season developed. We've established a running vote that will end at noon on Friday, November 27, 2015. All that you have to do is click on the link below to be taken to a live multiple choice form where you can click the year you believe should be voted as the Best Baseball Season of All Time -- which, in turn, will be the season that we develop after our 2014 and 2015 seasons are released.
As of this posting, and as can be seen in the picture above, the 1998 season has received the most votes so far with 16% of the vote. Help us decide, cast your vote now!
Click here to cast your vote.
Now that we're just weeks away from shipping, we thought it'd be nice to share a little video that we've entitled, "First Unboxing".
This video was part of a comprehensive update featuring a wide range of photos and a few videos published on Kickstarter. You can see that update here:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/rollsaga/roll-saga-baseball/posts/1407943
Lately, we've had a few questions regarding how not having a MLB or MLBPA license will affect the success of the game.
Allow us to answer this very important question in the form of the FAQ (Frequently Asked Question) from where it originated on our website (q.v.).
QUESTION: I've noticed that you don't have licensing from the MLB or MLBPA. How will this affect Roll Saga Baseball? Is there a possibility of the game being shut down?
ANSWER: By First Amendment right, Roll Saga Baseball can, as any other fantasy baseball league or game, use content such as player names, stats, and team names.
The US Supreme Court decided that player names and statistics are public domain and are readily accessible by the public: baseball has always been called the National Pastime, for example, and the court said that
In Roll Saga Baseball, we do not use MLB or MLBPA logos, nor do we use player pictures or any other trademarked, copyrighted or restricted asset. We take great effort in ensuring that all game components are legally sound. Please see the following United States Court case in which this issue was decided:
United States Court of Appeals FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT Nos. 06-3357/3358
Also, check out this excellent article if you are interested in acquiring more information without the legalese:
No Ruling Means No Change for Fantasy Baseball Leagues (New York Times)
ANSWER: By First Amendment right, Roll Saga Baseball can, as any other fantasy baseball league or game, use content such as player names, stats, and team names.
The US Supreme Court decided that player names and statistics are public domain and are readily accessible by the public: baseball has always been called the National Pastime, for example, and the court said that
The information used in baseball games is all readily available in the public domain, and it would be strange law that a person would not have a First Amendment right to use information that is available to everyone. (United States Supreme Court)
In Roll Saga Baseball, we do not use MLB or MLBPA logos, nor do we use player pictures or any other trademarked, copyrighted or restricted asset. We take great effort in ensuring that all game components are legally sound. Please see the following United States Court case in which this issue was decided:
United States Court of Appeals FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT Nos. 06-3357/3358
Also, check out this excellent article if you are interested in acquiring more information without the legalese:
No Ruling Means No Change for Fantasy Baseball Leagues (New York Times)
Greetings to everyone!
We have great and unexpected news!
We were approved early on Kickstarter, so Roll Saga Baseball is now LIVE!
So we invite all of you who have been patiently waiting for Roll Saga Baseball to make its way into the world to come to our Kickstarter campaign and get your own Rivals Box Set, Division Box Set, League Box Set, or the limited edition Ultimate Box Set!
We've set up many different options from you to choose from and we've also included some stretch goals that we look forward to you getting!
So, just click the big green button below and we'll see you there!
Thanks,
Team Roll Saga
We have great and unexpected news!
We were approved early on Kickstarter, so Roll Saga Baseball is now LIVE!
So we invite all of you who have been patiently waiting for Roll Saga Baseball to make its way into the world to come to our Kickstarter campaign and get your own Rivals Box Set, Division Box Set, League Box Set, or the limited edition Ultimate Box Set!
We've set up many different options from you to choose from and we've also included some stretch goals that we look forward to you getting!
So, just click the big green button below and we'll see you there!
Thanks,
Team Roll Saga
This following is a copy of the Newsletter as sent to all subscribers on June 16, 2015 (yesterday). Subscribers will always have the advantage of being the first to know of important updates. The newsletter will be posted here on the blog, but the day after it is sent to Subscribers.
Roll Saga Baseball
Newsletter
June 16, 2015
Hello everyone, we have a few important updates that we've entitled, "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly."
The Good. As most of you know, there have been many requests to modify the number of teams that will come with Roll Saga Baseball. So, in the full spirit of listening and taking to heart all that is suggested, we've decided to upgrade the number of teams from 2 to 30. That's right - every single team will be included!
Continue Reading →
Continue Reading →
Update: The remaining videos in the 10 part video series (videos #3 through #10) will be combined into one full video that is a descriptive overview of the general game mechanics in Roll Saga. The first two videos (#1 and #2) are also being remade as well and merged into this master video in order to ensure consistent theme and elaboration.
This all-in-one video which will be of video footage and voice narration will be finalized and published on Wednesday, June 24, 2015 - 7 days prior to our Kickstarter release.
Thank you for your continued interest in Roll Saga Baseball. We look forward to this video's release and our imminent Kickstarter campaign.
We wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you!
Thank you!
This all-in-one video which will be of video footage and voice narration will be finalized and published on Wednesday, June 24, 2015 - 7 days prior to our Kickstarter release.
Thank you for your continued interest in Roll Saga Baseball. We look forward to this video's release and our imminent Kickstarter campaign.
We wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you!
Thank you!
