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SKEPTICS Board Game

Created by Usiak Games and Designs

SKEPTICS is a cooperative, dice rolling game, where players explore potentially haunted locations to prove the existence of ghosts. 1-4 players take on the role of Investigators gathering evidence of the paranormal. Investigators race against the clock exploring rooms and rolling dice to match icon sets to Search, Reveal, and Solve Clues. Each Clue will lead Investigators one step closer to revealing the Ghost. Environment Cards are drawn every hour, which may have hazards and conditions that will impede the Investigators’ progress. Investigators win if the existence of the Ghost can be proven in time, but Investigators fail if time runs out.

Latest Updates from Our Project:

Tray Questions Update (reiterated)
over 1 year ago – Sat, Jul 02, 2022 at 10:47:32 AM

Tray Questions

We received a comment about the tray and storing the wooden pieces. After we had the tray printed for our manufacturer copy (which included all stretch goal components), we decided to tweak the depth of a few of the sections of the tray and that meant where we intended on putting the wooden pieces, no longer really worked.

We recommend using the section under the clock (where we originally had the wooden bits labeled "5" on the Improved Tray Stretch Goal) for expansions tokens instead. There are plenty of other trays (labeled "2a-2f" on the graphic below) that will hold the wooden pieces.

We had mentioned somewhere in an update or video that we had to slightly tweak the depth of the tray (I think by about 2mm), but think we simply forgot to provide an updated graphic for that Stretch Goal image.

Here is an updated image of one (of many) possible configurations.

Insert Tray Suggested Configuration

Copies of SKEPTICS are finding their way to YOUR homes!!
over 1 year ago – Thu, Jun 30, 2022 at 07:39:14 PM

As the title suggests, we are getting a lot of reports of you all receiving copies of your games. Keep sharing those pictures; we love seeing them! I saw our first post in the Board Game Revolution Community page early, which made us really proud of game. Feel free to add content to BGG of your games as well, and once you have played it plenty, we would love your honest review of the game. 


We still have plenty of games in transit so please be patient as they make their way to you. 


US Shipments in Florida

It seems some of the ghosts in your games are enjoying the Florida beaches and weather so much, they don't want to leave. 


We are seeing some odd tracking data on some of the US shipments. It appears FedEx in Florida (FL) is having a tough time keeping up with all of their shipments (beyond our game, of course). I personally have a non-SKEPTICS package that shipped from FL last Wednesday and didn't leave FL until this morning. It was scheduled for last Friday delivery and now it simply has no estimated delivery time. I have heard similar reports from a few of you. 


Games are slowly escaping so please give it until Tuesday (July 5th) before getting too worried about your games. 


Delivered Packages Lost? 

If there is a report that your game was delivered but you didn't receive it, check around with neighbors (if possible) and then please report the lost packages directly to us. We will handle the discussion with FedEx and Quartermaster, and if the game is determined to be indeed lost, we will issue a new copy ASAP.


This means, we (Usiak Games and Designs) will also be handling all of the claims with FedEx so you don't have to wait as long on your game since you aren't fighting the claims process. 


Tray Questions

We received a comment about the tray and storing the wooden pieces. After we had the tray printed for our manufacturer copy (which included all stretch goal components), we decided to tweak the depth of a few of the sections of the tray and that meant where we intended on putting the wooden pieces, no longer really worked. 


We recommend using the section under the clock (where we originally had the wooden bits labeled "5" on the Improved Tray Stretch Goal) for expansions tokens instead. There are plenty of other trays (labeled "2" on the graphic) that will hold the wooden pieces. 


We had mentioned somewhere in an update or video that we had to slightly tweak the depth of the tray (I think by about 2mm), but I think we simply forgot to provide an updated graphic for that Stretch Goal image. 


Wrapping Things Up

Jon and I are still waiting for our bulk orders of SKEPTICS to arrive at our houses. That means local pick up orders, you just need to wait a little longer. 


We are continuing to see our game in its final form thanks to all of your comments and pictures. We can't wait to get our hands on our copies of SKEPTICS; we know many of you are eagerly awaiting for them to arrive as well. 


Thank you again for being a part of this project and helping to encourage us along the way. It means so much to us!! 


Brian Moats and Jon Usiak 

Usiak Games and Design

SKEPTICS IS SHIPPING!!!
over 1 year ago – Wed, Jun 22, 2022 at 08:18:53 PM

I am sure by now, some of you have received emails from Quartermaster Logistics or ShipQuest providing you a tracking number for your game. 


Quartermaster Logistics (US/CA/MX)

As of noon today, my QML report listed 5 games were ready to be picked up by the carrier, and I would expect that number is much higher in reality and is just pending a report update in their system. 


ShipQuest (UK/EU/Rest of the World)

ShipQuest is showing all 218 orders have tracking numbers already associated with them, which I assume means they are basically ready to ship out. I haven't been provided confirmation on this yet, but that is the logical assumption at least. 


What does this mean?

This all means some of you may have your copy of SKEPTICS in hand by the weekend or early next week. 


Please allow both fulfillment centers a week or so to get all of the orders out before messaging us about missing orders. By all means if you receive your copy and there are issues, let us know. 


We will be sending out another update probably over the weekend as we see the order statuses change in the systems and once we an get update from ShipQuest regarding their orders. 


Social Media Tags

If you take pictures or videos of your copy of SKEPTICS, please tag the SKEPTICS pages:

Facebook: @skepticsgame

Instagram: @usiakart

Youtube: Usiak Games and Designs (not sure you can tag on there, but that is the SKEPTICS Youtube page name)


If you want to help me spread the word to my personal pages, you can tag them as well (completely optional):

Facebook: @WVGamers1

Instagram: @WVGamers

Youtube: WVGamers


We can't wait to see your photos and hear about how you are enjoying the game. 


Brian Moats and Jon Usiak

Usiak Games and Designs

Freight/Shipping Updates and Packaging Samples
almost 2 years ago – Tue, Jun 14, 2022 at 10:50:46 PM

Hello all,


Great News! All of the games are now in the hands of the fulfillment centers. Quarter Master Logistics just received the US/Canada/Mexico freight (~1224 copies and some dice packs) and are just now in processing our packages (inventorying, checking for damages, sample packaging pictures, etc.). It will still be a couple weeks before we get through their queue and get the games out their warehouse doors. I will provide more details as we receive updates; I would guess early July some US backers will receive their copies of the game. 


Ship Quest received the UK and rest of world freight (~276 copies and some dice packs) about two weeks ago and are soon going to being processing our fulfillment. They provided some pictures of their recommended packaging for SKEPTICS, which I have provided below. With any luck, some UK backers will receive their copy before the end of June. 


(Additionalupdates below the pictures)


Here are some sample pictures how Ship Quest is packaging the game and what it looks like if you purchased the extra dice pack(s) add-ons. 

Late Payments from Current Backers

We have officially finalized what will be in the first wave of shipments. If you already paid for your game, shipping, AND VAT/Taxes (where applicable), you will be in the first wave of orders and are good to go. 


We have sent multiple reminders to backers who have not paid. Unfortunately, those who have not paid will not receive their game in this first wave. If you realize you forgot to pay shipping and/or VAT/Taxes, reach out to us to make arrangements for a later shipment. As we warned a few updates ago and in our direct messages, we will need to charge the Q3 shipping rate because rates have gone up so much from what we estimated during the campaign just in Q2 (in some cases, $5-15 more); we fully expect Q3 shipping will once again jump considerably due to gas costs. We will do everything we can to work with those backers so please reach out via Kickstarter messages. 


Closing

It is so exciting seeing the finalized games sitting in what will be their home for the briefest time as they find their way to your homes. Jon can't wait for you to have his game in your hands; an already six year journey. I am so happy to have been part of this for 3 years now. Jon is already hard as work designing the next map and internally playtesting it. 


We can't wait to see your pictures of the game next month. Be sure to tag us on social media if you share our game with the world (Facebook: @skepticsgame and Instagram: @usiakart). 


We will touch on what to do if you find yourself with a damaged/incomplete copy in the next update, but we certainly hope that won't happen...Realistically, we know it will happen in a small number of cases. So, we will go over that process as games ship out. 


Have a great rest of your week, 


Brian Moats and Jon Usiak

Usiak Games and Designs

Brief Update on Freight Status
almost 2 years ago – Fri, May 27, 2022 at 05:45:31 PM

This will be a brief update before the weekend. Freight is still in possession of the games; they are just working out the timing to hand off the games to the fulfillment companies for in-processing and boxing up the individual backer boxes. There is a US holiday next week as well as a two day UK holiday; so, they are working around that as well.  


If all goes how they are planning it, GamesQuest will have their pallets of SKEPTICS before the Queen's Jubilee holiday next week. I assume by June 20th~25th we should see some games going out. 


The US cargo finally made it to the NY port (it had waiting for an open port) and should be unloaded today, and the games will be moved to the JAX port (likely there in a week or so). QML should have the games in their possession by the middle of June and hopefully pushing games out a week later if they have room in their queue for us. 


We still expect some backers will receive their games by the end of June and the rest hopefully by the end of July. As a reminder, QML (US) will be sending out the US, Canada, and Mexico games, and GamesQuest will be shipping out the games for the rest of the world. 


I expect our next update will be in two weeks once we have more concrete dates to pass along. 


Have a great weekend, 

Brian Moats and Jon Usiak

Usiak Games and Designs