MELVIN PURVIS: WHEN THE GOOD BECOMES THE BAD
11 months ago – Sat, Jun 10, 2023 at 09:02:06 AM

Hello, friends!

The new expansion of Scarface 1920, Bloody Business, features Melvin Purvis among its protagonists. A historical figure, Melvin was an FBI agent who became famous during the 1920s and 1930s for capturing several public enemies, some of them as notorious as Baby Face Nelson or John Dillinger. 

In Bloody Business, Melvin Purvis is the leader of the G-Men, law enforcement agents selected to combat the escalating violence happening on the streets of Chicago. And as we’ve been telling you, his miniature is free for all those who follow Bloody Business on Gamefound and then participate in the campaign. 

Do you want to know more about Melvin? Would you like to learn how the G-Men act in Bloody Business? Come with us to Gamefound and discover it…

Meet Red Dragons Tong: From Opium to Alcohol, for the Throne of Chicago
11 months ago – Wed, May 31, 2023 at 07:30:24 AM

When the alarm clock rang, Charlie was already wide awake. He claimed it was a habit, that his years in San Francisco had taught him the value of hard work and discipline. Although, his trusted men knew that the leader of Red Dragons Tong didn't sleep because he had too many enemies. Old enemies, whom he had accumulated during what the press had dubbed the Tong Wars. And new enemies, the ones he had made after disembarking in Chicago to take advantage of the weaknesses of the Americans.

He put on his hat and tightly gripped the dragon that dominated his inseparable cane. It didn't breathe fire, but the concealed blade could devour enemies with the same voracity. He approached his work table and unfolded a map of Chicago. On it, all his opium dens were marked in red. Soon they would become the tentacles upon which his empire would expand. Soon, he also knew, the streets of the city would be stained red. Nobody travels 3500 kilometers to make friends.

Hello, friends!

The Bloody Business campaign on Gamefound had two dates marked on the calendar: one on May 24, when we introduced The Golden Oaks, a new band from the Scarface 1920 universe with several peculiarities, including having two bosses; and another date, today May 31, where I invite you to stand up and applaud as we welcome another new band to the dangerous streets of Chicago in Scarface 1920. Are you ready to meet the Red Dragons Tong?

The visible leader -although it would be more appropriate to say invisible- of the Red Dragons Tong is Charlie Gong, a man who honed his skills in a thousand battles on the streets of San Francisco before coming to Chicago, where he will attempt to establish his opium business. Now, he has set out to expand his influence to a slightly more coveted territory, that of alcohol. Of course, Capone, Rothstein, and the other gang leaders won't be pleased to have a new enemy in the race for the throne of Chicago, especially one who already has their own distribution networks... and even less so, one as silent and well-organized as the Red Dragons Tong.

Among the particularities that the Red Dragons Tong present, the entire "opium universe" stands out. This means they have their own plastic tokens representing bundles of this magical powder, as well as Opium Dens tiles and, be careful here, Opium Dens Cards, exclusive cards with special power-ups that will allow players to maximize the band's power and influence on the streets of Chicago.

Beyond the mechanics, the Red Dragons Tong band has -in my personal opinion- the most spectacular aesthetics in the entire Scarface 1920 universe. From the miniatures of Charlie Gong and the strongest thug in Chicago to the illustrations of the lieutenants and the Lady Underboss. Ah, they won't let me show you all of this yet? Well, keep it in mind for when the campaign starts on Gamefound, next June 21.

In terms of gameplay, similar to The Golden Oaks, Red Dragons Tong offers a completely new gaming experience. It also introduces a new resource, in this case, opium, which allows them to easily establish a presence in different neighborhoods of Chicago. With the power of Charlie Gong and their Opium Dens, they can activate unique abilities that are particularly useful for developing businesses and populating the streets of Chicago with their men.

Six-player games: yes, we can!

The new band works for both the base game and the expanded game with Bloody Business, as well as for The Enforcers. It also allows you to add it to a game with all the original bosses, completing (and debuting) five-player matches. You can even pit Red Dragons Tong against The Golden Oaks, the other new band, in a two-player game. In other words, both Red Dragons Tong and The Golden Oaks can be combined in any game configuration.

Any game configuration. That's what I said. And yes, that includes another great novelty in the Bloody Business campaign on Gamefound. With the announcement of The Golden Oaks we said that Scarface 1920 accepted five-player games, now with the arrival of Red Dragons Tong we are thrilled to announce that you will be able to play six-player games. Does Chicago become a city full of dangers and surprises? Yes. Is it crazy? Yes. Do we love it? Absolutely. Oh, and for Solo Mode lovers: yes, you will also be able to play with The Golden Oaks or Red Dragons Tong.

Now you know: both bands will be available to you starting from June 21 on Gamefound. Remember that those who follow and then join the campaign will receive Melvin Purvis' miniature and three exclusive G-Men cards for free. Go get them!

Meet The Golden Oaks: Canada's Capone threatens Chicago
11 months ago – Wed, May 24, 2023 at 08:04:34 AM

It ran through his veins. Born in the south of the south part of Italy, in the heart of the mafia, Rocco Perri was destined to make history outside the law. There wasn't a distillery in Canada that operated without his control. Not a barrel of alcohol circulated without his approval. However, The King of Bootleggers, as he was known on the other side of Lake Michigan, had long been looking towards the United States with the same desire with which he looked at Bessie. He knew he couldn't have made it there without her.

Rocco boarded the ship and nodded approvingly to Bessie. Then, he picked up a bag that was on the table and addressed his men: "Friends, we can be very proud of what we've built here, but it's time to think bigger," he explained in a tone that was both friendly and defiant. He went silent for a few seconds and pulled out an elegant Colt from the bag. "It's time to cross the lake and do some bloody business."

Hello, friends! First and foremost, is there anyone who hasn't followed Bloody Business on Gamefound yet? Remember, if you follow and then support the campaign, you'll get a free Melvin Purvis miniature, the new ruthless ally of Eliot Ness, along with three exclusive G-Men cards. No? Still not convinced? Well, let me tell you that a new gang is coming to Scarface 1920 from the other side of Lake Michigan, led by a guy known as Canada’s Al Capone. Let's give a warm and stylish welcome to The Golden Oaks. In case anyone is wondering, it works with the original game, Scarface 1920, but also with the Bloody Business expansion and even with the other expansion, The Enforcers.

The first unique aspect of The Golden Oaks, as you may have noticed, is that it features two bosses. They are Rocco Perri and Bessie Starkman, both inspired by historical figures who formed a bootlegging empire in Canada, primarily by importing quality whiskey across the lakes that separate Canada from the United States. To give you an idea of the significance of this couple, Rocco Perri was popularly known as "The King of Bootlegging" and "Canada's Al Capone". That's quite something.

In Scarface 1920, Rocco and Bessie have grown tired of doing business in peaceful Canada and have decided to cross the border in their sophisticated suits to stop just exporting liquor and start selling it directly on the streets of Chicago. However, both Rocco and Bessie are well aware that this decision, besides breaking many alliances and arousing the wrath of rival gangs, will require them to get their hands dirty with blood, something they hadn't had to do in Canada.

The exclusivity of The Golden Oaks also extends to its miniatures. In this case, as you can see, our partners at Big Child have done a spectacular job bringing Rocco and Bessie to the streets of Scarface 1920. If you're a fan of miniatures, make sure to follow Gamefound because, in addition to the bosses, you're going to love the rest of the Canadian miniatures. Check that badass lady thug below... By the way, have we mentioned that the gaming experience with The Golden Oaks is new, among other things, because it features special cards that will allow you to develop other game strategies? Let me also introduce you to the chauffe... I mean... the captain!

In terms of gameplay, The Golden Oaks brings several exciting innovations to Scarface 1920. The most important one is that it's a gang with two bosses, which means, among other things, they will have a special gangboard with both Rocco and Bessie. It also means that during the planning phase, both bosses can be played in the same Plan and their respective skills put into action. Chicago better watch out.

Continuing with the asymmetric spirit of the game, The Golden Oaks also introduces new concepts in the mechanics: the gang has its own resource, Liquor, and can take advantage of Chicago gang’s immense alcohol demand to distribute their product and expand their empire throughout the city. If they were Capone in Canada, why not be the same in Capone's city?

Surprise: Five-player games are here!

The arrival of The Golden Oaks in the Scarface 1920 universe opens the door to one of the community's requests: five-player games! The game works perfectly fine with a fifth gang, but be prepared for an all-out war to control the Neighborhoods. So, you can start calling that friend who was left out of all the games! We will soon share more details with you...

Remember: The Golden Oaks works with the original game, Scarface 1920, but also with the expansion Bloody Business and even with the other expansion, The Enforcers. If you want to enjoy a special gaming experience, The Golden Oaks is a unique gang in Scarface 1920... wait, did I say unique? And what's that reveal we have planned for May 31st on Gamefound? Let's see if... Could it be that... Now it's time: follow us on Gamefound!

By the way, Bloody Business is already official at BGG. Follow us there and help the community grow.  See you next week!

Chicago, here we go again: June 21st, Bloody Business campaign and Scarface 1920 reprint on Gamefound!
11 months ago – Wed, May 17, 2023 at 03:41:50 PM

Hello, friends! Two years, 7420 backers, and 71 updates later, at Redzen Games, we believe it's time to expand our gangster universe. On June 21st, Bloody Business, the new expansion for Scarface 1920, arrives on Gamefound (make sure to follow our page for details). And for those who missed out on being one of those 7420 backers, we also have good news: Scarface 1920 will be reprinted!

In the last update, I was only allowed to mention that Bloody Business was the new expansion for Scarface 1920 and that it would arrive in the summer. Well, now I can finally explain some first detail about Bloody Business, when the campaign will start, and what other exciting news we have prepared for those days. One of them, you can already take a look at, is our new website. Let's dive in!

 Moving to 1923 Chicago: time for Bloody Business! 

We find ourselves in Chicago in 1923. Prohibition began three years ago, and the city's major criminal gangs have amassed enormous fortunes, expanded their businesses, and gained tremendous power. However, the city has become too small, and ambitious figures like Al Capone refuse to settle for just a portion of the pie. They want it all.

Bloody Business expands the universe of Scarface 1920 and introduces a new scenario for gang confrontations. To become the king of Chicago, it's time to spill blood, crush rival businesses, establish new alliances with the most dangerous criminals, increase surveillance on the streets, and exert influence over the highest political officials.

Bloody Business introduces new gameplay elements such as the G-Men, Candidates, and the Hospital, among others, while also providing mechanics and actions that allow for new strategic approaches. Get ready because sparks will fly in the neighborhoods' businesses. In short, it's the ideal experience for those who want to venture into the dangerous streets of Chicago for the first time, as well as a new challenge for those who have already claimed the throne in Scarface 1920.

Why Gamefound... and a gift for followers! 

The expansion will be available on Gamefound starting June 21st. Have you marked it down? June 21st. And why Gamefound? Well, that question has been circulating around the halls of Redzen for the past few weeks. Although we had a good experience on Kickstarter, we are interested in trying out different platforms. You already know that Gamefound is a place exclusively for board games, which means the level of customization is much higher. Additionally, it offers various payment options, including the possibility to split your payment without comissions, and the pledge manager is integrated into the same process.

About that, have you followed the Bloody Business preview page on Gamefound? If you haven't, you should. All those who follow Bloody Business and then join the campaign will receive the exclusive Melvin Purvis miniature, the leader of the G-Men, and 3 G-Men cards completely for free. Yes, that's one of the new features of the Scarface 1920 expansion: the introduction of the G-Men, a group of tough guys allied with Eliot Ness and led by Melvin Purvis, who won't hesitate to use the most brutal tactics to put an end to the gangs. Don't hesitate, follow now and get Melvin!

By the way, if you visit the Bloody Business page on Gamefound, you'll see that there are two other important announcements prepared within the campaign... do you dare to guess what we're talking about?

 Don’t miss this train again… Join the reprint! 

On June 15th, 2021, we launched our first board game, Scarface 1920, on Kickstarter. The uncertainty of that first time lasted less than an hour... 55 minutes to be exact: the time it took the community to fund us.  

As you know, the Scarface 1920 campaign ended with 7420 backers. That's many more than we dreamed of when we started this, many more than we imagined when we designed the game, and many more than we expected when we launched the campaign. But, you know what? Those 7420 backers were not all.

Over the past two years, we've received numerous comments from people who regretted not backing Scarface 1920. Well, for all those who missed the train the first time around, we've decided to launch the Scarface 1920 reprint. A reprint that, by the way, once again offers two of the most valued gifts from the previous campaign for free: The Enforcers expansion and the Gametrayz. It arrives at the same time as Bloody Business and comes with a ton of add-ons to make the experience just as exciting as the first time.  

Tell that friend who regretted not backing, gather your gaming companions, and get yourself a copy or simply take advantage of the add-on you missed out on. To all of you: see you on Gamefound!

DID YOU SEE IT? HERE WE GO AGAIN!
about 1 year ago – Thu, Apr 20, 2023 at 09:10:31 AM

Hello, friends! It's been almost two years since... wait, let me say it again because I can hardly believe it: two years since we launched the Scarface 1920 campaign on Kickstarter. On June 15, 2021, we entered 1920s Chicago with Al Capone and his gang during Prohibition, in the exciting gang war for control of the city that most of you (we'll get to the fulfillment later) are already enjoying. We also ventured into completely unknown territory for us at Redzen Games, which has brought us some headaches, but also a lot of joy and satisfaction. But, you know what? We are going at it again! Those who watched the long-awaited gameplay we did with The Dice Tower folks already know that at the end of it we made an important announcement. In case anyone missed it...

Bloody Business is the new expansion of Scarface 1920 and will be launched as a crowdfunding campaign this summer. Those are the three points that I am allowed to explain in this update. Do you remember Cement Shoes? The poor guy who ends up at the bottom of Lake Michigan in a Job card from the game? I don't want to end up the same way by revealing any mafia secrets... although I'm going to allow myself the luxury of adding something: Bloody Business is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. And you'll see that very soon.

By the way, if you didn't see the complete game with Tom Vasel and Chris from The Dice Tower, we recommend it. It was a very entertaining game, lasting about two hours, in which [spoiler alert] Chris won in the shoes of Mr Capone. Our colleague Arnau gave them a hard time with Stephanie St. Clair and her annoying ability to control the streets of Chicago, although Tom Vasel was winning for most of the game with his Irish gang and O'Banion. Tom pushed the crime rate too high and, as usually happens in those cases, the weight of the Feds fell on him hard. VERY hard. Meanwhile, Chris defended his territory perfectly with the Increased Security job and didn't even need the power of the Bank Robbery card at the end of the game, which is usually a real game changer.

The game was very fun, but we also loved meeting The Dice Tower team in person and confirming that Tom, for example, was amazed by the "top notch production"  and enjoyed the game a lot. Thanks, friends!

SCARFACE 1920'S DOOR OPENS AGAIN

And since we're on the topic of important announcements, here's another one: there will be a reprint of Scarface 1920. If you didn't back the game during our Kickstarter campaign and you're understandably regretful, or if you have a friend who didn't back it and has been kicking themselves ever since, the door to our little gangster universe will open once again in the summer. By the way, in addition to the game, some of the add-ons from the previous campaign will also be available again, along with some surprises. So that no one misses out on having the best possible version of Scarface 1920.

FULFILLMENT STATUS

A huge milestone for us: except for a few cases, the shipping process for Scarface 1920 is (almost) fully complete. First, to those "few cases" that are preventing us from being completely happy: if you haven't received your game, or if you have received a damaged component, please write to us at [email protected] if you haven't already.

For those of you who have already contacted us with issues, such as cards in the wrong language or damaged components: as we mentioned in the previous update, we are working to fix them and all issues will be resolved. We have reprinted the necessary replacements and they have been sent by urgent air freight to distribution hubs, from where they will be served to those affected.

We have prioritized all essential items so that backers can play Scarface 1920 (such as cards), although we are also working to resolve incidents with non-essential items, such as the game box or trays. We cannot give dates, as it is not under our control, but we are working to make these times as short as possible. Many of the affected backers have already received their replacements, but once again, to the rest, thank you for your patience and rest assured that you will all receive your solution.

AND AGAIN, THANK YOU!

We cannot emphasize enough the incredible community that has been created around Scarface 1920, especially active on BGG. Not only have we been on The Hotness list for a month now, with the games of the moment, we have also entered the top 2500s (improving every day) and the top 500 thematic games. And most importantly: you are feeding the forum with your opinions on the game, answering questions, proposing strategies, giving advice, or revealing devastating combos.

Before we finish, here are three recent videos about Scarface 1920 that we hope will be of interest to you:

Off The Shelf review, which dedicates one of the best reviews we have seen so far...

Backers hispanohablantes, también tenemos material interesante para vosotros. He aquí un gameplay de “Unapartida”, donde podéis ver algunos detalles de Scarface 1920. ¡Disfruten!

Oh, by the way... We are in the top 3 of Watch It Played for April!

Remember: Bloody Business, the new expansion for Scarface 1920. More news soon. Stay tuned!