iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Zach Hoekstra @zhoekstra.bsky.social · 19h

🎲✂️ One of the things I really enjoyed doing while designing Pact was fleshing out the world itself. And as part of the campaign, we're trying out a very weird little extra backer option - an in universe abstract game, played by the bugs of Branchbourne.

A set of abstract pieces laid out over a cloth board

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Getting out some game design jitters by doing a component upgrade on The Cat Prince. Still plays really well, I'm really happy with this design

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However, unlike a lot of mancala-style games, there are multiple *kinds* of pieces, and the order you drop these pieces into bowls *really* matters. Pieces are also not strictly removed, but also added, so the board doesn't so much shrink as it fluctuates, growing and then shrinking.

When we were looking for ways to make the world feel more immersive, we decided (possibly foolishly) to offer a little cloth abstract game alongside Pact, also designed by me. Mechanically Cycle plays like a mancala-style game, and uses the sow-mechanic of that genre.

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Zach Hoekstra @zhoekstra.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

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4 days until we launch Pact!?!? It's fine, I'm fine, not anxious at all.

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Jokes on you, my rules are so poorly written that no one could possibly make a vibe coded online app out of it. Take that future!

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To be fair to them, I wrote the rulebook, it's my fault they got it wrong, I could have been clearer.

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🎲✂️ The glamourous life of a pre-kickstarter launch mainly consists of picking through content creator's videos of your game and trying to figure out if it's worth pointing out all the things they got wrong or not.

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Zach Hoekstra @zhoekstra.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

But I believe that it's not fair that I am not *you*! If only there was some sort of fictional genre in which we could experience life through each others eyes for a short while, and in doing so come to appreciate our own life's blessings.

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Once I'm feeling better about my skin tones I can go back and try and salvage them

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Zach Hoekstra @zhoekstra.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Slowly but surely remembering how to paint again with the Masons. They're definitely going to be my scrunkly team as I've been using them to figure out skin tones and faces again. Poor Harmony looks too bright and Bucker over there has gray looking skin.

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Zach Hoekstra @zhoekstra.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Her: "Does it work?" Me: "Like 85% of the time, as long as I actually put the appointment in my calendar in the first place. Sometimes I forget to do that" Her: "I'm not sure we need to go through the rest of the evaluation"

Zach Hoekstra @zhoekstra.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

ADHD intake evaluator: "Do you use a journal to organize your day?" Me: "Yes, I use Google Calendar because I can notify for stuff a day, an hour, and 10 minutes beforehand" "Do you need all 3?" "YES"

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Zach Hoekstra @zhoekstra.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

🎲✂️ It's not a gamefound camapign without a unnecesarry but satisfying metal coin upgrade

A front/back stl view of a Pact metal coin

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Zach Hoekstra @zhoekstra.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

We're starting to see reviews come in for Pact! "Pact quickly transports players to a world where A Bug’s Life meets Game of Thrones. A sort of A Song of Lice & Fire Ants. Sorry, I’m not overly proud of that pun…"

dicedaniel.nl

Review: Pact (Wulfhorn Games) – English

Zach Hoekstra @zhoekstra.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

This post brought to you by "things my brain is thinking about instead of writing updates for Pact"

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Zach Hoekstra @zhoekstra.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Steve Irwin didn't die, he got isekaid into the Kanto region and is living his best life

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Zach Hoekstra @zhoekstra.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Hey so I know I've been a little quieter when talking about Pact. That's because I've been furiously working on a ton of gamefound things behind the scenes, one of which is THIS! www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-Wc... Launching October 13!

youtube.com

Pact - Coming to Gamefound

YouTube video by Wulfhorn Games

Zach Hoekstra @zhoekstra.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Didn't private equity transfer a huge pile of bad debt on Asmodee/CMON, debt that would come due around 2025/2026? As with many things, the root of a company suddenly shitting the bed with a buge pile of cash always comes back to private equity, the horseman Pestilence's latest incarnation.

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Zach Hoekstra @zhoekstra.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

what stl source are you using? I've wanted giant Zendo for a while now

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Zach Hoekstra @zhoekstra.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

"Hear me out, we help the fascists oppress *one* minority group, and then they'll be happy and leave us alone forever"

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Zach Hoekstra @zhoekstra.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

🎲✂️ If the Pact gamefound campaign makes at least $2 million, @wulfhorngames.bsky.social has promised to dress up in a Jenna mascot costume for the entirety of next Spiel. This is definitely something I have discussed with him beforehand. Help me make this happen, folks.

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Zach Hoekstra @zhoekstra.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Your free page decor was *instrumental* in getting the vibe across in my early prototypes for PACT and a few other fantasy/fairytale themes prototypes of mine. Probably will be in the future too!

PLAY AS ONE OF FOUR ASPIRANTS

each with a unique background and path to power

Hawk and Dove Games @hawkanddovegames.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Reposted by Zach Hoekstra

I want to spend some time today talking a bit more about this game, and why I think it's so important. Small Steps to Fight Fascism is a unique game in several ways. It covers a very recent and particular bit of United States history, but its model is applicable to many different circumstances.

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Zach Hoekstra @zhoekstra.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

I'll clarify: The original Mayfair games signed Thera right around the time that they split Catan off, and basically forgot about it in the shuffle and subsequent shutdown. I have quite a bit more confidence in the new Mayfair/Mr. B Games games with Sean at the helm.

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Zach Hoekstra @zhoekstra.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

1) This is a classic game and cool concept that deserves more attention 2) Mr. B enthusiastically published my first game after Mayfair tossed it in a closet for several years. He's an amazing person and deserves every dollar you give him to make forgotten classics available again.

kickstarter.com

Ace of Aces: Handy Rotary & Flying Machines Deluxe Editions

Ace of Aces returns for the next two Deluxe reprint installments, Book 2, Handy Rotary, and Book 3, Flying Machines!

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Reposted by Zach Hoekstra

Hawk and Dove Games @hawkanddovegames.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

This month, we're pleased to announce another game we've brought into our pipeline. Small Steps to Fight Fascism is a codesign by @goatgruff.bsky.social and Joe Kell about the ICE occupation of Minneapolis in late 2025 and early 2026. Read more about it here: www.hawkanddovegames.com/blog/small-s...

hawkanddovegames.com

small steps to fight fascism — Hawk and Dove

How our third board game fits with Hawk & Dove.

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Zach Hoekstra @zhoekstra.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Rip out an awkward resource management mechanic, clean up activation order questions with atomic "action" cards, reduce statlines to the core + abilities, allow for blood bowl style mixed size teams.....

static.klipy.com

Dr. Doofenshmirtz's Evil Welding Plan

ALT: Dr. Doofenshmirtz's Evil Welding Plan

Zach Hoekstra @zhoekstra.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Playing tabletop wargames really gets me into the simultaneous mood of "I can't get this feeling from boardgames" AND ALSO "This is terribly written, I could make this so much cleaner to play" So am I idly reinventing a generic Guild Ball / Blood Bowl because I can? Yes.

Round Play
In the first round, the receiver goes first. In future rounds, the player with the fewest Match Points goes first. In case of a die, flip a coin or dice off to determine the first player. The second player gains one additional ⏳ as compensation.

Players then take turns choosing an unactivated model and activating it, until both players have activated all their models or activated 6 models, whichever comes first.
Activation
During its activation, models may perform any number of Action Plays (⚙️) in any order it chooses. Once a player chooses to or cannot take any more action plays, the models activation ends.

Models by default have access to the following plays:
Advance (⚙️1️⃣): The model moves up to its movement speed, OR stands up from being Knocked Down.
Attack OR Kick (⚙️1️⃣): The model makes an attack (melee 👊 or ranged 🏹), OR kicks the ball.
Bonus Attack OR Kick (⚙️⏳): The model makes an attack (melee 👊 or ranged 🏹) or kicks the ball.
Rush (⚙️1️⃣⏳): Increase the model’s movement by 2” this turn. If the model started its turn unengaged, it gets +3 dice on its first melee hit this turn.

When it is not their turn, models also have default access to the Counterattack reaction play
Counterattack (↩️1️⃣⏳): After being attacked (but not counterattacked), attack the original attacker.

End Of Round
Refresh each player’s pool of Bonus Time to ⏳⏳⏳⏳⏳. Then in turn order, each player may return a model that was taken out this turn to half health (usually 3/6 wounds) and deploy it to their deployment zone touching the pitch edge.

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Zach Hoekstra @zhoekstra.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Packed Pact, Pax and Pacts tables at PAX would tickle me pact... I mean pink.

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Zach Hoekstra @zhoekstra.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

I may or may not have stolen that line wholesale from @sadbeige.bsky.social, to whom I must credit now that I know they're on blue sky too.

Zach Hoekstra @zhoekstra.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

WELCOME TO WERNER HERZOGS NEW LINE OF CHILDREN'S TOYS SAD BEIGE TOYS FOR SAD BEIGE CHILDREN NOW IN EXISTENTIALISM GRAY, WITH DARK BLUE ACCENTS REMINDING US OF THE MERCILESS OCEAN DEPTHS AND THE FATE THAT AWAITS US ALL

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Reposted by Zach Hoekstra

Mollz (ballz) @dopestatistics.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

NO NO NO NO NO NOOOOOO

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Zach Hoekstra @zhoekstra.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Taking care of my post surgery dad in Wales this week, which comes with something we haven't been able to do in close to 10 years - play miniature wargames with each other. God Guildball is a hoot to play, I wish it was still supported.

My father carefully measuring out exactly how to completely screw me over on a play

My father carefully considering the next play

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Reposted by Zach Hoekstra

Dan Thurot @danthurot.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

It was a slow week! What did you get to the table?

board games: Baba Is You, Six-Sided Seas, Suppose, Enchanted Ivy, Brute Fort, Pact: The Future of Branchbourne, Mountain Goats Legacy, Party House, Pond, Abroad

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Zach Hoekstra @zhoekstra.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Historical miniature wargamers are a funny side-evolution of game design because what do you mean Roman Medium Cavalry prevents damage on a roll of 4 1/2 or more on a d6. Who thought that was a clean and easy rule

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Zach Hoekstra @zhoekstra.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

We're also at Spellenspektakl if you want to avoid the Essen early morning crush!

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Zach Hoekstra @zhoekstra.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

🎲✂️ working on a complex design means I am increasingly embarrassed at the number of typos and errors I let slip through the cards and boards I *shipped to reviewers a week ago*

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Reposted by Zach Hoekstra

Bart de Jong @bartgamedesign.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

We had an amazing session of @zhoekstra.bsky.social's upcoming game Pact this evening. There was lots of scheming, there were plots being foiled and some poor bug got guillotined. Y'all should be looking out for this one: gamefound.com/en/projects/...

gamefound.com

PACT by Wulfhorn Games - Gamefound

A sudden death, a kingdom on the brink. You have a rare chance to make pacts with key groups and make the future of Branchbourne yours

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Zach Hoekstra @zhoekstra.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Continuing my journey into rediscovering miniature painting with this ice troll

A miniature of an ice troll holding a rock

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Zach Hoekstra @zhoekstra.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Toying with metal coin ideas for backers that want a luxe-version

Images of a branchbourne coin, with plain circle edges and a banner edge

Images of a branchbourne coin, with art deco edges

Images of a branchbourne coin, with art deco edges and a more mismatched "hand cast" look

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Zach Hoekstra @zhoekstra.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Okay hear me out a CCG pauper tournament scored like a Speedrun. Players play multiple games Swiss style, and you need a roughly 60% win rate to place. But after that you are ranked solely by your decks cost, so the winner is the person who brought the cheapest deck that still wins 60% of the time