Big milestone to share: our full digital samples from LongPack have been developed, reviewed, and approved. The back and forth took longer than planned, but we're viewing it as a good thing. LongPack's experience and attention to detail is increasing our confidence that we chose a good partner, we feel it in the process. It just takes time, even when you plan for it taking time. We are very eager to get into real production!
Next Up:
Physical Samples
Mass Production
Pledge Manager Closing June 14
The pledge manager has been a huge success with over 90% of you completing your surveys. We are closing it on June 14. If you haven't completed yours yet, now is the time. Your survey is how we know what to make and where to send it. For any outstanding charges, those will complete when the Survey closes on June 14th.
After that date, the Pre-Order store will stay open but any crowdfunding specific perks may be limited.
BackerKit is hosting a webinar with us on June 11. The session covers how the Red Tides campaign unfolded and what we learned along the way. Register here: https://www.crowdcast.io/c/tortugas-games-red-tides
Come Find Us on Discord - Help Guide Tortugas Games
If you are not in the Discord yet, come on in. We are going to be doing more community testing there, including a web app prototype for stat tracking and a digital version of Red Tides on Tabletopia. Both will be available to test drive.
The fulfillment survey went out mid-March and we're sitting at 85% complete. That's great!
Help us get Red Tides to you by filling out the pledge survey. Responses aren't just administrative housekeeping. They're how we tell the factory exactly how much of everything to make. And on a more basic level, if you haven't filled out your survey, we don't have anywhere to send your game! Every missing response is a number we're guessing on and an address we don't have. If you haven't completed yours yet, please do. We'll give you a high five in person the next time we see you.
If you're running into trouble, reach out to [email protected] and we'll get you sorted.
Manufacturing Progress
We're been working through the hardest components first and making real progress. We want to be honest with you about what's affecting our timeline though. Aside from a number of minor tweaks (I'm looking at you, medium range dice and your finicky perfect shade of gold), the international shipping situation has introduced genuine uncertainty that we can't fully control. Not that this is the most important part of what's going on by any means, but if things get sorted out, it will help the shipping. If it doesn't change, we're planning around it. What that means practically is that we have more confidence in Q3 delivery than Q2. I know so many of you have been jonesing to roll some bones, so this really stinks. However, we're continuing to push at the factory (without sacrificing quality). When we know more, we'll let you know.
Wooden Token Upgrades
The wooden token upgrades were confirmed and locked in with manufacturing. Both the Foe Wooden Token Upgrade Pack (free for all backers!) and the 5 Faction Deluxe Wooden Upgrade Bundle are available now in the pledge manager and on the pre-order site. The response has been genuinely great. Thank you to everyone who pushed on this from the early conversations all the way through to final design. This one was a community effort.
Distribution and Retail
We've signed a contract with a US distribution partner. That's a real milestone and it means Red Tides will have a path to retail shelves after fulfillment. You'll already have your copy, of course, but it will mean we can keep growing Tortugas Games for more games, expansions, etc. We're still figuring out what our footprint looks like outside North America and will share more as that picture gets clearer (pledge manager tells us where our backers are).
Conventions 2026
We're working with our distributor on securing space at GenCon and/or PAX Unplugged (hopefully both). Having the game in hand is a requirement to make either one happen. Right now we have higher confidence in PAX Unplugged than GenCon given the timing, but we're pushing on both. More on this as manufacturing progresses.
We're getting there...
We're in the home stretch for getting this thing made. We're already thinking about ways to expand Red Tides, if there's an appetite for it, but are most focused on delivering on our pledge to you first and foremost. Join us on Discord if you want to chat or help mold where we go from here.
February has been a different kind of month and I held out as long as possible because I wanted more HARD NEWS. I’m bummed to say I can’t tell you exactly when you’ll get Red Tides. And the biggest elephant in the room is the Pledge Manager, a couple of words I’m about ready to fight. Pledge Manager is STILL in the works, lesson learned.
That being said...
Manufacturing Update
Chinese New Year wrapped up and the factory is back in action. As expected, they came back to a backlog. Ours is in the queue, all files approved, nothing blocked… but we don’t yet have a clean “this is the exact date production finishes” answer.
Rather than pretend we do, we’ll wait and share real timing once it’s locked. This phase is less flashy. No dramatic dice videos. No shiny prototype photos. Just queue position, throughput, and patience. But we are in it.
One Last Tweak Before Production
One of the advantages of the slight manufacturing delay is that we had a small window to make one more adjustment before files fully locked.
After years of playtesting we’ve amassed a couple of “if only we had time” wish list items. One of those was specifically, Specialists.
Specialists are the upgrade slots on your ships that allow you to shape your play style. In the early days, our philosophy leaned closer to competitive deck construction. There was a certain dependability around pursuing a specific build and trying to execute it as cleanly as possible.
What we found over time was that the most fun moments did not come from perfecting a build beforehand.
They came from reacting.
Reacting to the Plunder available.
Reacting to the moment in the engagement.
Reacting to what your teammates were building.
Red Tides plays better when the fleet evolves together rather than each captain executing a pre-written script.
So we expanded the Specialist pool to introduce more variants that cover a wider range of scenarios.
Read more about it on our Discord General Address: https://discord.gg/fC3NEP3Vuj Direct Post: https://discordapp.com/channels/1199013414211682404/1199014072520282273/1477005517225197732
Beyond the Factory
With production largely in the factory’s hands for now, we’ve been shifting some of our energy to what comes after fulfillment. Getting your games to you is still the north star.
At the same time, if Red Tides is going to live a long life, we can’t wait until the containers are on the water to think about retail, distribution, and long term availability.
That world is proving very different from crowdfunding, to say the least! Different packaging realities (man, am I tired of thinking about how to wrap up dice) and big-time different expectations from retailers and distributors.
We’ve been talking with folks who live in that ecosystem full time and trying to be thoughtful about who we align with. If we move forward with partners, it will be because they share our commitment to quality and presentation.
International Backers
For those of you outside North America, this is for you!
We’re continuing to clean up EU regulatory requirements and international documentation. It’s not glamorous work, but it’s necessary work if we want smooth fulfillment and broader availability.
We’re working with Vesuvius Media, who also run the Hive platform. They have deep experience with global shipping and distribution, and they’re helping us navigate the realities of international logistics.
Long term availability outside North America will ultimately come down to demand. Retail distribution requires scale to make sense. As fulfillment unfolds, we’ll be watching closely to see where Red Tides is gaining traction around the world.
Wooden Tokens – Thank You
We also want to give a real shout out to the backers who jumped into the BackerKit comments and Discord conversations about the wooden token solution (see the shipple prototypes in teh Just for Backers section below). The final approach was not something we dreamed up in isolation. It came directly from that back and forth.
That’s something Micah and I have been talking about a lot lately. We built Red Tides in a bubble for over ten years (12? 15?!).
Most of the core systems were hammered out just the two of us, iterating, arguing, refining, testing. That gave the game a very strong spine. But it also meant we didn’t have this kind of live feedback loop. And honestly it’s been energizing.
Right now, we’re neck deep in logistics, documentation, freight planning, manufacturing coordination, compliance, and the thousand invisible gears that make publishing work. We are not currently sketching new factions or tweaking cannon math.
But that season will come again. When it does, we want to be more intentional about involving this community.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s not design by committee and a poll for every decision but structured, thoughtful engagement where it makes sense. Early looks. Focused feedback. That sort of thing
The wooden token discussion remind ed us that this doesn’t have to be a ten year bubble ever again.
For now though? We wait for our slot on the production line.
January Update - New Wooden Tokens, Manufacturing, and Fulfillment
Manufacturing Progress
We have reached a major milestone in manufacturing!
The dice molds are complete and we have videos of our first samples (see below). This is one of the hardest and riskiest parts of the manufacturing process, so getting through this step is a big deal for us.
This was filmed at the factory! You can hear the susurration of progress in the background. Put on some headphones for some Red Tides dice ASMR!
Check out those Azteca icons added on the Fortune Dice!
In addition, all design files have now been submitted. This includes:
Red Tides, the core game
Seas of Sacrifice expansion
Calrissa’s Menagerie expansion
Oversized play mat
Dice trays
Extra dice product
Art Printed Card Sleeves
All stretch goal content
At this point, everything that needed to be designed and handed off has been delivered to manufacturing.
New Option: Deluxe Wooden Token Upgrades
We have some exciting news driven directly by backer feedback.
As part of our stretch goals, we are already including wooden tokens in the base game for all backers. Since announcing that, we have received many requests asking whether it would be possible to upgrade all remaining cardboard tokens to wooden ones.
We wanted to make this possible without creating problems for backers who do not want the upgrade, and without blowing up the budget. We are very happy with the solution we landed on.
Wooden Tokens Included via Stretch Goal
Because y’all crushed the stretch goal, all backers will receive the Foe Wooden Token Upgrade Pack at no additional cost.
This pack replaces all cardboard Foe tokens with wooden ones and includes 48 wooden tokens, covering:
Foe Crew
Polyps
Acid
Pirate King tokens
Hellboats
This upgrade is included automatically for all backers and requires no additional purchase.
For backers who want to upgrade the remaining player faction components to wood, we are offering a single optional upgrade:
5 Faction Deluxe Wooden Upgrade Bundle
This bundle upgrades all player faction tokens across the following factions:
Caribbea Cabal
Creatures of the Deep
Blue Realm
Firebelly
Azteca
Each faction includes:
1 faction specific ship meeple
15 faction specific crew tokens
2 faction tokens
5 faction specific status tokens
The Azteca faction additionally includes:
Upgraded Worshiper tokens
This bundle will be available to add to your order in the fulfillment survey.
What if I want to replace EVERYTHING?
If your goal is to have all wooden tokens in the game, the answer is straightforward:
All backers receive the Foe Wooden Token Upgrade Pack via the stretch goal
Adding the 5 Faction Deluxe Wooden Upgrade Bundle completes the full wooden set
Here are some prototype images while we prepare more information and final details for the pledge manager.
Fulfillment Survey Update
Previously, we said the fulfillment survey would be sent out soon. In hindsight, that “soon” probably deserved a trademark symbol.
We held off because we wanted to get closer to manufacturing reality so we could present options based on actual costs and logistics, rather than projections.
Barring any truly unexpected issues, we plan to send the fulfillment survey in the next few weeks.
In the survey you will be able to:
Confirm or update your shipping address
Change your order
Add items that were not available earlier or that you decided you want after the fact, including the new deluxe wooden token upgrades
Target Fulfillment Timing
We are still tracking toward a Q2 delivery window. Our confidence in that timeline will increase significantly once the remaining manufacturing physically begins. We are holding our breath until then.
There are roughly a thousand small steps between crowdfunding closing and the first items coming off the production line, and those steps can vary wildly from initial estimates. We did extensive upfront research, worked closely with veteran creators, and leaned heavily on our expert manufacturing and logistics partners to prepare for this phase. We intellectually understood that reality going in. Now we understand it in our bones.
Thank you!
Thanks again to all of you who backed and continue to support with your words of encouragement!
December Update - Project Status, Shore Leave Download, and PAX Report
2025 astern. Fresh winds and full sails for 2026.
Project Snapshot
We are right at the final steps before pressing the BIG RED BUTTON. We have technically already started pushing things that take the longest, like the dice molds, but we are days away from submitting final files.
We are getting feedback and guidance from our manufacturer and others in the industry that this may be a hectic pre Chinese New Year season. We are keeping a close eye on things as we navigate this for the first time. That said, we have some very experienced crowdfunding veterans advising and supporting us, so we are confident we are in the best place we can be.
If it becomes obvious that manufacturing won't finish before Chinese New Year, we will use that additional time to improve the game wherever we can, including more art and variety (like these new specialists!), and maybe (just maybe) a Tabletopia release.
Shore Leave – Holiday Gift
Shore Leave is ready for you to take out for a spin. The authors, Bazil and Jake, have been hard at work testing and refining to make it a real hoot. We are releasing the latest playtest version to backers right now. You can download the Shore Leave playtest PDF now by clicking on the link in the notification email or logging into BackerKit, opening your pledge, and scrolling to the Digital Files section.
Grab some family, friends, or even piratey strangers this winter season and spend one weird day in New Caribbea playing the role of crewmates who have a single day to fulfill the Captain’s wishes, if only you could remember what they were.
What Is a One Pager RPG?
A one pager RPG is a complete tabletop roleplaying game that fits on a single page. It includes everything needed to play: the premise, rules, and how the session ends.
These games are designed to be learned quickly and played in one sitting, usually one to two hours. They focus on simple mechanics, improvisation, and shared storytelling rather than deep rules or long campaigns.
One pagers are great for casual groups, family gatherings, conventions, or players who want to try roleplaying without a big time commitment. They often embrace chaos and failure as part of the fun, aiming to create memorable moments rather than “winning.”
PAX UNPLUGGED
PAX Unplugged went great! It was the first convention we attended after the campaign, and the first where our focus was on meeting and supporting our backers rather than trying to get the word out. It honestly felt really good to connect with the folks, like you, who hopped on this train with us.
We had a few people come by to check out Azteca, do demos and component riffling, and one group completed a full playthrough. We also handed out a ton of copies of Shore Leave.
We spent the rest of the time connecting with LongPack about getting manufacturing just right, talking with BackerKit about pledge manager tips and tricks (more on that later), connecting with partners in retail and FLGS, and soaking in the culture.
Sign Off for 2025
That’s it for 2025. We are closing out the year with the game and community in great shape, looking forward to starting the year that Red Tides launches, and settling in around a roaring fire to play Shore Leave while we wait.
Big milestone to share: our full digital samples from LongPack have been developed, reviewed, and approved. The back and forth took longer than planned, but we're viewing it as a good thing. LongPack's experience and attention to detail is increasing our confidence that we chose a good partner, we feel it in the process. It just takes time, even when you plan for it taking time. We are very eager to get into real production!
Next Up:
Physical Samples
Mass Production
Pledge Manager Closing June 14
The pledge manager has been a huge success with over 90% of you completing your surveys. We are closing it on June 14. If you haven't completed yours yet, now is the time. Your survey is how we know what to make and where to send it. For any outstanding charges, those will complete when the Survey closes on June 14th.
After that date, the Pre-Order store will stay open but any crowdfunding specific perks may be limited.
BackerKit is hosting a webinar with us on June 11. The session covers how the Red Tides campaign unfolded and what we learned along the way. Register here: https://www.crowdcast.io/c/tortugas-games-red-tides
Come Find Us on Discord - Help Guide Tortugas Games
If you are not in the Discord yet, come on in. We are going to be doing more community testing there, including a web app prototype for stat tracking and a digital version of Red Tides on Tabletopia. Both will be available to test drive.
During the campaign there was a digital version of Red Tides that was shown. Is there any chance that backers can be given access to this version so we can play the game while waiting for the physical sets? Even if the content available is not the complete engine this would still be a welcome addition.
