[Taylor Ruiz]

Hey all,

This one’s kind of bizarre, but has there ever been a game about dung beetles? 😂

I came across part of an episode of “Wildlife Icons: Dung Beetle: Nature’s Recycler” and I was absolutely fascinated by it and the purpose of these creatures! The narrator even mentioned the different roles of the dung beetle:

• Tunneler
• Roller
• Dweller

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I haven’t given it too much thought but it could be like some sort of pickup and deliver game. The Tunneler could make tunnels for other beetles to traverse, the dwellers could produce more beetles and the rollers well they could you know roll the dung ball/whatever to the destination.

Anybody want to build onto this?

Side note, if you haven’t heard of it, there is a fantastic video game that involves a dung beetle, that’s like a Metroidvania meets pinball 2D side scroller, Yoku’s Island Express. One of my favorite games in recent memory.

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[Gabe Barrett]

This beetle game did pretty well on Kickstarter a while back: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/boardgametables/kabuto-sumo-board-game

[Taylor Ruiz]

Oh wow, that looks like a lot of fun! I love all the pro wrestling inside jokes they threw in and the art.

[Roger Meloche]

That sounds like fun. The most fascinating thing about these creatures is how they roll those balls of dung around obstacles and deal with terrain and the elements. It reminds me of robo rally. It would be a cool programmed movement game. You can also work with the other bugs in the colony to build tunnels, bridges, and clear the way for the dung roller.

[Taylor Ruiz]

A programmable game would be really neat. Combine that with the different types and that could be interesting too.

[Arthur Wohlwill]

I like pick up and deliver games and bugs. I want to try it…

[Emily Bekius]

This is a really cool idea! Would it be cooperative or would each player have their own set of beetles who have the different jobs? I’m imagining a pretty cool looking board. Or tiles, for the tunnels. I’m new to some of the terms – so what do you all mean by “programmed movement”?

[Taylor Ruiz]

Hey Emily, I’ve played 2 games with programmed movement, “Robo Rally” and “Colt Express”, both amazing games. But the mechanic is basically, all players play a series of movement/action cards simultaneously. And the turn order will determine which cards are played when.
The movement/action cards usually are directions like Up, down, etc and an attack. So you may place a sequence of these cards thinking you’re going to get to a point, but based on what someone else played, you may be thrown off course. This leads to some very chaotic and usually fun moments.
It’s one of my favorite mechanics, I’d love to design it into a game someday.
If you get the chance to play either of those games, I would highly suggest it.

[Emily Bekius]

Ok, thanks for the explanation! I’ll have to check those games out. Are you still thinking of designing this game?

[Taylor Ruiz]

Yeah of course, you’re welcome. And yes, I am. I just haven’t started anything yet.

[Taylor Ruiz]

So I did have one idea and I think it could work even if it’s silly. But what if each dung ball was a small d20 and each player had at least 1 beetle that could kind of hold the d20 and when the player physically moves the beetle, the d20 rolls. If it stops on an odd then something happens and something else happens if it stops on an even. I will have to make a small video to show what I’m talking about.

[Emily Bekius]

I definitely like the D20 idea! That’s very cool! Sorry I never saw this until now, I haven’t been on in awhile.

[Nicholas Bartlett]

Donr forget about beetle borgs tv show: https://youtu.be/HLy3Mhm4YNc

[Taylor Ruiz]

Oh I remember this show, they had some cool toys too if I remember correctly.