Setup: Place the sun token and your workers in unoccupied spaces.
Your Turn: If your worker moves onto the sun token you must do 3 things in order: A) Force your worker to any other unoccupied space at the same height. B) Build in the sun token space. If you built a block, place the sun token back on top. C) Build normally.
Opponent’s Turn: The sun token space is frozen.
Win Restriction: You cannot win on a turn that you move to the sun token space.
Helios is one of the longer and more complex powers in Santorini Pantheon. One of the team's design goals with god powers is to keep things as short and succinct as possible because long-winded effects are often inelegant and intimidating to players. That said, occasionally a power will be so interesting that it's worth a longer description. Helios isn't so bad once you get to know him!
Helios will choose a space during game setup to place his sun token. The sun space is "frozen" to all other players, meaning that the space essentially does not exist to them. When the Helios player steps into the sun space, they force their worker to any other unoccupied space at the same height - basically stepping into the sun and teleporting somewhere else. When Helios does this, they also build in the sun space (in addition to their normal build). This means that they get to step into the sun 4 times before the space is domed and the sun token is removed.
Stymphalians - Man-Eating Raptors
Setup: Place 3 workers of your color.
Your Move: Your workers must always move 2 or 3 spaces. They must end in a different space and one which doesn’t neighbor their starting space.
Win Restriction: You cannot win in the first space you move to on your turn.
Stymphalians evolved a lot over the course of development, eventually ending in its current form. They're an interesting power with both benefits and drawbacks. Having 3 workers is a big advantage, giving you a lot of board coverage for offensive and defensive play. Moving 2 or 3 spaces, every turn is also huge, obviously!
But here come the drawbacks... You MUST move either 2 or 3 spaces and end in a space that doesn't neighbor your starting space. This will become extremely dangerous as the board starts to fill in and other workers get in your way. If you cannot perform a valid move, you lose! And secondly, you cannot win in the first space you move to on your turn. That means in order to win by moving up to level 3; you need to have a stairway that you will traverse on a single turn. Your winning move from level 2 to level 3 has to happen with either your second or third moves. Not easy!
Stymphalians provide an interesting new challenge for Santorini players, and they're a whole lot of fun.
Would you rather go head to head with raptors or the literal sun?
We'll return in approximately two weeks with the latest information on the production journey of both Santorini: Pantheon Edition and Riddle of the Sphinx.
Thank you for your ongoing patience! Until next time...
Status Update + Pantheon Collector's Unboxing Video+ More Sneak Peeks!
26 days ago
– Fri, Oct 25, 2024 at 04:20:07 PM
Hello everyone!
We’re back with the latest on production, answers to your questions, and some sneak peeks. Let's dive right in.
A few backers have asked how the current schedule will impact the retail release. The retail release for Santorini Second Edition will not occur until backers of the campaign have received their games. We are tentatively looking at March 2025 but are holding on setting a firm date at this time. Please note that some retailers have backed this campaign for the Kickstarter products. Those retailers can sell their pledges once they have them in hand, which will align with the local regional backer shipment schedule.
Since the last update, we have reviewed and approved mass-production copies of each game. Kira headed on over to the MvM Studio to get some help shooting a nice Pantheon Collector's unboxing video for us to enjoy. Below the video, we have a few clarification notes for some questions we anticipate. Check it out here:
Notes/Clarifications from Video:
All versions of Santorini Pantheon Edition include spot UV on the cover, but only Collector's Edition features a little extra shine with blue foil on the sides of the box.
The SYNTH rule sheet is exclusive to the Collector's Edition. All other Pantheon Editions include a sturdy soft-touch rule sheet.
As a reminder, Collector's Edition includes ALL the upgrades and goodies: SYNTH cards (and rule sheet), acrylic tokens, ocean turntable (and oversized ocean board), plus a beautiful modified box that's large enough to accommodate the turntable.
Does this update have you drooling over all the deluxified components? There's still a little time to make upgrades to your copy of Santorini Pantheon and Riddle of the Sphinx or add Cult of Chrome with the Radlands Promo Pack to your pledge! Just email [email protected], and we'll be happy to help you out.
Enodia - Goddess of Cities
Alternative Win Condition: At the end of your turn, you win if any 3x3 square on the board has each of its corners occupied by domes and/or anyone's workers.
(An Alternative Win Condition does not replace the default win condition, so Enodia can still win by moving up to level 3.)
Enodia is a very interesting power than can result in a sudden win if your opponent isn't careful. The fact that her alternative win condition uses both workers and domes makes her dangerous in the early game, but increasingly powerful as the game goes on and domes start to be built. She's even more scary in a 3 player game with 6 workers on the board, or against a dome-builder like Atlas. Because the Santorini board is a 5x5 grid, there are nine potential 3x3 squares that players need to keep an eye on! An interesting power for players who like to consider multiple layers of strategy.
Pandora - The First Woman
Setup: After placing your workers, roll the die and hide it from your opponents.
Alternative Turn (optional): You may reveal the die. Then simultaneously for each worker, force them one space in the direction shown by the die, if possible.
You must then secretly roll the die.
Pandora is banned against all other die gods because she needs sole access to the die. She starts with the die rolled and hidden behind a screen. The die will indicate one of the 4 orthogonal directions shown on the compass, but only the Pandora player knows what the value is. Some interesting mind games can start to develop with this power in play. If I know that at any future turn, I can force all workers North, I want to position my workers South of a tall tower so I can gain some height easily. But if I'm too obvious about it, my opponent can start to infer the current die value and make sure their workers aren't vulnerable to a big drop in height by being forced North. When Pandora does her big force (which replaces a regular turn!), she must reroll the die, changing up the dynamic again.
We'll return in approximately two weeks with the latest information on the production journey of both Santorini: Pantheon Edition and Riddle of the Sphinx.
Thank you for your ongoing patience and feedback, and until next time...
Production Update + Slight Timeline Adjustment + Sneek Peeks!
about 1 month ago
– Fri, Oct 11, 2024 at 12:10:25 PM
Hello everyone!
We’re back with an important update on the project's progress and some content previews. While the project is continuing to make great progress, we’d like to take a moment to address some concerns raised in the comments.
Yesterday, we received confirmation from the factory that while most of the manufacturing is on track to be completed in October, a few items will be wrapped up in early November. This means there will be a slight two-week shift in the overall timeline. While our previous updates did not mention a delivery before Christmas, we understand why some backers were hopeful this might happen. Initially, we anticipated fulfillment to begin in late December in certain regions, but this will now shift to January.
Although the shift is only two weeks, we realize that moving from one month to the next can feel like a more significant delay. We are at a stage where shifts may happen that we may not expect or anticipate. We will continue to update you as we know new information so you know what we know. Rest assured, we’re working to ensure everything continues smoothly.
We’ve also seen questions about the potential impact of the Chinese New Year on the shipment. Chinese New Year falls at the end of January, well after our production is set to be complete, so it will not affect this project in any way.
We appreciate your continued support and patience as we finalize these details, and we’ll keep you informed of any further updates.
Thank you!
Harmonia's Test - Sneek Peek
Harmonia's Test is an incredibly unique and interesting way to play Santorini that actually accommodates 6 players at once. Players play in partners, so the mode can only be played with exactly 4 or 6 players. The partners sit side by side and share a pair of workers and a god card. One partner handles all the movement decisions, and one player handles all other decisions (building and special powers). The catch is that players are not allowed to communicate with their partner in any way!
Harmonia's Test makes for some fascinating and agonizing games. If you're the movement player and make an important move with a worker, hoping your partner sees the good build you intend them to make, it feels like, more often than not, they're going to do something different. Or maybe you're the building player, and you would love to build in a certain important space, but your movement buddy has sent your worker off into the corner instead. Each game tends to end in laughs and agonized groans. It won't be the mode for everyone, but it's proven to be a really fun take on partnership Santorini. As long as everyone is patient with their partner, it is a good way of balancing mismatches in skill within a group of 4.
Gryphus - Sneek Peek
Setup: After placing your workers, roll the die.
Alternative Turn (optional): You may force one of your workers onto a neighboring dome in the direction shown on the die. Remove that dome, then move and build with this worker.
End of Your Turn: You may roll the die.
The Griffins are here, and they're breaking our domes! This fun new god power uses the die and can actually destroy previously constructed domes and force your workers up high. Remember that a force is not a move, so you don't win by forcing your worker up to level 3. As soon as the worker is forced up, they must move and build with the worker, so they will likely have to jump down some distance (unless you've planned cleverly).
You may notice that the power specifies "you may roll the die" at the end of your turn. For most god cards and modes that use the die, it is often kept on the same face for a number of turns until players decide to reroll it. This allows for more planning ahead, even with this randomizer in play. If only one player is using a god that can affect the die, they will have more control of when it is rolled and what face is active. In a matchup between die gods, players will often decide to roll the die to benefit themselves OR defensively to make an opponent's power less effective.
We'll return in approximately two weeks with the latest information on the production journey of both Santorini: Pantheon Edition and Riddle of the Sphinx.
Thank you for your ongoing patience and feedback, and until next time...
Status Update - Manufacturing Continues!
about 2 months ago
– Thu, Sep 26, 2024 at 01:37:40 PM
Welcome back, everyone!
We are in full production now, so this is a quick update to let you know how things stand.
The Deets
We have received production samples of several elements and approved those elements for mass production. This includes all plastic components, which are now in full production, as well as the previously approved cards, rulesheets, scenario books, and game boxes.
We are working on a fine-tuning adjustment of the Riddle of the Sphinx book box insert to improve the fit of the plastic insert so everything stays tight. As of now, we are waiting to confirm our proposed solution with the factory, who will let us know if there is any impact on the timeline. We expect any impact to be minimal, but we will update you once we know more.
We are being sent full Mass Production Copies (MPCs) of Santorini Second Edition (Retail) and Santorini Pantheon Collector's Edition. The MCP is a preview of the final product that backers will receive (with shrink and all!). Our production team will complete one last thorough review of the MPCs for these two products to ensure the final quality.
Boxes Printed and Ready for Assembly!
Santorini Cliffs/ Islands Ready to be Packed!
Rules, Cards, and the Back of the Box - Ready and waiting!
Ready for some acrylic token ASMR?
Radlands Cult of Chrome Promo
Those who added Cult of Chrome to your pledge will also receive a special Radlands promo pack that includes alternate art versions of the Water Tower and Raider cards!
Thank you! We'll be back soon with another update.
Manufacturing has Begun!
3 months ago
– Fri, Aug 23, 2024 at 11:41:41 AM
Welcome back!
We wanted to check in and let you know how things are going now that manufacturing has begun!
In the last few weeks:
We have completed a full and final internal review of all printed copies (cards, rule sheets, scenario books, and game boxes). We have made edits as needed and submitted those files. We have also received back digital proofs of those edits and approved them all for production.
We have approved almost all components for mass production, and production has begun in many different aspects at the factory. This includes full approval on all plastics, the acrylic token sets, all of the cards, and most game boxes.
We will continue receiving updates from the factory as things progress, and we will update you regularly with any news about the production. Things are smooth sailing now!
We have done the initial steps for Fulfillment Prep with our partners, but the majority will be done toward the end of manufacturing, so that number will stay put for a bit.
Thank you! We'll be back in a few weeks with another update.
