Cabriole Production Update
3 months ago
– Sun, Jul 05, 2026 at 06:26:36 PM
Hello everyone,
Just giving a quick update on manufacturing. Mass production did not begin in May as I had forecast in my last update, due to unanticipated changes to the rulebook and box that required several rounds of edits before final approval.
However, manufacturing began in early June (the 9th to be exact) and has been going smoothly since then. Below are some images of the dice (untumbled), currency, and mat production so far. I will have other pictures to share in the next couple of weeks, as well as photos of the mass-production sample shortly after that.
While we're all waiting, I have been arranging for ocean freight and planning fulfillment and distribution. With the support of friends, I will manage the Kickstarter fulfillment myself, which will take about a week or less (I completed Garden Dice over a weekend). Lastly, I will open the pledge manager next month so you can provide your shipping addresses.
Thanks, everyone!
Doug
Digital Samples (with photos) - and a Surprise
5 months ago
– Sun, Apr 26, 2026 at 10:11:32 AM
Hello Everyone,
Last week, I received the Cabriole "digital" samples, which are created using a different process, but it is the final step before mass production begins!
Firstly, here is the box with the privilege card pack sitting on top. In the second picture, you can hopefully see the slight "lid lift" I requested, making the insert deeper for you. The components will also sit nicely flush with the lid after the tokens are punched. A couple of graphic design touchups are being made to the bottom and two sides of the box, which are partially done, with the aim of completing them before the end of the month.
Next up are the four punch boards (with 160 tokens)!. The only adjustments to these are to correct a misspelling on the rear side of the coin tokens. That has already been completed.
The next photos show the main game board, folded and unfolded. No changes needed!
The 16-page rulebook looks great! One minor change was needed on one page, but that has already been completed.
Below are three pictures of the 120 poker-sized cards that come with the game. I'm very pleased with how they look and especially how well they shuffle. The only adjustment will be to the walnut resource cards, which came out looking a little green 🤮. That is already partially completed.
Next up are the player pieces and resource discs. This is where some of my Pantone choices will be modified. The green pieces will be made slightly brighter, so colorblind individuals can distinguish them from the red. The walnut discs will also be made browner, instead of the orange color shown in the photo below 🤮 Notice the resource discs are silkscreened (both sides) with the first letter of the resource type, also to aid colorblind individuals!
And now, for the big surprise! Despite the second stretch goal not being met, I've decided you shall have dual-layer player boards! This means there will be insets for the pawns (Assistants), the craftsmen level tracking cubes, as well as inset areas for the resources and money. I hope this will enhance your enjoyment of the game as you play!
Next up, here are a couple of pictures of the redesigned insert - with enough room for sleeved cards! The sleeves in the third picture are premium Dragon Sleeves (very thick).
Now, let's take a look at the neoprene mat add-on. I'm super excited with how well this turned out! It even lies very flat when unrolled! If you didn't back this add-on, it will be available in the pledge manager. It's really nice, and I hope you think the box is a nice touch! The third picture shows a three-player game in progress, except I forgot to put the round marker on the board!
Next is the premium currency set add-on. I'm really happy with how this turned out, too, but I will have the box made a little smaller (in progress), and the one-pound coins will be less shiny and new-looking. I'm also correcting the same misspelling on the back of the metal coin (done!). I love the "clackity" feel of the five- and ten-pound notes! They're 2mm thick. These will also be available in the pledge manager!
Let's not forget the components for the solo mode: the rival assistant cards and two dice. I'm especially happy with how cool the d4 turned out!
Finally, here are the privilege cards! These are from the stretch goal that was met during the campaign. Every player gets a set of four.
Schedule-wise, I'm behind. I had previously hoped to have the games delivered to the US in May, but all the file corrections I mentioned in the February and March updates were the primary source of the delays.
However, as you can see, everything now looks great, and manufacturing will begin next month. I hope to have some pictures of that! Given production and shipping times, I'm looking at delivery to you in September. That's three months beyond what I had hoped, and I now realize I should have been more conservative with my original estimate. Unfortunately, the age-old maxim holds true: Everything takes longer than you think it will. I hope your disappointment is not too great. I really have been trying to move things along! I'll open the pledge manager as we get closer to the time.
Anyway, that's my update for now, and I hope you enjoyed seeing the surprise. As late pledges are still open, I'd be very grateful to anyone who can help spread the word and instill some serious FOMO! Thank you in advance for that!
Best always!
Doug
March Update
6 months ago
– Mon, Mar 16, 2026 at 08:13:05 PM
Hello supporters,
I apologize for the delay since the last update. I knew I would soon have positive news to report, and I can share that with you now.
First off, I'd like to commend LongPack (the manufacturer) on the excellent job they did to catch issues with the game's files, such as content that was too close to the cut lines and a few files with incorrect dimensions. Lamberto and I spent most of February fixing these issues. We resubmitted all 1 GB of corrected files in early March, after LongPack returned from the Chinese New Year holiday.
The positive news is that every file we re-sent passed their second review, and LongPack is now working to create digital samples of all printed components, along with physical samples of the wooden components and dice, the currency set, and the neoprene mat. I believe this could take them until mid-April.
Of course, this means I'm behind schedule, for which I apologize. While I'm waiting for the samples to arrive, I'll begin working out the logistics of getting the game to the US and doing everything I can to avoid other delays.
I can't wait for the next update in mid-to-late April, when I'll be able to share photos of the samples! I'll also post a revised schedule at that time.
Thank you, everyone!
Happy New Year from Meridae Games!
9 months ago
– Wed, Dec 31, 2025 at 03:01:30 PM
Hello supporters!
As we wrap up 2025, I wanted to thank all of you for supporting me earlier this year! I'm very much looking forward to getting Cabriole into your hands mid-2026 and hearing your feedback!
To give you an update on the progress that's been made since the last update (it's been a lot more work than I anticipated):
- The graphics for the 108 project and special cards have been touched up, primarily to improve legibility when viewed across the table. I've also created and balanced two new card combinations to improve variability and interest for players: apprentice/journeyman and journeyman/master.
- Designs for the six starter cards (with scoring summary on the rear) and the six solo game cards are complete.
- The designs for the card expansion (now called Privilege cards) are complete. Lamberto did a lovely illustration of a candelabra for the back of those (above).
- Lamberto completed the neoprene mat art.
- The art files for the premium currency are nearing completion: the five- and ten-pound note designs are complete, and the coin design is underway. I did not anticipate the amount of work required for the coins, but it's being worked on.
- The box layout is changing, mainly to add Brandon's name to the front cover as the solo designer and to add the UPC and small parts warnings on the back. This is nearly complete and will be finished next week.
- The rulebook editing is complete. I received a ton of great feedback that has required layout changes. I'm working on this, while also incorporating the solo rules at the end. These edits necessitate expanding the rulebook from 12 to 16 pages, and I plan to complete them over the next few days while I have time off work.
- The two other tasks remaining are to design the box for the premium currency set and the box for the neoprene mat. I've started on the premium currency set box.
The final update is that I had to get a few items corrected with the manufacturing quote, which required some back-and-forth with LongPack. I am happy to report that everything is now settled, and I've even made the down payment - thanks to your support!
Thank you again, and I hope you all have a safe and happy New Year!
Doug
