A high-fantasy, asymmetric territory-control game combining resource management, technology development, and a unique combat system.
Latest Updates from Our Project:
Quick Update, Small Delay, and What’s Next!
2 months ago
– Thu, Jan 08, 2026 at 03:52:35 AM
Hello everyone,
First of all — Happy New Year ❤️
And I owe you an apology for being quiet during the first week of January.
I actually started the year in a pretty rough way. I got seriously sick and ended up in the hospital. I’m now at the tail end of my recovery and finally back on my feet — back to my full-time job and back to Nataterra.
Unfortunately, I don’t have the exciting update I was hoping to share… and for that, I’m truly sorry.
At this point, we were supposed to already be in manufacturing — and we’re not yet. The delay is on the manufacturer’s side, not because the game isn’t ready. Nataterra is finished. The files are ready. This delay comes from a long series of back-and-forth conversations over the Christmas period, caused by misunderstandings.
Part of that is on me — I’m learning a lot of this as I go. But part of it is also that some requirements weren’t clearly communicated by the manufacturer. The most frustrating part is that questions didn’t come all at once — they came one by one, which slowly drained precious time.
We’ve had issues around things like:
Dice sizes (confirmed, then suddenly not producible)
The inner plastic tray design and sizing
Manufacturing constraints that weren’t clear up front
One improvement coming out of this: for the Deluxe version, we’re switching from silver embossing to a UV effect, which actually looks cooler and is easier to manufacture.
What needs to happen next (very clearly):
The manufacturer must send me final physical prototypes of the Core, Deluxe, and VIP cards (these are already paid for).
Once I receive them, I check everything.
If all is good, I give the green light: “Yes, you can produce.”
We had a proper meeting on the 6th, and as I’m writing this, we are replacing the very last files they asked for. I genuinely believe we’re closing in on the finish line, and everything should be good next week.
From the bottom of my heart — I’m sorry for this delay. I’m doing everything I can to close this chapter and move forward. Believe me when I say: no one wants this finished and in your hands more than I do.
One thing you can help me with right now: Please double-check that your shipping address in BackerKit is correct. That’s incredibly important and helps avoid issues later.
I truly appreciate your patience, your trust, and your support. I’ll update you again as soon as things start moving — and I can’t wait for the day I see photos of Nataterra on your tables.
With love, Amir
Production Is Nearly Locked. The World of Nataterra Keeps Growing 👀
3 months ago
– Sat, Dec 13, 2025 at 07:03:15 PM
Hello fam!
Quick update from behind the scenes 👇
While I’m juggling logistics and manufacturing emails, I’ve also been scratching an itch I can’t ignore anymore… designing.
I started playing with some Nataterra expansion ideas. No promises they’ll ever see the light of day — but honestly, I once thought the same thing about Nataterra itself, so... 😅 Right now it’s all on Tabletop Simulator, and if you’re curious, just DM me on Discord. I’m always happy to nerd out about this world.
Quick disclaimer: at the moment, I’m using AI-generated images and some placeholder art grabbed from the internet purely for playtesting purposes. Nothing is balanced yet — not even close 😅
These new civilisations are meant to elevate Nataterra with more complex playstyles. One new Human faction is built around a Taunt mechanic, while another faction (the Cultists) plays with a Day / Night system that changes how the game flows. It’s early, messy, and unbalanced… but very exciting.
Big news: manufacturing is nearly locked in with LongPack. It took longer than expected (and was totally out of my control), but the files are now fully set up. I’ve ordered samples of the Core, Deluxe, and VIP cards. As soon as they arrive, I’ll share photos. Once approved → straight into production.
Also happy to say the UK VAT paperwork is finally DONE ✅
And! I’m officially locked in for GAME EXPO Melbourne this March 🎉 If you’re around, come say hi — I’ll be there showcasing Nataterra.
If you haven’t seen it yet, our friend Shae from BoxCollector made a fantastic How to Play Nataterra video — it looks great and explains the game really well:
I’ll keep you posted on manufacturing updates. And if I don’t pop up again before Christmas — I hope you all have amazing holidays ❤️
Can’t wait to have this game in my hands finally… and get it into yours. Thanks for your patience and support.
AH! And don’t forget — you can still win back your pledge by inviting a friend to join the tribe. That option is still live in the store, so spread the word!
From 5-Hour Prototypes to Tournaments and Printing Progress 🎲
4 months ago
– Sat, Nov 08, 2025 at 02:51:57 AM
Hey friends,
I found an old photo this week—a real throwback. One of the very first printed copies of Nataterra. Back then, the game was clunky as hell. That session lasted nearly 5 hours, and we didn’t even finish it. 😂
But looking at it now, I realise how far this project has come. From a broken prototype to something real—thanks to friends, family, and all of you.
I also had a chat with Josh from OVRBoard Games. They’re interested in adding Nataterra to their product list for retailers. They mainly focus on miniatures, so I’m not 100% sure they’re the right fit.
I’m glad to see that some of you have already expressed interest in the Nataterra Tournament straight away! But I’d love to see a few more hands raised before locking it in. So here’s what I’m thinking 👇
🎲 8 players on Tabletop Simulator ⚔️ Straight elimination rounds — winner moves on 🏆 1st place: Deluxe copy of Nataterra 🥈 2nd place: Core version of the game 🥉 3rd place: $50 discount toward any copy from the store
Entry is completely free — I’d never ask anyone to pay! This is all about having fun. Players can practice beforehand using the digital version of the Learning Mode, and I’ll soon release a version with Naga and Humans (since right now only Beasts and Velathi are available). The tournament itself will be run in Advanced Mode.
You’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain! If you want in, drop a comment on Meta with “TOURNAMENT,” send me a text, or shoot me an email so I can count you in!
Talking about progress: I’m organising paperwork for EU fulfilment right now. It’s wild how much admin you need to do just to sell games in Europe if you’re an international company. Basically, we have to hire an EU representative to officially represent Game Tribe for trading purposes. A label with an EU business address has to go on every box that goes into the EU (and a separate one for the UK). All this has to be done in China before the games get packed.
I’m sharing this because I’m learning as I go — and I like keeping you all in the loop. In the meantime, we’re still waiting for UK VAT registration. Honestly, all these bureaucratic hoops don’t seem to exist in other regions. But hey, I’m glad I started all this early, so hopefully everything will be ready even before the games reach fulfilment centres.
As for LongPack, they’re reviewing the files for printing, and I haven’t heard anything back yet — which might actually be a good sign. I do expect a few small mistakes (there always are), but nothing major. I’ll keep you posted on this as soon as I receive an update.
What else to say! Here in Australia, it’s spring — which means wedding season! Working in a wedding venue has me running nonstop, and my back can definitely feel it 😅. Still, it’s another way to express my creativity, even if it’s not through game design. Here’s a picture of what I do when I'm not working on Nataterra!
AH! And don’t forget — you can still win back your pledge by inviting a friend to join the tribe. That option is still live in the store, so spread the word!
Subject: From Paperwork to Presales – Win Back Your Pledge! – Nataterra keeps moving 📦
5 months ago
– Tue, Oct 21, 2025 at 04:31:11 AM
Hey friends,
For the past five years, I averaged about 20 hours a week doing graphic design for Nataterra. Every day was Inkscape, tweaking icons, testing layouts, trying to make it just right. Now that part is done. And honestly? It feels weird not opening my files daily. The creative grind has been replaced by… bureaucracy. VAT registrations, trademarks, and manufacturing quotes. Don’t get me wrong—I enjoy this side too (never thought I’d say that). It’s the business end of the dream, and it means we’re close.
Speaking of close—the trademark for Nataterra in the EU has been accepted. There’s still an opposition window open until January 12th, but we don’t expect issues. The trademark in the US is now under review, so we’re making progress there too.
Talking about manufacturing—files are READY! I just sent them off to the manufacturer. In the next few days, they’ll review everything and likely come back with some notes or small issues. There will be a bit of back and forth, but nothing concerning. We’re officially in the production zone!
And here’s a big one: the Pre-Order Store is open again! 🎉 I’ll be honest—I tried to switch to Shopify to look more professional for you all, but it turned into more time and setup than I could handle right now. So, I went back to BackerKit Pre-Order Store, and to be fair—it does its job just fine!
Now, for my dear backers who supported the Kickstarter—this one’s just for you. I’m launching a “Win Back Your Pledge!” campaign! If you refer a friend who buys a copy of Nataterra from the Pre-Order Store, you’ll get $50 back from your original pledge. And yep—you can do it multiple times. Three friends = $150 back.
They select a copy of Nataterra AND the item called “Refer a Goblin.”
During checkout, they’ll be asked: “Which cheeky goblin lured you into the hunt and said, ‘Trust me, you’ll love this!’?”
They must enter your email address (not your name) so I can track it and send your $50 reward.
Go ahead and bring more people into the world of Nataterra. Let’s grow this tribe together! 🏕️
Even more exciting: our friends at Atherworks are organising a presales campaign for retailers in Australia and New Zealand. Combine that with ongoing distributor talks in Europe and the US, and Nataterra is starting to take its place on the shelves. It’s surreal.
I’d also love to organise a Nataterra Tournament soon! Entry would be free, and the winner would take home a Deluxe copy of Nataterra. I don’t know—just thinking out loud here. Whether you already bought the game or didn’t manage to grab a copy, everyone’s welcome (except my playtesters—you guys sit this one out and let others play 😄). If that sounds fun, I’d love to know how many of you would be interested! Shoot me an email, send me a text, or even better—drop a comment on one of our posts on Meta with the word “TOURNAMENT” so I can start counting heads!
I can’t thank you enough for sticking with me through the years. Whether you backed the Kickstarter or just joined the journey, your support is why Nataterra is about to exist in the real world.
Much love, Amir
Big steps, bittersweet goodbyes, and huge plans 🚀
5 months ago
– Mon, Oct 06, 2025 at 09:25:27 PM
Hey friends,
First off — sorry for the radio silence. Between my full-time job getting busier and moving houses, I lost track of the regular updates I promised you all. Totally on me. But — I’m back on track now, and I’ve reorganised how I’ll keep you in the loop 👇 🎯 Meta will be reserved for short updates moving forward. 💌 Email newsletters & Kickstarter will be the main places for the big milestones and deep dives. 🎲 Discord will stay alive for gameplay sessions, tournaments, and community chat. 🚫 I’m retiring channels that didn’t get much use, like Patreon — keeping things simple and focused. If you haven’t joined our newsletter yet, now’s the time → https://www.gametribedesign.com/
I’ll also try to post something every week and keep an email update every three weeks — even if it means sharing my latest duck ragu recipe when nothing big is happening (I’m a chef in my free time after all!).
Now, onto the exciting stuff 👇
This past week has been a rollercoaster. After three years of working side by side with Andrew, my illustrator, we finally wrapped up the last little tweaks based on your feedback. Honestly, it was tough to say goodbye. He poured his heart into Nataterra and shaped so much of the world you’ll soon be holding in your hands. If you want to see more of his work (and send some love his way), here’s his ArtStation: https://www.artstation.com/andrewdavenport. Good people deserve support.
On the production side—big moves. I re-engaged with LongPack for our final manufacturing quote. Artworks are ready, and files are getting converted into the right format right now. We’ve also decided to go with Bridge Distribution for our distribution in the US, Mexico, and Canada. Contract is signed and locked in, and the freight quotes are looking good. These guys will take the games from China, move them into the US, and distribute them to you.
Even bigger news: I’ve brought Joshua from LeftBearSolutions on board as a consultant. This guy’s a veteran—10+ years in board games. He’ll be carrying Nataterra with him to Essen, Germany, one of the largest conventions in the world. He’s already lining up retailer chats and even eyeing Gamma next year in the US. To be real, I’m both excited and nervous—but this is the kind of step that gets Nataterra into shops worldwide.
And yep, I’m shooting my shot for Game Expo here in Melbourne next March, plus eyeing GenCon in the US. Right now it’s just an expensive spreadsheet plan (and a reminder I need my Aussie passport sorted, since I just became a citizen 😅). But the big vision? 2026 with Essen + PAX Australia + Games Expo (UK) + GenCon US. Let’s see what I can line up with my Qantas points... ✈️
Thanks for sticking with me through the ups, downs, and everything in between. Couldn’t do this without you.
