CMON announced that it has taken over publishing Victorian Masterminds and players will see it direct to retail in 2018. Originally revealed at BGG.CON in 2015, Victorian Masterminds is a game co-designed by Antoine Bauza and Eric M. Lang and was slated to be published by Space Cowboys sometime in 2016.
In Victorian Masterminds, 2 to 4 players assume the roles of evil masterminds looking to take advantage of the disappearance of the world’s greatest detective, Sherlock Holmes. While Europe sits unprotected, players send forth their henchmen to different cities to utilize their varied abilities, collect material for the masterminds’ steampunk-inspired contraptions, destroy buildings, and complete missions. Meanwhile, the Secret Service follows their paths of destruction. Every evil mastermind’s contraption is unique and allows them to take different actions as well, leading to highly strategic, asymmetric gameplay. When an evil mastermind completes their contraption or the Secret Service will no longer stand for their villainy to continue, the game ends, and the player who generated the most victory points wins.
Really excited about this game. Not looking good though given the fact it is over two years late. Wonder if it is just a publishing issue or the game has a flaw that can’t be fixed.