Players of the digital adaptation of the complex board game Frosthaven have reported numerous bugs and issues within the PC title, but the developers at Snapshot Games suggest that these problems are more likely the result of players misinterpreting the game's intricate rules. The original board game, like its predecessor Gloomhaven, is known for its dense rulebook and complex mechanics, making it a challenge for new players to grasp.
Snapshot Games director Hristo Petkov explained that the team has been reviewing player feedback on Steam and other forums, where many users describe scenarios not behaving as expected or characters not functioning correctly. "They're misunderstanding the rules of the game," Petkov stated. He elaborated that the rules, particularly concerning movement and AI behavior, are implemented precisely as they are in the physical board game. When players accustomed to their own interpretations or 'house rules' encounter the digital version's strict adherence to the official rules, it can appear as though the game is bugged.
Julian Gollop, founder of Snapshot Games and creator of XCOM, echoed this sentiment, remarking that "Most boardgame players get rules wrong, by the way it's just that a lot of the time they don't realise it." He suggested that players might have developed their own variants over time, leading to confusion when faced with the digital adaptation's accurate representation of the board game. "When they start playing the digital version, which perfectly implements the board game, they're like, 'Oh no, this is too hard' or 'This doesn't work correctly'," Petkov added.
The primary channel for players to express these concerns and receive clarification is currently Frosthaven's Discord server. Petkov noted that on Discord, "ten people explain why this is actually correct" when a player claims to have found a bug. However, recognizing that not all players will seek out or engage with the Discord community, Snapshot Games is implementing alternative solutions to guide players.
One such feature being introduced is an undo function, currently in experimental options, which allows players to backtrack through actions within a round. Petkov believes this will address many issues, stating, "Frosthaven's way more unforgiving when playing digitally, and this is not the spirit of the boardgame. When we added undo it fixed most of the issues." This function is expected to become more prominent after further testing.
Furthermore, Snapshot Games is exploring the integration of 'house rules' as optional settings. These would reflect common player interpretations or modifications adopted by the board game community. The development team is consulting with the community council, which includes writers of the official Frosthaven FAQ, to identify popular house rules that could be implemented. An example of an upcoming optional rule for the 1.0 release will modify the game's critical hit and miss mechanics. Instead of doubling damage on a critical hit or reducing it to zero on a miss, an optional rule will apply a flat plus two for criticals and minus two for misses, aiming to reduce combat randomness.
Discussions are also underway with Frosthaven creator Isaac Childres and community leaders regarding potential adjustments to certain scenarios. Some scenarios, when played strictly according to the board game's written rules, have proven unintentionally more difficult for players. The aim is to align these digital scenarios more closely with how players have adapted them through play.
While Snapshot Games acknowledges that bugs do exist, pointing to recent patch notes that detail fixes for specific scenarios, like issues with The Drill character or monster movement in certain quests, Petkov emphasized that these are generally isolated incidents and are addressed quickly. He noted the interconnected nature of the game, where small changes can have unforeseen consequences, but assured that the team strives for thorough quality assurance and rapid response to any newly discovered problems.
The approach of offering flexible rules, whether through an undo function or optional house rules, aligns with a broader trend of developers incorporating more forgiving options. Snapshot's strategy, however, is unique in its direct adoption of community-derived modifications, offering a middle ground between rigid digital implementation and the flexibility of tabletop play.