Rock Hard: Ear Candy Update

I normally don’t do two posts in one day, but I couldn’t contain my excitement about this one and wanted to post something quick about it.

It’s long been known that Rock Hard is one of my favourite games out there right now, but that I felt it needed a few more cards and options to really come into its own.

When designer Jackie Fox announced the Ear Candy expansion, I knew those needs would be fulfilled, but she was understandably vague about just what the new content would be.

However, Devir just announced that the rules are available and what that new content will be.

And it looks amazing.

Here’s the picture Devir posted in their email along with the announcement.

Two new characters, new jobs, two new managers (the only mildly disappointing thing, as I think 2 is too few, but what do I know?), new jobs, new goals, new random gigs, three new event cards (maybe more would be nice? But any new ones would be welcome!), a bunch of other stuff, and also two new sugar rush cards that actually look very cool.

Instead of getting punished by drawing the Sugarless Candy card that gives you no free actions, you get one that’s “Designer Candy” but while its default is sugarless, you can pay money to get one action or even more money to get two actions.

Also a second new Sugar Rush card that appears to give you a choice between +2 craving and +2 actions, or +1 craving and +1 action.

So you can decide how risky you want to be.

Wicked!

It also has a few new mechanics, like a Hit List that makes it so you can track how your singles have been doing moving up the chart, and when you write a song, you can use your life experiences to make the song a certain style.

(These cards are from the base game)

For example. the Backstage Hangout card gives you a Romance life experience. You can then write a ballad based on that (placing a token on the card to show you’ve written a single for that already).

The Hit List is a professional goal for all players, trying to have the highest overall song ranking at the end of the game.

The style of single that you are promoting can really make a difference based on what genre is hot this month, since those will get you bonus points at the end of the game.

This all has my mouth watering for it to come out in August (sometime after GenCon, I believe, since it will be debuting there).

My only concern, and this may just be my poor spatial visualization ability that I have commented on many times, is that despite Jackie’s promises, all of this stuff is not going to fit in the Folded Space insert that I bought for the base game.

I trust her judgement, so I’m not doubting her.

It’s just my terrible ability to see all of that stuff in my head is saying “there is no way that is possible.”

We’ll see when I get it!

But I am definitely getting it.

If you love this as much as I do (or even if you don’t), let me know what you think!

I’d say August can’t come soon enough, but I’m on vacation right now so I don’t want it to end.