KICKSTARTER CAMPAIGN 1: TERENO WATER TABLE

The Hydraulic Engine That Powers HexIsle

Project Title: Tereno: The Water Table — A Hydraulic Gaming Engine

Category: Games > Tabletop Games

Subtitle: We’re building the ship. Join the crew.

Funding Goal: $12,000

CAMPAIGN HEADER IMAGE

[Image of Water Table with Hexels on top, water visible beneath, warm lighting]

THE HOOK

What if your game board was alive?

Not animated on a screen. Actually, physically alive. Waves moving. Tides rising. Currents flowing.

Tereno is the engine that makes it happen.

WHAT IS TERENO?

Tereno is a Water Table — a hydraulic gaming surface that powers modular game tiles called Hexels.

How it works:

1. Fill the reservoir with water (about 5 gallons)
2. Place your Hexels on top
3. The water slowly drains, creating pressure
4. That pressure powers every connected Hexel
5. Waves move. Tides rise and fall. Your game world comes alive.

No batteries. No electronics. Just water, gravity, and clever engineering.

WHY HYDRAULICS?

We wanted a game board that moved — but we didn’t want batteries that die, electronics that break, or screens that distract.

Water is:

• Silent
• Reliable
• Repairable
• Mesmerizing

When you watch the waves actually move across your game board, you’ll understand.

WHAT YOU GET

The Water Table Includes:

• Base Unit: The reservoir and pressure system
• Clear Top Surface: See the water beneath your game
• Connection Ports: Link to Hexels (sold separately or in HexIsle campaign)
• Drain Valve: Control game duration by adjusting flow rate
• Level Indicator: Know when to refill
• Quick-Start Guide: Get playing in minutes

Dimensions:

• Table fits standard game table size
• Supports up to [X] connected Hexels
• Reservoir holds 5 gallons

HOW IT CONNECTS

The Water Table is the engine. The Hexels are the game pieces.

WATER TABLE (this campaign)
     ↓ hydraulic pressure
HEXELS (HexIsle campaign)
     ↓ movement translated
WAVES, TIDES, MECHANISMS

Back both campaigns for the complete experience.

→ [HexIsle: The Hexel Game — Campaign Link]

REWARD TIERS

$15 — BELIEVER

• Digital thank you
• Name on Founding Supporters page
• Early access updates

$50 — SAILOR

• Everything above, plus:
• Tereno Quick-Start Digital Guide
• Priority notification when Water Tables ship

$150 — CAPTAIN

• Everything above, plus:
• Tereno Water Table (base unit)
• Connection kit for up to 12 Hexels
• Printed manual

$250 — ADMIRAL

• Everything above, plus:
• Tereno Water Table (expanded)
• Connection kit for up to 36 Hexels
• Premium drain valve (fine-tune game duration)
• Your name in credits

$500 — FLEET COMMANDER

• Everything above, plus:
• Tereno Water Table (full size)
• Connection kit for up to 72 Hexels
• Spare parts kit
• Direct line to the founder
• Input on future expansions

STRETCH GOALS

$12,000 — FUNDED: Base Production Water Tables get made!

$18,000 — Extended Reservoir Longer games with larger water capacity

$25,000 — LED Underlighting Kit Optional lighting beneath the water (add-on)

$35,000 — Variable Flow Controller Precision control over hydraulic pressure

$50,000 — Modular Table Expansion Connect multiple Water Tables for massive games

PART OF THE HEXISLE UNIVERSE

Tereno is one piece of a larger ecosystem:

Back them all. Build the complete world.

THE TEAM

Jonathan Jones, Creator

• 9 years developing this system
• 1,200+ prototype models
• 18 journals of designs and iterations
• Army veteran, father of 5
• Building from his garage

This started as a question: “What if the game board moved?”

Eighteen journals later, here we are.

TIMELINE

RISKS AND CHALLENGES

Manufacturing Complexity: Hydraulic systems require precision. We’ve built working prototypes; scaling requires careful quality control.

Water + Gaming: Yes, there’s water involved. The system is designed with sealed reservoirs and spill-resistant connections. But we’ll be clear: this is for careful players, not toddlers.

Hexel Compatibility: The Water Table works WITH Hexels. If you back this campaign alone, you’ll need Hexels to see the magic. Back both campaigns for the full experience.

FAQ

Q: Can I use this without Hexels? A: The Water Table is designed to power Hexels. Without them, it’s just a cool water reservoir. Back both campaigns!

Q: Will it leak? A: The reservoir is sealed. Connections are designed to be water-tight. We’ve tested extensively.

Q: How long does a game last? A: Adjustable! The drain valve controls flow rate. Faster drain = shorter game. Slower drain = longer game.

Q: Can I refill mid-game? A: Yes, though it may affect pressure temporarily.

Q: Is this safe around kids? A: Supervised, yes. The water is contained. But this is precision equipment, not a splash toy.

CLOSING

I spent years trying to make a game board that felt alive.

Not a screen pretending to be alive. Actually alive. Moving. Breathing. Responding.

The Water Table is the heart of that vision. It’s the engine that makes everything else possible.

We’re building the ship. Join the crew.

— Jonathan Jones Creator, Tereno

CROSS-REFERENCE LANGUAGE

Include in campaign:

“Tereno powers the Hexels — but you need both to play. Back our companion campaign HexIsle: The Hexel Game to get the modular tiles that bring your world to life.”

“All Tereno and HexIsle products are manufactured through Liana Banyan — our design-to-doorstep production system. Have your own game idea? Check out our Liana Banyan campaign to learn how YOUR designs can get manufactured.”

Campaign Brief Created: December 2, 2025 Part of: HexIsle Universe / Liana Banyan Ecosystem Cross-references: All 6 campaigns