The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey From Cryptozoic Entertainment

 Board Games, Gaming News  Comments Off on The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey From Cryptozoic Entertainment
Jan 202013
 

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Release Date: Jan 2013

$ 40.00

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Board Game From master game designer Reiner Knizia comes The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Board Game, an exciting game of adventure in which you join Bilbo Baggins™ and his 13 dwarven companions on their journey through the Lone-Lands and Misty Mountains, encountering goblins, trolls, and other dangers that seek to put an end to their adventures. Traverse your way through two boards, each more difficult than the last, with the goal of coming out alive and prepared for the dangers that lie ahead. Your accumulated points at the end of the game will be your personal mark for finding out how good of an adventurer you really are! A cooperative game for 1-4 players that takes them through an adventure across two game boards! Use your limited resources as you trek through Middle-earth, gathering gold and gems as you defeat the treacherous creatures and obstacles that stand in your way! Overcome calamities that will stall your efforts to complete your journey and claim victory! Work with your dwarven companions, who assist you in your travels as you encounter challenges that will need either a sharpened sword or quick diplomacy to overcome!

You know you want to play this game from such a great epic story, thanks Cryptozoic Entertainment for giving us that chance

5 New Releases for Dust Tactics From Fantasy Flight Games

 Dust Tactics, Fantasy Flight Games, Gaming News  Comments Off on 5 New Releases for Dust Tactics From Fantasy Flight Games
Jan 192013
 

Dust Tactics: Operation Icarus

$ 44.95

A new campaign expansion for Dust Tactics, Operation “Icarus” relates the first thrust of a major Allied assault against the Axis forces holding Zverograd’s pivotal airfield. Operation “Icarus” introduces new rules for minefields, trees, and the quonset huts in which the Axis forces await the Allied assault. Two new heroes join the fray, including the Allied superhuman, Sgt. Victory. All these elements come together in seven tense and ferocious scenarios as the blocs of Dust Tactics vie for control of the airfield and the skies.

 

Dust Tactics: Airfield Accessory Pack QH

$ 19.95

Quonset Huts The Airfield Accessory Pack adds six quonset hut sections to your games of Dust Tactics. Introduced in Operation “Icarus,” quonset huts are a new type of structure that can be erected quickly to provide soldiers with sturdy shelter against the elements. They can also be joined together to create longer structures with a variety of strategic arrangements. The Airfield Accessory Pack allows you to enhance your battlefields, provide your soldiers with cover, and develop your bases.

 

Dust Tactics: USMC Heavy Weapons Teams

$ 29.95

In the alternate-reality 1940s of Dust Tactics and Dust Warfare, the United States Marine Corps have come to value the ability to move quickly over terrain, and a small team carrying heavy weaponry is sometimes the best option for getting fire support into position. The two squads of the USMC Heavy Weapons Teams are veterans of many campaigns, men who remain fearless even when heavily outnumbered. The Choppers field a .50 cal machine gun, and the Leathernecks batter foes with their 120mm heavy mortar.

 

Dust Tactics: Horten HO-347

$ 29.95

The two variations of the HO-347 have placed the Axis on the brink of a long-awaited resurgence of air superiority in the fierce battles of Dust Tactics and Dust Warfare. The introduction of VK engines has permitted the Axis’ newest aircraft to fly faster and climb higher than anyone believed to be possible just a few years ago. The Fledermaus III is both a fighter and an effective ground-attack plane while the Fledermaus IV is a fighter/bomber that carries numerous explosives under its fuselage.

 

Dust Tactics: SSU KV47 Recovery & Demo Walker

$ 19.99

Recovery & Demolition Walker The SSU forces of Dust Tactics and Dust Warfare gain new strategic options for battlefield deployment with the KV47 Recovery & Demolition Walker. Its four different models were developed to allow SSU battlefield forces to recover valuable VK materials and prevent the theft of the SSU’s VK technology. The walker’s armor provides SSU engineers protection from enemy fire in the heat of combat even while its equipment allows them to swiftly salvage materials and fend off enemy infantry and tanks.

Check these and so many more products out at Fantasy Flight Games and start your own war with friends today

Enhanced by Zemanta

Rise of the Zombies From Dan Verssen Games

 Card Games, Gaming News  Comments Off on Rise of the Zombies From Dan Verssen Games
Jan 182013
 

Rise of the Zombies

Release Date: Jan 2013

$ 39.99

Rise of the Zombies All players play cards during a common “Survivor Turn”. Declare which card you are playing, and which zombie you are attacking, and roll dice. This simulates the chaos of combat. Most cards can be used to perform more than 1 function. You can perform as many actions during the Survivor Turn as your cards can support. You can even trade weapons and items with other Survivors in your Location. Once all players have resolved their actions, the Zombies get to attack. It then starts again with the common Survivor Turn. You’ll need to not only act like a hero, but also work well as part of your co-operative team if you hope to survive. If you go running off ahead and no one else has the cards to follow, you’ll be fighting a herd of Zombies on your own – and probably dying. On the other hand, if you can’t keep up with the other Survivors, you’ll soon hear words like, “You wait right here, we’ll come back for you.” Um, yeah.

 

COMBAT Combat is fast and easy. Roll a 6-sided die, add your bonuses and check your Weapon card to see how many Wounds you inflicted. The higher you roll, the more Wounds you inflict. If you inflict the killing attack on a Zombie card, you claim the card and its Experience value.

 

EXPERIENCE Turn in your Zombie cards to upgrade weapons, buy items, and purchase skills. How you play the game is up to you. You don’t gain anything by having other Survivors die, but if you spend too much time trying to help others, it might cost you your own survival. Help them? Leave them behind? It’s all up to you.

I don’t you about but this game has zombies so Dan Verssen Games has one I need to play

Enhanced by Zemanta

Talisman: The City Expansion From Fantasy Flight Games

 Board Games, Fantasy Flight Games, Gaming News  Comments Off on Talisman: The City Expansion From Fantasy Flight Games
Jan 172013
 

Talisman: The City Expansion

Release Date: Jan 2013

$ 39.95

The City, an expansion for Talisman, provides players with six new characters, three alternative endings, its own deck, and a host of shops for all your questing needs. Collect bounties listed on the Wanted Posters at the City Gate and fill your pockets with gold before doing some serious spending. Secure a steed from the Stables, pick up Pets or Potions, or head to the Armoury and the Magic Emporium. Visit The City in Talisman as you compete for the Crown of Command!

 

Key Selling Points

• An expansion for Talisman that adds an entire new region to one corner of the board

• Shops give players a wide range of options for spending gold for treasure, followers, and more

• Includes a special City-themed deck of adventure cards featuring new monsters and events specific to the City environment

• Bounties let players use combat to earn more gold

• Contains one hundred and seventy-seven new cards and six new characters with plastic figures

Get this and many more from Fantasy Flight Games to start playing with friends soon

Enhanced by Zemanta

Mansions of Madness: Call of the Wild From Fantasy Flight Games

 Fantasy Flight Games, Gaming News  Comments Off on Mansions of Madness: Call of the Wild From Fantasy Flight Games
Jan 162013
 

Mansions of Madness: Call of the Wild

Release Date: Jan 2013

$ 59.95

Venture into the unknown with Call of the Wild, an expansion for Mansions of Madness! Five new scenarios and eleven double-sided board tiles plunge investigators into the mysterious backwoods, shaking the foundations of what players have come to expect. The keeper has even more surprises at his disposal, and at times must solve ritual puzzles and seek out clues. A focus on outdoor maps encourages non-linear exploration, and new Allies assist in combat while driving the macabre narrative. Survive the wilderness in Call of the Wild!

 

Key Selling Points

• A Mansions of Madness expansion with five new scenarios focused on non-linear exploration

• Gives the keeper new Action Cards and new ways of surprising investigators

• Introduces Ally characters that can help in combat, give hints and quests, or betray investigators

• Contains detailed plastic figures for four new investigators and eleven new monsters

• Includes two hundred and ninety-five cards, eighty-eight tokens, and eleven double-sided board tiles

Check this and so many more games out at Fantasy Flight Games to start playing with friends today

Enhanced by Zemanta

Pathfinder Miniatures Reign of Winter boosters

 Paizo Publishing, WizKids  Comments Off on Pathfinder Miniatures Reign of Winter boosters
Jan 102013
 

Pathfinder Miniature Battles Reign of Winter Booster (32)

$511.68 SRP

 

It has been a century since the immortal witch Baba Yaga last visited the world, and the hour draws nigh for her return. But when she fails to appear in the frozen realm of Irrisen to usher in its newest ruler, pockets of winter begin to grow throughout the Inner Sea region. After 1,400 years of perpetual winter, the icy curse of Irrisen is spreading! Will the Reign of Winter engulf the world?

 

Reign of Winter is the latest 55-figure set release in the award-winning Pathfinder Battles line of miniatures from Paizo Publishing and WizKids Games! Reign of Winter features friends and foes from the Pathfinder Adventure Path of the same name, and is sure to please Pathfinder fans new and veteran alike!

 

Pathfinder Battles: Reign of Winter Boosters contain 1 Large figure and 3 Medium or Small figures.

Pathfinder Battles: Reign of Winter Bricks contain 8 Standard Boosters (32 figures total).

Pathfinder Battles: Reign of Winter Standard Cases contain 4 Standard Bricks (32 Standard Boosters, 128 figures total).

Enhanced by Zemanta
Jan 102013
 

GOBLINWORKS LICENSES UNITY ENGINE FOR DEVELOPING THE PATHFINDER ONLINE MMO

Studio Announces Sneak Peek Online Environment Experience and Pit Fight Battles Preview

Unity Engine Enables Highly Anticipated Mac OSX Version of the Game

 

REDMOND, WA (January 9, 2012): Goblinworks, Inc. is thrilled to announce today a licensing agreement with Unity Technologies that secures Unity as the engine behind the massively multiplayer online roleplaying game (MMORPG) Pathfinder Online.

To celebrate the partnership with Unity, Goblinworks today launches a demo Environment Experience of the first level of Pathfinder Online’s Thornkeep dungeon, which lets players view the environment originally constructed for the Technology Demo, now run through the Unity Engine. The demo is viewable through a Unity web app in your browser at https://goblinworks.com/experience.html.

“We have been evaluating solutions in this space for more than a year,” says Ryan Dancey, CEO of Goblinworks. “For performance, code quality, reliability and flexibility, Unity rose to the top of our list. Unity also enables us to develop both a Windows and an OSX version in tandem. We couldn’t be happier to make this announcement today.”

Goblinworks also announces the first playable test-environment, a version of Pathfinder Online’s combat-testing software called Pit Fight, which will be available to players in Fall of 2013. Through Pit Fight, players will help the development team cull a wide range of combat data while getting a preview of combat in Pathfinder Online. Pit Fight will be a stand-alone, single-player experience.

Pit Fight will put the player through a number of gladiatorial battles, fought in the Bonepit Arena in Thornkeep, under the watchful eyes of the Hellknights. Players will be able to get a sneak preview of the Pathfinder Online combat design, and will help to shape its development through PVE conflict against various NPC opponents.

Initially, players will be using a limited number of prebuilt characters and specific scenarios but expanding over time to include other classes, customization and combat styles. Players will be able to test which aspects of combat they most enjoy, and plan their advancement path once Pathfinder Online launches.

The Pathfinder Roleplaying Game builds on more than 10 years of system development and the largest open playtest in the history of tabletop gaming to create an unparalleled fantasy roleplaying experience. Players need only the Pathfinder RPG Core Rulebook to play, but Paizo Publishing produces a wide range of books and accessories to enhance your Pathfinder experience, from hardcover rules compendiums to complete campaigns to packets of beautiful full-color maps. For more information, please visit paizo.com.

Pathfinder Online is a hybrid sandbox/theme park-style massively multiplayer, online roleplaying game (MMORPG) where characters explore, develop, find adventure and dominate a wilderness frontier in a land of sword and sorcery. Pathfinder Online is currently being “crowd-forged” through Kickstarter, with 5 days left in the million-dollar pledge drive. Please visit http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1675907842/pathfinder-online-a-fantasy-sandbox-mmo and Goblinworks.com for more information.

 

About Unity Technologies

Unity Technologies is the creator of Unity, an intuitive and flexible development platform used to make wildly creative and intelligently interactive 3D and 2D content. The “author once, deploy everywhere” capability ensures developers can publish to all of the most popular platforms. Unity Technologies boasts a thriving community of 1,000,000 registered developers including large publishers, indie studios, students and hobbyists. Unity Technologies aggressively re-invests in its award-winning 3D development tools and democratization initiatives, such as the Asset Store digital content marketplace and Union game distribution service, in order to remain at the forefront of innovation. Unity Technologies is headquartered in San Francisco and has offices in Canada, Denmark, Lithuania, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Japan and Korea. For more information, visit: http://unity3d.com.

 

About Paizo Publishing

Paizo Publishing®, LLC is a leading publisher of fantasy roleplaying games, accessories, board games, and novels. Paizo’s Pathfinder® Roleplaying Game, the result of the largest open playtest in the history of tabletop gaming, is currently the best-selling tabletop roleplaying game in hobby stores. Pathfinder Adventure Path is the most popular and best-selling monthly product in the tabletop RPG industry. Paizo.com is the leading online hobby retail store, offering tens of thousands of products from a variety of publishers to customers all over the world. In the ten years since its founding, Paizo Publishing has received more than 50 major awards and has grown to become one of the most influential companies in the hobby games industry.

 

About Goblinworks

Goblinworks is the developer and publisher of Pathfinder Online, a next-generation fantasy sandbox MMO. The company is located in the Seattle suburb of Redmond. It was founded in 2011 by a dedicated group of creative professionals with backgrounds in tabletop hobby gaming and online videogame development. Goblinworks is dedicated to creating a fun, immersive online gaming experience for the fantasy roleplaying enthusiast. Its goal is to deliver the best sword & sorcery massively multiplayer game on the market by starting with a carefully designed core of features and iterating on the content continuously after launch, with the input and feedback of the player community.

Enhanced by Zemanta
Jan 102013
 

BAILEY RECORDS ANNOUNCES KAIJU KAOS: SMACKDOWN SERIES 1, SET 1 MINIFIGS!

 

Grove City, OH, January 9, 2013 – Bailey Records today announces the upcoming release of KAIJU KAOS: SMACKDOWN and our first set of limited edition minifigures designed for collectors and gamers alike.

“Since it’s conception, I’ve dreamed big with KAIJU KAOS and have wanted to tear down traditional barriers within the industry,” said Bryan Borgman, Bailey Records’ owner and KAIJU KAOS miniatures game designer.  “Besides making a miniatures game using colossal monster miniatures, we have a full-length soundtrack, and now collectable, designer toys that are fully compatible with KAIJU KAOS in addition to highlighting their own special version of the game called SMACKDOWN.”

“When I decided I wanted to try and break into the designer toy market with original ideas, I sought out the talented Steven Patt (aka oOMoSOo) at Papagrim Toys to be my collaborator and primary sculptor. In early 2012, Steven released his own limited edition minifigures in a series called Nuked! and he has a familiarity with tabletop gaming. Over the past several months we have been working behind-the-scenes in preparation for this launch. On Friday you will see the first fruits of our collaboration when we release:

 

  • Orcco the Everfolk, the Martial Artist Orchid Titan champion
  • Earwig the Insectien, the Scout Specialist Battler Beetle
  • Atticus the Wicked Werewolf, the vicious Saboteur!

 

“Each set of minifigures will contain one of each character sculpt and the initial release will be limited to 40 sets cast in black resin. In addition to sculpting, Steven is handling all the production of the initial release. The sets will be released online this Friday evening at 8pm EST at baileyrecords.storenvy.com for $25.00 a set. Once the limited edition black sets sell, regular production of each figure will resume at Acheson Creations in our standard gray color. More limited edition colors may appear from time to time if demand warrants. More sets will be released quarterly throughout 2013.”

 

About KAIJU KAOS: SMACKDOWN

KAIJU KAOS is a tabletop miniatures game where two or more players pit their hand-painted metal and resin armies against one another. KAIJU KAOS is a strategic skirmish game. It’s not just a matter of lining up models on the table and the person who goes first is the winner. KAIJU KAOS requires cunning and adaptability because at any time an opponent can drastically alter the current situation with an unexpected action or a lucky roll of the dice. A solid strategy and good implementation combined with a little luck will enable the weakest troopers to bring down the mightiest monster. There are various unnamed troopers and specialists to build armies with, but the true heart of KAIJU KAOS is in the characters – whether they’re human, Kaijin, or colossal Kaiju bent on destroying everything in their path.

KAIJU KAOS: SMACKDOWN is a “death match” variation of KAIJU KAOS where players quickly battle using one or more 45mm tall character models on a 2×2 foot tabletop. The object of the game is to be the last model standing by defeating your enemies. Every faction in KAIJU KAOS, along with a healthy dose of Mercenaries, will be represented in SMACKDOWN.

New character models will be released regularly through our webstore at Acheson Creations. Rules, stat sheets, and official game aides can be purchased at www.WargameVault.com.

KAIJU KAOS is a new Intellectual Property of Bailey Records.  All Rights Reserved.  Learn more at www.kaijukaos.com

 

About BAILEY RECORDS
Bailey Records is the home of KAIJU KAOS and a two-time award-nominated record label and composition house of roleplaying and miniatures game soundtracks, comic book soundtracks, independent film scores, and home to several recording artists.  Known for its diverse catalog of licensed titles and music for any genre and setting, Bailey Records has published some of the most successful and popular companion soundtracks in the tabletop game industry including: Aberrant’s REZOLUTION & WARLANDS, Big Finger’s MECHA VS KAIJU, Mongoose Publishing’s CYBERNET, Pulp Monster’s PULP CITY, and White Silver’s THE CHRONICLES OF RAMLAR.  Learn more at www.baileyrecords.com

Jan 092013
 

This is long over due, but I wanted to make sure that I gave this game a proper play test. Mage Wars is a mutation of the board and card game genres that borrows a miniature game feel. That is, it combines elements from card and board games to create a unique play experience. In this article we will focus on mechanics, “deck construction”, combat and more.

 

But before going crazy on the game let’s talk about their history. The crew at Arcane Wonders started developing Mage Wars five years ago. In that time they have run several play tests and visited several convention; experiences that they used to further develop the game.

 

The basic idea behind Mage Wars is that you control a mage in the battle arena. Each mage casts spells to defeat the other in tactical combat of magic. When one mage has lost all their life the game ends. The basic game comes with everything for two mages four mage options.

 

At first Mage Wars is a little bit overwhelming to learn. But the support offered by Arcane Wonders makes the curve an easy burden. They have how to videos and a packaging disclaimer. They are doing a great job keeping in touch with the players, which is a great asset to the game.

 

Where do you start talking about a new game type. I think it would be easiest to start with the board. It is pretty basic. It establishes the arena where you will perform combat. The board also features the mana counters, quick reference chart and a life chart. Further the board is gridded into 12 zones for easy movement and combat. At the start of a game each mage is in an opposing corner diagonally. Since there is no diagonal movement in the game this pretty much safeguards the players from a cheap victory.

 

One of the most unique and fundamental aspects of Mage Wars is the “deck construction”, which isn’t deck construction at all. In Mage Wars there is no drawing. When you sit down to play Mage Wars you start by choosing a mage. The basic game comes with four mages. Once you have selected one you will build your spell book out of the cards you own. I should note that your choice in a mage will affect what spells you can choose. Each mage has schools of magic it can use. While playing you get to select your spells from the spellbook. You start the game with zero spells. During the planning phase each player selects 2 spells. As a big CCG player I find this to be the coolest element. There is no top deck, or bad luck. You are responsible for your choice, which means it is tactics and not luck of the draw. There is still some luck involved in combat, but for precombat mistakes only you are to blame.

 

Each round is broken into two stages, ready and action. In the ready stage you prepare by adding mana, picking spells, and applying upkeep effects. During the action stage mages take turns casting spells, summoning, placing enchantments, and attacking. The exchange of turns is based on initiative that is rolled at the start of the game. Action markers are used to designate what in play cards can and can’t be used.

 

Combat is where the awesome stuff happens. It is a pretty simple system. Mage Wars uses special d6’s for combat.

  • Blanks are misses.
  • Numbers are hits.
  • Exploding numbers are critical hits.
  • Some spells have special effects that only trigger if you roll the correct result. 

Rather than listen to me stumble through combat with words you should watch these videos. They walk you through a few turns of the game.

 

Mage Wars is a unique gaming experience. It sets up an arena where mages collide. You can easily have a lot to command once the game gets rolling. The mechanic that puts Mage Wars over the top is the spellbook. By removing luck of the draw from the game it opens up so many doors to strategy. While it may look like other board games it is not. This is a game that you absolutely must try in order to judge it.

You can learn more about Mage Wars here.

 

Enhanced by Zemanta
Dec 172012
 

Watch as Matt delves into Dungeon from Wizards of the Coast.

 

Dungeon is not what I was expecting.  I was expecting a game that leaned more towards an RPG feel.  But  after I got over my expectations and played the game for what it is; a board game.  I thoroughly enjoy Dungeon.  The game is simple enough that an eight year old can grasp the concepts While an adult can seek more tactical challenges.

The concept of the game is to gather treasure.  Each player assumes the role of a character; Rogue, Cleric, Fighter, or Wizard.  Each Class has a set amount of treasure they need to gather and then get out of the dungeon.  Combat is pretty simple you roll two dice and compare the roll to the number you need to beat on the monsters card.  The greater the challenge the greater the reward.   The rules suggest appropriate threat levels for  the classes.  To be blunt Rogues are wimps so they fight low level monsters.

All in all the game turned out to be pretty good even though I expected something else.  You can play Dungeon with 4 player  a couple of times in an evening fairly easily.