My experiences with the tabletop game, “12 Realms“, were positive overall. In fact, I believe I had said that it “stands tall as a solid cooperative experience, backed by an impressive array of beautifully crafted components.” Looking back now, I have to admit that the miniatures were indeed nice to look at…though the fun isn’t over yet. Mage Company LTD recently announced their intention to release an expansion titled, “Ancestors Legacy”. Like “12 Realms”, “12 Realms: Ancestors Legacy” will be seeking funding through the Kickstarter process. The expansion promises new realms to explore, new bad guys to vanquish, and new heroes to ogle.
Board Games
I was a bit surprised, in all honesty, to see “Evolution” cross my path. Not because of its name or the gameplay mechanics mind you, but due to the fact that it was created by the same folks who made “Say Anything“, “Wits & Wagers“, “Clubs“, and “Crappy Birthday“…all of which are fairly casual family/party games. “Evolution”, a game currently seeking your support on Kickstarter, breaks the mold and instead goes the strategic route. While still being a relatively family-friendly game at heart, it’ll force players to make some pretty tough choices. Before we get into the nitty-gritty details, I’d like to thank Ryan Metzler, a representative for North Star Games, for reaching out and providing me with a press copy. It’s important to stress that prototypes are not often representative of the final product, making everything featured in this article subject to change.
While some games are purely meant to entertain, others offer an artistic flair that will make you think about the developer’s intentions. That’s exactly what’s going on with “Mirrors”, a card game currently seeking your help on Kickstarter. It’s an easy-to-play card game for two players that plays a lot like “rock-paper-scissors”, but will also make you think and reflect about existence itself.
“Monolith”, as best as I can describe it, is a dice-rolling worker placement game. Players will be challenged to place their dice on the available cards in such a way that earns them both gems and victory points. While timing and placement in games like these are crucial to success, using powers and skills strategically may give players the edge they might need to win the game. It’s a bit like “Roll For It!”, only a bit more complex. Before we start rolling those dice and seeing what’s what, I’d like to thank Michael Lubbers from Goblin Army Games for providing me with a free press copy.
With a name like “Metacell: Genesis, The Card Game”, you might immediately think that this game is complicated…not so. In fact, if I had to compare it to other card games I’ve played, I’d have to say that it was a cross between “Uno” and “Rummy”. All in all, this isn’t a bad pairing. Your objective here will be to match like-colored cards in order to score points, though the game includes some twists that help to make things a bit more strategic. Before we begin with the preview, I’d like to thank Ian Terry from Products for Robots, Inc. for reaching out and providing me with a press copy. It’s important to note that the game is currently seeking funding through the Kickstarter process (as of 4/23/14), making everything featured in this article subject to change.
Transylvania has seen better days. Vampires, werewolves, zombies…it doesn’t get any worse for the poor citizens who currently live there. Fortunately, the local government has a plan: hire only the bravest and best of adventurers to drive those monsters out. That’s where you come in. “Transylvania: Curses & Traitors”, a board game hitting Kickstarter at the beginning of May 2014, will task players with working together as these adventurers to break the curse once and for all. Before we take a sneak peek at what this game has to offer, I’d like to thank Loren Cunningham, the founder of WIBAI Games, for reaching out and providing me with a prototype copy. It’s important to note that prototypes are not often representative of the final product, making everything featured below (including the rules) subject to change. The minis featured in the below pictures, for example, are from D&D and HeroClix games…though I’m told the stretch goal will include unpainted (but detailed) minis.
Move over “Uno”! Take a hike “Rummy”! “Metacell: Genesis, The Card Game” is in town and currently seeking your help on Kickstarter. In this easy-to-play card game for two to four players, you’ll be tasked with playing sets of same-colored cards in order to bank points for the end of the game. If you’re lucky enough to play the same colors as your character, you’ll activate their special ability. These can include powers that allow you to add to current sets (effectively increasing their point value) or even take extra turns. It’s the kind of game you can introduce to your family on game night without worrying about complex rules and inappropriate content. I’ll be posting a preview soon that goes into greater detail, but feel free to browse and/or support the game in the meantime if you like what you see!
Being a games journalist isn’t all fun and games, despite what most people may think. In fact, most of the time there’s a large bullseye right on your forehead. You wouldn’t believe some of the crap that come out of people’s mouths (or fingertips) because you gave a particular game a “7/10” instead of an “8/10”. Today I was thrown for a loop when I received a “thank you” email from a fan diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. His story ended up being so inspirational that I decided to donate $25.00 to the “National Multiple Sclerosis Society“. It’s admittedly not much, but the best I can do with a mortgage and a house of five (nine if you count animals).
I rarely get the chance to play dexterity-based tabletop games, which is a real shame. I find this fact surprisingly odd, seeing as how I’ve played many games in the strategy, simulation, worker placement, casual, and adventure genres. Yet, my play time with dexterity-based games seem to be sporadic at best. “Flick Wars”, a game hitting Kickstarter on April 17, 2014, is unlike anything I’ve played up to this point. I mean, I’ve played my fair share of “Jenga”, but this is vastly different. Using “flicking skills”, players will be tasked with maneuvering their units in such a way that destroys enemy units. The last player left standing, wins the game! Before we take a quick look at what this game has to offer, I’d like to thank Andrew Tullsen from Print & Play Productions for providing me with a prototype copy. It’s important to stress that prototypes are not often reflective of the final components, making everything featured in this article subject to change.
I had a blast playing “Family Business” during the International TableTop Day event at Game Masters…though I admit, it helped to have some patient teachers. “Family Business” is an elimination game, through and through. You’ll receive a mob of gangsters and it’ll be your job to make sure that your family is the last one standing. To do that, you’ll have to avoid being placed on the hit list…it’s tougher than it sounds. Before we take a quick look at the game, I’d like to offer a special thank you to Jason, Charity, Barry, Joseph, and Kaleem (participants in the above-mentioned event) for taking the time to bring this game to my attention.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t do anything special for International TableTop Day, which was held on April 5, 2014. So, I did the only thing a respectable (ha!) games journalist would do…grab my camera and head down to Game Masters, a local gaming / hobby shop located in Pittsburgh. I’m not much of a people person and I had never before gone to an event of this scale, but I was determined to walk away with a story to write about. It turned out that I was gifted with much more…the feeling of comradery. We were all there for a reason: we enjoy tabletop gaming. It was great to meet such fine people and I hope to run into all of them again in the future.
Seriously, who doesn’t love a cute bunny or three? Being an animal lover myself, I can’t just walk out of a pet store without first visiting these furry little bundles of joy. “All Bunnies Eat Carrots“, a card game currently seeking your help on Kickstarter, features more bunnies than you’ll know what to do with. It’s a two to four player family-friendly game that tasks players with collecting bunnies and seeing to their needs. Each bunny has its own needs and point values, giving the game a strategic spin. The first player to see to the needs of three bunnies effectively ends the game and all players will proceed to compare point values to see who wins…it all sounds both easy and fun to boot!
I’ve been so engrossed with the “Star Wars: X-Wing Miniatures Game” that I almost let this one slip by. This would have been bad, seeing as how I can recite almost every “Star Trek” episode by heart, whether it be “Enterprise”, “TOS, “TNG”, “DS9”, or “Voyager” (come to Quark’s, Quark’s is fun, come right now, don’t walk – run!). Yeah, I’m kind of a nerd that way. At any rate, I was extremely surprised to learn just how similar these two products are…that is, “Star Trek: Attack Wing” and the aforementioned “Star Wars” game. I almost didn’t have to look at the manual…almost. With that being said, let’s take a quick look at what comes in the box and how the game is played before I share my final thoughts on the matter.
Konnichiwa, fellow travelers! We’re here today to take a quick look at “Tokaido”, a game I recently picked up on a whim. It looked pretty enough based on the pictures I browsed and promised to be family-friendly to boot. The premise is simple enough: each player takes on the role of a traveler who is making their way across the “East Sea Road”, a famous and popular road (of the “Edo” period) located in Japan. Players will be able to visit a variety of different places with the intent on earning the most victory points by the game’s end. The kicker is that there’s no going backwards…think “Candy Land” but with a Japanese theme and juiced up on steroids. After spending some time with the game, I discovered that it delivers all of the above and more.
Ever dreamt of owning your own creative agency? That is, hire employees, manage your money, complete projects, and deal with random events as they occur? If the answer is yes, then you’re in luck! “Creative Clash”, a fast-paced card game that will be launching soon on Kickstarter (as of 3/13/14), promises exactly that. In this case, players will be competing to complete their own individual “ego” goals before the others do. Before I get ahead of myself though, I’d like to thank principal and creative director Ryan Smoker for reaching out and providing me with a prototype copy. It’s important to stress that prototypes are often not reflective of the final version, making everything featured in this article (including the rules) subject to change.
I’m so over this cold weather. Mother Nature hasn’t exactly been kind to Pittsburgh…sixty degrees one day only to be followed by minus ten degrees with wind chill warnings and four inches of snow the next. What better way to celebrate and welcome Spring than with “Lawn Battleship”, a game that is currently seeking your support on Kickstarter. As the name suggests, you’ll be taking the idea of the classic board game outside. The catch is that you’ll be using water filled Bocce balls and various ship signs attached to metal pegs in the ground. Easy to play and family friendly, this game promises a good time out in the sun…something I think us Pittsburghers could desperately use at this point.