Card Games
December 3, 2011
Originally posted on IcV2 - http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/21633.html
Cryptozoic Entertainment has announced the Spring 2012 release of Clash of Champions, a new deck-building game that will feature the characters and themes from the hugely popular World of Warcraft MMORPG. Cryptozoic, which publishes the popular World of Warcraft Trading Card Game, has expanded its license by creating a deck-building game, and Cryptozoic's President Cory Jones promises "to put our own spin" on the mechanics of the new deck-building game.
Clash of Champions will include over 400 game cards, and will have a suggested retail price of $45.00. The new game will accommodate from two-to-four players, who begin the game with a small pool of cards that is expanded throughout the game play.
Clash of Champions adds a role-playing element to the deck-building mechanics by allowing players to customize their iconic World of Warcraft characters with special abilities that help them fight off monsters and collect treasures.
Critical Gamers Staff at
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August 16, 2011
A couple of weeks ago we brought you a review of a indie title called Politics (here). As a quick synopsis, it was a pretty ruthless title that had a great foundation but needed a little more content, more substance, to really pull it to the next level. Well, not less than a month later, the designer has heeded our advice and raised the bar. It is time to head to Kickstarter and support this project.
At Politics
Critical Gamers Staff at
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August 4, 2011
Over the last few months, Critical Gamers has given you some insight to the indie developed, strategy based, card game Conquest Tactics (original post). In celebration of their recent release, Zeitgeyser, LLC is giving away 10 copies for free over at Board Game Geek. All you have to do is answer a few questions about the game and get additional entries for each correct answer.
And if you haven't participated in our Stratus Games' Launch Pad giveaway contest, you should! Two different contests, two easy ways to enter, what are you waiting for?
At Conquest Tactics Giveaway
At Launch Pad Giveaway
Critical Gamers Staff at
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August 2, 2011
The big news of today is that Fantasy Flight Games has announced a partnership with Lucasfilm Ltd. for the rights to publish card, roleplaying, and miniature games set in the sci-fi culture dominating Star Wars universe! The publishing rights will be worldwide and there should be no shortage of translations and regional publishing deals for these titles. Along with the rights, FFG has also announced the first two titles to come out of the partnership: X-Wing and Star Wars: The Card Game. Here is what Fantasy Flight Games had to say about the deal -
Continue reading: "Fantasy Flight Games Announces License Rights to Star Wars"
Critical Gamers Staff at
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July 30, 2011
As seen on Gamesalute - http://www.gamesalute.com/?p=16745
Magic 2012 is about to become more eventful! In mid-August 2011, Wizards of the Coast will release two Magic 2012 Event Decks to stores. Have you been wanting to try out Standard? Here's your chance! These pre-constructed event decks are a great introduction into Standard format. They're designed specially for players to hop right into a game and have a fair chance at winning.
Magic 2012 Event Decks come with 60-cards each, a 15-card sideboard, a spindown life counter and a fancy card box to store your cards in.
Following the release of Magic 2012 Event Decks, Friendly Local Game Stores will be hosting Magic Game Days! August 13th-14th, standard tournaments will be held at participating locations. Learn to play standard and get awesome cards with these Magic 2012 Event Decks.
Critical Gamers Staff at
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July 22, 2011
There are only a few topics that are commonly understood to be taboo during discussions at work or in public areas, at least in the United States: sex, religion, and politics. There are some valid reasons for this forbiddance, most notably that most wars that are waged are because of these subjective topics. The fate of the Earth even seemed to come into question due to a significant difference in political ideals during the Cold War and the threat of nuclear winter. Politics, designed by John Ruf under No Mana Games, won't put the fate of humanity in the palms of power hungry politicians, it will, however, cause debates, strife, and backstabbing (so choose your players carefully)!
Critical Gamers would like to extend a special thank you to John Ruf for supplying us the review copy.
Continue reading: "Review: Politics - Unpretenious Package But Packs Plenty of Punch"
Critical Gamers Staff at
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July 20, 2011
White Goblin Games has a significant lineup ready for release for Spiel '11 in Essen in October. From the official press release -
Rattus Africanus
First and foremost, there's a new Rattus expansion up for release! Rattus Africanus will mark the introduction of a caravan, as well as diplomats. This will add more strategic possibilities to the game and with the introduction of region cards, players will have more control on possible outbreaks of the Black Death. Rattus Africanus will make playing Rattus feel like a completely new experience! Besides that, this expansion also makes it possible to play the game with 5 and 6 players. Rattus, the basic game by Ase & Henrik Berg, has been a big hit internationally so far and by adding a whole new playing experience to the Rattus-family, the success of this game will become even bigger.
Lost Temple
Secondly, there's Lost Temple. In this game by Bruno Faidutti, 2 to 8 players are explorers looking for a mysterious lost temple. To find it, they must cross the jungle of southeast Asia and get help from the indigenous people. The first player to reach the temple on the last space of the track wins the game. The game uses a character selection rule similar to Bruno Faidutti's Citadels, and the game includes nine different characters: Shaman, Thief, Seer, Priest, Elder, Craftsman, Scout, Canoe and Child. Can you outwit your opponents and claim the discovery of the Lost Temple? This game will definitely attract all the fans of Citadels.
Revolver
And then there's Revolver. This is a non-collectable card game for 2 players by Mark Chaplin and the game is set in the Old West. Consisting of two balanced 62 card decks, the game pits two players against each other in a life or death struggle. One player takes the role of Colonel Ned McReady and his lawmen, and his opponent assumes control of the notorious and deadly Colty gang. At their disposal, the Colty gang - the meanest bunch of low down dirty dogs in the West - have a roster of weaponry to bring down the lawmen on their tail: .38 Specials, .45 Long Colts, 1866 double barrel Derringers, and even a Gatling gun! The Colonel player's objective is to eliminate all the gang members before they can escape across the Mexican border. The game has an asymmetrical design, with both decks featuring different cards and abilities. Primarily a combat-driven card game, each player must manage his deck of cards effectively to win. Revolver is played using a 5-column system, representing consecutive gunfights in the following battlegrounds: The Bank at Repentance Springs, Whiskey Canyon, Buzzard Point, Rattlesnake Creek, and the 3:15 Express from Rattlesnake Station. Gameplay is quick. Numerous tricky decisions must be made throughout.
Panic Station
Earlier this year, White Goblin Games released the crazy squirrel game Get Nuts by designers Tom Luyckx and David Ausloos. Also from Ausloos is Panic Station, a partly cooperative game for 4 to 6 players of growing paranoia in which no one can truly trust anyone. As a member of the Extermination Corps, you as well as your android are sent out by the government to investigate the presence of fiendish alien life forms in a base. Players need to move both their Androids and Troopers through this base, exploring and gathering equipment that will help them to complete their mission: to find and destroy the Parasite Hive hidden somewhere in the inner depths of this hell. When a player manages to get his Trooper into the Hive location and play three gas can cards to fuel his Flamethrower, he wins the game for the humans. However, one of the players is a Host. He must keep this identity secret, infecting as many team members as possible to gain allies and prevent the humans from completing their mission. Only players who carefully watch the behaviour of team members and find a good balance between cooperation and paranoia will stand a chance against the infected players and roaming parasites. The game uses a unique exponential traitor-system and combines tactical play with a compelling psychological mind game amongst players. Can you maintain your sanity and destroy the source of this evil?
Singapore
Singapore is a game by Peer Sylvester and in this game, the 3 to 4 players are rich merchants who are trading to develop a small outpost into a metropolis. Although the legal trade flourishes, the opium trade increases as well. In this game the players will have the opportunity to participate in these illegal, profitable activities. However, the risk of being caught increases as more illegal activities take place... In this game, you'll definitely experience the intense tension once you have opted for very profitable, but also illegal activities!
Dragon's Gold
Last but not least, there's a re-release of Bruno Faidutti's 'Dragon's Gold'. In this highly interactive game, you have to beat the dragons and seize the treasures. Each player plays with a team of heroes intent on only one goal: collecting lots of magical objects and treasures. Beating a dragon is quite simple. But then comes the real challenge: reaching an agreement on the distribution of the loot. This negotiation mechanism makes this game really stand out from the rest: players have to come to an agreement under time pressure. If they don't agree, nobody gets anything! Besides new artwork, there's also a more strategic variant for players who don't like negotiating.
Critical Gamers Staff at
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July 12, 2011
The Hunt for Gollum, the highly anticipated first content pack to the living card game, The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game, is set to be shipped off to retailers this week. Expect the first adventure pack to become available July 22nd. From the Fantasy Flight press release -
The Hunt for Gollum sets heroes on their way into the Shadows of Mirkwood, the first series of Adventure Packs. Gandalf requests the assistance of heroes to search for the elusive creature known as Gollum. The search begins in the Anduin Valley between Mirkwood Forest and the Misty Mountains. The Hunt for Gollum relates the first of six chapters in a sweeping narrative arc.
To complete the Adventure Pack's new Quest, heroes must find clues to put them on Gollum's trail. It is not an easy task, though, as the search leads your heroes to dangerous new locations where they will engage powerful enemies. Your heroes also run the risk of finding false clues, and if they follow bad leads, they may tire as the threat grows and lose Gollum's trail entirely.
At The Hunt for Gollum
Critical Gamers Staff at
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June 25, 2011
Can't say I am very surprised about this announcement considering the success of Nightfall and the reception to Martial Law, the first expansion. Alderac Entertainment Group is not stopping this train any time soon and I can't say I blame them. Here is the official announcement -
Cities have fallen, cities have stood, but outside of those protections, humans must face the creatures of darkness on their own terms. In the lawless countryside of Nightfall, the beast within can wreak havoc like never before.
Nightfall: Blood Country is a stand-alone expansion to the competitive deck building game Nightfall. Blood Country brings you a complete all-new set of cards with special powers, and features new vampires, werewolves, hunters and ghouls. Blood Country also introduces innovative uses for your wounds, creating new effects beyond those just on the card!
- All new cards for Nightfall
- Innovative new card effects change the game like never before
- Fully compatible with existing Nightfall sets
- Amazing art shows more of the world of Nightfall
Critical Gamers Staff at
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June 24, 2011
There is no question about it, the deck building genre is very hot right now, so it comes to no surprise that even Victory Point Games is trying to get in on the action. However, it should also come as no surprise that they are immediately trying to break the mold as VPG is known for taking risks and thinking outside the box. For the Crown is their third installment of the Casual Cards line, but the first in the deck building category. The difference is that they have mixed it with Chess-like gameplay. Victory will require planning, strategy, militaristic maneuvers, and tactics. Not only is it their most recent release, it's also $5 USD off right now.
At For the Crown
Critical Gamers Staff at
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June 21, 2011
Gary Games will be attending Origins Game Fair in Columbus, Ohio, this week and they will be bringing with them the next offering. Titled Ascension: Return of the Fallen, the game will be the first expansion in their highly successful Ascension: Chronicle of the Godslayer line. RotF is designed to be a 2 player standalone game or to expand the base game for up to 6 players. The game will be available at the convention on June 24th or on their website on the 29th for 29.99 USD which will include 120 cards (65 all new center cards), 30 deluxe honor tokens, a storage tray, and instruction booklet. Also according to the release announcement from Gary Games, the expansion release should follow the release of the iOS versions (iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch), so expect those to be available in the next few days as well. Return of the Fallen should also find it's way onto the Apple platform sometime later this year.
At Ascension: Return of the Fallen
Critical Gamers Staff at
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June 20, 2011
Courtesy of the Catan Newswire released today -
The Struggle for Catan™ is now available at your local retailer. This is a fast-paced game between the 2-4 factions developing newly settled Catan.
Manage your resources to build settlements, cities, city expansions, knights, and roads that generate victory points or special abilities. While your settlements, cities, and city expansions remain yours, valuable roads and knights change hands. Varied expensive city expansions give you additional victory points and lasting advantages, so they're generally key to victory. As in The Settlers of Catan® board game, you win by being the first to acquire and play 10 victory points.
The Struggle for Catan™ is the perfect way for 2-4 players to swiftly and casually explore, settle, trade, and build on the beautiful and ever-changing island of Catan.
Ages: 10+
Players: 2-4
Playing Time: 45-60 minutes
Designer: Klaus Teuber
Art: Michael Menzel
At The Struggle for Catan
Critical Gamers Staff at
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June 4, 2011
If you are like us at Critical Gamers then finding good deals on awesome games is an important part of keeping our finances and respective spouses, girlfriends, boyfriends, etc., happy. It's almost as if the crew over at Tasty Minstrel Games heard our internal plea for great deals and has set us up with some great bundle deals. They currently have two bundles available that include both the upcoming hits Belfort and Homesteaders at a discounted rate and then they will throw in either Jab or Train of Thought for free. Either deal ends up being just shy of 50% off the MSRP of the titles. The catch is that they will be shipped in August and are only available in limited quantities at this price; after all the cheap bundles have sold, the price will go up. Also while you are there check out Eminent Domain, the highly anticipated deck building game due out in August as well.
At Tasty Minstrel Games
Critical Gamers Staff at
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May 30, 2011
One of the greatest things about our society is that there is always fresh content and ideas being put out there for the world to enjoy. The analog gaming industry is no different in this aspect The industry has a long and storied history that has given our and many other generations the creativity and drive to turn ideas into products that have brought families and friends closer together, and sometimes even farther apart (sorry about that John). With Kickstarter the power has been put into the hands of the common man, check out some of the latest and greatest submissions and decide whether you want to be a part of bringing these ideas to life!
Continue reading: "Kickstarter Projects Worth Backing! - 5/30/11"
Critical Gamers Staff at
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World of Warcraft Deck Building Game Coming Spring 2012!
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Review: Politics - Unpretenious Package But Packs Plenty of Punch
