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Dungeon Attack Kickstarter

Posted in Gaming Culture, Product Review with tags , , , on August 19, 2013 by boccobsblog

The guys from Attack Dice, the makers of When Zombies Attack, are funding their second game through Kickstarter. The newest game, Dungeon Attack, follows the same AD premise of fast paced, easy to learn, and easy on the wallet, but with a fantasy flavor.

Funding a game on Kickstarter is a great way to get the games for a cheaper price, get them weeks before they hit the store, and a chance to get exclusive content.

Curious about Dungeon Attack? The rules can be downloaded for free from AD’s website.

Check out the Dungeon Attack Kickstarter!

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Wizards to Reprint 1974 D&D “White Box”

Posted in Dungeons and Dragons, Product Review with tags , , on February 21, 2013 by boccobsblog

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Holding true to their new motto, “Every Edition Available Again!”, Wizards of the Coast is reprinting the original D&D boxset. From Wizards.com:

 

A premium, deluxe edition of the Original D&D “White Box”!

The original Dungeons & Dragons boxed set was published by TSR, Inc. in 1974 and was the very first roleplaying game, introducing concepts that have persisted throughout later editions. It included three small rules booklets in a white box.

This deluxe, premium reprint of the original “White Box” features new packaging and includes the following seven booklets (plus, reference sheets):

  • Volume 1: Men & Magic
  • Volume 2: Monsters & Treasure
  • Volume 3: Underworld & Wilderness Adventures
  • Supplement I: Greyhawk
  • Supplement II: Blackmoor
  • Supplement III: Eldritch Wizardry
  • Supplement IV: Gods, Demi-Gods & Heroes

Each booklet features new cover art but is otherwise a faithful reproduction of the original, including original interior art.

Item Details
Item Code: 45390000
Release Date: November 19, 2013
Format: D&D Boxed Game
Price: $149.99; C$172.00
ISBN: 978-0-7869-6465-9
 

 I think it would be fun to own an run a campaign with, but a hundred and fifty dollars is expensive…

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RPG With Me, Virtual Tabletop

Posted in Product Review with tags , , on September 3, 2012 by boccobsblog

At this year’s Gen Con I had a chance to talk with the guys from RPGwithme.com, their virtual tabletop is, by far the most visually stunning I’ve seen. The examples they had at the con looked like still shots from a high-quality video game like Dragon Age or Skyrim.

But the virtual tabletop isn’t the main function of the site. They offer free digital character sheets usable on your laptop or tablet. The site also offers campaign management software complete with free artwork.

Finally, the site offers a play by post platform that integrates your campaign website and digital sheets.

Overall, it looks pretty solid and is worth a visit: RPGwithme.com

If you like what you see, check out their Kickstarter page.

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Want To Game More But Don’t Have The Time?

Posted in Product Review with tags , on September 3, 2012 by boccobsblog

Check out Conclave. The creators claim you can play at any pace without software. What interests me most is the claim that it can be played from a smart phone.

According to their website:

Conclave is a D&D-inspired RPG that you play with your friends, at any pace, from any Web browser.  As long-time roleplayers, we were motivated to build it when we saw how we, and most of our friends, had stopped playing the tabletop RPGs we all love due to lack of time and opportunity.  So we decided to take the tabletop experience online, and build a game where your sessions can be as long or short as you like, and where you can find buddies to play with anytime – while still preserving story and gameplay.

It is worth a look. Check out their Kickstarter for more info.

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Munchkin: The Guild

Posted in Product Review, Uncategorized with tags , , , , , , on August 27, 2012 by boccobsblog

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Fans of the Guild will be happy to hear that Steve Jackson Games has released a Guild expansion for the wildly popular card game, Munchkin. The folks at SJG were handing out free promo cards at Gen Con and the art (by Len Peralta) looks awesome.

Order your copy here

All images from Worldofmunchkin.com

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Dragonscale Dice Bags

Posted in Dungeons and Dragons, Product Review with tags , , , on August 6, 2012 by boccobsblog

Image from Awesomedice.com

Gamers love dice, and we own far more than we need. If you’re in need a cool place to store your beloved dice, head over to Awesomedice.com. They have the coolest dice bags I have ever seen (and that is saying something, as I’ve been a die hound for over 20 years now). Modeled to look like chromatic dragon scales, they come in Black, Red, and Green.

Here is the description from their website:

Without question this large green dragonscale dice bag is one of the coolest dice bags in the world. This dice bag is hand knitted with green thread and special green anodized aluminum scales are knitted into the bag, giving the appearance of dragon scales. The scales are only on the outside (and not on the bottom) and the soft interior ensures that your dice won’t get scratched or marred. A plastic disc sits on the bottom interior of the dice bag to hold its shape (removable if you choose) and a leather drawstring completes this ridiculously awesome dice bag.

This is a large dice bag capable of holding up to 100 standard 16mm dice. This thing is so ridiculously cool that it is very likely to make you pee your pants. It is also a very expensive dice bag, and is available in a smaller, less costly size.

* No dragons were harmed in the creation of this dice bag. Real dragonscales are much larger than these.

If you need a die bag or more dice, I highly recommend checking out their website; it is impressive.

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Personal Effects: Dark Art

Posted in Gaming Culture, Product Review with tags , , , on October 24, 2011 by boccobsblog

I picked up a copy of this book over the summer and was really blown away by the premise. The book is a work of experimental fiction by J. C Hutchins and Jordan Weisman. It is no doubt that the book turned out so well, it has two amazing authors attached to it. J.C Hutchins is the writer of the 7th Son series, and Jordan Weisman is the creator behind Earthdawn (1993), Shadowrun (1989), Wizkids games, FASA games, and the several Mechwarrior projects.

This book takes place mainly as a set of doctor’s notes about a serial killer patient, but it also contains phone numbers, websites and documents (ID cards, crime scene photos, etc) that all add to a twist the plot. If you find a phone number in the book or on a prop, you can call it and get clues, listen to voice mail messages, etc. The same is true for the websites, they are all real sites that serve to answer and create questions, deepen the experience and lead you to the ending of the book.

Several months back in a post about props, we talked about the game Witness, this book has that feel by providing actual props. But the book goes even father with the phone numbers and websites. If you read a name or a business, google it and it will probably lead you to a website. This is very cool stuff, check it out.

Personal Effects Website

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Ninja: Legend of the Scorpion Clan

Posted in Product Review with tags , , , on October 17, 2011 by boccobsblog

Ninja: The Legend of the Scorpion Clan from AEG follows the Legend of the Five Rings product line. According to the AEG website:

The game centers around one very dangerous night at a castle in the provinces of the Lion Clan. Honorable Lion samurai stand vigilant watch around the castle, protecting it from harm. The Scorpion Clan sends one well trained ninja to infiltrate the castle for nefarious purposes… it may be to assassinate an imperial guest under the Lion’s protection, or poison the well, or steal the daimyo’s war plans for the coming season. Whatever the goal, the ninja has vowed to accomplish it, or die trying. Worse yet for the Lion Clan, the ninja has an accomplice: a traitor among the ranks of the Lion samurai whose true loyalty lies with the Scorpion.

The intruders move in secret, marking their positions on a small copy of the game board. They can move freely, but the faster they move, the easier they are to detect. Moats, walls, and most especially sentries all serve to hamper their movement. And if a guard stumbles across their position, the alarm will be raised!

I played this game at this year’s Gen Con and I have to admit it is a mixed bag.

  • The board looks amazing, great artwork
  • The miniatures are acceptable, nothing special (on par with Shogun minis)
  • The game is a bit too rules intensive. The rules could have been slimmed down and streamlined considerably
  • Once a ninja states that he/she is searching an area on the map the gig is up. You know that the ninja is adjacent to that square or very nearby and you can divert your guards to intercept. This meta-gaming seems like a huge flaw in the game design

It is a very cool concept, but I would wait for a second edition, allow AEG to iron out some flaws.

Game’s Website

Shots of the game demo:

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X-Wing

Posted in Product Review with tags , , , on October 7, 2011 by boccobsblog

This game is still in its infancy, but they were demoing the beta rules at Gen COn and it looks beyond amazing. I truly hope the finished product is as good as it looks. Those of use that bought the Star Wars space game from Wizard’s a few years back need our faith in ship combat restored.

Here is a snipit from FF’s website:

X-Wing is a tactical ship-to-ship combat game in which players take control of powerful Rebel X-wings and nimble Imperial TIE fighters, facing them against each other in fast-paced space combat. Featuring stunningly detailed and painted miniatures, X-Wing recreates exciting Star Wars space combat throughout its several included scenarios. Select your crew, plan your maneuvers, and complete your mission!

The X-Wing starter set includes everything you need to begin your battles, such as scenarios, cards, and fully assembled and painted ships. What’s more, X-Wing‘s quick-to-learn ruleset establishes the foundation for a system that can be expanded with your favorite ships and characters from the Star Wars universe.

I will keep you updated on this game, until then here is a shot I took of the demo:

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BEARS!

Posted in Product Review with tags , , on October 3, 2011 by boccobsblog

You and your friends are on a relaxing camping trip. But as you hammer in the last stake, you hear rustling. Bears are romping through the campsite! Who will survive the rampage? And who will be eaten by bears?

Bears! is a fast-playing, competitive game in which you score points by pairing dice. Shoot bears and run from tents for a few points, or take a risk and score big by sleeping through the attack! But watch out! If Bears are left at the end of the round, your sleeping campers are done for!

I had a chance to demo this game at Gen Con, and it is easy and a lot of fun. It would be great to take on a hiking or camping trip.

The game was designed by Anne-Marie De Witt and is available from Fireside Games.

Here are some shots of the demo I took at the Con:

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