Cards & Boards

Magic: the Gathering fans would no doubt be ooh-ing and ahh-ing at the new stuff that’s being spoiler-ed online.

Yeap, a new set means we are go on spoilers, and what better way than to kick things off with this?

For more spoilers, do check out the GatheringMagic.com as well as the official Magic webpage of course. Don’t forget the official Magic: the Gathering Facebook page too – some exclusive content will be shared across there first.

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I may love Blood Bowl: Team Manager Card Game (by Fantasy Flight Games) for now, but I’m also steadily reacquainting myself with my favorite TCG (trading card game), World of Warcraft (or WoW in short).

Bizarrely, I’m going real easy on the customization bit – that is, I’m trying to not mix around the cards between my decks too much – but, rather, am letting my decks stay consistent, with a set bunch of cards.

Well, looks like the upcoming Champion Decks product is right up your alley, if you’re looking for instantly playable decks, straight out of the box. There will be five decks, one each for Mage, Hunter, Warrior, Shaman and Druid.

Roughly divided into Heroic or Monster, the decks will feature some of the more notable WoW universe heroes and villains. The confirmed lineup are Jaina Proudmoore (Human Mage), Lady Sylvanas Windrunner (Undead Hunter), Hogger (the Gnoll), Murkdeep (the Murloc Shaman) and Elderlimb (the Treefolk Druid).

Check out the link above for some card names already hinted, per deck. Some old classics and hopefully heavy hitters there. Slated for a late March 2012 release, stay tuned on more news about its eventual local availability!

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Remember a few months back when Fantasy Flight Games announced that they’ll be making a Star Wars Living Card Game?

A Living Card Game, or an LCG, is a more wallet-friendly version of the ever popular trading card game (TCG). But, unlike TCGs, LCGs come in fixed assortments, so there’s no need to plough through boxes of randomized booster packs for that heavy hitter.

Back to the Star Wars LCG: looks like the game’s gone “back to the drawing board”, so says Fantasy Flight Games.

Quite an unusual development I must say. With almost no spoilers to speak of, save for several previewed card images, we await with bated breath on this one. Looks like we got to hold on a little bit longer!

FFG now estimates that it should be published by end-2012. But the caveat is that this might change, judging by the announcement’s comment on creative processes that may take longer.

Okay, why don’t you watch Star Wars Episode 1 in 3D, now playing in the local cinemas? Depending on where you stand, you can either take me seriously or take that in jest, haha!

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Magic: the Gathering fans are definitely abuzz over the latest expansion set now, Dark Ascension.

In fact, I daresay that this weekend will be an even more anticipated one, for the new cards, compared to last weekend’s prerelease events. This is simply because the packs are now available for sale in better game stores everywhere.

This weekend will also see Dark Ascension release events, which means more fun and casual tournaments for everyone!

IMHO, the week after the prerelease of a “smaller” expansion is optimal as gamers and fans finally get the chance to buy the new set in “full.” I say this because pre-release events bundle in the preceding “larger” expansion.

Yup, this means that if you bought any of the Dark Ascension pre-release “packs”, you would have ended up with Innistrad packs as well, which may likely be a poorer choice for you, especially if you’ve already busted your budget for that older set!

So, will you be playing this weekend?

Have something to say? Do tweet me at www.twitter.com/arcturus_mengsk or leave me feedback below.

Caught the previews to the upcoming new World of Warcraft TCG (trading card game) expansion set, Crown of Heavens yet?

Well, look no further than Cryptozoic’s very own website for spoiler overload! The set looks set to give us more new ways to play the awesome card game.

There’ll be monster heroes, new weapons, items and armor, more allies and definitely, more rocking epics and rares!

Those who’re heavily keen on WoW lore will recognize the many iconic names that are assuming new (and reborn) cardboard form. Malfurion Stormrage, Cenarius, Tyrande and Sylvanas are just some of the heavy-hitters heading our way in mere weeks.

Once again, Cryptozoic is maintaining, or I daresay, upping the ante not only in the card quality department, but also the artwork. Compared to the days when Upper Deck Entertainment had this franchise, the card imagery are stupendously gorgeous.

All I want to know is, is Hogger finally coming out in this set? I want my Gnoll token allies, now!

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Mano et mano trading card game (TCG) sessions can only get you so far, and the World of Warcraft TCG is no exception.

My playgroup’s recent rekindlement with WoW TCG has been amped up further with the new Dungeon Decks, featuring three awesomely cool characters: meet Lord Godfrey, Scarlet Commander Mograine, and Vanessa Van Cleef.

So the basic premise is simple: you get your regular (or your best!) 61-card decks, and start taking on a Dungeon Deck. Each Dungeon Deck can be run “automatically”, so no player needs to control it, as the resultant actions (and pain) are resolved semi-randomly.

You and your friends get to go against a common enemy that wields regular, and often, spectacularly powerful allies, equipment and abilities.

I had a chance to have a go at the Scarlet Commander Mograine Dungeon Deck over the weekend, and boy was it amazing fun. Each deck has level difficulties, with Level 1 proving to be pretty easy for our beefed up Class Starters (around half or more of the Class Starters tweaked and modded with our favorite, and stronger stuff).

Level 2 was astonishingly tough going, as the multiplication of damage was pretty insane. Imagine the Commander himself gaining Assault 10 in some turns, and you get the picture. Another masochistic attempt – this time Level 3 – proved to be disastrous as well.

Well, I have to say that things got a lot more manageable once my group fielded much stronger and beefier decks – my improvised Death Knight Ghoul rush, a full-on Horde Shaman and an uber-Priest.

We were helped by quick opening hands, and efficiently grinded out the win thanks to plenty of ally destruction (Priest) and totems (Shaman). The raid ended with an appropriately-timed Turn 7 Zarixx, Herald of Death, which added one 3/3 Ghoul token ally to the pair already on board, and attacked for 12 damage. (Overkill admittedly, since the evil Commander was down to his final point of health.)

After four to five raids in less than two hours, I have to say that these decks are excellent value for money, given that the replayability is pretty darn high. Cryptozoic’s artwork continues to be superb, while the speedy gameplay ensures that downtime remains a minimum. Conclusion: pick up these babies and give your regular WoW TCG decks a fun workout, now! Warning though, don’t underestimate these puppies!

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World of Warcraft (WoW) Trading Card Game (TCG) fans take note, for there’s new stuff to be bought at your favorite game store!

The new Dungeon Decks, 2011 Fall Class Starters and Thrones of Tides expansion packs are now available. Yup, triple whammy in time for the coming holiday season? Need stocking stuffers for yourself, or friends? Look no further than these bunch of latest WoW TCG products!

The Dungeon Decks feature all-new treasure cards which make awesome upgrades to your existing decks. You can also buy one of the Dungeon Decks, which give you an awesome quest way of playing WoW TCG.

Beginners and experienced players will love the new Class starters. A follow-up to the very awesome 2011 Summer Class Starters, this special 61-card product gives us ten new heroes, and each deck contain one booster pack (from the War of the Elements expansion). Pretty darn worth it, for RM50 a pop I say!

And to sweeten the deal, each of the Fall Class Starters will have one random common, uncommon, rare or epic reprint from an older WoW TCG expansion block. Yes, these reprints mean that they return to the current Core format! Wow indeed!

Finally, if you’re looking to crack just booster packs, look no further than the Thrones of the Tides that just came in. Murlocs, and all forms of new monstrosities plus the usual plethora of allies, abilities, quests and equipment are in this set. Well, go crazy, but not too crazy!

The latest WoW TCG products were sighted in Comics Mart, Mid-Valley Mega Mall and ought to be seen in better game shops. Good luck hunting for them!

Have something to say? Do tweet me at www.twitter.com/arcturus_mengsk or leave me feedback below.

Game conventions are rare in Malaysia – yours truly could remember only one a few years back, which was held in a major Klang Valley shopping mall.

Well, looks like there’s another one coming up in December!

The name of the event’s MaGaCon, which is billed by the organizers as Malaysia’s “first annual independent analog & digital gaming convention,” run by gamers for gamers.

The event is slated to be held in the Kolej Damansara Utama (KDU) University College (the Damansara Jaya campus) over the weekend of the 17th and18th of December.

The highlight of MaGaCon will be the “Gamerlympics,” where the search for the “Game Lord of Malaysia” will take place, with the ultimate prize being  an all-expense paidtrip to the Penny Arcade Expo next year.

For trading card game enthusiasts, especially the hardcore competitors, there will be the prestigious Magic: The Gathering Grand Prix Trial Kuala Lumpur World Championship event taking place then.

Miniature gamers and boardgame fans will be keen to know that there will be Warhammer 40K, Settlers of Catan and Monopoly tournaments to keep them busy.

Those who prefer video games might want to check out the various Xbox 360 and PC game sessions then.

The more casual visitors who prefer the more fun events will want to check out the MaGaCon Event Achievements, which are supposed to be themed mini events and interactive.

Incentives in the form of exclusive prizes can be won by simply fulfilling and completing the achievements of the “40k Fanboi”, the “Planewalker’s JourneyThrough Worlds” and “Technocrat” events.

Naturally, you will be also glad to know that anyone visiting the event will be free to house themselves there and get their respective games on, in designated “freeplay areas.”

So far, MaGaCon is co-sponsored and supported by Microsoft Malaysia, Asus, GameAxis Malaysia, Games Workshop, Hasbro Malaysia, Meeples Cafe, Legio Malaysia, BoardgameCafé, Outpost Toys , FnD Mindspot, Wynet Solutions, Scratchdisk and KDU University College.

Check out the website and the Facebook group for more updates!

Curious or have something to say? Do tweet me at www.twitter.com/arcturus_mengsk or leave me feedback below.

Magic: the Gathering’s Innistrad has been barely out for a month, and looks like there’s some interesting cards shaking up the tournament scene of late.

Everyone’s no doubt talking up the new Liliana, which is proving to be a real heavyweight, commanding up to RM160 a pop. Her ability to fill graveyards and then use cards such as Unburial Rites to combo with her, makes the planeswalker easily one of the hottest cards of the new horror-themed set.

Snapcaster Mage needs no further introduction. The card converts all your instants and sorceries into reusable cards, and is finding a home in many Blue-Black decks. RM80 for the dude? Get me four please!

The dual land cards are all commanding a fair bit of attention for now, but yours truly still thinks they’re a little high for now. But the humble Kessig Wolf Run is the utility rare land that’s making heads turn, as they are fueling the Green-Red Titan Ramp decks.

Acting as a cool finisher of duels makes it easily the most exciting land in the set, IMHO.

What cards do you like? Do tweet me at www.twitter.com/arcturus_mengsk or leave me feedback below.

Some weeks ago I blogged about the new Fantasy Flight Games (FFG in short) Blood Bowl: Team Manager – The Card Game.

You might, at this point of time, groan and go, no, not another card game! Well, fear not my bloodthirsty Humans, Orcs, Dwarves, Wood Elves, Chaotic fellas and Rat, err, Skavens, for the game is a non-collectible one. Better yet, it is not even a Living Card Game, which makes this entirely self-contained, and very wallet-friendly.

Of course the cynics would note that the game might well have numerous expansions that introduce new teams, races and what-not, but let’s rejoice in the game being self-contained, and entirely playable on its own. Hoo-ah!

The awesome news is that local distributors should be having this mighty exciting looking game in the shops by this weekend.

Word has it that this game will retail for roughly RM135. Not too pricey, not too cheap either – I like!

Curious to see how the game works? Check out the FFG YouTube demo link embedded in its announcement article, here.

Well, all I can say is, this weekend can’t come soon enough!

What do you guys think? Do tweet me at www.twitter.com/arcturus_mengsk or leave me feedback below.