Cards & Boards

Work’s picked up again for yours truly, which accounts for the silence on the blog for a good week plus.

The good thing is, there’s been a slew of updates gaming-wise, so let’s get right to the heart of things shall we?

Firstly, Fantasy Flight Games (FFG) finally gave Star Wars gamers a solid reason to rejoice, as they finally gave a solid release timeline for its Star Wars X-Wing Miniatures Game. This summer release looks like a solid combo of painted, high-quality miniatures and cards that depict the pilots, equipment and equipment that these little beaters pack.

Yes, there’s even astromech droids, dice and some funky tokens to go along these starter sets. The game will be sold in Core Sets, which presumably is enough to start anyone off, as well as the X-Wing, TIE Fighter, Y-Wing and TIE Advanced Expansion Packs, which add more fighters and pilots to the mix.

In other news, Wizards of the Coast has finally unveiled the entire card spoiler list for Magic: the Gathering’s newest set, Avacyn Restored. Being out of the scene for awhile now, what do you guys think?

And finally, I thought it’d be fun to highlight a pretty fun-sounding FFG boardgame, called Ugg-Tect. The team-based game has players racing to complete monuments in the cavemen era, accomplishing and performing “grunts” and actions along the way.

Sounds like another fun party game to me!

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

Have you bought your World of Warcraft (WoW) TCG packs yet? Specifically, Crown of Heavens?

Well, why don’t you head on down to finer specialty and games shops such as Comics Mart to hit them up for some mighty awesome booster packs?

That’s right folks, they’re in stock now, right here in Malaysia! The game is a little scarce, but hey, head on to Mid-Valley Megamall and look up that games shop and see what your packs give you. There will be more Monster cards, some really, really beefy good guys – remember that Stormrage Druid guy? He’s a card, in this set, and he’s a mean, huge, beating machine!

So, what do you want from your packs?

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

Magic: the Gathering fans will be pleased as heck to learn that Dark Ascension, is weeks away from being released here. More vampires, zombies, spirits and demons, plus some, will be available in this follow-up to Innistrad.

The online spoilers are all over the place, most notably at MagicTheGathering.com and MTGSalvation.com.

Plenty of highlights in this set no doubt: I’m betting that everyone’s waiting for Sorin Markov’s return in a different card, for this set. Will it be the money card this time around? Highly likely I say!

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

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!

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

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.

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.