Cards & Boards

Games Workshop’s Space Hulk boardgame is a certified classic. The eminent miniatures game company’s primo reissue set several years back flew off the shelves, predictably. There’s also a card game version which I enjoy supremely, by Fantasy Flight Games, called Space Hulk: Death Angel – The Card Game.

Now, looks like there will be a video game adaptation too, very soon. Boardgamegeek.com just shared an early demo video on what the game will likely look like, here.

Done by Full Control and Games Workshop, this cool game has a 2013 release window. It’s going to be mindblowing for sure!

So what do you think of this game? Do tweet me at www.twitter.com/arcturus_mengsk or leave me feedback below.

Most of you, like me, will more likely be already playing our boardgames and what-not, regularly.

But once in a while, a special event comes along, and gives us extra reason to be proud of being boardgamers or card gamers. March 30 is apparently International TableTop Day, where you and me are supposed to go forth, and play plenty of games.

So here’s a question, what will you be doing on this awesomely unique day? Know of any events near your place?

Do tweet me at www.twitter.com/arcturus_mengsk or leave me feedback below.

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.

Each one of us have a favorite hangout. My playgroup for instance, always play Blood Bowl: Team Manager – The Card Game in a shopping mall that’s near for everyone in the gang (Tropicana City Mall).

When we played Magic: the Gathering and then the World of Warcraft TCG, we alternated between the local gaming shop and the nearby coffee place. We went with which ever place that had the easiest parking, lightest traffic and occasionally, the most decent snacks and drinks.

So how do game shops here keep up? What do each of them have as USPs (unique selling propositions)? In a hyperconnected era when the variety of leisurely pursuits are so diverse (people can easily spend their free time doing lots of other equally interesting hobbies), how do shops keep customers, fans and gamers, coming back?

I’ll be finding out more about these in the upcoming print issue of Cards & Boards. If you have two cents to contribute to my article, I’ll still be taking in your comments to the above questions, in the coming week – fire away why don’t you?

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.

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.

Betrayal at House on the Hill

It’s Halloween month!

Okay so technically there’s no such thing as a “Halloween month”, but any gamer worth their salt would definitely be breaking out their favourite horror-themed games, as we inch towards the last day of the month.

For me, the fact that Wizards of the Coast’s iconic trading card game (TCG) Magic the Gathering (MTG in short) received a horror-themed expansion, Innistrad, has made this year’s Halloween super special.

An entire block of three expansions filled with horror-themed cards and mechanics? I’m so there man!

If you ask me about classic games, my favourite boardgame to play through the (hopefully dark and stormy) night would be Betrayal at House on the Hill.

The best part of this game is when one of the players turn evil, as per the chosen scenario, and starts going against everyone else. Everyone needs to band together at the start, and all of s sudden, everyone else needs to stick together and nail the bad guy / thing.

Last Night on Earth

I remember scenarios with banshees, poltergeists, and even a mummy, making this as a top choice for any Halloween party.

My third choice of a Halloween party game would be the smash hit Last Night on Earth: The Zombie Game, by Flying Frog Productions. How can we not have a zombie game for this hallowed season?

The game is not only fast-paced and awfully easy to learn up, but has what IMHO is simply the highest production values, seen in any game. I used to think that the once-great Decipher Inc held the distinction as being the company that made the most slick-looking games (Star Wars CCG and the Lord of the Rings TCG), but Flying Frog kinda blew that long-held belief away in this 2007 of a monster hit.

It’s got zombies, cardboard-thin-cliched characters, shotguns and more zombies. It’s even got a soundtrack. The characters all had actors playing them, and the entire game uses their photos. Last Night on Earth better be the one game you have, especially when we get overrun by zombies, and you’ll have to lock yourselves up in the basement. It is seriously fun!

So, what’s your favourite game?

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