Boardgame of the Week Relic

If you like Talisman and remember Talisman Timescape fondly, you would like Relic which is Talisman set in the Warhammer 40k universe, meaning that you have 10 40K characters to choose from when playing. Players circle a Warp rift, fighting against the forces of Chaos and working to defeat the evil that lives beyond the rift. 2-4 players expect to take 1-2 hours to play. I think, given the system derives from Talisman, that 2 hours is pretty optimistic. Was highly anticipated but anticipation was greater that actual desire and sales never approach those of Talisman.

Game News

This week's Rolling for Initiative column looks at several of last week's news items in the gaming industry

SJG Acquires TFT

In a post on the Daily Illuminator, Steve Jackson Games announced it had acquired the rights to The Fantasy Trip, an early RPG developed by Steve Jackson while at Metagaming and a precursor to GURPS. No indication as to what the company will do with the game but I would bet we will see a Kickstarter campaign to produce a limited print run of Melee and Wizard, along with accompanying products and a PDF release shortly thereafter.

It's Beginning to Look at Lot Like

This week's Rolling for Initiative column looks at holiday seasonality in game stores 

Card Game of the Week Stocking Stuffer of 2017

Each year the store selects a Stocking Stuffer of the Year, a game that is fun, inexpensive and small enough to fit in a Christmas stocking, In 2015, it was Love Letter, in 2016, TimeLine. This year, "You Gotta Be Kitten Me. You Gotta Be Kitten Me is a bluffing game that plays in less than half an hour, sells for $9.99 and easily fits in a stock. In addition, it had pictures of cute kittens and puppies. What more do you want? If you want testimonials, it is a favorite of several of the students at Brehm Preparatory School.

Too Many Boardgames

I know it is hard to believe there could be too many boardgames but 80 new ones per week?  This week's Rolling for Initiative column looks at the numbers.

RPG of the Week Sentinel Comics

Sentinels of the Multiverse has proved a very popular deckbuilding game over the past few years but we have had a number of people ask "But what about an RPG?" Well, those people now have their question answered as Greater Than Games releases Sentinel Comics:  The Role Playing Game in a $19.99 13 book Starter Set (13 books!). The Starter Set fills in the gap between the end of the deckbuilding game and the full RPG releasing next year. It comes with booklets for each of the main heroes in the deckbuilding game, giving background on the character and explaining the character sheet as well as a Gameplay Guide. Help rebuild Megalopolis and reunite the hero teams of the world while fighting off the villains threatening us all. Sentinel Comics is the first print format RPG to hit the market since MWP released the Marvel Super Hero RPG about 5 years ago.

WizKids Adventurer's Camp

In case you purchased the new WizKids Adventurer's Camp, the listing of items on the package is different from the correct list on the website and what is in the package.  WizKids is preparing a "Make good package" to provide the missing pieces to those of you who purchased one. 

Boardgame of the Week: Wonky

USAOpoly has retired the basic all Ages Wonky but still makes the 21+ version. In this version, you are member of the HAZMAT team who must follow directions on the PROTOCOL cards to stabilize the Wonky element cubes. Follow the instructions on all your PROTOCOL cards and have no cards in your hand at the end of your turn to win. Needless to say, the cards are spill proof as consuming liquids can play an important part in the game.

Xanathar's Sales

This week's Rolling for Initiative column looks at reasons why Xanathar's Guide to Everything has topped sales charts.