Academy Games

Well, it's almost like the week is getting back on schedule, even though it's Saturday. I woke up. I got groceries. I'm now typing up the Review Roundup in my living room while listening to music and contemplating the rest of my day. Sort of nice to get things back to how they should be. What can I say? I'm a creature of habit. Anyway, as it's Saturday, it's time to get you those review articles I know you all so desperately desire. So let's get to it.

Today we have: Knot Dice Deluxe, Via Nebula, Lords of Hellas, 12 Realms: Dungeonland, 1754 Conquest: The French and Indian War, Star Realms: Colony Wars and United Expansions, Tournament of Towers, Manhattan Project: Energy Empire, Tesla vs. Edison: Duel, Balloon Pop, Terra Mystica App, Star Trek Panic, Sagrada, Yokohama, Ravage: Dungeons of Plunder, and EXIT: The Game - The Secret Lab.



Toucan Play That Game:

Knot Dice Deluxe Review

In this video you can find out my thoughts on Knot Dice Deluxe.

Via Nebula Review

In this video you can find out my thoughts on Via Nebula by Space Cowboys.

theMCGuiRE review:

Lords of Hellas Review

theMCGuiRE review takes a look at Lords of Hellas from Awaken Realms. This is the second video in a 2 part series looking at the game play and mechanics. The first video was an overview of the miniatures and components. So if you want to see everything up close - please watch the component overview video.

12 Realms: Dungeonland Review

theMCGuiRE review takes a look at the new kickstarter 12 Realms: Dungeonland from Mage Company. This is based in the 12 Realms universe with all your favorite characters! The difference in this game vs 12 Realms is this is a fantastic dungeon crawler that is very satisfying as you customize your characters with skill tree's available to each character in the game.

The Board Game Show:

1754 Conquest: The French and Indian War Review

Every now and then a game system comes along that delivers a refreshing jolt to all that’s come before it. It’s often something that makes you ask, “Why didn’t I think of that?”

1754 Conquest: The French & Indian War, the latest in Academy Games’ Birth of America Series, manages to bring the familiar game play of its predecessors, but with enough differences to make purchasing this historical gem worthwhile.

Board Game Quest:

Star Realms: Colony Wars and United Expansions Review

Star Realms Colony Wars stand alone expansion and the United expansion attempt to expand the success of releases with new ships and mechanics. Since I am covering several Star Realms in this review, I’ve broken them up more specifically below.

Tournament of Towers Preview

While there are a few different variants on play (family mode, mulligans, etc), the basic game play in Tournament of Towers has players stacking oddly shaped pieces with the goal of creating the tallest tower worth the most points. Using a system of piece values and card drafting, players must make it through two rounds of stacking if they hope to win the tournament.

Manhattan Project: Energy Empire Review

Players sit in the roles of countries trying to develop industry and energy production over a period of time roughly from the end of World War II to the present day. Throughout the game, players will construct buildings, power plants as dice, and manage the pollution in their environment with the aim of scoring the most points.

Tesla vs Edison: Duel Preview

Players in Tesla vs Edison: Duel take on the role of rival inventors trying to spread the gospel of alternating or direct current. In the game, each player plays projects and takes control of companies via a shared collection across three regions of the United States. What develops is card play with area control where the player with greater area strength claims the spoils. Players can win instantly or by accumulating points after three rounds.

iSlaytheDragon:

Balloon Pop! Review

In Balloon Pop! players try to score the most points by coming close to, but not reaching, the top of the scoring columns on their score sheets. Like Icarus, you want to fly as high as you can without getting too close to the sun. Each score sheet is composed of six columns of numbers, with a column for each side of the dice: the colors yellow, blue, and red, and the symbols star, moon, and diamond.

Terra Mystica App Review

Terra Mystica (the board game and the app) is an engine- and network-building/resource conversion game for one to five players. Players control fantasy races in the land of Terra Mystica, trying to shape the land into habitable quarters and advance in the elemental religions. The player with the most victory points is the winner.

Star Trek Panic Review

If you’ve ever played Castle Panic, you’re in familiar territory. Star Trek Panic does, however, include a few adaptations.

Drive Thru Review:

Sagrada Review

Intro (00:00); game overview (01:01); final thoughts and review (07:23)

Yokohama Review

Intro (00:00); game overview (01:08); final thoughts and review (15:54)

Polyhedron Collider:

Ravage: Dungeons of Plunder Kickstarter Review

In many ways Ravage: Dungeons of Plunder is a typical dungeon crawler and in its basic premise I have to say that there isn't a huge amount of original ideas in the game. You'll venture into dark depths, kill monsters, grab loot, level up and hopefully last long enough to take on the story's goal. But Ravage puts a few interesting tweaks into the age old formula and wraps it up in a package of beautiful artwork and striking graphic design.

EXIT: The Game – The Secret Lab Review

You may have noticed a surge in the number or Escape Room style board games appearing over the last few months. Fresh on the heels of cooperative puzzle games like TIME Stories comes a whole range of one-time puzzles based on the escape room phenomenon that is gripping the world. If you are like me, and live at the arse end of nowheresville you will most likely not have had an opportunity to visit one of these experiences.

Thankfully system like Unlock, Escape the Room and EXIT allow you to experience these cooperative puzzle sessions at home. We were lucky to receive a copy of EXIT The Secret Lab from Kosmos and so the opportunity of a bank holiday weekend meant I was able to lock ourselves into the dining room after a Sunday roast and see if the Tudor family was clever enough to escape a devious laboratory.

We were not.

Hey there, everyone. I hope you're enjoying your Saturday. Mine's not the greatest, as I'm driving back from visiting my parents. Not that visiting my parents is bad. But the 8.5 hour drive back home is. Buh. No fun at all. But at least once I'm back home I'll be able to get back into the groove of some gaming.

In the meantime, let's get you some gaming reviews.

Today we have: VS 2PCG A-Force Expansion, Conflict of Heroes Guadalcanal, Shattered Void, Wake Up Cthulhu, Oh My Gods, Scape, Legendary Dice Throwers, Blood & Fortune, Histrio, Mistborn: House War, Celestia, and Morocco.



Play Board Games:

VS 2PCG A-Force Expansion Review

A-Force is the second expansion for the VS 2PCG. It adds two new teams, more characters and more fun power combinations.

The Board Game Show:

Conflict of Heroes Guadalcanal Review

Let’s make one thing clear; I am an Academy Games fan boy. Wait. Don’t run away screaming “bias” just yet. If you think about it, becoming a fan doesn’t happen overnight. My love of the Conflict of Heroes (COH) games is based on its intuitive combat system, superbly-written rule books, the impressive modeling of unit reactions and statuses, and the ongoing support and improvement for the entire COH line, including a solo expansion, a card-based firefight generator and a Wrecks & Destruction pack for amping up the realism of your tank battles.

Given that Guadalcanal is the latest installment, I’ll focus mainly on the aspects that set this edition apart from the others. If you are new to the system, don’t fret. In fact, rejoice! COH is a system you must play, and I’m a bit jealous you get to experience it for the first time. I believe any COH game would be a fine place to begin. If you are new to the system or just wondering about what’s new in Guadalcanal, please read on. I hope that you find it to be as exciting an addition as I did.

Brueckenkopf:

Shattered Void Review

The team of Brueckenkopf Online takes a close look at the ships of Shattered Void (currently on kickstarter).

Toucan Play That Game:

Wake Up, Cthulhu! Review

In this video you can find out my thoughts on Wake Up, Cthulhu by GDM Games.

Oh My Gods Review

In this video you can find out my thoughts on Oh My Gods! by Gameworthy Labs.

Scape Review

In this video you can find out my thoughts on S.C.A.P.E. by GDM Games.

Legendary Dice Throwers Review

In this video you can find out my thoughts on Legendary Dice Throwers by drawlab Entertainment.

Polyhedron Collider:

Blood & Fortune Review

If Fortune is the victory points then the Blood is how you gain these cards, each round you will offer two of your cards to another player, they choose one and add it to their row. If you've been paying attention you'll realise that you'll need to offer up your 2-point cards at the right time, to ensure your opponent wants to add that card to their row and that it appears as far to the end of that row as possible.

Board Game Quest:

Histrio Review

In Histrio, players are running an acting troupe during the Renaissance. During the game, players will gather both actors and acrobats in hopes of putting on the most impressive play. However His Royal Majesty is a fickle man, and his mood might change as to what kind of play he would like to see.

Mistborn: House War Preview

Mistborn: House Wars takes place during the first book of the Mistborn series, Mistborn: The Final Empire. My preview will contain no spoilers for the books.

iSlaytheDragon:

Whatever Floats Your Boat Floats Mine, Too (a review of Celestia)

Celestia is a semicooperative push-your-luck/hand management game for two to six players. Players are passengers on an airship that must work together to make it to faraway lands and collect points. The player with the most points when at least one player reaches 50 is the winner.

It’s What You Fight For (A Review of Mouse Guard Roleplaying Game)

Mouse Guard is a pen-and-paper role-playing game created by veteran designer Luke Crane and based on the graphic novels of David Petersen. Players create mice characters who serve in the Mouse Guard, a quasi-military order which aids and protects fellow mice throughout the Territories in a Middle Ages-style world setting. Guided by the game master (GM) – a separate participant who keeps events structured and within the rules – players assume the identities of their mice through one or more sessions as a patrol performing Guard duties, embarking on journeys and overcoming challenges. In essence, each session becomes an adventure within a developing chronicle where everyone at the table is a storyteller.

Drive Thru Review:

Star Trek Panic Review

Intro (00:00); game overview (01:03); final thoughts and review (16:07)

Morocco Review

Intro (00:00); game overview (01:11); final thoughts and review (10:48)

Welcome to another Saturday, beautiful readers. We're in a bit of the "calm before the storm." The last weekend before Gen Con. I did some grocery shopping specifically for the trip (granola bars and cough drops to have in my satchel as I run all around Indy). Next will be making a packing list to make sure I've got everything I need while there. What sort of prep do you guys have going on?

Well, take a small break from all that packing and painting and whatever else you're doing to enjoy some reviews we found during the week.

In this week's batch, we've got reviews/previews of: Systema Gaming Base-0 HQ Unit, Police Precinct, Random Encounter, Roadkill Rivals, Fleet Wharfside, Specter Ops, Karma, The Voting Game, DeadFellas, Black Fleet, Fief: France 1429, Imperial Assault, Flea Market, and Gold Ahoy.



Graven Games:

Systema Gaming Base-0 HQ Unit Review

Today we build the Base-0 HQ Unit from Systema Gaming, a company specialising in laser-cut MDF terrain kits for wargaming. The Base-0 range is a set of great looking sci-fi kits that would work well in 25-32mm wargames including Infinity and Warhammer 40k. This is the first part in a series of reviews we’ll be doing on the base-0 kits, eventually combining these modular kits together into an awesome multi-level battlefield for our games.

Board Game Quest:

Police Precinct Review

I have an absolutely unabashed love for television police procedurals going all the way back to my youth. From reruns of CHiPs and Dragnet, to Homicide: Life on the Street and the omnipresent-on-cable Law and Order franchise, they’ve always provided me a view (albeit not always an accurate one) into the world of law enforcement.

At the same time, my other major interest of gaming seemed to be bereft of games that involved this vast amount of content and theme. Having heard excellent things about Police Precinct by Common Man Games, I was very interested in backing the Kickstarter campaign for the reskinning and reprinting of the game. Did Police Precinct gather all the evidence to prove that it is a solid game beyond a reasonable doubt, or are there enough holes in the game to lead to a dismissal? Read on to find out.

Police Precinct is a cooperative game for 1-6 players, that takes between 60-90 minutes to play. Police Precinct plays best with 2-4 players, and also plays well as a solo game.

Random Encounters Preview

I have been part of a regular gaming group for the last 6 years. I have gone from a person that never played Dungeons and Dragons to now taking the role of Dungeon Master. Over those last 6 years, I have been attempting to get some of my friends who are just as inexperienced in D&D when I started, to take a seat at the table.

Unfortunately, bribery and pleading haven’t gotten many of my friends to take the plunge into a full RPG, however, I have succeeded at getting them to play board games that have some of the same characteristics, like Descent.

Today, we will be looking at a game that scratches that co-op fantasy RPG itch, Random Encounters. A game that allows players to experience 3 levels of chaos as they must work together to make it through the obstacles thrown their way. Let’s get into the preview to see if it is a game you want to help get funded.

Roadkill Rivals Preview

I am fortunate to live in New Jersey, wrongfully maligned by the entertainment-media complex to cause the rest of the country to think it’s a state filled with nothing but oil refineries, greased up beachgoers, and gangsters. This couldn’t be further from the truth: we have farms and forests and nature abound, truly fulfilling its nickname of the Garden State. Want to know what happens though when suburban sprawl meets the natural world? Road kill, and lots of it. I see it every day.

What does this have to do with Roadkill Rivals by Pygmy Giraffe Games? Not much, other than I thought it was a clever intro. Does Roadkill Rivals do a smash-up job, or does it remain a bloody mess for the vultures to eat up? Read on to find out.

Roadkill Rivals by Pygmy Giraffe Games is a card game for 2-6 players, that plays between 15-30 minutes. In our plays, we found that it played best with 3-4 players.

Fleet Wharfside Preview

I own Fleet and have enjoyed my plays of it as I took on the role of a Fleet Captain managing my boats, licenses and hunting down those elusive fish. Fleet maintains a solid foothold in my game collection. Designers Ben Pinchback and Matt Riddle, along with Eagle-Gryphon Games are bringing us back to the world of Fleet with a new game called Fleet Wharfside. Fleet Wharfside uses a simple and quick, yet engaging card-play to challenge each player (Captain) to acquire and fulfill the most profitable contracts.

Fleet Wharfside is currently on Kickstarter through August 4th and is a game for 2-4 players that takes 20-30 minutes to play.

Board to Death TV:

Specter Ops Review

A secret agent of A.R.K. has infiltrated a top secret Raxxon facility, attempting to complete three mission objectives before they escape — but they are hunted by genetically modified Raxxon Hunters. Players can choose which side they wish to join.
Specter Ops is a sci-fi, stealth ops game of hidden movement that’s similar to Scotland Yard. Players are trying to locate/capture a mysterious agent, who keeps track of their sneaking via a private map. The other players take control of unique characters who must use their wits, abilities and technology to help them hunt down this infiltrator. Items like flash grenades, scanners, and the like are at the disposal of this covert agent.

Karma Review

In Karma, each player is dealt three face-down cards that he cannot look at and that remain on the table in front of him. He is dealt six more cards, chooses three of those for his hand, and places the remaining three face-up onto his table cards in three separate stacks. One player begins by placing a card or cards of the same value from his hand onto the table face-up to create a discard pile. The other players in turn must place onto the discard stack a card or cards of the same value that match(es) or exceed(s) the value of the top card of the stack; or else, pick up the stack. Until the draw pile is gone, players must draw at the end of their turns to maintain a hand of at least three cards.

All of a player’s hand cards must be played before any of his face-up table cards, which must in turn be played before any of his face-down table cards. A few cards allow players to break the foregoing rules. The last player with cards loses the game.

Karma is based on the public domain card game, Palace.

The Voting Game Review

The Voting Game is an adult party game that uncovers the hilarious truth about your friendships. Each Round, vote anonymously for the player that is described by the current question. Tally the votes and watch as the personalities of your friends are revealed.

Play with friends new and old, expect to discover things that you didn’t know about the other players and yourself! Winning is possible but not important. The Voting Game includes 6 game variations, 140 question cards and voting cards for up to 10 players.

DeadFellas Review

Deadfellas is a fast-paced card game about whacking Mooks in the zombie mafia.

Play Board Games:

Black Fleet Review

In Black Fleet you control a merchant ship, a pirate ship and share control of the royal navy ships. You must deliver goods with your merchant ship while avoiding you opponents’ pirate ship. And try to attack your opponents’ merchant ship while avoiding the royal navy.

Shut Up & Sit Down:

Fief: France 1429 review

SU&SD is host to a grand old game today! Fief is a negotiation-heavy wargame that's been around since 1981, and a fancy new edition titled Fief: France 1429 has just arrived. What will the boys make of it?

This review features a special segment on WHEN BOARD GAMES GO BAD. It's a tear-jerker.

Imperial Assault Review

After failing to steal a miniature AT-ST in last year's Gen Con special, Matt, Paul and Quinns have come together to deliver the definitive, official verdict on Star Wars: Imperial Assault.

Is it better than its predecessor, Descent 2nd Edition? Why is Paul grunting at the camera? And why does Quinns look so sad? You'll have your answers to all this, AND MORE.

WARNING: We're currently having our copyright for this video reviewed! This is not a joke. If the link goes down, we'll repair it ASAP. Parody is fair use!

iSlaytheDragon:

One Man’s Trash (A Review of Flea Market)

Don’t know what to do with that plainly looking One Ring to Rule Them All laying about? How about that tarnished Aladdin’s Lamp that just doesn’t shine up anymore? Or that Ark of the Covenant in the back of the garage just full of dust? Well, you know what they say? That’s right! Dump your trash on some unsuspecting dupe that thinks it’s his treasure! Have a yard sale – the epitome of capitalism gone small!

All That Is Gold Does Not Glitter (a review of Gold Ahoy!)

There be treasure in these waters, and you’re out to find it. The map is a little abstract, and you kind of have to build it as you go, but you’ll find the treasure, all right, even if you have to cut your crewmate off to do it.

Enter the world of Gold Ahoy!, where the treasure is plentiful but the paths to get to it are not.

Hey everyone. Welcome to another Sunday Edition here on TGN.
Now, some of you might've noticed that we ran Sunday Snippets on Saturday and are doing the Review Roundup here on Sunday.
I'm... not entirely sure how that happened actually. I think all the necromantic energy from the Zombicide previews got to me and confused up my brain! All day yesterday felt like Sunday. It wasn't until like 4-5pm that I was like, "Wait... it's Saturday!" Anyway, we've got your reviews for you today.

This week we've got reviews/previews of: Pathfinder Battles: The Lost Coast Booster, Kromlech Orc Character Set, 12 Realms: Ancestors Legacy, K2, XenoShyft, Fief France 1429, Samurai Spirit, Deus, and Galactic Strike Force.



Graven Games:

Pathfinder Battles: The Lost Coast Booster Review

Lets open up some Pathfinder Battles, the Lost Coast booster boxes! We’re big fans of using miniatures in our tabletop RPG sessions, and have been collecting the pre-painted miniatures designed for D&D and Pathfinder for quite some time. The Lost Cost is the most recent set from Paizo/WizKids although a new set titled Dungeons Deep is on the way this June. Until then we’re going to be opening up these Lost Coast boosters, and taking a look at the heroes, monsters, and other creatures contained within.

Kromlech Orc Character Set Review

Today we are checking out some Orc Character miniatures from Kromlech. We recently reviewed some of Kromlech’s Orc Squads so it will be interesting to see how their character models stand out.

Board Game Quest:

12 Realms: Ancestors Legacy Preview

There’s game that has been bouncing around the BGQ offices lately and it’s called 12 Realms. If you haven’t seen it yet, 12 Realms is a gorgeous looking, cooperative board game based on the old fables and fairy tales. Fantastic miniatures, great artwork, and a family friendly theme are front and center to suck you into the game.

Today, we are going to talk briefly about the Ancestors Legacy expansion, which you will be able to get as part of their upcoming Bedtime Stories Kickstarter campaign. So let’s dive into it and see what it’s like.

K2 Review

When I look at my bucket list, I realize I have many physically active things I want to do in the future. Traveling Europe, surfing, and walking the Appalachian Trail are just a few of them. But there is one thing you won’t find…reaching the summit of difficult mountain. It’s not that I wouldn’t enjoy the view. I just have little desire to ascend a peak with a low survival rate.

This isn’t the case for Adam Ka?u?a, who in addition to being a mountain climber designed the game we will be reviewing here. In K2, players will control two mountaineers who are trying to reach the summit of K2, the second largest mountain in the world. Players will have to manage their deck of movement and acclimatization cards to get both pawns as high up the mountain as they can in 18 turns. Is this game worth the climb or should you just stay at base camp? Let’s get to it.

K2 is a hand management game for 1-5 players to play in around an hour. In my experience, the game plays best with 3-5 players.

Board to Death TV:

XenoShyft Review

A strategic base defense deck builder by Cool Mini Or Not. In XenoShyft, players take on the role of the NorTec Military, charged with defending their base against the onslaught of the alien “Hive.”

XenoShyft combines classic deckbuilding and resource management with fast-paced combat and unique “base defense” elements—As the game progresses, each player will build up their deck of Troop, Equipment, and Item cards, which they will in turn use to defend the base against incoming enemies in deadly combat.It is up to the players to work together in order to outlast the horrors awaiting them by coordinating strategy, utilizing the strengths of their unique divisions (Med Bay, Weapons Research, Science Lab, and Armory), and organizing defense tactics to ensure no player is caught off-guard by surprise attacks. XenoShyft is a game of tactical decisions and survival horror—and survival is never guaranteed.

Fief France 1429 Review

Fief: France 1429 is a game of dynastic ambition in which players assume the roles of nobles in the 15th century kingdom of France. Each player strives to become the most powerful ruling force in the kingdom by gaining control of Fief and Bishopric territories. In turn, they acquire Royal and Ecclesiastical (church) titles which give their families influence to elect the next Pope and King. Players strengthen their positions by negotiating marriage alliances between their families, setting the stage for love, treachery and deception!

iSlaytheDragon:

Samurai Spirit Review

So you want to be a Samurai? Then prove your worth. Because you are a Samurai and there’s an army coming to knock down the doors of your village and burn it to the ground.

Based loosely on the film Seven Samurai, Samurai Spirit is a cooperative game that pits you and your friends against a massive onslaught of opponents, and only you can stop them. Get ready to unleash the spirit animal that lies within you, because the odds are overwhelmingly against you, and only the fiercest will survive to save a remnant of their land.

Shut Up & Sit Down:

Deus Review

Who doesn't enjoy a little bit of empire-building now and then? Paul certainly does, which is why he was excited to look at Deus this week, something he did entirely of his own choosing and under no sort of godly compulsion.

With a modular board, lots of little wooden pieces to arrange and a huge deck of cards representing everything from legions to laboratories, could this be a new favourite game of centurions and conquest?

Play Board Games:

Galactic Strike Force Review

Galactic Strike Force is a sci-fi themed cooperative board game. You must build your ship and fight off the enemy fleets and flagship to win.

You start Galactic Strike Force by selecting a Strike Force ship you want to pilot. Next you choose which enemy you want to face and pick the three sectors the game will take place in. Each sector gets three piles of five Station cards and you place opposition ships equal to two times the number of players.

Academy Games has launched a Kickstarter campaign for their new board game, Fief - France 1429.
They're already more than 2x funded, so it's stretch goals for the next 40 days.



Source

From the campaign:

Fief is a game of dynastic ambition, where players assume the roles of nobles in the 15th century Kingdom of France.