Talisman: The deadly magic wand

Talisman is a great game, we can all agree on that one, but there is one problem with it, and that is the magic wand.

We had a guy in our group that always went for it, and would kill you to get at it. The problem with this was it was like giving him the Crown of Command in game. He would always have a full compliment of spells, and would burn through them to get the powerful spells.

Now I do see the point in the magic wand, and a lot of groups wont have players like that. The first time this happened was quite fun, but got old as EVERY game he would go for the wand. This led me to confiscating the card from the adventure deck. Some may say that was harsh, but the people who played with us agreed that it was the best course of action.

However, this card did lead to one of the greatest moments in this game I have ever played.

The wand had become the Crown of Command, and I was fed up of all the spells being thrown around. So I decided to take my Monk, and take the wand from him. I charged around the map, and finally landed on his square where I could challenge him to combat. Even with my unbuffed monk, (and I think a very lucky dice roll) I took the wand from his clutches, and fled. Straight to the alchemist.

Ill never forget the look on his face as the card was melted down, I got a gold for it, and it made its departure to the discard deck.

The bards sang about that day for a long time.

Relic first look: video

I found this first look on youtube, from Elliot Miller (http://www.youtube.com/user/mylantus100?feature=watch). Its from Games Day Chicago 2012, where FFG are showing this game for the first time. They only announced it the day before (two days ago!)

How awesome do those busts look like? I really cannot wait to get my hands on this game! Some of the mechanics also sound really nice, the corruption deck has peaked my interest. I know some people who will take a lot of those cards!

And, its not me in the video. Just thought I would clear that up. It's Elliot Miller, http://www.youtube.com/user/mylantus100?feature=watch and he has some decent videos over there. Go check them out.

Fantasy Flight Games announce: Relic

Now this is one game that I has gotten me in a bit of a twist. This is a game based on some of my favorite games, Talisman and Warhammer 40000.  Yes you, you read that right, Talisman set in the 41st millenium.  Heres the link, go and take a look.

How cool does that look? We will definatly be following that game here at Farlands Games, and with a release set for quarter 4 2012, looks like we dont have to long to wait either!

The night that was TNG...

TNG being Thursday night gaming!

Well, it was a good turn out, many games were played, and more drinks were consumed. Everyone had a great time, and I hope to see them more at the next meeting!

A difficult question needing discussion...

The night kicked off with a group playing the great game LOGO. I heard lots of laughing and joking just from this group, and they played the game about 4 times I think. Just goes to show how a game so simple can be so social. Moving around the room we had a mahjong game going on, with a brand new player and a experienced player showing them the ropes. I did have to jump in and help the new player (even though I missed the most obvious move..oops!)

MageStones, a game that I highly rate and love, got a good airing, with two players having a good few games of it. A simple game like naughts and crosses with a twist, I can see this being a great hit with everyone.

Take that lowly monk!

Talisman was next, and although only two players, quite a few were involved, laughing at the undeafeatable monk, and a dragon slaying bard (!). That game ended messy, with a unanimous win for the monk, again. It seems like you draw him you win....

Around the room there was a game of Monopoly going on, with a improvised rule I overheard “its only cheating if you are caught”, which I like the sound of.

....But all in good jest

The point someone cheated....

And finally we had a game on Warhammer 40k 6^th 

Edition. I think the new rules shine much better than previous, and a testament that the players had almost no experience of the game, it went smooth with a somewhat predictable Space Marine win (best moment, a dreadnaught assaulting a 10 man group of Ork boys...)

All in all it was a great night. There was plenty of space left, so we want more people to come! Bring your own games, or come and see what we have there ourselves. There will be something for everyone, and I can nearly guarantee that there will be a game there that you will not have played, so come on down and let us show you what you are missing!

Thursday Night Gaming will be every on Thursday night at the Thimblemill Pub, Smethwick, from 730 pm till late. Entry is £2, and there will be at least 10 games supplied by Farlands Games every week, ranging from Scrabble all the way up to Warhammer 40000. Come on down and say hello, we welcome everyone and there will always be something to play!

Talisman 4th Edition Review

I first played this game many years ago as a child, when it was in its third edition. Back then it was a great game, that I could play with both my family and friends, and it will always have a dear place in my heart. So how does the Fantasy Flight Games 4^th reprint stack up?

This game oozes presentation. From when you first pick up and feel the weight of the box, you know you have a great game in your hands. This carries on when you open up the box for the first time, and see all the cards and the miniatures, and that board.

The board is huge, with beautiful artwork all across it. You can play this game many, many times and still see new things on the board, things that you missed the last time. All the other componants are wonderful aswell, with nice finishes on all the cards, and all the plastic pieces just feel right.

The rulebook is the usual fare, and I feel way to long for this game. It makes the game feel complicated when you first read it, but play the first game, and you will see how it all fits together seamlessly.

The game plays really smoothly, and even with brand new players, once you have played the first turn, every one will know what to do. Gameplay is simple: Roll a dice, move your character that amount of spaces left or right around the board, and do what the space you land on instructs you to do. Usually, it will be draw a amount of cards, which you then follow the instructions. These can range from fights with monsters, to items that you can pick up or special events that affect everyone on the board. Then its the next players turn to do the same.

The whole idea is to build your character into a strong warrior and work your way into the center of the board, where the Crown of Command exists. At this point, the character with the Crown of Command kills everyone and wins. It sounds easy, but as you work your way into the center of the board, spaces get harder, as do the monsters that you encounter. Couple that with the fact that when you make a dive for the center, you become a target for everyone to get.

I have found that this game takes about one hour for each player playing. So a four player game can last four hours, but don't let this put you off, that time will fly by. It really is a fun night in game, so grab your friends, get some drinks and snacks and see where this game takes you. The tales that can be told from playing this game are wide a varied, and peoples misfortunes will make you all fall around in laughter. Take for example from a game I played. We had a hapless druid, who on his turn drew the mighty dragon to fight. Having not a chance, he still fought it, and lost. Play went around, and he swiftly moved on, only to draw a demon, the most powerful enemy in the deck! Needless to say, his character did not last long, and proceeded to get drunk in the tavern (it had been a rough day).

So, do I like this game? Yes I do, and so does everyone I have introduced to it. This definatly goes in my top 5 games of all time. So get this, you will not regret it one bit.

Rating: 9.5/10