Apathy of the New Releases (Apr '15)

The signs of Spring's arrival are upon us.  And if Spring is coming, that means two things.

1) Allergy season is going to suck
2) The Summer con circuit is nearly here, and with it, all the new releases. 

Lots of June New Releases in this month's Game Trade.  Let's hope there all in stock for Origins and GenCon.

Must-Have Want List
Osprey Publishing
The Cthulhu Wars:  The United States' Battles Against the Mythos ............................... $18.95
By Kenneth Hite.   I'm hoping for some great pre and post Delta Green kernels of goodness.
OSP DAK731 

My Money-is-No-Object Want List
Nothing else.


My Imaginary Store List
Alderac Entertainment Group
Rumpelstiltskin .............................................................................................................  $9.99
Game of Crowns ........................................................................................................... $29.99
Trains:  Map Pack #2 .................................................................................................... $12.99

The Army Painter
While the old fart in me is still reeling from the idea that a block of d6's can cost ten bucks, I applaud Army Painter for a gimmick that may work.  Of the 36 dice that normally come in a block, 6 of them will be a different color, to represent special characters or effects.  Not a bad scheme.

Zombicide: Survivor Paint Set ........................................................................................ $17.99
The six bottles of paint run close to eighteen bucks, so I'd love to see what extras are thrown in for a legitimate boxed set

Atlas Games
Fairy Tale Gloom .......................................................................................................... $24.95

Blue Orange
King's Gold .................................................................................................................... $13.00
Rally Up! ....................................................................................................................... $13.00
Ring It! .......................................................................................................................... $15.00
Spot It! Sports ............................................................................................................... $13.00
Wink .............................................................................................................................. $15.00
I'll be honest, I wouldn't normally list these types of generic family games from an unknown company on my list, but I had assistance compiling this month's column.  Out of all the games in the GTM pdf, my five year old daughter Maja picked King's Gold and Wink as her "Daddy can we get these?" games.  Without knowing gameplay, if your store caters to the younger members of family game night, these might be some nice, affordable impulse buys.

Catalyst Game Labs
Battletech Alpha Strike Cards Series 2 ......................................................................... $19.99
Battletech Combat Manual Comstar ............................................................................. $29.99
Battletech Lance Packs (Fire, Striker) ........................................................................... $19.99 ea
Shadowrun: Battle of Manhattan ................................................................................... $14.99
Shadowrun: Bloody Business ........................................................................................ $44.99
Shadowrun: Denver Plot Book ...................................................................................... $49.99
Shadowrun: Hard Targets .............................................................................................. $49.99
Shadowrun: Data Trails ................................................................................................. $49.99

CoolMiniOrNot
CoolMiniOrNot and Corvus Belli are two of the third-tier minis makers that I don't list on here, simply due to the fact that despite their niche products, their releases make GW look affordable.  Again, my trusty sidekick Maja pointed out an item, "I think that bunny's cute, he's not scary at all!"
Arcadia Quest:  Nibbles ................................................................................................. $12.99


Cute, ain't he?

Cryptozoic Entertainment
DC Comics Deck Building Game:  Crisis Expansion Pack 2 ........................................ $20.00

Cubicle 7
Doctor Who: Dalek Dice ................................................................................................ $14.99

Evil Hat Productions
Fate Dice: Frost Dice ...................................................................................................... $15.00

Fantasy Flight Games
While I mentioned why I don't normally list CoolMini or Corvus Belli, I might as well address the omission of certain Fantasy Flight Games  (Battlelore and the  Netrunner, Call of Cthulhu, and Lord other Rings Limited Card Games).  FFG has a hot and heavy release schedule, yet I don't think I know anyone who actively plays it, I've never seen any of these products come off the shelves at any store, and I quiver in horror at the prospect at keeping all the expansions for the product in stock UNLESS a market could be determined.  There's plenty of other products they carry, that I can make an educated decision on. 

STAR WARS ARMADA: MANEUVER TOOL ............................................................ $ 7.95
STAR WARS RPG:  AGE OF REBELLION: DESPERATE ALLIES HC .................... $29.95
STAR WARS RPG: AGE OF REBELLION: SPECIALIZATION DECKS ................... PI
With 14 different specialization decks and a lack of a price, this seems like a questionable item, in league with the above-mentioned games
STAR WARS RPG:  FORCE AND DESTINY RPG ....................................................... $59.95
So...  a separate RPG to handle your force characters, versus the run o' the mill Rebel RPG?  I guess this will work better than the 40K universe.
STAR WARS RPG:  FORCE AND DESTINY GM KIT ................................................. $19.95
WARHAMMER 40K RELIC: HALLS OF TERRA EXPANSION ................................. $39.95

Games Workshop
40K:  Necron Codex ..........................................................................................................  $49.50
40K:  Necron Data Cards ...................................................................................................  $12.50
40K:  Necron Overlord ....................................................................................................... $28.00
40K:  The Tomb Awakened ............................................................................................... $185.00
The Necrons look to have gone the way of the Tyrannids.  Horribly overdone models.

40K: Harlequins Codex ...................................................................................................... $49.50
40K: Harlequins Data Cards ............................................................................................... $12.50
40K: Harlequin Skyweavers ............................................................................................... $40.00
40K: Harlequin Solitaire ..................................................................................................... $26.00
40K: Harlequin Starweavers ................................................................................................ $41.00
40K: Harlequin Troupe ........................................................................................................ $40.00
40K: Harlequin Warriors of the Laughing God Painting Guide .......................................... $33.00
The Harlequins, on the other hand, greatly benefit from being overdone (and out of production for a long time, if my limited memory serves me.) Sure the plastics are overpriced, but outside of special characters (always a ripoff) they're significantly less than Corvus Belli.  That is frightening.

WFB: Skaven Greyseer ........................................................................................................ $22.00
WFB: Skaven Stormfiends ................................................................................................... $62.00
WFB: Skaven Warlord ......................................................................................................... $22.00
Yet the Skaven (even the Stormfiends could be considered "special" characters individually are ridiculously overpriced.

Goodman Games
Fifth Edition Fantasy #3:  The Pillars of Pelagia .................................................................. $ 9.99
Fifth Edition Fantasy #4:   War-Lock ................................................................................... $ 9.99
Metamorphisis Alpha RPG:  Book of Handouts ................................................................... $ 9.99

Konami Digital Entertainment
Yu-Gi Oh! TCG:  Crossed Souls Boosters
Yu-Gi Oh! TCG:  World Superstars Boosters

Laboratory Games
Shadow of the Elder Gods ...................................................................................................... $25.00
"Help defend Arkham from Lovecraftian nightmares in Shadow of the Elder Gods, a cooperative maxi-micro Ameritrash board game."
I think I know what that means, but I don't think most store buyers will interpret that correctly.  If it is ordered, it's under the assumption that "it's a cheap version of Arkham Horror."  or any other Cthulhu-esque game released in the last decade.

Looney Labs
Just Deserts ............................................................................................................................. $18.00

Mantic Entertianment
Dreadball Xtreme .................................................................................................................... $79.99
Yet another $50+ Dreadball expansion?  I'm beginning to understand how such a simple concept can end up with multiple dealers/flea market guys selling team sets off for a steal. 

Margaret Weis Productions
Firefly RPG:  Ghosts in the Black ........................................................................................... $39.99

Mayfair Games
CATAN .................................................................................................................................... $49.00
CATAN 5-6 Player Expansion ................................................................................................  $25.00
CATAN CITIES AND KNIGHT EXPANSION ....................................................................  $49.00
CATAN CITIES AND KNIGHT EXPANSION  5-6 Player Expansion ...............................   $25.00
CATAN EXPLORERS AND PIRATES EXPANSION .........................................................  $49.00
CATAN EXPLORERS AND PIRATES EXPANSION  5-6 Player Expansion  .................... $25.00
CATAN SEAFARERS EXPANSION ..................................................................................... $49.00
CATAN SEAFARERS EXPANSION 5-6 Player Expansion .................................................. $25.00
CATAN TRADERS AND BARBARIANS EXPANSION ...................................................... $49.00
CATAN TRADERS AND BARBARIANS EXPANSION 5-6 Player Expansion .................. $25.00
Mayfair's cash cow is now going by a one word game, like Madonna or Prince?  Did "Settlers" insult the Native American population.  Is the new "one word" edition compatible with the last printing (which worked with, but did not fit perfectly with prior editions)?  Do you blow out the old stock to simply acquire the new?

Modifius
Acthung! Cthulhu RPG:  Interface 19.40  .................................................................................. $32.99

Ninja Division Games
One thing I'm pleasantly surprised about, and one thing I'm grateful for. I'm surprised Maja did not pick any of Super Dungeon Explore minis and their overpriced cuteness.  I'm grateful she did not select any of the Takaoski University minis.  Buxom school girls in various states of undress is not a conversation I want to start this month.

Osprey Publishing
Bolt Action: The Pacific and the Far East .................................................................................. $29.95
The British Dentist ..................................................................................................................... $12.95
Published in association with the British Musuem of Dentistry.  I guess Osprey will publish anything, and it will probably be informative to boot!

British Sheep Breeds ................................................................................................................... $12.95
I stand corrected.  Now I KNOW Osprey will publish anything.

Orc Warfare ................................................................................................................................. $14.95
And it continues to expand.... and yes, there are military books solicited this month as well, just nothing that hasn't been seen in their catalog before.

Paizo Publishing
Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Sword of Valor Adventure Deck ........................................ $19.99
Pathfinder Adventure Path: Giantslayer Part 5 - Anvil of Fire .................................................. $22.99
Pathfinder Campaign Setting:  Hell Unleashed .......................................................................... $19.99
Pathfinder Map Pack: Camps and Shelters ................................................................................. $13.99
Pathfinder Player Companion:  Monster Summoners Handbook ............................................... $12.99

Reaper Miniatures
Reaper has a gigantic solicitation this month, the majority of which is their releases from their Bones II Kickstarter.   As expected, the Bones figures are very affordable.  Specifically to my interest are the Mouslings, which are packaged in sets of two for $2.99.  I ended up saving five bucks for each ten piece set.   With my growing vitriol erased thanks to the arrival of product, I probably will order some of the Bones singles for the girls to paint.

Two positives I gleaned from the solicitation were two Retail Starter sets being offered, at least, for between $450-500, I hope they're starter sets for a store.

Steve Jackson Games
Star Munckin 3:  Diplomatic Impunity ...................................................................................... $19.95

Troll Lord Games
Castles and Crusades RPG:  Fantastic Adventure ..................................................................... $ 6.95
Castles and Crusades RPG: Towers of Adventure .................................................................... $ 9.99

Twilight Creations
Humans!!!! 4:   Camp Zombie Lake ......................................................................................... $14.99
Zombies!!! PG Version ............................................................................................................. $29.99
Let this be recorded in the annals of time as the moment the Zombie craze jumped the shark.  Sure, I've seen plenty of zombie references in the kid's shows Maja and Millie watch (they do watch *yak* Monster High), but to have the grand-daddy of all Beer-and-Pretzel zombie games release a clean version?  I believe the kids use SMMFH. 

Ultra-Pro
Magic the Gathering:  Acrylic Land Caddy ............................................................................  PI
There's probably something cheaper available, but this appears to be a great tool for in-store booster drafts, rather than for an individual player building decks.

Vampire Squid Cards
Crabs Adjust Humidity (Volumes 1-5) ..................................................................................  $18.95 ea
Another Jump the Shark moment.  The third party, unofficial, unauthorized expansion for Cards Against Humanity.  Yes, I know, it's been on Amazon for months, that doesn't make it a good thing. 

Wizards of the Coast
Dungeons & Dragons:  Elemental Evil: Princes of the Apocalypse ...................................... $49.95
Magic the Gathering:  Dragons of Tarkir
Now that I have an interest in current Magic again, I made the realization that the pdf of  GTM #182 became available on or around March 10th.  I think the street date for Dragons is April 1st-ish?   I know it's the fault of the store for missing the emails, fliers, and general buzz of the set if they didn't know it was occurring, but why even mention it in the book for the first time within a month of release?  This should be boilerplate text waiting to be filled in the moment they have the name of the set and confirm pricing.

WIZKIDS
D&D Attack Wing Brass Dragon .....................$24.99
D&D Attack Wing Mind Flayer .......................$14.99
D&D Attack Wing Warrior ..............................$14.99
D&D Attack Wing Premium silver Dragon .....$49.99

Star Trek Attack Wing Wave 17 ..................... $14.99 each.
Star Trek Attack Wing Wave 18 ..................... $14.99 each

DC Dice Masters War of Light

Marvel Heroclix:  Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Boosters and Fast Forces Packs
Marvel Heroclix:  Nick Fury , Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.  Dice and Token Pack.

Marvel Dice Masters:  Avengers Age of Ultron Collectors Box ........................................ $24.99
Marvel Dice Masters: Avengers Age of Ultron Team Box ................................................. $19.99

Pathfinder Battles Gargantuan Red Dragon ......................................................................... $39.99
Pathfinder Battles Dungeons Deep Boosters
Pathfinder Battles Iconic Heroes Set 3 ................................................................................. $29.99 

Green Bay Packers Have Wood for Catan

As a New York Giants fan that can celebrate more Lombardi Trophies than we probably deserve, I had no horses in this weekends NFL Conference Championships.

I believe the Green Bay Packers get the nod, if only for their team-building game night, per this Wall Street Journal article.

A few quick comments: 

First off, anytime the NFL can shed their hustler/murderer/wife beater image of the select few the 24-hour news cycle wants to harp on, it's a great thing.   An NFL playbook is far more complicated that the rules for Settlers (even with all the expansions tacked on), plus we are dealing with college-educated men.   While some leave college early, most have legitimate degrees from respectable institutions.  More than half of the stars from the football factories burn out in just a few years, yet a surpising number of those that have long term success come from the Morehouse States, Southern Chattanoogas, and Mississppi Valley States, as well as some pretty obscure Divison II schools.

Second, if I were to guess the team for this article, between location, weather, and the organizational structure, it would be Green Bay.  They're classy like that.  The Colts

Third, offensive lineman rule! 

Fourth, the Green Bay gaming shop is Gnome Games.  Perhaps they should work with the players for a few complimentary copies of games in exchange for continued publicity?     Regardless, one of the better store websites I've seen.

Five, as a father who is stuck with Candyland, Trouble, and Don't Rock the Boat each night, board games rock.

 

The Apathy of New Releases (February 2013)

It may be 8 degrees here in Pennsylvania, but at Alliance, their Game Trade Magazine is focusing on a lot of post Easter sales.  There's a few oddities in this month's issue, but I'll cover them in the store section.

My must-have want list
Nothing.  There are enough things just off the traditional distributor model that I want, let's not add anything this month, m'kay?

The money is no object list
I've been hearing a lot about Fanticide since July.  This is the first time I've had a chance to look at the minis, and I barely see the appeal.  The one thing that jumps out at me is their Flying Monkeys warband.  For $90.00, I would need to know why this is superior to the Eureka Flying Monkeys.  Luckily, they offer individual blisters of the minis, so I may need to add Fanticide and Eureka monkeys on my Cold Wars shopping list and make a review.

Pic from www.agamemag.com

One of the Offered Again (O/A) items in the book are State Maps for Catan   Multiple states are listed and I'm interested in the Penn-Jersey version for $30.00.  Insert your favorite wood for sheep joke in your favorite/least favorite region.

The Imaginary Store List for the Pegleg Gnome
Two things stand out in the latest issue of GTM if I'm a store owner.  First, there is a much larger percentage of product (O/A) offered again.  This is a confusing term as they do us this to cover items that were never solicited in the monthly book, as well as "friendly" reminders to stores to restock their established lines, like Munchkin.   Most of the O/A items in this issue are newer product that may have hit the weekly email solicitations that stores get, but there was little chance of customer feedback.

Second, numerous companies are releasing playmats, I assume for CCGs. I haven't seen a proliferation of these at this magnitude since the Spellgrounds were made in the early days of Magic.  Don't know why they started up again, and most of them are listed as "PI" which means the stores are getting less than their normal discount rate to purchase them.  If they are affordable, at least they can be set up to only take up a minimal amount of shelf space.
AEG
Legend of the Five Rings CCG Torn Asunder Boosters.

Cryptozoic
REINER KNIZIA’S THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY  BOARD GAME   $40.00

Cubicle 7
The Doctor Who RPG:  The Fourth Doctor Sourcebook.    $39.99
PATHFINDER: FACES OF THE TARNISHED SOUK   $39.99

DGS
I mentioned the Freeblades Fantasy Skirmish game two months ago.  Still haven't seen any other news or pictures about it, but here's another solicitation for individual figures.  Still can't wrap my head around a militia spearmen costing as much ($5.99) as much as an apprentice knight.

Expeditious Retreat Press
ADVANCED ADVENTURES #26:  THE WITCH MOUNDS              $12.00
ADVANCED ADVENTURES #27:  BITTERROOT BRIAR                 $12.00

Fantasy Flight Games
ONLY WAR WARHAMMER 40K:  RPG: HAMMER OF THE EMPEROR   $39.95

Gale Force 9
Deep Space Battle Mat                        $39.95

Goodman Games
DUNGEON CRAWL CLASSICS #75: THE SEA QUEEN ESCAPES $9.99
DUNGEON CRAWL CLASSICS #76:  COLOSSUS, ARISE!             $9.99

Mantic 
Two goblin units, some Goblin Mawbeast set with five figures for $45 bucks and a Goblin War Trombone for $19.99  I'd give the trombone a shot just for the name.

Margaret Weis
MARVEL HEROIC ROLEPLAYING:
AGE OF APOCALYPSE - HUMAN HIGH COUNCIL SUPPLEMENT     $19.99

Open Design
PATHFINDER: COURTS OF THE SHADOW FEY          $24.95

Pathfinder
PATHFINDER ADV PATH REIGN OF WINTER PART 3 - MAIDEN, MOTHER, CRONE           $22.99
PATHFINDER CAMPAIGN SETTING: CASTLES OF THE INNER SEA
$19.99
PATHFINDER FACE CARDS: SHATTERED STAR ADVENTURE PATH
$10.99
PATHFINDER PLAYER COMPANION: QUESTS & CAMPAIGNS
$12.99
PATHFINDER TALES: PIRATE’S HONOR
$ 9.99

Pokemon Compnay Int'l
POKÉMON TCG: BLACK & WHITE  PLASMA STORM Booster/Starter

I've seen a pile of people's FLGS in the past month and almost all of them have some group of pla ers in the back of some picture with Pokemon cards.  This game will not die and there's no reason not to profit from it.

Wizards of the Coast
AD&D 1ST EDITION PREMIUM UNEARTHED ARCANA HARDCOVER  $49.99
If it's updated with the errata as promised, this could be awesome.  Between this and the pdfs being available, it's a good week to be a grognard.

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: DUNGEON COMMAND - BLOOD OF GRUUMSH   $39.99
Forty bucks for 12 cheap plastic minis and some rules/handouts.

AXIS & ALLIES AIR FORCE:  BANDITS HIGH
            BOOSTER WOC A07030000..............................................................$24.99
            TWO-PLAYER STARTER SET WOC A07040000 ............................$39.99

Wizkids
Another wave after wave of stuff....
MARVEL HEROCLIX: IRON MAN 3 MOVIE
DC HEROCLIX: TEEN TITANS THE RAVAGERS FAST FORCES PACK
DC HEROCLIX: TEEN TITANS SET

Settlers of America

Wired.com has an article up reviewing Settlers of America, the latest of the Settlers series of games. It intrigues me: static resource tiles (the number tiles are still there for some randomness), game play goes between traditional Settlers development and a train game with resources moving across the board. No more civilizations getting build around, too!

A Pic from the Wired.com article *drool*

The history major in me is screaming the same things the article promotes: "Awesome teaching tool!" The part of me that loves train games but can't convince others to play is looking at the $55.00 price tag and convincing the wargaming side "It's only another unit of gnomes." And the tired father of two is thinking this is a great fill in game when I do get the gang back together and the regular session runs short or lackluster.

The full review:

http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2011/01/learn-u-s-history-or-just-have-fun-settlers-of-america/

Settlers of Catan 15th Anniversary Edition

It took me a long time to actually play Settlers of Catan. Heck, I even owned one of the early English printings of the game, never played, and sold it still in the shrinkwrap for a tidy profit on ebay. Settlers was part of that "cool" set of games around the beginning of the millenium: Formula De, Apples to Apples, Push Car. Completely cool games that need players and time to truly be great. Plus Settlers always had expansion and variants like Spacefarers and Settlers of Canaan.

After finding the time to bite the bullet and play a couple of times, Settlers is now one of our reserve games in case everything falls apart. I've got an old boxed set and a new version of the 5-6 player expansion. Yeah, it clashes horribly, but it gets the job done.

But the new release from Mayfair next week makes me drool. Settlers of Catan - 15th Anniversary Edition™ looks to be a player's delight. All-wood pieces, board, accesories, and a kickass wooden box with clasp:

Now the $150 price tag is making me gasp a little bit, until you realize that the basic game has been 35-40 bucks, the 5-6 player expansion is 15-20, and that's only cardstock with wooden playing pieces. Like the bookcase editions of the classic popular board games, some things belong in a dignified container on nice shelf.

...so the kids and the dogs can't destroy them.

http://mayfairgames.com/game.php?id=346&stock=MFG3102&name=Settlers+of+Catan+-+15th+Anniversary+Edition%99 for more information.