The Gateway Gazette – Board Game News 14/10/2015

Welcome kind folks to this week’s Gateway Gazette. It’s been a busy week for expos, with international gamers experiencing Essen 2015, and us locals sampling rAge (which Paul will tell you about more tomorrow). This is my very first written work for Cardboard Quest, so bear with me as I try to emulate Stuart and Paul’s contributions during my (forced internet-less) absence. Or at least Stuart’s. Baby steps.

Scythe

So this happened. James Stegmaier’s Scythe, published by Stonemaier Games, reached its Kickstarter goal of $33,000 in 2 minutes. So what’s the fuss about? Scythe is a board game set in an alternate-history 1920s Eastern Europe. The game plays 2-5 players, with each player representing a fallen leader attempting to lead their faction to power. Each player has to conquer territory, enlist recruits, find resources, build structures, and activate mechs.

Players start the game at different locations, with different resources, and their own hidden objective to complete. Combat sounds interesting, as players can’t actually be eliminated, though there is a large amount of conflict. Read more about Scythe here. The game is scheduled for release in August / September 2016.

And look at that beautiful cover, featuring mechs and farmers. It’s like the Catan game I always wanted.

Race for the Galaxy: Xeno Invasion

The fifth expansion for Race for the Galaxy, entirely aimed at intermediate players, is upon us. Xeno Invasion is a 55-card expansion that acts as a regular expansion, but also features a bonus invasion game. The story involves a war-loving alien race that is hell-bent on destroying the universe. You must build your armies while defending yourself from the alien race. Read the full preview from designer Tom Lehman here. And great news – according to Rio Grande:

Perfect

Modesty will get you anywhere

 

Martin Wallace’s Steam™: Rails to Riches has rolled out to the digital frontier and is now available via the Google Play store (sorry iOS users, Apple still needs to give the all-clear before it’s released on the App Store). The app costs $7 / R89.99 and features in-app purchases in the form of extra maps. Initial reviews seem to be positive. You can currently play against AI or your friends via pass-and-play (online multiplayer will be implemented in a future update).

Marvel Dice Masters: The Amazing Spider-Man

The Marvel Dice Masters: The Amazing Spider-Man Starter Set and contents

Michael Elliott and Eric M. Lang’s Dice Masters system is still going strong for Wizkids. Next month sees the release of Marvel Dice Masters: The Amazing Spider-Man, where players will now have access to Spider-Man (duh), Ghost Rider, the Sinister Six, ummm… Aunt May, as well as Gwen Stacey (that won’t end well). Available products will include starter sets, foil packs, a collector’s box and a playmat.

Xenoshyft: Onslaught, another Kickstarter success, is a deck builder published by Cool Mini Or Not. It’s getting its first add-on in the shape of the Grafting Labs Expansion. “The new Grafting Division has a strong focus on enhancing not only a Troop’s combat capabilities, but also grants it additional abilities and powers unmatched by any other Division”. This expansions releases 24 October 2015 in the US.

SW Armada - Wave II

Star Wars is everywhere. With the latest episode to be screened in December, the world has been flogging SW-themed video games, figures, Vader onesies and more. Fantasy Flight has given us a card game and not one, but two collectable miniatures games. And it’s time for more expansions.

Wave II of Armada figures will release in the fourth quarter of 2015, and includes:

  • Imperial-class Star Destroyer Expansion Pack
  • MC30c Frigate Expansion Pack
  • Home One Expansion Pack
  • Rogues and Villains Expansion Pack
  • Imperial Raider Expansion Pack

Still bummed that you didn’t manage to flog a kidney to finance that trip to Essen? Richard Ham (Rahdo) has you covered by running through the press room at the expo, having a look at the majority of the titles on show. With no other expo visitors present. All the games. All to himself.

And we leave the best news for last. The gracious overlords at Telkom HQ has blessed me with access to The Glorious Internet™, so now we have three full-time contributors (working part-time) and aim to bring you even more content. Next week Stuart might be letting us know if Lannisters really pay their debts. For a second time.