The Gateway Gazette – Board Game News – 26/02/2016

We all know you don’t tune in weekly for my waxing lyrical, so let’s dispense with formalities and get straight into the only words that hold genuine meaning – here’s more stuff to throw your wallet at.

App News

There was a great deal of excitement when Glass Road was announced back in November, but then things went quiet. Apparently developers Smart and Smarty were experiencing 64bit support issues, but the good news is that things are back on track and the title should hit iOS and Android in a few weeks.

Talisman: The Horus Heresy launched on Steam a few days ago. Fantasy Flight have been adamant that it’s far more than just Talisman in the 40k setting. We’ve not played it as yet, but make sure you read the good and bad reviews if you’re feeling tempted.

Pathfinder veterans and novices alike, if you’ve not checked out the Paizo Humble Bundle then drop everything and do it right now. As little as $1 will net you the Core Rulebook and Digital Beginner Box, whilst $15 will net you a ton of Pathfinder content including Bestiaries, additional campagins, Advanced Guides and more.

Sticking with Pathfinder, BGG have a preview up for the digital version of the Pathfinder Adventure Card Game. The game will be Free to Play, but as you might suspect, there will be a host of digital content available for real cash monies.

Lastly, we recently review Patchwork and adored it, which makes recommending the digital version pretty easy. Well, maybe at R52 you should be a little more thorough in your decision making, but if it lives up to the boardgame it should be great.

Crowdfunding

Evolution is an excellent game – I really need to play my copy more often than I have been. And I just might do so in preparation for the standalone follow up Evolution: Climate. More of that fantastic artwork, as well as the introduction of dynamic ecosystems can be expected. Also, having smashed through its funding goal, there should be a ton of juicy stretch goals to look forward to.

Miniatures fans have been drooling all over Privateer Press’ Widower’s Wood campaign, and there are still 23 days to go. Set in their highly acclaimed Iron Kingdoms world, this co-op looks to put a spin on the generic ‘fantasy hero’ theme by letting players control a team of ravenous monsters. Let’s hope the idea evolves beyond just aesthetic differences.

If like me, you’re looking for a change of pace from the plethora of miniatures-based stuff to be found on Kickstarter, check out Victoriana. Another co-op game, but with deductive elements as players will need to find and tie together three elements of a conspiracy. Steampunk, gothic horror and Sherlock Holmes. Yes please.

We mentioned Aether Captains recently – developers MAGE Company have suspended the campaign and intend to relaunch in two months. This was done to allow for time to refine the game and the components, so if you were interested be sure to watch this space.

The One And Done genre has been a fairly controversial one of late, what with Time Stories and Pandemic Legacy proving so popular. Personally, I’m in all favour of it and Escape Room In A Box seems poised to be another great addition. Crack codes and hidden clues to thwart a mad scientist’s plot.

Keeping with the ‘thinking outside the box’ approach, Hush Hush Projects have launched their first campaign with Fog of Love. It’s billed as a ‘romantic comedy boardgame’, but before that sends you running in the opposite direction the game has been lauded by some of the top reviewers around. And if it can remove the unpleasant memory of Battle of the Sexes, I’m all for it.

I’m sure plenty of you have watched the gloriously cheesy recent Spartacus series? That rather handsome fella playing the lead, Liam McIntyre? Turns out he’s a bit of a boardgame nut, to the point that he’s started a campaign for Monster Lab. And it actually looks pretty good! Who knew?

Closing out Kicktstarter news, Tycoon Saloon. Building the gosh darn’d greatest saloon in the West. Because the West is too great a thematic setting to only have guns and horses.

Announcements

The next title in the Dice Tower Essentials line has left everyone speechless. Because it’s called Speechless (I’ll show myself out). It’s like charades mixed with Dixit’s scoring mechanic – if the massively popular Codenames is anything to go by, party games with a delicate touch of genuine strategy are so hip right now.

IELLO and Antoine Bauza have teamed up to bring us the gorgeous looking Oceanos, you can check out a preview of the game below.

The game sitting atop my list of most anticipated also has a video preview shot at Spielwarenmesse – First Martians: Adventures on the Red Planet. I need this game in my life.

The latest expansion for T.I.M.E. Stories, namely A Prophecy of Dragons, finally has a North American release date – March 10th. CBQ recently played through the second expansion The Marcy Case, and we can’t wait to see what new suprises the Space Cowboys team has in store.

Fluxx; love it or hate it, Looney Labs have certainly carved a niche in the light-hearted filler market, and they’re doubling down with the announcement of Mad Libs: The Game. Think a PG Cards Against Humanity.

We also recently played, and loved, Viticulture. Stonemaier games recently released the Essential Edition in a collaboration with Uwe Rosenberg. And as Uwe is wont to do, he created so much additional material that we can now expect the Moor Visitors Expansion later this year. Essentially a pack of 40 additional Visitors cards, if they’re as well designed as the rest of Viticulture’s acclaimed expansions, Stonemaier should expect excellent sales figures.

Local is Lekker

The Tablemaster’s Board Gaming League is in full swing, and the next event takes place on the 19th of March. Space is limited, so hit them up if you’re interested in joining.

The always popular Timeless Board Games monthly events have their next meet-up on the 5th of March – diarise!

At The Unseen Shoppe in Westville, tomorrow is painting day! R100 entrance nets you a primed Sigmar figure as well as access to paints and brushes for the whole day, and experts on hand to guide you.

No reviews on CBQ this week in favour of Stuart’s take on viewing relationships through the lens of boardgaming (he views everything through the lens of boardgaming) and Jason’s favourite companion Apps – judging by the community feedback he’ll be doing a follow up article with a whole lot more too.

Oh, and it was Stuart’s birthday yesterday. Hit him up on Twitter and give him some love.