Jay Little at the UK Games Expo
By Paco Garcia Jaen Not very often one has the opportunity to host a panel with one of the most […]
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X-Wing
Well, I had a buddy over yesterday for an X-Wing game day, and after playing my third game, I was hooked. If you want me to just cut to the chase, here goes: X-Wing is the smartest, most entertaining fighter skirmish game I’ve ever played. This says a lot, because I’ve played probably twenty of these games, from Full Thrust to Renegade Legion to Battle Fleet Mars to A Call To Arms; I’ve got a lot of experience with these games and X-Wing is easily the most approachable and tightest. The draw, for me, is that the game hits that magical sweet spot where complexity and practicality intersect. Very few games ever hit that spot, generally erring either on the side of simulation or oversimplification. X-Wing, however, gets it absolutely perfect, with enough complexity to make it a game worth playing while having very simple, understandable, and intuitive rules that don’t get in the way of the players. It literally blows every other fighter combat game into itty bitty rippy bits.
The G*M*S Magazine Podcast Episode 85–Cosmic Encounters and X-Wing with Dr Reddy and Kara
Once again we put word to microphone and, with our tongue so stuck in our cheeks that we’re amazed it
ACTA: Star Fleet
For almost 25 years I’ve been playing Star Fleet Battles and its derivatives, and while I’m still no expert, I know as much about them as anyone who has played them for any length of time. Ironically, it’s not that I’m that enamored with Star Trek or the Star Trek universe, but more that I’m fascinated by the level of detail that Amarillo Design Bureau (ADB) has put into the game, as well as the idea of big, cool-looking spaceships chewing through one another with energy weapons.
Star Trek: Expeditions
I don’t hate to be wrong, but I really hate to be wrong like this. I broke my own rules, which was stupid in and of itself, and I deserve the outrage that I will be receiving from people who I told were wrong. So, here goes: Reiner Knizia can make an Ameritrashy adventure game. There. I said it. I’m even prepared to say that as highly improbable as it is, the game he made is not only not atrophy your testicles from boredom, it in fact is brilliant fun. I still can’t believe it myself, but it’s true. Star Trek: Expeditions (ST:E) is a really, truly fun, thematic co-op adventure game that not only adheres to its theme, but does so well.
Party of 1: Alosar Emanli and the Creatures from the Fallen Star
This pdf from Open Design is 15 pages long, 1 page front cover/editorial, 1 page SRD, leaving 13 pages of content, so let’s check this out!
Party of 1: Alosar Emanli and the Creatures from the Fallen Star Read Post »
The G*M*S Magazine Podcast Boardgame Edition–Chris Badell and Richard Launius
This is a special episode. It’s special because, for the first time ever, we have a guest for the second time. This has happened in the RPG podcast, but not in the boardgame one.
But first things first. Mark, Lorien and myself give you some quick reviews of some games, Start Trek, Cave Evil and others get a mention after we’ve been playing them, and if you needed to know if you want these games or not, you might be interested in what we have to say.
The G*M*S Magazine Podcast Boardgame Edition–Chris Badell and Richard Launius Read Post »
Challenge Your RPG Fun!
So why write anything about RPG’s? Maybe this question isn’t very easy to answer. After all everyone has an opinion, everyone had a system they champion and everyone has fun playing at what they are playing. So then why does it matter?
Epic Duels
Epic Duels may very well be the best light miniatures games ever made. It is the definition of a duel that is epic in nature, especially if you go to Star Wars conventions with wookiee hats on. But even if you’re not a fan of yellow lasers, if you like smartly designed, accessible skirmish games, then this should be at the top of your list to buy.
Star Fluxx card game
You see, I’d never played the original game Fluxx from the good folks from Looney Labs and I assume that I am one of the few gamers out there for whom Fluxx never came to my attention. There is certainly mixed opinion about the Fluxx games system which has spawned a number of variations on the core theme. It seems that a lot of “serious” gamers who don’t like randomness in their games don’t like it. But there is clearly a following of fans as well.