Posts Tagged ‘WizKids’

WizKids Releases Details for ‘D&D Fantasy’ Miniatures

 

Earlier this week, WizKids has released details for the products in its collectible Dungeons & Dragons Fantasy Miniatures line, created for use with the new D&D RPG.  The first products will be the Starter Set Heroes in July, and Set Oneboosters in August.  The line was announced in February and WizKids CEO Justin Ziran explained more details at Toy Fair.  Boosters will employ blind packaging. 
 


The Starter Set Heroes will include six miniatures of iconic heroes, for use with the upcoming Dungeons & Dragons tabletop role-playing game Starter Set
 


In August, the Set One Standard Booster will arrive.  The set will contain more than 50 miniatures of humans, elves, dwarves, halfings, orcs, goblins, and other characters from the Forgotten Realms universe of Dungeons & Dragons.  The blind-boxed boosters will contain four figures each, with an MSRP of $15.99.  Each Booster Brick contains eight boosters (32 figures), and cases contain four bricks (32 boosters/128 figures).


 
There is also a purchase-with-purchase Case Incentive Promotional Figure, which will be available on a one-to-one basis with cases of the Set One Standard Booster, while supplies last. While there was no name or picture available, the figure is described as an adversary for adventurers, standing several inches tall, and towering over the other miniatures in the set.  The figure will release August 13th. First reported by hobby industry news source ICv2.com.

 

What do you think of this exciting new product? Are you looking forward to it’s release? Let us know in the comments below! Talk to the friendly staff at Battleground Games & Hobbies and reserve your starter set today!

 

 

 

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The Latest on ‘Attack Wing: Dungeons & Dragons’

Earlier this week Wizkids updated some of the details on Attack Wing: Dungeons & Dragons, scheduled for release on October 1st of this year.

These days it’s super rare that a game catches my interest and holds it for so long, especially through development, but Attack Wing: Dungeons & Dragons is something that I’m really looking forward to.  In case you haven’t been following it, Attack Wing: Dungeons & Dragons uses the FlightPath mechanics that were previously seen in Star Wars: X-Wing and Star Trek: Attack Wing.  As players we’ll get to control dogfighting dragons, while also having forces on the ground waste our opponents with!  Dragons, giants, and spell casting elves?  Sign me up!

 

 

The Starter Set

Some information and preview pictures of the starter set were originally shared at the Gama Trade Show, but WizKids passed on the final solicitation information recently.  The Attack Wing: D&D Starter Set will include three pre-painted plastic dragons (Red, Blue, and Copper) with bases and pegs, three maneuver dials, cards and tokens.  It’ll retail for $49.99.

 

attackwing

dragons1

 

Wave 1 Expansions

I’m pretty psyched that there looks to be more than a couple expansions scheduled for launch.  I can’t wait to see how they’ve handled the new ground element, which is something entirely new just for Attack Wing: Dungeons & Dragons.

 

The Green Dragon Expansion Pack will include a pre-painted Green Dragon plastic miniature with base and pegs, a maneuver dial, cards and tokens.  It will retail for $24.99.

dragons2

The Sun Elf Wizard Expansion Pack will include a pre-painted Sun Elf Wizard plastic miniature with base and pegs, a maneuver dial, cards and tokens.  It will retail for $14.99.

sunelf

 

The Frost Giant Expansion Pack will include a pre-painted Frost Giant plastic miniature with base and pegs, a maneuver dial, cards and tokens.  It will retail for $24.99.

giant

The Sun Elf Guard Troop Expansion Pack will include six pre-painted Sun Elf Guard Troop plastic miniatures with bases and pegs, a maneuver dial, cards and tokens.  It will retail for $24.99.

sunelfwarriors

The Hobgoblin Troop Expansion Pack will include six pre-painted Hobgoblin Troop plastic miniatures with bases and pegs, a maneuver dial, cards and tokens.  It will retail for $24.99.

hobgoblins

 

The Dwarven Ballista Expansion Pack will include a pre-painted Dwarven Ballista plastic miniature with base and pegs, a maneuver dial, cards and tokens.  It will reatils for $14.99.

ballista

The Wraith Expansion Pack will include two pre-painted Wraith plastic miniatures with base and pegs, two maneuver dials, cards and tokens.  It will retail for $19.99.

wraiths

 

That about does it for the first wave.  I’ve heard that the second wave will have things like a black dragon and some angels.

 

I’m not sure what the points for each figure will look like, but the idea of piloting a red dragon, a black dragon, and a band of hobgoblins seems pretty neat to me! Let me know what you think in the comments!

 

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Board game review: ‘Quarriors!’

 

 

Quarriors Box

Front cover of the “Quarriors!” box

 

This past weekend I finally got a chance to play “Quarriors!” The game was originally published in 2011, but I figured it’s never too late to learn how to play.

 

As a fan of deck building games, the idea of replacing the cards with dice was all too good not to pass up. With dice, there is an added element of chance; something you don’t get with cards. Cards have an exact face value while there are six sides to a die.

 

For those of you who don’t know, “Quarriors!” is a dice-building game, for 2-4 players, that was designed by Mike Elliot and Eric Lang, and was published by WizKids. They’re the same company that has put out other games such as “Mechwarrior” and “Heroclix.” Since its release, there have been four other expansions. The latest one was “Quarriors! Quartifacts” which was released in 2013.

 

Today we’re going to review the boxed version of “Quarriors!”

 

Quick and easy to learn

 

If you’ve ever played a deck building game, then learning how to play “Quarriors!” should be really easy. The only obvious difference here is that you play with dice.

 

Never played a deck building game, don’t worry. The rule book reads well and flows well. It also gives great examples of some of the more complicated stuff with player scenarios.  The rule book also comes with handy “play mats” if you need help visualizing your playing field and the steps of the game.

 

Once you and your friends have a feel for the game, things will really begin to pick up. “Quarriors!” is a really fast paced game. So don’t worry if your sessions are only lasting 20 minutes. Depending on the number of people playing, the sessions may last a little bit longer. If you feel the game is going by too fast, though, the rule book contains additional rules to prolong the game for a more lasting experience.

 

Learning the game with some deck building experience should take about an hour. For learning the game with no deck building experience, give yourself at least a couple of hours.

 

Dice. Lots of dice!

 

Obviously, the best feature of the game are all of the dice. As a gamer, dice are my weapon of choice and almost essential in every game a person plays. This game, however, takes that to the extremes.

 

How the games works is each player starts with a total of 12 dice. Eight of them are “quiddity” and four of them are “assistant” dice. Quiddity is what the currency in the game is called and what you will need to purchase or “capture” other dice in the “wilds.” The “wilds” is just another name for the area where the creatures and spells available for “capture” (or purchase) are.

 

As the game progresses, you “capture” dice to add to your collection. Along the way you summon monsters and cast spells. The monsters you summon are what gain you glory. In a two-player game, the first person to 20 glory wins; for a three-player game, the first to 15 glory wins, for a four-player game, the first to 12 glory wins.

 

The dice, in general, look cool. It may not seem like it, but this is important. No one wants to play an ugly game. If you were to walk by this game, there’s a good chance it’ll make you stop and wonder what’s going on at the table people are playing.

 

Each game is slightly different

 

Just as the header states, each game is slightly different. The game contains five spells, but four different versions of each one for a total of 20 spells. Likewise, there are ten different creatures, but three versions of each one for a total of 30 creatures. Add the three basic cards and you have a total of 53 cards.

 

Why does this matter?  Well, for each game, aside from the three basic cards, you’re required to play seven creatures and three spells. With all the different versions, this means each game is a little bit different from the other.

 

 

 

Two player game set up

Sample of a two-player set up

 

I’m sure there is a set number of combinations here, but I am terrible at statistics, so you can figure that one yourself.

 

What else is in the box?

 

In case you were wondering, there are a total of 130 dice. The game also comes with one glory tracker, a rule book, and four cloth, dice bags.

 

When I bought the game, my first concern was with the quality of the bags. I was concerned they were going to be made out of a paper material. However, these bags are made of a decent material. I would even consider using them as general dice bags. The only bad thing about them is that my hands are too “meaty” to fit into them. They still do the job, though.

 

I’m sure a lot of you are also concerned about the storage of the dice. Have no fear because the box makes for a really impressive storage unit. The way the box is configured, you can fit all of the creature and spell dice with extra room to spare on the first level of storage. Then there is a plastic cover that also makes for another level of dice storage. This is really convenient if you want to store all of the expansions and core set together.

 

 

 

Inside the Quarriors Box

The inside of the box doubles as a sweet storage unit for the dice!

 

Some final thoughts

 

I really enjoyed this game and can’t wait to play it with other friends. I learned the game with my brother who is another big fan of deck buildings games. When I explained that this was almost the same thing, but with dice, he was immediately interested.

 

An unfortunate thing is that some of artwork on the dice seem to be faded. It says a lot about the production of the game. It’s a little annoying to have to hold some of the dice close to my face in order to read them, but it’s something that I have no problem overlooking. My overall enjoyment of the game is enough to make me shrug off an issue like that.

 

Even if you haven’t played a deck building game, this is one I highly recommend, and if you have played a deck building game, then this is one you should definitely own.

 

“Quarriors!” is available for purchase at Battleground Games & Hobbies for $50. It’s a popular game, so make sure you call ahead to see if it’s in stock. If not, then the store can easily place an order for you.

 

That’s it for now. If you think I left something out or have a comment, then leave one below. Thanks for reading.

 

PS. Stay tuned for a special give away I’ll be doing for the Extra-Life fundraiser. For more information or the chance to donate, then click on the link below.

 

Journey Prerelease
 

About the author

 

Simeon is an avid gamer who loves to play board games and video games. He graduated college with a degree in Political Science, and now serves the public by writing about games. You can check that out here. Don’t forget to “like” him on Facebook as well. It’ll update you on all of his newest content. Best of all, you can follow Simeon on Twitter (@SimeonCortezano) for some real time hilarity. Thanks for reading!

 

Donate to the Extra-Life fundraiser!

 

1170
 

 

Join the Battleground Games & Hobbies community forums!

Please don’t forget to check us out on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @battleground_gh!

 

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WizKids and Wizards of the Coast team up to make new miniatures

DND Logo
 

In case you missed it, there was a rather big announcement today, February 7, in the world of tabletop gaming. WidKids ( “HeroClix,” “Quarriors”) and Wizards of the Coast (“D&D,” “Magic: The Gathering”) have come to terms on a licensing agreement to produce a new line of pre-painted miniatures. These miniatures are scheduled to coincide with the release of the highly anticipated next edition of the “Dungeons & Dragons” role playing game slated for this summer of 2014.

 

According to the press-release, “The new line of Dungeons & Dragons miniatures will feature creatures and characters that players have come to know and love, allowing them to wage their battles and experience their adventures with a greater level of immersion and tactical interplay.”

 

beholder_ultimate_tyrant
 

If you remember in 2003, Wizards of the Coast originally produced these caltrops and unfortunately stopped production in 2011. Even weirder was that they let a group known as the “DDM Guild” take over the development of the skirmish game in 2008. No matter, though, the game was really fun to play, and the “DDM Guild” did a good job of maintaining the game. It’s a shame that it stopped getting the love it deserved in its later years.

 

Battleground Games & Hobbies was very involved in the “Dungeons & Dragons” miniatures scene back in the day. If I remember correctly, they held booster drafts, sealed events, and constructed tournaments, and one of the game’s premier players played and ran the organized play at the store. Now you may be wondering, how do you hold booster drafts with miniatures? Well, it’s pretty easy. Each participant purchased one booster and within that booster you had to make a skirmish group using a limited number of points. Each miniature had a certain point value. The more powerful the figure, the more points it was to run in your skirmish. Constructed tournaments raised the point value of armies allowing for more powerful characters.

 

We played on these laminated maps which provided for a lot of critical and tactical thinking.

 

My first time playing in one of the booster drafts was a little intimidating. I had played Dungeons & Dragons with my friends, but from what I observed of other groups that played, we had some unorthodox playing styles, and it translated onto the skirmish scene once I started playing. Nevertheless, the important thing was that the group I played with, and the individual members were really welcoming and very friendly.

 

This is refreshing news. The “Dungeons & Dragons” miniatures player base was pretty big from what I remember. Since the game died out in 2011, I haven’t seen some of those players. With this announcement, maybe some of their faces will show back up at the new store.

 

There is something important I should mention though. It wasn’t clearly stated whether or not the new miniatures would be compatible with the old ones. Actually, I don’t even know if it will be a game. As far as the press-release goes, these miniatures are more of a supplement; something to help you visualize the scene as you and your friends role play. Hopefully, I’m getting worried over nothing. We are talking about WizKids, here. All they do is make miniature games.

 

Finally, if you’re ever in the Abington store, take a look at the display case. In the section facing the back of the store, you’ll notice a large supply of the original miniatures. It will be great if they end up being compatible with the new game. At least the store will be ready.

 

About the author

Simeon is an avid gamer who loves to play board games and video games. He graduated college with a degree in Political Science, and now serves the public by writing about games. You can check that out here. Don’t forget to “like” him on Facebook as well. It’ll update you on all of his newest content. Best of all, you can follow Simeon on Twitter (@SimeonCortezano) for some real time hilarity. Thanks for reading!

 

 

Join the Battleground Games & Hobbies community forums!

 

Please don’t forget to check us out on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @battleground_gh!

 

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‘Yu-Gi-Oh’ HeroClix: Series One Sneak Peek

 

Check out this special sneak-peek first published by ICv2.com of the Yu-Gi-Oh! HeroClix: Series One 24 Ct. Gravity Feed, releasing February 5th.  Series One will feature 55 figures with the following rarity scheme:  16 Common figures, 15 Uncommon figures, 12 Rare figures, 9 Super-Rare figures, and 3 Chase figures.

The Asura Priest (pictured left & below) begins play with its Multiple Arms special power which allows it to make up to four separate close combat attacks in one turn! Of course, when you have so many arms it’s much easier to attack enemies all around you than to concentrate on just one foe, so Multiple Arms has a special condition that no more than two attacks can target the same character.

Early-dial, the Asura Priest also enjoys the benefits of Willpower, which allows it to act two turns in a row with no fear of pushing damage, and Battle Fury.  While Battle Fury prevents another friendly character from carrying the Asura Priest into battle, it does allow the Asura Priest to ignore Mind Control and Incapacitate attacks, as well as Shape Change when it makes attacks of its own!

About ‘Yu-Gi-Oh’ HeroClix Series One 

Publisher: WizKids
Release Date: Starter Set (December 18, 2013), Gravity Feed (February 5, 2014)
MSRP:  Starter ($24.99); Foil Packs ($2.99)
Format: Starters include six figures, Foil Packs are one figure per pack
Rarity Scheme: 16 Common figures, 15 Uncommon figures, 12 Rare figures, 9 Super-Rare figures, and 3 Chase figures
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