Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Random Game Report

When Super Dungeon Explore came out and I first played it I was very critical of the game. I felt the cutesy Chibi style of the game components was mismatched to the slogging, punishing style of the game play. I know that everyone did not agree with that assessment but there must have been more than a few others that felt that way.

Then Soda Pop Miniatures did a Kickstarter for additions to the game and they added a completely revised rule set. It is like they were reading my emails to my friends about the rule changes I'd like to see. The original boxed set still comes packaged with the original rules but an add on with the newer version of the cards and rules expansion is usually sold with it.

A few weeks back a group of us tried the "Arcade Mode" cooperative version of the game. The five of us successfully played the entire adventure. This was the first time anyone in our group had been able to successfully complete a game of Super Dungeon Explore, A console game that ran a few weeks before that was called before completion because it was late and the majority of the players had to leave. This time the game did run late but we actually killed the final boss. More importantly the game was now fun.

The cooperative version of the rules removes dice rolls from the monsters. These are replaced by fixed values. If a monster attacks with "2 Stars" then that is what you need to roll for your defense. Simple and it made the game move more quickly. They are also introduced a "wrath" system whereby the characters actions earn them wrath points and the monsters will attack characters with more wrath first. This opened up a strategy where we beefed up the defenses of one character and made sure he also had the highest wrath. This worked similar to the way "aggro" works in an MMORPG.


They have also added rules that speak directly to the fun factor like a card that grants an extra attack die when the player is laughing maniacally before he rolls. More treasure, faster combat and fewer (generally) monsters means that the game plays faster and looser than before. A game that formerly had great components now has great rules as well.

Monday, June 29, 2015

Cool Free Stuff

So, you want to run an RPG but have little spare cash. Well Basic Fantasy Role-playing may be just what you are looking for. Everything is free as a downloadable PDF or available via Amazon as a paperback. It is a D20 like system with an old school feel. Enjoy!

http://www.basicfantasy.org/

Monday, June 22, 2015

Saturday, June 20, 2015

Origins 2015 Report

Overall a great show. The vendor hall was humming with lots of new products. I believe everyone has figured out where WizKids and some of the large companies have moved. Some of the card only vendors have moved into the hallways outside of the area where the card tournaments are taking place. Strangely, the oyster picking place was still there.

Maybe its just because I am getting older but it sure seems like there are fewer places to sit and congregate than in years past. The other major issue is that registration is still way slower than it needs to be, especially the on-site registration. Both registration lines move slower than Ohio BMV lines (number 1 baby!) but the BMV is doing way more than getting you a badge to play games.


Overall a lot of fun. I saw Rodney Smith of "Watch it Played", Tom Vassel, and Zee Garcia (the Dice Tower) as well as all the normal vendors (Lou Zocchi had fun talking to my 9 year old daughter).  I think the people I meet there are my favorite part.

See you next year!

What I bought

Cthulhu - Hastur la Vista - Twilight Creations
Q Workshops Cthulhu Dice Set
Epyllion - the Drake Edition
Run, Fight or Die!
Roll for It!
Zombicide Scenario Book
Zombicide Plastic Counter set
Mice and Mystics: Dornwood Tales
Hobbit Tales
Strike a Pose
Dice Ring

What I almost bought:
Collapsing wood dice tower and tray combo
Sergeants Miniatures Game