Expansions! The expansions are coming!
Terraforming Mars: Turmoil
Turmoil is the fifth(!) expansion to Terraforming Mars and it takes players back to Mars and the ongoing struggle for control and the progress of human society on the big red planet.
The expansion includes new corporations, new projects, and a new type of cards — Global Events, which can make or break your strategy.
We never got into Terraforming Mars, it was just too…dry and the components were terrible. But hey, it has a lot of fans so this will go down well with them for sure.
Anachrony: Fracture of Time
Finally! Anachrony gets a big box expansion.
From the publisher:
In the alternate storyline of Fractures of Time, Anachrony’s first major expansion, the four original Paths and the newly formed, sanguine Path of Unity have gained access to a powerful new technology called Flux. Flux Cores can be acquired in the Amethynia Valley, the expansion’s new main zone. By using the Flux Cores to power up their Fracture device, players may move (“Blink”) one of their already placed Exosuits to a new action space instead of placing a new one, or immediately retrieve some of their Workers or Free Action markers. This can result in never-before-seen action efficiency, but just like the Time Rifts, the Flux technology is a double-edged sword. Without a sufficiently advanced Fracture device, overusing it can cause Temporal Glitches; hectic negative effects such as shutting down the Exosuit bay slots, temporarily disabling buildings or making players more prone to Anomalies.
Anachrony is a fantastic worker placement game with a wonderful time travel mechanic where you can send resources through time, but you have to remember when you reach that point in the game to send them back or things go to hell! Fantastic!
Talisman: Batman
Hot on the heels of the Talisman: Kingdom Hearts announcement last week is another themed take on the game. BATMAN! If they reveal a different theme each week…then wow!
Talisman: Batman allows players to take on the role of Gotham City’s notorious evil-doers, sneaking and fighting their way through Arkham Asylum’s two floors and central tower to be the first to subdue Batman and successfully release its dangerous inmates.
The anti-heroic objective in this take on the classic Talisman fantasy tabletop game focuses on building the health, strength, and cunning of the Caped Crusader’s enemies. The game can be played co-operatively against an AI Batman or competitively against other foes with one player eventually earning the reputation needed to be King or Queen of the criminal underworld. The game board features artwork from DC’s “New 52” era, and the game includes thirteen plastic character figures, more than one hundred encounter cards, six-sided dice, and stat boards to monitor each character.
Will keep an eye on this one for sure.
Judge Dredd: Helter Skelter
Martin Wallace is a great designer. Brass, Auztralia and Wildlands to name a few. We were on the fence about Wildlands and we are glad we did as its getting a Judge Dredd re-theme! Yay!
From the publisher:
The worlds of Judge Dredd, Sláine, Strontium Dog, and Nikolai Dante will crash together on tabletops in the miniatures board game Judge Dredd: Helter Skelter, which features gameplay similar to that of Wildlands, although the two games cannot be combined.
The game brings some of 2000 AD’s most well-known characters to the streets of Mega-City One, fighting for the shattered fragments of their own universe! Faction-specific action decks and new special character abilities give each group their own playstyle, from the well-armed Judges with their explosive ammo to the bestial fury of Sláine and his Celtic allies. Playing to your faction’s strengths and exploiting your opponents’ weaknesses will be the key to claiming victory on the streets of Mega-City One.
Paladins of the West Kindom
This weeks Kickstarter that deserves your attention is the latest from Shem Phillips and SJ MacDonald. It’s the second part in the West Kingdom trilogy of games and is already fully backed. You can check out the campaign HERE.
From the designer:
Paladins of the West Kingdom is set at a turbulent time of West Francia’s story, circa 900 AD. Despite recent efforts to develop the city, outlying townships are still under threat from outsiders. Saracens scout the borders, while Vikings plunder wealth and livestock. Even the Byzantines from the east have shown their darker side. As noble men and women, players must gather workers from the city to defend against enemies, build fortifications and spread faith throughout the land. Fortunately, you are not alone. In his great wisdom, the King has sent his finest knights to help aid in our efforts. So ready the horses and sharpen the swords. The Paladins are approaching.
The aim of Paladins of the West Kingdom is to be the player with the most victory points (VP) at game’s end. Points are gained by building outposts and fortifications, commissioning monks and confronting outsiders. Each round, players will enlist the help of a specific Paladin and gather workers to carry out tasks. As the game progresses, players will slowly increase their faith, strength and influence. Not only will these affect their final score, but they will also determine the significance of their actions. The game is concluded at the end of the seventh round.
If you haven’t already go check out the first game, Architects of the West Kindom. It’s awesome!
See you all next week!
