Pathfinder - Beginners Box

Pathfinder is a great d20 adventure roleplaying system based on the famous Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 rules - which have been offered as an open licence. Paizo created a medium complex game, which offers lots of possibilities and is quite easily accessible. Furthermore they support the system with awesome adventure paths (good stories, good atmosphere, different settings, stunning graphics), which are released on a monhly basis. The most famous one is "Rise of the Runelords", which is a remake of an old classic and won several prizes. I plan to write about it sometime soon - either about the Adventure Path, or about the new, innovative and highly praised Adventure Card Game.

The Beginners Box (which also won several prizes) is the perfect entry point for new players. It comes with a book for players and a book for the game master, containing the basic rules and mechanics. The four main classes (fighter, rogue, wizard and cleric) are covered, and also pregenerated characters and empty character sheets are part of the package. Lots of heroes and monsters are included as cardboard miniatures, which is quite nice - although the miniatures which can be bought separately seem to be even nicer... ;-)

I really like the lite rules, which ensure that the game can be played without investing a lot of time for studying the rules and without the need to have a lot of experience with this genre. Also younger audience can therefore be addressed. And all of this by offering a tight, exciting and well-balanced gaming and story-telling experience, with a good introductory adventure. If you liked the game, it is very easy to go on with an Adventure Path in this world of beautiful and atmospheric artwork and great stories. Hopefully I'll write about more of Pathfinder here sometime soon.

From the publisher: Adventure Awaits! Take your first step into an exciting world of fantasy adventure with the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Beginner Box! Within you'll find simple rules for creating and customizing your own hero, as well as a robust system for running your character through challenging adventures and deadly battles against villainous monsters like goblins and dragons! Will you master weapons and magic to become a courageous fighter, a wise cleric, a witty rogue, or a brilliant wizard? All the details of your character are yours to control. The only limit it your imagination!

The Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Beginner Box is packed with everything you need to get started with the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, an imaginative tabletop fantasy adventure game for 2-5 players. Tons of monsters, challenges, and advice give gamers the tools to create their own worlds and adventures, providing countless hours of gaming excitement. With streamlined rules and a focus on action-packed heroic adventure, this deluxe boxed set is the ideal introduction to the world of the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, and the best starting point for a lifetime of pulse-pounding adventure!

The Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Beginner Box includes:

• A 64-page Hero's Handbook, detailing character creation, spells, equipment, and general rules for playing the game

• A 96-page Game Master's Guide packed with adventure, monsters, magic treasures, and advice on how to create and narrate tales all your own

• A complete set of 7 polyhedral dice

• More than 80 full-color pawns depicting diverse heroes and monsters

• Four pregenerated character sheets to throw you right into the action

• Four blank character sheets to record the abilities of your custom-made hero

• A durable, resuable, double-sided Flip-Mat play surface that works with any kind of marker

2-5 players
Published by Paizo Publishing, Ulisses Spiele
Category: Fantasy Tabletop Adventure Game

Lots of additional material can be downloaded here: Ulisses Spiele - PF Beginners Box

You can buy the game conveniently here: F-Shop

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Legends of Andor

Introduction/Theme 
In Legends of Andor two to four heroes (consisting of Warrior, Dwarf, Archer, Wizard - male or female options!) work together to succeed in five different challenging scenarios (= legends). On their way defending a castle from lots and lots of monsters many exciting quests have to solved.

Components 

The box comes with lots of high-quality material. Beside a two-sided huge board, lots (!) of tokens and cards are included. Also cardboard miniatures and an awesome fire breathing dragon are part of the game. The beautiful artwork supports the theme in a great way, and ensures a great atmospheric experience. 

Gameplay 

Each legend starts with a different setup and with different objectives to complete. You have to decide carefully which hero does which tasks, taking care of individual abilities and available time. Each hero has a little board to track abilities, money and possessions. Combat is resolved quickly and simple, by rolling dice according to respective willpower value and defining strength value of attacker and defender with the roll. There are time tracks for the heroes and the legend, and you have to watch it carefully as especially when a monster has been killed the legend time track moves forward. The more you kill, the faster... So tough decisions have to be taken.

Conclusion 

The game (or better the narrative?) is awesome fun! It's pretty easy to get into the game, as the rules are mostly taught by playing. You start with simple rules, and then get the information and further rules you need to master the actual legend. Complexity grows as you move on to the next scenarios. There is a huge focus on story telling and experiencing great adventures, and the gameplay integrates seamlessly into the narrative. Also the mechanics of cooperation are very well designed and keep the game exciting, you really feel to be in the story. I can't wait to experience more legends soon, and the good news is that first expansions (e.g. The Star Shield) are already available.

From the producer: Legends of Andor is a cooperative adventure board game for two to four players in which a band of heroes must work together to defend a fantasy realm from invading hordes. To secure Andor's borders, the heroes will embark on dangerous quests over the course of five unique scenarios (as well as a final scenario created by the players themselves). But as the clever game system keeps monsters on the march toward the castle, the players must balance their priorities carefully.

At the heart of Legends of Andor is its unique narrative, the linked scenarios of which tell an overarching story as the players successfully complete objectives. For each scenario, or "Legend", a legend deck conveys the plot of an ever-unfolding tale...one in which the players are the protagonists. A wooden marker moves along the board's legend track at key points during each scenario, triggering the draw of a new legend card, the introduction of new game-altering effects, and the advancement of the story's plot. In the end, the players must endeavor to guide the fate of Andor through their heroic actions, bringing a happy ending to their epic fantasy tale.

Will their heroes roam the land completing quests in the name of glory, or devote themselves to the defense of the realm? Uncover epic tales of glory as you live the Legends of Andor!

2-4 players, 75 min
Designer: Michael Menzel
Published by: Kosmos, Fantasy Flight Games 
Category: Fantasy, Adventure, Cooperative, Area Movement 

Legends of Andor has won the "Kennerspiel des Jahres 2013" award.

Legends of Andor @ boardgamegeek.com
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Bobby Lee - 3rd Edition on Kickstarter

After the success of the 4th Edition of Napoleon, Columbia Games is now relaunching another old wargame classic - "Bobby Lee". Check it out here:

Bobby Lee on Kickstarter


Columbia Games announces a new Kickstarter project - a 3rd edition of Bobby Lee. Many gamers consider Bobby Lee (first published in 1993) the finest operational game ever done for the American Civil War.

Bobby Lee 3.0 will get a similar upgrade to Napoleon. There will be a new deluxe mapboard and foil labels. The new map is much larger with ample room for the blocks.

These rules are a blend of 1st and 2nd edition rules, plus changes to reduce overcrowding and speed up play. The game now plays TWICE as fast as the original.

AUTO UNION TYP C STROMLINIE AVUS 1937

If you want to add an extra-ordinary sports car to your collection of fine Carrera racing cars, you definitely should have a look at the model AUTO UNION TYP C STROMLINIE AVUS 1937. This car is especially for use with Carrera Digital 132 systems, but can be also driven on the analogue Evolution system.

It's design is amazing, reduced and focused on the core competencies. If you have seen it once sliding over your racing track, I'm sure that you don't want to miss it anymore... A stunning car with fantastic details and a great track performance, offering realistic acceleration and brake experience! 

Details 
1:32 Scale
Length: 184.00 mm
Width: 61.38 mm
Height: 31.20 mm
Weight: 98.1 grams
Lights: no

From the producer: The evocative shape of the streamlined Typ C caused a sensation in 1937.  Afterward, and especially in the post war period, the curves of this car found their way onto production cars.  That's because this Auto Union was specially shaped for top speed on the Avus circuit near Berlin.  At the time, it was the fastest track in the world.

Homepage: Carrera

You can buy this great car here: Carrera Onlineshop
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Achtung! Cthulhu

There have been a lot of interesting new products and successful Kickstarter campaigns for the huge field of Cthulhu boardgames and RPGs lately, e.g. Cthulhu Wars by Sandy Peterson or the re-publishing of the famous "Horror in the Orient Express" campaign by Chaosium.

One new series which definitely stands out is the great Achtung! Cthulhu by Chris Birch (Modiphius). It is a huge and exciting World War 2 setting, where heroic soldiers and agents (including partially real heroic characters from the historic past) fight against the evil and madness of the Nazi regime. All of this including of course occult happenings and supernatural mythos forces from the Lovecraftian universe. 

"Wartime Roleplaying.... with Tentacles!"

I'm pretty sure that Achtung! Cthulhu will be the next big thing. The last Kickstarter project raised more than 170.000,- GBP (whereas the initial goal has been 8.000,- GBP), and will bring us beside exciting full-colored hardcover books and lots of additional PDF Guides, also amazing miniatures and other fine stuff. I'm especially curious about the Investigator's and Keeper's Guide, and even more about two fantastic campaigns ("Shadows over Atlantis" & "The Assault on the Mountains of Madness") - I hope that I'll write about these great books here sometime soon.

The content and production value of the following Cthulhu adventures is outstanding. From the tight and exciting story itself, through the stunning artwork (beautiful maps and handouts!!) to the detailed historic research including pre-defined characters. I'm really impressed!! :-)

Campaign "Zero Point"

Part 1: Three Kings

In the first part of the "Zero Point" campaign (which consists of five episodes), you start as investigators for the British Secret Intelligence Service in the early years of the war. You are dropped over Czechoslovakia and have to work together with the local resistance, to analyse scary happenings around the strange Castle Karlstein. Lots of people are missed and there are rumors about a mad doctor (Dr. Kammerstein) doing horrific things. It's a fine and exciting adventure with quite a lot of action, and lots of variants and possibilities for the keeper to lead through the story - depending on the gaming group strengths and preferences. Great atmosphere, very consistent setting and good twists at the end!

Get Achtung! Cthulhu - Three Kings from RPGNow.com

Part 2: Heroes of the Sea

In the second adventure of the campaign (also containing five episodes) you follow-up as investigators for the British Secret Service. This time you find yourself in Dunkirk, where 300.000 Allied soldiers are closed in by the Germans and need to be evacuated urgently. Unfortunately insane mythos creatures from the deep sea are making this unfeasible challenge even more hopeless. This time the story is more frightening and more mythos stuff is involved, also the preparation is even more perfect than "Three Kings", which is hard to achieve. I liked this story very much!

Get Achtung! Cthulhu - Heroes of the Sea for Call of Cthulhu from RPGNow.com

Of course both adventures can be also played as stand-alone session, depending on your plans and the availability of your group.

Single Adventures

The Trellborg Monstrosities

This is the first "pure" stand-alone adventure of Achtung! Cthulhu and plays in 1943 on the northern front of the war, in Finland and Norway. Mad German occultists are searching for a horrible and supernatural weapon out of the dark cold, whereas the question is, if the Allies can prevent these horrros from Norse myth coming to life. Great artwork (already the cover is awesome!) and very diversified dangers and challenges have to be faced, when the players have to cross enemy lines and have to interact with scary NPCs. The setting is again appealing and haunting - and you'll have a great scary time giving your best to save the world!

Get Achtung! Cthulhu - The Trellborg Monstrosities for Call of Cthulhu from RPGNow.com

From the producer: Discover the secret history of World War Two - stories of the amazing heroism which struggled to overthrow a nightmare alliance of science and the occult, of frightening inhuman conspiracies from the depths of time, and the unbelievable war machines which were the product of Nazi scientific genius - and how close we all came to a slithering end!

Play a huge range of classic wartime heroes such as Russian political officers, German U-Boat commanders, British commandoes, RAF pilots, US rangers, Washington investigators, London journalists, Hollywood starlets, and resistance fighters from all across Europe, who must all unite in the battle against the darker side of World War Two. Play a full campaign leading from the opening shots of the War in 1939, through intrigue and adventure in Occupied Europe, the siege of Berlin in 1945, and finally the cold wastes of Antarctica in 1946!

FOUR ROLEPLAYING SYSTEMS
The world of Achtung! Cthulhu is a huge and terrifying World War 2 setting for four popular roleplaying game systems: Call of Cthulhu, Savage Worlds (Realms of Cthulhu), Trail of Cthulhu & The PDQ System (the Trail of Cthulhu & PDQ Conversions are currently in layout for Three Kings).

Modiphius  Homepage

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Game of Thrones

Introduction/Theme 
The game is settled in the world of Westeros, and is based on the well-known books by R. R. Martin - which have been also transferred into an awesome and successful TV-Series (already 3 seasons available). The board game really manages to create a great and exciting atmosphere (near to the original), where the famous Houses of Westeros are fighting for the Iron Throne - with weapons, with diplomacy and against the scary Wildlings. 

Components 

The box comes with long living, high-quality material. Beside a huge board (Map of Westeros), lots of simple miniatures (footmen, knights, ships and siege engines) are in there as well as cards and tokens and six nice player screens (used for secretly planning the next moves). The beautiful and improved design adds also to the atmospheric experience. 

Gameplay 

The game itself is split into 10 rounds, whereas the player wins who owns the most areas at the end. Each round consists of three phases:

1)      Westeros Phase - used for special events mainly, e.g. for managing the Wildling threat

2)      Planning Phase - each player assigns orders secretly (!) to his armies, alliances can be agreed on (but are never binding!)

3)      Action Phase - all orders are revealed simultaneously, movements & battles take place and are resolved

Battles are resolved with cards, therefore no luck is involved. In general you need to carefully plan which castles/areas to defend, how to handle area limits, how to most efficiently use your influence tokens, and very important: Which alliances make most sense at what time, and who can be trusted? 

Conclusion 

The 2nd edition comes not only with improved design and revised rules, but now contains the expansions which have had to be bought separately in the past. The game has strategic depth, has no luck involved, covers military conflict as well as diplomacy and alliances (and breaking them!) - and all of this in the well-known and beloved world of Westeros with their mighty Houses. You need to go through medium-complex rules, although most of them are clear and consistent after the first games. A very, very good game which ensures long time fun and excitement.

From the producer: King Robert Baratheon is dead, and the lands of Westeros brace for battle. Can you claim the Iron Throne? Designed for ages 14 and up, A Game of Thrones: The Board Game Second Edition is a classic game of warfare, diplomacy, and intrigue for three to six players. Taking control of the well-known characters from George R.R. Martin's beloved fantasy series, players must fight for dominance of the realm. Will you take power through force, coerce your way onto the throne with persuasive speeches, or rally the townsfolk to your side? With opportunities for strategic planning, masterful diplomacy, and clever card play, this game gives you a host of ways to spread your influence over Westeros.

3-6 players, 60 min
Designer: Christian T. Petersen
Published by: Heidelberger Spieleverlag, Fantasy Flight Games
Category: Fantasy, Wargame, Negotiation, Area Movement

Game of Thrones @ boardgamegeek.com
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