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Tag: Tabletop Games

  • What the Altered TCG means for Magic, Lorcana, & independent retailers

    What the Altered TCG means for Magic, Lorcana, & independent retailers

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    Altered, a novel new trading card game from startup Equinox Studio, will compete with Disney Lorcana, Magic: The Gathering and Pokémon Trading Card Game when it launches on Aug. 26, 2024. Distributor Asmodee, which was purchased by Embracer Group in 2021 for $3.1 billion, announced Thursday that it will fund the game via a Kickstarter campaign. And while an early demo shown to Polygon at this year’s Gen Con proved that the mechanics are engaging, the unique technology layer and business model could change the entire TCG industry.

    Anyone who has tried to pick up booster packs for Disney Lorcana lately is well aware that cards are extremely hard to come by, with unopened boxes selling for more than twice the manufacturer’s suggested retail price. But that scarcity is only partially organic. It has also been artificially inflated by speculators, who snatch up large quantities of product to flip for a profit, or to cellar in the hopes that they’ll rise in price over time. Entire websites, subreddits, and YouTube channels are dedicated to the hobby of profiting from, not playing with, these cards, and it’s clear to see how TCG trading has evolved from a side hustle into an elaborate get-rich-quick scheme — much the same way that day trading and, later, cryptocurrency have done the same.

    Intelligence on the price of these trading cards, as well as the marketplace through which to trade these unique goods, has become so valuable that eBay acquired industry leader TCGPlayer in 2022 for nearly $300 million. (Its employees have since organized, and their union is negotiating its first contract.) eBay even offers a secure, environmentally-controlled warehouse to store the cards in. Like gold speculators, now Magic card traders need never take possession of the items that they own.

    Meanwhile, my 13-year-old would just like to get that fourth Tinker Bell card to complete her Steel decks, thanks.

    But what if a card game could box out marketplaces like eBay’s TCGPlayer entirely?

    What Equinox is proposing with its design for Altered is that every card pulled from a pack is, in reality, a kind of proxy for the digital token which actually represents the value of the card. While developers assured Polygon in August that its technology does not involve blockchain tech, a kind of token is created and locked to a player’s digital account using a QR-style code. The value to consumers, Equinox says on its website, is that if they lose that card they can order a new one to be printed on demand and mailed to them anywhere in the world, even in a different language. But the unstated value for Equinox and Asmodee is absolute visibility, and control, of the marketplace for their cards.

    From its website:

    Download our app and scan an entire booster in seconds. Your cards are secure, and now you can enjoy a host of features that will enhance your Altered experience. Explore the story behind each card and delve into a deeply positive, inspiring, and inclusive universe. […]

    Trade, sell, or buy from collectors worldwide using your smartphone. At any time, select cards from your collection and have them printed and delivered to your doorstep, brand new and in your preferred language. Print decks for yourself and your friends. Stolen or lost cards, proxies — the possibilities are endless.

    The value to Asmodee of this partnership with Equinox is that by creating its own centralized, digital marketplace for its “cards” it is therefore able to profit from secondary and tertiary sales of those same cards. They will be able to achieve a profit both at the initial point of sale — when consumers purchase that blind pack off the store shelf — and also in perpetuity, each time the card moves from player to player.

    As an example: Rapper Post Malone recently purchased The One Ring — a singular card created for Magic: The Gathering’s The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth — for $2 million. The owner of that card walked away with all of that money, less a hefty sum paid in taxes. Publisher Wizards of the Coast earned nothing. If it had been a card for Altered, publisher Equinox would have been able to profit from that transaction as well.

    If Equinox is successful, it’s possible that other TCG publishers would be compelled to follow suit with similar digital platforms. How this will play out in independently owned gaming shops around the world, however, which depend on the sale of individual cards as a profit center, is currently unclear.

    A Kickstarter campaign for the game will begin on Jan. 30, 2024. Equinox currently offers six full decks on its website to print and play at home for free.

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    Charlie Hall

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  • D&D’s best adventures are buy 2, get 1 free at Amazon and Target

    D&D’s best adventures are buy 2, get 1 free at Amazon and Target

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    Dungeons & Dragons will launch a revised 5th edition ruleset in 2024, promising full compatibility with existing adventures. That makes now a great time to pick up a few great campaigns for Black Friday. The biggest deals this year come in bulk, with buy 2, get 1 free sales at both Target and Amazon. But Amazon has already discounted some excellent books that make great standalone purchases — including highly-recommended adventures like Curse of Strahd and Tyranny of Dragons, which are both at seasonal low prices.

    Another huge draw is Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen Deluxe Edition, which bundles the excellent new Dragonlance campaign book with the exciting Dragonlance: Warriors of Krynn board game co-designed by Rob Daviau (Pandemic Legacy, Ticket to Ride Legacy: Legends of the West). Priced at $69.99, that’s a more than 45% discount over the original $155 price tag that Wizards placed on pre-orders. Alternately, you could pick up the Warriors of Krynn board game by itself, which has also been discounted down to $50.99.

    Finally, WizKid’s newest over-the-top terrain set is called The Watchtower, and it only just started shipping this week. It’s a modular headquarters ready to become your gaming group’s bastion — or the setting for your campaign’s most climactic encounters. Originally priced at $289.99, it’s now down to $217.49.

    Here’s what else we found:

    D&D discounts at Amazon

    Buy 2, get 1 free D&D deals at Amazon

    Buy 2, get 1 free D&D deals at Target


    Keys From the Golden Vault

    Prices taken at time of publishing.

    D&D’s latest anthology of adventures, this collection of 13 heist-centric adventures can be played as stand-alone sessions or as part of an episodic campaign.

    Other D&D gift ideas

    • The Watchtower, a modular miniature tower, pre-painted and ready to be your gaming group’s bastion, has been discounted down to $217.49 (was $289.99)

    Looking for more deals? Check out all of Polygon’s favorite Black Friday 2023 deals.

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    Charlie Hall

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  • Black Friday deals are live at Amazon, Best Buy, and other retailers

    Black Friday deals are live at Amazon, Best Buy, and other retailers

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    Black Friday is here, and it needs no introduction, right? We’ve already gotten warmed up with heaps of early Black Friday deals, but now the main course has arrived first at Amazon and Best Buy before other retailers get fully underway at various points throughout the coming week. We’ll be updating this article frequently with new products, and as many more retailers (both online and in the real world) begin to slash prices with the hopes that you’ll do your shopping there. Who’s next? Target and Best Buy each have some new deals starting this weekend, so stay tuned.

    There’s a little something for everyone below, and unsurprisingly there’s a lot more on the way next week for actual Black Friday. But in case your interests are more specific, we’ve got you covered with dedicated posts on board game deals (featuring dozens more than is listed below), and the best deals on gaming hardware like SSDs and monitors.

    • Take a short hike through the East Sea Road in Japan with Tokaido, a lovely little board game that’s available from Amazon for $24.76 (was $39.99).
    • If Age of Empires were a deck-building game, you’d have 7 Wonders. Typically available for $59.99, you can currently pick up a copy from Amazon for $40.


    Tokaido

    Prices taken at time of publishing.

    • Descent: Legends of the Dark features a ton of unpainted miniatures, and a lengthy, interconnected campaign designed for one to four players. This massive game is usually $174.95 but is currently discounted to $87.48 at Amazon.
    • Azul, the beautiful tile-matching game is currently discounted to $21.70 at Amazon (was $39.99).
    • Concept, a favorite of Polygon’s Overboard team, is $31.49 (was $44.99)


    Concept

    Prices taken at time of publishing.

    Leon S Kennedy parries a chainsaw with a knife in a screenshot from the Resident Evil 4 remake

    Image: Capcom

    Best video game Black Friday deals

    • Assassin’s Creed Mirage for PS5 and Xbox Series X is $39.99 (was $49.99). This game recently launched, and beyond being a solid game that has a more reduced scope, it’s hard not to also love its cheaper debut price, which is considerably less than the industry average (and now, even cheaper thanks to Black Friday).
    • You can already get $20 off the Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 1 for every platform at Best Buy and Amazon. It costs $39.99 (was $59.99).
    • Lords of the Fallen (2024) is $49.99 (was $69.99) for PS5 and Xbox Series X from Best Buy.
    • Lies of P for PS5 and Xbox Series X is $49.99 (was $59.99) at Best Buy. This memorable game breaks the mold of being just another Soulslike title by blending the tale of Pinocchio with horror elements. Best of all, it’s fun to play, and its unique weapon system is something that fans of the subgenre should check out.

    Pinocchio stares out at the ruins of the city of Krat in Lies of P


    Lies of P

    Prices taken at time of publishing.

    • Elden Ring is $39.99 (was $59.99) for PS5 and Xbox at Best Buy. From Software’s stunning 2022 open-world title remains a must-play, especially before its anticipated “Shadow of the Erdtree” expansion arrives. Note: The Xbox version of Elden Ring costs just $24.99 at GameStop. On PS4 (which allows a free update to the PS5 version if you have a disc-based console), it’s just $19.99 at GameStop.
    • Remnant 2 for the Xbox Series X and PS5 is $39.99 (was $49.99) at Best Buy. This tough, yet rewarding third-person shooter allows single player as well as groups of up to 3 to trove loot-filled environments.
    • Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are typically $59.99 each, but you can pick up either title from GameStop for $29.99.
    • God of War Ragnarök is $34.99 for PS5 at Best Buy and Amazon, easily sailing past the lowest price we’d seen for the game.
    • Fire Emblem Engage for the Switch is $34.99 (was $59.99) at Amazon. Building off the incredible Fire Emblem: Three Houses was never going to be easy, but Intelligent Systems delivered the goods in Engage, a game focused more on battle than on relationships.
    • The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Complete Edition for Xbox Series X is just $19.99 (was $39.99) at GameStop.
    • Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is $34.99 (was $69.99) at Best Buy.
    • Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged for PS5, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch is $34.99 (was $49.99) at Amazon and Best Buy.
    • Octopath Traveler 2 for the PS5 is $29.99 (was $59.99) at GameStop.
    • The physical version of Red Dead Redemption for PS4 (also playable on PS5) is $29.99 at Best Buy (was $49.99). In case you’ve always wanted a PS4 disc copy of one of the PS3 era’s defining games, albeit with very few modern updates, you can now buy it. Since launch, Rockstar Games added a 60 frames per second mode you can turn on while playing the game on PS5.
    • Final Fantasy 7: Crisis Core Reunion, the reimagined version of Square Enix’s tough-to-access PSP title, is $29.99 (was $49.99) at Best Buy and Amazon. It’s available for PS4, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch. The best deal of all is at GameStop, where you can grab it for PlayStation or Xbox for $24.99.
    • Super Mega Baseball 4 is $19.99 (was $29.99) at Best Buy. If you like baseball even a little bit, don’t sleep on this title, even if you aren’t particularly sold on its exaggerated art style. SMB delivers baseball that’s easier to pick up and put down than the major sports titles.
    • Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is $34.99 at Best Buy and Amazon. The sequel to Jedi: Fallen Order delivers more of that good stuff in terms of combat, story, and solid character development. Remember: this game will be $30 at Walmart starting on Nov. 22, in case it’s worth it to you to save a couple bucks.
    • Wild Hearts is $19.99 (was $49.99) at Best Buy. In this third-person action game, which Polygon’s review described as Monster Hunter meets Death Stranding, you’re getting a huge amount of bang for your buck during Black Friday especially.
    • Dead Space for Xbox Series X and PS5 is $34.99 (was $69.99) at Best Buy. Note: this title is currently available on Xbox Game Pass, in case you have a subscription to that.
    • Forspoken for PS5 is $19.99 at Amazon (was $69.99)

    A graphic composed of Diablo 4 art with an Xbox Series X console next to its box in the foreground.

    Image: Microsoft

    Best gaming hardware Black Friday deals

    Xbox deals

    • All Xbox consoles are $50 off. This includes Xbox Series X consoles at Best Buy, which sell for $449.99 and come with a free $50 gift card. At Target, the Series X is $449.99 and includes a $75 gift card through Nov. 18. GameStop is honoring the same deals, but without gift cards included.

    two Spider-Mans — Miles Morales and Peter Parker — looking upward in Spider-Man 2

    Image: Insomniac Games/Sony Interactive Entertainment via Polygon

    PlayStation deals

    • At multiple retailers, you can get one of Sony’s new, slimmer PS5 consoles for $499.99 (its regular cost) that comes bundled with either Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 or Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 for no extra cost (a $69.99 value).
    • At multiple retailers including Best Buy, Walmart, and GameStop, you can get a Sony DualSense wireless controller for PS5 and PC for $49.99 or a little less (was $69.99, and in some cases, special edition colors were $74.99).

    Nintendo

    Switch deals

    • If you’re planning to buy a Nintendo Switch this holiday, and have your sights set on the standard $299.99 model, make sure you get this holiday Switch bundle that also includes Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and three months of Nintendo’s Switch Online service for no extra cost.
    • Are you a fan of Super Smash Bros.? On Nov. 19, Nintendo will begin to sell a new Switch OLED bundle that includes Super Smash Bros. Ultimate for no extra charge.

    A photo of the Alienware QD-OLED AW3423DW curved gaming monitor sitting on a white desk, connected to a gaming laptop. The game Deathloop is showing on its screen.

    Photo: Amelia Holowaty Krales/The Verge

    PC deals


    Alienware 34-inch QHD AW3423DWF

    Prices taken at time of publishing.

    Alienware’s AW3423DWF gaming monitor features a curved QD-OLED screen, which provides amazing picture quality and contrast. Its fast 165 Hz refresh rate works with PC games, and it supports up to 100 Hz with consoles.

    • For something smaller, Asus makes a 27-inch 1440p OLED gaming monitor that typically costs $999.99. It’s on sale at B&H Photo right now for just $629.99. This product features a 240 Hz refresh rate panel.
    • If you have an appetite for an even wider, bigger OLED gaming monitor, Best Buy has the best price on LG’s 45-inch curved 1440p monitor. Normally $1,699.99, if you sign up for My Best Buy Plus or Total, it’ll knock $700 off the total. At $999.99, there’s never been a better price.
    • OK, we’re going to keep getting bigger here. Samsung’s 49-inch curved Odyssey G9 OLED gaming monitor is $999.99 (was $1,599.99) at Amazon. This model has a 240 Hz refresh rate and a very fast response time, just like the LG 45-inch UltraGear OLED above, but its slightly bigger size results in even more of a glorious desk hog.
    • Logitech’s G Pro X Superlight wireless gaming mouse is currently discounted to $109.99 at Amazon (was $159.99). This is one of the lightest mice on the market, making it great for people who don’t want a heavy mouse to hold back their reflexes.
    • The wired version of the Logitech G502 X gaming mouse is on sale for $59.99 through Amazon (was $79.99). This is a great mouse for people who want to have many buttons.

    VR deals

    • The Black Friday deal on the Meta Quest 2 is live at GameStop, Amazon, Walmart, and at Best Buy, knocking $50 off the cost. The deal will kick on at Target on Nov. 19, and to make it sweeter, you’ll get a $50 gift card with purchase.

    The back of the Oculus Rift 2 headset, showing the new cloth strap


    Meta Quest 2 (128 GB)

    Prices taken at time of publishing.

    There’s currently no better wireless VR headset at this price point.

    Best entertainment Black Friday deals

    • Panasonic’s UB420-K and UB820-K 4K Blu-ray players are widely regarded as some of the best models you can currently buy, and now they’re down to their lowest retail prices. The UB420-K normally costs around $250, but it’s now $197.99 at Amazon (Best Buy is selling it for $199.99).

    The higher-end UB820-K is also on sale. In terms of hardware, it’s virtually identical to the 420-K model, except it can display Dolby Vision HDR in addition to other HDR supported by both models. Normally around $500, this model is $349.99 at both Amazon and Best Buy.

    • Through Dec. 4, Barnes & Noble is slashing prices on many Criterion Collection movies, including DVDs, Blu-rays, 4K Blu-rays, and even top-tier box sets. This semi-annual sale is the perfect time to pick up acclaimed movies from the modern era, as well as older must-see films that have been lovingly repackaged.
    • The 4K UHD version of the Super Mario Bros. Movie is currently available at Amazon and Best Buy for $9.99 (was $29.99). You can also pick up the Blu-ray version for the same price (was $19.99) in case you don’t have the right hardware to play 4K discs.


    The Super Mario Bros. Movie

    Prices taken at time of publishing.

    Own a copy of The Super Mario Bros. Movie so you can watch it as many times as you want.

    • The 4K Blu-ray version of James Cameron’s Titanic is $29.99 at Amazon, and it will launch on Dec. 5. This is a few dollars less than the cost at other retailers. If you want to go all out on the pricey collector’s edition, that version is $20 off at both Amazon and Best Buy.

    Best Black Friday Lego deals

    • The Lego version of the Atari 2600 (complete with cartridges and classic wood paneling) is currently discounted to $201.73 (was $239.99).
    • Normally, the 1,351-piece Lego Millennium Falcon is $169.99, but Amazon has discounted this set to $135.99. The lowest price we’ve seen yet for the ship that made the Kessel run in twelve parsecs.
    • Yet another Star Wars Lego set available for its lowest price ever, the 474-piece version of Luke Skywalker’s X-Wing is on sale for $37.49 at Amazon (was $49.99).
    • The Mario, Luigi, and Peach starter courses for Lego Super Mario are currently discounted to $47.99 at Amazon (were $59.99).


    Lego Super Mario Starter Course

    Prices taken at time of publishing.

    This is the Lego Super Mario set you need if you want to add all of Lego and Nintendo’s exciting expansion sets at a later date. This set includes an interactive Mario figure, a Goomba figure, Bowser Jr., and a buildable course.

    • The summer home of the royal house of Toadstool is typically priced at $129.99, but you can currently pick up the Peach’s Castle expansion set for Lego Super Mario at Amazon for $104.99.

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    Alice Newcome-Beill

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  • Disney Lorcana’s Rise of the Floodborn isn’t just the next set, it’s another half of the game

    Disney Lorcana’s Rise of the Floodborn isn’t just the next set, it’s another half of the game

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    Ever since Disney Lorcana launched on Aug. 18, curious friends and family have wasted no breath asking me their most pressing questions: What’s it like? How does it compare to Magic: The Gathering? To the Pokémon Trading Card Game? And why the hell can’t I find any product in stores? It’s complicated, I say. The game is quite good, and compares favorably to both of the leading trading card games on the market. Product is hard to find because, well… people are very eager to try and turn a buck on collectibles these days. Also, spooling up the manufacturing capacity to compete with the two global revenue leaders in all of tabletop gaming is hard. Quite hard, in fact.

    But the thing I end up talking about the most in these casual conversations is the fact that there are lots of gaps in the design of Disney Lorcana — holes that very clearly need to be filled in with new cards, new mechanics, even whole new decks to play with. With the release of Rise of the Floodborn, at least some of those holes are beginning to get filled in.

    I’ve spent some time with its two new starter decks — both Amethyst and Steel as well as Amber and Sapphire — and they’re every bit the match for the three starter decks that came before. In fact, they fit into the metagame like a key fits into a lock… almost like they’d been designed that way.

    My favorite of the two, Amethyst and Steel, is a hefty, brawling thing with a slower ramp-up than my previous favorite, and The First Chapter’s breakout star, Amber and Amethyst. Played right it’s almost as effective, so long as you have enough patience to pad out a few early rounds just dropping ink. But once you get Madam Mim and Merlin cards bouncing back and forth, earning lore left and right, it’s satisfying to then start taking a few big swings with Tiana, Celebrating Princess or Kronk, Junior Chipmunk. Keeping everyone protected with a few sets of Mouse Armor, it’s possible to cruise to a mid-game win nearly unopposed.

    Image: Ravensburger and Disney

    Christopher Robin, Adventurer gets two lore when you ready them — but only if you have at least two other characters in play.

    Image: Ravensburger and Disney

    On the other hand, my 13-year-old daughter prefers Amber and Sapphire. Also a slow burn, this one’s a team-builder that accelerates surprisingly fast in the mid game thanks to Snow White’s Seven Dwarfs. The Dwarfs vary in cost from two to five ink, but the more of them you get on the table the more powerful they become individually when challenging. It’s a terrific little swarm of charming ruffians, buoyed by none other than Christopher Robin, Adventurer, capable of snagging four lore each round — so long as he has enough friends in play beside him.

    Adding these two starter decks to the game, however, does more than just open up two new ways to play. Each 60-card deck in Disney Lorcana must be built from either one or two different colors, and these starter decks are split more or less right down the middle. Amethyst and Steel, for instance, includes 29 Amethyst and 31 Steel cards, respectively. With just a few booster packs — maybe even the ones that come bundled in with each starter deck — you could easily round each of those stacks into two 30-card half decks.

    Paired with the other three decks sold at launch in August, those 10 half-decks give you 45 different combinations.

    Are all 45 combinations of decks going to be as viable as the five starter decks that the game shipped with across its two launch sets? No. Absolutely not. There are gonna be some real bad matchups in there, to be sure. But until you mash ‘em up together and play them against another deck of cards, you won’t know. And, once you do know, you’ll have a better idea of how to augment those decks to make them better. At its best, the game is intuitive enough that you’ll discover unique maneuvers and combinations at a steady pace. It’s a starting point, and an entrée into the larger world of collecting and building decks for competition.

    The bottom line is that Disney Lorcana is growing, just like Magic and Pokémon started growing more than three decades ago. Rise of the Floodborn includes more than 200 new cards in all, effectively doubling the number of cards available with which to build and play. It’s a great game, and its complexity is building at a speed that even its youngest fans can keep up with — and, at $16.99 a starter deck, at a price that many people can afford.

    Just don’t you dare pay a penny more than $16.99 (plus taxes) for those starter decks.

    Grab a deck or two, maybe all five starters if you can find them with the reprint launching around the same time, and get started learning the game. Quit worrying about the outlandish prices being paid for shiny, sexy cards online. Stop confusing these things for bitcoin. It’s a card game, one with a massive fandom and a healthy momentum behind it. It’s going to be a long journey, one that gets even better as it rolls along.

    Disney Lorcana Rise of the Floodborn’s two new starter decks arrive at local retailers on Nov. 17, with a wider release on Dec. 1. They were reviewed using pre-release physical copies provided by Ravensburger. Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence editorial content, though Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links. You can find additional information about Polygon’s ethics policy here.

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    Charlie Hall

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  • Dimension 20’s Coffin Run is a nearly flawless Dracula adaptation

    Dimension 20’s Coffin Run is a nearly flawless Dracula adaptation

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    Stories, especially beloved stories, have a tendency to bleed past their borders and escape their original bodies. Bram Stoker’s Dracula is among many well-loved works that have long since taken on new shapes, shifting forms constantly. The epistolary tale of vampires has hundreds upon hundreds of adaptations, with one domineering throughline: Stoker’s lasting characterization of the elegant, verbose, vampiric count himself.

    Given the breadth and variety of the landscape, it can be difficult, at this point, to iterate on Dracula in a way that feels fresh — which is why Dimension 20’s Coffin Run was, and continues to be, such a delight.

    Coffin Run, a Dungeons & Dragons actual-play series, premiered in the summer of 2022. The six-episode run, described on Dropout’s website as “a tale as old as many lifetimes,” was helmed by storyteller and game master Jasmine Bhullar and starred Zac Oyama, Erika Ishii, Isabella Roland, and Carlos Luna. Coffin Run emerged from Bhullar’s love of Stoker’s novel, she told CBR in 2022, as well as comedic source material like Young Frankenstein and What We Do in the Shadows.

    The cast of the series shines as archetypical members of Dracula’s retinue, brought together to ferry the Count (who sustains undeath-threatening injuries at the top of the series) home to Castle Dracula in his coffin. Oyama plays Squing, a Nosferatu-like vampire who is Dracula’s “firstborn,” turned as a child and preserved forever. Roland plays Dr. Aleksandr Astrovsky, a brash, invigorated mad scientist figure. Luna plays Wetzel, a young human who lives as Dracula’s plaything in hope of becoming a vampire himself. And Ishii plays May Wong, one of Dracula’s vampire brides, who used to be an actress in New York.

    Image: Dropout

    Coffin Run unfolds as a love letter to Dracula, both the form of the novel and the vampire himself. The story roots itself in Stoker’s work from the start, anchoring the narrative in the epistolary form. It’s letters all the way down, really (and not just inside Squing, who has a tendency to eat them). The series opens on Dracula himself standing over a writing desk, penning a letter to Squing. The letter takes a journey across the sea before it arrives at the Gold Crona Inn — much like Jonathan Harker at the outset of Dracula. From there, letters guide the narrative, arriving for the players at key moments.

    Letters, as a kind of delivery system for the story, are adeptly wielded by Bhullar — because of the fickle nature of their author, Dracula, when heartfelt sentiments are poured out in the letters there’s a lingering sense of unease, perpetuated by the arrival of letters that reveal that the Count’s feelings for his coffin-bearing friends and family might not be what they seem. Wetzel, for example, becomes disillusioned with the Count as the series goes on, slowly beginning to distrust him, while May realizes that her own adoration for Dracula may be more one-sided.

    Materially, Coffin Run pays beautiful homage to the Gothic lushness of Dracula. When players are handed letters, they receive actual letters at the table, passed along with a glowing candlestick. In the final fight, Dracula’s vitality is measured by vials of “blood” poured into a crystal goblet by Bhullar and then consumed as the vampire comes back to himself. Black-and-white film adaptations get a nod in the grayscale miniatures and the monochromatic set. The special effects all come together to create a world that feels incredibly familiar to horror fans as well as uniquely new — Rick Perry, production designer and creative producer for Dropout, gets heaps of nods throughout the series for his work on the sets and miniatures, as do the crew in a talkback episode post-series.

    Miniatures in Coffin Run depict Dracula’s castle, a tiny steam engine with cotton ball exhaust, and figures riding atop a stage coach, all built in greyscale lit with tiny sickly green lamps.

    Image: Dropout

    From the Scooby-Doo-like title sequence to the performances, the crew and cast of Coffin Run perfectly hone in on the comedic influences Bhullar cited for the series, as well as the inherent ironies of the source material. May, the classically gorgeous vampire bride, is played by Ishii with a gleeful, over-the-top accent, as is Roland’s Dr. Astrovsky. Squing, as Dracula’s firstborn, is constantly baffled by modern technology, referring to the train that delivers Dracula’s coffin as a “metal tube.” Seemingly, his lack of understanding stems from apathy, rather than access. Castle Dracula, when the story eventually arrives there, is similarly frozen in time, preserved by caretakers who eventually end up ceding the castle to antiquers and “Lairbnb” opportunists.

    So much of vampiric representation in pop culture is rooted in Dracula’s particular brand of allure. Even Dungeons & Dragons has its own storied distillation of Stoker’s Transylvania and the titular count in the enigmatic Strahd von Zarovich and the land of Ravenloft. The cast and crew of Coffin Run do a fantastic job of preserving the larger-than-life presence of Dracula in the story, from adding a silhouetted batwing shadow over Bhullar when she speaks to characters as Dracula to character arcs that nod at the ubiquity of the Count and his story. In discussing his place with Dracula at the end of the tale, Wetzel says, “It’s like everyone in [Castle Dracula], they’re just gonna be in there for a while, you know? It’s like the same thing over and over again. Same stuff.”

    No adaptation is perfect — with Dracula in the public domain and vampires back in the zeitgeist (hello, Interview with the Vampire, and the resurgence of Twilight, and a million other fanged options), there will likely be hundreds more distillations in the future. Coffin Run takes a pile of well-known, over-offered ingredients — Dracula, the undying bogs of Transylvania, letters, a carriage ride through wolf-stalked trees — and makes something wonderfully new from them.

    At the very least, it’s worth sinking your teeth into.

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    Madison Durham

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  • Getting The Deck of Many Things? These are the card sleeves you need

    Getting The Deck of Many Things? These are the card sleeves you need

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    The Deck of Many Things is coming to wreak havoc on your next Dungeons & Dragons campaign. This classic magical D&D item, sometimes known as The Deck of Hazards, has been granted physical form by Wizards of the Coast and features a collection of 66 unique, tarot-inspired cards capable of sowing magic and mayhem in your next tabletop session.

    The $99.99 bundle currently available to pre-order from Amazon and Wizards of the Coast includes the fabled deck in addition to The Book of Many Things, which features content for players and DMs that’s thematically tied to the deck, and an 80-page hardcover guidebook that explains the effects of each card.

    Reserving a copy ahead of the launch date from either Amazon or Wizards of the Coast saves you $10 on the launch price. Additionally, pre-ordering from Wizards of the Coast will get you early access to The Book of Many Things on D&D Beyond starting Oct. 31, as well as a collection of other digital bonuses. Just note that pre-orders from Amazon cost the same as a direct purchase from Wizards of the Coast, but that doesn’t include a digital copy, or any of the featured pre-order bonuses.

    While The Deck of Many Things was initially slated to launch on Nov. 14, a series of unfortunate manufacturing defects has suspended the launch until further notice. However, early access to the digital pre-order bonuses available through Wizards of the Coast won’t be impacted. A revised launch date for the physical release hasn’t been announced yet, but we’ll update our pre-order post with new information once it becomes available.

    The cards found in The Deck of Many Things use a non-standard size compared to those found in games like the Pokémon TCG or Magic: The Gathering. Thankfully, Ultra Pro makes card sleeves specifically measured for tarot decks, and the company confirmed to Polygon that they’re compatible with the cards found in The Deck of Many Things.

    Update (Oct. 27): Following a series of manufacturing defects, the launch date for The Deck of Many Things has been postponed until further notice (originally Nov. 14). The post has been updated to reflect this information.

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    Alice Newcome-Beill

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  • Star Reach Games Launches Kickstarter for Cysmic, the Groundbreaking Sci-Fi Strategy Board Game

    Star Reach Games Launches Kickstarter for Cysmic, the Groundbreaking Sci-Fi Strategy Board Game

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    An over-the-top, competitive battle royale set on the surface of a dying planet with a devolving dual-layer board design, asymmetric faction abilities, and over 200 miniatures.


    LUMBERTON, Texas, April 25, 2023 (Newswire.com)
    –
    Star Reach Games is thrilled to announce the launch of its highly anticipated sci-fi strategy wargame, Cysmic, going live on Kickstarter on April 25 at 10 a.m. EDT. Inspired by classic disaster movies, Cysmic features an infinite, dual-layered game board that crumbles away during play, revealing powerful ancient relics and providing a cinematic battlefield for the game’s 200+ miniatures — including modular Colony Ships, assembled by each player and looming high above the action at over 6 inches tall. 

    Cysmic is set on the dying surface of Kepler-62e and places players in command of one of the world’s 18 factions, each with an individualized starting configuration and asymmetric player abilities to guide strategy and unlock new paths to victory. The goal of the game is simple. To survive the end of the world, players must build a spaceship and be the first to launch their people to safety. There’s just one problem: Each faction holds a module blueprint crucial to survival, and to win the game, players must capture those blueprints from their opponents.

    In Cysmic, players will be kept on the edge of their seats, constantly adapting, overcoming, and embracing the chaos of a devolving battlefield. Constantly bombarded by earth-shattering seismic activity courtesy of the Tremor Tracker, the frequency of these board-altering events builds over time to an apocalyptic crescendo in flames.

    As players obtain blueprints from their enemies and install new modules, they assemble their Colony Ships, creating an eye-catching centerpiece for their territory. Along with significant visual impact, this design provides easy at-a-glance insights into how close each player is to lift-off at any given moment.

    Cysmic’s easy-to-learn gameplay is powered by a streamlined three-step system that rewards decisive action and in-the-moment strategic command. Just burn a card, play a card, and choose a bonus action. Every player has the same 10 Command Cards, allowing them to choose which phases occur when — because the end of the world is no time to stick to a sequence of play. 

    Cysmic is available in two formats: the Core Edition for $99 and the Designer Vision Deluxe Edition for $249. The Core Edition provides the complete cinematic experience in an affordable retail format, featuring Star Reach Games’ signature Tech Chip Field Display. The Deluxe Edition is an all-out explosion, blasting every element of the game into the stratosphere with a larger board, 3-D terrain, custom combat markers, and 200+ miniatures. 

    Star Reach Games invites you to embrace the chaos of Cysmic, where there are no points to count, no second prizes, and blasting off first means living to fight another day. Don’t miss the launch of this earth-shattering game of sci-fi fighting fun, live on April 25 at 10 a.m. EST.

    Campaign: 
    https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/starreachgames/cysmic-a-race-for-survival-during-seismic-armageddon?ref=alh9t8 

    Media Kit: 
    https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/12T4YYi3Rh5FtFmIZaYTvmzqKGnsPPXlT?usp=share_link 

    Source: Star Reach Games

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  • Calliope Games Debuts a New Living Puzzle Game in Two Dazzling Themes

    Calliope Games Debuts a New Living Puzzle Game in Two Dazzling Themes

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    Press Release
    –

    Jan 24, 2023 11:00 EST


    SPINDALE, N.C., January 24, 2023 (Newswire.com)
    –
    Calliope Games is excited to announce the launch of their new living puzzle board game, Four Corners.

    Full of eye-catching artwork sure to dazzle players of all ages, Four Corners will be going live on Kickstarter Tuesday, Jan. 24, at 10 a.m. EST with not one, but two versions! 

    Using their innovative, modular, Tip-Pivot gameboard, players can easily place, rotate, move, and swap tiles—all without affecting the rest of the board. 

    Each player is given three secret goals. The winner is the player who best manipulates the board, adapts to changing strategies, and completes their goals first.

    By supporting this campaign, gamers around the globe can be the first to own this revolutionary game in two different themes: Galaxy and Kaleidoscope. Backers will also receive a special thank you in the form of a Calliope Exclusive Tile Bag. With three different ways to play the game (standard, teams, and solo) and two aesthetics to choose from, there is a combination to suit players of all ages and interests. 

    Regardless of which theme you choose, Four Corners features the same quick-to-learn gameplay; it’s up to each family to choose the theme that’s right for them. Will their next game night set sail for the stars, or travel through time with a nostalgic toy?

    About Calliope Games:

    Over 10 years ago, Calliope Games began as a collaboration between Dawne Weisman, Jordan Weisman, and Ray Wehrs. Calliope Games has been producing and selling quality tabletop games ever since. Calliope products are inspired by families, for families. While they are most readily known for their Tsuro and Roll For It! game lines, they have successfully released 24 titles, many of which were brought to life on Kickstarter.

    With both current and future gamers in mind, their designs make the perfect gateway to the tabletop hobby. Calliope games are excellent for starting out game night and are easily played between heavier games. They focus on entertaining adults while allowing children to compete with their parents without a single game “thrown”. It’s really a simple concept; instead of having parents step down into the child’s world, these games invite the child to step up into the parents’ world.

    Calliope games are easy to learn, play in under 60 minutes, and provide a fun and engaging experience for players of all ages.

    Four Corners Media Kit

    CalliopeGames.com

    Source: Calliope Games

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  • Calliope Games Celebrates 20 Years of the Game of the Path With Tsuro: Luxury Limited Edition on Kickstarter

    Calliope Games Celebrates 20 Years of the Game of the Path With Tsuro: Luxury Limited Edition on Kickstarter

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    Press Release
    –

    Jun 7, 2022


    ASHEVILLE, N.C., June 7, 2022 (Newswire.com)
    –
    Calliope Games is thrilled to introduce the ultimate in gaming elegance. Tsuro: Luxury Limited Edition celebrates nearly 20 years of the Game of the Path with the creation of an heirloom piece for generations to come. Originally published in 2005, Tsuro has long been favored for its clever decisions, engaging interactions, and fun, elegant gameplay. It has since inspired an award-winning family of games, including Tsuro of the Seas, Tsuro: Phoenix Rising, and even Tsuro VR. They couldn’t think of a better way to commemorate and continue the Tsuro legacy than crafting a limited-edition keepsake version of this all-time favorite.

    Visit Tsuro: Luxury Limited Edition on Kickstarter

    The Tsuro: Luxury Limited Edition experience begins with its intricately carved wooden game box, depicting classic mythological scenes and accentuated by vintage finishes. Generations of gaming families will learn this Calliope classic with the unfurling of a bamboo scroll emblazoned with the ruleset. Each one of the stone-textured resin tiles is individually formed with its unique path configuration and finished by hand. Tiles will be selected by players from a vividly embroidered satin bag that mirrors the box’s design. Each of the eight metal pawns represents a memorable piece of Tsuro’s history, from the fierce dragon to the awe-inspiring phoenix. Finally, the iconic dragon tile has been replaced with a shining gold statuette of the dragon and phoenix—forever locked in their elegant dance. Tsuro: Luxury Limited Edition will be a true collection centerpiece for years to come.

    Tsuro: Luxury Limited Edition will only be available during the four weeks of this Kickstarter campaign. It will not be available for late pledges and will not be distributed to retailers. Each copy in this extremely limited print run will be commemorated with an individually stamped metal plate depicting the game’s number and a supporting Certificate of Authenticity signed by the artist, designer, and publisher. 

    About Calliope Games:

    Over 10 years ago, Calliope Games began as a collaboration between Dawne Weisman, Jordan Weisman, and Ray Wehrs. Calliope Games has been producing and selling quality tabletop games ever since. Calliope products are inspired by families, for families. While they are most readily known for their Tsuro and Roll For It! game lines, they have successfully released 24 titles, many of which were brought to life on Kickstarter.

    CalliopeGames.com

    Source: Calliope Games

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  • ‘Zfigs Dungeon Tiles,’ Toy Vault’s Affordable Tabletop Gaming Terrain, Now on Kickstarter

    ‘Zfigs Dungeon Tiles,’ Toy Vault’s Affordable Tabletop Gaming Terrain, Now on Kickstarter

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    Press Release
    –


    updated: Nov 30, 2018


    LONDON, Ky., November 30, 2018 (Newswire.com)
    –
    Toy Vault, Inc. introduces Zfigs Dungeon Tiles – the affordable solution for Epic Dungeons. These unique modular tiles interlock with special edge connector pieces. Prices start at just $40 for a 36-piece unpainted set. 

    Zfigs Dungeon Tiles are made of durable ABS plastic and are approximately 2” x 2”.  Two versions are available: painted and unpainted. Their modular and interlocking design allows rooms and maps to be built beforehand and placed when needed. When connected, the pieces stay together tightly and can be moved as one unit. 

    Each Zfigs Dungeon Tile Base Set includes 36 Pieces – 13 Floors, 11 Walls, 8 Corners, and 4 Doors. Stand-alone packs of floors, walls, corners, and doors are also available. Additional pieces available as expansion sets include pillars, smooth floors, and battlements.

    Available on Kickstarter until December 20, 2018.

    About Toy Vault, Inc. Toy Vault, Inc., founded in 1998, designs and manufactures high-quality products for the toy, game, and novelty market. Toy Vault has an aggressive design and product-research department that consistently provides the newest and hottest-selling products within the industry. The company utilizes a highly-skilled sales force to penetrate all levels of retail.

    Toy Vault’s key strengths include the ability to deliver a competitive product while maintaining high quality, flexibility, and expertise in tailoring the product to individual retailers large and small, and the ability to create unique and compelling designs.

    Media Contact: 
    Jason Haynes
    Phone: 859-302-3189
    Email: jason.haynes@toyvault.com

    Source: Toy Vault Inc

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  • Destiny Aurora Graphic Novel Based on the Successful Novel Series & Table Top Game Hits Kickstarter

    Destiny Aurora Graphic Novel Based on the Successful Novel Series & Table Top Game Hits Kickstarter

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    Press Release
    –


    updated: Jan 16, 2018


    Los Angeles, CA, January 16, 2018 (Newswire.com)
    –
    From the Producer of Star Trek: Renegades and Six Gun Savior comes the new science-fiction graphic novel based on a trilogy of novels and a successful tabletop board game of epic proportions. Destiny Aurora is the story of Jayce Carver, a broken man, whose life was turned upside down when his senatorial wife was assassinated while he was tasked with protecting her.

    Spiraling into oblivion, Jayce becomes reclusive until his friend offers him a job as a Coalition Inspector. Still wracked by guilt and known for his reckless demeanor, he’s assigned a crew no one else wants. Now, after five years, he has finally tracked down the assassin only to follow him through a wormhole taking them all back to the day of the assassination. Will events play out the same or will Jayce change the past?

    Destiny Aurora’s third novel and the conclusion to the Visarath War storyline is set to release early this year. Introducing new characters, the book is filled with action, adventure and suspense that the title has come to be known for. The epic battle between Jayce and his arch-nemesis comes to a head in an exciting battle not to be missed.

    The graphic novel beautifully depicts the characters fans have come to love, including Rovanna, Flibby Rolf and X and allows readers to completely immerse themselves in the Destiny Aurora universe. The three-issue collection is exclusive to Kickstarter and will be autographed by the writer. 

    About the Author: Frank Zanca is an award-winning writer and producer with a long list of credits ranging from features to television pilots. He has written a half dozen novels that are available on Amazon as well as several screenplays currently under consideration with production companies. He is local to Los Angeles and is beginning development of his next tabletop board game.

    Media Contact:
    Frank Zanca
    Phone: 800-681-5988
    Email: fzanca@destinyhorizons.com

    https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1169263915/destiny-aurora-issues-1-3-and-table-top-game ​

    Source: Destiny Horizons, Inc.

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