Octopus Overlords

Basic? Or Basic and Master both? I'm going to be playing the Basic set tonight and in spite of my annoyance that I don't have the appalling number of options that the Master set adds, I'm sure I'm going to get the full DoA II experience from even the Basic set.

Basic. I can't afford the Master Set and unless my kid really plays this a lot, it won't be worth it. Hepcat though, do you think the Master Set will go out of print soon? Then I'll have to get it so I won't have to pay an arm and a leg to get it again.

No, I think you'll be able to get it for quite some time. The developer appears to be settling in for the long haul and the response for the game seems strong. I'm betting you'll be able to get it without problem in the near to mid future. Duel of Ages III might come along though...

But the basic set really does have quite a bit of meat on it. I'm just annoyed because I'm greedy and want it all.

And I have it all!!! Really,the Basic set is ok...at least for a little bit. But, I am still more than happy I went ahead and got the Master Set, also. I am a completionist when it comes to stuff like this. It eats at me until I spend a god-forsaken amount of money and have everything I can possibly get.

Really, though...the Master Set just adds so...much...more....I mean, too much (almost).

And, Tom Vassal said in one of his reviews that the designer is planning on ADDING MORE...expansions, I guess. Not that I need anymore, but I will get it when it does come out...

I just ordered Star Munchkin for myself, and No Stress Chess for the kids. No Stress Chess looks like a fantastic idea, and a great way to teach them to play chess (which I suck at anyway.)

I like No Stress Chess. It looks like a good way to teach the basics to pretty much anyone and also allows for handicapping to a degree. I've only used it with my 7 year old, but he enjoyed it and learned some things. He still prefers minecraft though.

Turns out that TWS also had Qwixx, so I canceled my Miniature Market order and ordered Viticulture and Qwixx from TWS. They are on vacation this week, but hopefully they can get my games out by Tuesday for the next weekend.

First game of Duel of Ages II last night. Started at 6 and went until about 10:30 on the first mission from the rulebook.

Quite frankly this game is everything I loved about Heroscape AND tosses in a bunch of stuff I adore from Mage Knight (new edition).

At one point in my game, I had a bug eyed alien monster who found a pair of quality running shoes and used them to chase down enemies. Kit Carson found an exoskeleton but didn't have a chance to try it on as I was I using him to scout...naturally.

The rules are quite easy, in spite of some odd wording choices (we had some trouble grasping exactly what To Hit meant a few times...and there were more than few rule references during the course of the game) and Seppe and I really had no trouble bypassing the tutorial missions in favor of a somewhat complete mission.

My copy of the master set is set to arrive at the office tomorrow and if I can get out of work early, I'm planning another session of this great, great combat/adventure game.

It is an awesome thing, isn't it? One of the best games I have ever bought, I do believe...

Brett Murrell, the guy who designed Duel of Ages, posted some news over on the Geek...it seems as though DoA2 has been a huge success...almost 30 days into selling the game (the official release date was July 15), they have sold through nearly half of the 2,000 copies of the Master Set (his last count was 37 before they reached their halfway mark).

Impressive. Most impressive...

Here is the link to his News thread over on BGG: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/thread/100 ... st-30-days" target="_blank

It is interesting to note (in my opinion, anyways) that those 2000 copies of the Master Set was supposed to be a 3-year inventory...

It doesn't surprise me the fan response on DoA II. DoA I was a cult hit, even if it suffered from curling map tiles. Tom Vassel basically said the same thing Hep did - best game ever because it was Heroscape mixed with an adventure game. The idea is also genius, Genghis Khan firing a plasma rifle at Napoleon's face? How can that be missed!

I look forward to playing it some more. I might even be able to get the wife in on it!

I might be teaching a non-gamer to game tonight. The force is strong with him, he loves video games, he is a meta-gamer in Skyrim (min-max roleplayer), and he loves Civilization. I think I will start him on Lords of Waterdeep (it would be Settlers, but his wife really wants to play Settlers and would be mad if he played it first). LoW is a great into game and very easy to learn. It also seems to have broad appeal, despite the D&D veneer.

We played some Pandemic again today. I think this would be the 4th time since we got it at Origins, which is a pretty good clip. My son decided we would up the epidemic cards from 4 to 5 this time. Got our butts handed to us by a chain reaction outbreak. We'd gotten two cures fairly quickly, but at the expense of watching the disease spread in Asia. Had fairly lousy role cards this time.

We've also gotten to play Palazzo, which I was surprised my kids liked so much. It looks at first glance like a fairly simple building game, but it has some nice depth to it.

Jeebus, I just got the master set for DoA II and broke it open just a bit ago. That's an appalling amount of overkill. If I wasn't in gaming heaven while breaking it all down, I'd probably feel guilty.

LoL, welcome to the darkside, hep...enjoy the cake and coffee

hepcat wrote:Jeebus, I just got the master set for DoA II and broke it open just a bit ago. That's an appalling amount of overkill. If I wasn't in gaming heaven while breaking it all down, I'd probably feel guilty.

Yeah, I felt the same way. I was sort of like - when am I ever going to play with all these maps!?

Three games under my belt now (two with the master set) and I'm still lovin' the game.

Last night we tried a triad mission and had a blast with it. Took about 4 hours and included a survivalist with a pegasus flying around the battlefield deliverying tributes to Lith, a shifter that kept evolving everytime he met one of about six game conditions, and the Invisible Man walking around almost completely untouchable in my area.

Then we played a timed dual mission. I'm not sure I will go with timed games if given the choice between that and a turn based game, but it did add some tension that wasn't in the turn based version. It was a rather unique experience. It's nice having it as an option when you have a limited amount of time to play too.

We're getting better at the rules, but thank god for BGG though. They've already made a few errata changes to the living rules on the developer's website thanks to the folks there. The biggest one being the point value of imprisoned enemy characters going from 3 to 1. I highly recommend players keep tabs on that version on their website.

Not sure I like that drastic change...why inprison anyone? I could see 2 points. But one point would not give much reason to capture, seeing that there is the possibility that the captured character could be rescued. Unless I am simply missing something?

If the imprisoned character has a ton of elite cards, you can "interrogate" them and relieve them of those cards. Then you're the one with the awesome flamethrower that shoots super heated monkeys armed with knives.

Wait. The monkey thing. That's not really a thing is it? Because I'm already predisposed to buying this thing, and that would make me break out my credit card right now. Tell me it's not a thing, my wife'll be pissed if I spend $100 on the full deal.

Broke out Core Worlds and the old favorite Bohnanza today. Good times and there should be more in the upcoming week as my brother is set to arrive tonight. I need a bigger table for Core Worlds!

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Chaz wrote:Wait. The monkey thing. That's not really a thing is it? Because I'm already predisposed to buying this thing, and that would make me break out my credit card right now. Tell me it's not a thing, my wife'll be pissed if I spend $100 on the full deal.

No...however, arming Napoleon with a fusion grenade and giving him a helicopter from which to rain down hot death on an alien overlord armed with a derringer and a riot shield is.

Last night's second game had a spartan warrior trying to kill a hair metal rock star.

There shouldn't be one shred of doubt as to whether or not to get this game.

I know, I know. Except that I used to own the original DoA, and never managed to get a single play in. I'm mostly trying to decide if it's something I think the wife would be able to wrap her head around. I'm glad to hear that there are more objective-based modes in the new version than I remember there being in the first one.

Played my first MP game of DoA2. Awesome...I lost (I usually do lose to this guy), but it ended up being 2 to 4 (if I am figuring out the achievements point system correctly. He won the 4 labyrinth achievements, I won the base achievement, and the combat achievement. I came close to winning the Lith one...

I just could not get good card draws for those adventures in the labyrinths, though. He was pulling amazes left and right. Until we fought, then I usually smashed him.

Awesome game, though. Loved it.

in regards to killing or imprisoning...

Interrogating, I would not think, would be the main reason to imprison. If you outright kill the other character, he drops all the cards he is holding in his spot. So, your next turn, if you are in that spot, you can pick up any and all of those cards, anyways.

Imprisoning, though, does give you 1 point more (per imprisoned character). Killing doesn't. Although, if your opponent was able to rescue the character, he would gain 2 points at the end of the game, which could turn the combat achievement in his favor. Both killing and imprisoning will take 2 points from your opponent's combat score. Imprisoning could allow the character to be rescued. But if the character is still imprisoned at the end of the game, you gain 1 point towards your combat score for the combat achievement. So, if that made any sense...it could help you win that achievement if you imprison characters...

I think

The temptation for DoAII is high. My concern is that I suspect teaching it to the wife will be difficult. The stat-fest on the cards is likely going to be intimidating for her, and I'm not sure she'll be able to see past all the numbers, card flipping, and comparing A to B but not in the case of Q stuff to get to "Robin Hood on a skate board!"

How's the solo possibilities?

I can play the game with no issues "solo". But, there are few games that I cannot play solo.

This is very quickly becoming, at the very least, one of my favorite games I have ever bought...

Don't get me wrong...solo isn't going to be a "me vs. the game"...you would have to play both sides of the fight. The items that the different characters (on both sides) are carrying will ultimately be known to you...but I am usually able to shut my knowledge down in regards to what the other "side" has. (not sure how I do that, either)

But, you could play it solo...and I suspect that eventually someone will come out with something that allows solo play "offically unofficial".

I figured it was more "play against yourself" kind of solo. I can live with that.

I keep progressing step by step through the CSI order process. All I have to do is hit that "process" button, but man, that $117 price tag is high.

Yes, I know I could just get the base set, but then I'm paying for shipping, and I like stuff...

yeah...it is not cheap...but in my personal opinion...one of the best purchases I have ever made when it comes to my boardgames. And, I do not regret in the least buying both the Basic and the Master Sets. Now, knowing what I know, and seeing what I see...

I missed it. CSI went out of stock on the base game while I was hemming and hawing. I guess that's a good/bad thing.

MythicalMino wrote:yeah...it is not cheap...but in my personal opinion...one of the best purchases I have ever made when it comes to my boardgames. And, I do not regret in the least buying both the Basic and the Master Sets. Now, knowing what I know, and seeing what I see...

Any reviews of this game by the biggies? Undead viking or Tom Vassel??

I actually will buy whatever Hep suggests, so this game just went onto my must have list, but I want to see the pretty pieces.

Vassel has a review on his Dice Tower site. Just remember that Vassel loved the hell out of the first one, so he's predisposed to liking this one. He spends a lot of time showing you the bits though, and in the second part of the review, shows the first and second editions side by side.

Chaz wrote:Vassel has a review on his Dice Tower site. Just remember that Vassel loved the hell out of the first one, so he's predisposed to liking this one. He spends a lot of time showing you the bits though, and in the second part of the review, shows the first and second editions side by side.

Thanks. Will watch it when I get home tonight. Then I have to work out a plan, to convince the wife that I need a new board game...But of course I just bought smash up + expansion, and the expansion to Legendary. So it might be a little difficult to convince her of that.

I felt he was pretty objective, though. I feel the game is very well done. And the components, in my opinion, are top of the line. I love the game...for both solo and multiple player games.

RMC wrote:

MythicalMino wrote:yeah...it is not cheap...but in my personal opinion...one of the best purchases I have ever made when it comes to my boardgames. And, I do not regret in the least buying both the Basic and the Master Sets. Now, knowing what I know, and seeing what I see...

Any reviews of this game by the biggies? Undead viking or Tom Vassel??

I actually will buy whatever Hep suggests, so this game just went onto my must have list, but I want to see the pretty pieces.

I've done a few video reviews...

And I like it.

I think I've determined that if CSI gets the base game back in stock and they still have the master set, I'm ordering both. Let's call it my early birthday present to myself!

baelthazar wrote:

RMC wrote:

MythicalMino wrote:yeah...it is not cheap...but in my personal opinion...one of the best purchases I have ever made when it comes to my boardgames. And, I do not regret in the least buying both the Basic and the Master Sets. Now, knowing what I know, and seeing what I see...

Any reviews of this game by the biggies? Undead viking or Tom Vassel??

I actually will buy whatever Hep suggests, so this game just went onto my must have list, but I want to see the pretty pieces.

I've done a few video reviews...

And I like it.

Linky? Sorry, I consider you a great source as well. I have watched at least one of your reviews.

Hey baelthazar, mind putting your YouTube channel in your sig so we don't have to keep asking?

I convinced a good friend of mine to pick up the X-Wing miniature core set. He's primarily into video and PC games but being a huge Star Wars fan I swayed him and while conveniently at a Target he picked up 2 sets and I bought one off him so we could have some good battles once we learned the system. My downfall is that I started reading more about the game on BGG so I picked up an extra X-Wing, a Y-Wing and the TIE Advanced fighter (hey gotta have Vader). He brought his set (and the family) over to the house but unfortunately due to all of us going to the pool, barbecue and dinner starting late we just punched out the pieces from one of the core sets and put the ships on stands while our wives looked over our shoulders amused but not mocking us and the kids were off somewhere away from us boring adults. We did however run through a very quick streamlined practice game just to go over the mechanics, with me explaining the rules to him and reassuring him that there weren't that many stats on the pilot cards and that the rulebook was well organized and easy to follow for future reading. I think he's eager to give it a real go and I even sent him a link to a solo app for the game so he could play on his own to try things out.

That said, while my friend wisely decided to hold off on expansion purchases, in a fit of shopping madness (I think some of us have been down this road...) I bought yet another Y-Wing, TIE Advanced, a 2nd core set, and Slave I. He did tell me that other friends of his were interested in playing too so at least we'll have enough ships to accomodate more people. And if I ever get up to Chicago again (didn't go with my wife this year but perhaps next year) I can bring my toys since there are a few OOers up that way that would probably be interested in a game or two perhaps. I was hoping to avoid miniature gaming but the ships looked so good and the game system seemed so easy. Sigh...

Any OOers who have this game want to share what ships they have, impressions, tips, etc.?

$iljanus wrote:I convinced a good friend of mine to pick up the X-Wing miniature core set. He's primarily into video and PC games but being a huge Star Wars fan I swayed him and while conveniently at a Target he picked up 2 sets and I bought one off him so we could have some good battles once we learned the system. My downfall is that I started reading more about the game on BGG so I picked up an extra X-Wing, a Y-Wing and the TIE Advanced fighter (hey gotta have Vader). He brought his set (and the family) over to the house but unfortunately due to all of us going to the pool, barbecue and dinner starting late we just punched out the pieces from one of the core sets and put the ships on stands while our wives looked over our shoulders amused but not mocking us and the kids were off somewhere away from us boring adults. We did however run through a very quick streamlined practice game just to go over the mechanics, with me explaining the rules to him and reassuring him that there weren't that many stats on the pilot cards and that the rulebook was well organized and easy to follow for future reading. I think he's eager to give it a real go and I even sent him a link to a solo app for the game so he could play on his own to try things out.

That said, while my friend wisely decided to hold off on expansion purchases, in a fit of shopping madness (I think some of us have been down this road...) I bought yet another Y-Wing, TIE Advanced, a 2nd core set, and Slave I. He did tell me that other friends of his were interested in playing too so at least we'll have enough ships to accomodate more people. And if I ever get up to Chicago again (didn't go with my wife this year but perhaps next year) I can bring my toys since there are a few OOers up that way that would probably be interested in a game or two perhaps. I was hoping to avoid miniature gaming but the ships looked so good and the game system seemed so easy. Sigh...

Any OOers who have this game want to share what ships they have, impressions, tips, etc.?

I own the core set, but sadly have not ever played. My gaming group is just not interested in it. They play WarMachine and Hordes, and do not want any more miniature games currently. <sigh>