Review: Conquest of Nerath

Posted on July 4, 2011 by Matt J Carlson

After the wave of prosperity due to the popular card game Magic: the Gathering, Wizards of the Coast went on to purchase the Dungeons and Dragons franchise and has since spent much of its effort on those two primary themes.  However, Wizards was initially a broad based game company creating boardgames with lasting fans like RoboRally and The Great Dalmuti.  Despite this historic boardgame background, Wizards has had an up and down relationship with boardgamers, at times totally ignoring the field of boardgaming and other times releasing several titles in a year.  This past year has seen a minor resurgence of boardgames from Wizards, with an emphasis on combining the Dungeons and Dragons role playing brand with boardgaming.  Last fall saw a successful release of Castle Ravenloft, a cooperative boardgame designed to give a lightweight RPG feel.  A mix-and-match compatible sequel was released in early 2011, Wrath of Ashardalon, expanding options for fans of the first game.  This summer sees a release of a Dungeons and Dragons themed wargame, Conquest of Nerath.  This is a lightweight wargame similar to Nexus Ops or Axis and Allies with a fantasy theme.  Heroes, Dungeons, Treasure, Dice based combat, custom event cards for each nation, and lots of plastic figurines combine to make a very nice lightweight war game (either teams of two or a free for all.)

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Posted in Reviews | 2 Comments

Preview of Freitag II

Posted on July 1, 2011 by huzonfirst

So it’s Thursday night at the Gathering. It’s been another wonderful day of great gaming and great fellowship, but as the clock creeps toward 2:30 AM, I realize that it’s time for even this night owl to head for bed. As I shamble slowly toward the ballroom door, I see the familiar green-haired figure of Friedemann Friese entering the room. He looks up at me, grins maniacally, throws his hands up in the air, and cries, “Larry! IT’S FRIDAY!”

I laugh out loud, all thoughts of sleep forgotten. What Friedemann is so gently telling me is that it’s now “legal” to play the latest game of the Freitag project and I can’t wait to try it out. Continue reading →

Posted in First Impressions | 8 Comments

Review: Escape from the Aliens in Outer Space

Posted on June 29, 2011 by Dale Yu

[From time to time, the OG recruits guest writers for the blog.  Thanks to Nathan Beeler for writing up this review on Escape from the Aliens in Outer Space! — DPY]

Escape from the Aliens in Outer Space
Designer: Mario Porpora, Pietro Riva, Luca Rossi, Nicolo Tedeschi
Publisher: Cranio Creations
Players: 2-8
Ages: 12+
Time: 20-60 mins
Times Played:  7

Review written by Nathan Beeler

The difference between a tension filled race for your life against slimy tentacled alien creatures and a tedious exercise in clerical bookkeeping should be as vast as space.  However, both experiences seem to fit inside the little black box that is hardly big enough to contain the title Escape from the Aliens in Outer Space.  The game wants to be a highly thematic romp through the merciless corridors of a derelict space ship; a living breathing recreation of the Alien movies.  With the right group in the right mood it is precisely that.  In the wrong situation, though, a player will be grateful when he has a hole ripped into his chest by the blast of a pulse cannon, because it will be sweet release from a world of torture and pain.  This game is not for everyone.

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Posted in Reviews | 9 Comments

The Art of Design: Interviews to game designers #8 – Bruno Cathala

Posted on June 28, 2011 by Andrea "Liga" Ligabue

Today I’m going to interview Bruno Cathala, one of the most prominent designers of the so called “French School”. Bruno is most known for games like Shadows over Camelot or Mr. Jack but has a lot of other great designs in his portfolio. During this interview, as usual, I have tried to emphasize Bruno’s style and sign. It is interesting to discover how Bruno approaches the design: “The only rule I apply to me is to design a game I would like to play myself.” Talking about team-working, Bruno tells us “Creating means doubting. And it’s more comfortable to share his doubts with a colleague than to doubt alone at home.” That is a really interesting point of view. We touch the heart of the interview when Bruno asserts “a player has to face small but crucial choices” that is really a common trait in all his design. But now we can proceed with the interview.

Dear Bruno, I’m really happy to have the possibility to interview you for the Opinionated Gamers Web site. Assuming that designing games is a form of art, no more or less than writing books or casting movies, we will try to find out Bruno Cathala’s style, going through your production. Assuming what BGG displays, you have designed more than 40 games/expansions starting from 2002. A real great score for something less than 10 years of your career. I think that Shadows over Camelot and Mr. Jack are two games that made you famous, but is there in your production a game you are particularly proud of? Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews | 4 Comments

The SdJ Prediction Challenge – Results

Posted on June 28, 2011 by huzonfirst

I understand there was quite a to-do over in Germany a few hours ago—something to do with a gaming award.  As a result of this, there are several very happy people and a few disappointed ones, but the most important outcome is we get to see who won the Opinionated Gamer’s SdJ Prediction Challenge! Continue reading →

Posted in Best Of | 6 Comments

Photo Report from Origins 2011

Posted on June 27, 2011 by Dale Yu

This gallery contains 22 photos.

I’ve just returned home from a whirlwind tour of the 2011 edition of Origins in Columbus, Ohio.  There were a fair number of new games there, and a lot of sneak peeks at games coming in the future!  I thought … Continue reading →

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