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Wizards of the Coast Continues Dungeons and Dragons Next Playtest

Posted 3/22/13 3:13 pm EST by in Hobby Gaming


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By Kevin Ohannessian

In the latest round of playtest documents for the new edition of Dungeons and Dragons out today, Wizards of the Coast focuses on the Druid, Paladin, and Ranger.

When they announced the new versions of the venerable roleplaying game in January of 2012, codenamed D&D Next, they also announced a public play test . Since May, the companies has been releasing documents every month or two, tweaking rules and add more character concepts each time. In the latest version of the playtest documents, the character classes Druid, Paladin, and Ranger have been added. This brings the total classes in the playtest to nine, likely a majority of what will be in the final game. Read More...

Why Established Board Game Companies Are Turning To Kickstarter

Posted 3/20/13 2:30 pm EST by in Hobby Gaming


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By Kevin Ohannessian

In the last few years, Kickstarter has given a chance to indie game makers to create products. But what about medium-sized companies with a slew of releases already? Why did Cheapass Games and Days of Wonder seek funding from the crowd?

The crowd-funding site Kickstarter has been instrumental in indie game makers in finding a way to launch a product--one need only look at Cards Against Humanity for the perfect example. But now known game companies are seeking the same success from fans willing to finance a game before it is made. Read More...

The Success Of 'Numenera': Kickstarter Gives RPG Fans What They Want

Posted 3/14/13 4:17 pm EST by in Hobby Gaming


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By Kevin Ohannessian

The successful launches of the "Numenera" RPG from Monte Cook and the "Torment: Tides of Numenera" computer RPG from inXile provide examples of niche fandoms supporting the creators and games they love.

Monte Cook is a veteran of roleplaying games, having worked on the Planescape setting for the second edition of "Dungeons and Dragons." He also worked on the 3rd ed. rules of "D&D," before leaving to make his own games. He launched several, notably the "Ptolus" campaign setting from 2006 and it's massive 672-page book. Over those years, Monte grew a following for his intelligent, detailed, and wonderfully strange work. So when he decided to launch another new game, this time he could turn to Kickstarter to fund it. Last September, with a goal of $20k, he raised over half a million dollars. Fans of his work gave Monte the money he need to publish "Numenera."

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Interview: Felicia Day And Wil Wheaton Team Up For International TableTop Day

Posted 3/8/13 11:44 am EST by in Hobby Gaming, Interviews


Day, via her Geek and Sundry YouTube Channel, has declared March 30 a day for all the dice rollers, card players, and "Monopoly" piece, um, havers, to get together and game. Your local gaming and hobby store might be getting in on the event too, with companies like Asmodee Editions, Days of Wonder, Indie Boards & Cards, Mayfair Games, Wizards of the Coast sponsoring giveaways around the day.

We spoke with Day and "Tabletop" co-creator and co-star Wil Wheaton about getting the world gaming, why it's a big deal, and some of their favorite tabletop gaming memories.

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Monopoly Loses Iron Token In Favor Of Internet-Friendly Cat, Grumpy Version To Follow?

Posted 2/6/13 1:26 pm EST by in Hobby Gaming, Toys


Hasbro asked fans to vote which "Monopoly" token they would like to see sent to the big toy store in the sky, and it turns out, people hate irons.

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Batman To Get His Own Board Game In 2013

Posted 11/29/12 10:30 am EST by in DC Comics, Hobby Gaming


The Dark Knight is getting his own board game, and it's coming with a video game tie-in to boot. Cryptozoic Entertainment has announced "Batman: Arkham City Escape," based on the similarly-named video game, and slated for a February 2013 release.

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Dominoes Inducted Into The National Toy Hall Of Fame

Posted 11/27/12 10:00 am EST by in Hobby Gaming


Image by Flickr.com user Becky Bokern, used under Creative Commons license

The hobby games I cover here typically put the geek in MTV Geek, but sometimes, it's worth taking a pause to celebrate the classics. Not every game has goblins and barbarians, or spaceships and lasers. Today, we're throwing the spotlight on dominoes, the set of pipped tiles that can be used to play a centuries-old abstract strategy game or just set up so you can watch them all fall down.

Dominoes have just been inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame, joining such games as Monopoly, Scrabble, The Game of Life, and other classics Checkers and Marbles. This year's other National Toy Hall of Fame inductee wasn't a game, but was still something of interest to MTV Geek readers: Star Wars action figures.

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Hobby Gamers To Get Another 'Few Acres of Snow' This Winter

Posted 11/21/12 1:30 pm EST by in Announcements, Hobby Gaming, Mayfair Games


A hand of first edition "A Few Acres of Snow" cards. Image by Ivan Dostál used under Creative Commons license.

One of the best games of 2011 is about to get a better. That's more truth than hyperbole, as "A Few Acres of Snow" was named the #4 best game of 2011 here on MTV Geek, and one year later, the game is about to receive an improved second edition printing. There's also a switch at the publishing helm, with game designer Martin Wallace moving his business from Mayfair Games to Asmodée Editions.

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'The Settlers of Catan' Meets... High Fashion?

Posted 11/20/12 9:50 am EST by in Hobby Gaming, Mayfair Games


This past weekend, there was something very unexpected at the Chicago Toy & Game Fair. To say it's not very often that the worlds of hobby gaming and high fashion collide is an understatement (I'm still waiting for the "Project Runway" "Monopoly" board challenge), but as ChiTAG celebrated it's 10-year anniversary, the PlayCHIC fashion show provided some unique sights. The show featured "haute couture designs created by some of the city's top designers that are inspired by cool toy, game and entertainment brands like the UK sensation Moshi Monsters, the nerd-chic hit board game Settlers of Catan, and the vintage comic strip heroine Brenda Starr."

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Paizo Publishing Launches Massive Public 'Pathfinder' RPG Playtest

Posted 11/15/12 11:07 am EST by in Hobby Gaming


There are plenty of reasons to play a roleplaying game. Modern RPGs are doing a fantastic job at encouraging story building and character development, but some players are still there for the classic experience: hack and slash, collect the loot, and complete the quest. For this more traditional play, it's all about the level. High level characters pack a bigger punch, and Paizo Publishing is preparing to takes its "Pathfinder" RPG into epic level territory with next year's "Mythic Adventures" sourcebook.

Paizo describes the hook of "Mythic Adventures" in simple terms: "the mythic rules allow characters (and monsters) to break some of the fundamental rules of the game. They allow a character to cheat death, to change the outcome of die rolls, and even to act twice in one turn." Basically, prepare to crank your character's level so high that you can throw out the standard "Pathfinder" rulebook. The only question is how high will the level structure scale? That's up to you and a legion of "Pathfinder" playtesters to help determine.

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'A Song of Ice and Fire Roleplaying' Sends Players To The Wall With 'Night's Watch Sourcebook'

Posted 10/29/12 12:30 pm EST by in Game of Thrones, George R. R. Martin, Hobby Gaming


It's no secret, George R. R. Martin is a master world-builder with a knack for complex settings. Whether you watch "Game of Thrones" on HBO or read the original "A Song of Ice and Fire" novels, it's a challenge to keep track of all the moving parts. What's that mean for gamers? The world of Westeros is ripe for roleplayers to fill with their own characters and adventures.

One of those settings that readers and viewers alike have been itching to see more of is The Wall, where the Night's Watch serves to protect the seven kingdoms of Westeros. Now, Green Ronin Publishing is preparing to release the Night's Watch Sourcebook, giving gamers an expansive toolbox to explore The Wall and lands beyond.

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Interview: 'Space Cadets' Designer Geoff Engelstein On Co-Op Game Design

Posted 10/26/12 1:17 pm EST by in Hobby Gaming


Imagine yourself on the bridge of a starship exploring the galaxy. Whatever the mission may be, whether diplomatic, scientific, or military, you and your fellow crew mates must perform your individual jobs in concert to successfully operate the ship. No, this isn't "Star Trek," it's "Space Cadets," an ambitious new title from Stronghold Games that debuted just last week at Germany's Essen Spiel games fair.

"Space Cadets" has all the trappings of a good co-operative board game, a booming genre that is not without its flaws. Engelstein and his son/daughter team of co-designers have sought to remedy these issues, and I explained last week how the inner workings of "Space Cadets" pulls this off. Now, read on for the full transcript of my interview with Geoff Engelstein, where you will learn exactly where "Space Cadets" originated and how it has evolved into its current, final form.

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Review: Dungeons And Dragons 'Dungeon Command' Miniatures Game Delivers Both Hits And Misses

Posted 10/26/12 11:44 am EST by in Hobby Gaming, Reviews, Wizards of the Coast


There are many different ways to enjoy "Dungeons and Dragons," the hobby gaming property most known for its core roleplaying game. For instance, take the newly-released "Dungeon Command" miniatures game. As a skirmish-scale combat game, "Dungeon Command" aims to break down some of the barriers of miniatures gaming by using pre-painted figures in small 12-on-12 battles.

Complete armies (known as warbands in "Dungeon Command") are sold in ready-to-play faction packs, with options to further expand and customize a warband in advanced play. Today, we'll be reviewing those first two faction packs: "Heart of Cormyr" and "Sting of Lolth."

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'Fiasco' Supplements Give A Halloween Treat To RPG Players

Posted 10/26/12 10:00 am EST by in Hobby Gaming


Perhaps you haven't heard of "Fiasco." If so, throw out what you think you may know about roleplaying games, and instead, absorb this simple description from it's designer, Jason Morningstar: "You’ll play ordinary people with powerful ambition and poor impulse control. There will be big dreams and flawed execution. It won’t go well for them." It's commonly referred to as a "create your own Cohen brothers film" kit, but with some free supplements released this month, players will be creating horror movies in no time.

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Luke Crane Provides Advice For Building RPG Scenarios

Posted 10/25/12 9:30 am EST by in Hobby Gaming


Each fall, Luke Crane (designer of the "Burning Wheel Fantasy Roleplaying System" and the "Mouse Guard Roleplaying Game") brings RPG players together in New York City for one intense weekend of gaming. The event is called Burning Con, and it is unlike any other RPG convention. In order to attend, players must step up to the challenge of running their own game. What's more, players are limited to running games designed by Crane and his special guests. This year, Vincent Baker ("Apocalypse World") and John Harper ("Danger Patrol") are joining the event, making Burning Con a spectacular celebration of Indie RPG talent.

But one weekend is not long enough to run an extended RPG campaign, and as such, Burning Con attendees will have to run one-shot scenarios. With that in mind, Luke Crane has taken to the Burning Wheel Blog and provided attendees with some sharp advice on crafting RPG scenarios.

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