Tag Archives: game

Board Games and TCGs, Other TCGs

I Learned to Play Akora TCG Today, and I Liked it!

1 Comment

I picked up a booster box of Akora‘s Spellbound Wings 1st edition because it was cheap. I didn’t know anything about the game beforehand, I’m just broke and wanted to open some affordable booster packs. I’ve been opening a pack after every workout as a way to stay motivated. So far it’s been working, but more on that at a later date. 

Today, members of the Akora team hosted a learn-to-play event on the official Discord, and I was lucky enough to join. I want to give a huge shoutout out to the folks running the event. They were nice, helpful, and super passionate. If you’re thinking of picking up Akora, join the official Discord. There will always be someone there to answer any questions you may have about the game. 

How to Play Akora

If you want to learn to play Akora, I recommend you check out Jaxonation’s tutorial on YouTube. He’s a member on the Discord and seems like a solid dude. He’s a fantastic resource for beginners, but so is the rest of the community.

Thoughts on Akora

The more Akora I opened, the more I enjoyed doing so. I like the art because it feels cozy with a solid fantasy anime vibe. I love how the cards look like spell cards, and the game’s aesthetic is what made me want to learn the game. 

The game is pretty easy to learn. The mechanics, card types, and turn order are easy to grasp. The hard part seems learning and mastering each color’s quirk, but that will come with practice. Even though I am sure to lose my first few matches, I feel like I have a solid grasp of how to play. Now that I kind of know how to, I want to start organizing my collection and building decks.  

I like that the community came together to host this event, but it definitely needed more People. I appreciated that they didn’t cancel the event when I was the only one in the room. It was fun and informative, and I am glad I made time. If you missed the event, I am confident someone will sit down to teach you if you ask. 

If you want to try Akora, there is an official module for Table Top Simulator you can mess around with. You can also find people on the Discord to play with if you ask nicely. I was told there are also tournaments on Sundays you can join if you just want to hang out and have a good time.  There is also a cool print and play feature on their website, with some sample decks to get you started.

If you’re looking for a new card game with a solid community, check out Akora. From my experience, it seems like a good time. 

If you enjoy these updates, please leave a like, comment, follow my socials, and share this with your friends. If you need any Akora, pick it up on TCG Player.

video game reviews

Astlibra Gaiden: The Cave of the Phantom Mist is for the Casuals

Leave a comment

I was sent Astlibra Gaiden: The Cave of Phantom Mist for free to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review of the game. 

If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, follow the socials, and share this with your friends. You can also always buy me coffee. 

What is Astlibra Gaiden: The Cave of Phantom Mist

Astlibra Gaiden: The Cave of Phantom Mist is the first DLC for Astlibra Revision. The game picks up after the events of the first game and introduces a new character. I’ve written my review of the base game, but if you haven’t played it yet, you need to. Astlibra is a modern Metroidvania for the fans of the old-school classics for PC and Switch, but the DLC is only available on Steam at the moment. Either way, I recommend you at least check out the Steam demo. 

After the events of the last invasion, a hero’s guild has formed to keep the realm safe from evil. All was good until one day the heroes vanished. It is now up to the baker’s daughter to venture into the Cave of the Phantom Mist and bring the heroes back. Does she have what it takes to return the piece to the land?

Gameplay

Leveling in this game requires players to grind gems to purchase stats in between runs. While this gives the game its grind, it isn’t a terrible one. At least not on Normal. I like that the game continues to give players the freedom to find their playstyle through their character’s build, but I felt like I needed less guidence this time around.

While the DLC does have a unique story, it isn’t as interesting as the base game. Where the story for the base game is deep and developed, the DLC acts more as a frame of flavor for the grind. It isn’t bad, but fans of the base game will be disappointed.

Thoughts

I enjoyed Astlibra Gaiden, but I see where it won’t be for everyone. Fans of the original who enjoyed the story and complex mechanics will be disappointed by the changes. The story isn’t as good, and the game is easier. The DLC feels like a more casual entry to the series, and that isn’t a bad thing. 

Progression in Astlibra Gaiden is more like a dungeon diver roguelike where players will have to grind through a procedurally generated dungeon to progress through the story. While the story isn’t as great as the first one, it’s good enough for the casual experience that it is. I enjoyed the repetition, but I didn’t follow the story as closely as I did with the base game. 

If you haven’t played the Astlibra base game, I recommend you go do that first. It’s an amazing game that should be in your library. If you’re a fan of Astlibra but want something more casual that isn’t a huge commitment, go get the DLC. It’s not as good as the base game, but it does scratch that casual Metroidvania itch. 

You can pick the Astlibra Gaiden: The Cave of Phantom Mist on Steam for $9.99, or save on the bundle for $31.48.

Board Games and TCGs, Other TCGs

Check Out the Upcoming Indie TCG, Chronicles of Arcane

Leave a comment

I just came by the nifty indie TCG, Chronicles of Arcane, and thought I would share. The game has such a beautiful art style, and I love the fantasy vibe. The first set is getting ready to ship, so make sure you join the official Discord to stay on top of all the news. Until then, let’s look at some of the art featured in the first set of Chronicles of Arcane. 

If you enjoy these updates, please leave a like, comment, follow the socials, and share this with your friends. 

One Piece TCG

Wings of the Captain Coming March 15: Set List

Leave a comment

I was resisting following another TCG, but with Wings of the Captain, I couldn’t any longer. The art in this set is amazing, especially if you’re a fan of the anime.

Wings of the Captain releases on March 15. Make sure you check your LGS to see if you can still preorder, but it looks like it will be a while before it drops back down to MSRP. If your LGS doesn’t carry One Piece, you can always check with TCG Player. They have preorders for Wings of the Captain and all other One Piece Product, but prices may still be bit inflated due to demand. Maybe we’ll some reprints to bring the prices down.

Either way, let’s look and admire the art in the meantime. I need the Buggy alt art! If you enjoy these updates, please leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends.

Weiss Schwarz

The Weiss Schwarz Chainsaw Man Set Looks Amazing

Leave a comment

If you’re a fan of the Chainsaw Man anime, you’re going to want to collect the newest Weiss Schwarz set. The set features some iconic art and scenes from an incredible anime. If you haven’t had a chance to watch Chainsaw Man, I highly recommend you start it ASAP. It has a cool premise, memorable characters, and an amazing art style and animation. 

I was first drawn to Weiss Schwarz because it features my favorite anime that I want to collect. The Chainsaw Man set is no exception. Check with your LGS to see if they carry Weiss Schwarz, but there is always TCG Player if that isn’t an option. If you’re looking for Chainsaw Man singles, decks, or booster boxes, get them over at TCG Player using my affiliate links. 

If you enjoy these updates, please leave a like, comment, follow the socials, and share this with your friends. 

Vertical Cards

Horizontal Cards

Board Games and TCGs

Enhance Your Dragonbane Campaign with the Upcoming Bestiary

1 Comment

If you’ve been running Dragonbane and need to spice it up, consider preordering the Bestiary released on February 27. The book includes roll tables, random encounters, adventure hooks, and 67 new monster blocks. The book is available in a hardcover Standard Edition and a faux leather cover with gold foil print Collector’s Edition. The collector’s edition looks very pretty and will look amazing on any shelf. Both versions come with instant PDF access to the Bestiary. You will be able to purchase the PDF on DriveThru RPG at launch if don’t care about physical media. 

Standard Edition ($41.80)
Collector’s Edition ($71.30)

Free League Publishing is also releasing cardboard Monsters Standee Set ($24.62) for folks in need of miniatures with the Dragonbane flavor. I can’t speak on the quality of the standees, but at least they look cool. 

Monster Standee Set ($24.62)

Impressions

I was sent a free copy of the Bestiary PDF to cover for my blog. I haven’t had a chance to run any of the monsters as I finish my current campaign, but I am planning on running a couple of one-shots soon to close things out. I did flip through the book, and I remain impressed with the art and flavor. 

The book includes nine chapters of monster types: Nightkin, Rare Kin, Insectoids, Trolls, Giants, Beasts, Undead, Dragons, and Demons. Each monster introduces new lore, an adventure hook, and a random encounter for when you need it. At a glance, the stats and mechanics of the new monsters seem fun and fair, but I’ll need to test them to know for sure. For those of you who love Dragonbane and need access to new lore and monsters, go preorder the Bestiary. For those of you who don’t mind waiting, you can pick up a copy of the Standard Edition on Amazon for $39.99. 

I will be posting a more detailed review once I run a couple of encounters, so stay tuned for that. If you enjoy these updates, please leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends.

Uncategorized

Matchmaker Agency: A Cute Management Game About Romance

Leave a comment

I was sent Matchmaker Agency for free to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review of the game. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like comment, follow, and share this with your friends. You can also always buy me coffee!

What is Matchmaker Agency?

Matchmaker Agency is a management game out now on Steam. In a town defined by its romance, it is your job to facilitate it. Your grandparents used to run the town’s renowned matchmaker agency until their deaths. As the only other person in the family passionate about the business, your grandparents have left the keys to the business to you.

This task won’t be easy. It has been years since the shop was in business, and people have forgotten it is renowned. Build your clientele, run successful ad campaigns, make successful matches, and build your reputation. Can you build your agency to its former glory?

Gameplay

The goal of Matchmaker Agency is to build a successful business. There are logistical challenges that need to overcome like staying on top of your bills, maintaining your client’s satisfaction, building your reputation, and upgrading your place of business. These are decisions players need to make each week. While the main loop of the game is finding successful matches for your clients, staying on top of the business’ logistics keeps the lights on. 

To make matches, you’ll need to attract clients. You’ll do this by spending money on advertising, good word of mouth, and buying upgrades for your shop. When you attract a client, you’ll need to interview the client to find out what they want from their match. Once you have enough data and clients, you can set them up on dates. On dates, you’ll be presented with quick time challenges to help create a spark between your clients. If your matches are successful, you can keep building your business until you’re the best in the city.

Thoughts

I enjoyed Matchmaker Agency. It had a cute premise, a relaxing gameplay loop, and a fun art style. I’m not a huge fan of the genre, so I appreciate how casual this entry is. One unavoidable issue players will face is the awkward translation. There is some odd syntax that makes interviews tricky. It isn’t unintelligible, but it is noticeable. After a while, I kind of knew what the game was asking for, but I did fail some interviews because of the translation.

Another issue I had was with the dates. On dates, players are presented with issues and scenarios they have to react to. These choices affect the success of the date, but the timer goes by too quickly. Bundle this with the awkward translations, these challenges are unnecessarily difficult at times. I failed some challenges because I didn’t have enough time to make sense of my choices. It isn’t impossible, and eventually, you’ll know what the game wants, but it is something to consider. 

Despite the flaws, the game is fun. Matchmaker Agency is a casual management game with a quirky and fun story. It has a great art style, a fantastic soundtrack, and a relaxing gameplay loop. The translation issues are noticeable, but they aren’t a deal breaker. If you’re looking for a casual wholesome game and don’t mind the translation issues, grab Matchmaker Agency. 

You can pick up Matchmaker Agency on Steam for $19.99 (currently on sale for $16.99 for the next 15 hours).

Board Games and TCGs, gaming news

Check out the Shadow Over Gloomshire Kickstarter – Dragonbane

1 Comment

Update: Yon can now preorder the book if you missed the kickstarter.

I’ve been running my Dragonbane campaign for a couple of months now, and have been impressed with the system. With my campaign coming to a close, I’ve written a more detailed review that you should read if you want to know more about the system.

As I was prepared to move on to a different system, I came across an interesting Kickstarter Dragonbane adventure: Shadow Over Gloomshire. The campaign is fully funded, and with ten days left on the campaign, I thought it deserved more exposure. 

If you enjoy these updates, please leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to back the Kickstarter!

What is Shadow Over Gloomshire?

Shadow Over Gloomshire is a Gothic horror prewritten adventure for Dragonbane. It features unique hand drawn art, maps, and it introduces 2 new classes: Paladin and Monster Hunter. There are also role tables, a new location, and descriptions to help get things moving.

Two new professions. Work in progress

I’d love to play a malard kin paladin or a wolf kin monster hunter.

The temple. Once a place of worship, now home to twisted evil. Work in progress

You find yourself stranded in the remote village of Gloomshire. It’s a haunting place full of strange and frightening dangers lurking in the shadows. Travel through a haunted forest, investigate a creepy mansion, and embark on a spooky adventure I’m sure you’ll never forget.

Minerva, Cleric of Light. By FukamiHB
Stygian wolf by John Bilodeau
Demonic artifacts by Melker Holmgren

Impressions

If you like gothic horror, it definitely seems like it has the right flavor. I am a huge fan of the artwork, and for $11, it doesn’t seem like a bad deal. There is always a risk in backing Kickstarters, but Robin Fjärem has a few other projects under his belt, so it seems pretty reputable.

You can pick up a copy of the Shadow Over Gloomshire adventure PDF for $11, or a booklet and PDF for $20 which isn’t bad for an adventure.

I like running my own adventures, but it’s always nice to take a break and build off what other people have come up with. We always end up going off script, but it is always nice to have things like role tables, encounters, and loot at the ready. I think its a pretty cool project, but go check the Shadow Over Gloomshire Kickstarter and see for yourself!

Board Games and TCGs, Uncategorized

Make Time For the Tales of the Loop Alchemy RPG Workshop!

Leave a comment

Free League Publishing, Start Playing Games, and Alchemy RPG have teamed up to host a free workshop for the Tales From the Loop RPG Alchemy module. Join Dan and Vinny this week as they teach players and GMs the ins and outs of the innovative Alchemy VTT and the taste of the award-winning TTRPG, Tales From the Loop.

This workshop is in preparation for Start Playing Games‘ Tales From the Loop play weekend coming shortly after. Players from around the world can join in on a game run by a professional DM. If you end up wanting to play a game of Tales From the Loop and don’t mind paying for a pro to run your sessions, this Lets Play Games is a great resource for your TTRPG needs. 

What is Tales From the Loop

Tales From the Loop is a mystery RPG set in the 80s in an alternate timeline. The Soviets have discovered anti-gravity, and this discovery has fast-tracked innovation. There are giant robots, floating cars, and other wonders. But this technological race needs its discretion.

Governments form structures known as Loops to keep innovation a secret. But secrecy comes with a price. The sleepy mundane towns that border these Loops begin to experience inexplicable phenomena. While these strange occurrences go unnoticed by the adults, kids in these sleepy towns take it upon themselves to investigate.

Play as kids as you investigate the strange events happening around town. What truths will you and your friends uncover as you go on an adventure you’re sure to never forget?

What is Alchemy

Alchemy is a VTT that aims to enhance the theater of the mind. While you can use it to upload your own content, Alchemy VTT offers an extensive library of modules packed with animated scenes, overlays, music, and sound effects to elevate your experience. Alchemy VTT is easy to learn, use, and teach. It has accessibility features to accommodate a variety of technology, and some trigger warning features to ensure everyone is comfortable in a campaign.

I love that voice chat is integrated into the client. It’s nice to have everything in one spot. With the video chat coming soon to the platform, it’s going to be hard not to pass up on using Alchemy. There are also incoming streamer features that I am sure some of you will be excited about.

I’ve seen two modules so far, and I am impressed. Modules comes with everything a GM needs to run a game, including some catered extras to elevate the game. The art, the music, the overlays all look so good without being a distraction. If you play narrative-heavy games, this is a fantastic choice. You can have everything you need to roll and hand out, but you also have the option to include grid combat if the mood strikes. The more I play with Alchemy, the more impressed I am become with what it can do. If you have time this week to check it out, I recommend you sit in on the workshop. Be prepared to be impressed.

Impressions

This was another fantastic workshop hosted by Vinny and Dan. Vinny and Dan are great presenters who are both friendly and super helpful. The presentation is incredibly detailed and informative, but they will go out of their way to answer all your questions. It’s clear they are passionate about Alchemy, and their passion is infectious. If you’re shopping for a new VTT, you’re going to get a detailed walkthrough of the platform that should help you with your decision. If you’re looking for a new RPG, you’re getting a solid overview that will at least leave you curious. If you’re looking for a narrative-heavy game that you create with your table, this is the game for you.

Make sure you carve out some time and sign up for a work shop, it’s worth it!

DateTime (Pacific Time – Los Angeles)
2/16/202410 AM
2/20/20243 PM
2/21/202410 AM
2/26/20243 PM
2/28/202410 AM

If you enjoy these updates, please leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends.

Altered TCG

Altered TCG: The Kickstarter TCG You Need to try Once

Leave a comment

The Altered TCG Kickstarter has blown its goals out of the water and is sitting comfortably at $2,951,765. It is definitely going to break four million, so make sure you back the project and grab your product while it’s at Kickstarter prices. I’ve already written about Altered in a previous post, so start there if you want to know more about the TCG.

What is Altered TCG

Altered TCG is the game that intends to revolutionize the hobby. While most games have players combat against each other, Altered has players race against each other in an adventure. Choose your faction, and with the help of allies and magic, guide your faction leader over Asgartha in what promises to be an unforgettable adventure. 

Impressions

While we wait for the launch, I went and took advantage of the print-and-play starter decks available on the official site. I started with the Muna and Yzmir decks. While I found myself enjoying the Muna deck a little more, there are mechanics in both that I enjoyed. Muna felt like a more aggressive deck, but Yzmir had some nice control. I don’t think I am smart enough for Yzmir, but I am willing to try.

I will commend the team for making the factions feel different in both flavor and playstyle, and I am curious to see what the rest of the factions have in store. I haven’t quite found the faction I want to main yet. 

Altered feels like the perfect blend of board game and TCG. The game is easy to learn and understand, and it has some terrific flavor. I need to play a bit more, but here are some things that I like so far:

  1. There aren’t any mana issues. At the start of your turn, you can discard cards into your mana zone and summon allies or cast spells using those cards. There is nothing worse than losing a game because you can’t play the game because you can’t find the right mana. 
  2. You don’t lose the game when you run out of cards, which means you can’t get milled. I am a little conflicted with this one because I love building mill decks in whatever game I play, but I play a lot of Pokemon where I mill myself because I am not paying attention. I would definitely mill out here so I appreciate the buffer. 
  3. The Reserve is an awesome mechanic. In Altered, creatures you summon need to rest, or leave the battlefield at the end of the day (turn). Unless they have the anchored ability, cards you cast go to your reserved zone. This is an extra zone that you can cast from. You can change up the cards that live in your reserve, and this will open up the game for some very cool plays. 
  4. The art is fantastic. The more I look at it, the more I appreciate the flavor and style that went into this game. I just want to crack some packs and hold these in my hands!

If you’re looking for a new TCG that is unlike anything you’ve played before and is fun, I recommend you check out the Altered Kickstarter. There are 13 days left for the campaign, so make sure you go back it now!

If you enjoy these updates, please leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends.