Animal Colosseum releases on January 19th, so let’s get excited by looking at all the alt art cards. This set has some amazing art. It was hard to choose a favorite, but the retro frame MetalGarurumon (X Antibody) alt stands out the most. If you enjoyed the Digimon Dawn and Dusk games, the alts for the mascots are amazing! You’re definitely going to want some of these in your collection.
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I’ve been looking at Grand Archive cards for a while because I like the art, and it seems like a neat game. If you like anime and want some neat collectibles, you might want to look into the TCG. I know I am a little late, but let’s start this showcase with the Fractured Crown set. The set has some very cool cards, and some that I want to get a hold of. The Fractured Crown booster box is only $45, which is very tempting.
Check with your LGS to see if they carry Grand Archive, but you can always pick up Fractured Crown and other Grand Archive products from TCG Player. I’ll also leave links to singles for those who need them.
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The Ruins of Symbaroum 5Eis getting two new expansions: The Throne of Thorns Part I and The World of Symbaroum. You will need the 3 core Ruins of Symbaroum (Player’s Guide, Gamemaster’s Guide, and Bestiary) and a fundamental understanding of the 5E OGL rules to play the expansion. I can see you running games with just the Gamemaster’s guide, but there is always room for more flavor. The expansions bring new characters, monsters, and adventures to fans of Ruins of Symbaroum 5E. If you’relooking for a way to spice up your next campaign, you might want to look into the Ruins of Symbaroum 5E.
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What is Ruins of Symbaroum 5E?
Ruins of Symbaroumis a dark fantasy TTRPG that uses the 5th Edition OGL rule set as a foundation, but expands on it with its intruduction of new settings, mechanics, and classes. If you enjoy 5E but want to change things up without having to learn a new system, Ruins of Symbaroum might be worth looking into. While there is a lot of content to keep you busy for a while, all you really need is the Gamemaster’s Guide. Everything else you can purchase as you need it.
Synopsis
The rich and nuanced Symbaroum setting revolves around the Ambrians – a civilization that two decades ago were forced to flee their ancestral soil after a devastating war. Their new and promised land borders on the vast forest of Davokar, covering the remnants of the Empire of Symbaroum which fell into ruin hundreds of years ago. Brimming with natural resources and mythical treasures, the forest calls out to the Ambrians to be explored and plundered, but the road into its depths lays far from open. Not only are the shadows beneath the foliage fraught with danger, monsters and infectious Corruption; there are also the elves of the Iron Pact who have vowed to die to keep anyone from disturbing the ruins of old, warning that the ancient evil of Symbaroum stirs in its sleep.
Throne of Thornes I
Throne of Thornes I contains the first two episodes of the epic adventure chronicle. Designed for players levels 7-9, the book takes adventures on a perilous expedition into the dark depths of the Davokar Forst. The stakes of this adventure are high as heroes must fight off cultists, monsters, and other horrifying dangers that fill its pages. The book introduces:
20+ color maps with new towns and areas to explore
50+ stat blocks for new NPCs, monsters, and advesaries
New side quests and adventures
Handouts for clues and other important information
I’ll need to see the book and read through it to form a better opinion, but the world seems pretty neat so far. If you’re looking for a new campaign in the Ruins of Symbaroum universe, Throne of Thornes I might be worth the preorder. You can preorder the beautiful hardcover from the official Free League Publishing website for $47.85. Preordering the book also gives you instant access to PDF so you don’t have to wait for shipping.
The World of Symbaroum
The World of Symbaroumis more of a resource book for the GMs who enjoy the world but want to create their own campaign. The book expands on existing lore and settings presented in the Ruins of Symbaroum Gamemaster’s Guide by diving into the history of the world and introducing new people, places, and events. The book also provides Gamemasters with 34 plot hooks, 18 historical secrets, and 7 adventure landscapes in the forest of Davokar for level 5-10 adventurers.
I’ll need to get my hands on this first before I can form an opinion, but this seems like a wonderful resource for people who are already invested in this game. If you have a table that cares about lore, or just need some ideas to freshen up that next session, go preorder The World of Symbaroum. You can preorder The World of Symbaroumfrom the official Free League Publishing website for $47.85. Preordering the book gets you instant access to the PDF so you don’t have to wait for shipping.
Conclusion
These expansions seem to be geared more toward people who are already invested in the system. I recommend you check out the core book and move from there. If you’re already invested, make sure you put in your preorder! I’ll be doing a preview of the core book soon, so make sure you stay tuned for that.
I’ve been running Dragonbanefor a couple of weeks now, and yesterday was the first game where only one of my players could make it. I was about to cancel the game, but my friend asked if I could run it anyway with just him. I’ve never run a 1 on 1 campaign before, but I figured there was no harm. He was ready to play, and I had a rough idea of what to run.
I’ve been going through the rewritten content in the core rule book, but I went a bit off-script for this adventure. It is always good to go off-script if that’s where the narrative takes you.
The party had made it to the Temple of the Purple Flames where a group of cultists opened a portal to the demon realm to bring forth their lord. The party found the portal and needed a way to close it before more demons got through. The book has rules on what happens if the players go through the portal. I ignored these and created an adventure out of it.
Prep
Prepping for the game took me thirty minutes. I run my game on Foundry VTT, and the official module has everything I need to put an impromptu adventure together. We used theater of the mind of this adventure, but having the stats and tables to roll from is always nice.
All I needed to do was comb through the bestiary for monsters to build thematic encounters and copy them to a new folder. I then wrote down some key descriptions to set the mood and created an NPC for roleplay and direction.
Gameplay
Dragonbane has rules for solo play, but I didn’t have enough time to look those over. Instead, I ran the game like normal but made a few adjustments that I thought worked out well.
For starters, I gave my player an extra turn in the initiative. I know there is a feat for that, but in the game, it was a blessing a random demon NPC gave him. This made it so that when he was outnumbered, he wasn’t waiting around for his turn. It also made boss encounters more exciting. Two turns gave him the option to parry or dodge without feeling like a turn was wasted. I also let him heal 1D6 for free after every encounter because I didn’t want to kill his character.
Reaction
The friend I ran this for is the least experienced in the group. We’ve been playing D&D for only a couple of years, and it was really cool to see how comfortable he’s gotten even with a new system. He came out of the gate roleplaying and got into character fairly quickly. I had designed the adventure thinking he would want to fight everything, but he kept trying to avoid conflict. I did my best to accommodate his creativity and had a blast crafting a unique narrative together.
One of the features that I like about Drabonbane is how they handle leveling. At the end of the session ask a series of questions to the table.
✦ Did you participate in the game session?
✦ Did you explore a new location?
✦ Did you defeat one or more dangerous adversaries?
✦ Did you overcome an obstacle without using force?
Every yes gives players a marker they can use to level up a skill. Players roll a D20, and if the result is higher, the skill increases by one. For example, if the player wants to increase their Evade, they would use one of these markers to attempt to increase it. If their Evade score is 12, and they roll a 15, their new Evade score is 13.
What I like about this system is the question about overcoming an obstacle without using force. In Dungeons and Dragons, I had to go out of my way to describe NPCs as non-threatening because everything ended in a fight. In Dragonbane, my players try to find alternatives wherever possible because they want that extra mark for leveling. It makes for interesting RP moments, and it creates a nice balance of combat and Roleplay that I’ve enjoyed tremendously.
The extra turn made combat feel great. I did have a few issues balancing a couple of the encounters, but I was happy overall with the results. My friend ended up rolling the best he’s ever done. He rolled two dragons and saved at every pivotal point. It definitely made for an exciting session.
Conclusion
I’ve been having a lot of fun with Dragonbane, and running this 1 on 1 session was a real treat. It gave me a chance to hang out with my buddy and mess around in the system in ways we normally can’t. If you’re thinking about running a 1 on 1 adventure, go for it. Do your prep and have fun with it. For those of you interested in Dragonbane, I recommend you start with the free Quick Start guide.
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There are still slots available for the free Vaesen learn-to-play event happening over at StartPlaying Games on Thursday, December 28 at 10 AM PT, and Tuesday, January 2nd at 2 PM PT. The event is hosted by the good folks over at Alchemy VTT through Discord, and it gives potential players a chance to learn about a new system and virtual tabletop. I sat through one of the sessions, and it’s gotten me curious about the Vaesen RPG. I’ve written about the class in a previous post, but you should sign up anyway since it’s free.
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Recently, Free League Publishing was nice enough to send a bunch of their games to review. I am currently running through my first Dragonbane campaign and loving every minute of it. Till I can get to the rest of the games, I’ll be previewing all the games in the Free League Publishing library. These will be my initial impressions since it wouldn’t be fair to review a game I haven’t finished a campaign in.
I’ll begin with Vaesen because it is the game I have the most exposure to outside of Dragonbane. What drew me to Vaesen initially was the artwork. The art in this book is beautiful. It reminds me of the old children’s books my father used to read to me when I was little.
Background
Vaesen is the spirits that exist in this mythical 19th-century Scandinavia. There used to exist a symbiotic relationship between the humans and the Vaesen. The humans would know how to keep them happy through things like offerings, and the Vaesen would bring them rain or make the fields grow. It was a relationship that worked, but one that didn’t last forever.
War and industrialization change the landscape. People begin to move to cities, and people begin to forget about the Vaesen. Years go by, and the corruption of industrialization begins to change the Vaesen. Strange and unexplainable events start to haunt the people, and they demand answers.
Only a few people exist with the ability to see the Vaesen. They have formed a secret organization to investigate and stop any nefarious supernatural activity.
Flavor
What I like most about is the flavor. The 19th-century aesthetic is neat, but the folk tale and lore are what sell this RPG to me. The core rule book is full of lore for the different Vaesen that can appear in your campaign. I enjoy reading about the different monsters, and can already have a few ideas for one shot. If your table enjoys dark supernatural mysteries, you might want to consider Vaesen.
I like how classes are handled in Vaesen. Each class has unique abilities, motivations, and equipment that help build the world of the RPG. The core book does a good job of giving players ideas for things like motivations, secrets, and trauma to help with character creation. For example, you can play a priest who is on a sacred mission because he wants to atone for being possessed by a witch, but he still hears the devil speak to him. You can also create your own, and the possibilities are endless. I like that the adventurers are just normal people who have been called to keep the world safe from the supernatural. It’s giving me fun monster of the week vibes, and I am here for it.
Gameplay
Vaesen is a D6 system. You only need six-sided dice to play. There is combat and checks which seem pretty straight forward, but the main focus seems to be on the roleplay. The game is about investigating supernatural events so players will be asking questions, searching for clues, and although there is combat, you don’t always have to kill the monsters. This is something you should consider before buying into the system. This one might be a little hard to sell at my table, but they’ve surprised me before.
Where to Buy
You can pick up the core book from the official Free League Publishing website ($52.91 + shipping). You also get access to the PDF so you won’t have to wait to get started. The core book is also available on Amazon ($64 book only) and DrivethruRPG ($24.99 pdf only).
The Final Shapereleases on June 4th. I received a copy of the expansion to cover for my blog when it releases. After a long break from Destiny 2, I’ve booted up my original hunter and started to grind in preparation. I’ve been using my keyboard and mouse, but I want to switch to a controller. I also need a controller for the other games I play.
I have an old Xbox One controller that works fine, but I want something more ergonomic and with updated features. My search landed me on the Razer Wolverine V2 wired controller. I know Razer doesn’t make the best peripherals, but the deal seemed too good to pass up. Normally $100, I thought I was at least getting a decent $50 controller. I didn’t.
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Quality
The Razer Wolverine V2 is disappointing out of the box. This looks like a cheap generic controller that is desperately trying to pass off as a Razer product. The build feels sturdy and has the iconic Razer aesthetic, but it doesn’t radiate the quality you would expect from a $100 controller. If you can get past the shock of how cheap the controller looks, but isn’t bad. The textured finish feels nice to the touch, and the buttons have a satisfying click when pressed. Unfortunately, the controller still feels cheap. I can’t attest to the longevity of the controller, but the triggers feel like they’ll eventually break from use.
Features
What sort of makes up for the cheap design is the controller’s customizability. Through Razer’s third-party app, you can reconfigure the controller’s layout to fit your playstyle. I typically use the defaults or change them in the game, so this feature didn’t do much to unsour my impression. This feature would be good for people who go to tournaments, but there are better controllers for competitive play.
The Razer Wolverine V2 also comes with two extra buttons along the triggers that can be reprogrammed. I tried a few different configurations and never found an instance where they proved useful. They were in an awkward position and were often more inefficient to reach than the keys I was replacing. If you need a controller with extra buttons, get something with pedals on the bottom.
Ergonomics
If you are looking for an ergonomic controller, the Razer Wolverine V2 is a terrible choice. You are better off with an Xbox One controller. After about 20 minutes of light play, my hands were on fire. I have worked hard to create an ergonomic setup because the pain from the repetitive stress in my wrists and hands leaves me useless. I’ve found a decent solution for my keyboard and mouse, but there are games I play that require a controller. The Xbox controller I’ve been using still destroys my hands, but it isn’t as bad as the Razer Wolverine V2. Do your hands a favor, and don’t buy this controller.
Conclusion
The Razer Wolverine V2is a waste of money, even if you like the Razer aesthetic. The Controller looks and feels cheap, and lacks the features to make it a $100 controller. Even at the $50 price point I bought it at, there are simply better options. I am disappointed I wasted my money on something I can’t physically use, but my search for a better controller continues. The Razer Wolverine V2 wired controller isn’t the premium gaming peripheral it pretends to be.
You can pick up the Razer Wolverine V2 on Amazon currently for $49.99 (normally $99.99).
I was sent Guardians of Holme for free to review on my site. While I am grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. You can also always buy me coffee.
Guardians of Holme is a tower defense deck builder available now on PC. Demons and monsters are making their push toward Royal City in their campaign to destroy humanity. The fate of the world falls in the hands of a few skilled artisans. Build traps to stop the attacking forces before they can get to the city. Can you stop them before it is too late?
Players start each run of Guardians of Holme with a randomized deck of traps. This deck is upgraded and expanded throughout the run, and the cards players have access to expand over time. The longer you play, the more diverse your card pool becomes. The goal of the game is to set up traps to prevent the hoards of monsters from destroying the core. This makes for a soothing and relaxing gaming experience, but it can also be a bit repetitive. There are a few features that mitigate the monotony like being able to speed up rounds, the RN, and different heroes you can play, but the loop will always be the same.
I loved Guardians of Holme because it combines two of my favorite genres well. Other than a few reworks, the deck building is solid. The game is cute and relaxing, but the repetitive loop makes it hard to recommend, especially at the price point. I find the repetition soothing, and I enjoy the genre enough to justify the price, but it isn’t going to be for everyone. If you are looking for a relaxing game that isn’t much of a commitment, Guardians of Holme is an option. If you love Tower Defence games and want a cute one to fill your downtime, this is a solid choice.
The San Antonio Pokemon regionals happened over the weekend, and we got to see some new archetypes hit the format. Charizard ex Finally takes the gold, and the Snorlax control continues to perform well. I’ll be listing the top five archetypes based on placement, and leave links for the singles using my affiliate links.
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1. Charizard ex
I know Charizard has its hate since it was released with Obsidian Flames, but it is such a good card. It’s bulky, it can hit hard when you’re behind in prizes, and its ability lets you power up your Pokémon. It’s not unbeatable, but it creates situations that are hard to come back from. The deck is easy to learn, and will make up most of your matches on PTCGL until the next tournament. Congratulations to Azul Garcia Griego for taking first place!
To no one’s surprise, Losttina continues to do well in the tournament despite Jirachi entering the format. There’s nothing wrong with silver, and if you’re looking for a fun deck to play, this is a solid choice. I’ve played a variation of this on PTCGL and loved every minute. Congratulations to Grant Hays for 2nd place!
Energy (13) 4 Jet Energy PAL 190 4 Psychic Energy 5 3 Grass Energy 1 2 Water Energy 3
3. Palkia VStar
Palkia VStar also made its appearance. Palkia VStar has always shown up to tournaments, but San Antonio is where it truly shined. This is going to be an archetype to look out for. Congratulations to Joseph Nawal for taking Palkia VStar to 3rd place.
I know there is a lot of hate for Snorlax control because it makes for boring games, but it’s a valid strategy. I am just happy to see the format change, and it’s a great excuse to bust out Alakazam ex. Congratulations to Calvin Conner for making top 5.
This doesn’t surprise me at all, Maraidon ex is strong right now. I’ve been playing it on the ladder and love it. It is easy to pick up and pilot, and it is a really quick deck. With the inclusion of Iron Hands ex, this deck is a beast! Congratulations to Nick Robinson for getting 7th place!
Our friends over at Free League Publishing have partnered with Titan Forge and MyMiniFactory to release a series of high-quality miniatures for their fantasy tabletop RPG, Dragonbane. If you have access to a 3D printer and need a way to spruce up your next adventure, you’re going to want to subscribe to The Adventure.
The Adventureis a subscription service by MyMiniFactory that offers players high-quality miniatures from the Fantasy TTRPG Dragonbane. Subscribers will get the STL files for the five pre-generated characters from the core rulebook’s prewritten adventure, and one printable monster or enemy file every month. The Makander mini alone should be enough to move this subscription.
Subscribers also get 10% off a purchase of Dragonbane content from the Free League Publishing store, 10% off other MyMiniFactory purchases or subscriptions, and story teasers for Dragonbane. The subscription is $9.99 a month, or you can pay for the whole year in advance for $89.88 ($30 savings). If you’re in the market for officially licensed minis, The Adventure is definitely worth looking into.
What is Dragonbane?
I recommend you check out the quick start guide before you buy anything. It gives players and DMs a nice taste of what to expect from the full version, and it’s free. I’ve written a post about my experience running the Quick Start guide for those interested.
If you’re ready to buy into this system, there are a few options. If you play online, you’re going to want the PDF. It’s searchable, and the most cost-effective way to get started. You can pick it up on DrivethruRPG for $24.99.
Now if you’re playing on a VTT, I always recommend Foundry VTT. I am not an affiliate. It’s just what I’ve been using, and I love it. I’ve written a post about why. You can pick up the official module for $27.87 and it has everything you need to get started. You don’t have to use the module to play on Foundry, but it makes things easier. Check out my previous post where if you want more details.
If you want to play in person, all you need is the core rulebook, some dice, and a pencil. You can pick up the core rulebook for $43.70 on the official website. Now there are other special items to spruce up your games like special edition books, the core set, and dice available, but that depends on how much you want to invest in the game. I’ve been having fun, I recommend you check it out as well.
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I was sent Card Detective 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. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. You can also always buy me coffee.
Card Detectiveis a story-rich deck builder available now on Steam for $3.99. Play as investigative reporter Hazel Gong as she stumbles into one of the biggest mysteries of her career. An accident at a construction site unearths a dead body. The circumstances surrounding the death are a mystery, and it is up to Hazel to solve it. Gather the suspects, ask pressing questions, and figure out who did it in this unique and creative experience.
There is no denying that Card Detective looks good. I am a huge fan of the artwork, an even bigger fan of the comic book-style narrative and its fantastic soundtrack.
Card Detective is a unique deck builder, with gameplay helps it stand out against the rest of the genre. The goal of each encounter is to determine how to extract the truth with a deck of questions you construct throughout the game. Each encounter feels like a puzzle where you have to ask the right questions to get to the truth. There are moments when there is very little guidance or direction, but figuring things out on your own can be satisfying.
My issue with the game is that the story isn’t interesting. There are translation issues that make it an awkward read, and there wasn’t enough substance to hook me. After a couple of interrogations, the game got stale. While I appreciate everything Card Detective tries to do, the game needs better card mechanics and a better story.
Card Detective isn’t the worst way to spend $4. I liked the unique experience it offered and loved the aesthetics, but it didn’t do enough to earn a recommendation. I’m probably going to forget I played it. If you want a unique deck builder you might not finish, check it out on Steam. Otherwise, I would spend my money elsewhere.
