I enjoy looking into new RPG systems even though my play group only plays D&D. I like to see what else is out there because the burnout gets too real sometimes. Who knows? Maybe one day I can convince my playgroup to dip into something new for a campaign or two, and I’ll be ready with a backlog of options.
One of the systems I considered switching to was the Swedish RPG MÖRK BORG. MÖRK BORG is a ttrpg set in a post-apocalyptic world with a solid combat system and possibly the coolest rulebook you’ll ever own. If you haven’t seen the MÖRK BORG core rule book yet, look it up. It is beautiful. I almost bought into the system just so that I could flip through the pages and appreciate the art.
MÖRK BORG is getting a pirate-themed spin-off, and it looks just as good as the base game. PIRATE BORG introduces eight new playable classes, 80+ new monsters, an easy-to-learn naval combat system, and an adventure to get you started. This book has everything you’ll need to run a pirate campaign in a cool dark fantasy system worth exploring. I mean, who doesn’t want to play in a pirate campaign? Make sure you check out the official site if you’d like to try the game for free. The publishers have a rules reference sheet, character sheets, maps, and a character randomizer.
Preorders for PIRATE BORG are now live on the official site. The core book costs $36.84 plus shipping, which is a solid price for how good this book is going to look on your table. People who preorder also get immediate access to the book in PDF so you can start your Pirate adventure before the official release on September 19. Don’t forget to check out the rest of MÖRK BORG content while you’re at it!
I’ve had the Vital Bracelet BE for a couple of months and still love it!
I’ve had the for a couple of months now and think it is time for an update. Make sure you check out my initial post and my first update because I won’t be repeating some of the valuable information included in those.
Since I started using the Vital Bracelet, I have lost 10 lbs. I have also started watching what I eat, kicked a few habits, and have become more active, but staying active has been easier because I want to train Digimon. I want to make it clear that the Vital Bracelet alone isn’t responsible for my weight loss, but collecting and training my Digimon has made it easier to stay motivated. Unless you like Digimon and enjoy collecting digital Vpets, this won’t work for you.
If you are going to embark on this hobby, the first thing you should do is bookmark this Evolution guide. It has every Dim and their evolution track neatly displayed in an easy-to-read format. This will ensure that you are always working towards the Digimon you want.
Two more things I’ve learned since the last time I posted:
- If you use the bracelet like a keychain, having it in your pocket for bike rides tracks your vitals best
- If you have a job where you aren’t very active, you can switch your Digimon out with the default watch adventurer (the green person) and bring them out when you are ready to train.
My first serious partner in this whole adventure has been Angoramon. I have done the squats, and crunches, and walked the miles to almost complete the track. While I am not happy with who I will end up with, it is a great feeling to almost be done. I’ve made a few mistakes that I will improve on next time around, but I can’t wait to finally throw him into the app and send him on adventures.
If you are getting the Vital Bracelet, know that you are only going to be collecting and training vpets. The battle minigame is effectively dead. On a very rare occasion, when all the planets align on a Tuesday, you might find someone to battle, but I wouldn’t buy the bracelet if you want to battle others. This may change in future updates, but there will need some valuable incentives to get players to queue up to battle.
Despite the lack of battles, I don’t regret buying the vital bracelet. I enjoy training my Digimon and appreciate that it gets me out of the house. The gameplay is simple a little simple, but I enjoy collecting enough where it doesn’t matter. I can’t wait for my trip to Japan when I can buy a bunch more Dims to train.
If you want to buy your own Vital Bracelet, make sure you get the BE version. You can get it in white or black without the Dim if you are just looking to upgrade, or one that includes the dims imported from Japan. The Vital Bracelet VV is also a great option if want a watch with a dim included, and don’t mind the loud color. Don’t forget to get a screen protector! As careful as you might be, its going to get scratched. Make sure to shop around before you commit. You might be able to get them imported from a different retailer for cheaper. I am only linking to Amazon because it is easy. Until next time, thanks for reading!
Tanares Adventures – Ultimate Edition is coming to Kickstarter June 27th and it is going to be the biggest dungeon crawler ever!
Tanares Adventures returns to Kickstarter on June 27th with some much-needed improvements and more minis than you can handle. If you are looking for a dungeon crawler to get into or simply looking to upgrade the copy you already own, go follow the Kickstarter.
Tanares Adventures is a tabletop dungeon crawler that promises hundreds of hours of gameplay through its many quests, choices, and battles. The game is designed for up to eight players, with solo play in mind for those like me who don’t have eight friends. Players control two four-member teams as they go on an epic adventure and meet at the end. The choices you make matter, so make them wisely.
The combat is unique and interesting. Each hero has a unique stat block and access to certain abilities. Gear cards will give heroes access to additional abilities that will recharge after certain conditions are met. There is a level-up system to get you through your adventure. Combat is done by rolling dice and playing ability cards. Enemies have a seemingly well-designed AI, but I would to test it for myself to confirm. The game encourages teamwork and strategy through its many configurations, choices, and skills.
If you a more in-depth explanation of how to play the game and how combat works, check out The Meeple Marathon video on how to play. He does a fantastic job at breaking down the rules and explaining the game in a way that is easy to understand. Make sure you go follow him for some excellent board game content.
What drew me to this game were its minis, but after seeing some of the gameplay, I am interested either way. This game looks perfect for those who want to dive into another adventure, but don’t want to be bogged down by complicated rules. From what I saw Tanares Adventures seems easy to pick up, set up, and play.
If you want to buy the base game with the minis, you will have to back the game at $189. This gets you 100 minis, inserts to store them in, and all the maps and components you need to get started. The more money you throw into this game, the prettier your game will be. Higher tiers will have access to more minis and storage solutions. But if you only care about the gameplay, you can back the project at $129 to get the Standee Edition. The standee edition gets all the maps and core components, and access to stretch goals, but will receive cardboard standees instead of the minis. There are also some upgrade packages available for those of you who already bought the game.
Tanares Adventures looks might be worth looking into if you are in the market for a new dungeon crawler. The art is beautiful, the concept is interesting, and the minis are amazing. I can see myself using the maps and minis for my D&D campaign. Whatever your interest in this game may be, make sure you follow the Kickstarter so you know when it goes live. Backers who pledge at least $89 on the first day will receive a really cool dragon mini as a special gift.
My impressions of the Battle Shapers demo
I was sent the Battle Shapers demo to review, but it is unfair to review a game that is still this early in development. While the game looks fine, it isn’t finished. Instead, I will write about my impressions of the demo.
Battle Shapers is a fast-paced arcade shooter for PC where players fight off hordes of robots as they try to take their city back from the evil overlords that now run it.
This demo is not the best start for this game. If the goal was to spark interest for the game, it fails to do so. I wasn’t able to enjoy the demo because it stuttered so badly that it became unplayable. It isn’t a hardware issue because my computer can easily run this game on the highest settings. I tried playing the game on the lowest setting, but encountered the same issues. It might be an issue with Windows 11, but I am unable to test the theory. I forced myself to play this game as long as possible, but the constant stuttering ruined the experience.
If ignore the performance issues, the game play is okay. I enjoy the fast pace, there is an interesting melee mechanics, but I can see it become a bit repetitive. You make your way through areas, clearing room of mobs, and gathering loot. Unless the full release comes with different areas, mobs, and bosses that introduce different mechanics and require different strategies, this game is doomed to grow stale. It’s a game that sort of reminds me of Borderlands, but I would rather be playing Borderlands. At least based on my experience with the demo, this opinion could change at release.
It is a shame because the game looks cool. I love the art style, I enjoy fast pacing, and it has a fantastic sound track. Unfortunately, I can’t recommend it because it isn’t a good demo. I can only hope that they patch the demo and start working closely with the community to make the game better, or at the very least playable. I’ll keep an eye out for future updates and try to get my hands on the full game, but as it stands, I am not impressed.
You can download the demo now on Steam.
How to play Blue Protocol outside of Japan
Pixel Ripped 1979: The meta simulation game with fun flavor, but very little substance
I was sent Pixel Ripped 1978 as a review code. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, this will be my honest review.
The evil Cyblin Lord is back! This time he has gone back in time to change the course of history and make himself the hero. It is up to Dot to go back and stop him before it is too late. With the help of Bug, a programmer for Atari, Dot must fight familiar enemies, find the time crystals, and fix bugs along the way. Can they stop the Cyblin Lord before it is too late?
Pixel Ripped is an interesting concept for a VR simulation game. It is a meta experience where gamers play a game within a game that pays homage to classic eras in gaming. Thanks to the official partnership, this game pays homage to the Atari era of gaming. In Pixel Ripped 1978, players switch between the two characters, each offering a unique experience.
As Bug, players pick up an Atari controller and play through a classic game in order to find bugs to fix. As they play, they will encounter real-world distractions that offer a different level of difficulty than the platforming. Bug has to deal with coworkers, answer phone calls, and deal with people blocking the tv screen while she is trying to beat the game. This mechanic is neat until the novelty wears off. If you are good at classic platformers, the distractions only pose minor inconveniences. But if you aren’t, the loop of distractions becomes tedious.
Don’t get me wrong, the distractions are fun and an interesting mechanic. The interactions are quirky, silly, and there are some fun little easter eggs sprinkled throughout. My issue isn’t that there aren’t more kinds of interactions because that isn’t feasible. My issue has to do with my skill level. Because I am not good at platforming, the interactions become an annoying taunt that got worse the longer I was trapped in the level. If you are good at platformers, this might not be an issue.
As Dot, you get to travel into the game and fix bugs. The world is vibrant, colorful, and cool. But as I mentioned before, once the novelty wears off, the gameplay feels a bit one note. Dot walks around the game world, shooting enemies and breaking pots. It isn’t a bad experience, but there isn’t anything special to it either. Combat is point-and-shoot, the movement is slow, and while I appreciate the humor involved in the melee attack, it isn’t any more fun. It’s okay for the first few minutes, but nothing that you should be rushing to try.
The boss fights are where this game earns some of its charms back. Boss fights start with playing a classic Atari title that will suddenly turn to life in a cool AR-like experience. Now players must beat a special level of the game by defeating the evil Cyblin Lord at the end. This introduces new mechanics. Players must control Dot through the level while dealing with real-world obstacles. For example, on one level, players have to throw paper balls at the boss while controlling Dot. I appreciate the creativity of the boss fights, but I wish the rest of the game had this level of energy.
It’s hard to recommend because once the novelty of the experience wears off, the game falls flat. The graphics are great, the music is fantastic, and the game runs smoothly, but the gameplay isn’t there for me. As platformers go, unless you have nostalgia for the Atari era, it isn’t great. As a VR experience, it has its moments, but there are certainly better titles. It isn’t a bad game, but it isn’t something I would be rushing to.
You can pick up for the Meta Quest, Steam VR, and PlayStation VR on June 16.
Nocturnal, the puzzle platformer where you get to solve it with fire!
I was sent Nocturnal as a review code. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I will keep my review honest.
Nocturnal is a unique Metroidvania game with an interesting mechanic and a beautiful art style. You play as a soldier who returns after years at war to find his home afflicted by an evil darkness. As you investigate the cause, you will face off against the monsters that now inhabit the island, dodge deadly traps, and fight citizens afflicted by the darkness. Will your flame be strong enough to rid the land of this darkness, or will you fall victim to its inescapable allure?
What makes this game unique is its light and dark mechanic. You have learned to wield the flame as your own. Use it to light your way through the shadow, fight shadow monsters, solve puzzles, and even heal yourself. But beware, your flame isn’t permanent. If you don’t tend to your flame, it will go out. Stay in the dark too long, and the shadows will consume you.
Like any other Metroidvania game, you have to memorize enemy locations, attack patterns, and trap locations. What makes Nocturnal unique is that you also have to memorize fire sources. Your flame is on a timer. The only way to recharge it is by hitting lit torches. Torches are scattered throughout the levels, but not all of them are permanent. Some traps and monsters will snuff out your flame, leaving you helpless. I loved this mechanic because of how creative it is implemented, and how intense it makes certain moments of the game.
There is a story to this game, but you won’t need charts to keep it straight. I enjoyed the flavor it adds to the world, but I enjoyed the gameplay more. Even though I am bad at this game, I had a lot of fun with this game. The art is beautiful, the music is fantastic, and the puzzles were creative. The combat can feel a little repetitive at times, but I didn’t find it to be an issue. If you are a fan of the genre, Nocturnal needs to be in your library. If you have never played a game in this genre, this is a great place to start. If you are a veteran of the genre, there is a harder difficulty, permadeath, and some nifty speed run features you might want to check out.
You can pick up your copy of Nocturnal on Switch, PlayStation 5, and Xbox for $19.99, and Steam for $16.99.
Deck Wolf of Friendship (ST-16) deck list revealed!
The decklist for the upcoming Deck Wolf of Friendship (ST-16) has been released, and I am very excited about this one. I love purple and there are some beautiful pieces I need for my collection. If you are a fan of the Garurumon line, you might want to get ready for the preorder.
Inherited Effect
[When Attacking] If you have 6 or less cards in your hand, ＜Draw 1＞ (Draw 1 card from your deck).
Card Effect
[On Play] ＜Draw 1＞ (Draw 1 card from your deck). Then, trash 1 card in your hand.
Alt. Digivolution Requirements
[Digivolve] : 0 from [Tsunomon]
Card Effect
[Start of Your Main Phase] If your opponent has a Digimon, gain 1 memory.
Inherited Effect
[When Attacking] [Once Per Turn] ＜Draw 1＞ (Draw 1 card from your deck). Then, trash 1 card from your hand.
Inherited Effect
＜Retaliation＞ (When this Digimon is deleted after losing a battle, delete the Digimon it was battling).
Card Effect
＜Retaliation＞ (When this Digimon is deleted after losing a battle, delete the Digimon it was battling). [Your Turn] When this Digimon attacks your opponent’s Digimon, lose 2 memory.
Card Effect
＜Blocker＞ (When an opponent’s Digimon attacks, you may suspend this Digimon to force the opponent to attack it instead).
Card Effect
[On Deletion] Gain 1 memory.
Alt. Digivolution Requirements
[Digivolve] : 2 from Lv.3 w/[Gabumon] in its name
Card Effect
[Security] You may play 1 [Gabumon] or Tamer card with [Matt Ishida] in its name from your hand or trash without paying the cost. [When Digivolving] ＜Draw 1＞ (Draw 1 card from your deck). Then, trash 1 card from your hand.
Inherited Effect
[When Attacking] [Once Per Turn] ＜Draw 1＞ (Draw 1 card from your deck). Then, trash 1 card from your hand.
Card Effect
[On Play] You may play 1 purple level 3 Digimon cards from your trash without paying the cost.
Card Effect
＜Blocker＞ (When an opponent’s Digimon attacks, you may suspend this Digimon to force the opponent to attack it instead).
Inherited Effect
＜Retaliation＞ (When this Digimon is deleted after losing a battle, delete the Digimon it was battling).
Alt. Digivolution Requirements
[Digivolve] : 3 from Lv.4 w/[Garurumon] in its name
Card Effect
[When Attacking] [Once Per Turn] By trashing 1 card from your hand, unsuspend this Digimon.
Inherited Effect
[When Attacking] [Once Per Turn] By trashing 1 card from your hand, delete 1 of your opponent’s level 4 or lower Digimon.
Alt. Digivolution Requirements
[Digivolve] : 3 from Lv.5 w/[Garurumon] in its name
Card Effect
[Hand] [Counter] ＜Blast Digivolve＞ (Your Digimon may digivolve into this card without paying the cost). [When Digivolving] By trashing up to 3 cards in your hand, gain 1 Memory for each card trashed. [When Attacking] [Once Per Turn] By trashing 1 card from your hand, delete 1 of your opponent’s Digimon with the lowest level.
Inherited Effect
Ace Overflow ＜-4＞ (When this card is sent from battle area or under your card to another area, lose 4 memory).
Card Effect
[When Digivolving] ＜Draw 1＞ (Draw 1 card from your deck). Then, trash 1 card from your hand. [All Turns] [Once Per Turn] When a card is trashed from your hand by your effect, you may play 1 purple level 4 or lower Digimon card from your trash without paying the cost.
Card Effect
[Start of Your Turn] If you have 2 memory or less, set your memory to 3. [All Turns] When you trash a card in your hand using one of your effects, by suspending this Tamer, gain 1 memory.
Security Effect
[Security] Play this card without paying its memory cost.
Card Effect
While you have a Tamer with [Matt Ishida] in its name, you may use this card without meeting its color requirements. [Main] Return 1 Digimon card from trash to your hand. Then, 1 of your Digimon with [Garurumon] in its name gains “[On Deletion] Play this card without paying its cost” until the end of your opponent’s turn.
Security Effect
[Security] Activate this card’s [Main] effect.
Card Effect
[Main] Delete 1 of your opponent’s level 5 or lower Digimon.
Security Effect
[Security] Activate this card’s [Main] effect.
There is a lot of nice flavor to this deck, especially if you are a fan of the original series. I think I prefer the this deck to the Greymon deck because of the aesthetic, but it is going to be hard not to pick up both. With a bit of tweaking, this will be a fun deck.
This week in the Digimon TCG 2023: June 11th
We’ve had another exciting week of reveals for the Digimon TCG. I have done my best to organize the reveals and announcements in a way that makes sense. I love the art of this set. The colors and the art style are really going to pop in my binder! Maybe I’ll even make a blue deck. There were also a few tournaments that might have shifted the meta.
Alternative Being Spoilers (EX4)
This set will be in stores June 23, so make sure you put in your pre-orders in and check to see if your LGS is running any pre-release events. The set is also introducing a new ability Alliance which might be worth reading on:
Alliance: When this Digimon Attacks, by suspending 1 of your other Digimon, this Digimon adds the suspended Digimon’s DP and gains <Security Attack +1> for the attack
This is a super cool ability to beef up your attacks. Check out the FAQ for more details:
This Terriermon is so sick! It has a search ability and it is eating a burger? I need it!
I love the art style for this one with all the divine Digimon fighting with Cherubimon. The color scheme is very serene, and the Alliance ability is a very nice touch for flavor and gameplay. You also get access to a nifty little debuff for using your Alliance ability? Sounds good to me.
This Renamon is so cool. I love the big full moon in the background and how it casts such a dramatic light on the figure. The smoke and energy coming off her as it fades into the dark is such a cool effect. I love the pinch of green she holds with her energy, it really makes this image pop. Not to mention that it has a solid on play effect and Inherited effect.
I love the painted style of this Gaogomon. The subtle colors and soft background really do it for me. That bounce ability and inherited memory gain on doesn’t hurt the appeal either.
This has a really nice bounce ability, but the vibrant colors and the art style are just so cool!
This is a such a cool looking card. The colors, the Digimon, the background! You get removal and either a discard spell or memory gain for a 3 cost? That’s a solid add to any green and purple deck.
Events for June – September 2023
Its going to be a busy couple weeks as the road to the 2023 Championships and the Ultimate cup continues. Make sure you check out the official page for events close to you! And make sure to check with your LGS to see if they are running the Store Championship.
Regionals Prize Support
Canoweissmon is the latest card to be announced as prize support for participating or being the top players in regional. Make sure you check the calendar for events near you!
Ultimate Cup Meta
And for those who enjoy keeping up with the meta, here is what has been shaping the Ultimate Cup. I always find it interesting how the meta shifts between regions.
Europe
Latin America
Oceania
Regionals
Here how it is shaping up in regionals!
Europe
Upcoming Releases
Bandai has graciously given us a roadmap for what is to come in the future. Lots of exciting releases, I can only hope my wallet can handle them all.
Thanks again for tuning in to enjoy the hobby with me. If you have been enjoying these updates, don’t forget to like, comment, subscribe, and maybe share this with a friend or too. I think I’ll be doing these every Sunday. See you then!
Pokemon TCG Live is Officially Out of Beta!
Pokemon TCG Online has officially shut down and been replaced by Pokemon TCG Live. You can download Pokemon TCG Live on IOS, Android, PC and Mac. While I am saddened by the end of an era, I am hopeful for the game’s future. While I have a decent win rate on both clients, keep in mind that I am speaking from an entirely casual perspective. If you are looking to me for competitive advice, I am afraid I won’t be very helpful.
Pokemon TCG Live is the best place to go if you want to learn how to play the Pokemon TCG. It’s free, it’s convenient, and the tutorial is fantastic. Players get access to decent starter decks, and they can earn more through gameplay. I wish they had trainer challenges where players could face off against AI for rewards as they had in PTCGO, but playing against real people has been great. There will be an awkward adjustment phase as the game tries to find your skill level, but this process felt quick compared to other card games I’ve tried. I only play ranked, so I can’t speak on matchmaking for casual.
I’ve been playing on the IOS app since the start of the beta, and it was rough. The game was so unplayable in the beginning that I almost gave up. Matches took too long, animations would lose frames, and there were a few noticeable bugs that made the experience terrible. There has been a bit of polish since, and I’ve been enjoying myself a lot more. There is still room for improvement, but at least on IOS, the experience is solid. I can’t speak on the experience for Android or PC.
While I am content with the state of Live, some changes will take some getting used to. I don’t like that they flipped the orientation of the gameboard. I believe this was done to accommodate for mobile devices, but it is awkward on the iPad. I’ve gotten used to it, but I have to lock the iPad so it doesn’t randomly rotate and force me into a smaller aspect ratio. I also miss tournaments and access to the theme deck format. I only played the theme decked format in PTCGO because it was the easiest way to get into the game, and I always liked trying the different starter decks. The grind for Live also seems a bit steeper than it was in PTCGO. While the grind is not as bad as in MTGA, it is noticeable. Finally, there is no more trading. I didn’t do any trading in PTCGO because I enjoyed opening my packs, but it is something to be aware of. Instead of trading packs for singles, you buy them through a dust system that works like any other CCG. I don’t buy enough cards to know how well the dust system works compared to the old way, I just know that it will be a while for me to get a meta deck.
As a casual in the space, I love Pokemon TCG Live. I love that I can play standard right at the start, I love that I can play on my phone, and love that I can play people that are around my skill level. I get stomped by people who spend money on this game on occasion, but I’ve also had some of the most intense and fun games in between. I will eventually build a meta deck, but I have been enjoying the game without one.
The best part about collecting Pokemon are the redeemable code cards you get from buying physical packs. I always feel weird throwing money into a game for digital assets that might not exist in a few years. I love that I can go to my LGS, buy a few packs, enjoy them in my collection, and then redeem them online. More card games should do this to incentivize players to spend money in the space. It bothers me that if I buy a booster box of MTG, I also have to buy it in MTGA just to play standard. Unfortunately, all my money is going into Digimon, but I like having the option.
What I love most about Pokemon TCG Live is how free-to-play-friendly compared to the other online TCGs. I know I’ve mentioned a grind, but it isn’t bad. I am speaking as a casual player who enjoys the game, but the grind doesn’t feel like work. I am sure if you do buy cards and spend money, the grind will be a lot easier, but as a free-to-play player, I have no complaints. You can unlock the battle pass for 600 gems, which you can easily earn in a few days. Unlocking the battle pass gives you access to cosmetics, packs, and more gems. I play casually and complete a reward track every single day. I’ve already decent collection without spending any money, and I’ve only been playing the starter deck. Any excess gems can be spent on decent bundles or themed decks to further expand your collection. It’s a great system.
If you are looking to get into the hobby, now is a great time to join. Pokemon TCG Live is officially out of Beta, so you won’t have to experience the rough stages I had to go through. The client runs well enough (at least on IOS), there is a healthy population of players, and Paldea Evolved is going to be a lot of fun to collect. I can’t speak about the set’s power level, but I am loving the art. The game is free. You can play on PC and Mac, and on Android and IOS devices. And if you have any of codes you aren’t using, shoot some my way!