Tag Archives: SCIFI

Digimon Seekers Chapter 4-5: The Royal Knight Returns

January 16, 2024 josechurape Leave a comment

I release my translations the Monday after the official release. Make sure you check out the original. If you enjoy this project, don’t forget to like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends!

The Gatekeepers turn their firepower towards the Sons of Chaos. Chaosdramon fires away furiously, keeping the swarms of Gatekeepers away. The rest of the Sons of Chaos clean up any bits of swarm that manage to break through the blast of Chaosdramon’s Hyper Infinity Cannon. The Sons of Chaos move to form a defensive perimeter around their leader.

Kosuke stands behind the three prototype Digimon and watches as they crack the Gateway. Explosions and beams of hot energy fill the air around him, but his attention never falters. The progress bar makes its slow crawl across the screen…30%…33%…

The last time Kosuke attempted to crack the gateway, the progress stalled at 30%. They surpassed the first attempt, and each second brought him closer to Saya.

Dorumon announces their progress periodically. Kosuke’s screen fills with a stream of endless code as he sends commands to the prototype Digimon. The code creates a visible stream of light that becomes tethered to the backs of each Digimon. They continue to work furiously. Their feet begin to glow as streams of code stretch from beneath them across the face of the Gateway, revealing a complex geometric pattern on its surface.

At some point, the Gatekeepers had turned their attention to Kosuke. Bits of Gatekeepers occasionally rain around him, but he never takes notice. His fingers tingle with anticipation as they glide over the keyboard.

Eiji watches Kosuke curiously. He becomes moved by the man’s unwavering focus. Unable to do much else, Eiji opens his monitor to check on the progress.

66%

The Gateway groans as the glow of flowing data eats away at its face to complete the pattern. It looks to be a third of the way done.

Loogamon’s ears twitch. It flicks its nose toward the air.

“What is it?” Eiji asks.

“Something’s coming…” Loogamon’s voice trails. There is a hint of fear in its voice.

“What…Wait….Crap! Tartarus!” Eiji cries out.

“Stay calm. There’s nothing we can do right now. Just focus on the job,” Dorumon calls out. Its voice seems a bit distracted.

“Its time!” Kosuke shouts. “Everyone fall back!”

“Tappin out!”

“That’s it for me!” The Sons of Chaos Leaders slowly chime, letting Tartarus know they’ve hit their limit. Only Chaosdramon would be left to hold the line.

“Let’s all raise a glass when all this is over,” one of the leaders adds.

“You got it!”

“Loggin AUGH!” A deafening scream blasts through the chat before everything goes silent. Eiji’s mind begins to race. Have they been attacked? He searches the skies for answers.

Suddenly, a Digimon drops from the sky and lands on the Gateway with a sickening thud. Smoke and dusk kick around it furiously. As it clears, Eiji can make out a severely damaged machine. Its body is covered in deep gashes. Exposed wires let off sparks of electricity. It begins to move towards them. Each step releases thick black smoke from its gashes.

“Mekanorimon?” Eiji asks in disbelief. ” I thought the DigiPolice retreated?”

A series of small explosions erupt throughout Mekanorimon’s body. It lurches to one side and topples over to its side. Inside sits a damaged Numemon. It spills out of the seat, flopping onto the ground as it makes its escape from the wreckage. Satsuki appears next to the Mekanorimon and gingerly touches its cold steel body. “I’m sorry,” she whispers as she gently strokes the unmoving Digimon.

She turns her attention to the prototype Digimon. Her expression fills with rage. “I’m getting the captain back, and none of you filthy code crackers are going to stop me!” she shouts.

“Hey, Satsuki?” Eiji says as he leaps between the enraged officer and the Prototype Digimon.

Satsuki clenches her fist and begins to grit her teeth. “Eiji Nagasumi…” Satsuki scowls harder.

“It’s too dangerous to stay as a hologram. One stray bullet and you’re gone.” He adds, trying to calm her down.

Don’t talk down to me boy. I know what I’m doing,” she growls as she pulls out a small device from her pocket. The label on its side reads: CLASSIFIED. Metropolitan Police Department. Unit 11: D-003799. “I’m putting an end to this, once and for all!”

“Is that a Digimon Dock?”

” Sorry, Captain. Consider this my resignation…” Her voice trails as she looks down at the unconscious Ryudamon.

“Satsuki..?” Eiji stammers.

“Get ready kid, I ain’t holding back!” she yells as she turns on the device.

A horrific metallic scream fills the air. Eiji searches for a source, but nothing happens.

Genocidal Rain!

*Character design/illustration illustrator: malo*

A hail of heavy-caliber bullets rain from above. Each bullet explodes into Chaosdramon with thundering force, but the crimson dragon absorbs the blows effortlessly. Bellow, Eiji ducks his head expecting a stray bullet that never comes.

RATATATATATATA

The defining explosions continue. Eiji lifts his head slowly to search for its source. Above it, Chaosdramon is pinned down by the endless hail of bullets. At the other end, a heavily armored bipedal dragon fires its Gatling gun furiously towards them. A jetpack blows viciously, keeping it over them. Its blue armor glistens with each explosion. Its blank expression remains fixed on the prototype Digimon.

“So they just had a Mega Digimon sitting around?” Eiji lets out.

“Impressed?” Satsuki asks mockingly. She turns her attention to a terminal that floats in front of her. She enters a few commands and smirks as Brigadramon continues to rain down fire.

“I only left for five minutes…” Marvin’s voice comes through chat as he takes control of the Chaosdramon remotely. “Let’s see how you handle this!” Chaosdramon closes the gap between them and grabs the Gatling gun. “Gotcha!”

Satsuki lets out a sly smirk. “Not so fast!” Brigadramon adds Brigadramon lifts its left arm, revealing three rocket launchers hidden under its claws. “Did you think that’s all I had?”

“Stop it!” Eiji shouts suddenly. “It’s here!”

DELETE ALL!

A metalic voice echoes over the battlefield as a small vortex forms above the chaos. From it falls a silver knight Digimon.

Omnimon raises its right arm. The cannon at the end begins to glow as it gathers energy. The cannon fires without warning.

GARURU CANNON

The frozen beam falls towards the gate.

“Tartarus!” Marvin moves the Chaosdramon to intercept the blast. Ice creeps over its hard metallic body, slowly choking the life from it. With its final breath, it lets out one last defiant breath.

HYPER INFINITY CANNON

Omnimon moves quickly, dodging the blast and closing the distance between it and the prototype Digimon.

EXA DESTROYER

Three missiles explode against Omnimon, forcing the Royal Knight to land. Omnimon remains unscathed as it turns its attention to Satsuki’s Brigadramon.

GENOCIDAL RAIN!

RATATATATATATA

Brigadramon’s Gatling gun begins to spin as it releases a turret of bullets. Omnimon disappears behind a cloud of dust and smoke. The gun comes to a stop. Smoke wisps rise from the end of the barrels. Omnimon stops out of the smoke, unscathed. The runes on its blade begin to glow as it inches toward Kosuke and the other Digimon.

…..95%….96%….97%…

TRANSCENDENT SWORD

Omnimon charges.

“Kosuke!” Eiji shouts helplessly.

Kosuke pulls out two Digimon Docks from his pockets. “I told you, everything is going to plan.” He presses a button on the docks. Two mega Digimon suddenly appear to intercept Omnimon’s attack.

99%.

The Gateway lets out another massive grown. The prototype Digimon begins to glow as ghostly images of their ultimate forms appear briefly above them. As the projections disappear, beams of data shoot from their bodies toward the sea above them.

Omnimon makes quick work of Kosuke’s Mega Digimon and continues its charge towards Kosuke. Its blade swings for his neck.

“100% Gate Cracking complete!” Dorumon announces as Kosuke, Eiji, and the three prototype Digimon vanish.

video game reviews

New Cycle: The Survival Village Builder You Should Consider

January 13, 2024 josechurape Leave a comment

I was sent New Cycle for free to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. These will be my honest impressions 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.

New Cycle is a survival village builder coming to early access to Steam on January 18. Because the game will be in early access, this will just be my initial impression of the game. I’ll revisit and review the game when they release 1.0.

Concept

A solar flare has destroyed society as we once knew it, sending the world into post-apocalyptic chaos. Those who remain must now build a new society from the wreckage of the old. This won’t be an easy task. Resources are limited, illnesses are rampant, nature is unrelenting, and morale is low. Can you usher your people into a new age, and rebuild society to its former glory?

Aesthetic and Performance

For an Early Access game, New Cycle runs fine. It still needs a bit of polish, but the game never crashed on me. The Aesthetic is a little dark, but I enjoy the sepia color scheme. It makes the game feel a lot more gritty and bleak.

Game Modes

The game offers most of its content through its game modes. You can enjoy the freedom of Sandbox, Manage a built city ravaged by a mysterious illness, or you can start from scratch in a campaign. The campaign has a few maps you can start from that affect gameplay. For example, you can start on a mountain where you have access to better mining but don’t have less food to work with. I love the work that went into the flavor. At the moment, the game has enough content to keep players busy till the full release.

Gameplay

Thoughts

New Cycle is the most technical village builder I’ve ever played, which isn’t a bad thing. At its core, it shares a lot of the core elements of other games in the genre. This game isn’t any more difficult to learn, but it is a bit more difficult to master. Where in other games I would sit back and watch my villagers live their lives, New Cyle had me worrying about all the elements that could end my civilization.

Just like any survival game, you need to worry about resources, hunger, morale, and the elements. This is a game where you have to be very careful about your efficiency because random events will set back your progress. There was a game where I ran out of food and my buildings got struck by lightning, and I had to start over because I planned poorly. I still recommend you go in blindly and learn from your mistakes, but having a guide handy doesn’t hurt.

Conclusion

This game isn’t going to be for everyone. The survival mechanics will turn away the more casual village builder fans. That said, the game is doing a good job of combining the survival and village builder genres. If you’re a technical person who enjoys the economics of survival but doesn’t mind the roughness of Early Access, you might want to look into New Cycle. To be clear, this isn’t a daunting technical game that requires good notes and a Ph.D., but it is less casual than the other games in the genre. I liked it, and can’t wait to see where they take it. Don’t forget to add it to your Wishlist!

Trailer

gaming news

The first Iron Banner of the Year hits Destiny 2!

January 6, 2024 josechurape Leave a comment

The Final Shape releases on June 4th, so I’ve started the grind in preparation. Full disclosure, I was sent the expansion for free to cover for my blog when the expansion on release.

It’s been a long time since I last played Destiny, so I’ve been slowly figuring out the type of content I enjoy. The Dawning event was very helpful in getting me to stick with the game because it gave me something to work towards. I ended the event reaching the soft cap with a few nifty exotics, and a couple of seasonal items.

I’ve mostly been making my way through the story, but I was losing interest. Thankfully, this week is Iron Banner and it forced me to play PvP. Destiny 2 PvP isn’t the greatest experience, but I appreciate the break it’s giving me. It also gives me something else to work towards while I figure out my long-term goals for the game.

Iron Banner will run until the 9th, so make sure you boot up Destiny this weekend and start doing the grind. There are a few rewards you’re going to want to chase, but you’re also going to be showered with loot. Make sure you talk to Lord Saladin at the tower to start the quest and pick up your rewards.

Rewards

Weapons

Armor

Banner

That’s it for my update! If you enjoy these updates, please leave a like, comment, follow and share this with your friends!

Board Games and TCGs

Back the Survival Horror TTRPG Eldritch Automata on Kickstarter!

January 3, 2024 josechurape Leave a comment

Eldritch Automata just went live on Kickstarter and has already made 13k on the first day. There is still a bit to go before they get to their $65k goal, so go back if you’re looking for a horrific mech tabletop RPG.

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

Story

The world is overrun by unspeakable horrors that have left humanity hanging by its last tread. Those unfortunate to survive must face off against the ever-present threat of bloodthirsty eldritch abominations and nightmares. Hope sits on the shoulders of those few in the world who can pilot the mighty Automata, giant mechs that appeared at the start of the calamity. Piloting the Automata is no easy feat. Pilots must be of strong resolve, because the pressures of responsibility, the strain of piloting the Automata, and the constant threat from monsters and other survivors constantly eat away at their morale.

The world of Eldritch Automata is no easy picnic. Do you have what it takes to survive?

What is Eldritch Automata

Eldritch Automata is a survival horror TTRPG that uses the award-winning Year Zero Engine. I’ve played a few games that use the Year Zero Engine, and love it so far. It’s easy to pick up, and not an impossible transition from D&D. What makes Eldritch Automata unique is the giant mechs, Automata. I am very curious to see how the Mech and Kaiju fights work, especially when players have to worry about their morale. I bet it not only makes for fun roleplay, but will also make things tense and exciting.

Kickstarter also mentions that there will be a focus on a social aspect where players need to navigate different factions, worry about treacherous factions, and form different alliances. I already have some cool ideas for roleplay, and I am excited.

The rulebook will be about 400 pages long and include accessories, depending on the tier you support and what stretch goals get reached.

If you’re looking for a horror survival game with the potential for epic kaiju battles, go back the Eldritch Automata Kickstarter today! The campaign is live until February 1st, and the product plans to ship in August.

Kickstarter Levels

Civilian (Digital Edition) – $30

Digital copy of core rule book
All Stretch Goals

Manufactured (Digital Bundle) – $45

Digital copy of core rule book
Digital copy of the starter set
All Stretch Goals

Pilot (Core Rulebook) – $55

Digital copy of core rule book
Physical copy of the core rulebook
All Stretch Goals

Automata (Physical Bundle) – $70

Digital copy of core rule book
Digital copy of the starter set
Physical copy of core rule book
Physical copy of the starter set
All Stretch Goals

Horror (Physical Bundle) – $100

Digital copy of core rule book
Digital copy of the starter set
Physical copy of core rule book
Physical copy of the starter set
Game Master screen
Equipment and Armor Cards
Horror Dossier Pack
All Stretch Goals

Higher Levels get you more goodies!

Chapter 4

Digimon Seekers Chapter 4-2: The Demon Wolf’s Stand

December 27, 2023 josechurape Leave a comment

I know this is late, but work has been crazy. Make sure you always support the original. If you enjoy this project, please leave me a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. Thank you for reading!

The Cargodramon leaves a thick cloud of smoke as it falls to the ground. Loogamon jumps through the cloud of smoke and reappears next to Airdramon.

‘You guys really saved us down there,” Eiji chirps in relief.

“Thanks old man,” Loogamon adds.

Marvin chuckles. “You guys are crazy man, taking on the Digipolice like that.” His words ring with a mixture of admiration and exasperation. “So what did we just walk into Eiji?”

“Satsuki is down there in that Mekanorimon. She’s running this whole operation, and she’s a bit…cranky today. Even more than last time.” Eiji remembers their encounter during his entrance exam.

Marvin reads over Statsuki’s profile. “Yeah I remember. She’s an odd one.” Marvin lets out a sigh as he looks at the Mekanorimon commanding the Digipolice. He watches as the Commandramon move in perfect unison to set up for a counterattack. “This is going to be interesting.”

“Is she stronger than you?” Loogamon asks, mockingly.

“Well I definitely don’t have the attention span to command that many people. Is everyone in position?” Marvin asks suddenly to the others on the line. “These Commandramon have a basic camo feature, so stay sharp and don’t get ambushed. We gotta give Tartarus more space. Come on guys, just like we planned!”

Loogamon smirks. It’s tail wags excitedly as it salivates over the prey moving below. “Me and Eiji will take care of these pests.”

“Let’s do it Loogamon. Digivolve!

Loogamon burst into a large ball of flames. Loogarmon springs from the fireball, flames lick down its fur and feathers. It charges towards the scrambling Commandramon.

FLAME BLOW!

Loogarmon’s body becomes covered in white hot flames as he slams into a unit of Commandramon. The Commandramon are too slow to react, and the wolf pierces through their ranks effortlessly, leaving behind bodies of burning Digimon.

Marvin watches the wolf for a moment before issuing his command. “Move in!”

The remaining Sons of Chaos follow Eiji into the fray. The surprised Commandramon struggles to react, and the field erupts into chaos.

A fresh swarm of Gatekeepers moves towards the madness, creating a thick black shadow that cuts through the sky. Marvin isn’t phased. He types a simple command into his console, activating the army of Espimon bots at his disposal. Behind him, a swarm of Espimon appears and charges at the oncoming Gatekeepers. The two metallic swarms collide, filling the sky with explosions. Their incoherent struggle continues until it fills the space above the Digipolice.

Satsuki watches the chaos unfold around her. She clenches her fists in frustration and grinds her teeth furiously.

“Those fucking Code Crackers!” She watches as the swarm of Gatekeepers flies towards her. Watches as the Airdramon commands the Sons of Chaos that have joined the ambush. She smirks. “So that’s how you want to play.” She takes aim. “Open Fire!”

A twinkling beam erupts from the Mekanorimon’s torso and collides with the Gatekeepers. The DigiPolice follow her lead and begin spraying the swarm with bullets. Bits of Gatekeepers begin raining around them.

While the DigiPolice shifts its attention to the oncoming horde of Gatekeepers, Loogarmon continues to decimate the ground forces, quickly making its way towards the center.

“Keep it up Loogarmon!” Eiji exclaims!

“This is too easy” Loogarmon responds snidely. Loogarmon jumps between Commandramon. Its claws slash effortlessly through body armor and send bodies through the air.

“There’s a Mekanorimon!” Eiji points out the large robot commanding a large squad. “You think you can hit it?”

Small embers lick from between Loogarmon’s iron muzzle. “No problem!”

Howling Burner!

Fire begins spilling from its iron grates. A torrent of flames engulfs the Mekanorimon below, leaving a scorched in its wake.

Satsuki watches in frustration as she watches one of the Mekanorimon disappear from her map. “God dammit!” she shouts angrily. The Commandramon hold their position as the wolf slices through them. Satsuki grits her teeth. “That Eiji kid is a problem.” She watches Eiji and Loogarmon from her monitor and lets a subtle smirk escape. “We’re not done yet Mr. Nagasumi,” she says to herself.

“Satsuki switches to one of the private channels. “Tachibana! Sakurada! Get in position. We’re ending this!”

Two voices respond in unison “Yes sir!”

Satsuki’s smirk turns into a smile. “Hit that wolf with everything you ‘ve got!”

Eiji watches the battlefield through Loogarmon’s eyes. The Left flank was now considerably weakened. He catches a glimpse of Koske and Yulin’s bitter battle over the Gateway.

“So that’s what Dorumon’s mega?” Eiji points out.

“We have to do something about that Ouryumon, or else we’re not getting through that gate,” Loogarmon adds.

“That’s going to be tricky. There’s too many forces in play. For now, lets just focus on our mission.”

“Should I digivolve one more time?”

Another mega would tip the battle in their favor, but Eiji’s mind jumps back to the incident. They couldn’t afford to lose control here. He shakes the thought. “Right now, we gotta focus on getting that gate open and giving Kosuke his space…”

Gunfire suddenly explodes from both sides. Loogarmon jumps out of the way quickly, narrowly missing the hail of bullets. They scan for a source but don’t see one. “They must be hiding. Hit them with a howling Burner?”

Two large heavily armored bipedal dinosaurs take their place. They carry a riot shield in one hand and a large grenade launcher in the other.

Hi-Commandramon, Champion, Android, Virus. Eiji reads as the data populates his console.

Loogarmon braces his body. The feathers down its arms begin to quiver and embers erupt from its maw.

HOWLING BURNER!

Flames rush towards the Hi-Commandramon. One moves forward with its shield raised to absorb the flames. Flames burn brightly around it, but the Hi-Commandramon seems unaffected by the attack. The other Hi-Commandramon jumps from behind its partner and makes a dash towards Loogarmon.

A club comes crashing towards it, but Loogarmon is quick to reach. It raises its arms and blocks the blow. Sparks fly from the impact, and Eiji becomes briefly blinded by its light.

“is the club electric?” Eiji yelps as he initiates a scan of the weapon. The scan confirms his suspicion. It was a stun baton.

“That tingled…”Loogarmon responds.

“Look out!” Eiji shouts as he watches the second Hi-Comandramon ready its attack. It plants its shield on the ground and sticks the muzzle of the grenade launcher through a small cutout.

DCG GRENADE!

THUNK, THUNK, THUNK, THUNK. Grenades start flying out of the slit in the shield. Loogarmon moves out of the way, but a few chunks of shrapnel hits them. Eiji and Loogarmon are now cut off from the rest of the Sons of Chaos. The Digipolice had quickly recovered the space Loogarmon cleared. Eiji couldn’t let the Digipolice interfere with Kosuke’s fight.

Eiji takes a deep breath. “Lets do this Loogarmon.”

Eiji can feel Loogarmon smile as he responds, “I thought you’d never ask.”

Nothing else needed to be said. The two become in synced as mind, body, and soul meld together in a last-ditch effort to turn the tide of battle.

“Digivolve!”

A bipedal wolf steps from the light. This wolf is more humanlike, and covered in protective plating. Long rabbit-like ears shot from the top of its head. In its right hand, it carries a large wrench. Two large engines cling to its shoulders and suspend the wolf in the air.

This was not the monster they had released during the incident. This was the demon wolf’s ultimate form.

It looks at the bewildered Hi-Commandramon and takes a deep breath before shouting, “ALL SHALL BURRRNNNN!!!!!”

gaming news

Grab Destiny’s Newest Exotic Bow, the Wish Keeper!

December 20, 2023 josechurape Leave a comment

The Final Shape releases on June 4th. I was sent a copy to cover the release. I haven’t played in a while, so I’ll be taking time to gear up and get ready for the expansion. With the Giving event and trying to regain my bearings, it’s going to be a busy week. Those of you thinking of hopping onto Destiny make sure you head over to Epic Games and grab the Legacy Collection. The collection is free until December 20 and includes The Witch Queen, Beyond Light, and Shadowkeep DLCs. That should be enough to keep you busy until the summer. If you have Destiny 2 on Steam, the DLC doesn’t carry over. You’ll have to play the Legacy Collection on Epic Games.

I am going to have to keep a calendar. With how much I need to catch up on, it is a bit of a daunting task. At the moment, I am working on collecting the Dawning Event while I go through the bits of the story I haven’t finished, and work on the Season Pass. The Season of the Wish just kicked off which means new rewards and cosmetics, but most importantly, a new raid and weapon. I am nowhere near ready for that yet, but I can still appreciate how cool the Wish Keeper looks.

I mean this bow looks sick, and the effects look like the best time! To obtain the Wish Keeper, Guardian’s must complete the newest Dungeon, Warlord’s Ruin. Guardian’s will travel to the Black Garden and uncover the remains of an ancient Ahamkara. The Raid is up, the bow is live, and there are already a ton of tutorials to get you ready! Go join a fire team and go get that bow!

Board Games and TCGs, video game reviews

Age of Wonders: Planetfall the Board Game is so much fun

December 11, 2023 josechurape 2 Comments

I was sent Age of Wonders: Planetfall for free to review for my site. 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.

Age of Wonders: Planetfall is the best way to get into the resource management genre. The game has cool art, fantastic flavor, and it is easy to pick up. Explore the remains of the Star Unions as you seek dominance over the other factions. Challenge your friends in what will be a memorable game of exploration and conquest.

Players choose from one of the six factions and begin their journey through the different planets. Each planet has new adventures and challenges, but what you gain from them will determine your place in the universe. The game is pretty easy to learn. I recommend you check out the tutorial by Rahdo on YouTube to get started.

How to Play

The Sample Size

I am the only person in my family who plays board games, but I have been slowly convincing people to play with me. My wife doesn’t like anything more complicated than Uno and refused to play Planetfall when she saw all the pieces laid out. My sister is a bit more tolerant. She agreed to play but wasn’t as enthusiastic as me and her boyfriend, even though she ended up winning. Her boyfriend is always ready to play board games.

The Game

This box is going to look great on any shelf. Fans of the video game will appreciate the art a lot more. I don’t usually keep my boxes because I don’t have space for them, but I’m willing to make an exception. The board and design are cool and easy to read. The cards and their flavor are fantastic. Even if you haven’t played the video game, you’ll appreciate how cool the art is. The pips are wood, which I prefer to plastic.

Impressions

Age of Wonders: Planetfall is a fantastic introduction to the resource management genre. It has enough moving parts to keep things interesting without becoming overwhelming. The setup was fast and easy, and we started almost instantly. I like to explain the rules as we play, but it didn’t take long for everyone to get settled and work towards strategies.

One of the biggest mistakes I made during my session was ignoring the flavor. It wasn’t until I explained to the table that we were landing on planets and taking over different objectives that they started to get into it. I was amazed at how quickly the conversation turned from being focused on the points to being focused on fighting a certain unit or discovering this landmark because that’s what their commander would do.

My sister ended up winning, and we were left wanting a rematch. She says she wasn’t trying, but I think deep down she knew what she was doing. We loved the game for its change of pace, ease of play, and flavor. It is going to be a hard sell for people who don’t like board games, but everyone, it makes for a nice change of pace from Monopoly. For my table, Age of Wonders: Planetfall is as complicated as we’ll get, and I don’t mind it. The gameplay offers enough room for strategy, but with options to keep it casual to fit our current level of experience. I’ll continue working on bringing more complicated games to our sessions.

If you looking for a new sci-fi game, resource management game, or simply love the video game, I recommend you go pick up Age of Wonders: Planetfall. You can pick up your copy from the official Arcane Wonders store for $44.99, or cheaper at Miniature Market ($31.99)

Board Games and TCGs, gaming news

Alien: The Roleplaying Game is getting its newest adveture

December 8, 2023 josechurape Leave a comment

Free League Publishing releases their Building Better Worlds module for their award-winning Alien: The Roleplaying Game on January 16th. You can preorder your copy of Building Better Worlds ($46.03) from the official shop today.

Build Better Worlds is the RPG’s second story module. It promises a new action pact adventure as players explore uncharted loss worlds and face never-before-seen Xenomorphic creatures. The module introduces new gear, ships, and character options to freshen up your next campaign.

Building Better Worlds is only an expansion. You’ll need to core the rule book in either physical or digital format to play the game. Keep in mind that buying any of the physical copies gives you instant access to the PDF version. You can pick up copies of the Core Rulebook ($54.70), Starter Set ($51.81), or any other expansions on the official Free League Publishing website.

I got an early copy of the book, and it looks amazing. I am always amazed at how full of authentic flavor these movie-themed games always turn out to be. I haven’t had a chance to play this game but will review it as soon as I can. Probably after all my Dragonbane content. Until then, if you’re a fan of the Alien franchise, or simply looking for a horror RPG to bring to your table, you should definitely look into Alien: The Roleplaying Game. Don’t forget to preorder your copy of Building Better Worlds while you’re at it.

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

Board Games and TCGs

The Electric State RPG Kickstarter fully funded after only 30 mins!

December 5, 2023 josechurape Leave a comment

The Electric State Roleplaying Game Kickstarter campaign just went live, and it was fully funded after only half an hour. That’s a fantastic sign for a beautifully illustrated RPG with an interesting concept.

The year is 1997, and the world is on the brink of collapse. America faces its second civil war. People find escape through cheap VR headsets but become lost in the Electric State. Set off on an adventure through a war-torn countryside, and occasionally risk becoming lost yourself. The goal of this game isn’t the end but the journey you make.

The Electric State Roleplaying Game is based on Simon Stålenhag’s art book of the same name. The art is beautiful, and if you are a fan of the art book, the RPG will feature never-before pieces from the same collection. There’s a movie in the works, which I hope is as awesome as this book looks.

The game uses Free League Publishing’s Year Zero Engine, which I have been enjoying a lot. I love the flavor. What’s not to love about a post-apocalyptic 90’s aesthetic? If you like sci-fi and story-driven adventures, or what promises to be a very pretty rulebook, you’re going to want to look into this Kickstarter. The Kickstarter runs until December 20. People who are back during the first 24 hours of the campaign also get a bonus 216mm x 279mm print of the cover art for display. Backers of the Kickstarter will also get access to an alpha rulebook to get their journey started.

If you don’t like physical media, the PDF is $24. You’ll get access to everything you need to get started instantly, and any of the early versions as well.

If you want the book in your library, there are two levels you’ll need to consider. Both come with PDFs and all the stretch goals. $87 gets you the regular book, and $127 gets you a special edition only available to Kickstarter patrons. If you’re a fan of the art book or know this will be your main RPG for a while, there’s nothing wrong with paying a little extra for the special edition book. Whether you back or not, it’s worth at least looking at the project to appreciate its art.

I’ll be reviewing the game as soon as I get a copy. Stay tuned for that. If you enjoy these updates, make sure you leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends.

Chapter 3

Digimon Seekers Chapter 3-11: Hope

December 5, 2023 josechurape Leave a comment

“My real name is Kosuke Kisakata,” the man says, fiddling with the half-empty coffee can in his hands.

Dorumon shoots Kosuke a worried look. Kosuke continues, “It’s only fair you know my real name. I don’t get to use it much these days.”

Eiji bows respectfully. He remains silent as he struggles to find the right words to say. “So…” he begins awkwardly. “Who are you looking for?”

Kosuke sighs as the room around him grows silent. “it all started back in college. In the early days of the Digital world. I was one of the first people to mindlink, but back then it was a much more…limited experience. It was far less precise, and a lot more dangerous.” He takes a sip of his coffee. “I was part of the first people to see the Digital world and…” his voice trails off.

Kosuke clears his throat. “That’s why I became a Code Cracker and dedicated my life to finding…them.”

Something in Kosuke’s story triggers a sudden memory for Eiji. “Black Agumon!” he shouts.

Kosuke nods his head. “Black Agumon was…their Digimon.”

“So your friend has been in a coma all this time?” Loogamon asks.

“Yes. They’re in a special facility overseas.” The room grows silent.

“Suppose you find Black Agumon, can you save the person who went DMIA?” Eiji asks.

“We believe that people who DMIA lose the capacity for self-awareness.” Dorumon answers.

“In theory, the person’s fusion to a Digimon’s Digicore would cause several issues for them as well. If a person who DMIA merely went unconscious, the Digimon would be able to communicate with the outside world. Unfortunately, there is no real way of testing this.”

“And even if they somehow maintain their consciousness,” Dorumon begins, “Leon and Kauchimon fell into the vortex, past the firewall. There is almost no hope of him finding his way back.”

“But there is some hope,” Kosuke says as he flips through the options on his Digimon Linker. He sends some data to Eiji.

“A Syringe?” Eiji says, examining the hologram spinning from his watch.

Kosuke nods his head. “It’s medicine tailormade for DMIA patientes?”

“A cure?” Eiji asks in awe.

“Of sorts. It contains a medical-grade stimulant. In theory, it should peel the human consciousness away from the Digicore, granting the person enough self-awareness to return to the real world.”

“And this works?”

“Well, it was originally designed to extend the amount of time one can safely mindlink. In simple terms, the medicine increases focus. That focus should also bring a person back.”

“That’s awesome!”

“Sort of,” Kosuke continues. “The side effects make it…difficult to get approval. But the trails have shown promise.”

“So giving this stuff to Leon…”

“We can’t give this to Leon’s physical body. It has to be administered to his Digimon, wherever it may be.”

The hologram continues to spin slowly in the air between them.

“Did you come up with this medicine?” Eiji asks.

“No. It came from a lab.”

“What…What lab?” Eiji asks, already knowing the answer.

“Professor Rysenji’s” Dorumon replies.

“But why..why would he give us something like this?”

“We made a deal with the professor,” Dorumon explains.

“What kind of deal?”

“If we share the data, we get access to the vaccine. Simple as that.”

“Are you okay with that Kosuke?” Eiji turns his attention to the silent man across from him. He remains silent for a moment before pulling up a video on a virtual monitor. The video was a security camera feed of a hospital room. The room is full of large tubes filled with liquids, and devices busy measuring vitals. At the center of the group, Eiji could make out the fuzzy image of a young woman.

“Is that the person you lost?” Eiji asks.

Kosuke sighs sadly. “This is the only way I can see her now. We don’t know what will happen if we successfully administer the drug and she regains consciousness…” His voice trails for a bit. “But the drug gives me hope.” He closes the virtual monitors.

“Do you trust the professor?” Eiji asks suddenly.

“Do you not?”

“I do!” Eiji replies without hesitation. “If you two say there’s a chance, that’s enough for me!”

“So can we count on you two?” Dorumon asks.

“What do you say Loogamon?”

Loogamon smirks. “Like I’d let you do this on your own!”

Dorumon chuckles.

“So we’re after Leon and the Black Agumon. How much of that medicine do we have?”

“Just the one,” Dorumon says gravely.

“Cool, I’m sure the professor will give us another after…”

“No. All you have to do is recover the Digimon. The lab will take care of the rest,” adds Dorumon.

“Ok. Simple enough. Do you have a plan?”

Kosuke smiles. “I’m glad you asked. I’ve got a car waiting. Gather your things and come with me. I’ll explain on the way.”

“Right now?” Eiji asks, surprised by the sudden urgency.

“It’s not safe here. The Digipolice will be here any minute.”

“Wait.What?!”

Kosuke nods his head. “Don’t worry, I’ve got a safehouse nearby, but you do need to hurry,” Kosuke says calmly as he walks out the door.

Eiji quickly throws a few things into a bag and chases after Kosuke. Koske is already sitting in the car when Eiji walks out. Before Eiji can get in, Kosuke stops him. “Before you get in this car, you have to be sure about what you’re doing. Once you get in, there is no going back to your old life.” Kosuke waits for an answer as the severity of the situation hits Eiji.

“So what’s it going to be Eiji? Are you coming or not?” Koske asks politely.

Eiji looks back at his apartment. It looks so small from where he stands. He thinks about the life he’s leaving behind. “In that case,” Eiji says, turning to Kosuke, “I’ll have no regrets!”

Eiji steps into the car and shuts the door the door behind him.

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