Dude! Take Your Turn!
A Gaming Life
Expansion Review – Smash Up Micro-Expansion – Goblins
One of the things Alderac Entertainment Group has been doing for Smash Up aficionados (Editor – “oooo, look at you with the fancy foreign words) has been releasing micro-expansions. In fact, they’ve been doing that for a bunch of their games, including Space Base (which I have also bought).
For Smash Up, these micro-expansions have consisted of one faction, including two bases for them.
After reviewing the new Disney full-set expansion, as well as with news that eventually new regular (i.e. non-IP) expansions will be coming in 2023, I decided to take a look at each of the micro-expansion factions to see if they were worth paying $10 plus shipping for (available only, as far as I know, on the Alderac Store unless you buy them secondhand).
For me, I bought all of the factions along with a couple of Space Base micro-expansions and made it so the shipping per item wasn’t actually that much.
The first faction I’ll be taking a look at is the Goblins faction.
I’m not going to go into how to play Smash Up since my review does that, but let’s see what makes this faction tick and whether or not you should get it.
Read MoreMaglev Metro From Bezier Games Coming Digitally on October 3
(Edit – 10/5/22) – Designer Ted Alspach has confirmed that the online play for this is synchronous and not asynchronous.
Maglev Metro is a popular game that has always kind of intimidated me.
It was designed by Ted Alspach and published by Bezier Games.
In it, players are building subway tracks , pick up and deliver passengers around the underground, and building up your action engine by adding robots to your player board.
It seems (from what I’ve heard) to have some similarities to Age of Steam in that “lay track, move things from one place to another” type of feel, and I don’t really include those games in my comfort zone.
But it looks amazing and is highly regarded by a lot of people.
Well, come October 3, I can try it out for myself because Maglev Metro is coming to mobile devices then!
Yes, it will be available on iOS and Android devices on that date.
That’s only a week away!
The game will come with the two maps from the main game: Berlin and Manhattan.
If it does well enough, hopefully the new maps that have come out since then will also be added to it.
I’m excited by this because I would love to try this game out. It sounds great.
Not only that, but you can either play it solo, against AI opponents, or against your friends.
The announcement didn’t say whether the “against your friends” was online and if it is, whether it will be asynchronous.
Since the turns don’t seem that interactive, I don’t know why it wouldn’t be asynchronous, but who knows?
I guess we will find out on October 3.
Have you played Maglev Metro? What do you think?
Let me know in the comments.
New to Me – August 2022
September has been a weird month.
School has started again, so work has been busy.
I just haven’t really felt up to writing anything, but I don’t usually let that get in the way of doing at least this post.
However, things have just come up.
Like suddenly being able to play a bunch of action games on my computer and thus spending time doing that instead of, you know, writing.
I’ve picked up a bunch of games and finished Metro 2033: Last Light already. Then there’s Borderlands 3, which I’ve enjoyed the first two on my game consoles.
And too many others to count!
I’ll have to try and limit my distractions.
Especially when I have a month with 11 new to me games!
The Cult of the New to Me can’t even complain because there is some older stuff in there as well as new.
There’s even a 2012 game!
So without further ado (all of my ado was taken to build the next level of our condo anyway), let’s get started!
Read MoreFright Night Shots: Multiple Video Games?
Sorry for the lax posting recently. I just bought a gaming computer that can play all of my Steam games, including ones that need more oomph than the computer that I had, and I’ve been sidetracked by playing those instead!
This includes Metro: First Light, an older game but one my other computer wouldn’t run.
Anyway, I have a question that I wanted to ask you on this Friday night.
When you play video games, and you’ve just bought multiple shooters or other games that have progression, do you play one game at a time?
Or do you alternate between them?
What I mean is that I just bought Metro: Last Light along with Borderlands 3 and Cyberpunk 2077 and Outer Worlds. All of these games have long campaigns.
Are you the type who plays multiple games?
Or do you finish one game before going onto another?
I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
Maybe you only buy one game at a time so you finish a game before you buy another.
But maybe not!
How do you do your video games?
Let me know in the comments.
And I promise that more boardgame content will be coming next week.
I still need to do my “New to Me: August” post, which will be coming soon.
Munchkin Coming Electronically by Dire Wolf Digital This Fall
It was weird to see a Saturday announcement email, and I normally don’t post on the weekends, but this one was too good to pass up.
Munchkin (published by Steve Jackson Games back in 2001 originally) is notorious in gaming circles as being either a love it or hate it game. Some people hate it by reputation only, or at least avoid it (that’s been me, mostly) for a variety of reasons, but a lot of people love it just the same.
Today’s announcement from Dire Wolf Digital is that Munchkin is coming to Steam/iOS/Android this Fall sometime. And hey, Fall is only 17 days away! (though I realize it could be coming December 19th).
Here’s a screenshot from the Steam page where you can wishlist it already.
What is Munchkin?
Well, since I’ve never played it, let’s blurb from BGG:
“Go down in the dungeon. Kill everything you meet. Backstab your friends and steal their stuff. Grab the treasure and run.
Admit it. You love it.
This award-winning card game, designed by Steve Jackson, captures the essence of the dungeon experience… with none of that stupid roleplaying stuff. You and your friends compete to kill monsters and grab magic items. And what magic items! Don the Horny Helmet and the Boots of Butt-Kicking. Wield the Staff of Napalm… or maybe the Chainsaw of Bloody Dismemberment. Start by slaughtering the Potted Plant and the Drooling Slime, and work your way up to the Plutonium Dragon…
And it’s illustrated by John Kovalic! Fast-playing and silly, Munchkin can reduce any roleplaying group to hysteria. And, while they’re laughing, you can steal their stuff.”
Sounds fun!
I’ve heard that it can really drag, it obviously has a lot of take-that (which I know some people really hate) and ganging up on the leader.
I also know some people love the thing (ok, not personally, but I know at various conventions there are a bunch of people who play it religiously).
I’ve always been intimidated by its reputation to really try it on the table.
So electronically?
Especially if it has async multiplayer (which Dire Wolf almost always does, except maybe Wings of Glory)?
(Edit – a friend of mine noted that Fox & the Forest also doesn’t have asynchronous, so I guess it’s not guaranteed)
I’m there.
Look for it to come to your devices sometime soon, and if you want it on Steam, you can wishlist it now!
Are you a love it or hate it person? Or do you just avoid it by reputation like I have?
What do you think of this? Will it make you try it?
Let me know in the comments.
My August 2022 Gaming
August turned out to be a good month for gaming after a smaller July.
Not only 30 plays of 22 games, but 11 new to me ones!
That means (Gulp!) the “New to Me” post is going to be a bit late this month.
What did you play this month?
Let me know in the comments.
Upcoming Conventions – SHUX, Bottoscon & OrcaCon
Since I wasn’t able to get a review done over the weekend, how about a short post about upcoming conventions that I will be attending?
I’m really looking forward to convention season coming up again. I’ve really missed it (as can be guessed from my “Stories from Boardgame Conventions” post), as the last convention I went to was Dice Tower West in February 2020, right before all of the COVID lockdowns started.
First coming up is SHUX 2022 at the Vancouver Convention Centre (my home town!) September 30 – October 2.
My first SHUX was in 2019 and then COVID shut it down since then, but it was a total blast and I can’t wait to be going again. Three whole days of gaming, meeting people (like the incomparable Paula Deming, who I interviewed for my one podcast episode). A few people I’ve never met before but whom I’ve interacted with online (like Daniel from Board Game Feast).
And it will be good to see Ross and Paula again!
Three days of gaming and I even get to go home and sleep in my own bed.
That will be nice.
Secondly, November 4-5 (there is November 6 but I doubt I will be going that day) is Bottoscon in New Westminster, BC. So it’s near me! Just a short drive or Skytrain away.
This is primarily a wargaming convention but some of my friends will be going as well.
But I really want to get some wargames played.
If any of you will be going and want to get a wargame or two in, I’m your man! I’d love to get some Combat Commander (which I’ve played many times but never on the table) or maybe even learn the Last Hundred Yards system.
Any of my wargaming buddies going?
Finally, in January 2023, will be my first OrcaCon since January 2020.
I loved OrcaCon, and while a couple of my friends may be going, I’m really looking forward to meeting up with some of you and otherwise just finding some games with random people that I can learn and have fun with.
The January 2020 convention was an experiment for me because it was the first convention where I didn’t know anybody at all.
This time, like I said, a couple of friends may be going, but I want to get out and meet people as well. I want to meet some of you, some of the board game personalities that I admire, that sort of thing.
Hopefully that will happen!
If nothing else, maybe a last-minute late night game of Paladins of the West Kingdom like what happened last time (and literally saved my convention experience).
Anybody going to any of these? Want to meet up for a game?
Let me know in the comments!
Some GMT P500 Games That Need Some Love
I guess we can just say that this week is GMT Games Week at Dude Take Your Turn. I promise to get back to “normal” stuff next week.
In doing my GMT Update on Wednesday, I noticed that there are still some games that I’ve “backed” on the P500 that still need some help to break through that 500 order barrier.
I thought I would highlight them here.
Just to remind you, the P500 system means that once an announced game hits 500 orders, it goes into the production process. This could take a while or it could happen reasonably quickly. One of my games that “Made the Cut” has been in that status for over 3 years and hasn’t appeared to move since (that would be Rebel Fury, designed by Mark Herman, which currently has 981 orders).
(Edit – Mark graciously responded on Twitter saying that the game is getting near completion!)
Reprints don’t necessarily have to hit 500 if GMT wants them in print (the reprint of Skies Above the Reich that I ordered only has 400 orders but it’s already in Art and Final Development).
Also, the most important thing to remember is that you don’t get charged for the game until it’s ready to ship. So you’re not paying now and then not seeing the game for 2 years.
So anyway, these are the P500 games I’ve ordered that not only haven’t made the cut but also don’t appear to be in the production process.
Read MoreHighlights From the August 2022 GMT Games Update
I was completely surprised to discover that my last post about the monthly GMT Update was from December 2021.
I know I said I was taking over for the Players’ Aid while their written blog was kind of back-burnered due to real-life stuff.
They’re back to writing a bunch but no GMT update recently.
I discovered after three months of doing it, though, that I didn’t really have a lot to say that was relevant so it was becoming almost a bit forced.
And very difficult to write.
I’m not a wargamer (at least in practice, though I am at heart!) so I don’t have the knowledge that people like Grant at the Players’ Aid have to make that kind of in-depth report interesting.
So today, instead of going through the August 2022 update in-depth, I’m just going to give some highlights from it that make me happy.
And hopefully making me happy will make you happy.
This month’s update did have some interesting stuff in it, including one announcement that made me jump for joy in anticipation (so hopefully I won’t be disappointed).
With that being said, let’s begin!
Read MoreStorm Above the Reich – After Action Report – Mission #21
Hello!
C’mon in. I know it’s been a while, but it’s time for another tale from my Storm Above the Reich campaign.
We’re only a few missions into the “Late ’43” season of the campaign. Things were looking good but last mission kind of sucked.
Only 4 VP last mission means that I’m at 32 for the season. Counting this one, there are only 6 missions left in the season and I need 40 to “not lose” and 60 to win.
Is that going to be possible?
Oh ye of little faith…(whispers: but I kind of agree with you)
With Mission #21, I decided to really experiment. This time with Rockets!
Yes, Rockets!
Still no different auxiliary fighters, though. I really like my IAR-80s.
I did include some oldies but goodies.
Can we actually improve my VP track?
Is the Pope Methodist?
Let’s see how it goes.
Read More
Dude! Take Your Turn! 