Board Game Reviews
Roleplaying & Dice store http://www.RPGShop.com
strategygameguides.com
Roleplaying, Dice, Board Games, Miniatures
 Eclipse: New Dawn for the Galaxy[ASM ECLI01]A game of Eclipse places you in control of vast interstellar civilizations, competing for success. You will explore new star systems, research technologies and build spaceships to wage war with. There are many potential paths to victory, so you need to plan your strategy according to the strengths and weaknesses of your species while paying attention to the other civilizations' endeavors. In the core of Eclipse, there are innovative resource management and action selection mechanisms. Even though you explore space and take over new sectors on the common game board, all the production and resource management is done conveniently on your own player board. The upkeep cost of your civilization rises rapidly as you take more actions and the area you control increases. This creates an interesting balancing problem and restrains the exponential growth of the civilizations. Eclipse is an epic empire building game that even with full player count can be played under three hours. Euro-type game mechanisms offer a smooth gameplay and minimize the downtime. Nevertheless, Eclipse has a lot of details and theme woven seamlessly into the game. For example, you may design your own starships: each player has four ship types that they can build and design as they will. The technology tree also has a new, non-linear system. Eclipse has seven different species for you to choose from. Each player can either play as Terrans (ie. humans) or one of the unique alien species. Each species has different characteristics and abilities. The modular board and the dynamic technology tree ensure that each session of Eclipse is unique! 2-6 players 30 minutes per player |
 Takenoko[ASM TAK01US]The players take the role of courtesans of the Nippon emperor. They take care of his Giant Panda by growing a bamboo plantation. Mission: to farm parcels of land, irrigate them, and have green, yellow or pink bamboo grow. In turn, they see what the weather brings and perform two actions from among those offered to them: get a new plot of land or irrigation channel, grow bamboo, feed the panda or draw an objective card. The game ends when a player has completed 7 to 9 objectives (depending on the number of players). The player who gets the best score by adding the total value of their completed objective wins the game. 2-4 Players. Ages 8+ |
 Jungle Speed: Raving Rabbids[ASM JSLC03]Discover dozens of trap cards bearing the image of the most moronic Rabbids in Creation and three special cards which are stark "Raving" mad! A bag to carry the game everywhere! The best selling game in its category! The whole setting of the Raving Rabbids is now merged with the most fun game of the past few years! |
 Quebec[ASM QUE01]1608, beginning of New France and foundation of Qu bec city. In this game, you are at the head of a rich family seeking to build the historically charged and architecturally rich city of Qu bec. You will have 4 centuries to erect the most beautiful buildings while ensuring your presence in the great spheres of influence of the time. Relive history, meet larger-than-life historical figures, and realize the grandeur of Qu bec city! |
 Ghost Stories: Black Secret Expansion[ASM GHOMU03]This second expansion for Ghost Stories offers one player the chance to take on the role of Wu-Feng in opposition to the courageous Taoists who are defending the cursed village. In addition to his Ghosts, Wu-Feng will also be able to call upon the fearsome Demons to search the Catacombs and also throw Curses on the Taoists. To face the new threat, the Taoists have the benefit of new weapons, the Bloody Mantras and the Blood Brother ability. Their victory condition remains unchanged: all of Wu-Feng's incarnations must be exorcised! The game box contains 1 double-sided Catacomb board, 1 double-sided Wu-Feng board, 1 Shadow of Wu-Feng figurine, 3 Minor Demon figurines, 21 Bloody Mantra cards, 10 Ghost cards, 5 Incarnation of Wu-Feng cards, 4 Summon cards, 36 Catacomb tokens, 32 Curse tokens, 9 Ladder figurines, 4 Blood Brother markers, 3 Skeleton tokens, 1 Village tile (Calligrapher), 1 active Taoist marker and the rules. |
 Claustrophobia Expansion: De Profundis[ASM CLAU02]A return to Hell! 1635. Humans and infernal creatures confront each other for many months in the underground tunnels of New Jerusalem. These countless fierce battles eventually leave the warriors on both sides completely battered. Who can save the day? With De Produndis, the Siccaria, powerful warriors, reinforce the human army, and terrible rabid hounds join the camp of the Underworld. New rooms with new effects and twelve Machiavellian scenarios await you in a hellfish expansion! Features:
Game Contents:
|
 Dixit 3: The Odyssey[ASM DIX03]Dixit Odyssey is both a standalone game and an expansion for Jean-Louis Roubira's Dixit, which won Germany's Spiel des Jahres award in 2010. Game play in Dixit Odyssey matches that of Dixit: Each turn one player is the storyteller. This player secretly chooses one card in his hand, then gives a word or sentence to describe this card -- but not too obviously. Each other player chooses a card in hand that matches this word/sentence and gives it to the storyteller. The storyteller then lays out the cards, and all other players vote on which card belongs to the storyteller. If no one or everyone guesses the storyteller's card, the storyteller receives no points and all players receive two; otherwise the storyteller and the correct guesser(s) each receive three points. Players score one point for each vote their image receives. Players refill their hands, and the next player becomes the storyteller. When the deck runs out, the player with the most points wins. Dixit Odyssey contains 84 new cards, each with a unique image drawn by Piero and colored by Marie Cardouat, artist of Dixit and Dixit 2. It also includes a folding game board, new rabbit scoring tokens, and a box large enough to hold all the Dixit cards released to date. Dixit Odyssey includes enough components for up to twelve players and also has variant rules for team play and for new ways to play with the cards. |
 7 Wonders[ASM SEV-EN01]You are the leader of one of the 7 great cities of the Ancient World. Gather ressources, develop commercial routes and affirm your military supremacy. Build your city and erect an architectural wonder which will transcend future times! 7 wonders is a simple and addictive game for the whole family. In 30 minutes you can raise a complete civilization and build the greatest Wonders of the World. |
 7 Wonders: Leaders[ASM SEVUS02]Within the walls of cities, great men and women inspire nations and lead civilizations to their peaks. Choose them wisely and they will help bring your city achieve greatness. Neglect them and they will lead rival cities... or their armies! This expansion for 7 Wonders offers you a new type of card which will bring an extra strategic dimension to your games: the Leaders. This is an expansion for the game 7 Wonders, the basic game is required to play. |
 Dice Town: Expansion[ASM DIT01US]More riches, more fun and even more tactic: rediscover Dice Town! You think you know everything there is to know about the city of Dice Town? Discover its seedy underbelly: pan for gold in the river, buy new merchandise from the General Store, hire bandits, hunt down outlaws, control ranches, ally with the Indians. From now on, nothing will ever be the same! This expansion for Dice Town allows the addition of a 6th player. But it also offers multiple new possibilities that make the game even more tactical, rich and lively starting with 2 players. Features: |
 Jungle (a.k.a. Dou Shou Qi)[ASM JMA01US]It is said that the law of the jungle is that of the strongest... The lion, the imperious King, is feared by all animals. Tigers, panthers, and wolves flee his approach. Only the powerful elephant dares face him. But even the strong mastodon isn't safe from danger, and it's againt the rat, the most modest of creatures, that he is the most vulnerable... This subtle and refined game hails from China, where it is called Dou Shou Qi, the game of warrior animals. Its rules can be learned in a few moments and a game lasts about fifteen minutes. But only regular practice will allow you to master all of its subtleties. Just like the yin and the yang balance each other out, Jungle calls upon two opposite and complementary qualities: balance and movement. Will you be able to master these two paths to become the new master of the jungle? |
 Identik: Red Expansion[ASM IDK03US]New illustrations, hours of scribbles! You already know Identik, the drawing game for those who don't know how to draw? No? In that case, here's a quick rundown of the rules: a player, called the "art director", describes a funny illustration to the other players who attempt to reproduce that image within the time limit imposed by an hourglass. Only drawings containing specific details (indicated on the illustration cards) are worth points. You've been hooked by Identik's zany illustrations? Spice up your games with 80 new and even funnier images contained in each of its expansions! More hours of scribbling and laughing await! |
 Identik: Blue Expansion[ASM IDK02US]New illustrations, hours of scribbles! You already know Identik, the drawing game for those who don't know how to draw? No? In that case, here's a quick rundown of the rules: a player, called the "art director", describes a funny illustration to the other players who attempt to reproduce that image within the time limit imposed by an hourglass. Only drawings containing specific details (indicated on the illustration cards) are worth points. You've been hooked by Identik's zany illustrations? Spice up your games with 80 new and even funnier images contained in each of its expansions! More hours of scribbling and laughing await! |
 Double Agent[ASM DAG01US]A dark conspiracy threatens civilization and every spy agency is on full alert! There is no way any of them will work together, though, as only the organization that has defeated the menace will get the rewards and glory. The loyalty of the agents sent on this mission only goes so far though... Will you be able to influence them enough for them to give you their precious documents? Double Agent is a neat and quick game by Bruno Faidutti (Citadels, Tomahawk...) and Ludovic Maublanc (Dice Town, Cyclades...), which calls upon your deduction and bluffing skills, in a game that lasts about twenty minutes. |
.jpg) Expedition Altiplano[ASM ALP01US]This is a game for two treasure hunters in ancient Inca ruins. You are both looking for the same relics. But first you put together your exploration team out of archaeologists and soldiers of fortune by drafting cards from the central pile. During the game you can poach staff members off your adversary or salvage a staffer from deadly traps. You do all this to meet the required conditions to find those rare treasures. And because they're rare you'd better not miss them. |
 Tikal II: Adventurers of the Lost Temple[ASM TIKA01] Become one of four fearless adventurers in a tropical jungle! Explore a lost temple and discover treasures that no human has laid eyes on for a thousand years. rack up the most points by uncharted areas of the temple and bringing back unheard of artefacts. Tikal II is the sequel to the award winning ''game of the year'' Tikal. Where Tikal had you exploring the jungle, in Tikal II you will explore a temple in the Lost City. Tikal II manages to be familiar while still being an entirely new game. |
 Eye for an Eye[ASM EYE01US]Win in a blink of an eye! An Eye for an Eye is a quick and easy game designed to have you howling with laughter. A single game is short, but you'll find it hard to stop yourself from playing again and again; if you're not careful, your whole evening might disappear in the blink of an eye! Each player starts the game with a secret personality card, determining if they are a Druid or an Ovate. The Druids seek to hypnotise the Ovates without being noticed. Hypnosis is achieved by a rapid and discreet wink of the eye. The Ovates, meanwhile, seek to unmask the Druids. For each game, there is a loser... and for each loser, a terrible test. Ideal for large groups, especially pre-teens, teens and cool adults. |
 Jungle Speed The Extreme Expansion[ASM JS02US]More Jungle Speed insanity!! |
 Formula D Circuits 3 - Singapore & The Docks[ASM FDC3]Expansion Tracks for Formula D From the publisher: 1. Singapore -- this track is a one-of-a-kind nigh-time street race, with a mix of fast turns and slow chicanes that will test your nerve and push your skills to the limit! 2. The Docks -- this fantasy track has 3 routes around which one may race. Each route has its own dangers (this track was the winner of the ASM's track design contest). |
 Village[ASM VIL01US]If you like Werewolves of Miller's Hollow, you'll love The Village! In The Village, from 8 to 29 players become villagers in a town infested with werewolves. Every night, the werewolves will devour an innocent villager. By day, the villagers must figure out who among them is really a werewolf and eliminate them. It will take a keen eye and a sharp mind to see through the lies and deceit to stop the werewolves before it's too late. The Village includes all of the characters from Werewolves of Miller's Hollow, plus 10 new Occupations for the villagers, and 14 new buildings for them to live in. |