What I Think about Space Hulk (3rd Edition)

Space Hulk, a Warhammer 40K universe themed 2-players game that was published by Games Workshop. My first get-to-know-him was through Board Game Geek. I was impressed by the pictures that was posted in the picture gallery by the users. The toys that came with the box are just telling me "YOU MUST BUY ME!!!". And then, I did.

It is an Ameritrash game, but it's from UK, strange isn't it. Nevermind this topic, straight to the game. I never regret I bought this 3rd edition, it was a gift to me, for a life time. With the thickest board and insanely detail miniatures, it worth all the money you paid.

I spend 1 hour to assembly all the figurines and felt the sense of accomplishment deep inside my heart, and just can't wait to play it with a friend.

Finally I got the chance to try it out. Done scenario 1 & 2, done being the Genestealers & Terminators. And I love this game! Even the combat result were purely depends on the lucky roll of dice (normally I hate Dice Rolling combat system). Yes, it is a game that depend on luck when it comes to combat. But who cares! Look at all those superb finishing of the miniatures! Check out the awesome arts on the thick boards! Nevermind the dice roll. I can accept it.

Too bad I don't have a big table that I can set up the game, I have to play it on the floor every time. Too bad I can't carry it around to play with friends 'coz it's too heavy to do so. Too bad I can't bring out to gaming night all the time 'coz it's only for 2 players.

Teaching this to any hard-core or casual gamers would be easy. Its simple to pick up gameplay & rules really help a lot which it doesn't mean there is no strategic play or hard decisions to make (not that deep if compare with other euro games).

The theme of the game is really strong in Space Hulk, you could end up breathless, especially as the Terminators player. You feel hopeless when your last sergeant have to face a swarm of Genestealers slowly approaching through the tight corridors. Some lucky dice rolls could make you jump up to celebrate for it.

Final word, it's out of print becoz it's a limited edition game. Buy this if you see this on the shelf of your LFGS. Buy this if its price is not over $100. It worth every penny you spend.

Look at all those stuff that came with box! Amazing isn't it?

Pros:

- Top notch production quality

- Easy to learn rules

- Theme suits gameplay

- You get to assembly and paint the figurines (optional)

Cons:

- Expensive

- Too bad you can't have it. It's a limited edition.

- Need a large table to play with

- You have to assembly and paint the figurines (optional)

My BGG rating: 8/10

Large table needed, or just play it on the floor.

What my friend think about it:

Adam: Wow! Nice miniatures you got there.

Beh: I like games with not lots of text in it.

Max: You thought you're the only one who got it? I got it too.

Great review from others:

- Drake's Flames

- Knights of the Cardboard Castle

- Mini War Gaming (part 1)

Dominion

Date: 06-06-2010

Venue: OTK Uptown

Description: Me, Phang, Adam & Suki gathered around for a 4 players Dominion session. We had play 4 games within 3 hours. Suki is new to this game, so we have to teach him, but he pick up fairly quick and even know how to build up his deck and use all the Action-Attack cards to hurt us. Suki managed to win 1 round at the very last game. Phang was the only one that loses all games that night. I can't really remember all the actual scores of all 4 games, but I can list out who's winning the game.

End game scores:

1st game winner - ME!

2nd game winner - ME again!

3rd game winner - Adam

4th game winner - Suki

Suki quite enjoy the game, but he still think that Dominion is too much luck involve.

The worst part of the game, separating all cards after a game.

Star Wars Miniatures Starship Battles

Went to 1 Utama Shopping Mall for Toy 'R' Us toy fair and saw this gigantic Star Wars Miniatures Starship Battles going on. Everyone can play, you just have to register and wait for your turn. I didn't go for it 'coz it was a long line to wait. I don't have that much time to spend 'coz I have to work later, so I took some pictures where people are playing it.

Big size dice, big size battleship toys to play with.

Look at that. It's made of cardboard. The smaller ones are plastic toys.

Lots of curious people checking out the game.

The Stat Sheet of the battleships.

Trial of Grandis

I had so many game ideas in my mind that like to be put out. One of the fantasy themed racing game called "Trial of Grandis" were printed out and heavily playtesting currently. It's a 2-4 players game, which feature Hand Management and Set Collection mechanics. Trial of Grandis will be available for download soon, as soon as all the rules are and design are finalize. Here's some intro and basic features that came with the game, which I have posted in BGG.

Intro

It is a time of wizardry and power. In the esteemed Academia Magicas, novices from the House of Elementas shall be given their final test: Trial of Grandis. As a Chief Apprentice of your Noble House, you shall lead a quartet of novices through a maze of primordial elements on the ancient Fields of Grandis to earn your Elementor ranks and stand as honoured Magi of Magicas.

Basic Mechanics

- Your objective is to win as much Victory Points (VPs) as possible, while striding through each terrain square to reach the end of the field.

- The Trial ends when all terrain squares at the finishing line are occupied.

- Each Player begins with 5 cards in his/her hand and draws 2 extra cards at the start of turn.

- Each Player may conduct a maximum of 3 movement/actions with his/her playing cards during a turn.

- Each Player can hold as many cards as he/she can in hand at the end of turn, but beware of the thief.

Cards

- There are 2 types of Cards that can be drawn from the draw deck: Scroll Cards and Action Cards.

- Scroll Cards are used for basic movement to each terrain square (see movement)

- Action Cards are special magic scrolls with extra spells such as VP Thief, Revive Mana and etc that can be used to your advantage.

Movement

- The Field of Grandis is a land of power, with terrains warded by elements that bars entrance from those who do not wield them.

- Fire, Ice, Thunder and Poison Wards of varying degrees protect each terrain.

- To stride the fields, you must be proficient in utilizing the Elementas Scrolls (Cards) to calm the elements of each terrain.

- You can move straight or diagonal to the adjoining square by casting your Scroll Cards according to the element and number of scrolls required. e.g. A square guarded by a Level 2 Fire Ward can only be entered by casting 2 Fire Scrolls (cards).

Victory Points

- The field is divided into sections, each section of terrain squares with their own VP value, ascending to the highest VP value at the finishing squares.

- At game end, only the VP value of the terrain squares occupied by each of your Novices is accumulated.

- VP Points can also be earned by performing the Lock Spell (see Lock Spell)

- Player with the most accumulated VPs wins the game.

Lock Spell

- When 2 or more Novices move into the same terrain square, the latest Novice to arrive at the square automatically performs a Lock Spell on the Novice(s) before it.

- Novice under the Lock Spell cannot perform any movement or action until the spell-caster moves away from the square OR the spell is broken with a Lock Breaker action card.

- There is no limit to the number of Novices occupying a square; the last Novice to enter a square will always be the spell-caster.

Trial of Grandis is a strategy card + board game with a minimum luck factor in drawing cards.

Free downloadable files (print & play game board, rules of play, etc) will be available soon.

Here's the link of photo gallery in BGG:

http://boardgamegeek.com/images/boardgame/69603/trial-of-grandis

What I Think about Dominion

Keep on shuffling your cards during the course of the game, draw 5 cards and play it. What's the fun in it? That's what I first had in my mind after I finish watching all those video reviews ofDominion on YouTube.

But then I had a chance to try it out at one of the designer's board games cafe in town and felt in love with it. The Deck Building concept of Dominion is just brilliant! Pure genius I must say.

Donald X. Vaccarino used the old CCG Magic: The Gathering (I'd never played this and never will 'coz I'm no rich man's son) deck building idea and transformed it into this fine LCG. With Card Drafting & Hand Management as its engine, the game is just intriguing.

Over 500 cards came with the box, with 24 different Kingdom Cards to choose from (only use 10 for each game), the game will never be the same each time you play. This is what makes the game shine.

The fun fact in Dominion is how you decided the randomness of your card draw by building your own deck and of coz executing all the actions into combo(s) and extra buy(s). The game can be cut-throat, polite or tricky, you decides it. I prefer building up my opponent's card deck with curses.

The cards art are good in some and OK with some, the quality are in good shape but too much play will make it wear off quickly, that's why sleeve is a must. But after you have sleeves up all the cards, the problem come, the shuffling problem and the storage problem (default card holder that came with the box can't fit it all back in there). It just so hard to keep on shuffling during the whole game, cards can easily slips off from your hand. Anyway, the choice is yours, sleeves it for its protection or don't sleeves it for more easier handling. I had sleeves mine, how about you?

The game learning curve is one of the easiest ever, just 3 phases, A, B & C! Action, buy & clean up. Even a retarded can pick it up within 5 minutes. Some cards are filled with text, that only causing problem for the first timer. After a few rounds going on (approx 20-30 minutes per round), you can even play the game with your eyes covered, I mean you can ignore all those text 'coz you are already familiar with the card's action.

Easily set up the game, everyone sit down with the starting 10 cards (3 estates & 7 coppers) and you are ready for the amazing kingdom building experience, although the theme were fully ignored by the players all the time. And then painfully separating all the cards after a game. Nevermind all that pain (in the ass), let's just have FUN!

Pros:

- High production quality

- Well organize component storage solution

- Easy to learn & play

- Light and balance between strategic & luck

- For all ages

- A good filler game between 20-30 minutes

- Addictive (exercise your hand with shuffling cards)

- Every game will not be the same with lots of cards combinations from the base set

Cons:

- Cards' edges easily wear off after heavy play.

- Lots of card sleeves needed

- Not interesting with 2 players game

- Only support 4 players

- Low player interaction (sometimes not)

- Clean up after a game would be a pain in the ass

- Theme will be set aside during game play

- Addictive (ass feel sore after the game)

My BGG rating: 10/10

What my friends think about it:

Phang: This is genius. Another round? My butt will be sore later, but nevermind.

ET: I don't like the theme. Dry.

Adam: Witch! Ahahahahah!

Max: Is the LFGS still open? I wanna buy Intrigue later.

Jeremy: Wait! I'm thinking about my combos and extra buy now.

Arthur: Who the heck design this? Is he human?

Great review from others:

- The Dice Tower Review with Tom Vasel

- Drake's Flames

- Board to Death TV