Rubicon

Sure, I'm having myself a blast here at the CMON Expo, but that doesn't mean I'm too busy to take a bit of time to get you your Review Roundup this week. That just wouldn't be right. So let's get to it.

Today we have: Team Play, Raid and Trade, Beast of Balka, Witch’s Brew, Blood Rage, Blood Rage - 5th Player Expansion, Blood Rage - Kickstarter Exclusives, The Siblings Trouble, Temp Worker Assassins, Android: Mainframe, Rubicon's M8 Greyhound/M20, Across the Dead Earth miniatures and, THMiniatures Terrain.



Drive Thru Review:

Team Play Review

Intro (00:00); game overview (00:55); final thoughts and review (04:10)

Board Game Quest:

Raid and Trade Review

As stated in the game’s title “Raid & Trade”, this game focuses on raiding and trading, but offers the experience of a post-apocalyptic exploration game with smatterings of combat and set collection thrown in for good measure.

In Raid & Trade, players act as survivors of a third world war and are attempting to win the eye of the Regents of the Golden City. The players do this by attaining favor, crafting items to bolster their skills, and satisfying quests that are exposed as the game progresses. This game is highly interactive as players trade and fight with each other, vie for houses to raid and the Outpost to gain favor, and search for the right combinations of resources.

iSlaytheDragon:

Tally Ho! (A Preview of Beast of Balka)

Beast of Balka is a two-player abstract tilt of maneuver and encirclement. Pieces are represented by tokens and move about hexes on a roughly hexagonal board. Players control four hunting parties each, while the beast begins in the center with four bloodlust tokens – aka hit points – beneath it. There are two smaller monsters, salamanders, with a bloodlust token apiece which also begin in the middle of the board.

Of Brews and Brooms (a review of Witch’s Brew)

Witch’s Brew is a role selection/resource management card game for three to five players. Players are witches in a potion-making contest. They recruit helpers to gain ingredients, money, and ultimately potions. The player with the most points is the winner.

Toucan Play That Game:

Blood Rage Review

In this video you can find out my final thoughts on Blood Rage by Cool Mini or Not.

Blood Rage - 5th Player Expansion Review

In this video you can find out my thoughts on the Blood Rage 5th Player Expansion by Cool Mini or Not.

Blood Rage - Kickstarter Exclusives Review

In this video you can find out my thoughts on the Blood Rage Kickstarter Exclusives by Cool Mini or Not.

The Siblings Trouble Review

In this video you can find out my final thoughts on The Siblings Trouble by Pencil First Games.

Temp Worker Assassins Review

In this video you can find out my thoughts on Temp Worker Assassins by David Newton. This review is based on a prototype of the game ahead of the kickstarter launch.

Play Board Games:

Android: Mainframe Review

In Android Mainframe you are a runner looking for fame and fortune. Can you secure more zones in this area control game set in the Android universe?

Battle Brush Studios:

Rubicon's M8 Greyhound/M20 Review

In this review Battle Brush Studios' Sigur takes a look at one of Rubicon Model's latest releases - the M8 'Greyhound' / M20 Armoured Utility Car.

After a troubled development phase and some interesting attributes for a recon vehicle, the M8 became a staple for US cavalry formations and saw use around the world up to this day.

Across the Dead Earth miniatures Review

In this review Battle Brush Studios' Sigur takes a closer look at the latest release for Dead Earth Games' Across the Dead Earth, a post-apocalyptic skirmish game set in the UK.

The figures depict a pair of sisters who seem to be quite capable of surviving in the remains of civilization.

The Esoteric Order of Gamers:

THMiniatures Terrain Review

Universal Head has been looking for some atmospheric tabletop terrain for ages, and is excited about this particular Kickstarter campaign by THMiniatures. The Esoteric Order of Gamers reviews this gorgeous resin scenery, paints it up, and see how it looks on the gaming table.

Yeehaw!
Get on there, little dogie! Hup! Hup!
Hey there, pardners, it's time once more for a Review Roundup.
So let's get this rodeo on the road!

Today we have: Super Dungeon Explore: Forgotten King, Mage Knight, Lil' Cthulhu, Fleet Wharfside, Patchwork App, Techno Bowl, Rubicon's Opel Blitz, Arena Rex, Black Hat, Captain's Wager, T.I.M.E Stories: A Prophecy of Dragons, Quadropolis, Orphan Black, City of Spies, and Empires: Age of Discovery.



Toucan Play That Game:

Super Dungeon Explore: Forgotten King Review

In this video you can find out my final thoughts on Super Dungeon Explore: Forgotten King.

Mage Knight Review

In this video you can find out my final thoughts on Mage Knight.

Geek Dad:

Lil' Cthulhu Review

Li’l Cthulhu is a press-your-luck game for 2 to 5 players, ages 6 and up, and takes about 30 minutes to play. It is currently seeking funding on Kickstarter, with a $25 pledge for a copy of the game (or $30 for the game plus a bonus expansion). Note to parents: although the game is about Lovecraftian horrors, it’s all done in a funny, cute way, so there’s nothing too terrifying for younger players. Except Li’l Cthulhu’s diaper. I don’t even want to think about that.

Play Board Games:

Fleet Wharfside Review

Fleet Wharfside is a card game of hand management and set collection. You must collect fish, complete contracts to score VPs and win.

Patchwork App Review

Patchwork is a tile-laying and resource management game with a quilting theme. The digital port does a good job of representing the physical game.

Fortress AT:

Techno Bowl - A Game I Didn't Think I Needed

A look at the upcoming Techno Bowl from Bombshell Games.

Brent Spivey at the moment is an unknown name in the board game world. He's designed several excellent miniature game rule-sets including Havoc: Tactical Miniature Warfare, The Battlefield, and Rogue Planet. When I heard he was entering the board game world my eyebrows arched skyward like my 75 pound horse of a dog hearing the word "walk". When I discovered it was an 8-bit American Football game I was left dumbfounded, like my 75 pound horse of a dog trying to apply the Pythagorean Theorem to an obtuse triangle.

Battle Brush Studios:

Rubicon's Opel Blitz Review

In this first of a series of reviews of Rubicon Models' 28mm (1/56th scale) World War 2 plastic vehicles kits, I take a look at the ubiquitous Opel Blitz truck.

As always this in-depth review contains large sprue pictures, the historical background, my experiences building and painting the model followed by a summary of my opinions on the kit.

Shut Up & Sit Down:

Arena Rex Review

I've spent the last few months working those pectorals and drenching myself in olive oil. Why? So that I can now sit shirtless at my computer for a proper review of Arena Rex.

But what IS Arena Rex? It's an excellent miniatures game of gladiator combat in a semi-mythological classical world, where your tiny team of just 3-5 fighters square off with their foes in a battle TO THE DEATH! Or, at least, to the filling of the last wound box and the removing of the little resin figure.

iSlaytheDragon:

Go Phish (A Review of Black Hat)

Black Hat pits players against each other as hackers infiltrating a network, hopefully without leaving a trace of their transgressions. With a hand of cards essentially representing your hacking skills, you and others vie to win tricks in order to root into the network’s path laid out along the board. Spaces represent accounts, assets and cyber traps worth varying points, so some are better than others. While there is a final critical asset space triggering the endgame, its occupant doesn’t always signify the winner. Instead, whoever leaves the least evidence of their presence by occupying low-key spots and dumping high skill hacking cards will prove the ultimate black hat.

Board Game Quest:

Captain's Wager Review

I used to really enjoy playing card games of chance like Poker. There was no better feeling when you won the pot with a great hand or bluff. It’s harder now to find the time to get friends together to play given everyone’s schedules and “adult” responsibilities. So when I was offered the chance to play and review, Captain’s Wager, a hand management card game of chance from Grey Fox Games, I pounced on it. Does Captain’s Wager stand up to other games from my past or should you pass? Read on!

Captain’s Wager is a hand management card game for 2-5 players and plays between 25–30 minutes. Captain’s Wager plays best with 4-5 players.

Polyhedron Collider:

T.I.M.E Stories: A Prophecy of Dragons Review

A Prophecy of Dragons is the second expansion, and therefore third adventure module for T.I.M.E Stories, and while T.I.M.E Stories remains one of my favourite games of 2015 and one of the best cooperative game experiences to date, A Prophecy of Dragons is by far the worst adventure for the system and its approach to rules and story threaten to undo all the great work accomplished by Asylum and The Marcy Case.

I will try and keep this review as spoiler free as possible; however some mild spoilers will come out in the discussion.

Drive Thru Review:

Quadropolis Review

Quadropolis Review

Intro (00:00); game overview (01:12); final thoughts and review (10:25)

Orphan Black Review

Orphan Black: The Card Game Review

Intro (00:00); game overview (01:36); final thoughts and review (11:30)

City of Spies: Estoril 1942 Review

City of Spies: Estoril 1942 Review

Intro (00:00); game overview (01:06); final thoughts and review (13:36)

Empires: Age of Discovery Review

Empires: Age of Discovery Review

Intro (00:00); game overview (01:31); final thoughts and review (20:16)

Yeehaw!
Get on there, little dogie! Hup! Hup!
Hey there, pardners, it's time once more for a Review Roundup.
So let's get this rodeo on the road!

Today we have: Super Dungeon Explore: Forgotten King, Mage Knight, Lil' Cthulhu, Fleet Wharfside, Patchwork App, Techno Bowl, Rubicon's Opel Blitz, Arena Rex, Black Hat, Captain's Wager, T.I.M.E Stories: A Prophecy of Dragons, Quadropolis, Orphan Black, City of Spies, and Empires: Age of Discovery.



Toucan Play That Game:

Super Dungeon Explore: Forgotten King Review

In this video you can find out my final thoughts on Super Dungeon Explore: Forgotten King.

Mage Knight Review

In this video you can find out my final thoughts on Mage Knight.

Geek Dad:

Lil' Cthulhu Review

Li’l Cthulhu is a press-your-luck game for 2 to 5 players, ages 6 and up, and takes about 30 minutes to play. It is currently seeking funding on Kickstarter, with a $25 pledge for a copy of the game (or $30 for the game plus a bonus expansion). Note to parents: although the game is about Lovecraftian horrors, it’s all done in a funny, cute way, so there’s nothing too terrifying for younger players. Except Li’l Cthulhu’s diaper. I don’t even want to think about that.

Play Board Games:

Fleet Wharfside Review

Fleet Wharfside is a card game of hand management and set collection. You must collect fish, complete contracts to score VPs and win.

Patchwork App Review

Patchwork is a tile-laying and resource management game with a quilting theme. The digital port does a good job of representing the physical game.

Fortress AT:

Techno Bowl - A Game I Didn't Think I Needed

A look at the upcoming Techno Bowl from Bombshell Games.

Brent Spivey at the moment is an unknown name in the board game world. He's designed several excellent miniature game rule-sets including Havoc: Tactical Miniature Warfare, The Battlefield, and Rogue Planet. When I heard he was entering the board game world my eyebrows arched skyward like my 75 pound horse of a dog hearing the word "walk". When I discovered it was an 8-bit American Football game I was left dumbfounded, like my 75 pound horse of a dog trying to apply the Pythagorean Theorem to an obtuse triangle.

Battle Brush Studios:

Rubicon's Opel Blitz Review

In this first of a series of reviews of Rubicon Models' 28mm (1/56th scale) World War 2 plastic vehicles kits, I take a look at the ubiquitous Opel Blitz truck.

As always this in-depth review contains large sprue pictures, the historical background, my experiences building and painting the model followed by a summary of my opinions on the kit.

Shut Up & Sit Down:

Arena Rex Review

I've spent the last few months working those pectorals and drenching myself in olive oil. Why? So that I can now sit shirtless at my computer for a proper review of Arena Rex.

But what IS Arena Rex? It's an excellent miniatures game of gladiator combat in a semi-mythological classical world, where your tiny team of just 3-5 fighters square off with their foes in a battle TO THE DEATH! Or, at least, to the filling of the last wound box and the removing of the little resin figure.

iSlaytheDragon:

Go Phish (A Review of Black Hat)

Black Hat pits players against each other as hackers infiltrating a network, hopefully without leaving a trace of their transgressions. With a hand of cards essentially representing your hacking skills, you and others vie to win tricks in order to root into the network’s path laid out along the board. Spaces represent accounts, assets and cyber traps worth varying points, so some are better than others. While there is a final critical asset space triggering the endgame, its occupant doesn’t always signify the winner. Instead, whoever leaves the least evidence of their presence by occupying low-key spots and dumping high skill hacking cards will prove the ultimate black hat.

Board Game Quest:

Captain's Wager Review

I used to really enjoy playing card games of chance like Poker. There was no better feeling when you won the pot with a great hand or bluff. It’s harder now to find the time to get friends together to play given everyone’s schedules and “adult” responsibilities. So when I was offered the chance to play and review, Captain’s Wager, a hand management card game of chance from Grey Fox Games, I pounced on it. Does Captain’s Wager stand up to other games from my past or should you pass? Read on!

Captain’s Wager is a hand management card game for 2-5 players and plays between 25–30 minutes. Captain’s Wager plays best with 4-5 players.

Polyhedron Collider:

T.I.M.E Stories: A Prophecy of Dragons Review

A Prophecy of Dragons is the second expansion, and therefore third adventure module for T.I.M.E Stories, and while T.I.M.E Stories remains one of my favourite games of 2015 and one of the best cooperative game experiences to date, A Prophecy of Dragons is by far the worst adventure for the system and its approach to rules and story threaten to undo all the great work accomplished by Asylum and The Marcy Case.

I will try and keep this review as spoiler free as possible; however some mild spoilers will come out in the discussion.

Drive Thru Review:

Quadropolis Review

Quadropolis Review

Intro (00:00); game overview (01:12); final thoughts and review (10:25)

Orphan Black Review

Orphan Black: The Card Game Review

Intro (00:00); game overview (01:36); final thoughts and review (11:30)

City of Spies: Estoril 1942 Review

City of Spies: Estoril 1942 Review

Intro (00:00); game overview (01:06); final thoughts and review (13:36)

Empires: Age of Discovery Review

Empires: Age of Discovery Review

Intro (00:00); game overview (01:31); final thoughts and review (20:16)

Brueckenkopf has a new review article up. This one looks at the Rubicon PzKpfw III Ausf J/M/N tank.

Source

From the post:

Tank week at Brueckenkopf Online! Yesterday we took a look at the new Tank War book from Warlord Games and today it's time for our first tank kit: the PzKpfw III Ausf J/M/N by Rubicon, a new company based in Hong Kong.