dead games
You have noticed the D20 in the corner, so you are warned. This about gaming: unplugged and real life.
This is not about games with dead stuff or games the dead play, neither is it about a company with that name (good idea though) but about me discovering good collectible games right when they cease to exist. I have to admit that even though I´m a boardgame- and roleplay-geek I am not very much into the collectible aspect of collectible games. I´m more into the mechanics and how well a certain theme is presented. So it`s not entirely negative in my book if a certain game doesn`t sell well enough to produce another base set/expansion/whatever just to satisfy the tournament crowd I never belonged to.
If you are a casual gamer like me (or stopped gaming some years ago but still feel the itch), who does not want to spend lots of money on ebay but still likes customizing, I would like to point you towards two games that are no longer produced but nevertheless rock for several reasons: they are cheap, they have great mechanics, I love the theme and how the rules are part of that, and they should have been expandable instead of collectible from the start. Plus: Both games have a strong emphasis on in-game tactics. meaning you can`t win by simply having the better (more expensive) cards or miniatures.
And your friends won`t laugh as loud as they would if you told them you play Magic: The Gathering.
The first one is a dead CCG named “Call of Cthulhu” by Fantasy Flight Games. With a name like that there is no guessing what the theme is about. If you have no problem spelling Nyarlathothep and you like the idea of controlling mythos creatures this is for you. The game mechanics really incorporate the theme very well. You battle to win several stories that affect both players, terror is an important factor and overall the artwork is very well done. Please visit the geek for more info on the game mechanics but let me assure you that the people who did this are in love with H.P. Lovecraft. If you have the chance I would recommend buying the fixed “Arkham Edition Premium Starter”. You will have a lot of fun, even if you never buy any boosters at all and have no experience with CCGs. Support your local game store, there should be some copies around somewhere.
The second game I want to recommend is Dreamblade. Sold as a collectible miniatures game by Wizards of the Coast this is very unlike all those Clix or D&D Minis. The format is a very tactical boardgame, not a tabletop wargame like Warhammer or the great looking AT43. You play some kind of psychic that can summon archetypes of dreams (mostly nightmares) that battle against your opponents creatures for influence on the map of reality… or something. Of course this is mostly an excuse for sculpting some really interesting, non-cliche, pre-painted minis that look great. Seeing a Chainthug battling the Asylum Escapee that is backed up by the Blind Spikemauler can really make your day. Production was stopped in October 2007.
It`s kind of sad seeing good game concepts being destroyed by a certain marketing format, but that`s life. Speaking of bad game politics: there is a new edition of Talisman. If you read through this post and still remember Talisman you must comment, or the black knight will haunt you in your dreams.
mate!
randori.
