Posted in Uncategorized on October 17, 2011 by gameshepherd
Thanks to the wonder of streaming video, I recently watched the medieval gore-fest “Ironclad.”
I don’t care about the inaccuracies of this film–it was a fun movie. It was extremely violent, but it really got me thinking about the possibilities of a board game (like most things do). It has been a while, but I used to write about possible future games since I would like to eventually sit down and publish my own.
If you don’t know, “Ironclad” is set in 13th-century England and is about a small group of Knights Templar fighting to defend Rochester Castle against the tyrannical King John.
I thought it could be a great cooperative game. Players would struggle to defend the keep against the onslaught of enemy soldiers. In my mind, the game would have variables to make each session different such as weather or varying numbers of attacking soldiers.
Just a thought for an otherwise typical Monday morning. I wish everyone a great day and remember that somewhere a table is empty.
Posted in Uncategorized on October 16, 2011 by gameshepherd
Another Lord of the Rings RPG is out there. I remember when the movies came out ten years ago (hard to believe). There was a role playing game out there, but I don’t remember much about it and never knew many who played it.
Check out this interview with the designer. If you’d like us to carry this in time for the holidays, drop me a line.
Posted in Uncategorized on September 30, 2011 by gameshepherd
It’s been a long week. All of the things life seems to throw at you hit in some way this week. It’s the small stuff, but you know what “they” say about the small stuff…
So with the arrival of Friday means I start thinking about the gaming weekend. What will be on my table this weekend? And what will be on yours? I am always interested in reading e-mails from people telling me to try out a new game. Quite honestly, there are times I haven’t heard of the game they have mentioned. That’s one of the true joys of tabletop gaming–the discovery.
Discovering a great game is a fantastic experience. It tops any and all electronic games out there because a great board game could be around for a lifetime. Quite a good investment.
This weekend I am torn between playing classics I’ve played many times before and trying something new. We have a shipment including games like Earth Reborn that I have not tried yet, but I might leave that one for the customers. Haven’t decided, yet.
I hate to admit this, but I haven’t played Runewars in a very long time and I really enjoyed the Memorial Day battles of 2010. With the expansion on the horizon, I might be getting this out for the weekend.
What about you all? If you’ve got a game suggestion or a report you’d like to share, let me know.
And remember this weekend and always, somewhere a table is empty.
Posted in Shepherd Speak on September 28, 2011 by gameshepherd
Twitter is an interesting invention. I use it for getting gaming news and for conversing with others in the gaming industry. During our opening of Game Shepherd in 2009, I used it a great deal. Now, I am just getting back into.
Hashtags have become just another part of the social networking landscape. For whatever reason, “the way I see it” hashtag yesterday sent my mind spinning off on a tangent about cheating at board games.
I grew up in a relatively large neighborhood with kids who actually played outside after school (novel concept). On those rainy days or after we were called in for dinner, we turned to board games. Believe it or not, no one had many (if any) computer games. This was a very simple time for all of us. There was no cable, no cell phones and nothing to interrupt the game. Of course, this meant the game was taken very seriously. Some wanted to win at all costs.
Those of you who grew up in a similar situation know there was always a kid in the neighborhood who would cheat at a board game. When caught and confronted, the cheater would yell and scream, sometimes throwing the board and all its contents across the room (I learned to only play my games at my house so I could spend time searching for all the components). How would they cheat? Varying ways–some simple, others downright devious. Rewriting the rules mid-game was a popular one. Or how about the classic: “The dice rolled off the board so it doesn’t count!”
Later in life, I dabbled in some of the role playing games (RPGs) out there. I was always amazed at the great lengths players would go to “save” their character from death. The idea was to tell a story, right? If your character died, make another one. I know, I know–blasphemy for those of you out there who love their characters. But for a game to be enjoyable, their should be some sort of risk, some sort of challenge. Otherwise, what is the point? If you cannot lose, why play?
This might sound crazy to some, I’m sure. However, I have always believed you can tell a great deal about a person by how they conduct themselves in the tabletop gaming arena. If they will cheat there, what will they do when the game is over?
Just an observation from a lifelong gamer. Games should be fun–a time for friends and family.
So today after work, consider breaking out one of your games. Gaming during the week can be a nice distraction.
Posted in Shepherd Speak on August 28, 2011 by gameshepherd
Just played the demo of the new PS3 game, Space Marine. Sweet.
I remember seeing my cousin’s painted miniatures years ago and falling in love with the Warhammer 40K universe. I could almost hear the gunfire as legions of Space Marines, Orcs, Eldars and more clashed in mortal combat across table tops. I always wished there were a movie or something to do this awesome, violent universe justice. There was a PC game called Space Hulk that was a lot of fun, but hard to beat or play very long because it was so frustrating. Still, it gave a window to this universe that was very rare.
This recent demo showcased the best Warhammer has to offer, and that’s chaotic violence. A big box board game that came out recently, Horus Heresy, also gave a chance to get into that universe.
Posted in Uncategorized on August 25, 2011 by gameshepherd
This movie trailer makes me want to punch out that guy who just sneezed on me on the bus.
Seriously, though, I received an e-mail the other from a customer who said they laugh about how I find ways to tie pop culture into board games. I wrote them back with a simple question: doesn’t everybody do that?
Well, here I go again. Contagion is going to be a must-see for me.
I remember Outbreak from the 1990s that was quite a smash hit everyone was talking about–especially the movie theater scene. This game will bring the board game Pandemic back to the tables of my house (even though it hasn’t ever really left).
Pandemic is an awesome co-op game where you and friends try to prevent the end of the world via deadly diseases.
Posted in Uncategorized on August 22, 2011 by gameshepherd
It is funny how pop culture can turn one’s attention to board games (OK, maybe that’s just me).
I have owned the board game, Age of Conan, for years. It’s been a great game. Lady Shepherd and I have really enjoyed it. With the new movie, Conan the Barbarian, coming out this weekend, I had ideas I would see the movie and then play Conan the board game. Well, I haven’t got around to either.
Life can sometimes get in the way of your plans, especially when it’s a board game and you have chores to do. So I haven’t had the chance to play the game.
I know I will be thinking about it until I have the chance to play the game.
Check out this trailer for the game if you haven’t seen it already. I don’t know if an expansion is on the way, but I will let you know the moment I hear about it.
Posted in Shepherd Speak on August 16, 2011 by gameshepherd
I haven’t spent much time writing about video games on this site. After all, the main point has been to discuss a love of tabletop gaming. However, that doesn’t mean I haven’t spent time playing various video games over the years, from Atari to the Playstation 3.
I have been keeping an eye on buzz about a forthcoming X-Wing board game that looks much like Wings of War. The brief descriptions I have been able to garner from the Internet and speaking to some friends reveal a game with expansion possibilities where X-Wings dogfight with TIE fighters. If this game is successful when it launches sometime next year, I am sure we can look forward to games with A-Wings, TIE bombers and interceptors and, possibly, even the Millenium Falcon and Star Destroyers.
It surely sounds promising.
But it got me thinking a great deal about a game I played about 20 years ago. The hours I spent playing X-Wing on the PC probably surpass any other games in my life. The game actually kept a log of your statistics such as how many TIE fighters you had shot down, missions you had completed and even how many laser blasts you had fired. It was an amazing game and came out around the same time that I read the Timothy Zahn trilogy.
Check out this video of the game and, please, remember these graphics and the game itself were plenty revolutionary. However, it might look a little quaint now. Judge for yourself.
So I can’t help but think about that game when I hear a new line of games coming from Fantasy Flight set in the Star Wars universe.
“We’ll have to destroy them ship to ship. Get the crews to their fighters.”
–Darth Vader
The X-Wing starter set includes everything you need to begin your battles, such as scenarios, cards, and fully assembled and painted ships. And with the quick-start rules, you can simply select a mission, position your ships on the playing space as instructed, and choose your opening move. Want more fighters? X-Wing’s quick-to-learn ruleset establishes the foundation for a system that can be expanded with your favorite ships and characters from the Star Wars universe. Keep watching in the coming months to see how you can add your favorite Star Wars ships to your space battles!
Whatever your chosen vessel, X-Wing’s rules facilitate fast and visceral gameplay that puts you in the middle of Star Wars’ fiercest firefights. Each ship type has its own unique piloting dial, which is used to secretly select a speed and maneuver each turn. After planning maneuvers, each ship’s dial is revealed and executed (starting with the lowest skilled pilot). So whether you rush headlong toward your enemy showering his forward deflectors in laser fire, or dance away from him as you attempt to acquire a targeting lock, you’ll be in total control throughout all the tense dogfighting action.
I have to be honest: my love for Star Wars has faded over the years. I can’t tell you how much it pains me to write those words, but it is true. A few weeks ago, I remembered there were plans to have a Star Wars TV show set between Episodes Three and Four–a TV show between 100 and 400 hours! I was really excited about this back in 2005 when Episode III first came out. I saw a report this summer revealing the TV show was probably never going to happen now. I felt relieved.
Why in the world would I feel relieved? I am not really sure. I know some fans will call out my blasphemous comments. However, I have always been honest with this site.
I am mentioning this because I should be very excited about the fact Fantasy Flight Games (FFG). I do believe they will have an uphill battle winning back some fans. But I have said for years the Star Wars universe is a promising world for tabletop gaming. There have been tragically few attempts. The only Star Wars tabletop games I own are Monopoly, Trivial Pursuit and the Assault on Hoth although I have played many more.
I wish FFG the best of luck with this new license. I am also cautiously optimistic.
For now, remember there is an empty table somewhere.
