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| Thread: GENCON people any reviews | |
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mariners95
Hired Hero
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posted August 20, 2005 01:42 AM |
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GENCON people any reviews
Hey guys, just wondering if anyone can wet my appetite a little and give any info on some games at gencon.
I have read the rules about 10 times now and just need some new info or something....
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thefoehammer
Known Hero
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posted August 22, 2005 04:51 AM |
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Well here is a short review, I will post a longer review tomorrow.
Gencon was GREAT!
There was a limited amount of product on sale at Gamestation, so some people (including me) picked up some starters and boosters.
In the CCG room they had a great turnout for both preview games and qualifiers, even people who came to get a demo of other DGA games changed over and wanted to play this once they saw it. This thing is going to be BIG!
I am not sure who won the final game Saturday night. Since 14 people qualified they had to play two rounds, so the final 4 were still playing the second round when I left late Saturday night.
I got to play about 6 full games this weekend but the best news is that I can get started demoing and playing it at home now since my friend and I each were able to pick up plenty of product.
All the DGA reps were great and I can't wait until the general release so lots of people can start playing this excellent game they created.
I'll get into more detail on card distribution, strategy that I have learned so far, etc... But I will give a one word tip for strategy in this game.
TACTICS!
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Talarius
Tavern Dweller
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posted August 22, 2005 06:03 AM |
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Give us some physical details please
Quote:
Gencon was GREAT!
I'll get into more detail on card distribution, strategy that I have learned so far, etc...
It would be great if you could take some pictures of the starter box components and upload them to www.boardgamegeek.com's HOMMIV page. I'd really like to get a look at this game before I order it. I'm wondering if this will require some plexiglass to keep all the tiles in order, how small the counters are, if they're too fiddly and so on.
I've never played any of the HOMM computer games, but I've always been aware of them. This game looks like fun (except for the mystery of what faction is inside a starter/booster), but I'm sitting on the fence until I can see the components.
Btw, I went through hundreds of pictures of GenCon (sad, I know) over at www.gamingreport.com hoping to find some shots of a game in progress with no luck. Not even a shot of the DGA Games booth. Did they have one?
Thanks,
Talarius
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thefoehammer
Known Hero
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posted August 22, 2005 01:48 PM |
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Quote:
It would be great if you could take some pictures of the starter box components and upload them to www.boardgamegeek.com's HOMMIV page. I'd really like to get a look at this game before I order it. I'm wondering if this will require some plexiglass to keep all the tiles in order, how small the counters are, if they're too fiddly and so on.
I've never played any of the HOMM computer games, but I've always been aware of them. This game looks like fun (except for the mystery of what faction is inside a starter/booster), but I'm sitting on the fence until I can see the components.
Btw, I went through hundreds of pictures of GenCon (sad, I know) over at www.gamingreport.com hoping to find some shots of a game in progress with no luck. Not even a shot of the DGA Games booth. Did they have one?
Thanks,
Talarius
I took pictures of some games in progress, I will post those tonight if I have time.
DGA did not have a booth. They had a relationship with Gamestation and had a rep in that booth for the length of the con. But the demos were all taking place in the CCG room.
I can take some digital shots tonight of the items you mentioned. Some quick answers though.
1. You do not need a plexiglass. The tiles lock together like a jigsaw and I have never seen a map come apart or move during play.
2. The original sample counters were a little "fiddly" and they fixed it. The current ones have a nice thickness and are easy to pick up and move around the board.
3. The counters fit perfectly within a hex on the map but leave a little space to tell what kind of terrain is underneath. Some of the DGA reps were using a small plastic container that is normally used to store screws to keep the different colored counters sorted.
I'll make a post here when my pictures are up.
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Talarius
Tavern Dweller
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posted August 22, 2005 06:32 PM |
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Thanks!!
Thanks, that's helpful info. Can't wait to see the pictures... and then place an order. 
Talarius
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TheFoeHammer
Known Hero
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posted August 23, 2005 04:53 PM |
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Quote:
Thanks, that's helpful info. Can't wait to see the pictures... and then place an order.
Talarius
I uploaded the pictures (about 4 or 5 of them) to boardgamegeek last night. (Jaeme you may be happy to know I left out the "Sprite" pictures.)
Anyway the site says it has a fair backlog of uploads it has to review so we should be patient. When they actually show up I will make another post.
Dennis (TheFoeHammer)
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Talarius
Tavern Dweller
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posted August 23, 2005 06:51 PM |
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(pre) sold!
Foehammer,
Your pictures are up on BGG. Many thanks for posting them. I'll be preordering some starter decks asap!
Talarius
EDIT: Ordered 2 starters and 7 boosters. Hopefully I'll get a good mix of factions.
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TheFoeHammer
Known Hero
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posted August 23, 2005 08:23 PM |
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Quote:
Foehammer,
Your pictures are up on BGG. Many thanks for posting them. I'll be preordering some starter decks asap!
Talarius
Yes, I just saw them. They came out better than I expected. Makes me want to leave work early and go home to play. ;-)
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vlaad
Admirable
Legendary Hero
ghost of the past
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posted August 23, 2005 09:08 PM |
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mariners95
Hired Hero
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posted August 23, 2005 11:54 PM |
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What do you mean IF your wife allows it?
You gotta just do it and then teach her how to play.
She will love this game.
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SylverAngel
Tavern Dweller
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posted August 24, 2005 06:14 AM |
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I, unfortunately, don't have any pictures to post from GenCon, but I did want to say a big thank you for offering demos! I wish I'd done one sooner than Saturday afternoon, so I could've gotten my hands on a starter set. I do plan to order some, though.
Overall, I like the way the game plays. I tend to be slow at getting things going in the computer RTS games, so I think the card game is more my speed! Things seemed to flow smoothly through the turn, and it all makes sense if you've ever played an RTS type game. After playing the card game, I would like to check out the computer game itself, though-- I've played Warcraft 3, though my brother plays several different RTS's, and neither of us have tried the Heroes of Might and Magic ones.
The artwork was nice, too. The cards were clean and from what I could tell pretty clearly marked as to what they did and how they could be played. (I play Magic sometimes, but I get all confused with the extra abilities and such in the newer sets since I don't keep up with it.) I think my favorite set is going to be the Nature one, though, from the type of creatures available there.
I am curious now, though. Are there different towns and such that allow you to get other creatures aside from the base ones already available? Or are the creatures there going to be the final set? In the cards I saw, there seemed to be a couple of towns for each group/ color/ element/ whatever you call it, which made me wonder if the booster packs then add to the types of creatures you can buy/ use by adding other towns, or how it worked.
I can't wait to get my hands some cards of my own!
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thefoehammer
Known Hero
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posted August 24, 2005 02:28 PM |
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Quote:
I tend to be slow at getting things going in the computer RTS games, so I think the card game is more my speed! Things seemed to flow smoothly through the turn, and it all makes sense if you've ever played an RTS type game. After playing the card game, I would like to check out the computer game itself, though-- I've played Warcraft 3, though my brother plays several different RTS's, and neither of us have tried the Heroes of Might and Magic ones.
The artwork was nice, too. The cards were clean and from what I could tell pretty clearly marked as to what they did and how they could be played. (I play Magic sometimes, but I get all confused with the extra abilities and such in the newer sets since I don't keep up with it.) I think my favorite set is going to be the Nature one, though, from the type of creatures available there.
I am curious now, though. Are there different towns and such that allow you to get other creatures aside from the base ones already available? Or are the creatures there going to be the final set? In the cards I saw, there seemed to be a couple of towns for each group/ color/ element/ whatever you call it, which made me wonder if the booster packs then add to the types of creatures you can buy/ use by adding other towns, or how it worked.
I can't wait to get my hands some cards of my own!
Glad you got to see it too. Nature is one of my favorite alignments also. I really like Summoning.
Regarding the computer game, I have trouble with RTS's also, that is the beautiful thing about HOMM, it is turn based. But I still like the card game better than the computer game.
If you are thinking about checking the computer game out also, look for the Deluxe Starter Set, for $10 more you get the HOMM IV computer game too. And make sure you check out HOMM III also, many of us feel it is a much better game. HOMM V is looking like it will be great once it releases too, and DGA has a license to release a CCG for that in the future also.
Regarding towns, their are 4 town types for each alignment and they differ in which types of level 2,3,and 4 type units you can build for that alignment. There are many creatures that by intent cannot be built into the towns, they would be intended to be built at a Creature Dwelling, placed in your starting army, or just there to flip as guards. There will be no new units built in any expansions, because DGA is not going to make up creatures that were not in the Computer Game. But there is a lot of room in expansions for more Artifacts and other stuff. But in the computer game you can only build one of the two types of units at levels 2, 3 and 4, so the CCG mirrors that very well in the current town cards.
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doc8466
Known Hero
Event Coordinator Annapolis MD
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posted August 24, 2005 10:35 PM |
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After attending my first ever GENCON, and making the finals for the world championship in another game, HOMM IV was BY FAR AND AWAY the best thing (for me) at GENCON. I have never visited this forum before now, and found it solely because I'm looking for somewhere to talk deck design and strategies as well as TRADE. This game is simple to learn. My wife advanced to the New Players Tournament Saturday night after the first qualifier on Thursday. She had never played the computer version, and has only played 2 other CCGs. The ease of learning how to play is amazinly offset by the multiple layers of strategy. Deck building, tile placement, position around the table based on who places the first/last tile, make up of the "board", abilities- master one or 2 or branch out and master none, spell casting, army make up, this list goes on and on.
On top of all this, John, Jaeme, Lisa and Mike were fantastic! They were constantly available, friendly and able to quickly answer any and all questions.
As to another post (or article I don't remember) that went so far as to state this game could be the next MtG, it's not an impossibility. Not at all! Anyone who has played the computer version and likes human interaction vs. a monitor, will LOVE this game. It is collectible for those of us who enjoy (read OCD) obtaining one of every card, but it isn't necessary to collect them all (or even a majority) to play or even build a great deck. It has to be one of the more strategic strategy games there is of any genre, so will appeal to anyone from that vein. Board gamers shouldn't have a problem adapting to markers on the board relating to stacks of cards in front of each player to show what is where on the map, so there's crossover there. You have heroes (characters) who need to gain experience and gather items to dispatch monsters and foes alike, thus the RPGers have something to look forward to. While you don't use miniatures, you do have piece placement and movement accross different terrains which will affect what you can and can't do on any given turn and some troops have ranged ability and should be placed accordingly when you set up for battle. No gamer's left out! :-)
Have I left out anyone? The question becomes not who will play this game, but who WONT?
All that remains is a competitive tournament system which was talked about at length at GENCON. I'm keeping my fingers crossed, but have no reason not to think this game will be HUGE!
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First place GENCON 2005 HOMM IV CC&TG tournament.
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J-Tech
Hired Hero
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posted August 24, 2005 11:36 PM |
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It's funny...
Up here in Vancouver, BC Canada, there's practically no buzz for this game at all. I've spread the word among my group of friends and all are HoMM PC gamers. We are fiending for it's release. I've got a line on some Starters and Boosters, so as soon as it arrives here I shall have it. YAY!!!
J-Tech
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doc8466
Known Hero
Event Coordinator Annapolis MD
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posted August 25, 2005 12:42 AM |
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Agree on all counts MitchellW.
MtG is about 13 years old right? I'd be very interested to know how many people are playing it now and compare it to how many people are playing HOMM IV CCG after 13 years.
You'd have to admit that the player base for MtG way back then started from nothing. MtG started the CCG market. Heroes has the advantage of being a well known product, is being marketed alongside Yugioh in major retailers and will be in hobby shops to boot. Every type of gamer I listed above will see this game. It's packaged to be able to play out of the box and from boosters in-so-much-as same alignment characters/units and required locations are purposely collated together.
If I were a betting man, I'd put my money on Heroes!
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First place GENCON 2005 HOMM IV CC&TG tournament.
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jaeme
Adventuring Hero
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posted August 25, 2005 10:34 PM |
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YOU GUYS ARE GREAT
I mean it....
Gencon was very exciting and exceded my expectations by far (i really didn't think we'd sell out of product that fast!) so that leaves me with high hopes.
Every one of you that i did get to meet were really fantastic. Foehammer... thank you for leaving out the "sprite" pictures!!... *blush*
To our ORDER aligned friend... It was very nice to see you and your wife and i hope your anniversary was rememberable... I know counting cards all night to a normal wife would be unbearable... but she seemed to take it pretty well.
We, as a small buisness, count on people like yourselves to survive and continue to grow. When MtG first came out... no noe knew who or what it was either... but with fans like yourselves they grew to the popularity that they are today. I don't want to say that Heroes would be better, but I think that it appeals to many more audiances than MtG does... considering it is a card game, a boards game, a collectable game, and it is always changeing for those of us who have the "A.D.D." like myself when it comes to game. We wouldn't be here unless it was for you... and you wouldn't be here in this forum if not for us... so we are sembiotic in a sence.
I love reading your comments about the games... the different strategies... and although I had only won one game at Gencon... i still wanted to keep playing... which is another wonderfull aspect to this game, even when you lose... you swear you won't next time!
You learn very easily from your newbie mistakes and each game you play you get a little bit smarter about how you play, you make notes in your mind about what you should put or take from your deck to make it better. You come up with strategies for new decks and ways to make a deck that no one would expect.
What im trying to say is that with this game there are endless possibilities for every genre of player... which in the long run can make this game possible a pionier of this style of games, like MtG was for CCG.It's people like you who really enjoy the game who will determine our success with it.
YOU GUYS ARE GREAT!
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Jaeme Newton
Game Artist - DGA
http://www.dgagames.com
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TheFoeHammer
Known Hero
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posted August 25, 2005 10:57 PM |
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Quote:
Foehammer... thank you for leaving out the "sprite" pictures!!... *blush*
Just send me one artifact card a month for the rest of your life and those pictures will never see the light of day. ;-)
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Remberasha
Tavern Dweller
Naga Hide Merchant
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posted August 25, 2005 10:58 PM |
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Although I personally know a lot of the White Wolf and WOTC crew from my old game design days, (before they were Kings!), I can tell you that I don't really compare HoMM CCG as much with MTG. I actually see it growing more along the lines of things such as "Settlers of Catan" and other Board Games
However the Map Cards open an interesting twist in the CCG market. I am sure that most will find this is a very unique thing in the industry. I also expect it will be oft' imitated by other games in the future.
In either case, what really sells any game is the one simple question.. Do people enjoy playing the game...
Anyone in the industry can tell you that "Hype" can only carry the marketing ball so far and so long. It's the enjoyment factor that makes for longevity of a game.
Remby'
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