Dingo Bingo!

Dingo's Dream (or Dingo Bingo, as I like to call it) is a fun and simple tile placement game that can be adjusted in difficulty according to your desires. I am a bit late to play this little gem, but I finally had the chance to try it out at the new venue of The Dice Saloon in Brighton and bought it after one game. In this 2 - 4 player game Dingo and his pals have managed to get lost on walkabout, which is pretty easy to do in the outback so I don't judge them. As a player, you must visit the animals dreams and guide them back home from the fragmented dreamscape clues in their minds.

Players choose one of the four different animals, then they each set up 5x5 grids of their chosen tiles with the animal side down, but keeping the tile with their animals name to one side as this is used on the first turn. A Dream Card is revealed, and the aim of this game is to have your tiles animal side face-up and matching the Dream Card layout. One player is the Dingo Bingo dealer, turning the Walkabout cards to reveal the next tile to flip. The cards are identified by five different colours and five different landscapes, whichever tile corresponds with the card revealed by the dealer is then flipped over to reveal the animal side, then players slide the extra tile in their hand into the grid, pushing out a tile to use in their next turn and keeping the grid 5x5.

The introduction of hazard tokens stirs things up a little. Amongst the Dream Cards you will find a Hazard Card, with symbols showing various ways to set up hazards on the Dream Card. Using this as a guide, you can choose a layout and place the four brown tokens on one of the Dream Cards. In order to win this time, you must have none of your animal tiles on the hazard spaces on completion of your dreamscape. This also means that it is possible for both players to lose, so if that happens then you just play again. Interestingly, if there is a draw then there is no tie-breaker, everyone could be a winner in these dreams! Spiritual fulfilment and rites of passage will be celebrated.

Dingo's Dreams is compact, easy to set up and understand, quick to play and a great introduction to board gaming. The beautiful illustrations by Ryan Lakat really set the tone for this game, and after many plays I can happily say that this is a great and easy family game, and the advanced options can shake it up a bit. There are strategy and puzzle-solving aspects. Even though the tiles are randomly placed in the beginning, it is then your job to shift them around with each new clue called out. I first came across bingo elements in a modern game with Rise of Augustus, and even though I find normal bingo quite boring, I am just drawn to these kind of games. Beating your opponent to the finish and yelling your animal's name in victory is very satisfying, and the theme of sifting through the lost animal's deep dreams to help them find their way home tugs on my heartstrings, so give this game a go and see if you can get your critter back!    


Marisa     

Nightvault

Nightvault board game is a standalone expansion to the game Shadespire produced by Games Workshop.  Set in the same world as the first this sequel builds upon the first, adding magic, and new types of gameplay, including multi-player matches.

Like Shadespire Nightvault is a small skirmish game of hex based, card-driven minature combat. Each team has a unique set of cards and play styles with various strengths and weaknesses. Ranging from the three character squad of the Stormsire's Cursebreakers  to the seven Thorns of the Briar Queen. This set pits the three durable spell casters against an incorporeal swarm of undead that can overwhelm your foes and even travel through occupied hexes!

All of the models are push fit and easy to assemble. The Thorns of the Briar Queen come in a pastel green while the Stormsire's Cursebreakers come in a deep blue, meaning that if you don't have the time or skills to paint your figures, they still look respectable. With these sprues there is also two double sided boards for variation and the cards and tokens required to play the game.

If you already own Shadespire you can combine both sets for even more customisation. Games Workshop have announced that like the first game, there will be the option of buying another six war bands separately. I am sure all of these will boast some new magical prowess as well as new races, cards and tactics. 

The set is coming out this Saturday! 

Anna

All images are from the Warhammer Community Website.

Small Business Gifts!

As well as hunting for board games, I am always on the lookout for game-related gifts that I can bestow upon my game-loving friends and family. Scrolling through Instagram can reveal some interesting items, and I often discover new games or TV shows that way. A few weeks ago I saw that Ashleigh at 8 Bit Canvas was making game-inspired pixelated creations, using perler beads and her whimsical designs. Her work has a quirky and retro look, and they make great gifts. 

I recently commissioned Ashleigh to make the cute Pandemic germs, based on the designs from Meeple Source, and the finished pieces look fantastic. I chose to have fridge magnets but she can also produce the pieces in a frame for a more sophisticated aesthetic. 

With Christmas and birthdays coming up, this is a nice alternative to shop-bought gifts. It supports small business and gives people something a little different in the stocking. Check out her shop here.


Marisa

Warhammer 40,000: Kill Team

Warhammer 40,000 Kill Team is at heart a smaller scale Skirmish version of the hit table top game of Warhammer 40,000. Games range from 20 minutes to an hour and teams can be assembled from most miniatures in the Warhammer range.This means that a small force of say ten old space marines on ebay for £6.99 will give you a decent starting force for the game. Alternatively, if you go to your local hobby shop there will probably be a small squad of men waiting for you boxed for a reasonable price.

The game play itself is solid and consistent with the larger game, with very slight rpg elements and a levelling system. It is a game that works perfectly to balance its appeal between both veteran 40k players with thousands of miniatures to new players who lack the funds or time to ever play larger scale miniatures war games.

It is the little things that add to the game. Falling off of ledges, the backgrounds of your team members and the scouting phase, in which players secretly plant explosives or take a couple of shots at the games start. This adds to the games immersion making it perfect for much more narrative games, like hostage situations, or a raid on the spaceport to steal technology. The possibilities for setting up a narrative are only limited by your imagination.

Overall, the game doesn't add much that is new. If you are a hardcore 40k player then you may have been expecting more. Currently Games Workshops shares are through the roof, so you would think they would be willing to take more risks. I am hoping that the new Rogue Trader box set brings more depth to the game. Like with their releases of Necromunda and Blood Bowl, it feels as if you only are buying a shell of a game. With the other two games the campaign rules came in supplements and the content is leaked slowly to those who care. Without a doubt the game is beautiful, the models are fantastic and the box sets are affordable. It is easy to play and it is no trouble fitting 5-10 models in a bag or carry case and setting up anywhere.  

After the fifteen games I have had so far there has been a great variant of missions and the tactical options feel much greater than in Warhammer 40,000. There will always be at heart a lot of luck as it is a game fuelled by dice, but through clever positioning and the right called movements, you can win against the odds. The new alternating turn sequence, I feel, is something that they should have implemented in the new Warhammer 40,000 rules. It makes the turns far more tactical and brutal and prevents one lucky turn ending the game early.  

In a weekend you could easily play a whole campaign with a nice narrative throughout, actions changing the way the game progresses. As the games are so short and the rules so simple, it is the perfect game for lighthearted skirmish fun. I would expect that in time, like Warhammer Underworlds, we shall see a wide plethora of box sets and rule books coming out. The core book misses out demons and yet grey Knights have a weapon that has a rule effecting them, there are also no Sisters of Battle or Inquisition present.  Perhaps they will be kind and release these rules for free, like the renegade Knight codex for 40k or the recent Chaos Cultist rules for Necromunda, but we shall see.

It is a very enjoyable game and a great entry level play for new gamers and veterans alike. Certainly worth a play if you haven't checked out this type of gaming before or like me you tire of the imbalance of the larger games of Warhammer 40,000 and Age of Sigmar.


Anna

All images are from the Warhammer Community Website.

The Mint Works

Mint Works is an amazing little game designed by Justin Blaske for one to four players. The game does exactly what it sets out to achieve. It is portable and plays under 15 minutes The turn pacing is fast paced and it doesn't leave you bored. It took me five minutes to learn and about ten to play our first game. The table space is small and makes for the ideal travel game. The theme is light and the game, despite being simple, has an element of depth to it. While at times the choices are obvious, most of the time there is more than one viable option for you to carry out in a turn, and certainly more than one way to achieve a victory. 

The only copy I have played came from the second Kickstarter campaign, which is larger than the original and everything fits inside perfectly (which is more than I can say for Mint Delivery). Like Mint Delivery this game also boasts a solo experience. It delivers but I couldn't imagine playing it more than a handful of times, while the A.I. is tough, the game mechanics and simplicity almost don't justify sitting there and playing it on your own. Although, that being said, I found it more rewarding than a game of solitaire.   

It certainly is better than most games that play under ten minutes out there and is a great way to introduce new gamers to the worker placement mechanic. We now use it as a Water Deep lite, to warm people up to the idea before cracking out a 45 minute far deeper version of the little game they just played. I love it and have already played it over twenty times in the space of no time at all. It is a great crowd pleaser. 

For months I was unable to secure a copy as it was sold out everywhere, I am pleased that I backed the second Kickstarter run and if you like light games or want a change from the typical social deduction or push your luck fillers, then this is for you.

Anna 

Speed Painting at Salute 2018

Salute 2018 was a bit of a blur for me, due to a string of weeks of unrelenting work and events that drained my energy levels and my purse! One of them was a cocktails potions making class in London, which was one of the chilled out highlights of the year (prepping for a big location move of home and job, two weddings, first huge family holiday in years, countless extra shifts = excitement but also stress).

The most memorable part of Salute was the speed painting competition hosted by 'Eavier Metal. In 20 minutes I managed to splash together a miniature that was prize worthy! The prizes were sweet too, some sexy paint brushes and a funky t-shirt. I am by no means a great figure painter, but when it comes to art I work well under pressure! That’s what four years of art college will do for you.

I mixed up the primary colours that were supplied and went for a frosted pastel look. I’m never satisfied with generic colours. I’m always mixing the highlights, which is not a great idea for batch painting but it works well for a one-off. I was happy with the quick base paint job, and when my Khorne boys for Shadespire are fully painted I will revisit this pink-haired sassy lady and complete the job.


Marisa xx

Skull

Skull (or Skull & Roses, as it is also known as) is the perfect bluffing game for parties, drinking, travel and just casual late night chats. We have mentioned it briefly before when this blog was first set up, and it is still a firm favourite in the household. I have played this game abroad, on trains, in restaurants and over dinner. It's portable, easy to teach and pick up and fast to play. I have even taught it to people using playing cards, just 3 hearts and a spade per player. 

In this 3+ player game, each player starts by playing a card face-down, then each player in turn adds one more card to their stack, unless they feel cocky enough to challenge. The challenge consists of the player saying how many roses they think they can reveal from what has been laid down on the table without revealing a skull. Other players can outbid them, aiming to reveal even more roses. The highest bidder must then turn over the coasters starting with their own stack first. If they reveal only roses they win, if they reveal a skull they lose, sacrificing one of their cards at random and putting it out of play. Two successful challenges will win you the game, or if you are the last player left with cards. 

The base set comes with six sets of coasters but it is possible to play with more if you buy extra sets. If you have played Liars Dice aka Perudo, then you will already be familiar with the set up, as both games tread similar territory. I highly recommend this, I truly believe it is a must-have for all households.

Anna