Nottingham Getting Geek Retreat
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Gary powell

Nottingham is no stranger to the tabletop gaming industry and Geek culture with all it entails, we have seen the likes of Games Workshop, Forbidden Planet, Alt and Dicecup rise and sometimes fall. However it looks like we will

Geek Retreat (Image from Google Maps, used, under fair use.)

be seeing the latest in poplar trend towards gaming Cafes with the announcement of a Geek Retreat store soon to be opened in Nottingham.

 

For those who don’t follow popular trends or have missed out on the often miss abused idea that being a geek is something to hide, as those kids who read comic books and played games have grown up and realised there is a business and a business model in their hobby, so why not franchise it. And with thriving and expanding universities and colleges within the city, Nottingham has a ready market for trade, and a long history of being the ‘Lead Belt’ with regards Tabletop gaming, and so it’s obvious it ticks all the right boxes for a Geek Retreat Franchise, yet like anything it’s about Location, location, location.

 

I think board games in general are making a resurgence due to people being overly saturated within electronics most of their waking lives. It’s a great way to just unplug.
Nottingham Board & Wargames Club Member

We have also seen a massive cultural shift towards the traditional Geeky with superhero movies consistently becoming the highest grossing films in the world. The video games industry is a mult ibillion pound industry and Kickstarter has brought to the fore the popularity and revenue of Board games.

With the very loud purple and yellow logo and shopfront. You will if nothing else not miss the place as you pass by, but on entering you’ll find not just another comic or games store, but a popular and trending gaming cafe filled with a focus on gaming and a gaming space and not merchandising as its whole. A place that pushes open gaming and a cafe culture.

This is where people come to hang out and play trading card games, either on their own initiative or in store organised competitions. Geek Retreat also provides a cafe as well, helping to push its Gaming cafe ethos obviously, catering to the high level of drinks, cooked hand foods and snacks that gamers will work through as they spend 6 to 8 hours playing games.

The products Geek Retreat sell are becoming more popular, and the whole geek culture industry has seen an amazing 19 – 22% growth pattern over the past few years (bucking a lot of local retail trends) , which has also be seen with local Games Workshops recent rise.

Geek Retreat sells the types of products that are made to be played with and enjoyed, both as a social and competitive nature, discussed and treasured. They are also offering a place where people can come and game and be safe sharing these experiences.

So 2018 saw the disaster of collapsing retailers with many sinking into administration. With other brands and local start ups all considering a wave of shutdowns. And as we are seeing the troubles are a reflection of a change in culture towards enjoying experiences rather than buying products. We are seeing people trying to make the most of their time doing something with family or friends and if you are going to have an amazing time doing something you can put on Instagram, or FB. Yet shopping this comes with a double edged blade, as gamers are like a lot of savvy shoppers quite cerebral and can quickly workout that the cost of a days gaming at a Boardgame Cafe while fun, could have the costs cut by half if they go shopping online, get it same day or next day and play with friends at home. And while gamers are part of the same community, their goals and needs are different. Recently seen with the closure of the local Flag Store Chimera, as they migrate to online sales. This environment then obviously sets the stage for competitive or specialist groups to adopt a mindset that is more “us vs. them” rather than “us as a whole.” The functioning gaming groups then stop communicating politely or otherwise with each other and that’s when things start to go tribal.

Geek Retreat Birmingham

However as the franchise pack says Geek Retreat ethos is built around the idea of ‘community’. It’s about people coming together in a dedicated space to share their hobbies and interests with like-minded others. Obviously, community is absolutely at their core. With a ready market and stores in several cities they have put the ground work into a successful brand and dedicated community of customers over the past three years adding value to those core relationships. Geek Retreat marks itself  as a champion of the geek community and caters its products and events to those in demand from its regular customers, so time will tell on the Boardgame Cafe culture and if Nottingham’s abundance of gaming venues and cafes can all play nice.

 

Carmik games
Carmik Games Looks to the Future with High Seas Pirates
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Gary powell

 Carmik Games looks forward with High Seas Pirates

Be the first to bury all your treasure on your Island. Other pirates can help or hinder you in a cooperative and sneaky game of piracy
—————————————————-

Be the first to bury all your treasure on your Island.
Other pirates can help or hinder you in a cooperative
and sneaky game of piracy.

—————————————————

 
A Provocative entry from a new Nottingham Gaming Company to a promising Kickstarter, however sadly it failed to gather enough interest. 
So, taking a slice of details from, the Kickstarter;

About the Game

2 – 6 Players

Age 8 and Above

Compass roseYou are a Pirate! Sail the high seas, captured prizes, sell the illicit gains and bury your treasure. High seas pirates. Each player is a pirate trying to capture ships on the high seas.
These ‘Prizes’ carry treasure. Once you have treasure, you can sail this Prize into Port, sell it for more treasure. You can spend it to get more guns and crew for your ship, or you can save it and sail to your pirate island and bury it.

The aim of high seas pirates is to bury the most treasure on your island. If you have the treasure on your ship, the other Pirates want it.

Prepare to be boarded!

 

 Whats In the Box?

Box Contents Box Contents

 

  • Along with a Copy of the Rules,
  • High Seas Piratesincludes
  • 90 Cards
  • Over 250 Tokens.
  • Player Cards
  • Boards

all custom drawn by our artist, Justin Wyatt. Justin is a Professional Artist who is an experienced illustrator and has his name on many books and this is his second Game.

Gameplay

Each Player is a Pirate, aiming to Bury Treasure on their Island. To do this, you choose an Action secretly each turn and starting with the Fastest Pirate Reveal your action. Depending on your action other pirates may help you or hinder you, and you may find yourself attacked especially if your ship is laden down with treasure
The Tokens

Tokens Tokens

On Your Ship, you have a number of tokens that represent Crew, Sails, Cannon, Your Captain, and Treasure. Sails make you faster, cannons make you stronger. The crew can act as Sails or Cannons, alternatively, they can be used to board other ships on the seas. Treasure is what the game is all about. The first player to 10 Treasure buried on their Island Wins

Actions

Action CardsThere are 6 Actions in High Seas Pirates. Through playing these actions each pirate is trying to steal the most treasure, protect their ship, attack others, and hopefully bury their treasure on their island before other pirates can steal it from them.

Action Cards

The Game

The High Seas Deck

The High Seas Deck consists of a number of cards, some Events, some ships.

High Seas Deck Event Card High Seas Deck Event Card

Ships can be attacked, and their treasure was taken. They can then be sailed to the port and sold as a prize for extra treasure. Any ship not attacked stays on the High Seas for other Pirates to attack, and as this is open water others may help for a share of the treasure.

Barque Barque

Going First is Important, and the Fastest Ship each turn (with the most sails) Receives the first Player marker and gets to perform their action first, however they must choose their action first the next round.
Going First may be important, but not always a good thing.

Many a Pirate has been caught out for being too bold.

Summary:

Well, one will inject some thoughts here, High seas Pirates is one has to say a fun game, and, one knows the publishers so has some interest in how this goes. The Kickstarter showed promise but quickly platoed However what will happen now.?The Fundrasing Progress shows a lot really sudden spike of interest and suddenly nothing, which prompted a obvious

The tactical play in High Seas Pirates makes it fun for all ages, and the game plays fantastically well for just two people as well as the maximum of six.

With thanks

Nottingham Board and Wargames CLub
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admin@nottinghamboardandwargames.club

NOTTINGHAM BOARD & WARGAMES CLUB We have an official NAME !!! Still, formed from a disparate, or is that desperate, bunch of unashamed geeks nerds and nerdowells.....we are independent of any company, game or genre. we seek like minded/ open minded gamers from all walks of life. This is an open gaming night where you can drop in, bring and play or look to make use of for your own organised play, any tabletop games that appeal to you.

NOTTINGHAM BOARD & WARGAMES CLUB

We have an official NAME !!! Still, formed from a disparate, or is that desperate, bunch of unashamed geeks nerds and nerdowells…..we are independent of any company, game or genre. we seek like minded/ open minded gamers from all walks of life. This is an open gaming night where you can drop in, bring and play or look to make use of for your own organised play, any tabletop games that appeal to you.

Games Workshops classic Realms of Chaos ‘Slaves to darkness’ to be re-printed and released
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Gary powell

Games Workshops classic Realms of Chaos ‘Slaves to darkness’ to be re-printed and released

One is aware one does not usually do GW partly out of the fact they have a massive PR engine and usually what one catches is in a private concept, journalism arguments aside. However, this one came via other sources so running with it. (please don’t sue)

See image of RoC SD bottom left

Games Workshop it seems is again moving in interesting times and the new CEO is certainly showing that the company can be moved both forward in new and dynamic ways, yet still keep an emotional hand in the past and never more so that with the surprise reprint of the classic Rogue Trader WH40k, yet it seems that this was just the start and in what is expected to be very exciting news will soon join it the ever darkly exquisitely written Realms of Chaos ‘Slave to darkness.’ The book that brought Chaos to the minds of impressionable 80’s teenagers and to be thought of as a game changer in how tabletop gaming could be away from the historical crowds. It less set the stage and more set the stage on fire in being one of a pair of books that grognards now everywhere felt were the most interesting books that GW ever produced. (And bemoaning the sudden price drop and value of their copies, .Ed)

Slaves to Darkness featured extensive detailed descriptions of the gods Khorne and Slaanesh, complete with a pantheon of their Daemons, rules and background for including these in tabletop battles as demonic armies. It also started to encourage people to not just buy an army but make it your own, to buy other miniatures so you could take them apart and create custom conversions, and provide what was many a teenagers life for many moons the basic idea of Chaos warbands and build your own adventures and backgrounds with them.

Realm of Chaos ‘Slaves to Darkness’

It also introduced the Imperium’s Daemonhunters of the Ordo Malleus and their associated Space Marine chapter – the Grey Knights. The book provided a nice balance in what it offered.

The volume is also notable for its having a solid coherant narriative foundation for the Horus Heresy, an event which while mentioned in Rogue Trader was as then more of a background flavour to the epic galaxy-spanning battles taking place. RoC explained what that flavour was, it locked the Horus Heresy firmly into the midns of the gamers and established the role of Chaos and the demon influence in the GW40k – SF universe

And provides the link between the Warhammer and Warhammer 40,000 worlds; which is explicitly stated in the first pages of the book.

‘It also features rules on the creation of Chaos Champions and their warbands, Daemon weapons, demonic possession and the Horus Heresy of WH40K. To give a flavour of the background and attributes of followers of Chaos it contained material such as a list of over 120 “Chaos Attributes” – mutations that the followers of Chaos were often afflicted by. This included some mutations that were advantageous, such as those that made the mutant extra strong or taller and those that confer a disadvantage, such as ones that made the mutant small, weak or stupid. Other mutations were purely cosmetic, such as giving the mutant brightly coloured skin or eyes on stalks, whilst some mutations were clearly comical, such as one that gave the mutant a silly walk (possibly inspired by the Monty Python sketch The Ministry of Silly Walks) and even a mutation that bestowed the “gift” of uncontrollable flatulence.’ Quote Wikipedia 

written by Rick Priestley, Bryan Ansell,‎ Mike Brunton,‎ Simon Forrest, who were already venerable figures in the gaming industry and GW. They were harmonists who took the art of writing by deftly mixing humour with horror as they tackled the big questions of Galaxy spanning concepts and battles, factions and wars, and lay down the groundwork for what is now a major part of many peoples lives. What the writers brought was an analytical mind, combined with raw creativity and a collection of artists with keen aesthetic insights and an ability to understand the writers’ analytical minds and transcribe them into art that was both raw and somehow right for the book.

It is good to see such older works being released and providing a newer generation with a taste of what was a mind altering experience for those dark and early days of gaming, and one can only hope that they continue with the release of Realms of Chaos – ‘Lost and the Dammed.’

Mantic Games Sets sights on New game with to Launch Hellboy Board Game
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Gary powell

Mantic Games Sets sights on New game with to Launch Hellboy Board Game

 

So Mantic has finally announced its new project with James Hewitt of Needy Cat Games and Partners Dark Horse Comics, which will see the The Hellboy Universe is Coming to the Board Game Scene after a licensing partnership deal.

“Dark Horse is excited to work with Mantic Games on a game set in Mike Mignola’s inspirational Hellboy comic book universe.,” said Dark Horse Comics’ Chief Business Development Officer Nick McWhorter. “Mantic is not only a leader in the Miniatures Board Game category, but also have a thorough understanding of Hellboy and the BPRD storylines and how to integrate them into a game. We’re confident they can deliver a board game that fans of Hellboy and miniatures games alike can appreciate!”

The game is set to make its Kickstarter debut in April 2018; The Hellboy board game will be a cooperative play experience where players face off against some of the comic’s most iconic foes, and feature stunning, pre-assembled plastic (Same as with Walking Dead) miniatures that accurately capture the style and feel of Mike Mignola’s comic series. And allow up to four people take control of iconic BRPD members, such as Hellboy, Abe Sapien and Roger the Homunculus, before exploring gothic locations and uncovering ancient artefacts. However with it being Kickstarter the Characters of the Comics  Abraham Sapien, Elizabeth Sherman, Roger, Trevor Bruttenholm, Thomas Manning, and Kate Corrigan will no doubt be available with each stretch goals along with all the various monsters and boards to make this an interesting and fun game. 1500x1500_51308d83846bd6ad61f93884db8f8daa7a00174c19d282ffc7013a8f
“Hellboy has a great cast of characters, diverse locations and legendary monsters from the pages of folklore and myth,” said Ronnie Renton, Mantic CEO. “The comics provide a fantastic foundation on which to build an immersive, fun and fast-paced co-operative board game that will let players experience some of their favourite moments from the series.”Interesting in the recent output from both mantic and Dark Horse was the ‘The Hellboy board game will be a cooperative play experience where players face off against some of the comic’s most iconic foes.’ That statement and Mantic recent success with both the Walking Dead and Star Saga, would suggest that this game could be something of a hybrid maybe taking the best aspects of the games and bringing a more board game dungeon- esq crawler to the market while engaging in the search and investigation aspects of the Stories.

A well-meaning half-demon whose true name is Anung Un Rama (Translation: “and upon his brow is set a crown of flame”), Hellboy was summoned from Hell to Earth as a baby on October 5th by Nazi occultists. He was discovered by the Allied Forces; amongst them, Professor Trevor Bruttenholm, who formed the United States Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defence (B.P.R.D.). In time, Hellboy grew to be a large, red-skinned adult with a tail, horns which he cuts off, leaving behind circular stumps on his forehead, cloven hooves for feet, and an oversized right hand made of stone “Right Hand of Doom”. He has been described as smelling of dry-roasted peanuts. Although gruff, he shows none of the malevolence thought to be intrinsic to classical demons, and has an darlky comic and ironic sense of humour. This is said to be because of his upbringing under Professor Bruttenholm, who raised him as a normal boy. Hellboy works for the B.P.R.D, an international non-governmental agency, and for himself against dark forces including Nazis and witches, in a series of tales that have their roots in folklore, pulp magazines, vintage adventure, Lovecraftian horror and horror fiction. In earlier stories, he is identified as the “World’s Greatest Paranormal Investigator.”

It also makes for a good fit for both Dark Horse following Disney’s purchase of Lucasfilm, publisher Dark Horse Comics lost the Star Wars license after two decades, which was then given to Disney’s Marvel Entertainment, becoming one of the publisher’s most successful franchises. So no doubt they are looking to expand their existing lines with new revenue and tie a board game in with the new film release, ‘Neil Marshall’s forthcoming Hellboy film is currently in pre-production, starring David Harbour, Sasha Lane, Ian McShane, Penelope Mitchell, and Milla Jovovich.’ While in the last nine years since its inception, Mantic Games has released several complete tabletop gaming systems including Kings of War®, DeadZone®, Mars Attacks® and DreadBall™. The Mantic team’s obsession for making detailed miniatures, simple yet challenging games has seen Mantic become a global presence in the tabletop gaming arena. Mantic Games has developed very strong relationship with its community, and crowd funding has raised extra development money for recent product launches, which in turn has developed bigger ranges in plastics for the retail launch. And to date, backers have pledged over $5m to fund new projects come to life, making Mantic one of Europe’s most funded companies on Kickstarter. Mantic has sales offices in the USA and UK, supplies 20 countries, has a complete design studio team, a global supply chain with production facilities based in Nottingham, England.

Hellboy™ © Mike Mignola.

River Horse does Highlander
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Gary powell
River Horse does Highlander

 It seems that new the year is not over for some and certainly the work load as River Horse has announced plans (apart from rumours over an Arthurian game .Ed) to produce a new board game after obtaining the license for the movie Highlander.

The company has released few details about Highlander:  The Board Game,
other than announcing that it is set in the same universe as the 1986 film staring
Christopher Lambert, the new board game In Highlander, The Board Game, utilises an interesting concept of utilising the Immortals ability through certain circumstances like Connor is a strong choice for
the early portions of the game. His high influence (owing to his
charming personality) allows him to find the allies he needs to keep his
unique ability in use. Connor is the immortal that most relies on his
allies, his friends, and when he loses them he can harness his pain into
a weapon that can be used against his enemies.

Excerpt from River Horse Facebook page

“The first character available for play in Highlander, The Board Game is Connor MacLeod, of the clan MacLeod. 


Born in 1518 in the village of Glenfinnan, on the shores of Loch Shiel,
Connor MacLeod grew to manhood in the rolling highlands of Scotland. As a
youngster, he was headstrong and impetuous, a known rascal and thiever
of sheep. Kept from the worst of trouble by his kinsman, Dougal, Connor
was a favourite of his uncle, the Clan Chief, Angus MacLeod. Here, he
learned to wield a claymore and temper his rougher edges. A few
skirmishes with cattle reivers and rival clans (especially the MacLeod’s
longtime rivals, Clan Fraser) saw Connor acquit himself well enough to
gain a reputation as a courageous warrior. A handsome man, he had no
shortage of interested women, and he married his childhood sweetheart,
Kate, at the village Wishing Stone.”
River Horse Games has announced they plan both to produce the new licensed board game based upon the classic action movie Highlander through the crowd funding website ‘Kickstarter’ with a campaign to fund in January 2018.
Highlander the Boardgame Kickstarter Jan 12th 2018
Of cause River Horse is certainly no stranger to developing and creating board games and games based upon iconic films, with its successful Labyrinth:  The Board Game recently spawning a new expansion and the release The Dark Crystal a game based on Jim Hensons classic film and graphic novels of the same name. So exciting times ahead in 2018, as their can be only one.
Sky Relics: Fleet Action navel 1:2400 scale skirmish game, now on Kickstarter
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admin@nottinghamboardandwargames.club
Sky Relics: Fleet Action navel 1:2400 scale skirmish game, now on Kickstarter
Ok while I am aware this is a blog about local Lead Belt news, however one of the illustrators is from the leadbelt and assists with the running of the games club that we are affiliated with so I will cover it. It also highlights how companies and gaming companies are now more multi world lead rather than just a couple of local guys, yet how the gaming community embraces local and world in the same approach.

Sky Relics: Fleet Action

Sky Relics: Fleet Core

Sky relics is a Battlefleet game, where players command fleets of Iron Hulks to do battle in the skies for their Nation or for glory.”

’20th November 2017, Today Sky Relics LLC Announces the release of a new Fleet Action skirmish level game at 1:2400 Scale Sky Ships set in the Mysterious World of Targus.’

This new release from Sky Relics builds upon the history and knowledge of the previous systems and experience, to develop this new and exciting 1:2400 scale navel skyship game. Players begin by placing relevant numbers of highly detailed resin skyships called Sky Relics in place, and through clever manoeuvres and dice rolls attempt to fulfil the objectives of the game or kill their opponents, to determine success or failure.
“We’re incredibly excited to be bringing Sky Relic Games’ best previous game properties to life in this amazing new venture,” said Derek Heath in a press release podcast. “Sky Relics really is made up of very creative types who love tabletop miniature wargames, roleplay games and board games and we are striving to create games that capture the best aspects of all the gaming media to both entertain and develop the game with our fans and backers.”

 

The skirmish rules are designed to be simple to learn but pack hidden layers of complexity and teach new players while allowing more experienced one’s opportunities to develop winning strategies through careful manoeuvres and placement strategies. The aim, A high tech fantasy dice game where you Build your fleet and rise up to defeat your enemies in this 2-5 player miniature board game based in the world of Targus. Playing the Game Players take on the role of Ship captains, using the ancient Artefact magic’s and technology to control your air ships Ships are represented by highly detailed resin miniatures Each turn players plan their moves and organise their ships in the order they wish to play them. Tactics and Strategy cards to enhance your Sky Ship, sabotage your opponents and change the direction of the game Variety of Play: includes skirmish battles and an adventure mode to consistently update and expand your captain’s story.

Why buy the game??? A combination of card and Miniature driven mechanics with a streamlined combat system Exposes a game theme to a broad range of people & play styles Easy to set up, take down and store. Just stuff back in box Part of an expanding system, which will evolve over time
Sky Relics – Fleet Action is a 2+ player game, for ages 13 an older and takes approximately 45-90 Minutes to play, and the box set includes;

Components 14 Skyships: Large Resin Miniature Figurines Inc,

3: Corvos Corvettes,
2: Xiphos Frigates,
1: Saber Destroyer,
1: Longsword Cruiser,
3: War winds Corvettes,
2: War Iron Frigates,
1: War Datru Destroyer,
1: Axler Cruiser
28 Ship Cards
30 mods crew cards
2 captain cards Two movement templates
Dice 8d10’s 12d6’s.
2d8 Rule Book 11″x8.5″ 6 hex titles with printed backs for total 12 types

Who are Sky Relics

Derek is in charge of the business operations for the company, and is the primary designer of the game’s look and feel as well as a lot of the rules. Matt has been assisting with areas like graphic design, writing and aspects of the social media and web aspects of the company. For this new and invigorated version, both these two have had a hand in providing the stunning artwork, assisted in rules and operation by Michael Prefontaine, Jose Luis San Sanchez Castro and Dennis Seiffert. Sky Relics LLC is an independent developer and publisher, established over 5 years ago, and have self-published game rules, produced high-quality resin cast miniatures and printable material. Visit us at below:
Press Release packs and information are available here: Press Pack & Images or https://goo.gl/VhJWTR 

FACEBOOK facebook.com/SkyRelicsGames/
TWITTER Twitter.com/skyrelics
BOARDGAMEGEEK boardgamegeek.com/Sky-relics
INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/skyrelics/
SKETCHFAB: sketchfab.com/skyrelics

Appologise
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Gary powell

Ok firstly I appreciate I have been tardy one has not posted, reason is a host of family emergencies, dad V’s gin which saw him in hospital, mum ill, helping to run a kickstarter, own ll health, design work and painting commissions, as well as assisting in running a Games Club in Nottingham, designing t-shirts and websites for them, etc.
SO I am in on this and trying to catch up so please bear with us.

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