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Essen might be over, but there’s still big gaming news with CMON signing the Night of the Living Dead licence, Tabletop Gaming Live giving 2019 dates, and a Root RPG being confirmed.
Root RPG
When the boss of Magpie Games sat down to play Root, he didn’t just see a game of warring animals… he saw a potential RPG. And yes, a deal has now been signed and Magpie Games will take the Root RPG idea to a Kickstarter in the middle of 2019.
What Mark Truman saw in Root was a “compelling” experience that he’s spoken of in the same breath as “tense, political fiction,” so you know they aren’t just running with a cutesy angle. A series of supplements are also coming.
Tabletop Gaming Live Returns
2018 was the debut of Tabletop Gaming Live, the show of the magazine of the hobby, and it’s obviously done well because it’ll return for 2019: Alexandra Palace on Saturday, September 28 and Sunday 29, 2019. We will most probably be there.
Zombicide signs up Big Daddy
Night of the Living Dead is one of the two greatest zombie movies, and a genre starter, so it’s perhaps understandable that CMON would seek to licence it. Indeed they have, to create “branded board games and associated play accessories (including miniature PVC figures, board, dice and tokens/coins, cards).”
So, a Night of the Living Dead board game… but of course CMON own the dungeon crawling Zombicide, and it’s that name which featured prominently on the announcement’s art. We don’t know, then, if there will be a straight Zombicide version of Night, or something else, but what we do know is if you all die then it’s totally on theme.
Evolution goes Under the Sea
North Star Games have been working on their forthcoming Oceans: An Evolution Game for four years, and you don’t need a degree in deep sea biology to know that means you’re going under the sea. Once again you’re evolving your creatures through an eco-system, and the game have roped in some fully fledged experts to get the science right.
It’s a standalone rather than an expansion, with a play time of over an hour and here’s the twist: the Kickstarter begins February, but playtesters are being lined up now.
Scythe’s Metal Mechs are here
Do you remember when we told you the people behind Scythe were going to produce a limited run of all metal mech figures? Four thousand sets of ink washed mechs have been made for sale, with a release of right now, so if you’re into it get on it. Cost is $50.
Age of Steam Deluxe
Martin Wallace’s Age of Steam is a great train building game which hasn’t been affected by age, but which is facing the future with a new skin. Yes, Age of Steam deluxe edition brings on board Ian O’Toole, aka the artist behind Lisboa and The Gallerist, to revamp the looks. The first images look very swish, but the maps won’t have their hexes changed in scale so old format maps and pieces are still usable. No release date yet.
Portal Games are Expanding
Portal Games announced a slew of products at Essen, so here we go:
- Stronghold’s Undead Expansion is definitely coming in 2019 but is now a standalone game of trying to keep a necromancer out of the fortress.
- Detective: A Modern Crime Board Game is getting an expansion set in both the 1980s and LA.
- Robinson Crusoe: The Lost City of Z, has turned into the larger Robinson Crusoe: Mystery Tales which features new characters, cards and a multi scenario campaign.
- There are also expansion for Alien Artefacts and 51st State.
FlickFleet
FlickFleet is a space combat game which definitely isn’t influenced by Star Wars, as the monolithic Imperium are challenged by the Uprising and… okay it’s influenced by Star Wars. As you can guess, there’s plenty of flicking involved and the game is coming to Kickstarter this month.
Games Workshop work with Wizkids
Essen saw the announcement of a new Games Workshop spin off game, and this one is from Wizkids. The title is long - Warhammer: Age of Sigmar – The Rise & Fall of Anvalor – but pretty explanatory, as you all play fantasy characters trying to both defend Anvalor while getting one up on each other. You’re looking at around Easter 2019 for a release.