Arena of the Planeswalkers: Just how good is it?

So I'm reading dribs and drabs about the new MtG: Arena of the Planeswalkers game. The early buzz has been really positive, and more than a couple people have been calling it the second coming of Heroscape. As someone who has always regretted never getting into Heroscape (young boys in this house) how accurate is this? I am shocked at how affordable the set is, and WotC has a great track record with board games.

Those who have played it, what's the early word?

So I just saw that it's actually a re-implementation of Heroscape, which would explain some of the comments that it's like Heroscape.

I am super interested in this. I just agreed to sell another game for the price of this one, so this is mighty tempting.

Dude.

Go to Heroscapers. Buy from sellers like Ztimster. He's selling Rise of the Valkyrie and Swarm of the Marro starter sets complete for only $40. Marvel starter sets for only $25.
www.heroscapers.com/community/showpost.p...=1939694&postcount=1

Way better deal than these Planeswalkers games. Plus, ninjas, robots, cowboys, vikings, etc will go over with your son more than Magic the Gathering planeswalkers summoning unpainted monsters.

Search your feelings...you know this to be true...

When I posted this thread I literally thought to myself, "I bet Jeff White replies telling me to just spend my money on Heroscape sets."

You do not disappoint, good sir.

hahaha

Seriously, there is no reason to choose this new set _over_ Heroscape proper unless you simply want the newest. If you plan on playing with kids, then you are committing a crime choosing Planeswalkers over RotV or SotM.

I'm not saying don't get Planeswalkers, but maybe after you have one of the others...

There's a very good reason to choose this set over Heroscape: cost. Besides that, it really is for ME to play, not my kids. I figure they will like it when they get older (the D&D adventure games are very popular with them), but the point is for me to enjoy it now. A huge pile of content is actually an impediment for getting something like this played for me.

If you don't get Heroscape for your boys you're a bad father. It's a regrettable conclusion that can't be avoided.

The true advantage of Planeswalker over true Heroscape is set up time. You can go from box to playing in about 4 seconds. Not so eith Heroscape.

I love Heroscape but looking at that tub of plastic tiles can be daunting.

Maybe I'll try Planeswalkers at some point.

I'm taking my son to his first ever Pokemon meet at a local game store. He's a big HS fan, so we'll probably take a look at Planeswalkers.

I would trade my copy of Heroscape Rise of the Valkyrie for Planeswalker if shipping wasn't so expensive. I liked the quicker set up and spells.

If you're talking about playing with adults then Planeswalkers may be the better choice (haven't seen it yet).

But for young kids that long "setup time" is part of the magic, as is all of the variety of pieces and the fully painted aspect. Rise of the Valkyrie is all you really need to keep kids under 10 happy for hours, first playing let's-pretend, then playing let's-build-something, then eventually playing the game. Part of its family appeal is that it's a good toy as soon as your kids are out of the chewing phase.

Anything that gets the kids hands off of the local iPad is your friend.

How old are your kids?

S.

I'd just like to point out that I never actually asked if I should get Heroscape instead of Arena of the Planeswalkers. It seems like the game I actually asked about, that I can definitely find space to store and is more affordable in the immediate future, is very good in its own right.

My kids are 5 and almost 3. At this point the game would definitely be for adult players. Anyway when I'm not a graduate student and don't have negative shelf space, I can get into Heroscape then. And if I don't, I can live with that regret.

It looks like the games are actually compatible anyway.

Great point, Nate!

I totally apologize. I'm not a fan when folks do this to my threads...yet I just did it. I'll correct the issue.

Folks seem to love Planeswalkers and if it's close to playing as well as Heroscape, I expect it to be a lot of fun.

My copy just arrived from Amazon. I can't wait to play it. I've got very high hopes for this and I hope Hasbro does the right thing and supports the hell out of it. If I get it to the table in the next few days I'll post some initial thoughts in this thread.