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Let's Talk Sword and Sorcery (SPI)
However, I don't want no shelf toad. Should I just play Wizard's Quest? Will S&S see any plays with WQ, Titan, and Talisman throwing their weight around?
So, what's the skinny?
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- SuperflyPete
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That's my 2c. That said, it's been 15 years or more since I played it, and I played it with SPI addicts.
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- Michael Barnes
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- SuperflyPete
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(and a Panzer unit...)
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Michael Barnes wrote: Old games like this are for collectors, not players. There's no way you'll be playing this with any regularity.
I like the 'for collectors, not players' bit, and for the most part I agree. However, I do tend to bring out older titles on a fairly frequent basis. If S&S is as easy playing as the games I listed above (or say Block Mania or GW Warrior Knights), then yeah, it'll get played about twice a year. Which isn't bad considering all the other titles in the group's circulation.
Also, when I bring out a title like this, I like to do it up. In this case, put on Fire and Ice or Bakshi's LotR in the background (no sound, subtitled) while listening to some classic hard rock/metal. It's a fun, throwback time.
If the game isn't so easy to play and is more along the lines of a Dragon Pass, then yeah, I'll probably pass and just bring out Talisman 2nd ed or my buddy's Wizard's Quest again.
I do have a strict no shelf toad, no 'collection' policy. So if this is a no play, then it's a no buy. If it's playable and makes for a cool evening that's a break from the current brand of fantasy boardgaming (which I have no interest in at all), then at the low price point I'm offered, I might go for it.
So, what am I looking at (can't find rules online)? It's fans at BGG say it's easy playing and plays in a shortish (2-3 hours) timeframe. However, if this is really more Dragon Pass or Magic Realm, I'm out.
(Also, this game has two types of play...wargame and questing. I'm assuming Pete has only played the questing version.)
EDIT: for the sake of the discussion on this game, and any others interested, here's a recent little review.
www.blackgate.com/2012/02/28/new-treasur...-swords-and-sorcery/
I dig both these covers (box contents are the same), but am really down with the champions wielding sunswords on the blue box edition. Also, apparently, this article is referencing one of the longer scenarios (the last one?). There appears to be 14 different wargaming scenarios here and many playing in an evening's timeframe.
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- Michael Barnes
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But the crushing reality is that this game- and so many others are "second" or "third" shelf titles that are no longer in circulation, discussion, or on tables regularly for a reason. This is not a Cosmic Encounter or Dune. This is one of many games that are, quite frankly, obsolete for many reasons.
The 2-3 hour playtime? Bullshit. This is a game with a 50+ page rulebook. Maybe if you and everyone you're playing it with have completely read and digested the rules AND have played it ten times through to completion the shorter scenarios might make it into that timeframe. Realistically, this is another one of those old games that is going to go very, very long. If you're hearing people say "2-3 hours", they're probably old time SPI guys or something that used to play this all the time at wargaming cons back in the early 80s...and haven't played since.
It's not hard to romanticize games like this...but even among games of this vintage, there are marked differences between a Block Mania and an SPI wargame with two sets of rules, 400 counters and so forth.
Back when I FINALLY got a copy of Source of the Nile a few years ago, I started to read the rules to get ready to play it on the next game night. This is supposedly a highly playable, accessible old school adventure game. But after setting it up and playing around with it, I realized that my group in no way would have fine trudging through it and it would completely blow a full session just to explain the rules and work through a few turns. I looked over at my shelf and saw all of these truly amazing, awesome old school games...and realized that they were really great for their time, but times have changed and those kinds of games are only fun anymore if you're playing them with people who already know how to play them, know what to expect, and are willing to dedicate the time to them that they deserve. Which means playing them every session for a period of time, or at least bringing them out a couple of times a month. These games were not made to exist in collections where you pick something different to play every time you get together or two or three games for a single night. They were meant to be played intensively, repeatedly, and over a longer period of time.
It's like I always have said, it used to be that you'd buy a game like Swords and Sorcery and that was what you did all summer. And you had two or three other friends that were equally committed and had the disposable time available to invest in it.
What I'd advise you to do is to go ahead and pick it up, paw through it (you will enjoy doing that), maybe set it up and see what it looks like...and then flip it.
If you want to play a game like this, there are plenty of FAR more playable, accessible games out there designed for modern audiences. You already own a couple of them. Maybe you think that they're not as immersive because of the art or whatever, but the fact of the matter is that modern games tend to, mostly, do more fun with less work.
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The offer is for less than half of what it's going for on ebay, and it's partially un-punched, so playing around with it and reselling it shouldn't be a problem.
There is truth in what you say though. I had the same experience with Source of the Nile. After we talked it up here, I bought a copy (even painted some minis) and after playing around with it, knew that in no way would it fly with any of my groups. I still think it's cool as hell, but it won't get played so it had to go.
GW boardgames still get played, and in many cases in my circles are more desired than their reprints. Titan and Legend of Robin Hood from AH are two titles that also get to the table. But here I think all of these are still 'old school' but enough steps easier than some of the more detailed AH and SPI ones. I was/am hoping S&S would be included in that easy to play group.
True, modern designs do more with less, but sometimes that's not all I'm looking for in my time with a game and friends. I like to get lost in the evening, rather than worry about cranking out a few before the night is done, and I can tell you right now, just looking at S&S brings a level of excitement (nostalgia? I dunno) that a Small World, RuneWars, or CitOW (I said it) do not. I wouldn't make the call out for game night to play Small World and would rather just go hang out. For S&S, I'd get excited a few weeks ahead of time.
Oh, well...I'll think more on this purchase. Doesn't seem like anyone here has actually played the wargame portion, so that's a flag...
NOTE: I think Small World is a fine design, and have thought of buying it as a family game, but it would sit next to TtR, Zooloretto, and Catan. I've got enough of these.
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- Space Ghost
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I played it a lot as a kid. If you don't like it, I'll guarantee I'll take it off your hands at no loss. I've been looking for a copy off and on for a bit
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