Kickstarter Preview – Vegas Wits and Wagers

 Announcements, Dan Whorl  Comments Off on Kickstarter Preview – Vegas Wits and Wagers
Sep 062017
 

Kickstarter Preview :

Vegas Wits and Wagers

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While stumbling around GenCon this year, I found a little piece of Las Vegas at the North Star Games booth. The geographical anomaly was due to Vegas Wits and Wagers, the newest expansion in the line.

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Wits and wagers is a juggernaut in the trivia, betting, bluffing, party game section of the gaming market.  Over the last decade or so it’s racked up more awards and accolades than the Mohave desert has gangster bones.

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Because of this, you aren’t reading a review of Wits and Wagers, per say, but a review of the currently Kickstarting expansion pack that makes the newest edition so…

Well…

…Vegas

A brief overview –

Vegas Wits and Wagers is the limited run expansion pack for Wits and Wagers Party that contains a large (like, really big) neoprene, double sided play mat, new, high quality, cardboard chips with larger denominations including $500 and $1000(for that big, “No Limit” feel), another betting card, marker and pair of player chips allowing the game to be played by 7 people, and  two “closed” betting covers (also high quality neoprene).

However, the real commodity on the table is the presence that this game brings when you lay it out.

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A little deeper –

As well as the new components, there are now more betting options. For the skittish, there are now “safe bets,” betting on the red or black side of the board for a lower pay out. However, in true Vegas fashion, there are now “long shot” bets that pay out 10-1 where you can bet on an individual player before their answer is revealed. This comes in handy if you have reason to believe that Johnny happens to be an expert on toilet paper advertisements from the 1950’s. Lastly, the game is played in seven rounds with the stakes raising each round. With these new options and mechanics, every question is potentially a game changer. That said, as I mentioned before, it’s the game’s presence that is truly astounding. The art, the colors, the mood, all blend beautifully with the mechanics making it a spectacle worthy of its name.

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The Kickstarter –

The Kickstarter ends at 11:00 PM, September 7th. As of the posting of this review, they’ve raised $50,000+ and have exceeded the goal by more than $20,000.

What’s the buy in?

For $25 you get the Vegas expansion. This is everything that I outlined above but does not include Wits and Wagers Party. You’ll need this in order to play the Vegas version of the game. If you have older versions, however, the back of the neoprene mat is printed with the original layout so you can still utilize it.

For $40 you get the Vegas expansion as well as Wits and Wagers Party, which is everything you need to set the stage for your gaming extravaganza!

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Stretch goals?

Several stretch goals have already been unlocked. Every $5,000 over the goal unlocks a new themed pack of all new trivia questions. So far, packs about the Ocean’s movies, Las Vegas trivia, music, television, and celebrities have been unlocked with several more goals slated to be announced. xe88

As of this posting, there is a little more than two days left in the Kickstarter. If you’re interested, don’t waste time. You’re not going to want to miss this.

Kickstarter Link – https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/northstargames/vegas-wits-and-wagers/description

If, for some reason, a pink van full of Elvises and aliens pulls up and drags you away from your internet connection before you’re able to pledge, don’t fret. North Star Games is planning on releasing Vegas Wits and Wagers to a store near you in the Fall of 2018. The only problem is, while the boxed version will have all of the
new options and rules of the limited edition, the gorgeous neoprene table mat, and cover slips, etc, will be made of the more familiar felt or cotton materials found in previous versions, thus making it just a little less…

Well,

…Vegas

Final Thoughts – 

Wits and wagers has been a favorite in my household for many years now. Even before the newest expansion, it played quite a bit like Trivial Pursuit had a love child with a craps table and left Las Vegas on the fastest flight back to Maine. I’m truly pleased to have been able watch that child grow up,

put on the cape and jumpsuit,

and steal the show.

To me, this is a brilliant and exciting thematic step in the right direction for a fantastic party game.

But then again, this is just my humble opinion.

-Dan Whorl

(CarpeGM.net Game Reviews)

Full Disclosure –

A review copy of Vegas Wits and Wagers was given to me by the game developer for an honest review of their product.  No money or further compensation changed hands or has been promised for a good review.  They earned it!

 

Gamecast – Ep 43 – 5th Edition D&D – Our First Impressions

 The Carpe GM Gamecast  Comments Off on Gamecast – Ep 43 – 5th Edition D&D – Our First Impressions
Jul 162014
 

Topic – In this episode, we make a few announcements, discuss what we’ve been doing lately, and have our first argument er….discussion about the 5th Editionof Dungeons and Dragons.  Hold on tight, this one gets a little bumpy!

Hosts – Dan, Mack, Bryan, Steve, and Lucas

 

 

 

Media – Be sure to check out and support the Tsunamicon Kickstarter, a National level gaming convention based in Wichita, Kansas and being organized by our sister podcast, Metagamers Anonymous.   Only good things can come of this……..

 

Tsunamicon Kickstarter
Tsunamicon.org
Tsunamicon Facebook

 

 

 

 

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The Quest Continues!

 News  Comments Off on The Quest Continues!
Aug 062013
 

Dear Dungeons & Dragons® Playtester,

Download today’s new D&D® Next playtest packet, just in time for the upcoming D&D Encounters™ season, Murder in Baldur’s Gate™, which kicks off with a Launch Event Weekend on August 17th and 18th. This playtest package includes substantial changes to the following classes: barbarian, cleric, druid, fighter, monk, paladin, ranger, rogue, and wizard (now called the mage). In addition, you’ll find a new form-fillable character sheet and updates to spells, feats, and much more. For a full list of changes, please consult the Read First document in the playtest package.

Get More Involved!


If you have questions about D&D Next or want to get more involved in the playtest process, here are a few suggestions for getting more involved.
Murder In Baldur’s Gate: Now available for download as part of the D&D Next playtest packet is the Monster Supplement and Events Supplement for the Murder in Baldur’s Gate adventure, available in stores soon! This adventure, which starts a year-long event called the Sundering, can be played at home using D&D Next or in store through the D&D Encounters official play program.
D&D Next Podcast featuring Acquisitions Incorporated: Wizards of the Coast and Penny Arcade proudly present the latest installment of the Acquisitions Incorporated saga, featuring D&D Next! This rollicking series of podcasts chronicles the party’s latest adventure, leading up to the Live D&D Game at PAX 2013. Join Mike Krahulik, Jerry Holkins, Scott Kurtz, and new intern Patrick Rothfuss as they wreak havoc in the Forgotten Realms®. Bring on the laughter and the tears! (Note: This series of podcasts features adults using adult language.) Listen to the first podcast here or download it on iTunes.
D&D Next Livestreams: Interested in seeing how members of D&D Next team playtest the game? Catch the latest D&D Next livestream games most Fridays on the D&D Twitch TV channel, or view them later on the Dungeons & Dragons YouTube channel.
As always, thanks for your involvement in the D&D Next playtest!
– The D&D Team

Interviews – Episode 7 – Mark Hoge

 The Carpe GM Gamecast  Comments Off on Interviews – Episode 7 – Mark Hoge
Jan 232013
 

CarpeGM Interviews – Episode 7 – Mark Hoge

I had the opportunity to sit down with Mark Hoge, Founder, and Director of Renaissance Adventures, and creator of Adventure Quest: Fantasy RPG for table top and LARP.

 

 

Since 1995, Mark has been doing fantastic work in Boulder, Colorado, introducing hundreds, if not  thousands of kids to the gaming hobby, while nurturing creativity, encouraging imagination, and bolstering self esteem.

Mark is now transferring his tried and true LARP system to a table top format and has a Kickstarter campaign to support the effort.

Take a look.

Media – 

Adventure Quest Kickstarter
RenaissanceAdventures.com
Game Knight Reviews
Ruthless Diastema Blog and Podcast

Mark Supported –Nerolarp.com
and – International Fantasy Gaming Society

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D&D Playtest Continues…

 News  Comments Off on D&D Playtest Continues…
Oct 092012
 

The Dungeons and Dragons Next playtest is still going on, and will be for a while.  Judging from the materials released so far, it looks like Wizards of the Coast is trying to include concepts from most, if not all, of the previous iterations of the game.   If you have ever been interested in D&D, I suggest you get involved with this and let them know what you think.

Below is the press release for the latest materials for the playtest.

Dear Dungeons & Dragons Playtester,

Thank you for your continued interest in the D&D Next Playtest. We hope you are enjoying the playtest materials so far.

New Playtest Materials:

This playtest packet includes magic items, some updated monsters, and a revised version of Caves of Chaos.

To retrieve the latest playtest materials, please click here.

And if you’re curious to learn more about what’s going on in the playtest process—and how we’re using your feedback to inform our efforts—check out what Mike Mearls has to say in his weekly Legends & Lore column.

Tell Us What You Think:

It’s not a true playtest unless you give your feedback. We’ll have more playtest materials and a new survey ready for you soon. In the meantime, you can get involved in the D&D Next Wizards Community Group or on Facebook.

Thanks in advance for your participation!

The D&D Team

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