So What Else Is New?
Late? Yes, but here it is, another action packed is sue. Since issue #29 we have released La Bataille de Lutzen, Summer Storm, and War Withou Mercy. Check out the advertisements scatterei throughout this issue for Fear God and Drea, Naught (anticipated for release this Fall), the Ion, awaited Infernal Machines (expansion for Landships! which is now also back in print) and Charic Lords (actually available, a real "hit" at for us at Historicon this summer).
Soon To Be Released
(Editor's Note: You should not order any of the titles listed below until they are announced for sah or until the anticipated release date is met. If a title we previously talked about is not mentioned hen we have not abandoned it. There is only so much room in this forum and we cannot touch everything.)
The Tales Of Ulysses: A children's game for kids between the ages 6 to 9. Sort of "Shoots and Ladders" meets Polyphemus. We had hoped to have this one out already but finding a suitable artist held the project up. On our sixth try one fellow in France really knocked everyone's socks off. He got the job and has produced some spectacular work. We now anticipate the release of this game this Fall.
On a parallel note our friend at The Belle & Blade has just informed me that the Kirk Douglas classic Ulysses has just been made available for distribution once again. Any elementary education teachers out there should consider combining these two items along with ne Odyssey, a wonderfully illustrated and abridged version published by BRIMAX, into one sweet educational unit. If you need any help getting this stuff give me a call.
Vox Populi: Designer Francis Pacherie writes us as follows: As you all know, sports and politics are often closely linked to money and corruption... Unfortunately, what is true today was already the case long ago. It is thus that our historians have recently, but not without some embarrassment, revealed the less than scrupulous practices of the most important Roman politicians who fill our text books. This is why, in order to restore the real truth on this obscure part of history, Tilsit Editions has deemed it educational as well as opportune to publish Vox Populi, so that these truths may be widely heard (what had otherwise been only whispered)... that Caesar was not assassinated by Brutus but by a crazy hooligan; that Crassus made his fortune selling scarves and caps in the colors of his club (don't we say, "go as rich as Crassus?"); that Antony started his world tour after a mysterious and inappropriate relationship, a relationship revealed by an obstinate attorney? And, Finally, that the nose of Cleopatra was probably not the part of her anatomy that contributed most to changing the face of the world!
To this end each of you will be President of one of the main Gladiator Clubs of Rome. Your objective: To conquer the coveted title of Lanista and become the grand master of Circus. As your gladiators gain fame in the Arena they become coveted by the multitude of politicians who wish to associate themselves with their valor. Bribe the correct politician enough and when he becomes Caesar the title of Lanista is sure to be yours. Anticipated release date: October.
Azteca: This was without a doubt the most intriguing game premiered at Origins this summer. Each player represents one of the four great peoples of the Valley of Mexico: Aztec, Toltec, Chichimeques or Tepaneques. You are disputing the lands that make up these rich city- states. But at the same time a terrible rivalry exits among the gods.
Quetzalcoad, the god of corn and all those things that make life worth living, is in a life and death struggle (your life/ your death) with Tezeatatlipoca, the terrible god of the volcano who brings chaos and ruin to all. If one or the other becomes ascendant life in this world either improves or becomes unbearable (literally). Your people can influence the outcome of this heavenly struggle, and if you offer the most sacrifices to Quetzalcoad not only will this god become ascendant but he will favor you by making you rulers of The One World.
Of course, the offerings he values most are the still beating hearts of your victims! To this end you send your Pochtecas, ambassadors or commercial agents, around the great lake to purchase in the slave market, or through alliances with minor tribes, potential sacrifices. If these "peaceful" means to not suffice you can always resort to war.
As we have come to expect, the components for Azteca are simply superb. The counters are in various shapes, several resin cast pyramids, a mounted map-board, beautiful cards of the same quality as found in Joan of Arc ; but be for-warned, very few women in 15th century Mexico worried about covering their breasts, so you will have to store this game with your National Geographic magazines and out of reach of any Canadians! (I was assured by one Canadian retailer [at a show in Las Vegas of all places] that this type of frontal nudity "will just not do" north of the border). Anticipated release date: October.
Les Bal des Sorcieres: I'm not quite sure what we are going to call this one in English. Its subtitle, ou La Soupe aux Crapzouilles has some promise. Essentially it is another game for kids for ages 6 to 10. I actually played it at Origins so that I could get a better handle on the rules (I think they are two pages long). What happens is the old witch wants to retire and she has gathered her little apprentices together for a contest; the winner of which shall succeed her.
Each apprentices starts the game with a chest full of crapzouilles, I think there are ten of them. They then bash one another trying to cast the stronger spell. Each time they win a round they take one of their opponent's crapzouilles. You get knocked out of the game when you run out of crapzouilles. The spells are printed on cards, so you are really just playing for the higher card. The spells are pretty funny stuff so kids are going to get a real chuckle when they play this one. Anticipated release date: October.
The Thieves of Baghdad: The French version of this game has already been released. Unfortunately we had to delay its release here because when it came time to work on it Baghdad was in the news every other day; the connotation/association being a tad too strong. This is unfortunate because thieves is possibly the most clever design of all the Tilsit games to date. You, of course, play one of several thieves pilfering your way through the various quarters of the city. Some quarters are more rewarding than others. At the same time you are able to steal from each other, but beware, some thieves are better than others and you just might find your own purse emptied just when you thought you had trumped your opponent. Anticipated release date: November.
Musketeers: No, this is not Athos or Porthos. This is the Thirty Years War. Designed by Pascal Bernard, I have been assured that it resembles his other release, Joan of Arc. Most other details are sketchy at this time. Anticipated release date: November.
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