Store News- Grand Opening

Board Game Review- Shadows Over Camelot

I was first introduced to Days of Wonder Games ten years ago with their game "A Fist Full of Dragon Stones." Since that first game I've been hooked on the fantastic board games they produce. "Shadows Over Camelot" is an older game having come out about five years ago before Days of Wonder's hit game "Ticket to Ride" became big. Unlike many board games "Shadows Over Camelot" is a co-operative game where the players work together to try and beat the board.  Each turn is divided in to two parts for the player. First they must choose a negative action, drawing and playing a negative card, adding a siege engine to the battle against Camelot, or loosing some of their Knights life energy. These negative effects are how the game plays against the players. 

For the second part of their turn the players preform positive actions. Moving to a quest, playing a positive card, or using one of their Knightly abilities. 

Each player takes on the role of one of the many knights of the Round Table. Arthur, Kay, Lancelot, Gwain, Percival, Palemedes, and others each have their own special Knightly powers which help the players through out the game. Each knight has a give amount of life to start out the game, 4 life points, and if a knight looses all the points they are out of the game. Cards and Items like the Holy Grail can restore Knights to life or give them more life. 

As the game progresses the questions of negative actions the players must preform bring raise the tension as quests like the Holy Grail, Lancelot's Armor, the Quest for Excalibur, the Battle with the Black Knight or the looming threat of Picts and Saxons draw the attention of the knights. Players are limited in which quest they can act on in a turn and this means that as negative cards are played they must decide where to best divide their resources. Winning quests bring the knights White Sword of Victory while loosing Quests give them Black swords of Defeat. When the number of White or Black Swords are totaled which ever number of swords is in the majority indicates if the Knights have one or lost. Players will find themselves captivated by the dramatic tension as quests near completion or defeat and they work together to Save Camelot. 

Like the story of "Le Mort D'Artur" there can be a traitor knight in the midst. The advanced rules allow for a traitor to play against the other players. Traitors are encouraged to do so covertly as uncovering the traitor knight allows the loyal knights to win the game. However accusing the wrong knight can damage Camelot and overly eager accusers will find the kingdom falling into ruins with every miss guessed accusation. 

Overall Shadows Over Camelot is a fun game where the players don't need to worry about the competition of winning against their other players or the sorrows of defeat. Players can learn teamwork and prioritization as they work together to win. Playing the help of parents the game can be played with some younger children. A great game for family and friends who want the fun of King Arthur's knights in their own living room.  

Off Center caries the game for $50 dollars. 

Magi the Gathering- Magic The Gathering Type 1 Tournament July 23rd

Off Center Games will be holding another Magic the Gathering Type One Tournament on July 23rd at Noon 

The Prize up for the Winner is a Sword of War and Peace from the New Phyrexia set. If we get over 8 players it will be a the Foil Sword of War and Peace.

Standard Vintage type II rules will apply. 

Store News- Magic The Gathering Type 1 Tourney

We'll be holding a Magic Tournament July 2nd staring at Noon at the Shop. Entry fee is $5 with a prizes scaled by the number of entrants. Get your decks in order and prepare for an afternoon of Epic Epicness.

For more information about Type 1 Rules visit the link below.

http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=judge/resources/sfrvintage

Opinion- Green Lantern: Above and Beyond Expectations

I worried upon hearing reviews of Green Lantern. Reviews indicated it was more about Ryan Reynolds’ abs. Right from the beginning the scope of the film began with an epic intro to the Green Lantern Corps an introduction that easily introduced first timers to the Green Lantern-verse while providing a strong base for more devoted fans.

Talking about CG in a film today has become trite and the graphics in the film were excellent. My wife commented that the artists seemed obsessed with highlighting the pores and veins of the various non-human Lanterns. I argue that when you make someone twenty feet tall you’d better be sure that they look good at that size. If I could complain the thing I really missed was Nebula. I really like Nebula in my space films and more of those birth places of stars would be great.

So Green Lantern surprised me by making a character that actually transitioned from being a jerk, which Hal Jordan always seemed to be, to being an actual hero. Following the established Character arch or hero journey explained in Joseph Campbell’s book “Hero with a Thousand Faces”, Jordan transforms from brash young pilot to a responsible and if still a little mouthy hero who shows that he has the power to save the world and the galaxy.  Batman, Superman, The X-men has very little change of characters the trials of the films rarely cause the hero to become a hero and instead they continue much the same. I admit I’m a little biased after watching Superman II and in the end Clark hypnotizes Louis and the whole world went back to normal. Perhaps this works in a world that is episodic, but in a real film?

Green Lantern leaves us with enough hooks for a follow up. The Yellow ring gets made, Sinestro still doesn’t like Hal, and trouble can still raise its ugly head.  I look forward to a sequel and think if you haven’t watched Green Lantern you’re in for a surprise.

Store News: We're Open Again

After a brief hiatus, as we've hurried to re-arrange, clean, and re-stock OffCenter Games will be open again Today from Noon until 7 PM

We look forward to seeing you and hope we can fulfill your entertainment and gaming needs.

Opinion: Will I miss Superman's Briefs?

In case you didn't know DC Comics will be relaunching it's entire line of Comic Books. Some 52 different lines will be revamped with modern updated story lines and more modern graphics. While fans of the Second Largest Comic Book seller fret over the changes, I welcome some of the changes. Superman for instance will loose his iconic tighty-reddies. Go will be the super speedo and instead it's replaced with....tights....Okay maybe I'm not okay with this. In fact based on the released cover to the left here it looks like they just forgot to ink in the briefs. I mean could it hurt so much to put a pair of pants on him or maybe even some shorts. The tendency to place heroes in tight fitting clothing often creates uncomfortable bulges, folds, and silhouettes. I had hoped that Supe would be wearing a little more sensible clothing but I think to much change would wreck the layman's view of our boy from Krypton. I mean it could end up like the other photo I included below. 

During the 90s DC Attempted to update Superman's look and it suffered massive flak from it's fans. However the dated look of Superman Keeps him out of the current popularity that other DC heroes have enjoyed. We'll see what happens with the new release and the new direction for Superman and His Super-pals.