Magic the Gathering Strategy Board Game Announced!
October 19, 2014 by dracs
Last year I wrote an article on things I thought deserved a game. One of the things I suggested was a Magic the Gathering board game. Well it seems Wizards of the Coast thought so too as the classic card game will soon be getting its own miniature based strategy game!
According to an article on Escapist Magazine, the game is being designed by some of the guys behind the classic Heroscape, with many mechanics of that game, most notably the hexagonal tile based board set up, being transferred into the Magic the Gathering Strategy Game.
The game is based upon the rogue plane of Shandalar and allows two to five players to each take control of a specific faction. Each faction corresponds to one of the five colours of mana and is led by a specific Planeswalker, including Chandra Nalaar (shown above), Jace Beleren, Nissa Revane, Lilliana Vess and one as yet unannounced Planeswalker.
Planeswalkers can summon creatures and cast spells, while mechanics such as deathtouch and flying will be given counterparts in the strategy game rules.
The game is apparently set for a release Autumn of 2015, and a playable prototype is featured at Essen Spiel this year. My guess is that the main boxed game will include small, basic warbands for each of the Planeswalkers, which we will then have the option to build upon as expansions are released. Not only that, I wouldn't be surprised if Wizards of the Coast brought out expansions to let you play on other planes of existence, bringing out new tiles and rules to transform the table into Ravnica or Innistrad.
I am really excited for this game. Not only is it bringing out a new take on the phenomenally popular card game, it is also seeing the return of elements of Heroscape, a game I have never had the chance to play, but do know it has a strong following despite being out of print.
How do you think a Magic the Gathering strategy game will play?
looks very cool and will hopefully slow down the insane money sink that is collecting MtG…
i would not just the minis would look great as tokens for the game
I haven’t really ever been a big fan of Magic. I have gotten roped into playing a few times over the years with different gaming groups and always quickly regretted it. I don’t think the game is bad, and many of the settings are actually quite interesting. The artwork is frequently breathtaking and the inspiration that MTG has provided for gamers is undeniably huge. It just isn’t my cup o’ tea. Too competitive/powergame oriented, the release schedule is laughably rushed and yes you can play casual or just do pre-cons, etc. but again I have never really seen that option materialize … in every group that the game popped up in that I was a part of it quickly devolved to the dark side.
The big thing I’ve always been puzzled about with MTG though is that the IP is owned by WoTC (Hasbro) … the purveyor of the marquee RPG … and yet … NO MTG RPG stuff. Not that I would personally rush out and buy it if it was on the market, but some of the MTG settings would make for awesome RPGs/Mini Games/Board Games and I have always been puzzled as to why they have really never pushed this stuff in a big way. I mean they already have the art, the literary stuff (almost all of their settings have tons of books, etc. associated with them now) so how hard would it really be to slap together some D&D supplement books, and have hasbro (or a licensee) crank out some pre-painted plastic minis, board games, etc.???
It is alot like GW … a single rather abusive business model surrounded by a veritable ocean of missed merchandising opportunities … ?!?!?!?!???
Cannot see it being a huge hit tbh. Sure a few MTG and boardgame collectors will buy this, but people play MTG FOR MTG cards. That’s why there’s no RPG for the IP – no one cares – because they want to keep back the £££ for trading the cards online or in store every week.
WotC also produce D&D so they focus RPG resources on that (being a much bigger iconic system). They also organise world wide weekly D&D Encounters in their WPN stores. The breadth and scope of just organising that alone leaves GW way behind in the player community support stakes. But let’s just inform you of some things you seem unaware of..
WotC is nothing like the GW business model – since when did WotC continually raise prices of their product? Since when did GW ever build communities of gamers by running weekly in store support for events WITH PRIZES for their player base at local levels? Since when did GW organise release day events with again prize support for every new seasonal main release? And give away FREE limited edition versions of the product instead of slapping an extra £50 on the price tag on it? WotC do this a minimum of 4 times a year for EVERY release – then follow that up with game day events for each set at local levels. They actually listen and care about their player community and fans of the game in local bricks and mortar games stores.
Then of course there’s the massive online player community, playing the same game digitally – MTGO. Then look at the partnerships with the worlds leading brands such as Ultra-Pro and the huge, intricate and well managed pro-tour scene that thrives internationally.
I don’t see anyway that WotC misses any of their marketing or merchandising opportunities that present themselves, I just see a lot of misinformed opinion.
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Oh boy! I’m very intrigued by the idea of this game! It’ll be very interesting to see if it will have the same feel of the MTG card game for the established players, that they know and love or if it is meant to appeal to a different crowd all together and perhaps to encourage players to venture from the board game into the card game? Either way, I’m a fan and will have to add this to my collection. 🙂
Thought it would be meh until I heard heroscape. Something I’ll definitely have to take a look at.