Cardtantei is a detective-themed alternate reality manga game mixed with a CCG.

It comes in packs, with codes you scratch off and then use on the official site. But it’s also got clues, puzzles, phone numbers with cryptic voice messages, and so on, leading to a larger discovery.

And all you need are some cards and some rudimentary Japanese.

(source)

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From Netsmartz come Clicky Race to the Finish, a roll, move, action, discussion, and question game about children’s online safety. (PDF)

Your child will encounter “Look at Dis Louie”, who sends to kids pictures that they don’t want to see, “Wanta-Know Wally” who asks kids for personal information, “Meet-Me Mack”, who tries to get kids to meet him alone in private locations, and “Potty-Mouth Pete”, who uses rude language.

If you want me, I’ll be home, cowering under the bed.

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One thing that seems to be held in common by all Traveller fans, no matter which version of the rules they call their own, is a fondness for starship designs and deck plans. Over the years, a number of companies have published deck plans for a variety of Traveller ship models. But none, I think, are a match for the latest deck plans being produced by Dragonfire Laser Crafts. Available in both 28 mm and 15 mm scales, these engraved metallic laminate plans are specifically designed as platforms for miniatures. So far, Dragonfire is producing Scout (Type S) and Free Trader (Type A) plans. Prices range from $30 to $100 per ship, but for that you get multiple decks in a 1/8 inch thick laminate, with integrated hardcoat to make them moisture and fingerprint resistant.

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Mongoose Publishing is busy this week with the release of three new roleplaying products. Trial of Blood is the first mega-campaign for the Conan Roleplaying Game and pits the players against the enemies who plot to overthrow King Conan. Book 0: Introduction to Traveller is just that. It’s also a short 32 page booklet suitable for new players. And Chimaera Universe RPG, which we first reported on in March. is the core book for roleplaying based on the Chimaera comics.

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GMT Games is set to begin shipping two new products this week, Clash of Monarchs and Successors. Clash of Monarchs is a card-driven game about the Seven Years War in Europe. In a variation on the standard card-driven system, this game uses separate decks for each side of the conflict and adds a chit-pull system for random events. Successors covers the conflict that erupted among Alexander the Great’s generals after his death with no heir. Successors is actually a Richard Berg-designed game originally published by Avalon Hill in 1995. Very popular over the years, the game is being brought back by GMT with refined rules, new expansion cards, and a mix of original and new artwork.

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So you bought Tannhäuser and maybe you even picked up a few of the expansions.  You love the miniatures and the unique mechanism for determining line of sight really got your interest.  You’ve played through all of the available characters, developed impressive unit-level tactics and have experimented with the different equipment options as much as humanly possible.  But are you really getting as much out of this great pseudo-miniature game as you could?  I bet not.  Here are a few of our tips for getting even more value out of your Tannhäuser investment:

• New Scenarios: FFG has been publishing new scenarios for the game on a regular basis.  There are currently three standalone scenarios and a series of five scenarios that are meant to be played as part of a unified campaign.  In addition, there are many fan-published scenarios available at Board Game Geek.  Or you could check out Scottie’s Scenarios.  Or if you’re up on your French, check out the website of Take on You!
• New Maps: FFG has published a new map that has some really unique features (including a hill that provides extra visibility, but is harder to shoot at!), but its a bit hard to find.  Did I mention that you can get even more maps at the ‘Geek?
• Ready to go all out?  Check out the Savage Tales blog to really challenge your willingness to expand the base game. Pete Miller puts out new Tannhäuser material on nearly every Tuesday and occasionally throws out bonus material on off days!  Maps, tokens, characters – you name it, Pete’s got it.  My personal favorite is his Hellboy mod, which is definitely worth checking out.

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Advanced Squad Leader—one of the most thorough tabletop combat simulations at the tactical level—has been around since 1985, longer if you count the basic version of the game. Originally, it was published by the Avalon Hill Game Company. However, since that company’s failure, the torch has been carried by Multiman Publishing. In an effort to make the game more accessible to new players, Multiman also publishes a series of ASL Starter Kits. Now Multiman is making three scenarios for starter kits available free for download. The scenarios—Prelude to Festung Breast, Baking Bread, and Purple Heart Lane—all originated in out-of-print issues of the company’s Operations magazine.

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