Tuesday at the GAMA Trade show, Renegade Game Studios and Steve Jackson Games announced a patnership to produce Munchkin Trading Cards. To be clear, these cards, available in the fall, are not a game, just trading cards of the kind with images on one side and character facts on the other. However, in addition to the typical sticker and autograph cards, inserted in to random packs will be actual unique playtest cards from the Munchkin game development team, new one-off rule cards, and original hand drawn sketch cards (at least one per box of 24 packs). While the total number of cards in a pack has not yet been set, MSRP per pack should be $3.50.

Also announced at the show were Munchkin Gloom from Atlas Games, Munchkin Smash Up from AEG, and Munchkin Zombies Walking Dead and Munchkin The Nightmare Before Christmas from USAopoly. The last is an October release and the rest are set for Gen Con.

Coming direct from Steve Jackson are Munchkin Steampunk (a hobby channel exclusive through December), Star Munchkin 3 (with a single extra card, for a total of 113, only in the first print run), and Munchkin Stocking Stuffers (a bundle of five Christmas-themed packs plus some gift stickers).

And possibly in the works are Munchkin vending machines, either for game cards or for tchotchkes, like mini figures and dice. At the moment, no concrete steps have yet been taken for these. However, the retailers at the show voiced strong support.

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AEG has a lot to be excited for, both for current and future releases. There was even 3-4 thinks I can’t report on yet that have me super excited. One tidbit of info before I go into what I saw is that Love Letter is getting slightly rebranded. A slightly more modern logo will appear on future versions, and different licensed copies will have their own title with “A Love Letter Game” appearing below. With that out of the way, let’s get to the games!

Adventure Time Love Letter / Once You Go Blackmail, A Love Letter Game – $12 – Ages 10+

Two new licensed versions of Love Letter are arriving soon. One based on Adventure Time, and on on the show Archer. Each has their own unique quirks, and Archer’s Once You Go Blackmail will be the first title to have it’s own name along with the “A Love Letter Game” subtext. Also at the booth were the new Batman and Hobbit version of Love Letter, both of which are currently available.

Rumpelstiltskin

It’s hard to think about Rumpelstiltskin anymore without hearing the name said in Emilie de Ravin’s Aussie accent, but this title has no ties with any current popular TV show. Rumpelstiltskin is a game of guessing the name of which magical gnome/troll/thing your opponent has. Light, quick, and sure to be a lot of fun.

Pretty Pretty Smash Up Expansion – $25 – Ages 12+

Pretty Pretty adds Fairie, Kitty Cats, Mythic Horses, and Princesses to the wildly popular game. It will be available March 15th, and contains:

• 80 Minion & Action Cards
• 8 Base cards
• 4 Dividers
• 12-page Rulebook
• 1 VP/Power Token Sheet

Dark Seas – Ages 14+

Coming out in conjunction with International Tabletop Day on April 11th, Dark Seas is a game of pirates! A tile-based game, players build up their network of islands to pillage and plunder the most booty and increasing their reputation. Pirates wouldn’t be pirates, though, without the ability to wreak havoc upon others. Players will be able to hinder their opponents’ pirates in many different ways to keep them from gaining enough reputation to win the game. The pieces in this one are really nice looking, and from what I’ve seen it looks like it’ll be a blast to play.

Other Items

There were 3 amazing looking games that weren’t available for press release yet, but I can guarantee that at least 2 of them are going to be huge. Just hearing about how they’re going to work, and seeing some of the initial artwork blew me away. There’s also going to be a DC Comics version of Lost Legacy coming out, with different superheroes having their own decks that can be mixed and matched to play. Artwork wasn’t final on these, so I couldn’t snag any pics.

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We’ve already warned you about Love Letter: Batman, but Alderac Entertainment will be releasing Love Letter: Batman, and Love Letter: The Hobbit too, in March for $10.99 each. Round up the villains of Gotham and lock ’em up in Arkham Asylum, or find The Arkenstone while avoiding the terrible dragon Smaug.

While I see the appeal of both versions, I’ll stick to my Love Letter – Kanai Factory Edition.

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Being a variant of the original Love Letter, a card game by Seiji Kanai, Love Letter: Batman takes players into one of the most sought-after comic worlds. As Joker and Harley Quinn have escaped from the notorious Arkham Asylum, it is Batman’s duty to hunt these villains down with the aid of Robin and perhaps, Catwoman. To achieve this goal, players have to make use of the special effects on the cards to knock opponents out of the round, or to capture the most powerful card so as to receive Batsignal tokens.

Love Letter: Batman is a co-release from Alderac and Cryptozoic. It plays 2 to 4 players in about 20 minutes, and is expected to be released in March 2015.

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The winners of the 2014 Origins Awards, as given out by The Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts & Design at the Origins Game Fair, are:

• Best Game Accessory—Space Gaming Mat from HC and D Game Supplies
• Best Game-Related Publication—TableTop
• Best Historical Miniatures Rules—Fields of Fire from Proving Ground Games
• Best Historical Miniatures Figure or Line—Fate of a Nation: Arab Israeli Wars from Battlefront Miniatures
• Best Historical Board Game—1775: Rebellion from Academy Games
• Best Traditional Card Game—Love Letter from AEG
• Best Collectible Card Game or Expansion—Pokemon Black & White Legendary Treasures from Pokemon
• Best Miniatures Rules or Expansion—Marvel HeroClix Avengers vs. X-Men Starters from WizKids
• Best Miniatures Figure or Line—Malifaux: The Guild’s Judgement from Wyrd Miniatures
• Best Roleplaying Game—Numenera from Monte Cook Games
• Best Roleplaying Supplement or Adventure—Night’s Watch from Green Ronin
• Best Family, Party or Children’s Game—Three Little Pigs from Iello
• Best Board Game—Trains from AEG

[via Bleeding Cool and Ogre Cave]

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Available now is AEG’s latest Legend of the Five Rings CCG expansion, The Coming Storm. The expansion, in 16-card booster packs, is the first following the Ivory Edition base set, and promises to test clan allegiances with the visit of an imperial heir to the colonies.

The Coming storm also continues the Ivory Edition’s focus on draft play, with a special L5R Draft Tournament Kit available to local shops. The new cards will be legal for event play June 21st.

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Alderac Entertainment Group has announced the next expansion for the Legend of the Five Rings CCG. With 150 new cards, Aftermath will be part of both the Emporer and Ivory arcs and will lead in to the release of the next base set. The story it tells will focus on the return to order in the Colonies and the transfer of power back to the Imperial Governor after the battle with P’an Ku.

Aftermath cards should be available in late November and will become tournament legal December 16th.

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