WizKids has just announce that Marvel’s Iron Man and War Machine will be joining Dice Masters in February.

The Iron Man and War Machine Starter Set will be the first annual starter set that will not be linked to a larger release.  The set will contain characters like Iron Man, War Machine, Howard Stark, and Rescue. It will also has versions of Iron Man’s armor never seen before in Dice Masters along with new takes on 8 Marvel Dice Masters heroes!

The Starter Set includes:

• 44  dice
• 38 cards
• Two dice bags
• Dice Masters rulebook

Marvel Dice Masters: Iron Man and War Machine Starter Set will retail for $19.99.

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NECA, parent company of WizKids, announced today acquisition of a license for the upcoming movie, Blade Runner 2049 (October). Along with plans for collectible figures, vehicles, and replicas, the company’s announcement specifically mentioned games. So what, Blade Runner HeroClix, Dice Masters, maybe a board game?

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Assault of the Giants, the next Dungeons & Dragons-derived board game from WizKids, is scheduled to hit retail in February. When it does, expect to see two versions. Both are meant for 3-6 players, with each controlling a particular clan of giants (hill, frost, fire, etc.). Both have players working simultaneously on a general war and the pursuit of goals unique to each clan. Both use the same map board and cards.

What’s the difference, then? One, the Standard Edition for $80, features 14 plastic miniatures molded in different colors. The other, the Premium Edition for $130, features the same miniatures but individually painted.

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The latest story-line for Dungeons & Dragons saw its official launch this week with the full retail release of the Storm King’s Thunder adventure book ($50 suggested retail). Developed in-house at Wizards of the Coast, Storm King’s Thunder sees the player characters defending the Sword Coast in The Forgotten Realms against the depredations of ravaging giants.

The adventure covers character levels 1-11, for the first five in a more traditional progression and in the later levels with a modular approach. The book includes an adventure flowchart to help guide the dungeon master, as well as an appendix with suggestions for integrating it with other published adventures. Part of the story involves the characters making use of the giants’ own rune magic to craft new fantastic items.

For those playing Dungeons & Dragons remotely online, licensed versions of Storm King’s Thunder are also available in Fantasy Grounds ($35) and Roll20 ($50). The story line makes an appearance as an expansion to the Neverwinter MMO. And coming from WizKids are a Storm King’s Thunder Icons of the Realms miniatures series (later this month) and an Assault of the Giants board game ($100, May 2017).

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The winners of the 2016 Origins Awards, as given out by the Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts & Design at the Origins Game Fair, are:

• Game of the Year—Codenames from Czech Games
• Best Board Game—Star Wars: Imperial Assault from Fantasy Flight Games
• Best Card Game—7 Wonders Duel from Repos Productions
• Best Collectible Game—DC Comics Dice Masters: War of Light from WizKids
• Best Family Game—Codenames from Czech Games
• Best Game Accessory—Terrain Tiles from Lost Battalion Games
• Best Miniature Game—Star Wars Armada from Fantasy Flight Games
• Best Roleplaying Game—Star Wars: Force and Destiny from Fantasy Flight Games

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Designed by Andrew Parks, the new Dungeons and Dragons board game, Assault of the Giants, is a giant in its own right. The game will contain 14 Giants miniatures, measuring from approximately 4” to over 5 ½” in height, and has up to six players controlling giants to attack settlements and obtain resources.

I’m sure we’ll see more details arise in the next few months.

Assault of the Giants will carry a giant price tag, too, coming in at a $99.99 MSRP.

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The TMNT Dice Masters set is coming in May, and I have to say I’m more excited about this release than any other I’ve seen yet. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Box Set contains everything 2-4 players need to play:

• 44 Custom Dice
• 38 Cards
• Two Dice Bags
• Complete Dice Masters Core Rulebook

The set will be $34.99, and is compatible with all other Dice Masters releases. I have to say that I love that Leo, Raph, Mikey, and Donnie are all rocking their original red masks on the box art. It’s a bit strange, though, since the (excellent) Nickelodeon cartoon is still so popular. Either way I’d be happy, as long as it wasn’t the new movie versions.

Along with the Boxed Set you’ll also be able to snag a playmat and dice bags for $19.99 and $14.99 respectively.

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WizKids, known for its collectible products, is launching a new line of unpainted miniatures. The first products, 150 fantasy figures, are scheduled to hit retail late in 2016.

The highly detailed miniatures feature an enhanced sculpting process, which highlights minute elements, and includes deep cut surface detail and scaled features for easier hand painting.

The series will feature Hero Packs with a low and high-level version of the same character, Monster Packs with 1-3 poses of a single monster type, and Item Packs with scenery elements. Pricing has not yet been announced.

Though not painted, the figures will be preprimed.

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Wizkids has just announced that Zev Shlasinger, formerly of Z-Man Games, has joined the company to head up a new board game unit.

“I plan to continue to bring original and unique ideas to market with the help of the WizKids team,” said Shlasinger. “They are very serious about building a board game business and are not afraid of good, fun, original ideas. In addition, WizKids has an amazing portfolio of licensed properties to enhance their board game presence in the industry. I think our combined qualities make a formidable team.”

It’s a pretty interesting move, and I’m hoping to see Zev again at Connecticon this year to see how it goes.

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About to hit retail are new 6¼ inch tall DC HeroClix figures with 3 inch bases—Batman (two versions), Superman (two versions), and the Joker. Clearly intended by WizKids and NECA more as collectors’ items than game pieces, Extreme HeroClix will be exclusive to Toys “R” Us and the Warner Bros. Home Entertainment eBay store, where they’re being paired with DC Comics DVDs for $30.

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