…that eldritch, hideous horror from outer space, that spawn of the blankness of primal time, that tentacled amorphous monster which was the lurker at the threshold, whose mask was as a congeries of iridescent globes, the noxious Yog-Sothoth, who froths as primal slime in nuclear chaos beyond the nethermost outposts of space and time!
    –H.P. Lovecraft, The Lurker at the Threshold

Yog-Sothoth offers his followers tremendous new power over the flow of space and time with the upcoming release of Ebla Restored.

In H.P. Lovecraft’s fiction, Yog-Sothoth exists coterminous to all time and space. Though no mortal mind can safely hold too many of the all-knowing Outer God’s secrets, many still seek to gain his favor through sacrifices and servitude. The knowledge they gain can be disastrous, but it can also unlock the secrets to unfathomable power, even such power as to unlink the life-glow from the body, to travel through marvelous vistas of dreams made real, or to hold a world in stasis.

The Gate of the Silver Key

The Revelations cycle for Call of Cthulhu: The Card Game draws the game’s attention to the power of dark knowledge, and The Gate of the Silver Key (Ebla Restored, 58) further enhances this theme. The Gate of the Silver Key provides Yog-Sothoth’s supplicants an interesting tool to thwart the machinations of other Ancient Ones and their cultists, as well as grinding to a halt the desperate efforts humanity’s investigators, who race to forestall their ultimate doom.

Before you can trigger The Gate of the Silver Key’s effect, you must first succeed at the story to which it is attached. However, you should already be looking for ways to succeed at stories, and the trigger shouldn’t appear like a condition that’s far out of reach. Meanwhile, because The Gate is cheap at only two cost, you could play it, along with two or more cheap characters, on the first turn to rush past your opponent’s initial resistance. Then, once you trigger The Gate’s effect, the chances dramatically increase that you’ll meet success in future turns.

In Call of Cthulhu: The Card Game, though each faction has the means to accelerate its card draw, few make consistent use of them, other than Miskatonic University. In the absence of accelerated card draw, your knowledge of the next ten cards from the top of an opponent’s deck translates to knowledge of your opponent’s next five turns. That knowledge, in and of itself, is powerful. It limits the amount of surprises you’ll encounter. You’ll be less likely to stumble into the path of a Black Dog (Words of Power, 29) or have someone Intimidate (Secrets of Arkham, 16) one of your agents at an inopportune moment.

Theorem and Practicum

However, The Gate of the Silver Key does more than provide knowledge of the top ten cards of a player’s deck; it also allows you to manipulate those cards, returning them to the top of the deck in any order. You can bury your opponent’s most destructive tools, like the Khopesh of the Abyss (The Shifting Sands, 16), The Mage Known as Magnus (That Which Consumes, 111), or Azathoth (Secrets of Arkham, 46). Or you can use it to slow your opponent’s ability to bring cards into play, placing his most expensive cards on top of his deck and forcing him to draw them before he can afford them.

Because you can play The Gate as early as the first turn, you can take advantage of the stall strategy it promotes almost immediately. It can be particularly effective when paired with the domain destruction afforded by Torch the Joint! (Core Set, 18) and The Large Man (The Shifting Sands, 27). Then, if you can steer all your opponent’s characters down a narrow path to the conspiracy, Negotium Perambulans in Tenebris (Dunwich Denizens, 80), your mastery of your opponent’s fate becomes nearly complete.

That Which Takes Away Can Also Give

There’s yet another role The Gate can play. You are also a player in the game, with a deck of your own, and you can use your Gate to reorder the top ten cards of your own deck. If you’re trying to draw the parts of a key combination, or if you’re simply looking to build a hand that scales nicely with your resource acceleration, The Gate of the Silver Key may help guide you into the future with confidence. Yog-Sothoth exists in all time and space, so it’s natural that his followers can live with the knowledge of the options that will come to them several turns in advance.

As we draw near the release of Ebla Restored, the rival factions of Call of Cthulhu: The Card Game seek the forbidden secrets of a forgotten city. Investigators, cultists, and monsters all hope to draw power from these secrets, but the most favored followers of Yog-Sothoth already know when and where the portal will open. The Gate of the Silver Key stands before them, beckoning them, promising even more power, more secrets, the answers to all the questions they dare not ask…

“No plan of operations extends with any certainty beyond the first contact with the main hostile force.”
    –Helmuth von Moltke the Elder

It is 1947, and an alternate World War II rages on tabletops everywhere! Fans of Dust Warfare have stormed the beaches, charged past artillery fire, and dug their trenches across the world as this fast-paced game has exploded onto the market.

Now, all the extra eyes on the battlefields have helped the generals to identify where the game could use greater clarity or a new plan of attack. Accordingly, the developers of Dust Warfare have responded by developing the Dust Warfare FAQ Version 1.0 (pdf, 14.0 MB), which is now available for download here and on the game’s support page.

Lead developer Mack Martin explains the design team’s goals in creating the document.

Keeping A Cool Head in the Heat of Battle

The battlefield can be a confusing place. A soldier’s orders aren’t always clear, and when the enemy rushes your line, it’s important to keep a good head on your shoulders.

Responding to player feedback, the Dust Warfare design team has produced the Dust Warfare FAQ to address the questions we see most frequently, and to correct a few issues that have come to light.

Players will find most changes fairly intuitive. Move characteristics for Rhino and Ozz have been increased to the level they were always meant to share (they have rockets strapped to their backs after all!), and the Recon Ranger Squad and Heavy Ranger Attack Squad are now listed with the same number of weapons as are present on the figures.

The FAQ also clarifies some of the game’s trickier situations. While many of these are rare, they can still arise during games, and we have gathered enough questions about them from a wide enough variety of sources that we feel they deserve official responses.

In addition, the Dust Warfare design team has also put together unit reference sheets for both the Axis and the Allies. These handy reference tools include the errata and are designed to make the fast and strategic gameplay of Dust Warfare even more immediate and engaging!

    –Mack Martin, Dust Warfare lead developer

Thanks, Mack!

Visit the Dust Warfare support page to download the Dust Warfare FAQ Version 1.0 (pdf, 14.0 MB), the Axis and Allies Unit Reference Sheets, and other helpful materials.

Today she wore a robe of purple samite and a silver sash, and on her head the three-headed dragon crown the Tourmaline Brotherhood had given her in Qarth. Her slippers were silver as well, with heels so high that she was always half afraid she was about to topple over. When she was dressed, Missandei brought her a polished silver glass so she could see how she looked. Dany stared at herself in silence. Is this the face of a conqueror? So far as she could tell, she still looked like a little girl.
    –George R.R. Martin, A Storm of Swords

Days of Ice and Fire 2012 begins today! If you live close to the Fantasy Flight Games Event Center or are visiting the Twin Cities metro area this weekend, come join us for our three-day celebration of George R.R. Martin’s beloved fantasy series, A Song of Ice and Fire.

Conquer Westeros or Explore New Lands

Fans of Fantasy Flight Games’ treatment of Westeros will revel in the endless games of A Game of Thrones: The Board Game Second Edition, Battles of Westeros, and A Game of Thrones: The Card Game. All weekend long, we’ll have space available for casual, pick-up games, including learn-to-play sessions for players seeking guidance as they enjoy their first experiences with these games.

Days of Ice and Fire draws many of the best and most enthusiastic players for each of our Westeros-themed games, and you’ll have plenty of chances to test your mettle. You can vie for control of the Iron Throne in the A Game of Thrones: The Card Game Regional Championship tournament, or grapple for control of Westeros with FFG CEO Christian T. Petersen in A Game of Thrones: The Board Game Second Edition.

Players seeking novelty won’t be disappointed, either, as Days of Ice and Fire 2012 marks the world premiere of the new A Dance with Dragons scenario expansion for A Game of Thrones: The Board Game Second Edition as well as the new Clash of Kings team strategy variant for A Game of Thrones: The Card Game.

Messenger Ravens

Even those of you who can’t make your way to Roseville, MN can take part in this year’s Days of Ice and Fire. We’ll have video coverage of both the melee and joust portions of this year’s A Game of Thrones: The Card Game Regional Championship, including interviews with some of the event’s top players. The Days of Ice and Fire 2012 Regional Championship promises to be one of the year’s largest, and players will want to see the results to gauge how best to approach the metagame and carry their Houses to victory in future events.

Our video coverage will also touch upon other aspects of the events of Days of Ice and Fire, and you can look for these videos on our website shortly after the weekend.

The Conquest of Essos

This weekend, stop by the Fantasy Flight Games Event Center or look to our community forums for all the latest updates on the conquest of Essos!

No one was calling her Daenerys the Conqueror yet, but perhaps they would. Aegon the Conqueror had won Westeros with three dragons, but she had taken Meereen with sewer rats and a wooden cock, in less than a day.
    –George R.R. Martin, A Storm of Swords

Avric Albright spent three years as a soldier assigned to the Citadel of Archaut before hearing his calling. He traveled to Vynelvale to join the priesthood, but never arrived. On the way, one innocent’s cry for help led to another quest to rescue a small town, to another adventure deep beneath the earth. And so it goes for Avric, a man so devoted to the principles of his religion he cannot find the time to be inducted into its holy orders. Still, no one doubts his faith...or his power.

As the release of Descent: Journeys in the Dark Second Edition approaches, we continue our series of previews on its new and exciting gameplay elements. A few weeks ago we looked at the Warrior archetype, along with how its two possible classes (Knight and Berserker) offer distinct play experiences. Today, we’ll examine the Healer archetype, and we’ll see how the vigilant Disciple and the shamanistic Spiritspeaker each present a unique approach to the healing arts.

A Light in the Darkness

First, meet Avric Albright. A deeply religious crusader, Avric has pledged himself to those in need. Should his controlling player select the Disciple class, Avric would be armed with a Wooden Shield with which to protect the faithful, an Iron Mace with which to punish the wicked, and a litany of prayers with which to summon his god’s wrath or mercy. Prayer of Healing is his starting Class card (read Martial Mastery, an earlier preview, for more on Class cards and experience points), and it forms the foundation for many of the Disciple’s synergies.

The Disciple’s Class deck features a number of cards that specifically affect Prayer of Healing, making it more powerful and versatile. While numerous skill combinations are prevalent across all character types, a Class deck in which one skill specifically mentions another skill is relatively rare (only the Necromancer's Class deck is similar in that regard, but we’ll discuss that class in a future preview). For example, Armor of Faith, Cleansing Touch, and Holy Power are all Class cards that improve Prayer of Healing, allowing it to buff an ally’s defense, cure conditions, affect multiple targets, or all of the above.

Of course, the Disciple could spend his experience points in entirely different ways, spreading serenity to his foes with Prayer of Peace or punishing evil with his Blessed Strike. With these and many other skill options available, a decision to follow the righteous path of Kellos is only the first in a long line of compelling choices.

May the Spirits Guide You

For a less orthodox approach to spirituality, Avric could have instead chosen Spiritspeaker as his class. These shamanistic witch-doctors are often derided by more official religious institutions, since it’s rumored that they dabble in the dark arts. But although their methods may be unconventional, their powers are no less effective.

The Spiritspeaker begins with an Oak Staff (far more than a mere walking stick) and the ability to buff himself and nearby allies with Stoneskin. Like Stoneskin, a great many of the Spiritspeaker’s skills tend to affect targets “within 3 spaces,” making this class an excellent aura-based buffer and de-buffer.

For example, the Spiritspeaker might summon a Cloud of Mist to obscure incoming attacks against himself and his fellows, or his wounded party might gather around him for a Healing Rain. The more offensively minded Spiritspeaker might even evoke a roaring Tempest to sweep away his foes, or curse them with Shared Pain. While such devilry might be reprehensible to the high-minded Disciples, a Spiritspeaker is always willing to call upon his long-dead ancestors to inflict their wrath upon his enemies.

Whether you choose guidance from your ancestor spirits or the hand of Kellos himself, the Healer Archetype presents an invaluable asset to any dungeon-delving team. Keep checking back in the coming weeks for more on Descent: Journeys in the Dark Second Edition, and look for it on store shelves this summer!

The yard was quiet and empty. A lone sentry stood high on the battlements of the inner wall, his cloak pulled tight around him against the cold. He looked bored and miserable as he huddled there alone, but Jon would have traded places with him in an instant.
    –George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones

The characters of A Game of Thrones: The Card Game can’t be said to live calm and secure lives. Between the game’s numerous Intrigue and Military challenges, Deadly rivals, targeted kill effects, and plots like Valar Morghulis (Core Set, 201) and Marched to the Wall (Lords of Winter, 49), characters rarely find themselves more than a razor’s breadth, or a single misstep, from the dead or discard piles.

As the game of thrones plays out between the Great Houses of Westeros, characters must constantly stare death in the face. They can choose to live recklessly, aiming for as much power and glory on the battlefield as possible in a short period of time, or they can choose to live cautiously, staying behind the battle lines and doing their best to play the game through forged letters and broken promises. Despite their skill of arms and all the precautions they may take, there are few promises for characters in A Game of Thrones.

Better Engineering

In A Song of Ice and Fire, while the Lords and Ladies of the Great Houses rise to power, fall, and die, the great keeps in which they live persist. Harrenhal faced dragon flame and persisted, scarred but eternal. Likewise, Winterfell tasted the flames of the Ironborn but persisted. Perhaps it’s because these great stone keeps survive so much in George R.R. Martin’s stories, or perhaps it’s because it takes characters to win the challenges at the heart of the game of thrones, but players of A Game of Thrones: The Card Game frequently regard locations as more permanent than characters.

It’s true that fewer effects can discard or destroy locations than can kill or remove characters, but locations remain vulnerable to a great number of effects like those of The Price of War (Kings of the Sea, 38), Condemned by the Council (A Time of Trials, 38), and the Newly-Made Lord (Tourney for the Hand, 16).

Until now.

House Stark wins some security for its locations with a new card from Valar Dohaeris. Stark’s Castle Battlements (Valar Dohaeris, 23) attach to a location you control and render it immune to non-plot card effects.

The extra stability your locations receive from Castle Battlements can help to justify the powerful, but pricey, effects of locations such as Harrenhal (On Dangerous Grounds, 42), Winterfell (Lords of Winter, 23), and Winterfell Castle (Core Set, 25). However, it’s not always the expensive location you need to defend. Sometimes, locations more central to your strategy present them as targets and merit the reinforcement. In the right decks, Riverrun (Lords of Winter, 24), The Dreadfort (Dreadfort Betrayal, 105), and Widow’s Watch (Gates of the Citadel, 2) all deserve protection.

Of course, Castle Battlements can protect more than just your Stark locations. During last November’s European Championships at Castle Stahleck, one of the top melee decks ran House Stark to gain the power surge of a dominance phase won by Baratheon’s The Iron Throne (A Sword in the Darkness, 46) on the turn it played The Minstrel’s Muse (Return of the Others, 120), then repeated the phase with Den of the Wolf (A Change of Seasons, 58). It’s a powerful combination, but now that players have seen it, they can work to strip the pieces before they can come together. Castle Battlements, though, can bolster the integrity of your Den of the Wolf or protect The Iron Throne or simply help you collect the three influence you need.

The Enemy Outside the Gates

But wait, there’s more!

Not only do the Castle Battlements help safeguard your locations from harm. They help you win challenges. Or more precisely, they help you avoid losing them. Stark are well-suited to bunkering up and playing defense, but they don’t have as many characters with Stealth and Deadly as some of the other Houses, leaving them vulnerable during challenges. Stark players facing a character like Bronn’s Hireling (Lions of the Rock, 17) would frequently have to decide whether to lose an Intrigue challenge and suffer the claim, or defend and lose a character to Deadly. Now, because the Castle Battlements strip Stealth and Deadly from all non-unique characters, House Stark can force its opponents to send their best characters forward or to send enough strength to win a challenge made on even footing.

Of course, nothing’s ever on even footing in the end, and that’s why it’s better to be standing on the Castle Battlements, surveying the enemy from above, than finding yourself in the middle of a melee spilling into the castle courtyard or waged outside the castle walls.

Look for Castle Battlements and the other great cards from Valar Dohaeris to serve your decks when this second Chapter Pack from Beyond the Narrow Sea arrives next month. Until then, keep checking back for additional previews.

Fortress America is coming soon, and you can prepare by downloading the complete rules (pdf, 33.9 MB) from our support page! This updated version of Michael Gray's 1986 classic pits one player, in control of the beleaguered American forces, against up to three others, who team up to assault the U.S. on three fronts. Featuring beautifully crafted components (including over 300 detailed plastic figures), Fortress America thrusts players into a frightening geopolitical scenario in which diplomacy has failed, and World War III has begun.

A war on three fronts

In Fortress America, the United States must defend itself from three deadly invading armies: the Asian People’s Alliance from the West, the Central American Federation from the South, and the Euro-Socialist Pact from the East. Players take on either the role of the United States, struggling to protect itself from foreign threats, or the role of one or more of the invading armies, fighting battle after battle to acquire important territories.

Learn more by downloading the rules or visiting our detailed description page, then head to your local retailer to place your pre-order. WWIII will begin soon!

Fantasy Flight Games, leading hobby-market publisher of board games, card games, roleplaying games, and other tabletop games, is now hiring for the following positions:

Marketing Coordinator (pdf, 377 KB)
Associate Graphic Designer (pdf, 451 KB)
Pre-Press/Graphics Associate (pdf, 377 KB. Note: There was initially a technical issue with the email address listed in this pdf. It has been resolved, but if you sent your résumé prior to May 10th, please resubmit it. We apologize for the inconvenience.)

Details can be found in the pdf documents linked above. To apply for any of these positions, submit a single Word or pdf (preferred) document containing the following items, in the following order:

• A cover letter indicating your interest and whatever else you’d like us to know about your application.
• A resume, including two professional references.
• Some samples of your work or a link to your online portfolio (Associate Graphic Designer applicants only).

Make the filename of your submission something similar to “firstname_lastname.pdf” and email it to the address listed in the appropriate pdf document. We will confirm receipt of your application materials by email. Please do not call or visit.

Our offices are located in Roseville, Minnesota, a suburb of the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Candidates not already living within commuting distance must be willing to relocate. Fantasy Flight Publishing, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer committed to a diverse work force and a work environment free from discrimination.

The grave robber’s skin itched as the sun sank beneath the stand of trees at the western edge of the cemetery. He pulled back his sleeve to scratch at his arm and noticed that his hair had grown strangely dark and thick. Plus, his fingernails had grown unexpectedly long and sharp. Then he was caught by an excruciating pain. His muscles all started to burn, his skin drew tight all around him, and he lost consciousness for a moment… The next he knew, he could smell a distant fear in the air. He could hear the soft breath of a potential victim. He threw back his head and howled at the moon!

Add an element of gothic horror to your games of Talisman. The Blood Moon expansion is now available at your local retailer and online through our webstore.

The quest for the Crown of Command leads into the darkest reaches of the realm, where nocturnal predators wait for sunset to stalk their prey. The world of Talisman has always been full of adventure, but The Blood Moon adds new elements of excitement and suspense with new rules for the distinction between sunny Days and bone-chilling Nights. Players will encounter new challenges amid the expansion’s 111 new Adventure cards, three Alternative Endings, ten spells, and three new characters.

The Dread of Night

Not only does The Blood Moon add new rules for the passage of time, it provides plenty of reasons for characters to fear Nightfall! New Lunar Events remain in play until either Daybreak or Nightfall, and this means that as their darkest effects add up, the realm can become a truly terrifying place. Characters may find their movement hindered or face mobs of terrifying creatures, including the fearsome Werewolf that prowls the realm in search of prey and characters to bend to its will.

Characters who encounter the Werewolf may gain the curse of lycanthropy, becoming the Werewolf’s unwitting servants, spreading the disease and forwarding the Werewolf’s dominion over the land.

Act Quickly!

The new mechanics and cards of The Blood Moon expansion integrate seamlessly into your games to add a new dimension of gothic horror, and there’s no better time to head to your local retailer to pick up this exciting expansion than right now.

Don’t let Nightfall catch you unprepared. Pick up your copy of The Blood Moon today to confront the realm’s most terrifying adversaries. If you act quickly, you can defeat them before the last of the daylight hours fade!

This year, Gen Con Indy is celebrating its 45th year, and Fantasy Flight Games is pleased to once again be a part of the action! Our Fantasy Flight Games Gen Con Experience website has been updated for the upcoming Gen Con Indy 2012, and is ready to help guide you through the best four days in gaming. Learn about our event information and find convenient links where you can buy your tickets!

Reminisce about last year’s Gen Con (or see what you missed)
with our four-part recap videos (also available on YouTube).

Make Your Plans To Join Us

Located in Indianapolis, Indiana, Gen Con Indy is an enormous convention devoted to hobby gaming and its fans. Fantasy Flight Games has attended this illustrious event for the past fifteen years, providing attendees with an amazing and memorable experience.

The Fantasy Flight Games Gen Con Experience website is designed to aid you in navigating our numerous offerings and provide you with up-to-date information. Don’t miss out on a unique gaming opportunity! Our ticketed events tend to sell out quickly.

Register for Gen Con today, then visit our Fantasy Flight Games Gen Con Experience website for information on our exciting North American Championship Events for A Game of Thrones, Call of Cthulhu, Warhammer: Invasion, Dust Tactics, and Dust Warfare.

You can also sign up for our exclusive Gen Con Indy Twitter feed, and check back in the coming weeks for updates on:

• Ticketed events
• Games that will be demoed at our booth
• Games that will be debuted at the show
• Informative seminars
• Special guest appearances
• and more!

Aboveground, even greater dangers lurked. In their region of the city, Sol patrols were to be most feared, but a thousand things could get one killed in the new Mecatol. Gangs of looters that would kill first and steal later. Packs of flying ruvar birds that, driven mad by the poisoned rains and desperate for food, had become feral and savage things. And there was the endless Sol bombings. While the explosions could kill one well enough, they left behind a broken landscape almost as deadly.
     – Rex: Final Days of an Empire

In the aftermath of a sudden and unexpected attack on Mecatol Rex, the galactic seat of power, questions abound. Who was behind the brutal assault? Can the ruling Lazax truly trust their allies? What does this mean for the fate of the galaxy?

Find answers in the Rex FAQ and Errata (pdf, 2.5 MB), now available on our support page! For more on this helpful document, we turn to senior designer Corey Konieczka:

A Transmission From the Imperial Palace

This FAQ & Errata document is intended to clarify rules issues and answer frequently asked questions about Rex. For the sake of completeness, this document includes all known issues, including those already noted on the insert sheet included in your game.

The majority of this document answers questions that players (like yourself) have asked about a variety game situations. These questions fall into three categories, clarification on racial advantages, combat related questions, and miscellaneous rare or awkward gameplay situations. 

I tried to keep this document brief and to the point. Most of these topics have been discussed on our forums, and the answers should not come as a surprise to our forum members. As always, we really appreciate your support and are here to serve your gaming needs. If you have any further questions about any of our games, I encourage you to use our rules submissions form.

I wish you luck in your conquests of Mecatol Rex, and happy gaming!
-Corey Konieczka

“Hail, comers from afar!” they said, and they turned the hilts of their swords towards the travellers in token of peace. Green gems flashed in the sunlight. Then one of the guards stepped forward and spoke in the Common Speech.
    “I am the Doorward of Théoden,” he said. “Háma is my name. Here I must bid you lay aside your weapons before you enter.”

–J.R.R. Tolkien, The Two Towers

Darkness and silence await you in the mines of Moria. The Long Dark is now available at your local retailer and online on our webstore!

The fourth chapter of the Dwarrowdelf saga, this Adventure Pack relates the trials of the heroes of Middle-earth as they delve into Moria’s ancient Dwarven tunnels in search of the source of the increased Orc activity in the Misty Mountains. The way is dark and choked with foes and hazards. The ominous dark lingers ever before your party, closing in around you, making it difficult to tell one path from another, and you must be careful to keep your way.

The Long Dark challenges your fellowship with Locate Tests and goblin hordes, and your heroes will need guidance rooted in wisdom in order to prevail.

A Man of Worth in a Time of Doubt

The Long Dark introduces a new Tactics hero to represent the Riders of Rohan, Háma (The Long Dark, 76). A warrior who earned the right to serve as Théoden’s personal doorward, Háma brings both his sword and his wisdom to The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game.

Naturally, Tactics heroes excel at defending and defeating enemies. That said, none have yet appeared to structure the Tactics sphere into a more coordinated strategy. Gimli (Core Set, 4) and Legolas (Core Set, 5) are tremendous warriors, but they tend to race into every fray, counting their kills. Gimli slays the larger enemies, and Legolas clears a path through the smaller foes for your fellowship to travel. Boromir (The Dead Marshes, 95) may be a valiant hero, but he tends toward selfishness, defending and attacking all that come near him. Thalin (Core Set, 6) may have a definite style, but it rarely suggests any measure of planning; he simply pushes forward into every unknown location, forever committed to the quest. Of the existing Tactics heroes, Brand son of Bain (The Hills of Emyn Muil, 72) is most likely to coordinate a larger strategy out of momentary tactics; his ability to ready other player’s heroes can be very handy, but requires some cooperation.

Háma, however, is likely to change how many players approach the Tactics sphere. As your fellowship pushes further into the darkest reaches of Middle-earth, you want a plan that provides consistent means of dealing with the enemies that seek to surround you. Háma’s ability provides just that. With just one Willpower and one Defense, Háma’s not built to excel at much other than attacking, but that’s okay. It’s when he attacks that he shines. After Háma is declared as an attacker, you can return a Tactics event from your discard pile to your hand. Of course, you have to discard a card afterward, but so long as you have the cards to spare, Háma helps you get greater, consistent utility out of some of the Tactics sphere’s greatest events, such as Feint (Core Set, 34) and Quick Strike (Core Set, 35).

Events in The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game often have tremendous effects, but their main drawback is that they are discarded immediately after they resolve. Because you can only include three copies of any event in a deck of at least fifty cards, it’s sometimes hard to count on drawing them when you need them. Háma may not allow you to include extra copies or keep your events on the table as static bonuses, but he allows you to make repeated use of them. Moreover, when Háma attacks, you can return the Tactics event of your choice from your discard pile, meaning that you can start to build a larger strategy out of the events you include in your deck.

Traveling Purposefully through The Long Dark

Pick up your copy of The Long Dark today to strike forward under the guidance of Háma, purposefully arming your hand with the most useful Tactics events in your deck. This exciting Adventure Pack is now available at your local retailer and online on our webstore!

“Be at my tent by midday. I want you there with my other officers when I treat with the sellsword captains.” Dany spurred her silver on to camp.
Within the perimeter the Unsullied had established, the tents were going up in orderly rows, with her own tall golden pavilion at the center. A second encampment lay close beyond her own.
    –George R.R. Martin, A Storm of Swords

The Great Houses of Westeros have all sent their emissaries to steer the events transpiring in Essos in their favor. Now, as those agents sail across the Narrow Sea to arrive at the Fantasy Flight Games, their actions will write the dramatic tale of Days of Ice and Fire 2012!

Days of Ice and Fire 2012 begins this Friday, May 18th. Will you meet your foes on the field of battle? Will you form alliances with other houses to topple a common enemy? Or will you sit quietly at the edge of events as the other Houses stumble into your snares?

Plan Your Next Move

It is no easy task to navigate a weekend full of excellent Westeros-themed games. Days of Ice and Fire is a three-day celebration of George R.R. Martin’s fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire, and the array of events are nearly as epic as the saga itself!

Today, we are pleased to make the weekend’s schedule available for download (pdf, 326 KB). You’ll find abundant opportunities to participate in games of A Game of Thrones: The Board Game Second Edition, A Game of Thrones: The Card Game, and Battles of Westeros. You can also check out the numerous prize drawings, trivia contest, and question and answer sessions with Fantasy Flight Games developers that have been scheduled.

Renown

We are proud to announce that renowned game designer Eric M. Lang will be present throughout the day Saturday and for Sunday’s Design a Card Seminar for A Game of Thrones: The Card Game. One of the designers of A Game of Thrones: The Card Game, Eric also designed Call of Cthulhu: The Card Game and Warhammer: Invasion The Card Game.

This weekend, fans of A Game of Thrones: The Card Game will have a chance to speak with him, along with developers Nate French and Damon Stone, and learn more about how they approach the choices players make during games and the work of translating a story and setting as rich as George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire into a mechanical framework that breathes with story, surprise, and excitement!

Download your copy of the Days of Ice and Fire schedule today to plan your participation. We’ll see you Friday!

This week, we’ll take a look Dance to Loec (Fragments of Power, 37), as well as a deck that features the card.

This Order-only Wood Elf tactic plays as a development. That's it. Nothing flashy. It's the type of card some players will dismiss as weak. But while it might not seem impressive at first glance, this card offers subtle, yet very worthwhile benefits.

First of all, each copy of Dance to Loec allows you to play one more development than you can normally play on your turn, thus speeding up any strategy based on developments, much like Light of Morrslieb (The Twin Tailed Comet, 60). Of course, because Light of Morrslieb stays in play, you can potentially get more developments from it, and Dance to Loec, again, appears weak after the initial comparison. However, it has one great advantage over Light of Morrslieb or similar cards, like Nimble Spearman (Omens of Ruin, 19): you can use it during any action window.

When your opponent attacks with what he thinks is just enough damage to burn your zone, you can suddenly increase the zone’s hit points, holding your zone together for at least one more turn. And since you get to “play” it as a development instead of putting it “into play” as one, you can even trigger the effects of cards like Celestial Wizard (The Twin Tailed Comet, 47), True Mage (The Twin Tailed Comet, 51), or Mining Tunnels (The Burning of Derricksburg, 2) on your opponent’s turn.

Among other things, Loec is the Elven god of tricks. And while we’re speaking of acting during your opponent’s turn, your Dance to Loec permits some crafty tricks. For starters, it lets you respond to your opponent’s Judgement of Verena (Core Set, 49) by playing a development into the zone your opponent thought he'd demolished after spending cards and resources to clear it of developments. Or you can play Dance of Loec as a development at the end of the turn in which your opponent puts down Hidden Grove (Omens of Ruin, 7) or Und Dokbar (Omens of Ruin, 2) to deprive you of power during your Kingdom or Quest phase. Such tricks may seem simple or obvious, but they can easily prove the difference between victory and defeat.

The Dwarfs Request the Next Dance

Now, let's take a look at the deck. For quite some time, many Dwarf decks have been constructed around Reclaiming the Fallen (The Silent Forge, 2), Dwarf Ranger (Core Set, 10) and sacrifice effects. And for good reason; it's a highly effective approach. However, it's certainly not the only weapon in the Dwarfs' arsenal. In fact, some Dwarfs don't want to sacrifice themselves, heroically or otherwise. Some just want to kick some serious butt. Even if it means teaming up with the Wood Elves.

Units
3x Defender of the Hold
3x Dwarf Cannon Crew
3x Nimble Spearman
2x Ancient Longbeards
2x Master Runesmith
2x Troll Slayers
3x Wild Rider
3x Serpent Slayer
(Total: 21)

Tactics
3x Dance to Loec
3x Crafting the Rune
3x Wake the Mountain
2x The Wild Hunt
(Total: 11)

Quests
3x Building for War
3x New Trade Route
(Total: 6)

Supports
3x Contested Village
3x Helblaster Volley Gun
3x Ancestral Tomb
3x Mining Tunnels
3x Mountain Barracks
(Total: 15)
Total Cards: 53

The idea is simple: get a high number of developments into your battlefield fast, and stomp all over your opponent with Serpent Slayer (March of the Damned, 1) and Wild Rider (Legends, 50). This isn't one of those sissy decks that nibble away at zones. Ideally, you should be able to win with just two attackers, thanks to their overwhelming power and damage output.

You should play a development every turn from the start, and you have plenty of cards that will help you gain additional developments, including Nimble Spearman, Ancient Longbeards (Omens of Ruin, 1), Crafting the Rune (The Eclipse of Hope, 83), Wake the Mountain (Core Set, 24), and Ancestral Tomb (The Fall of Karak Grimaz, 3). As for the Ancestral Tomb, don't hesitate to play it into your battlefield if you don't absolutely need it somewhere else. You want those developments for your Serpent Slayer and Wild Rider as soon as possible. And of course Dance to Loec, and its surprise factor, can turn the tide of battle when your opponent leasts expect it.

Sometimes, you’ll play all your developments to your battlefield, but they can also be useful in your Kingdom and Quest zones, just like your big hitters. A Wild Rider's increased power will benefit you everywhere, and Serpent Slayer can make a powerful defender. The Wild Hunt (Fiery Dawn, 20) is an expensive way to deal with a powerful opposing unit, but the Master Runesmith (The Twin Tailed Comet, 42) can help reduce the cost. You can also use The Wild Hunt on your own unit, preferably a Wild Rider, to make your next wave of combatants even stronger, or save a zone from burning.

The Dwarf Cannon Crew (Core Set, 8) and Mining Tunnels help you build up your economy, and with a little bit of luck, you can make use of the Master Runesmith and the quests Building for War (Karaz-a-Karak, 80) and New Trade Route (Rising Dawn, 18) to gain economy without ever investing in your Kingdom zone.

While Serpent Slayer and Wild Rider will be your main attackers, the Helblaster Volley Gun (Warpstone Chronicles, 86) is your backup plan. With all the deck’s accelerated development, the Helblaster Volley Gun can turn even a lowly Defender of the Hold (Core Set, 1) into a mighty warrior!

Thanks, Torsten!

Look for the Dance of Loec to catch players by surprise later this month when Fragments of Power arrives at retailers everywhere. Until then, keep checking back for more previews and strategic insights for Warhammer: Invasion The Card Game.

Bring an even deeper level of immersion to your dungeon-delving experience! Fantasy Flight Games is pleased to announce the upcoming release of Splig, Belthir, and Zachareth, three professionally crafted metal Lieutenant Miniatures for Descent: Journeys in the Dark Second Edition.

These 28mm scale, lead-free pewter figures are designed to replace the Lieutenant tokens in Descent: Journeys in the Dark Second Edition. Along with certain previously released Lieutenant Miniatures, players will have access to alternate components for Second Edition’s full cast of Lieutenants.

Enemies and Allies

The overlord’s fiercely loyal minions stand ready to squash any hapless do-gooders that might oppose his schemes. Splig, by virtue of being the biggest goblin, is always the leader. And because he is the leader, he gets all the food. And because he gets all the food, he’s the biggest goblin! Meanwhile, the terrifying dragon hybrid Belthir has made a name for himself as a mercenary over the past several decades, and his newfound service to the overlord bodes ill for Terrinoth.

Zachareth, on the other hand, stands apart. After all, why should the charming and philanthropic Baron of Carthridge, a wise and benevolent leader, be lumped in with a fat goblin and a flying menace? Surely, the beloved Baron Zachareth could never willingly associate with the forces of evil. What might his presence here mean?

Look for Second Edition Lieutenant Miniatures on stores shelves in the third quarter of 2012!

I says a prayer that Shallya’s hands
Will hold me young lad fast
As plague and war took me other four
And this one be me last
                     –from a Reiklander Folk Song

Priests of Shallya, yours is a difficult task. Violence and war are common throughout the Old World. There are many even within the Reikland who struggle with sickness or finding sufficient nourishment. Meanwhile, the Ruinous Powers spread blood, death, and pestilence everywhere they go, and their corrupting influence works its way into the hearts of our people, bringing greater suffering.

Still, the Maiden of Mercy commands her priests to bring peace whenever peace is possible, and whenever it is not possible, she demands that you work to protect the innocent and the righteous from needless suffering. It may seem an impossible task, but Shallya gives her followers strength in their efforts.

Fantasy Flight Games is proud to announce that Faith of Shallya, a Print on Demand supplement for Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay, is now available through our webstore to bring new peace and mercies to the Old World.

Blessings of Shallya

Priests of Shallya view violence as a last resort. Instead, they strive to ease the suffering of all in need, focusing on diplomacy to solve their problems whenever possible. Still, Shallyans often travel to dangerous places to tend to those in greatest need. Shallyan priests wander the Old World, bringing healing to all they encounter, and their warrior priests, or hospitaliers, tend to the sick and wounded on the battlefield in times of war. Though they abhor violence, they hospitaliers will fiercely defend the wounded, hospices, and healing tents when there is no other recourse.

Faith of Shallya introduces fifteen new blessings and two new items to help your Shallyan ease pain and suffering throughout the Old World.

Faith of Shallya introduces new options for healing from Rank 1 to Rank 5, as well as charms to help you resolve situations through peaceful negotiation, and power to mitigate the suffering caused by diseases. When the Fly Lord, Nurgle, is involved, the Maiden of Mercy lends her full strength, and Faith of Shallya presents players with several new means to deal with diseases.

What is Print on Demand?

Print on Demand is an exciting new process that allows Fantasy Flight Games to produce professionally finished cards on a made-to-order basis, which opens up new opportunities for expanding existing games.

This process (not to be confused with Print and Play) results in smaller print runs of professionally manufactured products, allowing publishers to provide fans with content that would otherwise not be commercially viable. If you’re a retailer interested in carrying our Print on Demand products, visit our Professional Zone website to learn more.

Order yours today

Whether your priest invokes just one new blessing from Faith of Shallya, or you aspire to use them all, Faith of Shallya gives you exciting new ways to enjoy Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay. Learn more from our detailed description page, or place your order through our webstore. Then, draw upon Shallya’s power to begin the arduous process of bringing peace to the Old World!

Note: Due to variations in the printing process, cards from Print on Demand expansions will be subtly different in appearance and texture from base game cards.

The Sino-Soviet Union takes the center stage in Dust Tactics with the release of Operation “Zverograd,” several SSU squads, and the game’s first aerial unit, all of which are now on sale at your local retailer and online on our webstore!

Operation “Zverograd”

The fourth campaign expansion for Dust Tactics, Operation “Zverograd” follows the war to the mysterious city of Zverograd, along the Caspian Sea, where we catch our first glimpse of SSU forces in action! In Zverograd, SSU forces confront Axis forces arriving from the west, south, and southwest, while Allied forces approach from the east.

Formerly a jewel of a city, Zverograd has been devastated by the war. Over seventy percent of its buildings have been reduced to rubble, but while forces from the three armies battle to control whatever they can of this doomed city, they are unclear why their superiors find it so meaningful.

Operation “Zverograd” presents overviews of the SSU’s history in the war, its major battles, its present concerns, and its greatest heroes. Players will find rules to introduce aircraft, Commissar Squads, Pilot Skills, and Legendary Tacticians to the game, along with other new skills. Operation “Zverograd” also comes with a modular building set to construct 3D structures, and the new hero, Koshka Rudinova, who joins the city’s defense in her customized walker, Grand’Ma.

SSU Command Squad Expansion

The veteran SSU Command Squad is a terrific boon to any SSU general, granting you the ability to relay your commands directly to your forces. They have the skills to reactivate units that you’ve already used, bring previously destroyed vehicles back to the battlefield, or bring in squads to reinforce your army. These powerful leadership abilities make the SSU Command Squad nearly indispensable in any SSU army.

SSU Airborne Transport Expansion

Swooping onto the battlefield to deliver reinforcements and perform quick attacks, the SSU Airborne Transport represents a large tactical advantage for the SSU. This is the first airborne unit in Dust Tactics, and it allows SSU commanders to mobilize their armies with unmatched swiftness. This expansion also includes an entire squad of Chinese Volunteers to back up the rest of your SSU forces. The SSU Airborne Transport is a must-have for any SSU player.

SSU Close Combat Squad Expansion

After fighting in many intense close-quarter situations, the soldiers of the SSU have become experts at this type of combat. Well known for their ability to craft makeshift weapons like Molotov Cocktails, members of the SSU Close Combat Squad form an integral part of the SSU forces. These grizzled squads carry Shotguns and a Flamethrower for maximum damage at close range, and to increase their effectiveness, they have learned how to scout out prime locations of the battlefield.

SSU Battle Squad Expansion

Trained in the art of rapid assaults, the SSU Battle Squad frequently forms the front line of SSU armies. This squad is equipped with a pair of DPM machine guns that allow them to pummel the enemy from afar. SSU soldiers have fought on every type of terrain from the American Everglades to the frozen Russian tundra. Their wealth of experience in battles on hostile terrain and in hostile conditions makes them one of the world’s most reliable squads.

Take the World by Storm!

The Sino-Soviet Union army has arrived. The red invasion has begun!

Operation “Zverograd” and the expansions available at your local retailer and online through our webstore provide you everything you need to start playing this battle-tested faction today.

And there’s more to come. The SSU KV47 Walker Expansion is on its way, representing the SSU’s greatest advances in walker technology. Meanwhile, you can check out the other exciting SSU units on their way for Dust Tactics, including the Commissar Squad and two more aircraft. Plus, you can pre-order your copy of Campaign Book “Zverograd” now. This Campaign Book contains all the information you need in order to field your SSU forces and drive your foes before you in Dust Warfare.

The ferocious battles of Dust Tactics rage in vibrant color with the professionally pre-painted miniatures of Dust Tactics Premium. Now, as the Red Army musters its forces, you can order premium versions of Operation “Zverograd,” the game’s first aircraft, and several Sino-Soviet Union squads, all of which are now available on our webstore!

Operation “Zverograd”

The fourth campaign expansion for Dust Tactics, Operation “Zverograd” follows the war to the mysterious city of Zverograd, along the Caspian Sea, where we catch our first glimpse of the game’s new faction in action! In Zverograd, SSU forces confront Axis forces arriving from the west, south, and southwest, while Allied forces approach from the east.

Formerly a jewel of a city, Zverograd has been devastated by the war. Over seventy percent of its buildings have been reduced to rubble, but while forces from the three armies battle to control whatever they can of this doomed city, they are unclear why their superiors find it so meaningful.

Operation “Zverograd” presents overviews of the SSU’s history in the war, its major battles, its present concerns, and its greatest heroes. Players will find rules to introduce aircraft, Commissar Squads, Pilot Skills, and Legendary Tacticians to the game, along with other new skills.

Operation “Zverograd” also comes with a modular building set to construct 3D structures, and beautifully pre-painted versions of the expansion’s new hero, Koshka Rudinova, and her customized walker, Grand’Ma.

SSU Command Squad Expansion

The veteran SSU Command Squad is a terrific boon to any SSU general, granting you the ability to relay your commands directly to your forces. They have the skills to reactivate units that you’ve already used, bring previously destroyed vehicles back to the battlefield, or bring in squads to reinforce your army. These powerful leadership abilities and their dramatic and gritty paint scheme make the SSU Command Squad an exciting addition to any SSU army.

SSU Airborne Transport Expansion

Swooping onto the battlefield to deliver reinforcements and perform quick attacks, the professionally pre-painted SSU Airborne Transport represents a large tactical advantage for the SSU. This is the first airborne unit in Dust Tactics, and it allows SSU commanders to mobilize their armies with unmatched swiftness. This expansion also includes an entire squad of Chinese Volunteers painted and ready to back up the rest of your SSU forces. The SSU Airborne Transport is a must-have for any SSU player.

SSU Close Combat Squad Expansion

After fighting in many intense close-quarter situations, the soldiers of the SSU have become experts at this type of combat. Well known for their ability to craft makeshift weapons like Molotov Cocktails, members of the SSU Close Combat Squad form an integral part of the SSU forces. These grizzled and camouflaged squads carry Shotguns and a Flamethrower for maximum damage at close range, and their professionally painted armor shows the wear of multiple battles.

SSU Battle Squad Expansion

Trained in the art of rapid assaults, the SSU Battle Squad frequently forms the front line of SSU armies. This squad is equipped with a pair of DPM machine guns that allow them to pummel the enemy from afar. SSU soldiers have fought on every type of terrain from the American Everglades to the frozen Russian tundra. Their wealth of experience in battles on hostile terrain and in hostile conditions makes them one of the world’s most reliable squads. The Dust Tactics Premium versions of these soldiers brings them to you masterfully styled as the rugged and ready infantrymen they are!

Take the World by Storm!

The Sino-Soviet Union army has arrived. The red invasion has begun!

Operation “Zverograd” and the pre-painted Dust Tactics Premium SSU expansions available on our webstore provide you everything you need to start playing this battle-tested faction today.

Meanwhile, you can pre-order your copy of Campaign Book “Zverograd” now. This Campaign Book contains all the information you need in order to field your vibrant SSU forces in the intense tabletop miniatures battles of Dust Warfare!

From the besieged ports of southern England to the frozen wastes of Antarctica, Axis and Allied forces war for the fate of the world. Powerful alien technology and heroic commanders redefine the key battles of World War II in the alternate reality of Dust Warfare. As the global conflict reaches a fever pitch, one brilliant general may decide the war. Will that be you? Heed the call, rally the troops, and delivery your side to victory!

The Dust Warfare: Core Rulebook is now available for online purchase from wargamevault.com! Pick up your copy and lead your army to glory on the battlefield.

Fast-paced Strategic Combat

Inside the Dust Warfare: Core Rulebook, you'll find innovative and dynamic rules for engagement. The game’s mechanics keep players engaged throughout the entire turn sequence, starting with the critical Command phase, in which commanders can order their soldiers to attack or move before the enemy can respond. During the Unit phase, the heart of the game, units can not only make move and attack actions, but they can also respond to the actions of your opponent. Furthermore, unique mechanics like suppression keep foes at bay as you shower them in bullets and exercise your tactical will.

Also inside the Core Rulebook, you'll find the army lists for the Axis and Allies. These documents allow you flexibility when mustering your men. Simply choose a platoon type, Command section, and units, and you'll have a fighting force. For further customization, Platoon Upgrades give your troops access to artillery support, additional equipment, and more.

The innovative Battle Builder makes selecting a scenario a strategic part of the game. Using Scenario Points, each player can influence battlefield conditions, objectives, and deployment. For more narrative games, the campaign scenarios provide special rules like Night Engagements and Secret Missions. You can even weave these tense scenarios together to create your own campaign.

The fate of the world is to be decided on the battlefield, and it's up to you to lead the troops into battle and secure victory! Head to wargamevault.com at once to snag your copy of the Dust Warfare: Core Rulebook.

I says a prayer that Shallya’s hands
Will hold me young lad fast
As plague and war took me other four
And this one be me last
                     –from a Reiklander Folk Song

Priests of Shallya, yours is a difficult task. Violence and war are common throughout the Old World. There are many even within the Reikland who struggle with sickness or finding sufficient nourishment. Meanwhile, the Ruinous Powers spread blood, death, and pestilence everywhere they go, and their corrupting influence works its way into the hearts of our people, bringing greater suffering.

Still, the Maiden of Mercy commands her priests to bring peace whenever peace is possible, and whenever it is not possible, she demands that you work to protect the innocent and the righteous from needless suffering. It may seem an impossible task, but Shallya gives her followers strength in their efforts.

Fantasy Flight Games is proud to announce that Faith of Shallya, a Print on Demand supplement for Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay, is now available through our webstore to bring new peace and mercies to the Old World.

Blessings of Shallya

Priests of Shallya view violence as a last resort. Instead, they strive to ease the suffering of all in need, focusing on diplomacy to solve their problems whenever possible. Still, Shallyans often travel to dangerous places to tend to those in greatest need. Shallyan priests wander the Old World, bringing healing to all they encounter, and their warrior priests, or hospitaliers, tend to the sick and wounded on the battlefield in times of war. Though they abhor violence, they hospitaliers will fiercely defend the wounded, hospices, and healing tents when there is no other recourse.

Faith of Shallya introduces fifteen new blessings and two new items to help your Shallyan ease pain and suffering throughout the Old World.

Faith of Shallya introduces new options for healing from Rank 1 to Rank 5, as well as charms to help you resolve situations through peaceful negotiation, and power to mitigate the suffering caused by diseases. When the Fly Lord, Nurgle, is involved, the Maiden of Mercy lends her full strength, and Faith of Shallya presents players with several new means to deal with diseases.

What is Print on Demand?

Print on Demand is an exciting new process that allows Fantasy Flight Games to produce professionally finished cards on a made-to-order basis, which opens up new opportunities for expanding existing games.

This process (not to be confused with Print and Play) results in smaller print runs of professionally manufactured products, allowing publishers to provide fans with content that would otherwise not be commercially viable. If you’re a retailer interested in carrying our Print on Demand products, visit our Professional Zone website to learn more.

Order yours today

Whether your priest invokes just one new blessing from Faith of Shallya, or you aspire to use them all, Faith of Shallya gives you exciting new ways to enjoy Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay. Learn more from our detailed description page, or place your order through our webstore. Then, draw upon Shallya’s power to begin the arduous process of bringing peace to the Old World!

Note: Due to variations in the printing process, cards from Print on Demand expansions will be subtly different in appearance and texture from base game cards.

“Of course humanity was meant to cross the void between the stars. It is our destiny, and it is for this purpose, the God-Emperor has seen fit to grant us the power necessary to ply the roiling Warp. The Navigator guides us by His light. The Astropath carries His torch to the darkest corners of space. We go in His Name, by His Will, for His Glory. And, of course, for the tidy profit we earn for our efforts in his grandest of plans."
      –Rogue Trader Raol Straud

The warp is a domain of nightmares, filled with insanity made manifest and ethereal predators hungry for souls. Yet it is this shadowy realm that a Rogue Trader must tread to seek fame and fortune amongst the stars.

Fantasy Flight Games is pleased to announce the upcoming release of The Navis Primer, a supplement for Rogue Trader! This powerful volume reveals the secret history of the Koronus Expanse’s Navigator Houses, while unveiling the Astropath Voidfrost and Soul Ward Disciplines. Players can unleash the unpredictable might of the Waaagh! with the Ork Weirdboy Career Path, and uncover new warp-touched powers, alternate career ranks, and elite advances for Explorers of all kinds. What’s more, The Navis Primer provides expanded rules for navigation and astrotelepathic communication, and presents terrifying new hazards and foes from the depths of the Expanse!

Navigating a Stormy Sea

For more on The Navis Primer, here’s a word from its lead developer, Max Brooke:

The warp is the stormy sea that Rogue Traders must cross in search of fame, glory, and, of course, profit. A Rogue Trader's mighty voidship is a large part of what makes this miracle possible, but no less important are those who possess an innate connection to the Immaterium. 

From the secretive Navigator Houses whose members guide vessels through the roiling Sea of Souls to the esoteric Choirs of Astropaths who cast messages across the cold void, those with the ability to perceive or manipulate the power of the Warp are both critical to a Rogue Trader's ambition and very interesting characters in their own right. The Navis Primer contains new options for the histories of Navigators and Astropaths in the Koronus Expanse, as well as expanded rules for the tasks they must overcome and new powers to help them rise to these challenges. Further, it includes a number of new character options for other Explorers whose lives have been touched by the Warp in one way or another, whether they harness it for profit or seek to unlock its darkest mysteries.

Of course, not all of those touched by the Warp are loyal to the Imperium—or even human– and The Navis Primer explorers the psykers and Warp-entities that dwell in the Expanse. This includes resources for new enemies and their terrifying powers, and also a new psyker Career Path, the erratic Ork Weirdboy.

The Navis Primer is loaded with new possibilities, and I'm looking forward to hearing the wild and Warp-touched stories that players and Game Masters alike use them to create.

Check back for more in the coming weeks, and in the third quarter of 2012, prepare to unleash the power of the warp in your Rogue Trader campaigns!

When he and I obtained our degrees at the medical school of Miskatonic University, and sought to relieve our poverty by setting up as general practitioners, we took great care not to say that we chose our house because it was fairly well isolated, and as near as possible to the potter's field. Reticence such as this is seldom without a cause, nor indeed was ours; for our requirements were those resulting from a life-work distinctly unpopular. Outwardly we were doctors only, but beneath the surface were aims of far greater and more terrible moment…
  –H.P. Lovecraft, Herbert West: Reanimator

The way things are shaking up right now, it looks like this will be the Summer of Miskatonic. As more Revelations come to light over the course of the current cycle of Asylum Packs for Call of Cthulhu: The Card Game, it becomes more and more evident that the University’s scientists are adding some “awe” to their shock-and-awe strategy. The faction is well suited for two types of strategy. The first focuses on combo decks, utilizing card draw and deck manipulation to find missing pieces to unravel shocking puzzles. The second is their “Rush” strategy, their “awe” move, which seeks to win the game before other factions can mount a decent defense.

The latter strategy seems a rather mindless pursuit for those clever students and brilliant scientists, but taking full advantage of the early game’s very small window of opportunity takes careful planning and quick, on-your-feet thinking to execute. Ideally, you’ll want to have two or three success tokens on every story after your first run. The turn after, win a story or two. And then, the real challenge begins: sleuthing for those final tokens to win the game. This is where Miskatonic rush too often starts running out of steam.

CSI: Arkham

Miskatonic often finds that, after that glorious early game, things start to go wrong. Destruction is a common thing in Arkham. This is where Dr. Mya Badry (Ebla Restored, 49) comes in. After the terror and combat struggle had their effects, she swoops in for the Investigation struggle and skill test. And she’ll be doing overtime. Note that the victim doesn’t have to be a Miskatonic character. It doesn’t even have to be your character to send her in; cut down a committed character with the Khopesh of the Abyss (The Shifting Sands, 16), or simply win the Combat struggle, and she’s there, on your side, finding clues, then quickly moving out of the way, waiting for someone to drop at another player’s turn. She works with anyone, so I expect to see her a lot, even without her Miskatonic buddies.

Aside from making sure someone is always committed somewhere, it’s also excellent for some bait-and-switch tactics. When your lone investigator is exploring a story, an opponent’s monster may see this as a chance to grab some lunch. Suddenly, some Black Dogs (Words of Power, 29) come out of nowhere, and maul the varmint. This gives Dr. Badry the chance to show up and win some tokens on the story, and the future threat of her sudden appearance should be enough to scare away other lone creatures, forcing them to team up and, potentially, leave some stories unguarded.

The Deck

Today, we’re going to explore how Dr. Mya Badry fits into such a Miskatonic rush strategy. We’ll do so by making a deck that keeps the cost as low as possible and uses a number of other characters that can also come into play by alternative means. This allows us to skimp on resources, and field as many characters as possible. One recent entry of note is the humble Research Assistant (Words of Power, 27), who is easy to play, adds Investigation icons to your side, and even presents the opportunity to draw extra cards and ready in the Arcane struggle. This allows us to use her both offensively and defensively, doubling the effectiveness of her Investigation icon, while also doubling the chance to run into trouble and drawing Dr. Badry to the scene.

Some of the deck’s cards cost a little more to play, but these may come in handy when the board is starting to stagnate, and you need a little edge to push through your opponent’s defense for the win. Kitab Al-Azif (Conspiracies of Chaos, 58) and Whateley's Diary (Dunwich Denizens, 77) serve as a way to complete the final story, as well as to fuel the Research Assistants. The deck is very low on ways to remove opposing characters, but The Necronomicon (Secrets of Arkham, 9) can help to even the odds, even if it is in a slow and unwieldy way.

3x Alaskan Sledge Dog
3x Black Dogs
3x Chess Prodigy
3x Descendant of Eibon
3x Dr. Carson, Fringe Psychologist
3x Dr. Carson's Treatment
3x Dr. Mya Badry
3x Eldritch Nexus
3x Hapless Graduate Student
3x Infirmary (Words of Power, 28)
1x Kitab Al-Azif
3x Laboratory Assistant
3x Medical Student
3x Museum Curator
3x Pnakotic Manuscripts
1x Professor Armitage, Venerable Librarian
1x Professor Nathaniel Peaslee, Scholar of the Arcane
3x Research Assistant
1x The Necronomicon
1x Whateley's Diary, Cryptic Text

Just remember to keep playing aggressively. You can spend excess success tokens to drive some of your best tricks, and going insane or losing combat is often just part of the plan. You’ll be able to recover quickly. Don’t relent. Keep your opponent off balance, and remember that whatever horrors you face, they will all soon be over, one way or another. But as you race to the end, the deck – just like Miskatonic University – should always have some surprises in store.

Thanks, Marius!

Rush decks may have taken a hit during the Ancient Relics cycle of Asylum Packs, but does Dr. Mya Badry herald a new age of scientific inquiry and reckless investigation? Stay tuned for more previews of Ebla Restored, and find out!

“Today, you and I do battle for the last time. On this field we will clash steel and shed each other’s blood. But tonight… I will celebrate your death.”
    –Final words of the champion Niklas Kessler

Champions of the Empire, take heed! The call sounds forth for those tried and tested in battle to stand once more against the Empire’s greatest foes. Who will answer the call? You who have stood against the seeds of corruption, who have slain orcs and daemons, it is time to take action. Hero’s Call is now available for online purchase from drivethrugrpg.com and rpgnow.com!

Find epic power and fight epic antagonists in this high-powered expansion for Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay.

Hero’s Call provides your heroes with tremendous new options and challenges: twelve regional options for men and dwarfs from outside Reikland, rules for epic spells and blessings, and extended challenges. It’s a good thing, too, that your characters will be able to wield greater power than ever before because Hero’s Call also explores the daily challenges of the Old World’s greatest heroes, including the burdens of notoriety and responsibility, as well as the Epic Threats they must face.

Adventures at the Peak of Your Career

Players aren’t the only fans who will enjoy the fantastic material of Hero’s Call. The book also introduces a half-dozen heroic episode templates to help GMs create thrilling encounters for high-ranking parties. These six episode templates can be used as the basis of an adventure, as part of a larger scenario, or even as the root of a wider story arc involving advanced player characters.

• Rally the Masses: Challenge the heroes’ leadership, as they must stem disaster by quelling public dissent, calming a volatile mob, and dealing with the rabble-rouser inciting the trouble.
• Monster Slayers: The archetypal heroic quest pits the party against a monster of legendary proportions and terrible ferocity.
• Court Intrigue: Challenge characters’ investigative skills as they unravel the secrets of the rich and powerful.
• The Conclave: The PCs flex their political muscles as they seek to persuade an influential body of nobility to commit to urgent action.
• Battle Lines: High-ranking heroes shine in pitched battles, where an understanding of tactics and troop movements are as important as brute strength.
• The Grand Finale: Find the perfect ending; bring an epic campaign to a dramatic and memorable close.

Epic in every regard, Hero’s Call grants players the opportunity to take their characters to the heights of power, battle awesome foes, explore the deepest roots of the Empire’s intrigues, and participate in fantastic stories of epic proportion.

With the heroic episode templates and the complete high-level adventure, The Art of Waaagh!, you’ll find stories and excitement of the highest order.

Epic adventure is just a click away. Head to drivethrurpg.com and rpgnow.com now to purchase your copy of Hero’s Call!

Welcome to New Angeles, home of the Beanstalk. From our branch offices in this monument of human achievement, NBN proudly broadcasts all your favorite media programming. We offer fully comprehensive streaming in music and threedee, news and sitcoms, classic movies and sensies. We cover it all. Ours is a brave new age, and as humanity hurtles into space and the future with an astonishing series of new advances every day, NBN and our affiliates are keeping pace, bringing you all the vid that’s fit to view.

Fantasy Flight Games is proud to announce the upcoming release of Android: Netrunner! Originally designed by Richard Garfield and released in 1996, Netrunner was widely hailed as one of the greatest customizable card games of its era. Now, with Android: Netrunner, players can look forward to revisiting the game’s exciting play… or experiencing it for the first time.

Android: Netrunner is an asymmetrical Living Card Game™ for two players. Set in the cyberpunk future of Android, the game pits a megacorporation and its massive resources against the subversive talents of lone runners. Corporation players try to score points by advancing their agendas, and netrunners try to score points by breaking through the corporation’s defenses and stealing valuable data. The first player to seven points wins the game, but not likely before he suffers some brain damage or bad publicity.

Building a Brighter Future

Every day, humanity benefits from the efforts of those visionary corporations that have worked tirelessly to push the envelope of human experience. Mankind has spread across the solar system, colonizing celestial bodies with varying degrees of success. The Moon and Mars have been colonized, and plans are underway to terraform the red planet. On Earth, a massive space elevator climbs through the exosphere, ending at a space hub that facilitates easy travel to the Moon or other destinations. It is the major hub for space trade, and most people refer to it as the “Beanstalk.”

Corporate advancements in computers and discoveries in the field of neurobiology have led to brain-mapping, a method by which the human mind can be electronically recorded and fitted to sophisticated mind-machine interface devices. Now, the mouse and keyboard are archaic relics, gestural interfaces and virt displays are the new normal, and human intellect can achieve immortality, even as geneticists, pathologists, and other scientists work to unlock the secrets of physical immortality.

.... never trust a megacorp…

Everything you know is a lie. It’s only what the Corps want you to think or see or hear. If you want to see the truth, you have to hack through layers of firewalls, past sentries, barriers, and the pervasive media chatter. Megacorps aren’t built on dreams and hopes. They’re built on credits, lies, and the blood and sweat of the little guys who can’t stand up for themselves. They will kill whomever they need, whenever they can, to keep their messaging strong and clear, broadcasting from Broadcast Square to outer space. You want the truth? Talk to a runner. They call us criminals, sure, but that’s just because megacorps don’t live by laws; they make them. They make reality. But whatever they think they can make, I can tear it down. There’s only one real truth. The network is everywhere. Everything is on the net. Your banking, your purchase history, your favorite shows, your dirty laundry. You dig deep enough, you run fast enough, you can find anything, and be anyone…

Breaking the Ice

The asymmetrical game play of Android: Netrunner creates entirely different experiences for corporations and runners, but in all cases, players gain an unprecedented amount of control over the flow of the game. Tension builds immediately from the very outset as both players consider how to maneuver through their actions each turn. Bluffs, calculated risks, and assumed losses all play into your decision-making as you must forge quickly ahead with limited and imperfect knowledge.

Furthermore, players can explore the flavorful distinctions between the game’s four corporations (Haas-Bioroid, Jinteki, The Weyland Consortium, and NBN) and its three runner classes (Anarch, Criminal, and Shaper). Each of these seven factions offers a distinctive personality, further rooting it in the Android universe and enriching the game’s variety.

Hack into the Future

The future is here. Megacorps and netrunners vie for control of reality. Android: Netrunner is scheduled for release in the third quarter of 2012, and you can read more about it on the game’s description page!

“He has faces beyond count, little one, as many faces as there are stars in the sky. In Braavos, men worship as they will… but at the end of every road stands Him of Many Faces, waiting. He will be there for you one day, do not fear. You need not rush to his embrace.”
    –The Kindly Man, A Feast for Crows

Fantasy Flight Games is pleased to announce the upcoming release of The House of Black and White, the fifth Chapter Pack for A Game of Thrones: The Card Game to arrive from Beyond the Narrow Sea!

For years, during and after the war, Arya Stark recited a nightly prayer. It was a list of names. They were the people who had done the most harm to her and to her family and whom she most wished dead. For a long time, her prayers went unanswered. Her father’s northern gods failed her. The seven gods of the southrons were no help. But in Braavos, at last, Arya thought she found the god she sought, the Many-Faced God of death, the god of the House of Black and White.

At the End of Every Road

The House of Black and White introduces sixty new cards (three copies each of twenty different cards) that further enrich the Beyond the Narrow Sea cycle and its exploration of the people, places, and events of Essos. Of course, Arya Stark (The House of Black and White, 81) and The House of Black and White (The House of Black and White, 82) feature prominently in the Chapter Pack, but players will also find a host of high-impact new locations for each House, as well as an arsenal of Weapons and other attachments.

George R.R. Martin’s fantasy series, A Song of Ice and Fire, is a sweeping epic that details the machinations of several Houses and spans both years and continents. However, it is simultaneously an intimately personal tale that traces the impacts that the story’s key events make upon its main characters. Some die. All change.

The House of Black and White allows you to change your characters (and your opponent’s) with a handful of House-specific attachments. Meanwhile, players who favor the saga’s unique personalities will find deadly new tools in The House of Black and White to help them cut through opponents’ non-unique minions. Though all must eventually find their way to the Many-Faced God, some may first live in such a way as to merit a song, or to shape the conquest of Westeros.

Revenge!

Arya found her way to the House of Black and White, seeking revenge for the deaths of her friends and family members. Now, as the Great Houses play their game of thrones, will Arya Stark be able to draw upon her lessons from The House of Black and White to slay her foes?

Look for Arya Stark, The House of Black and White, and a host of other locations, characters, attachments, and events to redefine the nature of revenge when The House of Black and White releases in the third quarter of 2012!

Every passing week brings us that much closer to the release of Descent: Journeys in the Dark Second Edition! We’ve seen a great deal over the past month, including an overview of a hero’s turn, a look at the overlord and his minions, and an examination of the Warrior archetype.

But with rampaging ettins and axe-wielding berserkers competing for the fate of Terrinoth, it goes without saying that pacifism is out of the question. We’ve already seen that “Attack” is one of the most important actions a hero can choose on his turn (important enough, in fact, to often choose it twice), but how are attacks actually resolved? Today, we’ll look at Second Edition’s custom dice, we’ll discuss its new line of sight rules, and we’ll put it all together with a detailed example of an attack.

Seeking Fortune’s Favor

Second Edition features nine custom dice in six types, three of which are generally used for defense while the other three are most often used for offense.

Second Edition’s nine custom dice consist of one brown, two gray, and one black defense dice,
plus one blue attack die, and two red and two yellow power dice.
Click the above images to see each die’s full configuration.

The defense dice, which let a hero cancel incoming damage () from an attack, are fairly straightforward. From brown, to gray, to black, they provide increasing amounts of defense (), with gray being the most common; it’s rolled by the majority of monsters and heroes alike. The offensive dice, on the other hand, are a bit more complex.

The ubiquitous blue attack die is essential to any offense, and is called for by everything from a simple sling to a Merriod’s thrashing tentacles (it’s also the only die with a miss result (), which renders an entire attack ineffective). Where an attack derives its uniqueness, however, is in the type and number of power dice it uses. The red power dice are heavy on damage, and are typically seen accompanying the blue attack die on melee weapons. Alternatively, the yellow power dice offer a boost to range (a number 1–2), and tend to be seen on magical and ranged weapons.

Another symbol that the attack and power dice have in common is the surge (). You might think of a surge as a sort of currency, which can be spent to trigger powerful abilities on an attack. It’s important to note, however, that each available surge effect can only be triggered once per attack, so a Knight cannot, for example, Shield Slam multiple enemies just because he’s rolled multiple surges. It’s also important to explain what might be called the “universal surge effect.” Any hero can spend a surge to recover one fatigue, but as with all surge effects, this can only be triggered once per attack.

All together, these versatile combat rules contribute to both tactical depth and character distinctiveness, as each hero and weapon setup offers engaging dice combinations along with compelling ways to spend surges. Will you stun your foe, or is raw damage the wiser approach? Should you force your opponent to reroll a defense die, or should you recover a fatigue in anticipation of an upcoming turn? With each attack comes a new wealth of interesting tactical possibilities.

Calling the Shots

As we discussed above, ranged attacks tend to require the blue attack die and at least one yellow power die, as it is these dice that provide range (a measure of how many spaces your attack can “travel” before hitting its target). The success of such attacks is not entirely a matter of distance, however. In order to target an enemy, an attacker must also have an unobstructed line of sight.

Veterans of first edition will notice an important difference in Second Edition’s line of sight rules. In short, rather than tracing “center to center” (from the center of the attacker’s space to the center of the target space), line of sight is now traced “corner to corner” (from any corner of the attacker’s space to any corner of the target space). Both corners are of the attacker’s choosing, but the line can neither cross over a blocked space nor be traced along its edge (see the example to the right). Daniel Clark, one of Second Edition’s developers, took a moment to explain this design decision:

It’s not that the first edition line of sight rules were confusing by any means, but they encouraged players to devote a lot of time to considering and executing the perfect shot. We would often see players paralyze the game as they deliberated line of sight, and it was this tendency that the design team wanted to minimize. By adopting more liberal line of sight requirements, we saw playtesters spending less time on these decisions and more time focused on the narrative.

While it’s difficult to convey the end result of this change in a preview, those who have played Second Edition can attest to a subtle shift in the combat dynamic. If attackers can more easily establish line of sight, it makes them less concerned with maneuvering for a clear shot. Conversely, however, their targets must now actively maneuver to take cover behind blocked spaces.

Tomble and the Zombie

Now that we’ve established the basics of combat, let’s put it all together with an example. First, however, meet Tomble Burrowell:

For the purpose of our combat example, imagine that Tomble has purchased a Sling from the Shop deck, which he’ll now use against a Master Zombie. Notice that Tomble’s Sling has a surge effect that causes the Stunned condition, while the Zombie can spread Disease. Stunned, Diseased, Immobilized, and Poisoned are persistent conditions that can affect heroes and monsters in Second Edition, and they’re conveniently represented by cards that are placed in front of the afflicted player (and in the case of the overlord, tokens near his monster figures).

To see how Tomble fares against the Master Zombie, download our combat example (pdf, 2.8 MB)!

But what if things ultimately go poorly for Tomble? Should a hero suffer damage equal to or greater than his health, he is considered defeated and is knocked out. He then immediately suffers fatigue up to his total Stamina, and his controlling player removes his figure from the map and replaces it with one of his hero tokens (knocked out heroes block neither line of sight nor movement).

Unless a knocked out hero is revived by an adjacent ally, he can perform only one action on his turn, and that is to stand back up (to be clear, this constitutes a knocked out hero's entire turn). Such a hero rolls two red power dice, recovering damage equal to the  rolled and fatigue equal to the  rolled. Of course, the monster that knocked him down in the first place may have something to say about this, and a newly revived hero is vulnerable to being knocked right back down again...so it’s important to have the backup of nearby allies.

Reviving a knocked out ally follows the same basic procedure, but since a different hero is performing the action, it is a far more efficient use of everyone’s two actions per turn.

Ready to begin your own adventure? Keep checking back for more in the coming weeks, and look for Descent: Journeys in the Dark Second Edition and the Conversion Kit this summer!

The Schocktruppen staggered out of the burning archway, still shooting even though his trench coat was ablaze, the luminous green lenses of his gas mask eerie points of light in the corona of flame that ate away at his body. Brown raised up his bulky flash machine gun, too heavy for any regular soldier to have used without a tripod, and let the ghoul have it, the high energy capacitor’s whine sounding shrill even over the thunder of the cannon’s roar as the Schocktruppen came apart in a hail of lead.
“And that’s all Detroit has to say about that,” the burly sergeant grunted through clenched teeth.
All around him were the sights and sounds of furious battle, the crackle of gunfire, the cries of the dying, and the dull roar of grenades, mixed with less familiar and far stranger phenomenon like the acrid reddish fog billowing from the keep that smelled of sulfur and blood that stole his breath away, and the weird, reverberating howls that grabbed hold of your guts like a dead man’s hand come up from hell.
He was already bleeding freely from a shrapnel gash in his bicep, and he’d taken a bullet in his calf that reminded him it was still in there somewhere every time he moved, and what was worse was he was already near the end of his second ammo belt. But he’d seen worse and had worse, and this shindig wasn’t over yet.

Fantasy Flight Games is proud to announce the upcoming release of Operation: Night Eagle, an action-packed novel set in the world of Tannhäuser!

On American Soil

When the occult-obsessed Reich sets its sights on an ancient artifact held in Washington, D.C.’s Smithsonian Castle, the ruthless Hermann Von Heïzinger plans an unprecedented raid on U.S. soil...and only Major John MacNeal and the elite soldiers of the 42nd Marines stand before them. There’s more to this mission than meets the eye, however. Why has the enigmatic Matriarchy mobilized its forces? And to whom is the mysterious mercenary Wolf truly loyal? Prepare for an epic battle that will rage deep into America’s heartland.

Visit our Operation: Night Eagle website to learn more, and look for this gripping novel at your local bookstore in the third quarter of 2012!

At last, Manfred and his battle grenadiers caught sight of their target, the artillery walker that had been bombarding the Axis staging area. His men fanned out into position, and Manfred signaled for the kill. The Allies may have developed the Steel Rain into a lethal artillery walker, but it was known to be vulnerable at short range. The first shot fired, but it sounded strange. Suddenly, the air sparked with phaser blasts. His grenadiers were dropping, but Manfred just stood and watched in amazement. Allied artillery walkers didn’t have phaser cannons…

The time has come to unleash your custom combat walkers! The Dust Tactics Conversion Contest ends tomorrow, May 10th at Midnight CST.

A masterfully converted Medium Panzer Walker by José Brito.

Designed for War

War is often the mother of invention. Scientists and engineers respond rapidly to enemy threats and equip their forces with the means to counter them. After all, predictability is the key to an early grave.

The Dust Tactics Conversion Contest celebrates the greatest contributors’ innovations in two categories, Best Model and Best Creation. Each category will have two winners (one Axis, one Allies), and winners earn $200 credit to dust-models.com and the opportunity to display their models at Gen Con in the Fantasy Flight Games display case. In addition, Best Creation category winners will have their walker turned into a new model kit available from Dust Studio!

The Categories

The contest has two categories: Best Model and Best Creation. The most refined, most weathered, and overall most appealing walker takes the title of Best Model. This category is for the skilled veterans to show off their very best work. The Best Creation category will be judged solely on the idea of the walker conversion. Here, as in war, form follows function, and we want to see the most electrifying walker Dust Tactics players can imagine, regardless of their modeling skills! This category is for every Dust Tactics enthusiast, no matter their skill at converting miniatures. The contest is judged by Paolo Parente, the creator of the Dust universe, and Vincent Fontaine, Art Director of Dust Studio. In all, there are four chances to win. Four walkers will rise victorious, so if you think you’ve got what it takes to win, send us photos of your custom walker by tomorrow!

A heavily converted Medium Panzer Walker by Stéphane Nguyen

The Rules

Please abide by the following rules when submitting your entry:

• This contest is open to all participants worldwide.
• Submissions must be received by midnight Central time, May 10th. Send all submissions to submissions@fantasyflightgames.com.
• All submissions should include the subject line, “Dust Tactics Walker Conversion Contest”
• Submissions must contain at least a single photograph of the model, and no more than four photographs not exceeding 5MB in size (.jpg or .png images only).
• Participants may submit as many conversions as they like, but each entry must be submitted in separate emails.
• Fantasy Flight Games and Dust Studio reserve the right to reject any submission that does not follow these guidelines without notification.
• You must agree to our submission terms. Include the following disclaimer in your email, verbatim:

“I certify that I am the creator of the attached material and that attached material is original, unpublished work. Fantasy Flight Games, Dust Studio, and their licensees may reproduce, distribute, publish, display, edit, modify, create derivative works, and otherwise use the material for any purposes in any form and on any media. I agree to indemnify and hold harmless Fantasy Flight Games and Dust Studio against all claims, suits, costs, damages, and expenses that may be incurred in connection with the material.”

The time has come to unveil your new technology! All submissions are due by tomorrow at midnight CST.

“Dragons will be as great a wonder in Astapor as they were in Qarth. It may be that the slavers will shower you with gifts, as the Qartheen did. If not… these ships carry more than your Dothraki and their horses. They took on trade goods at Qarth, I’ve been through the holds and seen for myself. Bolts of silk and bales of tiger skin, amber and jade carvings, saffron, myrrh.”
    –George R.R. Martin, A Storm of Swords

Throughout the Seven Kingdoms, the Great Houses of Westeros prepare their ships to sail. The time has come to cross the Narrow Sea for Days of Ice and Fire 2012!

Join us May 18th – 20th at the Fantasy Flight Games Event Center for a weekend of intrigues, battles, and great games. From Friday through Sunday, we’ll have exciting events for A Game of Thrones: The Board Game Second Edition, Battles of Westeros, and A Game of Thrones: The Card Game, including the Minnesota Regional Championship tournament and a new strategic team format, Clash of Kings. Participants will also be able to immerse themselves in the weekend’s trivia contest, conversations with their favorite game developers, and a weekend-long meta-contest, Caravan to Vaes Dothrak, in which all participants can score points for their House and win a Dothraki feast!

It’s not too late to pre-register for three days of fun and fantasy in the world of George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire, but don’t delay. Early registration closes today. The ships are sailing. Register now!

Precious Cargo

Today we’re happy to show off the contents of the gift bag available to all attendees.

One of the most exciting developments is that, this year, we are able to make the Days of Ice and Fire 2012 deck box available to all who attend. The Days of Ice and Fire deck box is traditionally one of the weekend’s most coveted souvenirs, and this year’s deck box features the event’s iconic depiction of Daenerys Targaryen, the Mother of Dragons, as envisioned by the talented Michael Komarck.

Attendees will relive their adventures in Essos all year long with the exclusive souvenirs from the Days of Ice and Fire 2012 gift bag:

• Days of Ice and Fire 2012 souvenir guidebook that features a range of exclusive content, including insider looks at Fantasy Flight’s Westeros-themed games, recipes for delicious dishes inspired by A Song of Ice and Fire, and a new interview with George R.R. Martin!
• Custom Days of Ice and Fire 2012 lanyard.
• 11” by 6” Mustering at Dragonstone art print featuring the stunning artwork of Tomasz Jedruszek.
• Days of Ice and Fire 2012 custom deck box. Store your A Game of Thrones: The Card Game cards in the best deck box Essos has to offer!

Early Registrants Receive More

If you’re planning to attend Days of Ice and Fire, you’ll want to register now to gain even more exciting and exclusive goodies in your gift bag:

• Forty-two House cards and rules for A Dance with Dragons, an exciting new scenario that recasts the intrigues of A Game of Thrones: The Board Game Second Edition in the time frame of A Dance with Dragons.
• A Days of Ice and Fire 2012 Commemorative “House of Black and White” coin. Welcome to Braavos – Valar morghulis!
• A custom souvenir Days of Ice and Fire name badge! When you pre-register, we’ll ask you to list your three favorites of the great Houses, and the earlier you register, the more likely you’ll be placed according to your first choice. Your eye-catching badge will display your name as well as your house.
• Entry into a drawing for exciting prizes!

As she rode through the Free Cities of Essos, Daenerys was showered with gifts by those who sought a glimpse of her dragons. Now it’s your turn to enjoy the wealth of Essos when you attend Days of Ice and Fire 2012. Register now!

“Valar morghulis,” Arya repeated. It wasn’t hard […] Across the yard, she could hear men dying.
    –George R.R. Martin, A Clash of Kings

The time has come to follow the battles and intrigues of A Game of Thrones: The Card Game to the Eastern lands of Essos Beyond the Narrow Sea. Valar Morghulis is now available at your local retailer and online through our webstore!

All men must die. But some deaths are more costly than others.

While the Great Houses of Westeros play their game of thrones, Valar Morghulis adds sixty new cards to the game (three copies each of twenty different cards) that explore the deadliest aspects of Essos and its intrigues. From The Kindly Man (Valar Morghulis, 1) and Magister Illyrio (Valar Morghulis, 16) to Thirst for Vengeance (Valar Morghulis, 12) and Maester Kerwin (Valar Morghulis, 11), these cards explore the roles of the deadliest and most vengeful players, as well as the game’s deadly impact on the Great Houses.

The Calm Amid the Storm

Not all is death and despair among the new cards of Valar Morghulis. As the Great Houses extend their machinations to the Free Cities of Essos, new players take the stage.

House Baratheon gains the services of a powerful Ally known not for his prowess in battle, but his thoughtfulness, kindness, education, and well-trained hawks. The heir to Highgarden, Willas Tyrell (Valar Morghulis, 9) was crippled in a joust by Prince Oberyn Martell but remains a desirable candidate for marriage for all those seeking to ally their Houses to the wealth and power of the Tyrells.

In A Game of Thrones: The Card Game, Willas Tyrell shares stats and abilities that represent his position of power and the uncertainty of his involvement. His Ally trait makes him vulnerable to removal, as does his two Strength. Still, he presents Baratheon players the means to deal with some of the game’s greatest schemers. While he’s participating in a challenge, participating Lannister and Martell characters do not count their Strength. This gives Baratheon players the means to push Intrigue or Power challenges through Lannister and Martell, or to win them on defense, meaning that Baratheon decks might gain some much-welcomed respite from the storm of Intrigue challenges launched against them!

Death Comes for Us All

Valar Morghulis is available at retailers everywhere. Head to your local retailer today to pick up your copy, or buy it online through our webstore!

“The situation has gone from bad to worse. My centre is giving way, my right flank is in retreat, and we are surrounded. I am happy to report that we have the enemy exactly where we want them.”
      –Captain Angus Macfane, Fifth Company, Storm Wardens

As the conflict against the Tau approaches its breaking point and paranoia over their suspected acts of sedition reaches an all-time high, the infamous Lord Commander Ebongrave seeks allies he can trust in his campaign against disloyalty. But are Tau sympathizers really maneuvering among the loyal citizens of the Imperium? And if so, what darker plans do they hold in store?

Rising Tempest, an adventure in three parts for Deathwatch, is now available at your friendly local retailer and on our webstore! When the Tau make a play for dominance that threatens to tip the balance of power in the Canis Salient, they’ll unwittingly endanger the entire Jericho Reach... and only the Space Marines of the Deathwatch can stop them.

Epic Adventure

Rising Tempest is an epic three-part adventure that takes players across the Canis Salient and into midsts of the Hadex anomaly:

• The Depths of Treachery—The Kill-team travels to the iron heart of the Canis Salient to eradicate a subversive xenos presence imperiling the might of the Imperial war machine. But stirring in the chaos of sedition and catastrophy, they’ll stumble upon something much darker.
• Assault on Javar Nil—Pursuing clues of an ancient evil, the Battle-Brothers find themselves caught between the factions of a holy schism on the shrine world of Eleusis. There, they must safeguard the blessed core of the Achilus Crusade.
• Exterminatus—Struck at the very bastion of their power, the Kill-team must brave the horrors of the Hadex anomaly and return to a long-lost citadel to save their galaxy from utter ruin!

In the Heart of the Achilus Crusade

For more on Rising Tempest, here’s a word from lead developer Tim Flanders:

Coming to shelves as the latest adventure for the Deathwatch line, Rising Tempest is going to challenge players in ways they'd never expect. Deathwatch GMs have never wanted for villains, adversaries, and snarling monsters to face their players with, especially in a setting as hotly contested as the Jericho Reach. Right alongside the forces of Chaos and a full-scale Tyranid invasion, the Tau threaten the progress of the Achilus Crusade.

In Rising Tempest, players will learn just what makes a race like the Tau so dangerous to the mighty Imperium of Man. Game Masters will also have the opportunity to really challenge the honour and faith of their players' characters throughout the course of Rising Tempest, as they embroil their players in not only a conflict against a xenos threat, but also in the very heart and mind of the Achilus Crusade and a bitter feud within the ranks of the Ecclesiarchy. In the end, players and GMs may find that where bolter and power sword fail, the righteousness and grim determination of the Adeptus Astartes will carry them to victory.

To learn more, read Lurking Beneath the Surface, our preview of Rising Tempest. Then, head to your local retailer and pick up your copy today!