Recently, the entire Fantasy Flight Games studio came together for our very first game jam—a concentrated dose of creativity and teamwork, spread over just a few hours. Today, to offer you a look at just what happened during our game jam, here’s one of the organizers, Board and Card Game Manager Andrew Fischer!

Andrew Fischer on the FFG Game Jam

I’ve always loved game jams. I’ve participated in the Global Game Jam each year and have sent in a couple submissions to Ludum Dare over the years. Every time I’ve participated, I not only had fun, but I felt like I grew and learned more in that two-day period than I do in an average month.

A game jam is kind of like a 48-hour film festival. People break into teams, get some kind of prompt to build off of, and create a game in a (very) limited amount of time. Jams can be intense. They require creativity, teamwork, flexibility, and hustle, all with the clock ticking away. But they can also be very rewarding and fun. They allow people to take risks and try out ideas that they might not be able to in their day-to-day game development.

I was inspired by my time in these other jams. On top of that, I’d seen the benefits that studios had gained from internal game jams (such as Double Fine’s Amnesia Fortnight), and felt that FFG could really benefit from a similar event. As luck would have it, Corey Konieczka had been thinking over a very similar idea. Together with senior designer Nate French and our Head of Studio Andrew Navaro, we worked to organize FFG’s first ever studio-wide game jam—which we called “Test Flight.” In today’s designer journal, I want to give you all a brief glimpse into this event and how we ran it!

The Setup

Most of the other game jams I looked to for inspiration were to create digital games, so I had to break some new ground in how to run the event for a tabletop-centric company. One of the first big differences was time frame. Tabletop games are (in most cases) much faster to prototype and test than digital ones. I wanted to keep a strong sense of time pressure on the event, so I decided to shorten the timeframe relative to most game jams, giving each group of four or five people only about sixteen hours (two days of work time) to brainstorm, develop, and test their games.

Next, came the theme for the jam. I wanted a jumping-off point that groups could build on to start. Constraints breed creativity, and I wanted each team to have a “seed” to build their brainstorming off of. I bounced around several ideas with Nate and Corey, but settled on creating a bunch of specific, quirky prompts. Teams would draw two prompts from a hat (or flight helmet), and choose one to base their game on. Some particularly ambitious teams ended up keeping both of the themes they drew, making their games fit both at once! In creating the themes, we tried to come up with ideas specific and strange enough to immediately conjure the question: “How would that even work?” while also leaving enough ambiguity to allow creative interpretation. Some highlights include:

• “The players design the game.”
• “The Emperor’s New Board Game.”
• “King of the hill, from the hill’s perspective.”

Off to the Races!

Once teams had drawn their themes, they were free to dive right in! Given the tight time frame, I gave rough recommendations of how long they should spend at each step:

• Brainstorming – Three hours
• Prototyping – Two hours
• Initial Testing – One hour
• Iteration – Four hours
• Content Creation – Four hours
• Polish and Demo Prep – Two hours
• Flex Time – Two hours

But these were just recommendations, and teams were free to follow their own process. Some had something on the table within twenty minutes, while others took their time doing high-concept brainstorming for several hours.

In the end, the sixteen-hour timeframe ended up being nearly perfect, keeping the pressure on while giving enough time to have a finished and tested deliverable. I was incredibly excited and humbled to see the creative ideas my coworkers put together in such a short amount of time.

Demos and Awards

After development was finished, everyone got a chance to play other teams’ games, giving each other feedback and filling out a score sheet for awards. We were careful with awards. We wanted to encourage a fun, collaborative environment, not a competition. So, instead of scoring games in categories from “worst” to “best,” each category was a spectrum:

The games that scored to the most extreme on each spectrum earned an award! This encouraged participants toward pushing their ideas further instead of spending time polishing their production values just to edge out the competition. The silliness of the awards worked really well, but in the future, we’ll probably do fewer of them to make them feel a bit more exclusive.

The Outcome

In the end, Test Flight was a big success! Across just two work days, we created thirteen unique, creative prototypes. People got a chance to work closely with coworkers from teams they rarely interact with, and brainstormed ideas that I’m sure will influence their designs to come.

To other game creators out there, both hobby and professional: I strongly encourage you to check out a game jam. Whether you attend a publicly-available event, or hold one at your development studio, I think you will find the creativity, teamwork, and ideas you build at the event endlessly valuable. I know that I have.

“For over a thousand generations, the Jedi Knights were the guardians of peace and justice in the Old Republic. Before the dark times, before the Empire.”
   –Obi-Wan Kenobi, Star Wars: A New Hope

From the Jedi of the Old Republic to the troopers of the First Order to the scoundrels and scum banding together to survive the tyrannical rule of the Galactic Empire, the galaxy pulls together heroes and villains of a similar creed and philosophy. Whether by choice or by force, these groups can impact the future of the galaxy itself, and when these characters meet in a convergence of power, who will come out on top?

Fantasy Flight Games is proud to announce the Obi-Wan Kenobi Starter Set, the General Grievous Starter Set, and Convergence booster packs for Star Wars™: Destiny!

As the start of a new block of sets, Convergence introduces plenty of new themes, and even a new card type, into Star Wars: Destiny! Look for a focus on character subtypes like Jedi, trooper, and leader, as well as an emphasis on new plots and powerful downgrades to hinder your foes! 

On the Run

Since the launch of Star Wars: Destiny, upgrades have always been an essential part of deckbuilding. By attaching these cards to your character, you can roll out additional dice every turn and receive other helpful benefits. Convergence introduces a dark reflection to these enhancements in the form of downgrades—cards that you attach to your opponent’s characters. A separate card type from upgrades, every character can have up to three downgrades attached to them. Naturally, these downgrades hinder your opponent in some way, with cards like

Wounded

 (Convergence, 161) permanently reducing a character’s health. Even the most stalwart characters can fall to downgrades, and each color has these cards in their own flavor.

For example, Yellow receives a cavalcade of bounties in Convergence. These are downgrades that provide a bonus when the attached character is defeated, a helpful reward for bringing in your target.

Wanted

 (Convergence, 143) provides a windfall of resources, while

Death Mark

 (Convergence, 39) lets you draw three cards when you defeat the attached character. Naturally, you could attach both of these downgrades to your primary target, giving you a massive boost of momentum when you fulfill the contract. Look for these bounties and more within Convergence!

As you might expect, plenty of other cards synergize with these bounties. The notorius gangster 

Jabba the Hutt

 (Convergence, 36) is not a crime lord you want to cross, as he has little trouble making your life difficult. If you include the Influential Kingpin on your team, you can search the top four cards of your deck to grab a bounty or Yellow event every time you activate Jabba, giving you plenty of opportunities downgrade your opponent’s characters and plenty of bonuses when your bounty hunters defeat them!

Overwhelming Firepower

Convergence places a heavy emphasis on what kind of characters you’re including on your team, going deeper then Red, Blue, or Yellow, and hero, villain, or neutral. Are you using mystic Jedi harnessing the power of the Force, or shifty scoundrels using their wit and skills to outsmart their foes?

Or maybe you’re relying on the pure firepower of troopers like the terrifying

Captain Phasma

 (Convergence, 18). The Stormtrooper Commander can keep your troopers in line by unifying their damage types, but also always has an army of

First Order Stormtroopers

(Convergence, 20) (one of several reprints from the Awakenings block with new art in the set) backing her up, using a Power Action to roll in two of their dice every turn. With two damage sides on her own die, you can quickly overwhelm your opponent with a well-trained army.

You can even increase your trooper’s accuracy by adding the 

Advanced Training

 (Convergence, 133) plot, turning blanks into indirect damage, and ensuring every roll will be valuable. 

This Party’s Over

While Convergence allows you to overwhelm your foe with the firepower of the First Order, you can also take a more meditative approach and build a deck focusing on the ancient Jedi Knights of the Old Republic. What better way to start than with a true Master of the Council? 

Mace Windu, Inspiring Master

 (Convergence, 56) enters Convergence with three melee damage sides and a Power Action that allows you to search the top four cards of your deck for an upgrade and play it! While this obviously lets you outfit your characters with new weapons and abilities, they get an additional boost if they are a Jedi, in the form of an extra shield. This is a great way to gain action efficiency, playing important cards while building the defenses of your characters.

Perhaps one of the upgrades you’ll include in your deck is

Mace Windu’s Lightsaber

 (Convergence, 70), the iconic purple blade that you can wield to defeat any who stand in your way. With two sides showing melee damage and a third showing modified melee damage, the lightsaber is the perfect companion for Mace Windu, and can always be moved to him as a Power Action. Its special ability is a callback to the original Empire at War version of

Mace

 (Empire at War, 34), allowing you to deal two unblockable damage to a character and perform a finishing blow if they have one health left. With a bevy of damage, Mace Windu’s Lightsaber is one of the most potent weapons in the game. 

An Old Grudge

As a new base set, Convergence will feature two new starter sets launching alongside it, providing the perfect introduction to Star Wars: Destiny!

While the Rey and Kylo Ren starter sets of the Awakenings block were rooted in the sequel trilogy, and the Legacies starter sets featured heroes and villains of the original trilogy, the Convergence starter sets see us travelling all the way back to the Clone Wars with the Obi-Wan Kenobi and General Grievous starter sets!

The Obi-Wan Kenobi Starter Set sees an elite version of the famous

Clone Wars General

 (Convergence, 57) teaming up with

Duchess Satine Kryze of Mandalore

 (Convergence, 91) in a 24-card deck featuring Blue and Yellow cards, including the

Force Flow

 (Convergence, 113) plot! Obi-Wan Kenobi will be your primary damage dealer, with two die sides showing melee damage that can be boosted by his Power Action. You’ll have plenty to look forward to here as well, including Blue cards that can boost Obi-Wan’s damage output, as well as upgrades and equipment that grant additional bonuses when you spot a Jedi character!

Meanwhile, Satine Kryze takes a more supportive roll, granting you the ability to reroll one of your dice after you activate her. This starter set also offers Yellow events and upgrades that

can grant you resources, give you the ability to control the battle through dice manipulation, and provide additional bonuses when you spot a leader character!

Opposing the forces of the Old Republic is

General Grievous

 (Convergence, 21) and two terrifying

Commando Droids

 (Convergence, 19)! General Grievous provides a discount to droid characters when you’re building your team, and with his Power Action, you can reroll any number of your droid dice. The Commando Droids in turn synergize with other droid characters and supports, allowing you to activate an additional droid when you roll them in!

The rest of the deck is dedicated to efficiency, with plenty of Red supports, events, and upgrades dedicated to pulverizing your enemies!

With the Obi-Wan Kenobi and General Grievous starter sets, you have all the tools you need to fulfill your destiny!

Gathering of Power

Call it luck, call it the Force, but those of a similar creed always seem to find one another in the Star Wars galaxy. From the ancient Jedi Knights to the ranks of the First Order, which side will you join?

Discover your fate with the General Grievous Starter Set (SWD14), Obi-Wan Kenobi Starter Set (SWD15), and Convergence Booster Packs (SWD16a) for Star Wars: Destiny, available now for pre-order from your local retailer or our website!

“The morning air was thick with the old familiar stinks of King’s Landing. She breathed in the scents of sour wine, bread baking, rotting fish and nightsoil, smoke and sweat and horse piss. No flower had ever smelled so sweet.”
   –George R. R. Martin, A Dance with Dragons

Over the course of A Game of Thrones: The Card Game, you have followed your most beloved and most reviled characters from the first pages of A Game of Thrones to the closing chapters of A Dance with Dragons. You have led the hosts of Westeros through the War of the Five Kings and witnessed the fallout of their struggle for the Iron Throne. Characters you may have once thought safe have perished before your eyes and the meek have grown mighty. The only constant in the world of Westeros is change.

But the realm lives on, and now, the A Game of Thrones: The Card Game takes a new direction with the themes of this cycle. Rather than following the events of A Song of Ice and Fire by moving through the books of the saga, this new cycle draws the spotlight to the vibrant capital of Westeros—King’s Landing itself. You’ll find all kinds of cards throughout the cycle with a tie to King’s Landing and the battle for the throne, as well as the continued development of the shadows keyword established in the fifth cycle! With a host of new shadows cards and support for your shadows decks, the game’s sixth cycle promises to bring an exciting new direction to your battles and intrigues across the Seven Kingdoms.

Fantasy Flight Games is proud to announce At the Gates, the first Chapter Pack in the King’s Landing cycle for A Game of Thrones: The Card Game—now available for pre-order at your local retailer or online through our website!

The City Watch

At the Gates marks the beginning of the sixth cycle for A Game of Thrones: The Card Game. The King’s Landing cycle is firmly centered on the capital of Westeros, focusing on the people, places, and events tied to this location across the entirety of A Song of Ice and Fire, as well as continuing to develop the shadows keyword and the cards that hide in the darkness. The shadows have grown over the years, and the city of King’s Landing has changed since the Starks first traveled south at the command of King Robert, and now you have the chance to explore its twisting alleys like never before. 

Your journey begins at the great wall that surrounds the city and the scattered gates that connect the capital to the outside world. The number seven is sacred to the Faith, and as such Aegon I Targaryen had seven gates built as the entrances to his grand metropolis. Now, in the At the Gates Chapter Pack, the great Houses of Westeros gain access to these locations. Each gate is a low-cost location that provide you with income from their tolls. If card draw is more important to you than gold, however, you have the chance to sacrifice these locations in exchange for cards. For example, when House Stark is in control of the

Old Gate

(At the Gates, 2), they may sacrifice the Old Gate to draw two cards if each of their characters are loyal Northmen, while the

Gate of the Gods

(At the Gates, 4) requires House Tyrell to control the strongest character in play, and the

King’s Gate

(At the Gates, 8) can only be used if House Baratheon has five or more power on their faction card.

Bringing these locations into play early is made all the easier with the new plot card,

At the Gates

(At the Gates, 20). This plot lets you search your deck for a limited location with a cost of one or lower and add it to your hand. If this is your first time using a City plot in the game, you can even put the location into play, allowing you to immediately begin taking advantage of the location. Whether you’re searching for one of the new gates or a location like

The Kingsroad

(Core Set, 39), At the Gates can ensure you get your economy when you need it.

Climbing the Ladder

Throughout A Song of Ice and Fire, King’s Landing has been likened to a pit of snakes or a city of spiders—all with good cause. The King’s Landing cycle continues the use of the shadow keyword, which was first introduced to the game’s second edition during the Dance of Shadows cycle. By paying two gold, you can marshal a card with the shadow (x) keyword facedown into the separate shadow area, keeping your precious schemes protected until you’re ready to strike.

If ever there was a character destined for the shadows, it would be the Master of Coin,

Littlefinger

(At the Gates, 17). Lord Baelish knows that you must play the game of thrones everywhere, at all times, and he is always ready to alter strategies and alliances the moment it suits him. If you can convince Littlefinger to support your claim, he can help you find alternate strategies with his Reaction. After one of your characters comes out of shadows, whether it’s Littlefinger himself or another scheming ally, you can move up to three cards from your hand on the bottom of your deck, then draw an equal number of cards, helping you easily cycle through your deck and find the best cards for your current plans. 

But perhaps the character who has undergone one of the greatest changes, at least physically, is the dragon

Viserion

(At the Gates, 13). Growing from his

fledgling form

(Core Set, 166), the beast’s strength has doubled, and he now bear the ambush (5) keyword, which lets you bring him into play in the midst of the challenges phase. With well laid plans and a touch of luck, you can surprise your opponent with Viserion’s new ability, gaining intimidate after you win a challenge for the miniscule price of a discarded card. After all, the mere sight of a full-grown dragon could be enough to make even a king cower and kneel.

A Pit of Snakes

As a new cycle begins, you are invited to return to King’s Landing and find serenity in its shadows. But be wary—many have met their end in the ruthless capital of Westeros. Still, if you can turn the chaos to your advantage, glory and power await!

Pre-order your copy of At the Gates (GT46) at your local retailer today or online through our website here!

Take a look at the latest products from Fantasy Flight Games, now available at your local retailer or online through our webstore! 

Guardians of the Abyss

Witness the day of reckoning with the Guardians of the Abyss Scenario Pack for Arkham Horror: The Card Game! Called to Cairo to unravel a medical mystery, this pack throws you into the action of the linked scenarios, The Eternal Slumber and The Night’s Usurper, first featured at Gen Con and Arkham Nights 2018, respectively.

With 78 beautifully illustrated cards to immerse you in the peril of an investigation that takes you to the deserts of Egypt and beyond, this pack challenges you to determine fact from fiction, wakefulness from dream, and sanity from madness. Step into a realm beyond your imagination and stop an ancient prophecy from coming to pass!

Pick up your copy of Guardians of the Abyss at your local retailer or online through our website today!

A darkness is rising as powerful forces seek to undo the fragile peace holding Terrinoth together. Dormant since the Dragon Wars, the strange obelisks scattered across the Ashen Hills have recently come alive with magical energies. Scouts from nearby Fort Rodric report mysterious robed figures disturbing the ancient structures. Meanwhile, a contingent of Dragonkin are massing within the Mountains of Despair. Rumors swirl that a leader has united them around a common cause, and whispers from the mountain peaks carry a name long forgotten: Margath…

Discover the dark secret of the Ashen Hills with Embers of Dread, a new free DLC campaign in the Road to Legend companion app for Descent: Journeys in the Dark! Embers of Dread is the perfect way to fill a holiday break while you’re at home with your family or friends, and best of all, it’s available now on the App Store, Google Play, Amazon and Steam!

Embers of Dread sees you become embroiled in the conspiracy of a mad cult that plots to release an ancient Dragonlord from his eternal prison. With six new quests and a storyline that takes you to the militant city of Riverwatch, your group of adventurers is sure to keep themselves busy. This threat puts all of Terrinoth in danger, and your heroes will have to use their strength, wits, and quick decision making to survive.

Important note: Embers of Dread is a free expansion for Road to Legend, but it does require the Descent: Journeys in the Dark Core Set, Lair of the Wyrm, and Labyrinth of Ruin expansions. 

The Creeping Dread

While investigating strange obelisks in the Ashen Hills, your heroes quickly find themselves entangled in a plot that threatens to change the face of Terrinoth forever! You soon find yourself face to face with the Dread, a cult convinced the return of the Dragonlord Margath will usher in a new age for the worthy of Terrinoth.

But what does this shadowy organization hope to achieve? Who is leading this cult, and are they the true designer of these dark machinations?

Answers to these questions and more await if you are brave enough to venture forth in Embers of Dread. The Embers of Dread campaign features plenty of action, but you’ll also find more puzzle-centric missions that will put your wits to the test with riddles, puzzles, and more. Investigating the Ashen Hills may kick off your adventure, but it will take more than a flash of steel to discover the true villains pulling the strings behind this conspiracy. Your enemies will want to see you silenced, including the dragon-hybrid Belthir, working with the cult to bring Margath back to the realm of Terrinoth! 

Risk and Reward

Embers of Dread also introduces your characters to a brand-new location, the morally nebulous city of Riverwatch. As a martial city, various mercenary guilds have come to call Riverwatch their home, and your heroes will have the opportunity to align with these groups over the course of Embers of Dread. An alliance with these guilds can see your heroes gain extra gold at the cost of sacrificing their fame. While preserving your fame is of vital importance, the gold received can be a tremendous boon to your heroes—what will you choose?

This additional gold can go a long way in the city of Riverwatch. At the nexus of three rivers, Riverwatch is an ideal port of trade in the land of Terrinoth. With some careful negotiations, your heroes can even expand the number of items available for purchase between adventures, giving you many more options for customizing your character as you fight back against the doom quickly approaching Terrinoth.

Riverwatch is not a city for the faint of heart, but if you’re willing to embrace the cutthroat nature of the town, plentiful rewards await!

The Approaching Doom

Embers of Dread is available now, and the holidays are the perfect time to solidify your heroes as legends. But do you have what it takes to unravel the mystery surrounding the strange activity in the Ashen Hills? Or will Terrinoth be cleansed and purged through dragon fire?

Only your heroes have the strength and wits to survive the new Embers of Dread campaign for Road to Legend, available now through the App Store, Google Play, Amazon and Steam!

“Yes, a clone army. And I must say, one of the finest we’ve ever created.”
   –Lama Su, Star Wars: Attack of the Clones

Conflict wracks the galaxy!

With the secession of the Confederation of Independent Systems and the deadly confrontation at Geonosis, war has become inevitable. The Galactic Republic has deployed the massive Grand Army of the Republic alongside Jedi Generals to quell further uprising and bring rebellious systems back to the fold. Among the Separatist worlds, politicians and warriors fight to preserve their right to self-determination and freedom from the corruption and malaise of the Republic Senate. Bounty hunters and criminal cartels play both sides off one another. When the fighting comes to a standstill, scavengers plunder the debris of once-proud star destroyers and scuttled starfighters. Heroes and villains rise and fall as the struggle escalates into what will become known as the Clone Wars.

In Rise of the Separatists, the newest sourcebook for Star Wars Roleplaying, you’ll be able to fully enter a new era of the Star Wars saga, whether you’re playing with Edge of the Empire, Age of Rebellion, or Force and Destiny. In this supplement, you’ll be able to play as one of the Kaminoans or their creations, the clones. Alternatively, you can take part in the conflict as one of the industrious Geonosians or the scheming Umbarans. With four new species, two new full careers, and four new universal specializations, you can explore new playstyles and experience this iconic period of galactic history as never before.

Today, we’ll take a closer look at some of the character options coming soon to your tabletop!

Aggressive Negotiations

While many equate the struggles of the Republic with the ground fighting seen on Muunilinst and Malastare, battles continue under another guise in the political arena. The Umbarans, deft at navigating the factions and ambitions of their homeworld castes, revel in the intrigue and backchannel diplomacy that whispers down the halls of the Senate. With their uncanny ability to sway others to their cause, some wonder whether they aren’t capable of some form of mind control. Their shadowy reputation is only deepened by their aversion to bright sunlight and their superior senses in darkness. For those Umbarans who have fallen out of the caste systems and have turned to a life of crime, their entrancing gaze allows them to flourish in the underlevels of Coruscant and the back alleys of industrial words and far-flung outposts.

On the front lines of battle, a more direct approach is required. The clones born and bred in labs on Kamino form the indisputable backbone of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR). Their genome was carefully selected for superior strength and speed, and from the time they are decanted, their athleticism is put to the test in a series of rigorous trials. Alongside their physical training, battlefield tactics and discipline are drilled into clone recruits from an early age, all to ensure that the Republic is provided with the perfect fighting force. Yet, as they face their first true tests in the field, the clones must learn to balance their inborn tendencies for loyalty and obedience with their newfound desire to forge their own paths and identity. Flung into squadrons as battlefield commanders, pilots, or troopers, these soldiers gain strength from the familiar sight of their brethren. All three of these archetypes are represented as specializations with the new Clone Soldier career!

The Clone Officer specialization makes use of their training to command their brothers-in-arms in battle and lend them an ear when the going gets tough. Clone Pilots specialize in piloting the iconic Low Altitude Assault Transports (LAATs) and All-Terrain Tactical Enforcers (AT-TEs), gauging the lulls in battle to deploy complements of clone soldiers swiftly while sustaining minimal casualties with the Assault Drop talent. The unsung heroes of the Clone Wars, Clone Troopers serve as the rank-and-file infantry in the GAR and are equipped with an impressive arsenal to match. These soldiers excel at employing heavy weaponry to devastating effect, including the gunnery emplacements found on artillery installations, vehicles, and starships. No matter their role in the squad, hard experience teaches these clones the best ways to take out their enemies. With access to the Clanker Killer talent, clones can prove their brute effectiveness at dispatching CIS droids en masse, seizing on every opportunity to take the perfect shot or aim for the battle droids’ weaknesses.

Finally, the Masters of the High Council have rallied the Jedi to serve as leaders and special operatives in the conflict. Whether they’re leading the vanguard, pursuing dangerous special missions, or directing strategy from the gunships, the fighting capabilities of the Jedi Knights and their Padawans are revered and feared around the galaxy. Jedi Knight serve as warriors, diplomats, ambassadors, and scholars all at once, entering into “aggressive negotiations” at need or staging daring rescue missions for Senate dignitaries. Padawans learn from experience, and they can come through in unpredictable and surprising ways. No matter their level of experience, the Jedi must harness their skills and wisdom to see justice done and avoid letting the high emotions of the battlefield tempt them to the dark side.

Beyond the Clone Soldier and Jedi careers, players looking to create character concepts well-suited to the Clone Wars will also be able to choose from the Force-Sensitive Outcast, Republic Navy Officer, Republic Representative, and Scavenger universal specializations. These can be mixed and matched with the existing careers and specializations from all three Star Wars Roleplaying core rulebooks, so your group can tell their own stories in this era, no matter whether you’re playing Edge of the Empire, Age of Rebellion, or Force and Destiny.

Begun, the Clone War Has

How will you turn the tide of battle in this great era of galactic conflict? Discover a trove of player options and find your place in the galaxy in Rise of the Separatists.

Pre-order your copy of Rise of the Separatists (SWR11) from your local retailer or from the Fantasy Flight Games web store today!

Welcome back to the Legend of the Five Rings Create a Card series—where you, the Legend of the Five Rings: The Card Game community, help design your very own samurai that will be included in a future expansion!

Last week, with 19.8% of the vote, we determined that our samurai’s military and political skill would be balanced, with high glory. While we’ve spent the last few weeks nailing down the mechanical identity of our samurai, it’s time to flesh out exactly who this character is.

Join us today as we vote on a character concept for our samurai. These brief, one-sentence descriptions will give some context to the role that our samurai plays in the Emerald Empire, and will determine both the name and art direction of the card. As always, these choices are subject to change through playtesting and approval.  

Read on to discover your choices, then vote at the bottom of this article within the next 24 hours! 

The Soul of a Samurai

The following choices have been developed by designer Tyler Parrott, and take into account the choices made in the series thus far—a Unicorn samurai from the Utaku family whose ability focuses on out-of-clan allies with balanced military and political skills. The phrase before the dash will be the finished character’s name, while the description after the dash is a brief exploration into that character’s personality, which will help determine the art direction of the card. The choices are:

• Preserver of Purity – a Battle Maiden yōjimbō who protects Unicorn dignitaries (usually Ide) traveling in foreign lands.
• Cultured Mediator – an Utaku courtier who explores outside Rokugan and builds alliances with gaijin powers.
• Believer in Blessed Virtue – an Utaku rōnin whose lack of a lord and whose unique interpretation of Bushidō prevents her from being an official Battle Maiden.
• Worldly Shiotome – a Battle Maiden with a particular affinity and interest in gaijin customs and items.
• Utaku Stablemaster – an Utaku courtier who attends to the revered Utaku battle steeds, and has a particular affinity for creatures of all types.

This choice will form the core of their identity from a flavor perspective. Consider your decision carefully, and vote below within the next 24 hours!

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Core Identity

The Create a Card series is drawing to an end, and our samurai is beginning to take shape. With their core identity in place, our samurai is nearly ready to begin their journey in Rokugan. Join us next week as we determine a specific ability for our samurai, and keep an eye on this article tomorrow for a sneak peek at the results of this week’s vote!

“RRRAARRWHHGWWR”
   –Chewbacca, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back

With his enormous strength, Chewbacca is a valuable asset for the Rebellion in any fight. From the depths of the Death Star, to the frozen plains of Hoth, to the forest moon of Endor, he has demonstrated time and again the power of having a Wookiee on your side. But perhaps even more valuable than his size and strength is Chewbacca’s unwavering loyalty to his friends.

Willing to follow Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, and Leia Organa into any conflict, Chewbacca lends his aid to each of these bold leaders on the battlefields of the Galactic Civil War. Soon, Chewbacca will be able to team up with these heroes during your games of Star Wars™: Legion with the Chewbacca Operative Expansion.

Within this expansion, you’ll find a single unpainted, easily assembled Chewbacca miniature charging into battle with his bowcaster at the ready, alongside all the cards and tokens you need to add him to your army. In addition to his formidable presence, Chewbacca’s signature command cards let you do even more with the Rebel commanders leading your army.

Join us today as we take a closer look at how Chewbacca can support his friends in battle!

Let Him Have It

Entering Star Wars: Legion as the Rebellion’s first operative, Chewbacca creates new opportunities for your army not seen in your other units. His Wookiee physiology makes him capable of feats unheard of in other species, and for 110 points you can find out exactly what it means to team up with a Wookiee.

Towering over most other combatants, Chewbacca attacks with the strength of several humans. Absolutely terrifying up close, the four red dice Chewbacca rolls in melee combat make him more than capable of taking on an entire squad of enemy troops on his own. He’ll likely encounter a lot of blaster fire before he can move in, however, and luckily enough, Chewbacca also carries weapons that others would find unwieldy. Not only does his bowcaster give him an effective ranged attack, it can also pierce through an enemy block and has a better shot of damaging any armored vehicles that might be harassing your troops.

This brute strength certainly comes in handy when performing attacks, but it has other advantages that might not be as readily apparent. Chewbacca is so dedicated to his friends that he’s willing to put his own life on the line to save them. His incredible nine health surpasses even the mighty Darth Vader, and Chewbacca can put all of them to good use, beginning with his Guardian 3 ability.

If he’s working closely with another trooper unit, Chewbacca can use this ability to cancel three hits from a ranged attack made against his companion. Although this could result in Chewbacca taking some damage himself, this only makes him stronger. Once he has four or more wound tokens, Chewbacca’s mighty rage is unleashed, granting him the ability to charge at an enemy and perform a free melee attack.

Seeing as he’ll already be wounded, the

Tenacity

upgrade can make Chewbacca’s melee attack even more potent by adding a red die to his pool. Such an attack would be particularly powerful against an enemy commander and being a

Hunter

can help Chewbacca get the most out of those five red attack dice. Even with nine wounds, Chewbacca won’t last long rolling white defense dice. Equipping him with some

Emergency Stims,

 then, can give him the strength he needs to make one last charge.

A Little Help From My Friends

While Chewbacca is more than willing to aid his fellow Rebel soldiers on the battlefield, he has built particularly strong relationships with the trio of commanders he could join on the battlefield. It should be no surprise, then, that each of his signature command cards reflects these bonds and gives Chewbacca the power to work alongside one of these heroes for a round.

In our announcement, we already discussed how Chewbacca and

Han Solo

gained a reputation as

Notorious Scoundrels

during their days smuggling cargo across the galaxy. Already bolstered by their Teamwork ability, this powerful card allows you to return one of Han Solo’s valuable command cards to your hand, giving you another opportunity to play

Sorry About the Mess

and give both Han Solo and Chewbacca a boost from the start of the round. 

Chewie may have the tightest relationship with Han Solo, but that doesn’t mean his team-ups with other heroes are any less effective. If he joins up with

Luke Skywalker

to fight for a

Common Cause,

 for example, the pair activates one after another to make a quick and powerful push. Not only does this card give you a good shot at winning priority, it also gives you the chance to unleash two powerful heroes before your opponent has a chance to react.

Finally, when combining his strength with

Leia Organa’s

superior planning abilities, both can team up for an impressive display of both

Brains and Brawn.

 Firing three black dice from her Sporting Blaster, Leia Organa already has a powerful ranged attack. But if Chewbacca is in the right position when this card his played, he can add his bowcaster to the attack pool. Better yet, the four dice Chewie contributes to this attack also gain the benefit of Leia Organa’s Sharpshooter 2 ability for a potentially devastating strike.  

Laugh It Up

No matter the danger, no matter the odds, Chewbacca will follow his friends on any mission. And once there, you’ll find that he’s far more than just a walking carpet.

Look for the Chewbacca Operative Expansion (SWL24) and the Wookiee Warriors Unit Expansion (SWL25) to release together in the fourth quarter of 2018! You can pre-order your copy of the Chewbacca Operative Expansion at your local retailer or online through our website today.

They marched and gathered by hill and valley, going ever by tunnel or under dark, until around and beneath the great mountain Gundabad of the North, where was their capital, a vast host was assembled ready to sweep down in time of storm unawares.
   –J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit

Fantasy Flight Games is proud to announce Mount Gundabad, the fifth Adventure Pack in the Ered Mithrin cycle for The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game!

The time has come. All your adventures across Wilderland have pointed you in one direction: toward Mount Gundabad and a confrontation with the terrible Dragon that roosts within. While few would openly rush into battle with such a beast, one thing remains certain: Dagnir poses a threat to the whole of Wilderland, and you must take on whatever risks are necessary to keep it safe.

Completing this task will not be easy, of course. Hordes of Orcs litter the mountain stronghold, standing between you and Dagnir. Even worse, there’s no telling where she has built her lair within the cavernous mountain stronghold. But there can be no turning back now. Gundabad awaits.

Under the Mountain

After encountering countless terrors in the forgotten city of Framsburg, there is only one thing left to do. Your path leads to Gundabad. Fortunately, your party knows of a secret entrance that should let you slip into the mountain unnoticed. Once inside, however, there’s no telling where the many passages lead or where you’ll find the Dragon you seek.

Your quest into Gundabad, then, begins not as an assault, but as a search. Combining several of the mechanics you’ve encountered throughout the Ered Mithrin cycle, this adventure forces you to carefully choose what goals you will pursue. The twisting halls of Gundabad are dark and vast, and only by exploring these Deep locations can you hope to find your destination buried within the Caves deck. At the same time, once inside the labyrinthine mountain fortress, you’re sure to come across several obstacles that will slow your progress as you seek to defeat Dagnir.

In this Adventure Pack, the obstacles that you face are represented by a randomized deck of eight Stage 2 quest cards that you must progress through until your quest is complete. From locations within Gundabad to tricky situations, each quest card impedes your progress in its own way. Stumbling into

The Lower Deeps

(Mount Gundabad, 137), for example, means the “when revealed” effects of the first treachery card revealed each round cannot be canceled, leaving you at the mercy of whatever you bump into in the dark.

Fortunately, many of the quest cards you encounter can be bypassed, removing all progress, but simultaneously moving it to the bottom of the quest deck and allowing you to move on to the next quest card. In the end, you’ll have to carefully choose which threads to pursue—the more progress you make, the more you’ll draw the attention of Dagnir and her servants.

Should you encounter a

Guardian of Gundabad

(Mount Gundabad, 126), for example, you’ll need to be wary of its high attack value. But if three or more quest cards have been added to the victory display, it’s even more difficult for you to chip away at this enemy’s hit points. Similarly, having more quest cards in the victory display can make the

Desecrated Ruins

(Mount Gundabad, 131) a much more dangerous place for you to linger.     

Concerning Hobbits

Sneaking into an Orcish stronghold and defeating a massive dragon is a tall task for any group of adventurers. Fortunately, Mount Gundabad brings you help from some of the most unexpected places. Despite their small stature, Hobbits have a special knack for being useful in these situations. You’ll find plenty of ways for them to prove their worth here, beginning with a new version of

Bilbo Baggins

(Mount Gundabad, 112).

A rather unconventional Tactics hero, Bilbo nonetheless contributes to both adding progress to your quests and dealing damage to enemies. Not only can he add an enemy’s threat to his willpower during a quest, he also deals damage to that enemy if the players quest successfully. While equipped with his trusty blade

Sting

(Mount Gundabad, 117), Bilbo gains even more potential—perhaps enough to deliver a killing blow before suffering wounds himself.

Not all hobbits are as ready to leap into battle, but that doesn’t mean they can’t help you stay out of harm’s way.

Gaffer Gamgee

(Mount Gundabad, 115) is particularly good at pointing enemies in the wrong direction. Returning him to your hand prevents a powerful enemy from attacking until the end of the round. Thankfully, the carefree attitude of

The Shirefolk

(Mount Gundabad, 121) helps them appear as less of a threat to your enemies, helping you continually make use of the Gaffer.

To Gundabad

All your efforts have led to this. Can you snuff out this threat to Wilderland? Or will you lose yourself under the mountain?

Pre-order your copy of Mount Gundabad (MEC70) at your local retailer or online through our website today! Look for Mount Gundabad to release in the first quarter of 2019.

“Happy beeps here, buddy, come on. We’ve pulled crazier stunts than this.”
   –Poe Dameron, Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Nearly 30 years after the Battle of Endor, the struggle for the fate of the Star Wars galaxy has taken a drastic turn. The nefarious First Order has decimated the Republic and is now on the verge of eliminating the only remaining military force that stands in the way of total galactic domination: the Resistance. Launching their starfighters into battle, the Resistance hopes to gain whatever ground it can against the rising tyranny.   

You’ll have the chance to play out the engagements between these two dueling powers when both the Resistance and First Order enter the battles of X-Wing™ later this year. The First Order Conversion Kit and Resistance Conversion Kit give you everything you need to bring your collection of Resistance and First Order ships from the first edition into the second edition and begin building your own squadrons.

Additionally, the T-70 X-Wing Expansion Pack and the TIE/fo Fighter Expansion Pack help you round out your Resistance and First Order squadrons with even more fighters. Finally, with the RZ-2 A-Wing Expansion, you have a completely new option that adds some blinding speed to your Resistance squadrons.

Today we’re going to explore the squad-building possibilities of these new factions by taking a look at two lists created by designer Alex Davy!

Heroes of D’Qar

Fittingly, both of these lists draw their inspiration from events that took place as the Resistance was evacuating their base on D’Qar and immediately after. On the Resistance side, this list includes pilots who aided in the valiant attack run that brought down a First Order dreadnought. Together, these pilots give you a good taste of the unique flair the Resistance brings to X-Wing and lets you fly the ships that form the bulk of their fleet.

Unsurprisingly, this list revolves around none other than

Poe Dameron.

 As we discussed in our preview of the T-70 X-Wing, Poe is a consummate ace who can go toe-to-toe with anyone in a fight. As such, his high initiative and powerful ability—along with the many points of upgrades he’s carrying on his T-70—make him a natural target for enemy ships.

Fortunately for Poe, the majority of his upgrades help him use his ability to maximum effect. Both

BB-8

and the

 give him the maneuverability he needs to avoid enemy firing arcs and unleash his

Heavy Laser Cannon

to devastating effect. And while these cards have limited charges, Poe can always close his

Integrated S-foils

to gain even more maneuverability. In addition to his incredible positioning options, Poe’s

Ferrosphere Paint

makes it easy for him to avoid any ship that acquires a lock on him and, if all else fails, his

Heroic

talent gives him another chance to make a critical attack or defense roll.

The TIE/fo is in Vennie’s turret arc and Tallissan Lintra’s bullseye arc, so Vennie can roll an additional defense die and add a focus result to his roll!

If all these options weren’t enough, Poe is supported by two pilots that can both dole out damage and keep him around to the endgame.

Tallissan Lintra’s

RZ-2 A-wing is built on speed and she can use her ability to give Poe an extra defense die if the need should arise. Meanwhile,

Vennie

and her MG-100 StarFortress may lack the speed and mobility of the other ships, but they make up for it with heavy shields and a thick hull.

This large-based ship is perfect for blocking opposing ships and forcing them to target her instead of Talli or Poe. Even with one agility, dealing damage to Vennie can be a surprisingly frustrating task. She can add a focus result to her defense rolls if the attacker is in a friendly ship’s turret arc, including her own. If the enemy somehow gets the upper hand, Tallissan Lintra also has a turret arc that can help Vennie regain her focus. Better yet, Vennie and Talli’s abilities can be combined to let her roll two defense dice and add the focus to the results! Lastly, even before getting into the thick of the battle, Vennie can use her Trajectory Simulator to launch some 

Seismic Charges

 for a chance to deal some damage to any enemy ships flying too close to any nearby obstacles.     

Extinguish the Spark

On the other side, the First Order roars into battle looking to unleash all of its aggression. The three advanced starfighters you find here show a clear evolution from Imperial ships, retaining their trademark agility while also featuring greater offensive potential. The result is a list that relies on attacking as much—and as often—as possible to wreak as much havoc as you can.

Like the Resistance squadron, this list puts you in command of two of the First Order’s best pilots, led by the nefarious

Kylo Ren.

 Although he may not have the quite the initiative of Poe Dameron, Ren’s

Supernatural Reflexes

and his TIE/vn Silencer’s built-in Autothrusters help him equal Dameron in terms of sheer mobility.

After he sets up an attack with of a combination these abilities, Kylo Ren can still spend a Force charge to modify one of his attack dice, which makes

Advanced Optics

particularly useful to him. This Tech upgrade gives Kylo Ren even more control over his dice, spending a focus token to change a blank to a hit while he performs an attack.

Even when he isn’t directly attacking, Kylo Ren is still plotting ways to hurt his opponents. After he defends, he can spend a Force charge to grant the attacker the

I’ll Show You the Dark Side

condition. This card might not have an immediate effect, but it does give Kylo Ren a chance to choose a Pilot damage card that will be dealt to the ship the next time it suffers a critical damage.

If they are in the right position, “Quickdraw” can launch attacks against two separate targets in a single round!

Even though Kylo Ren’s fellow pilots can’t tap into the power of the Force to dole out damage, that doesn’t make them any less lethal. His wingmate

“Quickdraw”

has an even higher initiative and plenty of options for using the TIE/sf Fighter’s Heavy Weapon Turret to maximum effect. Hardly one to tolerate enemy fire, “Quickdraw” can quickly retaliate with a bonus primary attack after losing a shield.

While this ability could be reserved for losing shields to enemy attacks, this list gets a bit more creative. Here, “Quickdraw” can execute a red maneuver and perform an attack. Then, during the End Phase, they can suffer a damage with their equipped

Electronic Baffle

to remove their stress token and lose a shield, performing a bonus primary attack! With a

Special Forces Gunner

tagging along, the TIE/sf becomes even more flexible, potentially granting “Quickdraw” an additional attack die out of their front arc or a bonus primary attack depending on the direction of their turret arc.

Not to be outdone, the final pilot of this list might not have the same damage potential as the other two pilots, but still has a dedicated battle plan. The

Ion Missiles

carried by

“Backdraft”

provide them with perfect opportunities to use their ability. After successfully ionizing a ship, “Backdraft” can fly right over it to set up a Range 1, four-dice attack out of their rear arc. 

Enter the Fight

The fate of the galaxy hangs in the balance. Hoping to seize the advantage, the First Order carries out a campaign of terror across the galaxy. Meanwhile, the Resistance relies on its best pilots to hold back the rising tide. It’s time to choose a side and enter the fight!

Look for Wave II of X-Wing at your local retailer soon! You can pre-order your copies of these expansions at your local retailer or through our website today!

“The gold of a lowland lord is as worthless as a halfman’s promises.”
   –Gunthor Son of Gurn, A Game of Thrones

The world of Westeros is full of contrast and contradiction. The gentry of King’s Landing may rail against taxes and power-grabbing courtiers, but their lives are posh and easy compared to the ironborn on the windswept rocks of the Iron Isles. And while the Greyjoys forsake royal decrees and courtly intrigues, they are not the only ones in A Song of Ice and Fire who are willing to live by the edge of their swords.

In Kings of the Isles, the newest deluxe expansion for A Game of Thrones: The Card Game, House Greyjoy takes center stage with their raiders, reavers, and a full armada of warships for the Iron Fleet. Still, every other faction also gains two new non-loyal cards in this expansion, and today, we’ll take a closer look at the Lannister and Targaryen cards in Kings of the Isles!

The Mountains

The Clansmen of Westeros are dangerous and unpredictable, but they can be fiercely loyal to those who have earned their trust—such as Tyrion Lannister. In Kings of the Isles, House Lannister gains two cards that help to bridge the gap between the intrigue-heavy Lannister characters and their Clansman allies.

Gunthor Son of Gurn

(Kings of the Isles, 27), like many of his Clansman brethren, is a master of ambush. For four gold, you can spring Gunthor into play in the midst of the challenges phase to launch an unexpected attack. But Gunthor is not purely concerned with murder and pillage, like so many of his comrades. In fact, Gunthor understands the importance of destroying your opponent’s plans—whenever you win a challenge while attacking with Gunthor, your opponent must choose and discard a card from their hand.

You’ll only remove your opponent’s least important card with Gunthor, but it still offers you a chance to trigger

Cersei Lannister

(Lions of Casterly Rock, 1), granting you more power and lending some bite to your intrigue challenges. And if the time comes that you need Cersei to defend her power in battle, you can use

My Mind Is My Weapon

(Kings of the Isles, 28). This event lets you choose a character with an intrigue icon and have it join your side of the battle during a military challenge! Not only does this give you a boost to unexpectedly win a challenge, My Mind Is My Weapon doesn’t force your character to kneel, leaving you free to make more challenges and press your advantage.

The Plains

Far from the Iron Isles, the open plains of Essos are home to the Dothraki, the mighty horselords. These horsemen also dwell in the wilds, far from civilization and sophistication, but they can certainly turn the tide of battle in your favor.

The Targaryen character in Kings of the Isles is

Cohollo

(Kings of the Isles, 35)—one of Khal Drogo’s Bloodriders, sworn to protect his khal with his life. In the game, Cohollo proves his devotion by throwing himself into any challenge. Cohollo costs only four gold and offers five STR and intimidate. And although he has no challenge icons of his own, that won’t stop you from putting this Bloodrider into any challenge you like—you simply have to discard a card and kneel Cohollo to have him join any challenge on your side.

As you can easily imagine, the ability to join a challenge at any stage is crucial. Your opponent must constantly reckon on Cohollo joining the challenge, but if your opponent’s defenses are too strong, you’ll simply hold him in reserve for the next challenge. And although you must discard a card to bring Cohollo into the challenge, that’s hardly a problem if you have

Meereen

(The March on Winterfell, 34) feeding you three extra cards every round. You could even use

“Dance of the Dragons”

(Kings of the Isles, 36) to bring your discarded card back to your hand.

By the Edge of the Sword

House Greyjoy’s strength is rising with the tide, but they are not the only ones in Westeros who are willing to fight and die for the Iron Throne. No matter which faction you support, you’ll have plenty of reason to pick up the newest deluxe expansion for A Game of Thrones: The Card Game.

Pre-order your copy of Kings of the Isles (GT45) at your local retailer or online through our website today!  

“We stand here amid my achievement, not yours!”
   —Director Orson Krennic, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Deep in a shadowy corner of the stars, Imperial engineers are quietly developing the ultimate weapon, one that could bring the Star Wars™ galaxy to its knees. Guiding this project with a shadowy hand is one of the most cunning and ruthless minds in the entire Imperial military and soon this brilliant tactician and his entourage can be at your disposal. Fantasy Flight Games is happy to announce two new Imperial units for Star Wars: Legion:

• Director Orson Krennic Commander Expansion
• Imperial Death Troopers Unit Expansion

These expansions represent the pinnacle of Imperial might, allowing you to apply the results of the Empire’s research into advanced weapons technologies on the battlefields of the Galactic Civil War. With an elite group of ruthlessly efficient soldiers and a new commander who knows exactly how to use them, the Rebels won’t know what hit them. 

Director Orson Krennic Commander Expansion

Every great achievement requires just as much ambition, and there are few as ambitious as Director Orson Krennic. As the head of the Empire’s Advanced Weapons Research division, he oversaw the creation of the dreaded Death Star, using it wipe out any trace of the Empire’s activities on Jedha.

Director Krennic brings the same cunning that helped him build one of the most powerful superweapons the galaxy has ever known to the battlefields of Star Wars: Legion. In these fights, he’ll do whatever it takes to push his own agenda and ensure that his command cards win priority. Even better, Krennic’s position and skills entitle him to his own entourage of Imperial Death Troopers, giving you plenty of room for other special forces units in your army.

The Director Orson Krennic Commander Expansion includes one finely detailed, easily assembled Director Orson Krennic miniature ready to march his troops into battle along with three new command cards that allow him to issue specific orders in the thick of battle. Finally, three upgrade cards give you even more power to customize your commanders and their equipment.

We’ll take a full look at everything inside the Director Orson Krennic Commander Expansion, including all three of his signature command cards, in a future preview!

Imperial Death Troopers Unit Expansion

Tactically advancing across the battlefields like inhuman revenants, Imperial death troopers are a terrifying sight. Adorned in jet black armor and carrying an arsenal of weapons and equipment, these troopers are the elite soldiers of the Tarkin Initiative. Trained to be efficient and merciless, they are also rumored to undergo classified medical augmentations.

Death trooper candidates are hand-selected from the Stormtrooper Corps by Imperial Intelligence itself and, as such, these elite troops display skills beyond those seen in other Imperial troops. Unfazed by enemy fire, death troopers wade into battle, firing with unmatched precision. They display so much discipline, in fact, that they can remove a suppression token when they are issued an order, keeping them pressing the attack no matter how much adversity they face.

Within the Imperial Death Troopers Unit Expansion, you’ll find everything you need to add a squad of ruthless death troopers to your Imperial army. Six finely sculpted death trooper miniatures are accompanied by a unit card, an assortment of tokens, and an array of upgrade cards that give your death troopers access to even more advanced weaponry.

We’ll take a look at everything included in the Imperial Death Troopers Unit Expansion in a future preview!

On the Verge of Greatness

With the creation of the Death Star, the Empire has a weapon that can ensure its dominance for generations to come. Add some advanced weapons of your own to the fight against the Rebellion with these expansions for Star Wars: Legion!

Look for the Director Orson Krennic Commander Expansion (SWL33) and the Imperial Death Troopers Unit Expansion (SWL34) at your local retailer in the first quarter of 2019. Pre-order your copy at your local retailer or online through our website here!