Summoner Wars 2e!

I know everyone was just ragging on Tom Vasel, but if you're curious what it looks like when he REALLY likes a game, skip to the last couple minutes of this video.

Space Biff’s review is up now too.
spacebiff.com/2021/04/16/summoner-wars-2/

Aaand for now I’ll probably go be quiet again until they release the other 4 factions on the online version.

The digital beta is out now with all 6 master set factions. Runs on a browser if you subscribe. Let me know if any of you pick it up, maybe we can link up for a game. Pre-orders end on May 1.

I've played a couple of beta games now. Both were fairly easy wins (Polar Dwarves over Breakers and Fallen Kingdom over Vanguards) over the AI, but the interface felt decent on desktop. Tell you what, that new art looks awfully pretty at full screen. I have a soft spot for Ariosa's original art and its minimal ornamentation, but those colors are so pretty.

Haven't gotten to play as much as I'd like to now that all the factions are up, but Fallen Kingdom absolutely slaps. The amount of building up they can do to an explosive board-wiping turn is absurd. They may end up not being amazing due to being a bit too reliant on said explosive turns, but I love playing them anyway.

Joe recently said that the Fallen Kingdom are being played about twice as much as any other faction. Oddly enough, they’re the one faction I haven’t really played much yet. I played the demo a lot with Cave Goblins and Breakers. The CG are probably the most direct port from the original, but they still feel pretty new and fresh. I love how Tacullu (Breakers) can turn on the offensive- the deck isn’t nearly as passive as the old one.

Then I started picking up the Phoenix Elves and Tundra Orcs in testing, and added Polar Dwarves to my rotation since they just seemed so different and cool. Now I’ve been playing a lot of them, the Savanna Elves and a little bit of Vanguards on the app.

Savanna Elves can get some big combo turns too! You have to keep Abua Shi close, but yet at a safe distance.

Helps that Abua hits like a mack truck from across the field.

I loved Tundra Orcs in 1e so I'm super excited to see how they came together here. Guessing you can't spill much on it but I don't mind waiting.

Looks like you’ll get to see the TO sooner than expected!

boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/117678/phoeni...rcs-preview-incoming

Took 'em for a spin just a moment ago, drew out a bot game to try out their cards. I like the focus on uncertain results from the units while using the summoner to guarantee(ish) results. Not being The Wall Faction in favor of sheer aggression is welcome.

Then I played another and won turn 1 against a Sneeks who got overconfident. My boys are back in town and I love them.

Took Phoenix Elves and Tundra Orcs for a match each, too. I like the coke-tinged eyes the Orc commons all picked up, but no faction beside Fallen Kingdom has profited from the new art as much as the Elves. They look sly and haughty and everything. They’re great, and Elien is nowhere to be seen.

Not so sure about playing the factions, yet. They still have their incredibly bland themes of roll-less damage and high-risk rolls, but they’ve been tweaked to a more interesting place. Favorite card is probably Orcs’ Primal Fury that encourages a headfirst summoner style that can be built into Cave Goblins.

Been playing a lot of Cave Goblins lately and having a complete blast. They survived pretty intact from 1e with most of the tweaking coming not to their abilities but their numbers to fit the new system. It feels so good to fart out swarms of units with zero planning ahead and surround the enemy’s walls. Doesn’t matter how much magic you build from my bodies if you have nowhere to summon them.

Should probably try to play an actual person next.

This guy makes me feel like I know nothing about FK, the faction I've played the least-

PHG is running an online tourney concurrent with GenCon. I went 4-0 in my pool in the first round. All factions are free for like a week, whether or not you’re in the event.

Physical copies of Cloaks and Skyspear Avians came to subscribers this week, and the online version has had them for a couple weeks. Super fun, swarms, aggressive, both of them. Cloaks feel very much like their old selves, but more powerful than Vlox was relative to the rest of the field.

There was another massive (108) person tourney which is soon gonna be down to its final 12 competitors. Again, I made it to the second round, but will not pass to the 3rd.

I think I was one of the first critics that really got into the original game…I remember emailing Colby directly and asking for a review copy lol.

They sent me a Master Set week and an online code a couple of weeks ago and I’ve really loved getting back into the game- it’s still awesome, and it totally holds its own against newer 2p battle games.

The online game is really well done, I’ve only played AI but it’s a great way to check it out. I may dip into PVP today if work is slow.

Savanna Elves are my folks…I hope they bring back the goat people, I loved them.

Went so far as to sign up for the subscription service, I love that.