Labyrinth of the Necrons, new standalone game from GW

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**BrookM**

Rather, making it more readily available in gaming stores across the US and Canada.

**spiralingcadaver**

ProtoClone wrote:
Have these games, and similar ones from GW, been any good?

Despite it not having Necron models, I am kind of interested in it.

Silver Tower is poorly balanced but fun with a little house ruling.

Assassinorum whatever has poor replay value but is nice every now and then: good mechanics, no variety.

Lost Patrol is horribly, terribly, unplayably poorly balanced unless you like games where one side is handicapped hard. Which sucks, since its first edition was fine.

Space Hulk is a classic.

**Mr_Rose**

The Betrayal at Calth game is actually amazing and doesn’t deserve to be discarded as though it was the ballast keeping your box of shiny new MkIV marines from flying away in the breeze.

**highlord tamburlaine**

Gorechosen is a lot of fun, and well worth the money (especially when considering the individual model's costs), and hopefully this follows suit. The Bloodbowl- lite has me curious too, especially if it ends up allowing all the current teams to be played.

At least White Dwarf attempted to spice up the rules for some of these releases such as Lost Patrol with unit variety, and Assassin Execution Force had rules for fighting summonable Daemons as well.

If GW toss a few articles in the mag to expand upon these, seems cool to me. Having games aimed at kids is great for precisely just that- getting kids interested in this stuff again!

**Adeptus Doritos**

Mr_Rose wrote:
The Betrayal at Calth game is actually amazing and doesn’t deserve to be discarded as though it was the ballast keeping your box of shiny new MkIV marines from flying away in the breeze.

Yep. And sadly, I wish they would have had more games aside from that one and Prospero.

**Irbis**

Strg Alt wrote:
Eight-year-olds as target group? Jesus Christ!

And what's the problem with that, again?

I was playing Talisman around 10-11, this game looks much simpler than that...

**amazingturtles**

Irbis wrote:
Strg Alt wrote:
Eight-year-olds as target group? Jesus Christ!

And what's the problem with that, again?

I was playing Talisman around 10-11, this game looks much simpler than that...

Yeah, i love when there are games with minis that i can easily play with my nephews or younger cousins! they're really getting into the age where they want to mess around with rules and more structured things, so that's where i'm more hopeful with this.

**Kirasu**

Looks like yet another "Direct To Garbage Can" GW board game, as a vehicle to simply get less expensive models. I just dont see why people would want these specific models. Pretty wild they are targeting 8 year olds considering 40k has always been an early teenager game due to the price, assembly and painting aspect (Not to mention rules that lawyers can barely decipher)

**Slayer-Fan123**

Adeptus Doritos wrote:
Mr_Rose wrote:
The Betrayal at Calth game is actually amazing and doesn’t deserve to be discarded as though it was the ballast keeping your box of shiny new MkIV marines from flying away in the breeze.

Yep. And sadly, I wish they would have had more games aside from that one and Prospero.

Well there's always potential for that in the future. I'm hoping for some plastic Mk5 dudes myself...

**H.B.M.C.**

Kirasu wrote:
Looks like yet another "Direct To Garbage Can" GW board game, as a vehicle to simply get less expensive models. I just dont see why people would want these specific models. Pretty wild they are targeting 8 year olds considering 40k has always been an early teenager game due to the price, assembly and painting aspect (Not to mention rules that lawyers can barely decipher)

Remember that this, and the Blood Bowl Blitz game (or whatever it's called) previewed at a Toy Fair.

To me these seem like the kinds of things that go out to regular toy stores, rather than GWs (or as well as GWs, at the very least). A bit like the simple build'n' paint Marine/Ork sets from the year before last.

As much as a lot of us would want a fully realised corridor-based Necron v Marines board game filled with endless amounts of high quality themed tiles... *mind wanders off* wait, where was I... oh yes, as much as we'd want a game like that there's nothing really wrong with GW's current approach.

**Manchu**

If we could look at a thread from the future, we might see a bunch of thirty year olds saying "yeah Space Marine Adventures was very simple but Labyrinth of the Necrons got me into 40k as a kid and here I still am playing 16th Edition."

**axisofentropy**

Manchu wrote:
If we could look at a thread from the future, we might see a bunch of thirty year olds saying "yeah Space Marine Adventures was very simple but Labyrinth of the Necrons got me into 40k as a kid and here I still am playing 16th Edition."

this guy gets it. beyond the game and plastic, GW's most valuable asset is their Intellectual Property. The more kids who learn what a "Necron" is, the more consumers are ready for the blockbuster 40k movies (yes this will happen).

**Adeptus Doritos**

Manchu wrote:
If we could look at a thread from the future, we might see a bunch of thirty year olds saying "yeah Space Marine Adventures was very simple but Labyrinth of the Necrons got me into 40k as a kid and here I still am playing 16th Edition."

And I can honestly sit here and say what got me into Warhammer/40k was Hero Quest.

**455_PWR**

I didn't read through all six pages so hopefully I'm not repeatin this... anyone notice the marines are the Japanese space marine hero figures, just in multiple colors instead of just blue?

Looks like the space marine heroes line will be released in the usa in a different way.

Game looks cool, I'm in for a space marine dungeon crawl

**Kirasu**

Adeptus Doritos wrote:
Manchu wrote:
If we could look at a thread from the future, we might see a bunch of thirty year olds saying "yeah Space Marine Adventures was very simple but Labyrinth of the Necrons got me into 40k as a kid and here I still am playing 16th Edition."

And I can honestly sit here and say what got me into Warhammer/40k was Hero Quest.

Heroquest was a complex and creative game tho where players routinely designed entire campaigns. It got me into a lot of these games as well but very few games since have managed to replicate that feeling. Descent was okay but so clunky.

**streetsamurai**

THis look ultra crappy, but I guess it might be useful to get new players into the game.

Stil, as Kirasu said I doubt it has enough complexity to hook new players up (like HQ did for so many of us)

**Mezmaron**

Based closer examination of one of the pictures, one can make out "Do Not Open" on the three red/white packs of cards.

See the first picture....
http://mezmaronslair.blogspot.com/2018/02/games-workshop-announces-space-marine.html

Attached is a closeup...

Might this indicate a more complicated campaign approach, or even a legacy-style game mechanic?

Mez

**Manchu**

Good eye! That sounds like it could be a neat twist.

**Chopstick**

Look like one of those Risk pack where it add some random event and modifier.

**Mezmaron**

Yes, much like Risk: Legacy, or even Pandemic: Legacy.

This would have to be much more simple however, but it would still make it more fun.

One thing I don't understand is the 1-4 players, although there are 5 miniatures.... Anyone have ideas on that?

**Ssgt Carl**

Mezmaron wrote:
.

One thing I don't understand is the 1-4 players, although there are 5 miniatures.... Anyone have ideas on that?

The box says 2-5. Perhaps the community site simply erred.

**Chikout**

The big pack says open now. This could be a legacy system or it could be like Shadespire where they have prebuilt decks to start then add the deck building mechanic later.
My oldest son is 6 now. A game like this looks like an ideal introduction to Warhammer. If it hits a £20 or £30 price point, I will probably pick it up.

**Vorian**

Kirasu wrote:
Adeptus Doritos wrote:
Manchu wrote:
If we could look at a thread from the future, we might see a bunch of thirty year olds saying "yeah Space Marine Adventures was very simple but Labyrinth of the Necrons got me into 40k as a kid and here I still am playing 16th Edition."

And I can honestly sit here and say what got me into Warhammer/40k was Hero Quest.

Heroquest was a complex and creative game tho where players routinely designed entire campaigns. It got me into a lot of these games as well but very few games since have managed to replicate that feeling. Descent was okay but so clunky.

Heroquest was simple. 99.9% of people will have played the book and nothing more. It was for ages 10+ and I was playing it around 8 years old.

**Stormonu**

Vorian wrote:
Kirasu wrote:
Adeptus Doritos wrote:
Manchu wrote:
If we could look at a thread from the future, we might see a bunch of thirty year olds saying "yeah Space Marine Adventures was very simple but Labyrinth of the Necrons got me into 40k as a kid and here I still am playing 16th Edition."

And I can honestly sit here and say what got me into Warhammer/40k was Hero Quest.

Heroquest was a complex and creative game tho where players routinely designed entire campaigns. It got me into a lot of these games as well but very few games since have managed to replicate that feeling. Descent was okay but so clunky.

Heroquest was simple. 99.9% of people will have played the book and nothing more. It was for ages 10+ and I was playing it around 8 years old.

I still have mine, along with the likes of Space Fleet (a dumbed down version of Battlefleet Gothic), Lost Patrol (the re-released version) and Advanced Space Crusade (missed getting a copy of Space Crusade). I've also bought the various Horus Heresy and Deathwatch:Overkill game - some of them without the miniatures, so I could have the game itself.

However, this looks to me like a hard pass for me - unless it manages to come in under $20. What really kills it for me is that it doesn't come with necron minis - that just leaves me faberglasted. All I can say is, this isn't the old GW we know, I couldn't imagine them passing up a chance to put minis into the box in the past. The minis were always the drivers before ... could they be actually focusing on the gameplay this time around?

**Kid_Kyoto**

Some more news from Toy Fair

https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/39672/space-marine-adventures-blitz-bowl

'SPACE MARINE ADVENTURES' AND 'BLITZ BOWL'

Upcoming Games Workshop Boxed Games

Posted by Nicole Bunge on February 19, 2018 @ 6:05 pm CT

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At New York Toy Fair, Games Workshop unveiled two new introductory games to familiarize players to the Games Workshop settings and worlds. Both games are self-contained sets which are playable right out of the box. Both games will release later this year.

Space Marine Adventures is for 1 – 4 players who attempt to break into the Necron labyrinth. Each character plays a unique Space Marine with special skills, which is represented by a miniature assembled from easy-build kits. An easy introduction into the 41st Millennium, the game is sutible for players 8 and up.

Blitz Bowl is set in the Blood Bowl arena, playing similarly, but with smaller teams and faster actions. The skirmish games take place in the Crush recruitment rituals as each player tries to prove their worth in the eyes of Nuffle, their patron deity.

**Zingraff**

Kirasu wrote:
Adeptus Doritos wrote:
Manchu wrote:
If we could look at a thread from the future, we might see a bunch of thirty year olds saying "yeah Space Marine Adventures was very simple but Labyrinth of the Necrons got me into 40k as a kid and here I still am playing 16th Edition."

And I can honestly sit here and say what got me into Warhammer/40k was Hero Quest.

Heroquest was a complex and creative game tho where players routinely designed entire campaigns. It got me into a lot of these games as well but very few games since have managed to replicate that feeling. Descent was okay but so clunky.

This:

Spoiler:

**Elbows**

I could see getting this for my 10 year old nephew. Not understanding people failing to grasp the "young audience, intro game" nature of this product.

**AndrewGPaul**

Adeptus Doritos wrote:
Ghaz wrote:

Spoiler:

Well, it does look like the Necrons are just tiles. Of course, chances are they'll stick a box of Necrons near the game as an 'expansion'.

Baffling that this is 'Regular Marine' and not Deathwatch...

Like Space Crusade, each playing piece is coloured differently to make them stand apart from each other. So, make those colours the Chapter colours, and add a bit of setting flavour to the colour choices.

As for the enemies being tokens, it looks like you might draw them randomly from the bag, which is a little hard to do with miniatures.

**vadersson**

I was just about to say that this reminds me of Space Crusade, but you beat me to it. I find it interesting that GW is going the old boxed stand alone games route again. Titanicus, Space Marine Adventures, etc. All kinds of smaller games of fun. I am happy to see it personally.

**AndrewGPaul**

This and Blitz Bowl remind me of the old "box lid games" from the early 90s; Kerrunch (simple Blood Bowl), Ultramarines (simple Space Hulk, but with rival squads of Scouts rather than Terminators vs Genestealers) and Mighty Warriors (simple Advanced Heroquest - no, not the same thing as Heroquest!). This time round, they're not using the box lid as a hit/miss matrix.