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So I was at the "local" game store last weekend and I saw that they had the new Talisman game for sale.  After seeing it was only $50, I vowed that it would soon be mine.  I had a friend who had the either the first or second edition (not sure which), and I always loved playing it.

I've read a couple reviews across the 'tubes, but was wondering if anyone here had played it yet?  I'm going to get it, that's a foregone conclusion, I'm just wondering if I need to get it NOW!

A couple weeks ago, Tower games had a nice big fat box of talisman games sitting there waiting to be put on the shelf. I begged him to sell me one, so I could lord it over everyone else who couldnt get it a week early, but alas he wouldnt budge.

For $50, its a damn solid deal.

I dont enjoy Talisman as much as many others do, but its a great game. I cannot comment on changes from differing editions, as I only played 2nd ed twice.

There's a review here:
www.talismanisland.com/review_4th.htm

Sounds like they wound it back to v2.5 rather than moving on to a v4.  Just as well as Jervis' V3 was utter tosh!

Why on earth they ever let Jervis loose on otherwise perfectly good games is beyond me!

My brother is still a devoted fan and always preferred the early editions. He says GW could not avoid the temptation to keep introducing more powerful characters in the later expansion, which outclassed the core set. I've played it a few times myself and enjoyed it so I will try to pick up a copy.

I have one of the early editions and just about every expansion they put out for it (adventure, expansion, city, time scape, dragon king) with the noted exception of the dungeon. Its one of those game that's been played so much that the cards are showing wear and the board is frayed at the corners. Been a couple of years since I've broken it out but perhaps I will do so again soon.

I've got v2, but to be honest, I always felt rather let down by the game. It got loads of rave reviews back in the 80's when I was a youngster, and I was stoked to get it as a Christmas present one year. But after playing it a couple of times it was "meh", like what is all the fuss about? It just took too long, and after about 3 hours we kept losing interest.

It was an OK game, but it has sat in its box for 20 years and I've no plans to break it out again as I just haven't got the stamina to do something so pointless for so long in one sitting any more...

Posted By Osbad on 10/16/2007 1:51 AM
I've got v2, but to be honest, I always felt rather let down by the game. It got loads of rave reviews back in the 80's when I was a youngster, and I was stoked to get it as a Christmas present one year. But after playing it a couple of times it was "meh", like what is all the fuss about? It just took too long, and after about 3 hours we kept losing interest.

I feel the exact same way about Axis & Allies.  My friends consider me a heretic.  I dunno. 

I agree Osbad. I wouldn't want to play it again. Too long, too dull and too random.

Talisman isn't the world's greatest game. But it is quite fun to play with a group (4-8) of friends, without taking all weekend or requiring all participants to be expert gamers.  Or even intermediate gamers.  It's simple and straightforward enough that you can play it while drinking and shooting the breeze, but has a lot of flavor. The early editions, with the classic art, are my favorite for this.

It does have a notoriously poor end game, during which usually one or two players will be capable of making a run for the Crown of Command while the others are basically out of contention. It can also run very long if players wait around and don't even try for the Crown until they're really strong and virtually guaranteed to get through the obstacles on the inner ring of the board.

Anyone ever played King Arthur's Knights? A very old game put out by Chaosium. That remains fun to the end even if you are out of contention.

I must be out of touch with the social mores of today.  I enjoy when games take hours to play.  I like Warmachine because you have to think so much about what you're doing.  Talisman was always best when you're not rushing to get to the crown.  Taking your time to run through a bunch of the adventure cards is a good time.  Runebound is good in this aspect too.  Hopefully (and from what I've read, this is true), the new Talisman retains this ability to play it out over a few hours.

Now I just need to find some models to replace the cardboard characters you get.