I didn't have a knee-jerk reaction when I first heard that DC might be relaunching their entire line in September. The comic industry has a history of reinventing itself; I.E. Marvel has launched and/or relaunched the Avengers title 4 times in the last 15 years. The Silver Age of DC was used to reinvent and create new characters following the Golden Age, etc. I wasn't overly concerned about the comics, but I was excited about DC for the first time in along while.
I was worried about how the customers of this store (and others) were going to take the news. I was not happy with how they rolled out the information, especially since it took a couple weeks before anyone got a definite answer on whether this was a fresh start (cold reboot, new continuity) or a soft relaunch (keep previous continuity). I had some questions.
In mid-June, DC Comics hosted a series of Retailer Roundtables across the country. I was lucky enough to spend an afternoon in NYC with other retailers, asking questions and getting answers from some of the top people working at DC.
My thoughts:
- Over half the time (the meeting went 3+ hours) was spent discussing the new titles and creative teams. There were half a dozen executives and VP's on hand to discuss the books. Dan Didio and Jim Lee answered all of the creative answers.
- Jim Lee might be the nicest guy in the entire industry. Funny observation: Retailers weren't afraid to ask Didio tough questions, but they softened their tone for Jim. Conclusion: No retailer ever wants to get on Jim Lee's bad side.
- Every one of the DC and Warner Brothers people were enthused about The New 52. There was definitely a feeling of passion and commitment. DC is going all-in on this, in every department across the board.
- Didio stressed how important timeliness was going to be on these books. Remember the old days, when you got a Superman and Batman book every week, the same week of every month? The old days are back. Dan Didio was asked several times about DC's newfound commitment toscheduling. He said, and I quote, "I was personally embarassed when 3 Green Lantern books all shipped the same week." They are focusing hard
on making sure books come out on time. Someone asked him "What happens if someone misses their deadline?" Without missing a beat, he responded, "Someone already has." [They're off the book]. You could've heard a pin drop in the room after that one.
- Speaking of continuity, I got some answers: Batman, Green Lantern and all the characters associated with Brightest Day are continuing what's going on in their books right now, more or less. I get the idea they might be tweaking a couple things in the Batman books (specifically with Tim, if the Teen Titans solicitations are any indications) but that's it. All the Green Lantern titles LITERALLY be taking place after the War of the Green Lantern Aftermath mini-series. Swamp Thing's book will come out of Brightest Day. Deadman will come out of Brightest Day.
- They're integrating some of the Wildstorm characters into the DCU. As a longtime WS fan, I'm not certain how I feel about that. Voodoo has never had her own book, and Ron Marz has been writing Witchblade forever, so that character is in pretty good hands.
- Superman and Justice League are getting cold reboots. I know this might cause some gnashing and wailing, but neither book has sold well. It makes sense that DC wants their strongest and best properties to regain the sales dominance they used to have. Superman is an icon, and is selling very poorly. Justice League sells good, but not great. Putting Grant Morisson, George Perez, Jim Lee and Geoff Johns on this books will change that fast.
- Graphic novel collections of The New 52 won't start until May 2012. Yes, it's really going to be that long before you see collections.
- DC released a video of the top creators and VP's talking about The New 52: http://bit.ly/iIGtHg
--
More soon.
-Scott.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
DC in September - The New 52
We're getting a lot of questions about what DC Comics is doing in September with the 52 #1's: They're relaunching all the books? They're rebooting them? Morpheus is taking over the Teen Titans? They're making Krypto the new Wonder Woman?
(Yes, No, Um, and waitwhatareyou-), respectively.
DC sent out a FAQ last week. Get the answers. Feast your eyes.
---
GENERAL
* Why do it? There is a lot of speculation out there, are you "rebooting" the titles?
This is an epic and ambitious initiative that ushers in a new generation of comics for DC Comics and will set the tone for storylines and characters for years to come. With all of the titles starting at #1, our creative teams have the ability to take a more modern approach - not only with each character, but with how the characters interact with one another and the universe as a whole, and focus on the earlier part of the careers of each of our iconic characters. A time when they didn't have as much experience defeating all their nemeses. A time when they weren't as sure of their abilities. A time when they haven't saved the world countless times. It's this period that is rich with creative opportunity as we show why these characters are so amazing, so iconic and so special.
We think fans will be excited by this approach and The New 52 will provide DC Entertainment an opportunity to aggressively reach the widest possible audience worldwide, through captivating stories and an accessible entry point. We see great opportunities to tell new, contemporary, cutting edge stories building off the best known, classic stories that make up each of the title's back histories.
* DC Comics has had a number of reboots, what makes this one different?
This is not a reboot, it's a launch. This is a historic initiative for DC Entertainment and the DC Comics characters - and a first in the company's publishing history. This next era of DC Comics characters will see 52 all-new #1 issues of its super hero titles at the same time AND same-day digital across the board. In addition to the number changes, our talented creative teams are working behind the scenes to create compelling storylines and new costume designs for many of our iconic DC Comics characters.
* Why not call it a reboot?
It's not a reboot. A reboot is typically a restart of the story or character that jettisons away everything that happened previously.
This is a new beginning which builds off the best of the past. For the stories launching as new #1s in September, we have carefully hand-selected the most powerful and pertinent moments in these characters' lives and stories to remain in the mythology and lore. And then we've asked the best creators in the industry to modernize, update and enhance the books with new and exciting tales. The result is that we retained the good stuff, and then make it better.
* Does The New 52 undo events or continuity that I've been reading?
Some yes, some no. But many of the great stories remain. For example - Batgirl. The Killing Joke still happened and she was Oracle. Now she will go through physical rehabilitation and become a more seasoned and nuanced character because she had these incredible and diverse experiences.
* So will all titles be entry points or will you need to know back-story for some?
Each title will read as a #1 issue that will make jumping into the story extremely accessible for all types of readers. The stories are designed in a way that new fans will be able to pick up a book and immediately be drawn into the story, while at the same time existing fans will be engrossed by the new and epic moments that take place.
* Do the new #1s mean that the previous stories didn't take place?
Our creative teams have a firm understanding of the storied heritage of characters and titles. The new #1 issues will introduce readers to a more modern, diverse universe of DC Comics characters, with some character variations in appearance, origin and age. All stories will be grounded in each character's legend - but will map to real world situations, interactions, tragedies and triumphs.
Overall, DC Entertainment is focused on putting out the most innovative storylines, featuring the most iconic characters, created by the most creative minds within the industry.
* Might you just introduce a new DC "Ultimate" line and give it the spotlight for a few months, then have the opportunity to bring back the other continuity? Will this all be put back to "normal" after a few months?
No - this is the new universe of DC Comics characters. This is an epic and ambitious initiative that ushers in the next era of the DC Comics characters and will set the tone for storylines and characters for years to come. This is not an "event," because events expire.
* Why are you changing the costumes?
DC Entertainment is led by some of the biggest fans of comics out there. We know that if Geoff and Jim are excited about the stories and artwork, we're on to something big. While there may be some naysayers, when we thought about starting the entire DC Comics universe line of comics with #1/first issues we looked at the benefits for the long haul, not just a year or two. Our goal is to create a watershed moment for DC Entertainment - and the industry as a whole - where fans will remember this as a time of innovation while maintaining DC Entertainment's commitment to creating entertaining and masterfully created stories.
* Do you not care about your company's history? If you do this right, what do you want your legacy to be 75 years from now?
The legacy of DC Entertainment, and DC Comics before it, is based on the creativity of our editors and our creative talent, and our commitment to the best storytelling possible. DC has always been about character development and growth.
Take Batman for example. In the early days he was a vigilante who brandished a gun. Then he morphed into a whimsical character and then in the 1960's he became more of the gritty, grim avenger of the night. We can all agree that we are glad Batman evolved.
Our goal is to create a watershed moment for DC Entertainment - and the industry as a whole - where fans will remember this as a time of innovation while maintaining DC Entertainment's commitment to creating entertaining and masterfully created stories.
* Specifically why end Action and Detective before they reach their 1,000th issues? Action Comics is the longest running American comic book, followed closely by Detective Comics, the company's namesake. Isn't renumbering these series actually a retreat from the love of "comics as comics"?
Our Co-Publishers and editors thought long and hard about this. It was an extremely important decision that was not taken lightly. But executing this unprecedented event meant taking creative risks on every level and pushing forward with big, new ideas. A partial renumbering would not have had the impact we needed to showcase the amazing changes and direction we have planned for the new DC Comics universe of characters. Counting issue numbers is focusing on the past, not the future.
* Can this event fix/undo an event I don't like from the past?/ Can this event bring back a character from the past that I miss?/ Does this event change the status of (insert pretty much any character here)? What would you say to someone whose favorite superhero no longer exists?
Characters are always evolving in the DC universe and part of the evolution means that characters come and go. While not all current characters will be part of the new DC Comics line of books, we are confident the ambitious plan we are creating will introduce a new generation of protagonists and antagonists that will captivate readers.
We are kicking things off with our best and brightest characters and what makes them so compelling and great. Simply because you don't see a personal favorite in the September launches doesn't mean your favorites are gone. This is just the beginning.
Variants
For variants, we chose our core iconic titles.. And of course, we sought out those titles with the most compelling visuals. This variant program will continue for September, October, and November at least. We will be offering variants on five different titles, effectively one each week. Some specifics so far:
JUSTICE LEAGUE #1 VARIANT EDITIONS
There will be 1:25 and a 1:200 (yes, we're ordering the 1:200 - Scott)
VARIANT COVERS
There will be limited variants for each of the following, plus a 1:200 (No, we don't know if we're ordering those for these titles - Scott)
· ACTION COMICS #1 VARIANT EDITION
Cover by Jim Lee and Scott Williams
· BATMAN #1 VARIANT EDITION
Cover by Ethan Van Sciver
· GREEN LANTERN #1 VARIANT EDITION
Cover by Greg Capullo
· THE FLASH #1 VARIANT EDITION
Cover by Ivan Reis and Tim Townsend
--
More soon.
-Scott.
(Yes, No, Um, and waitwhatareyou-), respectively.
DC sent out a FAQ last week. Get the answers. Feast your eyes.
---
GENERAL
* Why do it? There is a lot of speculation out there, are you "rebooting" the titles?
This is an epic and ambitious initiative that ushers in a new generation of comics for DC Comics and will set the tone for storylines and characters for years to come. With all of the titles starting at #1, our creative teams have the ability to take a more modern approach - not only with each character, but with how the characters interact with one another and the universe as a whole, and focus on the earlier part of the careers of each of our iconic characters. A time when they didn't have as much experience defeating all their nemeses. A time when they weren't as sure of their abilities. A time when they haven't saved the world countless times. It's this period that is rich with creative opportunity as we show why these characters are so amazing, so iconic and so special.
We think fans will be excited by this approach and The New 52 will provide DC Entertainment an opportunity to aggressively reach the widest possible audience worldwide, through captivating stories and an accessible entry point. We see great opportunities to tell new, contemporary, cutting edge stories building off the best known, classic stories that make up each of the title's back histories.
* DC Comics has had a number of reboots, what makes this one different?
This is not a reboot, it's a launch. This is a historic initiative for DC Entertainment and the DC Comics characters - and a first in the company's publishing history. This next era of DC Comics characters will see 52 all-new #1 issues of its super hero titles at the same time AND same-day digital across the board. In addition to the number changes, our talented creative teams are working behind the scenes to create compelling storylines and new costume designs for many of our iconic DC Comics characters.
* Why not call it a reboot?
It's not a reboot. A reboot is typically a restart of the story or character that jettisons away everything that happened previously.
This is a new beginning which builds off the best of the past. For the stories launching as new #1s in September, we have carefully hand-selected the most powerful and pertinent moments in these characters' lives and stories to remain in the mythology and lore. And then we've asked the best creators in the industry to modernize, update and enhance the books with new and exciting tales. The result is that we retained the good stuff, and then make it better.
* Does The New 52 undo events or continuity that I've been reading?
Some yes, some no. But many of the great stories remain. For example - Batgirl. The Killing Joke still happened and she was Oracle. Now she will go through physical rehabilitation and become a more seasoned and nuanced character because she had these incredible and diverse experiences.
* So will all titles be entry points or will you need to know back-story for some?
Each title will read as a #1 issue that will make jumping into the story extremely accessible for all types of readers. The stories are designed in a way that new fans will be able to pick up a book and immediately be drawn into the story, while at the same time existing fans will be engrossed by the new and epic moments that take place.
* Do the new #1s mean that the previous stories didn't take place?
Our creative teams have a firm understanding of the storied heritage of characters and titles. The new #1 issues will introduce readers to a more modern, diverse universe of DC Comics characters, with some character variations in appearance, origin and age. All stories will be grounded in each character's legend - but will map to real world situations, interactions, tragedies and triumphs.
Overall, DC Entertainment is focused on putting out the most innovative storylines, featuring the most iconic characters, created by the most creative minds within the industry.
* Might you just introduce a new DC "Ultimate" line and give it the spotlight for a few months, then have the opportunity to bring back the other continuity? Will this all be put back to "normal" after a few months?
No - this is the new universe of DC Comics characters. This is an epic and ambitious initiative that ushers in the next era of the DC Comics characters and will set the tone for storylines and characters for years to come. This is not an "event," because events expire.
* Why are you changing the costumes?
DC Entertainment is led by some of the biggest fans of comics out there. We know that if Geoff and Jim are excited about the stories and artwork, we're on to something big. While there may be some naysayers, when we thought about starting the entire DC Comics universe line of comics with #1/first issues we looked at the benefits for the long haul, not just a year or two. Our goal is to create a watershed moment for DC Entertainment - and the industry as a whole - where fans will remember this as a time of innovation while maintaining DC Entertainment's commitment to creating entertaining and masterfully created stories.
* Do you not care about your company's history? If you do this right, what do you want your legacy to be 75 years from now?
The legacy of DC Entertainment, and DC Comics before it, is based on the creativity of our editors and our creative talent, and our commitment to the best storytelling possible. DC has always been about character development and growth.
Take Batman for example. In the early days he was a vigilante who brandished a gun. Then he morphed into a whimsical character and then in the 1960's he became more of the gritty, grim avenger of the night. We can all agree that we are glad Batman evolved.
Our goal is to create a watershed moment for DC Entertainment - and the industry as a whole - where fans will remember this as a time of innovation while maintaining DC Entertainment's commitment to creating entertaining and masterfully created stories.
* Specifically why end Action and Detective before they reach their 1,000th issues? Action Comics is the longest running American comic book, followed closely by Detective Comics, the company's namesake. Isn't renumbering these series actually a retreat from the love of "comics as comics"?
Our Co-Publishers and editors thought long and hard about this. It was an extremely important decision that was not taken lightly. But executing this unprecedented event meant taking creative risks on every level and pushing forward with big, new ideas. A partial renumbering would not have had the impact we needed to showcase the amazing changes and direction we have planned for the new DC Comics universe of characters. Counting issue numbers is focusing on the past, not the future.
* Can this event fix/undo an event I don't like from the past?/ Can this event bring back a character from the past that I miss?/ Does this event change the status of (insert pretty much any character here)? What would you say to someone whose favorite superhero no longer exists?
Characters are always evolving in the DC universe and part of the evolution means that characters come and go. While not all current characters will be part of the new DC Comics line of books, we are confident the ambitious plan we are creating will introduce a new generation of protagonists and antagonists that will captivate readers.
We are kicking things off with our best and brightest characters and what makes them so compelling and great. Simply because you don't see a personal favorite in the September launches doesn't mean your favorites are gone. This is just the beginning.
Variants
For variants, we chose our core iconic titles.. And of course, we sought out those titles with the most compelling visuals. This variant program will continue for September, October, and November at least. We will be offering variants on five different titles, effectively one each week. Some specifics so far:
JUSTICE LEAGUE #1 VARIANT EDITIONS
There will be 1:25 and a 1:200 (yes, we're ordering the 1:200 - Scott)
VARIANT COVERS
There will be limited variants for each of the following, plus a 1:200 (No, we don't know if we're ordering those for these titles - Scott)
· ACTION COMICS #1 VARIANT EDITION
Cover by Jim Lee and Scott Williams
· BATMAN #1 VARIANT EDITION
Cover by Ethan Van Sciver
· GREEN LANTERN #1 VARIANT EDITION
Cover by Greg Capullo
· THE FLASH #1 VARIANT EDITION
Cover by Ivan Reis and Tim Townsend
--
More soon.
-Scott.
Monday, July 4, 2011
Flames of War: D-Day 2011 Recap
Every year we run a large, multi- player and table event near the anniversary of D-Day to honor and remember the day and all who served during the war to end all wars. To celebrate this anniversary we run this massive Flames of War event. I know that I've already posted information about the day and how the event went, but now it is time to show some pictures that we now have from this day.
As today is the 4th of July, I figured it was appropriate to get these up today! Happy 4th of July to everyone who is celebrating today here in the States!
If you want to read more about the event, check out the blog post from June: D-Day
Sean "Striderlotr" Banks
As today is the 4th of July, I figured it was appropriate to get these up today! Happy 4th of July to everyone who is celebrating today here in the States!
If you want to read more about the event, check out the blog post from June: D-Day
Sean "Striderlotr" Banks
Free RPG Day Recap
Brave adventures,
those of you who are still standing...
we salute you!
Saturday June 25th, 2011
The Day
Now that the dust has settled and the players have rolled for some great prizes, we are going to recap the day and let people know the highlights so that they can better understand the craziness that they participated in or missed out on. If you did miss out... where were you????? Free RPG Day falls in the middle of June on a Saturday yearly, so you should make it next year! Costumes
The Staff even got involved with the fun of coming in costume to the event. If you notice in the picture above, even some of our DMs got dressed up. Sean, Brittani, and Stasi all went out to the front of the store to pose for pictures, next year YOU should come in costume also! Tables
Over the course of the day we ran many different events. We set up several different tables so that players would be able to see the signs letting them know events and times for different games. We were able to have 4 tables with 4 different time slots for games all day. We also set up tables for free stuff and for demo games of board and card games that are RPG-like (Castle Ravenloft, Thunderstone, etc). With all the great demo games we ran with the FREE RPG Day adventures, as well as some special RPG demo events we ran with materials from previous years, including some L5R and source material from the past 2 years for Star Trek, we had full tables for all the events.
Live Action
One of the oddest events of the day was our live action D&D Event! We created 6 different characters with very basic stats and then created 2 killer boss monsters with their crazed minions! So if you wanted to face off against the Crazy Samurai or the Insane Wizard you could chose your class from Fighter, Wizard, Ranger, Cleric, Monk, or Warlock. As the event went on, we learned about the the characters we built... and darn can we build some killer basic characters! On the fly, we had to make the bad guys just a little tougher to challenge the players. We also needed a few more minions to round out the combats. Next year, we will make sure it is EPIC and maybe even add on a dragon! FREEBIES
By the end of the day we had given away almost all the FREE RPG Day event product. We also had a free contest where every event you played in got you a checkpoint. When you had to leave for the evening you got a D20 to roll and you got to add +1 to the roll for each event you were in! Depending on what you rolled, you got a choice of prizes, just for coming in to play some FREE games. Another great free item was from Dapper Devil. Dapper Devil sent us these great tiles that make D&D tracking fantastic. If you have not seen there product, check them out here: Dapper Devil, or stop in and check out what we have here in-store. They also make great tokens for creatures in Magic, so stop in and see a sample here at the Dragon's Den!
Sean "Striderlotr" Banks
Friday, June 24, 2011
Wizards Ban announcement 6/20/11
Ok, so Wizards of the Coast (WotC) has finally added new cards to their ban list, the first time in Standard in a very long time. What does this mean for the game, and what does it mean in general.....
Well it does make me wonder why? Why did they make this announcement with only a few months before rotation and both Jace and Stoneforge would leave Standard anyway? Why did they put Stoneforge in the Event Deck when they had to know what the format was doing before they created the decks? Why did they allow the format to stagnate for so long?
Wait a minute.... are you saying you have no idea what I'm talking about??? Well you need to read what WotC has to say about the new banned cards!
Well it does make me wonder why? Why did they make this announcement with only a few months before rotation and both Jace and Stoneforge would leave Standard anyway? Why did they put Stoneforge in the Event Deck when they had to know what the format was doing before they created the decks? Why did they allow the format to stagnate for so long?
Wait a minute.... are you saying you have no idea what I'm talking about??? Well you need to read what WotC has to say about the new banned cards!
Saturday, June 18, 2011
FREE RPG Day Saturday June 18, 2011 the 12:30 Time
So it is now 12:30 and we will be starting the next time slot for all the FREE RPG Day events. This hour we have Dragon Age, Savage Worlds, Arcanis, and a pick up game of Dungeon Crawl Classic! From where I am standing, I can also see Dave setting up for a demo of Castle Ravenloft, the board game, Thunderstone the deck building game, and Ascension the deck building game.
So just to let people know, we have 6 players with a game master in Savage Worlds, 6 players with a game master in Dragon Age, 4 players and a game master in Arcanis, and 7 players with a DM in Dungeon Crawl Classics. So many games and so much more to come today.
We will also start our version of the D&D Live Action Event! Come in and play as a Wizard, Warlock, Fighter, Ranger, Cleric, or Monk. Take on the Crazy Cultists and there master: either the Evil Wizard or Evil Samurai!
Don't forget, the more events you play in the better the bonus on your prize die roll. We have some great FREE prizes for FREE RPG Day, but to get the really, really, really good prizes, you need to participate in events.
We also have some great samples of some fantastic new tokens made by Dapper Devil! If you have not seen these, you might want to take a look. We have some here, but I know there are so many more out there. Check them out at Dapper Devil. They also make some really cool Magic the Gathering Tokens, so come in and see a sample of them as well!
Sean "Striderlotr" Banks
So just to let people know, we have 6 players with a game master in Savage Worlds, 6 players with a game master in Dragon Age, 4 players and a game master in Arcanis, and 7 players with a DM in Dungeon Crawl Classics. So many games and so much more to come today.
We will also start our version of the D&D Live Action Event! Come in and play as a Wizard, Warlock, Fighter, Ranger, Cleric, or Monk. Take on the Crazy Cultists and there master: either the Evil Wizard or Evil Samurai!
Don't forget, the more events you play in the better the bonus on your prize die roll. We have some great FREE prizes for FREE RPG Day, but to get the really, really, really good prizes, you need to participate in events.
We also have some great samples of some fantastic new tokens made by Dapper Devil! If you have not seen these, you might want to take a look. We have some here, but I know there are so many more out there. Check them out at Dapper Devil. They also make some really cool Magic the Gathering Tokens, so come in and see a sample of them as well!
Sean "Striderlotr" Banks
FREE RPG Day Saturday June 18, 2011 Today
Welcome intrepid adventurers!
Here there be DRAGONS!
Abandon hope all ye who enter here!
Beware of dragons, for you are crunchy and go good with ketchup!
Beam me up Scotty.
No matter what catch phrase you like, we will be playing games all day today that might fit into one of these! Have you wanted to try out a different RPG, maybe play an old favorite.... then it is time to play!
Right now we have three games playing; Prime Directive: a Star Trek 3.5 adventure, D&D 4th Edition in the Shadowfell, and Aspect, a very different fantasy RPG. We also have a full packed schedule of events all day, as well as pick-up games going on that are now in the schedule.
Many people came in costume already today. We have a Pathfinder Doll, a guy with faerie wings, a skeleton knight, Ash from Pokemon, a Star Fleet Captain, a Cthulhu detective, a gargoyle, a serving wench, and a noble squire. We are hoping to see some more players in costume as the day goes on.
Check out the schedule of events on our website http://www.gamersgambit.com/ or on our blog http://ddenflgs.blogspot.com/2011/06/free-rpg-day-saturday-june-18-2011.html
We will have many pictures on the blog, facebook, and twitter as the day continues, but for the best experience you should stop in and play! We are hoping to have enough copies of each adventure as people play in them, but we also have a table set up with many more free books. We only ask that you take one of each so others can enjoy as well.
Sean "Striderlotr" Banks
We will have many pictures on the blog, facebook, and twitter as the day continues, but for the best experience you should stop in and play! We are hoping to have enough copies of each adventure as people play in them, but we also have a table set up with many more free books. We only ask that you take one of each so others can enjoy as well.
Sean "Striderlotr" Banks
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
FREE RPG Day Saturday June 18, 2011
Date: Saturday, June 18, 2011
Time: 10:00am until 9:00pm
Location: Dragon’s Den, Poughkeepsie Plaza
Free RPG day is coming up fast! Sign up in-store today for some of the many events we will be running. Check out the time slots for each event. Space is limited in many events, so please only sign-up for events you are able to attend. All events will start promptly as scheduled. Space is limited and events are filling quickly. We will hopefully be running some events that are not listed yet so they will not be filled with players who sign-up in advance.
Events We Are Running:
World of Darkness: 5:30 - 7:30
Savage World: 12:30 - 2:30
Prime Directive 3.5 version 10:00 - 12:00 and 3:00 - 5:00
Pathfinder: 3:00 - 5:00
Legend of the 5 Rings: 5:30 - 7:30
Dragon Age 12:30 - 2:30
D&D 4th Edition 10:00 - 12:00
Black Crusade 3:00 - 5:00
Aspect 10:00 - 12:00
Arcanis 12:30 - 2:30
All Flesh Must Be Eaten 5:30 - 7:30
Try our own version of a live action D&D 4th Edition Event! We will have pre-made characters, an over sized D20, and some monsters to slay.
Roll the PRIZE D20 when you are done and ready to head home:
One roll per person!
For each event you play in, receive a +1 bonus to the die roll!
Receive a +1 to the die roll for coming in costume!
Get better prizes just for playing some games!
Friday, June 10, 2011
Flames of War D-Day Event 2011
Every year for the past 4 years, we have run a massive Flames of War game in honor of the anniversary of D-Day (The actual date is June 6th, a Monday this year). This year makes our 5th Annual D-Day event. Flames of War is a historic miniatures game based on World War II (with new lists for Vietnam now as well). The game involves miniatures that are 1/100 or 15 millimeter. This year we have several players here with a variety of armies, including 1 American (Steve), 1 British (Stan/Tom, as Stan had to stop out for a few Tom is jumping in), 1 Canadian (Sebastian), and 3 German (Bob, Melissa, and Ed).
The set up looks like 8 feet of beach front, with a sea wall separating the beach from the the mainland. There is one town in the back of the map, about 4 feet from the beach front. The current battle is involving all three Allies assaulting the beach to try and defeat the Germans.
So let the battle begin!
The initial bombardment by the Allies was brutal. Melissa and Ed both lost a bunch of stands. This lead to some missed rolls by the Allies for their landing on the beach. the German defense of the beach lead to several stands of Allies and an Allied tank being destroyed.
After 4 turns, the Allies have breach the sea wall and have now destroyed 2 of the 3 German bunkers, thanks to Tom and Sebastian. This is going to lead to many more Allies pouring onto the beach, especially if Steve can take out the bunker of his flank.
German Turn 11, the Allies are on the edge of making it into town. If the Allies make it into town by turn 12 and the German army cannot push them out, it is a Major Victory for the Allies. They have already accomplished a Minor Victory by making it this far, and I think it is the farthest the Allies have ever made it in the past 5 years of running this event. The Canadian forces have crossed the river and the hedgerow with tanks and infantry. The American and British forces have pushed up the flanks in support.
At the end of Round 12, it was a Major Allied Victory! The first in the store in 5 years, making it all the sweeter for the American, British, and Canadian forces. Come in and play Flames of War on Thursday night with some of the guys who played today.
The set up looks like 8 feet of beach front, with a sea wall separating the beach from the the mainland. There is one town in the back of the map, about 4 feet from the beach front. The current battle is involving all three Allies assaulting the beach to try and defeat the Germans.
So let the battle begin!
The initial bombardment by the Allies was brutal. Melissa and Ed both lost a bunch of stands. This lead to some missed rolls by the Allies for their landing on the beach. the German defense of the beach lead to several stands of Allies and an Allied tank being destroyed.
After 4 turns, the Allies have breach the sea wall and have now destroyed 2 of the 3 German bunkers, thanks to Tom and Sebastian. This is going to lead to many more Allies pouring onto the beach, especially if Steve can take out the bunker of his flank.
German Turn 11, the Allies are on the edge of making it into town. If the Allies make it into town by turn 12 and the German army cannot push them out, it is a Major Victory for the Allies. They have already accomplished a Minor Victory by making it this far, and I think it is the farthest the Allies have ever made it in the past 5 years of running this event. The Canadian forces have crossed the river and the hedgerow with tanks and infantry. The American and British forces have pushed up the flanks in support.
At the end of Round 12, it was a Major Allied Victory! The first in the store in 5 years, making it all the sweeter for the American, British, and Canadian forces. Come in and play Flames of War on Thursday night with some of the guys who played today.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Free Comic Book Day Recap
First off: Thank you to everyone who made Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) such a huge success! Without all the staff, Chris Batista, the fantastic Stormtrooper from the 501st, and our local comic creators Zach and Greg it would not have been as great a day!
That said, let's take a look at what happened and what we saw.
1. We gave out almost every single free comic book from the day! We have had some left over books from last year, so we put them out and they all went as well. We show many new faces as well as some new to the store faces, so it was a huge success for us.
2. Chris Batista was great! He was signing and doing custom drawings for people in the store. He was also very social and was talking to everyone. He is a great guy who I think would be fantastic to invite again sometime.
3. Aren't you a little short for a Stormtrooper? We had a Stormtrooper from the 501st out of NYC. He was walking around the store (and even in the plaza... UPS wanted to "beam" a package to the Death Star... what is beaming???). He was fantastic with the kids and got many people excited to hang out for the day.
4. We also had a local artist and writer who are working on their own comic. They had copies of their book and they would sign it for people who stopped in. They ran out quickly, but Chris Batista I know got one... so hopefully for them they get noticed. Good luck Zach and Greg with the comic book!
5. We had a fund raised for Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF), and we were able to raise money to make a donation to this worth cause. Working with the Stormtrooper from the 501st and the great reusable totes for Free Comic Book Day, we were able to raise a nice amount of money to donate. It is a nice feeling to have such a successful day and also raise money for a worthy charity!
That said, let's take a look at what happened and what we saw.
1. We gave out almost every single free comic book from the day! We have had some left over books from last year, so we put them out and they all went as well. We show many new faces as well as some new to the store faces, so it was a huge success for us.
2. Chris Batista was great! He was signing and doing custom drawings for people in the store. He was also very social and was talking to everyone. He is a great guy who I think would be fantastic to invite again sometime.
3. Aren't you a little short for a Stormtrooper? We had a Stormtrooper from the 501st out of NYC. He was walking around the store (and even in the plaza... UPS wanted to "beam" a package to the Death Star... what is beaming???). He was fantastic with the kids and got many people excited to hang out for the day.
5. We had a fund raised for Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF), and we were able to raise money to make a donation to this worth cause. Working with the Stormtrooper from the 501st and the great reusable totes for Free Comic Book Day, we were able to raise a nice amount of money to donate. It is a nice feeling to have such a successful day and also raise money for a worthy charity!
Free RPG Day
FREE RPG Day is coming up quickly, Saturday June 18th, 2011! We will be running many different events during the day so if you are looking to try a new RPG or maybe play an old favorite, check out all the events we will be running... well more info will be coming soon with times...
Here is the list of FREE stuff that will here that day. We will be trying to run events for about 8 different games as well as some super secret stuff as well! Some items may not be available as supplies are very limited.
Here is the list of FREE stuff that will here that day. We will be trying to run events for about 8 different games as well as some super secret stuff as well! Some items may not be available as supplies are very limited.
- Amarillo Design Bureau
Sample (1 per box), Prime Directive Adventure "Starship Aldo" (both d20 & GURPS)
- BlackWyrm Games
Sample (1 per box), XDM Adventure: "Laser Squid Nemesis" - Eden Studios
Silver (5 per box), All Flesh Must Be Eaten Quickstart & Adventure - Exile Game Studios
Bronze (3 per box) ,Hollow Earth Expedition Quickstart & Adventure - Fantasy Flight Games
Gold (10 per box), Black Crusade Quickstart and Adventure - Flying Buffalo
Sample (1 per box), Tunnels & Trolls Solo Adventure, "Rescue Mission" - Goodman Games
Silver (5 per box), DCC RPG Quickstart - Green Ronin
Gold (10 per box), DragonAge Quickstart - Paizo
Platinum (15 per box), "We Be Goblins!" Pathfinder Adventure - Paradigm Concepts
Bronze (3 per box), Arcanis RPG Quickstart & Adventure - Pinnacle
Bronze (3 per box), Savage Worlds Quickstart & Adventure, titled "The Wild Hunt" - Stone Tablet Games
Bronze (3 per box), Aspect Quickstart Adventure - Troll Lord Games
Bronze (3 per box), Amazing Adventures Quickstart - Valkyrie Games
Sample (1 per box), Stellar Horizons Quickstart - White Wolf Publishing
Gold (10 per box), World of Darkness Quickstart - Wizards of the Coast
Platinum (15 per box), "Domain of Dread: Histhaven" D&D 4th Edition Supplement to the box set "The Shadowfell: Gloomwrought and Beyond"
Friday, May 13, 2011
New Phyrexia Releases
So after a very rocky start with retail stores being told that the name would not be spoiled until the pre-release (which oddly enough the cartoons are all labeled "Action") and the massive early spoil of the entire set list (thanks pro guys for that), New Phyrexia has released!
We ran many events last week-end for the pre-release events, including 85 players at midnight. That brought the total number of players on Saturday to 140 for the day. Now some of those players played twice, but it is still impressive to see so many players come in and enjoy the game. Sunday was very light, but with the fact it was Mother's Day... I'm glad to see so many players visiting with their moms. We ran many different sealed events so the players could enjoy as much of the new set as they possibly could before the official release. Many players really enjoyed getting the promo, Sheoldred, Whispering One.
The launch party was a success as well. With 34 players drafting the new set, there are many players opening some great cards. The promo card Phyrexian Metamorph is a cool card, and why would you not want to copy a Sword of War and Peace with it.
Many players went crazy when they saw that Surgical Extraction would be the buy a box promo. This is the most expensive rare, not mythic, in the set. We ended up selling out boxes so fast so players could get one... This was the best buy a box promo, in my opinion, so far.
So as far as I can see, the events and the set it self have been wildly enjoyed! I'm personally looking forward to drafting one of each from this block as I think they will please really well together... better then other expansions did.
Sean "Striderlotr" Banks
We ran many events last week-end for the pre-release events, including 85 players at midnight. That brought the total number of players on Saturday to 140 for the day. Now some of those players played twice, but it is still impressive to see so many players come in and enjoy the game. Sunday was very light, but with the fact it was Mother's Day... I'm glad to see so many players visiting with their moms. We ran many different sealed events so the players could enjoy as much of the new set as they possibly could before the official release. Many players really enjoyed getting the promo, Sheoldred, Whispering One.
The launch party was a success as well. With 34 players drafting the new set, there are many players opening some great cards. The promo card Phyrexian Metamorph is a cool card, and why would you not want to copy a Sword of War and Peace with it.
Many players went crazy when they saw that Surgical Extraction would be the buy a box promo. This is the most expensive rare, not mythic, in the set. We ended up selling out boxes so fast so players could get one... This was the best buy a box promo, in my opinion, so far.
So as far as I can see, the events and the set it self have been wildly enjoyed! I'm personally looking forward to drafting one of each from this block as I think they will please really well together... better then other expansions did.
Sean "Striderlotr" Banks
New Store Design at the Dragon's Den
So, we like to change the store around every now and again. It helps us make slight changes, update the design, and try new items. So we thought maybe it was time to show off some of the changes we have made recently.
We changed the central island and moved the back counter. This has made the central section a little larger, but it moved the side counter offering us more room for the gaming area! The gaming area can now support many players, with over 50 for Magic on a Friday night.
Another recent change is the new display for the comic books. This is an amazing addition! The display is more of a waterfall design with lights under each section to allow better visibility. It is also a nice wood tone for the display, not plastic racks. It really makes the comic wall look great!
So if you have not stopped in in a while, then you should! The store looks great and we are happy to try and make the store a better place for shoppers, and gamers alike!
Sean "Striderlotr" Banks
We changed the central island and moved the back counter. This has made the central section a little larger, but it moved the side counter offering us more room for the gaming area! The gaming area can now support many players, with over 50 for Magic on a Friday night.
Another recent change is the new display for the comic books. This is an amazing addition! The display is more of a waterfall design with lights under each section to allow better visibility. It is also a nice wood tone for the display, not plastic racks. It really makes the comic wall look great!
So if you have not stopped in in a while, then you should! The store looks great and we are happy to try and make the store a better place for shoppers, and gamers alike!
Sean "Striderlotr" Banks
Friday, April 22, 2011
Coming Soon: Walking Dead Vol 14 No Way Out
Now taking Pre-orders!
10% off!
Arriving Wednesday, June 15th!
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Free Comic Book Day! May 7th!
Dozens of Free Comics! Material for All Ages! Tons of Sales!
Every year for the last 10 years, FREE COMIC BOOK DAY has been an opportunity for families of all sizes to come out and get some great material… for free! Held on the first Saturday in May, The Dragon’s Den invites everyone to stop by to get some free comics. No matter what age, no matter what interest, we’ve got comics for everyone!
Special Guest!
The Dragon’s Den is proud to host Artist Chris Batista. Currently working on Booster Gold, Chris has worked on numerous Marvel and DC properties, including Legion, JLA, Green Lantern, Thunderbolts and more!
Chris Batista will be doing free sketches from 11 am to 2 pm.
Special Guest!
The Empire City Garrison, or ECG, is the New York divison of The 501st Legion, the world's definitive Star Wars costuming organization. One of the original garrisons in a 5,000 member organization that spans across the United States and to nearly 50 countries around the world, ECG covers all of New York City, Long Island, and the five boroughs, enforcing the Empire's rule and spreading the magic of Star Wars through appearances at charity events.
From 11 am to 2 pm on Saturday May 7th, The Dragon’s Den is proud to host a member of the Empire City Garrison. One $5 donation to the Great Strides Cystic Fibrosis Foundation will get one member of your family a picture with a Stormtrooper!
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Magic: Knights vs Dragons Duel Deck
Now that the new Duel Deck from Wizards of the Coast, Knights vs Dragons, is out and it's time to take a look at what you get in the box.
Dragons: This is a mono Red deck featuring dragons and their goblin allies. The deck involves a foil alternate art Bogardan Hellkite. It also includes the following rares: Thunder Dragon, Shivan Hellkite, Kilnmouth Dragon, Mordant Dragon, and Voracious Dragon. It also includes several other alternate art cards, including Punishing Fire and Seething Song.
Knights: This is a twin color deck using White and Green knights. The deck involves a foil alternate art Knight of the Reliquary. It also includes the following rares: Loxodon Warhammer, Kinsbaile Cavalier, Knight of the White Orchid, Knotvine Paladin, and Knight Exemplar. It also includes several other alternate art cards, including Silver Knight and Loxodon Warhammer.
Both decks include some great cards that are useful in current decks as well as EDH... soon to be called Commander. We have the decks in stock and priced competitively. Stop in and check out the latest Duel Deck from Wizards. Get them while they are in stock as the Duel Decks move quickly and the prices tend to go up eventually.
Sean "Striderlotr" Banks
Dragons: This is a mono Red deck featuring dragons and their goblin allies. The deck involves a foil alternate art Bogardan Hellkite. It also includes the following rares: Thunder Dragon, Shivan Hellkite, Kilnmouth Dragon, Mordant Dragon, and Voracious Dragon. It also includes several other alternate art cards, including Punishing Fire and Seething Song.
Knights: This is a twin color deck using White and Green knights. The deck involves a foil alternate art Knight of the Reliquary. It also includes the following rares: Loxodon Warhammer, Kinsbaile Cavalier, Knight of the White Orchid, Knotvine Paladin, and Knight Exemplar. It also includes several other alternate art cards, including Silver Knight and Loxodon Warhammer.
Both decks include some great cards that are useful in current decks as well as EDH... soon to be called Commander. We have the decks in stock and priced competitively. Stop in and check out the latest Duel Deck from Wizards. Get them while they are in stock as the Duel Decks move quickly and the prices tend to go up eventually.
Sean "Striderlotr" Banks