I have a copy of 4th from Black Industries. My friends and I were considering getting back into it and scheduling some regular sessions at the local game shop. But now I have almost completely decided to abandon the idea.

Why? Because too much is unavailable. According to this website the conversion for people who own the Black Industries 4th edition is out of stock and won't be reprinted. The new 4th edition is out of stock. The Reaper is out of stock. If this is being turned into a collectible board game where if you don't buy something as soon as it comes out you are out of luck, then I will go on to some other games by other companies.

Rick T.

Don't let unavailability of certain things stop you from playing. You don't need all of it to get the full enjoyment. The expansions are nice but playing just the base game is a fun (and quicker) gaming experiance in its own right. And by playing it you will increase enthusiasm in others that will get them demanding it.

There are no game outlets closer than an hour dive from me so I either road trip or mail order. (Shameless plug for Game Preserve in Bloomington IN, all Talisman products on the shelf!). Most stores let you order on line so that is an option as well.

So I reccomend indulging yourself in the game, there is a lot in the base game that you will discover.

rickert, don't let this hold you off from a great game.

Talisman should be available from a brick and mortar shop near you, at this time however, it is not available for order through FFG because it is being reprint along with the reaper (reprinting a game is a good sign of it's own popularity)

Give it a try and let us know how it went

Cheers

Feldrik said:

I am in Indiana and have a game store in the city. I will check next week and see if he (shameless plug for Reader Copies in Anderson, IN) has any Talisman still in stock.

Rick T.

I just did a quick google search for ithe upgrade pack and found several places you can still buy it online, brand new. You can usually find stuff online or at your local shop even after it is out of print at FFG. I just got revised 4th edition on amazon for a great price and just bought the Reaper expansion from my LGS. Both are out of stock at FFG.

selling out on a game just means that it is popular. I don't know why you wouldn't want to buy a game that is popular?

Dungeon Master said:

I agree...I'd rather play a popular game that requires a little effort to get, rather than play one just because there are 20 copies of it collecting dust on the shelf of my LGS.

Well...popular does not mean good. Fortunately Talisman is popular because it is good.

There are other games that are popular that I think are...less than good...one of them in in it's 4th addition as well.

But I've wasted too much money in this lifetime on collectible card games. I no longer play them. But I don't want to trade one form of crack for another. I don't want to get into a collectible board game. I am all for popular board games that run out of stock from time to time. But as long as the game is popular I want everything to be reprinted as often as necessary to keep it generally in stock. I don't want to be in a situation where I have to buy an expansion when it first comes out or miss my chance to ever get it.

Rick T.

If you want my opinion Rick, this is the dawning of the heyday of talisman. Fantasy flight does the best version by far (but we'll need a few more expansions to seal the deal).

As for Talisman and The reaper " FFG is out of stock and is currently reprinting this item. Distributors and retailers may still have stock of this item. " See this page:

http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_upcoming.asp

I don't think you have to worry about expansions going out of print - as long as the game is being produced they will need base games and old expansions available for new players.

It is not 'collectable' like those card games, you will not have a 'weaker' game if you do not have all of the expansions. You are probaly like me and get the desire to be a completist and have all of the official stuff.

http://www.talismanisland.com/expansions.htm

http://www.randomdice.com/games/talisman/tcs/

The above sites have lots of free expansions, the ones made for 2nd edition should work well for 4e. If I had more opportunities to game I would be printing bunches of them and playing Mega-Talisman.

"I don't want to be in a situation where I have to buy an expansion when it first comes out or miss my chance to ever get it."

Besides, this is the age of internet...everything will be available somewhere eventually.

We just don't want you and your friends to miss out on being part of the Talisman world.

rickert said:

My point in doing the quick internet search for you was to point out that you DON'T have to buy an expansion as soon as it comes out or else you missed your chance. It is 6 months AFTER the release and I found a bunch of places online to buy what you were looking for, at least one of which had it for cheaper than FFG does when it is in stock. Just because the company that presses the game is out of stock on something does not mean that all the other distributers are out of stock. The only thing that is probably somewhat time sensitive is that upgrade pack. The rest will be around either through the current stock from other distributors, or else the reprints, for a long time to come. FFG is not some fly by night company. We are lucky they picked up Talisman and I am confident it is here to stay and we are in store for some great expansion sets.

If you really like Talisman then get on the net, get what you need, and enjoy!

I am much more impressed with the fact that FFG is going to reprint the out of stock items than I am with the idea that distributors and retailers still have some stock generally available. Reprints mean the expansions won't ever disappear for too long. But if a product was out of stock permanently then there would be no guarantee that I would be able to find a copy elsewhere.

Rick T.

Hi Rick,

I just got the 4th edition BI and the expansion set. I would love to have the Reaper and Dungeon set but I'm planning to pace myself. I don't seem to have the same concerns as you do. I'm certain there will be plenty of stock later on and I'll be hoping for a birthday and/or X-Mas present this year. Got a big game planned on Saturday and its going to be great.

Someone had mentioned about the resurgence of Talisman, and I have to agree. I don't know if someone is tapped into into my subconcious, but I woke up one Saturday morning, remembered Talisman, thought the kids would love it, checked on-line, found it on sale and the deal was sealed. And the upgrade kit was out of stock later that night.....Fate?