@JCHendee et Zozimus!

I cannot speak on behalf of rest of the forum, of course, but must say I really enjoyed the history lesson!

Well done!

SC

I teach these subjects, and can easily be encouraged to ramble on...glad not to have bored or offended.

On the subject of alignment, I have been kind of hoping that this next expansion will make it more meaningful and less arbitrary, as well as providing a new stratum of play. The Dungeon and the Highland are fun, and the small expansions are OK, but it was the Reaper that really added something to the gameplay, in my opinion. I'd love it if alignment played a major role in this small box expansion: maybe altering basic decisions that characters could make beyond just not being allowed to take certain objects, or find fate somewhere, etc. What if the Assassin couldn't ply his trade if he turned good, for example? It would be cool if the characters got a "personal story" tied to their alignments, like in Arkham Horror (though I don't have that expansion either). My adventure card stack is already of Babel-esque proportions; I don't really need more. And though I'd be happy to see a return of the City, my table is small and isn't crying out for a larger board....nor is there a dearth of places to explore. I'm intrigued by the way they're touting the Pool (and by some of the artwork released at Talismanisland)...it seems to me like this might add a layer of depth to the game in a way that the Frostmarch just didn't do; if so, I'll be quite happy.

Zozimus said:

Ah, another educator. Barb and I used to teach English topics of different types in college a number of years back.

Zozimus said:

Don't hold your breath. The stars (signs) are not favorable. I hope I'm wrong, but I doubt it... now.

Talisman has always had the cliche "black hats, whites hats, and everyone else get out of way" approach. I see nothing in the artwork and news items to change that (quite the opposite). Bipolarism isn't real alignment to me... just picking (forcing) sides. Even in that, I agree that it is meaningless in the game for other than what hurts you and what helps you--that's it. But Talisman is meant to be simple, so don't hold out hopes that it will be made more complex any commercial expansion. And expanding on alignment would definitely be in the "complex" category.

My major interest would be in scenarios. For example, like the Warlock Quest... but better. The rest of the Alternative Endings are just endgames, not scenarios. My group has quickly grown bored with them. They were quite disappointed with ones in the Highlands.

Overall, I personally still found Highlands to be above average to good, but I stand by my perspective that it was released in the wrong order. Everyone was already frustrated with the gold in the game that couldn't really be spent, let alone accurately getting somewhere to spend it. The Highlands dumped more gold into the Land, like salt in that wound. The City should have been put out first, for there was already enough gold to make characters scramble to it. Then the Highlands could come along, with all the more gold, and those two realms would've interact with building heat rather than the cooling off I've seen among my crew. I really didn't expect to be the one in my network that liked Highlands the most... but there it is, and the reasons why.

Zozimus said:

I feel ya. And I didn't buy the Reaper or Frostmarch (though two copies of Frostmarch are owned by others in my players network. On the otherside, I have a fan cards equal in count to the base deck, and then some.

So, let me get this right... No-one wants to talk about the Cleric?

http://feliciacano.blogspot.com/2010/09/more-talisman-sacred-pool.html

Whoa! That looks amazing. The cleric is heavily armoured for some reason...interesting.

The Alternative Ending picture is really tantalising: something other than just a video-game-esque "Final Boss" ending is refreshing....and this looks like it might not even be competitive! Really intriguing...

We'll need a little more about the Cleric. So far, it looks like a nod to the traditional clerics of FRPG... blunt weapon and all. As to the ending, by the illustration it could be just about anything... but it does have the feel of NOT being another endboss.

Uvatha said:

You always may keep track of Talisman Art Database which is pretty well and quickly updated, whenever any news about upcoming expansions are available . You also all are open to discuss these news there.

JC & Z

Really interesting points about etymology and Zoroastrianism. Must admit my ignorance on that.

I would say that it belongs in a thread on it's own. Almost missed it tagged on to the end of this one.

Oh, and I posted links to the pictures of the Cleric and Ending cards in new threads as I hadn't been here. Sorry about that.

Update from FFG site. Next Character card, Ridding Horse card, and name of Livery Stable.

javascript:void(0);/*1285190359850*/ <-- that link may looks weird, I don't know why it looks like that but it is working.

The Knight "helping other characters" skill is awsome! Finaly one can help players who play for the first time to get a better balance in the game. But i am not sure if this would make the Knight too powerfull but it depends on the Quest reward cards... but in case of that one can make up a rule for that too

Well, the only thing of interest about Stable cards (so far) is the Adventure card, the Livery & Stable. The downside is, as an Adventure card, it will likely get lost in the current size of Adventure decks. Hopefully it isn't the only addition that will provide more places to pick up a mule. That's one of the big ones that most players... I mean characters... want to get their hands on. The 4ER riding horse as a Purchase... Stable... or Adventure card hasn't been given much notice in my group.

The Chivalric Knight looks intriguing. At first his ability to gain Rewards cards looked a bit much, but there is a cost to it, since he doesn't gain a trophy and ends up having to miss a turn; I think that's costly enough to balance him out quite well. Having him popping into other peoples battles might annoy some other characters, but if they get to keep a trophy when he does so, I don't think any would complain too much. He's not overgunned innately, and I think he'll be very interesting to try out.

So far, it's the characters in this expansion that for me appear to be its most enticing components. I don't like fantasy superheroes, and the ones so far have just a dash of the unique (as much as Talisman allows); in other words, less is more, as some chefs and interior designers might say. Two thumbs up on the Chivalric Knight!

JC, I tend to agree. After seeing so many characters who "take" from others (in 2nd, 3rd & 4th editions) it's great to see a character who can gain by "giving". He seems to be unique amongst the pantheon of Talisman characters.

I look forward to playing him.

Yep, the Chivalric Knight seems a fresh addition. I think the Black Knight will start with a horse too.

nodgenesor said:

Indeed true, and although alittle off topic, it leads me to consider other possibilities for special abilities...

Nun

o You begin the game with 6 lives. Whenever you land on a character you may give him one life instead of entering battle, take one of your lives and give it to the other character. The gods recognise your inate goodness and you gain fate. Subtract your remaining lives from 6, the result is the number fate you gain. Your turn then ends. Spells or objects can not save the life you forfeit.

Chivalric knight sounds fun to me, but i think he is not so powerful.

It depends how good the quest reward cards are...

Also seems kinda un-chivalric to only attacker weaker people. Then again, he's probably a noble or something, looking down on and trampling the peasants is his day job.

Dam said:

I'd re-read his abilities, Dam.

"You may not attack characters in battle if their Strength is less than yours."

D'oh! Should've learnt by now not to too late night posts.

I was just reading the second ability again from the chvalric knight..

i wonder what engage means. so as soon as the other character is rolling the attack rolls, the chivalric knight can move to that characters space and aid him...

Most combat Spells are worded about to engage in battle IIRC. Since the ability affects Str, I'd say it has to be used in Step 2 of combat, where other Str/Craft affecting effects have to be used, all before any die rolls for combat.

Engage in combat would refer to either attacking or being attacked. So if and when a combat is about to begin, before any dice are rolled, the C.K. May move to that space and assist in the combat... or is it just battle? Not looking at the card right now, so don't remember the exact wording.

The card says that he adds his "Strength", so it works only for Battle.

Cynewulf said:

To be perfectly nitpicky, it say battle before Strength in the same sentence .

Well... that's that then.