Talisman (board game)

Talisman is a fantasy board game of Games Workshop in the year 1983. It is published in four editions. The editions 2 ( Subtitle: Together against death and devil) and 3 ( Subtitle: Adventures in the land of magic ) were located and published the 4th Edition ( Subtitle: The magic search) games in Germany by Schmidt from Heidelberg games publisher and Pegasus Games. The game was developed by originating from Scotland Author Robert " Bob" J. Harris and today enjoys cult status.

Gameplay and rules

The game is designed for 2-6 participants and combines board game and role-playing elements. The figures move in a medieval fantasy world and get their skills through adventures passed on. The gameplay is driven by numerous adventure cards. Can adventure maps gold, items, enemies, friends, strangers, places, or events represent. In addition to fields where adventure cards are drawn, there are also places on the board with a special meaning. For example, a village, where the player can heal and buy items. Get players on a common field, they can trade with each other or attacking each other. The loser then has to give a life point or an object or companion.

If a player has enough strength, talent and life points and items, spells and companion in the outer and middle region collected, then he can dare to venture into the interior region of the playing field. Where the player using the talisman on the last field of the inner region, he will receive the Crown of Command and each round can remove other players life points. The winner is the player who has defeated all other players by means of the crown or in conventional combat.

Depending on the number of players, a game can take several hours to complete.

Accessories

In addition to a collapsible Schedule contains the main game in the 4th Edition

The game plan is divided into three annular regions.

  • The outer region runs along the edge of the field and provides for all player characters the start position dar. Here, the player collects equipment and experience to his heroes become more powerful to leave.
  • The middle region is also used to remove the player character. It is more dangerous than the outer region, and the only access to the interior region.
  • The inner region is located in the center of the pitch. Here, the character must survive several rounds to finally emerge with the help of the talisman as the winner of the game.

Editions

The first edition appeared in 1983, the second in 1985. Regard to the second edition are six extensions. The third edition was developed by Jervis Johnson and published in 1994. For this purpose, three extensions were published. The fourth edition published in 2007 in Harris Black Industries and since 2008 at Fantasy Flight Games.

Extensions for the 2nd Edition

The board game has been translated into numerous languages ​​, and there are several additional boxes for the game appeared. On extensions that can be used simultaneously in addition to the main game, there were:

  • Talisman Expansion: This expansion features 14 new characters, spells 6 and 36 adventure cards, in the English version they are obtained already in the base game.
  • Talisman The Adventure: expansion with 60 new maps and 8 new characters, as a special gimmick there are 6 different alternative ends that are hidden deposited on the Crown of Command. Appeared never officially in German language.
  • Talisman City: a city game plan with the new event cards, purchase items, 4 characters and spells. The city card replaces the City box on the main game board. New possibilities of characteristics, loans and quasi as a profession are to adopt a " town character ". In the German version the characters Valkyrie and the Minotaur, which instead appear in the German edition of Talisman Dungeon again missing.
  • Talisman Dungeon: A helical underground dungeon plan with new items and treasures. These 14 new game characters are also available. In the center of the dungeon, there is the option to go directly to the Crown of Command, without having to deny the way through the inner region. In German-speaking countries as "Talisman II - The Catacombs " known. In the German version the character cards of the Zulu, the Swashbuckler and the Scout missing. But one has grabbed the Valkyrie and the Minotaur in the German edition, the Talisman City were originally characters.
  • Talisman Timescape: An extension of the science fiction brings elements in the game. The players are catapulted into another world and have to come back again by teleporting. The -themed Warhammer 40,000 expansion was initially planned by Canadian Frank Bourque as Fanwork, however, Games Workshop decided to include them in the official program with. The expansion includes 42 Timescape cards, purchase cards 12, 2 spells and 8 new characters. She appeared never officially in German language. Considered by many fans this extension was not particularly liked because something bothers her the fantasy atmosphere.
  • Talisman Dragons: A very serious extension, instead of the Crown of Command sits the Dragon King on the field in the middle, which is a tough opponent. The expansion brings to 87 the dragon or dragon theme belonging cards as well as four new characters to the mix. Only partially compatible with the Talisman Adventure extension. Appeared never officially in German language.
  • "Talisman White Dwarf ": From the White Dwarf magazines 72 and 115 these expenditures are more Talismankarten As a little extra, including four so-called masters Characters ( mystics, Herold, Champion of Chaos and Templars ) in which one can not choose at the beginning, but can ascend only by events. Released officially also never in German language.

However, the four officially published in German Extensions ( The Adventure, Timescape, Dragons and White Dwarf ) published in a presumably unlicensed, created by a Talisman fan club, limited edition of 25 copies a very small edition, but comes across very professionally from the missing cardboard box. This version of Talisman The Adventure the three missing characters from Talisman Dungeon also included.

1984 -1986 brought Citadel Miniatures in collaboration with Games Workshop metal miniatures of the individual characters and the " toad " out, only the extensions Dragons, City and "White Dwarf" were never implemented. You could even fun to paint these figures in order to achieve an increase in game atmosphere.

2000 was published by Alexander Just as a CD -Rom with pdf files for self print called "The Talisman Resource CD" (ISBN 978-3-901917-02-8 ) with new extensions, characters, event cards and spells to Talisman in English language. The content includes only Fanwork, which was collected by the proponents of the Yahoo Forum " talisman_2nd_ed ". Editor of the CD was Henning Skallebaek, as authors, Bill Ingram, Carsten Both, David Katleman, Ell Teeter, Fillipo Zuliani, Jeff Mirando, Jeremy Taylor, Jon New, Frank Kulkmann, Lukas Zach, Marijn van der Gaag were responsible. This CD is no longer relate to today on trade.

Extensions for 3rd Edition

  • Dragon's Tower: A new game plan with dragon model, special rules and additional characters. Based in part on Talisman Dragons Edition II
  • City of Adventure: Two new game plans (city and forest), plus lots of new characters and maps. Based in part on the Talisman City Edition II
  • Dungeon of Doom: Two new game plans ( Dungeon and mountains ), numerous new character and maps. The aim of the extension is to defeat the Eagle King. Based in part on Talisman Dungeon Edition II

4th Edition

Talisman is no longer produced by Games Workshop. In October 2007, Talisman was published in the fourth edition of Black Industries under license from Games Workshop again. In early 2008 announced Black Industries, you 'll no future games, including Talisman produce. For this reason took over Fantasy Flight Games this License. The German edition is the end of 2008 as a joint production of Pegasus Games, which provides 2007 competed for the game, and the Heidelberg games publisher, which locates published by Fantasy Flights Games published. Fantasy Air has " The Reaper " and "Talisman: Dungeon " announced the first expansion for the fourth edition.

Enhancements for Version 4

  • The reaper ( engl: The Reaper, published in December 2008): Includes 4 character cards, 90 Adventure Cards, 26 Spell cards, 12 Warlock Quest Cards, 1 reaper card, 4 plastic toy figures, additional rules.
  • The Catacombs ( engl. The Dungeons, published in May 2009 ): If a Dungeon game board, more than 150 playing cards, 5 new character cards and figures. Similarly Talisman Dungeon (2nd Edition).
  • The Mark Frost (English Mark Frost, published in October 2009 ): Includes 4 new character cards and characters, new adventures and new spells. In addition, three alternate endings are included, including the fight against the ice queen, in which players must unite.
  • The Highlands ( engl. The Highland, published in May 2010 ): This extension was published in May 2010 in the United States. It contains a new region, 6 new characters and 100 new cards. It is expected that new alternatives ends.
  • The Sacred Well ( engl. The Sacred Pool, published in July 2011): published in October 2010 in English. Includes 4 new characters, 72 new maps, 16 new Spell Cards, 24 task reward cards.
  • The Dragons ( engl. The Dragon, published in September 2011): Released in October 2012. Includes 6 new characters, over 300 new cards and markers, and a new board, which replaces the inner region and thus provide alternative ends ( fighting the Dragon Lord ).
  • Blood Moon (English Blood Moon, published in October 2012 ): In May 2012, published in English. Includes 3 new characters, 111 new cards, 10 new Spell Cards, Alternative 3 game cards, and the werewolf, a non-player character, which manipulates the players against each other and also can transform into werewolves.
  • The city ( engl. The City January 2013): This extension was released in January 2013 in the United States. It contains a city game board, 166 new cards, six new character cards and figures, additional rules and three alternative game ends.

Digital version

Since October 2013, a digital version as a multiplayer role playing game on Steam is available.

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