New Games for September 1st, 2023 - Limited Alchemests and the Rally Helm's Hazards

It's New Game Friday David Wiley (Cardboard Clash) is here to tell us about the new games.

Here’s what is new this week:

• 9-Card Rally Run
• 9-Card Rally Run: Hazards Pack
• The Royal Limited
• Dungeon Pages: Lillian, Shy Alchemist in Trenchtin

https://www.pnparcade.com/collections/new-games

9-Card Rally Run

"You against the clock, your car against the road. 

 One driver, one car, one goal.

Buckle up it's time for the Rally Run!"

Put the pedal to the metal and get ready to race around the track. This one has an interesting feature with the dice, with the value indicating the lane you get to move into. Of course there’s rerolls, but you must utilize a die from the previous roll first - meaning you can sometimes mitigate things, but you might also have to be flexible with your approach. A fast, fun little game that offers a lot of small decisions to help it feel like a really satisfying experience when it hits the table.

9-Card Rally Run: Hazards Pack

To ramp up the difficulty, this pack introduces 2 hazards: Water and Crests.

A fun little expansions that is really easy to integrate, substituting cards with lanes that contain one of the two hazards in here. With one, you can only use the lower numbered-die eligible for that lane (i.e. the odd number) and the other requires the higher value only. It’ll add a little more chaos into your planning of the perfect route, but as the old saying indicates, even the best plans never survive once you encounter the enemy. Can you shift gears efficiently enough to survive the new hazards?

The Royal Limited

England, 1960s. Revolutions in music, fashion, art and more draw celebrities from around the world. Superstars wind their way across the country using the ultimate in luxury travel, a train line catering to the elite, while less fortunate passengers jostle for space to get a glimpse of their idols. There’s no time to waste, so grab your bags and get on board!

A delightful little solo game where you are trying to build out your train car and fill the cars with passengers. All of this has to be done within a limited number of rounds, and the cards you didn’t get to use by the end count as points against you in a game where a lower score is desired. If you enjoy a nice puzzle, including when to trigger events on the trains (which happens when a passenger is added), then you won’t want to miss out on this little title from the acclaimed Scott Almes.

Dungeon Pages: Lillian, Shy Alchemist in Trenchtin

Lillian may not have much to say, but the young alchemist’s experimental concoctions have certainly made a big impression. Namely on the university lab, and the adjoining herbology green house. Oh, and the meditation chambers (in the floor below the lab).

A delightful combination in the queue this week. The hero, Lillian, has a great power as an alchemist: use a potion as any potion, rather than necessarily the one collected. Flexibility is often king in games like this, and she’s able to make sure she always has the potion she needs for the given situation. But let’s not forget about the foes for the week, many of which have a Splatter ability which causes a 1 to be written next to another living monster under certain conditions. Not only that, but there’s The Pit to consider which, once you enter, there is no escape from it so plan your path wisely!

Game of the Week: At the Helm on sale for just $2!

The sea is a dangerous place. Whether it’s storms or sea serpents, you’re putting your life on the line each time you set sail. Boldly face the challenges of the open ocean as you steer your ship into uncharted waters.

There may not be a white whale in these seas, but they still contain dangers aplenty. Take the wheel and challenge the ocean and its trials and tribulations as captain of the ship. This is a small solo game with some hand management, a market of cards to purchase, and challenges to overcome before your health or your time runs out. With several challenges to choose from, there’s plenty of reason to have this hit your table several times in a row. It never ceases to amaze me how much can be packed into such a small package for a game, and this promises to be one of those solo games that are very replayable and fun.