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Benjamin Macready

My name is Ben, and I am a Gold Standard NCTJ certified journalist. I specialise in pieces about gaming and the culture surrounding it. I believe that games, whether they are played digitally or on a tabletop, are unambiguously art. Games can tell branching stories that wouldn’t be possible in other mediums. I aim to document and critique them on their own terms.

Wargamer •

Why the hell doesn't Pokemon TCG's Mega Evolution series have a Blastoise yet?

As of the latest Ascended Champions reveals we've got a Mega Venusaur and TWO Mega Charizard Pokémon cards - so where’s my boy Blastoise at?It's no secret that the Pokémon TCG is chock-full of Charizards. In Wargamer's recent review of Phantasmal Flames, we argued that though, for the most part, the set is awesome, it continues a tired tradition of pointing a dazzling spotlight on the fiery flyer. This can make it difficult for other Pokémon to get their time to shine. Today, I want to talk abou...
Wargamer •

Is this adorable baby badger MTG Avatar's most dangerous creature?

For whatever reason, baby animals in Magic: the Gathering are often significantly stronger than their fully grown counterparts. Displacer Beast is a completely unremarkable piece of draft chaff, while Displacer Kitten is an absolute juggernaut in blink decks. Similarly, Scythecat Cub is strictly better than Territorial Scythecat in every possible way. The new Avatar crossover continues this proud tradition of incredibly powerful infants by printing Badgermole, a thoroughly forgettable five-drop,...
Wargamer •

Get this joyful burrito chucking board game for $10 in Amazon's Black Friday Sale

Described as "The world's first dodgeball card game", Throw Throw Burrito is currently available for $9.99 on Amazon, as part of their Black Friday sale. Throw Throw Burrito is a Board Game published by Exploding Kittens, the company known for Poetry for Neanderthals, Happy Salmon, and (of course) Exploding Kittens. It's definitely closer to Twister than it is to something like Settlers of Catan, but it makes for a fun food chucking romp.
The best way to learn to play Throw Throw Burrito is to w...
Wargamer •

Aang is not the most popular commander from the MTG Avatar set

While Aang may be the main character of the Avatar TV series, when it comes to Magic: the Gathering he's got competition for the top spot.Aang may be the Avatar, and the Last Airbender, but in the race to be the most popular commander from the new MTG Avatar crossover, he emerges with only a bronze medal. Two other characters from the element-bending Nickelodeon show have proven themselves to be more popular with Commander players.
The website EDHREC compiles data on the most popular commanders...
Wargamer •

You may never get to play this board game about the Frog Olympics

In the world of animal athletics, frogs are unsung heroes. They're amphibious, so they can dominate both land and water based events, not to mention that they're famously great at jumping. The Board Game Frog Faire aims to explore the sporting potential of frogs, except it may never get published. Frog Faire is one of several games that won't be made available for purchase, that's debuting today at the Indie Games Night Market at PAX Unplugged in Philadelphia.
The Indie Games Night Market is hos...
Wargamer •

MTG Fans left underwhelmed by upcoming Monster Hunter crossover

While it was only officially revealed a few days ago, the MTG Monster Hunter Secret Lair Superdrop is already deeply contentious. It's not because of the nature of the crossover itself, Capcom's killer Kaijus fit much more comfortably into the world of Magic: the Gathering than Furbys, or Dwight from The Office. Instead, fans are concerned that their favorite monsters are being represented using bulk bin reprints that fail to capture a fraction of their power.
There are already several threads a...
Wargamer •

I think this li'l bug is a beautiful Pokémon Card, despite being the least valuable Phantasmal Flames Illustration Rare

Nymble 096/094 from the Phantasmal Flames set is an Illustration Rare card that, despite a lack of financial value, is quite unlike any other.Until recently, Nymble sat alongside the likes of Bergmite, Pincurchin, and Maractus as a completely forgettable Pokémon lying half forgotten in some beige backroom of my brain. The recently printed Illustration Rare variant of Nymble from Phantasmal Flames has completely changed my perspective on the bold little bug. Now I can see something kind of great...
Wargamer •

In this open world RPG board game, you can befriend porcupines

Restless Designs, an Austria-based board game company, has just launched a crowdfunding campaign for their debut game. They promise a collaborative open world RPG experience where 1-4 players will team up to save the realm of Everion. The game is entitled Restless, in a bit of a Chicken and Egg situation it's not clear whether they've named the game after their company, or their company after the game. What is clear, though, is that the game's crowdfunding campaign has been as restless as its na...
Wargamer •

Imposing Illustration Rare Zekrom bolts into Mega Dream ex Pokémon TCG set

After the official announcement of Pokémon Mega Dream ex last week, Pokémon TCG  fans have been clamoring to see more cards from the upcoming 'high value' Japanese set. Well, those wishes were granted recently, as a slew of new spoilers were shown off. N, the enigmatic green-haired king of Team Plasma,  has clearly been busy since many of the new Pokémon were caught by him, including a frankly fearsome looking new full-art Zekrom. We've also been shown a new legendary Pokémon that finishes a pat...
Wargamer •

Legendary designer Jamey Stegmaier shares his favorite board game rulebooks of all time

Jamey Stegmaier, of Stonemaier Games, has given his guidance on designing board game rulebooks, and given a list of his favorites.Jamey Stegmaier is a big name in the world of board games. You may know him for contributing the "Maier" to "Stonemaier Games", the company behind titles like Wingspan, Scythe, and Vantage. Recently, Stegmaier took to the Stonemaier Games blog to share his tips for making a great rulebook, alongside a list of the rulebooks that he feels are the best of all time. Let's...
Wargamer •

Rathalos and Lagiacrus are finally coming to MTG, as Monster Hunter Secret Lair announced

Monster Hunter is crossing over with Magic: the Gathering in a Secret Lair Superdrop focused on hunters, and the predators they pursue.Players have been speculating about a Magic: the Gathering/Monster Hunter crossover for a while now, but yesterday, official confirmation from Wizards of the Coast finally came through. A Monster Hunter Secret Lair Super Drop will be running from December 1st to December 22nd. While no artwork has currently been provided, a list of cards from the drop, as well as...
Wargamer •

The Legends of Andor board game has nothing to do with Star Wars, but is less than $20 on Amazon

Legends of Andor is a 13 year old fantasy adventure board game, designed for families, that is currently on sale for under $20 on Amazon.Back in 2012, Kosmos published the cooperative strategy board game Legends of Andor. In this dice rolling fantasy adventure, players embark on a quest to save the titular kingdom of Andor. It has nothing to do with Roguish Star Wars rebel Cassian Andor, nor is it in any way related to the Hungarian economist László Andor. All the same, it's a solid time, partic...
Wargamer •

The Priciest Pokémon cards from Mega Evolution are dropping in value, but they still cost hundreds

Mega Lucario ex and Mega Gardevoir ex are very expensive Pokémon cards, but they're worth significantly less now then they were in October.When they first released, the Mega Hyper Rare cards from the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution expansion were absolutely unstoppable. Available in only, approximately, one in every 1,260 booster packs, any Mega Lucario ex, or Gardevoir ex cards in this stark yellow art treatment are worth significantly more than their weight in gold. Now, while these cards remain in...
Wargamer •

MTG designer Gavin Verhey goes to bat for Hybrid mana in Commander - but fans aren't sure

Gavin Verhey, a prominent Magic: the Gathering designer, has given his thoughts on the debate around hybrid mana, although the community seem unconvinced.The big discussion among Commander players in the Magic: the Gathering community at the moment is a proposed rules change involving hybrid mana. From Murderous Redcap, to Kitchen Finks, and Lurrus of the Dream-Den, there's no shortage of cards that feature this split symbol in their casting cost. Hybrid mana has been a part of the game since Ra...
Wargamer •

Borderlands board game boasts of badass boss battles

Gearbox Software's Borderlands series is a space western first-person shooter, where players merrily blast their way across the planet Pandora in search of vaults of alien tech. It has made the leap from screen to tabletop once before, back in 2023, with the release of Mister Torgue's Arena of Badassery. Now, another Borderlands board game is on the horizon, as Mister Torgue gets ready to open his arena once again.
The crowdfunding campaign for Mister Torgue's Arena of Badassery 2 went live on N...
Wargamer •

For some reason an upcoming MTG Final Fantasy event will reward promos of Yuna in a Wedding Dress

Yuna, Grand Summoner is a popular commander from the Magic: the Gathering Final Fantasy crossover set. As one of the commanders of the Counter Blitz Commander deck, Yuna encourages an aggressive +1/+1 counter based gameplan. Wargamer have already covered how she works awesomely when used alongside Saga creatures. Well, now she'll also be working alongside a spouse, apparently, as Wizards of the Coast have printed a new version of the card wearing a wedding dress.
From December 5th to December 11...
Wargamer •

Meme song from Avatar referenced by an unblockable MTG land

The card Secret Tunnel in the new MTG Avatar expansion is unblockable, but can't turn itself into a creature, how are you meant to use it?Magic: the Gathering contains plenty of unblockable creatures. Typically printed in blue, cards like Invisible Stalker and Phantom Warrior have been nuisances for years, as it's very difficult to stop their attacks from slipping through. The upcoming Avatar: the Last Airbender expansion is printing a new unblockable card, but rather than being a creature, it's...
Wargamer •

Hold onto hope in this Dystopian Christmas solo board game

Archives of the Fallen World is a print and play board game that invites players to preserve knowledge in the midst of a bleak war.Board Games are a great group activity that can really bring friends together. Sometimes, though, you just want to pour yourself a nice warm mug of cocoa, snuggle up in bed, and enjoy a nice single-player experience. Archives of the Fallen World is a Christmas game, but it definitely isn't a cozy one. Set in a fictitious war-torn Eastern European town, the game enabl...
Wargamer •

Figurines with iconic Pokémon 151 artwork to be released… in China

It's safe to say that Pokémon 151 is one of the most beloved sets in the history of the Pokémon TCG. It was a tremendous success, even by the high standards of a card game where stock frequently sells out during preorders. Now, a series of figurines is being released that promise to bring the artwork of Pokémon 151 into 3D. These figures lovingly recreate the images that inspired them, and they're even available for a pretty low price. Unfortunately, they're only due to come out in China.
 
The...
Wargamer •

Controversial MTG card reprinted on the Avatar bonus sheet

Dockside Extortionist will be coming back again, with new cartoon screenshot artwork, once the Avatar set releases later this month.Dockside Extortionist is one of the most powerful red two-drops in Magic: the Gathering. This greedy goblin generates a treasure token for every artifact and enchantment controlled by opponents when it enters play. The card was so infamously strong in multiplayer Magic that it was banned from Commander in September 2024. Dockside Extortionist has just been reprinted...
Wargamer •

Price of Mega Latias ex box gradually trending down, but still $10 higher than MSRP

The Mega Latias ex box is growing cheaper, but is still difficult to find at the $21.99 price tag recommended by the Pokémon Company.It can be very difficult to secure Pokémon TCG products for their manufacturer's suggested retail price, or "MSRP". Pokémon cards are incredibly popular and often sell out during the pre-order period. The Mega Latias ex box is just one more example of a hyper popular Pokémon product that's difficult to find for a good rate. Its listed price in online markets has co...
Wargamer •

Board game about taxing the rich review bombed both ways

The board game geek page for the Norwegian card game Tax the Rich has become split as masses of positive and negative reviews pile up.Tax the Rich is a trick-taking board game published by Alion Games, who are also known for Sparks, and Gardlings.  It's due to release in several European countries later this month, but no US publication date has currently been announced. The Board Game Geek page for this taxation-based trick-taker has become deeply divided, with massive numbers of both positive...
EDHREC •

The 10 Most Popular Cards From Shadowmoor Block | EDHREC

Mystic GateMystic Gate | Art by Fred FieldsA fortnight ago, we took a trip down the omenpaths and remembered the 10 most popular cards from Lorwyn block. Now The Great AuroraThe Great Aurora is shining in the sky, and the world is inverting. The idyllic glades and sunny vistas of Lorwyn and Morningtide are morphing into the moonlit haunts and murky darkness of Shadowmoor and Eventide.While Lorwyn block had a typal theme, Shadowmoor was a bit more abstract. Cards in these two sets care about hybr...
Wargamer •

We uncover a treasure trove of D&D history with TTRPG researcher Shannon Appelcline

Shannon Appelcline talks to us about Dungeons and Designers: Origins, his series that tracks D&D’s transformation from a passion project into an international juggernaut.Shannon Appelcline is an ENNIE award winning historian of tabletop roleplaying games. He's authored books on RPGs of all kinds, from the star spanning Sci-Fi epic Traveller, to the eldritch Lovecraftian horror game Call of Cthulu. His latest project documents the early history of Dungeons and Dragons. Appelcline has already writ...
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