The first review of Forged in Fire is available! Done by Joel Eddy, this is our first look at what a reviewer thinks when going hands-on with this expansion.
In this review, Joel talks about some of the spells in the set, including the new Mages obviously, then does a playthrough with those Mages and 2 spellbooks he built for them.
He shows us some cards that we've never seen before and also shows us two promo cards that are going to be released in this set.
At the end of the video, he tells us what he thinks about the set and talks about how Mage Wars is one of his favorite games.
But anyways, let's get onto the cards. For the 4 brand new cards, I don't have pictures of them just yet, but will be talking about them and what they do.
In this review, Joel talks about some of the spells in the set, including the new Mages obviously, then does a playthrough with those Mages and 2 spellbooks he built for them.
He shows us some cards that we've never seen before and also shows us two promo cards that are going to be released in this set.
At the end of the video, he tells us what he thinks about the set and talks about how Mage Wars is one of his favorite games.
But anyways, let's get onto the cards. For the 4 brand new cards, I don't have pictures of them just yet, but will be talking about them and what they do.
Wildfire Imp
The Wildfire Imp is a new Demon creature that the Warlock now has access to. Let's look at the stats. He can be seen at 3:27 of the video above.
Stats
Type: Creature
Subtype(s): Demon
Mana Cost : 5
Casting Type : Full Action
Range : 0-0
Target : Zone
Level : Dark 1
Defense : N/a
Channeling : N/a
Armor : 0
Health : 5
Traits : Flame -2
Special Text: Instead of taking a move action, Wildfire Imp may pay 1 mana to Teleport to a target zone with an object with a Burn condition on it. Wildfire Imp gains Melee +2 while attacking an object with a Burn condition on it.
Attack : Quick melee attack, 1 die, piercing +1
For 5 mana, you're getting a decent creature. He's cheap to put in your spellbook and has 5 life, so he can maybe take 2 hits before he dies (unless it's from some really powerful creature). His attack is pretty weak, but if he hits something that is on fire, it get much more powerful.
This creature will make a Demon swarm build using Pentagram much more viable. Since these creatures have the ability to teleport to a zone that has an object with a Burn marker on it, the Pentagram can be placed anywhere on the board and summon these guys, just to have them teleport all the way across the board in a single turn. That is awesome.
Stats
Type: Creature
Subtype(s): Demon
Mana Cost : 5
Casting Type : Full Action
Range : 0-0
Target : Zone
Level : Dark 1
Defense : N/a
Channeling : N/a
Armor : 0
Health : 5
Traits : Flame -2
Special Text: Instead of taking a move action, Wildfire Imp may pay 1 mana to Teleport to a target zone with an object with a Burn condition on it. Wildfire Imp gains Melee +2 while attacking an object with a Burn condition on it.
Attack : Quick melee attack, 1 die, piercing +1
For 5 mana, you're getting a decent creature. He's cheap to put in your spellbook and has 5 life, so he can maybe take 2 hits before he dies (unless it's from some really powerful creature). His attack is pretty weak, but if he hits something that is on fire, it get much more powerful.
This creature will make a Demon swarm build using Pentagram much more viable. Since these creatures have the ability to teleport to a zone that has an object with a Burn marker on it, the Pentagram can be placed anywhere on the board and summon these guys, just to have them teleport all the way across the board in a single turn. That is awesome.
Brace yourself
Brace Yourself is a cheap enchantment that allows you to add temporary armor to a creature. It can be seen at 7:48 of the video
Type: Enchantment
Subtype(s): Command
Mana Cost : 2
Reveal Cost : 0
Casting Type : Quick Action
Range : 0-2
Target : Living Creature
Level : War 1
Traits : Novice
Special Text: This creature gains Armor +4. At the end of the round, destroy Brace Yourself.
So this is a pretty good way to send something into battle with some temporary extra armor. Since it's Novice, any Mage can put it in their spellbook for the low cost of 1 point.
And therein lies my problem with it. The War school is getting screwed once again with another Novice spell. Many of the incantations from this school are also novice. No other schools have to deal with this. There are a few other novice spells, but they are spread out. The War school is full of them, which is unfair to it.
Type: Enchantment
Subtype(s): Command
Mana Cost : 2
Reveal Cost : 0
Casting Type : Quick Action
Range : 0-2
Target : Living Creature
Level : War 1
Traits : Novice
Special Text: This creature gains Armor +4. At the end of the round, destroy Brace Yourself.
So this is a pretty good way to send something into battle with some temporary extra armor. Since it's Novice, any Mage can put it in their spellbook for the low cost of 1 point.
And therein lies my problem with it. The War school is getting screwed once again with another Novice spell. Many of the incantations from this school are also novice. No other schools have to deal with this. There are a few other novice spells, but they are spread out. The War school is full of them, which is unfair to it.
General's Signet Ring
This ring for the Warlord allows him to pay less mana when summoning soldier creatures.
Type: Equipment (Ring)
Subtype(s): Mana
Mana Cost : 3
Casting Type : Quick Action
Range : 0-2
Target : Mage
Level : War 1
Traits : Warlord Only
Special Text: Once per round, this Mage may pay 1 less mana when he, or a spawnpoint he controls, casts a soldier spell.
As pointed out to me by the creative director, Aaron Brosman, this is only the 2nd ring that gives discounts when summoning from spawnpoints. This immediately makes it an auto-include in any Warlord's spellbook. Another card that'll help him get out creatures.
Type: Equipment (Ring)
Subtype(s): Mana
Mana Cost : 3
Casting Type : Quick Action
Range : 0-2
Target : Mage
Level : War 1
Traits : Warlord Only
Special Text: Once per round, this Mage may pay 1 less mana when he, or a spawnpoint he controls, casts a soldier spell.
As pointed out to me by the creative director, Aaron Brosman, this is only the 2nd ring that gives discounts when summoning from spawnpoints. This immediately makes it an auto-include in any Warlord's spellbook. Another card that'll help him get out creatures.
Flank attack
This incantation is one of the best new spells the Warlord has access to.
Type: Incantation
Subtype(s): Command
Mana Cost : 3
Casting Type : Quick Action
Range : 0-2
Target : Soldier Creature
Level : War 1
Special Text: If target's next melee attack this round attacks an enemy creature that was attacked and damaged by another friendly soldier this round, then the attack gains the Piercing +2 trait and the target gains the Melee +2 trait for the attack.
This is a great card for the new Warlord. For 3 mana you get Melee +2 and Piercing +2. That's highly efficient.
Type: Incantation
Subtype(s): Command
Mana Cost : 3
Casting Type : Quick Action
Range : 0-2
Target : Soldier Creature
Level : War 1
Special Text: If target's next melee attack this round attacks an enemy creature that was attacked and damaged by another friendly soldier this round, then the attack gains the Piercing +2 trait and the target gains the Melee +2 trait for the attack.
This is a great card for the new Warlord. For 3 mana you get Melee +2 and Piercing +2. That's highly efficient.
Morning star
The Morning Star is a new weapon that upgrades any Mage's basic melee attack into a more powerful one.
Type: Equipment (Weapon)
Subtype(s): N/a
Mana Cost : 5
Casting Type : Quick Action
Range : 0-2
Target : Mage
Level : War 1
Traits : N/a
Attack : Quick melee attack, 4 dice, Unavoidable
Decent cheap weapon here. Unavoidable 4 dice attack is better than any Mage's basic attack. The only Mages that would never want to use this are the Priest and the new Warlock because their attacks deal Light and Fire damage, respectively.
Type: Equipment (Weapon)
Subtype(s): N/a
Mana Cost : 5
Casting Type : Quick Action
Range : 0-2
Target : Mage
Level : War 1
Traits : N/a
Attack : Quick melee attack, 4 dice, Unavoidable
Decent cheap weapon here. Unavoidable 4 dice attack is better than any Mage's basic attack. The only Mages that would never want to use this are the Priest and the new Warlock because their attacks deal Light and Fire damage, respectively.
Hurl Rock
This is one of the most efficient attack spells in the game. 4 mana for 5 dice is amazing, and it has a chance to Daze as well.
Type: Attack
Subtype(s): N/a
Mana Cost : 4
Casting Type : Quick Action
Range : 0-1
Target : Creature or Conjuration
Level : Earth 1
Traits : N/a
Attack : Quick ranged attack, 5 dice, d12: 9+ = Daze
Type: Attack
Subtype(s): N/a
Mana Cost : 4
Casting Type : Quick Action
Range : 0-1
Target : Creature or Conjuration
Level : Earth 1
Traits : N/a
Attack : Quick ranged attack, 5 dice, d12: 9+ = Daze