X-Men Join Dice Throne As Virtual Version Of The Tabletop Game Is Considered

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Dice Throne is a thrilling tabletop game where you clash heroes using dice and cards in rapid-fire, turn-based battles. You can also engage in team fights or work together in a cooperative storyline. This game is effortless to set up and play, making it perfect for those who don’t have lengthy gaming sessions each week like D&D, Pathfinder, or other games that focus on extended adventures.

As an avid fan, I’m thrilled to share that the creators of Dice Throne are gearing up to unveil their highly anticipated X-Men expansion! This exciting update promises even more Marvel superheroes to join forces with Dice Throne’s predominantly original character lineup. Interestingly, this isn’t the first time Dice Throne has introduced licensed characters into the game; in a previous expansion, they brought on board some iconic non-mutant Marvel figures like Thor and Black Panther. Recently, I had the opportunity to chat with Nate Chatellier, co-creator and lead game designer of Dice Throne, as well as CEO Casey Sershon about their unique approach when incorporating licensed characters into their game. They hinted at potential plans for introducing more intellectual properties in the future!

As a passionate fan, I was privileged to hear Chatellier share his vision behind the creation of Dice Throne. He had crafted a five-year plan when we first embarked on this exciting journey. His love for long-term planning laid out the roadmap: season one, season two, a solo and co-op mode (later known as Dice Throne Adventures), and finally a Marvel edition. The initial timeline was five years, but it took us six years to bring it all to life. However, we achieved every milestone along the way, something I continue to be proud of. Reaching the Marvel edition marked the end of our original plan. It was then that we found ourselves pondering: where do we go next and how do we feel about collaborating with established Intellectual Properties?

In essence, Sershon stated, “Over the long haul, we will persistently work on two areas: original and licensed properties. Creating original content is exhilarating; it’s like playing in an open sandbox. However, working with licensed properties brings a unique charm as well. It gives direction to our vision and imposes certain limitations, which help us focus on what truly embodies the essence of that character. This, in turn, stimulates us, the developers, to innovate and think about novel mechanics that enhance the fantasy of that character.

Chatellier stated, “We aim to be more than an IP company; we don’t want our identity to be solely based on intellectual properties. However, we wouldn’t turn down IP that we deeply care about and are passionate about, as long as it aligns with our system. We’re not interested in merely profit-making; we want to feel a connection with what we do, and ensure it enhances our brand. After much discussion, incorporating X-Men into our universe seemed like a natural fit.

In Dice Throne, you assume the role of your preferred character, utilizing six-sided dice during your turn in an attempt to achieve particular combinations which enable you to utilize your hero’s diverse abilities. You can also employ cards to enhance your chances, bolster specific skills, or hinder other players. The Pyromancer is a relatively straightforward hero who engages opponents with explosive fireballs and high-damage flames, for instance, while the Huntress, being somewhat complex, employs a saber-toothed tiger named Nyra to assault and protect her. This requires you to devise strategies to preserve that bond, thereby amplifying your hero’s potential.

Chatellier stated, “Our aim is for easy setup, swift gameplay, and enduring fun.” He added humorously, “We like to say, ‘Dice Throne is a game you’ll actually play,’ but it’s not entirely a joke. When you mention the 20 intriguing games coming up, Dice Throne stands out because it takes merely 30 seconds to set up and 30 minutes to finish a game. After grasping the brief fundamental rules of the game, there’s no need to dive into another 20-page rulebook. You’re already equipped to play the game; you just learn new characters.

Initially conceived as a competitive game, Dice Throne can also be experienced with a narrative focus using single-use Missions or extended Adventures. If you enjoy immersive, long-term gaming experiences, Adventures might suit you well, catering to that niche. On the other hand, Missions offer a similar experience, but they’re not designed for the extensive multi-night, multi-week gameplay associated with traditional campaigns. Instead, they provide a standalone one-time playthrough within a single night. (Sershon’s statement)

Chatellier stated, “I created a game using Adventures that I enjoyed playing myself. I’m fond of intricate narratives and often engage in legacy games. I adore stories that unfold gradually. My wife and I frequently go on double dates where we play legacy games. I aimed to recreate that experience. However, over time, I recognized a challenge: not everyone has a long-term gaming group or desires the game their group plays to be a lengthy one. Adventures is more complex than traditional Dice Throne, which some fans of the original found overwhelming. Some aspects that were advantages for me as a player turned out to be disadvantages for others. With Missions, we aimed to counterbalance this.

In the upcoming updates for Marvel-themed missions, you’ll be battling villains such as Mysterio, Mystique, Mister Sinister, and Hela. However, what I’m most thrilled about is the arrival of new heroes! The X-Men expansion introduces eight playable characters: Wolverine, Storm, Cyclops, Rogue, Gambit, Psylocke, Iceman, and Jean Grey. As Chatellier explained, we have a comprehensive chart listing all Marvel and X-Men heroes. We analyzed these characters based on numerous factors to determine which ones would fit best in our game. It’s not an effortless choice, truthfully. Factors considered include personal affection for the hero, the hero’s general popularity, and the level of intrigue surrounding them.

Chatellier explained that hero uniqueness refers to how unique a character’s skills are when represented in Dice Throne game mechanics. With over 40 characters either released or planned, the developers of Dice Throne were careful to avoid introducing heroes who would interfere with an existing hero’s playstyle, such as multiple X-Men characters. This is why only Miles Morales was added in the last Marvel expansion, not both Miles and Peter Parker, why Wolverine (Logan) was included but not X-23, and why Jean Grey was added instead of Professor Xavior or Emma Frost. Instead, Emma Frost appears as a non-playable character (NPC) that players might encounter during Missions.

Chatellier explained, “Our community includes many women, among them my daughters, and we wanted strong female characters in our game. To achieve this, we decided to reserve certain villains for the missions instead of making them playable heroes. This decision came about because we were planning on creating Dice Throne Missions, and we wanted these missions to be distinct from the regular gameplay. Many people have asked why they can’t play some of the villains, but this was done so that missions could stand out as a unique feature.

Sershon commented further, discussing the character selection and mechanic design Nate was referring to. This involved deciding which X-Men characters would be part of the expansion, as well as fine-tuning each hero’s design. Additionally, there was a debate over the visual aesthetics, considering whether to use classic costumes or create new ones. Marvel played a significant role in this process, collaborating with various teams throughout. In the end, everyone was pleased with the outcome.

With the new X-Men and Outcasts expansions added to Dice Throne, the selection of playable characters has almost hit 40. However, it seems that’s not satisfying our ambition for new content, as creator Chatellier stated, “We’re nowhere near running out of ideas for fresh, revitalized characters.” In fact, there are over 30 heroes in various stages of development currently. Our community on platforms like Facebook and Discord is constantly generating their own characters, indicating they’re far from feeling satiated with the current roster. They crave more, and we’re struggling to keep up.

Earlier this year, Chatellier stepped down from being CEO to concentrate on creating digital projects, including potentially a virtual version of Dice Throne for remote players. Although it’s not yet certain if they will adopt the project (I’m optimistic since I often play tabletop games with friends via Discord), in the interim, Chatellier continues to oversee game design for the physical tabletop game.

Speaking of our eighth year together, it seems like our 10-year anniversary is just around the corner for us, more so than one might imagine. We’ve already begun discussing the significance and our future plans regarding this milestone, and with the development timeline for tabletop games, two years from now isn’t too distant.

You can purchase Dice Throne Season 1 and Dice Throne Season 2 individually for $99 each, Dice Throne Adventures for $80, or Dice Throne Marvel for $109. The pre-orders are currently open for Dice Throne Marvel X-Men ($109) and Dice Throne Marvel Adventures ($70). You can start playing with any of these options – owning Season 1 is not a prerequisite to play the subsequent collections.

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2025-02-28 23:05