Year: 2022

Castle Panic Second Edition Launches

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Boxes for Castle Panic, Castle Panic Big Box, and Crowns and Quests over an orange sky background with the text Second Edition, Available Now!
The box for the Second Edition of Castle Panic

Today’s the day! After years of work, we are super excited to launch Castle Panic Second Edition. With all new art, heavier card stock, and a custom die, this version looks better than ever.

The Crowns and Quests box over a white background

In addition, we are launching the newest expansion, Crowns and Quests. This expansion adds 12 playable characters with unique powers and 18 Quests that completely change how the game ends. you can search the forest for magic scrolls, assemble magic portals to teleport the Castle to safety, and more. The combination of character powers and variety of quests means you’ll have almost endless adventures in Crowns and Quests. Fans of the first edition of Castle Panic will be happy to know that none of the components of Crowns and Quests are combined with any other components, so this expansion is completely compatible with the game they have at home.

The box of the Castle Panic Big Box Second Edition over a white background

For the fan who wants it all, we are also launching the Castle Panic Big Box Second Edition. This all-in-one box contains second editions of all the Castle Panic games (Castle Panic, The Wizard’s Tower, The Dark Titan, Engines of War) and Crowns and Quests. The Big Box also comes with 6 promo towers and 7 promo cards to round out the complete collection.

Insider tip: The Wizard’s Tower, The Dark Titan, and Engines of War won’t be released on their own until January, February, and March, so the Castle Panic Big Box is a great way to get them to your table right now.

More details on any of the games can be found in this post.

Thank all of you for your support and enthusiasm over the years. We can’t wait for you to try Crowns and Quests and enjoy these beautiful new editions. Good luck defending Castle Bravehold!

Brez Coffee Coupon

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Black cup of coffee with a small brown sample bag on a white countertop
Brez Coffee Company logo "By Gamers For Gamers"

We love a good cup of coffee while playing a game here at the Fireside Games office, and we’re betting you might too. We recently had the fine people at Brez Coffee Company reach out and send us some samples of their flavored coffees with very fanciful names.

We brewed up a few cups of fun flavors like “Minty Explosion”, “I Cast Fireball”, “Dark Knight Mocha,” and Justin’s favorite, “Dragons Breath” (a cinnamon dulce blend).

After chatting with them and learning how they are making coffee by gamers, for gamers, we came up with a fun cross-promotion that we’re running together.

Black coffee mug filled with coffee. Surrounded by 5 small brown bags of sample coffee on a white countertop

Right now if you visit their website Brezcoffeeco.com and use the coupon code ‘fireside,’ you’ll get 10% off your order.

They have lots of tasty game-themed flavors to choose from, including a “Fireside S’mores” roast made especially for us! It’s got a chocolate and marshmallow flavor that will go great with playing games on a cool fall evening.

A bag of coffee labeled "Fireside S'mores" on a white background

If you’re not into flavored coffees, you can pick up some of their “Critical Dark” for a simple, good dark roast.

That’s not all though. While you’re on their website, you might just find a coupon code that will get you a discount on games over here at firesidegames.com . . .

We hope you enjoy this offer as we move into the cooler fall weather and get ready for lots of gaming indoors with a hot cup of coffee!

Announcing Castle Panic Second Edition, a New Expansion, and a Big Box

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6 game boxes for the Castle Panic second edition over a white background

It may be hard to believe that Castle Panic first made its appearance on game tables almost 13 years ago in September of 2009. Since then, it’s been an amazing journey filled with adventures and stories as we added to the world with 3 expansions and 3 variations. After all those battles, the time has come to update everyone’s favorite cooperative tower defense board game. We are incredibly proud to announce the upcoming release of Castle Panic second edition!

The entire Castle Panic line is getting all new, bright, colorful art, a wide variety of diverse characters, and a few updates to make the game play even smoother. It’s still the same great cooperative game that players have loved for over a decade with a fresh new look.

What’s Different?

The biggest change is to the artwork, which makes the game look like it came right out of an animated movie. This is the same artwork used in the Castle Panic Deluxe Collection offered on Kickstarter in 2021.

New card designs make it easier to tell cards apart and to see what part of the board they affect.

6 cards from Castle Panic 2nd edition over a white background

The board is refreshed as well and now includes iconography to help color-blind players identify the different areas of the board more easily.

Castle Panic second edition game board

The game comes with a custom die that’s colored to match the medallions in each arc of the board.

A close up of a white six-sided die with red, blue and green numbers sitting on a colorful game board

The weight of the card stock used has been increased to provide a more satisfying feeling in your hand.

Lastly, the Castle has a name now! After asking our fans to submit their best ideas and vote on their favorite, we can all proudly band together to defend Castle Bravehold.

The rules are staying the same for Castle Panic. For The Dark Titan and Engines of War expansions, a minor change has been made to a few Monsters. The Dark Sorceress, Breathtaker, and Shaman are now all Mega Boss Monsters, like the Dragon from The Wizard’s Tower. This standardizes some rules that previously had those Monsters using their own ruleset.

When’s the Next Expansion Coming Out?

We are thrilled to announce the launch of a brand-new expansion, Crowns and Quests!

This expansion adds 12 playable characters with unique abilities that allow players to take on a role in the royal court defending Castle Bravehold. Each character is assigned to one of the six towers at the start of the game. If that tower is destroyed, the character is lost, and the player must continue without that ability.

The game box for Crowns and Quests next to 4 cards from the game over a white background

You’ll need those abilities too, since there are now quests that the players must try to survive to win the game. At the start of the game, players choose 1 Standard Quest and 1 Endgame Quest. Until both of those Quests are completed, the pile of Monsters will refill over and over.

Standard Quests include searching for magic scrolls, looking for a cure for a plague of madness, holding off magical stones that cause the Monsters to spawn closer and closer to the Castle, and much more. Once the Standard Quest is achieved, players move on to the Endgame Quest, which they either complete or perish trying. Endgame Quests feature challenges such as collapsing caves to stop the flow of Monsters, racing against time to destroy a cursed obelisk, and placing magical portals to teleport the entire Castle to safety. There are 11 Standard and 7 Endgame Quests to choose from, providing hours and hours of replay as players explore all the different challenges.

A Standard Quest and an Endgame Quest over a white background

Because none of the components in Crowns and Quests are combined with components of the base game or the other expansions, this new expansion is compatible with both the first and second editions.

What if I Want It All?

For players that are looking to collect the entire second edition all at once, we are launching the Castle Panic Big Box second edition at the same time. This (not surprisingly) large box contains Castle Panic, The Wizard’s Tower, The Dark Titan, Engines of War, Crowns and Quests, 6 promo towers, and 7 promo cards. The custom box also comes with a vac tray insert to hold all the items.

The box for the Castle Panic Big Box over a white background

When Can I Get It?

Castle Panic, Crowns and Quests, and the Castle Panic Big Box will be on store shelves on November 30. The Wizard’s Tower will hit store shelves January 25, The Dark Titan on February 22, and Engines of War  on March 22.

Thank you to all the amazing artists that made this new edition possible: Justin Chan, Anthony Cournoyer, Jakab Ferdinánd, Javier Guzman, Maggie Ivy, Tad Lambert, Britt Pezzillo, Quel. This line looks amazing because of your talent and dedication to the project.

We hope all of you are as excited to see this fabulous new version on your table as we are!

Gen Con 2022

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Only a few more weeks until Gen Con is here. Taking place every year in Indianapolis, Gen Con is the biggest gaming convention in the U.S. It usually features a mix of discovering new games and celebrating old favorites, and this year we’ve got some big stuff planned for both.

Fireside Games advertisement for Gen Con. Launch Party, Giant Castle Panic, and Pin Bazaar

Events

If you’re looking to sit down and learn how to play one of our games, jump into one of our events. There’s no cost and our volunteers will provide everything needed to play and teach you the rules. You can choose from Castle Panic (1st Edition), Here, Kitty, Kitty!, or Dastardly Dirigibles. You can find the complete list of events here. https://www.gencon.com/events?search=fireside

Launch Party

The Second Edition of Castle Panic is coming out later this year along with a new expansion, and we are throwing a launch party to celebrate! The party will take place on Thursday, August 4th at 8pm EDT in rooms 144 and 145. We’ll have multiple copies of the new edition plus Crowns and Quests (the new expansion) on the table so everyone can see the amazing new art and try out the games before you can buy them. Each attendee will receive an exclusive pin that is only available at this event. We’re also holding a raffle drawing to give away some great prizes. We’ll be raffling 3D prints of some of the minis that were used in the prototypes of Castle Panic Deluxe as well as copies of Castle Panic and Crowns and Quests to a few lucky winners!

Tickets are $2 and this event is filling up fast, so reserve your space now if you want to attend this celebration of all things Castle Panic.

You can buy your tickets here: https://www.gencon.com/events/209841

Booth #2323

When you’re walking the vendor hall, be sure to come see us at Booth #2323. You can get a sneak peek of Castle Panic Deluxe and see the new artwork and minis up close. We’ll be taking pre-orders for Castle Panic 2nd Edition as well as the Castle Panic Deluxe Collection and Castle Panic Wood Collection that were only offered through Kickstarter previously. While you’re at our booth, you can pick up our exclusive enamel pin that’s part of the Gen Con Pin Bazaar. Share your loyalty to the castle with this mighty dragon.

Pin with a red dragon breathing fire and the text "Castle Panic" below

You can also grab a few promos for your favorite games, and you won’t be able to miss Giant Castle Panic.

Giant Castle Panic

A giant version of Castle Panic, with 2 foot high towers on a carpeted floor

That’s right. We’ve made a huge version of Castle Panic and it’s taking over our booth! This giant game measures 10 feet across and is sure to make some jaws drop. Get your picture taken in front of our (almost) life-sized castle and show your friends how awesome Gen Con is.

Castle Panic Boardgaming Tour of Scotland

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Blair Castle

In cooperation with RPG Travel, we are thrilled to announce the Castle Panic Boardgaming Tour of Scotland to launch the second edition of Castle Panic. Join us October 9-16, 2022 to sightsee and play board games in castles and other venues throughout Scotland. One stop that we are particularly excited about is Duarte Castle, home of Clan MacLean, from which Justin descended. Games will include the Castle Panic Deluxe Collection and a giant version of the second edition of Castle Panic. The full itinerary may be viewed below.

To join the tour, you can sign up by clicking here or below. If 30 travelers sign up, the price per person will be reduced by $350. We hope you can make it. It’s going to be so fun!

Sign Up

Day 1 (October 10, Monday) – The group will arrive mid-morning into Edinburgh airport. Meet your guide and proceed into central Edinburgh. On arrival, there will be a guided panoramic tour of this amazing city featuring Old and New Towns and the Royal Mile. Later this afternoon, there will be a ‘City of the Dead’ walking tour of Edinburgh Old Town followed by a visit to the famous Edinburgh Castle (guided tour on the outside). Enjoy a group dinner at the hotel restaurant.

Day 2 (October 11, Tuesday) – Enjoy a morning gaming session at The Caves, a truly unique venue that makes up the substructure of the 18th century South Bridge. There was once so much Scottish whiskey stored here that it became known as ‘Whisky Row.’ Non-gamers will experience a visit to a traditional farm, tasting local cheeses, pastries and participate in a hands-on lunch experience. Afterwards, enjoy afternoon tea time at a local and intimate restaurant. Later in the evening, attend the ‘Taste of Scotland’ dinner show at the Prestonfield Stables. Experience a night of Scottish music, dancing and entertainment.

Day 3 (October 12, Wednesday) – After breakfast at the hotel, enjoy free time for sightseeing and shopping in the city this morning. The group will meet around late morning and drive to Stirling for some free time and lunch in the town of Stirling. Next head to the Wallace Monument to take a self guided walking tour, followed by a private tour of Stirling Castle, one of Scotland’s grandest castles. You will also learn about Wallace Monument which stands facing Stirling and is the location of the Stirling Bridge. Afterwards, enjoy dinner, gaming and drinks in the castle. Gaming will begin again after dinner.

Day 4 (October 13, Thursday) – Depart for a full day excursion to the scenic region of the Highlands. This is the largest region of Scotland of nearly 10,000 square miles which includes the UK’s highest mountains and the beautiful Loch Ness. In this region, you will visit Blair Castle (self-guided tour), known to be the home to 19 generations of Stewarts and Murrays of Atholl. Also experience a whisky distillery for a tour and tasting. There will be a gaming session in Blair Castle as well.

Day 5 (October 14, Friday) – After breakfast, depart the hotel and travel to the Isle of Mull today. This isle of over 338 square miles with the highest peak at 3,169 feet. Take the ferry from Oban to Craignure. On arrival, travel to Duart Castle for a guided tour followed by lunch at a nearby restaurant. Duart Castle is a 14th-century keep that sits atop a rock face at the end of a peninsula. It’s also the home of Clan MacLean, which is Justin’s ancestral clan. In the afternoon, enjoy a gaming session in Duart Castle! Return by ferry to Oban and check in to your hotel.

Day 6 (October 15, Saturday) – Depart hotel this morning and drive south via Loch Lomond and then to Glasgow. Loch Lomond is a beautiful freshwater loch surrounded by beautiful hills and is part of The Trossachs National Park. Enjoy some free time in Glasgow, known for its Victorian architecture and vibrant art scene, for independent sightseeing or shopping before continuing to the airport hotel for your last evening in Scotland and gaming session. Farewell group dinner this evening.

Day 7 (October 16, Sunday) – Spend the morning at your leisure before heading to the airport for your return flight back to the U.S., arriving on the same day.
“This itinerary is subject to change without prior approval. Please note that if a last-minute cancellation occurs, a replacement visit of equal value will be arranged.

Price per person based on double occupancy (based on minimum 20 travelers), $3,550
*Single room supplement – $675

Payment Schedule:
June 15, 2022 – $500 Non-Refundable Deposit Due
August 15, 2022 – $ Remaining Balance Due
*3% transaction fee for all credit cards

Included: Ready to play gaming venues (15+ hours) minis, games, accessories, table experiences, prize drawings, and giveaways, accommodations, bus transportation, guide tours/technical visits, entrance fees that are included are noted in the above itinerary, meals as indicated on itinerary (water, coffee or tea): B= Breakfast L= Lunch D= Dinner

Not Included: international airfare, gratuities for guide/driver, soft drinks or alcoholic beverages with meals, meals not shown on itinerary, Covid testing requirements for entry and exiting the United Kingdom, cost of valid U.S. passport or other documents necessary for travel to the United Kingdom, alcoholic beverages, travel insurance coverage (highly recommended), airline seat upgrades, excess baggage fees, souvenirs, leisure activities on free days, hotel charges for incidentals (including telephone calls, pay per view movies, mini bars, and snack trays, personal laundry, room service, and hotel penalties for smoking in hotel rooms).

www.RPGTravel.com
This itinerary remains the property of RPGTravel and is subject to change without notice. Its unauthorized use, in whole or in part, is an infringement of copyright laws.
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My First Castle Panic Earns Mom’s Choice Award®

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Mom's Choice Award Gold Medal

Fireside Games is honored to announce that My First Castle Panic has earned the prestigious Mom’s Choice Award®. Having been rigorously evaluated by a panel of MCA evaluators, My First Castle Panic is deemed to be among the best products for families. 

My First Castle Panic BoxMy First Castle Panic - Whole game

The Mom’s Choice Awards® has named My First Castle Panic as among the best in family-friendly media, products and services. The MCA evaluation process uses a propriety methodology in which entries are scored on a number of elements including production quality, design, educational value, entertainment value, originality, appeal, and cost. 

To be considered for an award, each entrant submits five (5) identical samples for testing. Entries are matched to evaluators in the MCA database. Evaluators are bound by a strict code of ethics not only to ensure objectivity, but also to ensure that the evaluation is free from manufacturer influence. The five evaluations are submitted to the MCA Executive Committee for final review and approval. 

“Our aim to introduce families and educators to best-in-class products and services,” explains Dawn Matheson, Executive Director of the Mom’s Choice Awards. “We have a passion to help families grow emotionally, physically and spiritually. Parents and educators know that products and services bearing our seal of approval are high-quality and also a great value. The MCA evaluation program is designed to incorporate the expertise of scientists, physicians and other specialists; but we also engage parents, children, educators, and caregivers because they are experts in knowing what is best for their families.” 

With the evaluation now complete, the testing samples of My First Castle Panic will be donated to schools, libraries, hospitals and nonprofit organizations. 

About the Mom’s Choice Awards® The Mom’s Choice Awards® (MCA) evaluates products and services created for children, families and educators. The program is globally recognized for establishing the benchmark of excellence in family-friendly media, products and services. The organization is based in the United States and has reviewed thousands of entries from more than 55 countries. 

Around the world, parents, educators, retailers and members of the media look for the MCA mother-and-child Honoring Excellence seal of approval when selecting quality products and services for children and families. 

Learn more about the Mom’s Choice Awards by visiting their website: www.MomsChoiceAwards.com. 

Castle Panic Deluxe Pledge Manager Closing Soon!

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Heroes stand before castle with text announcing Pledge Manager is closing soon

Heads up gamers, the Castle Panic Deluxe Collection pledge manager is closing on January 15th! There are just a few days left to place your late pledge or complete your pledge for the Castle Panic Deluxe Collection that was launched on Kickstarter.

This amazing deluxe version is available in a variety of options including Castle Panic Deluxe and The Wizard’s Tower Deluxe on their own, as well as both a Wood Collection and the Deluxe Collection to suit fans of any appetite.

Boxes for the Castle Panic Deluxe Collection and Wood Collection

Both collections contain all the components for deluxe versions of Castle Panic and ALL the expansions, including the not-yet-released Crowns and Quests.

The Deluxe Collection includes over 180 plastic minis for all the Monsters as well as wooden tokens, while the Wood Collection skips the plastic Monsters in favor of just keeping the wooden tokens.

These deluxe versions will only be offered in extremely limited quantities after the pledge manager closes, and time is running out to add this exciting collectible edition to your game shelf!

You can access the pledge manager at CrowdOx by clicking HERE. Don’t miss out!