December is upon us, and as the temperatures begin to drop, things are really starting to heat up once again in the Tannhäuser world. We are almost finished pouring over the assets we received from Take On You, and are incorporating and coordinating them into upcoming releases.

The next release will be the updated rules. They are currently going through playtesting, as each token has been given new properties and each scenario is being updated accordingly. Keep in mind that while we are overhauling the rules, your Tannhäuser components will still be compatible. All of the tokens, maps, character cards, and other items in your copy of Tannhäuser will still be used, albeit in new and exciting ways.

One of the rules that has undergone revision is the Victory Point system. In the current system, Victory Points are a dual-purpose tool; their acquisition (in some game modes) is the sole victory condition, but they also serve as a sort of currency, and can be spent to allow a player to execute certain tactics. We wanted to update this concept to make the game a bit more dynamic, so Victory Points will be replaced by Command Points.

Victory will no longer be based on the acquisition of points (in any game mode), but rather on the successful completion of whatever objective the game mode calls for. We feel that this creates a more thematic, and often less arbitrary, game experience. This also frees both sides to make genuine strategic decisions without having to worry about affecting their final Victory Point tally. Each side will begin the game with a number of Command Points based on the mode of play, and they refresh at the start of each turn, giving players a constant stream of options.... and more options means more fun.

Deathmatch mode will provide each side with two Command Points each turn. These can be used to increase a stat on a model’s card for the rest of the activation (yours or your opponents’), place a model on Overwatch (yes, Overwatch is in, and we will go into more detail in the next State of the Game), or allow the player who rolled lower during the initiative roll to reroll his die. Additionally, if a player has three Command Points, he may spend all three to gain a single trooper reinforcement. But how can you get a third Command Point? Some rare tokens provide once-per-game boosts which could temporarily allow a player to exceed his maximum two Command Points, providing this useful extra unit. Going forward, deathmatch mode will be quick and strategic, but it will remain just as brutal and action-packed as always.

Story mode has received special attention as well, and is now full of far more story than ever before. Above and beyond that, the way objectives are fulfilled has also been modified, which will result in objectives being more desirable than merely eliminating your opponent. This gives new life to Story mode, since in its previous incarnation, players often found it easier to simply wipe out their opponents rather than following the story, resulting essentially in a Deathmatch with more setup.

We are also updating the back story and chronology. As we fill in some of the gaps in the storyline, you may notice some dates shifting and new characters appearing. The world is being fully created, and we are excited to share it with you.

One last note: Wolf was available on our recent holiday sale, but if you missed your chance, don’t worry. He’ll soon be back to stay at your friendly local gaming store and our webstore!

Tannhäuser is entering 2010 with a fresh new face. With the rules revision we are also working on Daedalus, and updating the campaign rules, tokens, maps, and new scenarios going in to this awesome installment. This map expansion will provide some great new options, and as we have had a bit more time to work on it, it will also include some new material not included in the previous version!

Tannhäuser is a squad based tactical board game set in an alternate timeline in which WWI has never ended. The forces of the Reich have turned to the occult, while the forces of the Union have delved into alien technology and developed deadly weapons of war. Using the revolutionary Path-Finding System, Tannhäuser is quick and easy to play.