Bryan Pope from Arcane Wonders updated us recently on some changes to the original plan for Mage Wars, the customizable card-driven tactical board game of dueling mages (see "'Mage Wars' Debuting at Origins") now scheduled to release this August. 

 

Instead of a two to four player game, the game will be released in a two-player format, which will bring the initial price point down from $75 to $55, offering a lower entry point and more accessibility for players wanting to try the game.  This reconfiguration will also allow for more expansions and better overall support for the game experience.

 

This new two-player configuration will include everything that had been already planned for the base game: four Mages, 330 Spell cards, Spell Books, the full gaming experience originally designed.  The only exception is that if four players wish to play together, two base sets will be required.  But with a lower initial price, Arcane Wonders sees this as a fair trade off.

 

In addition, every two to three months a new two-mage expansion will be released.  Each expansion will include two mages, 110 additional spells and spell books that will be compatible with all other previous and future releases.  The first expansion will include the mages Forcemaster and Warlord, followed by a Necromancer and Druid expansion, as well as a Paladin and Illusionist.  There will also be a future release of a special Arch Mage: a powerful dragon that will be able to combat three to four players simultaneously.

 

The Mage Wars base set is due to release at GenCon 2012. Expansions will follow in 2013.