I've been waiting for this a long time now. From the first day I saw
Grindhouse Games' website for Incursion, I was hooked. WW2, Zombies, Power Armored US infantry, Zombies! The artwork on the site was phenomenal and added a grittiness to the entire presentation that sets the tone for something amazing. Now, after so many months of waiting, this boxed set is here and I couldn't be more pleased.
Once open you're given a look at the reference sheet. I am a sucker for these things, and they give you a real benefit when trying to remember the things you use a lot, and it's all at a quick glance. That said, this is one of the few gripes I have about this set, the sheet is thin card, not quick a paper sheet but not quick card stock. You're going to need to laminate this bad boy if you plan to keep it around for a while in good condition. That's my plan at least!
The rules and mission book is all in full color glossy paper. It's got all the things you'd expect, a quick story bit, some rundown on characters and rules and a 7 Missions. All of that beautiful artwork we've been drooling over for so many months finds its way into the book, with a great eye toward the layout and design of the book. Unfortunately there isn't much in the way of new art, some additional pieces would have made an already great book a fantastic one. It's understandable though, as art costs money, and there are some neat details here and there. Haven't read the rules through yet or much of the book, so I can't attest to that end yet.
Four cards worth chits, game pieces and effects await you. The folks at Grindhouse have said that you may want to be a bit careful with yours though, as some people have had issues getting them out cleanly. A quick slice in a few spots with a hobby knife will fix that though. The cards are semi-gloss on one side and matt on the other. Some great variation in doors, but less so in the zombie pieces. Though for simplicity of play, it does make sense for certain things to look the same. The details are clean and pictures crisp. A very nice addition is reminders on the backs of come of the chits as to what they are representing, a really great touch. The card isn't as thick as say Space Hulk chits, but plenty thick enough for regular use.
The map is set on a nice thick card with fantastic detailing. They really did a great job breaking up the monotony throughout with a good attention to detail. I've already got more ideas for future INCURSION model bases just from looking at it! The map is set half on one side half on the other though, which throws me off a bit as you couldn't play the full map without buying two boxed sets! Very crafty Grindhouse, very crafty indeed...
Lots of storage space in the box. In the above you can see the slots for different things, along with the bases used for playing pieces ( which you get a lot of ). It's nice to have a company pay attention to such a small detail like partitions in the box. Smart boxed set design here.
The cards are all full color as well, set on good playing card stock. They are mostly matt with a good feel to them. The coloring is vibrant and everything is easy to read. All of the backs are the same INCURSION emblem.
Above is another shot of the cards with a Character card to give a bit of a better sense of the layout for them. All stats along the left with the character info to the bottom right. The art is clean and crisp as I've come to expect from this set.
And in the end it comes down to the dice. They're nothing special unfortunately. Simple, get the job done dice set. At least they have a nice little slot to settle into to keep them with your game! I think I'll find something special for the game though in the future.
In the end, this is a quality product from a great and responsive young company. They're doing quite well with a great bit of support from the community at large. I hope to find some time and friends in the near future to really dig in with this one. Should you find yourself in need of some Wierd World War 2 action but don't have the time to invest in new models, you need to check this set out.
Anyone who has gotten a few games under their belt have some insight into the mechanics of this one? We would love to hear your thoughts!
