Hobbies And Interests
Crossbows &Catapults
In this board game, players control armies made up of artillery pieces: ballistae and catapults, both of which shoot plastic discs. Players aim to fire the discs at the pieces and plastic fortifications commanded by their opponent with the goal of knocking down walls and models. The game is best suited for two players and is intended for kids age 6 and up.
D&D Miniatures: Fantasy Battles
This miniatures game is based on the world-famous "Dungeons and Dragons" tabletop role-playing game and features many of the creatures, such as grimlocks, mind flayers and drow, which are well-known to "Dungeons and Dragons" fans. Players put together a small band of warriors, consisting of several plastic models purchased in random box sets and try to take down their opponent's forces. Players collect forces geared toward certain races or which are full of dragons or heroes, for instance, with each figure worth a set number of points depending on its strength and abilities. The game is suitable for kids age 8 and above.
Space Hulk
Designed by the noted Games Workshop company, "Space Hulk" is played across a randomly generated board full of twisting corridors, which resembles an abandoned space ship. Players control either the heroic Space Marines, who wield powerful weapons and armor, or the horrific and agile Genestealers. The Space Marine player sets out to complete a certain objective on the game board, while the Genestealers are simply out to destroy every Marine. The game is designed for those age 12 and up.
Attacktix
This game is designed by Hasbro and is intended for kids age 6 and above. Players command forces made up of miniatures based on popular kids' franchises, such as "Star Wars" Jedi knights or "Transformers" robots, and set about fighting against the units controlled by opponents. Players don't need to measure how far their characters can move, since each model clicks as it travels, which keeps the game hassle-free. Players use the spring-loaded weapons possessed by models to knock over other participants' miniatures, which removes the targeted model from play.
Heroscape
A fantasy game sold as a boxed set, "Heroscape" features miniatures that depict orcs, soldiers and even robots; despite the variations in technology, the game rules make most models balanced against one another. The box includes 30 different figures and players can assemble armies consisting of creatures from wildly different eras. The game also includes an array of terrain, such as tombs and mountains, constructed of hex tiles. Players can make use of these to avoid enemy attacks. "Heroscape" can be played as a basic battle game, utilizing only some of the game rules, and when played in this way is suitable for ages 10 and up.