Thanks for Watching! For those who prefer to read, I also posted an article with this story on my blog here: meepleshelter.net/mage-knight-the-rise-and-fall-of-one-of-the-most-successful-miniature-games-ever/
It was like "plastic crack" yes it was, I was a teenager when MK was released and for a time, I wouldn't spend my money on videogames but in mage knight miniatures, thank you for your video, it brought some memories back ;)
When I was a kid in the 2000s I was crazy about these Mage Knight miniatures, and about Heroclix in general. Sadly, those were very expensive here in Brazil and almost nobody have ever heard of them. I'd stiil buy and play these nowadays, if they were available here. Anyways, I'm happy with the MK board game, I've recently bought it and I'm very excited to play.
Dude! I'm from Brazil also, and I bought some of these minis in a Bienal here in RIo. They were EXPENSIVE (something like 18-27 reais for 4 minis. At the time this was really really expensive specially for a kid in the 2000's). A friend of mine who had more money bought a single big ass demon for a 100 reais and we all got awed by the sheer size and power of it. It was really awesome. Although we only played it like 2-3 times I'll always remember, and I wish this was still around specially cuz now i'm older and got a hell lot more money. lol PS: falar em ingles com brasileiro é foda, mas né. Tem que deixar os gringos entenderem nossa experiência de terceiro mundo. huahua
I am also from Brazil and I had managed somehow to score a Mage Knight Dungeons booster pack back in 2004 (I guess). I had these 4 figures (still have them), used them a lot for RPG in general but never managed to play the game itself. They didn't have a good market penetration here so it was hard to find someone who knew how to play it. Vamo jogar um dia galera! 😂
Brazilian here too. I bought the starter pack of this, it came with ~9 figures I think. I still have them, but I almost never played it. The starter pack didn't have enough figures to play (at least not in a way that the teams were balanced) and I didn't know anyone that had others figures... They were pretty awesome at least.
Still occasionally playing with the original MK miniatures I bought in the early 2000’s. Friends used to playing 40k really like the simplicity of the “Clix” system (no truck loads of Rule Books, Codexes, Errata, supplements etc. Interesting video - thanks.
Great video! I really liked the 2.0 figures - but the gameplay balance issues with the 1.0 figures was ENORMOUS. That was the most prominent killer of the game among my friend group. We tried making house rules so we could use both 1.0 and 2.0 pieces together but it was messy. -The 1.0 pieces were just so much more cost-effective, while 2.0 pieces had a bunch of built-in proficiencies and situational things they could do, which probably increased their point value. The thing is, letting the 2.0 figures alone have these proficiencies like "double time," was unfair to the 1.0 pieces. But if you did give the proficiencies to the 1.0 pieces they were wayyyy too good for their point values. One example: a 1.0 Imp is like 5 points with flight and 10 speed - You give it the 2.0 double time ability and it can then fly 20 inches to your opponent's starting zone and base their most important unit. For 5 points. Really really sad. Not to mention they changed the faction names and symbols so you could not join 1.0 and 2.0 figures together in formations.. and a bunch of other dumb decisions.
I was 7 years old going to tournaments with 40 year olds and saw no problem with that looking back it was probably really funny to be losing to me a child
It's 2024 and i still play mage Knight, and I also collect MechWarrior. Sometimes I play with my brother. I was born in 93 but didn't know anything about WizKids figures till 2020. And I still collect em I love WizKids.
Best mage knight player that ever lived here. I had every click of every figure memorized by heart. 😊 the og game will be continued in spirit in a new game called "pandemonium" Just so you know, you were right about some things but you weren't there so I will make a response video to help you understand
God I miss Mage Knight. I had so much fun with the game back in the day. It really was plastic crack for middle school me. The whole game's design really was a double-edged sword though. The combat dial was great for minimizing complexity and having multiple items to keep track of, but since everything had to be on the dial, it limited the kind of figures that could be created. You were restricted almost entirely to the numbers and pre-existing powers and abilities sheets. No figures could have unique effects like you could do in a CCG. Also, the ruler system for movement was so much more flexible than the grids they eventually introduced with HeroClix, but being able to play without a map meant entire systems like elevated and hidden terrain were never a part of the game unless you went out of your way to make a custom arena. Most games ended up playing out in the flat void of a regular table, which reduced variety even further. Still, I loved the creativity of the different factions and creatures. Still have a lot of my Draconum and Atlantis Guild from back in the day. It really did feel like the mini version of MtG in it's heyday. I didn't see the downfall coming at all, and still am not entirely over it. Though, my adult wallet is probably pretty grateful lol.
was an avid player through my childhood. i only quit because i couldnt find anyone to play with...have always wondered what happened. I came to this video because I would literally go play this weekend if i knew there was a tournament happening. Still have all my dragons and draconums
Heroclix is still primarily a sealed booster format. The standalone games while completely compatible with the main Heroclix game are not great. They’re directed more towards new players. And yes MK died because it failed to evolve. I think the thing that kept HC alive is that it is regularly evolving and changing.
They been to make like a duel master mage arena then everyone has access to figures then launch a 20th anversery set then se if there is a buzz and see if it keeps going
the click mechanic was fine, and the special abilities weren't outstanding but they weren't terrible.. the core issue was the base combat system .. SUCKED... the way movement worked generally meant that whoever attacked first lost... it was a terrible mechanic. That prevented any meaningful tactical additions to the game. The click base concept and the story of the game were great, but that stupid, gradiant movement system was the worst I've ever seen in a tactical game. It didn't make any sense.
I loved this game but it got to the point where who ever had the most expensive figure would win. Strategy didn't matter. Until I was a dick and made my friend quit. His Solvani character was so powerful it wiped out my army, but my Order of Vladd could move out of range of his attacks. So he couldn't finish me off and we got drunk.
I was young and I was told that this new miniature game Mage Knights S1 was going to be the MTG Alpha of minis. I bought a bunch and …..nothing just a waste of $. What a bummer lol.
Man they really screwed the pooch with MK, I wish they’d make a reboot of it on the old system, but with themed packs for those who want a certain kind of army, a more simple, more affordable alternative to Warhammer might do well enough at this time when war games and board games are on the rise again…
Still the best game ever !!! Fuck Magic & D&D & Warhammer & Pokemon !!!! Mage Knight is perfect & the coolest characters & the cheapest & its pre painted figures but above all , it has literally the best game play of any boardgame handsdown!!! Its literally every other game i just mentioned but eith Axis & Allies rules 💕
Thanks for Watching! For those who prefer to read, I also posted an article with this story on my blog here: meepleshelter.net/mage-knight-the-rise-and-fall-of-one-of-the-most-successful-miniature-games-ever/
It was like "plastic crack" yes it was, I was a teenager when MK was released and for a time, I wouldn't spend my money on videogames but in mage knight miniatures, thank you for your video, it brought some memories back ;)
When I was a kid in the 2000s I was crazy about these Mage Knight miniatures, and about Heroclix in general.
Sadly, those were very expensive here in Brazil and almost nobody have ever heard of them. I'd stiil buy and play these nowadays, if they were available here. Anyways, I'm happy with the MK board game, I've recently bought it and I'm very excited to play.
Dude! I'm from Brazil also, and I bought some of these minis in a Bienal here in RIo. They were EXPENSIVE (something like 18-27 reais for 4 minis. At the time this was really really expensive specially for a kid in the 2000's). A friend of mine who had more money bought a single big ass demon for a 100 reais and we all got awed by the sheer size and power of it. It was really awesome. Although we only played it like 2-3 times I'll always remember, and I wish this was still around specially cuz now i'm older and got a hell lot more money. lol
PS: falar em ingles com brasileiro é foda, mas né. Tem que deixar os gringos entenderem nossa experiência de terceiro mundo. huahua
I am also from Brazil and I had managed somehow to score a Mage Knight Dungeons booster pack back in 2004 (I guess). I had these 4 figures (still have them), used them a lot for RPG in general but never managed to play the game itself. They didn't have a good market penetration here so it was hard to find someone who knew how to play it.
Vamo jogar um dia galera! 😂
Brazilian here too. I bought the starter pack of this, it came with ~9 figures I think. I still have them, but I almost never played it. The starter pack didn't have enough figures to play (at least not in a way that the teams were balanced) and I didn't know anyone that had others figures... They were pretty awesome at least.
The first tournament I won was a Mage Knight tourney at my local card shop
Still occasionally playing with the original MK miniatures I bought in the early 2000’s. Friends used to playing 40k really like the simplicity of the “Clix” system (no truck loads of Rule Books, Codexes, Errata, supplements etc. Interesting video - thanks.
Please do more of these! This is the sort of video that I recommend to friends. -Toby
I used to play this at my local library!! I still have all my pieces!!
Great video! I really liked the 2.0 figures - but the gameplay balance issues with the 1.0 figures was ENORMOUS. That was the most prominent killer of the game among my friend group.
We tried making house rules so we could use both 1.0 and 2.0 pieces together but it was messy. -The 1.0 pieces were just so much more cost-effective, while 2.0 pieces had a bunch of built-in proficiencies and situational things they could do, which probably increased their point value.
The thing is, letting the 2.0 figures alone have these proficiencies like "double time," was unfair to the 1.0 pieces. But if you did give the proficiencies to the 1.0 pieces they were wayyyy too good for their point values. One example: a 1.0 Imp is like 5 points with flight and 10 speed - You give it the 2.0 double time ability and it can then fly 20 inches to your opponent's starting zone and base their most important unit. For 5 points.
Really really sad. Not to mention they changed the faction names and symbols so you could not join 1.0 and 2.0 figures together in formations.. and a bunch of other dumb decisions.
this is awesome thanks for making this, what a great breakdown
I was 7 years old going to tournaments with 40 year olds and saw no problem with that looking back it was probably really funny to be losing to me a child
It's 2024 and i still play mage Knight, and I also collect MechWarrior. Sometimes I play with my brother. I was born in 93 but didn't know anything about WizKids figures till 2020. And I still collect em I love WizKids.
I still have a bunch of my MK Dungeons stuff. Maybe I’ll get it out for my next game night.
I've just recently discovered MK, too bad I was too young in the golden era of the game. I wish they could release a new version of the wargame.
Best mage knight player that ever lived here. I had every click of every figure memorized by heart. 😊 the og game will be continued in spirit in a new game called "pandemonium"
Just so you know, you were right about some things but you weren't there so I will make a response video to help you understand
God I miss Mage Knight. I had so much fun with the game back in the day. It really was plastic crack for middle school me.
The whole game's design really was a double-edged sword though. The combat dial was great for minimizing complexity and having multiple items to keep track of, but since everything had to be on the dial, it limited the kind of figures that could be created. You were restricted almost entirely to the numbers and pre-existing powers and abilities sheets. No figures could have unique effects like you could do in a CCG.
Also, the ruler system for movement was so much more flexible than the grids they eventually introduced with HeroClix, but being able to play without a map meant entire systems like elevated and hidden terrain were never a part of the game unless you went out of your way to make a custom arena. Most games ended up playing out in the flat void of a regular table, which reduced variety even further.
Still, I loved the creativity of the different factions and creatures. Still have a lot of my Draconum and Atlantis Guild from back in the day. It really did feel like the mini version of MtG in it's heyday. I didn't see the downfall coming at all, and still am not entirely over it. Though, my adult wallet is probably pretty grateful lol.
Mage Knight!!!
was an avid player through my childhood. i only quit because i couldnt find anyone to play with...have always wondered what happened. I came to this video because I would literally go play this weekend if i knew there was a tournament happening. Still have all my dragons and draconums
Heroclix is still primarily a sealed booster format. The standalone games while completely compatible with the main Heroclix game are not great. They’re directed more towards new players.
And yes MK died because it failed to evolve. I think the thing that kept HC alive is that it is regularly evolving and changing.
Best Clix games: #15 SportsClix, #14 Creepy Freaks, #13 Halo ActionClix, #12 Star Trek Attack Wing, #11 Mage Knight 2.0, #10 Heroclix Modern, #9 Mage Knight Conquest, #8 Crimson Skies, #7 Mech Warrior Solaris VII, #6 Heroclix 2009 to 2020, #5 Mage Knight, #4 Mech Warrior, #3 Heroclix 2002 - 2008, #2 Mage Knight Dungeons, #1 Horrorclix.
They been to make like a duel master mage arena then everyone has access to figures then launch a 20th anversery set then se if there is a buzz and see if it keeps going
the click mechanic was fine, and the special abilities weren't outstanding but they weren't terrible.. the core issue was the base combat system .. SUCKED... the way movement worked generally meant that whoever attacked first lost... it was a terrible mechanic. That prevented any meaningful tactical additions to the game. The click base concept and the story of the game were great, but that stupid, gradiant movement system was the worst I've ever seen in a tactical game. It didn't make any sense.
There were certainly issues with WizKids, but the housing market crash is what killed MK.
I loved this game but it got to the point where who ever had the most expensive figure would win. Strategy didn't matter. Until I was a dick and made my friend quit. His Solvani character was so powerful it wiped out my army, but my Order of Vladd could move out of range of his attacks. So he couldn't finish me off and we got drunk.
I was young and I was told that this new miniature game Mage Knights S1 was going to be the MTG Alpha of minis. I bought a bunch and …..nothing just a waste of $. What a bummer lol.
Man they really screwed the pooch with MK, I wish they’d make a reboot of it on the old system, but with themed packs for those who want a certain kind of army, a more simple, more affordable alternative to Warhammer might do well enough at this time when war games and board games are on the rise again…
Still the best game ever !!! Fuck Magic & D&D & Warhammer & Pokemon !!!! Mage Knight is perfect & the coolest characters & the cheapest & its pre painted figures but above all , it has literally the best game play of any boardgame handsdown!!! Its literally every other game i just mentioned but eith Axis & Allies rules 💕
very nice channel bro!
Thanks!