Monday, October 27, 2014

Smaug - The Greatest Dragon


Photo Courtesy – Chris Hamby

My dad used to read us the Hobbit as a bed time story. It was our favorite and I’m not sure it worked very well in terms of lulling us to sleep. Dad couldn’t read a story without enacting the scenes and the more we reacted, the more elaborate his acting. Our favorite scenes of all were the ones with Smaug in them. What. A. Dragon!

Having been a fan of the character for so long and seeing it come alive on screen was surreal. Usually, fans of the book versions of the story are often unhappy with the movie adaptations but Smaug, he is something else. You only need to look at the audition tape of Benedict Cumberbatch to see they’ve picked the absolute right person to play the part.


For those of you who are unaware of Smaug, he is a fearsome dragon that invaded the Dwarf town of Erebor in the Middle Earth universe created by J.R.R. Tolkein, infamous for his trilogy, the Lord of the Rings. Smaug has been living on top of all of Erebor’s wealth and treasure for over 150 years when a group of 12 dwarves decided to go on a quest to take the kingdom back. They seek the help of the powerful wizard Gandalf who, in turn, recruits the hobbit – Bilbo Baggins. And before I start rewriting this classic, I suggest you read the book or watch this movie. Their latest poster still gives me goosebumps!
Photo Courtesy – SciFi Now

Smaug is easily my favorite dragon of all time. But is he the best? I don’t know a dragon that can come close but I leave this open to debate. Before we begin though, let’s consider what George RR Martin, of the Game of Thrones fame, has just said – “Drogon could never beat Smaug in a fight”

Do you agree? 

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

4 Dragon Board Games for Wholesome Family Entertainment

Photo Courtesy – Louis Oliveira


We’ve watched the movies and played the RPGs and we think dragons are the most adorable fantasy creatures ever! But if you think your kids spend way too much time playing those admittedly awesome online dragon games, it’s time to drag them away from the screen. Here are four board games that will make your family game night a playful success. So hold on to your seats – dragon-themed board game bonanza ahead!

Dungeons and Dragons Wrath of Ashardalon

Publisher – Wizards of the Coast
No. of players – 1 – 5                                                                                                   
Suitable for ages – 10 and above

The second in a series of 3 D&D games, Wrath of Ashardalon invites players to become intrepid adventurers as they embark on this cooperative dungeon crawling game. As you enter deep into a dungeon, you must overcome a variety of premade or community-made quests, in the guise of a thief, rogue, wizard, warrior or cleric. Each quest has a different scenario and goal; and this keeps the players engaged until the end.

Players must fend off monsters that block their path as they turn over new tiles to seek out new dungeons to explore or go further into the already explored parts. New monsters are continually added to keep complacent players on their toes. You earn treasure and experience points for every monster you kill, besides moving up levels and increasing your skill-set. Cooperative play is essential for staying alive, killing the monsters and achieving goals.

If you’ve ever played D&D, you’ll feel right at home with its board game version!

How to Train your Dragon

Publisher – DreamWorks
No. of players – 2 - 4
Suitable for ages – 4 and above

The fantasy world of the ancient Vikings comes alive, complete with feisty Vikings and fire-breathing dragons! In the harsh climes of Berk, fighting and slaying dragons is a rite of passage for Viking teenagers and the dragon training center is the high school from which they must graduate with flying colors to earn the respect and admiration of their peers.

The game is in the form of a 6-piece puzzle, a race against time in which each player is assigned a color. Players must roll the die and follow the instructions given on the space in which they land. The goal is to reach the center of the board and each move will take you closer or farther away from your destination. The player who manages to “train his dragon” first wins the game.

So if you were looking for a fun Christmas gift for your child, you can’t go wrong with How to Train your Dragon!

Iron Dragon

Publisher – Mayfair Games
No. of players – 2 - 6
Suitable for ages – 12 and above

If you always wanted a dragon to drive you around, this crayon rails board game brings your fantasy to life with dragon-driven locomotives, elves, trolls and fairies. Players must connect at least seven major cities and collect 250 pieces of gold and build a railroad empire in the process. You can earn money by delivering fantasy goods such as gems, wands, spells and wine. This money can be used to build a more extensive rail network, upgrading your trains and hiring more employees. Players interact only to compete for routes, as only one player can own one route. You can use crayons to draw your rail lines on the beautifully illustrated board making this one of the most elaborate crayon rail games published by Mayfair Games.

A wonderful blend of fantasy, reality and reality, this fun dragon game is perfect to teach youngsters some basic money management skills.

Dragon Valley
Publisher – Diamond K Games
No. of players – 2 - 4
Suitable for ages – 12 and above

The Kingdom must be defended against marauding dragons, orc armies and aggressive goblins and Barons are the last hope of the King! Are you up to the challenge? Players become Barons and must organize the King’s Aid into troop caravans, build impenetrable defensive towers and use their special abilities in order to reduce their enemies to rubble. But waging war is a delicate job where you must keep your various groups of Aids – archers, blacksmiths and warriors -  on an even keel lest your feudal rivals become too powerful. A wise Baron must use his allotted Aid wisely by upgrading his troops, buying siege equipment and building strong defenses.


A word of warning – Dragon Valley is not for the faint of heart!