Czech Games Edition revealed plans for Codenames: Critical Role Adventures at GAMA Expo, combining elements of role-playing games into the popular deduction game. Release is pegged for this summer.
In Codenames: Critical Role Adventures, one player assumes the mantle of game master and guides the other players through a role-playing style campaign of linked challenges. The other players each take on characters from the Critical Role franchise, choosing from Vex, Percy, Grog, Jester, Nott, Dorian, and Fresh Cut Grass. The game is fully cooperative, with the game master and the players working together to complete a series of “missions” using a modified version of the Codenames system, culminating in a final boss confrontation.
Each character has their own special abilities that the player can gain access to by earning XP from completing missions. They can also purchase “items” to aid them on future missions. They are represented in the game by a cardboard standee and a character sheet to record their abilities and items. The included 20-sided die is used to determine if character abilities can be used successfully.
The game features three complete campaigns for players to explore, each with a branching storyline of Codenames missions that tweak the traditional rules in some way, requiring the game master and players to adjust their methods in order to succeed.
Codenames: Critical Role Adventures includes 200 double-sided word cards, 40 double-sided key cards, 25 item cards, a GM screen/key card holder, eight cardboard standees with plastic bases, seven character sheets, three campaign maps, cardboard tokens to track health, XP, and coins, a campaign book, and a 20-sided die. The game was designed by Codenames designer Vlaada Chvatil and Felix Podlesny. Intended for two to four players, ages ten and up. Each mission takes about 15 minutes to play. MSRP is $39.99.
A Vox Machina Expansion Pack is also planned, adding a new character, Keyleth, 21 more word cards, and two new items. MSRP $11.99.
Czech Games Edition is also planning three Codenames expansions for spring (see “Czech Games Edition Announces Three ‘Codenames’ Expansion Packs”). Dark Horse Comics has announced a paperback collection of Critical Role comics for April (see “‘Critical Role: Vox Machina Origins Omnibus’ Collection Coming”).
Source: ICv2
