Hey there, Internet! Welcome to the final Captain Z of 2011. For all of you who are still doing some last minute shopping, or are looking for something to do with newfound wealth, I present to you the Second Annual Captain Z Holiday Shopping Guide!
D&D Vol. 1: Shadowplague – $24.99
The much lauded IDW D&D comic series returns to this column with its first collected volume, covering the first story arc of issues #1 – #5. This chronicle of the first adventures of Fell’s Five is presented in beautiful hardcover, full-color format that looks just like a WoTC D&D sourcebook. Also included are adventures based off of the first two issues. This is a great gift for any fan of the series or any fan of D&D who’s looking for a great story.
Star Fluxx – $16
Looney Labs has outdone themselves again, this time with the sci-fi sprawling installment in the popular Fluxx series, Star Fluxx. Drawing from favorites like Star Wars, Doctor Who, Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica, Firefly, and more, this hilarious card game of ever-changing rules presents mayhem with every playthrough. A very good, inexpensive gift for your card-game-inclined loved one.
Game Science Dice – Varying Prices
How I got through a year plus without mentioning these beauties, I have no idea. Cut to perfection, these dice are scientifically designed to be the most random dice in the business today. Other dice producers cut the dice and sand off the edges, along with the mold point blemish that comes on every die. Doing this causes an inherent imbalance in the die, something that doesn’t occur with Game Science dice as the blemish is left unaltered. Prices per set range depending on the shapes included, so head down to your local game store and check these out.
Pathfinder Beginner Set – $34.99
One year after Wizards released their D&D Starter Set, Paizo comes out with their Pathfinder Beginner Set. Wow. It’s night and day. The D&D Set was $15 cheaper, but the actual content in the books was not presented in a way that experienced roleplayers looking for some cheap resources could appreciate. This isn’t the case with Pathfinder’s set. Gone is the choose-your-own-adventure character creation. Gone is the one-use map. Instead, the Player’s Book is presented with beautiful new graphics that accompany the standard game rules that you’d find in the actual Player’s Handbook, not a watered down version. Couple this with 80 stand-up cardstock minis, a GM’s Guide, a dice set, and a Game Mastery brand dry erase flipmat, and you’ve got a winning set that’s great for new and old Pathfinders alike.
Thanks for joining me here in my first full year at InGenre. Come back in 2012 for more hijinks, see you then!
Zach Hagenbucher is hungry. Aside from that fact, he's just a small town boy, born and raised in south Detroit, who took the midnight train going anywhere and found himself in Rothschild, WI. Well, the Rothschild part is true. He enjoys just about every facet of geekdom, and is passionate about many of them. He particularly loves board, card, and role playing games, and hopes he can steer you towards trying some of them out for yourself. Yes, he does know Captain N, and, to tell you the truth, he's kind of a jerk. Just saying. He is also the leader of the Surge World Order. For more info, contact him. 
Merin on 
