Berserker Halflings from the Dungeon of Dragons is probably my second favorite of the B-Movie games (behind Scurvy Musketeers) The genre this time is fantasy and the deck combines pieces from movies, books, and a hint of gaming.

Components
The game comes 120 cards in a tuck box and a set of instructions. The cards are of durable stock and are long-lasting. It’s not a surprise, given that Z-Man started out producing CCGs. The art does a good job of conveying the theme.

Setting/Theme
This is a great theme if you like fantasy movies, books, or gaming. There are a lot of instantly recognizable cards and the jokes come at you pretty fast. The cards have typical B-Movie art and funny names and quotes. Overall, this is probably one of the better executed and more accessible themes.

Rules
If you’re familiar with any of the other games in the B-Movie line, the rules explanation offered below is almost identical. There are a few new rules in Berserker Halflings that need to be addressed:

Some cards have “traits” which have special rules. Creatures with the “Swarm” trait aren’t affected by Gun props. Creatures with the “Aquatic” trait may only attack movies with an “Aquatic” location or no location in play.
“Cool” is actually a trait first found in Bell-Bottomed Badasses. Cool characters can’t be killed by SFX cards that kill characters.
“Ninja” cards mean that you can’t use SFX cards to protect their victims.
Psycho Killer cards allow any player to add weapons to increase the killer’s attack.
Magic is a trait with no special powers of its own, but other cards may target or be improved by cards with this trait.

Some locations can be played to combine with existing locations. When played, the player decides if the new location will combine with the old (rendering it one location with the combined effects of both cards) or replace it. If it is combined it is considered one location and a subsequent location would remove both cards.

The “Usual” Rules
The game is fairly simple to play. There are six different card types, most of which are self-explanatory.

Characters are the cast of your movie. They have a strength which defines their ability to attack and defend as well as their value in scoring your finished movie.

Locations are the places where your movie is currently being shot. Each movie can have only one location at a time. Locations have a strength, which adds to your defense and final score. They don’t’ attack.

Props are the things the characters use. They also have a strength. Characters can have as many props as you want.

Creatures are the bad guys; they have attack and defense strength and are used to attack your rivals’ movies.

SFX or Special Effects cards do all sorts of things from letting you play extra cards to canceling cards. Unlike the other cards, they can be played out of turn.

Roll the Credits cards end the movie early and can come in handy if you have a big lead.

The first thing you do is deal out six cards and look at the words on the bottom. The group then creates a title using any number of them. When movies are scored (at the end of the game) you get 5 bonus points for each card you have that matches a word in the title.
Once the title is selected, the cards are reshuffled and dealt six to a player. If anyone has no characters, they reveal and discard their hand and draw 6 new cards. This goes on until everyone has at least one character.

Once everyone has at least one, everyone reveals all their character cards by placing them face up on the table and the game begins.

On a turn, a player draws back to six and then plays cards (if desired) in order:

1. Play new characters.

2. Play new props or move props between characters. Any character can get only 1 new prop a turn.

3. Play a new location – this can either be for your movie of for someone else’s movie.

4. Make an attack on another player’s movie if desired.

5. Use any card abilities provided by your cards in play.

6. Play SFX. Anyone can play SFX, but the player whose turn it is always gets the first chance.

7. Roll the credits and end the game.

8. Discard any cards you wish. You must have six or fewer at the end of your turn.

During an attack you compare the creatures strength against the movie’s Defensive Strength. Both players may play SFX during the attack. When the attack is resolved (by comparing totals) the creature and SFX cards are always removed. If the defender lost, then he also loses one character of the attacker’s choice. That character and any cards associated with it are discarded.

Play continues until either a Roll the Credits card is played or someone draws the last card from the draw deck.

Observations
I really think the rules are getting better. There are some changes in the rulebook and in the way things are explained that demonstrate that Z-Man is listening to the players and updating the game based on frequently asked questions.

Recommendation
I think this is one of the better executed themes. Playing with my normal group (avid RPG fans) this one leaves people roaring with laughter. If you like fantasy themes and don’t mind poking a little fun at them, then this is a great card game.