Add 6th edition research: rules, cards, and board layouts

Assembled from the Wayback Machine (Tom Jolly's wizwar.com), BGG, and fan archives: 5E rules transcription (6E is a light revision), Jolly's 2002 FAQ, ~208-card Chessex-era card pool with mechanics, all six sector board layouts reconstructed from photos + fan redraws, and setup diagrams. Gaps flagged for verification against Eric's copy. Co-Authored-By: Claude Fable 5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
2026-08-15 18:25:50 -04:00
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+# Wiz-War Board Research — Annotated Sources
+
+Compiled 2026-08-15. Local copies of the key images are in `research/images/`.
+Reliability: ★★★ primary (photos/scans of actual components or official pages),
+★★ near-primary (faithful fan reproduction, period fan site), ★ secondary (reviews, wikis).
+
+## Primary: photographs of the actual 6th-edition boards (BGG image gallery)
+
+BGG gallery for Wiz-War (game id 589): https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/589/wiz-war/images
+Uploaded by BGG user louping0, captioned "6th edition board tile (n of 6)". ★★★, 6th ed.
+Direct large-image CDN links (1024 px):
+
+| Local file | BGG image page | Direct image |
+|---|---|---|
+| 6e-photo-tile1.jpg (= Layout B) | https://boardgamegeek.com/image/184445 | https://cf.geekdo-images.com/VMDIooYhfbvkS57ALIzxsQ__large/img/l78YiL6JIME8erbD4rRmvvTxWgc=/fit-in/1024x1024/filters:no_upscale():strip_icc()/pic184445.jpg |
+| 6e-photo-tile2.jpg (= Layout D) | https://boardgamegeek.com/image/184446 | https://cf.geekdo-images.com/RPqgn8DF_VSaiNoE-WuavA__large/img/dLZ49Wq2D1bM2OC-RcRxhV4eE0E=/fit-in/1024x1024/filters:no_upscale():strip_icc()/pic184446.jpg |
+| 6e-photo-tile3.jpg (= Layout C) | https://boardgamegeek.com/image/184447 | https://cf.geekdo-images.com/3tVJ9oZRdhDZtc2n-gKlkA__large/img/GqU785i_DvzsITdVAACSPMf6k6U=/fit-in/1024x1024/filters:no_upscale():strip_icc()/pic184447.jpg |
+| 6e-photo-tile4.jpg (= Layout F) | https://boardgamegeek.com/image/184665 | https://cf.geekdo-images.com/KAYnAefaanADZxMOsV7PqA__large/img/4MqM9OsPSGZXdnDoL-LWT5dIKjA=/fit-in/1024x1024/filters:no_upscale():strip_icc()/pic184665.jpg |
+| 6e-photo-tile5.jpg (= Layout A) | https://boardgamegeek.com/image/184680 | https://cf.geekdo-images.com/9stqhvHtVYQ7DCYwbyDYKg__large/img/uUxbTXaRz0wHXWuTyCP2rL97f1Q=/fit-in/1024x1024/filters:no_upscale():strip_icc()/pic184680.jpg |
+| 6e-photo-tile6.jpg (= Layout E) | https://boardgamegeek.com/image/184683 | https://cf.geekdo-images.com/2VZDdWQ8_oe6iQ873XuQ1w__large/img/SWXrwVQ1evrFJM-OiXdw_mJJqQk=/fit-in/1024x1024/filters:no_upscale():strip_icc()/pic184683.jpg |
+
+Setup diagrams (★★★):
+
+- **Back page of the 6e rulebook, "Set-Up Diagram"** (2/3/4/5/6-player + Relocate Sector
+  example): https://boardgamegeek.com/image/184444 — local `6e-rules-setup-diagram.jpg`
+  Direct: https://cf.geekdo-images.com/Y1z0ob0hGj-zToQILSLIDQ__large/img/Yh3f4BEFxXULK4U7Bg48dyywuEg=/fit-in/1024x1024/filters:no_upscale():strip_icc()/pic184444.jpg
+- **7e rulebook pp. 8-9, "2 player to 8 player board configurations"** (+ LOS examples):
+  https://boardgamegeek.com/image/740566 — local `7e-rules-setup-2-8-players.jpg`
+  Direct: https://cf.geekdo-images.com/xwVHbvC9pOT5CxjAGlTyDQ__large/img/u_BpeqSrpNMF_VtpzbRZAJ8_pF0=/fit-in/1024x1024/filters:no_upscale():strip_icc()/pic740566.jpg
+
+Other useful gallery photos: 3-player 5e table setup https://boardgamegeek.com/image/319140 ·
+5e + Expansion #1 "The Six Sector tiles" https://boardgamegeek.com/image/396371 ·
+6e box front/back https://boardgamegeek.com/image/184442 / /image/184443 ·
+6e token/card close-ups /image/261893-261897 · 6e number cards /image/184459.
+
+## Near-primary: Jeff Barrett's (jeloba.com) board reproductions — ★★
+
+Defunct fan site, recovered via the Wayback Machine. His page states: "The first six are
+the standard boards from the 5th edition & expansions. The last two are original layouts."
+Machine-verified (all-symmetry edge comparison) to match the six photographed 6e tiles
+exactly — see boards-6e.md §3. Clean 1500x1500 images, ideal for reading exact layouts.
+
+- Archived page: http://web.archive.org/web/20050311212238/http://www.jeloba.com/wizwar/
+- Board images (append `if_` after the timestamp for the raw file), local copies
+  `jeloba-board-1..8.jpg`:
+  - http://web.archive.org/web/20070117082134if_/http://www.jeloba.com/wizwar/images/ww-board-1.jpg
+  - http://web.archive.org/web/20070116110655if_/http://www.jeloba.com/wizwar/images/ww-board-2.jpg
+  - http://web.archive.org/web/20050524075609if_/http://www.jeloba.com/wizwar/images/ww-board-3.jpg
+  - http://web.archive.org/web/20070117082125if_/http://www.jeloba.com/wizwar/images/ww-board-4.jpg
+  - http://web.archive.org/web/20070116110710if_/http://www.jeloba.com/wizwar/images/ww-board-5.jpg
+  - http://web.archive.org/web/20070116110620if_/http://www.jeloba.com/wizwar/images/ww-board-6.jpg
+  - http://web.archive.org/web/20070116110718if_/http://www.jeloba.com/wizwar/images/ww-board-7.jpg (custom)
+  - http://web.archive.org/web/20070117082144if_/http://www.jeloba.com/wizwar/images/ww-board-8.jpg (custom)
+- Same content packaged on BGG: "Improved board.zip" https://boardgamegeek.com/filepage/24521/improved-boardzip
+  (BGG file downloads require a free login.)
+
+## Edition/component references — ★★★
+
+- Wiz-War (Chessex sixth edition) version page: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgameversion/27352/chessex-sixth-edition
+  — 1993; contents: 1 rulebook, 4 boards, 2 token sheets, 125 spell cards, 1 die.
+  (BGG blocks anonymous scripted fetches; view in a browser.)
+- Wiz-War (Chessex classic edition 1997 = 7th ed.) version page: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgameversion/28612/chessex-classic-edition-1997
+  — 1 rulebook, 4 boards, 2 sheets die-cut counters, 4 stands, 130 spell cards, 1 die.
+- Wiz-War: Expansion Set #1: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/28071/wiz-war-expansion-set-1
+  — 75 spell cards, **2 new boards**, 2 token sheets; Chessex reprint version: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgameversion/35412/english-third-edition
+- Wiz-War: Expansion Set #2: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/38450/wiz-war-expansion-set-2 — cards/tokens only.
+- Main game page: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/589/wiz-war
+- Noble Knight archival listings (photos of box contents sometimes included):
+  https://www.nobleknight.com/P/2147384243/Wiz-War-6th-Edition ·
+  https://www.nobleknight.com/P/2148330144/Wiz-War-Collection-2---Base-Game-6th-Edition-w-Expansion-1
+
+## Rules texts — ★★/★
+
+- BGG file "Doc1.doc — English rules" (era rules transcription; login required):
+  https://boardgamegeek.com/filepage/4689/doc1doc
+- BGG file "Wiz War FAQ.doc" (comprehensive era FAQ): https://boardgamegeek.com/filepage/2537/wiz-war-faqdoc
+- 8th ed. official rulebook PDF (FFG; different board system but same home/treasure
+  concepts): https://images-cdn.fantasyflightgames.com/ffg_content/wiz-war/WizWar_Rulebook%20v1-12%20low.pdf
+- UltraBoardGames rules summary (8e): https://www.ultraboardgames.com/wiz-war/game-rules.php
+
+## Fan board recreations / print-and-play (all recreate the Chessex-era game) — ★★
+
+- **"Magic Stone" redesign by Ilya Baranovsky (Ilya 77)** — full modern redesign of the
+  classic game; Basic Set contains **8 map sectors** + all tokens:
+  https://boardgamegeek.com/filepage/54028/wizwar-magic-stone-basic-set
+  (cards: /filepage/48093; Expansion 1: /filepage/54029; Expansion 2: /filepage/60781;
+  Community Expansion+: /filepage/98753). Note: 8 sectors means it is not a 1:1 layout
+  reproduction of the six official boards — treat as inspired-by, not authoritative.
+- **Kwanchai Moriya redesign** (new artwork for the classic edition):
+  https://boardgamegeek.com/filepage/35997/kwanchais-wiz-war-redesign
+- **Wiz-war in 3D** (fully redone boards, 3D rendered, base + Expansion 1):
+  https://boardgamegeek.com/filepage/70946/wiz-war-in-3d-minus-the-cards
+- Jeloba spell-card label PDFs (Wayback): SpellCards-OriginalDecks.pdf, SpellCards-Additional.pdf,
+  Number Card Labels.pdf under http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.jeloba.com/wizwar/*
+
+## Digital modules
+
+- **Tabletop Simulator — "Wiz-War" (classic Tom Jolly edition, Kwanchai art), by treetrnk:**
+  https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=408527762 — ★★, digitizes the
+  Chessex-era game via fan redesign assets.
+- **Tabletop Simulator — "Wiz-War Magic Stone Edition + Expansions":**
+  https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=667198893 — ★★, Ilya 77 redesign
+  of the classic game.
+- Tabletop Simulator — Wiz-War 8th edition (FFG redesign, scanned components):
+  https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1913683974 and
+  https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2063767485 — ★★★ for 8e boards only.
+- **VASSAL: no Wiz-War module exists** in the VASSAL module library (searched
+  vassalengine.org library and web; nothing found as of 2026-08).
+- wiki.wizwar.net — small fan wiki about the 8e TTS mod; little board content:
+  https://wiki.wizwar.net/doku.php?id=tabletop_simulator
+
+## Background / history — ★
+
+- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiz-War (edition history; no layout specifics)
+- "A Brief History of Wiz-War", League of Gamemakers: https://www.leagueofgamemakers.com/a-brief-history-of-wiz-war/
+- RPGnet review of the 7e Classic Edition (confirms 4 board sections in box):
+  https://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/classic/rev_815.phtml
+- 8e expansions: Malefic Curses (adds 1 sector board + portals, 5th player)
+  https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/147473/wiz-war-malefic-curses · Bestial Forces (no board)
+  https://therewillbe.games/articles-boardgame-reviews/4787-wiz-war-bestial-forces-expansion-review
+
+## Access notes
+
+- BGG HTML pages return 403 to scripted fetches; the JSON APIs work:
+  images `https://api.geekdo.com/api/images?objectid=589&objecttype=thing&galleries[]=game&...`,
+  files `https://api.geekdo.com/api/files?objectid=589&objecttype=thing&...`.
+  The old XML API now requires authentication.
+- Wayback Machine: add `if_` after the timestamp in URLs to fetch raw files; the CDX API
+  (`http://web.archive.org/cdx/search/cdx?url=jeloba.com/wizwar*`) lists all captures.