BattleSworn: A Pictorial Playtesting Journey...

Maximan66 and I were lucky enough to be chosen to playtest Ganesha Games' newest game BattleSworn. Andrea Sfiligoi designed the game. Frequent readers of this blog will know that we are big fans of his games. Song of Blades and Heroes, Fear and Faith, and Flying Lead in particular are favorites of ours. 

Now, enter BattleSworn. A different take on the miniatures skirmish game. Like Andrea's other games, you are free to use minis you already have, so there is no buying into a line of miniatures sold by the company. I love that business model. It makes wargaming affordable and less stressful. This rule set is not a Song of Blades and Heroes inspired game; it is its own creature. Read the product description from Ganesha Games website by following the link above for more information. 

Maximan66 and I played several games over a couple of weeks time and we really enjoyed it...a lot! For this post, I will chronicle our games through captioned pictures. In most of the session reports, I included the warbands  used in the battles for your convenience. 

Playtest After Action Reports

7/ 22-23/2013

Warbands

Max’s Defenders

4 Fighters

2 Brutes

2 Shooters

2 Rogues (1 extra shown in the picture was removed once I re counted)

1 Healer

1 Warmage

magehammer’s Maurauders

4 Fighters: Orc Warriors

2 Shooters: Orc Archers

2 Brutes: Orc Berserker / Ogre

1 Tank: Orc Spear shielder

1 Sorceror: Orc Shaman

1 Leader (Tank/Brute): Orc Warchief

Battlefield at beginning with screen removed

 

Melee combat

Fantasy Flight Games gaming tokens being used as status markers.

Battle done. Defenders crushed!

7/ 23/2013

Warbands

Max’s Maruaders

4 Fighters: 2 Hobgoblin soldiers; 1 goblin axeman; 1 Bugbear axeman

1 Leader: Hobgoblin Sorcerer / Tank (agreed he had a protective magical

    talisman rather than armor). (Fire Jet, Curse, and

1 Cavalry: Goblin wolf rider

2 Brute/Tank: Arcane Giant; Troll

1 Brute: Demon (despite wings, we didn’t make him a flyer. “Like

   penguins,” said Max.

(We realized too late that he had 13 slots. We played any way.)

magehammer’s Maulers

4 Fighters: Human Footman

2 Shooters: Elven Archers

2 Tanks: Human Knight; Dwarf warrior

1 Healer: Human sage

1 Warmage: Human wizard

1 Leader (Sorcerer/Tank): Human archwizard

(The warrior off to the left in the back row was removed after I re-counted the slots).

Battlefield at beginning with screen removed

Battle done. Marauders  crushed!

7/ 24/2013

Warbands

Max’s Dwarven Undead Slayers

5 Dwarf Fighters

2 Dwarf Berserkers (Brutes)

2 Dwarf Heavy Infantry (Tanks)

1 Dwarf Cleric (Healer)

1 Dwarf Wizard (Leader / Sorcerer)

Vampire Legion

4 Zombies (Rabble)

4 Skeleton Warriors (Fighters)

2 Skeleton Riders (Cavalry)

1 Vampire Sorcerer (Sorcerer / Tank)

Playtest 3: Battlefield at beginning with screen removed

For our fourth game, we ran the River Runs Red scenario from the rulebook. 

7/ 25/2013

Warbands

Max’s Raiders

3 Goblin Fighters 1 Hobgoblin Fighter

2 Orc Berserkers (Brutes)

1 Orc Warrior (Tank/Brute)

1 Goblin Wolf Rider (Cavalry)

2 Orc Archers (Shooters)

Defenders of the Red River

4 Human Infantry (Fighters)

2 Human Crossbowmen (Shooters)

2 Human Heavy Infantry (Tanks)

1 Sorcerer

1 Warmage

1 Cleric (Leader / Healer)

Playtest 4: Battlefield at beginning with screen removed

Crossing a ford...

For one of our final playtest games, we decided to try a sci fi bug invasion scenario ala Swatters.

7/ 27/2013

Warbands

Defenders of Planet X

4 Space Soldiers (Fighters/Shooters)

1 Lieutenant Dan (Shooter)

1 Captain Rex (Leader/Shooter)

1 Medic (Healer)

1 Chewtobacco (Brute)

1 Baccachew (Brute/Shooter)

4 Civilians (Rabble/Shooters)

Bug Raiders

1 Tank/Brute

2 Flyers

4 Warrior Bugs (Fighters)

4 Larva Fighters (Rabble)

1 Brute/Shooter

1 Queen/Brute

7/31/2013
Warbands

Max's Goblins

4 Goblin Fighters

1 Goblin Sniper

1 Troll (Tank/Brute)

1 Goblin Wolfrider (Cavalry)

1 Demon (Flyer/Brute)

1 Ogre (Brute)

Drow Strike Force

1 Drow Cleric of Lloth (Leader/Healer)

1 Drow Wizard (Sorcerer)

2 Drow bowman (Shooters)

2 Drow Assassins (Rogues)

4 Drow Fighters

1 Drow House Weaponsmaster (Tank)

As mentioned in a previous post, I playtested a game with SurfMonkey who was so excited by his experience, he wants to run a superhero battle at our next game night. I am really looking forward to what we come up with for that. But below is the details of the game we played at our last game night. 

8/1/2013

Warbands

SurfMonkey:

4 Human Footman (Fighters)

2 crossbowman (Shooters)

1 Half elf Assassin (Rogue)

1 Heavy Footman (Tank)

1 Cleric (Healer)

1 battlefield general (Leader/ Tank)

My Orcs (Again, I know, but I love my Dungeon Command minis. :))

4 Warriors (Fighters)

2 Archers (Shooters)

1 Barbarian (Brute)

1 Shaman (Sorcerer)

1 Cleric of Grummsh (Healer)

1 Warchief (Leader/Brute)

Max and I also tried a zombies vs. survivors game chronicled below. 

8/3/2013

Unfortunately, I didn't record the warbands, but you should be able to get the idea from the pictures below. This scenario was a total blast. The zombies got close, but in the end, the survivors won the day only losing two of their number. One of whom became a zombie himself. The other was put out of his misery before he could turn. 

I  REALLY enjoy this game. It was refreshing not to have to measure. You could focus more on strategy and where to move your forces. Bidding was fresh and exciting. You had to learn to read your opponent and try to guess what he would bid. 

I really like the magic system. A spell list, but little hassle that plays well in-game. 

Combat system is great! Roll a bunch of dice. The hit-misses mechanic is just superb. Evens out the big attacks and makes you think twice about rolling all 6 of those dice! 

It plays well in other genres. The zombie game we played really was one of my favorite sessions. 

I highly recommend this game for those looking for a different kind of miniatures skirmish experience. 

I know I will be playing a lot more of it in the future. Keep your eyes posted here for more BattleSworn and other gaming goodness. Until next time, good reader, roll some dice and have some fun!

A Cataclysm Befalls SurfMonkey as He Becomes a Dungeon Hero

It was our monthly game night and Maximan66 got to sit down with SurfMonkey and me for a go at the latest Warhammer Invasion Deluxe expansion which just hit the stores. It allows for a multiplayer experience for Warhammer Invasion games. 

Maximan66 won the night. I think the new rules add a cool dimension to the game and am eager to play it again. Luckily, SurfMonkey will be hitting the Geek Cave again next week!

After the game, SurfMonkey and I play tested a game that is set to release at the end of August. Because I am not sure about how much information the publisher would like me to release, I won't say anything here but to say I have played the game 9 times, and it is an new and awesome experience. Stay tuned!

We finished out the night with this little gem. As it was a successful Kickstarted game, the components were top notch. The game is intriguing, and I want to play it one more time before passing judgment on it. 

Next week more Cataclysm, mystery play testing, and the Duke! See you then, good reader.

SurfMonkey and I Hold a Clinic

   

   Just a quick update today. I agreed to teach some former students the role-playing game ropes. I invited SurfMonkey to join me as it was on the same date or our monthly gaming meet.

I ran my own role playing game design, Quest & Bones. We had a great time and one of the players has taken on the mantle of game master and will be running my system for his group on a regular basis. Hopefully, my schedule will allow me to sit in and play a session with them in the future. 

Maximan66 and I have been playing a ton of Warhammer Invasion. Kaine82 from the Warhammer forums sent me some bonus capital cards. Maximillian loves them. 

Overall, it has been a great gaming summer. I look forward to even more before the air grows crisp and the leaves begin to turn. 

Until next time, play more Warhammer Invasion!

SurfMonkey and I Battle to a Standstill...Twice

SurfMonkey was over last night for our monthly game night. We had a hiatus in May but were back with a vengeance. We took another crack at Star Wars the Card Game. Since the last time we tackled this gem, SurfMonkey has acquired several Force Packs. We threw those into our decks and headed into the conflict. 

I played Smugglers and Spies on the Light Side. SurfMonkey played the Imperial Navy. We played two games. I overwhelmed him in the first game and the second game went to the Dark Side. 

Then we turned our attention to the Old World. He chose the High Elves and I chose Chaos. After the first game, my Sorcerer destroyed his forces and my bloodthirsty troops smashed the pointed ears into the ground. Then we switched decks, and though I made a good run of it, Chaos triumphed in the end. 

Another game night in the books with no clear winner. A special thank you to SurfMonkey for the unexpected birthday present: Noir. Thanks again. And see you next month, young Padawan.

Until next time, gentle reader, may your cards fall the way you want and your dice roll true. 

School's Out; Games Are In!

Over the past couple of days, Maximan66 and I have played a couple of games of Warhammer Invasion. My collection keeps growing and the decks keep getting cooler. 

 From the Battle of the Old World, we turned to the battlefields of Song of Blades and Heroes and the war torn lands in a Galaxy Far, Far Away...Max won both of the conflicts, but soon I will rally reinforcements and destroy his forces once and for all...no matter which battlefield we clash on.

 Saturday was family game night. The whole family sat down for a relaxing game of adventurers and intrigue that is Lords of Waterdeep. I beat the love of my life by 1 point! Epic. 

Max wanted to see what Dungeon Command was all about, so we sat down to a skirmish between the Heroes of Cormyr and the Blood of Grummsh. The orcs won the day, but it was a good time. The more I play this game, the more I like it. 

The summer is only beginning and the games will keep coming. After a month's hiatus, SurfMonkey will be back in the next entry. Have fun and use sun screen. 

The Battle for the Old World Just Flew Off the Hook

As you all know, I am ga ga for Warhammer Invasion the Card game. First there was this.. Go ahead click on the image below to check it out in all of its goodness:

Then today Fantasy Flight Games announced this! Click away!

It is a great time to be a Warhammer Invasion fan!

SurfMonkey Takes an Unexpected Journey in a Race for Adventure

SurfMonkey was over the other Tuesday for our monthly game night. We finally played Lord of the Rings LCG again. This time it was the Hobbit Expansion. We were a bit rusty, but I do love the combination of Tolkien characters with Fantasy Flight cool. 

In the end, the forces of darkness overwhelmed us, but hey, the fun is in the journey...

 Next up was the fast and fun game Race to Adventure by Evil Hat Productions based in the Dinopocalypse pulp universe. We played two games, and both were fast filler fun. Great aesthetics in this game and decent game play that doesn't have a chance to get old. We each won a game.

And then, of course, we finished out the night with a game of Warhammer Invasion. This game has its hooks into me deep. I am slowly completing my collection of all of the expansions and spreading the game to others as much as I can. I am eagerly awaiting the multi player Cataclysm deluxe expansion due soon.