DeepWars' core, like ShdowSea's, is the Song of Blades rule system, but with extensive modification to allow for more variety in differentiating characters and actions. The overall theme is fast and fun, so there are relatively few statistics, but the special abilities and special items (magic and technology items) add a level of complexity, or "bite" to the gameplay.

Model Profiles
Each model has two Base Statistics in its profile, Quality and Combat, and a set of Special Abilities and Special Items, such as weapons and technological devices, that determine what it can do in a game. The base values and abilities do not change during a game. An example of a profile for a model is shown below.

Cephalid Commander
Points: 103 Quality: 2+ Combat: 2
Special Abilities: Scientist, Mutant Spawn, Amphibious, Shooter (med), Tech (ether)
Special Items: Disruptor Pistol, Staff of the Inner Eye


Points: The cost of the model in points. Simply put, more powerful models cost more points.

Quality: An overall indication of the model’s willpower, reactions, and mental capacity. It is used for assessing morale, casting spells and all sorts of heroic actions. “Activation” of the model during gameplay is made by rolling above the quality statistic, so lower is better. Quality does not relate to size or physical capability, so large, powerful creatures may have poor Quality statistics.

Combat: This statistic is a measure of overall ability in hand-to-hand and ranged attacks, both attack and defense. The Combat score accounts for overall skill and resistance to injury and is modified by many variables when in actual battles.

Special rules: This category includes extra abilities and special powers beyond the basic profile, as described in the Special Rules section of this book. Special rules are italicized in the text.

Game Cards
Each model for DeepWars has a game card that summarizes all of the statistics, abilities, weapons and powers and shows Derived Statistics, the combination of Base Statistics and modifiers from abilities and items. Derived Statistics change depending on the state of the model and its items. Cards may come with the model or can be downloaded from the DeepWars website and are not required for play but make it easier to keep track of statistics and keep games moving quickly. An example game card is shown below.

Necros wrote:Because that was GW, and this is Dakka!

Charax wrote:hey, Mobile Frame Zero made people donate $120 before they even got any lego, this isn't so bad!

Necros wrote:actually, it costs a heluva lot more than that to print books especially in this day and age of everyone wanting everything full color and pretty. The cost of sculpting figs alone... that $1000 would get them 2 maybe 3 sculpts.. then there's the mold making, packaging, shipping and about 20 cases of mountain dew to drink while you wait for the slow mailman to show up...

Manchu wrote:Necros knows a thing or two about publishing books for games.

IdentifyZero wrote:Cool story. Most experts know more then two things.

kronk wrote:"more than" not "more then"

Manchu wrote:

IdentifyZero wrote:Cool story. Most experts know more then two things.

Let me help you become an expert then:

http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/436803.page

This update focuses on how the forces will be set up in the rulebook. The main four forces will have a total of 16 different units each in the rulebook, including the ones in the starter set. There will be 3-4 personalities in each force (scientists, heroes, ethereal channelers, etc), with one main commander. Each of the models gets a full color concept, so we are looking at 64 color concepts just there. We are moving along through them, right now working on the Scaly Horde and starting on the Ancients. For this Kickstarter run, only 7 models per force will be made (4 for each starter (1 duplicate), 2 new models + 1 commander), so there is plenty of room to grow the game.

We have one new concept for the Clal-chk scientist. This one replaces the first concept, which now becomes the Clal-chk warrior and will be done later.



Here are a few more concepts for the next wave of figures, beyond this Kickstarter run. The stats for these and the rest of the 64 total models will be in the rulebook and these will eventually be made, hopefully with funds made from sales of the first sets.

Hag-ray: genetic experimentation with electric rays and hagfish by the Dark Mariners that went very wrong. These creatures escaped and went wild but are controlled by the Draconid Shamans of the Scaly Horde.




Eurypterid Razor Claw - Vicious prehistoric sea scorpion warbeast with poweful claws and paralyzing sting.



Dagathonan Brute - massive Dagathonan fish-man that relies on claws and pure strength to tear apart enemies. Is well camouflaged and blends in with natural backgrounds of soft corals and algae before rushing in to attack.




Lastly, here is a teaser for the commander for the Ancients of Atalan. This is only a WIP and subject to change. The idea is that this powered armor suit is about twice the height of a diver (54mm) and is a veritable death machine.




One more WIP teaser, the Elementalist for the Anci ents of Atalan. All of the ancients are marine beings, adapted through genetic modification to survive underwater. The Sorceresses of the Ancients, ones that decided to live under the seas unlike their sisters who created the Axibalan empire of the Underlands, wield powerful elemental magic, creating vortexes of water and eruptions of magma from the seafloor. They are protected from the cold of the deep and clad in golden shards of metal that swirl and twist around them. This one and the commander will be part of the Kickstarter run, along with one more, coming soon.

Manchu wrote: