Carlovonsexron wrote: I really, really want a peek at what's planned for the city states...
I'm quite interested too. There was discussion about hopolites, creatures inspired by Greek myth and mad contraptions such as those sketched by Archemedes and his peers...
Since PB is based in Greece, I imagine they will pour over it
You know, I was wondering where they were based. I thought they were Italian, going by the accent, but I wasn't sure. The website cleared that up nicely.
It's UKGE this weekend, Para Bellum are there and two of the crew have said that the Sunday will be the start of the release schudule with the two player box set leading the charge. Individual boxes of steel legion and brute drones are the first expansions and, if I were a betting man, I'd bet on them being released with the box set.
It might be a UKGE exclusive until the Estore opens but the online shop is primed and ready to rock... Now if someone would kindly cast dispel-coming soon
Wow, they really played this one close to the chest. I can't wait to see pictures of the plastics and order myself a copy when it hits the online shop.
€80 for the two player set? I think I counted 80 models including a couple of plastic objective markers. Not bad. Not sure how that will translate with exchange rates, import taxes, VAT or purchase tax depending where you are though :?
Just finished playing the demo and talking to them. Demo was just covering the basics, but was quite interesting none the less. Main sales will start at the end of the year as they are trying to sort out US and EU manufacturing and printing.
The unit cards will interact with an app on the phone to show you the latest version, so you always have access to the latest stuff. The main site will expand over time and eventually become a wiki with all of the fluff on the site so that it is a liv My document rather than an out of date print copy. They seem to be trying to save people having to rebuy things as they update the rules, which is really nice.
The figures are nicely detailed, but look a lot bigger than other Manufacturers. Didn’t manage to get a scale shot or size, sadly.
The plastic does actually look better than I expected! Hopefully we see more shots of it soon, I hate it when companies only release teasers in video format, it is a really annoying way to access information. I'm sure pictures are coming soon from ParaBellum.
That is some pretty nice plastic.
Can't wait til the other factions come out. The last thing I want is to invest in a faction, and then go "oh wait, these new blokes look a hell lot cooler"
Played a demo this morning at the expo. Great little introduction; combat mechanics are sort of a blend of Warhammer fantasy, War of the Ring and is fairly streamlined and a lot less "bookkeeping" than more "conventional" mass fantasy tabletops. It has a lot in common with the Song of Ice and Fire game in that sense (though they apply what they do differently; panic/resolve are similar in that they cause additional casulties though they get there in a different fashion).
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Reserve rules are interesting and the way they enter play is a nice way of representing when a battleline is broken (or at least creaking) without actually changing anything for the current units in play.
Models are excellent quality; I'd have no qualms about them provided the production models are to the same standard. They look big and chunky compared to other ranges but there's nonloss of detail as a result.
Will this be translated into French? If its not translated it probably won't be carried by any French stores.
I asked about it at a FLGS and they never heard of it.
Davidian wrote: A Nord? Is that a Nord in the top left next to the Militia?
Yes, a Nord suffering from two common modern sculpting afflictions:
A) The pose that never works. Seriously, it just isn't a good pose, because it is so hard to do well. It usually ends up just looking silly, like the example above. Nobody stands around like that. I personally blame anime for introducing that pose into the West.
B) Noodle haft syndrome. What is it with bendy weapon hafts these days? Mierce almost can't turn around without putting out somebody holding a noodle weapon. When you graduate art-school do they make you take a solemn oath to never sculpt a practical weapon or something? I hate noodle hafts.
Davidian wrote: A Nord? Is that a Nord in the top left next to the Militia?
Yes, a Nord suffering from two common modern sculpting afflictions:
A) The pose that never works. Seriously, it just isn't a good pose, because it is so hard to do well. It usually ends up just looking silly, like the example above. Nobody stands around like that. I personally blame anime for introducing that pose into the West.
B) Noodle haft syndrome. What is it with bendy weapon hafts these days? Mierce almost can't turn around without putting out somebody holding a noodle weapon. When you graduate art-school do they make you take a solemn oath to never sculpt a practical weapon or something? I hate noodle hafts.
A) I sometimes carry a shovel like that. It is surprisingly comfortable because the weight is distributed over both shoulders. Just be really careful you don't accidentally hit anyone.
B) Bendy hafts are historically more common than you think. They were common on low-quality weapons and tools. After all, hafts are made from wood, and wood rarely grows straight. To get a straight haft, you need proper wood and skilled craftsman, which isn't something that everyone could afford. Also, a bent haft does not necessarily make a weapon or tool impractical. Sometimes it is even the opposite. Tools like scythes and axes for example often have bent hafts on purpose. And it looks like the guy in the picture is carrying a scythe. The bend in the haft makes perfect sense, that is what real scythes actually look like (well, with a less exaggerated blade, that is).
Lore on Militia Some stuff about rule books release Free army lists Some stuff about the Pheromancer - Confirmed to be a spire elf. New Character Lore - Mounted Lord. Basically the hero choice for Hundred Kingdoms in the basic set. Free Army Builder on the way
“To the Knights! Push them to the Knights!” someone yelled, as Ulric cried “Heads down! Watch the
spears! Use your legs and shoulders, you mutts! Push!”
Cool stuff. Are they going to release a novel of short stories then?
Also, Beast of War did a video of the people from Para Bellum talking about the army list. They accidental showed some new units by name only.
Is the base game still going to be released this summer? I don't have Facebook and they haven't said anything in their newsletter, so I'm a bit in the dark.
Old video, but there's a bit more lore and you get to see how the army builder works
Noble Lord on foot : 65 pts
Noble Lord on horse : 100pts
Man at arms : 105 points for 3 stands, 210 for 6
Longbowmen : 150 for 3 stands
Theists (55) can only be paired with a specific unit, the sicarii (150 for 3 stands), which are comparable to flagellants from whfb lore wise. Sicarii stats (blurry, can't see well):
M V C A W R D E 4 1 2 ? ? 3 0 2
Theist spells and buffs will be defense and support orientated, if I understand correctly.
This actually a real game they are releasing or? GW shares more release info then Para Bellum it seems. I heard before Gencon, then After Gencon, and still no news at all about it.
This actually a real game they are releasing or? GW shares more release info then Para Bellum it seems. I heard before Gencon, then After Gencon, and still no news at all about it.
At UK Games Expo they said around October/November time from what I remember. No reason to think they're behind schedule based on that.
Yeah, they wanted everything ready for UKGE but it didn't work out with the manufacture contracts. They have their sights set in q4 this year and no hickups so far.
The next chapter of the two player starter narrative unfolds..
Ripples spread in the aftermath of the Battle of Nepenthe, stirring the Hundred Kingdoms. Doubt, suspicion and even ridicule rise to meet the impossible claim of a Spire attacking. But while some rush to voice their qualms, others deliberate.
From the shadows, mages cast their silent spells, priests whisper prayers, silver changes hands and armies are moved. Caught in the eye of the storm and having witnessed the destructive power of the Spire army, Prince Fredrik of Brandengrad will attempt to gather allies. To succeed, he must conquer field and minds, and find a way to speak to the Conclave, where only Kings may speak.
"Fear not! Fret not! We are here and we are listening! We understand you are excited and that you want to plan your spending. (Very happy its with us tbh ).
Conquest isn’t just a game for us, it’s a whole experience and we want to bring it complete to you. This, after all, is the reason we never went on a Kickstarter with this: we want to do it fully and we want to do it right. As time grows closer, we only get more excited. We still dance at the choo choo of the hype train
Yeah, but what about that Greek magi-tech tho?
I really want to see how they are going to handle the city states. Its probably going to be ages from now though.
I know it seems a way off but half of the delay has been from community feedback concerning release schedules and available factions. RuneWars was a project them at was discussed in particular.
After talking with staff, it has become clear that they are working hard to get back to back releases for the first 4 factions on release.
UK stockists looking for a distributer will be able to secure the products from Asmodee UK (formerly Esdevium Games) who are keen to carry.
I'm looking forward to getting my eyes on some NORD OGRES tomorrow! Whether or not I'll be allowed to share those images is another matter!
BobtheInquisitor wrote: Who will distribute for them in North America? Also, isn't getting in bed with Asmodee a really bad idea?
I couldn't see why. Chances are,if you've bought a board game off the shelf in the UK, Asmodee UK put it there. Theyre a dominant force in the board games market here and PB are keen to get their products showcased in the boardgame-cafe scene as well as in traditional flgs'.
I'm unaware of Asmodees global conduct but the UK branch (previously Esdevium) had a good reputation.
Loving the shield on that knight - I never would have thought to paint something like that, but it looks fantastic!
Thanks man. I have to conferss that it isn't something I would have normally done myself. I made an extensive colour pallet ( a load of paint thrown on a tile, all blended and mixed) from taking prominant colours from PB's artwork... this colour combo was just sat in a corner of the tile just stareing at me
I got a lovely little message this morning. Not that I'm getting a picture of a nord ogre... but that there is an actual nord ogre on it's way to me and there is no privacy caveat attached... so when I see it, you will coming with the retail version of the bases in hard plastic too (the early concept versions were simple laser cut mdf).
They are a twist on the classic dwarf trope after all so yes, squat and a bit beardy will probably feature. Albeit with their own twist. A bit better than, "once, there were short guys. They were mostly grumpy. The end." Hehe
Automatically Appended Next Post: I can't show much as I have made a promise but I have a few words to use.....
Massive
Lesser
Enslaved
Dragon
Cannons
On
Its
Back
Enormous
BobtheInquisitor wrote: Flesh beards and tusks have sold me. I just hope the minis can be posed with a bit more... joi-de-vivre.
Haha, I understand that to be "the joys of life" ?
I did say I wanted to repose his arm to be holding a flower or a butterfly
I present this with the usual caveat, this is not the retail product but an early resin print. Pose and detail are liable to change but feedback is welcome and I will present that feedback to PB.
MajorWesJanson wrote: I wish they would stop showing off how awesome conquest is on warhammer community site when it is not available to many of their potential customers
I think you need to post this complaint on the WH40K teen magazine thread. Conquest is a fanasty wargame from Para Bellum Wargames
BobtheInquisitor wrote: Flesh beards and tusks have sold me. I just hope the minis can be posed with a bit more... joi-de-vivre.
Haha, I understand that to be "the joys of life" ?
I did say I wanted to repose his arm to be holding a flower or a butterfly
I present this with the usual caveat, this is not the retail product but an early resin print. Pose and detail are liable to change but feedback is welcome and I will present that feedback to PB.
As with all new slang terms, it is best to head down to the local high school, stop students at random, and say, "tell me about _____. I really want to have a conversation with you about _______."
BobtheInquisitor wrote: As with all new slang terms, it is best to head down to the local high school, stop students at random, and say, "tell me about _____. I really want to have a conversation with you about _______."
With advice like that, the next question is...are you even allowed to come within (x) yards of school zones anymore?
I was pretty excited for this but defiantly lost a lot of interest. Models seemed cool enough and I appreciate the waiting to do 4 factions out the gate but,
With GoT from CMON delivered to most people it seems and them having 2 more factions by oct along with many boxes to add additional troops to (and super beautiful models) it will pull away from this I think.
GOT has gotten some very high reviews, only downside is its CMON and they dump projects left and right, so will see the longevity of theirs.
Only on the starter set, which is assured to be 80 Euros (with about 80 models in it). I would imagine the unit boxes will be a few more $$$ per mini but no conformation as of yet. Although affordability is hogh on their priority list.
Tomorrow is project update day... more Dweghom reveals have been hinted at. In anticipation, here's some gorgeous art from the very talented artist and illustrator Charidimos Bitsakakis.
You can follow his work at www.theartstation.com/harrybits or follow him on Instagram @charidimos_art.
I love the head of the ogre! Seems like he might want a little more armor on his arms, though - the upper arms being completely exposed throws me a bit, I think.
I hope they tell us their prices and release date soon. I'm much more excited for Conquest than for Fireforge's Forgotten World, but FW is showing up and making a strong case while Conquest is still hiding in the back room. With CMON's SOIAF minis and Mantic's Basileans likely coming out before Conquest hits shelves, they could be in real trouble if all of their potential customers have already settled for games that were available.
Though I've come to appreciate that PB are a new company, despite its members having decades of experience. They are also a small company with a clear vision and are being perfectionists in terms of bringing the world they are creating to life. It might be taking a while but I know that is for all the right reasons. Unlike established groups, Conquest is PBs only product and all their focus is squarely on it. Its their baby
Yannis has assured me that they are working really hard behind the scenes to make the impact they need on release. In his own words, they only get to do this once so it need a to be right.
I think I've said this earlier but I was drawn to this game by the minis and art, liked for it with the rules but fell in love with it for the world and the passion & drive of the people behind it.
Comparing Conquest to Mantic or Fireforge isn't really a good comparison.
All three are pretty different, and will attract different crowds. Conquest will attract people looking for something fresh and immersive, Fireforge are selling "totally not GOT" minis to an older crowd, and Mantic is developing a fairly generic fantasy world with the gameplay and the price being the big selling points.
Conquest has far and away the strongest artistic vision of the three, as well as rules that really are something different.
Nothing wrong with Mantic or Fireforge, but they are just not good substitutes.
Never knew that Tolkiens dwarves were inspired Hebrew texts. Every days a school day, eh?
So units confirmed for Dweghom atm.
Clan warriors (pictured in artwork above)
Lesser Enslaved Dragon (with a cannon on it)... (foot.seen in render but I've see the beast myself)
Ranged infantry (seen in render over page)
Flame berzerkers (fanatics of the Ardent subfaction)
Flame automata (no idea but maybe a fire elemental/construct of The Tempered?)
Automatically Appended Next Post: Oh, and one of the team have painted an ogre...
The way he's done the half-mask eye slots as lenses, it almost has a post apocalyptic look XD that pose and club definitely brought walking dead to mind, haha.
The heads come in 2 parts (from and back) so armoured heads are an option.
Automatically Appended Next Post: And things are looking exceptional for the Display board for Spiel Essen next month. This is very nearly finished.
It looks like the Dweghom will be getting a lot of attention for this expo
Not gonna lie, that Ogre looks like he could come from Mad Max or Shadowrun.
Its not bad, but not what I was expecting.
That Dwarf (yes, I know what they are really called) hold looks nice. I like the lava effect.
That's exactly what I thought XD I think that this face is suposed to slot into the armoured head option and I dont think the eye holes were intended to be painted to have glass lenses XD both very subtle things that make it look post apocalyptic, hehe.
The one I'm painting up certainly will try to be as historically accurate as an Ogre can be O_o haha!
The armour, ergo the half-face round helms (some with chain mail skirts)
Automatically Appended Next Post: for comparrisson (I think that face is for this head)
Having built too many Soviet tank kits, what I want to know is if the Ogre has explosive reactive armour on as those rectangular plates remind me of it so much
I see some runic ciphers on the dwarf terrain. You will, of course, include in the dwarf book a key to transliterating those ciphers and a brief lexicon, yes? Not necessarily the Dammaz Kron, but nothing too elgram either, I hope.
"The third and final part of ‘Nepenthe’ seals the series and our introduction to the world of Conquest. Titled “The Last Argument’ (such meta!), the finale attempts to establish the context of our game narrative at launch, offering a versatile enough background for players to imagine their own scenarios and play their own battles. To put it bluntly, in the aftermath of ‘Nepenthe’, the world’s a cluster, err, of potential violence, with plenty of reasons to go around for people to slaughter each other by rolling d6s. Don’t forget to be gentlemanly and a good sport about it
I am eager to revisit the characters introduced in it at some point and you can be sure we will. Unill then, I hope you enjoy and a big thank you for all the feedback so far. But for now, I'll paraphrase the POEt: ‘respite – respite from Nepenthe!’ I think it’s time for a break, maybe a change of scenery. I have just the group in mind. They're a bit closed but they're always a blast when they go out and it's been a while.
Yeah. I think they really do need to get out more..."
Parts one and two of Nepenthe can be found on the blog along with other bits and bobs. The armybuilder preview is on there too aswelm as an incite into magic of Éä.
A little birdy tells me that the release date will be announced at Messe Essen this month.
Making an appearance in Demo games around Hampshire (uk) soon.
If you're in the Hampshire area and would like to arrange demos or a club visit, send me a PM and we can sort something out
...now, to set the scene.
Abominations loom several man heights over the head of even the tallest mortal. Their gore slicked limbs spider out from its bulbous, distended abdomen and thorax. They are instruments of pure mayhem on the battlefield, scuttling forwards and reaping a bloody toll with their scythe like appendages, leaving only bloody ruin behind them. Survivors speak of a keening whine, just on the verge of hearing that pervades their memories, a sound that registers deeper than the cries of their fallen comrades. This is the only sound an Abomination can make, the only sound it is allowed to make: a keening howl to convey the depth of their misery and torment.
Abominations were not originally intended to serve as organic war engines. They were an advanced and cruel form of punishment, devised on a whim by the Sovereign. Ensconced deep within an Abomination lies the body of an Exile who has betrayed his trust or breached the most sacrosanct of Spire laws. Despite significant effort, even the Sovereign’s most ardent opponents have not been able to come up with a more cruel punishment and have adopted this cruel torture for their worst enemies.
Invasive cerebral procedures impairs the cognitive function of the condemned, as chemical and hormonal treatments are applied to make them lose control of their Life-Binding gifts and forcibly bond them to a lower organism. Multiple organisms were proposed and tried but the humble ant was ultimately preferred. While more gruesome examples could be made, it was found that those Abominations bonded to other species were too intractable or self-destructive. The ant’s instinctive hierarchical physiology somehow makes it more susceptible to Pheromonic command, forcing the body to respond to orders while allowing compromised psyche trapped within the hellish amalgam only enough control to wail its anguish even while enacting the will of its tormentors.
CthuluIsSpy wrote: Abominations also look like they have a butt on their head. Or a pair of breasts.
Since its genetics are taken from ants, I assumed it's head boobies are it's actual eyes. The face is just a masque of it's owners face that's been embedded in it's head.
But now they will forever be called, "head boobs" XD
Well yeah, I can see where they are coming from and it looks vaguely ant-like, but ants still don't actually look like that. It looks more like an insect-like, upside down torso than an ant's head. It would look a lot better if it looked more like an ant's head, was a bit lower and if the mask/face was on top of it.
I'm just not sold on it. I don't really like the Spire all that much, really, except for the mutant archer dudes and the pheromancer. The Hundred Kingdoms and the dweghom look a lot better. The ogre also looks nice, but I can't help thinking that he belongs to Shadowrun. I think its the goggles and the armor he's wearing. Looks more punk than fantasy.
The ogre with the "goggles" has been modified. The face plate has been retained as an option (The heads come in 2 parts, essentially head and face seperately), however the design has been altered to have eye slots which are more reflective of traditional Norse armour.
The ogre shown above has been 3d printed and as such has lost detail in certain areas due to the printing process. The 3D masters don't suffer from this issue, I am assured.
PB pass on there regards and thanks for the honest feedback.
Automatically Appended Next Post:
Also, bonus factoids.
Some off the Nords have been experimented on by the spires.
As a result some have odd elements. Like unnatural size and spinal plugs from the growing vats....
Off not all Nords will be like so but it's certainly has given them more than an axe to grind against the spires.
The Tempered would claim the Ardent were born at the foot of War’s Throne, where they broke the chains that bound them to their Draconic masters and doomed the Dweghom race to eternal War. The Ardent, however, claim they were born millennia before; the first time a Dweghom refused to bow before a Dragon and found he could not. In War they saw a promise of freedom, a force so powerful even their master could not control, merely contain.
Driven by their cold pride and thirst for freedom, they were the first to fall upon the bound Primordial, shattering and devouring what they could. In doing so, they broke their masters’ chains and took the gift that had been offered to them. No longer would their struggle be a mere rebellion, the conflict of an inferior against a superior, but a contest of equals, a War that would grow to consume the world and finally release the fallen Primordial.
The Ardent ride the violent currents of War with pride, equating any sort of craft aside from this with their millennial slavery to the Dragons. Their initiates are trained from induction in martial craft, tested to their very limits and beyond in preparation for the Dheukorro, the Descent, a pilgrimage following their ancestors path to the Throne of War through the deepest bowels of Eä. In each Dweghom hold there is a pit that plunges so deep into the bowels of the earth that it scratches the surface of Destruction’s prison. Here one can almost hear the beating of Destruction’s savage heart, the power of his rage bleeding through the miles-thick wall of his eternal prison and setting the very earth afire. Nestled deep within these hellish tunnels rests the breached chamber that once imprisoned War itself and fueled the emancipation of the Dweghom.
It is the sacred duty of every member of the Ardent to descend through these tunnels to pay homage to the sacrifice and fortitude of their ancestors. The deeper one descends, the closer he comes to those paragons of old and the greater the initiate’s worth; but the greater the danger as well. Deep within the bowels of the earth, the blood of Destruction has changed many of the subterranean denizens into raging monstrosities that prowl the deepest tunnels. Those initiates that survive these encounters emerge as Exemplars, embodiments of War like none other. The fate of the Gifted who undertake the Dheukorro, the Flame Berzerkers and the Stone Sentinels, are part of the price the Ardent pay for their freedom, for nothing can contain their will, not even the limits of own bodies.
To this day, the Ardent defend their decision, embracing the simple truth that life is a struggle and War a way of life. Their militarism is not the blind adoration of the faithful to a savior, but rather the most exalted manifestation of their own freedom. To any who oppose them, the distinction bears little significance, for, of all the Dweghom, none revel in War more than the Ardent; they are its fiercest proponents, ever eager to prove their faith on the field of battle.
I'm really liking that piece of artwork and the accompanying lore... but the renders just aren't doing it for me.
Maybe it's the pose. They remind me of the plastic GW ogres and their compact and static poses, whereas the artwork looks a lot more dynamic.
Plus their armor and flames remind me of Dark Age's Flame Caste, which is an apt comparison. The art style looks quite similar to CMON's current art style for the Dragyri.
I guess I'll wait until I see you work your magic on them Davidian before I pass judgement!
I think they're pretty exciting, but maybe because I think carrying your axes in from the car is right up there as the seventh or eighth most exciting part of combat.
It does bring up the age old question of historical gamers who sculpt fantasy minis: "Should I pose this terrifying abomination as if he is standing around waiting for orders, or walking to the place where he will stand and wait for orders?"
Plus their armor and flames remind me of Dark Age's Flame Caste, which is an apt comparison. The art style looks quite similar to CMON's current art style for the Dragyri.
nagash42 wrote:The art for those fire guys look like the fire caste from darkage.
Really?
highlord tamburlaine wrote:I'm really liking that piece of artwork and the accompanying lore... but the renders just aren't doing it for me.
Maybe it's the pose. They remind me of the plastic GW ogres and their compact and static poses, whereas the artwork looks a lot more dynamic.
Same here - not really liking the minis (so far - we'll see once they arrive in reality), but the lore and art is great as is usually the case.
highlord tamburlaine wrote: I'm really liking that piece of artwork and the accompanying lore... but the renders just aren't doing it for me.
Maybe it's the pose. They remind me of the plastic GW ogres and their compact and static poses, whereas the artwork looks a lot more dynamic.
Well, they do need to rank up, just like the Ogres did back in ye olden days.
Why? Why not give them a tray like the CMON ASOIAF minis or LOTR minis? Why handicap the most important aspect of the product range (the minis) in service of some vestigial quality of last generation's gaming paradigm?
Yeah, isn't the point of having those nice round bases and the slotty trays so they can be dynamic and rankable?
These guys aren't doing it for me, so it might just be the render. Maybe the models look much better.
I don't want to dogpile here, but neither the art nor the renders are appealing to me. I don't really like any dwarves, so I'm not the one to judge the appeal of them, but they look too sci-fi, and not practical enough.
I usually don't like dwarves, but I really like that art. The renders not so much, think the legs make them look a little stuntier and disproportioned than the art. These are the closest so far to an army I might want to play instead of just army's I would'nt mind fighting against.
I'm glad they are aware of the criticism; it's not too late to fix some of their kits.
And to be honest, it's not entirely a dealbreaker for me. I am planning to buy plenty of Conquest minis, although perhaps not immediately upon release.
Fanatics. Zealots. Warmongers. Even among the Dweghom, those named Ardent are considered an oddity, an extreme. Is there a deeper understanding, a greater freedom in their philosophy, as they would claim? Or is the truth about them really as simple as ‘madmen’?
Descend into a Dweghom hold and follow two clansmen, two kinsmen, as they carve, side by side, their own Memories in their Halls. Every day a struggle, every challenge answered, every war fought. From infancy to old age, from the Surface above to the deepest pits below, constant struggle, adversity, fighting and betrayal, will forge an Ardent mind that will challenge all.
Davidian wrote: Fingers crossed for some juicy reveals from Essen today.
Spoiler:
Seeing all the photo from Essen really make it striking how out of place the ant abominations feel. Looks like someone put a He-Man toy down on the table. The pose, the leg musciles. The creating a character just by putting an animal head on the figure.
"Seeing all the photo from Essen really make it striking how out of place the ant abominations feel. Looks like someone put a He-Man toy down on the table."
I honestly can't agree with that. It embodies the night of the biomantic persuit and Spire ideology. It's the centre price of my small collection....
Davidian wrote: Fingers crossed for some juicy reveals from Essen today.
Spoiler:
Seeing all the photo from Essen really make it striking how out of place the ant abominations feel. Looks like someone put a He-Man toy down on the table. The pose, the leg musciles. The creating a character just by putting an animal head on the figure.
A lot of the other stuff looks great.
There really is no accounting for taste. The abomination is the best model out of all of them for me by far! Either way, it sounds like we will both be able to find something we like in the game.
Leaders are particularly skilled at persuading men to keep on fighting even when things get sticky.... they half the number of troops that flea from failed resolve checks amongst other things.
Fighting under colours inspires troops to press on so that theirs can be seen at the front of the battle!... the second march of the units activation receives +1" and the unit may rerolls charge rolls (M+D6)
CthuluIsSpy wrote: That was a pretty good trailer. I liked the voice modulation on the Spire narrator and the shift in tone at the end. Spooky.
I was well surprised by it tbh.... plus it gave me goosebumps haha.
There are 3 more coming and I had a chat with the voice actor who said;
"Was proud to be the voice actor for this trailer. The video is INTENSE. I've never really played these kinds of games but now I want to. The Para Bellum team are true visionaries. Congratulations!
I also have to thank the sound engineer Nick that worked with me as well as the direction that the Para Bellum team gave us. Great collaboration!"
- Tony Waldman
Automatically Appended Next Post: Plastics officially revealed!
Huh, I thought they were already in plastic.
Still, good to see production is coming along nicely.
Now show me the greek and chinese inspired factions.
I really want to see them.
Dominion has me curious as well. That scratchy writing on the map has me interested.
Is there going to be a Great Old One faction? Like, a Lovecraft inspired race from under the seas?
Actually, all the painted models you've seen until now (except the Steel Legion Command Group above) are all resins cast from 3D prints. The sprue is the way forwards
Automatically Appended Next Post: I know _something_ lurks in the ruins of the old dominion. I have a feeling it's going to be their twist on the undead but with a lovecraftian cult twist. Like the was Cthulu touches people in their dreams annon. They've said little about it and I think that's intentional to add an element of horror as it becomes prevalent to world events and starts impactingvthe other factions
Automatically Appended Next Post: So on top of the €80 starter set (about £70 ish) they have just told me that they will be doin one player army starters containing three warbands and a rulebook for every faction.
I think their decision to go with top rate artists and designs for their boxes will really pay off. These will look as nice on the shelf as Rackham stuff.
lord marcus wrote: a little concerned they have all this ready, but are waiting half a year more to release them
From.what I understand, they were concerned about launching with only two factions. They felt Runewars was hobbled by only having two factions at launch. By the time other factions arrived, it had already had it's moment in the sun.
They were going to release with 2 factions last July then build up to 4 over the first year.
Only then were they going to stand up their organised play system.
The year long delay was not s descision they took lightly but it was descision made easier by talking to the gamers at adepticon, Essen, UKGE and their own experience as gamers themselves. They (And i) loved runewars and legions but they suffered because if their release schedule and limited release.
This game isn't just a product they're pumping out for profit alone. This has been their hobby, their spare time spent in a shared storage space throwing dice, drinking and creating something deeply personal to them.
Its their baby and they know they got one shot at a release and they are dead serious about getting right that first time. Hang in there and be patient because I have been honoured enough to have had a glance at the sheer scale of what they are doing and it will be worth the wait.
Stick around, this is going to be something special.
(Disclaimer, I may have a touch of personal bias. I think in my position it would be hard not to but I have 25 years of wargaming experience. I have played a host of games over that time and never considered myself a "fan boi" of any sort. I started with GWs Rouge Trooper in the early 90s and in terms of fantasy gaming, I have (And still occasionally play) KoW, 9tg Age, AoS, Dragon Rampant, Frostgrave, Mordheim/Coreheim, Runewars [D.O.A.], Confrontation, vanguard and even my old whfb 3rd through 6th editions... but nothing compares to this game personally [everyone is going to have different opinions] in terms of gameplay, playtime and mechanics and them the world and the lore surrounding it is up there with favourites like The Wheel Of Time in its scale.....
...I've been demoing this game around my parts of the UK since about April and not a single person has suggested something they could do better [maybe a few people comment on the scale but that pales in importance once they've played the game] .... I think the fact that I an under NO obligation to do this but do so for the love of it speaks volumes.
TLDR: I like it hard and have faith that they are doing everything right.
Right, gush over XD I'll revert back to updating news and rumour mode XD)
Interesting to go that size with a rank and file game. You can get some very nice extra detail at that scale but they really do look huge compared to 30-32 mm figures as even most advertised as 32mm are still more 28-30mm to the eyes.
Bought a some guildball last year for a RPG game and even the smaller humans were towering over everyone else which was a lot of Redbox games and plastic from various Monolith stuff.
I was surprised at the size at first too but it really works.
Painting them is so much easier aswell
The model count will be much less than the average mass battle game out there. Units of 24 (6 stands of 4) is big and umits of 12 are more than functional.
What you'll find aswell is that with escalation, reinforcement and the brutality of combat, you'll never always have your full force on the table at the same time.
Even with the size, the game works perfectly (as intended) at 4'x4' And the game plays faster than most. Like KoW fast only no slowdown in action (not you-go-I-go, no deployment phase) but with more going on.
The excerpt from Nepenthe - The Price, which this painting depicts:
“THE LEGION! THE LEGION IS HERE!”
Turning south, he saw them, many following his example, cheering at the sight. Clad in full plate, the likes of which even knights envied, the Legionnaires of Steel marched, their metallic steps booming in perfect tempo. Their great claymores were balanced on their shoulders, a ceremonial weapon for most, an instrument of death for these elite warriors. They had no banner, not in the platoon Hunfrid could see at least, but the Armatellum Dragon flew prominently on their kilts, protruding from the plate, the Legion’s own insignia carved on each legionnaire’s pauldron. As the command to engage was given, Hunfrid had to stop looking but he heard them.
“Steel!” cried their commander.
“PARATUS!” answered the Legion and the marsh shook from their voices, as they opened their pace.
“That’s it, kid” said a man next to him, smirking. “The day is ours, aye?”
Hunfrid nodded, smiling weakly. Aye, he thought. The day is ours, surely. […]
Then, it came.
Hunfrid didn’t see it then. His eyes were pinned on three brutish forms from the north, charging at their flank, one falling, pierced in tens of places by Junger’s sharpshooters. It made little difference, really. Two of them were more than enough to crash the men-at-arms, each arm a battering ram holding a massive, bladed fist-weapon. From far to the southeast, he saw another trio, one of them slashing upwards in an uppercut. A man arched in the air some fifteen feet high, his limps as lifeless as his crossbow that flew next to him.
“Steel!” cried the centurion’s voice again from behind.
“HOSTIBUS!” came the roaring answer and the Legion brought their blades on their hands, charging.
If any could stop the brutes, it was them, Hunfrid thought, before he noticed they were charging west, towards the rear of the knights. Searching for their target, he finally saw it.
Despite its size, it looked like it crawled, multiple legs flaying around in a sickening motion of unnatural joints. Clawed feet dug into mud and earth, propelling it forward with a speed greater than that of a galloping horse. While the legs looked beastly, the body was insectoid, the abdomen and thorax covered in a black shell of a bug or ant. The insect’s head was twisted on its neck, its mandibles turned upwards and backwards, but for a pale, humanoid mask that looked forwards, cold, expressionless. Long arms, like logs, protruded from the thorax and were pulled back, the abomination ready to fall on the knights and claw through them, like a thresher upon weed.
The Legion centurion got to it first. Holding his claymore upside-down from both hilt and blade, he roared as he pierced one of the abomination’s feet. It stalled the beast for but a moment, before he was crushed by the leg behind, but the charge had been interrupted. Rushing to their commander, great swords in hand, his men fell on the monstrosity with vengeance. Some tried to hit the joints, others the heels, while few pierced upwards trying to crash through the shelled abdomen. Black liquid and an alchemical stench run from its legs but the abomination paid little heed. With swiping moves, it lowered its clawed hands towards the humans that would pester it.
Hunfrid had never seen plate being slashed and pierced so easily in his life. In mere moments, it was standing on a spreading pool of crimson mingling with mud, dead bodies and torn plates around its feet. From deep within its body a muffled whimper echoed, like a soft serenade or lament. In his shock, the man-at-arms wondered if it were for the death and gore it caused or for its own, accursed soul.
To understand magic, one must first grasp that it is Primordial in aspect. Balance remains anathema to it in almost any form. Human mages have long been considered the weakest practitioners of the Art on Eä, their essence associated with Creation as much as Destruction with each of the elements, traditionally associated with Balance, equally represented. Without a serious imbalance, such as that present within the Dweghom, the power a human can channel without assistance is severely limited. This is not to say that a fully trained Chapter Mage is not capable of turning the course of a battle, merely that he will do so through the opportune application of power at the right time, rather than through the overwhelming application of power on the battlefield the way a Dweghom Pyromancer might.
The Chapter Mages of the Hundred Kingdoms have long been a powerful political tool, their magics more suited to the civilized environment of the court rooms and balls, than the raw elemental puissance demanded on the battlefield. Be one a noble, a bishop or a merchant, keeping a Chapter Mage in one’s retinue is proof of power and influence. Many have wondered why Chapter Mages, long considered amongst the most innovative and creative practitioners of this Art, only rarely become more of a political power within the Hundred Kingdoms as individuals or even organized institutions. The imbalanced soul, however, required by practitioners, often manifests as an excessive or compulsive mind and so the very source of a Chapter Mage’s power becomes the halt of their social and political success. The stories of temperamental and impulsive Pyromancers, distracted and impatient Aeolomancers or plodding, obsessive Geomancers is not a cultural cliché: their esoteric obsessions and proclivities are manifestations of their own imbalanced souls, and isolate them from mundane society, almost invariably turning them into pariahs or recluses.
This necessary imbalance, made manifest in young human Gifted, is what drives them to turn to the Chapters, chartered schools funded by the Imperial Court for the identification, protection and control of the Gifted population of the Empire. These Charters have characteristics as diverse as the individuals who congregate there: The Pool of Stillness caters mainly to Geomancers and Hydromancers, but also to Aeolomancers seeking to still their unquiet souls. The Gates of Fire, considered to be the foremost battle-mage training ground, attracts mostly Pyromancers, but many an Aeolomancer and Hydromancer have found solace in its strict regimes.
Chapter schools, however, do not represent the only place a Gifted student could hope to master the Art. The Churches are also aggressive recruiters of those they claim possess the ‘divine spark’, their aggressive, sometimes predatory, recruiting strategies making them natural enemy of the Chapters and its practitioners. Even beyond these two redoubtable institutions there are other, less conspicuous, places where one might get trained, if they possess the necessary will and aptitudes…
Neither did I and I've seen some exciting things....
Like the lesser enslaved dragon with dragon fire cannons... it looks as epic as it sounds and does the box art justice!
Also a Spire "special character" clone called The Mimic...
These things I have sworn not to share as they are still a WIP (Or at least were when I saw them Some time back).
This Mage though. Complete surprise and very taken by her. The magic used to facilitate political subterfuge in Nepenthe - Deliberations, is exactly the kind of shinannigans I would expect her to get up to on a daily basis, hehe.
Its the 2nd part of a 3 part short story, part one and three (the price and the last argument) are also on the blog here; https://www.para-bellum.com/what-is-new
Neither did I and I've seen some exciting things....
Like the lesser enslaved dragon with dragon fire cannons... it looks as epic as it sounds and does the box art justice!
Also a Spire "special character" clone called The Mimic...
These things I have sworn not to share as they are still a WIP (Or at least were when I saw them Some time back).
This Mage though. Complete surprise and very taken by her. The magic used to facilitate political subterfuge in Nepenthe - Deliberations, is exactly the kind of shinannigans I would expect her to get up to on a daily basis, hehe.
Its the 2nd part of a 3 part short story, part one and three (the price and the last argument) are also on the blog here; https://www.para-bellum.com/what-is-new
Cool stuff. I'm guessing the Dweghom Pyromancer is the guy on fire on the Dweghom-Nords box cover art.
Ok quick question about that thing on the right...what is the feth is that? No, really, what the feth is that? It looks like the lovechild between a praying mantis and a Fallout Ghoul.
I like the design. I just have no idea what it is.
I have no idea either. Whatever it is, it is a character or leader.
EDIT: By the looks of it, It seems that each character shown in that art is part of the three groups in the Spires.
Mimetic Assassin:
“The Directorate has long sought to produce the perfect assassin clone, but their efforts have been incessantly stymied by the Sovereign. He has made it a matter of personal interest to ensure that all Ark vaults containing pertinent data to this research fall squarely under his direct supervision, denying the Directorate access to chameleonic strand sequences and certain personality traits, which it has sought for so long. They have instead been forced to adapt and improvise with those strands they already possess: agility, strength, aggression and some limited biomechanical functions.
While this formula would result in an impressively enhanced clone, it would nonetheless need to be trained and outfitted, further draining the Directorate’s limited resources. To overcome this limitation, the Directorate has turned to one of their core techniques: pheromonic manipulation. In addition to its unrivaled speed and ferocity, the Mimetic Assassin produces a very specific range of pheromones designed to induce lethargy in any complex organism, as well as making them more compliant and suggestible.
True to the origin of its design, therefore, this clone’s mimetic abilities derive from form and function, rather than training. Each segment of its carapace is individually articulated and razor sharp, allowing it to change its body shape, stance and outline to masquerade as any clone (or humanoid biped with minimal effort in disguise) or even produce claws and weapons made from its own body. Coupled with its pheromonic field, these attributes grant the Mimetic an unprecedented edge in infiltration and ambush situations. Easily overlooked in the dead of night or heaving mass of combat, the Mimetic Assassin can close within range of its chosen foe unnoticed before it springs into action, transforming into a whirling, stabbing monstrosity in the flash of an eye.”
Ok I am sold on this game. Love the artwork, love the lore so far, reeeaaallly loving the human faction. Cannot wait to see the dwarves* starter set contents. Gameplay looks great too.
Only note I will give about their website is that the list of what is in the starter set is not very approachable. Needs either a clearer list or a picture of all the contents set out.
Can't wait for this game to be released, hopefully they get a Canadian distributor so we can set up a community here.
A Grim Holiday Season story for you!!!
The Para Bellum team wishes you a happy holiday season.
The Tale of Hjul the Fisherman and the Night of the Bright Tree.
Gather round the hearth, now, gather and Nana will tell you the tale of Hjul the Fisherman and the Night of the Bright Tree.!
It was the darkest night of the year. It had been a lean year, a poor year, during which too many an end of day had found the nets of fishermen empty or as close as can be. Hjul was no exception and, if anything, he was rather one of those mostly afflicted. But he was of sturdy folk, Hjul, such as our village makes, for he was indeed one of our own, no matter what others claim. And he was also a proud father and a pious follower, venerating the Aesir and the Vanir as was proper. It was his love for his family and his faith in his gods that urged him to the sea that day, for in good Hjul’s mind, both deserved a feast and tribute, on that most sacred of winter nights.
And so it was that he left the shores even before the bright hours had come, along with others that shared as brave a heart as him. Before the sun even rose, they pushed their boats on the ice, guided by their lanterns on their boats bows, until they reached the water, and from there they sailed straight south. At the start of the bright hours, he threw his first net with the others but, as was usual that year, the nets came up empty. As the bright hours reached their peak, he and a handful of others, no more, sailed further south and tried again but still their nets would come out empty. One by one, his fellows made their way to the frozen shores, but Hjul’s pride was hurt and his honor wounded. Alone he sailed still, until the shore behind him looked distant and Mannheim was but an island to him. And there, as the bright hours faded finally, he threw his nets for a third time.
He waited long, in the cold and the bitter wet winds. He waited till the winter dusk settled and the lights of his fellows’ boats disappeared in the north. He waited till dark came upon him and the only light in sight was his own, weak lantern. He waited ‘till the longest night of the year swallowed him and his boat and even the flame of his lantern seemed to wither. Tucked in his furs, he waited, his boat rocking gently on black waves, his light a lone star dancing in the darkness, with its oil running out.
Hours passed and Hjul looked with desperation as his small flame withered. And he thought then that when the light run out, then he would know the gods did not wish for fish of him this year and he could return. So he kept his eyes peeled on that light. Ever withering, never gone, the light kept shining. That was the first miracle of the Night of the Burning Tree, for the oil never did run out.
Now below, the elusive fishes that hid and shied away all year long, they saw his pale, enduring lantern and to their desperate eyes, it seemed like the sun. For if you think that nights are dark for us Nords in winter, then know for the fish it is worse for they swim in the void. So lured they were by the promise of sun in the form of the small lantern, that they rushed in Hjul’s nets by the dozens. And that was the second miracle of the Night of the Bright Tree.
Rejoiced and thanking the gods for their kindness, Hjul gathered his nets, full and rich for the first time that year. He laughed in the dark and prepared to come home only to realize, finally, what the price for his fish were. For in the longest night of the year, the dark of sky and dark of sea are one and the clouds hide all stars. Hjul was lost and knew not where land was.
Now some say that that was the end of Hjul. Some say that he never returned and no one ever heard of him since. Others say he is alone in the dark still, his little fisherman boat floating in the long dark of the night sky and that by his lantern, the star Yulodi, do sailors know to find South and by the torch of his waiting wife, the star Ghilde, do they know to find North. But we of our village remember what others won’t. For in his dark desperation, Hjul saw a light appear in the North and he knew where the land was. He praised the gods and his laugh echoed in the dark, then thanked them as tears froze in his eyes.
It was the third and final miracle, the miracle of Hjul, and it is why this, the longest night of the year, we call the Night of the Bright Tree.
If there's one thing I've come to learn about Leo and Yannis over the last 2 years is that when they are quiet, they are extraordinarily busy....
....and they have been awefully quiet.
Until today that is. After exchanging new years pleasantries and idle chat, they drop this on me....
The plastics aren't just rolling out! They are vastly inpproved from the prototype minis we have already seen. Command grop components are popping up and signs of a new painter working on the final studio minis!
Happy fething new year Dakkarites... feast on this:
Automatically Appended Next Post: as well as some work from the marketing guys
and the new guy....
I just cannot wait for them to finalise what I can't show you yet but soon! very soon!
Free army builder is being built too along with online organised play system.
You'll find some familiar conventions amongst what is a very modern and dynamic twist on R&F warfare.
The command stacking, reinforcement zones and escalation make it stand out as totally unique, fast paced and exciting imo.
I've played games with the 2 player starter +1 unit each with total novices in an as little as an hour and not only that... the rules are so intuitive that on occasion, novices have soundly beaten me by simply having a knowledge of real tactics
Ofc, take with salt. Read them for yourself and get a few demos in when you can
2 player starter set contents has been confirmed as follows;
"First post for the year...
Our elusive Core box and final contents.
The two player Core Box Set is a multi-part plastic kit.
THE BOX CONTAINS:
1 Pheromancer
24 Force-Grown Drones with 6 Infantry Stands
3 Brute Drones with 3 Cavalry Stands
1 Abomination with 1 Monster Stand
1 Noble Lord with 1 Cavalry Stand
24 Men-at-Arms with 6 Infantry Stands
12 Mercenary Crossbowmen with 3 Infantry Stands
3 Household Knights with 3 Cavalry Stands
I'm still excited. I hope they include a background booklet with the starter, or else put some fluff PDFs on their site when this goes live. I have been deliberately avoiding reading their background materials until I actually have the miniatures at hand.
I'm really trying to get some hype generated at my local store. It's a bit difficult. I'd love to be able to get a starter painted up to run demos leading up to launch. This is such a great game, i really want to see it hit the ground running!
I'm confident this will ....now! About those Dragon Wars....
Fell Old One
He could hear it. He could barely hear his own thoughts but this he could hear clearly.
The metal armor of his troops clanged around him in short crescendos, their fighting yells trying to surpass the clamor of the battle around them. It was not easy. Somewhere in the back, war drums tried desperately to coordinate his men’s thirst for blood, combat, revenge, to little avail. Direct orders screamed and enforced even by blows were more readily followed than the drums.
A mental note for the future: once the thrill of battle consumed his men, drums and horns served little.
Each warrior became a killing machine, to be channeled by force if necessary.
In the meantime, he could feel proud by how readily his officers had adapted to this and were fulfilling their purpose. One of them turned and looked at him, sword raised. She yelled something, pausing mid-sentence as a cannon fired, drowning his voice. Then she had to stop again, as the distinct rattle of a massive chain echoed, bouncing for some time against the sharp, naked rocks prepared around them.
Oh yes, he could hear it..!
Fire roared and rock started splitting with piercing, heavy crack sounds, as rounds for the cannons were prepared all around the battlefield. Realizing it would be impossible to be heard, the officer rushed to his side, ducking by reflex and wincing, as an enemy roared in pain near them. Wincing... This confused him. The duck was a good reflex. But why wince? The distinct sound of spears piercing flesh was heard. Another cannon fired, more chains rattled, another enemy falling.
Truly, why wince? Could she not hear it?
Amidst the breaking tons of rock, the explosion of cannons and the deafening rattling of enormous chains, amidst the yells and roars of wounding and wounded, amidst all, one sound prevailed and reached his ears with clarity… no. Not amidst, he realized now. It was part of it. All the rest was a symphony that underlined this one, beautiful sound, this salve of satisfaction, focus, purpose.
Dragon death cries.
He barely heard his officer as she was pointing at the Old One ahead and describing the situation.
“HE IS OF EARTH!” she screamed, as he scanned the scene. “OUR FIRE HERE IS TOO LITTLE!” He nodded thoughtful.
The plan had worked so far but it would not be long before the Old One could take flight again. It was the trouble with Fire and Earth attuned Old Ones. The Gifts of the Dweghom were matched. But there were solutions. He gave his order but another dragon fell, crashing rocks, a cannon and several of his men under it.
The officer leaned closer, wincing again.
“Break the earth where he stands” he said again, this time calmly near her ear. “Break the earth deep, break it until he falls to the lava pits below”. Taken aback, she looked at him.
“Our men are there” she muttered. “The Rook won’t hold. They will die”.
The symphony around him endured and he reveled in it, as he pondered on her words. No. She was wrong. It had to be done. The Old One’s struggling roars only served to build for the end. The cannons would stop firing. The drums would stop beating. The chains would stop moving. One by one, all other sounds would be silenced, as the long, desperate roar of the Old One falling would leave to the inevitable crescendo of the victory cries of the survivors.
He wished not his men to die but there could be no other end.
SUCH IS WAR, he thought.
“They will die free” he said.
During the collapse of the Empire, all of the Imperial Legions bar two were disbanded: the Steel Legion, which simply refused, and the Gilded Legion that protects the Mint. The sudden dispersal of thousands of trained, angry armed men into the fraying fabric of the collapsing empire could have shattered it. In a masterful and far sighted maneuver, Gheorg Pfarrerson, the first Imperial Chamberlain, turned them instead into one of the most powerful cohesive forces in the Empire: the War Colleges.
Today the War Colleges represent one of the only sources of higher education in the Hundred Kingdoms. Wealthy and influential parents face only three real choices: the War Colleges, the Church Schools or an apprenticeship. The War Colleges remain by far the most popular choice. Despite their names, they teach a wide variety of topics, from philosophy to logistics, from numismatics to strategy and from calisthenics to weapon training. Tuition is extortionate and the full course is over a decade long. Of the candidates that apply and participate, only a fraction move on to become full graduates. Most are called back to attend to filial duties or wash out of the demanding program.
Those few that do fully graduate belong to the rarified elite that will be employed by the Imperial Institutions, from the Mint to the Office of the Imperial Chamberlain itself. Whatever they do, not only do they carry the title of Imperial Officers, but they remain such at heart, trained and forged by an Imperial mentality. This often reflects their counsel, granting the Office of the Chamberlain and the Imperial institutions a friendly voice in almost every court, as it is a sad truth that these times most of these graduates find employment in much more martial pursuits.
Countless Imperial Officers are scattered through the Hundred Kingdoms as advisors to Kings, mercenary lords, and leaders of men.
While they often return to their own Houses, Imperial Officers can be found in the command tents and leading the troops of many a powerful noble house of the Hundred Kingdoms; few would turn away such an educated and well-trained officer, much less so when an Imperial Officer’s presence is the only way to deploy some of the most powerful forces that can be mustered on the field of battle. It is a known fact that the surviving Imperial Legions vastly favor working with Imperial Officers, as they share not just similar training, but the same mentality and approach to war. Men serving under Imperial Officers may find it a strict regime, but no one has ever claimed that their officers have not earned their respect.
Though no Emperor sits on the Hollow Throne, though countless squabbling nobles pick at the vulnerable tapestry of a once great empire, the Tellian Empire is not dead. A fraction of its former glory shines in the efficiency, performance and drill of any army commanded by an Imperial Officer.
Looking good! I'm excited to see bare sprues in detail as we get closer to launch. It looks like they've sharpened some things up and changed the designs a bit?
"Examplars of the Ardent creed, the Kerawegh have gone farther and deeper than any living Dweghom in the Dheukorro, or Descent: they have reached the very gates of War’s Primordial prison. Refusing the dark call of that promethean threshold, the Kerawegh find in their devotion to kin and creed the strength to turn back to the surface.
Acclaimed by their fellow Ardent, the respect they command among their fellows naturally pushes them into positions of leadership in their anarchic creed.
Mighty warriors in their own right, the Kerawegh are a terror on the field not for their skill at arms, but rather for their ability to channel the faith and fervor of their brethren into harsh battlefield miracles."
No movement on Q2 so UKGE launch is still on. At least there's been no chatter from the management on it and those guys are very open and transparent on the matter, which bodes well for now.
Nah mate. KoW is a nice system but it's functionally bland. Same with the lore.
This game as a system is probably the most dynamic and modern fantasy game I've ever played and the lore is insane in its scope. 2 Strong arguments against it just going the way of KoW... also, PB don't have any other products to mess about with. This is their single child. Their no1 priority....
I wouldn't worry about it fading into obscurity. Leo wouldn't allow it
Davidian, can you ask what the plans are for distribution in North America? I'd like to order it through my local game store. If you could find out the actual name of the distributor that would be great.
I think it has a better chance of making it bigger than KoW because it seems to be offering the trifecta:
Good miniatures
Good rules
Engaging lore/fluff
I also agree that Conquest has the potential to be much bigger than Mantic's KoW, but, as always, I do hope that this game stands on and succeeds on its own merits - which I think it will!
Conquest has a good chance to capture the somewhat lacking 'ranked battle' market though too - if they can do it better/more interestingly than their distinguished competition, of course!
If they can make if feel like rank and file without having to actually paint up all the required number of rank and file units you'd actually need in a proper big game, then I'm in.
On the other hand I'll probably be in anyways and snatching up units for smaller skirmish sized stuff as it is.
I think what most people will find is that this game will very much *feel* like a true mass rank-n-file game without having to have 100+ models on either side.
The 'stands' help with this, but in reality the game design is really geared towards it. Thanks to the way deployment is handled, there is more reason for a player to have multiple types of units rather than just 2 or 3 of the same thing. For instance, if you had 3 'light' warbands (think men-at-arms), you couldn't deploy past your own reinforcement zone (table edge), but if you had a heavy Warband (think Knights) further up the board, you could bring in light, medium or heavy reinforcement warbands on from any table edge as far up as your enabling heavy Warband.
That's just one example, mind you. There are others in the Rulebook, but I really feel like they put a lot of thought into this particular issue.
Basically I think that as long as we can get people who are into rank and file gaming to try this, they'll be hooked. My goal is to have a set painted up prior to release so I can try and get people excited about the games before it comes out!
Oooh those Dweghom look nice with that paint scheme. I might get them if I don't like any of the future releases. I'm still holding out of the hinted at Dominion remnants and that Oriental inspired army.
CthuluIsSpy wrote: Oooh those Dweghom look nice with that paint scheme. I might get them if I don't like any of the future releases. I'm still holding out of the hinted at Dominion remnants and that Oriental inspired army.
Funnily enough it's that paint scheme that's spoiling them for me personally. Not the quality of the paint job, just the scheme and I'm not a huge fan of the more mechanical elements to the models we've seen. Strays too much into Warcraft style fantasy rather than the Heavy Metal Fantasy most of Conquest seems to offer.
Everything else though... God it's impressive. That Nord....
CthuluIsSpy wrote: Oooh those Dweghom look nice with that paint scheme. I might get them if I don't like any of the future releases. I'm still holding out of the hinted at Dominion remnants and that Oriental inspired army.
Funnily enough it's that paint scheme that's spoiling them for me personally. Not the quality of the paint job, just the scheme and I'm not a huge fan of the more mechanical elements to the models we've seen. Strays too much into Warcraft style fantasy rather than the Heavy Metal Fantasy most of Conquest seems to offer.
Everything else though... God it's impressive. That Nord....
Oof, I actually missed the Nord. He is really good.
I really hope this game kicks off and it doesn't fall like Drop Zone Commander. The models and enthusiasm is too great for it to fail, and it would be a pity if it did.
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PARA BELLUM WARGAMES TO LAUNCH 'CONQUEST'
Mass Battle Wargame
Posted by Milton Griepp on April 2, 2019 @ 7:22 am CT
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Para Bellum Wargames, a new company based in Cyprus with offices in Greece and the U.S., will launch Conquest, a new mass battle wargame, in June. The new game is written by Alessio Cavatore, who worked on Games Workshop’s Warhammer, Warhammer 40K, and Lord of the Rings from 1995 to 2010. In 2010 he founded River Horse Games, and designed Terminator Genisys, Jim Henson’s Labyrinth: The Board Game, and other games for River Horse and other publishers. Para Bellum Sales & Marketing Director Yannis Krommydas shared news of the upcoming line at GAMA Trade Show.
The game take place in a dark fantasy setting, with up to 18 different races/factions. Initial races include:
Humans, who look like medieval humans.
Spires, Para Bellum’s take on elves, who are actually off-worlders that manipulate biomass to create whatever they want, such as an archer with three arms or a creature made out of bone that can function like a tank. The Spires split into two factions after arriving in the world, one that wants to return to their origin planet, and the other that is learning to live in their new world.
Dweghom, Para Bellum’s take on dwarves, who use dragons as beasts of burden and use firee magic to animate statues to fight for them. They were created by the dragons, who are creators of life, to mine for them. "When they found war, they consumed its power in order to fight them off," Krommydas said. "The dweghom have a deep hatred for the dragons, and keep dragons in torture chambers and enjoy inflicting pain on them, because of the humiliation that they feel was imposed on them by being slaves."
Nords, which are twice the size of a normal human being, are Viking-like characters with ogres, trolls, sea giants, etc.
The initial release is a two-player Core Box plus eight unit boxes introducing the first two factions. Value of the initial box is high, with 75 miniatures and a rule book for $85. Infantry regiments will include 12 models, movement trays, and a card that interacts with a web application for $36.
In August, Para Bellum will introduce a one-player starter set and independent expansions for the Dweghom. In November, the Nords will be introduced with a one-player starter set and expansions.
By June of 2020, the company plans to have 10 to 11 units for every one of the first four factions, followed by a new Core Box introducing the fifth and sixth factions. By the end of the Year 3, the company plans to have fully populated the first seven factions with about 20 units for each.
Para Bellum has a schedule of in-store events supporting the line laid out for the initial six months after release.
The sculpts and depth of the universe were impressive, and the plans ambitious; Para Bellum is clearly planning to compete aggressively to become a top miniatures war game.
I am interested in the game, but sadly this will likely be a solo game for me as I doubt another game that people will need to spend $$$ on will get much traction in my area.
Hmm, I'm not super excited to hear that the Nords are a race of giants ( "twice the size of a normal man"), but I'm open to seeing them.
Either way, I'm exited for the core box launch... I just haven't decided whether I will get two boxes and split with somebody that wants to play the elves, or get two boxes all for myself.
The core box is really just an insane value.
The plastic spire abomination in the ICV2 photos is looking really good. I'm glad to hear they have such an aggressive launch schedule. I really think they have a shot at making it big.
Long-time lurker here. I've been following this game very closely for quite a while now. Almost all of what I see I really like, and those things I don't just come down to personal preference (never liked over-sized weapons, so the Brute Drones don't interest me, for example).
I am most excited for the Nords, though I have to say that I hope they tone the size of those shoulder pads way the hell down. Noone could swing an axe or any kind of weapon wearing that.
Davidian wrote: They are quite large. I'll pass that feedback on however I can confirm that they look great without the shoulder plates too
Thanks for doing that. One of the things that I really like about this game is how grounded it is. So massive shoulder pads don't seem to quite fit the aesthetic. If the kit can be built without them, however, it's probably not that big of an issue.
Sacredroach wrote: Miniature Market just put these up on pre-order for $56.85 per box set...hell of a deal!
I don't know how that price is possible.... I feel like they are basically giving me the game for the cost of materials...
Wow. Talk about an aggressive move into the space.
This just gets better and better!
I was going to wait until the dwarfs, but that start cost is just too good to pass up. Oh well, having 3 armies means i can tempt people to try it with me.
I hope it stays that price for a while. Currently, my money is tied up in a few Kickstarters, mostly Dreamforge, The two plastic kits I wanted to support the most shouldn't be in conflict!
Looking at the box on MM, and the picture shows three mounted knights. The text describing the box contents does not mention them. Are they still included in the starter or is the photo in error?
BobtheInquisitor wrote: Looking at the box on MM, and the picture shows three mounted knights. The text describing the box contents does not mention them. Are they still included in the starter or is the photo in error?
Looks like they fixed the description. But it 100% comes with them.
Those preorder prices are unbelievable. I was going to hold off for the next two factions, but for half of what I just spent on a couple Chaos 40k releases, my wife and I can field two full Conquest armies. Amazing! It helps that the models and rules alike are terrific.
no official forum threads on my rader yet. If you build it, they will come
also artillery peices will be a thing to a degree
The Dweghom have a lesser enslaved dragon with cannons on its back and the City States witll have Archimedes insired warmachines. Not seen any concepts though.
I'll definitely be running a Hundred Kingdoms force.
Haven't not looked into things deeply yet, will I want/need more household knights, men-at-arms and/or crossbowmen?
Because if the answer is 'yes', it seems to make sense to just but 2 x Starters?
I think I will also be running hundred kingdoms. I think the first purchase after the starter would be a box of Steel Legion (great sword guys). And the third purchase would probably be another starter
The comically excellent value in the starter meant I preordered two without a second thought. From there I bought just one of each unit not included in it, but available day-one. I would've gotten more but we just don't know how list building and unit sizes work yet.
Looks like Miniature Market sold through their initial stock of the starters and ordered more if the quantity available for preorder are any indication!
NewTruthNeomaxim wrote: The comically excellent value in the starter meant I preordered two without a second thought. From there I bought just one of each unit not included in it, but available day-one. I would've gotten more but we just don't know how list building and unit sizes work yet.
List building works in small detachments.
Each detachment requires a character to unlock and can contain 1 to 4 regiments. Each character type has core regiments which it had unlimited access to and restricted regiments which can only make up half of those, requiring at least one core per restricted choice.
For example, a noble Lord could take crossbowmen and men at arms (core) which then allows him to take steel legion and knights (restricted).
NewTruthNeomaxim wrote: The comically excellent value in the starter meant I preordered two without a second thought. From there I bought just one of each unit not included in it, but available day-one. I would've gotten more but we just don't know how list building and unit sizes work yet.
List building works in small detachments.
Each detachment requires a character to unlock and can contain 1 to 4 regiments. Each character type has core regiments which it had unlimited access to and restricted regiments which can only make up half of those, requiring at least one core per restricted choice.
For example, a noble Lord could take crossbowmen and men at arms (core) which then allows him to take steel legion and knights (restricted).
Thanks for that! Do we then know how you decide the number of stands in a regiment? I assume its just various points at various sizes?
For those planning their purchases, you may want to hold off buying 2 starters and instead buy the expansion packs. The unit standard bearers will only be available in the expansion packs, not the starters. Also, if anyone wants to get the ball rolling with this game, we will be playing and selling it in San Diego at AT Ease Games!
The game is up on meeplemart for Canada, but they don't do preorders so they do not put the price up until it is in stock. Hopefully this means there is a Canadian distributor lined up and it isn't them jumping the gun.
Smellingsalts wrote: For those planning their purchases, you may want to hold off buying 2 starters and instead buy the expansion packs. The unit standard bearers will only be available in the expansion packs, not the starters. Also, if anyone wants to get the ball rolling with this game, we will be playing and selling it in San Diego at AT Ease Games!
If you want more Knights, Crossbowmen or Men-At-Arms though, the Starter set is WAY too good a deal to pass up.
I have to agree with Alpharius. Its essentially a further 70% discount. For that i'll cobble command together. :-p
Is it even a sure thing though? I can't imagine a small company like Parabellum making an extra sprue for just command.
Edit: Incidentally, since the starter x2 is, by their own accounting, a "full sized game", it makes it seem as if they expected that to be a pretty typical first purchase, just as FFG did with X-wing way back when.
Smellingsalts wrote: For those planning their purchases, you may want to hold off buying 2 starters and instead buy the expansion packs. The unit standard bearers will only be available in the expansion packs, not the starters. Also, if anyone wants to get the ball rolling with this game, we will be playing and selling it in San Diego at AT Ease Games!
I live about an hour North in Corona. I will be running demos at game Empire Pasadena, Gameology in Upland, and the Realm games and comics in Brea. I will definitely be coming down to your store for some games. Our SoCal Facebook group is SoCal conquest by Para bellum if anyone wants to join .
NewTruthNeomaxim wrote: The comically excellent value in the starter meant I preordered two without a second thought. From there I bought just one of each unit not included in it, but available day-one. I would've gotten more but we just don't know how list building and unit sizes work yet.
List building works in small detachments.
Each detachment requires a character to unlock and can contain 1 to 4 regiments. Each character type has core regiments which it had unlimited access to and restricted regiments which can only make up half of those, requiring at least one core per restricted choice.
For example, a noble Lord could take crossbowmen and men at arms (core) which then allows him to take steel legion and knights (restricted).
Thanks for that! Do we then know how you decide the number of stands in a regiment? I assume its just various points at various sizes?
As a rule of thumb, regiments are purchased as a stand of 3 then cost per additional stand to upgrade... There's probably a few exceptions to the rule somewhere and it's all pointed. I can't recall any points off the top of my head.
There is an army builder preview video on beasts of war... Think it's call Lore Deep Dive but the got segwayed early on XD
Loving that picture above. Rank-and-file games need to hug this fine line of detailed models, but ones that look easy to paint in large numbers. I feel like a few colors, a wash, and quick highlight could yield a nice tabletop army.
Thanks for the heads up Davidian. I'll see if I can hunt the video down.
Smellingsalts wrote: For those planning their purchases, you may want to hold off buying 2 starters and instead buy the expansion packs. The unit standard bearers will only be available in the expansion packs, not the starters. Also, if anyone wants to get the ball rolling with this game, we will be playing and selling it in San Diego at AT Ease Games!
I live about an hour North in Corona. I will be running demos at game Empire Pasadena, Gameology in Upland, and the Realm games and comics in Brea. I will definitely be coming down to your store for some games. Our SoCal Facebook group is SoCal conquest by Para bellum if anyone wants to join .
They look nice in yellow. I hope Conquest gets a following in France.
Drakoniss wrote: It looks like the core set was selling so well they quickly changed from 33% off to 20% off.
Crikey, it is $10 USD more expensive! And with payday only a few days away! Ah well, it is still a ridiculously good value, but I'm definitely kicking myself for not putting it on credit when it first popped up...
It is also a good sign for the long term prospects of the game that the starter is selling like hot cakes, so I'm not too bummed.
Drakoniss wrote: It looks like the core set was selling so well they quickly changed from 33% off to 20% off.
I'm just glad Parabellum allows such deep discounts. Everything about this game looks like they're going for the throat to capture market-share. Aggressive pricing, a measured rollout, and really having taken their time perfecting the rules, etc...
Drakoniss wrote: It looks like the core set was selling so well they quickly changed from 33% off to 20% off.
I'm just glad Parabellum allows such deep discounts. Everything about this game looks like they're going for the throat to capture market-share. Aggressive pricing, a measured rollout, and really having taken their time perfecting the rules, etc...
You know, about 2 years ago I had a chat with Yannis and I'll never forget his words. He said they intended on hitting the market hard and that he hoped that it wouldn't know what hit it! Now I understand!
Well I clicked on this thread by accident, thinking it was the GW Conquest thread, but now i'm glad I did. These models are gorgeous looking. Have to work my way through the whole thread now, to see what's what.
The board is set for this to be an epic release. The game is solid, the lore is deep, the miniatures are great and with the starte set priced like it is it has to be one of, if not the MOST well priced miniatures game on the market today. I look forward to seeing what people do with their armies, and I can't wait to see what the future holds for this game. One thing I know for sure though is that I am ALL IN!
Now to schedule a build-and-play event at my local game store...
How much of the lore made it into the core set? Is there a book or site that has all the lore collected somewhere? I want to be able to read it as I build the minis to keep myself interested.
