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EDIT: The Kickstarter is now live here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/739027318/the-roots-of-magic-miniatures-game-students-of-sor

Please take a look




The project will be to produce a range of eight models - eight Acolyte (apprentice) Wizards; one for each of the current factions. The concept art for these models will be revealed when the project goes live, but each has a unique design idea, look, and story to complement their rules. We have been play testing these characters for a few months, and they add a new dimension to the game that goes beyond just adding an additional model in play. Some of the Acolytes improve elements of their master's spell-set, some are competent solo fighters or Wizards on their own, and some bring completely new strategy options to the table. We have also created a brand new scenario designed for the master and apprentice combos, something that requires players to adapt to the changing scoring options on the board. The rules for the scenario and the beta rules for the Acolytes will be released during the funding phase to backers so they can get a feel for the models right away.

I have tried to keep this project as small as possible while at the same time making sure I can offer something to excite existing and new players. The funding target is fairly modest, and I have just a limited number of stretch goals in mind depending on the success of the project. At present, I have planned for the possibility of five additional models, three of which are scenario pieces or to be used in expanded versions of the game, and two are new Freelancer models - mercenaries that you can substitute for an Acolyte in games. I'm being as up front about this as possible - I don't want to get too excited and end up committing to things that leave the project in the production phase many months after delivery is due. I have planned for this project for a long time, and even though I have already launched a game and a range of models, I'm not being complacent about my ability to deliver. I want things to go as smoothly as possible, and I want to provide quality products every bit as detailed and well imagined as the existing models.

I'd like to make what I believe is a salient though obvious point - I am not making a new game here, that part of the work is already done in phase one. I have delivered a game, and a wave of nine beautiful-looking models in just under a year. What I am trying to accomplish with this project is phase two: an expansion of the game beyond the sole option of a one on one fight. Subsequent phases have also been planned, each adding a new model type that will bring new strategies, complexities, and scales to the game that will add further value to the products you (hopefully) already own. I steadfastly want to keep the single Wizard duel a viable game, yet I also want to offer players a deeper look into the world and provide more scope of choice... So I am going to do both! In time, there will be new Wizards as well as new model types; this project is merely a step towards this commitment.

I know that there are many KS out there and people may well question if they have the time to try another. Its a fair point, and one I grapple with all the time. One of the selling points of the game, beyond the great models and fun rules, is that games are designed to be played within a time that many established games can't match. We have all been in the following situation: your games night/day only has enough to fit in one major game of whatever you usually play, but yet there is a little time left over. You can't play another game of what you just played, yet there is dice rolling left in you that needs to be released! The Roots of Magic plays in under 30 mins once you understand the rules, your Wizard, and how you like to play. By adding in another one or two models into your bag or case you open up the options to keep the fun going just the little bit longer and to make better use out of the scarcity that is gaming time. Though the models for tRoM will no doubt be great in a range of games, and I certainly don't discourage people using them for whatever they see fit, I would heartily recommend checking out the rules for the game as they are free and fairly brief. You might be pleasantly surprised!

http://therootsofmagic.com/


I hope that I can convince and inspire many of you to back this project. I have been working on this game for eighteen months now and I have never been more excited for the potential and future of the game. I just need your help to realise it...

Des Brennan
Grand Arcanum Games

I'd like to show you a small teaser of one of the characters that we hope to produce via this project:

Q'ara, the Prodigy [Travium, House of Power]



Q'ara is very likely the most powerful Wizard in Mellorian, and one of the most powerful in the entirety of the World. She is also a girl of a mere ten winters.

Q'ara is the great secret of Travium: a Wizard that can channel the pure power of magic - the Vaettim. It is forbidden for any House to allow a Wizard of such power to live, for those that can wield such power can rarely contain it. This makes them a danger on an unprecedented scale; if they lose control it could mean the destruction of the entire continent. If the other Great Houses learned of Travium's breach of doctrine then there would be all out war between them, there are few matters consiered to be more important to the status quo.

Balavan Cek, Primus of Travium, has foreseen that Q'ara will be the one to open the doorway between worlds and will make good on the prophecy that underpins the existence of the House. In his mind, the risk of disaster is weighed against the certain apocalypse that House Travium knows is coming. Cek has enlisted his most loyal servant, Amara the Unfettered, to act as the tutor and guardian of this prized asset. Amara has trained Q'ara to hide her true power and to direct her skills into magic that is more in line with the use of Ghyr, Root of Power. Q'ara is an innocent in a world that doesn't allow for it, and subterfuge isn't something that she understands. Her powers go beyond the comprehension of other Mellorians, and such greatness cannot be easily concealed... It is only a matter of time before Cek's secret is revealed to all, and Amara prays that Q'ara can come of age before then and realise her destiny.

In game terms, obviously we cannot introduce a model that can destroy the others with a click of their fingers! In the game Q'ara is subject to many limitations which offset her unique powers. As a ten year old child, one that has been hidden for many years and has been shielded from the harsh realities of life, Q'ara doesn't function along the same lines as other models. The rest if them are fighters, to greater or lesser extents, but fighters all. Q'ara doesn't really understand malice or violent intent, though is capable of inflicting a nasty shock to a model that comes too close.

Q'ara's strength lies in manipulating locations of models, friendly and enemy. She is also able to bring healing to the table - a very powerful ability in Travium and a real godsend to Amara (who often injures herself to gain bonuses). Q'ara is the most mobile model in the game so far, able to cross large distances very easily. Due to this, she has some additional limitations regarding certain scenarios in order to prevent this from again being too powerful. So if you are looking to field a model with exceptionally powerful location control game, then this is the Acolyte for you!

The KS is due to start on the 14th of November. I will be back before then with some more tidbits, but I hope you will check it out when it launches.

Hey everyone!

We are getting very close now and I hope that many of you will take a look at the project when we launch on Monday evening. Should be about 21:00 GMT/16:00 EST/13:00 PST. I will try and set up a stream or at least a hangout so people can ask questions and give me their thoughts, details for that will be on my FB page over the weekend:

https://www.facebook.com/The-Roots-of-Magic-1605082803110892/?view_public_for=1605082803110892

For now I will leave you with the Diabolists Acolyte - (Lord) Heston Graf, the Red Hand.



Lord Heston Graf is a terror that is hidden within the upper echelons of Mellorian society. He has committed many terrible acts and countless murders but is able to escape detection due to his training from a young age mask his true nature behind a guise of civility.

Heston is totally without compassion or empathy and no one is safe from his sliver razor. Even his own mother, the brave warrior that served House Durant for so many years as their First Blade, was not proof against his evil. Heston desired the power to take even more lives and to continue doing so despite the efforts of House Myrke to apprehend the "Red Hand". He made a pact with the Great Wyrm of the Dark for good fortune, and the initial price was the soul of one close to him. He didn't hesitate in naming his mother, a treachery which pleased the Dark One no end, and now she stands by his side robbed of her humanity: a puppet to Heston's will and his dark schemes.

With the blessing of his dark patron, Heston is prompted to ever riskier and more daring acts of murder and savagery. Under the instruction of the insane Suleiman, there will be many more deaths to come. When the bodies are discovered Heston will stand close by, affecting an air of disconsolate grief but otherwise not doing anything to attract notice. Behind his mask of aristocratic grace, the 'real' Heston will be laughing all the while...

The KS will be launching tonight at 21:00 GMT. I will be on my stream at: https://www.twitch.tv/grandarcanumgames if anyone would like to ask questions or otherwise get in touch.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Steaming live now on: https://www.twitch.tv/grandarcanumgames

The KS is now live!

Thanks to all backers so far and I hope that many more of you will join us in making a brighter future for the Roots of Magic!

Why does the Fear guy have a bullet belt?

I wish some more of these models had images rather than concept art. The site has some on a cycle, but it's hard to see them individually without waiting like 1min.

Ha, I can see the point about bullets but they are actually glass vials One of his Artefacts (when we get to that point in the game) will be to throw a vial and create a 'Cloud of Terrors'.

There is a gallery page in the 'Game' section, that shows painted models only. These pictures are only the existing/released models though. The renders for these can be seen in the shop section without a carousel

The KS project is for supporting the sculpting and casting of the new Acolyte models, hence only having concept art for them.

Only £128 from hitting £2000 and unlocking the first stretch model - the Demon of the First Gate.



Please come and take a look at the project and what we are trying to produce. Share with friends and gaming groups

5 days in and 50% funded!

We are very close to unlocking the next model: the Demon of the Second Gate...

58% funded, and the next model unlocked...

50% through the campaign and we are 63% funded

The next model to be unlocked, at £6000, is the Demon of the Third Gate - a titanic armoured monstrosity that exists solely to bring ruin to the physical world. Its going to be even bigger than the last one, and will be based on a 60mm round. In the game only the strongest Wizard, with a sound strategy, and a great deal of luck can hope to take it on. Only together can Wizards of Mellorian vanquish this deadly foe; but can they put aside their own hatred of each other to make it possible?



I know its a busy time for Kickstarters right now, but if you are looking for an easy to learn, quick to play game that has great models and a lot of tactical depth - come and check us out!

Des@Grand Arcanum

Hello all.

We are currently at 75% funded with just over 7 days remaining. At £6000, we unlock the chap below (still WIP so may change a bit):




At £7000 (the funding goal), we are working on a new character to be unlocked that will allow players to make use of the demons more often in the game. We are hoping to finalise the concept art this week so people can get excited about him before the final days of the project. His name is Taleshar, the Pledgebreaker and he represents the first elder-race model to be made available in the game. He is most certainly a villain, and can replace Acolytes in the two model variant games, bringing a new level of wanton violence and transmutation to those Wizards with the stomach to ally with him.

Please take a look at the project. We have already made some amazing models, but now we need the backing of the community to build upon this so we can continue to realise the world of Mellorian and produce even more content. We are so close to funding, and just a few more backers could really make a tremendous difference to the game

 Tonio wrote:


The fantasy skirmish game of wizard duels The Roots of Magic by Grand Arcanum Games is on kickstarter right now for their first expansion, the new acolytes.

Game website:
http://therootsofmagic.com/

Project page:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/739027318/the-roots-of-magic-miniatures-game-students-of-sor


The games intrigues me, so I got a couple of their minis to get a look before the KS ended, and went through the rules (free on their site). I did a small blog post about it with some pics of the casting quality:
http://www.zonion.net/en/2016/12/kickstarter-feature-the-roots-of-magic-students-of-sorcery/

Honestly it seemed interesting, but I just can't bring myself to dig through the dense rules or the slow demo video.

I really suspect there's a good game there though if I just had the drive to learn it.

Streaming live now - may be a nicer way to learn!

https://www.twitch.tv/grandarcanumgames

Other than that there are some less than 5 mins 'how to' videos that show the basics

The Demon of the Third Gate has been unlocked!






We are very close to hitting the funding total, so please come and take a look. The rules are very simple (about 20-25 pages of a 40 page book and very easy to follow) and the game has a lot of tactical depth due to the fact you invest all your thought in a very small # of models. Placement of models, action usage and scenario all have to be taken into consideration to succeed.

We have now hit 100% of the funding target!

A new character has been unlocked at this stage - a hulking brute named Taleshar the Pledgebreaker. One of the unique things this model can do in game is transform into Demons!



There are under 24 hours left in the project, so there is still time to come on board! We will make some very cool models and this guy will certainly be one of them!