Polonius wrote:
The pictures linked by JudgeDoug show the Roman list, and it looks like most armies around built around a "master list," which includes small bolt throwers and catapults, with the romans having access to both.

In many ways, I think that's an elegant solution, in that it allows units like archers, spearmen, and warriors (I'm guessing swordsmen type) to have one stat line, while the more exotic units are defined. Further, the romans at least have special rules which modify the master list units.

In the end, there really isn't that big a difference between the Pharoah's bronze age spearmen, the spearman of Darius, later Imperial auxiliaries, or even the sheildwalls of the early middle ages, aside form progressively (but uniformly) improved kit.

 JoshInJapan wrote:
Has there been a definite pre-order and/or release date for the historical supplement?

Prestor Jon wrote:

 TheAuldGrump wrote:

 judgedoug wrote:
http://blog.untilsomebodylosesaneye.net/2016/08/sneaking-peek-into-past.html?fb_ref=Default

Innnteresting... I may ask my group if they want to incorporate some of those rules changes into our regular KoW game. (Hills as Difficult Terrain and Cover(n) in particular.)

The Auld Grump

Yeah I like those new special rules too and they should work well in KoW 2.0 too. Definitely gonna get the book but if it's as in demand as it sounds I may end up waiting for a reprint run. Is Mantic going the route of replacing magic items with upgrades? Like instead of buying a Jar of Winds for my archers I upgrade them to Veterans or whatever nomenclature is attached to the unit modifying stat. I hope the Roman list has access to a good amount of war machines, batteries of scorpions and ballistae that embraces the combined arms ability.

overtyrant wrote:
They look like an absolute nightmare to work with! Top heavy and they look like they will break as well!! Kits like this are a BAD idea so I suppose that's why Mantic have done it!

Shhh... Ben the photographer left his computer open so we managed to pinch this picture of the upcoming Naiad Wyrmriders. Slithering your way next month!

BobtheInquisitor wrote:I wonder how many pictures they snagged off of Ben's computer, and how much they will blackmail him for.

The wyrms look decent, but there are so many alternatives that I can't see metal monster mounts selling very well.

kodos wrote:Love the models, just hope that they are resin or restic

 Azazelx wrote:
I'm with you there. They do look decent, though. I imagine that they'll be in metal since Mantic went with "no more restic... ever" after the backlash they received a few years ago from poor quality restic for everything.

Which is a shame since it's actually a decent material for some models, and when the quality control is up to par. Their pre-KS1 era undead cavalry seemed quite solid, and even the Ogres, Stone Golems, Werewolves and a few other things were decent. The mould lines on those and especially the more detailed models (including the ogres) and pain in cleaning them is where it all started to fall down, just getting worse with smaller and multipart models with increasing numbers of fiddly bits.

Onwards to war – victory awaits the brave…

Recently we announced Kings of War Historical – and the response has been amazing. While it has somewhat of a “Hollywood” approach to historical accuracy, we think you’ll get some terrific games played using the rules. I expect to see battle reports of both recreations of epic battles of old – and some of those scraps we have always asked over beer like “who’d win in a battle between the Romans and an army of the undead”? The book is primarily a way to fight historical clashes, but we felt it would be missing something without a little ‘mythical’ fun in there.

Stepping back, it is fantastic to see Kings of War continuing to grow around the world; it seems to have taken deep hold in the USA and Australian tournament scenes for mass battle fantasy gaming, and continues to grow rapidly in the UK and Europe too. There are more new people trying it out and then joining the ranks of KoW than ever before, and new releases – both new armies and gap filling in the range – are happening all the time.

Earth Elementals

However, every now and then we need something epic that galvanises us all into action – a reason to start that new army, finish off the units we have had on our painting table for months or pick up those regiments that will finally help us turn the tide in battle! That spur into action might be a tournament, a global campaign or just a new release for the army we have.

Over the past few weeks I have been on Facebook, looking at forums and talking to players at shows about what Kings of War gamers want (and don’t want) to see in the years ahead. What I’m hearing above all else is that there is a demand for more of…well… more of everything really! But pressing a little deeper there were a few stand out messages: at the top of the print list are organised global campaigns, rules for sieges, skirmish rules, lots more fluff and perhaps some multiplayer battle options.

Miniatures-wise there was demand to fill out the gaps in existing armies, get some new armies underway (but again just a few cool ones!) and a few new units – perhaps tied in with a “General’s Compendium” type book.

Naiad Wyrmriders

So, that’s what we are going to do!

Next month we have some great unit fillers (the Naiad Wyrmriders are seriously tempting me to a nature army… and judging by the reaction on Facebook, it looks like a lot of you agree) and then in 2017 we’ll be releasing a full Trident Realms army! And who knows… the Salamanders might be leaving their islands later in the year too.

We will also get a Tournament pack out – working with all the major tournament organisers from around the world to make sure it’s perfect. It’ll have a few ‘special’ rules for the year (entirely optional) plus the latest FAQs and some words of wisdom from the KoW Rules Committee.

However, the most exciting news is that from January you’re going to have to start building your armies because in summer we will be running a massive global campaign, with some help from our friends over at Beasts of War. The campaign will coincide with the relaunch of the Basilean army (with all new plastic Men at Arms… you kept asking, so we’ve made sure we listened) as they tackle a huge invasion from the Abyss. We will keep track of the results and the games you play will shape the world of Mantica. Not cataclysmic effects though – I mean, we won’t end the world or anything

 lord marcus wrote:
Onwards to war – victory awaits the brave…

Spoiler:

Recently we announced Kings of War Historical – and the response has been amazing. While it has somewhat of a “Hollywood” approach to historical accuracy, we think you’ll get some terrific games played using the rules. I expect to see battle reports of both recreations of epic battles of old – and some of those scraps we have always asked over beer like “who’d win in a battle between the Romans and an army of the undead”? The book is primarily a way to fight historical clashes, but we felt it would be missing something without a little ‘mythical’ fun in there.

Stepping back, it is fantastic to see Kings of War continuing to grow around the world; it seems to have taken deep hold in the USA and Australian tournament scenes for mass battle fantasy gaming, and continues to grow rapidly in the UK and Europe too. There are more new people trying it out and then joining the ranks of KoW than ever before, and new releases – both new armies and gap filling in the range – are happening all the time.

Earth Elementals

However, every now and then we need something epic that galvanises us all into action – a reason to start that new army, finish off the units we have had on our painting table for months or pick up those regiments that will finally help us turn the tide in battle! That spur into action might be a tournament, a global campaign or just a new release for the army we have.

Over the past few weeks I have been on Facebook, looking at forums and talking to players at shows about what Kings of War gamers want (and don’t want) to see in the years ahead. What I’m hearing above all else is that there is a demand for more of…well… more of everything really! But pressing a little deeper there were a few stand out messages: at the top of the print list are organised global campaigns, rules for sieges, skirmish rules, lots more fluff and perhaps some multiplayer battle options.

Miniatures-wise there was demand to fill out the gaps in existing armies, get some new armies underway (but again just a few cool ones!) and a few new units – perhaps tied in with a “General’s Compendium” type book.

Naiad Wyrmriders

So, that’s what we are going to do!

Next month we have some great unit fillers (the Naiad Wyrmriders are seriously tempting me to a nature army… and judging by the reaction on Facebook, it looks like a lot of you agree) and then in 2017 we’ll be releasing a full Trident Realms army! And who knows… the Salamanders might be leaving their islands later in the year too.

We will also get a Tournament pack out – working with all the major tournament organisers from around the world to make sure it’s perfect. It’ll have a few ‘special’ rules for the year (entirely optional) plus the latest FAQs and some words of wisdom from the KoW Rules Committee.

However, the most exciting news is that from January you’re going to have to start building your armies because in summer we will be running a massive global campaign, with some help from our friends over at Beasts of War. The campaign will coincide with the relaunch of the Basilean army (with all new plastic Men at Arms… you kept asking, so we’ve made sure we listened) as they tackle a huge invasion from the Abyss. We will keep track of the results and the games you play will shape the world of Mantica. Not cataclysmic effects though – I mean, we won’t end the world or anything

- in 2017 we’ll be releasing a full Trident Realms army!
- We will also get a Tournament pack out
- in summer we will be running a massive global campaign, with some help from our friends over at Beasts of War.
- The campaign will coincide with the relaunch of the Basilean army (with all new plastic Men at Arms…
- But the best thing is that all of this will be done direct to retail.

BobtheInquisitor wrote:I'm on board for new plastic Basilians. And if the old sprues end up selling for pennies on the dollar, I'll be happy to spend my pennies.

lord marcus wrote:That is an event exclusive necromancer given out at European conventions

 Bolognesus wrote:
MaA are fairly big/chunky/heroic. I doubt arms made for historical plastics would scale too well, but more power to you if you can make it work

 Zywus wrote:

 Bolognesus wrote:
MaA are fairly big/chunky/heroic. I doubt arms made for historical plastics would scale too well, but more power to you if you can make it work

It might be a bit optimistic yeah, but without having held the models in my own hands, my impression is that the M@A is actually quite decently scaled outside their horrible ape-arms and while bulkier than say Perry minis, not as beefy as modern GW sculpts.

With Fireforge being slightly bigger than Perry's as well there's a decent chance it'd work. It's a bit of a gamble for sure, which is why I need the price to drop before I'll take the pluge. [/quote

I actually have a bunch of them to hand. Again, good luck.

Seriously though, they are decently scaled, just pretty damn big. Definitely on the large end of the 28mm scale; they'd be big-ish amongst GW's later empire models etc, so they certainly will tower over any historicals. Maybe the tabards etc. will make it look sufficiently in scale though, so if they're sufficiently cheap by all means have a go at it. Feth, if it turns out OK I might finally have a use for the 40ish I *didn't* get the crossbow bits for...