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When can you buy those gorgons - you just cannot have enough snake people.
2014 will be the year of zero GW purchases. Kneadite instead of GS, no paints or models. 2014 will be the year I finally make the move to military models and away from miniature games.
There's likely to be some variant to tempt you among those choices!
Creator Mierce Miniatures about 9 hours ago
@Andy S - each new and old infantry unit will get a champion, banner bearer, banner bearer as warrior, herald, herald as warrior, warrior 1 and warrior 2.
The banner and herald alternates will have as few parts different as possible, and these parts will be included as an option in every unit purchased with a command group (5x warriors w cmd or 10x warriors w cmd) or as a standalone warrior (5x warriors).
Obviously, if a unit does not have a banner bearer or herald, there are no alternates.
@Charlie - no update for KSMM.
There will be a few freebies and there will also be new stuff for each kindred, although the new kindreds take priority first, so they'll come up once the infantry / monstrous infantry starter sets are funded.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2014/09/06 01:09:08
I really wish they would slow down with the new campaigns for this.
I haven't got my Wave 3 stuff, and likely won't get it before this newest KS closes.
So I probably won't back it, since I haven't actually received anything yet.
Bam, said the lady!
DR:70S+GM++B+I+Pw40k09/f++D++A(WTF)/hWD153R+++T(S)DM++++ Dakka, what is good in life?
To crush other websites,
See their user posts driven before you,
And hear the lamentation of the newbs.
-Frazzled-10/22/09
I read the very first post from this thread, and how everyone was displeased with the naming and such. I can only agree. When I first heard about Mierce, two things were very off-putting to me. The sentences in the fluff made just no sense. Very, very poorly written. Tim Fisher tried to actually compare this to GW fluff. It's not even close. All, not just some, of the names sound like they are in an alien tongue. Just unnatural. But it's these wierd names combined with sentences without technical structure. I took my time trying to learn about just one faction, and I threw in the towel. They need to fire their author. It's a joke that he is employed by this company.
Second problem I have is that the factions just don't have their own character. Okay one is sort of snakey. I think one has some minitaurs. But really, most are just a series of bizarre monsters. If you are going to go with Dark Ages, make it more clear who the Byzantines/Vikings/Celts are. Cuz I just don't see these distinct factions. Just a slurry of demons and monsters with a couple barbarians each.
About ten percent of their sculpts are admittedly very very good tho. Anything done by Stephan Simon is great.
The author is the owner and developer of the game so don't expect the writing to change
(personally I think it's solid enough, but if it's not for you it's not for you, we all like different stuff)
Knowing a bit of the history/mythology of the UK, Ireland and Scandinavia also helps as that's where a lot of the background ideas come from
as to the naming, yup they are difficult (especially the ones based on the Welsh language in the Brythonaid kindred) but the more you read/use them the easier it gets (and you start translating bits in your head which helps)
I've said this before and I'm sure I'm not the only one but the website does a terrible job of presenting the factions that is made worse by the naming scheme. The kick starter does a much better job as it is one page with clear pictures of what everything is while the website requires lots of clicks and slow page loads.
I agree with that the names are rather hard to understand and to even attempt to pronounce, and I do agree that it seems to be a steep learning curve for new people to navigate through the different factions, but once you get a hang of it it starts making more sense and each of the factions are getting quite easily to identify among all the others. So keep at it.
This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2014/09/07 11:31:22
The factions all take realistic historical factions and then lump their mythology (Norse have frost trolls and Jotun) or an alternate mythology (Byzantine and Demons). The factions IMO are all pretty distinct.
BloodFather wrote: I read the very first post from this thread, and how everyone was displeased with the naming and such. I can only agree. When I first heard about Mierce, two things were very off-putting to me. The sentences in the fluff made just no sense. Very, very poorly written. Tim Fisher tried to actually compare this to GW fluff. It's not even close. All, not just some, of the names sound like they are in an alien tongue. Just unnatural. But it's these wierd names combined with sentences without technical structure. I took my time trying to learn about just one faction, and I threw in the towel. They need to fire their author. It's a joke that he is employed by this company.
Just having a little fun there, no offence is intended. In all seriousness, you are perfectly entitled to your opinion; all I will say is that the names (and thus pronunciations) of our kindreds, realms and warriors is based upon historical / contemporary names of the various languages involved. I make no apologies, however, for using (for example) Welsh, or Irish, or Old Norse, or Old English; because I believe it makes Darklands more authentic. If that means people will avoid Darklands, so be it - I refuse to compromise.
Additionally, the background writing - particularly the sentence structure - is deliberately strange to mirror the writings of the venerable Bede. I don't ask anybody to understand that - all I would ask is that you realise it's deliberately strange, and move on - and please, no personal attacks of the above nature, which are entirely unnecessary and immediately lowers the value of your opinion.
What I will say is that, once the full rules are out and there's more background material, you may find it easier to get into. Darklands is in its infancy, really, and I just don't have the time to draw it all together except for the rulebook. I hold my hands up on that one - the background material is sparse and hard to find. That will change though.
Anyway, in all honesty, if you find the names too difficult to pronounce or the background too difficult to grasp, then Darklands is probably not for you. Darklands does require a degree of interest in our world and history in order to get into the setting, which (ironically enough) is probably the easiest fantasy setting to understand out there. It's our world, fourteen hundred years ago. There's Romans. There's Vikings. There's Celts! Once you get into the dark ages and the myth and legend that surrounds it, I defy anyone not to be intrigued.
In my opinion (which of course proves I too have an arsehole), the writing in most fantasy wargames, in particular Hordes and Warmachine, is awful. The background is made up nonsense and every single name or idea is borrowed from somewhere else (usually Tolkien or Conan). So I make no apologies for trying to make Darklands a little different and a little more grounded in history, myth and languages that exist than the rest, and a little more grounded in the natural world, too.
BloodFather wrote: Second problem I have is that the factions just don't have their own character. Okay one is sort of snakey. I think one has some minitaurs. But really, most are just a series of bizarre monsters. If you are going to go with Dark Ages, make it more clear who the Byzantines/Vikings/Celts are. Cuz I just don't see these distinct factions. Just a slurry of demons and monsters with a couple barbarians each.
Again, this may be because the background material is not yet drawn together, although that's something that will happen in the future. There just aren't enough hours in the day!
Darklands is man and beast together, not man, elf, dwarf, orc and beast. Those standard fantasy tropes are something we wish to avoid because they have been done to death and the world does not need another wargame with them in it. Regardless, even though man is the most common denominator (which also makes it easier to relate to) we've worked hard to try to ensure each kindred is different, especially because - for example - the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse are basically the same people.
Albainn - Ogres and Giants
Angelcynn - shape-shifting Wolves, Bears, Boars, Deer
Atalantes - Ancient Greeks with arcane weaponry and bronze colossi
Brythoniaid - Dragons
Byzantii - the romans, allied to demons
Érainn - the Irish, and bog/tree/fen beasts
Fomoraic - hairy beast-men and ice creatures
Khthones - reptiles - snakes, lizards, lisks, crocodiles
Norse - vikings, trolls and ravens
Ysians - flesh constructs and wild creatures
BloodFather wrote: About ten percent of their sculpts are admittedly very very good tho. Anything done by Stephan Simon is great.
I'm glad you think we've done something right, at least... even if only ten per cent!
Again, as a last aside, Darklands won't be for everyone, just as Hordes and Warmachine isn't or Warhammer isn't; but if you don't understand it and want to know more, just mail us - we don't bite and I'd be happy to answer any and all questions you have.
For those that have commented in support of Darklands here, thank you
Cheers
This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2014/09/07 15:34:46
BloodFather wrote: I read the very first post from this thread, and how everyone was displeased with the naming and such. I can only agree. When I first heard about Mierce, two things were very off-putting to me. The sentences in the fluff made just no sense. Very, very poorly written. Tim Fisher tried to actually compare this to GW fluff. It's not even close. All, not just some, of the names sound like they are in an alien tongue. Just unnatural. But it's these wierd names combined with sentences without technical structure. I took my time trying to learn about just one faction, and I threw in the towel. They need to fire their author. It's a joke that he is employed by this company.
Just having a little fun there, no offence is intended. In all seriousness, you are perfectly entitled to your opinion; all I will say is that the names (and thus pronunciations) of our kindreds, realms and warriors is based upon historical / contemporary names of the various languages involved. I make no apologies, however, for using (for example) Welsh, or Irish, or Old Norse, or Old English; because I believe it makes Darklands more authentic. If that means people will avoid Darklands, so be it - I refuse to compromise.
Additionally, the background writing - particularly the sentence structure - is deliberately strange to mirror the writings of the venerable Bede. I don't ask anybody to understand that - all I would ask is that you realise it's deliberately strange, and move on - and please, no personal attacks of the above nature, which are entirely unnecessary and immediately lowers the value of your opinion.
What I will say is that, once the full rules are out and there's more background material, you may find it easier to get into. Darklands is in its infancy, really, and I just don't have the time to draw it all together except for the rulebook. I hold my hands up on that one - the background material is sparse and hard to find. That will change though.
Anyway, in all honesty, if you find the names too difficult to pronounce or the background too difficult to grasp, then Darklands is probably not for you. Darklands does require a degree of interest in our world and history in order to get into the setting, which (ironically enough) is probably the easiest fantasy setting to understand out there. It's our world, fourteen hundred years ago. There's Romans. There's Vikings. There's Celts! Once you get into the dark ages and the myth and legend that surrounds it, I defy anyone not to be intrigued.
In my opinion (which of course proves I too have an arsehole), the writing in most fantasy wargames, in particular Hordes and Warmachine, is awful. The background is made up nonsense and every single name or idea is borrowed from somewhere else (usually Tolkien or Conan). So I make no apologies for trying to make Darklands a little different and a little more grounded in history, myth and languages that exist than the rest, and a little more grounded in the natural world, too.
BloodFather wrote: Second problem I have is that the factions just don't have their own character. Okay one is sort of snakey. I think one has some minitaurs. But really, most are just a series of bizarre monsters. If you are going to go with Dark Ages, make it more clear who the Byzantines/Vikings/Celts are. Cuz I just don't see these distinct factions. Just a slurry of demons and monsters with a couple barbarians each.
Again, this may be because the background material is not yet drawn together, although that's something that will happen in the future. There just aren't enough hours in the day!
Darklands is man and beast together, not man, elf, dwarf, orc and beast. Those standard fantasy tropes are something we wish to avoid because they have been done to death and the world does not need another wargame with them in it. Regardless, even though man is the most common denominator (which also makes it easier to relate to) we've worked hard to try to ensure each kindred is different, especially because - for example - the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse are basically the same people.
Albainn - Ogres and Giants
Angelcynn - shape-shifting Wolves, Bears, Boars, Deer
Atalantes - Ancient Greeks with arcane weaponry and bronze colossi
Brythoniaid - Dragons
Byzantii - the romans, allied to demons
Érainn - the Irish, and bog/tree/fen beasts
Fomoraic - hairy beast-men and ice creatures
Khthones - reptiles - snakes, lizards, lisks, crocodiles
Norse - vikings, trolls and ravens
Ysians - flesh constructs and wild creatures
BloodFather wrote: About ten percent of their sculpts are admittedly very very good tho. Anything done by Stephan Simon is great.
I'm glad you think we've done something right, at least... even if only ten per cent!
Again, as a last aside, Darklands won't be for everyone, just as Hordes and Warmachine isn't or Warhammer isn't; but if you don't understand it and want to know more, just mail us - we don't bite and I'd be happy to answer any and all questions you have.
For those that have commented in support of Darklands here, thank you
Cheers
I admit that I really like this whole approach as it indeed gives quite a depth to the whole setting. I find it very interesting that historical background with fantasy touches.
If you need any contribution with the Greek names for Atalantes I would be more than happy to help
About ten percent of their sculpts are admittedly very very good tho. Anything done by Stephan Simon is great.
Don't know how I missed this gem. Simply put, you're wrong and blind. 10%? You're significantly short.
Sweet, sour, salty or bitter... I guess everyone got their own flavour they prefer. For me, I'm more heavily leaning towards 10% are not to my taste while 90% is pretty great.
Mierce Miniatures wrote: In my opinion (which of course proves I too have an arsehole), the writing in most fantasy wargames, in particular Hordes and Warmachine, is awful. The background is made up nonsense and every single name or idea is borrowed from somewhere else (usually Tolkien or Conan). So I make no apologies for trying to make Darklands a little different and a little more grounded in history, myth and languages that exist than the rest, and a little more grounded in the natural world, too.
I was nodding and agreeing with you right up till that pointless little dig. Slagging off another game to try and make yours / your favourite look good, is never ever a good idea.
"The 75mm gun is firing. The 37mm gun is firing, but is traversed round the wrong way. The Browning is jammed. I am saying "Driver, advance." and the driver, who can't hear me, is reversing. And as I look over the top of the turret and see twelve enemy tanks fifty yards away, someone hands me a cheese sandwich."
I'm assuming the earlier poster simply got his numbers reversed? 10% he didn't like, right?
That's the only thing that could logically make sense.
Truth be told, I was kind of in the same boat in regards to the background material- early on. I started looking into the history a bit on my own of some of these kindreds, and after that there was no turning back.
Having had the opportunity to visit a bunch of historical sites in that area of the world when I was younger certainly has helped make some connections with things as well.
Names for the Brythoniaid are still my biggest challenge, but also some of my favorite! There's something about piles of vowels just jumbling up on each other that appeals to me.
Poorly lit photos of my ever- growing collection of completely unrelated models!
highlord tamburlaine wrote: I'm assuming the earlier poster simply got his numbers reversed? 10% he didn't like, right?
That's the only thing that could logically make sense.
There's only two more I can think of, one is that he possesses a very minority aesthetic perspective, the other is an inflammatory term that involves bridges and billy goats.
Names for the Brythoniaid are still my biggest challenge, but also some of my favorite! There's something about piles of vowels just jumbling up on each other that appeals to me.
In fairness, modern Welsh is equally hard to pronounce...
We find comfort among those who agree with us - growth among those who don't. - Frank Howard Clark
The wise man doubts often, and changes his mind; the fool is obstinate, and doubts not; he knows all things but his own ignorance.
The correct statement of individual rights is that everyone has the right to an opinion, but crucially, that opinion can be roundly ignored and even made fun of, particularly if it is demonstrably nonsense!” Professor Brian Cox
If you pull the info you can dig out of the background bits a lot of the units have in the Mierce website you can reconstruct a fair bit of information. It also helps you understand what the terms mean
Below is what I've done for one of the kindreds (any errors are mine not Robs)
The Albaiin have resisted the invasions of the Romanii and continue to resist the attacks of the Byzantii (the sucessors to the Romanii) and those of the fearsome Norse. They also fear possible invasion from the Fomoraic, the Érainn and the Angelcynn. The ally when necessary with the Brythoniaid (inhabitants of what is now Wales), the other remnant of the original inhabitants of these isles.
The kindred is composed of seven kingdoms which cover the land of Alba, these are
Fortriu ruled by the Righ of Fortriu, Talorc son of Uuid, Once a mere kingdom, Fortriu now has holdings in all of Alba: not simply land, but fortresses and bulwarks against the raiders and would-be conquerers to the west, south and across the sea.
One of vassals of Talorc son of Uuid, Righ (King) of Fortriu, is Dúngal, Mormaer (Warlord/General) of he great fortresses Dun Durn. He is ably served by his Hound (personal banner bearer) Drast the Hunched so called because of his physical deformity which would normally have made him an outcast, but this was ignored after saved the life of Dúngal in the wilderness of Fortriu during a Dál Riatan ( Érainn?) incursion and later went on to demonstrate unmatched skill in war. Dúngal also calls upon the services of the Umaer (warchief) Ciniod and Itaina and the Sagart (Sorcerer) Domnech as well as numerous Gairlom (Infantry)
Other kingdoms of the Albaiin are Cait (to the north-west of Fortriu), Ce and Circinn (both to south of Fortriu).
Alba also still provides a home to some of those who lived there before man came.
The Giants beloved of the old gods. The Oghurüc born of giants driven from their original homes by man until they reached the hidden the places of the world where lie forces and things that crawled or flew undisturbed until the Giants came. They were then changed by this meeting becoming the twisted Oghurüc. These deviant Giants have a single eye hooves and horns. Tehir twisted appearance is matched by their hate filled hearts that revere their gods through the suffering of others, in the hope that sacrificing others to the Oghu stones will atone for the sins of their own lives and thus eventually return them the forms they once had as true Giants. The Oghur who treat with the Oghurüc with supersticious awe and fear and the Oghurithne. These beings know the ways of the Oghu stones and can the powers they hold in the battles against the enemies of the Albaiin.
I'm not a huge fan of the names either. When playing the game it devolves into "This unit attacks this unit" or whatever as it's easier than trying to garble it all out when I actually play the game that is.
It's fairly obvious to everyone that this game is grounded in history, and I'll freely admit that doesn't put me off the background but it doesn't inspire me to read further into it either. As every faction is based on an obvious culture in broad strokes I can make assumptions about Darklands as it's the Dark Ages with big monsters. I think the only faction I can't make any guesses about are the Khthones.
Errr, no. That's hardly the norm. That name in particular is just an attraction concocted in the 19th century to lure tourists, works like a charm too! As for the name itself, it reads out as a set of landmarks used to describe the general area, words strung together. It looks a mess, even to native Welsh speakers.
Alpharius wrote: I'm hoping that once the 'full' rulebook is released, there's lot of good background on the various Kindreds.
If there's one criticism that I feel is valid here it is that - the background right now is too sparse and too scattered.
Rob's told us that the full rulebook will address and correct this - so I'm really looking forward to that!
This is a very good and accurate point. A rich background with stories and several details of each faction is what makes the difference between a rich system and just a good game with nice minis.
It is point they should really look very seriously.
Errr, no. That's hardly the norm. That name in particular is just an attraction concocted in the 19th century to lure tourists, works like a charm too! As for the name itself, it reads out as a set of landmarks used to describe the general area, words strung together. It looks a mess, even to native Welsh speakers.
I'm surprised you felt compelled to explain that too me.
Of course I was using an extreme example, because I was having a little joke, if I was giving a lecture on the origins and evolution of the Welsh language, I would have probably used a slightly more grounded example.
We find comfort among those who agree with us - growth among those who don't. - Frank Howard Clark
The wise man doubts often, and changes his mind; the fool is obstinate, and doubts not; he knows all things but his own ignorance.
The correct statement of individual rights is that everyone has the right to an opinion, but crucially, that opinion can be roundly ignored and even made fun of, particularly if it is demonstrably nonsense!” Professor Brian Cox
It will definitely be next year for the printing, I'm hoping to get the PDF up after the next project; I'll update everything next week. I've been holding off telling people because I thought that I would get enough time to get the PDF done in August, but then I had to babysit the kids for three weeks as our lass got a new job. Family life and work are tough...
So that's another slip from, what was it, November?
I have to say, and this has been on my mind for a while, that my enthusiasm remains, but as the game slips further and further down the line, my enthusiasm to buy more effectively blind diminishes.
We find comfort among those who agree with us - growth among those who don't. - Frank Howard Clark
The wise man doubts often, and changes his mind; the fool is obstinate, and doubts not; he knows all things but his own ignorance.
The correct statement of individual rights is that everyone has the right to an opinion, but crucially, that opinion can be roundly ignored and even made fun of, particularly if it is demonstrably nonsense!” Professor Brian Cox
To the above discussion- The website is really terrible about representing the factions, though! You get much more out of the Kickstarter pages in that regard.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2014/09/07 23:50:14
A rulebook that has more than just the rules in it though is a book that I'm far more likely to pull off the shelf to read just for the hell of it.
If the actual book is going to slip into 2015, which I'm fine with if it means even more art and the like, gives me a good reason to pick up the quickstart rulebook then to tide me over.
Very least I can pawn that book off on my brother when the nice full version arrives.
Poorly lit photos of my ever- growing collection of completely unrelated models!
Azreal13 wrote: So that's another slip from, what was it, November?
I have to say, and this has been on my mind for a while, that my enthusiasm remains, but as the game slips further and further down the line, my enthusiasm to buy more effectively blind diminishes.
The quick start is PLENTY to start chewing on until the new year. It's already more robust than many other rulebooks.
Azreal13 wrote: So that's another slip from, what was it, November?
I have to say, and this has been on my mind for a while, that my enthusiasm remains, but as the game slips further and further down the line, my enthusiasm to buy more effectively blind diminishes.
The quick start is PLENTY to start chewing on until the new year. It's already more robust than many other rulebooks.
highlord tamburlaine wrote:A rulebook that has more than just the rules in it though is a book that I'm far more likely to pull off the shelf to read just for the hell of it.
If the actual book is going to slip into 2015, which I'm fine with if it means even more art and the like, gives me a good reason to pick up the quickstart rulebook then to tide me over.
Very least I can pawn that book off on my brother when the nice full version arrives.
This.
It isn't so much about lacking an option to play the game, it is all the rest of the experience that surrounds it, up to and including the smell of cracking open a brand new glossy tome for the first time.
Both myself and my only likely initial opponent had decided to hold off starting until we had the full book, and that target is simply sliding off towards the horizon and other games and priorities are beginning to insert themselves between me and it.
I can feel myself losing impetus, and I'm fairly sure a book the allows me to get inside the game world will resolve that, so I guess, for me, it is now a race between the book launching and me losing all momentum and relegating Mierce from a company I'm a huge fan of, who makes miniatures for a game I play to a company I occasionally buy counts as models for other games I play.
We find comfort among those who agree with us - growth among those who don't. - Frank Howard Clark
The wise man doubts often, and changes his mind; the fool is obstinate, and doubts not; he knows all things but his own ignorance.
The correct statement of individual rights is that everyone has the right to an opinion, but crucially, that opinion can be roundly ignored and even made fun of, particularly if it is demonstrably nonsense!” Professor Brian Cox
