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Didn't we see the playable characters in one of the leaked images?

Isn't the female character some sort of Stormcast?

I also think we will get the main boxed core game and then 6 expansions similar to BSF. Each expansion will be a location on the map that includes new adversaries and tiles.

It's possible that each expansion will have a boss in it too which is why there seem more than usual?

Edit: ignore my bit about the number of expansions.... totally didn't see the other 4 locations on the map, lol.

What leaked images?

Also on the simplification of the game, I have no issues with streamlined rules but I do hope they up the difficulty somewhat.

I'm guessing this is the "leaked image":


It comes from the Cursed City page.

No stormcast in sight

That's a female Empire general.

Lass on the left clearly has something akin to a Stormcast weapon. And it’s likely the one we saw as a Rumour Engine.

But that in itself doesn’t make her Stormcast.

My bet? She a Devoted of Sigmar type, carrying around something left behind when a Stormcast fell in battle. Through it, she’s able to channel her faith.

Danny76 wrote:
No stormcast in sight

I think the female mage on the far left is thought to be a stormcast given the sigil on her staff but i dunno from that image i think the far left and front centre characters look female but neither of them looks decisively stormcast and in fact the front centre character looks anything but a stormcast.

EDIT - Mad Doc's thoughts seem pretty plausible to me and very in keeping with more recent WQ games where the heroes have not been 'main line' models. E.g. in BSF we never got a space marine of any sort.

Nthat except I don’t think she’s necessarily carrying a fallen stormcast weapon (don’t they disappear anyway?)
We don’t know loads about what weapons the devoted of Sigmar carry, that could easily be their kind of staff.
It would make sense that it’s similar to a Stormcast weapon, but doesn’t mean it belongs to them, just because that’s the closest thing we can equate it to.

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
Lass on the left clearly has something akin to a Stormcast weapon. And it’s likely the one we saw as a Rumour Engine.

But that in itself doesn’t make her Stormcast.

My bet? She a Devoted of Sigmar type, carrying around something left behind when a Stormcast fell in battle. Through it, she’s able to channel her faith.

Stormcast equipment is whisked away along with their bodies to be reforged. I know even GW ignores that at this point, littering models with stormcast bits, but it's still canon.

If you hit them hard enough, they won't be able to teleport away, ask any Orruk with a well stacked trophy rack.

Also applies to daemons (Bloodletter and Plaguebearer skulls in the skulls kit) and Necrons.

Indeed. It’s rare, but does happen.

I haven't even finished the core BSF set, how do I justify another set but with cool vampires!?

 Tyranid Horde wrote:
I haven't even finished the core BSF set, how do I justify another set but with cool vampires!?

'With cool vampires' sounds like all the justification you need?

7 days without posting, and in the middle of it a GW preview. Frickin' hell.

Anyway, yes, Cursed City.

Fantastic looking minis so far, and the theme seems very cool. I am extremely interested in this one.

However, that interest is tempered by two factors:

1. Blackstone Fortress was a mother fething rip-off of a product. Not the core box, but those expansions. My God they were seriously overpriced. I am really scared that we're going to see the same thing happen with this new game, only even more expensive, as GW just raises the prices with new releases.

2. This still isn't really Quest. As long as you're playing pre-set characters with no choice over how they develop (or even if they can develop), this isn't quite what Quest is meant to be. Quest needs to be seriously unfair, and you should be able to play it your way. As flashy as the new stuff is, it's all named characters and set characteristics that never change. At the very least, the minis will make great enemies for real Quest (which, luckily, my whole group loves to play).

Anyway, looking forward to seeing the models.

We will never see another game by GW that had the sort of free form roleplaying elements of the original WHQ. In fact that is not common in most other dungeon crawlers either but they do tend to have more detailed character development mechanics than any of the modern WHQ games have had and BSF really was the most basic of the lot.

GW simply does not want to have to support the game beyond a tightly defined narrative played out over a core game and a few expansions. Using this model, it can plan its products, release them, sell them and then stop producing it.

Necronmaniac05 wrote:
We will never see another game by GW that had the sort of free form roleplaying elements of the original WHQ.

Which is massively to their detriment.

This point was made when both Silver Tower/Helmhammer* and BSF came out, but a simple bestiary of common adversaries would do wonders for a game like this. Warhammer Quest had a substantial bestiary section in its "Roleplay" book, and I, as someone who has never played WFB, spend heaps on getting lots of units to include in Quest games beyond the basic monsters from the core game/two expansions. I got heaps of Skaven, Undead, Orcs/Goblins, Beastmen, Chaos Warriors/Marauders, trolls of various descriptions, endless Squigs, and lots of interesting characters to use (Beastmen Shamans, Goblin Big Bosses, and so on). I'm wondering if I should get some more Undead stuff and even some Dark Elf stuff to add to it.

Without such a bestiary section, what incentive is there to get more for the game? There isn't one. It seems like a no brainer to me.

*Whatever that second one that required a GM was called.

These things still sell like hot cake so the oversimplified rule are here to stay. Also save them the trouble hiring actual rule writers.

GW's target demographic : people with money, but lack passion or just really lazy to learn games other than the oversimplified AoS /40k 8th ed, so they either never play or just play these games a few time before dropping it forever, at the end of the day it doesn't matter for GW because they got the money and the customers got their table decorations.

 lord_blackfang wrote:
I doubt there will be Stormcast in this game, it's more street level.

If a recaste then I am out.

 jeff white wrote:

 lord_blackfang wrote:
I doubt there will be Stormcast in this game, it's more street level.

If a recaste then I am out.

Hunting Vampires in their own city is not a low level thing

I played Silver tower twice and Hammerhal never.. However these are going to make an excellent addition to Frostgrave! That game is amazing.

Chopstick wrote:
These things still sell like hot cake so the oversimplified rule are here to stay. Also save them the trouble hiring actual rule writers.

GW's target demographic : people with money, but lack passion or just really lazy to learn games other than the oversimplified AoS /40k 8th ed, so they either never play or just play these games a few time before dropping it forever, at the end of the day it doesn't matter for GW because they got the money and the customers got their table decorations.

Massive generalisation there. The trend in lots of similar games over recent years has been to streamline the games system/rules to make it more accessible and easier to play. D&D 5th edition is another example of a game that has been around since even before 40k and has steadily simplified its rules over the years. The fact is now most people do not want a rulebook that is longer than a short novel as they simply do not have the time to read it and learn it. I suspect people are neither lazy not lack passion but simply would rather spend their time playing the game rather than reading the rules or, worse, arguing over them during game time.

I enjoy the WHQ system of action dice and character unique abilities. I agree that a bestiary for these games would be a really good idea and yes I am confused as to why they have never done one, particularly for Hammerhal which i think really lent itself to the idea. I just wish they would make the game even a little bit harder.

If I buy this it will mostly be for the miniatures. But if it evokes classic WHQ in it's gameplay that will be a pleasant bonus. I don't expect much from modern GW board games.

But I never bought Silver Tower because the tiles were ugly and a good few of the enemy sculpts were crap. I hope this one has nice tiles and an interesting cohort of bad guys.

 H.B.M.C. wrote:
1. Blackstone Fortress was a mother fething rip-off of a product. Not the core box, but those expansions. My God they were seriously overpriced. I am really scared that we're going to see the same thing happen with this new game, only even more expensive, as GW just raises the prices with new releases.

It certainly was. That was why I went to eBay for buying some of the expansions on the cheap (cardboard, no miniatures). Being in the U.S. allowed me to get the Escalation heroes cheaply at Barnes and Noble. The only expansion I picked up complete was the final one. That hurt, but I figured I'd complete the main story.

Maybe she's a Sister of Sigmar augur? They're blind, iirc, and this character has cloth over her eyes.

That assumes the Sisters of Sigmar are a thing in Age of Sigmar.

We haven't seen mention of them yet(at least I have not seen any), but there's been mention of Battlemages and the like.

 Kanluwen wrote:
That assumes the Sisters of Sigmar are a thing in Age of Sigmar.

We haven't seen mention of them yet(at least I have not seen any), but there's been mention of Battlemages and the like.

If BSF can bring back Zoats and Men of Iron, WHQ can bring back Sisters of Sigmar.

At $60 USD for four model expansion pack

 Kanluwen wrote:
That assumes the Sisters of Sigmar are a thing in Age of Sigmar.

Now that Sigmar is like a real physical humanoid person who walks around and can do stuff he probably renamed them to Stepsisters of Sigmar

 H.B.M.C. wrote:

Necronmaniac05 wrote:
We will never see another game by GW that had the sort of free form roleplaying elements of the original WHQ.

Which is massively to their detriment.

This point was made when both Silver Tower/Helmhammer* and BSF came out, but a simple bestiary of common adversaries would do wonders for a game like this. Warhammer Quest had a substantial bestiary section in its "Roleplay" book, and I, as someone who has never played WFB, spend heaps on getting lots of units to include in Quest games beyond the basic monsters from the core game/two expansions. I got heaps of Skaven, Undead, Orcs/Goblins, Beastmen, Chaos Warriors/Marauders, trolls of various descriptions, endless Squigs, and lots of interesting characters to use (Beastmen Shamans, Goblin Big Bosses, and so on). I'm wondering if I should get some more Undead stuff and even some Dark Elf stuff to add to it.

Without such a bestiary section, what incentive is there to get more for the game? There isn't one. It seems like a no brainer to me.

*Whatever that second one that required a GM was called.

They did at least release this after the more open form sequel (Hammerhal?)


I'm excited for this based on sculpts shown and theme but am worried it will be more Blackstone than Hammerhal.

I hope Cursed City does not repeat the mistake BSF made by letting it drag on for too long, where later expansions require an expensive mid-run expansion.

Also, if going for a long run of expansions again, it might be better if the core Cursed City game is a smaller product this time. Preparing BSF's models was an unwanted chore, while there was also no tutorial mission to get players up and running fast. In comparison Castle Ravenloft was just a matter of punching out card components and we were well underway to escaping the dungeon before Strahd woke up...

And yes, they need to revise the expansions going forward. The £37.50 packs felt shy of an explorer( Dreaded Ambull, Traitor Command ) while others felt like an expensive and hefty requirement if you had no interest in it( Escalation ).

That all said, I've got a very good feeling about Cursed City and it could be a milestone for GW.