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Just played my first two games of Kings of War yesterday and thought I would share some of my experiences and thoughts here on Dakka.

First of all, I have to say learning a new system via a demo game is a lot more fun, and simple, than pouring through a rulebook. This way my first time learning a new game not having read the rules. I whipped up an Elves list on Battlescribe having no knowledge about what anything did, just comparing the names of units to my existing high elf units.

I played against my friend’s dwarves in the first game, and was pretty well picked apart. Though I had a unit of stormwind cavalry do exceedingly well. In the second game, I altered my list some, after knowing how the game worked, and had a much better game against the same friend’s Herd army. Stormwind cavalry once again did excellent work on the flanks, but this time my center held a lot better. It also helped that he had to come to me since I outshot him, rather than the reverse like in the previous game.

Overall I really enjoy the system. It seems like everything is just more streamlined and simplified, but not in a bad way. Though I miss character creation, I do like the more realistic approach to characters and their impact of the game. The nerve mechanic was/is definitely the thing that takes the most getting used to for me. In a lot of ways I actually prefer Kings of War to Warhammer. Some mechanics, like double attacks in the flank, and combat not taking an eternity to play though, were thoroughly enjoyable and refreshing.

I don’t think KoW will have the replayability that Warhammer did, but I am thankful to have something to do with my Warhammer armies. Depending on how that community goes, I may look into starting Undead with pure mantic models (with maybe some reaper and GW thrown in the mix), at some point in the future.

Hmmm.... for replayability.... My group has played as many KoW games in the last two years as we had played WH in the previous four.

Mind you, part of that is simply that we can get in two games in the same length of time that it took to play one game of WH.

KoW is actually closer to older versions of WH in feel - maneuvering is important, and your initial positioning matters a great deal.

I think that losing the feel of a battle is why Warhammer started failing over the last two incarnations. AoS was just... admitting that they had killed the game. :(

The Auld Grump

Not long into kings of war my self warptide
Have played about 12 games now admittedly smallish games but found it just a nice game bit of thought and fast play makes it a great wee game very easy to play large battles with by the looks.

Undead with pure mantic models should turn out rather well the Skelton's are great looking the knight ones though I wasn't to keen on horses had to much fleshy bits for me.

After the first Kickstarter completed I played a lot of games with my brother. The feel and mechanics of how the game play are very enjoyable. As has been mentioned it felt more like warhammer than warhammer has of late.

Kind of off topic but are the troll minis still roundly despised amongst KoW fans? I had an idea for a conversion using them and it would be nice if there were a great many going uncared for.

I sent my free troll mini to another continent. I suppose some people may not yet have divested themselves of their Mantic trolls, but those people have reasons, and those reasons probably prevent them from selling the trolls to you.

What conversion are you planning?

Fair point for sure. I guess I'll be counting on folks who left em in the box after they got their pledge.

I was thinking of doing a Black Crusade adventure where the players are in the midst of a gene/fleshsplicing war between Fabius and the Haemonculus Covens. So they'd be the bulk of some Grotesque conversions.

I love the trolls, personally, for the same reason I like the ogres. Seen from tabletop distance, the tiny little legs provide a forced-perspective effect, making the models seem even bigger than they really are.

 Eldarain wrote:
After the first Kickstarter completed I played a lot of games with my brother. The feel and mechanics of how the game play are very enjoyable. As has been mentioned it felt more like warhammer than warhammer has of late.

Kind of off topic but are the troll minis still roundly despised amongst KoW fans? I had an idea for a conversion using them and it would be nice if there were a great many going uncared for.

More polarizing than despised - many like them, and many hate them.

Not a whole lot in between.

Me, I had fun painting up one so that he is shouting at a face badly painted on a rock he is holding.... (I have the horrible feeling that the troll is losing the argument he is having with the rock.)

The Auld Grump

 TheAuldGrump wrote:

 Eldarain wrote:
After the first Kickstarter completed I played a lot of games with my brother. The feel and mechanics of how the game play are very enjoyable. As has been mentioned it felt more like warhammer than warhammer has of late.

Kind of off topic but are the troll minis still roundly despised amongst KoW fans? I had an idea for a conversion using them and it would be nice if there were a great many going uncared for.

More polarizing than despised - many like them, and many hate them.

Not a whole lot in between.

Me, I had fun painting up one so that he is shouting at a face badly painted on a rock he is holding.... (I have the horrible feeling that the troll is losing the argument he is having with the rock.)

The Auld Grump

That is hilarious. Do you have a pic?

The best part is, that's actually part of the new rules for AoS (having a conversation with someone who isn't there, and extra in-game benefits if they "talk back")!

Played my first two games, both with my undead. I'm really enjoying the rules, now I just look back at how crowded and complicated the WHFB rules were and realize how hard it was for anyone to get in to that game.

I did a demo at Gencon, i played Orcs and i fought Twilight Kin. It was a good game, initial positioning is what gave it to me that and his warmachine couldnt hit the broad side of a barn.

As to the Trolls, i think they would make good Crypt Horrors, as Trolls though im not a fan.