Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Godslayer [by Megalith Games]

Website: http://megalith-games.com/

The game

Godslayer is a tabletop skirmish game set in a mythic world of bronze and blood.
Looking for a fast-paced and ferocious game that also has tremendous realism and detail?

Well this is it!

Godslayer combines playability and detail into an intuitive rules system which allows an amazing array of options, strategies
and depth, but is at the same time easy to learn and incredibly flexible and playable. It can be played at squad level with
20-50+ models or as a true skirmish with just 5-6 models. This is because the rules have achieved an outstanding combination
of playability and realism.

The Background

Godslayer is set in a mythical world inspired by classical and ancient cultures. We naturally draw a lot from the history and mythology
of Greece, Rome, Persia ancient Celts and ancient Germans, but the world itself is a dark and exotic realm of sword and sorcery where
empires battle, spear and shield, for their very survival.

With Godslayer we wanted to get away from the glutted field of high-fantasy with its medieval and renaissance themes, and turned instead
to so-called “low fantasy”. With its vast wastes, deserts and jungles, the Godslayer world of Calydorn is a fitting tapestry for the epic story
unfolding which stretches back through thousands of years of history.

In addition to the six factions which occupy centre-stage, there are dozens of other solid cultures forming the convincing backdrop, each one
created organically from logical roots. The background including its cultures was crafted in a mature and serious way to make the fantastical realms
of Calydorn intensely realistic.

Although the background is epic and ancient, it is the actions of players in the here and now which determines the fate of the cosmos.

The Factions

Godslayer takes place upon the world of Calydorn and is focused upon the continent of Ghorn, where the current six factions are all located.
14 other continents surround Ghorn and stretch across this expansive, exotic world. Each faction consists of 2-3 sub-factions which can be
combined or played exclusively for more themed warbands. Each faction and sub-faction has a different style of general play, but each has some
variety within it. That means that every sub-faction has a focus of strengths and weaknesses and typical style of play, but that can easily be
modified by adding other sub-faction models or different warlords, magical items and spells.

You can find a section devoted to each faction on our website.

The miniatures

The miniatures are metal and based on a scale of 32mm to the top of the head. They come unassembled and unpainted, so as any regular tabletop
gamer knows, they will need glueing together first. Naturally they look much better when painted, and it’s possible to find tons of miniature painting
tutorials online these days.



Playing the Game

Starter games can be played with 100 points and will last around 20 minutes.

The typical standard game is 300-350 points and this will give you a game of 2 – 2.5 hours.
A starter box game is the smallest practical game and consists of 160 points. That will take anywhere from 40-40 minutes.

400 point games will last most of an evening, and for real meaty games of 500-600 points, you will get an entire afternoon of fun.
Godslayer can be played realistically up to about 1000 points for a BIG battle.

For those that enjoy tournament gaming, Godslayer rules are tight and very well-suited to tournament play. Not only that, the factions
and models are incredibly well balanced after four years intensive playtesting.

- Profile cards list all statistics and special rules, so there’s no need to thumb through army books.
- Godslayer is a 2D6-based game which utilized an incredibly flexible action-point system.
- Models can perform actions in almost any sequence, so there are no artificial phases.
- All models have abilities as well tactics they can use by paying action tokens, for example Phalanx, Testudo, Shield Wall etc.
- Characters and warlords can order tactics to other models and units.
- The game runs on a turnaround basis where players alternately activate 2 individual models or a unit, then switch over. This keeps the tension high and
the tactical situation is continuously evolving so both players remain intensely interested in the game throughout.
- Most models have different attack options, some have multiple weapons.
- Warlords can be equipped with a different set of items from a long list of options.

All options are so clear and so simple, and the action-point system regulates the games so easily, that Godslayer is a fast and bloody game while allowing
outstanding detail and flexibility of actions.



A short overview over the factions and their sub-factions:

Banebrood – Beast-men and barbarians created by a psychic plague, and enslaved to the Urghast (the cosmic force of primal fury), dedicated to smashing civilizations and returning humanity to the law of the Jungle.

Beastspawn: Beast-men with tribal organization Bison-brood, Boar-brood, Ram-brood bull-brood etc.

Reavers: Barbarian cannibals with mutations, loosely based on Germanic barbarians and Sea Peoples.

Centaurs: New sub-faction for 2018 - nomadic creatures Including buffalo-centaurs, stag centaurs boar centaurs and more



Halodynes – Classical Greek and Macedonian-style culture worshipping the Asrae Gods

City-States: classical Greek style faction including, Hoplites, Thracian-style Hill Ogres, Myrmidon Marines and heroes

Temple: Temple warriors of the 12 gods, animated statues, Cerberoi, and the best spell-casters in the game

Amazons: cavalry-based sub-faction of female tribes, cursed by the gods to produce only female offspring



Mortans - Magnificent and macabre Roman-style expansionist Empire

Legions: Roman-style legionnaires, auxiliaries and praetorians representing the armies of the Mortan Empire

Magistratum: Undead Legionns, Necromancers and animated monstrous constructs

Technostratum: support troops for the Legions and Magistratum in the form of war-machines, alchemists and troops armed with naphtha, gas, acid and fire



Nordgaard – Viking Humans, Dwarves, Ogres and giants

Clans: Viking Dwarves of the northern clans along with giants and special units from each kingdom

Guilds: Mostly elite Dwarven troops representing the guilds of Nordgaard culture, including Einherjer warrior-priests of the gods, scouts, and prospectors.

Skannfyrd: Human and Ogre Vikings of Nordgaard, including Vargs, Valkyries, berserkers and more



Troglodytes – Mongol-style race of Elemental Shadow

Trolloth: Mongol-style Trolls of the elemental race of Shadow. Pure warriors of a feudal culture.

Shadow Trolls: Ethereal creatures of shadow with magical powers.

Gnolls: Goblinoid Mongol-style horde subfaction.


Wyldfolk – Celtic-style Nature worshippers

Tribal: Celtic style warriors, druids, bards cromlech guardians, with guerrilla style melee-focussed focus.

Fiannor: Nomadic Celtic-style models. Scouty, missile-focussed sub-faction.

Tuathan: Nature-worshipping Wyldfolk, faeries and dryads dedicated to reawakening the dead goddess of creation.

Really interesting and top quality miniatures, some of which I already own. Looking forward to your upcoming KS.

I would just like to raise an objection. Greek and Macedonian style culture (Halodynes)?

Like Greek and Macedonian were different cultures? Another post maintaining this historically inaccurate and misleading position that Macedonian was not a Greek culture (like the Athenian or the Spartan)?

I know that you did not have any bad intention and did not mean anything bad but I would kindly ask for a correction and the term 'Macedonian' to be deleted, because it hurts me seeing it.

Excuse me if this sounds annoying or bothersome and thank you for your understanding.

It is actually correct. The factions in the game are based mainly on ancient cultures and their myths, but also elements have been changed and mixed a bit too fit better into the world of Godslayer. The Greek in this case refers to the general picture most have of the ancient greeks and the macedonian mainly to the greek culture during the age of Alexander the great. Also some elements from 300 can be found in this game.

 Duncan_Idaho wrote:
It is actually correct. The factions in the game are based mainly on ancient cultures and their myths, but also elements have been changed and mixed a bit too fit better into the world of Godslayer. The Greek in this case refers to the general picture most have of the ancient greeks and the macedonian mainly to the greek culture during the age of Alexander the great. Also some elements from 300 can be found in this game.

It is ok guys. Thank you for your reply. Really appreciate it.

I honestly have no intention to turn this post into a historic discussion, as it is not its purpose. Just to point out that the classical Greek period ends actually with the death of Alexander and what is still considered as 'ancient Greek period' ends around 200 years after his death (Hellenistic period).

I stop this here and wish you all the best with what is without doubt an excellent product. I have to find the time to upload my painted Halodynes.

Alle die Beste!!

Huh. Looks like a cool game, and the rulebook is available as a free PDF. I know a local store owner is looking at Broken Legions, but I may show him this.

Question, though - it seems like this game has been out for a few years. Why the sudden push now?

No problem... I myself get irritated when my beloved early imperial Romans get depicted in a way that is not true to the facts, especially if someone claims the depiction to be absolutly historical accurate.

Actually the game never had a real start in the way that a Starter-Box came out and an all-out campaign was run. Then there have been some changes in the team that created the game (You know, people need to move because of their main job, etc.) and Wave 1 took quite some time to produce.
Now, everything is ready for Wave 2 to release. I.e. all sculpts are finalized and all test-casts have been made, the play-testing for all new units is mostly done. We also have finished a lot of scenery boards and taken loads of pictures that will go into the updated version of the rulebook.

All in all we now feel that we can give Godslayer the all-out start that it deserves. David, one of the creators of the game who is these days running Megalith Games still runs a comparatively small miniature-company and the Kickstarter will allow him to move things up a notch or two. The design of Wave 3 is already underway as we speak and there will be even more factions.
Also, thanks to the feedback over the years the game will be slightly improved.

Btw, there will be an article about a battle in one of the upcoming issues of Wargaming Illustrated.
And in the same issue there will be the following add

This is a game I've always wanted to try. I'll watch the Kickstarter with interest.

Alright, I'm intrigued, especially since that battle box has two full sized warbands.

I have the rulebook and a couple of starters from when it hit retail originally. Have to say the rulebook and fluff were gorgeous as we're 90% of the miniatures.

Best way I could describe the models are as fantasy version of infinity. No bobble heads and lovely detail with very clean casts.

Also same as with inifinity non digital sculpts some were a pig to put together because of poses and small contact points.

Will be watching this with interest.

Really love the models in this game, but I can’t really see them here. You guys need more huge, hug-res pics of single models/units on plain background that we can ogle, pics in this thread are so low-res I can just about make out some greek-looking dudes... put more focus on your amazing models! In the meantime’s I encourage everyone to go to their FB page and scroll through the pics.

Intriguing...

I have always been fond of the bronze/ancients era and when I saw this I got excited. Upon closer inspection of the minis though, I felt kind of let down. They look like the miniatures that I was collecting in the 80's. Miniatures have come a long way since then. I still might get the rules though and use War Gods of Aegyptus figs. Also, if the setting is the bronze age, why are all the figs painted wearing steel armor? Lastly, If I remember correctly, the Greeks and Macedonians were not ethnically the same people. The Greeks saw the Macedonians as barbarians who had adopted Greek culture. That's why Phillip and Alexander subjugated the Greek city-states first, they had a chip on their shoulder. And they never took down Sparta. There is a great story about Alexander sending a message to Sparta that read" If I have to come down to Sparta to subjugate you, and if you make me fight I will destroy your cities and temples and enslave your women and children. The Spartans sent back a one word reply, "If".

Smellingsalts wrote:
I have always been fond of the bronze/ancients era and when I saw this I got excited. Upon closer inspection of the minis though, I felt kind of let down. They look like the miniatures that I was collecting in the 80's. Miniatures have come a long way since then. I still might get the rules though and use War Gods of Aegyptus figs. Also, if the setting is the bronze age, why are all the figs painted wearing steel armor? Lastly, If I remember correctly, the Greeks and Macedonians were not ethnically the same people. The Greeks saw the Macedonians as barbarians who had adopted Greek culture. That's why Phillip and Alexander subjugated the Greek city-states first, they had a chip on their shoulder. And they never took down Sparta. There is a great story about Alexander sending a message to Sparta that read" If I have to come down to Sparta to subjugate you, and if you make me fight I will destroy your cities and temples and enslave your women and children. The Spartans sent back a one word reply, "If".

This is not the case Smellingsalts. Actually Macedonians and Spartans were 'ethnically' closer to each other (both were Dorians) than Spartans and Athenians. Ancient Greek states were fighting each other all the time and this is what the Macedonians also did when they became the strongest power. Actually the term 'barbarian' war initially solely referring to someone who was not speaking Greek (but was rather producing a 'bar-bar' sound). Macedonians were speaking Greek, as it can be seen in all the inscriptions found in Macedonian monuments.

It is not only a matter of adopting a culture (although culture, namely language, religion, architecture etc. is what defines someone and not 'blood' origin) but actually they were considering themselves same as the southern Greeks, while Thracians for example did not. 'Phillip' and 'Alexander' are perfectly Greek names and have an actual meaning in Greek. Aristoteles was born in Macedonia, not far from the Macedonian's capital.

Spartans were never conquered by Macedonians it is true, unlike Athenians and Thebans, defied him and also were the only Greeks who did not participate in the campaign against Persia. Another great story is this: Alexander was irked by their attitude: when he eventually sent the spoils of his victory at the Granicus to Delphi, the inscription was: 'Alexander, son of Philip, and the Greeks (except the Lacedaemonians (Spartans)) dedicate these spoils, taken from the Persians who dwell in Asia'.

Thursday I will post some more pictures of the greens, so you can see how detailed the miniatures are.
There will be also more pictures. Currently those pictures on FB are just the jpg. The RAW are being worked on and will also find their way in the revised version of the rulebook.
There are some miniatures from the beginning of Godslayer that are not up to standard and are being replaced by better versions. The Cerberus and the Bear are already the new ones.

I got a Mortan starter some years ago (2013?) and some characters. The Centurion and the Necromagus are good, as are the Legio Mortum (but I wish the scabbards were sculpted onto the bodies).

The Fluff is a bit like the Silmarillion but broader.

I will keep an eye out for more Mortan stuff that I like, as I love the Moloch and Scorpio but have yet to buy them.

I also like the look of the Troglodytes, but I find it a bit frustrating that they are not called Orcs.

I have painted a Halodynes starter box that I had bought some years ago and would also like to put some paint on Nordgaard and Wyldfolk minis. In general the sculpting quality of the minis is top level.

So, today you get pictures of the greens so you can see the details of the miniatures for yourself.

Love them!

Those are some really great sculpts!

Btw, if you have any questions, suggestions, etc. Or if you want to see some elements of the game in more detail... just post it here. This weekend I will post an interviewe with David, the owner of Megalith Games.

Id be curious to hear more about how it plays,how is it different gameplay wise from other skirmish games?

The game it closest resembles is Warmahordes, but it is still quite different from it.

Activation is alternating and every unit has its own profile with special rules.
There are quite some special rules to allow a combo-style gameplay, but not so many that it overwhelmes you like with Warmahordes can be the case.

The game itself is quite scalable. You can have as few as 5 or more than 50+ miniatures on the table. Scenery on the table is needed and integrated in the gameplay.
Godslayer plays qickly as soon as you have some games under your belt. A game with 5 miniatures per side can be played within 20 minutes by experienced players.

The subfactions allow you to stay with your faction and its overall playstyle and still deviate from it to a certain degree. Here it is similar to the Sectorials of Infinity.

If you want to have a look at the rules you can go here: http://megalith-games.com/supplements-list/

How important are heroes and monsters to the game play? Would a face off between the basic infantry be interesting? I dislike games where it feels like the basic units of each army are just there to die at the hands of the opponents heroes and monsters.

Heroes and monsters do play a role, but they do not dominate the game. So it is more to your liking.

If you do not consider the units and heroes as the cogs of a machine you will rather loose. So, they might be bigger cogs, but do not work without the rest.

Those miniatures are impressive¡¡¡

I got two startes, but sure I go KS

Remus - Nemesis
The second and third Nemesis boxes will be released as part of the Kickstarter. Here is the Mortans faction Remus Caius. He can be played as a Legions subfaction character or an undead Magistratum Warlord.



And here is the Nemesis of Remus Caius - A divine fury of the Venata goddess of the Amazons. This Halodynes model, playable as a creature and as a Warlord (Amazon subfaction).
As with all Nemesis packs it comes with a background story for the two models plus 3 scenarios.

OOooh, this looks really good. I look forward to the Kickstarter, and will be poking around the website this weekend.

Just a quick and dirty handy-shot, but one can see how great the Baleking looks.

Formorian Baleking

I'm glad it's coming back. The figures look great and the existing range is solid barring a few that just do nothing for me. But I don't think it's going anywhere. This is the 3rd time the game has been launched? More? I use the figures for other systems and the rulebook/setting book in slipcase is nice but as a complete package it's never taken off and I don't see what's different this time.
Last Kickstarter had cool new figures and a promised follow up, and obviously life and priorities other than little metal figures get in the way, but that was 5 years ago and nothing really happened.
I'll check out the Kickstarter I guess for any cool sculpts.

Why should it be not going anywhere?
The game has been launched once and then there has been the split-up. Now the company has restructured and
Wave 2 is already fully sculpted and ready for production (test-casts already done), nearly completely tested and only needs the KS to go into full production.

The game had a admittedly slow Wave 1 but all in all that is still more than many other games can accomplish and please don´t forget how long it took Warmachine, Confrontation or Infinity from the first release to a more or less steady flow of releases.