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.

So we finally got the rules, and I am impressed. I realize I will have to paint a few archers, but any recommendation for a beginner band?

The magic of frostgrave is that there really is no meta. Allowing you the freedom to actually create a force that you enjoy over a force that you have to take.

 auticus wrote:
The magic of frostgrave is that there really is no meta. Allowing you the freedom to actually create a force that you enjoy over a force that you have to take.

Pretty much. About the only "required" thing is not skipping on the Apprentice; there's no reason you wouldn't include one, even though technically it's optional (at least was in 1st ed, can't 100% remember for 2nd).

That said, while I've played and enjoyed Frostgrave a bit, it is not a good competitive game. Even 2nd edition, which did fix some things, is very easily abused by Munchkin players. But, with a good group of friends who all agree not to be total tryhards, it can be entertaining. And, yeah, it's a great way to get out models you don't get to use much for other things.

A suggestion. Have your wizard get Spells that do things other than fight/Damage. Any zero gold piece Thug can fight, but only your Wizard and Apprentice can cast Heal, or Telekinesis, or Mind Control.

Also, do use the recommended amount of terrain to reduce LoS, otherwise ranged combat can dominate.

This is also a grand opportunity for kit-bashing. Build what you like the looks of. There's no bonuses or penalties for making an all Gnoll warband, or all Dwarf etcetera, or using your GW Fellowship of the Ring set.

 Valander wrote:
About the only "required" thing is not skipping on the Apprentice; there's no reason you wouldn't include one, even though technically it's optional (at least was in 1st ed, can't 100% remember for 2nd).

Apprentice being optional is the weirdest decision of the 2nd edition for me. There is an Apprentice phase in this game which you will otherwise loose without having a one in your warband.

Thanks you all. Now I have a few ideas. Will mostly be solo, but still

nadin wrote:
Thanks you all. Now I have a few ideas. Will mostly be solo, but still

Do you have a copy of Perilous Dark? It is the solo/co-op expansion for Frostgrave.

The optional apprentice may make sense if you are using a Sellsword/Captain instead? I know, a bit of a stretch.....

It also means you don't have to replace the warband if your apprentice dies and you don't have the money to replace him.....

https://sklep.wargamer.pl/frostgrave-fantasy-wargames-in-the-frozen-city.html

Is this the book we should start with if we want to play Frostgrave? There are a few of them in the stores and I am confused... Thanks!

Cyel wrote:
https://sklep.wargamer.pl/frostgrave-fantasy-wargames-in-the-frozen-city.html

Is this the book we should start with if we want to play Frostgrave? There are a few of them in the stores and I am confused... Thanks!

While that is the original book, you'll want the new 2nd ed. rules. Some of the rules from the expansion rulebooks have found their way into the core rules. The expansions are still valid for 2nd ed.
https://sklep.wargamer.pl/frostgrave-second-edition.html

Perilous Dark is the solo and cooperative play supplement.
https://sklep.wargamer.pl/frostgrave-perilous-dark.html

Into The Breeding Pits is the underground/dungeon rules.
https://sklep.wargamer.pl/into-the-breeding-pits.html

Granted, this is from 1st Edition but you may find this look useful Cyel:

http://bloodandspectacles.blogspot.com/2017/04/review-frostgrave-supplements-osprey.html

Thanks!

I am wondering, before I take the plunge, which category is this, actually?

Is this a 80's-style game where your options are limited to basic "move your model wherever and roll some dice to see what happens". A game where it doesn't really matter what you do as long as Random Number Generation (and maybe a few roster imbalances or rules loopholes) works in your favour and player's role is limited to abusing those imbalances and loopholes in listbuilding and doing the menial task of generating these random numbers throughout the game? Like any GW game, really. Or Monopoly.

Or

A game where with experience you see more and more options for elaborate plays and more potential traps to avoid and as you become more skillful with your deep toolbox you can persevere despite luck being against you and eventually win by pulling off a complex plan that makes everyone's watching the game jaws drop in admiration for your ingenuity? Like, for example Warmachine or Gloomhaven or Divinity Original Sin?

I don't have first hand experience with Frostgrave, but a couple of acquaintances have played it quite extensively some time ago. Their opinion was that the game was fun, very light in terms of tactics and random. One of them said it was essentially Mordheim, but with two times less complexety, if that helps.

It paints a certain picture, thanks!

Bit of a thread necro but just wanted to check in with everyone and their experiences of 2nd edition?

Also what have people come up with as Warband ideas? I've found the absolute freedom has absolutely paralysed me

Frostgrave warbad ideas? Any box of plastics i fancy playing with bam Frostgrave warband...

I had pondered a warband of Saruman & Grima and a box of Hill Tribesmen. Hmmmm.

That's a cool idea SamusDrake. I've got some LoTR-esque orcs from Etsy - a bit like the Oathmark ones (less Kev Adams GW Orcs).

Have also got a 'Tim the Sorcerer' minature from Crooked Dice, who is going to be leading a band of Gnolls he has recruited/tricked into following him.

Putting together some of the TT Combat terrain (their fantasy town) which is good quality and value for money.
https://ttcombat.com/products/savage-domain-toppled-tavern

Somehow we need the Killer Rabbit so that even the hardest Frostgrave player yells "JESUS CHRIST!!!"

 Pacific wrote:
Bit of a thread necro but just wanted to check in with everyone and their experiences of 2nd edition?

Also what have people come up with as Warband ideas? I've found the absolute freedom has absolutely paralysed me

Honestly, the warband members are a matter of personal taste, as it's only the wizard, apprentice, and maybe a captain that gains XP. I like to take two ranged guys, one basic and one specialist, plus a melee specialist - if I can afford it.

Starting out with two thugs and two thieves (the free guys) to afford a captain probably isn't a bad choice. Once you earn some gold you can replace them with better basic soldiers.

Other than that, my advice is to grab Perilous Dark if you don't already have it and play some solo games vs monsters. Maybe not the campaign in the book (the early scenarios are notoriously hard for a starting warband) - just play a basic scenario with two regular and one major treasures each 2d6" from the opposite board edge, plunk a monster adjacent to each, then 1d6 more monsters randomly placed within 12" of the opposite board edge. Every time someone in your band rolls equal to or less than the current round number on the d20, add another monster coming in at a random point on a random board edge. Use something basic like gnoll men-at-arms and archers, or giant rats and zombies, or skeletons and skeleton archers, etc, etc, as the monsters. (Note, I literally made that scenario up as I was typing, tweak to your preferences/difficulty.) This way, you can learn the basics of the rules and your chosen warband vs. the rudimentary AI, get a feel for how things work and what you like.

Don't stress too hard - Frostgrave isn't 40K, where there's a meta that will destroy you if you don't take the exact right list. It's a game designed to be played between friends looking to have fun, secure loot, and level up more than wiping each other out.

One of my favorite games was a campaign game with a friend after we'd both had one of THOSE games leaving half the warband dead or missing the next few games. We each cautiously advanced and collected a minor treasure from our sides of no-man's-land. Then our wizards and 1-2 remaining soldiers per side found themselves looking out at each other across a central plaza with the major treasure and three wandering zombies. Without discussing it, we both decided that nah, we were good, and withdrew back off the board. There was nothing to be gained from a drag-out fight other than MAYBE securing a major treasure, but plenty to lose given the states of our warbands. Other people from the campaign who watched the game were like, "No, you both made the right decision, and it's not like you coordinated that. I saw the whole thing. It made total sense."