So buddy Joe and buddy Steve came by to playtest my new fantasy blackpowder rules set MUSKETS & MAGICK. Ive playtested it a few times already but Im too close to it and was glad to have feedback and see it with fresh eyes and see how others approach the rules. But in a nutshell, Ive tried to keep the simplicity I like and add just enough mechanics to provide choices in command and control. Mix in dueling wizards with secret card draws. And not make this a wargame about simply wiping out the enemy army, but something about wrestling for position on the battlefield - the push and pull of the frontlines.
Anyway heres some pics of the playtest...
The Haradrim deploy with a strong center.
Their Wizard watches atop a ruin.
The Gondorians approach! The Gondorian Wizard sends a Fireball arching toward the center of the Haradrim defenses. But the Harad Wizard uses a Reflect counter spell to send it back towards the Gondorians and the casting Gondor Wizard uses a Counter spell to nullify it altogether. Ultimately the combined fire of the Haradrim muskets bring the Gondor advance to a grinding halt.
On the Harad right flank, the Gondorians take that side's objective. In the center, the Gondorian Wizard casts another Fireball and it is unopposed. It weakens and leaves 2 of the Haradrim Fusiliers shaken.
On the Harad left flank, the Gondorians find that without a commander nearby to rally their troops from being shaken they can make no advance. So the Gondor commander leaves the center and rushes to support this flank. Gondorian Dragoons charge into close combat after supporting volleys from their fellow Fusiliers.
The Haradrim Wizard uses Teleport to transport himself and 2 units of Fusiliers unto the center objective. Nearby the Gondor Wizard readies himself for a final showdown. But the Haradrim Wizard decides to leave his units here in the center and Teleports himself again to capture the objective everyone thought was safe in Gondorian hands deep on the right side.
With 2 Objectives in Harad hands, all seems lost, but the Gondorian Commander sneaks in and captures the left side objective with help from his Dragoons. But when all the Victory Points were counted up, the Gondorians actually win by a score of 9 to 8! Somehow in the final two turns of the game, the Gondorians managed to eliminate enough enemy units to squeak out a victory.
The Debatable Lands are in Gondorian control... for now at least.
~~~
I can dream up schemes when I'm sitting in my seat
I don't see any flaws 'til I get to my feet
I wish I never woke up this morning
Life was easy when it was boring
I could make a mark, it weren't so dark
I could be replaced by any bright spark
But darkness makes me fumble
For a key to a door that's wide open
Instead of worrying about my clothes
I could be someone that nobody knows
I wish I never woke up this morning
Life was easy when it was boring
~~~
Next post we return to the goings-on over in Tharbad. Something about destroying a bio-weapon facility before their latest research fall into the hands of Nyarlathotep! No fate but what we make. Sarah Connor intends to blow up Cyberdyne Industries!
Cheers,
Mar
Bonus pic of the buddies:
