Last night I had my first club game of Kings of War Version 2. The Rules have been tweaked and the Armies rebalanced from the previous version. This was also my first proper mass battle game after many years out of gaming in general, so I had the unique view not having played the first rule set but having been through it waiting for the version 2 release. The club Mantic pathfinder gave me a Q&A about my experience which I have shared below. Please let me know your thoughts on the new version and I will pass them on.
How did your first ever game of kings of war go? Did you enjoy it?
I found it very accessible as an entry level gamer being quick to pick up. As a beginner this meant I could spend more time learning the strategy and rather than the rules. I really enjoyed the game and got a good feel for how games in general would play out and how scenarios (listed in the rules) would affect different strategies.
What army did you use and how did they play? Did you win?
I played a big smashy Orc Army including 2 Trolls, 2 Gore Riders, 1 Greatax and 1 Chariot Regiments with no ranged or magic which made it easy by limiting my options to run at things and hit them (very Orc like). My opponent a heavily ranged orientated Elf Army but a Phalanx and Drakon Riders. He was obviously on the defensive with three bolt throwers on higher ground. I did win but felt I possibly shouldn't have. I wasted my chariot and Greatax regiments with poor positioning at deployment. I also didn't make good use of my Trolls due to poor manoeuvrings. I found the Orc Gore Riders to be my most useful unit (although these have apparently been toned down from the previous version) along with a big Orc Ax Horde, which were a formidable looking unit on the table top and dominating my opponents focus.
What did you think of the rules? What did like about the game?
The rules seemed very streamlined and I was only checking stat lines from a cheat sheet. I liked how fast paced it was and that I wasn't worrying about flicking through pages of books to find the one stat or roll I needed on one occasion. Although it was seemingly simple it feels like there is a lot of potential. I think that also extends to the Army building, the core of which is the regiments, hordes and legions with the rest of the army built around it. I could really feel that in the game with my Orc Ax Hordes vs. the Elf Phalanx. The magic items for the units added a nice variation to the standard units and not having to mess about with musicians and banner bearers really appealed to me. I had two Krudgers to give inspiration one mounted one not.
Is there anything you think would improve the game?
The table top battle area felt a bit small in a strange way. Although this was to my benefit as I had no ranged attack and covered the ground quickly. I guess this was because it was a starter game so I had the basic run at the enemy tactic. Also you get stuck in quick with action from the get go. With only 6 turns I think there were choices I made which were just to win the game rather than to win the battle if that makes sense. This being said it kept the game time in check added a level of urgency. It did prevent what could have been an annoying and monotonous scenario where a slow Orc Ax Horde would have been chasing and fast flying elf dragon rider around turn after turn. One idea to give each battle end more flavour could be that if the majority of both armies are left (which would otherwise be a fairly unfulfilling tie) there could be a random end battle event which also gives additional random turns. Maybe more Orcs or elves (or just a special character) turn up to fight late, maybe a natural disaster occurs (meteor hits, earthquake, volcano, acid rain, tidal wave, tornado, etc.). Maybe a god grants a boon or curse to other or both sides for fun. Maybe nightfalls benefiting Orcs and Dwarfs in some way or sun rises hindering them. In a dwarf cavern maybe there's a cave in. Choices are endless, I'm certain how this would play out but I think that could add a fun aspect to friendly games. "I was doing fine until the lighting hit my Gore Riders!"
Will you be playing it again? Do you intend on starting a army?
I will definitely be playing again and again and again. I have no Idea what army I want because of the possibilities. Orcs were a lot of fun I can imagine throwing goblins in the mix would be even more so with mincers and fleabags. I am personally not so keen on the Elves, but I cant put my finger on why. Maybe they just feel a bit vanilla (stereotypic Arrows, Magic & Dragons) but that might just be because I haven’t played with them. If they had bit more of a theme or I new a bit more of the fluff they might have more flavour for me. I guess wood elf army with some elementals and forest shamblers in there would be more my thing rather than a High Elf theme. Basilea looks nice but Kingdoms of men offers more scope for a true custom army. The other army I have my eye on is the Dwarfs lots of metal, big guns and big shields also freaking Badger riders what the what! To me that gives them a lot of personality and sounds like a fun starter army. Abysal Dwarfs and Twilight kin not so much but again cant say why, the models are nice as is the background but right now I don’t think its for me. I haven’t mentioned Undead and although the
miniatures are some of the best for Undead (as a general consensus from different sources). That style of army at the moment doesn’t appeal to me. I would prefer to be blowing zombies to bits with a cannon.
During the process of writing this I will probably go with Dwarfs as my starter Army and pull in some forces of nature for monsters and elementals* and Kingdoms of Men for Wizards as allies (Elf Wizard doesn’t fit my concept of a Dwarf Army). For an evil Army I think I like the Orcs using Goblins (Wizards, War machines and Fodder) and Ogres (I like the models and they look fun) as allies.
Overall
I had fun and I want to play again. It wont destroy my bank account to start and there are lots of options and combinations. It has well established community which appears to be growing so it hopefully has longevity. Great game for me as a starter and my well versed and battle grizzled opponent alike.
*Good Idead for DIY Earth Elementals
