Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Age of Myths, Gods and Empires => Topic started by: James Morris on September 22, 2024, 06:45:06 PM
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Hi all,
Apologies if you have seen this news elsewhere, but I know that not everyone likes to frequent the depths of social media, so I'm posting it here.
After a very long gestation period, my Midgard Heroic Battles rulebook is expected to be published by Reisswitz Press in November 2024. It will be sold by Too Fat Lardies and all their usual distributors in softback and also available from the TFL website in PDF.
Midgard is designed to play battles in a multitude of settings with an emphasis on heroic leadership. It works for historical, legendary and fantasy settings, but I plumped to put it in the Age of Gods, Myths and Empires page on LAF as it fits that 'real and imagined' criteria.
It is miniatures and scale-agnostic; in other words, you can play with what you like in whatever scale you like! I've just updated the Midgard page on my website with lots of information about the game, such as FAQs like basing sizes and a game synopsis: https://mogsymakes.net/midgard/ (https://mogsymakes.net/midgard/)
I will post any main news on this thread and answer questions here, though if you're on Facebook, you can join the official FB group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1572316176883241 (https://www.facebook.com/groups/1572316176883241)
Looking forward to getting it out there! Attached are some of our Midgard games from the last few years.
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Great stuff - looking forward to finding out more about these rules - really good that they work scale independently - 12cm frontage sounds great for my 10mm stuff which is on 40mm square bases, with 3 bases per unit!!
I really like all the detail you have provided on the website, really helps to understand the practicalities of the game.
Do you have a page that explains more about the fantastical elements, magic, flyers big monsters, that type of thing?
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Excellent! Ever since I first heard of them, I’ve been looking forward to these being released. I think they will be great for the kind of battles I want to play.
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Great stuff - looking forward to finding out more about these rules - really good that they work scale independently - 12cm frontage sounds great for my 10mm stuff which is on 40mm square bases, with 3 bases per unit!!
I really like all the detail you have provided on the website, really helps to understand the practicalities of the game.
Do you have a page that explains more about the fantastical elements, magic, flyers big monsters, that type of thing?
Many thanks Fred! 12 cm frontage with 10mm minis will look suitably epic.
I don't yet have a page about the fantastical elements but that's a very good idea. I'm planning to add new pages regularly so this would be a good topic!
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Excellent, this is great news mate 👍🏻
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Brilliant! Been waiting ages for this👏
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How would these rules suit playing bigger games, say around 400-500 figure per side?
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How would these rules suit playing bigger games, say around 400-500 figure per side?
As you can choose how many minis go into each unit, the game is limited more by number of units rather than number of minis. 8-15 units a side works well for an evening’s play, 20-30 units a side us fine for a day game. If you’re playing with standard units of around ten 28mm minis on a 12cm frontage, this would give you 200-300 figures per side for the longer game. However, if you’re playing with units of 40 minis on a 24cm frontage, the smaller game would accommodate 320-600 figures a side, and the larger one 800-1200. So you can go big with it.
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I really like the sound of these. For the last 10 years or so my ancient and dark age interests have been served by SAGA to the Strongest (for bigger battles), but in the last year or so I’ve grown tired of TTS and a switch to Midguard seems like a really good option!
I like the emphasis on heroic leadership and the fantastical elements too. Most of all, it sounds like a game you can play with smaller warbands.
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I too will be buying Midgard for use with my "European Brinze Age" forces. It seems just the set for that sort of warfare. However I will still keep to TTS for big battles. I recently played an ECW gaming using a more "conventional" set of rules which took 4 hours. A similar sized FK&P ( ie tge ECW TTS variant) took me 2.5 hours. I can play TTS comfortably in an evening, other games are more difficult.
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Been looking forward to this rule set for a long time - right up my street
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I've been considering this for Bronze Age Northern European (love the Foundry figures). I've just put in a request to the Facebook group so I can keep up to date on this system. I look forward to learning more. :P
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How would you compare your rules to Dux Bellorum, which seems to cover a similar period, with rules for commanders to effect combat? Are your "heroes" quite different in how they operate? Thanks!
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Fred asked an excellent question last week about the fantastical elements of Midgard, so I've written an article about that very subject on my Mogsymakes site. In a nutshell, I talk about how the game can be extended on a spectrum of historical - legendary - fantasy by adapting profiles and choosing traits. https://mogsymakes.net/fantastical-elements-in-midgard-heroic-battles/ (https://mogsymakes.net/fantastical-elements-in-midgard-heroic-battles/)
Although it's not hard to adapt a historical rules set for fantasy and vice versa, I felt that including all these options within a single set was a better way of going about things, and offers everyone more choice about how they play the game.
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Thank you for taking the time to write that article - very informative. And can I just say how good the photos are that accompany it - if anything they get better as you go down the article - so worth a look just for the eye candy!
The rules are sounding very interesting.
Can they be stretched to later fantasy periods - thinking about GW Empire style armies, or is black powder and pikes really outside the scope?
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James will be able to give a better answer (I only read a beta version a couple years ago), but I think it should be possible to extend Midgard to a GW-inspired late medieval/ early Renaissance fantasy setting. The main things would be to keep in mind that the victory conditions in Midgard centre around loss of Reputation- lose your reputation points and you lose the battle, so it’s more important to have leaders leading charges or accepting duels than using them like they function in WFB.
Also, you should be able to find special abilities to approximate things like black powder weapons, as long as you focus on the overall game effect rather than trying to get a 1-1 translation from GW to Midgard. So, the Empire arqubusiers could be a Warrior unit (if deployed en masse), or a skirmisher unit, with weak armour and a heavy hitting ranged attack (I’m not familiar enough with Midgard to suggest a specific special rule that would apply).
So, doable, but will take some careful thought - representing the unit abilities may be less an issue than that Midgard has a much different focus in the game design than the GW model.
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Thanks - sounds doable then. I’m coming from a Warmaster background rather than WHFB - so units are more generic so sound like they map to Midgard pretty well.
And over the years we have hacked plenty of rule sets to work with different fantasy elements, and Midgard sounds like it has 90% there already.
Heroes sound more heroic than commanders in Midgard, but that feels OK.
I am wondering with Warmaster based figures that skirmish units aren’t often represented - but gives a chance for some new units - or rebasing of existing in less dense formations.
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Thank you for taking the time to write that article - very informative. And can I just say how good the photos are that accompany it - if anything they get better as you go down the article - so worth a look just for the eye candy!
The rules are sounding very interesting.
Can they be stretched to later fantasy periods - thinking about GW Empire style armies, or is black powder and pikes really outside the scope?
Thanks, glad it was useful and you enjoyed the photos. I’m keen on combining words and pictures!
I’ve been planning to write something like this for a while, your question helped to crystallise it.
I have my doubts about how well Midgard maps on to the WFB world. The focus of the game is heroic leadership, reflected in the Reputation system that provides overall morale and victory conditions for the game. Certainly you can create profiles for WFB units, though bear in mind that pikes, firearms and artillery are not key areas of the rules; whether it then plays how you imagine, I can’t say. By all means give it a go though. I’m sure that, when it gets released, there will be a lot of discussion about repurposing WFB/ Warmaster units, and that might produce its own direction.
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It’s good to have your view on where the rules are aimed, from era and style of play.
Whilst lots of my figures and armies are Old World based - they have been used with many sets of rules over the years, and have been extended with many armies beyond WHFB, both historical and fantastical.
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It’s good to have your view on where the rules are aimed, from era and style of play.
Whilst lots of my figures and armies are Old World based - they have been used with many sets of rules over the years, and have been extended with many armies beyond WHFB, both historical and fantastical.
Cool, sounds like you know what you're doing. If you can see your troops doing the heroic leadership thing, you should be fine.
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I have my doubts about how well Midgard maps on to the WFB world. The focus of the game is heroic leadership, reflected in the Reputation system that provides overall morale and victory conditions for the game.
I had a couple of cool games with Elves vs Skaven during play testing. Can't recall how we did the Skaven matchlock shooty things now though, but the game was fun. I played the Elves so can't recall how my mate Andy managed the 'not so heroic but rather sneaky' attributes of Skaven when selecting heroes/leaders. However he did it though, it worked... You just have to get WFB mechanics out of your head and focus on the idea of heroic leaders inspiring their troops to victory.
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100% getting these. Been waiting an age for them!
BTW - the blog generally is excellent
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100% getting these. Been waiting an age for them!
BTW - the blog generally is excellent
Thank you!
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How would you compare your rules to Dux Bellorum, which seems to cover a similar period, with rules for commanders to effect combat? Are your "heroes" quite different in how they operate? Thanks!
If you’re talking about Dan Mersey’s Dux Bellorum, there are a few similarities (whole based units without figure removal, use of base widths/ spear throws as measures etc) but it’s a very different game. Dux Bellorum doesn’t really have heroes, just a commander who is an integral part of his unit. Midgard takes a very different approach with the heroes being central to the game.
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It’s been a very busy week getting Midgard ready and now I can show you the logo! Outstanding work by Handiwork Games. It should be available to pre order within a week.
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James, excellent news and good to see you at "The Other Partizan" last Sunday. My Foundry European Bronze Age troops are slowly awaking from their 20 year slumber in deep storage.....
Regards
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Oh yes please! I’ve been saving my lunch money for this!
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Cool!
Oh yes please! I’ve been saving my lunch money for this!
Wargames as a slimming aid! Not very TFL though ;)
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And here’s the front cover, a stunning piece by Jon Hodgson of Handiwork Games, logo by Paul Bourne.
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James,
Saw the interview of you and Richard on You Tube.
Excited to see the rules can be pre-ordered.
Went and ordered until I got to the postage part.
L25.00 for postage, seems high.
I live in the US.
What is your take on this?
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James,
Saw the interview of you and Richard on You Tube.
Excited to see the rules can be pre-ordered.
Went and ordered until I got to the postage part.
L25.00 for postage, seems high.
I live in the US.
What is your take on this?
Postage is nor something the author usually has any influence over, that would be a decision by the publisher.
You should probably ask Rich Clarke about the costs of shipping and whether or not there will be a US distributor.
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James,
Saw the interview of you and Richard on You Tube.
Excited to see the rules can be pre-ordered.
Went and ordered until I got to the postage part.
L25.00 for postage, seems high.
I live in the US.
What is your take on this?
Came up as - Royal Mail: £15.20 for me. I was all excited for Midgard till I saw that postage - I've gotten much more shipped for much less.
Guess I'll wait and see if there is a PDF only version available.
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Quote from Rich on the Midgard FB page:
"I do realise that this is a heavy book that is costly to ship over long distances, so the PDF will be a popular option. At 130 plus pages and with the 3mm MDF ruler and token set, this is too heavy to go as a letter so international parcel rates apply.
We do supplement postage costs to north America and Australia to the tune of several pounds on each book send, but if people want to get together with club mates to put in a bulk order we can get better shipping deals with companies such as DHL and UPS. However, that's a slightly more complex procedure in that their rates vary, but I'd be happy to give you a bespoke quote if you want to get in touch. Individual books are vastly more expensive shipped with way, but half a dozen or more sees savings."
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Thanks everyone for the replies about the postage for the rules.
PS Went and ordered the basic rules.
With postage, the cost was OK.
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This is an excellent set of rules, I have played many many games in playtesting and developing and I have used them for many different games from Early Medieval, to high medieval and all kinds of Fantasy in between. Well worth the wait
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Fantastic! Looking forward to order it
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Loads has happened since the last preview so here's a quick summary - and a preview of one of the page spreads in the book (artwork and layout by Jon Hodgson and Paul Bourne of Handiwork Games).
There are now six videos about the game on Too Fat Lardies on YouTube:
1 - introduction to Midgard Heroic Battles
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WRrcq3nX-w&t=101s (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WRrcq3nX-w&t=101s)
2, 3 - a look at some sample Forces, Arthurian British and early Saxons
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sU8e1d5hKko&t=172s (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sU8e1d5hKko&t=172s)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZuCmw_Y8TY&t=141s (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZuCmw_Y8TY&t=141s)
4, 5 & 6 - play through of a game using scenario and Forces from the rules:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7CpkeC1R74&t=702s (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7CpkeC1R74&t=702s)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TZCDDER9_k&t=3197s (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TZCDDER9_k&t=3197s)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLfR0rC_0K0&t=129s (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLfR0rC_0K0&t=129s)
Tom WD has also posted another video battle report with Late Romans taking on Saxons:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVBr4jw-pa8&t=1s (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVBr4jw-pa8&t=1s)
I'm making an appearance on the Plastic Crack Podcast on 11.11.24 (8pm GMT) to talk about the game, and will doubtless be popping up elsewhere around the time of launch on 18.11.24.
Richard and I have filmed a second series of videos focusing on the more fantastical elements of the game for future release.
If you're interested, the Midgard Heroic Battles page on my website contains a load of extra game information and links: https://mogsymakes.net/midgard/ (https://mogsymakes.net/midgard/)
I think that's all for now. Thank you to everyone who has expressed an interest in the game or pre-ordered!
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I’ve pre-ordered this, even with shipping being nearly 50% of the price, it just looks so good!
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Last time I checked there were only 10 countries available on the shipping list but it looks like they can add missing countries on request.
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Fab 8)
I was hoping to see the vids all in one place and reaching outside of YouTube. 8)
BTW, I don't think I've enjoyed watching (even a Lardy) video series more than Midgard. Very informative and very addictive :)
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I’ve pre-ordered this, even with shipping being nearly 50% of the price, it just looks so good!
Same here, I originally ordered the full bundle with the MDF tokens, however, having just checked the book / pdf only costs, not only does adding the tokens push the bundle from £30 to £40 (reasonable enough), it also pushes the postage from £15.20 to £25, effectively adding the tokens costs me £20 more. The tokens are nice but for me they're not £20 nice. I can't really see how a 30-40g sheet of MDF would push postage up by £10, even if it's pushing the package from the 500-750g bracket into the 751-1kg bracket I can't get the postage to jump by £10 using the Royal Mail site. I've messaged TFL to see if it is an error. If it's not I'll ditch the tokens and just order the book.
Update: Apparently it's not an error as it's, so I was told, the tokens that push the package over 750g (too 800g going from their site) but, even at the 751g - 1kg rate, using International Tracked, the postage only comes to £19 or so, and that's without TFL subsidising the cost of postage which I've seen them say they do to Australia. Maybe it's only Australia that gets that subsidy. Oddly, if I order two full complete bundles that only increases the postage by £7 for a total of £32, and that's for a full extra 800g, not a token sheet. Nice tokens but they're no worth £20 extra for me. Cancelled the order and will order just the book /PDF.
NB: North Star are also stocking the book with international postage at £10 from there, no PDF rules then though. Better value if you only want the book though. Another plus with ordering the book from North Star is that you can get the official 3D printed tokens already painted. I actually prefer them over the more chunky MDF ones in the TFL bundle.
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I've just finished watching the video series, really useful and interesting (plus fun to watch as well). I just need to get my hands on the rulebook now! lol
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“Another plus with ordering the book from North Star is that you can get the official 3D printed tokens already painted.”
As far as I can see from the North Star site, it is just the rulers that they are selling in deluxe form. I can see no mention of tokens, sadly.
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Thanks James,
Pre-ordered and awaiting with baited breath!
I have a very large 15mm fantasy colletion, including a large bias toward Warhammer style armies, so I am looking for how I can work out unit stats for the various weapons and races.
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“Another plus with ordering the book from North Star is that you can get the official 3D printed tokens already painted.”
As far as I can see from the North Star site, it is just the rulers that they are selling in deluxe form. I can see no mention of tokens, sadly.
Good catch, glad you noticed that, I'd assumed it was the full set, was just about the order two of the bundles. Will revert to just ordering two books, they will cost us £75 delivered vs £91.20 from TFL. Don't get the free PDF copy but we don't need that really, saving £16 on postage we could buy it at a later date if needed.
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I’m undecided whether to go for the bundle from TFL or North Star, though North Star is also selling the rulers separately. Perhaps someone will produce tokens at a later date.
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Thank you for these updates!
Is the STL for the 3D printed ruler available anywhere?
Loads has happened since the last preview so here's a quick summary - and a preview of one of the page spreads in the book (artwork and layout by Jon Hodgson and Paul Bourne of Handiwork Games).
There are now six videos about the game on Too Fat Lardies on YouTube:
1 - introduction to Midgard Heroic Battles
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WRrcq3nX-w&t=101s (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WRrcq3nX-w&t=101s)
2, 3 - a look at some sample Forces, Arthurian British and early Saxons
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sU8e1d5hKko&t=172s (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sU8e1d5hKko&t=172s)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZuCmw_Y8TY&t=141s (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZuCmw_Y8TY&t=141s)
4, 5 & 6 - play through of a game using scenario and Forces from the rules:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7CpkeC1R74&t=702s (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7CpkeC1R74&t=702s)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TZCDDER9_k&t=3197s (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TZCDDER9_k&t=3197s)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLfR0rC_0K0&t=129s (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLfR0rC_0K0&t=129s)
Tom WD has also posted another video battle report with Late Romans taking on Saxons:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVBr4jw-pa8&t=1s (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVBr4jw-pa8&t=1s)
I'm making an appearance on the Plastic Crack Podcast on 11.11.24 (8pm GMT) to talk about the game, and will doubtless be popping up elsewhere around the time of launch on 18.11.24.
Richard and I have filmed a second series of videos focusing on the more fantastical elements of the game for future release.
If you're interested, the Midgard Heroic Battles page on my website contains a load of extra game information and links: https://mogsymakes.net/midgard/ (https://mogsymakes.net/midgard/)
I think that's all for now. Thank you to everyone who has expressed an interest in the game or pre-ordered!
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I’m undecided whether to go for the bundle from TFL or North Star, though North Star is also selling the rulers separately. Perhaps someone will produce tokens at a later date.
Warbases make a token set https://warbases.co.uk/product/midgard-token-set/
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Excellent. My way forward is now clear.
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Another short video in which I take on the author in an Age of Arthur clash
https://youtu.be/IvNDuypdfWk
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Not sure if this is the right place to mention that I received my copy of the rulebook over the weekend. It was nice to come home from a weekend away at Warfare 2024 to be greeted with a package of rulebook and Midgard Token Set. Not read it yet but a quick skip through shows lovely production values and a great look. It appears to be well presented and clear demarcated into bite-sized chapters, with an Index and QRF to boot! Looking forward to spending an hour or so this evening looking over the new tome.
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I’ve got my PDF now but my hard copy had to be shipped to a family member in another country so I won’t have that for another month. In any event I was excited to find out that the artist who did art for the One Ring RPG did the art for this book. Beautiful stuff.
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I received my deluxe bundle from North Star today - a signed copy of the rule book and the measurement devices, printed and painted by James. The layout indeed looks great but my initial impression of the art is that it’s very muted, even rather muddy, and not only in the rain-swept scenes. Perhaps it will grow on me. Of course I’m looking forward to reading the rules.
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I’ve received the PDF today - looking forward to the book coming.
The rules look really good - a very high level of presentation - haven’t read much yet, just intro bits but it all seems good so far!
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I received my pdf too. I’m glad I got the bundle, as Canada Post is on strike, so the physical copy may be delayed a while.
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I received my pdf too. I’m glad I got the bundle, as Canada Post is on strike, so the physical copy may be delayed a while.
With any luck, based on prior labour disputes, we’re halfway through. Day 5 today, typically under 2 weeks for Canada Post. They’ll either cave (as they should!) to the reasonable requests of the posties, or be forced to arbitration. There wont be forced legislative return to work due to the current minority government, and lack of support would potentially force an early election. One more week.
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Yeah, that’s pretty well what I’m expecting. In the meantime, I’ll enjoy the pdf. It’s just not the same, though- none of that new rulebook smell… like coffee in the morning but with ink.
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Another Midgard publication celebration release vid from last evening:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FtPWbFT4zk&ab_channel=toofatlardies (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FtPWbFT4zk&ab_channel=toofatlardies)
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Thanks everyone for the fab support and messages of encouragement that have come through since the game launched yesterday!
All the up to date information is being centrally updated on the Midgard Heroic Battles page of my website: https://mogsymakes.net/midgard/ (https://mogsymakes.net/midgard/)
Here you'll find all the videos, information and links. Recently added are:
1) links to buy the STL files for rulers and tokens for 3D printing
2) a MS Excel spreadsheet to help with Force Creation (free download)
3) a pair of sample Wars of the Roses Force lists (free download)
4) a PDF to create your own Force rosters using pencil & paper (free download)
Cheers
James
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Cool. Thanks for sharing these
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I’ve got my PDF now but my hard copy had to be shipped to a family member in another country so I won’t have that for another month. In any event I was excited to find out that the artist who did art for the One Ring RPG did the art for this book. Beautiful stuff.
Delayed Gratification is always the best
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Not had time for a proper read yet but it really is a very nice looking book. Looking forward to having a read through it over the weekend.
Steve
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I am looking forward to purchasing the book. Are there any sellers in the US?
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I am looking forward to purchasing the book. Are there any sellers in the US?
Yes. Jeff Gatlin of Shieldwall Miniatures has it, either in stock or arriving today.
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Thanks.
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Given the heritage of the authors, what previous system does this resemble? It's not like any of the other TFL games, but it looks similar to systems like Warhammer/WAB, or Saga. Is that correct?
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I don’t think Midgard has any great Warhammer heritage - not least as units as bases, not individual figures. Stat lines are nothing like WH ones.
I’m not seeing much link to Saga either, no battle boards, and whole base units rather than individual figures, the Stat lines are perhaps closer to Saga.
But that doesn’t answer the question of what it’s heritage is though?
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I don’t think Midgard has any great Warhammer heritage - not least as units as bases, not individual figures. Stat lines are nothing like WH ones.
I’m not seeing much link to Saga either, no battle boards, and whole base units rather than individual figures, the Stat lines are perhaps closer to Saga.
But that doesn’t answer the question of what it’s heritage is though?
It looks like the same kind of design philosophy though. The rules may use different stat line terms but both have a Point Cost, a Melee stat (WAB = WS, Midgard = Combat Dice), a Missile stat, Defensive Stat, a Hit point stat and a Morale stat, and Special Attributes to give the figure some unique flavor.
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I'm sure James can answer for himself on this matter, but I recall speaking to him at length at "The Other Partizan" back in October 2021 which was the first show after lockdown, and from memory he was putting on a superb El Cid game using an early version of Midgard. He did mention WAB as being "an influence", not so much from the actual mechanics but from wanting a set of rules where "characters" played a major role. I think he was the author of the WAB "Age of Arthur" book so I guess many of the themes in there would feed into Midgard.
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It looks like the same kind of design philosophy though. The rules may use different stat line terms but both have a Point Cost, a Melee stat (WAB = WS, Midgard = Combat Dice), a Missile stat, Defensive Stat, a Hit point stat and a Morale stat, and Special Attributes to give the figure some unique flavor.
It’s not the slightly different naming as at that level a very high percentage of medieval era wargames would count as the same.
I think how the stats are used is very different between WAB/WH and Midgard.
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Cool, thanks!
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The influences on Midgard are many and varied, but it takes very little from Warhammer apart from a determination to make the game fast, fun and well presented. The profiles are common to pretty much every ancient/ medieval wargame, I think, as you need somewhere to put the numbers.
The major design influences are actually John Keegan’s writings about heroic leadership and decades of reading about ancient and medieval warfare. Once I’d decided that’s what the game was about, I set about using whatever mechanisms were the best and simplest fit. There were a number of negative influences at this point as well - in terms of things that I wanted to avoid, which included over-complexity, overly prescriptive basing, implausible battlefield manoeuvres, a focus on tournament play, and a lack of diagrams.
Dan Mersey has been a constant positive influence, especially the simplicity that he brings to his games. ‘Euro games’ boardgames such as Carcassonne were the main influence on the Reputation system, along with a nod to Force Morale in Chain of Command.
But ultimately, it’s a melting pot of different mechanisms, all selected to keep the game moving and the players engaged.
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Thanks, I appreciate that!!
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We played our first game last week. You can definitely see the smorgasbord of influences in the mechanics.
A few things stood out. The first was only moving straight ahead - any other movement halved the distance. This is really different to almost every other rule set I've played and almost produces a grid like feel without a grid.
Second were the kill zones and their restriction on movement. This stopped a unit charging another in the flank. It really gave skirmishers some utility to pin units and prevent that issue of a breakthrough just leading to the breakthrough unit being immediately flanked.
Armour 4 was very strong. We played the hill fight and of the three Armour 4 units only a single one took a point of stamina loss.
Heroes are very important to fights - those extra dice are what tips you over the edge to the next stamina loss.
It definitely felt like the rules started with - how can we make some interesting decision points in a game where the basic tactic is get in two lines and bash each other? Shield wall warfare is not inherently going to give you a lot of interesting decisions. Adding the kill zones, skirmishers, some variety in troop types, the straight ahead movement and most importantly the heroes and mighty deeds gives a bunch more decisions to make. The attacker gets to see the defender line up so can line up the matches he wants. Do you as the defender then try to reshuffle your units to stop those match ups but risk disordering your line? Once the feathers start flying how do you spend your mighty deeds? When do you send your heroes in? Do you issue a challenge? Do you refuse a challenge? There is quite a bit of nuance and strategy to the game.
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Useful write-up Jon. I’d thought the movement looked restrictive from the a read through - but interesting to hear how it plays out.
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If you want to wheel or crab or advance at an angle you can - it just takes twice as long. If you have no time limit I guess it won't have much effect but with the battle we played you had to get stuck in as all the objectives were in the enemy hands. Hence a decision - do you try anything fancy or just push on, likewise if something falls behind do you delay and wait for it or push on. Again it is another decision point introduced.
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Sounds good.
I do wonder if some of my gaming group will find it too restrictive- but the implementation is simple which makes it playable. Unfortunately back to too many games too little time at the minute.
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Yes. Jeff Gatlin of Shieldwall Miniatures has it, either in stock or arriving today.
On Military Matters in New Jersey also has it. Uncertain who else in the USA does - I made an enquiry with TFL and haven't gotten a response.
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On Military Matters in New Jersey also has it. Uncertain who else in the USA does - I made an enquiry with TFL and haven't gotten a response.
Richard is in the process of setting up a US distributor, details of which should be along soon.
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James
Belated congrats on the release.
Will the PDF be included with the purchase of the actual book?
All the best over the holidays and beyond!
Mac
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Mac Finn, there’s a book + PDF bundle available from Too Fat Lardies, it’s what I bought. And I’m glad I did, as my physical copy is delayed in the mail.
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James
Belated congrats on the release.
Will the PDF be included with the purchase of the actual book?
All the best over the holidays and beyond!
Mac
Thanks! Do you mean from the US distributor, or in general?
TFL offered a free PDF with a hard copy purchase in the pre order deal, but now there is a joint bundle on their website.
I imagine that the US distributor will be book only, but I don’t know for sure.
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Thank you both.
Yessir, on the US release, shipping has become crazy, sadly, and I empathize with you folks about going an hour to the EU and having it seem a world away.
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And my physical copy sent by TFL arrived today - which I’m very happy about! * It’s a beautiful book and I’m looking forward to trying out the rules as soon as I get an opportunity.
* Just to be clear, the delay was purely due to the Canada Post strike - TFL sent the copy right away in mid-November and then it got caught in the shutdown.
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James
Congrats on these rules they are Great. :-* :-* :-* :-*
We have played two games at my place one large , and one EPIC .
The Rules really do shine for The Trojan War Period , they beat every other set we have tried, hands down (imho)
They are quick to pick up , and scale very well for larger Games .( a sign of a good set of rules )
The Movement Rules are not restrictive at all , ???? lol lol....., in fact quite realistic.
Combined with the "Zone of Engagement "thingy ... , makes it all quite elegant , dont worry this will be lost of some regardless .. dont sweat it .. lol lol
Overall, Bravo well done . :-* :-*
Cheers
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James
Congrats on these rules they are Great. :-* :-* :-* :-*
We have played two games at my place one large , and one EPIC .
The Rules really do shine for The Trojan War Period , they beat every other set we have tried, hands down (imho)
They are quick to pick up , and scale very well for larger Games .( a sign of a good set of rules )
The Movement Rules are not restrictive at all , ???? lol lol....., in fact quite realistic.
Combined with the "Zone of Engagement "thingy ... , makes it all quite elegant , dont worry this will be lost of some regardless .. dont sweat it .. lol lol
Overall, Bravo well done . :-* :-*
Cheers
Thank you, so great to hear that! There's been some fab feedback and it's wonderful that folk out there are appreciating the game. Cheers!
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I've just completed the final update on the Midgard web page for the year, with additional lists and notes for Second Punic War Forces https://mogsymakes.net/midgard/ (https://mogsymakes.net/midgard/)
In the same place, you can also find sample lists and designer's notes for Early Imperial Romans and Ancient Britons, Wars of the Roses and the Hundred Years' War (Agincourt). There are also links to all the play through videos, a downloadable blank Force roster, a play sheet with page numbers and links to a web app to create Forces.
Cheers all!
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If memory serves, I once played Midgard, Vikings v Trolls and Skellys. Seem to recall you could get yourself in a right tacking if one of yer units recoiled and crashed into another?
???
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Units that are pushed back in to friendly units do run the risk of taking additional stamina damage (as does the unit they're pushed on to).
However you want to have units behind your front line fighters to provide support.
How you balanced this is one of the challenges of the game.
Yes, we've played with Trolls and Vikings and Draugr - you can add fantasy elements to your games or play straight historical match ups.
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Midgard seems to use quite a few markers or tokens, I see charging/winning markers, shot markers, stamina loss markers and heroic deeds tokens at least, possibly more? Whilst I'm not so bothered, my regular gaming opponent absolutely loathes markers on the table. (I realise that Reputation tokens go in a pot and not on the table.) Of course one could make up scenic alternatives, but how essential are the markers and how playable is the game without putting them on the table?
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Midgard seems to use quite a few markers or tokens, I see charging/winning markers, shot markers, stamina loss markers and heroic deeds tokens at least, possibly more? Whilst I'm not so bothered, my regular gaming opponent absolutely loathes markers on the table. (I realise that Reputation tokens go in a pot and not on the table.) Of course one could make up scenic alternatives, but how essential are the markers and how playable is the game without putting them on the table?
Charging markers are not really required if you can remember who won a combat in the previous phase. The bigger the game the more it would be needed. You could just turn a couple of the rear rank of figures around to indicate the losing side?
Stamina can be done by figure removal - especially if you use a sabot base - the stamina lost can be marked on the sabot where the figure is removed from.
Reputation is in the cup so not directly on the table
The heroic deeds you could track off table on your army sheet. It would be less obvious but eliminate the need for tokens on the table.
We didn't bother with the shooting marker when we played as it was obvious if a unit had shot or not. You could make a suitable base with arrows on or something to have a pleasing marker for this.
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Midgard seems to use quite a few markers or tokens, I see charging/winning markers, shot markers, stamina loss markers and heroic deeds tokens at least, possibly more? Whilst I'm not so bothered, my regular gaming opponent absolutely loathes markers on the table. (I realise that Reputation tokens go in a pot and not on the table.) Of course one could make up scenic alternatives, but how essential are the markers and how playable is the game without putting them on the table?
Fair question. The tokens help the flow of Midgard and tell the narrative of the game - and I did try to keep them to a minimum - but here’s what I think you can get away with:
Charging or Winning markers (IMO) are the essentials to have on the table as it can be easy to loose track of this in multiple combats. They don’t have to be the arrow markers; one of our play testers used standard bearers places next to the unit.
Mighty Deeds can easily be removed from the table - the pic shows a chart that one of our testers made to be used off the table.
If you can remember which units have shot, you don’t really need the Shot markers. This depends very much on how many missile units you are fielding.
Stamina loss markers are entirely optional as long as you have a way to mark the Stamina damage taken by a unit. We’ve used dice, casualty removal etc. Hero stamina loss can be marked on a chart off table along with the Mighty Deeds.
Hope that helps! In designing Midgard, I was very conscious that I wanted to only use tokens where necessary, but I think that some are inevitable to provide the granularity that I wanted.