Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Fantasy Adventures => Topic started by: mkultra99 on June 09, 2021, 06:46:48 PM
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Has anyone played all of the current crop of Fantasy co-op solo rules? Rangers of Shadow Deep, Sellswords&Spell slingers, Elder Scrolls, Five Leagues from the Borderlands.. I'm sure there are others. Which do you find most agreeable? Im looking for something that is low model count, can do dungeon delving, has campaign, and can be played with or without a GM.
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You can play my little self-pubbed NIGHTWATCH in a dungeon. It has a simple campaign system, some loot and artifacts, but it's really a monster hunt.
PDF: https://www.wargamevault.com/product/323202/Nightwatch-Terror-and-Treasure-in-the-Dark-Corners-of-the-World
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You can play my little self-pubbed NIGHTWATCH in a dungeon. It has a simple campaign system, some loot and artifacts, but it's really a monster hunt.
Does it have to be a dungeon crawl? I have painted up the heraldic knight set from Reaper and wanted to use some beastmen in a forest setting.
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You can play Nightwatch in any terrain. We're usually killing monsters outdoors. But I've broken out the modular dungeon tiles on a number of occasions and the game works fine.
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I've played a bit of Rangers, which is a great game and highly recommended. I've got The Elder Scrolls bit im still painting the miniatures and haven't given it a go yet. It looks interesting, but depends if you like loads of gubbins. Counters, individual card decks etc. There are a lot of loving parts.
I recently picked up Forbidden Psalm which is a Mork Borg themed game, a little unusual but seems interesting. I've just knocked together some miniatures for it from my bits box so hopefully will try that soon. https://www.drivethrurpg.com/m/product/351472
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We have played a game or two (I think tried first scenario twice) of Sellswords and Spellslingers. In theory I like this game and the innovative way it has enemies act on failures of PCs. I generally like systems that provide events and story and unexpected, but I felt SS & SS was too random. And it is based on different fantasy tropes than I enjoy, like looting enemy bodies.
We have played Elder Scrolls: Call to Arms in delve mode. This is way more complex than the games I usually like, but I really do like some of the detail it provides, like special effects for some rolls, built into dice and cards for specific figures. I'm sure we neglect parts of the rules frequently. but the books are so poorly organized that looking up stuff is difficult. I think almost all the game could be preserved as a more accessible game with better organization, but I think it could lose some weight as well, like having simpler block rules.
I have the demo game for Lasting Tales, which is by the same designer as ES: CtA. It might bring back some of the details, though the demo version doesn't add that much. I have a battle report here:
https://andyshobby.wordpress.com/2021/04/12/lasting-tales-battle/ (https://andyshobby.wordpress.com/2021/04/12/lasting-tales-battle/)
We have Rangers of Shadow Deep, but have not tried it yet.
One Page Rules is working on a game called Sellswords. I like some aspects of it, but have suggested they change the name. This and ES both uses lower "hit points" than the other two, and I'd rather do that than have a bunch that get whittled down by variable damage.
andy
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I've played Rangers of Shadow Deep and Sellswords and Spellslingers.
I started with SS&SS last year and it was my first try at solo and co-op style gaming, apart from board games. It was fantastic and although my party got slaughtered in the first game (not uncommon), I was hooked. The excitement and tension of the games is very good, and I have had very few games where it hasn't come down to the wire. My criticism is that there's no narrative or campaign/backstory, so you are left to create your own. Also the scenarios in the book are a bit hack and slash, and there are a lot of skills defined in the book, which there is very little point in buying. Thats where a well designed campaign could help and the recently released "Last stand at Mistham" helps.
We started playing Rangers of Shadow Deep this year and I think the backstory and the campaign ideas that have gone into RoSD are its strengths, but I find the game a bit dull. The monster actions is vague and the game is pretty predictable (no monsters turning up at your back or leaping out to ambush an unsuspecting party member). For other gamers this may be a positive aspect, but I like games with some unpredictable elements and I'm a big fan of the Ganesha games in general.
Maybe if I'd started with RoSD first I would have a different opinion, and I really want to like RoSD, but we are struggling to complete the first campaign. We are hoping that the game will get tougher and more exciting so I will continue on with both campaigns in the main book.
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I've played Rangers of Shadow Deep and Sellswords and Spellslingers.
I started with SS&SS last year and it was my first try at solo and co-op style gaming, apart from board games. It was fantastic and although my party got slaughtered in the first game (not uncommon), I was hooked. The excitement and tension of the games is very good, and I have had very few games where it hasn't come down to the wire. My criticism is that there's no narrative or campaign/backstory, so you are left to create your own. Also the scenarios in the book are a bit hack and slash, and there are a lot of skills defined in the book, which there is very little point in buying. Thats where a well designed campaign could help and the recently released "Last stand at Mistham" helps.
We started playing Rangers of Shadow Deep this year and I think the backstory and the campaign ideas that have gone into RoSD are its strengths, but I find the game a bit dull. The monster actions is vague and the game is pretty predictable (no monsters turning up at your back or leaping out to ambush an unsuspecting party member). For other gamers this may be a positive aspect, but I like games with some unpredictable elements and I'm a big fan of the Ganesha games in general.
Maybe if I'd started with RoSD first I would have a different opinion, and I really want to like RoSD, but we are struggling to complete the first campaign. We are hoping that the game will get tougher and more exciting so I will continue on with both campaigns in the main book.
Use the Campaign and Scenarios from RoSD with the SS&SS Rules. That is what I intend. I'm not certain yet exactly what rule set I will use but the Scenarios from one should be relatively easy to plug into another.
I just picked up Five Leagues From the Border and the Campaign generator in it is pretty awesome. I intend to use it with whatever rule set I settle on in addition to scenarios from RoSD, Nightwatch, Frostgrave, Mordheim, etc. Pretty much anything I can get my hands on I can adapt.
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Use the Campaign and Scenarios from RoSD with the SS&SS Rules. That is what I intend. I'm not certain yet exactly what rule set I will use but the Scenarios from one should be relatively easy to plug into another.
Yes we had the same idea! Now we have played a bit of both it will be easy to adapt. The event cards in SS&SS can easily replace the playing cards used in RoSD.
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I have at least 40 hours of Five Leagues from the Borderlands play under my belt. IMNERHO, you can't go wrong with it. 5L is much more like Black Company from the grunt's POV than Sellswords or Rangers, which tend to be very high fantasy to me.
A big thing for me is: 5L has a built-n campaign with procedurally generated scenarios. The big weakness for me with Rangers and Sellswords is that you have to write and balance and test a scenario if you ever want to play something not in the book.
For me, the Frostgrave engine is something I play with friends - even Solo Frostgrave feels wrong, like I'm missing an opponent. Rangers hits that for me too.
Sellswords excells at the Koboldmaggeddon type scenarios however, where it's endless hordes of kobolds/goblins/orcs.
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I read good reviews about Thud & Plunder, you could try this ruleset
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Another vote for Nightwatch.
Some links for my games using the rules.
https://nozzawargaming.blogspot.com/2020/10/mission-1-escort.html (https://nozzawargaming.blogspot.com/2020/10/mission-1-escort.html)
https://nozzawargaming.blogspot.com/2020/10/mission-2-defend.html (https://nozzawargaming.blogspot.com/2020/10/mission-2-defend.html)
https://nozzawargaming.blogspot.com/2020/11/mission-3-purge.html (https://nozzawargaming.blogspot.com/2020/11/mission-3-purge.html)
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The big weakness for me with Rangers and Sellswords is that you have to write and balance and test a scenario if you ever want to play something not in the book.
Strangely for me, that's the strength of Sellswords. I'm not tied to someone else's world view and can create my own. I've played D&D style high fantasy, Middle Earth and Victorian Sci-Fi based campaigns.
After playing through the scenarios in the main rules, I've found creating reasonably balanced scenarios comes easily enough. Besides with the wrong die rolls/cards the most balanced scenario can go very one-sided quite quickly!
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Two Hour Wargames has just released a specifically solo fantasy skirmish game also playable co-op or vs opponent and with a immersive campaign and instant action generic scenarios using their latest rules system.
Shop: https://www.twohourwargames.com/waheadinta.html (https://www.twohourwargames.com/waheadinta.html)
A good AAR in a dungeon: https://atomicfloozy.com/2021/06/15/what-1st-encounter-part-4-the-game/ (https://atomicfloozy.com/2021/06/15/what-1st-encounter-part-4-the-game/)
From their website:
Adventure Awaits!
Warrior Heroes – Adventures in Talomir is a complete stand-alone fantasy immersion game. Players take on the role of an Adventurer be it Warrior, Thief, Magic User or more – you choose.
Through your decisions and exploits you will increase in abilities, fame, and fortune. Warrior Heroes – Adventures in Talomir is all about the Story, YOUR Story! It rewards you when you are successful and punishes you when you fail.
Combat is swift, deadly, and easily handled as is magic. We’ve done everything to make the game easy to play yet still challenging. Bookkeeping has been reduced to a minimum with the goal of getting players playing as quickly and as often as possible.
Added to this is a simple to use Campaign System that ties your adventures together that gives the who, what, and why of your games. Within minutes the mechanics will generate a complete adventure down to the motivation and actions of the enemy forces and all without a Games Master.
In Warrior Heroes – Adventures in Talomir everyone plays; you can play solo, cooperatively against the game, or competitively, head to head.
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I've pledged hard for Lasting tales.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/blacklistgames/lasting-tales-a-fantasy-miniatures-game
There's free demo rules for you to try. It's miniature agnostic, but they also offer a good deal on mini's.
You could still get in for a late pledge if you're patient.
It offers adventures in dungeon, town and wildernis settings, a levelling and campaign system and 5 race and 10 classes for now.
It's not to complicated, but offers enough dept and decisions. I like the demo rules lot and can't wait what they'll make of it.
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I've tried Rangers of Shadow Deep and Sellswords & Spell slingers and as much as i want to love solo wargaming... It just doesn't click for me. I'm never able to get beyond the fact that ... I'm playing with myself.
I've not found a good AI system and would love to meet one. So far, no luck!
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I've tried Rangers of Shadow Deep and Sellswords & Spell slingers and as much as i want to love solo wargaming... It just doesn't click for me. I'm never able to get beyond the fact that ... I'm playing with myself.
I've not found a good AI system and would love to meet one. So far, no luck!
Just like me... May be unpopular, but solo gaming for me is pc-gaming...
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I'm going to give the Elder Scrolls a game a go - not particularly from the point of view of the 'Solo/Co-op' Delves system, but that'll be interesting to try out certainly.
Going by reviews I've read, even those lukewarm towards it in general are complimentary about the Delve mechanics...
Personally I'm attracted by the game's apparent 'crunch' and relative complexity.
But they do seem to have made a hash of the core rulebook (and don't appear to be in any rush to put out a fully-corrected PDF version either, rather just a long errata file which you've effectively got to mentally cut and paste yourself - very self-defeating; bizarrely so really).
got some figures coming soon - and somewhat worried about how difficult I'll find the plastics to put together (apparently the resins are more straight-forward)
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Just thinking at tangents- I play a lot of board games, recently I got my kickstarted copy of a game called Destinies, its driven by an app so its a perfect as a solo game as the App does all the hard legwork for the game. I wonder whether this will ever be something that we see in wargaming?
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pancakeonions and BZ - These games are co-operative as well as solo, if you have friends you do not have to play all by yourself :D
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pancakeonions and BZ - These games are co-operative as well as solo, if you have friends you do not have to play all by yourself :D
I love cooperative games, but cant do anything with solo... For me is essential to have human interaction. If I dont have, then why shouldnt I play on pc? But again, that it isnt for me, doesnt mean anything about solo wargaming in general.
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If I dont have, then why shouldnt I play on pc?
Because pc games don't give you a justification for buying more miniatures? :)
Although I suppose I did buy a bunch of Doom and Diablo figs back when they (briefly) had licensed ranges, so perhaps I'm wrong. :?