Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Fantasy Adventures => Frostgrave => Topic started by: Harry on September 26, 2015, 08:46:05 AM
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So someone asked me in another thread "How do I like Frostgrave?" ... it made me ask myself the question ....
So you are all here .... hanging about in this part of the forum .... what is it about Frostgarve that you like?
Here are my thoughts .... Its quick to pick up. quick to play, fun to play, full of narrative potential. great for linked games and campaigns, easy to paint for ... you only need to paint 10 guys, and just full of atmosphere ... it has clearly nudged me into a bunch of hobby painting ... always good and it has been a great way to use up all those 'odd' models I have knocking about that don't quite fit into my collection .... then there is the terrain ... really inspired me to create a bunch of terrain and a great looking table..... there is another expansion out soon and more to follow ... so it gives me an outlet for my hobby spending. Pretty much ticks all my boxes.
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Old school RPG feel but new school tabletop skirmish rules.
This is a fill in for Basic/Expert D&D without needing to gather 3 or 4 other players plus a DM for a multi-hour session. It is difficult for me to carve out that amount of time and more difficult to coordinate that time with a handful of like-minded individuals who also have life getting in the way.
There are other games that do this well, but they lack fluff (bring your own, they say). I resisted even looking at FG at first because I thought "ruined frozen city? No thanks...". But, the backstory is great, very evocative, and gets my imagination really juiced.
Frostgrave just seems to check all the boxes in what I wanted in a skirmish game.
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Frostgrave and the community around it make me largely feel the same as I did 30 years ago sitting in my room with my first lead fantasy adventurers reading through the Citadel Journel as I made rough castles out of cardboard. It has reconnected me to the hobby.
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Simple yet complex enough.
Low model count is perfect for me, I'm more likely to complete multiple small warbands and then spend more overall.
Evokes happy childhood memories of D&D with the D20 and the treasure tables.
The childish enthusiasm from other people sharing online was huge(started following Harry's Frostgrave log on Warseer)
I usually prefer a darker fantasy but this setting, and the lack of specifics, have sparked my imagination and a desire to build terrain. I suck at terrain and haven't tried building any in years.
Plus- at The first game night where I was introduced to Frostgrave, a random bystander asked why we had a scale model Tardis in the table. Without hesitation I was able to say a great line from a bad movie (Your Highness).
"Because Magic, M***"
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I am yet to play a game of it, but I am looking for campaign systems without oldshool drag of GW games like Mordheim and to less extent Necromunda - my avourite game of all the time)
Second thing is posibility to play many miniatures i gathered during my 20+ years of gaming that never seen the table (or even paint :(
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1. I only play Skirmish games nowadays, so this scratches an itch.
2. I see play, and enjoy, Mordheim, but this feels different as really you're only overly concerned about one figure.
3. Rules are different from other games I play.
4. I can use any figure from my collection, regardless of race.
And lots of other reasons I can't put into words.
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I love the fact that you can use almost any mini in your collection.
The rules are very quick to pick up.
I enjoy that old school feeling it brings.
The D20 just ...brings me back to 1980.
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So far I seem to be in the same camp as all of you. Ease of play and a fondness for small adventuring bands exploring ruins and now the lower levels are being opened up to further discoveries.... This just fills a void that needed to be addressed.
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Interesting .... so we are all adventuring, dungeon bashers at heart.
The other thing I find interesting is the whole 'lack of specifics' thing. I love that the background is so ... vague ....that it lacks the timeline, the history, the map! Hell even the background in the artwork only gives us a shadowy glimpse of the city.
In a world where folks seem to want everything on a plate or even spoon fed to them ... I had forgottrn how much fun it is using your imagination.
I used to spend hours imagining characters, places, dungeons, villages, castles, nations, worlds when I played D&D
So I hope that Joe resists the temptation to give us a detailed history, a timeline and a map. I hope he never tells us where Frostgrave fits into a wider world or what the rest of that world is like. I hope it remains this simple fairytale setting it is where we can loose ourselves for a few hours,
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I do remember a remark he made in an interview about leaving the "Edges fuzzy" as far as giving details for the world so that players can place it in any setting of their choosing. It is very appealing.
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Just got, but haven't read the rules....
I am hoping to breathe new life into my complete Mordheim collection and wanted to use all the scenery I have for that. Does the place have to be frosty?
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For me its as much about the free reign for creativity and imagination as the game itself. As much as I like GWs fluff I found that you became more and more constrained by it. I have also become a big fan of low model count skirmish games too, for ease of transport and the fact you can go to town on each model.
The rules are also nice and simple but with depth, I was a big fan of the LoTR strategy battle games simple rule set and Frostgrave is in a similar vein. Between this and my soon to arrive Dungeon saga pledge my interest in fantasy has been reinvigorated :)
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Everything really as mentioned above.
The general background that allows you to use any minis and terrain you like.
The skirmish level and fair prices make it a feasible project for me in terms of time and money.
The range of scenarios that can always be added to with mini-campaigns even keeping things fresh.
The magic system - 80 spells give good variety and they have been well thought through.
The whole activation and combat system is simple to use but has hidden depth that adds interest and tactics.
Rules and gameplay aside, what really sells this is looking at the rulebook with its lovely artwork and presentation and then the fantastic tables and warbands people are putting together on this site and others. All of this goes to make a 'feel good factor' about this game which I find attractive.
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I like the ease of multiplayer games it provides, and the simplicity of both the rules and the narrative/stylistic "hook" is great for a few friends I am getting into gaming.
Also for me personally, the excuse to build scenery for an ancient ruined city just really hits a sweet spot in my imagination; I've always had a fascination with that sort of "lost city/civilization" aesthetic. It's probably why I love the Legend of Zelda, Far Cry, Uncharted, and Tomb Raider games and movies like Indiana Jones.
So I guess I am a bit of an oddball in that neither the dungeoneering nor magic really factored into the appeal. lol
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Much of what was written in this thread, is also true for me. But especially the "lost civilization" setting stimulates my interest in the game. I found the idea intriguing of an ancient wizard town buried in snow with all its wonders and treasures - an infinite source for adventure! Reminds me of my RPG time. And of books I love from Jack Vance (The Dying Earth), Michael Moorcock (Elric and Corum books) or Terry Pratchett and many others.
A Skirmish game, suitable to play it with my kids and the wide range of customisable wizards are further arguments for me to play Frostgrave. I played Necromunda and Mordheim from GW in the old days and it was a lot of fun.
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The things that really get me about Frostgrave:
1) Centered around the wizard: This gives an almost RPG quality to the game. The wizard is like your player character and the rest of the warband his supporting cast. It feels like the wizard's story is being told.
2) Skirmish: I have gone more and more to skirmish size over the years. It is easy to paint and each model in the warband gets it's chance to stand out. While the wizard is the "hero" of the story, each other character can have his moments of greatness.
3) The City: I love the idea of a dead city filled with treasures. Sure the next ruin is probably empty and lifeless, a windswept husk of former glories. But it could also be filled with magical wonders. That might mean magical artifacts, enchanted weapons, tomes and the like, but it could also mean finding portals to other dimensions, walls covered in gibbering mouths, great halls filled with mechanical servants still going through the motions, etc. Anything is possible in Frostgrave. It is the perfect "a wizard did it" medium to put almost anything on the table.
4) Not Alone: I also like the idea that the "dead" city is still very much alive. The snow-filled streets are crawling with weird magical beasts, extra-dimensional horrors and the walking dead of a bygone era. You're as likely to be eaten by demons, giant toads and ice spiders as you are to be killed by your fellow wizards.
So in short, I'm a fan of feeling like my wizard is traipsing into a frozen, deadly wasteland filled with all manner of crazy that could swarm out of the ruins any minute.
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I agree with all points made and I'll add a few more.
With its staggering variety of 80 spells, FG lets you play and experiment with different casting strategies - the killer who tosses Elemental Bolt, the careful ones with Fog and Wall spells, and the sneaky ones who can manipulate treasure locations and Jump (fly) their own troops - or combos of those styles and more.
I like peppering in wandering Beasties and the narrative and uncertainty that brings. Plus I enjoy it is a game where you don't focus on destroying the enemy - especially if you play Calmdown's excellent campaign variants - but on grabbing treasures (only attacking to deny the enemy).
So when you add that stew of possibilities to a simple-yet-deep game in a dramatic lost world, you really have something.
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What's great about Frostgrave?
Two words: Defecating Bear
(http://www.myalbum.ca/Photo-6EX7BXB4-D.jpg)
Once you have one of these, the rest of the game is superfluous.
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Another point is it has given me a good reason to make some use of my existing Mordheim-themed figures and scenery that has been neglected for far too long.
I just need to make some snow drifts to sit up against these, and some ice to sit on the water and I am sorted......
(http://i1087.photobucket.com/albums/j478/themason73/Krappefortt014_zpsef3b9afc.jpg)
(http://i1087.photobucket.com/albums/j478/themason73/Krappefortt018_zpsd141dd9b.jpg)
(http://i1087.photobucket.com/albums/j478/themason73/Krappefortt021_zps6266b561.jpg)
(http://i1087.photobucket.com/albums/j478/themason73/Krappefortt023_zpsacd4345e.jpg)
(http://i1087.photobucket.com/albums/j478/themason73/Krappefortt024_zps82828d3f.jpg)
Looking forwarf to doing that and rebasing some of my existing figures on round bases, which is long overdue.
:D
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Its very generic to allow many different types of fantasy figs you may already have, keeping cost of entry down. I have several Mordhiem warbands that fit into this perfectly. Heck I could probably pull together 2-3 warbands from the Heroscape figs I got, it's that friendly.
Streamlined Campaign System. 15 minutes and your fighting again!
Lots of Magic and Spells, and I like Magic and Spells!
The whole ruleset is KISS (keep it simple stupid), I like that.
A single parallel dice roll determines combat keeping the off turn player engaged while staying quick.
Very modifiable.
Love the theme and the base hardback rulebook is affordable.
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Frostgrave has brought me to this forum and I really love this game!
The rules are quick and simple to get to grips with, yet the game can be very tactical with lots of key decisions and thinking to be done.
You can create your own background and story with whatever miniatures you have, campaign play is brilliant!
The magic and the vast amount of spells and potential combinations.
The scenery, I have never really concentrated on building scenery when I have played other games but all this has changed, I have become a scenery fiend, buying and building more and more.
The future: With more expansions coming out myself and my gaming group are really excited about what the future holds for Frostgrave.
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I suppose it's what has been mentioned before. Gangs of D&D style adventurers Vs. mercenary gangs like Mordheim.
Random monsters, treasures and potions.
Of course in primis the miniatures Ex-Grenadier and ex-Foundry sculptors working all for a Northstar project.
I have this fixation that any unit or gang will not be mixed, but every gang should be only miniatures of the same sculptor. So I'm digging up lots of old stuff from boxes to make interesting combinations.
Also the point that there is no clearly defined background is really important. I'm having a great time getting carried away by my own ideas and not being limited at all by prefabricated histories, maps and NPCs. The scenarios in the book are inspiring because they are open and generic.
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Just got, but haven't read the rules....
I am hoping to breathe new life into my complete Mordheim collection and wanted to use all the scenery I have for that. Does the place have to be frosty?
No compulsion for it all to be frosty, just need plenty of the scenery.
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"What is it about Frostgrave?"
1) The author is clear about players being allowed to use any figures they wish, not just the official figures (lovely as they are).
2) The official figures, and photos in the excellent rule book, evoke an old-school fantasy style which leans toward realistic proportions rather than cartoonish stylization. Nothing wrong with other art styles, but this is what I like best.
3) Frostgrave seems to be geared more toward story telling than tournament play. I’m hoping it will attract both miniatures fans and RPG players alike.
4) I love to scratch build terrain and I’m having a blast building the city!
5) Like others, I appreciate the open ended mystery of the city, world, and timeline. I sincerely hope these things remain undefined. My fear is that the impending supplements will begin to chip away at what could best be left to our imaginations.
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Hey guys,
Thanks for this thread. It's made some great reading! I love reading about how the game has brought back players who have drifted away from the hobby and especially those that have rediscovered a bit of child-like enthusiasm because of the creative freedom that the rules and setting allow.
I obviously can't say for sure what will happen in the future with Frostgrave. However, I can say that I view the game as a 'tool-box for creativity'. While we will learn more about the Frozen City, and the world it sits in, I want to leave lots of room for people to put their own visions on it and create their own stories within it.
At this time, I have no intention (or interest) in making a map of the city. Nor do I have any intention of making special rules for classic fantasy races. I think once Thaw of the Lich Lord is out, people will have a better understanding of how I want to 'expand' the game.
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I do wish you lot would shut up about how good Frostgrave is. So far I've been really proud of myself for resisting the temptation to buy yet another rulebook.... but my iron will is rapidly crumbling.... curse you all lol
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Well, this will probably prove unpopular, but my answer to the OP is:
Nothing, really.
Played half a game and decided it is not for me.
I think the concept is nice and interesting, but I dislike the game mechanics too much to play it.
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Lol, what downer!
Well I love it, mechanics are fun and it's a great game to play with more than one opponent as well, which is a problem in my group.
For me it's activated a big hole in my passion for table top, which is a great mix of Skirmish, Fantasy & Snowy scenery settings.
The spells are great, as has been said. And as before the freedom to expand on the rules as you like (In my case wandering monsters galore) Is perfect.
All in all I'm loving the handful of games I've played.
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Well, this will probably prove unpopular, but my answer to the OP is:
Nothing, really.
Played half a game and decided it is not for me.
I think the concept is nice and interesting, but I dislike the game mechanics too much to play it.
No game fits for every single gamer. I respect that, as I'm sure most people on here do also. I hope you find the game that gives you the same pleasure that Frostgrave gives to us.
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Well, this will probably prove unpopular, but my answer to the OP is:
Nothing, really.
Played half a game and decided it is not for me.
I think the concept is nice and interesting, but I dislike the game mechanics too much to play it.
I am of this thought as well. "Running around, doing boring shit"
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-5mdUGHHOkPw/Tm-zOh_Ck1I/AAAAAAAATss/u5_Eyopqurk/w800-h800/Baby-Kitten-Falls-Asleep-Instantly%25C2%25A0Video.gif)
That being said, there's some super cool projects and some amazing stuff going on in this thread - the Egyptian one is by far my favourite. (http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=82473.0)
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Well, this is my first post at the LAF in a very long time. I started reading up on FG on another forum some time ago and my interest has been piqued. I've been building large scale armies for the last 3 years, all Sci-fi, and I'm needing a change. Frostgrave does have that old-school D&D vibe, and since miniatures are what got me into D&D in the first place 35 years ago, it's very much a piece of nostalgia for me. Given that it's all skirmish and uses very small groups (usually less than 10 models per group), I can have several groups painted and ready to go, and get others to try it as well. I might even be able to get my Fiancee to try it!
Open ended rules and setting? Sounds like Greyhawk to me!
Any models I want, but with a full complement of already existing models for specific characters? Yes!
Planned campaigns and scenarios? Again, sounds like D&D.
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Open ended rules and setting? Sounds like Greyhawk to me!
Any models I want, but with a full complement of already existing models for specific characters? Yes!
Planned campaigns and scenarios? Again, sounds like D&D.
Your on it. The game fees and plays very much like D&D without a dungeon master.
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I like the simple straightforward rules and ease of play but with just enough complexity and randomness to keep it interesting. It makes a great story backdrop. I'm loving journaling my wizard's exploits.
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Came quite late to the Frostgrave party, and can only echo what's been said above (excepting the few who don't like the game!)
It's brought me back to fantasy after about 30 years, got me making more of an effort with painting, and it makes a very nice change from painting greys, browns and khakis!
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Just the seeming simplicity and the vague background.... So open and ready to be explored. I think I was hit with a charm spell! :-*
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My gaming buds and I have been playing Pulp Alley for the last year or so. It's a terrific game that does pretty much anything you want it to...very flexible and adaptable, with storytelling elements that allow you to construct narrative campaigns in just about any genre or setting.
Except...it doesn't have a real magic system, at least not in the classic RPG or fantasy wargame sense. Frostgrave really delivers on that front, scratches that particular itch, and allows us to haul out the old RPG, Mordheim, and Fantasy Battle minis we haven't used in years. So, between the two of them, we have all our tabletop gaming needs covered, and are really getting our money and effort's worth our of our mini and scenery collections.
It's a very good time to be a tabletop gamer, thanks in no small measure to Joe McCullough and Dave Phipps. My sincere gratitude to both of these very creative gentlemen.
rags
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Have to agree with the "old school" feel of FG - I play home-brewed RPG at the moment and have suggested we integrate some FG concepts as they are so usable.
The "look" of FG on table is very appealing as well, the more terrain there is the better
It is also very (very) easy to learn plus most wizards come away something every game
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For me its the combination of a clean set of rules and a compelling setting with just enough detail to get my own brain going. Also the open attatude of the game creater with regard to what figures you want is very refreshing compared to some other game companies attatudes.
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I think Frostgrave scratches an itch.
1. After playing Warhammer for many years, with my Holy Roman Empire inspired humans, its nice to return to the old school, generic fantasy that had lured me into tabletop games to begin with (HeroQuest was the game that started it all).
2. Nice miniatures. While we aren't by any means pressured into using the official miniatures, I find them to be quite nice. The soldiers kit was one of the best sets I've worked with in a long time, and I like it better than even the old Mordheim kit.
3. The focus on wizardry. I've been on a cleric kick for quite some time, so the Thaumaturge scratches that itch (well, except for the no armor part, but that's no big deal).
4. Tight rules. These days I find myself asking whether additional rules and complexity actually add to the enjoyment of a game. I find that often times, some systems are needlessly complex and slow down the game.
5. Random encounters with monsters was a really nice touch.
6. Shorter game lengths means a greater opportunity to play.
7. I don't need a 6 x 4 (or greater) table to play.
8. I don't need 200 miniatures to play.
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I'll have to join the unfortunate crowd...after reading a bunch, listening to several reviews and playing a game myself, it dropped off my radar. I'll keep the rulebook because it's beautiful, but it didn't scratch any itch for me.
However, I'm intrigued by the possibility of a huge house-rule conversion. I love the figures and can't wait to get my hands on the plastics. I may just have played a poor game, so maybe I need someone to host a quality game for me.
Pros:
+Warband style skirmish game, always good
+Heaps of fun spells and interesting ways to impact the game
+Neat schools of magic
+Great rulebook w/ wonderful art/pictures
+Cool theme/idea/background
+Lots of potential*
Cons:
-Grabbing treasure is boring.
-Movement is a bit too slow for me in almost all areas
-Campaign system doesn't work for me, could use a lot more depth
-Imbalance created quickly by the campaign from just one game
-Disposable henchmen is a bit of a shame
-D20 is a bit swingy (after watching two Zombies kill four of my buddy's warband including his wizard!)
Overall, it's a decent game, but I was expecting a lot more after the reception it got. I would gladly play it if we house-ruled up a bunch of fixes to my dislikes.
*Potential: This is the key. I don't think it's a brilliant game, but I think it could be. Since it's not tournament based there isn't anything keeping people from making it their own. I think it provides a fantastic framework for someone to make the game into something truly wonderful.
I do think the game could definitely use much more storied/varied scenarios (of which we've already created a heapload on this forum), some story campaigns, maybe some cooperative rules (or co-opetitive). So I think it has plenty of potential, just really didn't do much for me at all.
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Being a fan of all things skirmish, Frostgrave grabbed my attention, and imagination. Reminds me a lot of Mordheim, enough for me to get my crews out and have a dig through the frozen city, and I like the figs being put out for the game. BTW, does anyone know if the reindeer guy from the new supplement is being made? He's just too darned cool not to have in my collection.
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Being a fan of all things skirmish, Frostgrave grabbed my attention, and imagination. Reminds me a lot of Mordheim, enough for me to get my crews out and have a dig through the frozen city, and I like the figs being put out for the game. BTW, does anyone know if the reindeer guy from the new supplement is being made? He's just too darned cool not to have in my collection.
The Rangifer? I've seen pictures of the sculpt online, so assume it will be released in the near future.
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I ordered them with the Deal X pack and there's news about them in the latest newsletter. Should be generally available very soon. I want to get a few more of them myself.
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1) We love the pace of the game. Alternating turns are a blessing when coming from WHFB. In big (multi)battles you sometimes had to wait 30-60 minutes for your turn. Now it's just a couple. Keeps you more engaged.
2) Due to the low model count i am able to spend money on terrain. I now have a big set of terrain available for all kinds of scenario's while in the past we had a few crappy trees and 1 hill. :-)
3) Games go fast, you can easily play a few games in an evening. Bookkeeping does take up some time after the games but it's , in my opinion, just doable.
4) We love to campaign, we always tried to invent campaigns in the games we played. Keep them simple, keep them balanced and not too complex. The only thing we had additionally was an underdog system.
5) Budget & rule wise it's easy to pick up. And i'm able to convince a lot of players to give it a try as we all have some miniatures all kinds of games. Due to the low entry others are also enthusiastic. And the rules are also simple, but this also leaves for some unexplained situations that need house-ruling.
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I don't think I have answered yet.
For me, the total package is just perfect.
My best friend and I have very different tastes. He really likes tactical gaming, coming up with brutal combos, setting up a game plan for the battle. I like narrative gaming. I love the background stories of the warbands and why they fight. I don't really care much for tactical gaming.
Warhammer was not for me. It was all about the list building. Battles were won before we even set up a single model. Mordheim wasn't really for my friend, it was too random for him, too much focused on what was happening and not how you played. Frostgrave has found the perfect middle ground. It doesn't punish me for not having good combos, and it doesn't punish him by focusing too much on the narrative aspects.
That, and the feel of the official miniatures just works for me. It has an old school charm without being old fashioned.
You can be done with 10 miniatures. Not that that is stopping me from getting more, but you COULD be done with 10 miniatures. Also, setting up and playing doesn't take ages and I am not left with a headache afterwards.
Everything about it just works. Also, the supplements really are supplements. They are not needed but they add flair. I am looking forward to the underground supplement but also the interestingly named Sellsword.
:)
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This is the first game that ever got me to build terrain. ever. Admittedly badly as well.
I like it. I don't LOVE it. The D20 makes it almost impossible to actually plan out combat and stuff, other than outnumbering to increase the odds. But one D20 vs D20 is a bit on the side of hardcore luck. But you know what? That's frostgrave. If you play the game as a bunch of linked scenarios, let the narrative flow, it grows on you. If you want a tournament style 'check my alpha combo' game then forget it. My mate's Templar was at +12 Fight at one point (on a D20) and he got rinsed by a Thug at +2.
I know all/ most games have that element of luck, but the D20 feels like a coin flip. But that adds to the madness, IF you could plan stuff out etc, the game would be about smashing each other up, instead it is all about getting as much out of a game whilst loosing as little as possible. And the almost randomness of the combat means everyone is as liable to die as anyone else so every move/ attack is a risk.
I feel shooting is slightly overpowered in the sense that the shooter does not die if he cocks his roll up, whereas in close combat a bad roll is very bad news. Need more terrain :)
It's chilled (no pun), and if played with that in mind, it's good. But if you are a bit more competitive watching 4 guys get eaten by a warhound with a penchant for rolling 20's will strip that fun away.
Just my 2p.