Ghost Archipelago - First Game - First Thoughts

[JohnDSD2]

If you think GA is just Frostgrave 2 then think again!

Yes the mechanics are pretty much the same.
Yes the basic concept, grab loot, fight, escape is the same.
Yes its a skirmish game based around warbands with a couple of important figures who gain experience and a crew of henchmen.

But the game has a different feel.
It's more in your face, it's more get stuck in, its more confrontational.

The changes Joe has made to treasure tokens mean you want that central token and you are going to have to fight to get it. No settling for 3 treasures each and then sliding off.

The Heritors are more action, being able to use multiple abilities per turn makes them more dynamic.
Balancing Ability usage against health and the decreasing chance of success gives you something to think about.
The Wardens provide suitable backup and can run interference with their limited spells.
The crew die horrible or beat the odds for a glorious moment in the warbands tale.
The fact that special crew are harder to replace adds another level to the campaign, I can see warbands being worn down over time, until they make that trip to the home land and re-supply.
The likelihood of more wandering monsters and different wandering monsters adds to the different feel, as do the setting and the scenarios.

As you can tell I was impressed, I knew we'd get a good game but what really impressed me was the fact we got a great game with plenty of differences to allow it to stand on its own.

Play it and enjoy it, thats what I'll be doing.

[mikedemana]

Agreed, though I never played the original game. 

Mike Demana
www.firstcommandwargames.com
http://leadlegionaries.blogspot.com/

[Bloggard]

well, this sounds great - thanks for the summary.

I'm certainly feeling very positive about the rules, from a read-through alone.