Victrix - Pillage, ransack the Middle Ages

[Mikai]

Looks like Victrix comes with a set of rules now, for the Dark Age:
https://www.victrixlimited.com/pages/pillage

It looks interesting, will wait for the first game reviews though.

[RedRowan]

Apparently it’s been out for a while in French, Victrix are simply helping out with the English version. Sounds like they are also going to put together some army boxes for it too.

Steve

[Mikai]

Yes, I have read about the armiy boxes too. They are more likely to become ibreresting, haven't seen Victrix doing army boxes before.

[WorkShy]

A while ago they did do some army boxes for Clash of Spears, combining bits of their Ancient sets.

I'm not sure I really feel the need for another Dark Age skirmish game. Seems quite specific in terms of requiring 25mm round bases. Nonetheless, anything that help's Victrix produce another 4 sets of Dark Age minis (Picts, Scots, Welsh Cav, Skirmishers) is very very welcome.

[Hobgoblin]

Seems quite specific in terms of requiring 25mm round bases.

I wonder if it really does, though. I've seen a fair few skirmish games that 'require' (or recommend) round bases, but all of them work just fine with squares. The opposite doesn't quite hold true (there are a few skirmish games that use facings), but it usually does.

[Mikai]

From their facebook which luckily someone posted at discord:

"What is pillage? How does it differ to other games?"
Pillage differs from games like Saga or Barons War by offering true individual control over each miniature, with dynamic terrain interaction, a strong narrative focus, and a unique looting and fire system that directly shapes objectives and tactics. Terrain, weather, and fire aren't just scenery, they are active elements that drive the story and change the course of the battle.

When is it coming out?
Hardback is currently being printed and should be on sale in 6-8 weeks. There will be a pre-order once we have the proof of the prints and a concrete delivery time.

Will there be a PDF version available?
Yes! We will offer this along with the pre-order.
What can I be doing in the meantime?
For those who are eager to get preparing...

Build your army:
Of course, one thing you can be doing at the miniature is getting your armies ready.
We have shared images of the faction cost tables.
In Pillage, you can equip your warriors as you wish from the list of equipment available in each faction. The associated costs vary according to the faction chosen. A heavily-equipped warrior will cost more and be slower on the battlefield, while a light warrior will be able to run faster to capture targets, but will be weaker in defence.

Choose the right balance: the spear can support allies in battle but is weak in close combat, shields can be used to form shield walls or hide behind them in battle, armour provides better defence, and swords and axes are formidable weapons. A bow can fire twice if it has not moved, but cannot fire if it has moved more than half the movement distance of its bearer.

The crossbow cannot move to fire and fires only once, but with formidable force.
The possibilities are endless, and they can be accompanied by talents specific to each army, which you can also pay for.

We don't want to give too much away just yet, but these tables will help you build your armies."

Here also the boards for the Anglo-Saxons, the Normans and the Vikings.

[Mikai]

Followed by the boards for the Irish, Welsh and Bretons.
Edit: Forgot the Frankish

[Mikai]

Also some shared image of the required gaming equipment

[Ran The Cid]

I find it so odd that Victrix, a company that sells figures by the gross, would publish a game that only needs a handful of miniatures. 

[Aethelflaeda was framed]

I find it so odd that Victrix, a company that sells figures by the gross, would publish a game that only needs a handful of miniatures.

Never hurts to have an entry level game to get the youngsters to commit to something bigger after they have gotten a taste.  I expect single sprue packs of 5-6 figs might become available.

[Captain Blood]

I find it so odd that Victrix, a company that sells figures by the gross, would publish a game that only needs a handful of miniatures.

That is odd, I hadn’t thought about that

They have a slightly chequered history with rules. Two or three years ago I took part in play testing (and extensive reporting back on) their prototype WW2 rules for their (then) new 12mm WW2 range. They were a bit of a muddle and didn’t work all that well TBH. They needed an app as I recall. Don’t know whether they ever saw the light of day, but my friend who had volunteered to run some of these playtesting sessions received a massive box of 12mm plastic models and figures for free, so he was happy enough.

I think wargames businesses often feel they need to offer rules as part of a complete package to help sell their figures. Sometimes, perhaps it would be best for them to just stick to their knitting

[Keeper Nilbog]

I've looked into "Pillage", and it's not really a "handful of models" game. Basic troops clock in around 20 coins/points or whatever, and the game is factored for 800 coins/point play.
So more like 30-40+ models.

[Mikai]

They wrote that it will be 15-30 warriors representing one of the faction. 800 coins/points sound like a reasonable factor for that. I do battle with 750 points at Ravenfeasts and it are also roughly between 20 and 35 warriors per side. So it will fit nicely into the possibilities I have around 

[Timotl]

I find it so odd that Victrix, a company that sells figures by the gross, would publish a game that only needs a handful of miniatures.

Maybe because they know that if we play a game that requires 10-15 models, we will buy 10-15 boxes of miniatures anyway....

[Mikai]

They posted some more pictures of the Scots/Picts. A real pain that they are doing that only in Facebook. Not sure why some companies are suddenly starting with Facebook...