Armies of Arcana?????

[ogryn]

Ok
Who knows anything about this game?
Are there any good reviews out there?
Mechanics?
What armies are included and can you create your own.
I guess you can use it for historicals also?
Is it quick and easy like War of the Ring
Any help would be great.
Thanks guys
Bill
ps-if anyone has a copies to sell, I am interested.

[Erny]

Its a good game. Pared down warhammer 4th/5th with a reasonable unit creation formula and new magic. I've played it with the guys who publish the book, they run the games club in my home town but I'm already the chair of my club in my old home town and club days are the same so I've only been a few times.

It plays out large battles very quickly, I have a few problem niggles with the rules. Lances are long weapons which means ranked heavy cavalry get to fight with a second rank and have no bonus on the charge. longbows are almost too powerful. Still these can be designed out with the unit creation formula.

The rules are owned by a consortium, each having their own idea of how the rules and fluff should go. I believe there has been an ugly split in the consortium with much silliness going on over which lists are official or not, I hope they patch things up.

As a game with a familiar feel to it for any WH player that effectively give a helping hand to unit creation  and an approximation of balance to these creations I'd say it is worth a punt.

[shakespear]

Im just getting into it myself

[sukhe_bator]

I wouldn't say a consortium as such, but there does seem to have been a splitting into two factions between the time the original rules (designed by Thane Morgan) were first played and they evolved into the new edition published through Terrain Warehouse. I came into this cold a couple of years back and have had several extremely enjoyable games since then. I would have thought that given the creativity of the members of this forum this fantasy ruleset should really appeal.
It should appeal if you like the idea of a well thought out generic points system that allows you to field every miniature you've ever had at the same time, without all the background baggage of other manufacturers. That means it can be adapted for all sorts of Fantasy 'Periods'/genres. If you want fun friendly games and aren't into competition games, the listings (official or not) aren't an issue. The mechanism is there to create well balanced but familiar fantasy armies or allow you to create entirely novel ones.
This really gives you the freedom to express yourself creatively in terms of figure painting/conversion and army creation. I use it primarily to wargame big battles with my largely Non-GW Lord of the Rings Miniatures collection. Just look at sukhe_bator's various fantasy threads and you'll see what I mean. It has certainly breathed new life into the hobby for this jaded old cynic.

[P_Clapham]

I've got a decent collection, picked up the game thinking it would match my 1:72 scale figures, but they are a bit too big and I lost interest.  I've got the main set, and some of the Egyptian boosters if you are still interested.

Ok
Who knows anything about this game?
Are there any good reviews out there?
Mechanics?
What armies are included and can you create your own.
I guess you can use it for historicals also?
Is it quick and easy like War of the Ring
Any help would be great.
Thanks guys
Bill
ps-if anyone has a copies to sell, I am interested.

[rob_alderman]

P_Clapham, I think they are discussing a different game to the one you are talking about.
Isn't that Arcane Legions, not Armies of Arcana?

Arcane Legions is overpriced tat if you ask me! 

[P_Clapham]

Indeed it is.  Thanks for letting me know, the Arcane / Arcana threw me off.  I picked those figures up three years ago, and they haven't left my basement since.

P_Clapham, I think they are discussing a different game to the one you are talking about.
Isn't that Arcane Legions, not Armies of Arcana?

Arcane Legions is overpriced tat if you ask me! 

[rob_alderman]

No worries. I nearly bought some, thinking my girlfriend might enjoy it as a simple little game, but even she was glad I didn't. You might be able to unload it on eBay?

[shakespear]

I got my rulebook over the weekend, very nice. Way better quality than I thought it would be

[sukhe_bator]

rob_alderman,
sign yourself up on the AoA forums for some excellent advice and support creating your own games and armies... they certainly helped me out no end.
http://rajdhillon.forumup.ca/?mforum=rajdhillon
http://armiesofarcana.forumup.com/index.php?mforum=armiesofarcana/

[ogryn]

I did. I picked up a book too. I just need to start reading it. Looks like what I have been looking for in a  mass combat system.
We will see how solid and easy flow the rules are.

[sukhe_bator]

Ogryn,
I think you will be pleasantly surprised! Happy gaming!

[sukhe_bator]

Ogryn
You had a chance to play a game yet? I'd be very interested to hear what you think?

[ogryn]

Not yet, working on the army right now. Should have something usable (not painted) shortly.
I will have to post my progress here once i get better pics.