Empire of the Dead upcoming West Wind game!

[nikharwood]

Thanks Skrapwelder - appreciated 

[big john]

i purchased the rules on sat at shefield and some figures from a few different sources had a quick look through the rules and seem ok cant wait to get some figures painted and get a game going

[Dolmot]

Alright, I'm seriously late to this party. In the last six months of severe work overload (of pays-the-bills kind), I've had very little time and even less energy for fun and games. The only gaming related activity I've had was another pile of paperwork, so I've missed a bunch of news and releases, including this one.

Briefly put, is it any good? I had a quick glance at the free demo scenario and it looked alright, albeit very tightly cropped. I liked the D10s (as I happen to own over 30 of those already), the theme (always thrilling) and the model types (generic enough, and surprisingly well represented by my existing painted collection). However, the book is not exactly cheap. Also, we already have about two dozen different skirmish projects started here, none of them really getting anywhere. The latest attempt was Carnevale, which has been stalled for six months like all of my projects.

What I'd currently prefer is scenario-driven adventures employing a compact set of core rules (and only those), instead of optimising your own super mega warband and memorising a million special rules to stand a chance. I just don't have time for that any more.

In fact, I'd be happy enough if the book just had lots of pretty pictures and some interesting background which isn't just tedious repetition of grim and darkness and skulls and spikes...

So, is it good and how does it compare to...anything out there?

If only possible, please don't speak the b-word.

[Anatoli]

Got my rulebook today, a detailed review will follow by the end of the week - hope to play my first game this weekend as well. The book looks amazing though!

[Christian]

Great, Anatoli. Really looking forward to this!

[Col. Aubrey Bagshot]

I too picked up a copy of the rules after watching a demo game, all to briefly, at Salute... and i must say, after a few weeks reading and digesting, they are rather good indeed....

If you are a fan of or have ever played, LotR, LotHS, LotOW, Mordhiem you will not be disappointed... and with the very recent demise of Warhammer Historical, this rule book could almost be seen as Legends of the Empire....

Same basic mechanics as all of the above, and you only need say 6 - 10 minis per side to get a  decent game...

But one of the things i love about this new set, is that you can have the 'general public' in your game. They can be innocent bystanders or more actively involved depending on what you want to do, but the mechanics of having the 'public' literally walking through the middle of your game is a refreshing change...

Add in London Bobbies, Mobs and even Zombie Mobs all of whom can also feature in games, to my mind, raises the rules above the more mundane...

And as a previous poster noted, the book looks gorgeous....

It also covers most aspects of SteamPunk, so as well as the straight gothic horror, it could also serve as a base set of rules for more VSF biased skirmish size games... maybe another use of all of your Malifaux figures....

[commissarmoody]

Just got the book in the mail! 

[big john]

yea got some varrious figures from partizan on sunday and some stuff online.

 going for a darkfire gentlemans club

 so purchased the empire of the dead victorian zombies box set

my leader is a model from the Malifaux range by wyrd games nicodem the undertaker he is the president of the club

the vice president is a model from ironclad prof james morriatiy

the secetary is from black pyramid gaming steam and steel range general charles gordon

the normal members are from ironclad evil henchmen



   

[commissarmoody]

Sounds like your off to a great start, cant wait to see them painted up.

[RepublicsFury]

I've contacted Westwind Productions and haven't received a response.  I was considering moving the group into Empire of The Dead since Wyrd Muniatures has gone plastic snd none of us are willing to play eith plastic minis, but...

Since I haven't received a response I thought I'd ask over here.  What's their support of this product line like?  It doesn't seem like they've come out with any new models for it. 

That in and of itself wouldn't be a deal breaker if there are rules for creating your own units in the rules.  Does anyone know if you can create your own stats from the rulebook?  If so then I can get figs and create stats for the units.

RF

[Brummie Thug]

Theres has been some concept art put up on there facebook page. various interviews point to various factions being worked on. Also another thread here has some new miniatures in but nothings been confirmed for when they are to be released.

The Peelers, LeStrade and armed Monks.
http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=41384.75

[Major_Gilbear]

@ RepublicsFury:

Um, well, you can always proxy your own (metal) models for playing Malifaux with if you really hate plastic that much...? Nothing says that you have to use Malifaux models to play Malifaux with unless you're entering an official tournament or such.

As for EOTD, the game play is a bit like a Necromunda/Mordheim hybrid if you are familiar with those at all? You have four basic gangs: Gentlemen Clubs, The Brotherhood, Lycanthropes and Noferatu. The Gents can be themed into a subfaction of your choice if you want -each with its own advantages and disadvantages- and these are roughly: Darkfire Club (dark magic users), Sons of the Empire (stiff-upper-lip chaps who don't go in for silly things like magic and superstition, but who are well-liked by the authorities), Wolfenjaeger (Werewolf hunters with dogs... bit like Mordheim Witch Hunters) and the Zendarian Officers' Society (duellists and swordsmen without compare).

You can use any official models, or you can use anything else that's suitable - no need to stick with any one range of figs. "Counts As" will allow you to add in anything else you might want too - just check out Laughingferret's efforts here for an example of what you can do with some imagination! Hell, you can even change the time period or location to suit your tastes/model collection (eg: medieval, western, pulp adventures in Cairo, etc).

Finally, there is more planned (and some more factions), but Andy Cooper is only one man - give him a chance! 

[abdul666lw]

Hell, you can even change the time period or location to suit your tastes/model collection (eg: medieval, western, pulp adventures in Cairo, etc).

Don't forget swashbuckling times, specially the 18th C. (as was brilliantly done for Strange Aeons http://anatolisgameroom.blogspot.fr/search/label/Strange%20Aeons%2018th%20century): think Carnevale meets Brotherhood of the Wolf + Witchfinder general + Pride & Prejudice and Zombies  + the Witcher http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=44911.msg524220#msg524220    .  http://laughingferret.blogspot.fr/2012/08/death-walks-streets-of-london-1888_18.html#comments    .   http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=44255.msg522179#msg522179    . http://theminiaturespage.com/boards/msg.mv?id=276792

[Major_Gilbear]

Don't forget swashbuckling times, specially the 18th C. (as was brilliantly done for Strange Aeons here): think Carnevale meets Brotherhood of the Wolf + Witchfinder general + Pride & Prejudice and Zombies  + the Witcher

• Link 1
• Link 2
• Link 3
• Link 4

Sorry Abdul666lw... Your posts with the huge amounts of crazy links are just way too hard for me to read! I hope you don't mind, but I tidied your post above up a bit.  

[abdul666lw]

Thanks, Major
All the more justified and welcome improvement as the 'titles' of the links were totally uninformative.

(Anatoli's -link edited : got the trick, thanks  
 To thank you:

NOT Anna Valerius
 
And as a bonus:

Love the visual allusion to the Little Red Riding Hood; here's another one: