Anyone tried Gripping Beast's Saga Dark Ages rules?

[Chief Lackey Rich]

The local store owner is all kinds of gung-ho about the game at the moment, just wondering what other people think of it.  Good, bad, indifferent?

[syrinx0]

Still waiting on my rules to arrive but hope to get a game or two in next weekend with a friend.  Hopefully we can use this as the gateway game to more historical gaming in our group.

[OSHIROmodels]

Haven't played it but I've heard good things from a few different people.

cheers

James

[janner]

I gave the play test set a run-out and am awaiting the full set in the post.

First impressions were very good, simple to get to grip with the mechanics, but with plenty to keep you interested as you grasp the subtleties of allocating dice on the battle boards.

 

[tomek917]

I've ordered the rules and a starter army so my hopes are high!

[aircav]

On the recomendation of my mates, I'm picking a set of these up at DErby this weekend 

[Chief Lackey Rich]

I gave the play test set a run-out and am awaiting the full set in the post.

First impressions were very good, simple to get to grip with the mechanics, but with plenty to keep you interested as you grasp the subtleties of allocating dice on the battle boards.

 

That was the impression I got from a quick read of the rules.  The differentiation between armies looks pretty good - a nice mix of equipment variations and available battle board effects.

[guitarheroandy]

I played 2 games on Monday, taking a 4-point warband of Welsh infantry against a 4-point largely mounted Norman warband.

The game is superb! It is scenario-driven, with several in the rulebook and others pending. The faction-specific dice and battle-boards really give each warband 'flavour' and make it unique (currrently aimed at the 11th century, so Anglo-Danish-King Harold's saxons, basically; Vikings -Harald Hardrada's later Vikings; Normans and lastly Welsh. There will be others for earlier eras, and an Arthurian version is in development...HUZZAH!!!)  My Welsh excelled at using terrain and chucking huge amounts of javelins. This won them the first game. In the second game, the Norman cavalry benefitted from a more open terrain layout (their shooting and cavalry charge abilities are scary!!) and it was a draw as we ran out of time. Anglo Danes are very rugged in defence with counter-attack possibilities and Vikings are just killer attack troops, apparently (although that's what the book says - I have not expereienced them yet!)

To play the game, one needs to have enough models for a 6-point warband (although 4 points is a good size for learning the rules!!)

How do points relate to models? Well, basically, the warlord is free - he gets 5 HtH attacks. Then for 1 point you get 4 hearthguard (your elites) who are fully armoured, with 2 attacks each, or 8 warriors (standard 'grunts') who get 1 attack each, or 12 levies -usualy crap missile troops, who get one attack for each 3 models. My warband on Monday was a warlord, 2 x 4 hearthguard, 2 x 8 warriors. My mate's Normans were a warorld, 2 x 4 mounted  hearthguard (knights), 1 x 8 mounted warriors (light cavalry) and 1 x 12 levy archers.

You pay for the points in groups of 4, 8 or 12 but units may be any size from 4-12, so one could buy 2 hearthguard  groups but field them in one unit of 8, for example. You may not mix troop types in units.

Gameplay is very straightforward, with basic and easy mechanisms, but the game has so many variations due to the battleboards, as one only gets 6 faction dice per turn and has to allocate them to the board according to what you roll and what you wish to do...very good system that can make you think!! Some dice are used to activate units or abilities and some can even be retained to be played as reactions in the opponent's turn - all very clever and leaving players with loads of possibilities. In addition, very interesting rules for 'fatigue' give an additional layer of options.

It is definitely a game I will play a lot, as it only needs a few models and a 3x4 foot board, plus a bit of scenery.  Games take 1.5 to 2 hours with experienced players, but we managed nearly 2 full games as complete newbies in an evening at the local club.

Very, very highly recommended!!

Andy

[joroas]

I have a set ordered from Maelstrom and will use my painted LOTR Rohan and Wildmen as Vikings or Saxons.

The first time I think I will ever be ahead with a club game - figures are here before the rules............ 

[tomek917]

Thanks for that little review Andy, just what I wanted to hear!

[Chief Lackey Rich]

" one only gets 6 faction dice per turn "

Could be much less than that as units are destroyed.  There's some thought required in army construction in terms of unit size versus number of units - and that's before even thinking about fatigue effects.

[syrinx0]

Thanks for the great review.  My preorder just arrived today.  Rather doubtful I will get a 4pt band painted up by this weekend but if at least my hearth guard is painted maybe the dice gods won't curse me. 

[guitarheroandy]

" one only gets 6 faction dice per turn "

Could be much less than that as units are destroyed.  There's some thought required in army construction in terms of unit size versus number of units - and that's before even thinking about fatigue effects.

Yes. To clarify, you get 2 dice for your warlord then 1 dice for each hearthguard or warrior unit still functioning up to a maximum of 6, so as units die, dice disappear... Levy don't generate dice at all, so one has to think carefully about how many of those one needs and how they'll be used. This is entirely correct, as, contrary to what some wargame rules and army lists wopuld have you believe, peasant levy were very rarely called upon by Dark Age/early Medieval warlords, as they were more of a hindrance than a help!

[H.M.Stanley]

Picking my copy up this evening.

I hear good things from the fellas about this

[aircav]

I've played 4 games of Saga now & I love it
But I hate the pesky Anglo-Danes