SAGA at the Shed, Vikings! Even more pics page 2

[matakishi]

Yesterday I had my first game of SAGA courtesy of Eric and his wonderful Shed.
Vikings against Anglo-Danes.











Many more pictures (and some words) here:
http://www.matakishi.com/saga1.htm

[Poiter50]

Marvellous looking game, Paul.

[Dr. The Viking]

Was it any good?!

I've had a couple of games with Normans against Welsh and Vikings.. didn't stand a chance!

Not the best intro to the new game..

[Captain Blood]

So you quite liked it then?

I've had the rules for a while, because they looked quite different and interesting, but have yet to play it.

Soon...

[Eric the Shed]

Captain Blood - promise to invite you over soon -

If I get the chance write up on the blog soon....

[Mason]

 

Now THAT is some serious eye-candy.
 

So you quite liked it then?

I've had the rules for a while, because they looked quite different and interesting, but have yet to play it.

Soon...

Me too.
I would be curious on your thoughts regarding the system.
I am putting together some SAGA bands in the autumn and wondered how the game actually 'worked'.

I have the rules but am refusing to read them until I am ready to start the actual project.
I know what a butterfly I am, so am not tempting fate.
 

[Eric the Shed]

Thanks for the write up Matakashi

Given that I have now played about a half dozen games of Saga I’ll try and share my experiences. All the games we have played only involved Vikings & Danes

Positives

•   They capture the flavour of the period very well
•   Forces do play differently and there are many subtleties with each force
•   They are fast playing and you do need to plan ahead 
•   The mechanics are very simple
•   Table space can be kept to minimum (eg 4ft x 4ft will suffice)
•   Number of figures manageable typical forces about 40 figures strong)

Negatives

•   The games can be a bit you bash - I bash – you can get round this by using more scenery than recommended
•   It takes time to learn the subtleties of play – I have been using the danes for all my games and have won only once!
•   Luck can play a major role – although you could argue the number dice rolled evens this out
•   The best games I believe will be typically one on one.

[matakishi]

I found the rules simple and, for the most part, elegant. A lot of variation and subtlety is encapsulated in the SAGA dice mechanic.
The rules fall in the 'allowing you to do stuff camp' as opposed to the hideous 'you can't do that' rules sets that people keep producing (yes, Cutlass, I'm looking at you). There is minimal combat dice rolling, I roll to hit, you roll to weasle out, you fail and die.
There is tactical thinking to do each turn but the options are limited by the SAGA dice each time so it doesn't become overwhelming or too slow for the other player(s) while you micro manage your resources. A good understanding of your army will allow you to combine their particular skills occasionally into strokes of tactical genius (sometimes you'll be able to kill lots of stuff quickly).
All-in-all a good but pricey set of rules, the supplements are a real price gouger but probably an unnecessary purchase. The dice are costly too but nice and it's not like you're spending much on the figures is it?

[Captain Blood]

Thanks chaps. A useful and insightful overview. Better get on and start painting my early Saxons... 

[Dr. The Viking]

Thanks chaps. A useful and insightful overview. Better get on and start painting my early Saxons... 

Early?! Isn't Saga meant for regular year 900+ Saxons?!

[Elk101]

Nice looking set up! I'm also in the 'have the rules but have never played them camp'. They've kind of fallen by the wayside to other genres. I thought the battleboards might be a bit gimicky but picked up a cheap(ish) copy on ebay. There looks to be some good mods on the SAGA forum for other periods too, such as El Cid and the Crusades.

[Eric the Shed]

I have just discovered that there is potential Robin Hood Battle board knocking around - I think the Saga rules would work well for this period as well....

[Elk101]

Mr Shed, I note that you are on the SAGA forum and wondered if you had seen this:

 http://studiotomahawk.freeforums.org/men-of-sherwood-t1796.html

Cheers, Steve

[Eric the Shed]

Cheers Steve - this is the one I saw

thank you

Giles (aka Eric the Shed)

[Elk101]

No bother mate, it was the same one I remembered seeing!