Battleground: Fantasy Warfare is
a point-based miniatures game – but without the miniatures!
Battleground uses cards rather than painted models to represent your forces.
This means a much lower price as well as easier transportation and setup, but
don’t be fooled – this is not a “light” war game or
a CCG. Battleground is a serious war game that will challenge you at every step,
from army design and deployment to tactical maneuvers and command decisions
until battle’s end.
Battleground focuses on the following
aspects of Fantasy Medieval Warfare:
Command Realism
Battleground uses a command action system to portray the experience of a general
with limited time and imperfect soldiers. Instead of micro-managing every
unit’s move as with most miniatures games, in Battleground you give
your units standing orders which they will then carry out as best they can.
Unit Cards
Battleground uses unit cards to represent troops. Each card has an above-view
shot of the unit that remains face-up during play and causes the battlefield
view to take shape. Near the unit’s back rank is its stat bar, including
the damage squares you will use to keep track of wounds received during battle.
On the reverse side is a close-up shot of your unit, along with rules text,
equipment and, space permitting, flavor text.
Combat!
Resolving combat is straightforward and requires no lookup tables.
Damage is marked off on the defending unit’s damage squares. Mark off
squares directly on the card (from left to right) with a dry-erase marker
or wax pencil as your units take damage. The color of your remaining squares
tells you the condition and morale of each unit, and tells you when a unit
needs to take rout checks.
Command Cards
Command cards aren’t new orders; rather, they represent your ability
to inspire and lead your troops. Most command cards provide small combat boosts
– for example, Might gives one of your attacking units an extra attack
die and increases its power by one. Each faction has its own Command deck
that reflects its particular style.
For less than $30.00 you get the
rules, command cards, and all the miniatures cards you need to fight epic sized
battles!
Orcs are vicious and aggressive and everything about the Orc army reflects this, from your units to your command cards to your special ability. As general of the Orc army you will keep your enemies constantly on the defensive and no faction is better at turning a break in the enemy line into victory. Skillful (but often cowardly) goblins round out your basic forces and mighty regenerating trolls are an almost unstoppable force.
As the leader of the orcish horde you can Lash your troops. For one command action, Lashing a unit increases its movement class by one and gives it an extra attack die for the turn. When battle lines turn into rough melee, this ability will let you take quick advantage of broken formations or routing enemy units, sending your troops in quickly to flank or pinch the enemy.
