One of the benefits that will follow from the introduction of Call to Arms into the game system is the capability it gives us to progressively introduce new, truly specialized, units into the game. This will all start becoming apparent when the first Specialist packs start shipping in late June/early July.
The Specialist cards (not Deployment cards, as ventured by several careful readers who got a sneak peak at the packs’ content) will be the primary vector of deployment of these new units. Using these will give us – and you – numerous benefits, namely:
- the certainty to be able to deploy specific units (for instance, precisely the ones you just purchased) into a given battle without being subject to the luck of the draw;
- some interesting dilemna, since by design, at most you will be able to bring 2, and only 2, Specialist cards (and the new units attached to them) into play in any given adventure; many interesting “combos” are waiting to be “discovered”, that will favor different styles of play;
- an inherent balance, since even if your opponent has purchased many new, cool units, he won’t be able to field them all at once, making an “out-purchase” strategy all but useless on the battlefield;
- finally, this also gives us an additional cool venue to differentiate units further between themselves, based on races, tribes, etc…; in some instances, the Specialist card(s) a unit comes with will turn out to be a key differentiating factor in and of itself indeed.
All of which brings us to one of the first truly distinctive unit we will introduce: the Goblin band!
As any Goblin chief will tell you, nothing works better to rally a few fellow tribal units than the beat of a drum on the battlefield.
Goblin musicians can be fielded in one of two ways:
- As a complete Goblin band, made of a Goblin band leader and three drummers, the band gives a widespread Support presence (half of the support that is required for a unit to be fully supported, hence Bold) to all friendly units within the same Section of the board.
- But as individual drummers, embedded in existing Goblinoid troops on foot, each drummer makes the troop he joined Bold.
This later mechanism (embedding a Specialist figure within a different unit) is itself a trick that opens the door to many other things down the road…
Next blog entry: A Surprise (with any luck)!
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When do the drummers embedded in a unit get removed? The first time it takes damage? Second-to-last, before the banner bearer? Do they become the banner bearers?
What happens when a Goblin Band stands in a hex that is half-way between two sections? Do they effect both, one, or neither? If it is both, that is pretty darn powerful!
That is all defined in the rules. 😀
Embedded figures CANNOT be the banner bearer of that unit; they are removed when the player controlling the unit decides, ie as the second-to-last figure usually, because you want to benefit from them for as long as possible.
And the Band effects both sections when it is sitting astride – but remember it only provides 1/2 support, and by sitting there it becomes a big target for a portal, fireball or similarly unpleasant thing …
I like it! Thanks for the preview. I really like the feature of not being able to “out purchase” your opponents, the death knell of many mini games. Of course, I must still own them all, just in case 😉
-Zeal
How dare you pontificate about mere goblins whilst the dwarf pipers wait in the wings!
PS:
When you embed a goblin drummer, do you stamp on him with both feet or will one suffice?
Regards,
Jim O’Neill
Cool stuff! I’m excited.
Please clarify when you mean “unit” and when you mean “figure”.
Yeaaah! Thumbs up for the new expansion! Can’t wait to get my fingers on it… and on CtA as well, which will be shipped tomorrow 🙂 Hu, Wednesday’s the day oder perhaps Thursday!
Duh, sorry I typed too fast. Of course I meant figures, not units. My comment has been clarified. thanks for the catch, blindspot!
I really really want to start my ordering – but can you let me / us know (if possible) when we can expect an announcement regarding what those of us who have two sets of BattleLore can expect regarding Epic BattleLore?
And on my wishlist….
Any creatures in the pipeline ?
Has a cost been determined?
My first comment!, I have read all your blog!
The game seems great!, mine is on my way, I would preorder the Call to Arms expansion but let’s see how it fares. (So far, so good!).
Nice Job guys.
I think the cost for these size packs were around $20-24 bucks, depending on your market. ThoughtHammer has them for $16.80, but but you would pay abut the same with shipping, I think, and your FLGS wouldn’t benefit.
Feel free to correct me if I am wrong Eric! 🙂
Can you let me / us know (if possible) when we can expect an announcement regarding what those of us who have two sets of BattleLore can expect regarding Epic BattleLore?
The announcement re- the offer for owners of two sets of BL wanting the Epic BL expansion should come later this week/early next at the latest, with any luck. Basically it will be an offer to receive Epic BL for free (except for the shipping and handling charge). 😀
Wow! For free! Although that seems like the right thing to do, I have never seen a company consistently “do the right thing”. That one does it for me. I can now safely say this is the best customer support I have seen in my life.
In ten years, when DoW is the top publisher of board/war games, I hope you will still remember that this was how you became the best in the business.
PS-I own just one copy of the core game but I think this had to be commended.
Cool, I have two copies of Battlelore, so this is good news!
Wow, I got two copies too, and the way eric is running things will keep me buying battlelore for a long time : )
Thank you
Thanks for the reply Eric.
2 copies of BattleLore owned – now I get this news… absolutely great service / support !
Have to add in my Call to Arms order at the same time 🙂
So if I buy a second copy of BattleLore, I can get the Epic BattleLore expansion for shipping cost?!
I thought you were cool when you gave me the Pacific War expansion for Memoir ’44, but this just takes the cake, the icing AND the platter!
(I thought I could get by with just BattleLore. Now I’m off to get my second copy…)
So, if I only own one copy of Battlelore, can I order another copy at the same time of the release of Epic, so both are shipped together, thus avoiding shipping costs?
I heartily concur that DoW has the best customer service in the industry. In fact they are the best I’ve ever encountered.
Thank you for not only making great games, but for making great games even better over time.
Cheers!
Echtalion,
Yes you will be able to do exactly that.
Gentlemen,
How do you expect a mere mortal wargamer to resist your seductive game? Enticing us with free sweeteners, yes free!! addditional creatures! Tempting us with wicked words of expansions! Intoducing us to sinful visions of “special units”!
I could not resist the lure of the core game. I had to pre-order the CtA. I dare not think of a release date for the new units…NOW you swine!! You offer CtA free for those with a second Battle Lore!!
There is only so much a grown man can take!!
You turn my addiction against me ……….I want more!!
This will not beat me … I will prevail……Once I get the second game that is 🙂
Yipeee!!
No, it’s not Call to Arms, it’s the Epic expansion (that will go on pre-order soon).
Please more… I can´t stand it 🙂
…later this week/early next at the latest…hmmm
There’s a lot of vacations during the month of May, in France (where many of our online dev. resides) 😀 But we’ll try and post something by month’s end.