First Look: SAGA The Raven's Shadow

I had a chance to pop into Orc's Nest again today (always a mistke for my wallet) and luckily they had a few copies of the second supplement for Saga and so I decided to pick one up.

Like the Northern Fury, the previous supplement, The Raven's Shadow is published in a similar style to the main rule book and is accompanied by four cardstock battle boards.  This supplement is slightly longer than the previous one at 28 pages and introduces four new factions - the Franks, the Irish, the Norse-Gaels and the Kingdom of Strathclyde - along with some new rules, Q&A and an errata.  All the new factions utilise the existing available dice (Franks = Normans, Irish = Scots, Norse-Gaels = Vikings, Strathclyde = Welsh).

There are two new rules for Saga introduced by the Raven's Shadow - Melee/Reaction Abilities and War Banners.  Melee/Reaction Abilities are, as you might expect, new abilities but these can be used prior to the existing melee steps.  War Banners allows you to substitute a banner for one figure in a hearthguard or warrior unit which then allows the unit to rest any time during a turn (assuming this has been "paid" for with the appropriate dice).

As before, each faction has a brief introduction, any special rules, new Heroes and the faction's specific abilities which run to around four pages per faction with a few accompanying photographs of appropriate figures.

The Franks allow you to choose between a Merovingian, Carolingian or Capetian Frankish warband each of which have different builds.  The Frankish Warlord and hearthguard must be mounted.  The Irish have the option of fielding Wolfhounds in place of a warrior unit and upgrading individual hearthguards to Curaidh champions.  The core feature of the Norse-Gaels seems to be challenges and the Strathclyde warbands are mostly mounted and can deploy some off table initially.

As I have figures for some of these factions already and am particularly interested in the Irish I thought this would be a useful addition to my Saga collection.

First Look: SAGA Northern Fury

I was wandering past Orc's Nest the other day and decided to pop in for a look.  Whilst browsing I spotted the first supplement for Saga and decided to pick it up.

Northern Fury is a 22 page booklet published in a similar style to the main rule book and is accompanied by four cardstock battle boards.  The supplement introduces four new factions - the Anglo Saxons, the Bretons, the Jomsvikings and the Scots - along with an new scenario.  The first three factions utilise the same dice as factions from the original rules but the Scots have their own new dice (assuming you are bothered about the custom dice).

Each faction has a brief introduction, any special rules, new Heroes and the faction's specific abilities which run to around four pages per faction with a few accompanying photographs of appropriate figures.

Superficially, the Anglo Saxons are geared around large levy units, the Bretons javeline armed cavalry, the Jomsvikings have a variable level of "Wrath" which enables/enhances various abilities and the Scots spear armed infantry; however, each faction looks like they have their own playing style and each differ from the others and the original four factions.

The scenario, Wooden Oaths, is designed for two teams of players and looks interesting.

Since I have figures for some of these factions already and am particularly interested in the Anglo Saxons and the Scots I though this would be a useful addition to my Saga collection.

I see another supplement is due out shortly and has some Irish too ....

Wargames Weekend: The Battle of the Fords

Next up was a Dark Ages game, both to get some of my figures, which haven't been out in a while, back to the table and to give Saga another outing. It was also a chance to put the other faction dice and accessories I picked up at Salute some use.

We decided to use the standard 6 point warbands and scenario 2 - the Battle of the Ford from the rules. Lenin chose to be Anglo-Danish whilst I was to be Norman (which we decided placed the engagement nicely in the post-Hastings period). Lenin took a large (8 figure) unit of axe armed Huscarls (Hearthguard), three units of Ceorls (Warriors) and a unit of Geburs (Levy) whilst I opted for two units of mounted Knights (Hearthguard), one unit mounted and three units dismounted Sergeants (Warriors) with one of the foot units armed with crossbows.

Lenin rolled highest and deployed half his force, I then deployed and he finished off. It was clear we had both chose to split our men between the two fords with the Huscarls and Knights concentrated on the ford to my left. Having forgotten how the last game played out I had deployed my Warlord in the centre rather than with one flank or other.

Deciding that I needed to take advantage of my mounted troops I advanced my crossbowmen and fired and then, rather too impetuously, charged one of my units of Knights across the ford and into the approaching Huscarls. As might be expected I had my backside thoroughly kicked and started to remember how much planning needs to go into attacks if they are to be successful!

Lenin then advanced his Geburs, armed with bows and slings, to engage my crossbowmen in the centre. With his Warlord over on his right flank I could see an attack happening there, so I advanced my Warlord and second unit of Knights supported by some dismounted Sergeants to cover that ford.

Lenin also started to organise his Ceorls on his left. Again I got a little impetuous and advanced my mounted Sergeants across the ford and into his leading unit of Ceorls. Once again this didn't quite go as planned and my men were repulsed with quite a few casualties.

Leaving his battered Hurcarl unit (they had taken some damage from my charge and volleys of crossbows), Lenin used the Obey Me command to advance his Warlord and his Ceorls) across the ford and attacked my Warlord. Fortunately I had anticipated the attack and had allocated some dice to my Charge! and Stamping abilities and so was able to throw his assault back - although it did cost me one of my Knights who valiantly threw himself in the way of a killing blow. I then returned the favour and, using the same approach, attacked his Warlord with mine and my remaining mounted Knights. A combination of good dice rolls and the Charge! attribute saw his Warlord trampled into the dust and his Ceorls decimated after defending the Warlord with their lives. But my follow up attack saw my Warlord struck down too. Lenin then attacked my mounted Sergeants at the other ford but luckily I managed to throw him back.

At this point, with dinner approaching, and neither of us successfully made the other bank of the stream we decided to call the game a draw.

As in our previous game it quickly became clear that Saga is all in the planning - something I really need to remember. Working out which attributes to use and when is critical - just rushing in without preparing the ground is likely to get you killed! The Warlord is key, his free activation and Obey Me ability can be enormously valuable but you don't want to lose him - even if this isn't a victory condition - as it hits you where it hurts - in the dice pool!

SAGA: Northern Fury

Gripping Beast have announced the first supplement for Saga, their Dark Ages rules.

The supplement includes four new factions: Anglo-Saxons, Bretons, Jomsvikings and Scots, all with new battleboards.  The first three utilise the existing Anglo-Dane, Norman and Viking dice but the Scots have their own new dice set.

A new multi-player scenario is also included.

The supplement is 22 pages long, £12 and Gripping Beast are taking pre-orders for the book, the Scots dice and some appropriate figure packs on their website.

First Play: Saga

Our second game of the week was our first chance to try out the new Dark Ages rules from Gripping Beast, Saga.  We decided on the first scenario and Lenin took command of the Welsh with me taking the Vikings.

The rules suggest starting with a 4 point force rather than the typical 6, so that's what we did.  We took slightly differing approaches to the construction of our warbands with Lenin deciding to include some levy, something I decided to avoid.

It took a little while to learn the different abilities on each of the faction battle boards and I am sure it will take a few games to really master any one faction.  But we managed to get into the game fairly quickly nonetheless.

The Welsh decided to take the hill in the centre straight away and I, somewhat unwisely, decided to rush in a push them off it.  The fatigue I gained from the multiple actions really gave the Welsh the edge in the fight and my Vikings were thrown back with some serious casualties.

I decided to regroup and attack again.

This time the combination of a couple of abilities and some lucky dice rolling carried the day.

The melding of modern boardgame mechanisms and traditional wargame rules might seem a little odd at first but we found it provided a fun game with the right feel for the period.  As a result I can see these rules coming out again!