Pendraken Miniatures Forum

Wider Wargaming => Non-Pendraken Stuff => Topic started by: Roy on 08 March 2016, 04:01:04 PM

Title: Frostgrave - 28mm - Or, a game with no snow in sight!
Post by: Roy on 08 March 2016, 04:01:04 PM
Where am I supposed to post 28mm Frostgrave game photos? If it needs to be moved, then please do so.

Getting Ready For Tonight's Game Of Frostgrave

I'm busy getting the final preparations done for tonight's game of Frostgrave (or, as it more than looks to be the case, not-very-frosty-grave).

I found the board up in the part of the attic that isn't my work room. No  idea what it was originally meant for, but it will serve a purpose tonight. Buildings are those I made out of hardboard and cheap emulsion tester paints. The other bits are various pieces of resin terrain or trees that I bought from Pendraken Miniatures.

The figures I'll be using are a mixture of Midlam Miniatures, Heresy and Colonel Bills.

(Possible) future plans are to build some more buildings, including two-storey. Finish off the board, so its better presented, and maybe make some raised 'hill' areas. Depending upon what else the terrain will be used for, paint it / snow flock it to look more Frostgrave.

But I best re-read the rules for tonight, first!

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xVzvrkEitKA/Vt71gtUiGHI/AAAAAAAAFMc/mOGa3HSVqaE/s600/Frostgrave2.jpg)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lxfto1VxxGA/Vt71gQo1U_I/AAAAAAAAFMg/aOtz_LuNqps/s600/Frostgrave4.jpg)

(https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8gFcFt0VkTY/Vt71gbBrSfI/AAAAAAAAFMY/9_aTKCKLHjw/s600/Frostgrave.jpg)
Title: Re: Frostgrave - 28mm - Or, a game with no snow in sight!
Post by: Duke Speedy of Leighton on 08 March 2016, 05:18:49 PM
Looks a lot of fun!
Title: Re: Frostgrave - 28mm - Or, a game with no snow in sight!
Post by: Techno on 08 March 2016, 05:33:29 PM
Seconded.

Cheers - Phil
Title: Re: Frostgrave - 28mm - Or, a game with no snow in sight!
Post by: Bodvoc on 08 March 2016, 05:45:13 PM
The scenery looks good, I am sure my little heroes will enjoy exploring it :)
Title: Re: Frostgrave - 28mm - Or, a game with no snow in sight!
Post by: Orcs on 08 March 2016, 05:56:34 PM
I am just painting some very nice Halflings from Midlam miniatures.

Excellent service. Ordered one morning about 10am. Got them the next day.

Title: Re: Frostgrave - 28mm - Or, a game with no snow in sight!
Post by: Roy on 09 March 2016, 09:05:04 AM
Quote from: Just a few Orcs on 08 March 2016, 05:56:34 PM
I am just painting some very nice Halflings from Midlam miniatures.

Excellent service. Ordered one morning about 10am. Got them the next day.



Yep, I've only good things to say about Midlam Miniatures. Best one is, when I see them at a show, hiding behind their stall, and playing a Thunderbirds boargame while waiting for shoppers.
Title: Re: Frostgrave - 28mm - Or, a game with no snow in sight!
Post by: Roy on 09 March 2016, 09:08:24 AM
Thank you

Game report is here, for those interested  :)

http://nevermindthejankers.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/frostgrave-game-one-standard-game.html (http://nevermindthejankers.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/frostgrave-game-one-standard-game.html)

(https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-peDpqfJWcYk/Vt_Tp8op83I/AAAAAAAAFNM/hghAUYuLYRA/s1600/Frostgrave_Game3.jpg)
Bodvoc's warband - and Bodvoc's foot in the background.

(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e-hLAbWi6Dw/Vt_ToLWsVEI/AAAAAAAAFNA/qll-kVNw-rw/s1600/Frostgrave_Game10.jpg)
Some of the action

Title: Re: Frostgrave - 28mm - Or, a game with no snow in sight!
Post by: toxicpixie on 09 March 2016, 09:30:42 AM
That looks cracking. Go easy on the snow and make it "DampGrave"?!

An ancient city swallowed by the mist and wet, somewhere in a fantasy England will do. Actually, looking out the window my garden would be perfect, miserable bloody weather.
Title: Re: Frostgrave - 28mm - Or, a game with no snow in sight!
Post by: Bodvoc on 09 March 2016, 09:41:18 AM
Cheers for the game Roy, Frostgrave is a really good fun game and this was one of the best I have played so far. Your scenery is brilliant and it was good to play on a specially made board. Your next buildings need to have a second floor to allow us to use the climbing rules.
Title: Re: Frostgrave - 28mm - Or, a game with no snow in sight!
Post by: skywalker on 09 March 2016, 12:25:33 PM
Very nice Roy  :-bd :-bd
Title: Re: Frostgrave - 28mm - Or, a game with no snow in sight!
Post by: Duke Speedy of Leighton on 09 March 2016, 01:25:17 PM
Great little report! ;)
Title: Re: Frostgrave - 28mm - Or, a game with no snow in sight!
Post by: Roy on 09 March 2016, 02:54:23 PM
thank you  :)

Got more Star Wars X-Wing stuff in the post today, so as soon as I can afford some transport cases I'll be unleashing my Hutt Cartel Forces on the galaxy.

(http://i.imgur.com/QyTHauT.jpg)
Title: Re: Frostgrave - 28mm - Or, a game with no snow in sight!
Post by: Techno on 09 March 2016, 04:19:53 PM
Cracking report !
Cheers - Phil
Title: Re: Frostgrave - 28mm - Or, a game with no snow in sight!
Post by: Roy on 23 March 2016, 04:01:31 PM
LINK to the game. (http://nevermindthejankers.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/frostgrave-game-2-mausoleum-scenario.html) Where's there's more photos etc.

Game two of our ongoing Frostgrave campaign. It was carnage!

Spells aplenty. Combat aplenty. My soldiers falling like flies, aplenty. In the last few turns I only had my Wizard, a Knight, an Archer and my extremely useful Raised Zombie to play with. I have to say my Raised Zombies have proven of great use in both games - that and the FOG spell!

(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NEqVzNGk63g/VvJyMIsk9jI/AAAAAAAAFQc/hgfWuAA3O38AqIxaK78TnZnR3hJ8qpGlQ/s1600/Frostgrave_game23.jpg)

Some fluff:

Being the Personal Journal of Airon Revan, Journeyman Magician of the School of Illusion. 

Entry Two: My Nemesis bested me again. 

Drawn towards a treasure-rich mausoleum, myself and Anjileec led our men forward to give battle to the undead denizens of that place. Again we were met by the rival band from our previous encounter - though it seemed some alterations to its man-power had been made. 

In the ensuing three-way battle we felt the loss of our wounded treasure hunter, numbers being firmly in favour of our rivals. Skeletons emerged from their crypt home in steady fashion and seemed drawn to my men like iron-filings to a lodestone. 

With my men falling all around me, Anjileec fell also. Suffering from a crushed arm we discovered, after the battle. With only a hundred gold coins gained from this encounter, I, myself, held the rear-guard while my men retreated from the battleground. 

Wee Jim, my faithful dog, was badly injured in this action. But then the stupid mutt shouldn't have charged into a suicide attack against a stronger opponent. Idiot animal!

(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2tatRJq_e6E/VvJyJ9fAuDI/AAAAAAAAFQQ/6bw5H9NX9zkh55HW2S7B03IA9RL3RlNYQ/s1600/Frostgrave_game21.jpg)

I didn't take notes of the game, and the photo's are just what I grabbed while my opponent was planning his moves. This second game flowed far smoother and, without having too much terrain, the game was decisively concluded in a couple of hours.

Cheers,
Roy
Title: Re: Frostgrave - 28mm - Or, a game with no snow in sight!
Post by: Duke Speedy of Leighton on 23 March 2016, 04:58:12 PM
Good looking game there!
Title: Re: Frostgrave - 28mm - Or, a game with no snow in sight!
Post by: toxicpixie on 23 March 2016, 05:00:13 PM
Interesting you've removed terrain - we're normally looking at piling more on!
Title: Re: Frostgrave - 28mm - Or, a game with no snow in sight!
Post by: Roy on 23 March 2016, 06:24:41 PM
Quote from: toxicpixie on 23 March 2016, 05:00:13 PM
Interesting you've removed terrain - we're normally looking at piling more on!

Next game, I'm going to try and get as much terrain finished as I can and see how that plays out. Try and create a nice, maze-like group of alleyways and dead-ends.
It'll be interesting to see if either of us alters our gaming-manner and can tackle the different strategic environment.
Title: Re: Frostgrave - 28mm - Or, a game with no snow in sight!
Post by: toxicpixie on 23 March 2016, 11:16:18 PM
From the look of it neither of your warbands are terribly shooty? All of ours are quite shooty in soldiers, and two thirds have wizards with good direct attack spells... (Elemental Ball/Bolt, Bone Dart, Grenade). If you're less worried about the "machine gun Mage and his sniper mates" you can probably get away with less obscuring terrain :D

We've not found a big imbalance on XP yet, but we've had six consistent players and its evened out ok overall. With just the two of you it could easily unbalance if someone does consistently well. I might keep "treasure XP" but reduce the slaughtered XP so it doesn't become about killing the opposition so much which means no churn over of replacement mooks?
Title: Re: Frostgrave - 28mm - Or, a game with no snow in sight!
Post by: Womble67 on 23 March 2016, 11:40:18 PM
Really nice looking game

Take care

Andy
Title: Re: Frostgrave - 28mm - Or, a game with no snow in sight!
Post by: Roy on 24 March 2016, 09:37:37 AM
Thank you

Quote from: toxicpixie on 23 March 2016, 11:16:18 PM
From the look of it neither of your warbands are terribly shooty? All of ours are quite shooty in soldiers, and two thirds have wizards with good direct attack spells... (Elemental Ball/Bolt, Bone Dart, Grenade). If you're less worried about the "machine gun Mage and his sniper mates" you can probably get away with less obscuring terrain :D

We've not found a big imbalance on XP yet, but we've had six consistent players and its evened out ok overall. With just the two of you it could easily unbalance if someone does consistently well. I might keep "treasure XP" but reduce the slaughtered XP so it doesn't become about killing the opposition so much which means no churn over of replacement mooks?

To be fair, I've only played the two games, both against the same opponent. So I really need to play more, and against others, before I should judge. Try a few 3+ player games, as well.

Its a good game, and Bodvoc is a great opponent to play and talk with, so I can see me playing more games of Frostgrave.
Title: Re: Frostgrave - 28mm - Or, a game with no snow in sight!
Post by: toxicpixie on 24 March 2016, 10:14:08 AM
We've made as few tweaks as possible, really just the turn limit/turn end chance. I try not to fiddle until I've played in depth these days. Too often we've tweaked and fiddled and tweaked to correct and then had to tweak more to compensate and... Ou get the idea :D

Unless Bodvoc's 10-15 levels up I would t worry too much - your warband will fill up with top class guys pretty quickly even on Grabbing only a couple of treasures a game. And then it's all on the dice. Sorry, tactics ;) But a good direct attack spell for pickin off wounded enemies is a great XP driver if you find/buy a grimoire. I like bone dart as it's easy to cast but still packs a punch!

That say the XP system is something that people talk over regularly so I think tweaking it might well be the way to go if it doesn't feel right for you :)
Title: Re: Frostgrave - 28mm - Or, a game with no snow in sight!
Post by: Bodvoc on 24 March 2016, 02:17:58 PM
Frostgrave is at heart a very simple game, search for treasure, grab treasure and get out of there whilst you are still in one piece. Thus having the experience gained centred around treasure gained makes sense. It would be nice however to be able to develop the other figures in your Warband. My crossbowman for instance is now quite a hero in my eyes but remains just a crossbow man.
I also agree that a few levels difference does not make too great a difference in a game, especially as I am missing my barbarian for the next game. I still think telekenisis is a simple but (over) effective way of getting treasure near your figures making it easier for me to grab.
Title: Re: Frostgrave - 28mm - Or, a game with no snow in sight!
Post by: Roy on 24 March 2016, 04:30:31 PM
Quote from: Bodvoc on 24 March 2016, 02:17:58 PM
I still think telekenisis is a simple but (over) effective way of getting treasure near your figures making it easier for me to grab.

Try doing so on this table full of terrain  ;D

(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-XJZoQPidCL4/VvQQu4ASCEI/AAAAAAAAFTc/BlVXiJvWYqYgYxeK00Hu-K7-To5aQ0x4w/w738-h553-no/DSC02056.JPG)

(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-RM-00uqrdxE/VvQQuwYLvpI/AAAAAAAAFTc/VnEkn3mEydkK35TTh7uv6xB9cBDaU4YRA/w738-h553-no/DSC02057.JPG)

(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-17RcJbWXyVc/VvQQu2UxGpI/AAAAAAAAFTc/V0UG0TKcL58MK13GJWjWXL3NFnLbbYKzg/w738-h553-no/DSC02058.JPG)

(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Mrb5co6LqiA/VvQQwqMstMI/AAAAAAAAFTc/URvNeaQJPywP640ypbXo_AJEkpqGJeaEw/w738-h553-no/DSC02059.JPG)

(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-hmAuiKt8EEA/VvQQwtWklCI/AAAAAAAAFTc/K6id3vx0qRIG5E3psRnbwtn1gLigFTKPA/w738-h553-no/DSC02060.JPG)

(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-U8lyPy_ntAk/VvQQwo_yoDI/AAAAAAAAFTc/-7M6XHKH_J8Pc0ZbKm03iWLlIV4Gsmjgw/w738-h553-no/DSC02061.JPG)

(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-MnvhfAUgGXQ/VvQQ11VUglI/AAAAAAAAFTc/ruYsBeCRgsYMmFNcy175LJWAnNICZg9SQ/w738-h553-no/DSC02062.JPG)

(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-B8ut5uKWtaU/VvQQ1-0RzNI/AAAAAAAAFTc/dSdnu5D1zVcCc5E3KgAJsbQLYJ-hR_DvA/w738-h553-no/DSC02063.JPG)

(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/--uyyVaAhphw/VvQQ1wKwUiI/AAAAAAAAFTc/KKciQmSVVDEY0ZE_8PEHqA1S7VcKXCznA/w738-h553-no/DSC02064.JPG)

(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-LRXNfi984d0/VvQQ23b18YI/AAAAAAAAFTc/De7F-7cQrWcPlfPGVOXm5w5aqLyJN-aKQ/w738-h553-no/DSC02065.JPG)

I'm going to out line of sight obscuring terrain on those white bases belonging the 'skywalk', too.

I've no problem with telekinesis or missing out on the treasure - and that's half the problem. I haven't fully grasped the fact that this game isn't like others I've played, and it isn't all about injuring the enemy to advance quickly. Its focused on grave robbing. You're correct that the difference in levels isn't too great a handicap, really, when I think about it.

Bodvoc's crossbowman is a true sniper! and his apprentice loves to show his master up, when he can cast spells and the wizard fails.
My warhounds like to make mad, suicidal charges at the enemy ... and then get splatted  :-[

Oh, apart from finishing off that load of terrain, I'm not building any more.  It wears me out.
Title: Re: Frostgrave - 28mm - Or, a game with no snow in sight!
Post by: toxicpixie on 24 March 2016, 04:33:32 PM
Telekinesis came as a nasty surprise to me as well - it often comes up as one of the "is it overpowered" areas. A good use that swiped one from under me was a double wizard then apprentice then grabbed and off! Works even better with a "disposable" zombie as you can then resummon one as it decomposes off table having secured the treasure :D

Soldier experience - I subscribe to the "improve by buying a better one" - trade the basic crossbowman up to a Marksman. If you want more detail grab a copy of "Sellsword" - there's some interesting scenarios and rules for a Captain who earns a little XP and you can spec up as a shooter or close combat at your desire. Well worth a couple of quid, but not required by any means. Frostgrave is a simple premise and it's all about the Wizards; soldiers are a bit disposable :D
Title: Re: Frostgrave - 28mm - Or, a game with no snow in sight!
Post by: Bodvoc on 24 March 2016, 05:06:39 PM
You have been busy Roy, looks great. Maybe my wizard will find it enchanting!
Title: Re: Frostgrave - 28mm - Or, a game with no snow in sight!
Post by: toxicpixie on 24 March 2016, 07:48:20 PM
I like those high level walk-colonade's - very handy! And that gateway piece with the platform. And, and, and :D

I've found my chaps have generated some personalities as well - my crossbow-captain is a vicious opportunist picking off wounded enemies without mercy. But he knows who is boss - and will cripple a man just so my wizard can dissect him, if desired ;) My quickling and goblin thieves won't fight a man who expects them, but they will run in and job you from behind with glee. And the two knights just say "right up then, one at a time or all together, makes no odds to us" and plonk in front of the whole enemy team, shields up and blades out.