BW Designs

We have had a few games of the new SAGA dark age skirmish game the other day.

3 point games due to not having enough figures for two four point games (4 points looks to be default size).

The rule set

The rules themselves are well presented, with nice bright pictures and diagrams.

It’s pretty much typical of the new style gamer porn coming out from all of the major rules producers, with the obvious exception of WRG and Phil barker:-)

The Game is your basic skirmish game, with up to around 72 or so figures in units or groups (this being dependant on troop type and battle size)

The game mechanism is I go, you go. But this fits the game formula well.

The game itself revolves around the use of dice placed on a battle board, the number of Saga dice you get to use is dependent on the units used and the games point cost. (4, 6 or 8 standard point games with the option for larger games)

Units can be

warlord the commander more attack and defence dice and supplies 2 Saga dice when rolling for the battle board. free

4 Hearth Guard body guard infantry and defence dice better than warriors and levee and supplies 1 Saga dice when rolling for the battle board. Cost one point

8 warriors attack and defence dice better than levee and supplies 1 Saga dice when rolling for the battle board. Cost one point

12 levee supplies 0 Saga dice when rolling for the battle board. Cost one point

These all have variations specific to their faction which on the whole add a nice amount of flavour to the game.

As units get killed off you loose saga dice so your game options become less making for an interesting game, don’t let your warlord get killed!

Movement is broken down to 4 lengths long, medium, short and very short, dependant on who what you are where you are moving or Saga dice effects played by either side.

Saga dice are rolled whenever it is your turn based on the number of active units still alive that give you saga dice.

Most shooting is at long, javelins are at medium, horse move long, foot move medium in the open.

These are arranged on the faction specific battle board in combinations based on what you rolled what you want to do this turn or what your opponent may want to do in their turn.

And that’s about it, dependant on what you have rolled and what faction your are, you may be able to force someone to attack you by taunting a particular unit or stopping them from attacking you by intimidating an opposing unit. (a lot of different options available, depending on what faction you are)

Game length wasn’t too bad I think with out to much trouble you could get a few games in, in an evening.

Pro’s

Lots of diagrams

Easy to follow in the main part of the rules.

A good logical flow to the game without too many counter intuitive moments

The battle board system, a good idea well thought out and implemented.

Lots and lots of decision points I do mean lots.

Scenario’s extend the appeal and longevity of the game.

More factions in the future should be a good thing for the game.

A reason to paint up Vikings ;-)

It’s fun.

Con’s

Small list of content maskerading as a very small index , why, why, why is it sor hard to have a decent index in a rule set?

Lots of diagrams

Cost a little bit exe for what you get, let’s face it 40+ dollars for a 76 page A4 book and 4 bits of cardboard.

Then there is the special dice per faction $20ish per faction (ok you don’t NEED the special dice but what gamer doesn’t WANT the special dice)

The large amount of fatigue counters that can end up on the table. This is not a problem for some people but for others the counters on a table can invoke a high level nerd spasm.

The scenario balance maybe a little out of whack, some games between factions don’t look as balanced as others.

Not enough troop types at the moment after a while there may be a bit of a levelling off of play options, Vikings play this way, Danes play this way etc. Though that can be said of most games so maybe not a con.

No page tabulation (different colours markings for different sections) Ok it’s not a big book but in the middle of a game a small help finding the right page is always a great help.

Final rating

8 and a half rubber tape measures out of 10 for originality.

7 rubber tape measures for longevity.

8 rubber tape measures for game play.

Cheers

Chris