Monday, June 19, 2023

Sword Weirdos Battle Report - Elsa and the Defenders of Arendelle Triumph over the Blood Cult of Sanguivor

In a recent 75-point game, an extraordinary clash unfolded between the formidable alliance of Elsa, Anna, Olaf, Conan the Barbarian, and their loyal wolf companion, and a menacing warband consisting of three Blood Daemons led by the wicked cult wizard, Sanguivor. 

In a land far from Arendelle, an evil plot was attempted by Sanguivor to unbind an ancient daemonette from her bronze prison. The objective was to claim the coveted bronze daemon statue, with the side that had the most models within one stick's distance of the statue (at game end) emerging victorious.

The battle commenced with swift and decisive action. One of the Blood Daemons boldly charged forward, only to be intercepted and swiftly subdued via a pounce by the ferocious wolf. Seizing the opportunity, Conan the Barbarian launched a furious assault, delivering the finishing blow that sent the daemon back to the shadows.

Meanwhile, Elsa showcased her formidable magical prowess, deftly harnessing her powers to eliminate another Blood Daemon with a precise icy Magic Missile spell. 

The remaining daemon, undeterred, sought to strike back, targeting Anna. However, the fearless Anna valiantly defended herself, and with help from Olaf, skillfully evaded the daemon's attacks and held her ground until the daemon’s eventual defeat by the powerful greatsword of Conan.

The climax of the battle unfolded as Sanguivor, driven by his sinister ambitions, rushed towards the statue with hopes of claiming victory for the daemonic forces. However, Elsa, ever resourceful and quick-witted, unleashed an icy spell that sent the cult wizard sprawling to the ground. Seizing the opportune moment, the loyal wolf delivered the final blow that brought an end to Sanguivor's nefarious plans.

The outcome of this epic confrontation was resoundingly in favor of Elsa, Anna, Olaf, Conan, and their loyal wolf companion. Not a single casualty was suffered by the valiant heroes, while the Blood Daemons were completely vanquished from the battlefield!

As the victors bask in the glory of their triumph, they serve as a shining example of friendship and unity, reminding us of the power of courage, friendship, and unwavering determination. The legends of this fateful battle will echo through the ages, inspiring future generations in Arendelle.

Sunday, June 11, 2023

Sword Weirdos Review and Battle Report - Undead Unleashed!

Sword Weirdos by Garske Games is a sequel to the sci-fi skirmish ruleset Space Weirdos. This new fantasy version has been highly anticipated by its fans for some time. Although the approach to Maneuver Points and weapons is different here – with much more complexity - it does not disappoint, and I appreciated the sheer number of options in creating a unique warband.

I grabbed a few fantasy models from my collection, and in no time created a 100 point contingent of Citadel skeletons to be lead by the necromantic vampiress Cleomydia, Mistress of the Night. Little did I know my opponent would choose Thorns of the Briar Queen models for his warband – an epic undead battle of ghosts versus Harryhausen-inspired skeletons would soon commence!


The Treasure Surprise scenario was rolled. The spear-armed skeletons outnumbered the ghosts, but the ghosts were casters with the Magic Missile spell. Luckily for me, Cleomydia had the Majestic Leader Trait, allowing her skeletons minions to use her Will when testing for the opposed roll, as long as she was in line-of-sight. The game centered around me rushing the skeletons forward (as quickly as Speed 1 skeletons can move), while both protecting Cleomydia and ensuring she remained in line-of-sight of the skeletons. Cleomydia also used her Unlife spell to return dead skeletons back as… zombies!


In the end, the sheer numbers of skeletons and resurrected zombie-skeletons (skeleton-zombies?) was extremely beneficial for me, and while we both took one treasure chest off the board early, I was able to pickup another mid-game without it being a Mimic. My opponent had access to other chests, but they all turned out to be Mimics. Victory for Cleomydia and her undead band!


With just one game under my belt, I do hereby declare Sword Weirdos as my preferred fantasy skirmish ruleset. Like Space Weirdos, the game's mechanics are innovative and accessible, and although they are more complex than Space Weirdos, Sword Weirdos is able to again strike the trifeca of fun, flexibility, and simplicity. I become a bigger fan of the use of the five-inch-long sticks for measuring movement and ranges each time I’ve played either ruleset; the approach tends to suck you more into the action without the need to measure for movement or ranges all the time. The innovative use of dice, again like Space Weirdos, makes rolls simple, but meaningful.

As I eye my expansive collection of fantasy models, I eagerly await my next encounter on the battlefield, ready to delve deeper into the story and action-packed adventures that I know Sword Weirdos will offer.