Eden Studios' Fields of Blood... is it good?

[Silveras]

I eagerly await more reviews, comparisons and info.


Frex, a table of contents for Fields of Blood?

Thanks to all ahead of time! I'm really interested in picking up the best of these battle/kingdom books.

Vrylakos

My copy arrived today. I will be adding a "report card" to my comparison thread as soon as I have read it through and tested some elements.

Table of Contents:
Chapter 1: Introduction p2 [Includes Glossary and Overviews of systems]
Chapter 2: Defining Realms p8
Chapter 3: Ruling Realms p26
Chapter 4: Units p46
Chapter 5: Battle p62
Chapter 6: Magic p88
Chapter 7: Heroes p94
Chapter 8: Campaigning p110
Appendix A: Core Magic p118 [Notes on Core spells in these rules]
Appendix B: Battle Magic p140 [Battle magic spell descriptions]
Appendix C: Realm Magic p146 [Realm spell descriptions]
Appendix D: Monsters p150 [Sample monster units]
Photocopy sheets p172
Index p175

First Impression: Very thorough, very usable, right balance of depth (rules detail on any one topci) and breadth (making sure the systems address the broad range of factors appropriately).

 

[Emiricol]

That ToC is impressive. Each chapter seems suitably meaty. I might change my mind and check this out...

 

[jasamcarl]

Out of curiosity, Silv, where did you order FoB?

 

[MerricB]

It would amuse me for the book to be considered "warhammer d20" since I hate warhammer.

Matt, you now have another reason to hate Warhammer - it's influenced your unconscious design habits so that any wargame you design is like it!

(I have a feeling that any mass-combat system is now compared to Warhammer!)

Cheers!

 

[MerricB]

Questions I have about the mass combat system:

* Does it use miniatures?
* What scale does it use? 1:1? 10:1? 20:1? Multiple scales?
* How many combatants can it handle easily? 100? 500? 1000? 2500?
* How much book-keeping does it require?
* How difficult is it to convert D&D monsters and characters?
* How does it handle individual heroes on the battlefield?

Cheers!

 

[Silveras]

Out of curiosity, Silv, where did you order FoB?

I had an order on Amazon, but canceled it. I order on-line for convenience; a wait of 1-2 months after it is available elsewhere is not convenient. I ordered from the ENWorld RPG Shop. Nice, speedy packing and shipping. It probably helped that I also got :: starts counting :: too many :: stops counting :: Dragoneye boosters with it.

 

[Silveras]

Questions I have about the mass combat system:

* Does it use miniatures?
* What scale does it use? 1:1? 10:1? 20:1? Multiple scales?
* How many combatants can it handle easily? 100? 500? 1000? 2500?
* How much book-keeping does it require?
* How difficult is it to convert D&D monsters and characters?
* How does it handle individual heroes on the battlefield?

Cheers!

I haven't gotten that far, but I will offer some preliminary answers.

Miniatures: Yes. There are copy-and-cut counters in the back for the inexpensive route, but miniatures are preferred. A couple of rules need clarification for minis, but that's about 1/4 column of text. There is also a "quick resolution" system for those who do not want to play out the battles with minis.

Scale: Varies. Most "standard" units are 100:1, but special units (high-level PC groups, for example) may be 5:1. 1 figure = 1 unit, and some formations are multiple-unit blocks (Legion formation is 4x4, for example).

How many combatants: That may depend on your comfort level, in some ways. The decision on when to switch over to the "simple system" will depend on how much miniature battle you like, I think. The chapter header describes the system as being good for battle sizes ranging from border skirmishes between scouting parties up to the siege of an imperial capitol city. Sounds like it should be able to handle your "Siege of Neraka" scenario, but I have not studied it in depth.

Bookkeeping: Looks simple, but that would have to be tested for a solid answer. The sample units have "Wound levels" in the single digits (highest I saw on a quick look was 3), and so a marker leaned against the figure should handle that. The longest process, I think, is building the units. Using them, once statted out, is simpler.

Conversion: Once you are familiar with the choices, it should not be too bad. The conversion process looks daunting at first, but that may be because it seems to cover a LOT of choices.

Individuals: This varies a lot, and can vary during the battle (it looks like). A single character can merge into a unit to give it a benefit, or can separate to act independently (typically for hero-vs-hero challenges). It looks like there is a 3rd option, but, as I said, I have not read in that far.

 

[mattcolville]

Matt, you now have another reason to hate Warhammer - it's influenced your unconscious design habits so that any wargame you design is like it!

(I have a feeling that any mass-combat system is now compared to Warhammer!)

Cheers!

Warhammer is not a mass combat system. It's a squad-based combat system, as distinct from D&D's skirmish-level system.

My design was influenced a little by a lot of games, I played something like 40 large-scale wargames while writing the book, including Warmaster which was a good game.

 

[jasamcarl]

Hmmm..I'm looking through the Enworld shop and can't find FoB. They are probably out. If anyone has a head's up, I'd appreciate.

 

[Krieg]

It's not likely...indeed, not even possible, I think, for someone using the system to A: need to roll a bucket of d6s and then B: have none of them produce any effect.

ROFLMAO!!