For those who haven't bought this yet - assembly is EXTREMELY minimal. The only models who need assembly are Obscenes, Golems, and both Legendaries (one model for each army). So that's six infantry and one legendary in each army. For the infantry, its just push torso into legs or head into body. For legendaries, they each have 3-4 pieces but its dirt simple assembly. The vast majority of each army requires no assembly at all!
I've been trying to decide between about 20 or so games, finally deciding on maybe Robinson Crusoe (for solo/co-op) and Terra Mystica (Heavy Euro brain busting mechanism goodness) and here The Dice Tower comes along and throws it right back in my face. Thanks a lot...I have to get all three now.
I’m looking for games just like this, tactical skirmish games. The problem with searching for games like these are several: 1. You will encounter wargames with complicated pretentious rules, and never any fantasy elements. 2. If you run into something fantasy, it likely will be a paint your mini army. As if that wasn’t bad enough, you have to use those stupid measuring tapes to move anything. I want to play a game, not assemble one. 3. Finding combat in board games often makes the battle system too simplistic to have any depth. Often, running an economy and logistics is a primary focus, sometimes. So I’ve had a pretty hopeless time struggling to find games like Battle Lore without these Trojan horses I keep running into. I just want a combat focused game that comes in a box, I can open it up, and all players can start playing.
i bought this game and played BEFORE watching this review. I LOVE this game!! No need to set up "flags" anymore like MAGESTORM and the original battlelore. Every character in this game feels VERY UNIQUE, the battle experience is AMAZING, everyone MuST BUY THIS GAME.
I've seen people do lots of hex games with miniatures, just in order to pimp their 'serious' wargames. Blinds are definitely a thing in wargaming, though. Look up Sharp Practice or I Aint Been Shot, Mum for widely-played systems that use the mechanics. Also now I want a better Battles of Westeros.
Shiqin Huang The lore cards make it a better game IMO. M44's theme mean it will always be more popular but I personally MUCH prefer the theme in this :)
David Padilla I have one copy od everything for this game and feel that's enough... and TOTALLY WORTH IT!! Second sets would be ok for a little bit of variety but I like to think of the larger, more expensive (points-wise) models are rare so therefore harder to 'recruit'. 1 Base set has a tonne of options and replayability 😉
I really want to get this... I am just a little skittish about it... it seems to work a lot like Memoir 44 except for the double blind settup and the special powers. I loved Memoir 44... at first. The problem with M44 though is that it got old pretty quickly, as to get different scenarios, it requires you to put out a lot of money in expansions... my game budget is too limited to do that and ever get anything else. Have any of you found there to be a problem with getting tired of the base game with Battlelore 2e?
GMCiaramella, not true. Just looked into my folders and counted 58 freely accessible scenarios for the base game of Memoir 44 only (downloaded as PDFs from Days of Wonder website). Please tell me which systems (apart from say the giants as ASL and the likes) have so many JUST FOR THE BASE GAME? Once you get a single Theater expansion (say Eastern Front), you have another 30 free scenarios from the DoW website plus any others out there in the expansions. I say WELL WORTH THE MONEY I SPENT ON THE BASE MEMOIR 44 GAME AND THE EASTERN FRONT EXPANSION, EVEN IF I WOULD NOT BUY A SINGLE EXPANSION MORE.
I am glad you point that out... I was not intending to bad talk the game, I love Memoir 44... what I was talking about was simply my experience. I will go look for those scenarios. If you have some places that you can direct me to, would you please? And there is no need to type in caps like that.... we are all friends here, right?
I AM YOUR FRIEND. REALLY!!!!! :) :) :) :) Sure, head to the Days of Wonder webpage, section "Military Archives" at www.daysofwonder.com/memoir44/en/content/scenarioapp/. There you have "Official Scenarios" and "Scenarios from the Front". The first section are "official" scenarios, the others are all the other fan-created stuff. In both sections you can filter out what you have and what not (in terms of Base game/Expansions) with the "+" sign on the line "Search by" and you will then get the list of Scenarios using only those expansions/Base game only. Treasure trove!
Why does a publisher put so much detail in a game and don't include a proper inlay in the box for all the bits and pieces? Because it really needs it. I haven't played or seen the first edition, but Days of Wonder usually have excellent inlays so in that regard I missed them.
So many gamers are hooked on the box and its inlay. It's something I can't quite figure out. Personally, I buy small containers from Michaels and Staples to package everything in then just throw the inlays away. Try it one time, you'll never use an inlay again 😀
I haven't seen one. Single. Insert. That works. And I have a lot of games. Actually, I'm lying-Mage Knight does a pretty good job. But 99% of the time you're going to find tokens, chits and cards having moved about when you open the box. At any rate, I HATE inserts and I think the emphasis put on them in board game reviews is ridiculous. The first thing I always do is throw the insert away and replace it with small bins bought at any office supply or hobby shop. They work much better and you can easily just place them in the table leaving the components inside for people to pull from when needed.
I liked the original Battlelore, but the lore system was completely broken. Putting three levels in wizard and warrior just owned every time. Hopefully this is more balanced.
For those who haven't bought this yet - assembly is EXTREMELY minimal. The only models who need assembly are Obscenes, Golems, and both Legendaries (one model for each army). So that's six infantry and one legendary in each army. For the infantry, its just push torso into legs or head into body. For legendaries, they each have 3-4 pieces but its dirt simple assembly. The vast majority of each army requires no assembly at all!
Yep, takes like 10minutes to 'assemble' everything
Doesn't even require glue and doesn't come on sprues either!! 😊😊
Thanks, Tom. Had no idea what to make of this game.
I've been trying to decide between about 20 or so games, finally deciding on maybe Robinson Crusoe (for solo/co-op) and Terra Mystica (Heavy Euro brain busting mechanism goodness) and here The Dice Tower comes along and throws it right back in my face. Thanks a lot...I have to get all three now.
I’m looking for games just like this, tactical skirmish games.
The problem with searching for games like these are several:
1. You will encounter wargames with complicated pretentious rules, and never any fantasy elements.
2. If you run into something fantasy, it likely will be a paint your mini army. As if that wasn’t bad enough, you have to use those stupid measuring tapes to move anything. I want to play a game, not assemble one.
3. Finding combat in board games often makes the battle system too simplistic to have any depth. Often, running an economy and logistics is a primary focus, sometimes.
So I’ve had a pretty hopeless time struggling to find games like Battle Lore without these Trojan horses I keep running into. I just want a combat focused game that comes in a box, I can open it up, and all players can start playing.
Thanks for the review and I look forward to picking this up. Now I don't feel so bad about trading away my original Battlelore.
Pre-ordered already!
This is still a fantastic game-grab it while you can! 😊😊
i bought this game and played BEFORE watching this review. I LOVE this game!! No need to set up "flags" anymore like MAGESTORM and the original battlelore. Every character in this game feels VERY UNIQUE, the battle experience is AMAZING, everyone MuST BUY THIS GAME.
any idea where to get expansion for battlelore second edition these days looked everywhere and justcant find it :(
Couldn't find any on Google myself. At least, none available now.
if you had to pick one, battlelore, rivet wars, Memoir 44 or another one of that kind?
AndyIstFertich memoir 44
omg the stat cards are amazing in the intro!!!
Is this compatible with battlelore 1st edition?
I've seen people do lots of hex games with miniatures, just in order to pimp their 'serious' wargames.
Blinds are definitely a thing in wargaming, though. Look up Sharp Practice or I Aint Been Shot, Mum for widely-played systems that use the mechanics.
Also now I want a better Battles of Westeros.
Are going to review Eldritch Horror?
How does battlelore 2nd edition compare to memoir 44?
Shiqin Huang The lore cards make it a better game IMO.
M44's theme mean it will always be more popular but I personally MUCH prefer the theme in this :)
2 core sets of battlelore?? Sounds amazing but is it worth it?
David Padilla I have one copy od everything for this game and feel that's enough... and TOTALLY WORTH IT!!
Second sets would be ok for a little bit of variety but I like to think of the larger, more expensive (points-wise) models are rare so therefore harder to 'recruit'.
1 Base set has a tonne of options and replayability 😉
top 10 games, games I will never buy, but would like to play and with someone who really knows the game.
Zee, where are you!
I really want to get this... I am just a little skittish about it... it seems to work a lot like Memoir 44 except for the double blind settup and the special powers. I loved Memoir 44... at first. The problem with M44 though is that it got old pretty quickly, as to get different scenarios, it requires you to put out a lot of money in expansions... my game budget is too limited to do that and ever get anything else. Have any of you found there to be a problem with getting tired of the base game with Battlelore 2e?
This has tons of replay value. My roommates and I play it non stop. Every game has different outcomes.
GMCiaramella, not true. Just looked into my folders and counted 58 freely accessible scenarios for the base game of Memoir 44 only (downloaded as PDFs from Days of Wonder website). Please tell me which systems (apart from say the giants as ASL and the likes) have so many JUST FOR THE BASE GAME? Once you get a single Theater expansion (say Eastern Front), you have another 30 free scenarios from the DoW website plus any others out there in the expansions. I say WELL WORTH THE MONEY I SPENT ON THE BASE MEMOIR 44 GAME AND THE EASTERN FRONT EXPANSION, EVEN IF I WOULD NOT BUY A SINGLE EXPANSION MORE.
I am glad you point that out... I was not intending to bad talk the game, I love Memoir 44... what I was talking about was simply my experience. I will go look for those scenarios. If you have some places that you can direct me to, would you please? And there is no need to type in caps like that.... we are all friends here, right?
I AM YOUR FRIEND. REALLY!!!!! :) :) :) :) Sure, head to the Days of Wonder webpage, section "Military Archives" at www.daysofwonder.com/memoir44/en/content/scenarioapp/. There you have "Official Scenarios" and "Scenarios from the Front". The first section are "official" scenarios, the others are all the other fan-created stuff. In both sections you can filter out what you have and what not (in terms of Base game/Expansions) with the "+" sign on the line "Search by" and you will then get the list of Scenarios using only those expansions/Base game only. Treasure trove!
Why does a publisher put so much detail in a game and don't include a proper inlay in the box for all the bits and pieces? Because it really needs it. I haven't played or seen the first edition, but Days of Wonder usually have excellent inlays so in that regard I missed them.
So many gamers are hooked on the box and its inlay. It's something I can't quite figure out. Personally, I buy small containers from Michaels and Staples to package everything in then just throw the inlays away. Try it one time, you'll never use an inlay again 😀
I haven't seen one. Single. Insert. That works. And I have a lot of games. Actually, I'm lying-Mage Knight does a pretty good job. But 99% of the time you're going to find tokens, chits and cards having moved about when you open the box. At any rate, I HATE inserts and I think the emphasis put on them in board game reviews is ridiculous. The first thing I always do is throw the insert away and replace it with small bins bought at any office supply or hobby shop. They work much better and you can easily just place them in the table leaving the components inside for people to pull from when needed.
Most boxes are oversized. I have this game and five (5) expansions in my box. yes it is a bit to much but still...
Is this a bit familiar with memoirs 44?
I liked the original Battlelore, but the lore system was completely broken. Putting three levels in wizard and warrior just owned every time. Hopefully this is more balanced.
U got a "Geek chiq" table!!!!
OMG! A red arm fell off. Is it okay?
Waaaait. 0:28. The red die has two, two-pip sides?!?
Super tactico (12:30)
Shut the door!!!
Crap. Add another game to my wishlist.
anybody else get battlemasters vibes?
Oroginal battlelore is way better.
The old Battlelore was better.