Battlefleet Gothic: Tyranid Stalker Escort Drone

Inching ever closer to finishing my Tyranid Battlefleet Gothic Fleet, last time I finished up a squadron of four Vangaurd Drone Ships, this time I finish up a group of Stalker Escorts Drones.

In the cannon, these ships keep close to Hive Ships, protecting them with their lives and forming a unfathomably large swarm around it. So of course in game, they serve the exact same purpose.

Like the rest of themy Tyranid fleet this is a real Games Workshop Model. And that makes it the last of the official Games Workshop in this particular series. There are of course the old Space Fleet models. but those are a little goofy.

All in all these models have been great, well thought out, easy to assemble, and fun to paint. All in all I would recommend going back and grabbing some if you have never had the pleasure.

In game terms I really have no idea how these ships preform. I got them more out of a want to have all of the Games Workship Tyranid ships I remember drooling over as a teenager rather than out of some grand plan.

Sure I am making 850pt fleets for each faction. But that is just reaching that number, without much thought given to tactics. I am going to let the guys worry about that on their own once we get going.

So honestly I will just have to see how this fleet goes.

And here they are so far! I actually only have 6 more Escort Class ships to go and then this fleet is done!

Next time we move away from official models and into the realm of tournament legal conversions!

Written by: Andrew Gregory

Klaus: A D&D Biography of the Elven Spy

The Kingdom of Nikovaria lies far to the north of the Graylands in JADE's Arachnophobia Dungeons and Dragons Campaign. It is the nation from which the party's woodland spy Klaus has fled south from in frantic search of aid for the family he left back home.

Nikovaria has largely gone quiet to the Graylands over the course of the last 3 years, as it has been futilely trying to hold back the migrating hordes of giant spiders that have been decimating the population in the wake of their move south. For a militaristic nation frequently sabre-rattling amidst their legacy of being the singular force that repelled the great Orc invasion a millennia ago, their silence has been deafening.

Imagining of how Nikovaria would appear.

Klaus was born of the woodland realm in the Kingdom's southeastern forests - and descends from a group of elves that had migrated far north from the Elvish Isles in a time too long ago to remember. It was in the woods of Nikovaria where, for hundreds of years, he hunted and protected the lands with his clan and his family - sometimes resulting in tense encounters with travellers, bandit gangs, and the human government's conquering military forces.

As a second class citizen in the eyes of Nikovaria's ruling warlords and nobility (all human), the wood elf was forced to develop connections far removed from such zeniths when lack of food would force a trip to their capital: a place where even his mere presence could put his own life in danger. Suffice it to say that tension between humans and elves in this country is always a little high.

The capital is not a welcoming place.

What sealed Klaus's fate happened on the day a few years back when the spiders attacked. His village was utterly overrun and devastated by the beasts - his family and friends he had known for centuries horrifyingly feasted upon in front of him as he barely managed to flee with his wife and small child.

Traumatized by what he had seen (and desperate to keep his surviving family safe), Klaus fled north to the capital with few options - and quickly learned survival would be difficult. After proving his skill-set working for the thieves' guild in the city, the elf inevitably crossed paths with the Nikovarian Legion - who were then actively recruiting for their diversifying network of spies. The Legion offered him enrolment or execution on the spot. The choice was simple at the time.

Image by: addiegregart

When the arachnids that had devoured his village eventually began descending on castles and ravaging armies across the kingdom, Klaus was one of 100 spies dispatched worldwide to find some kind of aid in Nikovaria's desperate fight for survival. Knowing that to refuse the Army of a nation that would fight the spiders down to it's last person would surely mean death, the elf left his family behind in the capital and swiftly moved south to learn the truth behind reports of a messiah rising in the countryside.

Nikovaria's ruling warlords are known to have a vast network of spies that has also gone quiet to the outside world since the spider hordes attacked - but that maintains a very close watch over the country's population. Through employing the network's extensive resources, Klaus was able to learn of Toby Ryder - and track him to Darfield along with the rest of the Arachnophobia Party.

Posing as a disgraced thief wanted by the Darfield Thieves Guild, Klaus was able to join the party by aiding them in their flight from the tyrannical Count Oppelthor. Using the following map that he had scouted and drawn, the elf was able to lead the party through the sewers to help them recover the TARDIS from the stables of Darfield's castle:

Best nest.

Having been undercover with the party for weeks now, Klaus's life has been in danger more times than not. He is working on earning the complete trust of Toby Ryder in order to make the boy's extradition to Nikovaria - and the elf's return to his family - less of a challenge. It will be interesting to see how the spy can use his vast network to complete his mission without the rest of the party catching on to his motives. Though, he has yet to see even a shred of evidence that Toby is any kind of a messiah at all. 

Shaken by his experiences yet firm in his resolve,  Klaus is often quiet and brooding. As a true neutral character, it can be hard to gauge where his loyalties lie at the end of the day. He carries a small grey figurine - given to him by his young daughter - to serve as a reminder of why he needs to keep fighting.


Written by: Jeff

Image Sources: https://www.deviantart.com/tri5tate/art
                         https://art.alphacoders.com

My Problem with Casters in Dungeons and Dragons

Whether it be Bards, Sorcerers, Warlocks, Wizards, Wild Mages, Astrologists or Sha'irs, there is something I just can't figure out with casters. Whenever I play them I become way to focused on dealing damage and not focused enough on a Caster's problem solving abilties, and so my Caster ends up being little more that a very powerful cannon. Which is boring.

So my problem with Casters is that I never really use them properly.

As a tabletop gamer in general I am immediately attracted to those high damage spells. You know, Fire Balls and Lightning Bolts at the lower levels, Death Touch and the like at the higher levels - the usual. And so I tend to load my Wizard up with all the different types of damage dealing spells I could get my hands on. And for a while it is great. Few opponents can stand against you at the lower levels and so I would fill all of my spell slots, and my whole spell book with damage dealers.

As a character you feel powerful, but when it comes to actually assisting the party, you really can't' do anything else other than make it explode, freeze, suffocate, etc. And you really need the caster to solve problems with more than just blind violence. However, no matter how hard I try, I keep going way too heavy on damage based spells -  and too light on those specialist "problem solving spells."

As I discussed a while ago in "how to build a balanced D&D party" one of the ways to think of a D&D party is by dividing them up into three roles: Warriors, Support and Specialists. Warriors are the main line damage dealers, Support are healers and those classes that buff others, and Specialists are problem solvers since they deal with the issues that no one else can.

There is of course some overlap, but I believe that Casters - for the most part - belong in the Specialist category. Their job is to provide solutions for those hard to solve problems. Sometimes that is using a fireball to kill a party of bandits, other times that is about giving the party the ability to climb walls like a spider.

So only focusing on damage means that I am really preforming perhaps a quarter of what my caster is really good at. And I don't even mean to do this anymore! Even when I actively try not to, I will come away with my prepared spells for the day only having two that have nothing to do with damage. I am always just worried I will run out of ammo I guess.

I am thinking maybe I should try and play a pacifist. I don't know, what do you think I should do?


Written by: Andrew Gregory

Battlefleet Gothic: Tyranid Vanguard Drone Ships

The next group of vessels in my Tyranid Fleet are these Vanguard Drone Ships. Vanguard drones  are considered roughly the equivalent of a Destroyer, making them similar in power to the Cobra Class  and Hunter Class Destroyers of the Imperium, or the Iconoclast Class Raiders of the Chaos Factions... And I could go on...

Despite their similarity in size, the function of a Vanguard Drone is much different than that of a regular Destroyer, as these vessel act as long-range forward scouts for the Tyranid Hive Fleets.

On the table, Vanguard Drones are actually quite slow. They only move 25cm, which is quite a bit slower than the 35cm that say a Space Marine Hunter Class Destroyer. However compared to other Tyranid ships, that is actually quite a bit faster making them the fastest Tyranid ship they can field.

Other than that they are pretty standard Destroyers, however Tyranid vessel have a lot of possible layouts and these are no different, featuring no less than two possible weapon configurations: Pyro-Acid Batteries (guns) or Feeder Tentacles (Boarding Action Weapon).

So these, like my Hive Ship and Razorfiend, are original Games Workshop Models which means they are full pewter, and honestly gorgeous and fun models to paint.

I have had these four ships for years now. I was given a pack of them as a stocking-stuffer back in 2011. I got lucky back then as when I opened the pack, it contained four Drone minis rather than the usual three! I always counted it a small win.

With the addition of the Vanguards, my Hive Fleet triples in size! And honestly a Tyranid Fleet just doesn't feel right unless it is swarmed by escorts, so I have no less than 12 more to come. So you have been warned.

The swarm approaches.

Written by: Andrew Gregory

The Spot Check with The Bard and Baker Board Game Cafe

Image from www.timesunion.com

Magic happens when classically-trained culinary skills fuse with a passion for storytelling and a deep love for the surrounding community. When the Bard meets the Baker, creativity sets up shop in a heartening establishment. This week's edition of the Spot Check rolled by Troy, New York's premiere board game cafe to hear songs of their triumphs - and the exciting tales behind their conception.

As the Capital District's first board game café, The Bard and Baker boasts an impressive library of over 600 titles for gamers to enjoy. For just $5.00 per person, you gain unlimited play with their extensive board game library - and access to their incredibly knowledgeable staff. B&B truly excels in encouraging their guests and their community to unplug and play in this increasingly technological age.

Our kind of game.

With a menu chalk-full of deliciously-inspired main quests and side quests to satiate your party's palette, there's also a welcome commitment to being a sustainable and eco-friendly operation at play. This is a spot where good times and team-building are rewards that speak for themselves. We had the pleasure of chatting with cafe owner Charlotte Guyton to unveil the story of how two entrepreneurs - with a passion for good food and gaming - were able to tap into their community and bring their dream to life. With this Spot Check, it's a legend to remember.

Cosmic.

1) What's your name and where are you based?

Hello! My name is Charlotte Guyton and I own Bard & Baker, a board game cafe in downtown Troy, NY. Troy is home to the prominent engineering school, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), and is located 3 hours North of New York City, as well as 15 minutes from the state capital of New York, Albany.

2) What inspired you to open your establishment?

Growing up in a military family, we moved homes frequently, but the one constant was family game night, which happened almost like clockwork every week. We played a lot of the traditional Classic Americana games, but I always cherished those nights together. While I am passionate about games, my background is actually predominantly in the food and beverage industry. I am classically trained in hospitality, attending Paul Smiths College in the Adirondacks of NY, and have managed a multitude of dining establishments ranging from Forbes 5-star fine dining Relais and Chateaux properties, award winning fine dining restaurants, to casual cafes and bars.

When working in Troy, managing all front of house operations for a hospitality group (Clark House Hospitality) I met my now partner, Bryan Connor, who was the Pastry Sous Chef of the same organization. Bryan grew up with a deep passion for hobby gaming, getting involved in miniatures and D&D at a young age, and had started a blog called Lvl.1 Chef (www.level1chef.com) where he creates real life recipes of food from some of his favourite video games growing up. We instantly connected and knew we wanted to continue working together.

Troy has a vibrant dining and bar scene, but there wasn't much in the way of casual entertainment, despite being a college town. We were both enamoured by the idea of combining our love for board games, food, beverage and hospitality, and felt that we could really bring something special to to the Capital District. With my past experience running other small businesses throughout my career, I assumed full ownership of the company, while Bryan was brought on as the Head Chef, leading the entire food program for the cafe.

3) What inspired the name?

We wanted something with alliteration, that had a subtle nod to geek culture and D&D, which highlighted our passion for the food and beverage industry. 'Bard' stemmed from the classic playable fantasy archetype, as well as traveling song writer and story teller from medieval times, while 'Baker' is more, well, self explanatory. Bard & Baker became a fusion of our personalities and passions -- for hosting, entertaining, and feeding people -- we wanted to create a space that would be our 'home' that we could open to the world as a safe space and a place to reconnect through the world of games. Bard & Baker just fit, and we can't imagine our vision having any other name.

4) What is the biggest challenge you've faced?

Easily the biggest challenge I personally faced throughout the process was the construction period. I had opened businesses, run businesses, closed businesses and more for other people, but never had I been involved in the construction process, and I wasn't well versed in that world so I had to learn a lot along the way. Being a young female business owner, I found it very difficult to garner the respect and attention of these individuals, which was very frustrating at times.

 Since we've opened, the biggest challenge we've faced has been finding time throughout the day to get everything done. We have been so busy and our community has been incredibly supportive that we wish we had more hours in the day to do everything we want to do! It is a wonderful 'problem' to have and we are so grateful.

5) What makes your brand truly unique?

With both myself and Bryan having extensive backgrounds in the food and beverage/hospitality industries (20+ years combined) we strive to elevate the food and hospitality experience that's typically offered in other board game cafes. We work hard to not just hire individuals who are knowledgable on games, but who are hospitality-focused and empathetic. Our interview process is precise and rigorous as we feel strongly that you can teach someone how to learn and play board games, but you can't teach someone to care for people -- you either have that or you don't, and we work hard to hire individuals who live and breathe that in both their personal and professional lives.

On the edible end of things, Bryan makes all of the bread in house fresh daily for sandwiches, along with from-scratch pastries and food and beverage items focused highly on the nostalgia factor (pizza bagels, mac & cheese with a garlic cheez-it crust), video game themed food, boozy milkshakes, cocktails with popsicles and bubble tea -- we want items that make people smile when they see them. We are more tea focused than coffee focused of a cafe, so we work tea and bubble tea into a lot of our pastries, featured drinks and cocktails. Above all, we try to make everything we do 'fun' -- because if you can't have fun in a board game cafe, where can you?

Gotta drink 'em all.

6) What’s something new you have in the works right now? 

Nights and weekends are our busiest times of the week, so we are working on a corporate team building program that we can offer to local businesses throughout the area to drive foot traffic during the weekdays when we are less full. We have also been partnering with local schools, and organizations with adults and children living with mental disabilities and traumatic brain injuries to organize day trips to the cafe since board games are fantastic for fostering cognitive function and brain growth.

7) Fave game?

This is a tough one as I am always learning new games, so my 'new favorite' that I recommend to guests in store is constantly changing. However, I will say that I recently started Stuffed Fables and am absolutely enchanted by it. It's adorable and fun, and also a little nightmarish like Sid's creations in Toy Story. I just finished the first story and am looking forward to getting back together with friends to embark on the second one.

8) Most overrated game?

Also tough, as we tell our staff that their personal opinions on a certain game should never cloud their judgement on recommending the perfect title for the guest in front of them -- even if you don't care for a specific game, listen to your guest and what their interests are, as the game you do not care for might be the perfect fit for the person in front of you.

9) What game character would you be out of any?

Since I'm on a Stuffed Fables kick at the moment, out of all the playable characters, I identify most with Flops. Flops attacks any stressful situation with levity, humor, optimism, and positivity, which is my autopilot mode as well -- positivity solves more problems than pessimism does, after all! He also fights with ranged weapons, which I love.

10) Best alignment?

Chaotic Good -- though, Bryan recently played an evil campaign with a Lawful Evil character and I must say that it was HIGHLY entertaining and very interesting to watch.

11) Magic or melee?

Magic! There are infinite possibilities and creativity! I have always enjoyed being the 'wizard behind the curtain' in hospitality, overseeing the beautiful dance of service, carefully crafting the experience. Though, I must admit that I typically gravitate towards ranged characters and weapons when I play.

12) Old school or new school?

In the world of board games, one does not exist without the other, so we try to have a healthy mix of both. We organize our game library so that the old school nostalgic titles are facing the windows, and the more new school titles are further in -- so guests walking by can see something they recognize, which gets them excited and draws them in initially with the hopes that we can also entice them with some titles they have never heard before. 

13) Sci-Fi or Fantasy?

Can I have both? Yes please!

14) Most epic win?

Most epic win would have to be opening Bard & Baker after we lost a business plan competition just about a year prior. The panel of judges were not sold on the concept, despite us winning the crowd vote with over 1,200 votes from the community in the initial voting phase, and ended up giving the small business grant to someone else. We were a little disappointed, but fueled by the chance for a comeback, and went on to win a different, larger and more extensive, business plan competition 6 months later, opening Bard & Baker 4 months after that -- everyone loves a good underdog story!

15) In the battle for Middle-Earth where would you be?

Planning strategy behind the scenes, of course!


Much gratitude to Charlotte, Bryan, and everyone at the Bard & Baker for taking the time to tell your inspiring tale! We love what you're doing to better mental health, and are excited to see how the corporate team-building plans pan out. Pretty pumped to try some of those recipes from www.level1chef.com as well. Congrats on all of your achievements and contributions, and, as always, Happy Gaming!

https://www.bardandbaker.com/

The Character Dice are Back!

You read that right! JADE's Set I and Set II RPG character dice are now back on our store along with our Monster and Jumbo Set I Race die!

Get your dice here https://jade-gaming.myshopify.com/ and start your adventure!

From all of us at JADE we would like to thank you all for your patience during this period of restructuring. After almost 4 years of selling dice it was time to change things up and I am glad to say that we have things running smoothly once again!

Look out for more new dice in the future as JADE moves onward and upward!

Written by: Andrew Gregory

Battlefleet Gothic: Razorfiend Cruiser

The next ship in my 850pt Tyranid Fleet is this Razorfiend Cruiser. About the equivalent of a Space Marine Strike Cruiser in terms of points it feels a little closer to a light cruiser... But we are talking Tyranid Bio-Ships so the classifications are a little more guidelines than actual rules.

Regardless, this spikey fellow serves roughly the same role filled by cruisers. It has several Hull Points allowing it to take more damage and multiple weapons systems.

The real advantage that the Tyranid fleet has is the customization. Most Captial Ships can be decked out with any number of weapons in really any configuration of your choice. So if you like torpedoes you can cover your vessels with launchers, etc, etc.

As I model I have to be honest I am not too fond of this one. Not that it doesn't fit the aesthetic, or anything.  I think it works fine. More I just find it a very strange model. It doesn't have a good point of focus, and it just looks awkward from above.

If I were to change it I would reduce the size of the claws on the sides, lengthen the the armoured carapace and  shorten the tubes on the back.

And there we go. The second ship in the Tyranid fleet finished. Next we will get on to the Escorts, and get the swarm feeling going.

Written by: Andrew Gregory

The Spot Check with Wildcard Board Game Cafe

It's definitely the communities formed around gaming that make the hobby so enriching and enjoyable. Finding a neighbourhood hub that you and your crew can link up in, enjoy some unique food and drink, and play board games to your heart's content is a treasure not to be taken for granted. We're rolling the Spot Check again with the intention of showcasing some excellent establishments around the world that are doing a great job of nurturing communities of passionate gamers - and promoting inclusive spaces where ALL are welcome to play.

Photo courtesy of Brampton Downtown

In Brampton, Ontario you will find the Wildcard: A place of mystery, intrigue, and challenge that is quite unlike any other card in the deck. The Wildcard Board Game Cafe seeks to give the community a chance to put their minds to good use with the over 200 strategic board games on offer. Step inside and find a realm of villainous cadence, with an inspired and decadent menu that is fully halal and vegan friendly. It is a hub where all are welcome to adventure and learn (playing host to wickedly-themed trivia nights among other events).  It is a place where even villains have their shot at world domination. When you enter, you had better bring your A-Game.

Game on.

So much yes.

We had the opportunity to catch up with Wildcard's Marketing Manager Afshaan Purvez, who was able to provide a little more insight into the inspiration behind this popular Brampton staple. With this Spot Check, the wildcard in the deck is no longer so mysterious...

1) What inspired you to open your establishment?

It was firstly an inherent love for board games. We have always believed that board games stimulate the mind, bring people together and are just so much fun. Other than the occasional feud over Monopoly, there really isn't a downside to them. We wanted to share this love with others and create a positive space for people of all ages.

Our family chose Brampton specifically because growing up, we found that there wasn't much to do in this growing city. We thought a board game cafe would be a perfect place for friends and family to spend quality time together. So, the idea was born.


2) What inspired the name?

Wildcard – the card in the deck, the piece of the puzzle, or the unforeseen strategy that is the game changer. It represents the element of surprise, and comes with a sense of mystery. We never quite know when it’s going to strike, and what it will mean for us. It’s precisely why we chose this name for our cafe. We aim to be unlike any other card in the deck.


3) What is the biggest challenge you've faced?

We are new business owners, so there were many challenges. The biggest has probably been managing expectations. Understanding the demand and finding a way to maintain a balance between meeting those demands and maintaining profitability. We had to set a high standard, so doing so and then keeping it up is definitely a challenge as well.


4) What makes your brand truly unique?

Our brand is based on supervillains, going with our 'wildcard' theme. We think supervillains have the smarts to win any boardgame, so we challenge our customers to channel their favourite villain to strategize and take over the world...in a friendly game of Risk of course.


5) What’s something new you have in the works right now? 

We have just started hosting Trivia Nights on a monthly basis. We had a successful HP Trivia Night, and we are super excited about our next one - which is MCU themed. We also definitely have new menu items we can't wait to introduce...cheesecake being one of them.


6) Fave game?

That's a tough one. There are so many choices - Secret Hitler is on the top of the list, followed closely by Munchkin. Both games are so much fun, and bring out the best and worst in group play!


7) Most overrated game?

That's also tough, but it would probably have to be Agricola.


8) What game character would you be out of any?

Not too many games with characters so, Ashcan Pete - Arkham Horror


9) Best alignment?

Chaotic Good


10) Magic or melee?

Depends on the game, but usually melee.


11) Old school or new school?

Old school


12) Sci-Fi or Fantasy?

Sci-fi fantasy!


13) Most epic win?

Not sure if this would apply to board games as much. But any win that has an underdog winner that came from bottom to claim victory is an epic win to me.


14) In the battle for Westeros where would you be?

I have not played the board game, but just in terms of the show, it seems Winterfell is where the action is at - so there, or maybe the Iron Islands on Yara's side.

Thanks to Afshaan and Wildcard. Great to see you doing so well, all the best in the future, and as always Happy Gaming!

http://www.wildcardcafe.com/

6 Things to Consider About the Military in Dungeons and Dragons

One of my favourite D&D memories stems from the very first game I ever hosted. We were about 17 when Jeff and our good buddy Tom had just finished making their first characters in D&D 3.5 (It was basically brand new at that point), and I had made a small town for them to wander around and stir up some trouble in.

Immediately - like literally immediately - they started plotting to raise a force and were asking me about leading armies against one another... Keep in mind these are two level 1 characters with maybe 15 gp between them.

Even as a first time DM I realized that it was a laughable goal for their first adventure. The logistics of raising, let alone maintaining control over a host of men is a monumental task and was well beyond their abilities as characters or skill as players.

These days both Jeff and Tom could one does not simply raise an army: It is a very complicated process. But for those of you who haven't thought about it, here are six things to consider before you - or your players - raise an army in a D&D game.

1. Do Your Research

The first and most important fact to understand is that while there are several points in history where kingdoms and nations maintained a government-funded standing army, for the most part this wasn't the case. Even Rome's legions were largely funded by a Lord's private wealth. So the idea of a standing army, police force, etc. wasn't a common sight.

So what does this mean for your D&D world? Think of it this way: Town Guards and soldiers are likely going to be more loyal to the person who pays them then the ideals they claim to uphold. Mercenaries will be a common profession in war-torn lands, and if you want to raise your own army -and keep them loyal - you had better have some coin in the first place.

In short, looking up how armies functioned in the past will give you a good sense of how one would function in your current time period - and what you need to do in game to make it work.

These guys don't fight for free.

2. Equipping Your Army.

Since there is no real government funding, that means any standardized equipment will have to come from your own pocket. So aside from some bulk weaponry that you might be able to buy in the market for your men, your soldiers will likely need to bring their own gear. Riders will need their own horses, swordsman their own blades, etc. etc.

In the end this means that your army will mainly be comprised of lightly-armoured and armed people; a far cry from the knights in shining armour that we all dream of riding with. Most of your force will be poorer people who feel they have little to lose. Sure, they may have a pitch fork or something similar, but to make them an effective fighting force, you will likely need to equip them yourself. So as mentioned above, a good supply of bulk weapons is ideal. Spears, axes, bows and arrows, and other cheap weapons are a great way to arm your forces without breaking the bank.

For more skilled and well equipped troops you may want to look to mercenaries. They are usually much more expensive, but they will often come with their own equipment and will usually be better fighters than your usual irregular recruits.

Sometimes knives and pitchforks is alls ya haves.

3. Who Can Raise An Army?

Ok, so you have enough money to fund your private army, access to craftsman ready to make weapons in the quantities you need to arm your force, and a group of mercenaries acting as your lieutenants and general badasses. Now you just need your general infantry. But hold on a second, you can't just start going from village to village and asking for volunteers.

Lords and local governments aren't going to be too keen on you calling their citizens to arms without their approval. People who do this are usually labelled as bandits or rebels, so if you want to be legitimate, you had best gain the favour of a local lord, Mayor, King or what have you. They may even help with the financial backing!

Of course, you can just start recruiting if you want without anyone's permission, but be prepared to get labelled an outlaw by some angry lord who feels you abducted their citizens.

The amount of people who will join your cause will likely be based on your reputation - which we will get to in a bit.

No one raises an army like this guy.

4. The Economics

Raising an army is one thing. Keeping your army is going to be a whole other matter. We have been talking about money a whole lot in this article: What it takes to arm your force, convince people to join, etc. This all costs gold, and the need for money never stops as long as your army stands. So you will need to decide how you are going to pay them.

The first way is to pay your men a salary. I know for a fact that the 2nd ed DM's guide contains a list of what you will need to pay each soldier, and you can find similar tables online to give you some ideas of what you owe your men each week/month.

The second way you can pay your army is through loot. You can allow them to sack and plunder from the cities, towns and villages in your path. This has the advantage of not costing you out of pocket, but the downside is that your wave of destruction is likely to piss someone off.

I actually recommend a mixture of both. Pay your troops. It will make them less brutish and more professional. However, let them loot every now and then. Treat looting like a bonus for your soldiers and it will keep them in your favour.

Nothing beats a good plunderin'.

5.  Fighting a Battle

You have your cash, equipment, men, and business plan. Now is the time to use your army for what it was meant for: Fighting a battle. The fact you needed to look up ways to handle an army probably means that you were thinking of having a battle a little larger than D&D is really designed for. Some time ago we looked at 5 Ways to Handle Larger Battles in Tabletop RPGs, which is definitely worth a look at in this context. But I want to look at the fourth Entry in that article, the Advanced Battle System.

Designed for 1st and another for 2nd Ed Advanced Dungeons and Dragons, the Advanced Battle System was a miniatures game that came with rules to add your player characters into a fantasy table top battle. This allowed you to actually play through a giant battle on the table as you would play say a game of Warhammer 40k.

In my opinion, this is the best way to handle a large battle. You get to play out every aspect of the fight, and how cool is it that this battle becomes a part of your campaign! However, tabletop games take practice and planning before you get good at them. So it is probably best to engage a few smaller opponents to get the hang of the system before you run off to the castle.

And don't feel limited to using the Advanced Battle System as your own tabletop system. With a little bit of experimentation, you could probably work your characters into almost any game system like Warhammer Fantasy. The Advanced Battle System just has the advantage of having worked this out for you already.

Looks pretty advanced.

6. The Big Picture

Once you have won a few battles, it is time to start thinking about the big picture. Training your troops, setting up supply lines, building your renown as a fighter; all of these will start to matter more and more as your army travels further from home - and wins more battles.

In terms of training and upgrading your troops, the battle system does provide some answers, but it is best to work out a system with your DM. How far can your troops advance? Do they have levels or veteran states? Do they gain xp? These are just a few of the questions you should consider and talk about as a group.

Setting up supplies to make sure your forces stay fed will become a problem as your army grows in size. So make sure before you travel too far that you have a method of delivering food and supplies. And of course remember that your army will likely not march in the winter so you will need a place (with a regular supply of food) for them to stay over this season. This is called wintering.

There are a few metrics you can use to measure your renown and watch it grow. The first is simply your character xp/level. The higher it is, the more renown you are said to have - and the more followers you will attract.

Another way of measuring renown is by using an honour system where your honour increases for winning battles - and decreases for losses. I personally prefer using an honour system for this sort of metric. I think of it more as a reputation stat, and that way you can easily increase or decrease this stat depending on your player's actions.

So take a minute to consider the big picture before you march your army to the ends of the earth. There's a lot more you'll need to think about: troop morale, how are you making camp, mapping out your route, etc. etc. I'd start making a list.

Winter is coming...

All of these - and many more - are things that players will need to manage if they want to lead an army. It is not a simple task, and not for the disorganized player. But hopefully these few points will help keep you on track, and your army moving for at least a little while.

How do you handle the military in your games? Let us know in the comments!


Written by: Andrew Gregory


Image Sources: https://blog.continentalcurrency.ca
                          https://www.artstation.com
                          http://animalia-life.club
                          https://dissidentpeasant.com
                          https://mashable.com
                          https://z3news.com
                          http://jasonnguyen.art
                          https://www.pinterest.ca