Wednesday 5 October 2016

First Look - Frostgrave: Forgotten Pacts

With the Forgotten Pacts Pre-Order Campaign just underway (and a free werewolf already reached!), I thought it might be a good time to talk about what is actually in the book!

It is always interesting to receive my author advance of a book, as by the time it comes out, I am generally deep into another project and have forgotten what was in it. (No, I haven't forgotten my own rules, mostly, just which book they are actually in!).

The book is divided into seven chapters of completely unequal length. The first chapter is 'Forging Pacts' and gives wizards all the information they need to know about reaching out to extra-planar entities and making deals for extra power. Of course, for each boon granted by some greater demon, sacrifices must be made...

The second chapter is called 'Advanced Summoning'. This includes expanded rules for summoning demons Out of Game. The main feature of this chapter is two tables for determining random 'demonic attributes' to bring variety to the demons of Frostgrave. Let's face it, demons under the main rules are a bit samey...we'll, not anymore.

The next two chapters are 'New Magic', which introduces rules for Mystic Brands, and 'New Soldiers' which presents four new soldier types that wizards can hire. For a preview of these four, check out the link to the pre-order campaign above.

After that comes the 'Scenarios' chapter. There are eight scenarios this time, including 2 mini-campaigns with 3 scenarios each. All of the scenarios in the book involve either demons or barbarians or both. Also, I would say that these scenarios are a bit tougher, a bit more dangerous, than most of those that have gone before. Well, most wizards should be rather up there in level by now, right?

The book rounds out with 'New Treasure' and a 'Bestiary', which mostly includes demons and a few unique barbarians.

Just to set one rumour to rest - there are no rules for mounted soldiers. There are special rules for the mounted guy on the cover, but he's a special kind of crazy for riding a rhino into The Frozen City.

So, hopefully there is something fun for everyone there. Yes, Summoners are a big winner here, but there's a lot of fun for Sigilists too. And anyone can Forge a Pact!

16 comments:

  1. Looking forward to this, going to be a lot of disappointed players with the no mounts rules included.

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  2. Looking forward to it! This is really becoming the revelation of my time, after I quit Warhammer. We need to promote this game more, as it really has so much merit. I just love it. Thank you once again.

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    1. Apologize, but I want to add. Normally "wargames" are for guys. I am a married man, in my thirties. Joe has also a wife, now a kid. This game can be really so much more than the regular wargames, because it is open to all kinds of miniatures that you can use, lego, space cats, whatever. This can open up so much more. Make some advertising of a family sitting together on this. On the forum lead-adventure I see it sometimes. This could be your general boardgame, loved by many. The only issue are the buildings. There needs to be a solution, maybe made from cardboard, easy to cut out, and ready for use, for those that can't invest too much in it, or start making terrain themselves. Make this game the stuff of legends in its category.

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    2. Laurens, really well said! :O)

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    3. There is a ton of papercraft terrain out there, very reasonably priced and sometimes even free. Some of the best stuff for sale is by Fat Dragon Games and Dave Graffam; some pieces even have steampunk or snowy-layers. Dave even has a series of free buildings on one of his facebook related groups, Paperhammer. Also, check out the Cardboard Warriors on Proboards & Facebook, a lot of amateurs and professionals have free models, and share finished and works-in-progress; also very friendly group.

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  3. I think my Summoner figure is looking forward to reading this supplement as much as I am!

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  4. Eh, mounts aren't very useful in an environment such as the one described in Frostgrave.

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    1. Still, might be fun to use some old models on horseback. I use anyhow spectre knights for the spectres as they have movement 9

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  5. Cant wait to get my hands on this!

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  6. Nickstarter ordered on launch..now we watch it rise! Thanks for what will be another exceptional product!

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  7. I'm already preordered. I can't wait. Looking forward to loosing some of the "sameiness" in my summons :-)

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  8. Re mounts - could you not use the rules for centaurs from Warriors of Athena?

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  9. Glad to see there are no rules for mounted.

    zellak.

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  10. Looking forward to this so much. I've been enjoying the steady stream of updates and new content. Really helps keep the game fresh and interesting. thank you Joe.

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  11. Have you created a map of Frostgrave and its environs? My friends and I were thinking of starting up a narrative campaign.

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  12. Compliments on the great work with Frostgrave! Any plans to bring rules for more monsters to the world? Dragons? Giants? Etc?

    +1 on a map for Frostgrave! Even just a slow reveal one with every supplement!

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