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!

Frostgrave: Arcane Locations

The newest Frostgrave ebook, mini-supplement, Arcane Locations is out today. This is the last of the ebooks before they are collected into The Frostgrave Folio next year.

Arcane Locations includes three, unconnected scenarios, all set in specific famous locations in The Frozen City. The goal was to take advantage of the 'anything goes' setting of a ruined magical city to create some really different miniature gaming set-ups. I do warn that one of the scenarios requires making a very specific piece of terrain...

Also included are some new options for wizards to add to their bases. I mean what kind of wizard base is complete without a magic scroll case?

So, it's available today for the low price of £2.99 / $3.99 from

RPGNow

Osprey Publishing

Amazon

Quill

As far as writing goes, I'm not usually an envious guy. I'm proud of my own successes and happy for the success of others; but every so often something comes along that is so creative that I really wish that I had created it. (For example, I really wish I had written the story of Monsters Inc.!)

Recently, I had that experience with a little game called Quill: A Letter-Writing Roleplaying Game for a Single Player. In all my decades of gaming, I've never encountered anything quite like it. It's part game/part creative writing exercise. Essentially, the player creates a character who has three skills: penmanship, language, and heart. Then, the player picks a 'scenario'. Each scenario challenges the player to write a letter. It gives the specifics of the recipient and what the player hopes to gain by writing. Each scenario also includes a list of words that the player gains points by including in the letter, there are both common words and more poetic words. Whenever a player wants to use one of the words, he must roll to see if he uses the more common or more poetic word. The skills give him bonuses to certain rolls. And that's about it really. At the end of the letter, the player counts up how many points he has scored and checks the chart to see what kind of reception his letter received.

It is wonderfully simple, and yet endlessly creative. 

I am very tempted to ask the creator if I can write a few Quill: Frostgrave scenarios. How much fun would it be to have your wizard writing to some far off mage asking for help or advice on a potion or particularly tricky summoning? There are just so many possibilities.

Wonderfully, the PDF for the game is available on RPGNow selling as 'Pay What You Want'. I paid $2, but frankly it is worth more than that. I might just have to go back and pick up the expansion Quill: Coal and Parchment, which apparently takes your letter writing underground! (Letter writing form the Breeding Pits anyone?)

Highly Recommended.

The Frostgrave Folio

Although Forgotten Pacts is next up for Frostgrave, I thought people might enjoy a look at the cover for the first supplement for 2017! The Frostgrave Folio collects all of the previously released ebook mini-supplements along with a new mini campaign and presents them in print for the first time! 

Frostgrave Magazine Articles

For all of you Frostgrave completists out there, issue 6 of Table Top Gaming Magazine includes an exclusive Frostgrave scenario (written by yours truly) called 'The Failed Breed'. It is a two-player scenario, set down in the breeding pits and includes a new monster, the barbed-thrasher.

The last time I included a scenario in TTG Magazine the issue sold out very quickly (I'm not saying that was the reason, but I won't argue against it either...), so if you want one, it is probably best not to wait around. I think the magazine goes on sale in a couple of days. Alternatively, you can order a copy direct from their website.  Electronic editions are also available.

Also now available is issue 86 of Wargames: Soldiers and Strategy, which includes 'The Warriors of Athena', my little solo wargame of Greek Mythology which uses the Frostgrave core system.

It's just a coincidence that both of these articles are coming out at the same time as I wrote them months apart. I hope people enjoy them!

Brief Banana Update

It has now been just under a month and a half since I set myself the 50 Banana Challenge, and I am disappointed to announce that I have only managed to eat 14 bananas. Partly this is a result of baby chaos, but mostly it comes from the difficulty in keeping bananas in stock in the house. I turns out that my wife and daughter really like bananas so they just keep disappearing!

Despite this, the experiment is already yielding results. I really had to choke down the first two bananas; the texture was just so disagreeable to me, but after about the third, this just kind of went away. It's not the greatest food texture in the world, but it ain't that bad. I'm still not a huge fan of the flavour, but I don't hate it. So, I suspect the remaining 36 will fall soon enough.

I have also discovered two other important things. 1) Bananas are really cheap. I mean really cheap. I'm sure this won't come as news to most people, but I just never realised how inexpensive bananas were compared to most other (admittedly tastier) fruit. 2) Bananas are great for filling up an empty stomach. After my 8.5 mile cycle to work, I'm often ravenously hungry, and I haven't found anything else this side of a bacon sandwich that satisfies that hunger like a banana.

Finally, for those that are considering making more of bananas in their own lives, I have to recommend banana armour. My wife bought this silly looking thing many years ago. It really is great for keeping your banana safe on the move. The last thing I want when I get to work is a battered and bruised banana - this sucker really does keep them safe. Also, in the years my wife has been using it, she has found a grand total of 1 banana that didn't fit in it.  Recommended!

Frostgrave Treasure Tokens

Over the last year, Frostgrave has received a lot of accolades, won several awards, and generally been considered ‘a hit’ in wargaming terms. As the author, I have received the lion’s share of the credit, but, in truth, there are a huge number of people that have been involved in this success. Today, I wanted to thank a few people who I believe have played a role in making the game popular despite having no financial stake in its success nor any personal connection to me.

In recognition of their work, I want to present these people with a ‘Frostgrave Treasure Token’! This is really nothing more than the little image seen here, but I hope it will be received in the spirit it is given. All of these people have presented Frostgrave in videos, on a blog, or on a forum with an infectious enthusiasm that has certainly spread interest in the game.

So, without further ado, I would like to award the first five Frostgrave Treasure Tokens to…

Ash at Guerrilla Miniature Games

If wargaming ever goes mainstream and ESPN decides it needs a regular wargaming television show, I have little doubt that they will hire Ash to host it. His enthusiasm for the hobby seems to pour out of the screen in a way that makes me want to get on a plane and fly to Canada just so I can roll a few dice at his gamer co-op!

Owen at Gaming with the Cooler

Owen and Ash operate out of the same studio and often appear in one another’s videos. In contrast to Ash’s boundless enthusiasm, Owen is a more deadpan, tell-it-like-it-is presenter. He clearly has a knack for rules, and will happily use the rules to his advantage, but doesn’t let power-gaming spoil a good time. Owen was also nice enough to come say hi at Adepticon last year!

Harry on Lead Adventure Forum

When I first started work on Frostgrave, I never really imagined the kind of tables people would produce to play the game. I just thought of the game in my own, rather simple, terrain terms. Then along came Harry. Harry produce the first Frostgrave table I had seen that caused my jaw to drop. His long thread on the Lead Adventure Forum is an inspiration for anyone who wants to make a great looking gaming table. To my mind, it is still one of the best looking Frostgrave set-ups I have seen.

Tim of Tim’s Miniature Wargaming Blog

There is nothing particularly flashy about Tim’s blog or his gaming tables; however, he has consistently presented Frostgrave in such a wonderful spirit that I always love when he talks about the game. I love how he takes the game and tailors it to those who are playing. I love that he uses the game to bring his family together. It was always my hope that people would use the rules as a starting point for their own creativity, and I think Tim has been one of the best examples of that philosophy.

John, Founder of Frostgrave: Fantasy Wargames in the Frozen City Facebook Group

Before John set up the Frostgrave Facebook Group, I hadn’t given much thought to the role social media would play in the success of the game. Today, I would say that his Facebook group is the single most important connection point for Frostgrave players around the world. Over the last year, John has watched over the group as it has grown to more than 5,200 members and helped make it a fun, safe, enthusiastic place to come, talk about Frostgrave, and see some of the cool work being done by other gamers.

Many thanks to these five! I hope they will digitally wear their Frostgrave Treasure Token with pride!