Well let's start by making a little clarification: Rangers of Shadow Deep is not a new game ... it is a game that came out a couple of years ago and is also an "evolution" (more or less) of another previous game, Frostgrave, which shares many similarities (author, game system ...)
It is based on skirmish battles between a few miniatures on small tables, moving away from the idea that many people has of miniature wargames with huge tables covered with armies with hundreds of figures painted...
With this game we can play at the kitchen table with a few miniatures, which makes it very affordable for anyone who starts in the hobby.
(imagen de Chicago skirmish wargames)
The setting, without going into much more depth, well, it is a generic fantasy setting in which there is a fantasy kingdom that is being attacked by (generic) evil and that our heroes (the rangers) must defend ...
Something that we have already seen in 1000 games of wargames, RPG, strategy, video games ... nothing new, right?
So, my friends, let's recap what we are doing here ...
You may be wondering why we make a review of a game that is not new, has a fairly simple and not innovative system, whose setting is a quite generic and common ...
Well, this game is one of the few that can be considered that it is really made to be played alone or cooperatively and it is the closer look to role-playing games made by a wargame.
What is usually the problem of most games that we know so far is that the other games are basically designed to face against another opponent, where you put your units here, I put mine there and let's beat the crap ou... huh ... sorry ... I didn't mean that... I meant that the usual games are designed to fight symmetrically forces against other player / s, perhaps with some light story or background plot, but little more ...
And that's where this game stands out above any other of its genre.
We really are facing the closest thing to a role-playing game with miniatures.
In this game, the player or players play on the same side fighting against the enemy (evil) that is governed by some sort of rules or artificial intelligence that makes the enemy autonomous, and not only that, but the game is developed through stories, one shot games or long campaigns in which you are specified in each game how the table should be arranged, where the heroes deploy, where the enemies are, which are the victory conditions, possible random events, the story that underlies the game ... and the story behind each game is not a mere excuse but is a real plot itself, making each game completely different from the previous one, and in the campaigns it acts as a common thread creating an authentic story.
If to this richness in the stories that make the game so interesting and that when a game ends, what you really want to do is play another one, we add that the characters you play with advance through experience points, as if it were a role-playing game, there comes a time when your characters improve and you see them "grow", the time comes when "they are yours" ... it is not a miniature that you move across a board and fight until you die...
You are playing with a character with whom you may already have been playing several games... I have to admit that in some games I have even ran away from combat seeing that my ranger could be killed, when playing a normal game I would have fought to the end because it's just one more miniature ...
If you've ever played dungeon and dragons, the lord of the rings, stormbringer, runequest, or any fantasy RPG ... I have good news to tell you: this is definitely your game.
Ok ... why then do we review a game that is not exactly new? Well, let's say that because it can contribute a lot to the world of miniature wargames.
The game has a fairly simple game system, basically you roll a die, add your skill or characteristic and see if you pass the difficulty that you have to overcome... Easy.
It is a very simple system, based on action system of two actions per turn in which you can move, shoot, open locks or any type of action ...
The system itself does not have much to be said either because it is a fairly basic system... But don't see it as a drawback, in fact perhaps that is another of its advantages: it is a very easy game get playing.
In addition, the fact of this simplicity makes it a very useful resource to introduce the children to the world of role-playing and fantasy games.
The game has a fairly simple game system, basically you roll a die, add your skill or characteristic and see if you pass the difficulty that you have to overcome... Easy.
It is a very simple system, based on action system of two actions per turn in which you can move, shoot, open locks or any type of action ...
The system itself does not have much to be said either because it is a fairly basic system... But don't see it as a drawback, in fact perhaps that is another of its advantages: it is a very easy game get playing.
In addition, the fact of this simplicity makes it a very useful resource to introduce the children to the world of role-playing and fantasy games.
The setting, without going into much more depth, well, it is a generic fantasy setting in which there is a fantasy kingdom that is being attacked by (generic) evil and that our heroes (the rangers) must defend ...
Something that we have already seen in 1000 games of wargames, RPG, strategy, video games ... nothing new, right?
So, my friends, let's recap what we are doing here ...
You may be wondering why we make a review of a game that is not new, has a fairly simple and not innovative system, whose setting is a quite generic and common ...
Well, this game is one of the few that can be considered that it is really made to be played alone or cooperatively and it is the closer look to role-playing games made by a wargame.
What is usually the problem of most games that we know so far is that the other games are basically designed to face against another opponent, where you put your units here, I put mine there and let's beat the crap ou... huh ... sorry ... I didn't mean that... I meant that the usual games are designed to fight symmetrically forces against other player / s, perhaps with some light story or background plot, but little more ...
And that's where this game stands out above any other of its genre.
We really are facing the closest thing to a role-playing game with miniatures.
In this game, the player or players play on the same side fighting against the enemy (evil) that is governed by some sort of rules or artificial intelligence that makes the enemy autonomous, and not only that, but the game is developed through stories, one shot games or long campaigns in which you are specified in each game how the table should be arranged, where the heroes deploy, where the enemies are, which are the victory conditions, possible random events, the story that underlies the game ... and the story behind each game is not a mere excuse but is a real plot itself, making each game completely different from the previous one, and in the campaigns it acts as a common thread creating an authentic story.
If to this richness in the stories that make the game so interesting and that when a game ends, what you really want to do is play another one, we add that the characters you play with advance through experience points, as if it were a role-playing game, there comes a time when your characters improve and you see them "grow", the time comes when "they are yours" ... it is not a miniature that you move across a board and fight until you die...
You are playing with a character with whom you may already have been playing several games... I have to admit that in some games I have even ran away from combat seeing that my ranger could be killed, when playing a normal game I would have fought to the end because it's just one more miniature ...
If you've ever played dungeon and dragons, the lord of the rings, stormbringer, runequest, or any fantasy RPG ... I have good news to tell you: this is definitely your game.
On a board with miniatures and scenery you will have the same sensations (with obvious limitations) as playing role-playing games with your friends and what is more important and I will stress it again since it is not something very common in miniature games nowadays it is the possibility of playing solo or cooperatively with friends without any problem and having a totally satisfactory experience.
In case you were missing some kind of incentive, the game is available in digital version (pdf) at a fairly affordable price, including in the core rules, the setting and a good number of games (including a campaign).
It also has a growing number of supplements that, although they do not extend the game system (it does not need it either), have a lot of interesting games to play.
In case you were missing some kind of incentive, the game is available in digital version (pdf) at a fairly affordable price, including in the core rules, the setting and a good number of games (including a campaign).
It also has a growing number of supplements that, although they do not extend the game system (it does not need it either), have a lot of interesting games to play.
You are still here?
You haven't decided yet, have you?
Another factor to take into account about this game is that it is having quite a lot of acceptance among gamers, which has resulted in a fairly active community that is generating quite a few games made by themselves (offered to the rest of the community).
You haven't decided yet, have you?
Another factor to take into account about this game is that it is having quite a lot of acceptance among gamers, which has resulted in a fairly active community that is generating quite a few games made by themselves (offered to the rest of the community).
And it is that in addition to being making games, home rules or modifications it has a quite interesting aspect that is that of the versions or reskins ...
Since the strength of this game lies in the simplicity of its rule set (which, I repeat, is a VERY positive factor) and in the stories it tells, there are several fans of this game who are adapting the system of game and stories to other settings ...
There are already several versions: one of The Lord of the Rings, another of Star Wars, currently there is another one in process adapting it to a Victorian Gothic setting and one I am doing myself ... which is to set the Rangers of Shadow Deep in a World War II setting with a supernatural touch (as in Acthung Cthulhu, Konflikt 47, Weird Wars, Secrets of the Third Reich ...)
I hope this article has helped you to decide to give this game a try, it will not disappoint you.
And I wil keep you informed on how this version of World War II for the Rangers of Shadow Deep progresses.
Since the strength of this game lies in the simplicity of its rule set (which, I repeat, is a VERY positive factor) and in the stories it tells, there are several fans of this game who are adapting the system of game and stories to other settings ...
There are already several versions: one of The Lord of the Rings, another of Star Wars, currently there is another one in process adapting it to a Victorian Gothic setting and one I am doing myself ... which is to set the Rangers of Shadow Deep in a World War II setting with a supernatural touch (as in Acthung Cthulhu, Konflikt 47, Weird Wars, Secrets of the Third Reich ...)
I hope this article has helped you to decide to give this game a try, it will not disappoint you.
And I wil keep you informed on how this version of World War II for the Rangers of Shadow Deep progresses.
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