Call to Arms


lifted without permission from the DOW Battlelore fourm, hope no one minds....

By now, many of you BattleLore fans have no doubt experimented with other ways to use the Deployment Card sets as presented in Call to Arms. While both the Impromptu and Organized Mode, will provide many hours of fun, these two methods really only scratch the surface of many possible alternatives.

Before I get into a few of my game groups favorites, I would, however, like to take a moment and share a few thoughts about the design philosophy behind the Deployment Card sets and Specialist cards.

How many of you have gone to play in a friendly game or tournament where a point system was used to set up your forces prior to the battle, only to find your opponent has mini-maxed the point system (some call it cheese) so that the whole game session was really not much fun? By design the chief focus and main intent of the Deployment Card system was to reduce this sort of cheesy experience. It is our belief, that the deployment decks go a long way to provide players with an almost endless variety of alternate ways to set up an adventure, while still providing an equal and balance setting.

In regard to Specialist cards? during competitive play or tournaments, we do recommend the number of Specialist cards used by a player be limited to two. However, for friendly face-to-face friendly style games players can agree to a greater number prior to the start of the adventure. The main focus of the Specialist cards was to give players the opportunity to use their new units from expansions, yet prevent a situation that would throw off or unbalance an adventure in favor of the wealthiest player.

Finally, if you own several of the expansions already released, you may now have ample units to field a complete Dwarf or Goblin army. Be assured that we will release Deployment sets that let you take full advantage of these.

Lets return to the main purpose of this post? as stated at the start, I want to share a few of my game groups favorite alternative ways to use the Deployment Card sets. I do hope you will join in the discussion with your own thoughts and ideas.

(1) Lightning Mode
After the battlefield is selected and terrain hexes are placed, the Pennant player selects a set of deployment cards, shuffles the seven cards in the set and deals one card face up in each battlefield section and one as a reserve. The Standard player also selects a set, shuffles the cards and deals one card face up in each battlefield section and one as a reserve. Each player then, Deploys his Guards, Scout ahead, Call the Reserves, Call the War Council and Call the Specialists.

Although the Lighting Mode may not be a favorite for those who want some degree of control, it benefits include an extremely quick set up, no need for Feudal Levy tokens and our group has always enjoyed the challenge presented by this shuffle and deal form of deployment.

(2) Strategic Plan Mode
After the battlefield is selected and terrain hexes are placed, the Pennant player selects any four cards from the three Pennant Deployment Card sets and places one card face down in each section of the battlefield and holds one as a reserve. The Standard player selects any four cards from the three Standard Deployment Card sets and places one card face down in each section of the battlefield and holds one as a reserve. Each player then, Deploys his Guards, Scout ahead, Call the Reserves, Set War Council and Call the Specialists.

This Strategic Plan Mode works best when players have time prior to the adventure to study the field of battle and all possible deployment options. We usually select a scenario and assign players their camp, Standard or Pennant, at the end of a game session so there is ample time before the next session for planning.

In the Strategic Plan Mode there is a good chance that you may require Feudal Levy tokens. However, because most guys in our group have their own copy of BattleLore, our house rule is that if a player comes to the game and has selected one or more units that he cannot field from his base game or expansions, the unit is lost. This tends to force players to spend some time and thought before the game session.

(3) All Mercenaries Mode
The All Mercenaries Mode is a slight variation on Strategic Plan Mode above? Shuffle all the Deployment cards and deal 7 cards to each player. From the 7 cards each player selects 4 cards that he will bring to the battle. Once again make sure there is ample time to review and plan the best deployments onto the selected battlefield prior to the adventure.

(4) Just Plain Evil Mode
The Just Plain Evil Mode is a slight variation on both the Strategic Plan Mode and All Mercenaries Mode above? Shuffle all the Deployment cards and deal 7 cards to each player. From the 7 cards each player selects 4 cards that he will give to his opponent right before the battle. After receiving the four Deployment cards selected by your opponent, you choose which section to play each card and which card will be held as your reserve. Once again make sure there is ample time to review and plan the worst possible deployment cards for your opponent prior to the adventure.

For both Mode 3 and 4 there is also a good chance that you may require Feudal Levy tokens.

Enjoy!
Richard Borg



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