I'm new to the forums and to Fantasy Flight Games in general and thought I'd introduce myself and list out the reasons why BoW is currently shipping out to me right now! *cackles with sinister glee*
(please feel free to add your own reasons! I'd love to read them.)
I'm not a board gamer really, rather I was once a miniature wargamer before it just became too expensive and too much trouble given how rarely I got a chance to play. Instead I had switched over to PC games to get my fix (primarily World of Warcraft and Starcraft 2 at this time). Electronic games have always been a passion of mine but after about five years of just electronic games I had come to find myself missing sitting around the table and rolling the dice as well. Just geeking out while hanging out face-to-face.
And so it hit me... I really needed to find SOMETHING to play on the tabletop.
I pondered over what I would be looking for.
-For many years I had played BattleTech and had loved the setting and the idea of a board game/wargame hybrid. However the rules were too cumbersome for me to love the game itself, the games just faaaaaar too long, and I generally prefer fantasy when I have a choice. A lighter, faster playing and streamlined boardgame/wargame with hexes and terrain tiles in a serious fantasy setting would be my ideal game I thought.
(Yeaaaaah. I had no idea Battles of Westeros existed at all and my ideal game describes it pretty closely.)
-Like BattleTech I hoped there would be no need to build terrain if I didn't wish to.
-Larger forces in games that would fit on a modest sized kitchen table.
-a 2 player game that allowed for the occasional 4 player match.
-Reasonably priced.
-Painting optional
And so I began my research. I was thrilled to discover the Command & Colors genre of games. Not only was there games similiar to what I was looking for but there was an entire genre with games in many settings. My thanks go out to Richard Bord for developing the system that proved so adapatable and also inspired games by others as well.
I researched them all but the answer never seemed in doubt. My heart was with Battles of Westeros. Like all Commands & Colors games it met the general criteria above and was also a fantasy setting but what put it ahead of the other games in the genre were:
-I'm a big fan of A Song of Fire and Ice but more importantly those books are practically a fantasy version of BattleTech, but better written, and with more memorable characters. I love both serious and more whimsical fantasy but there's an epicness to the setting of Westeros that beats out something like BattleLore. One just has to look at the cover, watch any number of musical/art YouTube videos, or read the books themselves to get in the proper mood.
-As opposed to BattleLore I like that the factions come in different colors and that the banners are to specific houses rather than generic pennents vs flags. I want to see Lannister and Stark Banners on the field in all their glory! This makes painting optional for me.
-BoW has no command corridors, yay! It just seems too far into the board game area for me. I haven't played BattleLore or Memoir '44 yet so I can't say for sure but it just doesn't sound fun to me.
-The commanders sound like a great way of adding to the depth of the game.
-Unlike Memoir '44 the units are specific units. Not "tank, infantry, artillery". A lot more room for expansions it seems to me and far more varied play if the game survives long enough. This appeals to the wargamer in me.
-Though the BoW does have an expensive intro you do get a lot of stuff and the expansions are only $20 on Amazon. That seems very reasonable to me especially given they only come out every couple of months. And if you get them all you can play so many factions that I think will be very varied as time goes on. Far more variety in the end than buying a single army for a traditional wargame and for far less money.
-BoW, from what I've read, seems like it fits into that "sweet spot" for me. Memoir '44 is too much a board game, and Tides of Iron is too much a wargame. I've always been a fan of streamlined rules and depth of tactics. It really sounds like BoW will have that. Which is great! I always thought BattleTech was depth in rules but streamlined in tactics.
-BoW seems to have much better balanced and varied scenarios than BattleLore. Memoir '44 does have the Campaign Book though which looks awesome. I REALLY hope BoW will get a similar campaign book one day (not just a scenario book!). I think it's the only thing in from another Command & Colors I'm going to feel I'm missing out on.
-Skirmish cards! Nice to get the Call to Arms in the base game. Components wise this is a small investment for FFG's but replayabilty wise it's huge.
It's strange... I LONGED for that streamlined, fantasy BattleTech for YEARS and out of nowhere I go looking for a tabletop game and almost the first link I clicked on led me to Battles of Westeros. I'm super excited about it and can't wait till it shows up! I hope it's as good as it looks.
A big shoutout to Tom Vassel's review and Drakkenstrike's components breakdown on YouTube for BoW which pushed me over the edge into buying this game.
I'll be back with my impressions on the game (and the Wardens of the West which I also ordered) when they arrive! I have a feeling I'm here to stay as I don't tend to go from game to game... but rather dig in and really explore and experience one or two games. I played BattleTech almost exclusively for 5 years for example (eventually becoming a playtester and mod for their official forums for a time) and also delved into WoW for 5 years (and counting!) becoming a major part of building the RP'ing community on my server there.
Hopefully my love of reading my own text will help liven this forum up a bit. Till then happy gaming in Westeros!
I never considered BT & BoW related until your post but I see your reasoning.Perhaps the Wildlings can be the Clans
I've had BL & other C&C Games for years but BoW was a must buy as I'm a big Westeros fan.
I still have to paint the figs & as FFG keeps the Expansions coming I just get more & more backed up.I'm working on giving each Unit a minor House identy just for the Fluff of it.
