A quick look at Oathmark

So I borrowed a copy of Oathmark from a friend as we’re always interested in a good fantasy game especially if it’s designed to allow freedom in force composition and background. As a note this isn’t going to be a review as such (some great comprehensive reviews on the actual game mechanics can be seen here and here) rather just some of my opinions having read through (but not yet played) it.

To start with it’s a nice looking set of rules, well laid out and easy to read. It has some beautiful artwork scattered throughout it (see above - reminds me of Paul Bonner in composition if not style) but noticeably whilst the game would be termed a rank and flank (massed units clashing in rank and file) the art work shows skirmishes where the combatants are intermixed, spilling over terrain features and fighting in whirling melees.

The game system is well written and presented in a straightforward manner. The basics of moving, fighting and shooting are covered with good, clear examples. There is a magic section with a range of spells and army lists for the races presented. The most interesting thing (for me) is the fact that you can freely mix races in your army that in many settings would be taboo. This is the great thing about not having a strict background to work from, whilst some people may not like the lack of structure it allows a very narrative and personal force to be built. Each race has a selection of generic options such as soldiers (light armour with hand weapons), warriors (as soldiers but with heavy armour), archers, line breakers (warriors with double handed weapons) and cavalry. They also have unique options such as specific monsters, war machines and the like. So whilst only humans have ogres in their parent list any race can take them if you want to because of the campaign system that comes in the form of a kingdom builder.

The kingdom map allowing your imagination to run wild and to create your own perfect fantasy kingdom.

The force you use in Oathmark is derived by the kingdom you build. The kingdom map is a series of concentric circles, the middle (usually) being your capital surrounded by two regions in the first ring, three in the second and four in the third. The outer ring is split into five areas or regions but is not initially filled in. You start by choosing a heartland for your kingdom from one of the presented races specific terrain lists, this is usually a race specific capital city which unlocks various options for troop choices in the game. Next you fill in the two regions surrounding it, unlocking more troop types (e.g. plains for human cavalry) and so on until you have filled all four of the rings. The good thing is that you don’t have to choose terrain (and thus troop types) from only one races terrain lists, as long as you meet the specified conditions you can choose whatever terrain you like and thus unlock any model choice you are interested in. It’s a neat little system (very similar to my friends idea and system we have used for campaign games). You can find a pdf of the kingdom creating rules here provided very helpfully before the games release by Osprey. It’s probably easier to let you read them rather than copy it out here.

An example army list provided by Osprey publishing to give you an idea of force size and points cost.

For me this is the best part of the whole book but that is also the problem I have with Oathmark. It just seems incredibly lightweight, you can’t change the armament of groups of models, some units are race specific (I realise the kingdom system works around this but things like only elves can have warhounds really niggle at me) and most troop options only vary by a stat point or two across the different races. I could be totally wrong and just be jumping to conclusions (the game is two years late after all so must have been carefully play tested and really honed to how the writer wants them) but I just think that upon reading the rules thoroughly there isn’t enough depth to the game for me personally. I’m not generally a fan of games that fall into the ‘beer and pretzels’ category of gaming having been burnt by Saga 1st ed (I spent ages making my vikings just to discover that generally there were only two options you wanted on the battle board and games were quite dull and predictable). I’m also dubious that there is already two add-ons announced for the game. Part of this may be just that in an era of huge numbers of game systems coming out in an almost constant stream I’m tired of buying into a rule set just to be sold additional books soon after, followed by a second edition and so on (then the few people who you do know that play it get bored and give up). It should be noted that the writer also wrote Frostgrave and Rangers of Shadow Deep both of which are great fun and very slick, competent games.

I know this all seems very negative and there is a reason for this (I’m not just trying to be a d#@k like it’s seems large parts of the net often are). I was really excited and looking forward to the release of Oathmark like many on the net and in popular forums. The problem is since it’s release I’ve only seen gushing, over excited reviews and comments about it. A lot of this, in my opinion, is the fact that the kingdom system is so refreshing (in that it doesn’t tell you what you can and can’t do with your army and model collection). I totally understand this but think that it has distracted many gamers from the meat and bones of the game. Again I haven’t played it yet and could be very wrong (I’ve only read the rules and a number of battle reports) and will attempt to get it to the table in the future, I just don’t think, at this point, it is really going to satisfy my need for a rank and flank game.

Anyone remember this? - quite the opposite to Oathmark and (in my experience) almost impossible to play. Maybe ignore everything I’ve written and just enjoy Oathmark’s simplicity in retrospect.

Enough of that. Let me restate that this is just my opinion. I’m often a masochist when it comes to gaming (Phoenix command is one of my favourite systems even if I can’t ever find anyone else patient enough to play it with me). Check out the actual reviews (by real people) I’ve linked to above, have a look at the kingdom generator pdf (maybe borrow it and adapt it to whatever game you currently play) and if you can, have a game of it with someone who’s already taken the plunge to see if it suits you, it may be exactly what you are looking for. Sadly this hobby is full of people who will tell you that you are doing “it” wrong. Ignore them, they generally aren’t actually having any fun anyway. If it makes you happy embrace it and roll some dice.

Stay safe and well,
BALM

Finecast and why it's awesome. And Samurai.

     Yes I actually wrote that. Finecast is awesome. This will make (what the internet tends to portray as at least ) a large group of people angry. It's ok though, listen to my reasons. I'm not talking about whether it's a suitable material for G'dub to use, whether it deforms or bends over time or in heat (I live in South Wales. It's a temperate rainforest at best except for the odd week of summer) or whether the casting quality is unsatisfactorily poor (not something I've personally experienced - everything I've dealt with has been minor cosmetic stuff). I mean as a sculptable resource.

     My AHQ peasant/poacher had been in a box of random scrap for a good 20+ years until half an hour with some finecast sprue furnished him anew with a mighty bow. It was simple and easy.

Poacher and (Chaos) Dwarf with new weapons and a new sense of purpose :)

     Here's an Empire Greatsword champion I picked up for 50p. His Flamberge was not only ridiculous to start with, it was bent all over the place. Quick snip, suitable bit of finecast sprue and half an hour and he was better than new. I know the blade is daft and a little oversized but it's the equivalent of the original and feels right. I may decide to reduce it further but it's unlikely. Nothing in Warhammer should be sensible in my mind. GW started to lose me when they moved away from the humour and tongue in cheek style of the Oldhammer I grew up with. Pictures aren't great as they are smart phone snaps but they are enough to get the idea.

A ridiculously big, almost spatulate blade just screams Warhammer and AHQ to me. Wondering monster of unknown make.

     Next up are a couple of 28mm samurai from Northstar's Ronin range and Perry miniatures. Once again the original blade or weapon was removed, a piece of finecast sprue cut to size roughly using clippers. I then drill a small hole (usually 0.8mm) into the centre of the piece and insert and glue in suitable brass rod. I then use file and a scalpel (in a scraping motion) to shape the piece. It takes a little time but is a therapeutic past time like whittling. I'm not totally sure about Finecast health issues regarding sanding (Forgeworld's is nasty) but always recommend doing it in an open, well ventilated space.

A Perry samurai who suffered in the great stairs incident of 2014. Perry's Katanas are much smaller than Northstar (often rightly so) so I increased it slightly to aid mixing.

A Northstar bandit who originally wielded a Kama (sickle). I removed it and used the handle of a Perry katana with a finecast blade to make him a little more fearsome.

     It's an easy and effective method for replacing damaged blades. With the addition of the the super glue and rod they are more resistant to bending and seem to be stronger overall (haven't broken them yet) than the original and it allows you to add some new weapons into the mix if your feeling creative.

     My 28mm samurai are all Perry or Northstar and I intend to use them just for skirmishes on a couple of small, purpose built boards. I have 25 armed and based chaps from traditional non-armoured (hakama wearing) retainers, various swordsmen, peasants, bandits (various states of dress and armour) and a few more waiting to be fettled. I replaced a few other weapons to add a bit of variety. I also wanted some Yari wielding miniatures so bought my first ever lot of wire spears from Perry miniatures (like an initiation ceremony into 'proper' wargaming). Brilliantly simple to fit and solid things. Good enough to draw blood at least and no bending, then re-bending ad infinitum. A Northstar bandit lost his Teppo (I don't want guns in my Japan) and gained a simply crafted Tetsubo (Big club) made of carved sprue and pro-create putty.

Fearsome and Yari appropriate wire spears and miniatures from Perry.

Out with the high tech Teppo in with the big bit of wood with iron rings. A truly deadly, crushing weapon that would need great coordinated skill (dai-sabake) to use.

A (perry) monk like fellow with a Bo staff. If you think a stick isn't much threat, think again. In trained and practiced hands it's a lethal and infinitely controllable weapon with an astounding reach.

     That's it really, the others are based but just as they come and so not interesting yet. They'll get packed in the move as I want to tackle some other 28mm painting first as a painting refresher, as traditional patterns are often complicated and I suspect will need patience. I'm going to check out the available 28mm appropriate scenery from Sarissa and 4Ground at Salute in April. Thank you for taking the time,

BALM.