"SPQR" Topic

Has anyone actually played this game? Figures look neat, and I'm assuming can be used for other rules.
thanks
JM

Figures can be used for any rules.

The figures are no different from those released earlier for Hail Caesar.

I believe that they are using a new material called "Warlord Resin" on a lot of the new SPQR figures.

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Looks like another GREAT game from Warlord Games:

link

Reminds me of that metal called unobtainium.

I fancy this one myself.

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Don't forget this one:

TMP link

In reading the SPQR rules, one thing that stood out for me is the measuring first before declaring a move/shooting/etc.

These are not the same rules as Bolt Action and Warlords of Nowhere.

These are more of a cross between a skirmish game mixed with RPG/campaign elements that allow your "warband" to gain experience (XP) and simplified cover/range modifiers (short/long range and light/heavy cover).

There are basic and "advanced" rules.

Shields do not help with your armour class (AC) (ie leather armour is +1, chainmail is +3). They only help with parrying abilities. (small shield and buckler are "parry" advanced rule and large shield is "parry 2" advanced rule (p19)).

As your hero levels up, they gain "talents", 2 at Level 1 and one talent each level after.

You level up by gaining XP. (looks like they max out at Lvl 9 – does this mean an ASPQR (Advanced Dungeons … I mean Advanced SPQR game will be released in the future?)

Hero's, when reduced to 0 hit points, then roll two d6 and the hero only dies on a roll of 12. (+2 to the roll if the final blow is dealt by an enemy hero)

There are a lot of scenarios in the rule book. Scenarios have historical heroes listed in them (ie Vercingetorix is Level 7 with the following talents Careless Charge, Dirty Fighting, Divine Luck, Light Foot, Piercing Thrust, Shield Bash, Thundering Charge, Voice of Command and has
Equipment: Chainmail Shirt, Large Shield, Sword").

I do not like the use of the word "minion" for rank and file. They also do not know how the difference between singular and plural … English teachers seem to be very uneducated in the land of Nottingham-shire …

So this is more fantasy than historic?

I did not see anything fantasy based in the rulebook.

It is a gaming system that uses rpg elements in an historical setting(s).

Basically, it is designed to be a campaign type game where you have characters (heroes) that develop and advance as you continue to play.

You have control over the arms and armour of your "warband". So, if you are playing one scenario you may want more cavalry than in another or even change the weaponry/armour of your men you are leading into battle, so more archers/slingers than the last encounter.

Of course I could be wrong …

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That's what I meant by fantasy. I thought it odd the Druid could affect the stats of the opposing team but put it down to a game mechanic that represented something else like the Druid chanting etc and so unnerving a character on the other side that they didn't perform their best.

I was mainly meaning the non-historical sense of this rather than magic or supernatural beings. Romans didn't have pilum squads and gladius squads. The same guys did both. They're wanting to leave space for groups to do whatever but if they're going to release with Romans (and they're calling the game SPQR) then at least give a semblance of the way the ancients fought.

Can your pilum squad cast their weapons then fight with swords?

On a side note I saw something on pilum finds which suggests that some of them had tempered shafts so could have been used as light spears rather than just javelins.

Maybe the pilum sections have semi-auto or repeating pilum?

Now, in all fairness, I'm pretty sure the "Sword of the Underworld" (+1?) must be a real historical item that can/has been verified …

Here, this explains it:

"The warband is led by Balcaldur, a reclusive hermit who believes he is the mortal avatar of Cernunnos. His gigantic sword is forged from meteoric iron and capable of splitting a man from head to tail with a single strike."

From: link

It would make more sense for the weapon to be a rhomphaia as that fits the era better than a two handed sword. Despite Warlord's Celtic warriors box set having half the warriors without shields, the Celts weren't fantasy barbarians that charged into battle with just weapons in their hands. One of their defining attributes in classical art is their shield.

Also Cernunnos wasn't a god of war, he was a god of prosperity including commerce. Taranis was a major war god, his symbol was the cartwheel.

Maybe they should a figure wielding a +1 cart wheel of doom!

Maybe they are hoping some type of crossover from Warhammer players …

So long as it's a flaming cartwheel of doom. The lack of skulls would confuse Warhammer players though.

Having picked the rules up there seems to be some issues with editing and playtesting. The production quality is high, glossy lots of pics etc. The problems seem to be around how the heroes interact with units – there are no rules for heroes leading units to take hits for instance. Hero vs Hero is ok, unit v unit is ok, hero v unit is ok and vice versa, but there is a good page on how heroes can join and lead units but nothing on how they then act in melee, which rather defeats the point of the exercise. Following on from the debacle that was Cruel Seas Warlord are starting to get a reputation for this sort of thing.

I would say you should post your question on Warlord's Forum but given the lack of support all the other games (Test of Honour, Apocalpse Z, etc) have gotten from Warlord on there, it would be a waste of time…

What's the debacle with the "Cruel Seas" rules? I thought they were proving to be very popular.

When Cruel Seas was released there was a lot of confusion with rules, concern about missing parts, and outright disbelief that the rules had been proofread by someone who knew the English language. Warlord had a hard time correcting the problems. They still don't have a painting guide for some of the ships yet still churn out new ones.

If SPQR is a half baked mess it might be because it was written by Matt Sprange, he of Mongoose fame.

The first FAQ is out and it alone is not very clear. I think it will need an FAQ to itself.

Here is an example:

"Druid Blight – can multiple druids simply kill an
opposing hero by removing all his wounds using Blight?

Very tempted to say yes – having an entire cabal of druids after you is good cause to dig your own grave."

Very tempted to answer the question? That's not an answer!

Very tempted to say yes

Wow. I almost bought these on a whim today. Glad I held off.

#WaitingForClashOfSpears

Xin

Ordered it so I'll see for myself. At the very least the minis will be worth it and nice to have the archers in resin rather than metal.