writes:Bid for Victory!
BattleSworn is a simple set of rules for fantasy skirmish actions. Using a handful of miniatures in any scale and six-sided dice, two players can bring a game to a conclusion in around one hour. Table size is irrelevant. Distances are determined by terrain and by the position of enemies: no inches, no centimeters, no measuring sticks.
BattleSworn is not your typical "I go, you go" system. The ebb-and-flow of initiative is represented by a bidding mechanic. Players bid for initiative and reveal their bids at the same time. The lowest bidder acts first, with as many characters as the number of his bid. The highest bidder reacts with as many characters as the difference between bids.
Combat uses the same mechanic. Combatants roll a number of dice equal to the amount bid. Lower bids are resolved before higher bids. This forces players to take decisions: do I attack fast, sacrificing accuracy and power for speed, or do I let my opponent go first to hit him later with a harder blow?
Character profiles are not encumbered with detailed statistics. They are defined by 14 classes (Fighter, Shooter, Sniper, Tank, Brute, Leader, Rogue, Warmage, Sorcerer, Healer, Cavalry, Flyer, Arquebusier, Rabble) each with its special traits. This allows you to play with minimal preparation.
This is not a game for detail-oriented players or power-players.
BattleSworn includes two sample scenarios, a mini-bestiary, 28 sample forces, 15 spells, guidelines to adapt the rules to other genres, and many pages of play examples and FAQs.
This is a stand-alone game. No other purchases are necessary.
44 trade-size full-color pages, including table of contents, cover, play sheet, and a one-page play summary.
The download includes a separate PDF with printable cards for spells, and a spreadsheet to help you build your force.
Not based on the Song of Blades engine or any other game by Ganesha Games.
A first review is available here.
The game can be purchased as a $8 USD PDF here.