Of Gods And Mortals: Mythological Wargame Rules (2013) Board Game

Of Gods And Mortals: Mythological Wargame Rules is a tabletop game released in 2013 by Osprey Publishing. It allows players to control armies of mythological creatures and gods from various ancient pantheons. The game combines elements of strategy, mythology, and miniatures to create an immersive gaming experience.

Game Components of Of Gods And Mortals: Mythological Wargame Rules

Rulebook: Contains the game rules, army lists, and scenarios.

Miniatures: Players use models representing gods, legends (priests, demigods, heroes, monsters), and mortals (infantry, cavalry).

Dice: Used for resolving combat, tracking faith levels, and determining outcomes.

Terrain and Table: A small table (3′ x 3′ or 4′ x 4′) and terrain pieces to set up the battlefield.

Character Sheets and Resources: Available for download, including sheets for characters, bonus adventures, and errata.

How To Setup Of Gods And Mortals: Mythological Wargame Rules

To set up the game, each player selects a god, 1-3 legends, and 10 to 20 mortal troops. The game is scalable, but a typical setup involves about 16 to 20 figures per player on a small table. Models are singly-based for easy removal of casualties, while mortals are arranged in close-order or open-order units on trays for efficient movement. The battlefield is set up with terrain pieces, and the faith level of each warband is tracked with dice at the side of the table.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Gods and Legends: Each player controls a god and 1-3 legends, which provide special abilities and powers.

Mortal Troops: Mortals are divided into close-order and open-order units and are more effective against other mortals.

Faith Mechanic: The faith level of the warband, tracked with dice, affects the power of the god and the morale of the mortals.

Combat Mechanics: Combat between gods uses a colored dice mechanic, while combat between mortals and legends uses opposed die rolls plus modifiers.

Oaths and Boasts: Heroes can swear oaths or boast about their intentions, providing morale bonuses if fulfilled.

Game Objective: The objective is to defeat the opponent’s god by reducing their faith level to zero or eliminating their mortal troops.

Player Experience

Playing Of Gods and Mortals is an engaging and strategic experience. The game requires players to balance their limited resources and make tactical decisions to outguess their opponents. The interdependence between gods, legends, and mortals adds a layer of complexity and realism to the game. With games typically lasting under an hour, it is a quick and fun experience that can be expanded with additional factions and scenarios.

Pros

Scalable: Games can be set up with varying numbers of figures and table sizes.

Fast-paced: Typical games last under an hour.

Strategic Depth: Requires balancing resources and making tactical decisions.

Variety: Includes multiple factions (Greco-Roman, Egyptian, Norse, Celts, etc.) and the ability to customize figures from mythology.

Expansive: New armies and scenarios can be added via free PDF add-ons.

Cons

Complexity: While the rules are described as fast and convenient, the interdependence between gods, legends, and mortals can be complex for new players.

Miniature Requirement: Players need to have or acquire miniatures representing the various characters and troops.

Space: Though the game can be played on a small table, setting up the terrain and arranging the miniatures requires some space.

Personal Thoughts on Of Gods And Mortals: Mythological Wargame Rules

Of Gods and Mortals is ideal for fans of mythology and skirmish-level wargaming. It offers a unique blend of strategy and narrative, making it appealing to players who enjoy tactical battles and mythological themes. The game’s scalability and expandability ensure that it remains fresh and engaging over multiple plays. However, it may not be the best fit for players looking for a very simple or introductory wargame due to its complex interactions between different unit types.

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