rise of legends free pdf rulebook

110 Pages·2013·39.31 MB·English

rise of legends
free pdf rulebook
Credits
C
r
e by
André Schillo
d
&
i David Saunders
t
s
game design lead designer sculptors
André Schillo André Schillo Raffaele Stumpo
David Saunders Lukasz Krysa
graphic development Paul Deheleanu
rules designer & writer Nicolas Nguyen
André Schillo Yannick Hennebo
André Schillo Mohamed Ait-Mehdi
logos & iconography James Van Schaik
background development Martin Müller
Anne Geske
David Saunders Heike Weiskopf
terrain
André Schillo
art director Martin Müller
layout director Dirk Scheidemantel
André Schillo
André Schillo
André Schillo
concept artists
miniature painting
photographer
Santiago Iborra
Jose Antonio Hidalgo
David Saunders Peter Grusel
Martin Müller
André Schillo
André Schillo
editors
illustrators
Raoul Hippchen miniature casting
Ivan Gil Fabian Ries
Miniaturas Alemany
Santiago Iborra Martin Müller
Karl Richardson Ingo Gerhartz
proofreading
Florian Stitz
Erich Schreiner playtesters Raoul Hippchen
Annelie Kretschmar Fabian Ries
Ralf Fettkenheuer Christian Metz David Saunders
Artur Fast Martin Müller Irene McNulty
Juan Diaz Raoul Hippchen André Schillo
Nick Oroc Simon Hosseus
Fabian Ries
background consultants
Nico Bludau
lead writer
Dirk Scheidemantel Ingo Gerhartz
David Saunders Ingo Wolff Raoul Hippchen
www.megalith-games.com
Megalith Games Ltd. Product Code: MG-0001 EAN: 4250787100011
73 West Park Road
First Edition. Printed in Germany, September 2012.
Handcross
Haywards Heath ©2008-2012 Megalith Games Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
West Sussex All contents herein including Megalith Games Ltd.™, the Megalith Games Ltd.™ Logo,
RH17 6DN GODSLAYER®, Calydorn™, Ghorn™, places, things, and character names, factions, and their distinctive
UK. likenesses, all illustrations, images, graphics, logos, texts, design elements and photographs are
property of Megalith Games Ltd. and are either © copyrighted, ™ trademarked and/or ® registered by
2 [email protected] Megalith Games Ltd. 2008-2012 in the USA, Europe and other countries by law.
GODSLAYER® Rise of Legends
Table of Contents
Introduction 7 Game Terms 35 s
Welcome to Godslayer 8 General Terms 36 t
What is Godslayer? 8 Objects 36
The Game 8 Measurement 36 n
The World 9 Lead Range 36
A Game Overview 9 Being Within Ranges 36 e
Base Contact 37
About These Books 9
Lines 37 t
Content 9
Tests 37
Usage 10 Dice Rolls 37 n
Game Overview 13 Origin and Target Models 37
Resolving Attacks 37 o
How to get Started 14 Line of Sight 37
Game Requirements 14 Drawing Line of Sight 37 C
Equipment 14 Interposing Models and Objects 37
Miniatures 14 Sight Values 38
Dice 14 Drawing Line of Sight through Models 38
Tape Measure 14 Drawing Line of Sight through Objects 38 f
Profile Cards 15 Drawing Line of Sight and Elevated Positions 38
Card Protectors and Non-Permanent Markers 15 Line of Sight Obstruction 38 o
Paints 15 Action Tokens 40
Battlefield 15 Definition of Actions 40
An Opponent 15 What are Action Tokens? 40 e
Game Conventions 16 Action Token Pool 40
Dividing and Rounding 16 Generating Action Tokens 40 l
Disclosure 16 Spending Action Tokens 41
Rules Conventions 16 Tracking Action Tokens 41 b
Understanding Rules 16
The Game 43 a
Rules Priority 16
Resolving Rules Issues 16 Starting a Game 44 T
Preparing the Battlefield 44
Models 19
Table Sides 44
Types of Models 20 Determining the Starting Player (Priority Roll) 45
Warbands 20 Setup and Deployment 45
Models & Units 20 Advanced Deployment 45
Model Affiliation 20 Secret Deployment 46
Warlords 20 Game Turns and Game Rounds 47
Characters 21
Activations 49
Units 21
Creatures 21 Activating models 50
War-Machines 22 Standard Activations 50
Attachments 22 Activations per Turn 50
Spellcasters 22 Starting Activation 50
Model Profiles 23 Activating Individual Models 50
Statistics 23 Activating Units 50
Profile Cards 23 Remaining Activations 51
Model Attributes 25 Passing Activations 51
Model Bases 25 Tracking Activations 51
Passive Activations 51
Warband Composition 27
Abilities & Tactics 53
Creating a Warband 28
Battle Level 28 Abilities 54
Choosing Models and Composing the Warband 28 Abilities 54
Deployment Limit 29 Weapon Abilities 54
Warlords 29 Tactics 54
Unit Composition 29 Tactics and their Classifications 54
Items 30 Performing, Ordering and Receiving Tactics 55
Spells 31 Limitations of Tactics 56
Equipping Spells 32 Tactic Durations 56
Variable Tactic ACT Costs 56
Special Talents 56
Moving & Engaging Models 59
Movement 60
Moving Models 60
Unit Formation 60
Unit Models Out Of Formation 61
Exhaustion Limit 61
Falling 61
Leaving the Battlefield 61
Engaging Models 62
How to Engage Models 62
Types of Charges 63
Moving Chargers 64
Successful and Failed Charges 64
Charge Attacks 64
Moving into Close Combat 65
Slay Movement 65
3
GODSLAYER® Rise of Legends
Table of Contents
Combat & Magic 67 Special Effects 95
T Melee 68 Channelling 96
Models in Melee & Melee Range 68 Channelling Models 96
a Melee Range Benefits 68 Channelling Effects 96
Melee & Elevated Models 68 Area of Effect 97
b Attackers and Defenders 69 What is an Area of Effect? 97
Fighting in Melee 69 Determining Areas of Effect 97
l Melee Attack Roll 70 Affected Models 97
Determining Melee Attack Hits 70 Deviating Areas of Effect 97
e Initial and Further Attacks 70 Knocked Down Models 98
Fighting Styles 70
Knocked Down Individual Models 98
Charge Bonuses 71
Knocked Down Unit Models 99
o Counter Attacks 71
Strike Ranks and Simultaneous Combat 72 Stationary models 99
f Free Strikes 73 Shields 99
Combat Duration & Reinitiating Melee 73 Shield Bonus 99
Missile Combat 74 Shield Items 99
C Shooting 74 Auras 100
Missile Attack Roll 74 Continuous Effects 100
Determining Missile Attack Hits 74 Initiation of Continuous Effects 100
o Shooting at Long Range 75 Types of Continuous Effects 100
Screening & Cover 75 Ending of Continuous Effects 100
n Screening & Cover Exceptions 76 Affliction Tests 100
Shooting Over Models 76 Expiry Tests 101
t Shooting at Engaged Models 76 Multiple Continuous Effects 101
Magic 77 General Effects 101
e Casting Spells 77 Handling Effects 101
Spell Complexity 77 General Effects Limitation 101
n Spell Casting Roll 77 General Effects Durations 101
Spell Attacks 78
Haze Effects 101
t Spell Limitations 78
Sustaining Spells 78 Terrain 103
s Magic Attacks 78
Magic Attack Roll 78 Terrain 104
Determining Magic Attack Hits 78 Open Terrain 104
Dealing Damage 79 Difficult Terrain 104
Damage & Armor 79 Impassable Terrain 104
Marking Damage 79 Forests 104
Seriously Wounded Models 80 Hills 104
Destroyed & Removed Models 80 Buildings 104
Direct Damage 80
Conclusion 107
Special Combat Situations 81
Critical Hits 81 Multiplayer Games 108
Fumbles 81 Victory Conditions 108
Kill Points 108
Psychology 83
Determining the Winner 108
Psychology 84 About Scenarios 109
Bravery Tests 84 Using Scenarios 109
Fear 84 Developing Scenarios 109
Horror 85
Multiple Psychology Effects 85 Scenarios 111
Fleeing 86
Rallying 87 Banebrood 121
Model Special Rules 89
Halodynes 139
Warlords 90
Assigning Action Tokens 90 Mortans 157
Hardened Will 90
Multiple Orders 90 Nordgaard 175
Unit Leaders 90
Musicians 90 Troglodytes 193
Creatures 91
Primitive Instinct 91 Wyldfolk of Annyr 211
War-Machines 91
Machines & Machine Crews 91 Appendix 229
War-Machine & Machine Crew Actions 92
Handling War-Machines 92 Painting Miniatures 230
War-Machine Long Range 92 Colors 230
War-Machine Line of Sight 92 Other useful items 230
Preparing the miniatures 230
Model Classifications 92
Painting miniatures 230
Light Infantry 92
Banebrood color scheme 231
Heavy Infantry 92
Halodynes color scheme 231
Light Cavalry 93
Mortans color scheme 231
Heavy Cavalry 93
Nordgaard color scheme 232
Sub-Factions 93 Troglodytes color scheme 232
What are Sub-Factions? 93 Wyldfolk of annyr color scheme 232
Sub-Faction Abilities 93
Building Terrain 233
4
GODSLAYER® Rise of Legends

Nimbur, the jewel of Volturna and largest city on that continent, is so old that its
foundations actually pre-date the birth of Mankind. Populated by the aloof and enigmatic
race of Aetherions, it possesses the largest library in the world. Conquered during the
Blessed Age by Halodynes, Nimburia was forced to endure a 1,700 year occupation which
altered it in fundamental ways. The Aetherions during that time were suffering the infertility
curse placed on them by the Asrae gods, and with the conquest by humans a caste of mixed
Aetherions and Mortals inevitably developed. During the occupation, cabals of Aetherions
worshipping the Dawn Gods went underground. These inscrutable deities were the creators
of the Aetherion race, dwelling in the outer planes. Over a period of four thousand years
the mystic priests healed and reinvigorated the Dawn Gods by channeling Keraunoi energy
- raw reality.
As the Halodynes’ Threxian Empire peaked and declined, the Aetherions patiently waited
through 23 incarnations of the phoenix Corpse-King, and when the Halodyne temple cult
of Aesys later seized the collapsed chunk of the empire and ruled the land, the Aetherions
bided their time. The millennia passed but for the immortal Aetherions, 4,000 years was but
a single chapter in the history of their great city. The miraculous birth of a child to the
deposed imperial family heralded a new chapter which began with the Night of Poisoned
Daggers when the pure-blood Aetherions rose up and assassinated the entire Halodyne
patriarch’s family together with most of the temple priesthoods. A new hierarchy fell into
place, with pure-blood Aetherions as rulers, hybrid Mortherions forming the middle class,
and Mortals constituting the under-class. The combined armies of the resurgent Golden
Kingdom now march relentlessly westward, crushing everything the Halodynes can throw
at them.
chapter i
I n t r o d u c t i o n
C
h
a
p
t
e
r

I

-

I
n
t
r
o
d
u
Welcome to Godslayer® What is Godslayer®?
c
t Well done, you made it! You got your hands on the avant- the game
i garde game system which we are confident sets a new
Set in a rich and detailed fantasy universe named Calydorn,
o benchmark for the tabletop gaming hobby! GODSLAYER® is a fast and tactically challenging tabletop
skirmish game played with highly detailed metal miniatures.
n As you browse through the following pages you are
embarking on a blood-spattered quest through the hazardous
The game is designed for two or more players and offers
and exotic world of Calydorn!
a totally new gaming experience with many aspects never
before seen.
After fifteen years of miniatures gaming ourselves, we felt
compelled to design a new rules system and accompanying
In the world of Calydorn it is common for charismatic or
gaming universe, and thus GODSLAYER® was born.
brawny leaders to attract loyal troops, heroic individuals, and
terrifying creatures to their cause - be it noble or nefarious.
At this moment you might ask yourself “Does the world
really need another miniatures game?” - YES, it certainly
As a skirmish game GODSLAYER® allows players to field
does!
a group of warriors in combat engagements. These so called
warbands represent hunting parties, scouting forces, raiders
We found no other game satisfied us in terms of both ease of
or simply bands of adventurers, mercenaries, or bandits, etc.
play, tactical challenge and authenticity, and so the creation of
GODSLAYER® became a quest for that holy grail of game-
The game places you in the role of a warlord, allowing you
design - the perfect combination of realism and playability.
to create your own individual warband based on a versatile
system of model and item selection.
Now, after four years of relentless scribbling by candlelight
and quill, locked within the dungeons of our own obsession,
Great care was taken to ensure that the rules system offers
and after countless hours of play-testing by our rabid team
a new level of realistic miniature behavior. A unique system
of devotees to the god of perfectionism, we are maniacally
of action and resource management allows fast and logical
happy to unleash upon an unsuspecting world these tomes of
game-play, while retaining core rules which are simple and
mythic mayhem!
memorable, allowing you to learn them rapidly.
After playing a few games we hope you agree with us that
To keep players continuously challenged, each model
GODSLAYER® has reached a new pinnacle in game design!
has been provided with individual rules that result in a vast
multitude of devious and deadly combinations embedded
But do not take our word for it - grab your dice and miniatures
within the system, providing a rich resource for developing
and leap into the game. We sincerely hope you have as much
new tactics to win upcoming battles.
fun as we have!
8
GODSLAYER® Rise of Legends
the world a game overview
GODSLAYER® revolves around the grim world of Before we bombard you with all the detailed rules of
Calydorn, upon which numerous factions wage war for the GODSLAYER®, we would like to give you an overview of
very survival of their cultures and species, where individuals how a typical game of GODSLAYER® runs so that you have
undertake heroic or diabolic quests to acquire unto themselves a broad picture before learning the detailed game mechanics. n
godlike powers.
o
Two players face each other over a model battlefield, each
Where once gleamed the glorious nations of the Golden Age of them controlling a warband of different models which are
i
now sit the ruins of the Darklands - regions where creatures composed before the game according to a points system that
t
of shadow, cursed races, and demons hold sway, their hordes balances the opposing forces. Some models are individuals;
relentlessly pounding the walls of crumbling civilizations. some operate in groups (which are called units). c
u
The history of Calydorn is painted with the blood of countless The game is divided into six or more rounds. In each round,
fallen cultures, and its denizens are only now beginning to re- players take alternating turns to activate some of their models.
d
discover some of the world’s more eldritch secrets. Activated models may do such things as move, shoot, fight,
cast spells and use tactics. o
Ghorn - the central continent - has become the furnace of the
gods, wherein deities forge the spirits of the boldest mortals All actions are regulated by a system of action tokens, r
into merciless mages and brutal warriors - fitting heroes for whereby every model has a specific number of action tokens
the current age, striving against hope to avert the holocaust of at the start of its turn, and each action they perform uses up a t
the Omegalypse. certain number of tokens. This system is a natural and realistic
n
way of managing your warband’s actions during each round
The most exceptional characters manage to increase their and is one of the core systems of the game.
I
powers through heroic deeds, mystic rituals, and the patronage

of divine, demonic, or elemental entities. Some even follow In GODSLAYER® there are no artificial turn sequences, and
-
the path of the Godquester, seeking out the Celestial Vortexes due to the constant turnabout play, the game has an immediacy

and consuming the encapsulated anima - the essence of a dead and flow which other games may lack. The order in which a
I
goddess - in order to attain the status of a demigod. A select model performs its actions is basically open to the player’s
few even undergo apotheosis, ascending to take their place choice, making the game very realistic and flexible.
among one of the divine pantheons. r
Statistics represent the fighting skills, the armor, the
e
All such heroes of legend began their careers as leaders of determination, etc. of each model, and are listed on profile
warbands, fighting countless battles - just as you will soon cards which are included with each model. These statistics t
fight! are used in conjunction with dice rolls to determine if actions
p
such as fighting or shooting are successful. Often the result
As you will discover, the world of GODSLAYER® is a rich is compared against an opponent’s statistic or roll. Luck a
tapestry on which to weave the heroic quests and sagas of your plays a part, and so managing probabilities is a key factor,
h
warbands; and on the brutal world of Calydorn thousands of but GODSLAYER® is primarily a tactical game where even a
such warbands seek glory or infamy, or simply strive to amass streak of bad luck can be outweighed by clever play. C
power and wealth in spoils and magical artifacts.
Each type of model has a unique combination of abilities and
Now is the time for you to prove yourself worthy, leading tactics which are special rules that translate the character of
your warband to its bloody destiny! the model into game mechanics. In addition, some individual
models are able to order tactics to other models, making the
game even more strategic.
The winner of the game is normally determined by
comparing what we call “kill points”. Each player will earn
a certain amount of kill points during the game and the one
who has the most at the end of the game, is the victor! Special
scenarios introduce additional victory conditions and provide
new strategic challenges.
About These Books
To provide you with a short overview of these two tomes
and our recommendations of how to get the most out of them,
the following is a short introduction about their contents.
content
The two books of GODSLAYER® - Rise of Legends not
only deal with all the rules needed for game-play, but also act
as a sourcebook for GODSLAYER®.
For ease of gaming we have separated the rules and the
background material and that´s why you get two books.
9
GODSLAYER® Rise of Legends
The rulebook of course covers everything you need to know future books and products
to compose your warbands and lead them into battle. Here
you will learn your tactical options and how to defeat your GODSLAYER® allows an immersive experience, starting
opponents and it also contains scenarios, multiplayer rules, with the very first game, and increases in enjoyment the
tips on how to paint your miniatures, build terrain, and advice deeper you go!
on how to get the most from your hobby. With this information
C
you can recreate the dark and beautiful world of Calydorn on In order to support GODSLAYER® players, additional
your tabletop gaming board. books will be released, extending the game with various new
h
miniatures, additional rules, and background information
The background book will provide you with detailed about the world of Calydorn and its inhabitants.
a
information about Calydorn - the focus of the Seven Worlds,
p and home of mortals - which has 50,000 years of history that
has shaped the world into the darkly exotic and lethally vibrant
t
place it is today. This tome contains a detailed background
e of each of the six main factions on the central continent of
r Ghorn, each of which represents a unique empire or culture.
usage
I
To ensure easy comprehension of the rules, all topics have
- been placed in the most logical order possible. Nevertheless, it
was occasionally unavoidable to foreshadow elements which
I will be explained at a later point. In such cases, the element
n previously not detailed will be written in red, bold italics, with
the page of its later explanation noted in brackets.
t
Reading and memorizing the rulebook is not necessary
r
before beginning to play!
o
A lot of the material contained within these pages is primarily
for reference and amusement, and most of the game-relevant
d
statistics and special rules are to be found on the Profile Cards
u (page 15), supplied with each model, for easy reference, so you
will not need to constantly refer to the rulebook.
c
If you possess a copy of the Quick-Start Rules (which come
t
as a printed version with each of the introductory boxed starter
i sets of each faction and can be downloaded from our website
o www.megalith-games.com for free), we would recommend
you read the Quick-Start Rules first! After a few games you
n will have mastered the fundamentals of the rules, and should
then take your time to read the complete core rules.
Further gaming will allow you to master the tactics and
abilities of your chosen faction and gain an insight into the
capabilities of other factions. At that point you may want to
continue exploring the world of Calydorn in more detail on
the Megalith Games website (www.megalith-games.com).
If at times you find it difficult to grasp a rule or have problems
remembering everything, we suggest you keep a few models
to hand and play-test what is written as you go along.
NOTE
If you learned the basics of GODSLAYER® with the Quick-
Start Rules, we strongly recommend you still read the core
rules section in its entirety, even though some parts might
seem familiar. This is because there are additional details for
many of the rules which you should take note of that are
not covered in the Quick-Start Rules.
10
GODSLAYER® Rise of Legends