Runewars Boardgame Gameplay

[Jow]

Pssht, what I expected you to say, not enough for me to turn on my pointy-eared comrades. It's yours, zurai.

[Zurai]

Place it in 4A, then.

I didn't really plan to leave that tile unclaimed, but it didn't turn out too badly. Now I just have to re-claim it before someone plays some nasty Tactics Card trick and steals it from me...

For lurkers:

Spoiler:

That turned out well, actually. I can snag that tile with a simple Strategize in Spring, although I think I'm going to Recruit instead (pending Winter Orders and Spring seasonal effects, naturally), then pick up the Recruit with my spy guild card and have way more military to work with for the year.

Assuming I get that Rune, I'm in good shape. I should be able to complete my Objective in Year 4 barring major military setbacks, and I've got the Timmoran Shard on the Runewitch. That's 4 runes out of the 7 needed to win. Just need to come up with 3 more someplace...

[Turtle]

Year 2, Winter Turn Order:
1. Uthuk Y'llan (Scoop) 4-Harvest
2. Jowatal Elves (Jow) 5-Recruit
3. Waiqar the Undying (docD) 5-Recruit
4. Daqan Lords (Lagom) 6-Rally Support
5. Latari Elves (Zurai) 8-Fortify

Turn 1: Uthuk Y'llan (Scoop) 4-Harvest
Scoop's resource dials are set to: Food 7, Wood 4, and Ore 8.

Turn 2: Jowatal Elves (Jow) 5-Recruit
Jow recruits using his Food dial, then using the Supremacy Bonus recruits again using his Ore dial. Placing 2 Warriors and a Sorceress in JB.

Turn 3: Waiqar the Undying (docD) 5-Recruit
docD recruits from his Food dial, then using the Supremacy Bonus recruits again from his Wood dial, placing 4 Reanimates and 2 Skeletal Archers in WA.

Turn 4: Daqan Lords (Lagom) 6-Rally Support
Lagom chooses to receives 2 Influence from the city in 7B, and 2 Quest cards from 6C.
Lagom must discard down to 3 Quest cards.
Supremacy bonus: Lagom spends 1 influence to receive a random hero, and gains the neutral hero Mordrog.

Turn 5: Latari Elves (Zurai) 8-Fortify
Zurai lowers his Wood and Ore dials by 1 to place a stronghold in 2C1.

[Turtle]

Year 3, Spring

Y3S1T5

Spring Season Card: Prepare for the Coming Year
Each player may spend 1 influence to draw a new Objective card. Each player then discards down to 1 Objective card.
Secondary Ability: Retreive all Activation Tokens. Retreive all used Order cards. Stand up all routed units.

(Just a note to everyone, the secondary abilities of Season cards happen after the influence bid, but before you choose your orders. Also, I have updated the second post in this thread with a summary of all the Order cards, for quick reference.)

All players must post here with their choice of whether or not to spend 1 influence to draw a new objective card, and then PM their Order Card for this Season.
Lagom must discard down to 3 Quest cards.

[Zurai]

The Latari Elves will not buy a new Objective.

... I've been Influence-poor this whole game, despite being the race that favors Influence. Meh. I suppose that's what comes when you ally with money-hoarding lizards.

[Scoop20906]

The Uthuk Y'llan have no need for objective cards and will not spend influence to get one. Our only objective is to wipe all life from this world!

[Turtle]

Our only objective is to wipe all life from this world!

And don't forget the minimum 2% decrease in property taxes.

[Scoop20906]

Our only objective is to wipe all life from this world!

And don't forget the minimum 2% decrease in property taxes.

Yes, and we fight for a minimum 2% decrease in property taxes!! GRRRRRR!!!!

[Lagom Lite]

I won't take any new objective cards. Also, wtf about taxes?? How else are we gonna oppress our peons? We need militia dammit!

[Lagom Lite]

The Latari Elves will not buy a new Objective.

... I've been Influence-poor this whole game, despite being the race that favors Influence. Meh. I suppose that's what comes when you ally with money-hoarding lizards.

Hey, those rumors about our noble blood lines are completely unfounded! ...oh, you meant the dragon. nvm.

[Jow]

Apologies for the delay in this season's turn. I was out of town Friday through about ten minutes ago, work tonight, and have a lab report to finish before 1 pm tomorrow so I likely won't get my stuff in for the current turn until tomorrow night.

[Jow]

I will also not take a new objective.

[docD]

Our only objective is to wipe all life from this world!

And don't forget the minimum 2% decrease in property taxes.

Yes, and we fight for a minimum 2% decrease in property taxes!! GRRRRRR!!!!

Make it a 3% decrease and the undead will join you in your quest.

[Remus West]

Our only objective is to wipe all life from this world!

And don't forget the minimum 2% decrease in property taxes.

Yes, and we fight for a minimum 2% decrease in property taxes!! GRRRRRR!!!!

Make it a 3% decrease and the undead will join you in your quest.

McCain will get on board for 3%?!

[Turtle]

Currently waiting on Scoop and docD's orders.

[docD]

Sorry I misread Turtle's post. I thought that we would receive our new objective cards before giving our orders. Orders sent in.

[Scoop20906]

Sorry about the delay. My order is in.

[Turtle]

Year 3, Spring Turn Order:
1. Daqan Lords (Lagom) 1-Strategize
2. Waiqar the Undying (docD) 1-Strategize
3. Latari Elves (Zurai) 1-Strategize
4. Jowatal Elves (Jow) 2-Mobilize
5. Uthuk Y'llan (Scoop) 2-Mobilize

Turn 1:Daqan Lords (Lagom) 1-Strategize
Moves 1 Bowman from DC to 8A1.
Moves 1 Bowman and 2 Knights from 8A1 to 6B.
Moves 1 Siege Tower, 1 Knight and 1 Bowman from 6B to 6C.
Supremacy Bonus: Draw 3 Tactics cards.

Turn 2: Waiqar the Undying (docD) 1-Strategize
Moves 1 Archer and 2 Reanimates from WA to 8D2.
Moves 1 Archer and 2 Reanimates from WA to 9B.
Supremecy Bonus: Draw 1 tactics card.

Turn 3: Latari Elves (Zurai) 1-Strategize
Moves 1 Archer from 4B to 4A.
Moves Ronan the Wild(2) from LB to 4A.
Supremacy Bonus: Draws 1 Tactics card.

Turn 4: Jowatal Elves (Jow) 2-Mobilize
Activates 5C and moves in 1 Archer from 5B, 2 Warriors and 1 Sorceress from JB, and starts a battle.

Battle in 5C! 1 Archer, 1 Sorceress, and 2 Warriors vs. 1 Dragon
Initiative 1 Fate Draws:
Archer does 1 damage to the Dragon.

Initiative 3 Fate Draws:
Sorceress misses.

Initiative 4 Fate Draws:
Warrior 1 misses.
Warrior 2 uses Overpower to destroy the Dragon previously damaged by the Archer.
The Dragon misses.

Jow wins the battle!

Now waiting on Jow's Supremacy Bonus action.

Unfortunately, I still can't access my web server, and my email provider hasn't done the requested changes. Will update the board when I can.

[Jow]

I'm not going to use the supremacy bonus.

[Scoop20906]

I'm not going to use the supremacy bonus.

Wise Move, Elf.

[Jow]

Indeed - wouldn't pay to exhaust my options in case decrepit things come calling.

[Turtle]

Turn 5: Uthuk Y'llan (Scoop) 2-Mobilize
Scoop activates 8D1 and moves in 2 Fleshrippers from 3B.
He then reveals his Objective card:
Conqueror - If you control 7 areas outside your home realm during your turn, you may discard this card to gain 1 dragon rune.
Scoop receives a False rune and a Dragon rune and must PM me with their placement.
Supremacy Bonus: Activates 5D and moves in 2 Chaos lords from 2B2 and 2C2.

Battle at 5D! 2 Chaos Lords vs. Archer
Waiting on any pre-battle cards to be played.

Board Updated.

[Jow]

aw, it's on now.

Doc, I have a little somethin-somethin I can throw your way if you'd be willing to assist me in throwing the hellspawn back into the abyss it came from.

[Turtle]

Scoop uses no pre battle tactics cards or abilities.

[Jow]

I play blackmail:

Blackmail - Play at the start of a battle in which you are defending. Your opponent may immediately retreat from the battle. If he does not retreat, then he loses 2 influence and discards 2 random tactics cards.

[Scoop20906]

I play blackmail:

Blackmail - Play at the start of a battle in which you are defending. Your opponent may immediately retreat from the battle. If he does not retreat, then he loses 2 influence and discards 2 random tactics cards.

Go ahead, little Elf. Blackmail the Uthuk Y'llan. The Chaos Lords demand Elf barbecue today.

The Uthuk Y'llan will lose the 2 influence and will discard 2 random tactics cards.

[docD]

aw, it's on now.

Doc, I have a little somethin-somethin I can throw your way if you'd be willing to assist me in throwing the hellspawn back into the abyss it came from.

I'm in.

[Lagom Lite]

[Jow]

I'll make it happen on my turn.

[Turtle]

Scoop places rune tokens (from his objective) in 2A2 and 3A.

Battle at 5D! 2 Chaos Lords vs. Archer continued...
Initiative 1 Fate Draws:
Archer does 1 damage to Chaos Lord 1.

Initiative 5 Fate Draws:
Chaos Lord 1 misses.
Chaos Lord 2 causes 2 routs, routing the Archer.

Scoop wins the Battle!

Jow must decide where the Archer retreats.

Board updated.

[Zurai]

[Jow]

Let's send him back to 5b. No barbecue for you. Sorry 'bout that arrow - you can keep it.

for non-players:

Spoiler:

Round 1 to me. Scoop knocked me out of 5d but without inflicting casualties, paying two influence and two random tactics cards to do it. Summer is going to be a crucial season - I'm expecting Scoop to follow up with his Conquer action to assault my stronghold at 8A2 with the giants currently perched at 2A1. Without recruiting, I don't know that I'll be able to stop that, but by virtue of the order numbering system my Recruit will occur AFTER his conquer.

I could use my conquer action to shuffle what spare units I have around to defend, but I will inevitably have to leave something open. If I defend my damaged stronghold in 8A2, the city at 5B is left undefended. Normally not a big deal perhaps, but losing the food tile is a big concern considering my current food situation.

On the other hand, with the army that's currently there, the stronghold is NOT an easy target. if I Recruit instead of Conquer, the forces I can muster in other places might cause Scoop to consider easier targets. I have this tactics card:

Establish Trade Route - Play during your turn. Choose 1 opponent. You both gain 1 of each resource type.

That, coincidentally, is the little "somethin-somethin" I intend to throw DocD's way to get his assistance. It hopefully makes my eastern neighbor less of a threat, boosts my food output, AND gives me access to recruit Pegasus Riders.

Anyway, I'm leaning in this direction right now. This leaves my strategize and conquer still available for more warmongering and reorganization should I need it.

Doc's actions are a huge wildcard. He could either really cause Scoop grief or stick the knife into my back and twist. The Recruit action helps mitigate that possibility, too.

To war!

[Zurai]

For lurkers:

Spoiler:

That creates interesting tactical possibilities. If Chaos does not recruit in Summer or Fall, I can damage both of his strongholds in Fall with almost no chance of failure (barring Tactics shenanigans, of course). I'm going to Mobilize in Summer. Depending on what Chaos chooses as his order, I'll either take 6D and 3C (the two single-giant, two-ore provinces I've enclosed) if he chooses to Recruit in Summer, OR I'll take 3C and 3B.

If I take 3B (ie, he didn't Recruit in Summer), I can then use my "take back one Order" Tactics card and Mobilize again in Fall, sending my Dragon and Pegasus Rider to 2A2 and UA, respectively, thanks to their Flying movement (and the Pegasus's Flying movement combined with Fast movement). I cannot take either province, even with a Conquer order, because those strongholds are undamaged, meaning I'd need to have either a Tactics card giving me extra strength or at least 3 non-routed units at the end of the battle (Undamaged Strongholds count as 5 units for determining the winner of a battle; damaged ones count as 2 units, and the Conquer order gives -3 to the strength of the Stronghold being attacked). However, any Stronghold that is opposed by non-routed units in the resolution phase of combat is automatically damaged.

More likely, he'll recruit 4 Berserkers, 1 Flesh Ripper, and 2 Chaos Lords into UA and/or 2A2 in Fall. He can afford to feed 7 units in a single tile -- or at least he thinks he can -- and so I'm assuming he'll bunch them up in UA, although it doesn't really matter. Because it's so likely that he's going to recruit in Fall, I'm not planning on using my "take back an Order" card yet. I won't need to hit four different targets this year except in that unlikely event. Instead, I'll base my action on his Summer action.

If he Conquers -- uses up his only remaining attack order, most likely to send his two Flesh Rippers in 8D1 to attack Jow's city in 5B -- I'll Conquer into 3A with my Pegasus Knight and play my brand new Tactic card, Pillage, which immediately harvests a single tile I just conquers and, if was owned by another player, reduces their dials by the amount I harvested. So, by taking 3A, I'd reduce his food to 5, forcing him to spread his recruits around. Unfortunately, Conquer comes before Recruit in the turn order, so I can't surprise him with it.

If he uses some other order in Summer (honestly no clue what he might play at that point), I'll just Rally Support, since I'll own his city. Probably take 2 Influence + 2 Tactics.

[Turtle]

Year 3, Summer

Y3S2T0

Summer Season Card: Fires of Heaven
Wizards' Council
Perform an influence bid. The highest bidder must choose a city. The chosen city is destroyed.
Secondary Ability: Quest Phase

Jow gains 1 influence from his title card.

All players must PM me their influence bid for the season.

Remember that in the Quest Phase, you use the Order card number from the last turn, but the current influence totals for ties. So if you need to go first with your hero, be careful how much you bid.

[Turtle]

Fires of Heaven Influence Bids:
Waiqar the Undying (docD) 0
Latari Elves (Zurai) bids 0
Jowatal Elves (Jow) 3
Uthuk Y'llan (Scoop) 0
Daqan Lords (Lagom) 0

Jow wins the bid and must choose a city to destroy.

Quest Phase Turn Order:
1. Daqan Lords (Lagom)
2. Waiqar the Undying (docD)
3. Latari Elves (Zurai)
4. Jowatal Elves (Jow)
5. Uthuk Y'llan (Scoop)

Players can post their Hero actions as their turn comes up in this thread. It is current Lagom's turn to take an action for each one of his heroes, or wait until Jow chooses..

[Jow]

Wax the city at 3B.

[Turtle]

Daqan Lords (Lagom)'s Quest Phase
(1)Sir Valadir moves from 6B to 6A and attempts the The Labyrnith quest.

The Labyrinth - Setup Quest
Finding your way to the Valley of Souls is the easy part. It is named in the memory of the travelers who never return from its labyrinth like caves.
Location: 6A
Test Wisdom
Success or Neutral: Order is found in the calmest of minds. Receive Reward.
Failure: Spun around and disoriented. The hero must retreat.

Fate Draw: Failure, Neutral, Failure, Failure
Result: Neutral - Receive Reward

(2)Battlemage Jaes moves from 6B to 4A and attempts The Secret Chamber quest.

The Secret Chamber - Setup Quest
The wind in the Howling Hills is chilling indeed. If one could find the source of the sounds, he might also find riches.
Location: 4A
Test Wisdom
Success or Neutral: Notches cut in the stone reveal a passage. Receive Reward.
Failure: Perhaps there is no treasure... Discard this Quest and draw a new Quest card.

Fate Draw: Neutral, Neutral, Failure
Result: Neutral - Receive Reward.

Mordrog moves from DC to 8B1 and attempts the Misty Bandits quest.

Misty Bandits
The thieves of the Misty Plains will rob you blind. Only the quick and nimble will make it through their territory and find their horde of stolen trinkets.
Location: 8B
Test Agility
Success: Receive Reward.
Neutral: A worthwhile trade. Discard 1 reward card (if able). Then receive Reward.
Failure: Lost in the mist. Discard this quest and draw a new quest card.

Fate Draw: Failure, Failure
Result: Failure - Discard this quest and draw a new quest card.

Lagom receives 3 new quest cards.

Board updated.

[Turtle]

Waiqar the Undying (docD)'s Quest Phase
Red Scorpion rests in 9B and docD pays 3 influence to complete The Bazaar quest, receiving a reward for Red Scorpion.

docD receives 1 replacement quest.

Board updated.

[Zurai]

Move Runewitch Astarra to 8C1 and attempt the A Treacherous Passage quest.

Move Ronan the Wild to 6B and attempt the Rampaging Troll quest.

[Turtle]

Latari Elves (Zurai)'s Quest Phase

Runewitch Astarra attempts a Quest at 8C1:
A Treacherous Passage
Down by the water in the Smokeblue Hills lies a passageway filled with traps, treachery, and perhaps treasure.
Location: 8C
Test Agility
Success or Neutral: Clever footwork leads to a tomb. Receive Reward.
Failure: A volley of poison darts. Take 1 damage. You may discard this Quest and draw a new Quest.

Fate Draw: Failure, Failure
Result: Failure - Astarra takes 1 Damage
Zurai must choose to either keep this quest or discard it and draw a new quest card.

Ronan of the Wild attempts a quest at 6B:
Rampaging Troll
The locals will never rest easy until someone overpowers the Starfall Forest troll. Follow the path of destruction to his lair.
Location: 6B
Test Strength
Success: The troll is easily overpowered! Receive Reward.
Neutral or Failure: His club descends with crushing strength. Take 2 damage. If not defeated, receive Reward.

Fate Draw: Neutral, Failure, Failure
Result: Ronan takes 2 damage and receives a reward.

Board updated.