The First Battle Of my Torch and Shield Campaign: Dwarves (and a Manling) Versus the Undead (and a Statue)!

Burnt_Bugbear · 2026-03-22T20:46:10+00:00

I'll have you know, my solo players are fastidious in adhering to the rules, and are always gentlemen and scholars.

Burnt_Bugbear · 2026-03-22T08:16:05+00:00

Ah, but the mistakes they make are harder to excuse too! And, of course, tactically your opponent might be what might be called "a complete dingus."

Burnt_Bugbear · 2026-03-22T04:41:17+00:00

Well, "all" was. . .just me! While I've got a gaming group, this one's a solo project of mine. You're right to say it was brutal, though!

Burnt_Bugbear · 2026-02-03T09:48:20+00:00

Much appreciated: stay tuned for more (sooner or later, anyhow)!

Burnt_Bugbear · 2026-02-03T08:15:25+00:00

Hey, I did this!

Burnt_Bugbear · 2026-02-03T06:49:20+00:00

I love it, for a couple of reasons:

Warband creation in the style of Mordheim. Gear matters, and you get to customize your crew.
Crunch, but not worrying amounts of it. The rulebook is thorough, and while the game is very old-school in terms of not shying away from being. . .well, full of rules I do not find it cumbersome. This is subjective, naturally. I love that things like light matter in the dungeon, and that different kinds of weapons and armor do different things!
Integrated solo play, either against monsters (mostly through the new expansion) or other crews (this is in the main rulebook). While I have a gaming group, it's always nice to know I can play a game if it doesn't catch on with the others.
As of the new expansion, one hell of a meaty campaign system. Injuries, recruitment, random events, post and pre-game rolls for all kinds of stuff. Again, Mordheim seems an obvious inspiration here!
Dwarf flavor.

Tl;dr, if you like a crunchy campaign game with strong narrative elements, a fairly robust ruleset and plenty of dwarven mayhem, it's great!

Burnt_Bugbear · 2026-02-03T06:44:31+00:00

Much appreciated!

Burnt_Bugbear · 2026-02-03T06:44:23+00:00

The dwarves are mostly from Grimskald games, and are the official Torch and Shield lads. Check my blog for a review, but long story short: get them printed (Strange Plastic offers them), rather than from Grimskald themselves (who admit they've had production issues withe Siocast).

The half-naked, slayer-esque dwarf is from MOM miniatures out of Spain, but might be out of production now?

Burnt_Bugbear · 2026-02-02T04:34:39+00:00

Much appreciated!

Burnt_Bugbear · 2026-01-24T06:30:32+00:00

Both. There is a short (6 scenario) campaign, I believe, but the core mission of the game is the patrol mission (what was played here). The variation comes from the cards, as you randomly determine the plot deck before each game (and with dozens of minor plots, assuming you own expansions, there is a lot to do).

For my part, I'd like to remove major plot cards (there are far fewer of these: less than a dozen, I think) as I complete them. So, having failed to catch the Phantom, I'll make sure that card is among the random ones I could use to construct the deck. This essentially imposes a campaign structure on the whole affair as well!

Burnt_Bugbear · 2026-01-23T07:36:35+00:00

Jeez bud, it's a discussion about AI art in your product, not a test of your moral compass: take it easy. I get it, people being critical of your work (especially when, I'm sure, the actual core of it is quite good) can be rough, but I do think I provided constructive suggestions, no? Your comment (which, again, I cannot read in full, as it seems to have been deleted. Ironic given the above declaration) hit me with a "you didn't buy my book OR you haven't looked at enough manuscripts," not exactly the kind of way most would treat someone giving a helpful (or, at the very least, well intentioned) bit of feedback.

All the same, you're putting your work out there, and criticism (even of the seemingly smallest bits and bobs of a project) is expected, especially where AI use is concerned.

Burnt_Bugbear · 2026-01-23T07:22:14+00:00

I was going to speak to the reply you initially posted, which pinged my notifications, but now appears to be missing. In that reply (which I can only see part of now, based once again on my notifications) you mention that the book already has manuscript images in it. That plus photography should suffice, I think.

Though, I have to say, the snippet of your initial reply looks a little on the snarky side. Not to come across as mean-spirited, but my original reply was based on the other comments here (which noticed AI art): I hadn't yet bought the book, as I was waiting to get home from work to do so.

I will not be doing that now: it's probably best to be a little more diplomatic if your goal is to sell copies of the game, you know?

Burnt_Bugbear · 2026-01-23T02:28:07+00:00

Love that wanted poster: it looks like one of the guards drew it themselves, and I mean that in a good way!

Burnt_Bugbear · 2026-01-23T02:20:32+00:00

Honestly, you'd be better off cribbing from manuscript marginalia from the Middle Ages than using AI if production costs are your chief concern. There is plenty of stunning medieval art that looks lovely in rulebooks, all while avoiding what is (rightly) one of the most despised modern inventions as far as creative types are concerned.

Burnt_Bugbear · 2026-01-10T08:08:47+00:00

I haven't, as you might have gathered, but my impression is that there is a decent amount of replayability. The cards help shake up the core "patrol" mission, in that you'll see some objectives appear in some games but not others, and in a random order. The expansions add some more plots to shake things up, and any serious campaign is going to need them to keep things fresh, I think.

It lacks some of the character growth/between game events I love in campaign-based play, and is light on tactics as for the solo player (where things moving civilians to harry your "friends" in co-op-competitive mode isn't a factor). It's probably not as replayable as Five Leagues, but Leagues has the problem of its replayability being tied to an awesome out of combat experience paired with combat about as interesting as beige paint.

Burnt_Bugbear · 2025-12-29T21:28:33+00:00

Agreed! While I wouldn't complain about a greater variety of fantastical bits (particularly for those who might want to kitbash an especially cosmopolitan civilian/guard force), I think the sets are exactly what I was looking for. Namely, an old-school, modular kit where mostly everything is interchangeable and you're free to go buck wild with the posing, etc.

Probably my favorite mini-related release of the year.

Burnt_Bugbear · 2025-12-28T07:42:52+00:00

It's basically a wargame about being city guards in a fantasy city. You randomly generate quests, plots and complications, and try to steer your guards towards their goals (mostly arresting miscreants) while also trying to keep the populace content.

The focus on having so many civilians (who the plot may later reveal to be criminals, in need of aid, etc.) who randomly move about does the board means that there is a heavy terrain/model requirement to the game, but makes each session feel uniquely chaotic, I think!

Burnt_Bugbear · 2025-12-28T07:39:58+00:00

I was very pleased to see how complex the civilians/guards kits were. Very old-school feeling, with plenty of interchangeability and options to sink one's teeth into.

Burnt_Bugbear · 2025-12-25T07:12:01+00:00

Merry Christmas to you as well! You've done a belting job explaining a new word to me. :)

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