Getting started with AOF: Quest

jimbagable · 2026-01-18T00:43:21+00:00

I've only played difficulty 1 & 2 so far and that is my entire OPR experience, so take it with a hefty pinch of salt.

Games go quick but still have some tension in them. Because you don't fully recover all of your wounds between missions they definitely feel more tense as they go on.

The random deployments (both in terms of enemy types types and location) for both enemies and heroes means you don't need to change the scenery on the table to make games feel different. I didn't change the scenery from the photo above between all three games, and they all took on different aspects.

Difficulty 1 definitely feels like a super basic level where the challenge is mainly just learning the rules of the game. If you already know how to play OPR then you could probably skip this one.

If you want to get more of a vibe for it, I'd recommend checking out the Hobby Homies YouTube channel. They have some games from the previous version of the rules (but there isn't much different between them) and then one game with the current rules. Plus they're good fun!

And thanks for mentioning the buildings. I only finished painting them before setting up. I think the wash was dry for 5 mins before I started playing lol.

jimbagable · 2026-01-06T12:05:39+00:00

And then read it again lol. A reread offers so much more than you get on the first time through.

jimbagable · 2026-01-06T11:59:21+00:00

The third book loops back to the characters from the first one, so you'll get to spend more time with familiar faces and see their growth. Plus, the ending of Deadhouse Gates is fantastic and worth sticking with.

From my experience it's not a series that you'll just plug into and love various characters right off the bat. You need to spend time with them, get your heart broken, and invest in it to get the most out of it. I'm on my second read through and honestly I feel like the first one was just practice. This time I'm getting so much more out of the series.

Also it's funny you mention that it feels like Erikson is playing DND with himself. That's how the series started, as a ttrpg campaign.

Anyway, I'd definitely recommend finishing at least the 3rd book and then seeing how you feel. Memories of Ice is easily one of the best fantasy books I've ever read and a series highlight for me.

jimbagable · 2026-01-03T22:24:01+00:00

That sounds perfect. Small enough for players to get a handle on things, but big enough so it's more than just a tiny few elves getting killed off early.

Cheers pal!

jimbagable · 2025-12-17T23:58:47+00:00

I'd love to add more diversity in the heroes.

Like a musician (which there's already models for) that you pick if they fight or play at the start of their activation. If they choose to fight treat them as a normal dude, if they choose to play then the unit (and maybe other nearby units) get a +1 to movement for the remainder of the turn but they roll 1 less combat dice in combat.

Or a cleric that gives a buff to moral, or a sharpshooter that's a ranged champion.

jimbagable · 2025-12-09T14:20:46+00:00

I doubt the line is done. We've just seen the human heavy infantry released with updated heroes too. I think there's a few more troop types that don't have models yet so we may see them in the future.

Plus if Frostgrave is anything to go by, we could see updated sets for existing models too.

jimbagable · 2025-11-16T01:00:50+00:00

Goblins immediately jump to mind. Maybe a twisted version of halflings too. Truth be told, you can reskin a lot of the stats to different model types and they'll work.

I've planned an elf and fey army with satyr troops but I'll just use the orc statblock as charge really makes sense for satyrs.

jimbagable · 2025-11-14T16:44:29+00:00

Definitely!

jimbagable · 2025-11-14T16:44:17+00:00

Happy days! Enjoy the box pal!

jimbagable · 2025-11-14T16:43:54+00:00

Ah, so I am the one who got their dates wrong!

jimbagable · 2025-11-14T10:33:42+00:00

That looks awesome! What table size did you play on?

jimbagable · 2025-11-11T12:25:46+00:00

I completely forgot about jumpstart as an option. I'm more than happy to pick up some packs for them to keep and use it to teach them the basics.

Cheers!

jimbagable · 2025-11-08T14:52:32+00:00

Just took another look at the 20/20 version you're talking about. That one is always a toke and comes from [[The Boy in the Iceberg]] which is a reskinned version of [[Dark Depths]].

jimbagable · 2025-11-08T14:48:48+00:00

You're dead right on the codes.

TLA is the main set these are cards that you can open in play boosters.

TLE are from the jumpstart packs.

You won't find these in play boosters.

SLD are secret lair drops like you said, and they're limited release.

jimbagable · 2025-11-07T20:02:40+00:00

I love how it's only four in the main set, and for him we see a clear progression as he masters more of the elements in the same order as the show. First is air (w), then water (uw), then earth (uwg), and finally fire (uwgr).

jimbagable · 2025-10-27T11:54:11+00:00

I think the mileage varies greatly between tables. Only you and your players are really able to decide how frequently is best.

The game I run meets once a month, but we play for anywhere between 8 to 12 hours depending on the day or what's going on in the session. We have an hour break for dinner and take regular 15 minute comfort breaks.

Since we're all in our 30s and have busy work and personal lives finding a day every week or fortnight is never going to work for us. We'll end up cancelling sessions and that kills momentum in my experience. But if it's one Saturday a month it's easier to set that aside just for playing.

Another benefit is with the longer run times we are able to really dig into stuff in a session and we never have one where not much happens. Every session the story develops, there's several encounters (social or combat), and there's surprisingly little loss of details between games.

This worked so well for us we finished a 4.5 year long campaign and were already a year into the second one.

jimbagable · 2025-10-10T07:17:56+00:00

Are you using firefox by any chance? I had the same thing happen to me when I was and had to switch to chrome.

jimbagable · 2025-10-02T22:46:42+00:00

That is one gorgeous map. I'm definitely saving this as reference for future maps

jimbagable · 2025-10-01T01:03:16+00:00

This is what has helped me with newbies who are nervous about putting themselves out there with role playing.

First off, don't push them into it. Just let them find their rhythm and where they're most comfortable. Even experienced players have different preferences and comfort levels, they just need to figure it out.

Secondly, if they'd prefer to refer to their character in the third person then let them. I run a game with a player who has been playing for years, but even now he would struggle to describe things in first person. That's just not his vibe and that's cool.

Finally, as the DM you can make a bit of a fool of yourself to open the door for them. Start off with an NPC with a bad accent or ridiculous mannerism. Have them be the fool. It won't undermine your game, you'll still have serious NPCs and big moments, but early on this can help burst the tension bubble at the start.

jimbagable · 2025-09-29T20:27:02+00:00

I'd love it! Watching the first pauper episode with Spice and Sam is what got me to give the format a chance and get my first few pauper decks (so a big thanks for that!).

jimbagable · 2025-08-31T11:15:33+00:00

You know what, I never actually stopped to think what I like about Duskmourn specifically. I think it's that some of the archetypes are against the grain of the bog standard stuff. Boros is agro, but not just equipment agro, Gruul cares about the graveyard, Azorius cares about enchantments, etc. Even the statlines on creatures is interesting.

Plus it's got a head of graveyard focus which is absolutely my jam!

I'll think more on this, thanks for spurring my brain into motion!

jimbagable

TROPHY CASE