Overview: AoS Skirmish
Curious about Age of Sigmar’s new Skirmish supplement? Well come take a quick tour!
Games Workshop has decided to fully embrace the “Skirmish Scale” game size in both of their core systems. We got Shadow War: Armageddon for 40k and now AoS gets Skirmish. So what is it? How is it different? Is it worth picking up? See for yourself:
What is Skirmish?
AoS Skirmish is a small set of modifications to the game to allow you to play AoS with a handful of models instead of massive armies. The core rules are the same but the army construction is tweaked and unit movement is relaxed. In fact, “units” of models are gone – each model functions as a single unit. This leads to some interesting mixes in tactics and game play.
The setting is also in the ruined city of Shadespire . And if you remember from our demo at Adepticon*, Shadespire is a cursed realm where warbands of models continually battle. How that translates to the “end game phase” is that models that ran or were destroyed in the game return for the next game. This really cuts down on the book-keeping and just lets you jump in and play.
It does borrow some ideas from Armageddon? Yes – you can gain new abilities and rewards and you can spend your renown on new models to add to your warband. But at the same time, it’s meant to be a quicker, leaner version of AoS.
How is Skirmish Different?
While the core rules are the same, many of the rules have been slightly adjusted to accommodate the scale. Battleshock tests have been shifted around a bit to encourage the gameplay to be more brutal and quick. You still have Generals and Wizards and they have all-new command abilities/artifacts/spells they can get.
The game is also designed for narrative, matched and open play. So maybe that’s not exactly different, but it’s not something I was expecting in a 40-page rulebook like this. It’s even got rules/guidelines for how to do Skirmish Tournaments. I thought this was a great idea for stores and gaming clubs to take advantage of. You could build and paint a warband in a week and then play in a tournament with them. I think it would be a pretty cool event.
Is Skirmish Worth Picking Up?
The rulebook is $10. It’s full color and has everything you need to play. Even the renown for each miniature you can take is included (ya – that’s right, it’s got the points, too). Couple that with the fact that the model rules are all available online for free, I think for $10 it’s a fantastic pick-up.
The Age of Sigmar Skirmish book is coming out this weekend. If you want to dabble in AoS or if you just want to play in a quick version of a warband campaign then go check it out. Also, I almost forgot to mention, there is no reason you can’t run extended campaigns either. GW actually mentions that in the book! This is just a great way to test out new armies or give you an excuse to grab those awesome looking Ironjawz you’ve been eyeballing…what, just me? Those Brutes look pretty cool. Just sayin.
Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Skirmish $10
Lying forgotten in the Desert of Bones, the ruins of the spectacular ancient city Shadespire are brimming with untold riches and power, ripe for the taking. Though it is now a mere skeleton after being put to the torch by Nagash, the city’s treasures remain, a morbid hint at the splendour that existed before Shadespire’s soul was torn away…
Take command of a small warband of warriors and put your skill, wit and determination to the test with Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Skirmish: a book containing the information and rules needed to fight Skirmish battles – including a hard-fought campaign amidst the ruins of Shadespire! Assemble a small warband of single models and take to the gaming table, building renown and adding to your warband with every glorious victory.
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Quick, Intense, and Brutal – That’s how I’d describe AoS Skirmish.
*note: The demo was for the upcoming game Warhammer Underworlds: Shadespire – this is a separate product from AoS Skirmish.
