Warcry: A Review of Tome of Champions 2021
It might have been a little late, but the Warcry Tome of Champions (2021) is well worth the wait.
Though probably not as popular as Games Workshop had originally hoped, Warcry is still going strong to this day. It gives avid wargamers the chance to play a smaller version of Age of Sigmar without the deckbuilding of Underworlds. Plus, every army can send warriors into the Eightpoints to fight for supremacy, so buy-in is easy. However, like all things, Warcry needs some updates from time to time, and usually, these come in the form of a Tome of Champions. The 2020 edition added exciting Matched Play events, Narrative Quests, and deadly artefacts to assist your fighter in their quest.
Unfortunately, the Realm of Chaos was a little too tumultuous to get the 2021 book out by year’s end. Thankfully, however, the Maelstrom has receded and we are finally able to dig in to all the exciting updates, changes, and new rules. Here’s a quick look at all the awesome things ToC2021 is bringing to the game of skirmish warfare.
Points and Rules Update/New Warscroll Cards
Probably the primary reason to pick up the book, the Tome of Champions offers some much-needed updates to streamline the game. One standout is that all Artefacts with the [Consumable] subtype can now be used as bonus actions. This means that potions do not waste a fighter’s precious action, leaving them free to put the hurt on a hapless opponent. Several new fighter cards have also been added for recently released figures, like the Thunderstrike Stormcast and Kruleboyz from Dominion. Alongside the new releases, the points for many older models have been shifted, making army building more balanced. Finally, every existing Underworlds warband has been given the Warcry treatment, meaning that all three games are now interchangable.
New Branching Quests
One of the most interesting parts of Warcry in my opinion is choice-based narrative. Every Grand Alliance has a series of campaign quests they can do, with a branching path based on their choices. ToC2021 gives us four brand new quests, one for each alliance, with six possible endings. Because each choice changes the path, you can replay the same quest multiple times and always get a different outcome. BioWare, eat your heart out!
Exciting Narrative Battles
If you’re a lore junkie like I am, then the six included Narrative Campaigns will suit you perfectly. Each one let’s you play out an actual event from Age of Sigmar canon, possibly even changing the outcome and proving multiverse theory! You can try to root out the dark coven festering in Anvilgard, venture deep into the cursed city of Ulfenkarn to recover lost treasure, or help the Light of Eltharion himself turn the tide against Arkhan and a horde of Ossiarch Bonereapers. Each campaign offers a unique playstyle, and lets you step into the story as the hero (or villain) of one of the epic tales of the Realms.
Matched Play Missions/Tournament Pack
Of course, no supplement would be complete without something for the competitive side of the hobby. ToC2021 offers six new Pitched Battle missions to choose from in Matched Play, plus a tournament pack perfect for TOs wanting to get a larger group together. While not as narratively satisfying as the rest of the book, these offer a balanced playstyle to test your skills as a champion in an equal contest of skill. The Fell Nyroth tournament is probably the best bit of this section, offering a campaign-style event that perfectly blends narrative and matched play into a palatable format with a clear winner. If you want to organize a big event at your FLGS, this is the section for you.
