BattleLore
2 players
Ages 10 & up
Playing Time: 60 minutes
Publisher: Days of Wonder
Author: Richard Borg

The world of BattleLore meshes history and fantasy together -- putting players in command of a vast array of miniature troops on the battlefields of a Medieval Europe Uchronia at the outset of the Hundred Years War.

Powerful Lore Masters, such as Wizards, Clerics, Warriors and Rogues gathered in customizable War Councils; Mercenary bands chosen from among mythical races such as the Iron Dwarves of Northern England; and Monstrous Creatures all complement the dizzying array of possibilities and tough choices that will face players as they venture in the World of BattleLore.

BattleLore is a game that bridges several genres, combining various elements and aspects of cards, miniatures, role-playing and board games, without being easily pigeonholed in any category. Epic in scope (the game recreates massive clashes between medieval armies rather than small skirmishes between a handful of heroes), the game plays quickly, with a typical adventure rarely lasting more than an hour. Deep and engaging, the game is easily set up - and packed away - nonetheless. It plays on a board map easily laid down on any table, or even on the ground, and uses pre-assembled, ready to play miniatures. As such, it is neither a role-playing game, nor a tabletop miniature game.

The game system lends itself to expansions and house rules, both officially sanctioned and home-made. Yet it is not, nor will it ever be, a randomized, blind-boosters collect- able card game or collectable miniature game.

The world of BattleLore is the one of history books - or, more precisely, the world of Europe during the Late Middle Ages. A period rich in major mass combat clashes, minor skirmishes and daring chevauchées;

A period full of characters so lively and colorful (among them, a sheperdess hearing voices before leading her troops to victory; a mad king - or two!; a man known as the Black Prince, and another as Don Pedro the Cruel…) that no one would believe in them had they been invented.

Finally, a period with enough geo-political twists (not to mention religious - never again would the world witness three competing popes vying for the control of “their” church) and military and scientific innovations (cannons and gunpowder, astronomy, …) to make anyone’s head spin.

You will discover this world progressively through the writings of one of the period’s leading chronicler - Jehan (Jean) Froissart. As a principal witness and the primary narrative source for this period, Froissart is widely acknowledged as the most entertaining, if not always the most impartial, chronicler of this troubled time.

As you delve into the Adventure’s booklet that comes with the game - Froissart’s Vrayes croniques de France, d’Engleterre et païs voisins - you won’t be able to help but notice that even the best history books didn’t quite get it right!

Maybe it will be the frequent sighting of mercenary bands of mythical races; or the rumors of the monstrous creatures said to roam the land; or the whispered talk of Lore, this arcane power that is said to draw as much from science as from witchcraft;

It doesn’t matter: soon enough, you will acquire the conviction that not all is at it seems in old Europe.

Contents: Over 210 highly detailed plastic miniatures, 1 Player's Guide, 1 Adventures Booklet, 1 double-sided battlemap, 46 Terrain and Landmark tiles, 60 Command cards, 60 Lore cards, 48 Summary cards, 2 War Council sheets, 24 Lore Master Tokens, 12 Battle dice, 1 Days of Wonder Online Access Number.

BattleLore Expansion: Call to Arms

Call to Arms offers you a new method to deploy custom troops and armies onto the fields of battle.

Rather than relying on the point-based army buying approach common to many miniature games, BattleLore's army selection system uses a novel, carddriven deployment mechanism, centered around the use of Deployment decks, Specialist cards and Feudal levy tokens.

In late medieval warfare, armies were often drawn up into three military formations, commonly called Battles or Guards: The vanguard, middle guard and rearguard respectively led, followed and closed the column of troops on the march. Upon reaching the enemy, the Battles would deploy abreast, with the vanguard moving to the right of the battlefield, the middle to the center, and the rear to the left. The deployment mechanics introduced in this expansion mimic the medieval deployments of yore, providing you with a uniquely fun and enjoyable way to customize your troops and deploy your armies.
This product is an expansion for BattleLore, not a stand-alone game.

Contents: 20 page rules booklet (including 6 new battle maps), 6 sets of Deployment cards, 10 Specialist cards, 8 new Summary cards, 16 double-sided Terrain tiles of Reeking Marshes and Treacherous Cliffs, 3 new Obstacles (featuring Archer Stakes, a Natural Stone Bridge and more Ramparts), 12 Feudal Levy tokens, 6 Supplemental Banners, new Long Bow weapon.

Scottish Wars Expansion

The Scottish Wars expansion takes BattleLore players straight to historical highland battles, but with a new twist -- Dwarven armies. The Scottish Wars feature 42 new figures including: 6 Iron Dwarves Cattle Riders, 8 Iron Dwarves Clan Chiefs, 12 Mounted Knights, and 16 Iron Dwarves Spear Bearers; plus a rules booklet with 5 new adventures -- Stirling Bridge, Falkirk, Bannockburn, Dupplin Moor and Neville's Cross.

Contents: 6 Iron Dwarves Cattle Riders, 8 Iron Dwarves Clan Chiefs, 12 Mounted Knights, 16 Iron Dwarves Spear Bearers, 1 rules booklet with 5 new adventures.