Fantasy Flight Games

The Invasion Begins

Published 1 October 2015 | BattleLore

The Invasion Begins

The Undead Army Packs for BattleLore Are Now Available

The Blood Harvesters were holding firm against the onslaught of reanimated soldiers and shambling piles of bones. Packs of Flesh Ripper Brutes encircled the Death Knights and closed in for the kill—until the black Barghests approached. When the Barghests let loose their blood-curdling howls, the Flesh Ripper Brutes yelped, cowered, and turned to rout, and when a group of Reanimates led the chained, shrieking Banshee onto the field, the Blood Harvesters also, for the first time in their lives, felt fear.

The Undead armies have begun their invasion. Terrors of the Mists and Heralds of Dreadfall, the two Undead Army Pack expansions for BattleLore Second Edition, are now available at U.S. retailers and in our online store.

A devastating war rages in Terrinoth as the Daqan Lords struggle to expel the savage, demon-worshipping Uthuk Y’llan from their realm. The war has now become even more brutal. Hordes of vengeful Undead are charging into the land, bringing vicious new tactics into battle. Each Army Pack expansion introduces five different types of terrifying Undead units, a twenty-card lore deck full of shocking battlefield tricks, and everything you need to muster and deploy an Undead army against living enemy troops.

Terrors of the Mists

The Undead legions march onto the field in Terrors of the Mists, an Infantry-heavy Army Pack focused on melee combat. Leading your battle lines of armored Reanimates and shambling Bone Horrors into the fray are mortal, magic-wielding Necromancers. Like other Caster units, Necromancers are able to fire lethal energy that's as effective against flying Roc Warriors and the Great Dragon as against Blood Harvesters or Citadel Guards. Beyond being formidable warriors, these sorcerers can also use their dark Influence to manipulate nearby minions into attacking after a pitched combat has finished.

Prowling alongside the infantry lines are gargantuan black hounds known as Barghests, who have stalked through the night and preyed upon the living since the dawn of time. The mere howl of these creatures can Panic a target unit, so that morale results turn a fight into a ruinous fiasco. Even more horrifying than the Barghests is the Banshee, a powerful, tormented, and cursed soul whose mere presence can make enemy units turn and take flight or feed the vengeful rage of the Undead who surround her.

You can learn more about the Undead units of Terrors of the Mists in our first preview.

Heralds of Dreadfall

Fear is one of the most powerful weapons the Undead units of Terrors of the Mists possess. The units of Heralds of Dreadfall may use fear to undermine and paralyze the enemy as well, but they also bring another insidious weapon into battle: the blight of plague, which weakens units and only allows them to move one hex at a time. Skeleton Archers, the Ranged complement to Reanimates, shoot blighted arrows deep into enemy territory. The Barrow Wyrm, a ghastly beast created from the husk of a dead dragon, exhales blighted breath down upon enemy units from above.

Charging ahead of the Skeleton Archers are Death Knights, Undead horsemen who have endured through centuries as their wrath and malice grew ever stronger. They have a greater combat value than any other Cavalry unit in BattleLore. So great is their Unholy Might that weakened units cannot even attack them. However the most unassailable Undead unit may be the Wraiths. These wretched, disembodied spirits can pass through other units, and only Caster units may attack them with an undiminished combat value. Always seeking to inhabit bodies, Wraiths may also possess an enemy unit, rendering it defenseless and destroying it from within.

Our second preview reveals more about Heralds of Dreadfall.

Lead the Undead—Or Fear Them

These Army Packs do more than introduce new units; they transform the battlefield itself, introducing new scenarios and tiles to the game and turning once green pastures of Terrinoth into putrid plaguelands, haunted forests, and decaying graveyards. What’s more, the arrival of the Undead faction compels any commander of the Daqan Lords or Uthuk Y’llan to muster new armies, discover new tactics, and even deploy forces on the field in innovative new ways. Now that the Undead are in play, BattleLore will never be the same.

Pick up your copies of Terrors of the Mists and Heralds of Dreadfall from your local retailer today!

Discuss this article
in our forums!

Alive vs. Undead

Published 2 September 2015 | BattleLore

Alive vs. Undead

Combating the Undead Faction in BattleLore

Armies of vengeful and brutal Undead are about to join the fray in BattleLore Second Edition! Soon two expansions, Terrors of the Mists and Heralds of Dreadfall, will bring a total of nine types of units to the battlefield, along with new lore decks and scenarios. The Undead offer any who command them innovative tactical possibilities, but their arrival in Terrinoth also means that the Daqan and Uthuk Y’llan are about to face incredible new challenges.

In earlier previews we introduced the units of Terrors of the Mists and those of Heralds of Dreadfall, as well as some of the new scenarios featured in these expansions. Today’s preview looks at what the Daqan and Uthuk Y’llan can do in the fact of such a terrifying, unnatural, and unprecedented threat. In addition, we've made the rulesheets for both Army Pack expansions available in the support section of the BattleLore Second Edition minisite. Even better, you will be able to test out your own strategies for fighting—or commanding—the Undead in advance of the official release. Wrath of the Undead preview events are taking place at local game stores across the United States over the next couple of weeks, and you can find out more information about those events here.

Keep Your Distance

The very touch of an Undead hand can corrupt living cells, causing them to disintegrate and torturing the spirit that inhabits them. Worse can befall those who approach the Undead—they may become blighted and weakened by a Barrow Wyrm's breath, or possessed by a disembodied Wraith . A Death Knight can charge up to a unit of armored guards or demon-blooded Uthuk infantry and, with the dark force of his immortal will, stop them in their tracks so that they cannot retreat. The best defense against the Undead is to keep your distance from them.

This means that your deployment might include more Ranged units than if facing another faction, perhaps even more archers than melee infantry. Yeoman Archers and Viper Legions , included in the Core Set Daqan and Uthuk Y’llan factions respectively, can thin out oncoming hordes of Reanimates and Bone Horrors before they engage with any melee forces you have deployed. The Siege Golem of Hernfar Guardians is a particularly powerful unit against the Undead since it can fire farther than any other unit and, with a result, damage units adjacent to your target. On the Uthuk Y’llan side, the Grotesque of Warband of Scorn become crucial. Their Bone Blast ability enables these Melee troops to make ranged attacks instead of advancing, and thus eliminate enemy units that have been forced to retreat.

The deadliest Ranged troops against the Undead, however, aren’t archers or artillery, but the Caster units of Hernfar Guardians and Warband of Scorn: the Greyhaven Battlemages and Blood Sisters . They have a higher combat value than the Viper Legion and the Yeoman Archers, and are the only type of unit that can attack spectral, ethereal Wraiths with full force. If you choose not to deploy any Caster units, you risk being not only overrun by these ghastly creatures, but exposing your units to possession and an untimely, cruel demise. Of course, the Undead have their own mages: Necromancers , who use their powers to manipulate the hordes of shambling, skeletal minions. If your opponent deploys a Necromancers unit, strive to eliminate it as soon as possible. By doing so, you'll render any Reanimates and Bone Horrors on the field more vulnerable and less powerful.

Call in the Cavalry

With archers and mages occupying somewhat fixed positions at a distance from the shambling Undead lines, you’ll want a smaller set of Cavalry units that can rush past those positions and engage in carefully timed and targeted melee skirmishes. Paired units of the Daqan army’s Riverwatch Riders make an excellent strike force that nothing can counter-attack. Together, each unit will have a higher combat value, so that these horsemen chiefly characterized by their speed able to take down even the most powerful units like the Banshee , or a trio of Death Knights. If commanding the Daqan, you might even deploy the Citadel Lancers of Hernfar Guardians alongside your Riverwatch Riders: with a combat value of three and the ability to damage supported units with results, they can easily mow down Bone Horrors and Reanimates, as well as fearlessly stand face to face with Death Knights and howling Barghests .

The Uthuk Y’llan Flesh Ripper Brutes have always been one of the fiercest, most effective units in BattleLore Second Edition, and the arrival of the Undead does not diminish their strength. Their Bloodthirst ability is particularly effective against Reanimates, whose combat value depends on their numbers. Flesh Ripper Brutes can also be dispatched to pursue and wear down the Banshee of Terrors of the Mists over the course of two or three determined assaults.

Take Flight

The Daqan have an incredible weapon against the Undead that Uthuk Y’llan lack: the majestic, soaring Roc Warrior . Overall, the Undead armies are best suited to melee combat, with only three exceptions: Necromancers, Skeleton Archers , and the Barrow Wyrm. The Roc Warrior, however, is best fought with Ranged units, which might be entirely absent from an Undead deployment. In addition, Mobility allows the Roc Warrior to attack and immediately flee before the next round. Moreover, should the Barrow Wyrm take the field, the Roc Warrior is the Daqan unit best able to damage it, despite the Undead dragon’s higher combat value.

Warfare Transformed

The tactics that you relied upon in your battles against the Daqan or Uthuk Y’llan factions may not be so successful against the shambling, blight-bearing, and horrifying forces of the Undead. Armies that won countless fights may now be easily defeated, and units that you may have underutilized in the past are now in a position to singlehandedly grant you victory. Not only has a new faction joined the relentless war for the realm of Terrinoth, but their weapons and abilities are about to transform warfare as you know it. Only the most innovative, devious, and brazen commanders will be able to triumph in these new battles. Only those who do not fear defeat or death will be able to conquer the Undead.

Pre-order Terrors of the Mists and Heralds of Dreadfall from your local retailer today!

Discuss this article
in our forums!

Experience the Wrath of the Undead

Published 31 August 2015 | BattleLore

Experience the Wrath of the Undead

Try Out the New BattleLore Faction Before Its Release

Armies of vengeful, enraged Undead are about to invade Terrinoth and transform the game of BattleLore Second Edition! The diabolical forces of Terrors of the Mists and Heralds of Dreadfall promise to unleash unprecedented horrors upon the battlefield and strike fear into the hearts of all who oppose them. They offer commanders a fresh array of strategic options and pose a challenging threat to Daqan and Uthuk Y’llan armies. What’s more, you can field the ghastly military might of the Undead even before these expansions are available!

During the first couple of weeks in September, retailers across the United States will be holding preview events to herald the arrival of the Undead. At these events you’ll be able to command the Undead units of Heralds of Dreadfall for the first time in a specially-designed scenario by the developer of BattleLore Second Edition. If you’ve never experienced this game's intense, squad-based tactical combat before, now’s your chance. And if you’ve been a fan of BattleLore for a while now, your retailer’s event offers an opportunity for you to meet other BattleLore players, engage in casual league-style play, and build the local BattleLore community.

Participating players may receive an exclusive alternate-art command card, a limited edition BattleLore playmat, or even an advanced copy of Heralds of Dreadfall. Contact a participating retailer in your area to find out what sort of preview event and promotions they have planned.

Where Can I Find an Event?

You can experience the Wrath of the Undead at the Fantasy Flight Games Center or at any of the participating retailers. Retailers are responsible for scheduling and publicizing their own events, so you should contact your local retailer directly for more details. Click on the headlines below to view the details of the upcoming event at the Fantasy Flight Games Center, or to view a complete list of participating retailers.

Wrath of the Undead at the Fantasy Flight Game Center

Participating Retailers Throughout the US

Store	City	State
Moxie Games	Phenix City	AL
The Deep Comics & Games	Huntsville	AL
Desert Sky Games	Gilbert	AZ
Fan-Quest	Yuma	AZ
The Game Depot	Tempe	AZ
Isle of Games	Vail	AZ
At Ease Games: Gaming and Tour	San Diego	CA
Black Diamond Games	Concord	CA
Dice House Games	Fullerton	CA
Emerald Knights Comics & Games	Burbank	CA
Eudemonia	Berkeley	CA
Game Kastle	Fremont	CA
Game Kastle	Santa Clara	CA
Gameology	Montclair	CA
Gate Play	Hilmar	CA
Atomic Goblin Games	Boulder	CO
Chaos Games and More	Pueblo	CO
Gamer's Haven	Colorado Springs	CO
Petrie's Family Games	Colorado Springs	CO
The Wizard's Chest	Denver	CO
Total Escape Games	Broomfield	CO
Krypto Comics	Brookfield	CT
Time Machine Hobby	Manchester	CT
Icehouse Games	Newark	DE
Bobe's Hobby House	Pensacola	FL
Borderlands Comics and Games	Jacksonville	FL
Dogs of War Gaming	Palm Bay	FL
Galaxy Games	Deland	FL
Augusta Book Exchange	Augusta	GA
CLS Games	Kennesaw	GA
FCB Comics and Games	Alpharetta	GA
Treefort Games	Fayetteville	GA
American-Swiss Partners LLC	Kailua	HI
Other Realms	Honolulu	HI
Mayhem Comics	Des Moines	IA
The CORE	Cedar Falls	IA
All About Games	Boise	ID
Beckmon's Gaming Paradise	Twin Falls	ID
Amazing Fantasy Lori	Frankfort	IL
Armored Gopher Games	Urbana	IL
Castle Perilous Games and Books	Carbondale	IL
Chicagoland Games	Chicago	IL
Dizzy Dugout	Collinsville	IL
Games Plus	Des Plaines	IL
Just For Fun Games, Inc	Peoria	IL
The Wandering Dragon Game Shop	Plainfield	IL
Wanderer's Refuge	Chicago	IL
Gryphon Gaming	Lafayette	IN
Reader Copies	Anderson	IN
The Game Preserve	Greenwood	IN
Collectors Cache	Olathe	KS
The Village Geek	McPherson	KS
Bluegrass Magic Gameshop	Louisville	KY
Dragon's Hoard Gaming	Murray	KY
Hard Knox Games	Elizabethtown	KY
Moonlite Comics	Frankfort	KY
Pet Shop Comics & Collectibles	Louisville	KY
The Rusty Scabbard	Lexington	KY
Cape Cod Collectibles	East Wareham	MA
Games and Stuff	Glen Burnie	MD
Tournament City Games	Frederick	MD
Eternal Games	Warren	MI
Evolution Games	Lansing	MI
Flat Land Games	Lincoln Park	MI
RIW Hobbies	Plymouth	MI
Crimson Dragon Games	Lindstrom	MN
Double Play	St. Peter	MN
The Gamer's Den	Cambridge	MN
Mead Hall Games and Comics	Minneapolis	MN
Game Cafe	Independence	MO
Meta-Games Unlimited	Springfield	MO
Pulp Fiction Comics & Games	Lee's Summit	MO
Valhalla's Gate	Columbia	MO
Rook's Comics and Games	Bozeman	MT
The Splash Page and Muse Comic	Billings	MT
White Knight Toys, Games, and Hobbies	Helena	MT
Atomic Empire	Durham	NC
Cape Fear Games	Wilmington	NC
The Gamer's Armory	Cary	NC
Your Local Game Store	Matthews	NC
Grand Cities Games	Grand Forks	ND
Little Big Wars	Fargo	ND
Paradox Comics-n-Cards	Fargo	ND
Game on Games	McCook	NE
Gauntlet Games Inc	Lincoln	NE
The Game Shoppe	Bellevue	NE
The Troll's Den	Kearney	NE
Adler Hobby	Hollis	NH
Black Moon Games	Lebanon	NH
All Things Fun	Trenton	NJ
Fallout Shelter Comics, Games	Highland Park	NJ
Curious Games	Alamogordo	NM
Little Shop of Magic	Las Vegas	NV
The Compleat Strategist	New York	NY
Coopers Cave Games & Paintball	South Glens Falls	NY
Millenium Games & Hobbies	Spencerport	NY
The Uncommons	New York	NY
Art of War Gaming and Miniatures	Cincinnati	OH
Epic Loot Games & Comics	Moraine	OH
Ground Zero Comics	Strongsville	OH
Heroes Haven Games & Collectibles	Mansfield	OH
Susiji	Vermillion	OH
Warzone-Matrix	Lakewood	OH
Game HQ Inc.	Oklahoma City	OK
Guardian Games	Portland	OR
Head 2 Head Gaming	Portland	OR
Rainy Day Games	Aloha	OR
Hobby Express	Cranberry Twp	PA
Six Feet Under Games	New Holland	PA
The Adventurer's Guild	Harrisburg	PA
The Games Keep	Cochranville	PA
Mana Core	Providence	RI
Comic Cellar Cards	Memphis	TN
Comix City Too	Madison	TN
Dewayne's World Comics and Games	Kingsport	TN
The Rabbit Room	Antioch	TN
Dragon's Lair Comics and Fantasy	Austin	TV
Tabletop	San Antonio	TX
Wonko's Toys and Games	Leander	TX
Blakfyre Games	Pleasant Grove	UT
Fongo Bongo Games	Riverton	UT
Atlantic Games & Comics	Norfolk	VA
Curio Cavern	Springfield	VA
Huzzah Hobbies	Leesburg	VA
The End Games	Charlottesville	VA
Victory Comics Group	Falls Church	VA
Around the Table	Everett	WA
Dice Age Games	Vancouver	WA
Fantasium Comics & Games	Federal Way	WA
Forever Knight Games	Olympia	WA
Otherworlds	Edmonds	WA
Ashalnd Fun and Games	Ashland	WI
Noble Knight Games	Janesville	WI
Sciuga	Milwaukee	WI
Four Horsemen Comics and Gaming	Morgantown	WV
Your Hobby Place	Martinsburg	WV

The Undead Are Coming

Will you defend the living, or harness the accursed powers of the vengeful Undead? Whichever faction you lead into battle, the Wrath of the Undead event enables you to experience the game of BattleLore at a whole new level!

Discuss this article
in our forums!

Unhallowed Ground

Published 21 August 2015 | BattleLore

Unhallowed Ground

Preview the Scenarios of the Undead Faction in BattleLore

On the one hand, the Undead seemed uninterested in attacking the town’s twin fortresses where most of the population was sheltered. On the other, an entire company of garish, inhuman creatures was butchering the Daqan legion, as a terrifying, screeching Undead dragon, whose very breath could sicken a seasoned fighter, circled above the fray. The worst part was that for some reason, whenever the Daqan approached the river, the Undead somehow became even more lethally vicious.

Invade the realms of the living and or lure them into unhallowed ground with Terrors of the Mists and Heralds of Dreadfall, the upcoming Undead Army Pack expansions for BattleLore Second Edition. In each Army Pack you’ll find five never-before-seen types of units and everything you need to muster a complete army of Undead, from lore cards and terrain tiles to detailed, sculpted plastic figures. Whether you prefer to charge straight into enemy territory, lie in wait for them to come to you, or send out small, swift strike forces, you’ll find tantalizing tactical possibilities in the new Undead faction.

Today’s preview introduces a few of the Undead faction’s scenarios, both offensive and defensive. In addition, for the first time, we’ll focus on how units from both Army Packs can work together. Once you have the entire Undead faction at your command, you’ll be able to both fully exploit the scenarios you choose and frustrate your opponent’s battle plans.

The Undead Invasion

For centuries the army of Undead kept away from civilization, lurking in graveyards, barrows, and bogs, gathering strength, and waiting for the right time to attack. The Undead never intended to meet the living on neutral ground. They always knew that the first step in conquering Terrinoth would be to launch an invasion, to charge towards the heart of the realm and lay waste to anything they encountered along the way. More than any other scenario, The Culling scenario of Heralds of Dreadfall brings to life that invasion. It invites you to place an Undead banner marker inside your opponents territory. To facilitate your charge, it also grants you the ability to spend lore to recover used Command cards, so that you can play Surround , Onslaught , or Cavalry Charge as often as you need to break through enemy lines.

The Culling charges you not only to invade enemy lines, but to occupy two banners—at least. Therefore, you’ll need a diverse force that can forcefully take a position and defend it well. A large group of Reanimates can move quickly and cover a large amount of territory, and the fact that they can regenerate makes Reanimates units difficult to eliminate. Then, you might deploy Barghests alongside them. These lupine creatures from Terrors of the Mists are a fast-moving cavalry unit thats can stalk the enemy and push them away from strategic locations. Finally, the Barrow Wyrm can soar over the battlefield, descending only to attack. The lore it harvests from eliminated units can then fuel your manipulations of the Command deck.

Periphery and Center

By contrast, Tip of the Spear , found in Heralds of Dreadfall, is a defensive scenario that rewards you for controlling a river-bounded hex near the center of the board as well as the distant high ground on either side. The Banshee of Terrors of the Mists is well-suited for occupying that key central hex. Her results force enemy units to retreat, while her Unwavering Aura supports adjacent friendly units, enabling you to encircle her with a defensive blockade of infantry or archers. A pair of Necromancers units might occupy the hills, where the powerful ranged attacks of these Caster units can reach distant targets and their influence can grant additional movement and attacks to nearby Reanimates and Bone Horrors .

Water Made Unclean

The arrows of Skeleton Archers and the breath of the Barrow Wyrm can Blight enemy units, weakening them and hindering their movement. But the debilitating taint of Undeath is so strong that it can transform the landscape. In the Terrors of the Mists scenario, Swamp of Corruption , all the water on the battlefield allies itself with the Undead, becoming dangerous for living enemies to approach. Friendly units gain the ability to reroll when in or near water, and victory points offer an incentive to eliminate enemy units who approach any corrupted rivers or ponds.

This scenario allows you to explore the abilities of the Death Knights, Wraiths , and Skeleton Archers of Heralds of Dreadfall to the fullest. The Skeleton Archers, with a combat value of two, have much to gain from being able to reroll a dice result. They can take aim at distant enemies while occupying a water hex. Wraiths also have a combat value of two, but since they are ethereal, only Caster units can roll their full value of combat dice against them, and the Wraiths can move through other units to reach the tainted water. Death Knights, finally, can ride up and down along the water, pin enemy units in place with a result, and because they're unassaible to weakened units, they can easily eliminate enemy units without fearing attack.

Return to the Grave

Both Undead Army Packs introduce a new kind of terrain: the graveyard hex. With a graveyard hex in play in any scenario, you can spend lore when one of your Minion units is eliminated to immediately bring that unit back to life on an unoccupied graveyard hex. Then, you must remove the graveyard from the board. In Dark Ritual , a scenario from Terrors of the Mists, graveyard hexes take on even greater power. Although seven hexes apart, you can move between the scenario’s twin graveyards as if they were adjacent.

Dark Ritual also offers victory points as a reward for sacrificing your own forces. By removing one figure from any of your units adjacent to a unit of Necromancers, you can earn a victory point. This diabolical practice won’t enable you to win the game, but might turn a hard-fought tie into a clear victory.

Foul Is Fair

Not even the parched, blood-stained territory of the Uthuk Y’llan is as perilous and foul as the regions haunted by the Undead. And while other factions have the ability to shape the battlefield to their own ends with barricades, only the Undead can corrupt the very waters of the land. It is no wonder that their invasion has struck fear in the hearts of the people of Terrinoth.

The Undead will launch their foul invasion soon. Pre-order Terrors of the Mists and Heralds of Dreadfall from your local retailer today!

Discuss this article
in our forums!

Heralds of Doom

Published 14 August 2015 | BattleLore

Heralds of Doom

Preview the Undead Forces of Heralds of Dreadfall

For centuries the Death Knight had enviously watched the living. Their joys, their freedom, even the fact that they grew old fed his rage, and only in executing those innocent souls did his rage find relief. Now, at last, the time for vengeance had come. The Undead army was mustering, and he was in its vanguard, ready to charge forward and slash the throat of every living creature in the army’s path.

The Undead army has been gathering strength for generations. No one alive now remembers when the cruel curse of Undead existence first fell upon these soldiers. No one can recall a time when there were not vague rumors of Wraiths stealing farmers’ souls, or Skeleton Archers firing plague-smeared arrows into villagers’ homes. Now, the Undead army is on the march, intent on unleashing plague, destruction, and doom deep in the heart of Terrinoth.

Heralds of Dreadfall is one of two Army Packs bringing the Undead faction to the game of BattleLore Second Edition. Like Terrors of the Mists, it features five different types of units, a complete lore deck and everything you need to lead a menacing army of Undead into battle. Today’s preview introduces the forces of Heralds of Dreadfall, from shambling infantry to a monstrous dragon, all hungry to inflict merciless vengeance upon the living.

The Deathless Vanguard

In the front lines of the Undead army are those soldiers who have served in it the longest, deathless and insatiable souls eager for war. Hordes of armoured, skeletal Infantry known as Reanimates spearhead the Undead invasion. The strength of these footsoldiers is in thier numbers– for every figure in the unit, a die is added to each combat roll. They are also virtually indestructable, being able to regenerate with a result.

Reanimates are composed of the essence of the first, cursed Undead soldiers who now occupy more recently dead human forms. The mounted Death Knights that charge forward beside them, however, still occupy the form they had when they first became cursed centuries ago. The terrible strength that these knights possess translates to an Unholy Might on the battlefield that prevents them from being attacked by weak enemy units. A unit of Death Kngihts rolls four dice in combat – more than any other Cavalry unit in BattleLore. By playing the Nightmare Presence lore card you can make these murderous warriors even more daunting, and add a to every combat roll they perform in a turn.

As the heralds and vanguard of your Undead army, Reanimates and Death Knights will be the first units to encounter enemy troops. The Darkness Falls lore card rewards you for sending these troops deep into your opponent’s territory. Played after a move step, it deals one point of damage to all enemy units adjacent to your forces. Such is the power of the Undead: mortals are wounded by the mere sight of them.

Vengeful Spirits

Wraiths are spirits so powerful that they do not need corporeal form in order to fight. How exactly a Wraith comes into being is unknown, though the cruel deaths that the Undead inflict on their victims have a tendency to create these foul spirits. Wraiths move more quickly than Reanimates or even Death Knights, with a movement value of three and the ability to move through occupied hexes. Lacking bodies, Wraiths are challenging for enemies to fight without using magic: Non-caster units roll one less die against them in combat. Should an enemy prove able to defeat a Wraiths unit, as they perish the Wraiths themselves will take revenge: play the Vengeful Spirits lore card at that moment to damage all enemy units adjacent to the dissipating Wraiths.

Wraiths may also take possession of mortal forms by force. With a result, a Wraiths unit swaps hexes with the target unit. For the rest of the combat, the target unit cannot counter, since they have lost control of their own bodies. The Spirit Possession lore card has a similar effect, but allows you to damage the enemies that your Undead spirits possess or move them in any direction, regardless of their commander's desire. Not even the Uthuk Y’llan have access to such a diabolical power as possession.

An Unnatural Plague

The Undead of Heralds of Dreadfall bring more weapons to the battlefield than swords and fear. The deadliest one in their arsenal may be the plague and its ability to Blight the enemy. Blighted units have a reduced movement value and, no matter their actual strength, are considered weak. The Skeleton Archers ’ Blighted Arrows provide one way to spread plague among your foes. The soaring Barrow Wyrm breathes plague, and with a result can infect either its target or an adjacent enemy unit. These shrewd beasts are created from the husks of dead dragons to fight in the Undead army, and they do so quite happily, relishing the pain they inflict on their enemies and reaping the lore of those they have slain.

You may also transform a hex on the battlefield into a lethal and infested bog with the plaguelands terrain tile. Not only are enemy units in the plaguelands considered weak, but an Undead unit fighting from within the plaguelands may commit any number of results to cause one damage each, even if the unit is ordinarily Ranged. The Curse of Decay lore card enables you to damage a weakened enemy unit, possibly eliminating it and turning the spot where it died into noxious ground.

The Undead Are Coming

With the units of Heralds of Dreadfall alone, you can muster a variety of armies, each with a unique strategic focus: speed, sheer combat might, plague, possession, and more. Or, you can use one of the included Army Cards to instantly deploy a swift force composed entirely of Infantry and Cavalry, or a multifaceted force capable of countless tactical moves. United with the units of Terrors of the Mists, your possibilities multiply. You might incorporate a Necromancer whose powers can make your Reanimates and Skeleton Archers more mobile, or a pack of Barghests to prey upon units that the Barrow Wyrm weakened or comeplled to retreat. No matter what Undead army you muster, you have fear on your side. The moment that living souls dreaded is almost here. The Undead are coming, doom is at hand, and the game of BattleLore Second Edition is about to change.

Pre-order Heralds of Dreadfall and Terrors of the Mists from your local retailer today!

Discuss this article
in our forums!

Unleash the Creatures

Published 6 August 2015 | BattleLore

Unleash the Creatures

Two BattleLore Reinforcement Packs Are Now Available

Terrifying beasts from the darkest reaches of Terrinoth have lumbered forth from their lairs to join your armies! You may enlist the fearsome strength of a brutish Mountain Giant. You may unleash a Great Dragon to fly above the battlefield and breathe fire on your foes. Now, you can bring bestial fury to your games of BattleLore Second Edition with the Mountain Giant Reinforcement Pack and the Great Dragon Reinforcement Pack, now available at local retailers throughout the United States and online through our webstore!

Unlike the units available to the Daqan Lords, Uthuk Y’llan, or Undead factions, the Mountain Giant and Great Dragon are too wild to be contained to a single army. Any army may take advantage of these figures, and these Reinforcement Packs offer an unparalleled opportunity to modify and customize your armies.

In addition to a detailed plastic figure, each of these Reinforcement Packs offers an entirely new pre-built scenario, which changes the fundamental rules of the game and offering you a chance to experience completely unique games. Alongside this new scenario, each figure pack offers three new lore cards to customize your lore deck and add powerful new tactics to your lore card repertoire. With new lore cards, new scenarios, and new creatures for any army, these Reinforcement Packs change the face of your BattleLore games forever.

Descend from the Mountains

You can loose the fury of a Mountain Giant upon your foes with the aid of the Mountain Giant Reinforcement Pack. This gigantic warrior seldom descends from the mountain fastnesses of Terrinoth, but on the battlefield, he’s a dangerous combatant. The heavy swings of his club can force even the doughtiest units to retreat, and if a cautious opponent decides to stay at long range, the Mountain Giant can throw massive boulders to bombard your foes from afar.

The lore cards included in the Mountain Giant Reinforcement Pack only enhance the brute force of this unit. Crushing Force reduces a strong building to nothing more than rubble littering the battlefield, while Shortcut allows you to forge a path through the forest and offers extra movement when you enter a forest hex during a unit’s movement. Finally, you may play Brute Strength to massive increase the power of your non-infantry units during an attack. With these lore cards in your lore deck, a Mountain Giant could prove to be unstoppable.

You’ll also have the opportunity to play The Sound of Thunder, a pre-built scenario designed to showcase the power of the Mountain Giant. In this scenario, the Mountain Giant has joined the Uthuk Y’llan for a midnight raid to free some captured warriors. The Daqan Lords must struggle to keep the location of these prisoners a secret, even as the Mountain Giant reduces their encampment to dust and rubble!

A Towering Inferno

You’ll also have the chance to loose billows of flame upon your enemies with the aid of a Great Dragon . The Great Dragon flies high above the battlefield, and its Mighty ability allows it to reroll any heroic results that it receives during combat! What’s more, you can draw lines of fire across the field with Flame Breath and damage an enemy unit adjacent to your target. Whether you dive-bomb a unit or blow fire across multiple units, the Great Dragon is a force to be reckoned with.

Three new lore cards give a fiery influence to any lore deck when you include the Great Dragon as part of your army. You may use Nowhere to Run to wreak havoc on units that supports each other, or you can play Nowhere to Hide to ignore terrain effects for your attack. Alternatively, your Great Dragon could start a devastating Firestorm , setting fire to entire sections of the battlefield.

Finally, this Reinforcement Pack introduces the Into the Fire pre-built scenario, which dramatically changes the standard rules of BattleLore. In this scenario, both you and your opponent begin on the same side of the battlefield, and you’re both trying to be the first to bring down a massive Great Dragon and claim its hoard of treasure. Only one side can be victorious in this epic contest, and you’ll need to fight both your opponent and the dragon itself.

Terrifying Combatants

With the Mountain Giant Reinforcement Pack and the Great Dragon Reinforcement Pack, new Legend units enter the battlefield. Now, you can command these legendary beasts, whether you play the Daqan Lords, the Uthuk Y’llan, or the Undead. Check back for more previews of the upcoming Undead expansions, Heralds of Dreadfall and Terrors in the Mists!

Pick up the Mountain Giant Reinforcement Pack and the Great Dragon Reinforcement Pack at your local United States retailer today.

Discuss this article
in our forums!

The Undead Legions

Published 27 July 2015 | BattleLore

The Undead Legions

Preview the Units of Terrors of the Mists

The Riverwatch Rider dismounted and sat down by the cool stream, exhausted, cupping his hands to drink up the water. He’d been sent to scout out rumors of marching, armored skeletons but hadn’t seen any signs of such a nightmarish, impossible thing. Still, when he noticed a skeletal corpse submerged beneath the water just a few feet from him, he started. Then laughed. Really, how could a skeleton march? But suddenly as the current slowly turned the skull over and the hollow eyes rested upon him, the decaying jaw seemed to smile. Shockingly fast, it rose up, quaking, immense, angry and alive. The rider screamed, scrambled to his feet, and ran.

For years, two factions – the noble Daqan Lords and the demonic Uthuk Y’llan – have waged a bitter war throughout the realm of Terrinoth. Yet now townsfolk and famers alike are murmuring that another army is approaching, as well-ordered and fearless as the Daqan, as ruthless and savage as the Uthuk Y’llan. The legions of the undead have taken up arms and are marching on Terrinoth.

Recently we announced two Undead Army Packs for BattleLore Second Edition. Each brings to the battlefield a unique range of units for this all-new faction, along with a specialized Lore deck, scenario cards, new terrain, and everything you need to deploy the Undead into battle. Today’s preview introduces the five units of the Terrors of the Mists Army Pack, from its shambling, mangled Bone Horrors to a towering, shrieking, untamable Banshee.

Raise the Dead

Centuries before the current war between the Daqan and Uthuk Y’llan began, a wrathful and corrupt general, Waiqar, made a terrible vow. He swore that neither he nor his men would rest until they had claimed ultimate power. But the vow backfired and transformed into a curse: Waiqar and his men never achieved victory, and instead were doomed to eternal living death. Waiqar is now known as the Undying, a powerful, commanding creature that the living dare not encounter. His men died as the final words of his curse hung in the air, but rose again as powerful undead warriors. As each of them are felled in battle, Waiqar and his disciples gather the dark magic that animated them and pass it on to a host of waiting corpses.

Those skeletal footsoldiers, known as Reanimates are the core Infantry of the Undead forces. Their strength lies in their numbers: for every figure remaining in a Reanimates unit, one die is added to each combat roll. Being already undead, Reanimates can also easily recover heath. For every result, they regain one health, meaning one figure in the unit – and one die in combat. Creeping alongside the Reanimates are kindred evil spirits embodied in a more chaotic form. Bone Horrors are animated piles of bones – perhaps human, perhaps animal, perhaps a mixture of several species. Since the spirit unifying the bones together never loses strength, Bone Horrors are never weak and do not retreat. However, the unyielding Bone Horrors can only move one hex at a time of their own will. If you spend lore to compel them though, you can double their range.

Reanimates and Bone Horrors are both Minion units, numerous, flexible, and inexpensive to muster. The End of the World lore card, in fact, enables you to command all your minion units at once and launch a huge, menacing assault against your opponent. You can also transform your slain opponents into friendly minions: by playing the Raise Dead lore card, you can remove one of your minion units from the board, whether at full health or not, and fill the corpses of a defeated enemy unit with those soldiers’ immortal spirits, so that your newly-dead opponents become a fresh minion unit, at full health and ready to serve you in battle.

Not all soldiers in the Undead legions are undead. Necromancers are living, breathing, mortal sorcerers who have been promised incredible earthly rewards for their enlistment in the Undead armies. Necromancers are a magic-wielding Caster unit, perfectly matched against the Greyhaven Battlemages of Hernfar Guardians and the Blood Sisters of Warband of Scorn. Always preying upon their enemies, the Necromancers’ result grows your lore by stealing it from your opponent, rendering them more vulnerable to your army’s uncanny weapons and grave-birthed horrors.

These corrupted human sorcerers are most remarkable not for their choice to serve the Undead while alive, but for their power over the Undead units that surround them. Necromancers may use a result to command a nearby friendly minion unit to move and attack. In addition, the Dire Influence lore card expands the Necromancers’ power over other units, allowing them to command monstrous elite units and charging cavalry. By combining that card and their ability with a cleverly played Command card, you send your entire army to attack in a single turn, surprising and overwhelming your embattled foe.

Release the Hounds

Many more forms of undead exist in the world than walking human remains. Some may never have been alive at all, but inhabited an undead form since time immemorial. Barghests are large, black, canine ghouls who may have never lived as wolves or dogs, but for centuries have been known to prowl around graveyards and prey upon townsfolk in the dead of night. They join Waiqar’s army not for power or glory, but for that chance at an unprecedented feast upon living meat.

The Barghests’ red-eyed and fanged faces may be terrifying, but their howls are worse. With a result, these beasts fill the air with that bone-chilling sound and panic enemy forces. Panicked units suffer one damage after combat for any results rolled during the fight – damage that cannot be ignored. As Stalkers, these beasts prefer to lurk away from the mass of troops and sneak up their victims. If not adjacent to a friendly unit at the start of a move step, they can move an additional hex. Barghests may also become invisible at will. By playing Release the Hounds , you can make one Barghest disappear, even as its howl resounds over the battlefield and panics enemy units.

Torment the Living

Like the Barghests, the Banshee is a wild creature doomed to exist somewhere between life and death. She does not fight in Waiqar’s army willingly, however, but must be captured, chained, and forcibly led into battle. A wretched, screaming Banshee is so Horrifying that a result causes all adjacent enemy units to shrink away from her, even as her Unwavering Aura of darkness and death gives support to adjacent friendly units. With the lore card Shrieking Torment in play, the Banshee’s painful voice forces your enemy’s nearby units to choose between suffering damage or becoming panicked.

A Banshee does more that frighten others with her horrifying presence and awful shrieking. She is quite able to stand up to a Chaos Lord, Roc Warrior, or any other Legend unit, rolling four dice in combat and requiring five blows to be defeated in battle. Even when wounded she grants her commander fiendish powers, giving you two lore for every result in combat if she has suffered damage. Few units in the game of BattleLore gain abilities from suffering damage, even fewer fill the hearts of enemy fighters with such tremendous fear.

Unleash the Terror

As commander of the Undead, fear is one of your strongest weapons. No Daqan or Uthuk Y’llan army can wield it so effectively as these legions of walking skeletons and shambling bones, stalking brutes and screaming fiends. Yet you cannot rely on fear alone if you want to conquer the kingdoms of the living. You must use your tactical skills to make the units of Terrors of the Mists as lethal and formidable as possible.

Our next preview will feature the units of the other upcoming Undead Army Pack, Heralds of Dreadfall, which you can combine with those of Terrors of the Mists to create your own fearsome and formidable Undead army. You can also harness the Mountain Giant or Great Dragon into your Undead army – both of these legendary creatures will become available soon. Finally, if you haven’t yet played BattleLore Second Edition, you can demo it in the Fantasy Flight Games booth at Gen Con.

Pre-order Terrors of the Mists and Heralds of Dreadfall from your local retailer today!

Discuss this article
in our forums!

The Hunt Begins

Published 25 June 2015 | BattleLore

The Hunt Begins

The Razorwings Reinforcement Pack for BattleLore Is Now Available

The Blood Harvesters waited concealed among the trees until night fell, then began wading through the river towards the Daqan encampment. But as they reached the shore, they realized there was no need for them to attack. Three winged creatures were ravaging the camp, ripping apart tents, feasting on the hapless soldiers, and carrying their screaming, bleeding prey into the sky.

Hunt your enemies or hunt for cover as these fearsome predators take to the skies! The Razorwings Reinforcement Pack for BattleLore Second Edition is now available at your local retailer and in our online store.

These vicious, nocturnal creatures are too wild and untamable to belong to any faction, but you can deploy them alongside your Daqan, Uthuk Y’llan, or Undead forces and use them to terrorize your opponents from above. Inside the Razorwings Reinforcement Pack, you’ll find three detailed plastic figures and everything you need to muster this unit in your army, including new lore cards and a cavern terrain tile. You’ll also find a pre-built scenario that shows off the Razorwings’ unique abilities and offers tactical challenges unlike those of any scenario you’ve played before.

Deadly Predators

The batlike, winged Razorwings tend to hide in daylight, but at night they bolt out of their lair and soar through the darkened sky, over forests, rivers, buildings and hill. No combat or movement restrictions limit these ravenous hunters in their search for unsuspecting prey. Once a target is found, the Razorwings plummet down upon the victim, tearing it apart with teeth and claws, then feeding until their hunger is satiated. With a Melee combat value of three, a unit of Razorwings can annihilate an enemy unit with a single attack. Then, immediately after they can stun an adjacent unit, marking out and paralyzing their next intended kill.

The included pre-built scenario, A Shot in the Dark, gives you a chance to experience the rapacious speed and deadly attacks of these nocturnal beasts. Unlike scenario cards, pre-built scenarios shape the entire battlefield. In A Shot in the Dark, the retreating remains of the Daqan army must traverse a battlefield bounded by rivers and filled with Razorwing-infested hills. Meanwhile, the Uthuk Y’llan take aim at them on both the left and right. The scenario alternates between day, when the Daqan can safely move forward, and night, when the Razorwings hunt and the Uthuk Y’llan attack, hidden in the conspiring darkness of night. You can learn more about this scenario in our Razorwings preview.

Harnessing the Winged Terror

You can lure the Razorwings into your army for six gold and deploy them as you would any other unit. Then, you can substitute the three lore cards from the Reinforcement Pack for others in your lore deck – although since Razorwings are a Flying Cavalry unit, you’ll definitely want to keep cards like Overrun and Death from Above in hand. When you muster the Razorwings, you’ll also be able to replace a hill on your part of the board with a cavern hex to serve as their lair. Then, during your Attack step, they may dart out, assault an enemy unit on an adjacent hex, and return to the dark cavern before the attack can be countered. Inside their cavern the Razorwings are safe from Ranged attacks, and sit eagerly waiting for their next chance to hunt.

As commander of the Daqan, you might incorporate the Razorwings into a fast-moving, cavalry-heavy army of Riverwatch Riders and Citadel Guards from the Core Set and Citadel Lancers from Hernfar Guardians. You would be able to outpace, outflank, stun and trample your Uthuk Y’llan opponents. If you prefer to lead the Uthuk Y’llan, you might unite the flying Razorwings with Warband of Scorn’s Doombringer. Simultaneously soaring over and burrowing beneath difficult terrain, your forces could ambush the Daqan where they are most vulnerable. Or the predatory Razorwings might join forces with the restless armies of the Undead, and take the skies alongside a Barrow Wyrm dragon, or speed into enemy terrain with the ravenous wolflike Barghests and charging, vengeful Death Knights. No matter which faction you choose, it is much better to harness the Razorwings than to become their prey.

Rule the Night Skies

If the Razorwings are fighting on your side, your opponents will tremble and cower at the fall of night. Yet the Razorwings are only the first wild creature to come to BattleLore Second Edition. Soon the Mountain Giant and Great Dragon will join in the fray, bringing incredible tactics and new scenarios with them. The Undead armies of Terrors of the Mists and Heralds of Dreadfall are also arising from their graves and marching to war, hungry to exact a terrible vengeance upon the living. With so many new units taking the field, there has never been a better time to take up command in BattleLore.

Pick up your copy of the Razorwings Reinforcement Pack from your local retailer today!

Discuss this article
in our forums!

Bring the Battle to Your Game Store

Published 24 June 2015 | BattleLore

Bring the Battle to Your Game Store

Announcing a BattleLore Promo Kit for Retailers

Retailers, with the Undead faction coming soon there has never been a better time to get your players into BattleLore Second Edition. The Wrath of the Undead Promotional Kit enables retailers to show off BattleLore’s brutal squad-based combat and gives players a chance to preview the Undead faction in the weeks leading up to its official release this fall.

In BattleLore, players pit custom fantasy armies against each other in tactical combat duels. They can lead either the noble Daqan army who fight to protect their homeland, or the demonic and bloodthirsty Uthuk Y’llan. The game offers asymmetrical victory conditions and an immense variety of battlefield scenarios.

The exclusive playmat and two of the armies included in the promotional kit.

What’s in the Promotional Kit?

The Wrath of the Undead Promotional Kit provides everything retailers need to create an engaging BattleLore experience in stores and develop local BattleLore communities. It features a scenario designed to help teach the game to new players, and the exclusive materials included make great rewards so that you can easily attract players to your event. The kit contains:

One exclusive BattleLore playmat featuring faction art and helpful reference material
A complete BattleLore: Second Edition Core Set including Daqan and Uthuk Y’llan armies
An advanced copy of the Heralds of Dreadfall Army Pack
24 copies of an exclusive Command Card featuring the Reanimate Infantry

A detailed Wrath of the Undead scenario sheet, suggestions for running events, and a promotional poster will be available for download when the promotional kits are shipped during the week of August 17.

How Do I Use the Promotional Kit?

The Promotional Kit enables you to host a range of different events at your store in the weeks leading up to the release of Terrors of the Mists and Heralds of Dreadfall in September. Use it to get new players interested in the game and introduce them to the new faction through demos. Hold a challenge event for veteran players to see who can command the most successful Daqan or Uthuk Y'llan army against the vengeful Undead. You can host casual BattleLore game nights and establish a BattleLore league for players to compete in. The downloadable guide accompanying the Promotional Kit will provide detailed suggestions for running a variety of BattleLore events. It also includes ideas about how to give out the exclusive materials as prizes and rewards for participating players at the end of your events.

How Do I Order it?

Retailers in the United States can order the Wrath of the Undead Promotional Kit now through our B2B store; Canadian retailers should contact Lion Rampant to place their orders. Unfortunately, the kit is not available to retailers outside of North America. Supplies are limited and orders must be placed before June 30.

Are You a Player Eager to Participate?

Players, if you're excited about the Undead faction and eager to participate in BattleLore events, contact your friendly local retailer to make sure that they order the Wrath of the Undead Promotional Kit for their store!

You Are In Command

You won’t want to be caught off guard when the armies of the Undead arrive. Order the Wrath of the Undead Promotional Kit now from our B2B store, formulate your battle plans, and prepare for war!

Discuss this article
in our forums!

Charge into Battle!

Published 17 June 2015 | BattleLore

Charge into Battle!

BattleLore: Command for iOS and Android Is On Sale!

Muster your armies, stake out your position, and charge into the fray! BattleLore: Command for iOS and Android is now on sale at the price of $3.99!

Based on the hit board game BattleLore Second Edition, BattleLore: Command offers you the chance to lead fantastical armies in intense tactical combat scenarios. The single-player campaign places you in charge of the noble Daqan army as they defend their homeland against the invasion of the ravaging, bloodthirsty hordes of the Uthuk Y’llan. In multiplayer, you can command an army of either Daqan or Uthuk Y’llan units and wage war against opponents from anywhere in the world. Both the iOS and Android versions feature intuitive touch-screen controls, cross-platform online multiplayer, and a 360º zoom view that allows you to see the battlefield from almost any perspective.

Fearless Warriors and Ferocious Invaders

The land of Terrinoth has long flourished in peace, its people making a living from farming, herding, and hunting. Now, the Uthuk Y’llan, a vicious, demon-blooded people from the desert wastelands, have sent their savage forces to invade, occupy, and lay waste to Terrinoth. The single-player campaign of BattleLore: Command puts you in charge of fighting against this terrible Uthuk Y’llan invasion. You’ll have to keep them from burning villages, stealing powerful magics, and conquering important fortresses if you want to win. As you prove your skills as a commander, more forces will come to fight under your banner, until you can field an army of not just infantry, archers, and cavalry, but even enchanted stone Rune Golems and giant, soaring raptors.

Multiplayer mode lets you undertake vicious tactical duels against an online opponent from anywhere in the world. For every battle you’ll select a challenging scenario, determine how much you and your opponent can spend to muster your forces, and choose a faction. When you advance in the campaign, you can also unlock powerful new units for your multiplayer battles, such as the formidable and swashbuckling Baron of Kell or the brutal demon, Ravos the Ever-Hungry.

You can add even more new units to your armies with the Locust expansion, now available for in-app purchase. The Locust expansion introduces select units from Hernfar Guardians and Warband of Scorn to the game, opens up five new maps for your player vs. player battles and gives you command of the Uthuk Y'llan in a savage mini-campaign to undermine the Daqan war effort.

Join In the Action

BattleLore: Command isn’t just a digital strategy game; It also provides an excellent gateway into the tabletop action. With the new forces of Hernfar Guardians and Warband of Scorn having just taken the field, ferocious reinforcements like the Razorwings and Mountain Giant coming soon, and the Undead faction on the way, there has never been a better time to get into BattleLore Second Edition. No matter what your level of strategic skill or your favorite tactics may be, whether you prefer tabletop, desktop or mobile gaming, you’ll find a vast and engaging and combat experience in BattleLore.

Download BattleLore: Command from iTunes or Google Play today!

Discuss this article
in our forums!

Time to Attack!

Published 11 June 2015 | BattleLore

Time to Attack!

BattleLore: Command for Steam Is On Sale

As part of the annual Steam summer sale, the Steam edition of our BattleLore: Command is currently on sale for $3.99! Don't miss this opportunity!

Prepare to experience intense tactical battles between fantastical armies! BattleLore: Command, based on the hit board game BattleLore Second Edition, puts you in command of either the noble Daqan Lords or the demon-blooded, savage Uthuk Y’llan. In the single-player campaign, you can lead the Daqan army on challenging missions in defense of their homeland. In the multiplayer mode, you can command forces from either faction and wage war against opponents from anywhere in the world. The game also features intuitive controls and a 360º zoom view.

A Barbarous Invasion and Brutal Duels

For centuries the Uthuk Y’llan have gathered strength in the desert wastelands near Terrinoth, using dark magic and drinking demon blood in order to become something more than human. Now they have amassed an army and are invading Terrinoth, seeking to conquer and ravage that peaceful realm. In the campaign of BattleLore: Command, you lead the Daqan army into the war to keep out the Uthuk Y’llan invasion. Its twenty missions take place throughout Terrinoth’s landscape, in island villages and at an ancient tomb, in thick forests and parched deserts. Each mission offers a different challenge, from rescuing captured innocents to defending the gate of an important stronghold. Over the course of the war your army will become stronger and gain new forces, growing from a few infantry and archers to a massive force with swift cavalry, giant soaring raptors, and fearsome stone Rune Golems.

Multiplayer mode enables you to wage vicious battles against a friend or simply fight the CPU. For every battle you’ll select a map, determine how much you and your opponent can spend to muster your forces, and choose a faction. As you advance through the campaign, you’ll also unlock new units for your multiplayer battles, so you can surprise your opponents by deploying the formidable swordsman, Baron Frederic, or the cruel and powerful blood sister Malaana.

You can even add fearsome new units to your armies with the Locust Expansion. Not only does the Locust expansion introduce select units from Hernfar Guardians and Warband of Scorn to the game, it also opens up five new maps for your player vs. player battles and places you in charge of the Uthuk Y'llan in a savage mini-campaign to undermine the Daqan war effort.

Go to War

There has never been a better time to muster your armies and show off your tactical acumen. New forces for the Daqan and Uthuk Y’llan have just entered the fight in the BattleLore Second Edition board game, and ferocious reinforcements like the Razorwings and Mountain Giant are on the way. BattleLore: Command provides an excellent gateway into the tabletop action.

Whether you prefer the valiant Daqan warriors and their runic magic or the mutated and diabolical Uthuk Y’llan, you'll find enthralling and challenging combat experiences BattleLore: Command.

Download BattleLore: Command for Steam today!

Discuss this article
in our forums!

Descend from the Mountains

Published 10 June 2015 | BattleLore

Descend from the Mountains

Preview the Mountain Giant Reinforcement Pack for BattleLore Second Edition

We have captured a handful of the Uthuk forces, and fate has favored us: these seem less tainted by monstrosity than the others. My captains hope our captives can provide information to aid in tomorrow’s assault. The captives have been secretly divided among our strongholds, and not even I know their exact whereabouts. Many of my men think this secrecy unnecessary, but rumors have spread that a Mountain Giant has joined the enemy. If this is true, I fear that no precaution could withstand the carnage this beast will create.
–from the journal of Commander Rowan

Mountain Giants are nearly legendary in Terrinoth. These fearsome creatures rarely stray from the cold fastnesses of their mountain lairs, but when they do venture forth, they can cause unprecedented destruction. When brought to a battlefield, a Mountain Giant could cause horrific damage to his enemies before he is finally overwhelmed by sheer numbers.

With the Mountain Giant Reinforcement Pack for BattleLore Second Edition, you can increase the power of your armies with your own massive Mountain Giant. Between the figure and new cards, this Reinforcement Pack offers new strategies for developing your BattleLore armies. Today, we’ll explore the new tactical options offered by this expansion.

The Giant’s Fury

The Mountain Giant is a powerful foe and it owes its allegiance to no single faction. The Mountain Giant in BattleLore Second Edition is a neutral unit that can fight alongside the Daqan Lords or the Uthuk Y’llan. Before you and your opponent muster your armies at the beginning of the game, you both have the option to draft any available neutral units and bring terrifying creatures like the Mountain Giant, the Razorwings, or the Great Dragon onto the battlefield.

A Mountain Giant is ponderous and slow-moving, but dangerous in combat. Its crushing blows can wipe out entire units with a single attack. Mountain Giants commonly use a large club as their weapon of choice, and their flailing blows may even affect units that they have not directly attacked. With the Heavy Swing ability, you can commit a heroic result to force any enemy unit adjacent to the Mountain Giant to retreat. Most importantly, this unit doesn’t even need to be the unit that you’re currently attacking and if the retreating unit has not yet suffered damage, the Heavy Swing deals one damage to it! By sending your Mountain Giant charging into the midst of your opponent’s forces, you can quickly scatter the various units in your opponent’s army.

Because the Mountain Giant is so powerful at close range, your opponent may attempt to avoid closing to melee combat with him. If your Mountain Giant can’t quite reach your enemies with his club, he can always pelt your enemies with thrown boulders. Instead of using his normal attack, the Mountain Giant can make an attack with two combat dice and a range of up to two hexes. Hurling boulders in this way allows the Mountain Giant to command an even wider area of the battlefield.

Tear Them Down

If you include the Mountain Giant in your army, you also gain access to three lore cards that you can use to customize your lore deck. For example, you may level an opponent’s strongpoint with the Crushing Force lore card. When you play this card, you can choose any building hex within two hexes of your Mountain Giant and replace the building with a rubble hex! Then, if a unit remains in the rubble of the fallen building, it suffers a damage and becomes stunned. Because buildings are the most powerful defensive structure in BattleLore, breaking a building into rubble can tip the scales of battle in your favor.

You may also need to quickly slip through the forests to make a sudden attack or support your other units. The Shortcut lore card allows you to move through forests without ending movement during your turn and if you move through a forest hex, you can move an additional hex. When the Shortcut lore card is a trick in your repertoire, your opponent can never be certain your units won’t suddenly appear out of the trees.

The final lore card in the Mountain Giant Reinforcement Pack benefits all of the deadly creatures and monsters in your army. Brute Strength adds two dice to the combat rolls of each friendly non-infantry unit and if the attacking unit is a Mountain Giant, you can add three dice instead. This massive increase in attack power may allow you to completely exterminate the toughest enemy unit or send them fleeing for the edge of the battlefield.

With the Mountain Giant’s unleashed might and these three powerful lore cards supporting your army, you can bring a new level of power to your armies in your games of BattleLore!

Make Your Attack

The Mountain Giant is a fearsome fighter, but he’s not the only creature arriving in BattleLore Reinforcement Packs. Check back for previews of the Great Dragon Reinforcement Pack and the two Undead army packs, Heralds of Dreadfall and Terrors in the Mists! In addition, you can find the first two army packs – Hernfar Guardians and Warband of Scorn – on sale at your local retailer today. Finally, if you're craving even more BattleLore in your life, BattleLore: Command will go on sale on Steam for $3.99, starting tomorrow, June 11th.

Explore the world of BattleLore, and remember to pre-order your Reinforcement Packs at your local retailer today.

Discuss this article
in our forums!

The Undead Are Coming

Published 8 June 2015 | BattleLore

The Undead Are Coming

Announcing a New Faction for BattleLore Second Edition

The Undead army was first seen after dark, the soldiers' and knights' fleshless bones glowing in the moonlight, the banshee's shriek echoing throughout the countryside. Peasants screamed and hid in their homes, and even the Citadel Guards found their knees trembling as they watched the stream of armed skeletons flowing towards the city. How could they defeat an army of creatures who were already dead?

Fantasy Flight Games is proud to announce Terrors of the Mists and Heralds of Dreadfall, two army pack expansions that introduce the new Undead faction to BattleLore Second Edition.

Long ago a wrathful and corrupt general, Waiqar, led an army against a great, noble mage in battle and was soundly beaten. At the moment of defeat, Waiqar vowed that neither he nor his men would rest until they had conquered the mage. But this vow was so filled with hatred that it became a curse, dooming Waiqar and his men to eternal, living death. Since that time, Waiqar has amassed a gargantuan army of Undead creatures, including numberless spirits that never served him in life.

Now the Undead are bringing ruinous horror to the realm of Terrinoth and transforming the game of BattleLore. In each of these Army Pack expansions you’ll find five different units and more than enough forces to compose a fifty-point army. Full twenty-card lore decks magnify the horrible powers of these restless armies while new scenario cards and terrain tiles turn the battlefield into a grave-strewn wasteland. Whether you lead them against the stalwart and noble Daqan Lords or the demonic, bloodthirsty Uthuk Y’llan, your Undead armies are terrifying and implacable force of war.

A sample of the figures and other contents of the Heralds of Dreadfall and Terrors of the Mists Army Pack Expansions

Terrors of the Mists

Creeping Bone Horrors and Reanimates emerge from their mist-shrouded graves to attack the living in Terrors of the Mists. Piles of disordered, fleshless bones bound together and animated by a vengeful, once-human spirit, Bone Horrors are unyielding and incapable of retreat. Sword-wielding Reanimates are decaying skeletons filled with the cursed essence of defeated soldiers. They still retain their human form but, being already dead, easily recover from damaging blows. Commanding your legions of these two Minion units are sinister Necromancers wielding deadly combat magic. These Necromancers are the only mortal servants of Waiqar the Undying, persuaded to fight for him by promises of incredible power.

Fighting alongside these humans and once-human creatures are prowling Barghests – monstrous and evil canines who exist to prey on the living – and a ghastly Banshee who has haunted graveyards since the dawn of time. The mere howl of a Barghest can Panic living fighters so that they suffer damage when trying to force others to retreat. The chained, shrieking Banshee is so horrifying that she drives her living foes away in terror. With a combat value of four, she is also easily able to defeat those few warriors who overcome their fear enough to engage with her.

As always in BattleLore, you can combine these units to create a custom deployment for the battle before you or use one of the two included army cards to shape your army. The Terrors of the Mists army features three units of Reanimates and Bone Horrors driven by three units of Necromancers. The Banshee and a unit of Barghests follow upon the heels of these shambling hordes to combat your enemy’s most powerful units and spread terror throughout the battlefield.

Heralds of Dreadfall

Even more Undead units take up arms in Heralds of Dreadfall. Grinning Skeleton Archers stand alongside Reanimates in the front lines and fire blighted arrows at your foes. A blighted unit only moves one hex at a time and becomes weak, less likely to deal damage in an attack. Joining ruthless walking corpses is a vicious, grave-haunting dragon, the Barrow Wyrm, who can blight enemy units with its Plague Breath in order to more easily eliminate them and harvest lore from their dissipating spirits. Similarly, you can establish a hex of Plagueland terrain, where living forces become blighted but Undead units grow only more lethal.

Unlike the shambling Bone Horrors and Reanimates that are constructed from the remnants of recent corpses, the Death Knights have fought with Waiqar since both he and they were living flesh and blood. With a combat value of four, the Death Knights are the most powerful cavalry in all of BattleLore, so terrifying that weak units cannot even attack these ruthless horsemen.

Wraiths are equally difficult to assault. These disembodied, ethereal creatures are difficult to harm with physical weapons, their only weakness being magical assaults from Caster units such as the Greyhaven Battlemages of Hernfar Guardians or Blood Sisters of Warband of Scorn. Wraiths can also speed straight through the bodies of other units, floating to the front of a friendly phalanx or slipping through enemy lines in order to attack from the rear.

While Heralds of Dreadfall and Terrors of the Mists each contain enough forces to form a complete army of fighting Undead, you can also muster armies composed of units from both Army Pack expansions. Imagine the power of a Banshee supported by Wraiths and Death Knights, or a Barrow Wyrm soaring over a company of Barghests and Bone Horrors. The Undead faction enters the fray with the same variety of deployments as the Daqan or Uthuk Y’llan and with the same vastness of tactical possibilities.

Command the Undead

Waiqar's army of Undead has risen and are marching towards the ongoing war for Terrinoth. As they draw ever nearer to the battles of the Daqan and Uthuk Y'llan, new forces are joining the fray on both sides of that conflict. The Army Pack expansions Hernfar Guardians and Warband of Scorn are already available, bringing unprecedented might to the Daqan and Uthuk Y’llan factions in advance of the approaching Undead onslaught. Commanders are also harnessing the wild Razorwings, untameable Great Dragon, and hulking Mountain Giant to aid their troops. With so many tactical possibilities for all factions and such savage reinforcements to enlist, there has never been a better time to join in the action of BattleLore Second Edition.

Muster armies of vengeful Undead, or devise Daqan and Uthuk Y’llan deployments capable of withstanding the threat emerging from the grave. You are in command.

Terrors of the Mists and Heralds of Dreadfall will be available in the third quarter of 2015.

Discuss this article
in our forums!

New Forces Enter the Fray

Published 5 June 2015 | BattleLore

New Forces Enter the Fray

The BattleLore Army Packs Are Now Available

The Blood Sisters proudly surveyed the gore on the battlefield around them, a testament to their power, cruelty, and wrath. Yet sudden footsteps warned them someone was approaching. They turned to see a trio of wizened, blue-cloaked, Greyhaven Battlemages, energy orbs glowing in their hands. The sorceresses laughed. “You think your magic can conquer ours? Alright. Let’s duel.”

Hernfar Guardians and Warband of Scorn, the Army Pack expansions for BattleLore Second Edition are now available at your local retailer and in our online store.

In Hernfar Guardians you will find four new kinds of valorous Daqan units along with supporting Citadal Guards. Similarly, Warband of Scorn adds four savage new unit types to the Uthuk Y’llan forces, complete with Blood Harvesters to lead the attack. Each Army Pack contains everything you need to deploy a formidable fifty-point army. An alternate deck of lore cards, two army cards suggesting deployments, and five new scenarios are also included in each one. With Hernfar Guardians and Warband of Scorn in play, you’ll engage in battles unlike any you have fought before.

Stone and Iron

Knights, artillery, mages, and automatons join the Daqan army in Hernfar Guardians. The Citadel Lancers, horsemen armed with double-headed poleaxes, trample supported enemy units that otherwise would stand firm. The massive stone Siege Golem can send speartipped missiles flying farther than any other Ranged unit in BattleLore; they also ignore other units when determining line of sight. The Greyhaven Battlemages are the first Caster unit to fight for the Daqan Lords. These fearless scholars of combat magic fire deadly energy orbs at the oncoming enemy even as they protect nearby Daqan troops. Finally, the armored Ironbound take the field: indomitable automatons with a combat value of four and the ability to ignore one point of damage during combat. You can learn more about these Daqan units in the first preview.

Blood and Doom

In Warband of Scorn the Uthuk Y’llan gain derganged infantry, blood magic, and vicious demonic allies. Our second preview offers more details about these new Uthuk Y’llan forces. The war-madddened Berserkers allow you to reroll one die in every combat roll, making them an unpredictable and vicious threat. The monstrous Grotesque can use their Lacerate ability to Bleed target units, so that the unit rolls one fewer die in combat as long as they keep bleeding. Fiendish Blood Sisters become the first Caster unit in the Uthuk Y’llan army, wielding blood magic that can bleed friendly units in order to harm the enemy. Following them is the ravenous insectlike Doombringer, who can burrow beneath the battlefield, ignoring movement restrictions and reappearing where the enemy leasts expects.

Fresh Fields of War

The Army Packs offer more than new armies for each faction. New scenarios transform the battlefield landscape and introduce novel challenges. You can learn more about these scenarios in our third preview. The terrain changes as well. Both army packs include barricade hexes that slash anything that moves across them. With the Crystal Spire hexes of Hernfar Guardians, you can use magic embedded in the Terrinoth landscape to increase the combat value of any unit that occupies one. The blood field hexes of Warband of Scorn enable your Uthuk Y’llan forces to sap strength from the spilt blood of their enemies.

Tactical Magic

Magic is central to the conflict between the Daqan and Uthuk Y’llan. Runic magic native to Terrinoth fuels the Greyhaven Battlemages and their Ironbound, while the Uthuk Y’llan revel in dark, bloody, demonic sorcery. New twenty-card lore decks in each Army Pack bring the tactical and magical capabilities of each faction into play, from the frenzy of the Berserkers and the rapid growth of their demonic mutations to the lightning surges of the Daqan infantry and the blinding light that Greyhaven Battlemages can produce. Our fourth preview revealed more about the lore decks of the Army Pack expansions.

You have always been able to muster a customized army in BattleLore, but now you can also customize your lore deck to suit your deployment by combining cards from the Core Set with those from an Army Pack. A custom lore deck puts the element of surprise on your side, keeping your opponent guessing about what tactical magics you might unleash next.

Muster Your Armies

Devise innovative deployments that combine the new units with those from the Core Set, or pit the Hernfar Guardians directly against the Warband of Scorn in a ferocious battle for the future of the realm. These Army Packs bring unprecedented options to the BattleLore arena that promise to entirely transform the conflict between Daqan and Uthuk Y’llan. Prepare to muster your armies and go to war. You are in command.

Pick up your copies of Hernfar Guardians and Warband of Scorn today!

Discuss this article
in our forums!

Night Hunters

Published 27 May 2015 | BattleLore

Night Hunters

Preview the Razorwings Reinforcement Pack for BattleLore: Second Edition

“The Flesh Ripper Brutes won’t be able to reach us up in that cavern.” The Citadel Guards climbed and scrambled into the pitch-dark space and paused in the entrance, catching their breaths before turning to look into the darkness. Three pairs of glowing red eyes were glaring at them. Before the guards could shield themselves, three pairs of claws were digging into their flesh.

Armed with deadly claws and uncanny speed, the batlike Razorwings are among the most terrifying predators of Terrrinoth. Bring these ruthless monsters into your BattleLore Second Edition army with the Razorwings Reinforcement Pack. You can muster the wild Razorwings in a deployment for any faction and surprise your opponent by unleashing these surprising, swift, and ferocious beasts in battle.

Inside the Razorwings Reinforcement Pack you’ll find more than the three sculpted plastic Razorwings figures and the cards you need to deploy this unit. A new cavern hex terrain tile brings a new element into the BattleLore landscape, three new lore cards enhance the abilities of your entire army, and an innovative pre-built scenario introduces a day and night mechanic, creating new challenges for the Daqan and Uthuk Y’llan armies.

A Hidden Threat

Razorwings are nocturnal predators who spend the daytime lurking safely in their darkened lairs. Once night has fallen, they emerge and swoop over the landscape in search of quarry. They then plummet down upon their unsuspecting prey, sometimes instantaneously rending victims limb from limb, other times stunning them first so that they cannot fight back. The range of these soaring savages equals that of a Roc Warrior, and they are as formidable in combat as a unit of Flesh Ripper Brutes. The Falling Skies lore card makes these vicious beasts even more fearsome, allowing them to exact revenge after a friendly unit is slain and ensuring that they’ll strike at least one blow.

Cavern hexes bring the Razorwings’ lair to the battlefield. When you muster the Razorwings, you can replace one hill anywhere on the board with the cavern hex. Units on the cavern hex are shielded from ranged attacks by archers, Blood Sisters, or Battlemages. If you want to eliminate the Razorwings while they’re hiding in their lair, you must come close enough to that lair for them to fight back. With the Hidden Threat lore card, Razorwings gain incredible strength for defending their lair. This card adds dice to the combat rolls of any friendly units on forest, hill, building, or cavern hexes, giving four additional dice to units in caverns. Only the most fearless troops would dare approach a cavern filled with Razorwings who use seven dice in battle.

The Perils of the Night

The Razorwings Reinforcement Pack, like the Great Dragon and Mountain Giant Reinforcement Packs, features a pre-built scenario that showcases the abilities of the new unit. Pre-built scenarios transform the entire battlefield, introduce unique setup conditions, and provide clear objectives for both sides. In A Shot in the Dark, the scenario of the Razorwings Reinforcement Pack, the battlefield becomes a narrow, river-bordered channel through which the Daqan must pass on their way to a safe haven. The Uthuk Y’llan threaten them from either side, and a colony of Razorwings, hungry for human flesh, haunts the battlefield.

Night and day alternate as players take turns. During the night, the Uthuk Y’llan army makes its move and the Razorwings emerge from their cavern to attack the Daqan, only to disappear completely at the break of day. Night’s darkness clamps down upon line of sight, so that the Uthuk Y’llan must move in to attack and so that Yeomen Archers and other Ranged units cannot fire upon Razorwings before the creatures descend upon them. Even worse, if the Daqan damage or eliminate a Razorwings unit, at nightfall another full-strength Razorwings unit appears to assault them.

Hunt Your Enemies

The Razorwings bring to your armies a panoply of stunning new tactical possibilities. Terrorize the Uthuk Y’llan from above by mustering the Razorwings alongside a massive Roc Warrior in your Daqan army, or combine their sudden strikes with incredible ranged firepower of the Greyhaven Battlemages and Siege Golem found in Hernfar Guardians. Create a Uthuk Y’llan army full of bloodthirsty creatures by uniting the speed of Razorwings and Flesh Ripper Brutes with the Doombringer of Warband of Scorn. These fierce predators will hunt down your enemies with unprecedented ruthlessness and suprise them with stunning, lethal strikes.

The hunt begins soon. Pre-order your Razorwings Reinforcement Pack today!

Discuss this article
in our forums!

Revolutionary Armies

Published 19 May 2015 | BattleLore

Revolutionary Armies

Deploying the Units of Hernfar Guardians and Warband of Scorn into Battle

If we fail to hold this bridge, the mutated hordes of the Uthuk Y’llan will set fire to our village and leave our people with nothing but the ashes of our homes. But you are the unstoppable, valiant men and women of Terrinoth! Your courage today will not be forgotten, and the Battle of the Last Bridge will be remembered as a brutal and absolute defeat for our enemies!

Muster armies of unprecedented might with the upcoming Hernfar Guardians and Warband of Scorn Army Pack expansions for BattleLore: Second Edition. Each Army Pack introduces four new kinds of units to the game of BattleLore and contains more than enough forces to build a full fifty-point army.

Past previews have introduced the new Daqan and Uthuk Y’llan units, the innovative scenarios designed for the armies of Hernfar Guardians and Warband of Scorn, and the new lore cards included in each Army Pack. Today’s preview takes a different approach, and looks at some ways to combine units from Hernfar Guardians and Warband of Scorn with those in the core set, revolutionizing your BattleLore duels.

We’ve also posted the rules for both Army Packs in the support section of the BattleLore Second Edition minisite. Download them and begin formulating your battle plans today!

Faultless Firepower

Among the Daqan units that Hernfar Guardians brings to the battlefield are two incredibly deadly Ranged units: the magic-wielding Greyhaven Battlemages and the massive, artillery-carrying Siege Golem . With a range of up to three, a combat value of three and the ability to shield nearby friendly units, the Greyhaven Battlemages can eliminate enemy infantry and archery units from a distance while they bolster your defenses.

Able to hit a target up to six hexes away, the Siege Golem has the largest range of any unit in BattleLore. It also ignores other units when determining line of sight, so it can fire upon the enemy from behind your front lines. With the new Spotter Lore card, almost nothing is out of range of the Siege Golem’s lethal salvos.

These two units could be particularly powerful in The Last Bridge scenario of the core set, which charges you to occupy a strategically significant river crossing. An army of two Battlemages units, two Rune Golem units, a Siege Golem, and a mix of Citadel Guards and Yeoman Archers has enough defensive power to keep the Uthuk Y’llan at a distance for the duration of the game. Occupy the bridge with the Rune Golems while the Siege Golem and Greyhaven Battlemages together cut down attackers. Another unit of Battlemages can guard the hill where your banner stands, or team up with the Citadel Guards to make a destructive incursion into enemy territory.

Relentless Bloodshed

The units of Warband of Scorn offer the Uthuk Y’llan army devious new ways to dye the battlefield red with Daqan blood. The diabolical Blood Sisters form a demonic Uthuk Y’llan counterpart to the Greyhaven Battlemages: these Ranged Caster units siphon health from their wounded enemies and wield blood magic that drains friendly units in order to harm the Daqan.

The Uthuk Y’llan also gain a terrifying new Legend unit: the Doombringer , a ravenous six-legged demon that burrows beneath units and challenging terrain, only to suddenly surface and devour the unsuspecting enemy. Nothing – not buildings, hills, rivers, or even a Siege Goelm – can stop the Doombinger’s movement.

The core set scenario Veil of Secrets shows how lethal these two units can be. Blood Sisters can occupy the forest and use their dark magic to fend off approaching attackers. As long as the building in the center of the hills is occupied, you’ll have enough lore to heal any friendly units bled by your Blood Sisters’ magic. Meanwhile, the Doombringer can tunnel back and forth beneath the hills, devouring Daqan units before they manage to summit the outcropping. With that all-impotant outcropping well defended, vicious Flesh Ripper Brutes and Blood Harvesters can take the offensive and earn victory points for annihilating enemy units throughout the battlefield. You could even muster two gargantuan Legend units, and send a towering Chaos Lord against the Daqan's front while the Doombringer scurries back and forth beneath the battlefield.

Warfare Transformed

Devise cunning armies to devastate your opponent, or deploy one of the suggested fifty-point armies from Hernfar Guardians or Warband of Scorn right out of the box. Take up an unassailable defensive position, or go on the offensive and sabotage your opponent from behind their lines. Once these new Daqan and Uthuk Y’llan units take the field, warfare in Terrrinoth will never be the same.

Hernfar Guardians and Warband of Scorn will be available soon.

Discuss this article
in our forums!

Shock Tactics

Published 29 April 2015 | BattleLore

Shock Tactics

Preview the Lore Cards of Hernfar Guardians and Warband of Scorn

The Greyhaven Battlemages fired orbs of deadly energy straight at the unsuspecting Berserkers across the battlefield, only to find their magic parried by tongues of vicious flame that suddenly lashed through the air. Before they could muster another assault the Battlemages were surrounded by massive Uthuk creatures, barely recognizable as human, each with one arm transformed into a giant, powerful claw. The Grotesque grinned and raised their claws as the Battlemages braced for the attack.

Hernfar Guardians and Warband of Scorn, the upcoming Army Pack expansions for BattleLore Second Edition, bring never-before-seen Daqan and Uthuk Y’llan forces to the war for Terrinoth. In addition to over thirty sculpted plastic figures, new tiles, and new scenario cards, each expansion contains a complete lore deck full of new and brutal tactical surprises that will frustrate your opponent and enable you to dominate the field. You can substitute the expansion lore deck for the Core Set deck entirely, or customize your own lore deck by mixing cards from the Core Set together with those from the expansion.

Today’s preview highlights some of each faction’s new lore powers. Some allow you to mobilize units unexpectedly and seize the upper hand; others allow you to interrupt and deflect oncoming attacks, or even pass through enemy lines unscathed.

Machinations of War

The Daqan army is known for its valor and courage, both enhanced by the powerful runic magic native to Terrinoth. In Hernfar Guardians, valor and courage carry knight units such as the Citadel Lancers through hexes occupied by the enemy in a Lightning Surge that stuns any enemy units you pass by. Valor and courage also enable a Daqan unit to Intercede when a friendly unit is attacked. The unit that would have borne the brunt of the assault is saved, and the intervening unit enters combat with a tremendous advantage: you can choose one die result, such as or , to ignore during that fight.

Runic magic and lore fuel the new Ironbound , allowing these armored automatons to be ordered regardless of their location on the battlefield. The Machinations of War lore card makes the Ironbound an even more fearsome threat, enabling them to move and attack during your opponent’s turn so that you might be able to eliminate an ordered enemy unit before it strikes. The strength of runic magic also lies beyond Runic Assault , which enables you to order two units beyond what your command card allows and play a second lore card that turn. With Runic Assault, you could launch an onslaught of unprecendented force, stage an unexpected two-pronged attack and outflank the enemy on both sides. You might combine this card with Lightning Surge to send several units charging deep into enemy territory.

The Forces of Chaos

Chaos is one of the best allies of the Uthuk Y’llan. Core Set lore cards such as Blood Sacrifice and Chaos of Battle enable the Uthuk Y’llan to unpredictably strengthen weak units and force the Daqan to disregard orders, move randomly, and make futile attacks. The lore cards of Warband of Scorn provide more ways for you to spread chaos across the battlefield and throw the Daqan army into confusion. Scatter allows you to pick any unoccupied hex during your Order Step and forces any nearby enemy units to move two hexes away from it, erasing any strategic advantage the Daqan might have held in that area and enabling your Uthuk Y’llan to safely approach a significant hex. By positioning two or more units adjacent to a target you can create a Distraction, adding extra dice to the combat roll of your attacking unit.

The Uthuk Y’llan also gain the ability to deftly Parry attacks, forcing the enemy to reroll their combat results. Since this card is played after the attack roll is performed, it enables you to transform an apparent Daqan success into a clumsy and bloody defeat. Finally, Mass Transit enables you to simultanously unleash the savagery of your Doombringer and Grotesque units. Play it immediately after your Command Step in order to disregard the command you just gave, surprising your opponent, and order three elite or legend units together at once. This lore card also enhances the destructive capabilities of any Grotesque units ordered, granting them greater movement and combat values that turn. In every sector of the battlefield, your most powerful units can terrify, lacerate, and devour the Daqan, leaving their front lines and battle plans torn to shreds.

Turn the Tide

Do you prefer to sow chaos on the battlefield by distracting and scattering the enemy forces, then taking advantage of their confusion and weakness? Or do you rely on the runic magic of Terrinoth and the valor of your troops in your quest for victory? Whatever the nature of your strategy, the lore cards of Hernfar Guardians and Warband of Scorn open up new possibilities for surprising, frustrating, and overpowering your opponent in any scenario or battlefield you can imagine.

Hernfar Guardians and Warband of Scorn will be available soon. Pre-order them from your local retailer today!

Discuss this article
in our forums!

Terror from Above

Published 3 March 2015 | BattleLore

Terror from Above

The Razorwings Are Coming to BattleLore Second Edition

Blackest, moonless night blinded the Daqan troops as they marched forward. Safety lay just across the field, but on all sides they could see the distant fires of the Uthuk Y’llan and hear the shrill whisper of poisoned arrows. Suddenly a screeching filled their ears, followed by the screams of a wounded man and the thud of his body falling on the cold ground. One of the archers rushed over and knelt by his fallen companion. The dying man lay gasping as blood streamed down his face. “Claws… death… from above…”

Fantasy Flight Games is proud to announce the upcoming release of the Razorwings Reinforcement Pack for BattleLore Second Edition.

Those who dwell in the hills of Terrinoth have long dreaded the nocturnal Razorwings, swift batlike creatures who swoop down from their cavernous lairs and bring sudden death to their unsuspecting prey. Now, these vicious beasts join the range of wild creatures that you can harness as part of your BattleLore army. Like the recently announced Mountain Giant and Great Dragon, the Razorwings can by utilized by any faction, but you can channel their relentless ferocity in battle and use it to thwart your opponents.

The Razorwings Reinforcement Pack contains three detailed plastic figures, the cards you need to muster this unit in your army, three new lore cards to customize your lore deck, and a new cavern terrain tile. It also includes a pre-built scenario featuring this new unit and offering unprecedented strategic challenges.

Night Hunters

During the day, Razorwings rarely emerge from the darkness of their caverns. But at night these bloodthirsty creatures speed through the air, ravenously hunting for victims to feast upon. Razorwings ignore the combat and movement restrictions of hexes, soaring easily through forests, over rivers, and above other units on the battlefield. Once a target is within reach, they abruptly descend, tearing and slashing at their prey. A unit of Razorwings can slaughter an entire unit of three health with a single attack – and they're still not finished dealing out damage. With their brutal, heavy claws the Razorwings can then stun another nearby unit, rendering that unit motionless and marking them for a future kill.

If you muster Razorwings as part of your army, you can replace a hill on your part of the board with a cavern hex where your Razorwings will lurk. During your Attack step, an ordered Razorwings unit may rush out of the cavern to an adjacent hex and perform an attack. Then, before the attack can be countered, the Razorwings can fly back to their cavern. Once inside, the Razorwings are safe from all non-adjacent units. Because they are able to assault even the most powerful units without fear of immediate reprisal, the Razorwings are among the most efficient and deadly predators of BattleLore.

A Shot in the Dark

The Razorwings Reinforcement Pack includes a pre-built scenario, A Shot in the Dark, that showcases the abilities of these incredibly vicious beasts. Unlike scenario cards, which shape only half of the battlefield, pre-built scenarios shape the entire landscape and create a unique objective for each faction. In A Shot in the Dark, a group of Daqan units must traverse hostile territory, bounded by rivers and Uthuk Y’llan on either side. Razorwings also lurk in the hills, eager for fresh victims. It will take several days for the Daqan to reach safety, and at night, the Razorwings come out of their cavern to hunt.

The scenario alternates between day and night each turn. Every night the Razorwings reappear with full heath and attack, every day the Daqan regain the upper hand and move forward, striving to eliminate any opponents they can find. The goal for the Uthuk Y’llan, with the help of the Razorwings, is to kill as many Daqan troops as they can. The Daqan seek to reach the safe haven that lies across the battlefield, and to rid this region of the rapacious Razorwings that menace its people. If they can accomplish either, they will achieve victory.

Unleash the Terror

Deploy Razorwings in your Daqan forces together with the massive Roc Warriors or alongside the Siege Golem of the Hernfar Guardians Army Pack in order to terrorize the Uthuk Y’llan from the skies. Or, match Razorwings with the burrowing Doombringer of Warband of Scorn in your Uthuk Y’llan army, so that you can threaten the Daqan simultaneously from both above and below. Whichever faction you play, the Razorwings’ savage and sudden assaults will fill your enemies’ hearts with fear.

The Razorwings Reinforcement Pack will be available in the second quarter of 2015. In the meantime, visit the BattleLore Second Edition website for more information and details about other upcoming expansions.

Discuss this article
in our forums!

The Lay of the Battlefield

Published 13 February 2015 | BattleLore

The Lay of the Battlefield

Preview the New Scenarios of Hernfar Guardians and Warband of Scorn

Poisoned arrows darkened the skies but the horses were galloping too fast to be hit. They charged straight into the midst of the half-demon archers: some fell beneath the horses’ trampling hooves, others simply fled. Then the horses stopped cold. Standing between the Citadel Lancers and their goal was a tall, bloodied barricade of spears, sharpened wood staves, and bones. The men exchanged determined glances, and prepared their horses for the perilous jump…

Charge forward with Hernfar Guardians and Warband of Scorn, the new Army Pack expansions for BattleLore Second Edition. In Hernfar Guardians you’ll find thirty-four sculpted plastic figures: four new Daqan units adept at breaking enemy lines and defending prized positions, along with the Citadel Guards to support them. Warband of Scorn contains thirty-seven Uthuk Y'llan figures: three units of Blood Harvesters and four new units certain to make your opponent’s army bleed in every fight.

Earlier previews have provided in-depth introductions to the units of Hernfar Guardians and those of Warband of Scorn. We also previewed the Army cards of each expansion, which suggest battle-ready offensive and defensive armies made from only the units included in the Army Pack. Today’s preview will look at some of the new scenario cards, which not only transform your battlefield into a fresh and treacherous landscape, but also offer new strategic challenges to overcome.

Spires and Lore

In Hernfar Guardians, the Daqan army must not only protect the homes and fields of the people of Terrinoth, but also prevent the realm’s powerful magic runes and crystals from falling into the wrong hands. One new scenario card, The Ruins of Lore, charges you specifically with keeping the attacking Uthuk Y’llan army away from two powerful crystal spires embedded in the landscape. For every turn you can keep the spires safe, you gain a victory point.

Crystal spire hexes are introduced to BattleLore for the first time in Hernfar Guardians. When one of your units occupies a crystal spire at the beginning of their Move Step, you can roll an additional die for that unit during combat that turn. In The Ruins of Lore, Crystal Spires also provide you with one lore if you occupy them at the end of your turn. That lore may then be spent to move a unit at the end of the round, allowing you to pursue the Uthuk Y’llan during combat and then pull back, or move a friendly unit that was forced to retreat back into position. You may want to occupy one crystal spire with a Siege Golem, whose artillery can eradicate enemy forces long before they enter your territory.

In the Behind the Lines scenario, however, your goal is to penetrate deep into territory occupied by the enemy. In setup, you’ll place a Daqan faction banner marker behind enemy lines, which grants your Daqan units an additional victory point for occupying that spot. Regardless of your opponents’ goals, you must focus on attaining that position and holding it at all costs. To do so, you’ll need strong, swift units like the Citadel Lancers, who can either rupture or skirt the enemy lines. Citadel Guards or Greyhaven Battlemages can then follow the cavalry, claim the faction banner marker, and defend it until your victory is complete.

A Bloodied Battlefield

What the Daqan seek to defend, the vicious and fearless Uthuk Y’llan seek to raid, ravage, and destroy – and the more Daqan soldiers they slaughter in the process, the better. Two of the five scenarios in Warband of Scorn give you victory points for the enemy units you slay. In The Blood-Stained Forest, you earn a victory point whenever a friendly unit in a forest hex eliminates an enemy unit. Since your Caster units ignore the combat restrictions of forests in this scenario, you might send your Blood Sisters into the trees to unleash their dark magic against the enemy.

As The Blood-Stained Forest focuses on Caster units, Bleeding Skies rewards your Ranged units for every enemy unit they destroy. You might, therefore, muster your Blood Sisters together with Viper Legion units from the core set, so they can fill the skies with demonic magic and poisoned arrows. Bleeding Skies also encourages you to turn the terrain itself into a weapon, giving you extra incentive to use the new barricade hexes featured in both Warband of Scorn and Hernfar Guardians. These hexes impede movement, block retreats, and deal a point of damage to any unit that moves through them. When an enemy unit stops on a barricade hex in Bleeding Skies, moreover, you may roll one die to see if the barricade deals any additional damage.

Barricade hexes make your territory difficult and dangerous for enemy units to enter, but they may also hinder the movement of your own forces. Fortunately, the ravenous Doombringer can burrow beneath barricades, hills, buildings, forests, and even other units, only to surface in the middle of the enemy’s troops and greedily devour them, freeing the rest of the Uthuk Y'llan army to lacerate any attackers.

Defend or Destroy?

Will you protect the rich fields and noble people of Terrinoth, or delight in ravaging their land and drawing Daqan blood? Will you fortify your position with barricades and rain destruction from the skies, or charge foward in the hope of breaking through enemy lines? Whichever you prefer, these Army Pack expansions offer new ways to achieve victory and fresh battlefield challenges for you to overcome.

Pre-order Warband of Scorn and Hernfar Guardians from your local retailer today!

Discuss this article
in our forums!

Beasts of Legend

Published 27 January 2015 | BattleLore

Beasts of Legend

Announcing Two New Reinforcement Packs for BattleLore Second Edition

The dragon stirred restlessly on its hoard, sending gold and jewels cascading down the sides. It could sense a thief approaching, already close. When the thief arrived, he would be greeted with snapping teeth, rending claws, and a blazing stream of fire, but for now, the dragon could only impatiently wait. Then the ground began to rumble beneath the steps of the approaching thief, and the dragon realized its foe may be a worthy challenger.

Fantasy Flight Games is proud to announce the first Reinforcement Packs for BattleLore Second Edition: the Mountain Giant Reinforcement Pack and the Great Dragon Reinforcement Pack!

Legendary creatures have strode across the battlefields of BattleLore Second Edition since the days of the Core Set. Roc Warriors and Chaos Lords currently serve the Daqan Lords and the Uthuk Y’llan, while Siege Golems and Doombringers will soon arrive with the upcoming release of Hernfar Guardians and Warband of Scorn. You can easily build an army around these legend units, and each one can deal unprecedented destruction to your opponent’s forces.

But some creatures are wild by nature; they cannot be controlled by one army. They may be temporarily harnessed for battle, but in the end, they can never be tamed. Mountain Giants and Great Dragons are two such creatures, and you can bring their might to your battles with these Reinforcement Packs.

Both the Mountain Giant Reinforcement Pack and the Great Dragon Reinforcement Pack contain a detailed plastic figure, the cards you need to muster this unit in your army, three new lore cards to customize your lore deck, and a new terrain tile. In addition, each Reinforcement Pack offers a pre-constructed scenario that highlights the new unit and challenges you to fight for victory in entirely new ways.

From the Mountains

The mountains of Terrinoth are home to terrifying beasts of all kinds, including the Mountain Giants. These enormous humanoids are usually content to stay close to their lairs, but when one is enticed to venture out, the very ground shakes beneath his massive feet. A Mountain Giant is undeniably a fearsome combatant on the field of battle. He can cast boulders with stunning accuracy at your foes or cut a swath around himself with his club.

A Mountain Giant’s strength can also reduce the buildings of the realm to nothing more than rubble. By playing the Crushing Force lore card, you can replace a building hex near the Mountain Giant with a rubble hex – terrain which provides no benefits and damages any unit that enters! Two other lore cards are also included in this Reinforcement Pack, and if you field the Mountain Giant in your army, you can include these cards in your lore deck.

You’ll aid the Uthuk Y’llan with the Mountain Giant’s power in the included pre-built scenario, The Sound of Thunder. In this scenario, the Daqan Lords have taken a handful of Blood Harvesters captive, but an Uthuk Y’llan raiding party has assembled to free the prisoners – and they’ve enlisted a Mountain Giant to help. The Daqan Lords must protect the prisoners while the Uthuk Y’llan use the Mountain Giant to destroy buildings and liberate the captives. Although this scenario puts the Mountain Giant under the command of the Uthuk Y’llan, you can bring the Mountain Giant’s strength to any army in your other games of BattleLore.

Nowhere to Run

In all Terrinoth, few creatures can match the might and ferocity of a Great Dragon. These beasts commonly collect treasure of all kinds into a massive hoard, and they would face any odds rather than see a single piece stolen from its glittering mass. Unfortunately for would-be thieves, a Great Dragon is well equipped to defend its loot. A Great Dragon in the service of an army is a terrifying thing – it flies across the battlefield, breathing plumes of flame on any who cross its path.

When you muster a Great Dragon in your army, you must place the hoard terrain hex underneath it. The hoard is full of all kinds of treasure, and if the enemy occupies it at the start of his turn, he claims the treasure as victory points. Thankfully, the Great Dragon watches over its loot vigilantly. Whenever ordered, a Great Dragon may return to the hoard hex instead of moving and attacking. You may even use the Great Dragon’s Firestorm lore card to dissuade enemy units from approaching the hoard. Firestorm places inferno markers next to an enemy unit, and whenever a unit enters an inferno marker, it takes a damage.

Even without a supporting army, a Great Dragon is a dangerous foe. In the Into the Fire pre-built scenario, the Daqan Lords and the Uthuk Y’llan compete to claim the dragon’s hoard. Both armies start on the same edge of the battlefield, and they must compete to overpower the Great Dragon and be the first to claim its hoard. The task may sound simple, but the Great Dragon is a mighty combatant, and your opponent’s army is just as desperate for treasure as your own. You can introduce fiery danger to every game of BattleLore Second Edition with the Great Dragon Reinforcement Pack.

Reinforcements on the Way

New reinforcements for your armies arrive as legendary creatures walk and fly onto the battlefields of Terrinoth. Will you call upon the might of a Mountain Giant, or unleash an inferno with the Great Dragon? The choice is yours.

Look for the Mountain Giant Reinforcement Pack and the Great Dragon Reinforcement Pack at your local retailer in the second quarter of 2015!

Discuss this article
in our forums!

Fantasy Flight Games

The Invasion Begins

The Invasion Begins

Terrors of the Mists

Heralds of Dreadfall

Lead the Undead—Or Fear Them

Alive vs. Undead

Alive vs. Undead

Keep Your Distance

Call in the Cavalry

Take Flight

Warfare Transformed

Experience the Wrath of the Undead

Experience the Wrath of the Undead

Where Can I Find an Event?

Wrath of the Undead at the Fantasy Flight Game Center

Participating Retailers Throughout the US

The Undead Are Coming

Unhallowed Ground

Unhallowed Ground

The Undead Invasion

Periphery and Center

Water Made Unclean

Return to the Grave

Foul Is Fair

Heralds of Doom

Heralds of Doom

The Deathless Vanguard

Vengeful Spirits

$(document).ready(function() { var opts = { iframe: true, innerHeight: 482, innerWidth: 350 }; $('#7EA8').colorbox(opts); }); An Unnatural Plague

The Undead Are Coming

Unleash the Creatures

Unleash the Creatures

Descend from the Mountains

A Towering Inferno

Terrifying Combatants

The Undead Legions

The Undead Legions

Raise the Dead

Release the Hounds

Torment the Living

Unleash the Terror

The Hunt Begins

The Hunt Begins

Deadly Predators

Harnessing the Winged Terror

$(document).ready(function() { var opts = { iframe: true, innerHeight: 372, innerWidth: 600 }; $('#C203').colorbox(opts); });

Rule the Night Skies

Bring the Battle to Your Game Store

Bring the Battle to Your Game Store

What’s in the Promotional Kit?

How Do I Use the Promotional Kit?

How Do I Order it?

Are You a Player Eager to Participate?

You Are In Command

Charge into Battle!

Charge into Battle!

Fearless Warriors and Ferocious Invaders

Join In the Action

Time to Attack!

Time to Attack!

A Barbarous Invasion and Brutal Duels

Go to War

Descend from the Mountains

Descend from the Mountains

The Giant’s Fury

Tear Them Down

Make Your Attack

The Undead Are Coming

The Undead Are Coming

Terrors of the Mists

Heralds of Dreadfall

Command the Undead

New Forces Enter the Fray

New Forces Enter the Fray

Stone and Iron

Blood and Doom

Fresh Fields of War

Tactical Magic

Muster Your Armies

An Unnatural Plague