Kings of War Champions

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Well, I guess most of us have seen the new teaser trailer for Kings of War Champions.

Piecing together a few bits relating to what the game might be like, from Mantic-

One of the most exciting launches early in the year is Kings of War: Champions… even if it has been developed by that goblin-lover Rob Burman spits into a dwarven ale. Pannithor is full of larger than life characters that can sometimes get a little lost on the battlefield because the regiments, war engines and monsters get all the limelight

Champions aims to change that by focusing down on the key battles between Champions (aka heroes) and their handpicked troops. It tells the story of these heroes and their rise to prominence within Pannithor. Champions still has the tactical rank and flank gameplay and awesome hard plastic minis you love from Kings of War, but it’s been designed to play faster and take up less table space. We can’t wait to reveal more in the weeks to come

2025 - A Time of Champions

Now…the piece de resistance. We all know that there’s nothing quite like playing out a huge battle on a leisurely weekend afternoon.

But for those times that aren’t a leisurely weekend afternoon, what if there was a faster way to get your fantasy fix? Something filled with exciting and interesting decisions, and that makes it incredibly easy to get gaming, even if you’re new to the hobby?

We also know Champions is somehow still a “ranks and flanks” game.

Fair to say there’s been quite a bit of head-scratching around how a hero-focused, fast and easy game could still involve “ranks and flanks” without being very similar to Ambush.

We know that some or all will be new models.

Now for the speculation…

If there was no mention of “ranks and flanks” I think it would be relatively straightforward to imagine that this was a fantasy Deadzone, with a hero focus. So maybe you’ve got one of the teased heroes, individually based, and they buff and lead a team of several other individually based sidekicks (perhaps drawn from the existing Mantic model range, or with some resin upgrades or additions). A fast, fantasy skirmish game.

But… “ranks and flanks”…

I wonder if it might be an Ambush-like game, using individually based models placed on movement trays, where the champion selected is on the movement tray in amongst their sidekicks.

This movement tray unit, with the champion, would have rules representing the champion’s various attacks and buffs.

Because it would be a movement tray set up, rather than a unit of individual bases, there is the potential for bonuses for getting a flank or rear attack on them.

I think in order to keep things interesting tactically, there would have to be a few other units in play also. So the champion’s party might be the central unit, but they might have 1-3 other small multi-based / tray based parties of sidekicks. At that point, you’d have a mini game of Ambush, with one unit (containing the champion) that would have some extra elements.

It would still use some kind of nerve based approach to how the party lived or died. If individual bases on movement trays were used I guess you COULD do model removal, but I just don’t think Mantic would go to something that people don’t associate with KOW?

The advantage of having the champions individually based, but on movement trays, would be that they could be plucked up and used as individuals in Kings of War or Ambush main games.

Does the above appeal? I dunno. TBH I would still be more likely to be excited about a game of fantasy Deadzone. The “ranks and flanks” element is still a head scratcher for me.

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I would have guessed KOW Champs was intended to tap into the MOBA crossover market - Judgement having found traction in the miniature version of a video game format, and Malediction looking legitimately good as well (with $500k on Gamefound currently) - but that rank-n-flank thing really throws me too :thinking:

Maybe it is a skirmish game still, like Vanguard 2E, but they’re confirming that things are on square bases so have flanks? So don’t worry, no rounds here? Still doesn’t account for the ranks part :disappointed_relieved:

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For reasons of completion, here is the trailer:

I would guess you pick a hero and two to three troops. I expect Mantic to use Champions as a gateway game to ‘proper’ KoW. So multibases would be a clever thing to do. Maybe more synergy effects for heroes and units, like auras and the like.

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Whatever it is I’m fed up of the cryptic marketing. I get the impression its cryptic because it’s not for the current KoW fanbase so they’re stringing us along to try and build hype. It looks like a moba and that style is uninteresting to me either way.

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I don’t like that either, but I also guess this is aiming at people who aren’t in miniature gaming at all, which might be a good thing as new people who’s first ever game is a Mantic game are growing the community more over those who switch from other games once in a while

I am a little hyped by the named character’s in general because new heroe models are always welcome

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The art makes me think gaming, anime and JPRPG. Will definitely appeal to both my sons, so yeah, if they’re courting a younger crowd, not bad.

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I’m listening to Counter Charge episode 768 - Kings of War Champions, with Andy Burdis and Rob Burman.

Well, it’s certainly full of content which explains how the game will be. I’m about half-way through.

Some brief notes:-

  1. It appears to involve 4-5 drops per side
  2. Multi-based units, with ‘rank and flank’ play i.e side charges mentioned a few times
  3. Simplified combat rules, discussion of units being either “in combat, or dead” or disengaged. Units won’t get tied up, because with fewer units that could be “boring”, and there will be no wavering
  4. Forces will be called companies, and will come as collectible sets, no list-building it seems
  5. Lore and backstories will come with each champion and their company
  6. It appears that Champions is intended as a simplified gateway to KOW but they expect people will collect multiple companies and just staying playing Champions
  7. It’s something that can be played on a standard sized UK dinner table or smaller even
  8. Started boxes will come with everything needed to play, including cardboard scenery (?)
  9. It’s kid friendly
  10. Tokens representing something like faction orders will be placed face down on each of your units, and ‘revealed’ during play
  11. An overall concept appears to be that Champions will reduce perceived “barriers to entry” for KOW: Simplified rules, even fewer models to paint, fewer rules, no list-building, explicit explanations of rules on data cards for unit, inclusion of everything required to play etc.

I’ll offer proper thoughts when I’ve finished the episode, but I’ll be interested to hear what others thing.

This is a huge scoop for Counter Charge, and it’s quite interesting to me that Mantic decided that this was the forum through which they were going to release the first tangible information about the new game.

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