Maelstrome
Getting to know ’The Darke Age of Valon’
Alternative Armies have just released Maelstrome, a game upon which they have been working for over a year. Before the release of this grand and impressive product they thought it only right to give you a glimpse into the workings, pullies and levers of the Maelstrome.
The Game
Maelstrome is a set of fantasy rules whose main aim, we and the worldwide play testers agreed, is to provide a fast and easy above all fun system. Its rules engine is based on the premise that you and your fellows (or foes) should be able to bring a good sized game to a conclusion within a single evening of play. All without melee amongst yourselves over ambiguous rules, or over ‘who would have won, if their had been time to finish!’.
Being a set of rules designed for use with our 28mm miniatures and with the intent to allow you to field a BIG army while still being able to manage the play and wreak carnage on your enemy; it was vital that the rules were sturdy and reliable. Due to the unique nature of the world of Valon and the knowledge that players of Maelstrome have of the Fourth Age and the rise of Blackpowder the need for a familiar ‘feel’ to the rules was paramount.
The Relationship between Slaughterloo and Maelstrome
The core rules of Maelstrome are transferred from Slaughterloo, the world famous Napoleonique rules system which has been played everywhere for about five years. This means that any player of Slaughterloo will be able to ‘pick up’ and play Maelstrome very quickly and new players will find a streamlined and adaptable set of rules for warfare.
While Slaughterloo has massed Regiments of Infantry, Cavalry and Artillery the form of a Maelstrome army is markedly different yet quite familiar. Wylde Magick is the true ruler of the Darke Age and as a result while soldiers can be found still in massed ranks there are also Chariots, Arablasts and mighty Knights on horseback to contend with.
There are also the Mages that every race makes use of, crackling nimbuses of power trying to destroy the minds of other Mages or in attempts to guide the outcome of the battle. Be warned though, Wylde Magick is fickle and often a good blade is of more use…few Mages win battles. Then there are the Handlers and the massive Beasts trapped and forced to combat by even smallest Kingdoms and Mercenaries. War Trolls, Giants, Dogspawn and the Merciless Djinn, not to mention the Cadaver Giants of the Undead assembled from pieces of the fallen and the Wyverns and Dragons of the Dracci.
Do not think though that Magick and Beasts will win for you, Beasts are foul tempered and will often run amok, your warriors will have to stand their ground and the clash of iron on mail will decide the day. Your Army is made up of Bodye’s formed into Hostes led by characters, unit officers and ultimately a Warlord.
What are Warlords, Hoste and Bodye’s?
You are the Warlord in Maelstrome, the supreme commander, a Crystal Elf Marshall or an Orc Tribal Chieftain, the Head of the Army on the table; usually a superbly painted miniature! Under you are your command staff and then your personal Mage and Beast Handler, next come your Hostes. A Hoste is the same as a Division in Slaughterloo, a collection of units formed under a General. There are usually two Hostes under a Warlord’s control..but we have play tested up to six on each side! A Unit inside a Hoste is usually called a Bodye, a body of warriors of any kind, from Militia to Regular to Elite troops with a variety of weapons and armour. You can now personalise your units to a degree not possible in Slaughterloo by purchasing additional equipment, arms and powerful Magick Banners. As with Slaughterloo if you do not make use of a special officer one of your ‘rank and file’ soldiers are elected to the position, but as with Slaughterloo you can elect to pay for a special unit officer. These special officers Heroic, Aggressive, Dastardly and Cowardly each have advantages or flaws dependant on your style of fighting. You can also elect to have a unique character officer lead a Bodye of warriors, these are the nobility and the great…you could even take to the field as the Empress Morgana herself!
Assembling a Hoste to bring to battle.
Now that you know what is in a Hoste, how do you bring your forces to the field? Well you need a General to command your Hoste, with a Mage and perhaps a Beast. You will then use the points system to add up to six Bodye’s to your Hoste (only an exceptional General could control more!). Typically you would want to have a unit of Scouts, a unit of Cavalry perhaps a unit of Artillery (though this is rare for many races) and then three units of varying quality Infantry.
Alternative Armies is releasing a series of Hoste Packs (DAH codes) which will allow you to purchase entire Hostes for a great price as you have been able to do with Slaughterloo Division Packs (DAP’s). For example DAH004 - Legion of the Dead comes with over ninety infantry figures, artillery and two chariots and all needed command miniatures and a base for every figure. You will also be able to purchase Swords For Hire Packs (SFH) Mercenaries such as Ogres or Legions of Gnome’s at about half the price of a Hoste Pack. Of course our Catalogue offers full army lists for all the races. Though in the end, Hoste composition is entirely up to you. Any troop combination you desire can be used…shock tactics can prevail!
(See also Rank & Style Winter 2003 edition)
As always we aim to please! As you know we probably give the best value for Rules and Miniatures in The Gaming Industry.
DAMR001- Maelstrome Rules Book &
Maelstrome Army Book
So ORDER NOW your set of the Maelstrome Rules Book and Maelstrome Army Book for £20.00 and get a FREE Dracci Lord Miniature, DADC-1101-A, worth £8.00 – (some assembly and maniacal cackling required)!
PLUS we will send you a 10% Discount Voucher redeemable against your
future purchase of Maelstrome miniatures!
Maelstrome contains a set of 2 books - The Maelstrome Rules Book and The Maelstrome Army Book, both spiral bound with gloss covered full colour covers. Each contains over 100 A4 pages illustrated with a load of photographs and art. Also the Maelstrome Army Book contains General’s and Warlord’s Cards for the game.
Place orders by Web, Post, Phone how can you lose!
http://www.flintloque.com/acatalog/ALTERNATIVE_ARMIES_NEW_TO_WEBSHOP_1.html
Available direct from Alternative Armies or from our agents or from participating stores.
Maelstrome Hostes
(A full 28mm Hoste for Maelstrome with all needed Inf, Cav, Beast bases)
(‘Characters’ include Magicians, Generals, Special Officers, Beast Handlers)
DAH004 – Legion of the Dead (Undead) (96 Infantry, 2 Chariots w Crew, 1 Arbalast, 3 Characters)
DAH005 – Necromancer Hoste (Undead) (92 Infantry, 6 Cadaver Zombies, 1 Beast, 3 Characters)
DAH006 – Dracci Horde (Dracci) (84 Infantry, 4 Dracci Lords, 1 Beast, 3 Characters)
DAH008 – The Orcish Tribe (Orc) (75 Infantry, 10 Cav, 2 Chariots w Crew, 1 Arbalast, 3 Characters)
DAH009 – The Army of Dresda (Men) (92 Infantry, 10 Cavalry, 1 Beast, 4 Characters)
DAH010 – Hoste of the Principalities (Goblin) (88 Infantry, 20 Cavalry, 3 G Spiders, 4 Characters)