Game: BattleLore: Call to Arms

Thread: Re: Help I can't read French! Is there a printing error?

Aljovin — 2008-11-28T16:21:57+00:00

plpompey wrote:
I just got my copy of Call to arms, opened it up and read through the rules. "Excellent!" I thought lets take a look a the cards.

All of the text on the cards is in French! The rule summary cards, the specialist cards; all in the language from across the water.

I have nothing against the French language, I just can't understand it.

Everything else in the box is in English, even the cover. What can I do?
Learn French?

Yeah, I would try contacting FFG, like ColtsFan76 said. You'll probably be able to get replacements. Alternatively, you could go back to your FLGS and have them change it?

Thread: Re: Help I can't read French! Is there a printing error?

ColtsFan76 — 2008-11-28T11:48:15+00:00

Sounds like they mixed up the components when they collated it.

DOW no longer has any product. Everything has been sent to FFG as part of the sale. Fortunately, FFG has one of the best Customer Service contacts in the industry.

Contact Thaadd in Customer Service at this link and tell her your problem.
http://new.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_atencion.asp

Thread: Help I can't read French! Is there a printing error?

plpompey — 2008-11-28T10:18:38+00:00

I just got my copy of Call to arms, opened it up and read through the rules. "Excellent!" I thought lets take a look a the cards.

All of the text on the cards is in French! The rule summary cards, the specialist cards; all in the language from across the water.

I have nothing against the French language, I just can't understand it.

Everything else in the box is in English, even the cover. What can I do?

Thread: Re: Baseline?

Felkor — 2008-11-20T13:38:23+00:00

CTA lets you set your army up from scratch. You're given some choice about where to put your army, and you're able to take specialist cards which give you special abilities.

CTA definitely starts to shine more when combined with other expansions. I don't think you need to buy CTA immediately. I had my game quite awhile and enjoyed the premade scenarios for a long time before I pulled out CTA. I think it's good, but for my personal preference, I would have rathered to have gotten some of the other expansions first and then got CTA later.

But if building your own army is more exciting to you than using the scenarios, I say go for it.

Thread: Re: Baseline?

sagitar — 2008-11-20T12:56:47+00:00

I'm not sure if I undestand what is so good about CTA.

as I understand it you're told where to stick your units in the original game, but if you buy CTA you're more free to put them where you like?
Hm, do you need an expansion to decide that?

Thread: Re: Baseline?

sagitar — 2008-11-20T12:51:36+00:00

Thanks, I'm sure that'll make good sense once I've bought and played the game.

I'm tempted to buy expansions as CTA immedeatly with the game as everyone says it's so great, so I'm not likely to not like it.
I guess.

Thread: Re: Baseline?

Felkor — 2008-11-20T12:40:04+00:00

sagitar wrote:

2nd row, baseling in Epic???? that isn't confusing at all....
wonder what's the reason for that.

It's just the fact that the epic board is, well, epic. It's really big. And if you were forced to put a red foot unit on the absolute very back row, chances are it would never see any combat the entire game. Having the baseline be the second row increases the chances that it will see some action.

Thread: Re: Baseline?

sagitar — 2008-11-20T09:12:04+00:00

I haven't got the game yet, but as I read it there is no error in this.

as I understand it, from all I've read so far, you have right left and centre wing in this game.
when the game tells you to place units in that sections base line, it means you have to stick to the appropriate wing.

while if it says 'on the baseline' this indicates that you don't have to take wings into account.

So that section base line means, place them in that wings part of the board, while 'on the base line' means you can place them anywhere on the baseline.

2nd row, baseling in Epic???? that isn't confusing at all....
wonder what's the reason for that. Or does it mean that two rows are the baseling (doesn't seem much point in calling it a baseline if it isn't.

I'm going to order this game in the next few days.
would I be well advised to allready buy the call to arms expansion aswell, or should I wait and get other expansions first?

Image

samoan_jo — 2008-10-26T11:20:28+00:00

Battlelore - Zu den Waffen - German box front

Thread: Re: Wrong Backs

Vanhel — 2008-09-13T01:50:15+00:00

I thought there had only been one print run, but the first copy I bought had the same back as the other expansion cards. I received another on in trade that has the old back with the men on a map.

Thread: Re: Wrong Backs

rvinyard — 2008-08-30T18:51:36+00:00

I'll second that thanks!

Thread: Re: Wrong Backs

kevster — 2008-08-29T15:23:45+00:00

Thanks to both of you for the help!

Thread: Re: Wrong Backs

ColtsFan76 — 2008-08-29T10:39:56+00:00

There has only been one print run. So they all have the "error." I would get it quickly and contact DOW for the replacement ASAP. Not sure what FFG's plans are yet.

Thread: Re: Wrong Backs

Marasaurio — 2008-08-29T09:22:36+00:00

I don't know, but I guess you know that you may ask DOW for a free replacement cards of CtA. Here:
https://www.daysofwonder.com/en/buy/?family=XX&groupp=CtoACa...

The sooner, the better, under the circumstances...
Anyway, the wrong backs aren't a great problem, after all...

EDIT.- typos.

Thread: Wrong Backs

kevster — 2008-08-29T05:38:17+00:00

Have the card backs been fixed in the expansions that are currently on store shelves or do they still contain cards with the wrong backs?

Thanks!

Thread: BattleLore: Call to Arms: my view.

RobM — 2008-08-26T19:27:53+00:00

Preamble.
Adding Call to Arms to my collection was a no-brainer. All good miniatures games need a customisable army building/deployment system, and Call to Arms fits the bill for Battlelore.

Components.
Call to Arms comprises a deck of deployment cards, specialist cards and summary cards, plus assorted Feudal levy tokens and new terrain tiles. There are also 6 additional banners. The rulebook runs to almost twenty pages, and includes 6 new scenarios.

This expansion retails for 15 Euros or about £10, which seems a little expensive for what you actually get.

Gameplay.
Call to Arms contains three sets of 7 deployment cards for each camp (pennants and standards). Each card depicts a generic section of battlefield with four units deployed in particular hexes therein. These sets of cards are used to construct armies and set up battle formations. Two modes are offered: Impromptu mode which is quick and easy, and Organised mode, which allows players to customise to their hearts’ content.

For Impromptu mode, players choose a battle map of their choice, laying out appropriate terrain hexes. Each is then given a camp and the corresponding three sets of deployment cards. Each player selects one set of cards, shuffles it and draws 4 cards. Three cards are picked as the left, centre and right wing of the battlefield, with the fourth held in reserve. Players deploy their troops as per the cards, keeping their reserve secret. Once finished, players tally their Green units (effectively scouts) and the player with the highest number becomes the starting player. Next, the other (out-scouted) player must deploy just two units from his reserve card onto vacant baseline hexes, before the starting player does the same. Players then select War Councils as normal.

Organised mode is similar but allows players to select two deployment card sets and shuffle them together. Occasionally this results in a situation where a player cannot deploy the correct banner figure, in which case a Feudal Levy token of the appropriate colour is placed in the board instead. These tokens are replaced with troops of matching or lower banner colour (mounted or infantry) after the reserves have been placed. The War Councils are then chosen and finally players can select and play up to two specialist cards of their choosing, deploying figures if applicable. Specialist cards allow various modifications to the rules etc, and offer a wide variety of different options including various tactics, use of lore or war council related abilities etc.

The extra terrain hexes cover cliffs, marshes, archers’ stakes, ramparts and stone bridges, all of which have effects that you would expect. The scenarios offer generic battle maps with matching command/war council information and hence form the backdrop for a wide variety of customisable games.

So, What Do I Think?
Call to Arms is a very elegant army selection and deployment system, and hence I score it an excellent 8 out of 10. It offers lots more variety and choice, both for quick sessions (Impromptu mode) and more serious gamers (Organised mode). The Feudal Levy tokens appear a bit clunky at first, but actually work fine. Although it is a little expensive, I think it is an essential purchase. As other expansions come out, adding more specialist cards, a great deal of richness is added to the basic game.

Image

Schuk — 2008-07-19T20:08:31+00:00

Cover of the French version

Thread: Re: Baseline?

Felkor — 2008-06-27T14:47:22+00:00

Yes that's correct.

Also of note, if you're playing epic, the baseline is the second row from the player, not the closest one.

Thread: Re: Baseline?

Lightstorm — 2008-06-27T14:16:14+00:00

That makes sense. Upon re-reading the rules I noticed a statement under Impromptu Mode (section 4.2 of the rules, "Deploy your Guards") that states (I added bold text for emphasis):

...the player must reposition the unit on a vacant hex on that section's base line...

...the example of this on page 7 clearly shows the baseline as the row closest to the player.

Later in the rules, under Organized Mode (section 4.4, "Call the Reserve") I noticed:

These units must be deployed on vacant hexes on the player's baseline.

...the rules clearly make a distinction between a section baseline and the "player's" baseline, which leads me to believe that the "player's baseline" is the entire row, regardless of section, closest to the player.

Thanks for the response!

Thread: Re: Baseline?

Pallet Ranger — 2008-06-27T08:43:04+00:00

Yep, that's how I read it.

My baseline is the entire row of hexes, regardless of wing, closest to where I'm sat.

Thread: Baseline?

Lightstorm — 2008-06-27T05:43:55+00:00

...maybe I just missed it, but what exactly is meant by "baseline" in Call to Arms? Is it the entire row (inclusive of left wing, right wing and center) farthest from the center of the board for each player?

Thread: Re: Replacement Cards are in

ltux — 2008-03-26T01:21:23+00:00

Thanks. I'm slightly embarrassed to admit that when I got the replacements, I confused them with my originals and couldn't remember which were the new ones. All set, now!

Thread: Re: Replacement Cards are in

Pete Walsh — 2008-03-25T22:24:41+00:00

The cards have the standard "Crown" back like the rest of the cards. Mine arrived very quickly - I ordered them on a Saturday and they arrived on Monday...not too shabby.

Thread: Re: Replacement Cards are in

ltux — 2008-03-25T22:18:39+00:00

What do the backs of the replacement cards look like?

Image

Yugblad — 2008-03-16T13:45:57+00:00

First CtA scenario - enhanced with custom pieces.

Thread: Re: Replacement Cards are in

anarchy — 2008-03-07T19:03:08+00:00

Yay! Ordered mine.

Thread: Re: Replacement Cards are in

mcdeans — 2008-03-07T18:37:17+00:00

Erich wrote:
In order to see the Cards order button, you need to be logged in under the user name with which you registered your BattleLore web cards.

Eric @ DoW

Ah, it would be useful to mention that on the page. Also where to find the login - it took me some time to figure out that I needed to go to the 'Play' page to login. (I created an account way back, but never used it, so I'm not familiar with your web site.) Putting a login link on the Cards page itself would also be helpful.

Thanks for the help.

Thread: Re: Replacement Cards are in

Erich — 2008-03-07T18:10:42+00:00

In order to see the Cards order button, you need to be logged in under the user name with which you registered your BattleLore web cards.

Eric @ DoW

Thread: Re: Replacement Cards are in

Sothis — 2008-03-07T17:57:02+00:00

I found the same thing, but then saw that I wasn't logged in. As soon as I logged in, the "add to cart button appeared".

I hope this works for you too!

Thread: Re: Replacement Cards are in

mcdeans — 2008-03-07T17:53:11+00:00

No 'Add' button for me either. Appears (and works) on other pages, just not the replacement card page. Refreshing the page doesn't make a difference.

Thread: Re: Replacement Cards are in

kvn299 — 2008-03-07T17:27:57+00:00

ironcates wrote:
hmm.. the add to cart button is gone... guess I'll try back later.

Are you logged in?

Thread: Re: Replacement Cards are in

ColtsFan76 — 2008-03-07T16:57:06+00:00

ironcates wrote:
hmm.. the add to cart button is gone... guess I'll try back later.
Try refreshing? The button continues to work for me.

Thread: Re: Replacement Cards are in

ironcates — 2008-03-07T16:10:45+00:00

hmm.. the add to cart button is gone... guess I'll try back later.

Thread: Re: Replacement Cards are in

Bare2theBone — 2008-03-07T15:02:29+00:00

Thanks Brian, just ordered mine.

Thread: Replacement Cards are in

ColtsFan76 — 2008-03-07T14:40:58+00:00

DOW just announced the CtA cards are in to replace the card back "Error."
Click here for more details: http://blog.daysofwonder.com/2008/03/07/battlelore-call-to-a...

Thread: Re: Replacement cards with correct backgrounds?

GeoMan — 2008-03-05T21:59:43+00:00

Erich wrote:
Nope we haven't forgotten about these. It's been a logistics nightmare but our various warehouses finally received them and we should be able to start getting them out in the next week or so. We are at least as sorry as you may all be about this delay.

Eric @ DoW

That's good news! How can we get the corrected cards?

Thread: Re: Replacement cards with correct backgrounds?

Erich — 2008-03-05T21:56:03+00:00

Nope we haven't forgotten about these. It's been a logistics nightmare but our various warehouses finally received them and we should be able to start getting them out in the next week or so. We are at least as sorry as you may all be about this delay.

Eric @ DoW

Thread: Re: Replacement cards with correct backgrounds?

Boromir_and_Kermit — 2008-03-05T11:40:08+00:00

They are hoping we forget?

Or they will package them with the next expansion perhaps?

Ben.

Thread: Re: Replacement cards with correct backgrounds?

GeoMan — 2008-03-05T10:39:39+00:00

It is strange that we still have no news! I hope that DoW will eventually replace these cards...

Thread: Re: Replacement cards with correct backgrounds?

Lou-Dawg — 2008-03-05T04:06:31+00:00

This thread will let me know when they ship

Thread: Re: Battlelore: Call to Arms - The Good. The Bad. The Verdict.

Felkor — 2008-02-20T19:31:21+00:00

I've now played with Call to Arms twice and thought it was great. The first game we played required a feudal token, so they do become necessary. I would imagine they would almost always be necessary on an epic map, where you're using 5 cards per side, and would be completely necessary in a Reluctant Allies game with one base set, as you use 6 cards per side and would use up almost every figure!

While it's true it doesn't give you -that- many army building options, you can always just find other ways to use the cards. Richard Borg posted on the days of wonder forums several variants he uses. You can always pick up an extra card to choose from, or take a whole deck and pick the cards you want. There's lots of ways to play! Even with the official rules, there can be important choices on where you place your troops, especially on maps with lots of landscape tiles (the adventure with all the cliffs, for instance.)

All in all, it might not be the absolute best system out there, but so far I'm sure finding it a heck of a lot of fun.

Image

paulidale — 2008-02-11T03:58:57+00:00

The giant painted plus an 18mm lead giant also painted

Image

paulidale — 2008-02-11T03:57:50+00:00

The Earth Elemental with a quick paint job

Thread: Re: Replacement cards with correct backgrounds?

Boromir_and_Kermit — 2008-02-06T07:18:58+00:00

It must have sunk... or been taken over by pirates

Ben.

Thread: Re: Replacement cards with correct backgrounds?

GeoMan — 2008-02-05T21:59:40+00:00

GeoMan wrote:
Erich wrote:
They are on ships as I write. We will let everyone know once they arrive to our warehouse.
best,
Eric @ DoW

Did that ship arrive?

No?

Thread: I love the cover

jrescan — 2008-01-23T20:36:03+00:00

Definitely this cover should've been the one used for the original game, not the expansion. Here is a link for the ones interested in having a good desktop image:

http://www.daysofwonder.com/battlelore/en/content/goodies/

Image

yakos — 2008-01-15T15:52:17+00:00

New terrain feature - Stone Bridge (functions the same as a regular Bridge)

Image

yakos — 2008-01-15T15:47:38+00:00

New terrain feature - Archers Stakes

Image

yakos — 2008-01-15T15:12:37+00:00

Image

yakos — 2008-01-15T15:12:22+00:00

New terrain type - Cliffs

Image

yakos — 2008-01-15T01:32:41+00:00

New weapon type - Long Bow

Thread: Re: Replacement cards with correct backgrounds?

GeoMan — 2008-01-07T19:04:31+00:00

Erich wrote:
They are on ships as I write. We will let everyone know once they arrive to our warehouse.
best,
Eric @ DoW

Did that ship arrive?

Thread: Re: Scenario #1: Why do Standards get 1 less command?

Felkor — 2008-01-01T16:40:26+00:00

With the battlelore.com website, you can quite easily and quickly see whether a scenario is balanced or imbalanced by looking at which side has one more times. Then you can adjust things if you'd like, or for my taste, just have the person who is more experienced or is looking for a bigger challenge take the weaker side.

The official suggestion I believe is to play each side once, and total victory banners to see who wins, although personally I see too many fun scenarios to try the same one twice in a row.

Thread: Re: Scenario #1: Why do Standards get 1 less command?

dcorban — 2007-12-21T04:40:43+00:00

I haven't played many Battlelore scenarios, but after finally getting to try Commands & Colors with its obviously imbalanced scenarios, I suspect that this particular one was intentionally made to favor one side. I guess I was just expecting Battlelore to be totally balanced due to its non-historical (or pseudo-historical) nature. I fully expected it in C&C, but not here. I will no longer expect (nor demand) balance in the C&C series games. I enjoyed the imbalance in C&C and it has its place in Battlelore.

Thread: Re: Scenario #1: Why do Standards get 1 less command?

thrasymachus — 2007-12-20T23:57:29+00:00

Really, this does seem pretty random.

Thread: Re: Creature rules in Call to Arms don't make sense

ironcates — 2007-12-20T18:03:13+00:00

dcorban wrote:

I am also not comfortable with the "all creatures are level 1" when they obviously are not. The spider is clearly inferior. The Giant and Elemental should require two creature levels.

Well, if the map is heavily forrested I would rather go with the spider (so, I believe it has its place) and two levels would cause me to opt out of creatures all together and stick with lore masters.

Thread: Re: Creature rules in Call to Arms don't make sense

dcorban — 2007-12-20T17:58:25+00:00

I am extremely puzzled as to why they implemented the creatures on the cards in the first place. I would be very interested in hearing their reasoning.

Another way of handling it would be to not require a war council level for the deployment creature.

I am also not comfortable with the "all creatures are level 1" when they obviously are not. The spider is clearly inferior. The Giant and Elemental should require two creature levels.

Thread: Re: Creature rules in Call to Arms don't make sense

ironcates — 2007-12-20T14:08:30+00:00

dcorban wrote:

They do have an out here. They numbered all of the deployent cards "for future use". They could simply make a set of replacement deployment cards.

I think they could just reprint the cards without a creature on them at all and handle the creatures with the War Council and it would be all good. My house rule is simply that.

Thread: Re: Creature rules in Call to Arms don't make sense

dcorban — 2007-12-20T06:26:42+00:00

...which doesn't address "impromptu" mode. There is no specified order of placement in the impromptu rules. I also find the "strategy" he talks about to just be too gamey.

Everything just feels too klunky. Did they really design this expansion with the intent that players would vie for the sole spider? That seems odd. Did they expect everyone to either have two copies of the base game or the promotional figures so this situation never happens? That's ridiculous. Did they not notice the war council wonkiness when creatures are on the deployment cards? I guess not.

Allowing someone to play the Giant or Elemental instead of the Spider is not a solution. The promotional figures are clearly superior to the spider. Not to mention the confusion that comes with the promotional creatures in the form of the lair hexes and how to deploy them.

They do have an out here. They numbered all of the deployent cards "for future use". They could simply make a set of replacement deployment cards. The replacements would be numbered to match specific cards in the original set. They could make deployment cards with blue creature symbols, or maybe even specifically for the Giant/Elemental (maybe even specifying exactly where to place the lair). They could make a medieval set that replaces all the creature deployment cards.

Even with all the future sight they claim to have, they made a mistake in putting creatures on the deployment cards. We have to settle for imbalanced deployments and war councils, and workarounds for medieval scenarios.

Thread: Re: Creature rules in Call to Arms don't make sense

ironcates — 2007-12-19T18:12:14+00:00

ironcates wrote:
Richard Borg wrote:

- When using Call to Arms deployment cards, if either player has deployed a creature, the other player does not have the right to place a level token on the creature's spot in exchange for any creature of the player's choice.

- If only one creature is available, the green banner spider that is included in the core product, the spider will go to the player who deploys it first. This is very subtle, but there really is some strategy as to where the creature deployment card is placed. Remember, both players' deployment cards are turned at the same time in the right wing first and then units and creatures are deployed in that wing. The center deployment card is revealed next, then the left wing and finally the reserve. If you have a deployment card with a green banner creature on your right wing and I have a green banner creature deployment card in the center, you get the spider and I get to place a green Feudal Levy Token. Should both players have a deployment card with a creature and are trying to deploy it at the same time, to see who will get to deploy the creature, roll 6 dice, most green helmets rolled will deploy the creature, the other player places a green Feudal Levy Token.

Also note that if both players have a reserve deployment card with a creature the player deploying his reserve first, can take the spider if it is still available and the other play would not be able to deploy a creature and would have to select other units to deploy as his reserve.

- When more than one creature is available, the player that is deploying the creature first may select any creature that uses one level, the Spider, Hill Giant or Summon Circle / Earth Elemental? and if both players are trying to deploy a creature at the same time, the player that rolls the most green helmets will select his creature first.

Also note that if both players have a reserve deployment card with a creature one player will deploy his reserve first and therefore has first choice.

Richard Borg

Well they make more sense... I don't know if I like it, but at least it makes sense.

This was the offical word from Richard Borg