Companies and Captains #

Constructing Companies #

Each side’s army, known as their Company, is made up of two or more Groups with different abilities and weaknesses. Each Group is made up of some number of models.

Each side must:

• Field 2-8 Groups costing 1-12 points each, noting their profile to your opponents—the number of models in a Group doesn’t matter.
• Spend no more than 24 points total for a standard game.

Scaling Companies #

Players may agree to scale their Company points up or down from 24 (increments of 6 work well). Both sides should use the same number of points to construct their Companies. Consider using smaller tables for smaller Company sizes, and larger tables for larger Companies. The distances assume 28mm models, so you may want to modify the distance increments if using larger or smaller models.

Resilience #

A Group’s ability to fight is defined by their current Resilience (R). R always starts at 6 or 12.

You must always state the current R of a Group if asked.

Losing R represents a combination of shock, fatigue, injury, and death in a Group, and reduces the Group’s ability to engage in the skirmish. When reduced to half or less of their initial R, a Group is Bloodied—they roll half as many dice to hit, and are more vulnerable to psychological statuses. When reduced to 0R, a Group is unable to continue participating: they’re broken or captured or slaughtered; for convenience, these rules refer to such Groups as being Routed.

A useful way to express the loss of R on the table is to remove models from a Group. For example, assuming a 12R Group:

• If the Group consists of 1 model, leave it on the table until R is reduced to 0 (or the Group flees).
• If the Group consists of 2 models, remove one model when R drops to 6 or less.
• If the Group consists of 3 models, remove one model every time the Group loses 4R (once at 8R, and again at 4R).
• If the Group consists of 6 models, remove one model every time the Group loses 2R.
• If the Group consists of 12 models, remove one model every time the Group loses 1R.
• If the Group consists of 24 models, remove two models every time the Group loses 1R.

🛠 It’s best to ensure your model count divides evenly into the R of the group, but you can have any number you please. Just remember to update each Group’s R on your roster as it lowers.

Captains #

Designate one model in each Company as the Captain. This model is part of a Group and may not join any other Groups, does not increase the R of the Group they are in, and costs no additional points. Friendly Groups within 12” of the Captain’s Group have a +1 bonus when Testing Resilience, unless the Captain’s Group is Shaken.

Captains start with one trait (roll or pick from the table below):

Group Profiles #

The Groups listed here are archetypes meant to fill particular roles—especially with further customization. They are not so specific as to be tied to any one concept beyond those roles. They include: Beast, Cavalry, Foot, Missile, and Engine types, with Elite, Heavy, and Light variants.

Profile Values #

Name

The type and variant of the Group, followed by their base cost in parentheses.

Melee (ME)

The minimum roll required to activate the Group to Attack or Retreat, followed by the minimum result to hit an enemy when attacking, and the minimum result to hit when defending.

Move (MO)

The minimum roll required to activate the Group to Move, followed by the maximum distance in inches they may Move if successful.

Missile (MI)

The minimum roll required to activate the Group to Shoot, followed by the minimum result to hit an enemy when Shooting, followed by the maximum Range when Shooting.

Resilience (R)

The initial fighting strength of the Group, followed by the minimum result to pass when Testing Resilience.

Toughness (T)

The number of simultaneous hits required to reduce the Group’s R by 1.

Traits

Any additional rules that apply to the Group.

Profile Traits #

Defensive

If this Group is not Shaken, in rough ground, or in cover, they may Move into a defensive formation with all models in base contact. They have +1 T until they Move out of base contact.

Defiant

If this Group is not Shaken and not already in melee, when an enemy successfully activates to Attack them they may test at 7+ to meet the enemy halfway and count both Groups as attacking for to-hit rolls.

Elusive

If this Group is not Shaken and not already in melee, when an enemy successfully activates to Attack them, they may test at 7+ to move up to half their Move distance and Shoot at that enemy.

Nimble

This Group treats difficult terrain as normal terrain.

Ponderous

This Group treats difficult terrain as impassable terrain.

Reckless

If this Group is not Shaken, it must activate to Attack if possible.

Optional Traits #

Cost in points listed in parenthesis.

Accurate (2)

Groups with an MI profile only. Improve the to-hit value by 1.

Apprentice (2)

Before the skirmish, choose three spells. This Group may activate to Cast one of those three spells.

Caster (4)

This Group may activate to Cast any spell.

Chariot (2)

Cavalry only. +1T, but treats difficult terrain as impassable terrain.

Composed (2)

Groups with the Reckless trait only. Remove Reckless, improve MO activation by one.

Cowardly (-2)

When Testing Resilience, this Group must always reroll the highest die.

[Kind]-Foe (1)

Choose an enemy type. This Group gains the Reckless trait against those enemies. If this Group is already Reckless, they automatically activate to Attack those enemies instead. If the chosen enemy type is not in any enemy Company, ignore the point cost of this trait.

[Kind]bane (4)

Choose an enemy type. The Group ignores the Terrifying trait for those enemies, and may reroll each to-hit die once each turn when fighting them. If the chosen enemy type is not in any opposing army, ignore the point cost of this trait.

Move Freely (2)

This Group ignores all friends, enemies, and terrain while Moving.

Offensive (2)

Groups with the Defensive trait only. Remove Defensive, improve ME to-hit by 1 when Attacking.

Self-Destruct (2)

This Group may attempt to activate on 5+ to self-destruct as if Shooting everything within 6”, hitting on a 3+. This Group is then Routed at the end of their activation.

Shooters (2)

Groups without an MI profile only. Add an MI profile at 6+ / 5+ / 18”.

Short-Ranged (-1)

Groups with an MI profile only. Reduce Range by half.

Stealthy (3)

Enemies cannot Shoot this Group. This Group does not block line of sight except for Groups in melee.

Summoner (3)

This Group may attempt to activate on 6+ to summon an undeployed Group within 12” (and no closer than 6” to an enemy). The summoned Group may attempt to activate this turn.

Terrifying (2)

When Attacked by this Group, enemies must reroll their highest die when Testing Resilience.

Throwers (1)

Groups without an MI profile only. Add an MI profile at 6+ / 5+ / 6”.

Unerring (3)

Once each turn, may reroll any dice that miss when rolling to hit.

Unfeeling (0)

Automatically pass when Testing Resilience but round up hits inflicted against this Group.

Vicious (3)

To-hit rolls of 6 inflict two hits.

Well-Armed (1)

Once each turn, may reroll all 1s when rolling to hit.

Spells #

Ambitions #

During setup, players may secretly choose any number of different ambitions to fulfill during a skirmish. At the end of the game, each fulfilled ambition earns the player 1-3 VP, and each unfulfilled ambition subtracts 1 from their VP. Optionally, players may reveal any of their chosen ambitions, increasing the worth of each by 1.

Skirmish Rules #

Setup #

1. Choose points total for each side (typically 24).
2. Set up terrain.
3. Roll or choose a scenario.
4. Roll for Captain’s trait (or use existing trait if an established character).
5. Players arrange themselves into two sides, as evenly as possible. Roll 1d6 each to determine which side will be attackers and which will be defenders: higher result is the attacker. Reroll ties. Unless otherwise specified in the scenario, the attackers take the first turn.
6. Deploy companies according to the scenario guidelines (each side with the same number of Company points).
7. Choose ambitions.
8. The active player takes their turn.

General #

• Round down unless otherwise noted.
• Distance and Range are measured between the closest models in each Group.
• Facing doesn’t matter.
• Groups on the same side (attackers or defenders) are considered friendly. Groups on opposing sides are considered enemies.

Terrain #

Difficult

Each inch of movement through difficult terrain costs 2” of a model’s MO instead of 1”.

Obstacle

If a model comes into base contact with an obstacle, it stops its Move for this activation (maintaining Cohesion). If a model begins its Move in contact with an obstacle, it ignores the obstacle for the purposes of movement this activation. If a model is within 3” of an obstacle, they count as being in Cover.

Cover

Reroll all to-hit dice that hit against Groups on the opposite side of Cover.

Obscuring

Groups cannot see past Obscuring terrain, or more than 3” into it.

Impassable

Models cannot move through Impassable terrain.

Turns #

The active side attempts to activate Groups until an activation is failed or they choose to end their turn.

At the beginning of each turn, in order:

1. Rally Shaken Groups. All Shaken friendly Groups Test Resilience to remove Shaken status. If unsuccessful, the Group loses 1R and retreats; this does not end the turn. All Shaken friendly Groups must test to rally, but may do so in any order.
2. Make checks for Reckless Groups. If any friendly Group with the Reckless trait is within their movement range of an enemy, they must attempt to activate to Attack an enemy Group of your choice in range. If successful, Attack as normal; otherwise, they remain stationary, but this does not end the turn.

Activation #

For each Group which did not Rally or check for Reckless:

1. Choose a Group to activate. Each Group may activate only once each turn.
2. Assign a valid order to the chosen Group (Move, Shoot, Attack, or any available special orders like Cast or Summon).
3. Roll 2d6, attempting to meet or exceed the Group’s minimum activation result for their given order. On a success, the Group performs the chosen order.
4. If the Group failed their activation test, end your side’s turn and the next side’s turn begins. Otherwise, choose another friendly Group to activate, or choose to end your turn.

Moving #

Move each model individually. Models may not move through other models unless otherwise stated.

Cohesion

At the end of a Move, all models in a Group must be within 3” of at least one other model in that Group, and must be at least 3” from enemy Groups (unless in melee with them).

Shooting #

If the activating Group has a MI profile, they may choose a Group within range that they can see to Shoot.

If Bloodied, roll 6d6 to hit; else roll 12d6. Each die that shows a result equal to or higher than the Shooting Group’s MI value is a hit. For each number of hits equal to the target’s T, reduce their R by 1. If the target lost any R, it must Test Resilience.

Attacking #

If the activating Group has a ME profile, they may choose a target within their movement distance that they can see to Attack.

If already in melee, the Group may attempt to activate and either Attack or Retreat.

To Attack:

1. Move as many models as possible into base contact with the defending Group.
   • If the defending Group has the Defiant or Elusive traits, they may test to activate that trait. If successful, resolve their interrupting action; otherwise, they stand still and the attack continues as normal.
2. Both Groups try to hit each other, rolling 6d6 if Bloodied, else rolling 12d6. Each die that shows a result equal to or higher than the Group’s ME to-hit target for Attacking/Defending as appropriate is a hit (Shaken Groups only hit on a 6). For each number of hits equal to the enemy’s T, reduce the enemy’s R by 1.

Retreating #

A Group may activate to Retreat from melee or be forced to Retreat when failing while Testing Resilience.

The Group moves half their MO distance directly away from the cause of Retreat. They may not pass within 3” of any enemy Groups.

If blocked by terrain or enemy Groups, roll 1d6 vs their current R; if lower, they lose R equal to the roll and stop moving.

If any member of the Retreating Group Retreats off of the table, the entire Group counts as having Routed and is removed from play.

Testing Resilience #

Test for a specific Group immediately when they:

• Lose R.
• Are attempting to Rally.
• Become the last Group of their Company.

Test once for every remaining Group immediately when:

• The Captain’s Group is Routed.
• The Company has lost Groups worth half or more of the total points fielded by their Company.

To Test Resilience:

1. Roll 2d6.
2. Modify the roll:
   • Subtract 1 from the result for each R lost (if testing due to lost R)
   • Subtract 1 from the result if the Group’s Company has less than half of their total points still in play
   • Add 1 to the result if the Captain’s Group is within 12”.
3. If the final result is equal to or higher than the Group’s R rating, they succeed.

If successful and Rallying, the Group is no longer Shaken.

If failed but the final result is greater than 0 the Group Retreats and becomes Shaken (if already Shaken, they lose 1 R instead). If the final result is 0 or less, the Group is Routed.

Shaken Groups #

• Must Test Resilience to Rally at the beginning of next turn and may not activate for any other reason
• Only hit on a 6 in melee (not when Shooting)
• Lose 1R and Retreat when failing while Testing Resilience

If the Captain’s Group is Shaken, none of their special rules affect play.

End of Game #

When the chosen scenario’s closing conditions are met, total VP according to the scenario guidelines to determine the winner.