I watched and participated in the game at several wargame shows, so I was captivated before its release. Aside from the appeal of the rules, I also had a pile of figures that could be used for the games, ranging from Trojan War to High Elves. Some resided in a pile of lead, while others only required rebasing.
The Rules
The Midgard rules are a sandbox rule set where a unit or hero's essential attributes, attack, armour stamina, etc., are modified by traits to provide greater depth. This mechanism is not new, Fantastic Battles uses the same process. The average game, about 300 points, will involve 10 to 12 units and 3-4 heroes. The typical unit in 28mm will be eight figures so the army in size is similar to the Lion Rampart family of games.
Reputation
The morale of the army is measured by its reputation. Each army starts with a reputation score, but this fluctuates during the battle, mainly due to the heroes' actions. For example, a hero throwing himself into a charge will earn a reputation, while if a hero abandons a unit while in combat, the army will lose reputation points. As the battle intensifies, units will lose stamina, making them more difficult to command, and finally, they will rout with the loss of those valuable reputation points. This system means no figure removal, which makes conversion from other systems easy.
Basing and Spear Throws
The suggested basing is 120mm wide, with the base depth primarily left to the model's needs. Other widths can be adapted for smaller scales and to accommodate already-based models. However, the basing has to be consistent, and the width (120mm) is used for measuring movement and shooting distances; i.e. 'On Spear Throw (ST)' = 120mm or the width of the base. Therefore, if a small base size is adopted, the ST gets reduced.
Mighty Deeds
The core of the rules, and what makes it unique, is the impact of heroes, including gods, sorcerers, priests and holy men, on the battle. There are four levels of heroes, and the hero's level is linked to their ability to perform mighty deeds. Mighty deeds are spent to boost morale at times of need, increase the fighting prowess of the units or activate some unique ability. However, these gifts come at a cost, and the casualty rate amongst heroes is high compared to other games, especially as rival heroes are prone to issue challenges to single combat.
Scenarios and Army Lists
The rules come with five scenarios and twelve army lists, including Greeks and Trojans, Arthurian Romans and Saxons, Dwarfs and Elves, as well as the armies of Thor and Loki. A points system is available to create your own armies, and a fan-designed force builder helps in this process. There is no campaign system, but one is currently being played and tested, so hopefully, there will not be an extended wait.
One last comment on this brief introduction to Midgard is the production quality, artwork, and clarity of writing are the best I have seen.
Battle of Fenley Lay
I have played Midgard at shows, but I used basic set-up for my first home battle. I opted for the first scenario, ‘The Battle,’ a head-to-head struggle across an open battlefield. I chose a classic fight between Vikings and Saxons—a simple infantry clash with no magic or monstrosities.
The Viking hero opened the fight by challenging any Saxon champion to face him in single combat. An offer the Saxons, who had planned a defensive strategy, refused with the resulting loss in reputation. The first phase of the battle was all about the Vikings. Moving quickly forward, they charged the Saxon line. Consequently, the Viking reputation grew rapidly as the Saxons began to struggle.
The battle now became one of push-and-pull between the two shield walls. The Vikings had the advantage of better troops, while the Saxons' greater numbers allowed them to fight in depth while trying to put pressure on the Vikings’ right flank.
The shieldwall fractured several places as the battle progressed, and the field was now littered with individual combats. The reputation of both sides began to leak away, and stamina and men were lost. Finally, the Saxon flanks attack began to gain some success against the more vulnerable Bondi, who started to flee the battlefield, and the Vikings lost their last reputation point. The ended with the Viking leader, Ivar the Boneless, still standing proud amongst his hirdmen, surrounded by a pile of Saxon bodies, although the day was lost for him.
Battle of Blood Ford
In my second test game, I introduced some terrain. The most important feature was a river running the table length with a wide Ford in its centre. To the flanks were some woods and broken ground. With their superior troops, this narrow frontage should favour the Vikings, but the Saxons had stolen a march of their enemies and were closer to the river and its Ford. So, the Saxons made a rapid advance to control the Ford. After an inconclusive duel between Ubba and the Saxon, Oswald of Theadford, the Saxons rushed across the river, hitting the Viking shieldwall and pushing it back along its length.
However, the Saxon joy was short-lived. While the Saxons continued to win in the centre, the flanks started to full back under Viking pressure.
The Initial Saxon Surge Across the Ford.
Some Closing Thoughts.
The game is excellent; it looks good, and I felt it captures the look and feel of the conflicts of the Early Middle Ages. Strategy is rudimentary due to the era's limited command and control capabilities. However, the game is designed as a sandbox game, so it can be adapted for many historical and fantasy genres. Lists, for example, are available for the War of the Roses. I have also seen debates on its unsuitability for the Italian Wars at the end of the fifteenth century. It is best not to approach Midgard in purely linear terms. Midgard is best suited when men led their own band of followers before the rise of the national state. Technologically, when gunpowder becomes a dominant force, and the opportunities for historic deeds are diminished, it also acts as a limiter. Therefore, while the rules may lose their ‘feel’ from the fifteenth century in Europe, they could be used for the Sengoku period in sixteenth-century Japan.
Midgard also looks great on the table, so it's game to get those banners and standards out as they lead units and cluster around the army's heroes. I plan to try the rules with some 10mm armies, so I hope Midgard's appeal continues.
Last, what is Midgard’s USP (Unique Selling Point)? Several fantastic sandbox systems are in the market, including Fantastic Battles, Lion/Dragon Rampart, and the DBA family. All have appeal, but Midgard places the heroes in the centre of the action, but here are no superheroes in these games; heroes will die. However, it’s through them that the game narrative is created, and in my opinion, what makes Midgard unique.
For me, the next stop is introducing some magic and the massive creatures of myth and legend and resurrecting my pile of lead and plastics to get more Midgard armies on the table.
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