Welcome to the Sloth Mage's Wargame-zardry Tower!
Welcome to the Sloth Mage's Wargame-zardry Tower! I am the Sloth Mage, a devoted player and (self-proclaimed) miniature wargame designer. Whether you're a seasoned veteran or a curious beginner, I hope you'll find something here that resonates with you. Let’s explore the endless joy brought by boundless imagination.
What is a Wargame?
What exactly is a wargame? It’s a game where players move game pieces—representing combat units—on a playing surface to battle against their opponent and attempt to claim victory.
These game pieces could be flat tokens, character standees, or finely crafted miniature models. The battlefield might be a simple board with some simple obstacles set on a coffee table, a sprawling diorama occupying an entire dining table, or even a meticulously recreated map of a real-world location. Outcomes of battles are determined in various ways: rolling dice, drawing cards, or referencing charts. Some wargames aim to precisely reenact historical battles or explore alternate possibilities, while others give players the freedom to unleash their creativity, allowing them to lead their armies—or even avatars of themselves—across fantastical battlefields or imaginative worlds.
No matter the form, wargames are a hugely popular genre. While they can be subdivided into more specific categories, they have significant representation in both video games and tabletop games. For instance, video games like XCOM, Fire Emblem, Heroes of Might and Magic, and Civilization, or tabletop games like Warhammer 40,000, Star Wars Legion, Infinity, Bolt Action, and Advanced Squad Leader are all prime examples.
What Can You Find in My Wargaming Tower?
You’ll discover miniature-agnostic tabletop wargames here. Miniature-agnostic games are those where the publisher’s rules don’t require you to use specific models made by the publisher. Examples include Five Parsecs from Home, Forbidden Psalm, and Frostgrave. These games are often created by small publishers or even individuals, encouraging players to collect and customize their own models and bring these unique creations to the gaming table.
In addition to game rules, I’ll also introduce you to various miniature manufacturers that create models to enrich your gaming experience. While many of these models are historically themed, with a little modification, they can fit into all kinds of settings.
And most importantly, I’ll share my own creations with you!
My Creations. Why Miniature-Agnostic Games?
As you might have noticed, I emphasize miniature-agnostic games because I believe that the investment required to enjoy many wargames—whether in terms of time or money—can be excessive. I want games that are easy to start, ready to play at any time, and quick to finish. This means designing games with minimal rules text and low entry costs.
Currently, I have two creations:
Miniature Field Manual
The Miniature Field Manual is a simple, miniature-agnostic wargame designed for small-scale skirmishes in historical settings ranging from the Victorian era onward.
Like other miniature wargames, you’ll need models, six-sided dice (commonly known as D6s), and a measuring tool to determine actions. However, unlike most other games, success isn’t determined by comparing dice rolls to a target number. Instead, the number of dice rolled is modified, and outcomes are resolved through a dice pool comparison.
How does this work? The stronger your abilities and the more advantages you have, the more dice you roll. Conversely, the higher the difficulty or the more disadvantages you face, the more dice your opponent rolls. A single roll resolves the action, minimizing layered calculations. Besides, who doesn’t love throwing a big handful of dice?
This approach makes modifiers more intuitive and speeds up gameplay, making it more suitable for beginners or players seeking quick games.
The core rules include simple unit creation and combat mechanics for new players, while expansions provide advanced options such as historical units, vehicles, and armor for a deeper experience.
Stellar Note
Stellar Note is a spin-off of the Miniature Field Manual tailored for fantastical settings. While it shares core mechanics like dice pool-based resolution and comparative rolls, it features more intricate unit interactions, richer unit options, a focus on dynamic melee combat, and synergistic relationships between heroes, elites, and soldiers. Most importantly, it includes a fully developed narrative and world-building.
The Future of the Wargaming Tower
For me, finding my ideal wargame has been like a quest for the Holy Grail. I’ve spent countless hours exploring games I love—falling in love with certain mechanics or elements—only to lose interest over time for some reasons, prompting me to search for the next exciting discovery. Perhaps the Holy Grail I’m searching for lies within myself—who knows? I’ll continue to explore more games, learning and embracing elements I enjoy. Maybe one day, I’ll incorporate all those features into my own creations and share them with you.
When I’m ready, I’ll introduce you to many of the games mentioned above, as well as my own projects. Thank you for stopping by, and I hope to see you again soon!
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