Kings of War Big Game - Robin 2018

The weekend before last we put on one of our huge games of Kings of War at the Robin show. This was probably the largest we'd ever done. With 5 players per side on our 16ft x 6ft table we had 32,000 points per side using the rules on the Kings of War Big Game page.

This game was a real turning point for us. We've certainly reached the limit of the size of armies we can use on that size table with the number of players. In fact we've almost certainly gone beyond a practical size. There were so many troops that there was no room to manoeuvre and we only managed to play 4 turns, not really reaching a satisfactory conclusion.

So it's time to start restricting the amount of stuff we use rather than just putting everything we own on the table. With that in mind we've put together some rules of thumb to follow:

• Max 2,500 points per 2 foot table length. 
• Max 6,000 points per experienced player.
• Max 3,000 points per less experienced player.

So, the plan for the future will be:

• Get as much space as possible. I can go up to 18ft x 6ft with some of my extra boards. 
• Each experienced player bring up to around 5,000 points. Specify well in advance what side they are playing. Multiple armies fine.
• Each less experienced player bring 2,500 points.
• Each player without own army borrow one from a COGS member up to value of 2,500.

With that in mind we look forward to the next big game... Here are some photos from Robin.

Big Kings of War game at Red on Blue in Nottingham (Robin)

We'll be running one of our massive Kings of War games at the Robin show in Nottingham on Sunday 11th February 2018.

We have 20ft x 6ft of table space for us this time with plenty of miniatures and terrain already available. What we really need help with is players. From experience a game of this size really needs at least 5 players a side.

So if you can help please let me know!

If you have armies to bring as well, then that's a bonus, but it's not a requirement! Also knowledge of Kings of War rules is not needed.

Even if you can't attend all day then we'll be letting passing players help out as well on the day.

Kings of War Big Game Hammerhead 2017

Hammerhead brought another Kings of War big game for us this last weekend. The biggest one yet. This time around 28,500points per side on an even bigger table.

However a number of issues meant we didn't get our usual 6 turns done and instead ended with a slightly unsatisfactory 4. This meant that the game, in my opinion, felt unfinished. We'd still got more to do before we could say a definite conclusion had been reached. Good won, almost, though only really tenuously.

The reasons for not completing were several, the biggest being that 4 players a side was just not enough for the size of game we attempted. The shooting and melee phases dragged on without enough players to handle them.

However also I'd decided to try an odd shape table to see what happened and reaching into the centre proved a little more difficult than normal.

Live and learn! Back to a rectangular table next time and also reduce the size of the armies if we can't get enough players...

Despite this everyone enjoyed the day and were asking straight away when the next will be. However I don't actually have one planned yet! With re-enacting season starting soon my mind is elsewhere. Also I'd like to try the game at a different show, so if anyone can suggest somewhere that will host such a large table please let me know!

Also we're always after new players, so if you think you can help with that please, please, please, let me know!

The table was planned out in advance using the miniature set of tiles that I have, one each for the larger real tiles means that the layouts are always possible. Each board is in reality 2 foot square.

Kings of War Big Game today at the Mantic Open Day

When Mantic invited us to put on one of our big Kings of War games at the Mantic Open Day I jumped at the chance. It was a great honour to be asked to play Kings of War at the home of the game itself.

Well, today was the day, and myself and twelve other lucky souls turned up at Mantic HQ bright and early. We had access to a 16ft x 6ft table that consumed a huge amount of the space available. By far the largest single game at the open day with over 25,000 points of models on each side.

By opening time at 10:00am we had already started playing and were well into turn 1. Pretty soon the battle lines engaged and troops started to rout. On my flank however the Green Lady and a Unicorn were able to keep healing the three Tree Men I was using to hold back the tide of Jeff's Orcs and Twilight Kin. Further over to the centre Kieran's Dwarves and Ogres were dealing damage to Martin's Undead. Andy's Zulus, Salamanders and Ogres were having quite a few problems with Jonathan's Varangrrrr in the centre. Over on the right flank Ed and Gerald faced off against Justin and Brendan's Undead and Steve's Twilight Kin and Goblins. Though I kept on hearing bad reports of losses from that far flank, whenever I looked over there the battlefield still seemed to be covered generously by the forces of Good.

By 3:30pm we reached the end of turn 6. We checked the available time and decided we didn't have enough to get an extra turn in. On my flank I'd held back and was slowly pushing through the enemy, however there was a fight between my Greater Earth Elemental and Martin's Bone Giant that still had not concluded and as a result the objective was contested at game end

However further towards the centre we'd broken through the enemy lines and taken an objective, holding our own two in that area as well. On the other flank there were two more contested objectives and far, far at the other end Evil had solid control of the last.

With 3-1 in favour of Good we had won the day. Looking over my forces (Nature and Men) I could see that our victory had been relatively cheap for them, with only a handful of units having been routed.

Anyway, here are the photos and a video as well...

Kings of War Big Game at Salute 2016

After a break of a couple years I was back at Salute with COGS and the GCN yesterday.

For the first time we took our big Kings of War game along and with massive help from the other players: Steve, Andy, Ed, Phil, Jeff and Ian and with the loan of a some miniatures from Tim and Brendan we managed to get the game to completion before the show closed at 5pm.

The game was 14ft x 6ft  with 15,000 points per side. It was a victory for Evil 3 objectives to 2, but in addition to taking those objectives Evil had also managed to push back both of Good's flanks. Even Good's centre was starting to look weak. So a well fought first victory for the forces of evil.

The day was eventful with loads of interest and kinds comments from the public, a visit from a documentary team and Ronnie Renton the owner of Mantic.

Hammerhead Kings of War Big Game 2016

Another show... another Kings of War big game. We're getting quite experienced at this now.

7 players on a 14 foot x 6ft table, approx 14,500 points each side. Setup began at 8am and we'd packed up and left by 5pm. 6 turns were played in total.

At the end of their turn 6, Good had 4 objectives to Evil's none with 3 contested. By the end of their turn 6, evil had made it a 2-2 draw still with 3 objectives contested.

The game was a very mobile one with objectives in both side's rears being taken or contested.

Stars of the game were Martin's Reaper Bones Bone Giant

and Andy's Zulus complete with Zebra Centaurs and Rhino Riders.

Next stop... Salute.

(BTW, I just updated the Big Game Rules that we use for these games... they were a little out of date.)

Vapnartak Big Kings of War Game 2016

Last Sunday we (COGS) put on a huge Kings of War game at the Vapnartak wargames show in York.

This had almost 15,000 points of fully painted models per side from 8 people's collections. The models were from loads of different manufacturers with some scratch built and some conversions. There were 11 players taking part.

Some of the models before deployment

The game took place on a 14ft x 6ft table and was an objective marker game similar to Pillage with 9 objectives on the table. We used the Big Game Rules with a change in that deployment was a simultaneous free-for-all after the Patrol Phase had been completed.

On one flank a combined force of Orcs, Undead and Twlight Kin decimated the Elves until only the Elf King's court remained.

Two Dwarf armies and a Nature force held the centre against Kings of men and more Twilight Kin.

On the other flank a combined force of Ogres and Kings of Men destroyed more Undead and a Goblin army.

By turn 6 Evil had taken 4 of the objectives, with good holding 2. The remaining 3 were contested. All agreed to play a 7th turn as we had time.

That was to be a bad decision for Evil as the objectives changed hands. Good ended with 4, Evil 3 and just 2 remained contested.

Victory for the forces of Good!

We'll be running another huge Kings of War game at Hammerhead on Saturday 5th March.