Zvezda's Age of Battles

Review

By Ian Hammond


I managed to pick up the Kulikovo's battle set for £12.99, should have been £19.99 but their tills messed up.  Rules are in a slightly dodgy version of English translation from Russian but are passable enough to understand, however they do jump around a bit.  The rules appear fairly simple, a little bit of maths so those who can only count on fingers may struggle!! There are some nice touches such as using the spirit of the troops as well as their ability in combat to resolve hand to hand, furthermore their spirit can change due to the course of the battle. Close combat I think needs to be played a few times to get the understanding of it correctly, as do skirmishers.  However, you do also get full siege rules.

The set itself includes the two army lists (coins replace points for troops) and 64 figures, the figures come with bases and flags for these so you can identify them.  You also get card measuring sticks and turning templates.  For reference you get laminated regiment cards.  Two D20s and a map of the battlefield are also included.  Terrain is simply shiny card print outs of rivers, hills marsh and trees (trees slot together to form 3d base).

In all a nice little set that I would have been prepared to pay full price for.  Army lists may be difficult to obtain but anyone with a basic understanding of the troops involved would be able to come up with a profile.  Pity there is no fast play sheet though.  I think if you are to play these rules production of an in house fast play sheet would help play.  In essence these are a fun set of rules though and should give an enjoyable game.

The full castle battle set retails at £50.  I may get this but the individual components retail at £4.50 for a tower so good value.  Italeri also have a full medieval castle for £50.


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