Domains at War - Update on Our Approach

Let me second that… looks like a great addition to the system and seems like it involves the different class archetypes in a meaningful way. Thieves and assassins mucking up all the well-planned strategies of the opposing side… awesome.

Thanks for the kind words. I *think* we've got a good "total war" ruleset, with spies, assassins, pillaging, supplies, etc., but it needs playtesting. 

Which thus prompts me to say: anyone who'd like to help read and playtest the current DAW rules, please email me at alex at autarch dot co.

 

Has there been any discussion or playing ofsmaller scale skirmish battles?

Thought of one more thing to add to my wish list. Entrenchment rules for units. In a world where wizards and dragons are slinging fireballs at my troops, I’d really want them to be able to dig in.

I’m rather new to ACKS, but I look forward to seeing what you come up with for integrating wargaming with the rules. I’ve alternated between rpg’s and miniature wargaming (primarily of the historical sort) since my teens, and yet have only managed to combine the two during our time playing Pendragon.

Cheers,

Christopher

Two questions:

  • is DaW:Campaigns at the play test level yet?
  • do ACKS Kickstarter backers get access to the DaW playtest? (if so, my Kickstarter ID is same as here)

Here's what will happen:

1. Everyone will get a 10-page DAW Free Starter Edition.

2. All ACKS Kickstarter backers will get a PDF of the complete DAW Digital Boxed set, with DAW Battles, DAW Campaigns, and some cut-outs for minis, etc.

3. Later this year we will host a Kickstarter to fund production of a hardcover and boxed set version of DAW. 

Alex, when do you plan to release playtest versions of the Campaign / Battle Rules? Our campaign is right on the verge of some domain level play (we have a 7th level guy in the lead) and some people have a keep and hired mercs to garrison it.

I'm literally days away from having it finished! We then just need to lay it out as a PDF.

At that point, we'll do the following:

1. Release the 10-page free version

2. Release the complete version, without art, to our original ACKS backers

3. Hold a Kickstarter to fund a full "digital boxed set" (or, if we raise enough, actual boxed set) of the rules with art, counters, etc.

Days! Woot. That should be in time for our big showdown on Sept. 7-8. Many thanks!

How do you plan to spread the word on the kickstarter? I missed the one for the Player’s Companion, and I definitely want to back a hex-based D&D wargame thing. It’s right in my wheelhouse.

I don’t have a wheelhouse, but I definitely want to be informed about the DaW Kickstarter. I’m kicking myself for missing the Players Companion Kickstarter as it is.

I’ve missed all the kickstarters, due to ignorance of this system up to a few weeks ago. But I’ll backing this, I tell ya what.

Hey, any update on this? Has the kickstarter already happened, or is it still in the works? (Also any news on that free version?)

The Kickstarter hasn't happened yet. We wanted to get at least the complete Player's Companion PDF into everyone's hands before starting another Kickstarter.

Domains at War is 99% done, though, save for art.

Ah, OK. Thanks for the update!

Is there any chance there’s a mailer or something I can get on to get notified when the kickstarter for this spins up and you guys have future projects/product plans?

I honestly don’t check these forums much at all(and I’m not running an ACKs campaign at the moment), but would absolutely be interested in being a part of the KS for this.

To me ACKS is an important part of the rpg community.

Dracones, there's no mailing list, no, though that's not a bad idea. We'll do our best to spread the word when we start the Kickstarter. Tavis usually hits RPG.net, TheRPGSite, EnWorld, and the other major hubs, and the OSR blogs...

 

So I want ACKS rules for quickly resolving mass combat, without moving counters around on a map, and for otherwise resolving large scale things like barbarian raids on villages or other military-like enounters much like the rules to resolve hi-jinx. So, yeah, military hijinx.

I’m not interested in a wargame with PC’s as heroes and tracking ranks and wheeling and otherwise playing Warhammer.

So the book I’m looking for is DaW: Campaigns, right?

Also, just so you know, I think hijinx systems (like those of the thief and assassin) are an excellent way of combining the ACKS “bottom up” approach with a “top down” approach seen in things like An Echo Resounding. I’d happily pay for a book full of them. Thiefly hijinx, military hijinx, magical hijinx, priestly hijinx. Well, maybe not a book of just those, but they would certainly be a welcome addition.

I am not sure if there is a practical way to get hijinks for other classes as they dont get any additional skills one could roll for.

I would love to have a system like that though.