The Maze of Malcor
is another supplement for Frostgrave. This is the fourth soft cover supplement for Osprey Games popular fantasy
skirmish game. One of my goals for 2019 was to get my gaming
group and family to start a regular campaign for this game system. Reading the description for this one it
mentioned some new rules, campaign, and new wizard types. Therefore, it made sense to me to pick up
this booklet to make sure I had the newest rules.
The rules have three main components. The first is the new rules. The second is the Campaign and the new
bestiary to go with it. The last piece
is new wizards and spells of the new magical schools called the Pentangle. So, let’s dig in and see what terrors this
supplement will add to the Frozen City of Felstad.
Things I Liked
I really enjoyed the new spells and the new wizards. The new Wizards are not really intended to be
“campaign playable”. It specifically
mentioned the difficulty of a wizard maxing out and being able to cast the
Transcendence spell since the new wizards have to master more spells than a
conventional wizard. Many of these new
wizard types were a combination of existing magical schools in new and
interesting ways. The author is full of
fun magical ideas.
I also liked the new rules for placing treasure. It seemed to crib from the treasure placement
used in the Ghost Archipelago. You place a central treasure in the center of
the board so there is always a reason to move towards the middle. Other treasures are placed radiating away
from it. This will help cut down on
treasure placement shenanigans.
Things I Did Not
Like
The campaign is pretty elaborate and had 12 new
scenarios. The scenarios themselves each
use unique new bestiary creatures and unique terrain lay-outs. Looking at the campaign, it would be quite an
undertaking for a small gaming group to get the parts you need to play through
it. It would be a great club project
though.
The campaign itself seems like it would be best to play
with more advanced wizard parties. The
opponents are particularly tough. Of
course, it could also be played through with multiple wizard bands, and the
rules reference this option as well. In
addition, the new rules have a way to start with more experienced wizards. Perhaps to play through this very
campaign.
Meh and Other
Uncertainties
The new rules also include a new experience table, an
auto-success/failure mechanic, new scroll rules, and new ways to balance
scenarios. These all seem perfectly
adequate and the new Balancing Scenario rules is something that have been
needed since Frostgrave came
out. I am glad to see them added but I
am unsure how successful they will be.
The new Treasures are perfectly adequate and have some
fun stuff. The Bestiary also has some
fun stuff. My favorite might be the
animated desks and bureaus. There are
even magical items that let you have these furniture constructs join your
warbands. This supplement adds more to the
long list of fun treasures and magical items, including scrolls for the Pentangle
magic. However, none of it was really
“needed” or add any new dimensions to the game like some of the other
supplements.
Conclusion
Well, I was a bit disappointed with this supplement. It adds an extra layer and challenging
campaign for High-Level wizard war bands.
Plus, it adds “new” wizard types and magic. However, overall it does not add enough new
elements to make it indispensable. If I
was to order the Supplements based on need, I would go with:
The content that raises this above Forgotten Pacts and Thaw ofthe Liche Lord is the new rules for Treasures, the Balancing Mechanic, and
the new magic/wizard types. If you have
a group committed to creating the campaign and they have experience war bands
the Maze of Malcor will be a useful and fun addition for them. If not, it is less useful but does add more
Scenarios. Scenarios are critical for a
long lasting Frostgrave campaign.
If those criteria are met then this is a good buy. If it they are not met, I would get Into the Breeding Pits or the Frostgrave Folio first.
Note: On a related note, Northstar has come out with some great models to go along with thisrelease. I am particularly excited
by the new wizards, the new constructs, and the female soldiers plastic boxed
set. Check them out.
No comments:
Post a Comment