Mistfall: Heart of the Mists

Brave the Shadowscape
about 10 years ago – Fri, May 20, 2016 at 12:17:46 AM

Ladies and Gentlemen!

The time has come to talk about our dungeon crawler. As some of you might have noticed, it is already up as a new addon, and here’s some basic information about the game itself.

An ancient tale, spoken only in whispers, tells of a forbidden underworld created at the dawn of time. Some say that it is a plain completely overtaken by the Mists. Others believe that it is still the domain of the Nightfather, and his testing ground for those he chose to become his champions.

Awaken, pick up your sword and follow the whispers that guide you into the depths. But beware! Monsters and perils await, and in the madness of the labyrinth, you may even face shadows of those, who were once your companions.

Fight, plot and strategize to prove yourself in the eyes of the Nightfather, and emerge a champion of the Shadowscape!

What is Shadowscape?

Shadowscape is a 45-90 minute competitive mini dungeon crawl played on o modular board of rooms filled with monsters, treasures and traps. It takes place in the Mistfall universe, allowing players to once again become iconic Heroes of both Mistfall, and Heart of the Mists.

How is it played?

Each game is played on a five by five grid of dungeon room cards, randomized before every game. Players start by choosing their Heroes and placing their tokens in the corner rooms of the dungeon. Each Hero comes with their own set of four double-sided Action Cards placed on the table in front of the player.

During your turn, you will use two of those cards, performing actions like attacking monsters (but not other Heroes), searching through rooms, moving or preparing for the next rounds. After using an Action Card, you will flip it to the other side, featuring a different Action.

Each Action can be boosted by using the Boon effects from any number of Fate Cards from your hand. Fate Cards are drawn from a common Fate Deck at different points of the game (usually when using the Prepare Action). But Fate Cards can also be used for their alternative Bane effect, which allows you to move monsters, make unexpected changes to the layout of the labyrinth, or snatch treasures from other players.

Each turn will end with the active player drawing one Fate Card for its third and final effect: monster spawn and movement. This is also the time when most monsters will be able to attack the Heroes, dealing damage some of which can be easily soaked, while other have to be placed on their Action Cards, making them unavailable until the Hero is healed.

Miniatures and Tokens

Shadowscape comes with a full set of twelve Heroes depicted as tokens, but by combining it with the Heroes of Mistfall Miniatures Pack, you can replace the tokens with a set of detailed, pre-painted miniatures.

Solitaire and Cooperative Play

While Shadowscape is a competitive game, we are aware of how important solitaire and cooperative gaming is for fans and backers of Mistfall and Heart of the Mists. With that in mind, we already working on a cooperative mode for the game, however, it is possible that it will become a separate feature available as downloadable rules and/or some print and play components.

I hope you’ve enjoyed the first glimpse into Shadowscape. Soon, we hope to have more to show you!

As always, have a great day!

Błażej

Print and Play as Valkea
about 10 years ago – Fri, May 20, 2016 at 12:17:44 AM

Ladies and Gentlemen!

Yesterday I promised you another character as print and play, and it's time to make good on that promise:

If you click here (or on the picture above), you will be able to download a PnP version of Valkea the Myrmidon. If you click at the image below, you will be able to congatulate yourself on poking a Fell Scorpion, and living to tell the tale.

Tomorrow you will also get to know Valkea's story, and (for those of you without scissors and the will to build your own game components) a few words on how she handles in the game.

As always, share your thoughts, and if you want to help, tell your social media friends about Heart of the Mists and Shadowscape.

I hope you all have a great rest of the day!

Błażej

Lore Update: Valkea the Myrmidon
about 10 years ago – Fri, May 20, 2016 at 12:17:38 AM

Ladies and Gentlemen!

Yesterday you received the Print and Play version of Valkea the Myrmidon. Now, it's time to tell you who she really is. Also, I decided to show you a few Enemies already present So, are you ready to jump into another piece of Heart of the Mists lore?

The Myrmidons

The deserts of Naar are a harsh environment to live in, and an even harsher for those who want to wage war under the scorching sun. Since the Mistfall, the rocky planes and labyrinths of red stone have seen their fair share of strife, so the Kerathi, a brave and stout nation that inhabits Naar, are no strangers to conflict. And wherever there is conflict, Myrmidons are always the first to clash with the enemy.

Both armoured and mobile, able to traverse the sea of dunes with an almost unnatural speed, Myrmidons are to Naar and Hammorhome what Shieldbearers are to  Valskyrr and Forstvalley Keep. Not quite as resilient, but more mobile and equally as disciplined as the warriors of the frozen north, Myrmidons are known around the world as the tip of the spear that strikes the abominations and horrors spawned in the deserts and caverns of Naar.

Now, after the world has almost shattered and the Mists have made the lands of frost neighbours to the realm of fire, Myrmidons are once again ready to stand firm against the tide of darkness. Able to adapt to new environments and ready to lock shields with their new allies, the Myrmidons fight to push the Mists back once again, and restore the world to what it once was.

Valkea the Spear of Hammerhome

Some say in jest that Valkea was born with shield and spear in hand, and that she killed her first Ravenok when she was nine. And while the latter claim is only a joke, the second one is most certainly true, as the story of a young, fierce girl driving a spear through a brid-like warrior’s gut while defending her infant brother, spread like wildfire in Hammerhome.

Drafted into the ranks of Myrmidons at the age of 12, Valkea became the youngest captain to lead her own squad, and before she was twenty, she had already locked shields with the legendary wielders of the Myrmidon spear. She had also found her one true love: Terhu, a Myrmidon just like her, both a lover and a companion always at her side both in battle, and in times of rest.  But Valkea's happines was not meant to last, as it was in battle that the two were torn apart. 

Short after the cataclysm that reshaped the world, Valkea and Terhu stood against a mysterious winged sorcerer, whose corrupting power made short work of their battle gear. Deprived of her shield, Terhu was struck down with a mighty blow and overwhelmed by the Mists. Valkea, wounded and surrounded by enemies, could only hear the screams of Tehru and the laughter of their demonic adversary, as they both faded away in the swirling Mists. 

Now, with a determination and discipline unparalleled even by the greatest Myrmidons, Valkea pushes onward through corrupted lands, travels between Valskyrr and Naar, and seeks to find and free Terhu. Aided in her quest by those who have seen her in battle, as well as by new allies ready to stand by her side against any odds, Valkea knows that she will not rest until Terhu is once again by her side.

Valkea as a Player Character 

With a bit less fortitude, Valkea is nonetheless a warrior type, able to withstand Enemy attacks, and strike a countering blow that will cripple even the toughest foes. With what she lacks in pure resilience, she makes up for in a certain dose of mobility and range. 

With a style of play not as complex as some other Heroes of Heart of the Mists, Valkea seems the right choice for those only making their first steps into the fiery lands of Naar, or the icy realm of Valskyrr.

Do you like Valkea's story? Do you like how she handles in battle? Share your thoughts and, as always, have a great day!

Błażej

More Sand & Snow, and a glimpse of Naar
about 10 years ago – Wed, May 18, 2016 at 09:44:38 PM

Ladies and Gentlemen!  

The Sand and Snow mini expansion was met with a lot of interest. There were also some questions. While a few details are still dependent on how far the Heart of the Mists campaign will go, here’s what I can already tell you about the new Mistfall and Heart of the Mists expansion. And all that illustrated with Naar landscapes: new images you’ll see on Location Tiles in Heart of the Mists.

Lieutenants of the Mists

The main part of the expansion will be taken by Lieutenant cards. These Enemies are usually a bit tougher than their regular counterparts, and in most cases they either make the Enemies of the same type stronger, or add a general special rule to the game, as long as they stay on the table.

Eliminating a Lieutenant, apart from the immediate gain of cancelling their special rule, also allows players to gain something: either an immediate boon, or a Reward card straight into a player’s hand. You will be able to recognize the Lieutenant by the lack of Resolve value: as eliminating one does not add to the general Resolve pool.

Most Lieutenant cards will be usable with any content, so you can use them with Mistfall or Heart of the Mists (or, obviously, when combining both), but the expansion will also come with a few options of customizing your game. The total count of Lieutenant cards is approximately 60.  

New Rewards 

With more Rewards to be gained from Lieutenants, and the difficulty level of the game going up, you will also get even more Gear cards at your disposal. New weapons, arcane items, clothing and armour you will be able to use and cycle through your deck.

And how much new loot awaits you in the expansion? Well, a nice round 20 new Reward cards should satiate your lust for new treasure.

Special Events

Okay, the name “Special Events” is something that may be still changed to something more appropriate, as these will become something of side quests the player can take into account when playing the game. These cards will make your game harder, but will also reward you for taking care of them in a timely manner. So, brace yourselves for a total of 20 of cards that will make your Heroes’ lives more… interesting.

New Allies

The expansion will also feature at least five new Allies. Each of them with a special power of their own, to take on a quest, either choosing or drawing them at random.

Stay tuned, as the next update will come back to the Lore of Mistfall, as I will present Valkea, one of the core Heroes of Heart of the Mists.

As always, have a great day!

Błażej

Lore Update: Aseke the Namebearer
about 10 years ago – Wed, May 18, 2016 at 09:43:32 PM

Ladies and Gentlemen!  

Yesterday a Stretch Goal unlocking a new Hero was unlocked, so it’s time to tell you a bit about Aseke as a character, both thematically and in the game. Since you’ve already seen her artwork, this is also a great opportunity to show you the Cyclops, a new Enemy unlocked recenlty as well.

So, let’s start with that, shall we?

The Namebearers

They are called differently around the world, although “bard” seems to be the most common name. Singers, storytellers and performers, travelling alone or in troupes, they are usually welcomed wherever they go, as especially for those living in smaller settlements, they are a source of information on the outside world. And since the world has become much more volatile of late, the news they carry can be more precious than riches these days.

Although well liked almost everywhere, bards are held in especially high esteem in Valskyrr, as they are perceived as not only entertainers, but also keepers of knowledge and messengers of hope. Their accounts of heroic deeds often allow the common people of the cold north to reinvigorate their efforts in facing the horrors of the Mists.

Also, because of a belief (almost universal in Valskyrr, but also quite common in the rest of the known world) that one is not truly dead, as long as their name and deeds are not forgotten, bards are called Namebearers in Valskyrr. Indeed, their connection with heroes of old often allow them to tap into a fraction of their power, and inspire their companions to real greatness.

Aseke of the Dale

Aseke was born and raised on the road in a travelling troupe of performers. Although she is Valskyrrian by blood, she has spent most of her life moving from place to place, and performing for people everywhere between the Free Cities in the south, Valskyrr in the north and Naar in the east. She has also faced the threat of the Mists on more than one occasion.

Always cheerful and helpful, Aseke has found many friends around the world. She has on more than one occasion travelled into the wilds with the Shieldbearers of Forstvalley, or help the Myrmidons of Naar hold their ground with a war song. Her voice seems to possess the ability to calm ravenous beasts, instil strength in her allies, and pierce the darkness brought on by the Mists. The power she wields made her earn the status of a true Namebearer time and time again, and she is always welcomed in Frostvalley and Hammerhome alike. 

It has also been said that she had been more than friends with the previous Lord Commander of Frostvalley keep. And while she has mourned his loss like many others, his passing did little perceivable damage to her character and demeanour. However, those who travel with Aseke have already seen that she exhibits even greater resolve when facing the horrors of the Mists, and that the name of Frostvalley’s fallen hero unlocks a power not seen in Aseke by anyone before. 

 Aseke as a Player Character 

The Nambearer is the first Hero designed mostly with multiplayer games in mind (or for those who prefer to run two Heroes as they play solitaire). Most of Aseke’s abilities are based around supporting others, which means that she is somewhat weaker on her own, as her Feats centre around controlling Enemies and buffing friends. To offset for her lack of immediate strength, she is able to bring two Allies with her to any Quest. 

Aseke also possesses a few Feats that allow her to use those Allies more effectively, as well as the ability to occasionally influence the number of Objective Tokens on the Time Charter. 

So, are you excited to draft Aseke into your party of Heroes?

Błażej