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BattleLore - An Overview

BattleLore is a game that bridges several genres, As the foundation to a comprehensive game sys-
combining various elements and aspects of cards, tem, BattleLore can be as addictive as any hobby. The
miniatures, role-playing and board games, without game system lends itself to expansions and house rules,
being easily pigeonholed in any category. both officially sanctioned and home-made. Yet it is not,
nor will it ever be, a randomized, blind-boosters collect-
able card game or collectable miniature game.
Epic in scope (the game recreates massive clashes
between medieval armies rather than small skirmishes
between a handful of heroes), the game plays quickly, Here is a brief preview of what BattleLore holds in
with a typical adventure rarely lasting more than an hour. store.
Deep and engaging, the game is easily set up - and
packed away - nonetheless. It plays on a board map
easily laid down on any table, or even on the ground, In BattleLore, a game session is built around a care-
and uses pre-assembled, ready to play miniatures. As fully crafted Adventure, set in the game's Late Medieval
such, it is neither a role-playing game, nor a tabletop Uchronia. Or in the fantasy world of your choice, if
miniature game. you'd rather design your own adventures, using Days
of Wonder's own BattleLore Online Adventure Editor.
(Free access to the Adventure Editor is included with
every game box.)

Deeper in Castile - One of the ten introductory adventures included in the game.

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An Adventure depicts the Battlefield upon which The game is fought over a number of successive
each player must try to lead his own forces to game turns, taken by the players alternately. During his
victory. These forces are represented by various sets turn, the forces under a player's control are ordered into
of plastic figures, gathered on the same terrain hex, Movement and Battle with the play of a Command card
where they form a Unit. and its associated effects.

The Command card usually dictates the number of


units ordered for the turn, as well as the section(s) of
the battlefield to which they belong.

An Infantry unit, a Giant Spider,


and a Cavalry unit en route to the front.

Each unit is composed of a Banner Bearer, and in


most cases, some additional figures. The Banner Bearer
is a key element of the game: It offers visual clues as to
the nature of the Troops it leads into combat, their level
of military training and weapons equipment. It is also Section cards Tactic cards
the last figure of a unit to be removed from the battlefield
when the unit is finally defeated, yielding its opponent When combat occurs, its outcome is decided with
a crucial Victory banner (adventures usually being the roll of a varying number of Battle Dice; the sides
fought to a pre-determined number of Victory banners). of the dice rolled dictate the effects of combat and the
eventual damage inflicted upon the enemy's troops.

Hit on Green Banner

Hit on Blue Banner

Hit on Red Banner

The game board, and the Terrain and Landmark Bonus Strike
pieces it supports, depicts the battlefield on which a game
is fought. Two red dotted lines delineate the battle- Retreat Flag
field's three distinct Sections, respectively forming a Left
Wing, Center and Right Wing for each Camp. Lore

At the onset of an adventure, players get a chance to


assemble a whole fellowship of Lore Masters of varying
origins and talents to their side. Lore is the common
bond that brings these men and their unique gifts
together, and (in terms of gameplay) the gateway to
legendary actions on - and off - the battlefield.
A famous Rogue's hideaway, and its secret exit,
deep behind the enemy lines.

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Together, these heroes form the player's War Council; they dictate many of
the upcoming battle's key parameters, such as the number of Command cards
held in hand (hence the variety of battle plans a player can choose from to
THE FIVE LORE
lead his troops to combat), the number of Lore tokens in reserve, and Lore MASTERS
cards in hand, as well as the level at which they can be played.

Commander token
Rogue's Stealth Warriors Berserk

Wizard token
Wizard's Magic Web Cleric's Stone Skin

Lore is a Lore Master's most precious asset. Its tokens quite literally fuel the Lore Masters'
feats and legendary actions, through the play of the much-vaunted Lore Cards.
For the right price, Mercenary Commands of various races (a Goblinoid Horde and an Iron
Dwarf Infantry are included in the base game), and truly fearsome Monstrous Creatures can often
be recruited to one's side in the hope of swaying the battle at the decisive time.
Rogue token

Hobgoblin Archer Goblin Skirmisher Goblin Swordsman Hobgoblin Swordsman Hobgoblin Cavalry
Warrior token

Iron Dwarf Iron Dwarf Iron Dwarf


Crossbowman Swordsman Swordsman (Heavy) Cleric token

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For Veteran Gamers

Veteran players already familiar with our Memoir '44 game series and players of other card-driven miniature
board games may find the study of the following tables, extracted from the BattleLore Player's Guide, a
worthwhile read; these tables, conveniently gathered in a single location, shed light on some of the game
system's most important mechanics.

ANATOMY OF A UNIT
Figures grouped together on the same hex form a unit.
A unit's most important member is its Banner Bearer,
who proudly carries the units colors into combat.
Each banner displays many characteristics, making it
easy for both sides to rapidly identify the most
distinctive capabilities of each unit in play.
The Banner type (Standard banner and Pennant banner
shapes, respectively) and Banner pattern (fleur-de-lys
and lions head) confirm which camp a unit is allied Standard Bearer Heavy Standard Bearer Archer
with, something that becomes quite handy in the Cavalry
midst of heavy Melee combat!

Red Banner Heavy Blue Banner Green Banner


Infantry Regular Infantry Archer
The color of a banners background field or Banner Swordsman Swordsman
undertone, reveals that units Troop type or level of
military training. Its Weapon Symbol indicates the
weapon this unit wields in combat.
A Banner Bearer is always the units last figure to remain
on the hex during combat. Its elimination marks the
defeat of the unit, and the gain of a corresponding Victory
Banner for the opponent.

Two important sets of tactical concepts

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ANATOMY OF A WEAPON
Common Bow Crossbow Short Sword Long Sword

Four common BattleLore weapons

ANATOMY OF A LORE CARD ANATOMY OF


A CREATURE
Power Cost Title

Phase of Play Command Movement Creature


Phase Phase
Lore Master
Class Symbol

Target
Dice Roll Lore Card
Phase symbol

Effect

During Ranged During Melee


Combat Combat

Orders Combat
Phase Phase
Reaction logo

Each Creature has its own


Reaction Target
individual Summary card,
describing its characteristics
and special powers.

Cleric Wizard Rogue Warrior i

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What is in the Box?
So what will a visit to your local game's basic medieval
game store and $70 buy you? mechanics, fantasy
aspects and the world -
the rulebook lays the
First off - the biggest box we've ever made - literally ground for a complete
packed with game materials! game system, and sets
While we made something of a name for ourselves the foundation for
producing top-of-the-line boardgames, we spared no many adventures to
expense to make this an EPIC production come. It also includes
an all-important lexicon
where all of the game's
Inside the BattleLore box, which has the same key terms and concepts
footprint as all our previous big box games, but is Rulebooks cover.
are defined.
50% deeper, you will discover:

Over 210 incredibly sculpted miniatures,


20 mm in scale, detailing the various units you will
get to command on the battlefield; From Dwarven
crossbowmen to Hobgoblin lizard riders, 14
different sculpts and 58 Banner Bearers are
included. All miniatures come pre-assembled, complete
with their banners and ready to play, all packaged in two
convenient, reusable plastic blister trays. No fingers
rubbed raw from wrenching plastic from sprues or
hours of delicate sticker positioning required!
Lavishly illustrated examples!

Miniatures. A detailed lexicon.

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An 80 page soft-cover, bound rulebook: Lavishly
illustrated and chockfull of examples, this book
contains all you will need to easily learn the game and
start playing. Organized in three parts, covering the

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2 War Council
sheets, and the
Lore Master tokens
required to sit these
important advisors
at your side before
the game starts.

The Command
cards, Summary
cards and Battle
The Adventures Booklet. dice required to play
the game, and an
all-important 60 card Lore deck, including fifteen
of each Lore Master's most common set of tricks,
spells and legendary actions.

Ten introductory Adventures to the world of BattleLore!

A 24 page Adventures Booklet, The Veritable


Chronicles of Jehan Froissart. This booklet will give
you a glimpse of BattleLore's late medieval Uchronia
in the company of one of its greatest chroniclers, and
guide you through a 10 Adventure, step-by-step
introduction to the game's mechanics.
A Web Access Number that opens
A 3-fold full-color board map of the battlefield, the doors to a vibrant community of players, countless
along with all the terrain and landmark pieces required additional adventures, and even free access to Days of
to travel the width and depth of Medieval Europe's Wonder's Online Adventure Editor!
battlefields. Like the War Council tokens and all other
cardboard pieces in BattleLore, these come already pre-
punched and ready to play.

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Promotional Miniatures
Now that you've read this all, head out to your local Come this winter, you will be
game store for a first-hand look at one of the game's
promotional miniatures, the Hill Giant! ready to revisit a world of fantasy
you thought long gone, and to
recapture the fun and excitement
of the epic adventures of your
youth, in a format that fits your
lifestyle today.

Hill Giant Earth Elemental

The Hill Giant - a promotional figure available now,


and reserved for pre-orders placed at your friendly local
game store.

The Earth Elemental - another wondrous creature,


soon available at gaming events and conventions
worldwide!

The Hill Giant above will likely be your first real


encounter with the world of BattleLore. Packed inside
a blister, it comes complete with 3 summary cards that
detail his powers, and a terrain tile that constitutes his
Lair on the battlefield. This figure will be given out to
you, free of charge, when you place a pre-order at a
friendly local game store or on our web site, ahead of
the game's actual release at the end of November 2006.

After reading this Primer and visiting a game store,


if you are still unsure about pre-ordering, or simply crave
for more details, check out our regularly updated blog,
on www.battlelore.com.

d d
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Inside
THE BOX

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A fascinating new game system
in which eye-catching miniatures set
amidst rolling hills and forests seamlessly
interact with a deceptively simple-looking card
driven mechanic

WHO WE ARE ?

A world in which each dice roll becomes a


O ne of the fastest-growing boardgame
publishers in the world, Days of Wonder
first made its name as a publisher of top-quality
cinematic vignette of what unfolds in some boardgames, with such smash hits as Memoir
corner of the battlefield '44 and Shadows over Camelot to its credit.
In 2004, the company became the youngest
A medieval uchronia in which publisher ever and the first US firm in
every decision made in the War over a decade to win the world's most
Council, a carefully assembled cast of prestigious boardgame prize, the
familiar characters, has a momentous coveted German Spiel des Jahres, with
impact on history itself! the release of its best-selling Ticket to
Ride boardgame, by legendary game
designer Alan R. Moon.

Copyright 2006 Days of Wonder, Inc. All Rights


Reserved. BattleLore and Ticket to Ride are registered
trademarks, and Shadows over Camelot and Memoir '44
are trademarks, of Days of Wonder, Inc. All other
trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Embark on an epic journey at:


www.BattleLore.com

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