Warsurge is a miniature wargame. This is the second time in recent weeks that Kickstarter-Watch has focused on a miniatures game. That said, Warsurge is a very different project to Turnip 28. That’s not a bad thing, as different games should feel very different. That said, it’s an interesting contrast; the artistry and theming of Turnip 28 against the more technical-focused Warsurge.
As a universal system, Warsurge is very versatile in terms of the models that you can use. You are actively encouraged to bring in miniatures from lots of different manufacturers, as shown in their promotional photos:
Specifically, the games says to bring models from both fantasy and sci-fi to the table. This comes at the expense of a tightness of background. Turnip 28 is all about theme. Theme is king. Here, gameplay and claims of balance are at the forefront. Again, that’s fine. Different games are different, yo.
The designers provide a pair of battle reports to give an example of how their game plays. Here’s the first of the videos:
The video is well-made. The game looks pretty fun. I like that it looks like it’s a good system for creative players. People who like to make their own models, whether by sculpting or kitbashing, could find a good system here in which to base their rules and get their creations to the table. Lots of potential, here.
The use of the word ‘lore’ is something I really dislike. I feel that the word carries a certain narrative weight that most games cannot live up to. I don’t like the works of Tolkien, but I’d be happy to call the background material of Middle Earth its ‘lore’. That description is earned. The use that word in this campaign feels… cheap. the line, “The WARSURGE story is the overshadowing story of all universes,” at once tells you nothing and, as such, everything about the story that goes with this game.
I actually feel that I’d appreciate this game a lot more if it took a step back and didn’t try to pay lip service to ‘lore’. Take the GURPS route, y’know? There’s something noble in honest self-awareness, and in knowing that your product doesn’t have to be everything to everyone. It can be what it is, and it can excel in that area.
Speaking of specific areas of excellence, I really like the look of the campaign system. First of all, I love that it’s integrated into the main book, rather than coming in a supplement. This really emphasises it as something that the designers wanted to feature heavily in their product, front and centre. I like this commitment. Here’s an example of how the map campaigns might look:
Rather handily, the map itself is made up of lots of cool tiles, all of which are available for free on the Warsurge website. A solid campaign is a fantastic, fun experience and I really appreciate when games facilitate this is a clear and meaningful way.
In terms of campaign rewards, you’re looking at the core rulebook in both digital and physical formats as the main item:
The digital version will cost you around £20, depending on the exchange rate. For £33, you’ll also get the Compendium, which gives a bunch of profiles you can use to create your armies. The physical rulebook, before shipping, will cost you around £39, which actually feels pretty fair for what it is, being in colour, and 300 pages. Honestly, I’d have liked the PDF to be included with the physical book, but a bundle of both versions is available for around £44.
There are a bunch of other tiers for different rulebook and compendium, physical and digital, and language options, and… whatever. There are too many options for what ultimately boils down to just being two books. The pledge level sidebar does not need, 12 pledge levels. Come on. Shipping is also a bit steep at around £22, but it’s coming from Australia, so it makes sense.
I think this is a good product. I think the videos showing gameplay really help to sell it. I have a lot more faith in Warsurge than I did in something like Space 1889: After. I think it would have helped to have some independent videos. Perhaps if the game had been sent to other content creators or reviewers in advance, we could have seen how easy the game is to pick up. You can have a good game easily get buried in bad writing, and giving it to someone outside the team to read through and make sense of would give instant credibility to a campaign. That said, what they do have is good.
The pledge levels are badly put together, and needlessly convoluted for a 2 book campaign. Keep it simple. I think the game is worth the asking price, but with shipping from Aus, I’d probably go for the digital option, myself.
You can click here to visit the campaign page on Kickstarter.
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