Age of Sigmar: Soulbound is a tabletop role-playing game set in the Mortal Realms, the setting of Warhammer: Age of Sigmar. It gives players an immersive gaming experience in the world that they likely already know and love from the miniatures game. As a fan of both Age of Sigmar and roleplaying games, I was thrilled to delve into this game last year, first at club, and then more recently with another group, online.
To me, the game’s setting and lore are undoubtedly its strongest points. Age of Sigmar is a well-established and beloved fantasy universe, and Soulbound expands upon it, offering players the chance to explore the various realms and interact with famous characters from the tabletop game. The attention to detail in the lore is impressive, especially when incorporating familiar elements and character types into playable characters. I can understand the argument that the old Warhammer World was more fully developed than the Mortal Realms, but we’re getting there. We’re getting there. It’s also just damn cool to find yourself facing off against all the gribblies and enemies that you find in the tabletop game.
The game mechanics and rules in Soulbound strike a balance between having some complexity, whilst also being relatively light and enjoyable. It’s no secret that I prefer games that put narrative before ‘crunch’. The system strikes a fine balance between accessibility for newcomers and depth for experienced players. It uses a dice pool system, which is always a plus for me; this is my favourite way to play RPGs. The character creation process allows for some customisation and personalisation, though the reliance on archetypes makes it a bit harder to have a really unique character. You’re essentially picking a model/unit type from the various armies of AoS and then applying some customisation options. There are a few options for each Order army in the core book, with more added in expansions and supplements. The combat system is fast-paced and strategic, with a variety of abilities and actions that keep players constantly engaged. I’ve played a few different characters, with my Doomseeker, Grumnol Gleamcrest, being my favourite so far.
Something else that I really appreciate about Soulbound is the presentation and quality of the game materials. I’m a sucker for a good book. The rulebook is beautifully illustrated and easy to navigate, ensuring that players can quickly find the information they need during gameplay. The book also is full of beautiful art. The overall production value is high, reflecting the care and dedication put into creating this game. This is not that unsurprising given that it is produced by Cubicle 7, an experienced RPG development studio that consistently puts out really great books.
On the downside, one potential area for improvement lies in some slightly finicky rules. While the majority rules are well-explained, it can take some time for players to fully grasp the intricacies of the mechanics. Some of the interactions with Doom system seem slightly unintuitive, and one of our groups has had to house-rule it a little. Similarly, coming from games like Dungeons & Dragons, the movement zones system used in combat is potentially clunky; managing at once to be both overly loose and somehow restrictive? Go figure… This might pose a challenge for newcomers, especially those who don’t have a broad experience of tabletop roleplaying games. Despite this, with a patient and experienced game master, the learning curve can be easily overcome.
The game has a number of skills that can be employed out of combat, but I do worry that the core game is a bit heavily focused on combat. I’ve had good GMs who have managed to create interesting and varied games, but combat does seem to be at the centre, which isn’t necessarily how I like to think about my roleplaying games. On the other hand, this is based on a wargame, so it’s little surprise that fantasy violence should be so central to the experience.
Soulbound does capture the essence of the Age of Sigmar franchise. I feel that it manages to provide an engaging role-playing experience for existing fans and newcomers alike. Its detailed lore, strategic gameplay, and high production value make it a worthy addition to any tabletop game collection. I wonder if this is a game that will become even better in future editions, as with further refinement and a more balanced approach to gameplay elements, Soulbound has the potential to become a real gem for Cubicle 7 and Games Workshop.
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