The first time I used tarot cards to resolve exploration in
Frostgrave, I was playing solo, and the game didn’t involve much combat despite
the numerous cards that spawn uncontrolled monsters. Today I played with two opposing warbands on
a smaller, 3’x3' table. Combat was
continuous (mostly with spawned monsters) and the exploration rules still
worked fine.
With the smaller table, I only set out 12 mystery
tokens. The Wizards Tarot deck was used
to determine what the mysteries represented.
Two uncontrolled monsters began near the middle, this time a snow troll and a bear.
Jalibarsa the Seer and his apprentice Sarith:
The bands started at opposite edges and fanned out to
explore the mysteries, hoping for good treasure and xp.
On turn1, Purporto summoned a Major Demon while his soldiers
entered a small ruin to explore mystery #11.
Card draw: Ace of Pentacles – The
small chamber had once been richly appointed but the ravages of ice and time
left little of value. The wealthy wizard
who lived here must have had something to loot nearby, though. D12 roll of 10 meant that a treasure and
monster were activated at mystery #10, which was just outside the chamber, a few inches behind the explorers. How convenient!
The treasure looked to be the wizard’s conjuring table over
which two armored skeletons were standing guard. Purporto’s team destroyed the skeletons and
secured the treasures on the wizard’s table.
On the other side, Jalibarsa entered a ruin to explore
mystery #9. Experience with this mod taught
me to have archers and other support standing by before someone spends an
action to reveal the mystery.
Card draw: The
Empress. Before the Great Catastrophe,
this building was an arboretum, used to grow herbs and magical plants for the
Empress’ personal alchemist. Jalibarsa
opted to risk a search, but rolled poorly and awoke a white gorilla. Teamwork put down the beast but Jalibarsa
would have to look elsewhere for treasure.
Sadly, his apprentice Sarith was having no better luck. On investigating mystery #7, card draw: Five
of Cups, they found an empty house. The
walls of this place ached with the anguish of a love spell gone badly. Perhaps the lonely occupant welcomed the
final doom of Felstad when it came. This
card activated a monster and treasure, but at a location some distance away,
near the opposing warband.
After this disappointment, Sarith and his soldiers became
entangled in an archery duel with the other warband and also drew the attention
of a large bear. The beast was put down
before it could eat anyone. Two soldiers
were injured by enemy arrows but were able to withdraw to safety.
Meanwhile,
one of Purporto’s archers investigated mystery #4, card draw: Six of
Swords. This was the home of a great
mariner who brought back treasures from distant lands. After dispatching a wolf who had made her
lair here, Purporto’s team secured the treasure. Did the mariner and his family perish when
the city fell, or were they safely over the sea? Nothing in the ruins provides that answer.
At the same time, Jalibarsa’s team finally found success,
discovering the treasure in the workshop of a craftsman of great renown. Some magic armor or a weapon would be a
welcome addition to the party’s arsenal.
A snow leopard who had taken residence here was defeated without much
difficulty.
Purporto’s major demon was able to bring down the snow troll
and carry off the last treasure. Demons
can be very useful when they obey orders.
In the end, both warbands were able to carry off several treasures without loss. I was impressed with their ability to deal with some monsters that I consider tough for a level zero warband. The key was using an infantryman to investigate the mystery token before his companions had yet acted. That way they could react, usually with missile fire, before the creature phase.
I may need to up the difficulty level, but overall I think it was a fun game. It still needs more testing before I bring it to the friendly local game store.
Very nicely painted models and scenery
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