My #07 is Anno Domini 1666, and yes, I know... it's another game that is technically a board game. BUT... the rules are written by the designers and publishers of By Fire and Sword which is a Polish themed Renaissance tabletop war-game, full-blown army level, not skirmish like what I typically play. If I ever play that game, it will be with 15mm standees. I'm NOT going to paint an entire 2 sets of armies ever again.
(My box of Epic Pike and Shot from Warlord Games is looking down at me with accusing eyes every time I pass by the box. That project has stalled for an entire year!!!!)
AD 1666 is set in an alternate history Renaissance in Vienna where magic and monsters are real. The fighting is in aid of political shenanigans and is extremely detailed for a board game. Cardinal Richelieu of the 3 Musketeers' fame is a vampire in this game so that tells you all you need to know in a nutshell.
I see this more properly as Wargamer's (that really is the name of the company!) skirmish version of their By Fire and Sword game. You have different factions, each faction has their own faction specific skill or power and you need to build/buy your warband using points. You can also hire mercenaries to fill in the gaps for positions or functions your own warband is lacking in.
With 6 factions, there's lots of diversity here and I really, really REALLY wish they'd given us a campaign to actually play with that will determine the fate of the new Elector of the Holy Roman Empire.
Did I mention that the game uses cards instead of dice? And it's not as straightforward as adding up the totals of the cards you draw. Oh, no nothing's that simple. You can reinforce your initial card draw if you have the same suit (+1) OR the same number of any suit (+2). This is a bit complicated but jokers can't be used to reinforce or be reinforced. You just have a flat 10. (Also you do need to ignore the dice in the photo below... that's just to calculate the points you get from all the cards and upgrades you use.)
There's magic of all kinds and what the designers did is take the "magic" spells that people believed in during the Renaissance and pretended that the magic actually works... hence the flames in the image above. Pretty interesting.
The game is extremely tactical and movement is by increments (because the map is so cramped) and facing matters. When I tell you the first scenario takes place in a tavern the only takes up about 1/4 of the 2x2 map board and you'll understand what I mean.
There is a solo mode for the game. Unfortunately I didn't back it and with international shipping being what it is post-Covid, I may never buy the expansion. However my home made variant works as is and I'm pretty happy with it since I can actually lose to the AI faction. Either that or my faction building sucks.
All in all, I really really like this game and for those who are looking for a crunchy Renaissance era black powder skirmish game that doesn't use dice... take a look at Anno Domini 1666.
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