Monday 21 January 2019

Forbidden Fortress

As soon as I read the description:~
"A fast paced, co-operative (or solo), dungeon crawl boardgame set in war torn Feudal Japan"
                                                                                                                                      I was hooked!

I was totally unaware of this game, and discovered it by accident while googling around looking at self contained solo / co-op games like "Gloomhaven", and "Blackstone Fortress" - I knew I was getting some hobby funds for Christmas, and wondered if any of these games would appeal. I'd got as far as "Shadows Of Brimstone" when my eye caught this box art........

Once I'd read more info on the game, plus watching reviews and "unboxing" vids on youtube, I set about finding the best UK price for a copy, then sat back and awaited the arrival of the (big) box.
When it did, I was amazed by the weight! Forbidden Fortress is packed with double sided floor plans, card decks, counters, dice, rule and scenario books - even a soundtrack cd!!
Oh yes, and miniatures!
I've managed to assemble them all and they're presented below with an AW Miniatures 28mm samurai for size comparison.
The minis do come with their own bases, but since I intend using them in table top games as well as the boxed rpg, I've substituted standard mdf bases appropriately sized to match the rest of my Sengoku period collection.

Here's the Heroes - traveling monk, shugenja, samurai and ninja. Their stat cards for the game are double sided, allowing you to play male or female versions of the four characters. Unfortunately, minis for the gender variants aren't included with the core game, but I'm sure I'll be able to find suitable alternatives
Moving on to the "monsters", these acid drooling Tentacles are single piece castings
The first of the multi part models, the Dishonoured Dead (skeletal samurai - SO cool!)
The Tengu are modelled on the "long nose" version of the myth, unlike the usual "bird head" produced by several other companies
The Oni are posed alongside the "Reaper Bones" model as well as the 28mm samurai to give yet more scale comparison
The Living Statue is huge! (84mm toe to eye)
Last but by no means least, the Harionago, levitating while her animated hair with its barbed tips coils menacingly around her.

The background narrative to the boardgame provides a perfect setting for some fantasy table top games based on this genre, so I'd better get cracking with the painting.

Sorry I'm a bit late with this post, I still feel like I should be hibernating, but am happy to report that I can sense the sap rising and regular blogging should resume henceforth.
Thanks for visiting and as always your comments and questions are very welcome!
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19 comments:

  1. Ivor Evans21 January 2019 at 03:39

    That looks really good! I'd be interested in seeing the floor tiles in a future post. It's really interesting to see how far board game miniatures have come over the years 🙂

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    1. The Wargame Addict22 January 2019 at 00:48

      Thanks Ivor, and "your wish is my command" - I'll feature the floor tiles in my next post :-)

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  2. Blaxkleric21 January 2019 at 07:36

    Oh... Thoroughly intriguing stuff, Wargame Addict. More please :-)

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    1. The Wargame Addict22 January 2019 at 00:55

      Definitely more to come Simon, and I think you'll be quite interested in the table top rules I'll be using when I field these minis away from the boardgame ;-)

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  3. Da Gobbo21 January 2019 at 07:59

    oh very nice, I've got some spendy vouchers, let me know what the game plays like if you manage a game.

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    1. The Wargame Addict22 January 2019 at 01:00

      Cheers Andy - you can see now why I'm after a Yurei from the Rising Sun game now ;-)
      I'm planning on trying the game out before the weekend, and of course I'll let you know how it goes :-)

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  4. Frank O Donnell21 January 2019 at 08:28

    Interesting set of models Greg the big dude is my favorite by a long shot as I just see so many way to use him.

    Good to hear thing will be getting back to normal on the blogging front :)

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    1. The Wargame Addict22 January 2019 at 01:06

      Many thanks Frank - as much as I'm more than happy with Test Of Honour for cinematic style samurai games, I have really happy memories of playing the old Fantasy Games Unlimited "Bushido" rpg, so bringing some of the myths and legends of old Nippon back to the gaming table is just irresistible! :-)

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  5. Dave Stone21 January 2019 at 08:38

    Great looking models Greg, and scale wise they fit in perfectly.

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    1. The Wargame Addict22 January 2019 at 01:11

      Cheers Dave, the Tengu and Oni are "mono pose", but I can live with that :-)

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  6. Vampifan21 January 2019 at 09:44

    This is a game produced by the makers of "Shadows of Brimstone" and so I've been wondering whether to buy it or not as I'm a big fan of SOB. I'm very interested to read your thoughts on it.

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    1. The Wargame Addict22 January 2019 at 01:18

      Hi Bryan - and many thanks for your previous posts on SOB, it was your enthusiasm for the system that helped me decide to get this game :-)
      Of course I'll let you know how I get on with it buddy :-)

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  7. Vagabond22 January 2019 at 00:02

    Hi Greg this sounds interesting, will be interested to see your thoughts on the game play and more photos of the rest of the product, I did have a quick Google and it does get good reviews.

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    1. The Wargame Addict22 January 2019 at 01:26

      Cheers John, I'll get the floor tiles etc in the next post and a bit of a "play through" asap (which MIGHT even be in the same post) - and many thanks again for posting your AAR which pushed me back into samurai gaming again :-)
      I owe you a beer! Hammerhead this year?

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    2. Vagabond22 January 2019 at 17:53

      That would be good, I'm hoping to go so I'll be in touch. It's a strange coincidence but I played the follow on game yesterday to one I posted way back and then later in the day read your post, serendipity!

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  8. Stephen Gilbert18 May 2019 at 12:56

    This one caught my attention when it first came out. I imagine it is very similar to its sister game "Shadows of Brimstone" but with that tone of eastern promise. Reading this mini review has got me wondering about it again, and will check its availability and price (with an eye to possibly putting a copy in my Amazon wish list). I probably wouldn't be buying it to play the game.. which I`m sure is excellent. But I`d be very interested in the miniature and those tiles, to use with my other homebrew table top games.

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    1. The Wargame Addict19 May 2019 at 01:46

      You are absolutely right on ALL counts Stevie :-)
      1. The game is 'stand alone' but can be used as 'an expansion' (ie the rules mechanics are identical) to Shadows of Brimstone.

      2. I've been promising to play through the game for AGES, but then Tarot posted her "Massive Darkness U-turn" over on TGC and I saw the light!!!
      I already have rules I'm familiar with, I don't NEED all those cardboard chits and bits - I'll just use the minis, floor tiles PLUS the card decks which are perfect for solo play :-)

      BTW, I found the best prices for the game on ebay, and already, some of the expansion sets are appearing there - I expect it won't be long before "pre-owned" components are available as the 'buy it, play it, flog it' brigade move on to the next "new thing" ;-)

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  9. Stephen Gilbert19 May 2019 at 03:37

    Yeeeey a Brimstone clone, which means excellence then. However (and this no doubt has many climbing the walls) I find more and more.... like you... that I just can`t be fussed with all those cards, and chits, and tokens and... uuugh! endless rules. I much prefer to play simple, play fast, and play lots.

    Tar`s U-turn was so funny because she agonised over it and felt so bad, but we told her "no, you did a wonderful thing" and she`s a lot happier now doing what she knew all along was right for her, but felt guilty for not using all the components `properly`. Again we said "you ARE doing it properly, you have taken all these lovely things and have allowed yourself freedom to do it your way." (giving yourself permission is always a hard thing when that demon doubt nags at the back of the mind).

    Will check out eBay for sure. Thanks for that my friend.

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  10. Stephen Gilbert19 May 2019 at 03:39

    {{{"pre-owned" components are available as the 'buy it, play it, flog it' brigade move on to the next "new thing" ;-) }}}

    They do make our life a lot easier don't they. Means we get their leftovers and actually use and treasure them.

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