If you love The Elder Scrolls games and enjoy playing with miniatures, Elder Scrolls: Call to Arms is a game you’ll want to try. It’s a tactical skirmish game set in the world of Tamriel, where you can control famous heroes, soldiers, and monsters from the Elder Scrolls series. No matter if you’re leading the Stormcloaks or fighting for the Imperial Legion, each game gives you a chance to experience new battles and challenges.
Exciting battles and rich storytelling makes elder scrolls call to arms special. You can build your own army, plan your moves, and complete different quests. There are two main game modes: Battle for fighting against friends, and Delve for solo or team play.
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What is Elder Scrolls: Call to Arms?
Elder Scrolls Call to Arms is a miniature-based tactical game for 2 players, but it can easily scale up to include more players. It combines the tactical depth of miniature wargames with the rich lore of The Elder Scrolls series. Players take control of heroes, soldiers, and monsters from Tamriel, engaging in battles, completing quests, and collecting victory points.
The core game requires 4 to 15 models per player, and you can substitute fantasy miniatures if you prefer. It uses custom dice, tokens, and a measuring tool to resolve battles. The recommended table size for each game is 24″x24″ to 36″x36″. If you don’t have the official miniatures, you can still play the game with substitutes, though it’s best to stick to the prescribed base sizes (30mm, 60mm, 80mm) for uniformity.
Gameplay Mechanics Overview
The gameplay in Elder Scrolls: Call to Arms revolves around turn-based combat with two main modes: Battle (head-to-head) and Delve (solo or cooperative). The game uses a point-based system where players choose how many points they want to spend on building their force. A typical 150-point force can take about 1 hour to play, but you can adjust the points depending on the game’s pace. Key elements of the game include
1. Unit Types
You control a variety of heroes, troops, and creatures, each with unique abilities, strengths, and weaknesses. Heroes like the Dragonborn or Ulfric Stormcloak have special abilities that can turn the tide of battle, while common soldiers like Imperial Legionnaires offer reliable support.
2. Combat System
The game uses a d6-based combat system, where you roll dice to determine the outcomes of attacks, defence, and special abilities. Depending on the unit’s power and the situation, you’ll either succeed or fail based on your dice rolls.
3. Quests & Objectives
Every match features different objectives or quests, such as capturing a fortress, hunting down a monster, or escorting an ally to safety. This keeps every battle fresh and engaging, as you’ll need to adapt your strategy to complete each unique goal.
Factions in Elder Scrolls Call to Arms
One of the best features of Elder Scrolls Call to Arms is the ability to command iconic factions from Tamriel. If you prefer the Stormcloaks fighting for Skyrim’s independence or the Thalmor aiming for dominance, there are multiple factions to choose from. Each faction offers its own unique playstyle and strategic options. In this game, the popular factions include:
Miniatures and Customization
The customizable miniatures in Elder Scrolls Call to Arms are one of the game’s most exciting features. Players can use official miniatures or their own custom-built armies. So, if you choose to paint your models or leave them unpainted, the customization options are limitless. You can also equip your heroes with various weapons and armour to tailor them to your playstyle.
Heroes come with two sides of stats: a regular side and a levelled-up side, which means you can enhance their abilities as the game progresses. Followers have preset equipment but offer an essential support role in the game. Every character has a specific point cost, so building a balanced force is key to winning.
Why You Should Play Elder Scrolls Call to Arms?
There are several reasons why Elder Scrolls Call to Arms is a standout game for fans of the series and tabletop gaming in general:
1. Rich Lore
If you’re a fan of Skyrim or any of the other Elder Scrolls games, you’ll love seeing the familiar faces and places come to life. The game immerses you in the Tamriel universe with detailed lore, iconic characters, and magical creatures.
2. Tactical Gameplay
The game focuses heavily on strategy and tactics, making each battle feel like a carefully planned military operation. You’ll need to think several moves ahead if you want to win.
3. Unlimited Customization
The miniatures and army-building options allow you to create the perfect force to match your playstyle. You can design an army that represents your favourite Elder Scrolls faction or create a more eclectic force with characters from different backgrounds.
4. Engaging Combat
The combat system is fast-paced yet strategic, requiring you to react to changes in the battlefield and adapt your tactics in real-time.
Where to Buy Elder Scrolls Call to Arms?
You can find Elder Scrolls Call to Arms and its expansions at online retailers like Amazon, eBay, and dedicated gaming stores. Make sure to pick up miniature packs and expansion sets to expand your army and customize your battles even more.
If you’re new to tabletop games, be sure to check out starter sets that include everything you need to get started, including miniatures, game rules, and terrain pieces.
Game Modes: Battle vs. Delve
Battle Mode is made for competitive, head-to-head play, where you fight your opponent’s army to the finish. Delve Mode, on the other hand, focuses on cooperative play or solo quests, where you’ll work together or alone to complete objectives and defeat enemy forces.
Scenario Setup in each mode is vigorous. In Battle Mode, players will choose their faction, draw Quest cards, and prepare for tactical combat. In Delve Mode, the Adversary force will act as enemies, while players work together to solve puzzles, pick locks, or control key points on the map.
Boosts, Resources, and Special Abilities
In this game, each character has its own resources and abilities. Each round, characters can recover resources, which is essential to balance boosting and saving resources for future turns. These include:
Game’s Design and Mechanics
While the game offers a rich experience with strategic depth, there are some drawbacks:
- Rulebook Organization: The rulebook can be difficult to navigate, especially for new players. Rules are scattered across different books, making quick reference during gameplay challenging.
- Token Management: The game uses a lot of tokens to track attributes and conditions. While necessary, this can become cumbersome during long sessions.
- Unit Diversity: The core box provides limited unit choices for some factions. However, expansions offer more variety and depth.
Despite these drawbacks, Elder Scrolls Call to Arms shines through its variety of scenarios, quests, and customizable options. For dedicated fans of Elder Scrolls and tactical games, the expansions and customization offer a lot of replayability.
FAQs
Conclusion
Elder Scrolls: Call to Arms offers an exciting blend of strategic combat, lore-rich factions, and immersive gameplay. While the initial setup and learning curve may be challenging for some players, the deep customisation and variety of playstyles make it a great experience for fans of miniature wargaming and the Elder Scrolls universe. Whether you’re looking for a head-to-head skirmish or a cooperative quest, this game offers endless fun and adventure.
