INTRODUCTION
Welcome, future warriors and wizards, to the amazing world of Age of Sigmar! This fantasy tabletop wargame is filled with rich lore, high-stakes strategy, and wonderous landscapes. It’s perfect for those who love fantasy novels, strategic gameplay, and the thrill of painting highly detailed miniatures. This article is designed for beginners, guiding you step by step through this vast, magical universe!
WHAT IS AGE OF SIGMAR?
Age of Sigmar, often labeled as AOS, is a tabletop war game developed and published by Games Workshop. It’s often compared to other popular tabletop games like Dungeons & Dragons or Warhammer 40,000, but set within its unique universe of grand realms and magical entities. Centered on high-paced, strategic battles, AOS comes with a compelling history, unique races, factions, and a lore that could easily rival any epic fantasy novel.
Each player creates an army from myriad races, each with its unique abilities and tactics. Armies can hail from anywhere within the mortal realms, ranging from high heavens filled with angelic hosts to the gnarly underworlds alive with nightmarish horrors. Seats-of-the-pants flying griffons, steam-powered airships, and everything in-between could all be part of your army.
HOW AGE OF SIGMAR WORKS AND HOW TO GET STARTED
At its core, AOS is an intense strategy game. Players take turns moving miniatures (representing armies) across landscapes, where distances matter, position is crucial, and every decision can have lasting ramifications. Dice determine movement and combat outcomes, but there’s a sizable layer of depth beneath the surface.
1. PICK A FACTION: You’ll start by choosing your favourite faction (based on how they play, their lore, or even because you love how the miniatures look!).
2. BUILD & PAINT YOUR ARMY: Once you have your home faction, you’ll collect, build, and paint your miniatures, creating a uniquely crafted army.
3. CREATE YOUR BATTLEPLAN: Strategy is crucial. Understand your army’s strengths, weaknesses and special abilities along with the landscape of the battlefield.
4. ENGAGE IN COMBAT: Roll dice to move, attack, and use special abilities. Defeat your opponents by capturing objectives, eliminating their units, or achieving specific scenario goals.
WHAT YOU NEED TO PLAY AGE OF SIGMAR
To get started with AOS, ideally, you’ll need:
1. CORE RULEBOOK: The soul of the game– rules, lore, and guides.
2. STARTER SET: Chock-full of beginner-friendly miniatures, dice, and battlefields.
3. MINIATURES: Purchase more to expand your army, adding strategic options and variety to your game.
4. PAINT & BRUSHES: To personalize and bring your miniatures to life.
Optional but valuable items include organizers for your miniatures, specialized rulers for moving your units, and painting guides for those who want to go deeper into this aspect of the hobby.
TIPS FOR BEGINNERS
1. CHOOSE YOUR FACTION WISELY: Review the lore, playstyle, and painting complexity before you get invested.
2. START SMALL: Don’t rush. Begin with a Starter Set before expanding.
3. PRACTICE PAINTING: Watch online tutorials and practice on less prominent miniatures first.
4. READ THE RULES: Understanding the game’s rules can take time, but it’s worth the effort.
5. JOIN THE COMMUNITY: Online forums and local gaming groups can be invaluable for advice.
HELPFUL RESOURCES
1. GAMES WORKSHOP WEBSITE: Plenty of guides, shop, and community insights.
2. AGE OF SIGMAR APP: A handy tool for rules reference and army organization.
3. YOUTUBE: Channels like Warhammer TV and MiniWarGaming are excellent for tutorials.
GLOSSARY OF COMMON TERMS
1. FACTION: Each different race or group in AOS.
2. WARBAND: A small faction-specific component of an army used in Skirmish games.
3. BATTLELINE: The core units of your army.
4. WARSCROLLS: Individual datasheets that list a unit’s rules, abilities, and stats.
5. MORTAL WOUNDS: Wounds that bypass the usual checks for saves.
NEXT STEPS: WHERE TO GO FROM HERE
Once familiar with the basic rules and understanding of faction dynamics, try playing a few skirmish games to get a feel for the gameplay. Engage with local hobby stores and online gaming communities for advice and inspiration. Remember, every master was once a beginner. With patience and strategy, the realms of Age of Sigmar await you! Enjoy the journey and may your dice roll ever in your favor.
