Soldiers of God focuses on battles, raids, and sieges during the Crusades to the Holy Land, typically pitting Crusader armies against Saracen forces. The game is known for its card-driven mechanics that dictate command and control, creating a fast-paced and unpredictable experience.
Core Game Mechanics
Card-Driven Command: Instead of traditional movement, players use a deck of action cards to command their forces. These cards allow specific “Battles” (sub-divisions of the army: left, center, or right) to take actions such as advancing, shooting, or charging.
Battle Plans: Before the game, players choose a “Battle Plan” that provides them with set action cards, allowing for strategic planning, while additional cards are drawn randomly to add uncertainty.
Unit Structure: Armies are typically divided into three main battle groups. A unit’s effectiveness is based on its formation and position (e.g., flank attacks), rather than complex casualty calculations.
Combat: Combat is relatively simple and direct, with units rolling dice based on their number of stands, needing specific scores to hit based on weaponry.
Disorder and Morale: Hits can cause disorder. If a unit accumulates more disorder than it has stands, it routs.
Scenarios and Scope
Varied Scale: The rules are not scale-specific, meaning they can be played with any miniature size, with players choosing ground scale and measurements based on their collection.
Game Types: The rulebook includes scenarios for Raids (smaller, faster games), Small Battles, Large Battles, and Siege Assaults.
Campaigns: The system includes rules for running linked campaigns, including ladder campaigns.
Key Features
Replayability: The combination of chosen battle plans and random card draws ensures that even with the same forces, games play out differently.
Period Feel: The rules are noted for being more specific to the medieval period compared to more generic rule sets, with particular emphasis on the dynamics of the Crusades
The game has been recently re-released in a “reborn” PDF format by Artorius Games/Gripping Beast, allowing players to print the required cards.
