Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Short Story
Story Encounter
Malifaux Strategies
Crew Tactics
Terrain Building
Accursed Preview
Seasons Review
Competitive Painting
Painting The Depleted
andres colinas (Order #10233157)
October 2013
Contents
Volume 8
Contributors
Editing and Layout:
Graphic Design:
Writers:
Contributing Artists:
David Hanold
Redd Cohen
Justin Gibbs
Adrian Scott
Graeme Stevenson
Redd Cohen
Michael Kelmelis
David Herbert
Ross Watson
Wojtek Tekielski
Mark Rogers
Melvin de Voor
Stephane Enjoralas
Hardy Fowler
Christophe Madaru
Pablo Quiligotti
Changes
Welcome to the eighth installment of the Wyrd Chronicles! We have a lot of exciting things for you this
issue, from terrain building to a new story encounter. But, I want to talk about a change we are making to
the Chronicles as a whole.
Starting with this issue, we will begin featuring material and games from other companies. The Chronicles
will, of course, remain an excellent source of Wyrd-related articles. We strive to include as many or more
articles on Wyrd products as we have always done. However, we will begin doing reviews of other games
as well.
The logic behind this is simple; the more people we have reading the Chronicles, the better it is for us,
because it features our games prominently. And as we feature more games and add a wider variety of
articles, we will gain a wider variety of readers. And we give you, the reader, more articles to enjoy. This
whole prospect is a little experimental, because we will be actively promoting companies and games who
may compete with us. However, I firmly believe that what is good for the industry as a whole is good for us
all. So long as people are going into stores, playing games, talking about games, and buying games, we all
benefit. And I am lucky enough to work for a company that is willing to give this idea a shot.
I want to say up front that all of our reviews will be positive ones. Its tacky to review another companys
product and give it a bad review. Additionally, I think people are more interested in what is exciting and
fun, and I see no reason to waste space with bad reviews. That said, we will only review games which we
genuinely think are good and which we enjoy.
We are kicking this endeavor off with an inside look at the Accursed Kickstarter by Ross Watson and his
team, and a review of the game Seasons by Redd Cohen. If this goes over well, expect to see more of this
in future issues. Tell your friends and spread the word, the Wyrd Chronicles is a free, general gaming
magazine which covers more things than just Malifaux (but dont worry, we have plenty of Malifaux).
Finally, if you have a product which you would like us to review, email Justin@wyrd-games.net.
Enjoy!
-Justin Gibbs
In Pursuit of Happiness
He ran on, his wind puffing out through drawn pockmarked cheeks.
No, Bill was more of a mind that the fellow had been
there all along, waiting. But how could that be? Who
could have known hed make straight for Fiddlers Den?
Turnbull Lane was far less to his liking it was much too
A half-block or so further on, he could take a right into well-lit and ran straight for over a hundred yards with
Fiddlers Den, a claustrophobic knot of side-streets and nothing but high un-scalable walls on both sides. He
tiny courtyards where a hundred enterprising thieves at could hear boots pounding on the cobbles behind him
once could lay low without a hope of being found.
they sounded closer than before but he was certain it
was just the lane funneling the sounds of their pursuit.
Hed duck in there, find a likely spot and catch a short
snooze. By the time he woke itd be well after midnight He risked a glance over his shoulder and saw all three
and even the most determined gentleman pursuer figures in hot pursuit, the two pistoliers and now the
would have long since retreated to the comfort of the rifleman, running with a steady measured pace that
nearest club to spin his wildly-embellished yarn.
seemed almost effortless despite their heavy-looking
greatcoats and boots.
Only, his gentlemen pursuers seemed particularly
committed this evening. They had come steaming out He considered tossing down the opal necklace then,
of the alley mouth, pistols in hand, racing after him to secure his getaway, but the thought of it stuck in his
with a grim and evident determination.
throat. Hed never been caught once at this game and
would be damned if hed be collared now.
The opal necklace was heavy in his coat pocket, but hed
stolen far more valuable things in his time and never The end of the lane was drawing near. This place was well
been chased with such passion. Perhaps it was an object known, too: to his right was Sturgeon Cross and then
of particular sentimental value, or the lusty gentlemen in Rottenrow Quay by the river, too much open ground
question had in mind more than just a ladys gratitude. and exposure for his liking, even at night. No, he would
take a left at the end of the lane, along Cove Walk where
Whatever their motive, he was resolved not to find out. the loose and broken cobbles were an ankle-breaking
He put on a burst of speed, his heels flying over the nightmare for the uninitiated, up the Hundred Stairs,
cobbles as he made for Fiddlers Den.
past the statue of Magdalene Barrow, and if his pursuers
had the wind to follow him that far, he would take to the
As Bill drew within ten yards of his salvation, a third Bread Vaults, soot-smeared caverns that were the bones
gentleman carrying a long rifle stepped from the of a massive bakery, burned down untold years ago.
entrance to the Den right in front of him and raised the
weapon without hesitation.
He was scant feet from the lane mouth when a titanic
noise almost knocked him off his feet. The wall to his
Like a jack-rabbit, Sticky Bill swerved away on reflex left immediately bulged outward and shattered, toppling
and ran the width of Coddle Street, vaulting a low iron forwards and burying Cove Walk under tons of black
railing and raced into Turnbull Lane.
brick and dust. Bill caught the faintest suggestion of a
shape huge, humanoid coming through the wall and
Where had that fellow with the rifle come from? Bill he immediately cut to his right, dodging the bouncing
could scarcely believe it less than two minutes since bricks that scattered around him.
he had snatched that willowy ladys necklace and he had
somehow been cut off. How could the rifleman have got He ran faster and harder than he ever had in his life
there so fast, and as calm as he was? Whats more, hed before; forgetting the necklace in his pocket and the
had no hint of a flushed face or ragged breath which three men pounding after him his immediate and
a normal man would surely have displayed after such overbearing concern to escape the artificial landslide
a desperate run. Hed have had to run as though the that was taking place behind him. That sound an
andres colinas (Order #10233157)
instant before the wall exploded had sounded way he turned they would see and they would run him
almost almost like a shout.
down.
He pounded down to Sturgeon Cross, head back, elbows
high, arms and legs pumping. The thunderous deluge
behind him did not abate instead the rumble became
a heavy rhythmic pounding that sent shock waves up
through his feet to rattle his skull.
The first time it happened was an accident he was Saints an Lords! he howled, gripping at his legs. Me legs!
asleep at the time and was woken with a bump when
he hit the floor. Most people fall out of bed he fell The woman stood over him, unmoved and frowning
through his.
through delicate half-moon glasses. The massive
suit around her hummed, radiating heat and a faint
With a few more false starts, he got a grasp on his new electrical crackling.
ability and began putting it to good use. He found
that it worked best if he imagined the surface he was You led me quite a chase, she said. I thought at one
pressed against as a flower with its petals folded, and point you were going to make that left on to Cove Walk.
then he imagined those petals opening, well, a strange
sensation and a few moments later he was standing on Me legs! he shrieked again, scrabbling at the splintery
the other side.
boards.
It didnt always work the denser and thicker the
barrier, the harder the challenge. A single layer of porous
brick was manageable, but a heavy stone wall was as
impenetrable a barrier to him as to any other common
thief. Wood was easy, though. He could slip through a
closed door or a fence with barely a moments pause.
Happy Halloween
With the Halloween and Harvest season right around the corner, it is once again time to kick things off
with our most popular painting contest, The Rotten Harvest!
Round about the paint pot go. On the palette throw
Royal blue and blood red. Thirty-seven Days of Dread;
Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and paint pot bubble.
The contest runs from September 25th through October 31st. Entries can be submitted at any time during
the contest. Voting will occur from November 1st - 7th, done anonymously through the Wyrd forums.
Also, during voting, anyone may leave comments and critiques, which previous entrants have appreciated.
The winners will be announced soon after the voting ends, and Wyrd will send prizes to those winners,
along with random prizes that we give away with every contest.
The specific rules for the contest can be found under Contest Rules and Info. Everyone should read the rules,
because we want to avoid any misunderstanding of the contest, including the theme and disqualifying criteria.
Due to the sheer number of people that have entered unedited photographs in the past we will no longer
do any editing for you. There are many free photo re-sizing programs out there. Wyrd staff will attempt to
notify anyone whos pictures were deleted due to size or for any reason, but can not guarantee notification.
Setup
le, rust
RustRandomly
determine an attacking player and Flip a card which may not be cheated, reflip jokers.
defending player. After choosing deployment
. defender has one of the following victory
backThe
es
k
ri
st
en
th
d
n
a
ce five 30mm pumpkin conditions, depending on the suit of the card flipped.
zones, er
rikes onplaces
stdefender
Carv theOne
The markers.
of the pumpkin markers must have
a distinctive mark on the bottom. Which pumpkin Crows: Carvers Feast. The defender earns 1 VP
-twist,
marker ehas
from all players. One for each attacking model killed by the Carver.
gutsisahidden
anthed mark
, dic must
Slicemarker
be placed in the center of the board.
Three may be placed anywhere on the board at least
r fist.Carvers End. The defender scores 4 VP if
kick oRams:
y least
b
t
o
N
.
ed
p
p
o
st
e
8 from er
the ca
defenders
deployment
zone
and
at
b
ot
arv anothernnpumpkin
Carver has been killed or sacrificed by the end of
The6Cfrom
marker. The final marker
the game. If the defender has this objective, Carver
must be placed anywhere on the attackers half of
,
ack marker, is considered to be a part of the attackers Crew
snpumpkin
y
it
k
ic
the board,
at le
least
6d from
another
sn
n
a
st
ru
stlein, terrain. A bag of Halloween candy (or other when he is placed, instead of the defenders.
Runot
suitable consumable item ) must be availableestob a ck .
Tomes: The Carving Ritual. The defender earns 4 VP if
and then strik
ce
n
all players.
o
es
k
ri
st
er
rv
a
The C
an opposing Master or Henchman is killed or sacrificed
by the Carver.
Special
nd try to hide,
Download Carvers
Card Here
10
11
Winning Malifaux
12
13
Professor Pontificates
Tanks
Assassins
Assassin models are those whose purpose is to simply
kill elements of the opposing crew. High damage models
like Killjoy or the Viktorias are great examples of this,
although cheaper minions such as Young Nephilim,
Thunder Archers, even a Rail Worker can fulfill the role
of an Assassin. Basically, if the model has some decent
damage output for its cost, it could function as an
Assassin in-game. Its worth noting that Assassins could
also be models who can deal damage without actually
targeting the enemy model, usually through either an
irresistible damage pulse, or due to blast effects from
their attacks. Witchling Stalkers and Ice Gamin both
andres colinas (Order #10233157)
14
15
16
By: David
Herbert
17
18
Build up the basic shape you are after and then start
to think about where models will exit and enter.
Also give consideration to which models you want
to enter and exit at certain points. It can be fun
to make a small door for 30mm models to escape
through while trapping the larger models on the
other side. Dont forget to allow some extra wriggle
room and to take into account adding walls. If
the boards you are using are 2mm thick then you
will need to allow for that. Easy solution, always
be generous. A door that is a little large is usable,
where as one that is too small will ruin your piece.
19
The same goes for marking off where the doors and
windows go on the walls. To get the edges flush,
your best bet is to prop it in place and trace where
the hole needs to be cut. Before you rush off and
get cutting though, here are some pointers. Always
use your ruler! Balsa wood has a grain, so as you are
cutting it your knife will follow and end up making
all sorts of wonky cuts. If you are cutting across
the grain, do it in a few passes, dont try and press
hard and do it in one go. This will cause parts of
the wood to splinter off making for a rough edge.
Last hint, press and cut from one direction then
turn the piece around and cut again from the other
direction. This way you will cut right down and
into the corners without over cutting.
20
So, once all your walls are cut and the base is done,
it is time to glue them into place, once again using
pins to hold everything in place while the glue dries.
21
22
23
24
The Creators
Accursed is the creation of myself and my two
colleagues: John Dunn and Jason Marker. The three
of us have designed games for many properties,
including Star Wars: Edge of the Empire, Shadowrun,
Warhammer 40,000 Roleplay, and Robotech. We
have decades of experience working in the gaming
industry, and were very excited about bringing a
new twist on dark fantasy RPGs to life.
25
The Witchbreeds
There are six common types of Accursed in Morden.
Each type of Accursed is unique, and collectively,
these types are known as the Witchbreeds.
Dhampir
Golems
26
Mummies
Vargr
27
Kickstarter
For $20, you get the full Accursed book PDF with a
plot-point campaign, tons of more information on
the setting, and the Witches that serve as Accurseds
primary antagonists. If you go up to $30, not only
do you receive the full book, you also get access
to purchase a print on demand copy of the book
through DriveThruRPG at manufacturers cost!
28
Seasons Review
Overview
When it comes to tabletop, there are a lot of games;
theres a large variety of themes, game mechanics, and
overall varying production quality levels as well. One
game that has had high remarks in all three categories
is Seasons. It is a game in which players take the roles
of sorcerers in the land of Argos to compete in a
tournament where they manipulate the elements and
seasons. In this article, I want to talk about how this
sweet board game welcomes you into its world and
submerges you in its rich gameplay and art. I will be
reviewing the game on its production quality, game
mechanics, as well as art.
Components
As soon as you open the box, the game has a nice
vacuum-formed insert to neatly place all of your
components. The cards that come with the game
are made from a solid card stock and have a nice
matte coating on them; this ensures that your cards
will remain in top shape for a while. The tokens
that come with this game are beautiful and are
made from a high-quality chip board. Even though
these tokens are being picked up for the entirety
of the game, more so than any other components,
they still show no signs
of wear and tear. Each
player is also provided
with a large player aid
where element tokens
and stats are stored. This
player aid is fantastic!
It seats your element
tokens (a component
used to summon cards)
andres colinas (Order #10233157)
Next are the huge dice that come with the game.
Seasons includes twenty very large plastic dice.
When I first saw these dice, I was absolutely floored
by how much game information they displayed and
how far away from the game I could sit and still
translate what was on each side.
29
Gameplay
Now lets get to the meat of it all; the gameplay. At
the beginning of each turn, players will roll up to
five dice (depending on the number of players).
Each color corresponds to what season youre in (if
youre in fall for example, the first player rolls only
the red dice). Beginning with the first player and
continuing clockwise, each player will choose a die
and use its resulting face up ability on their turn.
The dice allow players to gather energy, increase
their power gauge, transmute energy into crystals,
draw power cards, as well as just gain crystals. The
leftover die is used to move the season marker up
the game board. The number of spaces it moves
depends on how many little dots are displayed on
the die. A year ends when the season marker has
circled the board once. After three years have passed
in the game, the tournament is over and each player
tallies up all of the crystals that they gathered over
the course of the game.
Mechanics
The Dice
The Cards
30
Presentation
Final Thoughts
31
w
o
N
t
S
In
32
!
s
e
r
o
33
The Project
So, first things first the overall story, which in
this case is a fluffy setting for the dead marshals.
It turned out to not be too hard a choice really,
when I read the end of book two again, there it was.
Nicodems tower, when they got caught between
zombies and the plagued, was where they died;
so that was where theyd be. That meant the base
would be a wrecked tower, some walls, and cobbles.
At this point I started laying things out on a piece of
foam core to see how the group looked in different
positions. Lady Justice turned out to be quite slight
compared to the others, so I raised her up into the
rubble of the tower to give her more prominence. I
also carefully checked from various angles to make
sure I didnt have any big gaps in the scene, and that
most of the models were visible from every angle.
Once I was happy with the basic layout, I then went
back and filled in the story a bit. I didnt want anything
that would distract from the models, but it needed
something fluffy to fill the empty spaces on the cobbles.
That led to me sketching in the sewer and the broken
gate. My plan was to add in a rat and some maggots to
imply Hamelin had just been there.
34
The fencing was made from plastic rods and strip, filed
and drilled to slot together. I drilled them right into
the foam core to provide extra support for the wall,
and then bent them using heat (carefully). It was at this
point that I managed to wreck the sections of fence Id
nearly finished with a slightly careless mistake. Cue a
long stream of interesting words
When that sort of thing happens, you have two choices
really give up, or get on with the repair. I usually take
the evening off if I have time to (obviously, the week
before the contest is not the time to take days off), then
return to it refreshed the next day and get the repair
sorted out before I do anything else. That way, I dont
have the damaged bit sitting there reminding me of
my mistake any longer than is necessary. Its generally
a bad idea to deal with it when it happens, as youre
likely stressed or annoyed with it, and you can easily
make a bigger mess. It always looks a lot worse when it
first happens the next day the repair seems easier to
deal with.
To fix it I had to take out the entire fence, which
also meant pulling off quite a few of the bricks
because of the nice solid glue job Id done. Some of
the bricks got damaged in the process, and needed
replacing. I had a small pile of whole bricks ready to
be turned into rubble, so any that broke while being
removed got added to the rubble pile, and whole
ones were swapped in. I salvaged a few pieces of
andres colinas (Order #10233157)
35
36
The Models
Judge
37
Marshals
38
Miss Treated
This was probably my favorite part of the whole project. Miss Terious really worked out well as her undead
counterpart, Miss Treated. The green stuff chains made her match the other marshals more, and the rest of
the adjustments were quite simple, ripping up her jacket a bit, breaking her leg, and so on. Her paint job
was like the other marshals, except with paler skin and a fair amount of blood down her back.
The Event
So, on the day how did it go? Well, I put my entry in without it getting damaged (thats a victory right
there), and settled in to look at the other entries. After investigating the cabinets, I could see some really
stunning paint jobs, both Wyrd stuff and others. That was awesome to see, as despite being pretty sure I
wasnt getting top place, I could admire some beautiful painting and maybe learn from what theyd done.
Theres no fun in a painting contest without a bunch of top notch entries! I was surprised to discover that
most of the units were placed on wooden plinths, not in a group scenic base, as is more common in Europe.
This kind of thing is where knowing your competition comes in I spent a lot of effort on that base that
could have been used to improve the crew instead. In the end though, you either tune your entry carefully
to win, or you paint what you want and see how you do. I prefer the second approach, its more fun.
As Ive said many times, Im not the best painter in the world. Gen Con proved that very definitely I was
happy to walk away with 2nd place Wyrd diorama and 4th place Gen Con Unit category and I dont think
I deserved any more than that. More importantly, I got some great ideas from the other entries, and got to
chat to some really top class painters and get good advice to help me improve. Thats what matters at these
things to me I put in what I could achieve in the time, and I learned a lot from the event.
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
Henchmen Showcase
Adam H. (PeregrineFalco)
AWOL
Clousseau
49
Chris Parris
Grandpapanurgle
Darkside
Edonil
LordZombie
Jonas H.H
50
51
M. Robertson
Neil of Orange
Copyright Wyrd Miniatures, LLC
Pandasauce
Skedarman
Mikael Lindh
Sevorin
52
Sigmund
Sephiroa
53