Mythic Battles Pantheon

On to the games!

Gods, mortals, monsters and heroes clash in the ruins of post-apocalyptic Ancient Greece

Mythic Battles Pantheon is set in a post-apocalyptic Ancient Greece where the gods are still powerful beings, but shadows of their former selves. Fragments of their divine power - known as Omphalos - are scattered about the Earth and are the focus of a new power struggle. Whichever god can collect sufficient Omphalos to regain their former power stands to lead a new Pantheon reshaped in their image. To complicate matters, the cataclysmic events have emptied the Underworld, unleashing Titans, monsters and heroes of Greek legend, all of whom are participants in the new struggle for power.

As my opponent Pete and I were both new to Mythic Battles we chose to play the introductory scenario in the 'Getting Started' book included in the core box set. This covers the basic rules and pits father against son in the form of Zeus vs Ares in a bid to collect and absorb two Omphalos, or destroy their opponent to win the game. Both gods were assisted by a small band of heroes, monsters and troops. Zeus was backed up by a unit of Spartans and the Hydra. Ares was accompanied by a unit of Hoplites and the hero Achilles.

Zeus  - "Spartans? Where are the other 297?"

We played a couple of games and drew at one game each. As they were learning games, we probably messed up a few of the rules but we had a blast all the same. I'll admit that I wasn't sure I'd like this game. I've mentioned before that it was the miniatures that attracted my attention and the boardgame was of secondary importance. A couple of games has changed all that. Although we only just scratched the surface, I can see a lot of tactical options and depth to the game. It doesn't hurt that the game components are well produced and ooze quality too. All in all I'm very happy with Mythic Battles Pantheon and am looking forward to further games (with the hope that I won't have to wait another 12 months for my next game).  

"Why couldn't we just have a cat or a dog like ordinary folks?"

Ares was having another of his infamous temper tantrums...

Wot no paint?

The last time I got to play a game of any description was over 12 months ago. When I checked, I couldn't believe it had been so long. This is not good.

My abstinence is partly due to lack of opponents since my regular gaming pals are all now some distance away (in one case across the Channel) meaning games have to be on-line via Skype.  I'll talk more about gaming via Skype in a later post, but suffice to say it does have its drawbacks.

Fast forward to Sunday 18th March 2018 and by great good fortune three of us managed to get our ducks in a row (should that be penguins? - It was perfect weather for them) and met up at the West Midlands Military Show (WMMS) in Aldersley. Kudos to everyone who managed to get there despite the snow as the atrocious weather had clearly knocked holes in attendance (traders, demo games and punters alike). The show was a bit subdued, but from our little reunion came plans for my first proper game in ages. So, the following Wednesday my mate Pete made the journey over to chez nous for a game of Mythic Battles Pantheon.

                                                                                                                                                                             

I should admit at this point that in my eagerness for a game I've probably committed wargaming heresy by playing with unpainted miniatures. I am unrepentant. Well, Mythic Battles is a miniature boardgame and boardgames don't count, right? I would never contemplate fielding unpainted miniatures on a table-top wargame, but have no qualms about doing so on a boardgame. If that sounds like double-standards I can only say in my defence that I have come to terms with the idea that boardgame miniatures are 'playing pieces', in much the same way as a chess piece is. When I first saw the Kickstarter campaign for Mythic Battles it was the miniatures that attracted me and I had imagined using them in a fantasy table-top wargame setting. I had zero interest in a boardgame. It took some time for me to come around to accepting the whole boardgame package but now I have, I can happily get on with simply enjoying the game.

Of course, I do still want to paint the miniatures and at some future point I will post some pretty pictures of my efforts, but right now having fun playing the game is more important to me. So, if the thought of playing with unpainted miniatures is likely to give you apoplexy, please stop scrolling now and look away before you reach my next post.

To begin is good...

...to continue is better. To finish is best.

That was my old secondary school motto. Some 40-plus years later I'm still struggling with the last bit. Too many stalled or abandoned projects litter my gaming past - all begun in earnest but never completed. So, why the blog?

There was a time when I got to game almost once a week and had plenty of spare time to pursue my hobby. These days spare time is hard to come by, so I hope this blog will give me an incentive to keep moving my numerous unfinished gaming projects along. Continuing will indeed be better, but let's not think too hard about finishing. This is supposed to be a journey, not a destination. I hope you'll join me and come along for the ride.