In the ruins of the Jade Abbey, evil lurks. Grandfather Nurgle has his demon warlord Gelgus Pust on site to spread his poison and decay. The holy life-giving water of the Everspring is at risk from contamination and with it, the surrounding lands will become tainted. Only a band of brave and talented heroes can stop this.
Such is the scene painted by Games Workshop for their latest Warhammer Quest game: Darkwater. If you’re a fan of old games from the eighties and nineties like Space Hulk or Heroquest, then you are sure to like this latest entry. Maybe like me you are a returning player to this style of game. Last year I was playing Heroquest a little and as much as I like the simplicity and ease of play, I tend to prefer games with something with a little more depth and involvement; I guess that is the roleplayer in me.
In Darkwater, it is evident that games of this nature from Games Workshop have moved on and for the better. I bought Cursed City, the previous Warhammer Quest game, and I’ve been enjoying painting the miniatures and playing that, but when I saw Darkwater on the horizon I instinctively kept an eye on it. The miniatures looked exquisite and the map book a superb new development for the Warhammer Quest series. As much as it is fun to play other similar games, the hassle of setting up and taking down map tiles is a chore. My way around it is to set aside a good spell of time to play several encounters in one sitting or a weekend, but it’s not often convenient.
The map book then is excellent. This review may be a first impressions assessment, but I can tell I will enjoy painting the miniatures and playing this game and so I’m keeping an eye out for a foam and card insert when that is available. The Darkwater miniatures look amazing, but they will need looking after. Ultimately, it is a good sign for the game.
Miniatures
I need to stop and talk about the miniatures a bit more. Games Workshop do produce some of the finest miniatures available for gaming, in my opinion and whilst not cheap, especially the individual models, I will say you get what you pay for even if miniatures do come at a bit of a premium.
A big advantage and a key reason for buying Darkwater, is to get my hands on a wonderful collection of miniatures that possibly I won’t otherwise find and the beauty in buying the game is the cost of miniatures becomes quite reasonable, which is why these games tend to sell well as other collectors have a similar idea. Tied in to collecting them, you get to paint them or have them painted if you are so inclined. I tend to paint my own and although they may not be exhibition quality, I do find it quite therapeutic to paint and then I can always use the miniatures for face-to-face roleplay games with tactical maps. The miniatures will take quite a while to assemble and paint, but this is part of the draw with these games. You can settle for cheap and functional miniatures, that may be quite robust, or you buy better quality ones that help create a better, higher quality level of gaming and have the satisfaction of painting them.
The map book
A big draw for the game, I think. A good selection of maps, already set up for encounters, so there is a lot less preparation needed than with setting up tiles. The claim is that it is a lay flat book and it is. You will have to look after it and be careful when handling and time will tell how robust the pages are fixed to the spine, but it does look good.
Game structure
You can play a single skirmish if you just want a quick and easy game. The rules suggest 20-30 minutes for a game but allow for longer if new to the game. Alternatively, you can play in campaign mode. This is how the game is designed to be played.
Campaign play is designed to take you through three Acts. During the game you will unlock new heroes and rewards and ultimately you will battle Pust for victory. Whilst the game may be challenging at first, specially for those new to this type of game, the game is designed to be replayable. So, if you fail, try again and part of the enjoyment for me will be to try new tactics. Ultimately it is a game involving dice rolling and the element of luck, but through tenacity and skill, when you do achieve victory, it will feel a well-deserved victory.
The rules are straightforward enough and you get a clear run-through for setting up the battlefield, how to play through an encounter, taking your turn, moving, attacking etc and with a bit of practice it should prove a comfortable game to learn.
Components
In addition to the miniatures and the map book, there are a supply of cards. These are sorted into various sets, representing characters, enemies, and rewards etc. All of the components are of good to excellent quality and robust enough to last if looked after.
Aesthetics
The box is heavy. A good sign for me. The map book is partly responsible, but no fault there as this reinforces the idea that you are getting good value for money. The miniatures will turn out well and add a great visual layer to playing the game, once I get round to assembling and painting them.
The other key factor is the attention to detail on creating a gaming experience. The cards decks are neatly packaged in separate paper packets. It’s great for game organisation but also helps create an epic feel to the game as befits the campaign style of play. Older games have tended to be simpler games, but this has the signs of a richer, better and more involved game experience.
Value for money
Good games tend to be more expensive these days, but the price for Darkwater, although certainly not cheap I think represents good value for money. Individually, the miniatures would cost more so buying the set gives you a big discount on exclusive miniatures that also come with a game.
Overall, it looks great. The box contents when you open it up are neatly stored and it all looks and feels like a quality product.
Overall
I would certainly recommend Darkwater to anyone who is a fan of these games, but also to new players who would like to try a new gaming experience. It may be a game you explore and learn through several attempts before you get the hang of it, but it looks like great fun and a great gaming experience, especially with the tactile aspect of the game with the miniatures.
