The Cosmere is heading into a full-scale tabletop war!
Brotherwise Games has announced a brand-new strategy board game set in Brandon Sanderson's Stormlight Archive universe. Titled Stormlight: War for Roshar, the upcoming release will bring the epic battles of Roshar to the tabletop, with players taking control of armies, heroes, and powerful factions fighting for control of the world.
The game will launch through Kickstarter this autumn, giving fans the chance to get involved before its wider retail release.
A battle for Roshar begins
Designed by acclaimed board game designer John D Clair, Stormlight: War for Roshar focuses on the conflict between the Coalition of Honor and the forces of Odium.
Rather than following a traditional one-sided war game format, the title is designed to support several different player setups. Games can be played head-to-head, with one player facing a team of three, or with two teams battling against each other.
The action takes place across eight rounds, with each round being marked by one of Roshar's famous supernatural storms: either a Highstorm or an Everstorm.
Heroes, armies, and strategy
Like the Stormlight Archive novels, the game appears to focus on both personal heroics and larger strategic decisions.
Players will command armies across multiple fronts, while also upgrading their leaders, deploying units, and using Stormlight-powered action cards to influence the battlefield.
Diplomacy also plays a role, with players able to bring neutral nations onto their side as they fight for control of important territories.
The main objective is to capture strategic Oathgates, but victory won't come from simply taking the most ground.
Players will also need to complete secondary objectives throughout the game, creating multiple paths to success and forcing them to adapt as the battle changes.
A war game with a story behind it
One of the challenges of adapting a huge fantasy series into a board game is finding the right balance between theme and mechanics.
Brotherwise Games says War for Roshar aims to let players experience both sides of the Stormlight Archive's world: the larger military conflict and the individual actions of its legendary characters.
Brotherwise CEO Chris O'Neal explained that the game is designed to capture the scale of the books while allowing players to take heroic actions with important characters alongside managing armies and diplomacy.
Kickstarter arrives this autumn
Brotherwise Games will launch the crowdfunding campaign for Stormlight: War for Roshar on Kickstarter later this year, although an exact launch date has not yet been revealed.
Backers will have several options available, including the base game and upgraded versions featuring additional content.
A Champions mini-expansion and deluxe components will also be available for players looking to enhance their experience.
Following production and fulfilment, the game is expected to arrive at traditional retailers around the holiday season of 2027.
More Cosmere content incoming
The Kickstarter campaign won't just focus on the main game either.
Brotherwise Games has confirmed that additional Cosmere miniature packs will be available as add-ons during the campaign.
These will include new Stormlight-themed sets as well as the first-ever premium miniature collection based on Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn series.
Another big tabletop adaptation
Brotherwise Games has previously worked on tabletop adaptations inspired by popular fantasy worlds, and the studio has developed a reputation for creating detailed games with strong thematic connections.
The Kickstarter campaign launches this autumn, so fans won't have too long to wait before finding out more about the battle for Roshar.
