Could this game be a distraction for me in 2012?

Every year I plan out my Hobby in the form of a New Years Hobby Resolution. I sit down and scour the Wargaming World for new games and armies that stand out and light the hobby fire beneath me! I then plan to see if I can afford to buy the new stuff and that it would cost less than the alternative (a new Games Workshop army). Once this is done you would think that would be it but every year I’ve done this I’ve been distracted by games along the way, making a very exciting year of gaming. So far this year I have been distracted by MERCS and now this has caught my eye. I had Heard about Empire of the Dead about 2 years ago as a whisper on the wind and after going to the Secrets of the Third Reich Grand Tournament 2011 and speaking to Wendy from West Wind, one of the writers and one of the fluff guys/Proof Readers/Demo Gamers (who is a member of my Wargaming Club) I knew this would be one to look out for!

So whats it all about?

Welcome to the Empire of the Dead. It is 1888 and much of the world is in turmoil. The great discovery of the age, Infernium, has brought technological advancements barely dreamed of just a few years ago. Its discovery, however, has stirred the basest instincts of man and nature alike. The lines between right and wrong or good and evil have become blurred as factions battle not only for control of the streets but the very future of mankind.

From the forests of Eastern Europe to the rookeries of London, factions have come together in
their quest to defend the natural order of life or to simply achieve their own ends. When you step into the world of Empire of the Dead you enter a place where only your wits and tactical thinking offer hope of survival. As the leader of your Faction your task is to ensure that those who serve you survive whatever fate has to throw at them. In that way lies the route to your own advancement and enhanced power and influence. Your
position, though, requires you to also serve your own masters, the leaders of your clan, club or order. Only by doing that, however obscure their purpose may seem, can you hope to avoid the assassin’s knife or wellplaced
bullet.

Whether your allegiances lie with the Holy Orders of the Church, the Lycaon and their dedication to the protection of the natural order, the ancient evil of the Nosferatu or the gentlemen of the Clubs; the world that you are entering conceals many dangers and challenges for the unwary. In the Empire of the Dead nothing is as it seems. Today’s allies may be tomorrow’s sworn enemies and even the local populace may turn at a moment’s notice from a placid flock to an angry mob. Fame, fortune and unbelievable power will find those with the cunning and tenacity to survive the fortunes of the fight, ignominy and death await the rest. From the polluted streets of the city’s rookeries to the calm tranquillity of the countryside, nowhere is immune from the intrigue of the Empire. So set aside all that you know, be afraid of every corner and remember that myth and legend are just a way to hide the true horrors of the world.

• Empire of the Dead is a 28mm tabletop skirmish game for two or more players.
• Set in a darkly Gothic Victorian Empire populated by Heroic Gentlemen and Fiends of unmentionable evil.
• Choose from 4 starter factions which can be expanded from a range of special character models.
• Built in Campaign system gives each game its own unique flavour.

Here’s a look at the main Factions for Empire of the Dead!!

The Gentlemens Club
Behind the elegant doors of their London bases, the Gentlemen’s Clubs plot and manoevure to secure their power. Whether in defense of Queen and country or to secure their own position it is in the hands of these Gentlemen that the fate of common people rests.

The Vampire Clan
Ancient beyond reckoning the Nosferatu have moved from chilling nightmare to terrifying reality. Whether on the streets of the city or in the wild places of the land the Nosferatu seek to tighten their grip on the souls of man and their own malevolent traditions.

The Brotherhood
As evil rises across the land the secretive Brotherhood have added mace and fire brand to bell, book and candle. Their aim to defend the faith, protect the innocent and stamp out the evil threatening to sweep all before it.

Lycaon Werewolf
From the depths of ancient forests the Lycaon are rising. No longer able to sit by and watch as their secretive world is menaced by the march of technology, they have stirred their followers to find and destroy any who threaten them.

Characters & Other Products for Empire of the Dead

Victorian Zombies
Raised from their graves and condemned to serve their masters in death as they did in life, zombies are a new horror let loose upon the world. Their mindless but unstoppable onslaught is limited only by the evils of their summoners.

Gallows Hag
Hanged a century ago for the crime of witchcraft the Gallows Hag again stalks the streets of London seeking vengeance on the living by dragging them to the gates of Hell at the end of her noosed rope. Once entangled few can escape the long painful road to damnation that she desires for all blessed with life.

Reaper Deathlight
When angels fall, remnants of their shattered souls remain bound to the earth. Trapped between the mortal and ethereal they must sustain their existence by capturing the souls of mortals as they expire and, fuelled by this energy, their power and corporeal form grows alongside an ever increasing hunger. Locked in an addictive spiral, a Reaper becomes the very image of death, helping speed the passing of many a poor soul.

Cedric Hyde
The offspring of the infamous Mr Hyde and a destitute lady of the night, Cedric Hyde combines the strength and temper of his father with the vulnerability of the small child he really is. Capable of feats of great strength but unpredictable, Cedric can help a faction achieve great success but always at the risk of his tantrums, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

Holmes & Watson

Circ Du Noir Man Ape
Trapped between man and animal in a body corrupted by a foul Infernium experiment. Treated as a freak by society, he acts as an intelligence source and, occasionally, much more for his masters. Driven by a hatred of his own form he will stop at nothing to prevent further corruption of the natural world.

Mr Chop, Demon Butcher
For some men pleasure comes from drink or the pleasures of the flesh for Mr Chops it comes solely from the deadened thud of cleaver on flesh. ‘Here comes the candle to light you to bed, here comes the chopper to chop off your head!’ are the last words his victim’s hear before they are condemned to oblivion at his hands.

Scorpius GLC Says:

I can’t wait to get hold of a copy of the rulebook and delve into the wonderfully written background ( nod nod). If this has lit a fire beneath your hobby loins then pop over to the West Wind Website and support a really wonderful miniatures company!