With Havoc!, we want to provide real value to gamers, so the complete set is packed with everything you need to play a ton of fights. There are 864 cards in the set (over 90% with full-color art) that let you choose your fighters, pick weapons and armor, decide your combat actions, and suffer the effects of wound and bash. This combination of cards allows you to play not just one-on-one match-ups, but fights involving multiple combatants on each side. You could easily run a fight with one dragon against half a dozen fighters, as just one example.
For a limited time, we’ll be making available an electronic download you can use to run a number of fights, but it won’t provide the same functionality as the complete physical set of Havoc! The Combat Card Game. For example, it won’t have all the Archetype and Foe Cards. But the TTS version will have Gladiators, and we thought folks would like to see what it looks like, so we’re attaching here a few examples of a gladiator fight – the Retiarius versus the Secutor.
In this screen, the Retiarius and Secutor square off.
The Retiarius is unarmored (except for Gauntlets), uses a trident and net, and is a Prowess 4 Veteran (so he’s pretty tough). Importantly, the Retiarius has the Entanglement, which allows him to use his net to Bash his opponent. Here’s a closer look at the Retiarius with his Entanglement Ability. These are the actual physical cards.
Note how the Entanglement Ability gives a chance to use the net (or if you’re playing another scenario, something equivalent like a cloak or a rope) to Bash your opponent. And unlike a “normal” Bash, if the Entanglement attempt succeeds, two Bash Cards are drawn and the Retiarius gets to pick which one to apply.
Here’s a sample of the Retiarius set-up in Tabletop Simulator:
Facing off against the Retiarius is the Secutor. He has a bit more armor – a Great Helm, Gauntlets, Greaves, and a Tower Shield – and is armed with a Tower Shield. He’s also pretty tough with 10 Body, but is only Prowess 3. He has the Shield Blow Ability, which he can use to Bash his opponent if he gets in close. Here’s a look at the Secutor Card:
Each fighter’s choice of weapons and armor helps govern their fighting tactics. With his longer weapon, the Retiarius will have Initiative at the start of the fight because the Distance between fighters always starts at Long. The Secutor will try to close inside the Retiarius’s weapon length by using his massive tower shield, and then rely on his short sword. The Shield Blow Ability is quite powerful and – like all Abilities – has the potential to be a real game-changer. If the Secutor has a successful Shield Parry, he can play the Shield Blow Ability and force the Retiarius to discard two Combat Action Cards (at random) from his Hand. Quite a powerful Ability – but limited to only once per fight. But to use the Shield Blow, the Secutor must close inside – and the Retiarius might have a successful throw of his net.
Besides a higher Prowess and longer Weapon, the Retiarius has 5 Fatigue compared to the Secutor’s 4, which means the Retiarius can usually fight one combat round longer. Because of these advantages, the Retiarius is generally favored to win the match-up. You can take a look at how this fight worked out in Tabletop Simulator on our YouTube Channel (a link to the video is also up on Boardgamegeek). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=232IQsXGZc0
