Flying Pig Games sent me their new magazine, enthusiastically titled Yaah! Yep..I’m sorry, but there it is. Yaah!. DORK.

Look for a video review of the entire magazine. Below are some glam shots of the  Shield & Sword game system V1.0 from Tom Russell included in the game.

The game system is focussed upon the pre gunpowder Medieval age linear combat era. Think Normans, Vikings and the like. My gut reaction was “Oh its saga on a map cool.”

However it is simpler than Saga and very streamlined. Units operate by type and class (think quality) and each type of unit has a bonus or malus against other types and classes of units. Zones of control are sticky, unless you opt to retreat in the Retreat phase. Sequence of play is simple and captures the era nicely from my layman’s view here at 30,000 feet.

The units a simple and the paper maps really are pretty on a mid gloss finished paper.

Reports coming on game play, so stay tuned.

The magazine provides a long session on the two historical battles included.

One thing I forget to mention in the review on video is that the writing is sparse or spare in this magazine. It is not one of these long winded, look how fricken clever I am magazines. You will not find 2 pages introductions reminiscing about a past childhood adventure, and its tortured analogy to the game or battle at hand.

Good, solid articles that punch a point and give a view, without the bullshit. NICE.

 

The Magazine overall feels like a quality production. I look forward to the 2nd Edition to see what changes and matures.