If you are a gamer, chances are that you either LOVE Games Workshop or HATE Games Workshop. I fall into the camp that loves GW, I've played just about every game they've made in the last ten years, and I probably own thousands in GW figures. So...why am I mentioning GW in a review of a WOTC Game? Because many of the columns and reviews I have seen about D&D Chainmail have referred to it as 'WOTC's answer to the success of Warhammer.' I am going to try to keep my GW bias out of this review as much as possible, but if I slip... then at least you know where I'm coming from.
OK, so first thing I notice when I pick up the box is that it costs only 25 bucks, and comes with 8 metal figures and the rules for the game. Nice. I go up to the counter and it turns out the store is having a 'cash and carry' sale, 20% off if you pay cash. I end up dropping only about 21 dollars. Not bad for a full game. I also happened to notice that most of the figures for the game run between $3.25 and $8.50 - which is a major plus.
So I get home, open up the box and pull out the 'Faction Handbook' which details the troops availible to each of the game's six factions. Each faction is presented in a short writeup, and has seven troop types listed. The description of each troop includes some background information and a brief summary of the model's in-game abilities. Some of the troop types seem a bit sketchy to me - Battered Skeletal Troll is one of the troops availible to the Undead, but others, like the Grey Elf Duelist, seem really cool. I think WOTC tried to include every character class and race from D&D in the six factions - so some factions include some strange troops, like the Orc Druid or Demonic Gnoll Adept.
I've only got one grip with the faction book, and that is that the full stats for each model are not included. In fact, they're not included with the game anywhere! Only the point costs are given. You get a card for each model in the box set with that model's statistics on it. When you buy new models, they include the card for that model. This makes it a bit difficult to plan things out in advance.
Next I flipped through the rules. The rulebook is small, but packed full of rules. There are 'basic' rules, which cover movement, attacking, spells, and morale. You can play with just the basic rules, but the game's real innovations are in the advanced rules, which cover the 'command' system. Although I haven't had a chance to play yet, I think this new system is going to work out well.
Essentially, you have certain models that have Command Points. If you want your guys to run straight at the enemy or just stand and shoot at someone you don't need to spend command points. However, if you want to perform a subtle maneuver, or tell your men to stand their ground, you need to command them by spending one (or more) command points. Commanders can also spend command points to boost the abilities of their troopers or themselves. However, the 'boost abilities' commands cost more command points, so you have to be careful not to blow all your points there and then have your men run wild. Some factions have better commanders then others - the Human Paladin has 5 command points a round, while the Dwarf Cleric has only 3.
Another note. The rulebook also includes rules for transfering to Chainmail from D&D and vv. This essentially allows you to create your own factions and characters with only minor effort - I like it.
Last, I checked out the miniatures. They are beautiful. The game includes a human paladin, a gnome infiltrator, a human glavier, a human marine, a demonic gnoll adept, a gnoll warrior, an abyssal maw, and a hyena. With the exception of the human glavier, who looks silly, all of the models are well made and look great! I don't know who made that Glavier model, but his facial expression is lame! Anyway, my only problem with the models is that they come in several pieces. I am a veteran miniatures gamer, well versed in the arcane lores of superglue and pewter, and I found some of the models to be a bit...difficult to assemble. Anyway, it took me about an hour to get them all assembled and trimmed. I plan on painting the gnolls tonight.
Anyway, that's my review of D&D Chainmail. I give the game solid marks for rules and figures, with an A for price. I've seen that WOTC plans to expand the line of figures and include a drow faction within the next six months. I hope you find my review to be of some use. Good Gaming!
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