The Components
Goblin Skirmishers introduces four new types of goblin figures to BattleLore via new miniatures and cards.
Figures: Four new plastic miniatures for the goblinoids: 1 goblin band, 3 goblin drummers, 8 goblin slingers, and 8 hobgoblin spear bearers. The goblinoids were my favorites from the original set, and though there's nothing as cool as the original game's lizard-riding goblins here, it's still nice to have new goblinoid figures. These models are all well-detailed and generally up to the standards of BattleLore. Perhaps more importantly, they're quite distinct from the existing figures.
There are also ten banners, so that these five complete units can be used on either side of the BattleLore wars.
Cards: The game comes with four new reference cards, explaining what the goblinoids do, and 4 specialist cards, for use with Call to Arms. It's great that Days of Wonder is continuing to include reference cards to make BattleLore very easy to play.
Rulebook: A 4-page rulesheet that includes a quick explanation of the new rules for the new figures, plus two new battles. The fact that there are only two battles will make this supplement of somewhat limited usefulness for regular BattleLore player, but it'll have plenty of use to a Call to Arms player, who's doubtless the intended audience for these specialist packs.
Overall, the components are all high quality and easy to use. With 20 figures for $20, the supplement isn't quite as good a deal as the original, but it's still a very reasonable price for a supplement.
I've given Goblin Skirmishers a "4" out of "5" for Style.
The Gameplay
Besides new units, Goblin Skirmishers also introduces two new adventures.
New Units: The main thing that Goblin Skirmishers introduces is four new types of goblin troops:
Hobgoblin Spear Bearers. These are red melee unit who attack at plus 1 die when battling back. Combined with the standard goblinoid ability to move two and attack, they can be very deadly.
Goblin Slingers. These are green archers who can move without losing a die, but only have a range of 2.
Goblin Band. This is a single figure which is combined with the 3 goblin drummers to form a unit. It gives 1 unit of "support presence" to every unit in its section (meaning they only need one more units of support presence to be supported).
Goblin Drummers. These 3 figures standardly fill out the band, but can also be used with Call to Arms to substitute into other units. A goblinoid foot unit that contains a goblin drummer is bold.
New Adventures: The two adventures "The Sounds of Water" and "Riding Down the Spear Bearers" each show off all 20 new goblin figures, plus a spider, plus various other units. They seem like fair scenarios, and they definitely do a good job of incorporating the new bits.
Playing with a Call to Arms: As noted above, this supplement is really intended to be used with Call to Arms. The four specialist cards that it contains can be used to swap the goblin pieces into any game you play with Call to Arms and it will doubtless be the main way that the units are used.
Relationships to Other Games
Goblin Skirmishers is a supplement for BattleLore. Though not required, the supplement will be more replayable when used with Call to Arms.
It is one of five specialist packs produced for BattleLore, the others being Goblin Marauders, Dwarven Battalion, Scottish Wars, and The Hundred Years' War.
The Game Design
Each of the new units offers a relatively simple modification to standard BattleLore play--which is about what I think is required to keep the game from getting overly complex. With just one simple rules change for each unit, you can easily stay on top of the changes.
However, the units make a larger difference than you'd guess from their simple rules. The Band entirely changes how you maneuver units in one section of the board, while the Spearmen can allow for some really aggressive play, particularly if you can support them. Only the Slingers don't make that big of a difference, but it's still nice to have this new variety of goblinoid missile wielders that have their own feel.
Another nice element of this supplement is that it really highlights the fun theming (and potential storytelling) of BattleLore. When my heavy spearmen rushed across the board, were webbed up by a spider, then killed before they could free themselves, it all felt very evocative and colorful.
I've given Goblin Skirmishers a "4" out of "5" for Substance. It packs a nice amount of variety into a pretty small container.
Conclusion
BattleLore: Goblin Skirmishers adds some nice variety to the core game with goblinoid units that work differently from their brethren, and thus allow for some new tactics.
