Play game
Battle of Maldon - Postcard Game's itch.io pageResults
| Criteria | Rank | Score* | Raw Score |
| Playability - Mechanics | #4 | 4.333 | 4.333 |
| Theme | #23 | 4.000 | 4.000 |
Ranked from 3 ratings. Score is adjusted from raw score by the median number of ratings per game in the jam.
Leave a comment
Log in with itch.io to leave a comment.
Comments
Awesome game!
In my first game, I thought the Danish 2+1 units are undefeatable, since they won the initial dispute on the small land bridge against an English 1+1(+1) unit stack. The English leader was gone and everything looked grim. The Danish moved forward relentlessly, killing two other units. Then in their hubris, 3 squares in front of Maldon, they attacked a lonesome English infantry unit, 3 to 1. But due to a lucky queen of spades, they actually defeated the Danish stack, including their leader. The rest of the Danish horde fled the battlefield.
I really like the randomness generator. Since we're using the cards also for movement, literally everything can be drawn during combats. You can't meaningfully predict it. Thematically, I liked that decision. (By the way, I played with a 32-card deck if that makes a difference)
I also liked the art. Especially the cover image and the counters are a work of art. The map could show a little more terrain, but it's definitely functional and works well.
Maybe room for improvement could be to somehow encourage the players to move forward with their whole line. In my games, I usually went only with the strongest units until they were dead. Except for catching Danish units in -1 terrain off guard with my cavalry, there wasn't too much manoeuvring happening. Maybe I'm missing tactical aspects, though.
The rules were well written and did not leave much room for interpretation. I also wondered about the stacked leader movement, but you already clarified this in another comment.
I really enjoyed playing. Thanks for the entry!
PS: If a stack with a leader attached loses a combat, the unit and the leader die, right?
This is great feedback. Thank you for taking the time to write! And I'm glad you've been enjoying the game.
Yes, the uncertainty created by burning cards for both movement and combat is one of my favorite things about the game.
A 32-card deck... I designed the game based on a 52-card deck, not sure how 32 would change the dynamics of the game. I'll have to give it a try.
And, yes: if a unit-and-leader stack loses combat, both unit and leader are defeated.
Love the art and the simplicity of the rules!
Questions about the rules:
1) If it is possible to Move two counters, do I discard face down a card for each one of them? I am assuming that it is so.
2) If the Leader is stacked with a unit, do I move Leader separately from the unit? That is, the unit (discard one card) moves then the Leader (discard second card) moves?
3) Maldon space does not confer any bonuses, right? :) (English need a lot of encouragement, I think).
Thanks for the lovely game!
1. Yes, discard one card per Move.
2. When stacked, the leader is combined with the unit - they move as one so only discard one card.
3. Correct: Maldon space does not have a modifier.
Thanks for the questions. Enjoy playing Maldon! I haven't had a chance to play Hoplomachos yet -- but it's on my list!
Thanks!
I was wondering about this Leader move, because discarding cards blindly during Move action does mess up my guesstimate what cards remain still in the deck. In other words, I find it difficult to gauge the chances when it comes to Combat action. Flipping a single card when the results can range from 2 to Kings and Queens carries a lot of consequences :)
This may sound like a complaint - but in my initial foray into the game, it also made me think of positioning more. I think that there is a reason why English have more mobile cavalry in Your design :) and Danes have more units... Also, that victory conditions are written the way that they are. The unpredictability of combat does feel like a feature of "early medieval" battle plus it makes one ponder about their in-game decisions.
My sole regret with Your design is that the reverse side of the units - those cool shields - the reverse side does not play any function in a game :D
(No worries about not playing my game :P - I am slowly taking my sweet time with other jam submissions myself)
You got it right: the blind discard for each Move is to maintain uncertainty about the remaining cards in hand. Because (as you pointed out) the outcomes of medieval battles (as best we understand them) were very often uncertain. Positioning and timing do become important.
Also, the shields on the reverse side do serve a function: to add to the over all aesthetics of the game. That's important, right? :-)
The art style is a chef's kiss!
Thank you for submitting your game, I love the cover art. =)
I love the aesthetic!
Wonderful ! The rules certainly look good. The "lewis chess" visuals are perfect.
Whoa! I'm impressed by the artwork, the simplicity and the smoothness of the rules! Great work!