Getting started
Shroudfall is a tabletop game that is focused on providing an exciting skirmish level battle experience for two players. The game is balanced with a competitive spirit in mind, but the core rules are still incredibly easy to pick up. On this page you find everything to play your very first game of Shroudfall and you will learn all core mechanics of the game.
Step 1: Choose a faction and download the Unit Cards
First you need to choose which faction you would like to play. Each faction in Shroudfall features a unique playstyle and excells at different areas of the game.
You will play the demo game with the miniatures of one of the faction bundles. Each of these faction bundles contains around 100 points worth of models and comes with a set of dice and movement widgets. While Shroudfall scenarios are optimized for 200 points, 100 points are perfectly fine for taking your first steps.
While the Silver Line only maintains a comparatively lean force, their true strength lies in their advanced essence technology and strategic prowess. The Silver Line might find itself outnumbered, but seldom outclassed.
Demo Game Unit Cards: Silver Line
The Chosen of the Spirit Tree are an army defined by duality, both in their units and their overall playstyle. While the Ailur embody the essence of slow and deliberate tenacity as well as martial prowess, the Aiyani are nimble and wield powerful elemental magic.
Demo Game Unit Cards: Chosen of the Spirit Tree
The Umbral Veil relies heavily on brute force in the form of their various monstrosities, while many alchemists take on supporting roles on the battlefield. Their greatest strength is at the same time their greatest weakness. Monstrosities separated from their masters are mindless monsters, easily outsmarted by their enemies.
Demo Game Unit Cards: Umbral Veil
The Bloodthorne follow one singular command: Consume! Be it essence or flesh, the Bloodthorne absorb everything and continue to grow and empower themselves. Their strategy hinges on the continuous consumption and corruption of essence and the steady growth of their power to overwhelm all that stand against them.
Demo Game Unit Cards: Bloodthorne
Faction Bundles
Step 2: Get your gaming materials ready
For the demo game you will need the following materials:
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Terrain templates
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Scenario Templates
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Tokens
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In addition you will need Shroudfall Movement Widgets and Measuring Widgets. If you want to try Shroudfall without getting these tools, you can also use a range ruler with inches to play the introductory game.
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Shroudfall Dice
Step 3: Prepare the battlefield
Shroudfall is played on a 36” x 36” gaming area. In this demo game you will mess up your opponents table half with boars and try to gain control of essence crystal mines. But these are two scenarios, you might ask ... True, Shroudfall is quite a scenario focused game and as such in each game you play two Scenarios. There is more to it, but for now let's build the battlefield step by step:
Step 4: Determine Player roles
Each player rolls GGGG. The player with the higher added up result of the diceroll is Player A, the other is Player B.
Step 5: Set up the Scenario
To set up the scenario you can use 2 x 50mm bases and 2 x 40mm bases for the scenario objectives. You can also use the scernario obejctives template and cut out the "Boar" and "Essence Crystal Mine" objectives. Deploy the objectives as you see in the image below and measure to the middle of each objective:
After setting up the scenario Player A chooses between the following two options:
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Assigning the starting player token to one of the two players, or. ...
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... start deploying the first piece of terrain.
Step 6: Set up the Terrain
To set up the terrain you can use the official Shroudfall terrain, either directly from the shop or you can download the STLs and print it yourself. Alternatively you can always print and cut out the terrain template document for free.
In Shroudfall you create the terrain on the battlefield together with your opponent. This means in a game of Shroudfall you will be taking turns with your opponent placing terrain pieces on the battleflied. For this demo game we will skip this step and you can just deploy terrain pieces like in the example bellow. The suggested terrain pieces are the following (but you can also use less terrain for your first game):
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2 x Small Forest
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2 x Large Forest
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2 x Rock Needle
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1 x Giant Boulder
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2 x Rock Wall
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1 x Small Rubble
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1 x Large Rubble
You should end up with a table like this one:
Step 7: Set up you armies
The player with the starting player token sets up one of their units first, followed by the other player placing one of their units. Players then alternatingly deploy their units, until all unit have been deployed. Each player has to deploy each of their models within 6" of their table edge and each model of a unit has to be deployed within unit formation (meaning within 2" for this demo game).
If you want to follow the demo game examples bellow, deploy your armies like in the image below.
Step 8: Play!
Each player rolls GGGG. The winner of the diceroll is Player A, the other is Player B.
A game of Shroudfall usually has 2 scenarios on the table, with both players playing both scenarios at the same time. For the demo game, you will need 2 “Crystal Mine” scenario markers, and 2 “Boar Brigade” scenario markers. (die könnte man ans .pdf dranhängen)
Place them on the table according to this diagram:
[x]
[beispielbild von tisch mit 2 boars und 2 minen]
Step 2b: Prepare the terrain
2D terrain templates are available at . You can find 3d terrain in our store, or print your own: . When building your own terrain, remember that because in full Shroudfall games terrain is part of your army list, the footprint of the terrain pieces must remain the same!
Step 4 is concluded when the last terrain piece has been placed.
[beispielbild von einem tisch mit 3d terrain]
Starting player token
And don't forget, the goal of this introductory game is not to provide a perfectly balanced gaming experience, but to learn the most important core rules.
For this example we will use the Silver Line Bundle as well as the Chosen of the Spirit Tree bundle, but you can use any combination of Bundles for this starter game scenario.
Step 1: Grab a friend (or foe)
Each of you will need a separate faction starter set. The following 4 faction starters are currently available for Shroudfall:
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Silver Line
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The Chosen of the Spirit Tree
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Umbral Veil
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Bloodthorne
Each of these faction starters contains ~100 points worth of models and comes with a set of dice and movement widgets. While Shroudfall scenarios are optimized for 200 points, 100 points are perfectly fine for taking your first steps.
In addition, each of you will need printed unit cards for your faction (link). A range ruler (measured in inches) is required to measure distances. Having a pen or a copy of the rules (link) nearby won’t hurt either.
Step 2: Prepare the gaming table:
Shroudfall is played on a 36”*36” gaming area. To set up the table, follow the following steps:
Step 2a: Prepare the Scenario
Each player rolls GGGG. The winner of the diceroll is Player A, the other is Player B.
A game of Shroudfall usually has 2 scenarios on the table, with both players playing both scenarios at the same time. For the demo game, you will need 2 “Crystal Mine” scenario markers, and 2 “Boar Brigade” scenario markers. (die könnte man ans .pdf dranhängen)
Place them on the table according to this diagram:
[x]
[beispielbild von tisch mit 2 boars und 2 minen]
Step 2b: Prepare the terrain
Take turns placing 10 terrain pieces on the board. Each terrain piece must be at least 2” away from other terrain pieces, scenario pieces, or table edges, but can be placed anywhere on the board.
We recommend the following terrain pieces:
2* large forest
2* small forest
2* large rock
2* rock needle
2* rock wall
2D terrain templates are available at . You can find 3d terrain in our store, or print your own: . When building your own terrain, remember that because in full Shroudfall games terrain is part of your army list, the footprint of the terrain pieces must remain the same!
Step 4 is concluded when the last terrain piece has been placed.
[beispielbild von einem tisch mit 3d terrain]
Step 2c: Set up your armies
Player A sets up his army within 6” of his table edge. Then, Player B sets up his army within 6” of his table edge.
[beispielbild wo man das within sieht]
Step 2d: Assign Start player token
Assign the Start Player token to Player B.
[beispielbild von einem tisch mit 2 armeen]
Table setup is now complete
Step 3: Play.
You are now ready to start turn 1. Have fun! And always remember: Break the game, not your opponent!
Anhang:
Szenario Marker für Kristallmine und Boars
Silver Line Essence Weavers
Faction Bundles
Choose your faction
Shroudfall is a tabletop game that is focused on providing an exciting skirmish level battle experience for two players. Before the game players recruite armies from their respective factions, that will be used in their encounters with their opponents armies. These armies usually head out with certain objectives in mind and therefore the scenarios you will play in game of Shroudfall are also part of your army list. Furthermore, your troops try to engage enemy armies on terrain favourable to them, therefore also terrain is part of your army list.
Shroudfall is a tabletop game that is focused on providing an exciting skirmish level battle experience for two players. Before the game players recruite armies from their respective factions, that will be used in their encounters with their opponents armies. These armies usually head out with certain objectives in mind and therefore the scenarios you will play in game of Shroudfall are also part of your army list. Furthermore, your troops try to engage enemy armies on terrain favourable to them, therefore also terrain is part of your army list.
Shroudfall is a tabletop game that is focused on providing an exciting skirmish level battle experience for two players. Before the game players recruite armies from their respective factions, that will be used in their encounters with their opponents armies. These armies usually head out with certain objectives in mind and therefore the scenarios you will play in game of Shroudfall are also part of your army list. Furthermore, your troops try to engage enemy armies on terrain favourable to them, therefore also terrain is part of your army list.
Shroudfall is a tabletop game that is focused on providing an exciting skirmish level battle experience for two players. Before the game players recruite armies from their respective factions, that will be used in their encounters with their opponents armies. These armies usually head out with certain objectives in mind and therefore the scenarios you will play in game of Shroudfall are also part of your army list. Furthermore, your troops try to engage enemy armies on terrain favourable to them, therefore also terrain is part of your army list.
