Your Faction Ideas

[draven_defay]

I just wanted to add ideas for Lizardman rules. They should have a Champ that is a big angry lizard-monster thing that can heal himself by killing allies. They should also have event cards called bogs that only Lizardmen can move through. Lastly, I suggest that their archers be blow dart wielders with the special ability Poison: On any attack the Darter makes in which it gets at least 1 hit, if the defender does not have a poisoned marker already on it, place 1 poisoned marker on the defender. Each time a card with a poisoned marker attacks, after the attack is resolved, place one poison damage marker on the card. When a card has poison damage markers on it equal to or exceeding it's starting HP, it is destroyed and sent to the magic pile of the player who poisoned it. You may pay 2 magic to remove a poisoned marker, but poison damage markers remain.

[Tidus]

How about something like ''The Plagued'' or ''The Forgotten''

The Plagued

Things that are like mutated from.... radiation maybe? From all the war,
and they all gather together forming an army against the rest of the ''Normal'' Summoners...

They would have like infecting abilities kind of like khan queso.
They could also maybe use magic points to heal themselves for like the champions.

The Forgotten
could be a race of maybe serpenty lizard like creatures from like prehistoric times that found a summoning stone and gained powers from it bringing them to the other summoners.
They could have like flying over walls or maybe regenerating abilities that lets them heal after each turn....

Just some ideas.


maybe a druid or nature army also like the Oakheart Army, Or.... a a race of humans with bird characteristics like bird feathers but can talk, almost like gorrillas but with feathers, and they would be more human like height with hands and armor, they could have like dual swords and fast wielding weapons and abilities like quick draw.
If there were druid like things there could be like forest events that could represent walls but have no life and the only way they could be removed is by your opponent spending magic to have forces cut the forest down that would be kind of cool.

[Lord_AndraK]

Some Classic Fantasy Races
Reptilian, Demon, Beasts, Werewolves, Vampires, Rats/Vermin
theres just so many different fanasty races, with the flexibility of this game it could do any of them.
Ill do some customs on some later and post my ideas.

[Lord_AndraK]

Originally Posted by Truth

Hey guys, I've posted a thread over on Board Game Geek asking for faction ideas. I've done it over there to help shine attention on the game, and because I can give away Geek Gold over there. Just thought some of you might like to join in: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/article/4274224#4274224

Iv put a whole lot of faction and ability sugestions in to the thread on pg 7-8
hope you like them, tell me what you think and if youve actually read them thx.

[Phoenixio]

The idea was mentionned, but not in the same direction:

A nature army, one with living trees (huge commons with lots of life points, tremendous attacks, but limited to a movement of 1, or something along those lines).
Dryads which would be quick and ranged fighters to support the slow moving units.
Events that would be Wall-like, and could be placed on the opponent's side, but that wouldn't allow summoning (or might if the movement restriction is used a lot).
Ohter Events that would simply count as mana to speed the arrival of the Treants.
Wisps as a free third common unit (just as an idea of a very fairy-like wood faction).
Three champions, one of each of the common races, that would push the fore mentioned units to their limits.
And the summoner... some kind of Greater Druid, would greatly fit in the feeling of the game.

Of course, this is only an idea, with absolutely no playtesting or tweaking made. I do hope Colby will find some inspiration with them.

[Targanth]

I've not have Summoner Wars for very long, but am enjoying the game and the design point - expandable but not blind purchase. I had a faction idea and read through the 'contest' entries here and on BGG but didn't see anyone proposing this type of faction, so here goes with a bit of a backstory. Some younger people may need to look up TV references (sorry, I'm old).

Everyone in the village knew of the constant wars against Ret-Talus and his summoned hordes. Not from first hand battle of course, but by the constant flow of armies looking to conscript local folks into the battle. Even Ret-Talus had sent champions to the village to ensure that there was no opposition.

That the village had not simply been killed off was a tribute to one older woman. The villagers simply called her Granny, and it was due to her efforts that those that had been left behind - the old men and women, the children, and the mothers of those children - managed to raise and harvest enough food to live from season to season.

Granny had been at the river doing her wash. As usual she had been kneeling along the river bank. The river was much lower than usual so she was in what would normally have been the river bottom. As she moved, her knee came down on a rock, causing a sharp sensation. She looked down and was surprised to see a smooth stone rather than the sharp stone she had expected. As she finished her laundry she reached down, picked up the stone and put it in her pocket.

Only a few weeks had gone by when another army came through the village. They too were on their way to battle Ret-Talus, but this army was different in that they were not trying to find fighters to recruit. They were simply looking for shelter on their way to the battle. The leader of this army had a Summoning Stone, like the one Ret-Talus had used to hold power for so many years.

After the army left (and none too quickly for Granny and the villagers) Granny took a long look at the new stone she had found in the river. As she wondered how anyone would know a Summoning Stone from a regular stone, she began to get a sensation in the hand that held the stone. The answer was clear now - the stone had told her.

But Granny had no ambitions. She wished to see her village live in peace and to avoid the constant effects of the war. Could the Summoning Stone help?

The Home Town faction. Note that this faction could be a village from any of the faction races. All ideas contained in this post are provided under the same sharing guidelines as the BGG Faction contest Truth created.

Walls - Instead of normal summoning walls, the Home Town faction has pictures of houses.

Summoner - Granny
The image Granny brings to mind is that of Granny from the TV show 'The Beverly Hillbillies'. I see Granny running around with her frying pan, knocking enemies in the head with it. Frying Pan Attack - perhaps if Granny hits with her initial frying pan attack in a round, she is immediately allowed to roll one more attack die.

Champion - Old Man Mervin
Old Man Mervin is something of a cross between Uncle Joe from the TV show 'Petticoat Junction' and Grandpa McCoy from the show 'The Real McCoys'. Talks a good fight but too old and slow to be a physical threat. Pretends to know everything about everything. His ability is misdirection - perhaps if a card adjacent to Old Man Mervin is attacked by an opponent, before the die roll Old Man Mervin can choose to be the target of the attack.

Champion - The Widow Barns
Widow Barns is the master of 'The Look'. Think actress Betty Davis here. If looks could kill, you'd be dead by now. Perhaps her attack is 2 dice ranged that allows her to attack any space she could move to (if it were unoccupied) so for example one space over and one space up would be in range.

Champion - Granny's Cat
Granny's cat would of course have nine lives and perhaps 3 attack dice. I've considered a Scratch attack that allows Granny's Cat to divide the 3 attack die up between up to 3 adjacent opponents. It would still be a maximum of 3 attack dice no matter if 1, 2, or 3 opponents were Scratched. (This character is probably too powerful.)

Commons - Slinger
The Slingers are the little scoundrels with Sling-Shots (Our Gang or Little Rascals) that can really frustrate a grownup. I could see these eight year old boys having a power called 'If at First'. Maybe a ranged attack of 1, but for each Slinger each round if their first try misses, the Slinger can try a 2nd attack against the same card.

Commons - Mommas
The Mommas are old time Mommas, mid 30's in age. If the kid did something wrong, Momma would make the kid pay for it. However, if someone else tried to administer justice to their kid, better look out. I see her with 1 attack die and a power like 'Don't You Dare', where if Momma attacks a card that is adjacent to a Slinger card, Momma gets one additional attack die.

Commons - Critters
Critters are something much different. Back to the Beverly Hillbillies, Ellie Mae always had a bunch of critters around. So the Critters common might be a different Critter every round, but the card has only 2 life no matter what Critter is rolled. For example, before attacking for a die to see what Critter had popped up.
On a 1, it is a Squirrel with 1 attack die but only hits on a 4 or higher.
On a 2 or 3, it is a Large Dog with 1 attack dice.
On a 4 or 5, it is a Skunk. The Skunk does not roll attack die, rather any opponents cards adjacent to the Skunk may be moved one space. Cards may be moved adjacent to another card that you control.
On a 6, it is a Bear with 2 attack dice who hits on a 2 or higher.

Event - Line of Laundry
Line of Laundry has 3 hit points (like an Ice Wall). Cards may only be summoned in front of or behind the Line of Laundry (not on the sides). Members of the Home Town faction can walk through the Line Of Laundry with no penalty. Opponents that wish to move through the Line of Laundry have their move reduced by 1 space when walking through.


As you can tell, the concept here is a faction made up of those that war has left behind, abused and taken for granted. Granny does not want power, only peace. And she'll make you pay if you try to break up the peace. As mentioned earlier, this village faction could be linked to almost any race of characters.

Any thoughts?

[gamjuven]

I've liked several of the ideas already posted here, including the elementals idea, ratmen, and lizardmen. Since you have the good elves I'd say to get some bad elves in there, they're always fun. I'd like to see some evil humans too. Just some mutated men or guys that are spiked viking looking dudes or something.

I am also advocating for "Lair" like scenarios where a faction is pitted against a giant monster or hero. Like fighting a giant hydra or demon. The bad guys could be put on regular size cards or maybe even larger cards that take up like 4 spaces. They could have their little minions as well and players could team up or go solo against them. Depending on the number of players the evil creature would have a certain handicap or something. Just a different way of playing that I think would be fun.

Alongside those ideas would be ship to ship fighting. It would require a water board, and maybe some ship cards or again maybe the extra big cards as being the ships with spaces on them. Perhaps there could be some on deck weapons like harpoons that the crew can fire. Objective is to kill the opposing team or sink their ship. All of the factions would get a little help and maybe each have a ship. Could be cool, lots of ways to expand that (including fighting a giant sea monster like the "lairs" explained above). Plus, we could get a pirate faction .

Castle scenarios or siege warfare could also be fun. Just like the fluff talks about the goblins can be trying to tear down the front gate and then when they do the new mounted goblins storm through to massacre everyone. Could be a ton of fun too.

I just think there are tons of ways to go about playing this game and it has a great base to expand how you play.

Oooo, just thought of another faction: Giant Ogres. Grinding humans to make their bread and all. As well as a werewolf faction.

Hope I inspire Truth to use my ideas.

[lildrummahboi34]

im really liking the "Lair" idea mentioned above. very intriguing

[Quintaton16]

The ship-to-ship combat seems far too complicated. I'm skeptical of the terrain rules, so I guess I'm right of center when it comes to customization, but any time a variant includes more additional rules than the normal game, I think it's excessive.

We could still do pirates, though. Like the Umbarians from GW's Lord of the Rings games. You can have cutlass-and-parrot-toting, bandanna-and-puffy-shirt-wearing, arrrr-exclaiming individuals without the ships.

[gamjuven]

Originally Posted by Quintaton16

The ship-to-ship combat seems far too complicated. I'm skeptical of the terrain rules, so I guess I'm right of center when it comes to customization, but any time a variant includes more additional rules than the normal game, I think it's excessive.

We could still do pirates, though. Like the Umbarians from GW's Lord of the Rings games. You can have cutlass-and-parrot-toting, bandanna-and-puffy-shirt-wearing, arrrr-exclaiming individuals without the ships.

Understandable. Yeah good call on the Umbarians. Although we can credit Tolkien rather than GW (although the models and the characters in the movies were cool, let's face it, Tolkien created all of that).

What do you think of the lairs idea? Not a change to rules really. Just a giant/powerful character to kill that can allow for a 2 on 1 game or something. Could ll ow for a big gigantic card that I think would be cool. Kinda like the character cards from WoW TCG.