RPG fans have already seen a lot. Lots of similar systems, possibly several universes. That is why it is very difficult for the creators to surprise them now. However, this is not impossible, as the creators of MidGuard show . What if the players play the role of Vikings, whose battlefield is space? Where are armor replaced by cybernetic implants? Where does moving to the famous Valhalla mean turning into a cyborg?
Gladness of Vikings
I did not expect such a game, I can admit it right away. Many audiences have every right to feel exhausted about the Vikings today. Series, computer games, board games, movies, novels – it’s hard to find a place where either historically correct Normans or their counterparts in horned helmets will not jump at us. Gladness – this word best describes the theme of northern invaders in popular culture. The new RPG completed thanks to a crowdfunding fundraiser, however, made my eye sparkle again. The procedure used by the creators is very simple. The action has been moved into space. And several hundred years ahead.
Beautiful release
The textbook is a really big volume. The hard cover is impressive, as well as the numerous illustrations inside. Their consistency is an advantage, but it must be admitted without beating that some of them are not very aesthetic. In terms of texts, it is much better, you can spend hours reading only the descriptions of each character class. There are subtle errors, such as typos, but it can be experienced without much torment. At the very beginning of the release, we are introduced to the subject of RPGs: the rules of this type of games are explained to us, and also tips on how to best empathize with your characters. Here we will also find out who we will manage in total during the game. The players will play the role of space vikings, experienced soldiers and veterans. Gods known from Norse mythology are the owners of large corporations here, and the famous Ragnarok is approaching inexorably. The short introduction introduces you to the atmosphere of the rest of the manual very well, and also prepares you for the actual game.
Mythology vs. cyberpunk
The following chapters introduce us both to the secrets of the rules and to the quite complex world of the game. The first one is devoted to the characters of the players, the processes of their creation and building history. Here, on the plus side, this process is not particularly time-consuming and does not interfere with the transition to the actual game. We have as many as fourteen hero classes to choose from, each of them a neat blend of Nordic mythology and cyberpunk stylistics. Our veteran can become a berserker, viking, jeager, bard, wolf, huskarl, jarl, skald – there are plenty of options, and the character can be adapted to your style of play. Each class also has base skills and starting points, so your adventure can be properly planned at an early stage.
Extensive character creator
The next fragments of the manual are the further creation of our character, assigning him the appropriate strengths and talents. We also have the option of equipping the hero with appropriate, although quite basic, equipment. MidGuard provides us with several types of weapons divided into categories. I honestly admit that I expected a bit more choices. The creators, however, already flashed several dozen pages later, when the so-called implants entered the game. The players’ heroes can be equipped with cybernetic implants that replace or improve the natural human organs. There is also magic here, hexeri, which suitably talented veterans can wield.
Huge game world
The game world itself is incredibly extensive and I think that the manual was still not enough to include all the elements that the developers wanted to include. Corporations run by the gods, the mysterious Yggdrasil information network (which you can get to anyway), the whole galaxy, individual planets, cities on them, races – the gameplay has been set in an incredibly vast reality, and getting to know them will take players good hours of fun. Mythological realms are separate planets, both economically and politically related. It is up to the game master how he presents all this wealth to his veterans. Of course, the textbook also includes an extensive bestiary. Interesting descriptions, statistics, weaknesses, a neat combination of fantasy and cyberpunk – this is an interesting reading for a few hours.
What is the gameplay like?
Luckily, the mechanics in MidGuard aren’t too complicated. Tests are usually a roll of two d20 dice, climatically referred to as Odin’s dieand the Norn bone. Traditionally, a given skill of the hero is tested. In addition, characters have the option of Shifting Results, using the Grace of the Norn (swapping results on dice). It is also possible to impose Fate on the hero, who is then forced to test with d10 dice. The rules should also include a whole chapter dedicated to close combat, ranged combat, and vehicle combat. Here we start with motorcycles and end with giant spaceships. I must admit that the game developers have a huge momentum. The introduction of the Saga Phase should also be mentioned. It is a sequence of scenes in which players talk about their character’s actions for a specific purpose, which is to be a kind of link between the main plot threads.
Adventures ready
Of course, the textbook also included ready-made adventure scenarios. Players can try their hand at Demons of the past and Trollshammare . After playing both, I think that they can be considered a mandatory point in getting to know this great, atmospheric game. The first mission is to secure a damaged freighter on a jungle moon. The second order is a great paraphrase of the Finnish epic Kalevala , where the legend we know is intertwined with cyberpunk motifs.
The ending word
The game is unique, time-consuming, atmospheric and innovative in its concept. It takes a bit of patience to work your way through the nevertheless extensive manual, but it rewards it with a well-drawn and extensive game world. The illustrations in the manual look a bit worse, but it is an element that can be easily improved. There is nothing to complain about, and it is worth setting off on a space adventure as soon as possible!
