Swords & Sorcery: Quest and Conquest in the Age of Magic

About this board game

Swords & Sorcery: Quest and Conquest in the Age of Magic is a fantasy game for 2–7 players, with sessions lasting about 180 minutes. Set in the Valley of the Great Sword, it combines army-scale warfare with character-driven quests and a role-playing version.

The Army Game portrays the climactic War against the Elder Races. Players command armies and one or more important Characters, using a straightforward combat system alongside diplomacy, detailed spell lists, and special rules for the many elements of fantasy warfare. Characters can dominate the battlefield through leadership and, for magical figures, spellcasting.

The included scenarios cover twelve situations from the historical conflict, beginning with Emperor Coron’s campaign in the Valley and ending with the Empire’s final attempt to capture it. Human, Elf, Dwarf, Goblin, Hobgoblin, Spider, Dragon, Swamp-Creature, Cronk, Demon, and Monster forces are represented among the game’s colorful counters.

During lulls in the war, the Quest Game shifts attention to individual Characters. Players pursue objectives while facing trolls, Spectres, demons, monsters, hostile provinces, and other dangers. Personal combat, expanded spell rules, rescue possibilities, and the threat of losing questers create a more intimate challenge.

• A 22-by-35-inch map of the Valley of the Great Sword
• 400 four-color counters representing armies and inhabitants
• 56 illustrated cards, including Characters, Magic Items, and Monsters
• A lengthy rules booklet with extensive fantasy background

With its detailed setting, power items, rival wizards, ancient races, and daemonic intruders, Swords & Sorcery offers two connected ways to explore a turbulent age of magic.