VAAJ~ ec B~Leus A Sagc\ : SKiRmishes in the Oc\RK Ages supp{emeoc

Factions designed by : Alex Buchel Written by: Alex Buchel and Andy " Lord S" Sherwell

Layout, cover and graphic design: Fred Machu Pictures: Wyn Rogers

Figures painted by: Darren Harding, Wyn Rogers, Mystic Spirals, Adey Burt Matt Bazley, Fred Machu and Artmaster Studios.

Scenery by: Wyn Rogers, Gripping Beast and Grand Manner Thanks to Mike Hobbs and the lnner Sanctum for their help and play testing sessions.

Join the saga community and find our latests updates at http://studiotomahawk.freeforums.org/ Varjaz i & Basileus is published by Gripping Beast under license from Studio Tomahawk SARL, 11 Nouvelle Cit, 67380 Lingolsheim.

Saga, Skirmishes in the Dark Ages, Northern Fury, The Raven's Shadow and Varjazi & Basileus are by Al ex Buchel and Studio Tomahawk. ISBN : 978-2-9538053-5-2

No part of this publication m ay be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or any means without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Printed in April2013 by l'lmprimerie Gantier (59582 MARLY) Studio Tomahawk 2013

lNbeX. Faction: The Pagan Rus .................................................. ................... ............................................. Pages 3 to 6

Faction: The Rus Princes ........................................................................... ................................. Pages 7 to 10

Faction: The Byzantines ...... .. .. ................... .............................................................................. Pages 11 to 14

Swords For Hire: The Steppe Nomads ....................................................................................... Page 15

L h e p ( \ g c \ 1 1 R u s

T h e R u s l < i n g d o m e m e r g e d i n t h e m i d - 9 t h c e n t u r y , c a r v e d o u t b y

N o r s e t r a d e r s a n d a d v e n t u r e r s w h o h a d e s t a b l i s h e d s e t t l e m e n t s

a l o n g t h e m a i n r i v e r r o u t e s a n d w a t e r w a y s i n t o w h a t i s n o w

n o r t h e r n m o d e r n R u s s i a .

T h e R u s r u l e d o v e r t h e n a t i v e S l a v s a n d F i n n o - U g a r i a n s u b j e c t s ,

m i x i n g t h e i r m y t h o l o g y , t r a d i t i o n s a n d c u l t u r e w i t h t h e i r o w n .

R u s s i a n c h r o n i c l e s n a m e t h e i r f i r s t l < i n g a s R u r i l < w h o r e p l a c e d t h e

K h a z a r s a s L o r d o f K i e v a n d f o u n d e d a d y n a s t y t h a t w o u l d r u l e

R u s s i a u n t i l t h e l a t e r M i d d l e A g e s .

Y o u r W a r l o r d i s a n i m p o r t a n t n o b l e l i k e l y t o b e a N o r s e m a n . H e

c a n b e a l o c a l l o r d o r e v e n a w a r l i k e K h a g a n ( a t i t l e d e r i v e d f r o m

t h e K h a z a r s ) .

A s w a s t h e t r a d i t i o n i n t h e N o r s e c u l t u r e , t h e l o r d s a n d l e a d e r s

m a i n t a i n e d a b a n d o f l o y a l f o l l o w e r s a n d b o d y g u a r d s . T h e y w e r e

l i k e l y t o b e o f p u r e S c a n d i v a n i a n b l o o d a n d w e r e e i t h e r c a l l e d

V a r j a z i ( V a r a n g i a n s ) o r D r u z h i n a . T h e y f o u g h t o n f o o t , i n t i g h t

s h i e l d w a l l f o r m a t i o n s . T h e s e V a r j a z i f o r m t h e H e a r t h g u a r d s a t

y o u r d i s p o s a l .

M o s t t r o o p s f i g h t i n g f o r t h e R u s w a r l o r d s w e r e S l a v s o r o t h e r

n a t i v e s . A r m e d w i t h s p e a r a n d s h i e l d , t h e s e t r o o p s u s u a l l y m a d e

u p t h e m i l i t i a d e f e n d i n g N o v g o r o d , K i e v o r a n y o t h e r m a j o r t r a d e

c i t y . T h e y a r e y o u r W a r r i o r s .

T h e b o w w a s n o t a f a v o u r e d w e a p o n o f t h e e a r l y R u s , a n d w a s

r e s t r i c t e d t o h u n t i n g d u r i n g

t h i s p e r i o d . F r o m t i m e t o t i m e , s o r n e s c o u t s

a r m e d w i t h j a v e l i n s w o u l d j o i n a w a r b a n d

a n d b e d e s p a t c h e d i n f r o n t o f t h e b a t t l e l i n e . T h e s e

j a v e l i n m e n f o r m t h e L e v y t h a t y o u r W a r l o r d m i g h t m u s t e r .

J F A C T U O N R U J L J E

P a g a n R u s W a r l o r d s , H e a r t h g u a r d s a n d W a r r i o r s a r e n o t s u b j e c t

t o a n y s p e c i a l r u l e .

P a g a n R u s L e v i e s a r e a r m e d w i t h j a v e l i n s .

U n l e s s o t h e r w i s e s p e c i f i e d , P a g a n R u s m a y n o t i n c l u d e S w o r d s

f o r H i r e u n i t s .

H J E R O J E O J F T H J E V J [ J I O N G A G J E

S v i a t o s l a v 1 o f K i e v , P r i n c e o f R u s ,

C o n q u e r o r o f t h e K h a z a r s

S v i a t o s l a v w a s b o r n i n t h e m i d - 9 t h c e n t u r y a n d w a s t h e s o n o f l g o r ,

P r i n c e o f K i e v . A s s o o n a s h e s u c c e e d e d t o t h e t h r o n e , h e l o o l < e d

e a s t a n d s o u t h t o e x p a n d t h e l a n d s h e h a d i n h e r i t e d f r o m h i s

f a t h e r . l n f l u e n c e d b y B y z a n t i n e e m i s s a r i e s , h i s a t t e n t i o n t u r n e d t o

t h e K h a z a r K h a g a n a t e i n t h e V a l g a v a l l e y a n d t h e P o n t i c s t e p p e s .

I n 9 6 5 A D S v i a t o s l a v l a u n c h e d a l i g h t e n i n g c a m p a i g n a n d h e

o v e r t h r e w t h e r u l e r s o f S a r l < e l a n d K e r c h , t w o o f t h e m a j a r c i t i e s

o f t h e K h a z a r s , b e f o r e d e s t r o y i n g a n d b u r n i n g t h e K h a z a r c a p i t a l

o f A t i l . I n o n e y e a r , S v i a t o s l a v h a d f r a g m e n t e d a n a t i o n t h a t r u l e d

t h e s t e p p e s f o r f o u r c e n t u r i e s .

A f t e r t h e K h a z a r , t h e P r i n c e o f K i e v t u r n e d t o t h e w e s t w i t h t h e

s u b j u g a t i o n o f B u l g a r i a a s h i s o b j e c t i v e . T h i s t h r e w t h e R u s i n

d i r e c t c o n f r o n t a t i o n w i t h t h e B y z a n t i n e s . T h e c a m p a i g n

i n t h e B a l l < a n s w a s n o t n e a r l y a s s u c c e s s f u l a s t h e o n e

i n t h e s t e p p e s , a n d i n 9 6 9 S v i a t o s l a v h a d w a s f o r c e d

t o n e g o t i a t e w i t h t h e E m p e r o r a n d r e t i r e f r o m E a s t e r n

E u r o p e . O n h i s w a y h o m e , P e c h e n e g s , m o s t l i l < e l y i n t h e

p a y o f t h e B y z a n t i n e s w h o f e a r e d t h i s a m b i t i o u s P r i n c e ,

a m b u s h e d h i m . l t i s s a i d t h a t h i s s l < u l l m a d e a d r i n l < i n g

c h a l i c e f o r t h e P e c h e n e g K h a n .

Almost nothing /asted from his conquests, as he never took time to consolidate them. His sons waged war against each other, shattering what was the largest kingdom in Europe in the 10th century.

Hero of the Viking Age: Unlike other Heroes of the Viking Age, Sviatoslav the Prince of Kiev only generates two Saga Dice at the start of each of his turn.

Pagan: Although his motherconverted to Christianity, Sviatoslav remained Pagan, fearing that conversion might soften him and lose the respect of his Varjazis. His determination to maintain his reputation had no equal. During any melee fought within M of Sviatoslav, any unit in his warband that doesn't score at least one hit during step 4 takes one extra FATIGUE during step 7. During any me lee fought within M[ of Sviatoslav, any unit in his warband that scores at least four hits during step 4 discards all FATIGUE at the end of step 7

Steppe mercenaries: During his campaigns, Sviatoslav made great use of Oghuz and Pecheneg mercenaries. Hence, any warband led by him m ay include any number of Steppe Nomads Swords for Hire, as long as the number of these units does not exceed the number of Varjazis units deployed on the table. Conqueror: The Prince of Kiev was always on the move, never giving any respite to his enemies. At the start of his turn, the player controlling Sviatoslav m ay decide that his Warlord won't generate any Saga dice. lf he chooses to do so, at the start of an opposing player's next turn, he may designate up to two units in that player's warband. These units will not generate Saga Dice 2t the start of this turn.

Below yo u will find a description of the various abilit ies available to the Pagan Rus player on their Battleboard. We will not deal with the first column of abilities as they are similar to those used throughout Saga: the first three are intended to actvate the different classes of models of an Rus warband, while the last two being the usual Activation Pool and the Combat Pool.

For the Khagan! U sed during step 3 of any melee This ability will be especially useful with your Varjazis or Warlord, or against an enemy with FATIGUE. When these dice are spent, you compare the Armour value of your target unit with the Armour value of each enemy unit involved in this Melee. lf your unit's Armour is superior to the Armour of all the enemy units, then your unit gains 3 Attack Dice (5 if the relevant dice was spent). With a good cost versus effectiveness ratio, this ability will see frequent use.

The Great Winter U sed during your Orders Phase Some play-testers felt that this ability actually characterizes the Rus and so the ability was centra l to their tactics. This ability simply limits the movement and shooting range of all units on the board to . Note that this does not constitute a reduction of movement or shooting distance, as but rather that it is rather a limitation imposed u pon these distances. This has sorne importance when interacting with other abilities, such as the Welsh Children of the Land ability. This al so means that a unit moving in rough terrain would still move at S, as this movement does not exceed the limitation created by The Great Winter. On the other hand, The Great Winter would de facto make any ability that would increase the movement of a troop useless. Obviously, warbands that rely on shooting and/or mounted troops will hate this ability!

S t a n d i n g l i k e B e a r s

U s e d d u r i n g s t e p 3 o f a n y m e l e e

S t a n d i n g l i k e B e a r s i s a g o o d a n d c h e a p d e f e n s i v e a b i l i t y t h a t

w i l l p r e v e n t t h o s e u s i n g i t f r o m c a u s i n g m u c h d a m a g e , b u t

s h o u l d d r a m a t i c a l l y t h e n u m b e r o f h i t s t h e y w i l l t a k e . W h e n

u s i n g i t , y o u h a v e t h e c h o i c e o f e i t h e r d i s c a r d i n g 3 A t t a c k D i c e

t o i n c r e a s e y o u r A r m o u r v a l u e b y o n e o r t o d i s c a r d 8 A t t a c k

D i c e t o i n c r e a s e y o u r A r m o u r b y t w o . O f c o u r s e y o u c a n o n l y

d i s c a r d d i c e y o u a c t u a l l y h a v e !

T h i s a b i l i t y , c o m b i n e d w i t h F o r t h e K h a g a n ! o r B i t t i n g l i k e

W o l v e s c a n t u r n t h e t i d e o f m o s t m e l e e s .

B i t i n g l i k e W o l v e s

U s e d d u r i n g s t e p 3 ) o f a n y M e l e e

T h i s a b i l i t y h a s t w o d i s t i n c t i v e e f f e c t s . B o t h a r e r e s o l v e d a t t h e

e n d o f t h e s t e p 4 o f t h e M e l e e .

F i r s t , i f a l l e n e m y u n i t s e n g a g e d i n t h i s M e l e e h a v e a t l e a s t o n e

F A T I G U E , t h e n y o u r u n i t a d d s t h r e e e x t r a h i t s t o t h e h i t s s c o r e d .

S e c o n d l y , i f y o u r u n i t d i d n o t s u f f e r a n y h i t s d u r i n g t h i s s t e p , i t

a d d s a n u m b e r o f e x t r a h i t s e q u a l t o i t s c u r r e n t A r m o u r .

I n b o t h c a s e s , t h e e x t r a h i t s m a y b e t a r g e t e d a g a i n s t a n y e n e m y

u n i t i n v o l v e d i n t h e M e l e e . A n d y e s , i t i s p o s s i b l e t o f o c u s a l l

t h e s e h i t s o n a s i n g l e e n e m y u n i t , a W a r l o r d f o r e x a m p l e . B i t e s

f r o m R u s s i a n w o l v e s a r e d e a d l y i n d e e d . . . . . .

F r o z e n

U s e d d u r i n g a n e n e m y A c t i v a t i o n P h a s e

F r o z e n i s a v e r y u s e f u l a b i l i t y a g a i n s t w a r b a n d s t h a t w o u l d

m a k e u s e o f m u l t i p l e a c t i v a t i o n s p e r t u r n . l t i s u s e d o n c e a n

a c t i v a t i o n ( t h a t m u s t b e t h e s e c o n d o r s u b s e q u e n t a c t i v a t i o n

o f t h e t a r g e t u n i t ) i s d e c l a r e d b u t b e f o r e i t i s r e s o l v e d . l t

c a n c e l s t h e a c t i v a t i o n a n d t h e t a r g e t u n i t c a n n o t b e a c t i v a t e d

a g a i n t h i s t u r n .

U s u a l l y , y o u w i l l n o t g e t t o u s e F r o z e n , a s t h e s i m p l e f a c t t h a t i t

i s r e a d y t o u s e w i l l p r e v e n t y o u r o p p o n e n t p l a n n i n g m o r e t h a n

a s i n g l e a c t i v a t i o n f o r e a c h o f h i s u n i t s .

C o l d w i n d s

U s e d d u r i n g s t e p 2 o f a n e n e m y s h o o t i n g

T h i s a b i l i t y w i l l t u r n s h o o t i n g a g a i n s t t h e s h o o t e r . l t i s u s e d

d u r i n g s t e p 2 b u t i t s e f f e c t s w i l l b e e n f o r c e d d u r i n g s t e p 3 F o r

e a c h d i e t h a t r o l l s a 6 ( t h a t i s , b e f o r e a n y m o d i f i e r i s a p p l i e d )

t h e s h o o t i n g u n i t t a k e s a F A T I G U E. l f t h e r e l e v a n t d i e i s u s e d t o

p a y f o r t h i s a b i l i t y , t h e s s r o l l e d a l s o p r o d u c e t h i s e f f e c t . N a s t y .

Fear of the Dark U sed during your activation phase

This one is a terrible ability that will dictate the deployment and movements of enemy units. When used, you must designate an enemy unit that is more than Ml away from any unit (friends or foes). You simply give the target unit enough FATIGUES to make it immediately exhausted. Soon, you will see the enemy deploy shoulder to shoulder, like a flock of sheep cornered by wolves.

Endless Wastes U sed during your Activation Phase

Another deadly ability if it is used with the right timing. Once used, it affects al! units on the table, including your own. All units, except Warlords, must immediately eliminate one model for each FATIGUE it has.

Combined with Fear of the Dark, the result on a Hearthguard enemy unit can be devastating!

Eastern Anger U sed during your Activation Phase

You will not use Eastern Anger too often, but when used properly, the results can be devastating. When the dice are spent, you immediately resolve a Shooting against each unit within Ml of your Warlord, including your own! Please note that despite being used during the Activation Phase, this does not constitute an activation and may not be cancelled by any game effect that cancels an activation.

Yo u resolve each of these Shootings one ata time, in any order you want. During these Shootings you generate 6 Attack Dice, but there is no shooting unit (your Warlord just indicates the epi centre of this madness, he is not the shooter), so any ability that requires a shooting unit or that affects it Shooting has no effect.

Also, as your Warlord is within Ml of himself, he will be affected too!

Barren Lands U sed either during your Orders Phase or during an enemy Orders Phase

Barren Lands is a very focussed ability that targets mounted troops. Once used, it reduces by one the Armour values of all mounted troops against shooting and in melee for the whole turn. Quite simple, but this will probably make the Byzantines, Normans or Strathclyde Welsh think twice befare invading the lands of the Rus ...

'

Ragnar speaks ...

Russia is a terrible country. 1t is cold, colder that our North, populated with harsh people in an inhospitable landscape. This is exactly what you will feel when facing the Pagan Rus. Your movement will be limited, any mistake will be paid for dearly and once you finaffy manage to catch

them, they've got more than a one trick to use.

Some of their abilities combine reaffy weff, and they are usuaffy a quite a defensive warband, ready to exploit any of your weakness. The Great Winter wiff be used almost every turn, especiaffy if their enemy fields any mounted units, and they wiff make great efforts to split his an enemy warband, making it possible to exploit their foe's Fear of the Dark.

The other abifities focus on defending and counter attacking. There are many combinations to explore, but Standing like Bears with For the Khagan! is an

obvious and very effective one.

1 might add that javelinmen, despite being brittle, are quite useful in a Pagan Rus warband, as the reduction of shooting range has less impact on javelins than on bows. 1 hate writing that but overlooking these pet slaves would be a mistake.

L h e R u s J ) R i n c e s

I n 9 8 8 A D , P r i n c e V l a d i m i r t h e G r e a t o f N o v g o r o d a n d K i e v

c o n v e r t e d t o C h r i s t i a n i t y . A l t h o u g h h i s c o n v e r s i o n w a s t o e n s u r e

h i s m a r r i a g e t o a B y z a n t i u m p r i n c e s s , t h i s o n c e p r o u d a n d

r a m p a n t P a g a n e m b r a c e d h i s n e w C h r i s t i a n i t y . H e r u t h l e s s l y t o r e

d o w n h i s k i n g d o m ' s P a g a n i d o l s a n d s i t e s o f w o r s h i p a n d b u i l t

m a n y c h u r c h e s . M a s s c o n v e r s i o n o f t h e K i e v a n R u s u n s u r p r i s i n g l y

f o l l o w e d .

V / a d i m i r a n d h i s f a m i l y f o u g h t m a n y c a m p a i g n s a g a i n s t

B y z a n t i u m , C r o a t s , P e c h e n e g s a s w e / 1 a s h i s f e l l o w R u s a s h e

s o u g h t t o m a k e K i e v t h e p r e - e m i n e n t c i t y o f t h e r e g a n .

D u r i n g t h i s p e r i o d , m o u n t e d f o l l o w e r s o f t h e P r i n c e s r e p / a c e d

t h e V a r j a z i s a s t h e n u c l e u s o f R u s a r m i e s . F o o t m i l i t i a s s u p p o r t e d

t h e m o u n t e d e l i t e , f i g h t i n g i n s h i e l d w a l / s o r a r m e d w i t h b o w s .

M o u n t e d a r c h e r s , d r a w n f r o m t h e r a n k s o f t h e s t e p p e n o m a d s ,

w e r e a f r e q u e n t s i g h t i n t h e s e a r m i e s , a n d w e r e u s e d e v e n a g a i n s t

t h e i r f e l l o w s .

Y o u r W a r l o r d i s a P r i n c e o f a R u s s i a n c i t y o r a V o e v o d o ( m i l i t a r y

c o m m a n d e r ) . H e h o l d s g r e a t p o w e r a n d m a i n t a i n s h i s o w n

b o d y g u a r d o f D r u z h i n a s .

T h e D r u z h i n a s f o r m e d t h e p r o f e s s i o n a l s o l d i e r s t h a t m a d e u p

t h e c o r e o f t h e s t a n d i n g a r m i e s o f t h e R u s P r i n c e s . D r u z h i n a

m e a n s " f e l l o w s h i p " a n d i t s m e m b e r s a r e D r u g s ( c o m r a d e s )

w h o s h a r e d a n o a t h a n d w e r e d e a t h - b o u n d t o t h e i r l o r d . W i t h

t h e f l o w o f S c a n d i n a v i a n i m m i g r a n t s d r y i n g u p a n d t h e m i x i n g

o f N o r s e a n d R u s s i a n b l o o d , D r u z h i n a a r e m a i n l y o f S l a v i c

o r i g i n , t h o u g h f o r e i g n e r s c o u l d j o i n t h e m f r o m t i m e t o t i m e .

T h e s e D r u z h i n a s a r e t h e H e a r t h g u a r d s o f y o u r w a r b a n d .

U r b a n M i l i t i a s w e r e b y f a r t h e m o s t n u m e r o u s c o m p o n e n t o f

t h e R u s a r m i e s i n o u r p e r i o d . T h e y h a d t h e i r o w n c o m m a n d e r s .

T h e i r e q u i p m e n t a n d t r a i n i n g l a r g e l y d e p e n d e d o n t h e w e a l t h

o f t h e i r c i t y . L a r g e r t o w n s c o u l d p r o v i d e r e l i a b l e e q u i p m e n t t o

t h e i r m u s t e r e d t r o o p s w h i l e p o o r o r i n s i g n i f i c a n t o n e s w o u l d

h a v e t o i m p r o v i s e w i t h t h e a v a i l a b l e m a t e r i a l . T r i b a l l e v i e s

c o u l d j o i n t h e u r b a n m i l i t i a s , a n d t h e s e t r i b a l V o i w e r e k n o w n

a s S m e r d s , m e a n i n g p e a s a n t s . T h e i r m o t i v a t i o n a n d l o y a l t y w a s

n o t a b o v e q u e s t i o n , o b v i o u s l y .

T h e m i l i t i a s f i g h t i n g w i t h s p e a r s a n d s h i e l d s f o r m t h e W a r r i o r s

o f y o u r w a r b a n d , w h i l e t h e o n e s t h a t a r e e q u i p p e d w i t h b o w s

a r e y o u r L e v i e s .

l F A C T U O N R U l U E

S o r n e R u s u n i t s m a y b e f i e l d e d m o u n t e d . M o u n t e d u n i t s a r e

s u b j e c t t o t h e f o l l o w i n g s p e c i a l r u l e s :

- T h e M o v e m e n t o f m o u n t e d u n i t s i s i n c r e a s e d t o L b u t

r e d u c e d t o w h e n m o v i n g f r o m , t h r o u g h , o r i n t o u n e v e n

g r o u n d .

- M o u n t e d u n i t s m a y n e v e r e n t e r a b u i l d i n g b u t t h e y c a n

e n g a g e i n m e l e e a n y u n i t o c c u p y i n g a b u i l d i n g i n t h e n o r m a l

m a n n e r .

- T h e A r m o u r o f m o u n t e d u n i t s i s r e d u c e d b y o n e w h e n t h e y

a r e t h e t a r g e t o f a S h o o t i n g a t t a c k .

- M o u n t e d u n i t s m a y n e v e r b e n e f i t f r o m a n y k i n d o f c o v e r , i n

m e l e e o r s h o o t i n g .

Apart from the restrictions mentioned above, mounted units behave like ordinary units. lf a unit starts the game mounted, it must remain mounted for the whole game and may never dismount.

Rus Warlords and Hearthguards are mounted.

Rus Warriors are not subject to any special rules. Rus Levies are armed with bows.

Unless otherwise specified, Rus warbands may include only Steppe Nomad Swords for Hire units.

THUNDJER OJF THJE VJ[JKJNG AGJE

The Malaia Druzhina, lron Fist of the Rus Princes The Druzhina were divided into two classes: the Grid (Junior) Druzhinas and the Malaia Druzhinas. The Malaia were veterans of war, hardened by their conflict with the steppe nomads, the Byzantines or rival cities. They were the best-equipped troops at the disposa/ of a Prince, and would follow him un ti/ death, through years of success, i/1 fortune or failure.

Thunders of the Viking Age: You may upgrade a single unit of your Druzhina Hearthguards to Malaia Druzhina. This unit cannot exceed 8 models and this upgrade wi/1 cost yo u one point.

Veterans: A unit of Ma/aia Druzhina generates two Saga Dice at the start of each turn, rather than one like any other unit. They are mounted, and equipped with bows. Due to their superior training and experience, neither their mounted status nor bows reduce their armour in any way. They ha vean Armour of 5 against shooting and in melee, lil

l f y o u r u n i t h a s F A T I G U E , y o u r o p p o n e n t w i l l h a v e t o m a k e

a d i f f i c u l t d e c i s i o n ; e i t h e r t a k e o f f y o u r F A T I G U E t o g a i n i t s

b e n e f i t s b u t g i v i n g y o u 4 e x t r a A t t a c k D i c e , o r l e a v e y o u w i t h

t h e F A T I G U E . I n b o t h c a s e s , t h e R u s a r e w i n n e r s !

U n d e r t h e D a r k S k i e s

U s e d d u r i n g s t e p 2 o f a S h o o t i n g

T h i s a b i l i t y i s m e a n t t o d i s r u p t a n e n e m y ' s p l a n s . U s e d d u r i n g

y o u r S h o o t i n g , i t w i l l f o r c e t h e e n e m y t o m a k e a d i s e n g a g e m e n t

m o v e m e n t i f t h e t a r g e t u n i t s u f f e r s a t l e a s t o n e c a s u a l t y .

T h i s m o v e m e n t i s m a d e w i t h t h e s a m e c o n s t r a i n t s a s a

d i s e n g a g e m e n t m o v e m e n t i n M e l e e ( s e e S a g a p a g e 2 7 ) e x c e p t

t h a t i f i t c a n n o t b e p e r f o r m e d , t h e s h o o t i n g u n i t d o e s n o t h a v e

t o d i s e n g a g e i n s t e a d .

U s e f u l t o p u s h b a c k a v i n d i c t i v e e n e m y , o r t o p u s h o u t o f t h e w a y

s o m e u n i t l e f t n e a r t h e i r W a r l o r d t o a c t a s m e a t f o r a h i s R e s i l i e n c e .

T h e P o w e r o f S t e e l

U s e d d u r i n g s t e p 3 ) o f a n y M e l e e

T h e P o w e r o f S t e e l w i l l p u n i s h t h o s e p l a y e r s w h o e n j o y p i l i n g

u p l o a d s o f S a g a a b i l i t i e s a n d h a v e i n t h e i r h a n d s a s h e d l o a d o f

A t t a c k D i c e . S i m p l y s a i d , i t r e d u c e s t h e n u m b e r o f A t t a c k D i c e

t h e e n e m y h a s t o t h e n u m b e r o f A t t a c k D i c e y o u r o w n u n i t h a s .

l t p r e v e n t s y o u r u n i t g a i n i n g n e w A t t a c k D i c e d u r i n g t h i s M e l e e ,

b u t d e p r i v i n g a n e n e m y h i s A t t a c k D i c e a d v a n t a g e i s i n v a l u a b l e .

T h e P o w e r o f B l o o d

U s e d e i t h e r d u r i n g s t e p 3 o f a m e l e e o r d u r i n g s t e p

2 o f a n e n e m y ' s s h o o t i n g .

T h e P o w e r o f B l o o d i s a u n i q u e S a g a a b i l i t y t h a t c a n c h a n g e

t h e w a y a M e l e e o r S h o o t i n g i s d o n e . l t m a y o n l y b e u s e d

b y H e a r t h g u a r d s , f o r t u n a t e l y . D u r i n g t h e r e l e v a n t s t e p o f

t h e S h o o t i n g o r t h e M e l e e , w h e n t h i s a b i l i t y i s u s e d , y o u

m u s t a l s o d i s c a r d b e t w e e n o n e a n d s i x S a g a D i c e f r o m y o u r

B a t t l e b o a r d . T h e s e d i c e m a y c o m e f r o m a n y a b i l i t y b u t t h e d i e

d i s c a r d e d f o r p a y i n g f o r t h e P o w e r o f B l o o d d o e s n o t c o u n t

t o w a r d t h a t n u m b e r .

F o r e a c h d i e d i s c a r d e d i n t h i s w a y , y o u m a y d e s i g n a t e o n e

H e a r t h g u a r d f i g u r e . T h i s f i g u r e c a n n o t b e k i l l e d d u r i n g t h i s

M e l e e o r S h o o t i n g . " C a n n o t " i s h e r e a n a b s o l u t e : n o t h i n g

c a n o v e r r i d e t h a t e f f e c t . T h i s e f f e c t a l s o a f f e c t s y o u i n t h a t

y o u m a y n o t c h o o s e a s c a s u a l t i e s a n y m o d e l s t h a t c a n n o t b e

k i l l e d a s a r e s u l t o f t h i s a b i l i t y . S o , i f y o u r u n i t i s m a d e o f 6

m o d e l s a n d y o u d i s c a r d e d f o u r d i c e , t h e c a s u a l t i e s s u f f e r e d

m u s t f i r s t b e s e l e c t e d f r o m t h e t w o m o d e l s t h a t m a y b e

k i l l e d b e f o r e m o v i n g t o t h e " i m m o r t a l " o n e s t h a t w i l l s i m p l y

c a n c e l t h e c a s u a l t i e s .

O f c o u r s e , d i s c a r d i n g 6 d i c e f o r a u n i t m a d e o f 6 m o d e l s

m e a n s t h a t y o u r u n i t w i l l n o t t a k e a n y c a s u a l t i e s d u r i n g t h i s

m e l e e o r s h o o t i n g . Y o u r o p p o n e n t m a y s t i l l r o l l h i s A t t a c k

D i c e i f h e l i k e s t h e s o u n d o f t h e c u b e s o n t h e t a b l e o r i f a n y

o t h e r g a m e e f f e c t s d e p e n d o n t h e n u m b e r o f h i t s s c o r e d .

A l s o , n o t e t h a t m o d e l s t h a t c a n n o t b e k i l l e d c a n n o t b e

s a c r i f i c e d t o s a v e a W a r l o r d m a k i n g u s e o f h i s R e s i l i e n c e

s p e c i a l r u l e . T h i s c o s t t h e l i f e o f a t l e a s t o n e p r o u d R u s s i a n

W a r l o r d d u r i n g t h e p l a y t e s t , s o b e c a r e f u l !

Winds of Despair U sed during step 3 of a melee Winds of Despair require that your unit wins this Melee and forces the enemy to disengage to ha ve any effect. lt is al so useless on units of more than 3 models or against a Warlord. But any other unit of 3 or less models is simply eliminated instead of disengaging. lt might not be very useful in the early turns, but can dramatically change the ti de of the game in the final stages.

Parting Blow U sed during your activation phase A useful ability restricted to your Druzhina or your Warlord that will surprise an opponent or soften his unit before engaging melee. When used, it leaves you the choice of activating your unit for a Movement or for a Shooting. lf activated to move, it will shoot as if equipped with javelins at the end of this Movement (and that Movement may not be used to engage melee). lf activated to shoot it will be considered as equipped with bows for this Shooting.

In both cases this activation will not generate any FATIGUE, making it useful after your unit has manoeuvred around the enemy.

Hardened U sed during your Orders phase Hardened is a very good ability that will dictate the way your Saga Dice are used during this turn. When used, it will boost all Saga Dice spent from the Combat Pool that display either a horse ora helmet. Both will grant you with an extra Attack and an extra Defence Die. So with Hardened triggered, any horse discarded for the Combat pool will give you two Attack Dice and a Defence Dice or one Attack Dice and two Defence Dice. Note that if used during an enemy's Shooting, gaining Attack Dice is rather useless!

And if yo u use a helmet to pay for this ability, each time yo u use a horse or helmet Saga Die in the combat pool yo u will gain two extra Attack Dice and two extra Defence Dice!

The Long Dark U sed during your Orders phase The Long Dark is an ability really different to the ones Saga players are used to dealing with. lt is used during your Orders phase, and only if you have not used an Orders ability previously. When u sed, yo u must immediately discard all Saga Dice from your Battleboard, which is a high price to pay. But during the forthcoming Activation Phase, all your Rus units will get any number of activations for free (but won't be able to Rest however) and generate two extra Attack Dice in Melee. At the end of the turn, each of your units receives one FATIGUE that comes in addition to the FATIGUES gained during the turn.

Bodyguard U sed either during step 3 of a melee

This ability makes the coupling of Warlord and Druzhina extremely effective. lt is used during the step 3 of a

Melee involving your Warlord. Until the end of this Melee, any time your Warlord takes off a nearby

friendly model to avoid being killed, you roll one die. lf you roll less than the Armour (in melee) of the sacrificed figure, it is not eliminated but the

original hit remains cancelled. So used in conjunction with Druzhina, hits absorbed with Resilience will be cancelled on roll of 4 or less. Of course, if the model to be sacrificed is himself engaged in the me lee, the Armour val u e to consider is its current value, that may have been modified by Saga abilities or FATIGUE.

Ragnar speaks ...

Do not think for a minute that Christianity has softened in any way our Rus. They emerged from their conversion tougher than ever, and mounted on powerful horses. The warband is radical/y different from their Pagan predecessor, relying on mobility and shooting

to sea/ dominance on their enemies. By studying the Battleboard you wi/1 have noticed that quite a lot of abilities make them hard nuts to crack Between Prince of Winter that almost make their elite almost invulnerable to shooting, the Power of Blood which prevents you from killing them and Bodyguard that ensures that the Druzhina wi/1 suffer loads of punishment for their Warlord, you should be ready to fight a long struggle against them. As a Rus, you should ensure that your opponent pays the high price for any melee he engages. Using the aforementioned abilities should ensure that he wi/1 suffer the attrition much more than you do. Then, when weakened it wi/1 be time to let The Long Dark fa// and deliver the killing blow. At least, that is the plan. And Rus have plenty tricks in their pockets to ensure that everything wi/1 work according to the plan.

L h e B y M I D t i n e s

T h e B y z a n t i n e E m p i r e c a m e i n t o b e i n g w h e n t h e R o m a n E m p i r e

w a s s p l i t i n t o t w o p a r t s b y D i o c l e t i a n i n 2 8 5 . F o l l o w i n g t h i s g r e a t

l e a d e r s l i k e C o n s t a n t i n e a n d J u s t i n i a n e n a b l e d t h e E m p i r e t o g r o w

a n d b e c o m e p o w e r f u l . H o w e v e r , l i k e a / 1 E m p i r e s i t a l s o w e n t t h r o u g h

m a n y u p h e a v a l s a n d r e v e r s a l s o f f o r t u n e u n t i l e v e n t u a l l y i t f e / 1

i n 1 4 5 3 .

F o r o v e r 1 0 0 0 y e a r s t h e B y z a n t i n e s f o u g h t o f f m a n y e n e m i e s ,

i n c l u d i n g t h e S l a v s , t h e B u l g a r s , t h e R u s a n d n o t a b l y t h e a r m i e s

o f I s l a m f r o m t h e E a s t . T h e 4 t h C r u s a d e r a r m y f i r s t b r e a c h e d t h e

H a r b o u r w a l l s i n 1 2 0 4 b u t i t w a s t h e T u r k s w h o f i n a l l y t a r e d o w n

t h e g r e a t w a l l s a n d i n v a d e d t h e g r e a t c i t y . M i l i t a r i l y t h e B y z a n t i n e s

a d o p t e d t h e t h e m a t i c s y s t e m t o p r o t e c t t h e i r t e r r i t o r i e s , d i v i d i n g

t h e E m p i r e i n t o f o r t i f i e d p r o v i n c e s , t h e t h e m e s . E a c h t h e m e w a s

m i l i t a r i l y a n d a d m i n i s t r a t i v e l y i n d e p e n d e n t a n d s u p p l e m e n t e d

w h e n n e e d e d b y t h e c e n t r a l f i e l d a r m y , t h e t a g m a t a , b a s e d a r o u n d

C o n s t a n t i n o p l e , t h e c u l t u r a l a n d e c o n o m i c c e n t r e o f t h e E m p i r e .

T h e c o m m a n d e r o f a T h e m e w a s a S t r a t e g o s , a s s i s t e d i n h i s d u t y

b y v a r i o u s r a n k s o f o f f i c e r s , f r o m t h e C o m i t e s t o t h e D r u n g a r i o s . l t

i s l i k e l y t h a t y o u r W a r l o r d i s s u c h a n o f f i c e r w i t h a l o n g s e r v i c e i n

t h e B y z a n t i n e a r m y .

T h e c a v a l r y w a s t h e m o s t p r e s t i g i o u s a r m o f t h e B y z a n t i n e a r m y .

T h e i r d e p l o y m e n t a n d t a c t i c s w e r e s t r i c t l y o r g a n i s e d a n d t h e i r

e q u i p m e n t p r o v i d e d b y t h e c e n t r a l a u t h o r i t y . l t c o n s i s t e d o f a

k o n t a r i o n ( a l o n g s p e a r a b o u t 1 0 f e e t l o n g ) o r a b o w , a s w o r d , a

s h i e l d , a n d a l a m e l l a r b o d y p r o t e c t i o n . T h e s e K a v a l l a r o i a r e t h e

H e a r t h g u a r d s o f y o u r w a r b a n d .

T h e b u l k o f t h e B y z a n t i n e a r m y w a s m a d e o f p r o f e s s i o n a l s o l d i e r s ,

f u l l y e q u i p p e d a n d w e l l t r a i n e d . T h e y f o u g h t o n f o o t , e i t h e r w i t h

s p e a r s a n d l a r g e s h i e l d s - K o n t a r a t o i ; o r a s a r c h e r s - T o x o t a i . T h e s e

a r e t h e W a r r i o r s o f y o u r B y z a n t i n e f o r c e .

l t w a s a c o m m o n p r a c t i c e t o h a v e s o r n e s k i r m i s h e r s a h e a d o f t h e

i n f a n t r y f o r m a t i o n s . T h e y w e r e m o r e o f t e n t h a n n o t i r r e g u l a r s ,

s u b j e c t s o f t h e B y z a n t i n e s . T h e s e a r e t h e L e v i e s o f y o u r w a r b a n d .

l F A C T J [ O N R U J L J E

M a n y B y z a n t i n e u n i t s m a y b e f i e l d e d m o u n t e d . M o u n t e d u n i t s

a r e s u b j e c t t o t h e f o l l o w i n g s p e c i a l r u l e s :

- T h e M o v e m e n t o f a m o u n t e d u n i t i s i n c r e a s e d t o J L b u t

r e d u c e d t o w h e n m o v i n g f r o m , t h r o u g h , o r i n t o a n

u n e v e n g r o u n d .

- M o u n t e d u n i t s m a y n e v e r e n t e r a b u i l d i n g , b u t t h e y c a n

e n g a g e i n m e l e e a n y u n i t s o c c u p y i n g a b u i l d i n g i n t h e

n o r m a l m a n n e r .

- T h e A r m o u r o f m o u n t e d u n i t i s r e d u c e d b y o n e w h e n t h e y

a r e t h e t a r g e t o f a S h o o t i n g a t t a c k .

- M o u n t e d u n i t s m a y n e v e r b e n e f i t f r o m a n y k i n d o f c o v e r , i n

m e l e e o r s h o o t i n g .

A p a r t f r o m t h e r e s t r i c t i o n s m e n t i o n e d a b o v e , m o u n t e d u n i t s

b e h a v e l i k e o r d i n a r y u n i t s . l f a u n i t s t a r t s t h e g a m e m o u n t e d ,

i t m u s t r e m a i n m o u n t e d f o r t h e w h o l e g a m e a n d m a y n e v e r

d i s m o u n t .

B y z a n t i n e W a r l o r d s a n d H e a r t h g u a r d s a r e m o u n t e d .

H e a r t h g u a r d s m a y b e e q u i p p e d w i t h b o w s , b u t d u e t o t h e i r

s m a l l s h i e l d s a n d l i g h t b o d y a r m o u r , t h e i r A r m o u r i n m e l e e i s

r e d u c e d t o 4

B y z a n t i n e W a r r i o r s m a y h a v e b o w s o r s p e a r s . G i v e n t h e i r l a c k

o f p r o t e c t i o n , b o w - a r m e d W a r r i o r s h a v e a n A r m o u r v a l u e o f 3

S p e a r - a r m e d W a r r i o r s a r e n o t s u b j e c t t o a n y s p e c i a l r u l e s .

B y z a n t i n e L e v i e s h a v e j a v e l i n s .

B y z a n t i n e w a r b a n d s m a y n e v e r r e c r u i t S w o r d s f o r H i r e .

JH[JEROJE OJF lrHJE JB\YZA\NlrUNJE AGJE The Warlord below may lead any Byzantine warband. Unlike the usual Warlord, the Basileus costs 1pt, like the Heroes of the Viking Age. lf a scenario needs to determine how many victory points the Basileus is worth, it is considered as a Warlord that is worth one extra victory point.

The Basileus The Basileus was the Byzantine Emperor. This name replaced the Roman title of Augustus in 629, and was u sed from Justinian 11 onward. The Emperor wears the colour purple that clearly demonstrates his status as leader of the Eastern Roman Empire, and governs one of the most civilised Empire of his time.

Unlike other Heroes of the Viking Age, the Basileus represents al/ Byzantine Emperors that ruled the Eastern Empire from the 7'h century up to the 11 'h century and is designed to portray al/ Emperors from Justinian 11 up to Basil Bulgaroktonos.

Hero of the Byzantine Empire: As the most important character of the East, the Basileus generates three SAGA dice at the start of each turn, and not two as other Warlords.

The Emperor: The Basileus has an Armour value of 4 and only generates one Attack die in melee. He is also not subject to the "Warlord's Pride" special rule. lf the Basileus is removed as a casualty, the game ends immediately, and all other friendly Byzantine figures on the tab le are considered as having been killed. The Basileus is always mounted, as you would expect as the ruler of the East.

Imperial Bodyguard: A warband that is led by the Basileus may only field Hearthguards.

Varangoi: Varangians were Norse or Anglo-Saxon mercenaries that served in the Emperor's Bodyguard. Any number of Hearthguards in a warband led by the Basi leus may be upgraded to Varangians. Varangian Hearthguards fight on foot and have a base Armour of 6; t hey may also be armed with Dane axes (see rulebook page 43). A Varangian unit that starts any Movement Activation more than M[ away from

the Basileus takes a FATIGUE at the start of that Activation. A Varangian unit that ends any Movement Activation more than M away from the Basileus takes a FATIGU E at the end of that Activation.

Kataphractoi: Kataphractoi were the heaviest cavalry employed by the Byzantines and rode armoured horses. Any number of Hearthguards in a warband led by the Basileus may be upgraded to Kataphractoi. Kataphractoi have an Armour of 6 (reduced to 5 when shot at as other mounted models). Kataphractoi units take one additional FATIGUE for every movement activation after the first (i.e. they take two FATIGUES after their second movement and two FATIGUES after their third movement).

Harald Hardrada, Capta in of the Varangian Guard Harald spent nearly ten years in the service of the Byzantine emperors during which time his legendary leadership, loyalty, martial prowess and rugged good-looks ensured he quickly attained an enviable reputation. He led the Varangians on campaign throughout the Empire, serving as far afield as Jerusalem and Sicily. He amassed great personal wealth through battle-plunder and 'loyalty bonuses' from successive Emperors. Eventual/y imprisoned by Michael V, who was concerned by Harald's loyalty to the previous Emperor ( although other sources, and no doubt Harald himself, would have it that it was because he spurned the advances of powerful Empress Zoe .. .) Harald escaped and fled back to Scandinavia where he used his riches to finance his reclaiming of the Norwegian throne.

Hero of the Viking Age: Unlike other Heroes of the Viking Age, Harald Hardrada on ly generates one Saga Die

at the start of each of his turn. He may, at the start of his turn, take one or two FATIGUE to generate a number of extra Saga Dice equal to the number of FATIGUES taken this way.

Pagan: Despite being Captain of the Guard of Byzantium, Harald was a pagan, and was trained

in the Old Norse ways. The Saga Dice generated

b y H a r a l d a r e R u n i c D i c e ( a l s o k n o w n a s V i k i n g D i c e , s e e S a g a

p a g e 6 ) a n d m a y b e u s e d o n t h e V i k i n g B a t t l e b o a r d . H e n c e ,

a w a r b a n d l e d b y H a r a l d w i l l u s e t w o B a t t l e b o a r d s , o n e

B y z a n t i n e a n d o n e V i k i n g .

S a g a D i c e g e n e r a t e d b y V a r a n g i a n s m a y b e e i t h e r R u n i c o r

C o n t i n e n t a l D i c e ( a l s o k n o w n a s N o r m a n D i c e s e e S a g a p a g e

6 ) , a s c h o s e n b y t h e i r c o n t r o l l i n g p l a y e r a t t h e s t a r t o f e a c h

t u r n . S a g a D i c e g e n e r a t e d b y o t h e r u n i t s i n H a r a l d ' s w a r b a n d

m u s t b e C o n t i n e n t a l D i c e .

V a r a n g i a n s : A n y H e a r t h g u a r d u n i t i n H a r a l d ' s w a r b a n d m u s t

f i g h t o n f o o t a n d m a y b e e q u i p p e d w i t h D a n e - a x e s ( s e e S a g a

p a g e 4 3 ) . T h a n k s t o t h e i r s h i n y e q u i p m e n t p a i d f o r w i t h t h e

B y z a n t i n e g o l d , t h e s e H e a r t h g u a r d s h a v e a n A r m o u r o f 6 , i n

m e l e e a n d a g a i n s t s h o o t i n g . T h e n u m b e r o f H e a r t h g u a r d s

f i g u r e s i n H a r a l d ' s w a r b a n d m a y n o t e x c e e d t h e n u m b e r o f

m o d e l s o f o t h e r c l a s s e s . A w a r b a n d l e d b y H a r a l d m a y n e v e r

i n c l u d e a n y m o u n t e d m o d e l .

A G A A J B \ J [ J U T J [ J E D J E C R U J P l T J [ O N

I M P O R T A N T : Y o u m a y h a v e n o t i c e d t h a t n o B y z a n t i n e a b i l i t y

s t a r t s w i t h e i t h e r " D i s c a r d t h i s d i e " o r " D i s c a r d t h e s e d i c e " . W e

h a v e r e m o v e d t h e s e s e n t e n c e s t o h a v e m o r e s p a c e w i t h i n t h e

a b i l i t y b o x e s f o r t h e i r d e s c r i p t i o n . T h i s d o e s n o t m e a n t h a t t h e

r e l e v a n t d i c e a r e n o t d i s c a r d e d . C o n s i d e r t h a t e a c h o f t h e a b i l i t y

s t a r t w i t h t h e r e l e v a n t s e n t e n c e , a n d t h a t t h e d i e o r c o m b i n a t i o n

o f d i c e M U S T b e d i s c a r d e d i n a r d e r t o u s e t h e a b i l i t y .

T h e r u l e s o f t h e f i r s t c o l u m n o f S a g a a b i l i t i e s a r e d e s c r i b e d p a g e

s o o f t h e S a g a r u l e b o o k .

M A S S E D A R C H E R Y

U s e d d u r i n g y o u r A c t i v a t i o n P h a s e

T h i s a b i l i t y w i / 1 h e l p y o u m i m i c s o m e o f t h e a c t u a l t a c t i c s u s e d

b y t h e B y z a n t i n e s a n d t h e i r b o w m e n . T h i s a b i l i t y a c t i v a t e s t w o

u n i t s ( t h i s m a y b e a n y u n i t s , m o u n t e d o r d i s m o u n t e d , l e v i e s ,

H e a r t h g u a r d s o r W a r r i o r s ) a n d t h e y a r e a c t i v a t e d f o r S h o o t i n g .

W h e n t h i s S h o o t i n g i s r e s o l v e d , d u r i n g s t e p 1, y o u m a y i g n o r e

a n y f r i e n d l y u n i t t h a t w o u l d o t h e r w i s e b l o c k t h e l i n e o f s i g h t

b e t w e e n t h e s h o o t e r s a n d t h e i r t a r g e t . A n a b i l i t y c l e a r l y u s e f u l

f o r u n i t s o f b o w - a r m e d W a r r i o r s t h a t w o u l d b e d e p l o y e d b e h i n d

a s c r e e n o f s p e a r m e n .

S T R A T E G I K O N

U s e d d u r i n g S t e p 3 o f a n y M e l e e

S t r a t e g i k o n i s a n a b i l i t y t h a t i s r e a l / y u s e f u l , b u t w i / 1 n e c e s s i t a t e a

b i t o f p l a n n i n g a n d w i / 1 u s u a l / y b e m o r e f r e q u e n t l y u s e d w h e n o n e

o f y o u r u n i t s a r e e n g a g e d i n m e l e e . W h e n t h e d i c e a r e d i s c a r d e d ,

y o u m u s t d e s i g n a t e a f r i e n d l y u n i t t h a t d o e s n o t t a k e p a r t i n t h i s

m e l e e . T h e u n i t t h a t u s e s S t r a t e g i k o n g a i n s a n u m b e r o f A t t a c k o r

D e f e n c e D i c e ( o r a m i x o f b o t h ) e q u a l t o h a l f t h e n u m b e r o f d i c e

g e n e r a t e d b y t h e m o d e l s o f t h e d e s i g n a t e d u n i t t h a t a r e w i t h i n

o f y o u r u n i t . S o , f o r e x a m p l e , i f y o u h a v e t h r e e H e a r t h g u a r d

m o d e l s w i t h i n o f o n e o r m o r e o f t h e m o d e l s o f y o u r u n i t , y o u ' / 1

g a i n 3 d i c e . T h e b e s t u s e o f t h i s a b i l i t y i s w i t h a d e p l o y m e n t o f

t w o u n i t s o n e b e h i n d t h e o t h e r , w i t h t h e f r o n t a l u n i t g a i n i n g d i c e

f o r t h e p r e s e n c e o f t h e i r c o m r a d e s b e h i n d .

S C O U T I N G

U s e d d u r i n g y o u r A c t i v a t i o n P h a s e

M o v i n g l e v y u n i t s i s a l w a y s a p r o b l e m i n a n y a r m y , b u t b y u s i n g

o n e d i c e t h e B y z a n t i n e c o m m a n d e r c a n a c t i v a t e t h r e e l e v y

u n i t s a t o n c e ; t h e s e a c t i v a t i o n s h a v e t h e a d d e d b e n e f i t o f n o t

g e n e r a t i n g f a t i g u e . U s e f u l i f y o u ' v e m o v e d l e v y u n i t s u p e a r l i e r i n

t h e t u r n a n d y o u n o w w a n t t o m o v e t h e m o u t o f d a n g e r l a t e r o n ,

o r i f y o u w a n t t o c o n c e n t r a t e f i r e f r o m m u l t i p l e

u n i t s o n t o a n e n e m y

S U P P O R T A R C H E R S

U s e d d u r i n g s t e p 3 o f a n y M e l e e

A s u r p n s m g a b i l i t y , S u p p o r t A r c h e r s

a l / o w s t h e B y z a n t i n e p l a y e r t o r e s o l v e a

S h o o t i n g d u r i n g a m e l e e . A f t e r t h e d i c e a r e

d i s c a r d e d , y o u m u s t d e s i g n a t e a b o w -

a r m e d f r i e n d l y u n i t t h a t i s w i t h i n

M [ o f a n y u n i t i n v o l v e d i n t h i s m e l e e .

Y o u i m m e d i a t e l y r e s o l v e a S h o o t i n g ,

w i t h t h e d e s i g n a t e d u n i t a s s h o o t e r s ,

a n d o n e o f t h e e n e m y u n i t s e n g a g e d i n

t h i s m e l e e a s t h e t a r g e t . T h i s i s r e s o l v e d l i k e a s t a n d a r d s h o o t i n g

s e q u e n c e , w i t h t h e n o t a b l e e x c e p t i o n t h a t a n y o f y o u r u n i t s

e n g a g e d i n t h i s m e l e e a r e i g n o r e d w h e n i t c o m e s t o d e t e r m i n i n g

t h e l i n e o f s i g h t b e t w e e n t h e s h o o t e r s a n d t h e i r t a r g e t .

N o t e t h a t t h e u n i t o f " s u p p o r t a r c h e r s " i s n o t a c t i v a t e d f o r a

s h o o t i n g , a n d a n y a b i l i t y t h a t a f f e c t s a S h o o t i n g A c t i v a t i o n i s o f

n o u s e . T h i s s h o o t i n g s e q u e n c e , t h o u g h i n c / u d e d i n t h e m e l e e , i s a

s e p a r a t e s e q u e n c e e n t i r e l y ; h e n c e t h e c a s u a l t i e s i n f l i c t e d a r e n o t

a d d e d t o t h e c a s u a l t i e s t a k e n d u r i n g t h e m e l e e t o d e t e r m i n e w h o

w i / 1 f a / / b a c k .

K O N T O S

U s e d d u r i n g y o u r A c t i v a t i o n P h a s e

T h e m o s t e x p e n s i v e a b i l i t y o f t h e B y z a n t i n e B a t t l e b o a r d , K o n t o s

i s a l s o a d e a d l y o n e ! l t a c t i v a t e s o n e o f y o u r m o u n t e d u n i t s

( t h a t i s n o t e q u i p p e d w i t h b o w s ) f o r a M o v e m e n t . l f w i t h t h i s

m o v e m e n t , y o u r u n i t e n g a g e s a n e n e m y u n i t , y o u i m m e d i a t e l y

ro/1 one die for each of your model that is in base-to-ba se contact with an enemy model. For each die that scores a 4 or more, you wi/1 gain one extra hit during the forthcoming melee. These hits are added to the hits you score during step 4 of the me/ee. With a good sized unit of eight Hearthguards, you can expect a bloodbath for your opponent!

WITHDRAWAL U sed during step 3 of the Melee.

Apparently, W ithdrawal doesn't loo k /ike a very useful ab ility. But a clase study wi /1 reveal that it is actually rea/ly powerful when u sed properly. When the die is discarded, yo u designate a friendly unit of mounted mode/s engaged in th is melee. During step 8 your unit w i/1 disengage, even if the opponent was also forced to disengage dueto the me lee outcome. lf both the attacker and the defender have to disengage, the attacker moves first. Also, the movement of th is disengagement move is JL, rather than the usual . You can see two different uses for th is ability. lf you expect to lose the melee, it means that the increase of movement of t he disengagement w i/1 bring your unit far away f rom the enemy into a safer position. lf you plan to win that melee, the fact that you w i/1 disengage at a long distance w i/1 bring your unit far away from any enemy counter-attack in his own turn. Do not over/ook this ability; it is one of the most useful on the who/e Byzantine Battleboard!

FRIENDLY SHIELDS Used during step 3 of the Melee.

Friend/y Shields is another c/early defensive abili ty. The die is discarded during step 3 of the melee, but the ability won't have any effect until step 6. When yo u cometo step 6, yo u m ay cancel each casualty sustained by removing a friendly non-levy figure that is within of the unit that benefited from the ability. De facto, it means that yo u trade the casualties suffered by your unit with models taken from a friendly unit. Very interesting if you remove Warriors to avoid /osing your precious Hearthguards!

MUTUAL SUPPORT U sed during the enemy's Activat ion Phase

This ability is u sed in reaction toan enemy Movement Activation. As soon asan enemy unit is activated for a movement w ithin .M[ of one of your bow-armed units, yo u discard the relevant die. For this movement, the activated enemy units may not engage in melee any of your bow-armed unit if he could engage a unit not equipped with bows with this movement. How do es it work? lt is quite easy. Befare your opponent moves his figures, check if he would be able to engage a unit that is no t equipped with bows (respecting a/1 the rules for engaging an enemy and moving). lf that is the case, then any movement that would end with an engagement of any of your bow-armed units is forbidden for the activated unit. Note that the restriction also may apply to you as the Byzantine player. For example, if you have a spear armed unit anda bow armed one in the same building, and you use this ability, you won't be able to designate the bow-armed unit as the unit acting as defender as this wou/d make the engagement of the building impossible.

COMMON EFFORTS U sed during your Orders Phase or during any enemy's Orders Phase

This is a cheap but potentially very useful ability. You may use it during your Orders Phase or during any opponent's one. Choose one of your units, take up to two FATIGUES from that unit and place them on any friendly unit within . Non e of these units may be levies.

Of course, the FATIGUES are not discarded or taken-off, but removing t w o FATIGUES from your Hearthguards and put them on that four mode/ strong Warrior unit remains inva/uab/e.

BASILEUS Used during your Activation Phase

Th is is an ability that demonstrates the highly organized military structure of the Byzantines. When these dice are discarded, you may des ignate any number of units, a/1 with in lL of your Warlord. A/1 these units are activated, and these activat ions wi /1 not generate any FATIGUE w hen resolved. lmmediately after the units have been designated, but befare their Activations are resolved, place on your Warlord a number of FATIGUES equal to the number of units that benefited from th is ability. This ability is best kept to unleash the decisive blow to the enemy!

Ragnar speaks ... The Byzantines /ove come on the battlefie/d dressed in proper uniforms, with each soldier aware of his role and his task in the organisation of the force and their general shouting orders that are instantly fol/owed. Quite boring ... We/1, the Byzantine player cou/d make a worse use of his time than studying the Strategikon to /earn the proper

employment of his troops, as the Battleboard is al/ about unit cooperation. A lone Byzantine unit is a help/ess (and /ost) one. They shine when they support each other, as most of their Saga abilities demonstrate. Deployment is the key here, and ensuring at al/ times the battle line is drawn according to the plan is vital if yo u want to be successful. They are quite difficult and tricky to use, but very rewarding if you /ike proper combat manoeuvres, the inter-arm approach and al/ these things that 1 never learnt.

: R h i R e

E a s t e r n E u r o p e a n d t h e e n d l e s s S t e p p e s o f t h e C e n t r a l A s i a w e r e

t h e h o m e l a n d o f a l a r g e n u m b e r o f S t e p p e n o m a d s t r i b e s s u c h a s

t h e A v a r s , t h e M a g y a r s o r t h e P e c h e n e g s .

O n a r e g u l a r b a s i s , t h e s e t r i b e s w o u l d s w e e p a c r o s s E u r o p e o r

a g a i n s t t h e R u s , p l u n d e r i n g a n d p i l l a g i n g b e f a r e r e t i r i n g s a f e l y

i n t o t h e i r h o m e l a n d s .

T h e y w e r e v a l u e d a s m e r c e n a r i e s , j o i n i n g R u s a n d B y z a n t i n e s a s

a u x i l i a r i e s , a n d w e r e f a m o u s f o r t h e i r a c c u r a c y a s a r c h e r s , t h e i r

m a n e u v e r a b i l i t y a n d t h e i r c r u e l t y .

S w o r d s f o r H i r e : T h e S t e p p e N o m a d s m a y b e

i n c l u d e d i n a n y P a g a n R u s , R u s P r i n c e s o r

B y z a n t i n e W a r b a n d ( t h a t a r e n o t l e d b y t h e

B a s i l e u s o r H a r a i d H a r d r a d a ) f o r o n e p o i n t .

N o m a d s : T h e S t e p p e N o m a d s a r e m a d e

o f 8 m o u n t e d m o d e l s t h a t c o u n t a s

L e v i e s . A s L e v i e s , t h e y d o n o t g e n e r a t e

a n y S a g a d i c e , b u t m a y b e a c t i v a t e d o r

b e n e f i t f r o m a n y e l i g i b l e S a g a a b i l i t i e s o n

y o u r B a t t l e b o a r d . T h e y h a v e a n A r m o u r

o f 3 i n m e l e e , 4 a g a i n s t S h o o t i n g

L h e S t e p p e N o m a d s

( r e d u c e d t o 3 d u e t o b e i n g m o u n t e d ) . T h e y a r e w o r t h Y , v i c t o r y

p o i n t p e r m o d e l , l i k e W a r r i o r s .

H o r s e m e n : S t e p p e N o m a d s a r e b o r n i n t h e i r s a d d l e s . W h e n t h e y

m o v e a s p a r t o f a m o v e m e n t a c t i v a t i o n ( a n d d o n o t e n g a g e

m e l e e ) t h e i r m o v e m e n t b e n e f i t s f r o m a S d i s t a n c e b o n u s , f o r a

m o v e m e n t o f I L ( o r M ) + . T h i s b o n u s i s n e v e r a f f e c t e d b y t e r r a i n

o r a n y F A T I G U E s p e n t .

l f t h e N o m a d s d e c i d e d u r i n g t h e s t e p 2 o f t h e m e l e e t o r e d u c e

t h e i r n u m b e r o f A t t a c k D i c e t o g a i n D e f e n c e D i c e , t h e y m u s t

d i s c a r d A L L t h e i r A t t a c k D i c e t o g a i n o n e D e f e n c e D i e p e r A t t a c k

D i e d i s c a r d e d ( a n d n o t h a l f t h e n u m b e r o f A t t a c k D i c e d i s c a r d e d

a s i t i s u s u a l l y t h e c a s e ) .

S h o r t b o w : S t e p p e N o m a d s a r e e q u i p p e d w i t h d e a d l y s h o r t

b o w s . T h e s e s h o r t b o w s c o u n t a s j a v e l i n s ( s e e S a g a p a g e 2 3 ) , w i t h

t h e e x c e p t i o n t h a t t h e S h o o t i n g m a y b e p e r f o r m e d e i t h e r b e f a r e

o r a f t e r t h e m o v e m e n t . T h e N o m a d s m a y n o t e n g a g e a n y e n e m y

u n i t i f t h e y s h o t d u r i n g t h e i r M o v e m e n t a c t i v a t i o n .

E a g l e E y e : W h e n s h o o t i n g , t h e S t e p p e N o m a d s a u t o m a t i c a l l y

b e n e f i t f r o m a + 1 m o d i f i e r t o t h e i r A t t a c k D i c e r o l l s .

Varjazi & Basileus isa full colourmini supplement for the SAGA rules and is the last one to cover the factions of the Viking Age. Contained within are all the rules and background for three new factions, one of which, the Byzantines, has already been the subject of a article in a Wargames lllustrated magazine. The other two are the Rus Pagan and their successors, the Era of The Princes Rus. Also included are a new Swords For Hire unit, the dreaded Steppe Nomads, who can be in the pay of all three of these factions, and a new He ro Of The Viking Age for the Byzantines, Harald Hardradda, Captain Of The Varangian Guard. We wanted to end this cycle with a bang so it is presented in a card folder to hold your SAGA Viking Age collection. This full-colour folder can accommodate your Battleboard collection, Rulebook and a supplement.

Varjazi & Basileus also contains 3 Battleboards which can not be sold separately. Varjazi & Basileus is not a complete rule-set as you will also need the SAGA Rulebook.