Oathmark - Is this my new fantasy battle game?

-


 

When I first started playing miniature games way back in 1989, I started with Warhammer Fantasy Battle: 3rd Edition. I initially tried to make a dwarf army, but the cost of the metal miniatures was more than the young teenage me could manage. I then settled on the Undead because I could get a whole plastic army in a single box! So, for the next six editions of the game I used the Undead. Along the way I also tried lots of other armies most notably the Empire and the Ogre Kingdoms. Eventually, the Old World gave way to the Age of Sigmar. I have collected armies for the Age of Sigmar (AOS), but I miss the blocks of infantry and cavalry that Warhammer Fantasy Battle (WFB) had. Additionally, I have my old armies sitting in their cases in the loft, and at present unlikely to see the light of day again. 

Then, the other day I stumbled across Oathmark, a mass-battle fantasy wargame, published by Osprey Games. This game uses the classic fantasy races of Orcs and Goblins, Elves, Dwarves, Humans and Undead. When I started researching this game my friend lent me the rule book. As soon as I began reading the book, I realised that the army building choices were remarkably simple and it had a feel of 3rd Edition WFB.  

The troops for each race follows a similar pattern. There are, in most cases, light infantry, infantry and heavy infantry, cavalry and monsters. In a similar way, troops have access to hand weapons, spears, two-handed weapons, and bows. Finally, a fantasy game would not be complete without heroes, and these are included as well. These heroes do not seem overpowered but will help to buff the units. 

The game also has a feel of Warmaster. Warmaster was a game produced by Games Workshop in 2000. I state this because to use a unit during the turn in needs to pass an activation roll, something I found remarkably similar to the command rolls in Warmaster.

North Star produce a range of miniatures for the game but as the races are so generic any miniatures from any company could be used. Now based on this idea, I intend to use my old Undead and Empire armies to try the game out. Then I would like to build an army. This might be the time to scratch that itch. The miniatures produced by North Star are true 28mm scale (goblin infantry miniature review). This scale will match with GW’s Lord of the Ring (LOTR) range. I mentioned this here because Oathmark uses square bases. Importantly, the base size matters in this game, but equally, the base size then determines the movement tray size (if you use them and why wouldn’t you). So, you could easily use round bases, of the correct diameter, and then place them onto a movement tray with the correct footprint. The only issue I can see with this plan is the bases for cavalry and potentially monster, could easily be the incorrect dimensions (this might be something I have to ‘figure’ out later). By having the miniatures on round bases, I can also potentially use some AOS miniatures. 


A few months ago, I painted up a few goblins (How I paint Moonclan Grots) to make a Warcry warband. The idea was to add these goblins to Zarbag’s Gitz (a Warhammer Underworlds warband). I now like the idea of building a small goblin force. The ideas are already popping into my head. Plus, I can then use them in Age of Sigmar games. I just need to dig out the unbuilt miniatures and get to work. I feel this project could be a lot of fun.  If you are interested, please check out my article on building an army for Oathmark.


I am really looking forward to playing this game but for now I have my buzz for mass-fantasy battle games back. I intend to write more articles on Oathmark as I dive further into this game.  


If you have any questions, please put them in the comments below and I will do my best to answer them. Bye for now and Happy Hobbying. 






Comments

  1. Anonymous29 August 2022 at 13:20

    What's that base texture? And where did you get the troll?
    Looks good.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Matt29 August 2022 at 13:20

    Forgot to add a name... Matt

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous29 August 2022 at 23:04

    Hi Matt,
    The Troll is Mollog from Games Workshop Warhammer Underworld.
    The base texture for the goblins is putty smoothed over the base. I wanted to make them look like they were still in the caves. You can see my Night Goblins on a different post.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How I paint Rockgut Troggoth

-
Image
When I began painting my Rockgut Troggoths (Stone Trolls), I wanted them to look as though a flesh and blood creature had started to petrify. Most of the stone terrain in my collection is grey with a greenish tinge. This was the colour I wanted to replicate on my trolls. As I was painting my trolls, I made a note of the colours I used but I did not take any pictures, as I never intended to make a guide. After I had finished painting these miniatures, I decided to write up the method, in case I needed it again. Then, I thought I might as well share it. Paints required. Chaos Black spray Mechanicum Standard Grey spray Skavenblight Dinge Dawnstone Lahmian Medium  Athonian Camoshade Agrax Earthshade Administratum Grey Bugmans Glow  Rakarth Flesh Screamer Pink Cadian Fleshtone Stormvermin Fur Kislev Flesh Karak Stone Xereus Purple Mephiston Red Painting flesh of the Troggoth I began by given the miniature an undercoat with  Chaos   Black spray.  This was then followed with a light spray of 
Read more

How I paint - Gloomspite Gitz- Squigs

-
Image
When collecting Gloomspite Gitz it quickly becomes apparent that at some point you are going to paint squigs. This is my take on a classic red squig. Paints required: Wraithbone spray Khorne Red Army Painter Red Tone Averland Sunset Wazdakka Red Squig Orange Lahmian Medium Reikland Fleshwash Screamer Pink Pink Horror Pallid Wych Flesh Zandri Dust Agrax Earthshade Xereus Purple Genestealer Purple Yriel Yellow Druchii Violet .  Kantor Blue Thousand Sons Blue Ahriman Blue Temple Guard Blue . The miniatures were primed with Wraithbone spray. The scheme works over black, but you must build a nice sold layer of red at the start. This was then followed by a basecoat of Khorne Red . I thinned the Khorne Red with a little water. It took a few coats to get a nice solid finish. The miniature was then given a wash with Army Painter Red Tone thinned with a little water. The eyes were painted in with Averland Sunset .  To highlight the flesh, I began with Wazdakka Red . This was then followed by a
Read more

How I paint Moonclan Grots

-
Image
  I have a large Ork army for Warhammer 40k, but it has been a few years since I have painted any Greenskins. T hanks in part to  my backlog of Warhammer Underworlds warbands and a desire to paint some Destruction miniatures for Warcry I have been painting up my Ironjaws and t he Gloomspite Gitz . I love Mo on clan Grots as , with most Greenskin armies, they are played primarily for fun and if you win any games with them, so much the better. I wanted to paint my Gitz in a classic style, like 'back in the day' when I was using Night Goblins in the w orld - that - was. So here is my take on these nasty little backstabbers. I hope you enjoy and I would love to he ar any comments.    Other guides you might find useful: How I paint Moonclan Grots How I paint Rockgut Troggoth How I paint Squigs How I paint Orruk Armour Army Collection - Gloomspite Gitz Paints required:   Chaos Black spray   Abaddon Black   Stormvermin Fur   Rhinox Hide   Leadbelcher   Nuln Oil ( or
Read more