Eldfall Chronicles, How to Start

The easiest way to start Eldfall Chronicles is one Two-Player Starter Set. Each box holds two complete warbands, a shared Water Elemental, the rulebook, dice, templates and measuring tools, so two new players can learn the game together from a single purchase. Pick the matchup you like the look of, play a few games, then grow the side you enjoyed.

What is Eldfall Chronicles?

Eldfall Chronicles is a fantasy miniatures game from Freecompany, set in the world of Calad. The factions are the Empire of Soga, the Helian League, the Coalition of Thenion, the Sand Kingdoms, the Oni Clans and the Goblin Wartribes, plus the Neutrals. The models are 32mm heroic scale and cast in what the maker calls Unicool Hard Plastic, a durable resin based material.

Skirmish wargame or dungeon crawl?

Eldfall plays two ways. The Skirmish Wargame is tactical battles between small warbands on an open table with 3D terrain and measured distances. Dungeon Crawl is narrative campaigns built around cooperative and solo play, on themed tiles with marked spaces instead of a tape measure. The starter sets are made for both: the box itself promises competitive and cooperative play, so you do not have to decide on day one which kind of player you are.

How many models do you need to start?

Fewer than most games. The maker recommends 65 point games for new players, which is typically three models a side, and the standard competitive size is 85 points, usually three to six models. Each starter set gives you four models per side plus the Water Elemental, which covers a full starting game for two players with room to try different combinations.

Which starter set should you buy?

Both boxes are the same format with different factions, so choose on the models you want to paint. Coalition of Thenion vs Sand Kingdoms sets the Nightshade, Thenrin Swashbuckler, Rangers-Guild Hunter and Night-Temple Priestess against the Vizier of Conjurations, Taskmage Explorer, Academy Expeditioner and Faris Outrider. Empire of Soga vs Helian League puts the Onitaoshi, Kitsune Spellmaiden, Clan Champion and Bushi Attendant against the Helrin Expatriate, Flameshaper, Expeditionary Hierophant and Citadel Guard. Each box includes 9 profile cards, 4 area of effect templates, 2 measuring tools, 4 d20 dice and tokens.

Is the Core Box worth it instead?

Buy the Core Box: Northern Wind if your group wants a campaign before it wants a competitive game. It is the full Dungeon Crawl experience: 15 miniatures across 4 Heroes, 6 Undead and 5 Oni, including an exclusive Chiyo-hime sculpt, with a rulebook, a 160 page Quest Log, a campaign map, a spell book, tiles, standees, cards and tokens. It costs more than a starter set, and it is a whole game on its own rather than the first step of a warband.

What should you buy after the starter set?

Reinforcements packs are the natural next step. The Reinforcements Pack: Wayfarers adds eight miniatures, the Musha, Flameweaver, Slayer Dragoon and Spelldancer, each in two builds, with bases and profile cards. Queen's Blade, Sunspear and Imperial Banner are the other packs in the range. For more monsters on the table, elemental packs such as the Water Elementals and Earth Elementals add bigger threats, and the larger expansions, like the Goblin Wartribes Expansion, Earthen Creatures Expansion and Undead Expansion I, are the way to grow into a new part of Calad in one step.

Where do you get the rules?

Every starter set comes with a rulebook, and the core rules are also a free PDF download in the Resources section of the Eldfall Chronicles website, so the whole group can read up before the first game. The maker's Guild Hall companion app carries the model profiles, which is handy at the table while you are still learning what each model does.

What else do you need to get playing?

The miniatures come unassembled and unpainted, and glue is not included in the box. Plan on a hobby knife or clippers for the sprues, a glue that suits the material, and a primer before you paint. Our guide to miniature glues covers which bottle does which job.

Start with a starter set, pick your side of Calad, and build out from there. Everything else for the game is in the Eldfall Chronicles collection.