If you’re a Warhammer enthusiast seeking monumental battles and epic-scale action, look no further than Legions Imperialis. This game unfolds in the Age of Darkness, presenting the entire struggle in all its glory, from tank companies engaging infantry battalions to hordes of Titans marching to war. In this S blog post, we’ll explore the gameplay mechanics of Legions Imperialis to give you a comprehensive understanding of this captivating tabletop experience.
Mustering Your Army: Crafting Strategies for Triumph
The first step in Legions Imperialis is building your army. Optimal gameplay recommends a 3,000-point army per side, with battles taking place on a 5′ x 4′ battlefield. Begin by declaring your allegiance as either a Loyalist or a Traitor, which will influence some of your choices during the game. Then, choose your Primary Army List, representing the core force from which you’ll select at least 70% of your units.
Currently, players can opt for the Legiones Astartes or the Solar Auxilia as their Primary Army List, but the developers may introduce more factions in the future. Once you’ve made this crucial decision, it’s time to assemble your units using two distinct components: Formations and Detachments.
Detachments serve as the main building blocks of your army and resemble individual units in larger-scale games. They can consist of platoons of infantry, squadrons of tanks, batteries of artillery, banners of Knights, and more. Formations, on the other hand, are larger strategic groupings of Detachments, and you must select at least one Formation from your Primary Army List for every 1,500 points of the agreed-upon limit.
Turn Structure: Tactical Maneuvers and Secret Orders
Legions Imperialis operates on a turn-based system divided into five phases. Both players actively participate in each phase, taking turns to activate their Detachments in Initiative order, as determined by pre-assigned hidden Orders.
Using tokens placed face down next to their Detachments, players secretly assign Orders during the respective phases. The main Orders available are First Fire, Advance, March, Charge, and Fall Back. Initiative is then determined through dice rolling, deciding which player gets to activate their Detachments first.
Movement and Combat: Executing Orders and Engaging Foes
The Movement and Combat phases function similarly, with players resolving Order tokens by activating their Detachments one by one. Orders influence how your Detachments can act during each phase, such as allowing regular movement and shooting, doubling movement speed, or engaging in close combat.
Combat involves three subphases: First Fire, Engagement, and Advancing Fire. First Fire allows Detachments with that Order to shoot first, followed by close combat resolution and then shooting for other Detachments. Shooting mechanics are familiar to Warhammer players, with weapons having range, dice rolls, Hit roll target numbers, Armor Penetration values, and Traits, adding diversity and unique advantages to each weapon.
Combat, however, takes a unique approach. Models are paired off against each other, and Fight rolls are made by rolling 2D6 and adding the Close Assault Factor (CAF) to the result. Charging grants a bonus, and the loser takes a Wound without any Saves allowed—making melee encounters deadly, even for tanks.
Additionally, the game includes various rules on Detachment coherency, terrain navigation, Overwatch, Morale, and more, enhancing strategic depth and immersion.
Conclusion
Legions Imperialis offers an enthralling gaming experience, delivering monumental battles and epic-scale warfare in the Age of Darkness. By mustering your army, deploying secret Orders, and engaging in tactical movements and combat, you’ll experience the full grandeur of this captivating tabletop game. Stay tuned for more exciting dispatches from Legions Imperialis, and prepare to immerse yourself in the thrilling world of Warhammer’s epic battles.
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