Song of Blades and Heroes is a fast-play, skirmish-level fantasy miniature system. It uses an action-point system that requires no book-keeping. The rules are designed to be simple, fast and fun so that a mini campaign of several games can be played in a single evening.
The game uses only 6 sided dice and requires approximately 5-10 models per player. The rules recommend 15 mm figures on a 60x60cm play area, but can be played in other scales. There is nothing scaled in inches or centimetres, three measuring sticks to measure all distances and ranges. Alternatively the game can be played without measuring sticks on a hexgrid.
The game includes statistics for 180+ monsters and heroes, and details to be able to create your own. Also there are campaign rules where your warband grows more powerful after every battle, and six basic scenarios.
There are some stand-alone games based on the same system, which could also be used as expansions to the base game:
Song of Arthur and Merlin (2008) - Arthurian supplement featuring sections on the historical Dark Ages king, the Welsh legendary king, and the Hollywood king. Originally an expansion, in 2011 this was re-released as a stand-alone product.
Mutants and Death Ray Guns (2008) - a post-holocaust skirmish game.
Song of the Splintered Lands (2009) - Sourcebook based on the Splintered Light miniatures line.
Song of Drums and Shakos (2009) - a Napoleonics skirmish game.
Flying Lead (2010) - a game of gang warfare to Pulp action, from military operations to black-clad assassins.
- Simple ruleset with minimal stats
- Good for teaching new players
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Simplicity — Features very few stats (essentially two) making it simple to learn and play.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- I don't not every game needs to have deep lore Some people just want to play fun games Some people want to take the lore from game a and bring it into a game B where they like the rules better
- lore is interchangeable so you know one of my favorite games out there is space weirdos it has literally no lore it's fine I make up lore on the Fly
- I like the fact that they're giving you options to play with the models you already have without having to go through and go geez I don't know what are they trying to get a point like what is this again you're like well these guys are supposed to be tyranids oh well it didn't come across as tyranids or whatever I have a whole bunch of tyranids and so I should use this
- the rules are generic not the lore
- Are they officially model agnostic I mean sure yeah you can use whatever ever models you want I mean to be fair every game is officially model agnostic even if they don't say it is it is
- I just don't like moving them in a chunk I like being able to move them separately I don't like that that just here's a thing and the the type of play where it's like well this part has to wheel over and do this and then then you're attacking from a flank
- rivenstone is the game that you're talking about
- the problem is this well it's not the problem here's the most recent answer they still haven't produced the stuff yet but the most recent email I got from them which I think was in July was them saying another company is basically buying the game from us and they will do the production and the the Fulfillment
References (from this video)
- compact, easy-to-handed small battles
- flavorful fantasy setting
- the transcript provides limited mechanics detail; hard to assess depth
- fantasy combat in small-scale engagements
- fantasy skirmish battles featuring undead and heroes
- heroic fantasy skirmish with theatrical flavor
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- initiative and activation sequencing — turn order influences pacing and tactical choices
- melee and undead recruitment — focus on undead units and supporting heroes within a thematic fantasy setting
- Skirmish-scale combat — small groups of fighters resolving actions and outcomes in a compact framework
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- I will be controlling all of the undead all of the skeletons
- how to play Song of Blades and Heroes
- space marines codex
- D&D miniatures so if they get stuff on them you can just throw them in the dishwasher
References (from this video)
- very affordable entry (PDF available for 8 USD)
- flexible system adaptable to many themes
- less published support and ecosystem compared to larger rivals
- Low-complexity, narrative-driven battles
- Fantasy/sword-and-sorcery skirmishes
- fast, flexible skirmishes
- X-Wing
- Malifaux
- Age of Sigmar
- HeroClix
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Dice-based resolution — core dice mechanics underpin most resolution checks
- skirmish-level rules — simple, fast resolution suitable for quick games
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- we are talking about relative terms because what one person might think, well, $20 is that's not a lot. That's a lot of money to another person.
- we are making a value judgment.
- If it's really that expensive, then maybe don't play Warhammer. Maybe play something else.
- Song of Blades and Heroes is an $8 PDF that you buy and download.
- for as little as $40, which is again getting us back to the X-wing price, but now it's still something you've got to like, you know, paint.
References (from this video)
- heroic combat and narrative skirmish
- fantasy sword-and-sorcery skirmish battles; fantasy miniatures
- light-to-moderate narrative emphasis; scenario-driven play
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Unknown or not discussed — The transcript does not discuss mechanics; mentions it solely as a game used for a demo
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- This video is going to be all about finding a pro painter or a pay paint service or something along those lines, someone a commission painter to do your work for you.
- There’s no reason to have completely unpainted armies on the table unless you just started.
- paying somebody to do it, especially if it's from somebody you can find local who maybe needs the work or, you know, wants to build up their experience and get, you know, big, there's no reason not to talk to people and get your army painted.
- If all these guys were either just primed or not even painted at all and you know the you know I just had pop cans instead of castle towers or whatever, you're not going to get too many people coming to your event.