Ex Illis

[EyeOfSauron]

Along the lines of Arcane Legions (http://www.heroscapers.com/community/showthread.php?t=24563), it appears another mass miniature combat game is on the near horizon...this one with even more of a technology tie-in:

Can we play without the miniatures or without the software?

No. Ex illis is really a new type of game, a Bastion game: neither the usual videogame nor a conventional tabletop game. While someone could technically play without the board in front of them (hey, some people play chess by e-mail, right?), you're kind of missing the point if you do it that way. And someone could try to play without the software... but Ex illis needs so much calculation it would take days and days just for a single game.

Ex Illis (http://ex-illis.com/en/index.html)

http://www.tabletopgamingnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/arbalestier.jpg

[Cavalier]

As a professional computer geek and a gamer, this idea sounds terrible to me.

[Lord Pyre]

Sounds like an interesting idea, but I play board games so I don't have to look at a screen...



...And, like Cav, I doubt it'll work...

[Melwing17]

Voicing an opposite viewpoint here- I hadn't heard of this, but it sounds incredible to me. Like, life-changing :O I mean... experience? Loot? WEATHER? My game table is right by our PCs anyway. I am completely intrigued.

I have read all of this information, but still don't really get how it works. I'm going to read it again, and try to find some more.

[EyeOfSauron]

Seems like vaporware right now.

The whole "tabletop is the zoomed out view, computer is the up close battle" seems backward to me.

If they used the software to manage the macro scale war, and then used minis for the battles...I might be able to see that.

[Melwing17]

Here's a link to a pretty good article about Ex Illis, which contains some better photos of the board portion in 'action'.

http://www.livingdice.com/1738/best-of-show-for-gts-2009-exillis/

I'll directly link to one of the photos, too. This one shows up close how the physical board is set up- you can arrange each section how you want it before the game, and then input into the software what setup you've used:

http://www.livingdice.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/img_04371.jpg

That particular shot shows an army (or two) that are entirely made up of the 'angelic' type units, but it (the game) is heavy on human troops as well. Apparently the 'collector's' edition of the game will be a bit more extravagant on the terrain end. Not exactly sure how.

I'm actually getting very hyped about this game. Your units get experience from battles, and actually "level up", increasing their skills and such- and their points actually increase with the levels. There's also talk of scenarios giving a gold/currency reward at the end so that you buy upgrades for the figure (like a new sword or whatnot). This is all tracked through the software/game servers, automatically.

The storyline really intrigues me too; it's late 1300s-1400s Europe, set about 60 years after an event brought some light/medium fantasy creatures into the world. I had a dialogue with one of the staff members last night through PMs; she was really nice and incredibly community oriented. They're going to have a "paint and take" event at Origins here pretty soon. No full demo or display at Origins, just the "paint and take", but they hope to have a full-blown booth/event at GenCon.

[Lord Pyre]

From that article, it sound slike you don't even need the board game/miniatures part to play. Just put it all on your computer.



...Unless you want a new army, then you have to buy the miniatures... :?

[Melwing17]

It's certainly not traditional. I, for one, think the mix is terribly intriguing. But I totally understand the differing viewpoints. :) I am by no means an old-school tabletop gamer though- I was raised on Atari and Nintendo, and developed a love for board games along the way. Perhaps that's why I like this idea so much- I've spent much of my life mixing the two in my head anyway.

The computer bit is just taking the place of dice and scorecards, basically; Plus it adds a whole new dimension as far as the experience, equipment, and leveling goes. The electronic component also allows for things like damage-over-time or healing-over-time effects to be easily implemented.

It's kind of half way between a video game and a miniatures game. So, you're right- the game *could* basically just be all on the computer. But.. I personally think it's much more engaging to have the math done for me and get the extra depth, yet still be able to walk around and view my physical battlefield.


edit: They will indeed be at GenCon, booth# 2227.

[atmospro]

I seen the game played and I would describe it differently. The game is more like battle chess. In battle chess you do not simple move into an occupied space and remove that piece from the board. Once moving into an occupied space a battle occurs between the pieces occupying that space for supremacy. Ex Illis is very similar with the major except that attacks can be from a distance by ranged units.

From a strategic stand point the board is an absolute must to play this game. I would put this game as avery high end grognard game, with exception that its easy to start playing because of the technological advantage provide by the software as opposed the read tome of rule and charts.

My main concern with this game is not the game play or quality but the fact that all the data is on a sever run by the company. I think this is a mistake. If the IPO goes bankrupt the game effect becomes useless. It would be better to give all data and calculating soft as part of the starter set with internet update to add on to the game.

[Melwing17]

The staff just posted a new article explaining a bit more about how the combat mechanics work:

http://ex-illis.com/en/page2_article_melee.xml

Good stuff.

Atmospro- I'm jealous that you got to see the game in action. Did you peek the software? I'm wondering how the interface is for inputing your unit movement and such.

And I agree, storing it on servers is kind of scary. But the staff seems really customer service oriented and have posts guaranteeing that they'll be around for the long haul no matter the success of the game.

I know that promise doesn't mean much, but I get the feeling if they did go completely under they'd at least release the source to a free server or something (I'm not technical enough to use the right terms there :-P).

[Fencerjared]

Apparently, they're even talking about allowing easy transfer of miniatures through the second-hand market, which is pretty awesome and good to hear. I'm actually a little excited and scared about this game, if it's any good I will feel I have to buy it, and that's bad for my wallet.

[spacemonkeymafia]

I'll definitely check this out at GenCon but I don't have a lot of faith in this system... Typically cross genre games fail and this game seems to pull out the appealing things from both video games and tabletop war games and mash together the rest of the components: no dice rolling, computer mandatory needs go against the table top tradition, whereas the detailed long set-ups and mini "hobby" aspects go against the video game tradition. Typically when i play these kind of mash-ups, I find myself wanting to play a game that is more focused on one of the aspects and annoyed that the other side keeps getting in my way.

In the end I see this as just too niche at the moment and failing like Eye of Judgment did.

[Melwing17]

Bumping this for two reasons-

#1- This game didn't turn out how I had hoped. Thankfully, I didn't spend any money on it (they sent me a free set for my early support and turning a local game store on to the game). The execution ended up being a mess- the software feels impersonal and clunky. I'd rather use dice, at the end of the day. I hereby admit I was proven wrong :)

#2- ... nevermind #2, I found the answer :)

[yosefbender]

As a professional computer geek and a gamer, this idea sounds terrible to me.


I not a a computer gamer but I am a 35-year-old veteran wargamer tabletop miniatures has always been my first love. I have played games that of the lasted over 11 hours rule systems that it attempted to simulate all the intricate simulations of the real battle. Exillis solve the playability and realism paradox. I can play a large battle in about an hour and a half, no arguing over rules as the computer is the moderator and flawlessly executes thousands of dice rolls keeping track of all sorts of things like fatigue, moral decay, leadership, spells that continue to do damage over time etc. etc. no longer is a game won or lost from a few bad dice rolls in D6 role systems, in this game if you have a better strategy and a better deployment you are going to win consistently, no cheesy power stuff, the games point system keeps everything in balance.

I could never go back to standard miniatures game after experiencing the depth and strategic options this game affords me. My only wish is all other companies would follow this revolutionary evolution in wargaming.

[yosefbender]

I seldom look at the graphics just the results table and I prefer to put it in the dice rolling mode so I can see what dice were rolled it's based on a d 100, system with all sorts of modifiers.

I enjoy a well terrain table, with beautifully painted miniatures so that is where my eye is not on the computer

[ZBeeblebrox]

Not sure I want to get involved in another game, but those angel minis could be future Kyrie on my table :ponder:

[oni]

Thank you all for your feedback. I recently "discovered" the game on an online store and was intrigued. I still might get it, but I hate building and painting.

If any of you get it or play more games, I hope you'll keep posting details.

Thanks all!