Divine Right discussion and sample turn

[@thomaskaplan4898]

Just got the Kickstarter reprint of this classic. Great game.

[@Panzersonor1967]

I just ordered this myself. I love, love, love the old school art and vibe here. It was between this and burning banners, and I just couldn’t resist finally getting a copy of divine right. Would love to have the original, but too pricey.

[@RHampton]

Just "discovered" this early TSR setting and am happy to see that you've already found it, digested the rules, and made a video. Thank you.

[@richmcgee434]

9:28 Well, Chaosium's Dragon Pass/White Bear Red Moon of course, and I always thought Elric (while simple mechanically) had a lot of flavor. SPI's Swords & Sorcery for sure, you mentioned Albion, but I'd add their Omega War (another Ares magazine game) despite being scifi. Dwarfstar/Heritage's Demonlord is a microgame format so it lacks the room for much worldbuilding but is loaded with quirky counters that scream "backstory" especially among the neutral minor powers (who are randomized by location, with only one of two "legendary natives" actually being present in a given game). TSR's Revolt On Antares manages the same "how did you fit so much flavor in a microgame?" trick but in scifi.

[@JaWick_WitaStick]

I know this is an old comment, but if you had to pick one that won't break the bank, which would you choose?

[@GeekGamers01]

Not sure if this question is directed toward me or the person you commented under….are you looking to buy an old fantasy wargame? Is that the question? I love Albion but it isn’t a solo game (if that is of concern). Divine Right, as I show in this video, has lots of RPG elements and ways to attempt to make it solo-able and do more than just fight. But you need to really be heavy handed with house rules.

[@richmcgee434]

@@JaWick_WitaStick The Demonlord game I mentioned (cripes, 4 years ago? does youtube ever stop sending notifications?) is available free as a pdf download print & play if you search for Dwarfstar games. Same for most of the range - I believe only Dragon Rage is no longer on the site that hosts all the rules, and I would recommend all of them as worth a look. Barbarian Prince and Star Smuggler are both solo games, and of the others I think highly of Star Viking, Grav Armor and of course Demonlord for two-player. Free is an awfully hard price to beat. You can probably also find SPI's Swords & Sorcery (as well as most of their other games) online in pdf, although printing them out to make a DIY copy would be a project. IIRC S&S did have a few solo scenarios, as did the lesser-known Sorcerer game, but you might be better off with Deathmaze or Citadel of Blood (both procedural dungeoncrawls) if you want solo. There were also several solo games in Ares magazine (before it became a subsection of Dragon following the buyout) , including Stainless Steel Rat, Damocles Mission, and I think both the "Pandora" games. Most or all of those are easily found in physical form as well, but they will probably cost you pretty dear.

[@63worldseries]

"Minarian Legends: A Two-Thousand-Year History of the World of Divine Right" is now available at Barnes/Noble and Castalia House.

[@bluebotic2327]

These old game designs did so much with so little. The game really does seem to have a "storytelling machine / RPG" sort of vibe on top of the war-game mechanic. Though somewhat dated, I find the counters and map compelling. Thanks for sharing. I'd love to get my hands on a copy someday.

[@GeekGamers01]

I could not agree more with everything you’ve said. Thanks for the comment and I’m glad you enjoyed the video. It took me a while of looking but I eventually turned up this copy with a very reasonable trade. Hope you find it eventually!

[@ullr1159]

Excellent job demonstrating a classic game. I got my copy at a Dallas game store in 1980. Still have it. Brilliant design and gameplay. Infinitely customizable. Thanks and game on!

[@GeekGamers01]

Thank you so much. You made a great decision to keep your original purchase! I am glad you enjoyed the video, and totally agree about the brilliance of this design and game. Thanks for commenting.

[@slaakattak]

When do you want to play it? Im in North Carolina. :-D

[@jwboone62]

Thank you for the sample play. I’ve always been interested in this game but never acquired it.

[@coutts1248]

I still have my copy of this edition of the game which I played to death back in the 80s. My box is in a bad way, but otherwise good. I haven't played it in decades, so it's great to see it getting some love!

[@KakashiInWinter]

Same, word for word. :)

[@commanderboreal1343]

How did I miss out of such a game!! This is a true epic of a game! Excellent video by the way !! :D

[@GeekGamers01]

Glad you enjoyed the video. It’s a pretty unique game and you can probably find a copy if you are patient enough.

[@cole9799]

TSR games were the best back then

[@matthewsgaming5333]

I love this. Very detailed, no filling in time, it's all good info!

[@usapatriot4163]

Fine video! Great looking game! Wish you could play more of the game. Good to see you playing!

[@GeekGamers01]

Thanks and good to hear from you. I really do regret not filming when I played the game earlier before setting this one up. I should have realized... I've taken it down but already miss it. Maybe over the summer I'll get it out again and think about creating a story scenario of sorts and get back to it. There are so many way to go with it in terms of initial set ups--various alliances; various distributions of magic items and special mercenaries--I'd love to try a bunch out and film some of that play if it turned out to be interesting.

[@McCrackan]

The second edition introduced historical scenarios, which are basically what you're talking about: stories about Minaria's past and future histories along with rules that let you play them out. These scenarios will be included in the forthcoming third edition.

[@Lwilibert]

this is gorgeous. such a thing doesnt exist in my country, never did.

[@GeekGamers01]

It’s hard now to find even in the U.S.

[@slaakattak]

@@GeekGamers01 Fear not my Drooogies! I will re-engineer & release this glorious game within my lifetime! :-D

[@slaakattak]

Luchiop, Where are you?

[@Lwilibert]

@@slaakattak Sorry I never got a notification of your comment. I'm from Argentina. I'm also an illustrator, let me know if you need help with this.

[@leechen4401]

Fabulous run through! A first for Divine Right after all these years, interestingly enough. Something tells me that we'll not be trading for LoA after all... ah, but I'm glad this title is being enjoyed by someone capable of appreciating it. Perhaps we'll have a go at it sometime.

[@GeekGamers01]

Hi, Lee! Glad you enjoyed the video. I, too, was surprised that there was no existing video on it until now. Odd, since it seems to have a pretty devoted fan base. Yeah about LoA. As I said in another comment, I'm already missing having this one out on the table and will be thinking about developing a more detailed story scenario to get out and play through when I have more table space this summer.

[@jackmormon7555]

The Mivior leader does not create a zone of siege. The trolls can exit during their turn into the leaders hex and force him to make a leader fate die roll. Really enjoy your videos. Thank you

[@GeekGamers01]

Jack Mormon Thanks for the correction. Glad you enjoy my videos. I have been thinking I need to get Divine Right out again soon. Such a unique gaming experience.

[@garyk2629]

There is talk of a reprint, but the folks involved seem to be taking their sweet time as it has been at least five years since they first talked about it.

[@McCrackan]

I'm the editor of DR. Believe me, no one wants to see DR back in print more than I do. I sold my copies of the first (TSR) and second (Right Stuf) editions because they are unplayable to me, my mind having been immersed in the more intuitive third edition rules for so long. I am not at liberty to explain the hold-up in publication, but I can tell you that the third edition was playtested at the Guns of August wargaming convention in August. So...there's that.

[@garyk2629]

J. McCrackan thanks for replying. Good luck with getting the 3rd edition out.

[@garyk2629]

​@@McCrackan heard it's finally happening? Hope they're going to apply some of your suggested improvements.

[@McCrackan]

@@garyk2629 I just got word from the publisher that he expects to receive a shipment from the printer next week. This will be DR3, a high-quality update to TSR's DR1 edition with minimal changes to the rulebook and components other than much higher quality. DRX is my baby, though, the edition I've been working on since 1997, which should be available some time next year.

[@MarkCMG]

This is a game that I play at least once a year and love every time (usually at Gary Con)!

[@GeekGamers01]

Mark CMG Clover It’s a special and unique game. I need to get it out again soon!

[@MarkCMG]

@@GeekGamers01 No doubt. I have yet to try it on the online format but I hear the Vassel (virtual tabletop) version works pretty well.

[@GeekGamers01]

Mark CMG Clover yes I could see it would. I am adverse to playing board games on computer personally but it is a great option for many I know!

[@toasToaTs]

This game looks super cool. It's getting some interest because Cole Wehrle referenced it in his designer diaries for Oath. I hope they do a reasonably priced reprint soon, looks like a good game to play with my little ones once they get older.

[@GeekGamers01]

Ah I did not know that (about Oath). That game looks interesting.... thanks for pointing this out.

[@chrisperrien7055]

Good multi-player game. Risk meets D&D. If you ever see a copy, know this game, in all its editions is super-rare and goes for $200-400 on resell market. Some can go past that. If you see a copy at a thift shp/bookstore/estate sale/etc cheap , I would definitely get it ---------------------------- On the rules Yea, it does need a few house rules. Biggest #1 I suggest. On a tied die role for combat "an exchange" a weaker army that is totally destroyed in an exchange can only inflict the number of losses equal to its army strength count. We did this because "suicide exchange attacks " were a common tactic and problem, which could wipe out another nation's ( or all nations) army/fleet strengths pretty quick.

[@dmchuck2575]

It was a great game (still is). The old Minarian Legends articles from Dragon magazine made the world come alive. It was very much done as a competitor to the great Red Moon and White Bear from Chaosium. The later large purple box reprint was nice, but added in too much, I think.

[@richmcgee434]

You could probably also add SPI's Swords & Sorcery to the other two games in terms of the "let's all make big, flavorful fantasy wargames in our own quirky settings" category. At a stretch maybe Yaquinto's Beastlord too, although that one's awfully weak on flavor compared to the other three IMO.

[@davedogge2280]

In our group we play Divine Right with the Intermediate Rules, the basic rules come free in the box. Here is a link to the intermediate rules: boardgamegeek.com/filepage/2590/divinerightadvancedrulespdf and here the advanced rules: boardgamegeek.com/filepage/2590/divinerightadvancedrulespdf . I could not wait for the 3rd edition of this game which is still in development so I bought the 25th anniversary edition.

[@GeekGamers01]

My game, 2nd edition from 1979, came with basic and advanced rules. I don't think you put the intermediate rules link for the 20th anniversary edition of the rules. They are here: boardgamegeek.com/filepage/101369/divine-right-intermediate-rules

[@DrCruel]

You would have been waiting a long time. McCrackan's team was puttering around with a reprint for years but nothing ever came of it so Glenn Rahman went with someone called Timothy Beale, aka "Vox Day," who has some experience with science fiction book publishing. McCracken didn't take it lying down, with him and his team calling Beale and Rahman "Nazis" and all sorts of other nasty things. Beale didn't deliver (this being an ancient curse of Rahman's) but a third party did step in (Grant Wylie from Worthington Publishing/Pungo Games). They got both Rahman and McCracken onboard with the project and it looks like they'll Kickstarter in Feb/March and be out with the finished reprint by this summer. Something else. The ancient fabled expansion, "Scarlet Empire," is promised as part of a reprint with high quality components. Worthington Games is a real board game company that publishes high quality games, so this new and improved version should blow away the old 25th Anniversary edition (which already goes for $200-$400 and up). McCracken's people have been puttering away at this stuff for years, so expect a lot of chrome ... when it comes out in a few months (crossed fingers and toes). There's a video on Google titled *"Divine Right with Scarlet Empire- together at last",* giving some sneak peeks of both the old game and the expansion, some map changes, and what the full map of Minaria with the southern "Witchlands" expansion map looks like. Check it out.

[@davedogge2280]

@@DrCruel thanks for the info, had I not read this, it would have passed me by. Hasn't it been renamed to 'Burning Banners' on the Kickstarter ?

[@DrCruel]

@@davedogge2280 'Burning Banners' doesn't look at all like Divine Right, an it's out out by Compass Games. The DR/SE game hasn't entered Kickstarter yet - Grant Wylie's announcement on Board Game Geek (BGG) claimed it would be up by February or March. I thought fans of the game would be interested (I know I am) so I put up what I knew for those concerned. Caveat emptor. I've been hearing rumors about a "Scarlet Empire" expansion for almost half a century now, from back when I was a youngling playing a copy of the original game. It's never been more than rumors over that entire time. I was waiting around for years on the original Divine Right Hotmail board. I've never seen it be this close since the 25th Anniversary Edition, and I've never seen the actual Scarlet Empire map until now. Will it all dissipate into the vapor once again? Worthington Games is on the project this time, a real game publishing company with 85 titles to its credit. McCracken and his team did all sorts of things in their puttering period. This is the closest I've ever seen the expansion come to reality. Sounds legit, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous about the floor falling out once again. All I can do is put the info out and let fans check it out for themselves. From there, you know as much as I do.

[@perplexedmoth]

What are the differences between first and second edition of this game?

[@helenslater3129]

That's another awesome map. I would be itching to use that for an RPG! Was it a paper map that you put a clear perspex sheet over?

[@GeekGamers01]

Helen Slater Yep a great map and I have had plans to use it in an RPG home brew. Just not gotten around to it... my “to do” list for the channel is very long! And yes it is a paper map with some plexi. I wish it were mounted!

[@KakashiInWinter]

I always wanted to use this map for a TTRPG... but also, behind the scenes, be playing the actual game, so that as players move around the map, they run into "big picture" incidents that happen in the game.

[@FerreusDeus]

Oh my god, this is joyous!

[@thegimpygamer]

Cool video. Never heard of this one before.

[@GeekGamers01]

Thanks. Yes this is a pretty unique game that seems to have just kind of faded away.

[@kevinerskine3299]

Thanks for this. I'd often heard about the game, but never seen it. I'd love to see someone bring this and Magic Realm back to life with much nicer components.

[@GeekGamers01]

It's a very rich game and even with an hour video I could only scratch the surface. While the components do show their age, for what it is, that's fine with me.

[@davedogge2280]

Magic Realm is a strange one, a game with great depth (I have 2 copies of it although I think it is print and play on board game gee with the original designer's consent). Perhaps Mage Knight is the closest thing available to Magic Realm these days.

[@GeekGamers01]

Wow how in the world do you have 2 copies of MR?! Have you played it often? My interest in it jumps from high to low every few months. I"m not sure it really is like MK except for the fantasy setting, but having never played it I could be wrong. To me, MK is at its core a card game. All the significant game mechanics involve card/hand management.

[@davedogge2280]

I got two copies of Magic Realm because I bought it from ebay and neither stated that it was 100% complete and I couldn't find PDF's of all the original components in case some where missing so I hedged my bets with two copies of an ancient classic game. I've played Magic Realm and say comparing it to Mage Knight which I know you've played, I would say that Magic Realm has more of an adventure feel to it whereas Mage Knight perhaps feels more mechanical, I've played 6 Magic Realm Games in all. With Magic Realm I can see that some guy named Karim on Board Game Geek has redesigned the components and made them available for free, they look great but I didn't have the time to create, I would grab them fast as the rights to the game seem a bit wooly at the moment, you don't know if Hasbro has them all or whether the original designer retains some of them.

[@GeekGamers01]

I could never make that PNP! I loosely want to trade for Magic Realm but the few times a trade has been suggested I've decided against. There's just something about it that makes me feel like I want to have played it, but not actually play it (if you know what I mean). I suspect it is probably best played/learned by being taught in person. I have the first edition rules, which with their programmed instruction don't actually seem that daunting. Certainly I play games of equal or more complexity.

[@MisterMac4321]

Nice to see this old nugget getting some play.

[@GeekGamers01]

Thanks, Lancer. Glad you enjoyed it!

[@cole9799]

Game was great, every sigle move on every single turn we have to do reseach to make sure it was done correctly........FYI i pronounce Rombune (Rom-Bune)

[@blacknwhitehound]

Great classic

[@nonpolygon]

Trying to find a complete copy of this game, any tips for finding something like that? Thanks! Great video.

[@GeekGamers01]

Have you tried the BGG marketplace ? Could be pricey there or at ebay. Not sure where else to suggest. There may be places on Facebook to buy old games like this but I’m not on that platform and wouldn’t know.

[@nonpolygon]

Thanks!

[@colinspeirs]

Hi For fantasy wargames with Diplomacy, heroes, characters and stories then it would be good if you could find a copy of "White Bear, Red Moon" better known as Dragon Pass. This is set in the world of "Glorantha", better known as the home world of the "RuneQuest" role playing game Dragon Pass is a well fought over crossroads of cultures, who are represented in the game with different abilities snd tactics, and there are different scenarios Divine Right kind of looks like TSR was trying to do the same sort of game There was talk of a Dragon Pass reprint kickstarter. RuneQuest recently had one for 2nd edition

[@GeekGamers01]

Thanks for this. I have heard of that game and it's probably even on my BGG want in trade list but it hasn't been atop my list for trying to get. I will definitely have more of a look into it as it sounds great from what you write. Appreciate the pointer.

[@BryanLeeDavidson]

Wow this game is going for a lot on ebay.

[@Lerxstification]

Funny how the black hand is actually white.