Trench Crusade | A New Skirmish Game Designed by the Creator of Mordheim

Created by Mike Franchina, Game design by Tuomas Pirinen and layout by James Sherriff, Trench Crusade is a new skirmish game that will pit Heaven and Hell against each other for the fate of humanity.
You can learn more at www.trenchcrusade.com/
All channel support and affiliate links (become a supporter, merch and more):
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Music courtesy of Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio

[@RattlerNxt]

I’m a sucker for Alternate-WW1 games

[@lordanthrax2417]

Recommendation for anyone who is a sucker for alternate-ww1 games: Last War Based on Mörk Bork. Played on a small table with 5 minis per side and hostile monsters to spice up the game. Give it a try ;)

[@snewsh]

WW1 doesnt get enough love.

[@Taeckersch]

Yeah, me too! All mixed with a bit of Grimdark.

[@conscript900]

Trench crusade feels like one of those things that would do well in a TTRPG fashion but would definately be mature niche.

[@MiniatureGameMontage]

100% leans to the RPG side. I’ll have to figure how to approach it with my younger son that plays.

[@conscript900]

@@MiniatureGameMontage Certainly would be a trick to consider given the themes at play. But some kids take the darker stories and flourish with them positively.

[@ixandroid6085]

Never Going Home like stuff

[@andreacappelletti5442]

Yes but the good guys do too flay people alive !!

[@indrafides2648]

The guy making this keeps sharing cool STL files with the backers as well which for those of us with printers is amazing! I printed out the rules for the game and then a few weeks later they updated it and gifted another STL. I think this has been the best Kickstarter experience I have had so far. Guy communicates with the fans and keeps us all up to date and is super transparent. I am chomping at the bit to see some more models based on the art especially that red halo guy with out a face

[@MiniatureGameMontage]

Hell yeah! I’ve have some more coverage in the next few weeks as well.

[@piethegreat17]

Is it still possible to pick up the STLs somewhere or did you have to be part of the original Kickstarter?

[@MiniatureGameMontage]

@@piethegreat17 as far as I know the original Kickstarter for now.

[@indrafides2648]

@@piethegreat17 I know that before the discord got set on fire they were sharing the female communicant which was cool. If you ask around you might get lucky in that people are willing to share the STl files that were gifted.

[@kylestanley7843]

​@@indrafides2648 What happened in the Discord? Lmao

[@masterzoroark6664]

Hey, I've been following the artist behind the art of this game for a while. Neat to see that the world he was making got a game adaptation.

[@timberry4709]

The art reminds me of Brom. And that's a good thing.

[@Yorkington]

I love the setting, war between Good and Evil, literally.

[@BrotherHood-xh9sg]

Oh yeah, "good". Wasn't there a machine in the setting where they break the bodies of people over to bless it? Let's be honest, just like 40k, there are no good guys. Just shades of f'ed up.

[@snackelwolf4462]

Weird War is my fav setting, thanks for the video. Following this closely.

[@bloodrunsclear]

You made Mordheim, my favorite miniature game of all time. Hats off to you sir!

[@MiniatureGameMontage]

I did? 🙂 That’s awesome. We’ve got Mordheim coming next!

[@Jan_Tabletop]

Very good introduction. Thanks for the video! Will share. I am interested in the game. The world is crazy. Like it. The Art is just awesome.

[@MiniatureGameMontage]

Narratively, it looks incredible. I really enjoy telling stories with games. The game mechanics also feel really interesting. To say I'm excited is an understatement :)

[@DeusMachina71]

Oh its Toumas.. Mordhiem was my favorite game of all time. I'm definitely gonna check this out

[@bvshark89]

The red dice mechanic is such a neat thing. I saw it but didn't read it yet. Thank you for the summary of everything!

[@MiniatureGameMontage]

Yeah I like it. Really makes you pay attention to your fighters activating with red dice on them. And your opponent!

[@burroc5536]

Wow got Tuomos to help intro that’s awesome definitely some nerd-cred there. I’ll definitely be taking a look at this game.

[@MiniatureGameMontage]

It was an unexpected and pleasant surprise!

[@lonl123]

I have been following Trench Crusade for a few months...I'm definitely going to buy in when it hits kick starter. I hope they keep the adult grim dark...I know a lot of wargame publishers will tone down things to try and attract a younger audience...based on the art and comments from the people behind it, I think they will keep it a mature game....Some of the more gruesome monsters and entities will probably make incredible miniatures for table top. Thanks for covering this, I hope you do some play through's when it finally does release.

[@MiniatureGameMontage]

Yes they have a disclaimer on the front that’s it’s for mature audiences. I don’t think that will change. I don’t think they are looking to be 40K and appeal to all players, ages and types (casual/competitive).

[@popsmokeflashbang9527]

I am so excited for this game as someone that has recently left Warhammer. This looks like an absolute banger. I am completely an utterly invested love everything about it signed up for the 2024 kick starter

[@MiniatureGameMontage]

The lore that is being written is incredible! I’m on the hype train!

[@gryphon0468]

Why'd you leave Warhammer?

[@Yashu1105]

I'm onboard the hype train for months and already built two forces and terrain for Trench crusade

[@MiniatureGameMontage]

I need to work on some terrain. Time to tap into my inner Eric’s Hobby Workshop!

[@spencer40k22]

I love seeing more content about this game, I've been busy kit-bashing and preparing for the full release!

[@SerV689]

I’m already thinking of some absolutely wild homebrew forces

[@pjsines4705]

Interesting rules and love the vibe. Reminds me of Brom and Dark Age Miniatures.

[@CreatorCade]

I'm loving the storyline so far and the artwork is wicked.

[@warhammerclipsandbits910]

Sounds like Modiphius games skirmish rules, similar to Wasteland Warfare or Elder Scrolls Call to Arms. I'm interested!

[@tremolo_painter]

Those minis look amazing! Not for kids, sure, but really chilling sculpts.

[@phoenixalexanderpendragon8032]

this looks really cool ill have to look into it

[@Iron_Wyvern]

Amazing art

[@Lorgar64]

"The setting looks dark, some might say grimdark." Such as the creator. A minute earlier.

[@MiniatureGameMontage]

I had my bit made earlier. 🤣 I had no idea Tuomas would make a cameo. Pretty awesome!

[@WolfearOfficial]

Imagine a Helldivers like game in this setup

[@slowlife107]

The plus and minus dice sounds like a really good system for making a more complex 6 sided dice game.

[@MiniatureGameMontage]

Agreed. In a sense it combines the hit and wound roll into a single throw.

[@owensthilaire8189]

Sounds like the most recent D&D idea of rolling with or without advantage. Less clumsy that plus numbers and negative numbers.

[@brunofrance4776]

I can't find any battle reports of this yet, so I hope you do one in the future. Thanks for bringing more notice to the game.

[@MiniatureGameMontage]

Thanks! I hope to get some miniatures soon and do a demo game.

[@user-eu6sq5xx3u]

​@MiniatureGiameMontage I am getting some minis from different patreons and trying to build a band

[@MiniatureGameMontage]

@@user-eu6sq5xx3u nice! I’ve got some test minis coming on Monday to paint up and get going. I’m really excited

[@user-eu6sq5xx3u]

@@MiniatureGameMontage I am printing the KS ones and looking to créate some diabolic troops with some Kriegs modifes, this game got my hype over 9000

[@neimenovani7256]

That sounds bloody awesome

[@SPARTANTROOPER]

Oh damn, more news on trench crusade.

[@itsreallyme1260]

Really looking forward to this, loving the horror elements

[@haruhiistextremist3476]

Looks cool, I hope a version with big armies comes out

[@skylermuncy2218]

Cane across an STL file proxy model for something called an "artillery witch" and that introduced me to this. Looks pretty cool so far

[@markoplo2008]

Liking the look of this game as well 👍

[@John_on_the_mountain]

Im so excited for this

[@KT-xx5ch]

Hellgate had potential. Enjoyed the motif. Am looking forward to this!

[@dissident_mantis7]

Leaving Warhammer for this and I am excited to get involved in this games inception.

[@LifeofSquidMann]

This looks like it'll give me more than enough of the Grimdark 40k's been lacking for the past few years

[@username12120]

Been checking this game out, the lore doc and the playtest rules, I'm sold. Gonna be bashing out some warbands and seeing if anyone else nearby wants to give it a go.

[@nohrtenko]

I don't know what's on the left at 2:09, but I would absolutely love to have a squad of those on my team. I've got a friend who I think would love the theme of this game and I've been looking for something other than kill team to mix things up! I can't wait to see how this project develops.

[@chapo233]

Heretic commandos basically stealth units that infiltrate church trenches and bunkers to kill soldiers

[@ryandugan9176]

The rules look fun so far. There's a couple design quirks I'm curious as to the reasoning behind, namely when values are rounded they are rounded up by default but there is at least one specific occasion where they are instead rounded down in what feels like an arbitrary design choice and unnecessary complexity. In another, some of the subfactions have much stricter rosters but don't at least at first impression feel like they justify losing as much access to options as they do. I'd love to hear more of your thoughts on the system and the factions and subfactions as you dive into the rules more deeply.

[@MiniatureGameMontage]

Thanks! I’ll be doing a 1.3 update and how to play video in about 2 weeks. I’ll try to identify and cover those.

[@pollonoop9193]

se ve muy divertido la verdad, que pena que probablemente no llegue a Latinoamérica

[@tiegsocrate7]

It seems very close to Hell Dorado

[@calebhebert2733]

neat

[@thathandsomedevil0828]

Say no more, I am in! DEUS VULT!!

[@GuCaMiniatures]

R....re....rep....REPORT PLEASE! Arw you planning to play it soon? Nice introducción. I would like to try it myself.

[@MiniatureGameMontage]

I need some themed models first. I could use Guardsman and Death Guard as a proxy I guess. I might do a practice game soon 🙂

[@deepjoes1072]

32mm Scale 😢

[@jedrzejmoleda8051]

Today Facebook showed me this... wow... I must find my old Capitol (Warzone) Trenchcoat miniatures and do some work ! Where can I find more lore?

[@MiniatureGameMontage]

Hey that's cool! Thanks for sharing how you found it. Join the FB group. You'll find so much there being worked on and shared with the community.

[@d5148]

Why do the Good pilgrims looks so evil tho

[@MiniatureGameMontage]

It's a dark place no matter who you are.

[@DarkMargenal]

Welcome to the land of grimdark, where everything is scaled on levels of fucked upery

[@syrienangel4137]

Honestly, if I saw that pligrim cleave a demon in half in front of me, he would look a little less evil in my eyes.

[@clanorangechicken6648]

i HATE that minus dice rule...... makes too complicated

[@darthrazor66]

Thx for the video. Rules look interesting. But I'm still busy, finishing my Turnip 28 army. Just convinced my gaming partners to play Turnip. So, no need for a new game system any time soon. But I will have an eye on the development.

[@faithfullukodureg2140]

Another grimdark universe/game set in the mud! Every ten/twenty years there comes a theme that people go nuts over. In 2010s every videogame/movie had a piss filter and now in 2020s everything has mud filter lmao. No sun, mud, hopelessness, doomed world,... I wonder what will be a theme in a decade or two later. My money is on the realistic fantasy such as d&d 1st ed art

[@Alex-yg5uh]

Hrrmm...was thinking this game would have been massed armies considering the trench warfare theme, arty and vehicles also. Coming from 30K these single squad "skirmish" type games are not very interesting imo. Shame because the setting is a great idea.

[@Michael_Gombos]

Since Mordheim is the best game, ever, I'm very excited for this.

[@AncientRylanor69]

2

[@marqofthedwyne]

So 40k but for Death Korps of Krieg fans, and set on an Alternate Earth.

[@MiniatureGameMontage]

It takes place on earth on an alternative timeline to the Great War.

[@user-eu6sq5xx3u]

Not at all.

[@daltonevans7345]

Well yes, but actually no.

[@Marinealver]

I think in order for table top miniature games to come back we need a FULL DIVORCE from Games Workshop to include EVERYONE that used to work there.

[@mid-westmusic3472]

I heard the discord has been locked down.

[@MiniatureGameMontage]

That is what I'm seeing. Not sure what happened.

[@mariuscatalin5982]

​@@MiniatureGameMontage discord was highly woke and tolerated ZERO discord and did mass bans

[@MiniatureGameMontage]

@@mariuscatalin5982 Yeah I left on my own accord. I'll join the TC discord when they get it set up.

[@EmperorTyrael]

@@MiniatureGameMontage I got a feeling you will be banned immediately the moment you bring up the mass ban even if you don't bring up politics.

[@MiniatureGameMontage]

@@EmperorTyrael I don’t bring up much. I stay to myself except for sharing hobby content. I’m a bit of a personal person when not on camera. I don’t really engage in chit chat political or other.

[@GarGhuul]

NGL I am more interested in the setting and lore. Minis don’t.

[@MiniatureGameMontage]

The lore I've seen is really well thought out. There's a few points of contention but the setting is outstanding.

[@Legio_Purpura_30_18]

And it's kaput.

[@Amfortas]

Seems a bit all style over substance to me

[@MiniatureGameMontage]

It’s interesting as it’s like rolling to hit and wound on the same roll versus two. Definitely more still to come I would say.

[@Amfortas]

@@MiniatureGameMontage look forward to it!

[@JakanMcCaucaugh-zf4ch]

Too bad it's gunna be DOA 🤣🤣 Get woke, go...well...nowhere at all in this case.

[@MiniatureGameMontage]

I’m not sure what people want. This game doesn’t belong to anyone but the development team. They never set out to be “woke” or “anti-woke.” They just want to make a good game. Everyone can choose to play or not. But there’s still plenty of interest.

[@JakanMcCaucaugh-zf4ch]

@@MiniatureGameMontage then why are the creators mass banning people over political views 🤣🤣

[@lordhellfire153]

​@@JakanMcCaucaugh-zf4ch because those views are "these groups I don't like need to be exterminated"

[@connernickerson5509]

@@lordhellfire153 Allow me to set fire to that strawman.

[@westernfreedom5031]

Its going to be dead on arrival because of how they are treating people.

[@IKMojito]

How are they treating people? All I've seen so far it's a cool community and a really cool team behind it

[@vokkera6995]

@@IKMojitothere was a “western traditionalist” who got told to piss off recently. Also check out the name of the guy you replied to and I think you’ll figure out why he’s upset

[@moncro1871]

@@vokkera6995😂

[@Thatdude126]

Boycott gay Trench

[@captaincanuck6738]

Was interested until they went woke.

[@odhranmooney3636]

Wdyem man

[@cronykil74]

Yawn

[@syrienangel4137]

@@cronykil74 Well, seems this franchise is already dead.

[@wilsun3638]

What happened?

[@MARStheFORSAKEN]

trench crusade is woke,they told the warhammer players fleeing woke GW that they are not welcome in the community

[@me_ya_boi]

-look around -no one cares

[@Blunderbussy]

so, they got rejected by GW and now by this company? HAHAHHAHAHAAHHAHAHAHAHAH must suck to be you

[@syrienangel4137]

@@me_ya_boi *Looks at current Trench Crusade videos* Oh you poor fool...

[@syrienangel4137]

Yeah, apparently this setting is dead on arrival.

[@syrienangel4137]

@@Blunderbussy Sucks to be them you mean. It's funny to see people think this will end well for the devs.

[@socialnetworking4782]

well i was interested in this but man, the political part of the dev team is turning me off. I want a game to play with my friends, not one that insults half of them.

[@MiniatureGameMontage]

I'm not 100% sure what happened. I know TC is starting their own discord. Always a few sides to every story and I tend to stay clear of politics.

[@socialnetworking4782]

@@MiniatureGameMontage exactly my point. I wish games would leave it alone and let us be friends with all people. I have conservative friends who play right alongside the leftist friends. We've always respected each other and laughed and played together. Miss that kind of mentality. The game itself is really awesome looking.

[@MiniatureGameMontage]

@@socialnetworking4782 yeah I lean one way. My wife leans another. We still meet in the middle and our marriage is totally good.

[@socialnetworking4782]

@@MiniatureGameMontage dude, thats actually awesome to hear. We need more people who normalize disagreement, we gotta work together and value eachother. You earned a sub from me.

[@MiniatureGameMontage]

@@socialnetworking4782 Cheers, bud. All about respect at the end of the day. We don't have to agree.

[@TheBrimfire]

so people get purged from discord because someone on twitter was offended? seems like oyu got the GW vharrus-.- sad glad i didnt order anything from trench crusade

[@MiniatureGameMontage]

No idea what you are talking about. I don’t discuss politics or whatever peoples opinions are on my channel. If you like the game great, if not, no matter the reason, cool.

[@TheBrimfire]

@@MiniatureGameMontage apparently there is a discord 28, where game devs are also arround and they started kicking banning people, because someone started a catfight and called some people chuds while others where clout goblins and now they shut it on private for now-.- i get your feeling but people getting kicked because someone: believes something about someone else (and the game devs are on the same server and reading it and doing nothing) is not a good thing to witness

[@MiniatureGameMontage]

@@TheBrimfire yeah I don’t get involved in that stuff. Like politics. I’m East, my wife is West and we meet in the middle. I’m just making hobby content about things that excite me.

[@heleti0000]

This looked so awesome - but then I read about the concerning support for “woke” ideas and the active rejection of “refugees” from the “woke destruction” of 40k. I will reserve my judgement but will not be supporting the kickstarter if they intend to adopt the morals of the latest Dr Who. Sad, because the setting and engine look incredible.

[@BrotherHood-xh9sg]

Also a very woke company behind the game. So I don't have high hopes.

[@StaryBrudnyLis187]

Why everything is tainted by woke ?! Everyone hate the woke pest yet it getting bigger and stronger, its like cancer it kills the host even if this is the end of it self

[@BrotherHood-xh9sg]

@@StaryBrudnyLis187 Completely agree. Despite the outrage of many fans, it doesn't seem like it's stopping, and that suks. Interesting settings, stories, opportunities etc. ruined again and again by these people.

[@HeadCannonPrime]

Unfortunately this doesn't appeal to me. It's TOO grimdark, stripping all the lighthearted fun out of a game. Nobody in my club would want to play either faction in this. Also I don't like overt real world religious themes in games. Heaven, hell, actual demons and devout religious stuff holds zero interest for me.

[@MiniatureGameMontage]

I understand! 👍

[@TheDragonfriday]

Eh ever heard of warhammer 40k?

[@HeadCannonPrime]

@@TheDragonfriday 40k is goofy grimdark Disneyland style. The chaos gods are NOT IRL world religions, and the DAEmons are basically "evil" skittles. There is nothing remotely realistic about 40k.

[@davidobrien6643]

Sounds good. heaven and hell. Wow, what's that about. Which ones are hellish and which ones are heavenly. I can't tell from your pictures.

[@MiniatureGameMontage]

In this period even the forces of Heaven have these big brutes. With the theme, you won't see any angelic style figures.

[@davidobrien6643]

@@MiniatureGameMontage when you mention the forces of heaven, do you mean actual real world deities from notable religions like can we expect to get a jesus character with superpowers of apocalyptic mass destruction as a high level leader or commander. Or is it based on a fictional fantastic Bible attained from a divergence of the old world powers from the real timeline of events. I know this will be totally different from the Warhammer narrative that the emperor installed of secular society and lifestyle. If this is not games workshop material then I suppose there is nothing to fear from these orders of good and evil as in the 40k terran landscape all religions are outlawed. The descriptions and artwork look interesting and distinguished, but lacks a macro perspective on their genesis of where they came from and how they have evolved into such opposing contradictions. did they literally come from heaven and hell to fight on earth to establish domination over humanity or are they humans fighting battles for such entities of divinity.

[@MiniatureGameMontage]

@@davidobrien6643 still to be determined but the setting is on Earth I believe. I would assume things are as we know, but existing in an alternative timeline so really anything is possible.

[@davidobrien6643]

@@MiniatureGameMontage if it is a divergence from the WW1 timeline and there is no armistice, do you suppose that the war continuing is a good thing for heaven or hell because it is an opportunity to expose the enemy and seek a convincing victory of absolute dominance over the planet. Is there an introduction or prologue of events that leads to the war not ending as it did in November 1918.

[@sbecker1265]

This sounded interesting until they went woke af. Now I’m a hard pass.

[@aazz9676]

Been there done that already. It was a little thing called Vraks.