Dominion is the latest ‘big box’ release for Games Workshop’s popular fantasy franchise Age of Sigmar. It’s a very gritty high fantasy setting, mixing hyperbolic style with the sort of grim darkness that is the hallmark of the Warhammer brand. It’s a setting filled with fading glory, decaying magics, desperate last-ditch missions but also loud and impressive cinematic action. Bright yet grim. The new box introduces the game’s third edition, and it’s one of the most impressive boxes we’ve seen to date.
By now we all know the drill with Games Workshop big-box games; absolutely loads of models to assemble and paint, high quality components and very nicely put together rule book that is rammed with art and ideas. The whole thing is intended to inspire you to get into the hobby, harnessing your creativity and delivering some very well thought out and clever hobby pieces. The box contains 60 models for you to put together.
(They push-fit and they are instructions, but do use glue if you want them to last). These models will form two armies; the Stormcast Eternals (knights in shining armour) and the deadly Orruks. (Massive orcs that exemplify cruelty with every breath).
The models are gorgeous. This is Games Workshop; even their brutal Orruk warlords are visually stunning. It’s entirely what we expect from Nottingham’s finest creative powerhouse.
We also get Warscroll cards for all the units. The game assumes you have access to tape measures and dice; if not these are readily available either from your friendly local games store or elsewhere.
We get two books; one is the previously mentions rule book. It’s a hard back, it’s 360-pages and it’s crammed with photos and pictures. The second book is a soft-cover introductory affair that is intended for new players who might get a little intimidated by the huge book initially. It’s very well done and perfect for younger players or older types who haven’t played in ages.
Rules wise, this is essentially a clean-up and focus of the existing rules set. We ran a limited game using the models provided in the box and it feels smoother and more accessible. The rules have been tidied, streamlined and balanced. On the one had this does mean that the game is now less forgiving of tactical mistakes; forget a rule or tactical advantage and you’re more likely to suffer for it, but also the game is just smoother and more fun to play.
Every effort has been made to make the whole thing accessible.
We also liked the way the units played on the table. Looking at the character units, Yndrasta the Celestial Spear is a gorgeous model that you’ll want to have out on the table because it’s such a nice piece. It also constantly buffs your Storm Cast units, making it an amazing choice. The Lord-Imperatant will let you get units into the fight faster, is nifty in battle and has a Gryph-hound, which as we know are the best pets in Warhammer. The Knight Arcanum piece looks mystic and creepy, which exactly right.
Magic in this Warhammer fantasy game is straight forward and fun; older gamers may recall that magic was slow and fiddly in previous iterations of this game, but Age of Sigmar keeps it both simple and dramatic, without slowing down the game. The Knight Vexillor is a banner bearer, and a great example of Games Workshop’s current design approach – fun to paint without requiring lots of skill (but if you have the skill you can have more fun). On the table the banner bearer generates the sort of proximity bonuses you’d expect but again, it’s all laid out so the game presents the right sort of challenge (and fun) without feeling like a math’s exam.
The Stormcast rank and file are nicely posed and balanced. They are enough options to keep even the pickiest player happy.
Orruk wise, these are classic Games Workshop bad guys; muscular horrors wielding wicked blades. The Killaboss is a big shield wielding bad guy (and he has a helper goblin). We get a Shaman who is very useful, especially when you roll well. There’s also a mounted Killaboss. It’s mount is a giant lizard/lion thing and it’s gloriously horrible. This thing is a steamroller in combat and will happily crush a whole front rank if you let it.
Finally we get the gloriously titled Murk Knob, a vile looking banner bearer who will protect your units from various powerful spell attacks.
Orruks come into their own with the rank and file units, and this box does not disappoint. With names like hobgrot slittaz, gutrippaz and kruleboyz, these pieces deliver on the promised of wicked looking villains. They are also as brutal and as cunning on the table as you’d expect from orcs. Fun, pure and simple.
Overall, this is an astonishing set, and well worth the investment if you paint or play Warhammer, or want to find out what all the fuss is about.
