# Burning Banners

## General Info
- **Year Published**: 2024
- **BGG Rating**: 8.2
- **BGG Rank**: #1704
- **Players**: 2-6 (Best with: 2)
- **Duration**: 60-180 min
- **Weight**: 3.14 / 5
- **Designers**: Christopher Moeller
- **Artists**: Christopher Moeller
- **Publishers**: Compass Games, Ediciones MasQueOca, HIT Games, NAC Wargames
- **Categories**: Fantasy, Wargame
- **Mechanics**: Critical Hits and Failures, Deck, Bag, and Pool Building, Dice Rolling, Hexagon Grid, Income, Scenario / Mission / Campaign Game, Team-Based Game, Variable Player Powers, Variable Set-up, Worker Placement, Different Worker Types

## Verdict
An epic and highly flexible fantasy wargame that scales with your group's appetite.Diverse and deep scenariosProfessional-grade artworkExcellent rule progressionHigh replayability guaranteedRequires time for long campaignsLanguage dependency for textRECOMMENDED

## Description
Ready your armies and grip your staff, because the war in Kheros is about to erupt! In Burning Banners, you dive into a world of epic fantasy where politics and chaos collide. After centuries of rebuilding, the continent of Kheros is once again under threat: the immortal sorceress Lilith is moving her pieces from the shadows to pave the way for her dark mistress's return. The tension is palpable.

What sets this game apart is its incredible flexibility. You aren't locked into a single experience; the game offers a massive 29 scenarios. This means you can start with a short, focused campaign involving just two kingdoms and one map, or dive headfirst into a massive 12-year war spanning four huge maps and involving six warring kingdoms. It's a game that truly grows with your group!

For those who crave strategic depth, the system is a dream. You can start with the 'Basic Game,' focusing on fast-paced movement and combat, or level up to the 'Advanced Game.' In this deeper mode, magic enters the fray, legendary heroes emerge to lead troops, and powerful monsters guard treasures that can shift the tide of battle. The art is a standout feature as well, with breathtaking illustrations by the acclaimed Christopher Moeller, bringing every hex on the map to life.

Whether you are managing resources, positioning armies on a detailed hexagonal grid, or trying to survive the impact of spells and heroes, Burning Banners delivers a fantasy wargame experience that is both intuitive and deeply strategic. It is a journey of conquest, betrayal, and power that will test every decision you make on the battlefield!

## How to Play
Game Objective
The objective of Burning Banners is to achieve victory in a campaign divided between two factions: Invader and Resistance. Each player or team represents a Realm, and the game is won when one of the factions eliminates all of the opponent's forces. Victory is collective, meaning all players on one side win or lose together, unless specific campaign rules indicate otherwise. The rulebook does not detail victory points, only the victory conditions as defined in the Campaign Book.

Setup
To begin, follow these steps:

  Choose a Campaign: Consult the Campaign Book to select the map, Realms, starting forces, and victory conditions.
  Prepare the Season Display: Place the Season marker and the Campaign End marker in the positions indicated in the Campaign Book. Distribute Income markers for each Realm.
  Assemble Playmats: Each Realm receives a playmat with gold, units, and Control markers. Ignore advanced game sections if playing the basic version.
  Prepare the Map: Place Control, Razed, and Lair markers as per the campaign instructions. Keep Arcane Study markers separate (used only in advanced play).
  Perform Initial Build: Each Realm builds units with the gold indicated in the Campaign Book. Beast or Fragile units may be added at no cost.


Game Flow
The game progresses through Year, Season, and Turn:

  Year: The campaign lasts between 1 and 3 years. The season begins with the Season marker's position on the Season Track.
  Season: Each Realm takes one turn at a time, following the order of the Turn markers. After all turns are completed, the season ends. If the Season marker reaches the Campaign End, the game concludes.
  Turn:
    
      Income Phase: The active Realm gains gold according to its Income level. Shashka Realms do not accumulate income.
      Activation Phase: Units may move, attack, or perform actions. If all of the Realm's cities are Razed or under enemy control, it collapses (see End Game).
    
  
  End of Season: If the Season marker enters a Winter space, skip to the spring of the next year. Move the Turn markers and restart the next season.


Actions and How to Play
Players can perform the following actions during their turn:

  Attack: Use the Combat Rating to attack enemy Settlements, units, or Lairs. Units with Stealth may declare an Ambush (9.6).
  Movement: Units move using movement points (MPs) based on their Movement Rating. Terrains such as rivers or mountains modify movement cost (8.1).
  Recover: Fragile or Beast units can be restored by paying the Recovery cost in an Entry Hex or friendly Settlements (10.4).
  Ship Movement: Fjordland units can use Ship Movement to cross rivers or seas, paying 1 MP per hex (8.1.4).
  Loot: Upon entering an enemy Settlement, the Realm gains gold (4.8). Beast units can only Loot if stacked with a Hero.
  Place Markers: Control markers are placed on conquered Settlements, increasing income (4.9). Razed markers are used for abandoned Settlements (4.10).


End Game and Scoring
The game ends when the Season marker reaches the Campaign End. Victory is determined by the specific campaign rules in the Campaign Book. Shashka Realms collapse if they have no Control markers or cannot pay 1 gold for each marker during the income phase (7.7). The Eastern Empire collapses if it suffers a Revolt in a critical position (12.4.7). Scoring is not detailed in this context; consult the Campaign Book for specific criteria.

Tips for Winning

  Use Stealth for Ambush: Units with Stealth can attack first in combat, increasing the chances of eliminating enemies (3.1.2).
  Manage Control Markers: Place Control markers on Settlements to increase income and avoid collapse (4.9). Shashka need to maintain markers to avoid collapsing (7.7).
  Utilize Siege Engines: Siege Engines are essential for attacking Fortified Settlements, as they neutralize terrain modifiers (9.11).


For details on specific mechanics, refer to the manual provided in the Campaign Book.

## FAQ
### Is the game too hard for beginners?
Not necessarily! It features a 'Basic Game' designed to be intuitive and fast, letting you learn the ropes before tackling the magic and heroes of the advanced mode.

### How long does a session last?
It depends heavily on the scenario! It can range from a quick 60-minute session to epic campaigns lasting several hours or even days.

### How many players can play?
It's very versatile, supporting 2 to 6 players, making it great for different group sizes.

### Does it come with everything needed for a campaign?
Yes, it is designed as a complete campaign game, with scenarios that connect the story and the progress of the kingdoms.

### Do I need to be fluent in English?
Yes, the game has an extensive language dependency, so it's best to be comfortable with English to understand the rules and text.

### Is the map fixed?
No, the game uses a hexagonal grid and offers variable setup, meaning the battlefield changes depending on the chosen challenge.

## Price Comparison
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