Confrontation

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For the Bob Marley & The Wailers album, see Confrontation (album).
For a definition of the word, see conflict.

Confrontation is a tactical tabletop fantasy wargame in which the combatants are represented by metal figures in 28-30mm scale. For comparison purposes, the system's figures are slightly larger than those of Games Workshop or The Foundry, but not sculpted quite as hefty.

The game is set in a world of medieval fantasy where Knights, Wizards, Priests and Barbarians fight each other as well as fantastic creatures such as Wolfen, Elves, Orcs, Goblins and the Undead. The entire world is at war and all are fighting for the supremacy of the continent.

The game itself works on a simple principle: the excitement and absorbing competition of one on one play. The rules are intended to be versatile, and are able to represent a small fight between a handful of desperate warriors just as well as a large skirmish between several dozen soldiers and their leaders.

Contents

Getting Started

To begin playing Confrontation, each player needs to acquire between five and ten figures from one of the factions in the setting. The sculptors at publisher Rackham make game figures with dynamic poses, beautiful subjects, and a consistent artistic vision across the entire range. Each faction includes numerous characters and troop types, for a wide variety of choice.

Each blister contains one or more metal figures, a booklet of basic game rules, and a special reference card that describes the characteristics and special abilities of the game pieces. A photo or artist's drawing of the figures is on the reverse of the reference card, as a painting guide for the hobbyist.

Players also need several 6-sided dice and a table with scale scenery to play on.

Basic Rules

The Basic Rules Booklet packed with each blister describes the core rules of the game: movement, initiative, shooting and hand to hand combat.


In the recently released Confrontation 3 edition, the rules have been changed and combined into a single hardback edition. The changes in the third edition have changed how the game plays out per turn (a stacked deck of miniature cards vs. random draw) as well as tweaking the majority of the spells and abilities of each race.

Advanced Rules

With the release of Third Edition of Confrontation, the Incantation, Divination, and Fortification rules were all included in the hard back rule book. Incarnation was not included and is replaced by a new set of rules for war bands called Dogs of War.

The following information applies to Second Edition only.

Confrontation can be played with the basic rules alone, but the are several supplements available. These describe optional rules and multiply the tactical options allowed. All are packed free in the appropriate blisters, just like the basic rules.

Incantation introduces powerful Wizards to the game. In this supplement a new characteristic appears: Mental Strength. Mental Strength is the essential element used to call upon the power of Magic. Wizards can use that power to change the course of battle: project fire balls, raise the dead and even invoke powerful spirits. Every blister that contains a Wizard includes a free Incantation Rules Booklet as well as cards that describe magic items and special spells particular to each. A small plate of counters representing 'Mana', the very essence of Magic, is also included. 'Grimoires,' packs of 15 additional spell cards, are available separately.

Divination addresses the gods themselves and their servants, the faithful Priests that represent them on the battlefields. The magic of the Priests is powerful but variable, for it depends on the vagaries of the fickle gods. It also tends to be more defensive in nature than Wizards' magic. The blisters of the Priests figures are packaged with the Divination Rules Booklet and several 'Miracle' cards to call upon the aid of the divine powers. The 'Litanies' card packs group together additional miracle cards.

Fortification adds in war machines such as cannon, ballista, and chariots. Some of the existing figures, such as the Dwarf Steam Cannon are reclassified to war machines.

Incarnation allows players to individualize their game characters. Special 'Adventurer' figures are furnished with the Incarnation Rules Booklet which details how they progress in experience. The character acquires power, fame, new abilities and magic objects as he accomplishes quests. Two new types of cards are packed in the Adventurer blisters: Scenarios and Experience Cards. Each Adventurer is furnished with a scenario specially written for him. Scenarios card packs are also available separately. Many scenarios based on the official characters of the range are available free on the Confrontation web site (in French). 'Travel Journals,' packs of cards for treasures, rare objects or magic artifacts, are available to further customize scenarios.

Ragnarok

Rag’Narok is at once an evolution of the basic game and an entirely new one. Where the basic game represents small confrontations and skirmishes, in Rag'Narok entire armies are involved in battles.

Rag’Narok uses exactly the same basic resources as Confrontation (figures, cards and game characteristics), but the rules differ somewhat to accommodate the change in scope and keep the game manageable.

Hybrid

Hybrid and its expansion Nemesis is a board game set in the world of Aarklash, the setting for Confrontation. The game is played on illustrated tiles arranged to form the floor plan of the underground labratories of the Alchemists of Dirz. Players take the role of either the denizens of these labratories or the outside forces invading them to either steal their secrets or shut them down.

The game uses a subset of the figures but with different reference cards.

Cry Havoc!

Cry Havoc! is a quarterly magazine published by Rackham that includes information about Confrontation, Hybrid, and Rag’Narok. The publication includes two magazines and new reference cards. The larger magazine has general articles on painting and modeling, as well as features on the games, tactics articles, battle reports, and background information on the world of Aarklash. The second magazine consists of play aids, variant rules, and scenarios. The reference cards supplement and augment the articles in the two magazines. These cards are not available separately.

The Confederations

The Confederations are a non-profit corporations set up in various countries to help expand the player base for Confrontation, Hybrid, and Rag’Narok. The Confederations work together as sister organizations, coordinating global tournaments and leagues. They also run tournaments, leagues, and demonstrations of the games in their own countries.

Membership in the confederations is open to anyone in their region. For an annual fee, a member has access to purchase exclusive Confederation miniatures as well as the ability to be ranked both nationally and internationally.

External links

Main english forum

Voidgamers - Confrontation Resource site

Rackham online store

Rackscan - Confrontation resource site

JMT's Confrontation Page - Resource site

The North American Conf'Federation of the Red Dragon (NACORD)

The United Kingdom Conf'Federation of the Red Dragon (UKCORD)

de:Confrontation fr:Confrontation (jeu de figurines)