Burning Banners Review

boardgamequest.com:

Enter the world of Kalar, filled to the brim with lore, vaulted heroes, fractured alliances, and the blessings of the gods. This land is littered with monsters of yore, ready to snap at any who come within range. The seasons turn as magic ebbs and flows. And that sound you hear on the horizon? It could be the coming of evil. The clash of blades. The whispers of the armies of the night. Or maybe even siege engine nearing the gates.

Burning Banners, published by Compass Games, is a wargame for two to six players. Six factions battle for control over a four-map landscape that has been beautifully illustrated by designer Christopher Moeller. It features eighteen unique scenarios as well as a ten-part chronicle to experience.

Burning Banners has two gameplay modes: Basic or Advanced. The Basic option allows players to learn the foundational ruleset, whereas the Advanced option layers new systems on top of this groundwork. There is no sandbox to play in but rather a campaign-driven style of play that contains bits of narrative flavor and setup specifics.

Each scenario features two sides: the Invader and the Resistance. Within each side, there may be multiple factions based on the number of players that the scenario indicates. Regardless of how many are playing, they can always decide to control more than one faction to attempt the scenario. Scenarios feature unique goals and pit the two sides against each other with a smirk.

As this is a wargame, it features units that are added to the hex-based map dependent on placement rules. These units move around to defend locations, capture new territory, and battle against their enemies. Each of the six factions feature unique and thematic units with abilities such as ranged, stealth, and mage that provide new ways to approach battle.

Gameplay is turn-based where one side moves and takes actions with their units. Once all units have exhausted, play switches to the next faction in turn order. During a turn, players can spend their