Long story, I'll try to be brief. My father was stuck babysitting four grandchildren Friday night. Saturday comes and he's down to only watching one, my 9 year old nephew Jacob. I packed the car with a grass gaming mat, two armies (1100 points each) and enough terrain to make a game. I know Jacob likes games, poker, any card games, and he's a sports fanatic. He plays baseball, soccer, and wants to play football. He knows more about sports teams than I could ever care to, and he's a sharp little kid. I took my chances on him learning Chronopia.
What a blast!!! I had him play the Dark Tusk Dwarves with a Keeper, Dark Tusk Hero, and my converted Mauler as a guest star from the Blood Bones. He had a squad of Vulture Crossbows, 6 Dark Axes, 6 Dark Stars, some Legion, and all the enthusiasm that comes from youth. "Do you go berserk?" I say, to a resounding "Yes!".
I had the Devout. Who doesn't love beating up the most evil army you can field? I had the Cursed, Demon Wings, Swordsmen, Greatswordsmen, and a Dusk Realm Demon. I made a point of not having any spellcasting or hidden models, just to give him a feel for the basics.
The look in his eye when the Keeper transformed into the Totem was priceless!! I've created a masherking in the making!!
He won handily
as the Devout were a tad ambitious in their rush at the stalwart Dwarves. I highly recommend everyone to pass this game on to future generations, whether it has support or not. We can't take it with us when we're gone.
For young kids, I think they can pick up the basics of this game if you don't complicate things too much. By the end of the game he had the hang of how models move and fight, and is eagerly looking forward to our next match.
The only heartbreak came when Jacob asked his parents for Chronopia for Chanukah. I'll have to pull some strings to get Chanukah Harry to deliver something. I really miss Excelsior.
Cheers.
