(The Vintage Tempest)
The news of a miniatures based board game set in Ancient Egypt has me over the moon, if not hovering by Ra (the sun), in anticipation of its eventual Kickstarter launch. The original press release suggested it will launch in late 2019, but with everyone in Christmas mode, I don’t think the listing will appear until early next year.
The images of the demo on Twitter (see below) is merely a tease. After receiving CMON’s Cthulhu: Death May Die board game last week, the super high quality of the minis is as I expected. The Egyptian fanatic in me is hopping! An unboxing video will be coming soon (update: it’s become a review during my editing–the video is here).
The quality of the scale model pieces are amazing and the painter in me can’t wait to give colour to not only the game I currently have but also with adding to my collection. Technically, they’re not usable with other games like Games Workshop’s Warhammer series. Sadly, the Khemri was removed from the game and are deeply buried under the sand. The same can be said for Reaper Miniatures’ Warlord which no longer sees updates.
It’s not ank-hpected (had to say it) that enthusiasts of any game product in this setting desire a quality game, and I can’t wait for CMON to launch this project. I’m sure they are still fine tuning the 3D models for mass production, hence the delay.
From the press release delivered over the summer:
CMON is pleased to announce Ankh, a new board game from the mind of Eric M. Lang, award-winning designer of the smash hits Blood Rage and Rising Sun. Play as a God of Ancient Egypt, competing to survive as society begins to forget the old ways, so that only you and your followers remain.
Ankh, the symbol of life itself, that even the Gods must fight for.
Build caravans, summon monsters, and convert followers in your quest to reign supreme. With great artwork by Adrian Smith and miniatures art directed by Mike McVey, who both worked with Eric on Blood Rage and Rising Sun, Ankh is the final instalment of Eric M. Lang’s strategic trilogy.
Deities, monsters, and the people of ancient Egypt have been lovingly reimagined and interpreted in beautiful illustrations and detailed miniatures, and players will truly feel like Gods as they shake the very foundations of Egypt. All gameplay in Ankh, including combat, is streamlined and non-random. Compete and win solely on your godly wits alone.
CMON Announces Ankh Board Game
“It was amazing to ‘get the band back together’ for this game. It’s always great to work with such phenomenal talents like Adrian and Mike”, said Eric M. Lang. “We all really poured our heart and soul into this game. It’s the finale of our trilogy of sorts, and we wanted it to really be something special. I’m really proud of what we’ve come up with and can’t wait to see those grand figures battling on the beautiful game board.”
Eric M. Lang Bio: Eric is an industry veteran, having created tabletop games for over 20 years. His history with CMON includes fan-favorite titles Blood Rage, Arcadia Quest, Bloodborne: The Card Game, and more. In 2016, Eric was the recipient of the Diana Jones Award for Excellence in Gaming, and other accolades include multiple The Dice Tower Awards and five Origins Awards.
Adrian Smith Bio: Adrian’s career as an illustrator is prolific, spanning over 30 years. He was one the defining artists for Games Workshop’s Warhammer 40,000 line, and his work with Wizards of the Coast’s Magic: The Gathering is beloved by fans. He has illustrated popular CMON titles like Blood Rage, Zombicide Special Guest Artist boxes, The Others, and Rising Sun.
Mike McVey Bio: Mike is well known for his ability to produce some of the best miniatures around, with three decades of experience in the industry. His resume includes work for Games Workshop, Wizards of the Coast, and Privateer Press. Mike’s figures for CMON include the miniatures in Blood Rage, The Others, Rising Sun and more.