Starting a new game always raises the weirdest questions about it. A lot of these make perfect sense to people because they are looking at different angles of the game. Sometimes it’s lore, but also rules, model quality, and manufacturing.
Let’s dive in why you would start BLKout right now and give you all the best reasons to do so.
Starting a new game is a gamble
We Europeans tend to love the games that are built and written in the UK, as that is the mekka of wargaming. Nottingham even lies in the heart of the Leadbelt. It got that name because the first Warhammer models were produced there.
Bigger games get picked up sooner because they have more marketing budget. A rather small game from the US like Blkout would be a gamble to many. The second, 2 or more people play the game, you can build a league and compete.
One of the biggest draws is the justification of the starter set price. 120 is expensive, but we dare you to find a wargame that delivers 2 FULL armies for that price. You basically buy into a system that lets you decide what to buy, not the integrated power creep. If you play against someone who is playing with handlers instead of the complete starter faction, you have as much chance of winning as someone with everything. Tactics are king. And we haven’t even discussed the awesome lore yet.
What makes BLKout different from other skirmish games?
First off, it’s designed by real military veterans, so expect real-life tactics, model handling, and force building. One hit loses you the model unless you have armor or the enemy has armor-penetrating rounds. You can’t see military tactics as an option to play; you MUST use them or you will lose. Leaning out is one of them and is very usable in most battles.
Besides blatantly firing at the opponent until the opponent doesn’t anymore, you can employ drones, Dusters (big mechs), droids, and hackers. Typically, one hit can be fatal for a model, the games are finished in about 45 minutes.
One thing that stands out from other newer skirmish games, is that BLKout has evolved from another unknown game. They implemented those stories in the BLKout timeline. This gives the game an extended, almost 300 year timeline. With the new starter set, they even skipped another period for more lore.
Is there a future for BLKout?
We see new players joining almost daily through our shop, while more retailers are starting to stock the game across Europe. We see clusters of players emerge in bigger cities, and game stores are actively applying for dealership.
To say that the game has matured already is a big statement, and there is a long line of new releases planned for the coming years, spanning from new units for existing armies to entirely new armies and mercenaries (like the handlers to more bots and Dusters). As the interwoven story proceeds further into the lore of Abol, we are seeing new models emerge, new PDF expansions arise, and stories evolve from mere words to full fledged expansions.
In short, yes, there is a future for the war on Abol, and the ones starting the game now are just the first wave of players. If the current pace continues, we can easily see BLKOUT developing into a healthy European ecosystem over the coming years.
Who will enjoy BLKout?
This is an easy one. Players that want quick games without looking up rules for 97% of the time. Moving, shooting, looking, repeat. If you still need the manual, it’s only 23 pages and is an interesting size, which you can put on the table without interfering with the table itself. It’s almost as small as the plastic unit cards.
Players that love playing small games with gorgeous models will be having a blast too. Although the playing field is 2×2 for one army, it’s full of buildings that supply cover, line-of-sight blocking, and high-stakes action. If you want 2 armies fighting on your side, you require a 3×3, and 3+ armies would need a 4×6.
But you said in the last article that armies can’t be combined YET. This is still correct, but if you look back at the people who built the game, you know it’s a military skirmisher. If you have more armies, you will look at them as fireteams with different purposes in the game towards the goal. Moar tactics, yeah!
Blkout is not for you if…
…you are looking to field massive armies, want one-turn wins or regularly play games that require rules as part of the win conditions. Remember, this is a rules-light game that emphasizes fun and hard-hitting units in cinematic sci-fi universe above winning conditions.
… you want to paint models that didn’t flood the market like the testosterone-filled tinmen from outer space or the 100th different fantasy elf army that is focused on shooting.
In other words, this is not your average game. You need to love it and love playing with big mecha robots that are controlled by normal sci-fi military that are as expendable as everyone else. If you like the military in movies like Starship Troopers or Edge of Tomorrow, this is the game for you. If you fancy Lord of the Ring above all, this is not your game.
So, it Blkout worth starting?
Well, we did, and we love it. It’s easy, it’s fast, it’s furious, and it punishes you for making mistakes, just like the real thing. If you win, you achieve tactical prowess. Besides all the bragging, the game gives you 2 full armies in the starter set, and even the 2 player starters have variation in them. Share it with a friend, or take the different choices of armies and army strikeforce sets, which are the “expansions” for the starter armies.
Yes, you should too, because Blkout respects your wallet. You buy a self-standing army all at once, without having to study the rules to get the correct models. Getting in the game is easy to understand, and after a game or two you can already play without. There is a growing community on socials, and the other stores besides us are picking it up all over Europe.
If you want to ride the first wave of commanders on Abol, get onboard the first flight and step in cryosleep to destination Abol. There is some Boone that needs retribution for the Blkout! The only question left is simple: which side of the Blackout will you fight for? Check out the collection and see which side fits you best!