image © CoolMiniOrNot
The Dark Age: Path to Glory is a futuristic miniatures wargame base set for the Dark Age universe, published by CoolMiniOrNot (CMON), in 2016. This is a two-player starter set, you get everything (rules, dice, cards, miniatures, 2D scenery) you need for playing the game.
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Details - Dark Age: Path to Glory for Dark Age from CoolMiniOrNot
Wargame base set: Dark Age: Path to Glory
Product type: Game base set
Product name: Dark Age: Path to Glory, Product code: DAG001, System: Dark Age system, Setting: Dark Age universe, Miniatures range: Dark Age range, Company: CoolMiniOrNot, Production: 2017.03.23-2018-
Designer: ?
Language: English
Board game features: Multi-player, Antagonistic, Miniatures
Number of players: 2
Recommended age of players: 14+
Playing time: 60 minutes
Theme: futuristic
Mechanics: ?
Package size: ?
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Contents - Dark Age: Path to Glory for Dark Age from CoolMiniOrNot
Contents - Package
1x Box
1x Organising insert - black plastic
1x A4 Poster
Contents - System
1x Quick Start Rules (Dark Age system) (free download)
1x Path to Glory scenario sheet
6x d20 dice - black with white numbers, plastic
6 Unit cards (Dark Age system)
3 Forsaken - Saint Isaac
3 Dragyri - Ice Caste
6 Cards (Dark Age system) - Ice Caste Psychogenics
Templates
1x Blast (1) template
1x Blast (2) template
1x Blast (3) template
1x Stream template
1x Spray template
12 Universal counter tokens: 1, 2, 3 (green, yellow, red, blue)
2x Ruler
Wound markers (my set was missing these)
Contents - Miniatures
5 Forsaken miniatures - Saint Isaac sub-faction (orange coloured plastic)
2 Controller
2 Centipede
4 Ice Caste Dragyri miniatures (blue coloured plastic)
2 Soul Searcher
Contents - Miniature Accessories
9 Miniature bases
Contents - Scenery
2D Cardboard scenery (Dark Age system)
1x Pile of rubble
1x Broken caravan cart
2 Supply crates
1x Supply crates #1
1x Supply crates #2
2 Poison water pool
3x Concrete slab
1x Two dead caravan guards
As far as I know, there should have been a bag of Health markers in the package, but if that is true, it was missing from my set.
Miniatures - Forsaken - Saint Isaac
 image © CoolMiniOrNot |
 image © CoolMiniOrNot(modified by Kadmon) |
 image © CoolMiniOrNot(modified by Kadmon) |
| Ajax's Might v2 | Centipede #1 v2 | Centipede #2 v2 |
 image © CoolMiniOrNot(modified by Kadmon) |
 image © CoolMiniOrNot(modified by Kadmon) |
| Controller #1 v2 | Controller #2 v2 |
Miniatures - Dragyri - Ice Caste
 image © CoolMiniOrNot(modified by Kadmon) |
 image © CoolMiniOrNot(modified by Kadmon) |
| Spirit Lord of Ice #2 | Death's Device of Ice #2 |
 image © CoolMiniOrNot(modified by Kadmon) |
 image © CoolMiniOrNot(modified by Kadmon) |
| Soul Searcher #3 | Soul Searcher #4 |
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Review - Dark Age: Path to Glory for Dark Age from CoolMiniOrNot
The box opens to show the Dark Age Quick Start Rules and the Path to Glory scenario. The rules enable you to play Dark Age with the miniatures included, while the scenario allows you to play a mission, and the set includes cardboard scenery to fill your gaming table.
I didn't play the game using the Quick Start Rules, but they seem to be the same as the Master Rules. There are a couple of errors in the text, but I think you'll be able to understand how to use the rules.
Missing rules:
- No rules for cover. It is stated that you should use the modifier indicated on the cover, but there is no such thing. In the 2017 Master Rules, Light Cover provides -2 AS, Heavy Cover provides -4 AS.
- No rules for elevation. (Although the rules don't use Line of Sight, so elevation doesn't modify who can be your target.)
- No rules for deployment. The 2017 Master Rules leaves this up to the scenarios, but it's also missing from the Path to Glory scenario.
Changes compared to the 2017 Master Rules:
- Large Size models can trace Line of Sight through terrain that Blocks Line of Sight. (Although Line of Sight is not used in this game.)
- Line of Sight is not necessary to target someone, anybody can be a target within range. (As there are references to Cover and Line of Sight, this might be a mistake instead of a feature, so ask your opponent whether he'd like to use the game with or without Line of Sight.)
- You don't get penalties if you fire into an already established melee.
The Path to Glory scenario is not particularly interesting, both sides try to kill the other one, while the Saint Isaac force tries to claim the objective (fallen comrades). The map layout is also strange, I wouldn't place a trade route so near to high obstacles that could hide ambushers. It's strange for me that the poisoned water is so poisonous that it can kill even the robots. It could have been an acid pool or volcanic vent, so it would hurt anyone that gets into contact with it. Instead of the 4'x4' playing area used in the 2017 Master Rules, this scenario uses a 3'x3' playing area. The rules for deployment are missing from the scenario, so you'll have to come up with something. In the scenario, the Forsaken forces have to rescue ambushed members, while the Dragyri want to hunt them down. This provides limited opportunity for games, and I think this scenario will get boring after two or three plays, and there are no further scenarios in this set. So, after just a few games you'll use up the possibilities provided in this box. On the plus side, the scenario rules are straightforward, it's easy to decide who wins the game, there is no victory point counting, you either obliterate your opponent or you don't.
It would have been nice if CMON would have included the 3x3' (or rather, a 4'x4') playing area on a poster map, but it's not necessary for starting the game.
The box is large enough that you can put the Dark Age 2017 Master Rules on the top of the insert, but then you won't be able to close the box entirely. There's also enough space in the insert tray that you can add extra unit cards, the Secondary Objective Deck 2017 cards, but not a lot of miniatures.
The Dragyri get 3 unit cards, the Forsaken get 3 unit cards, and also, the Dragyri get 6 Ice magic cards.
The you get four different coloured (red, yellow, green, blue) set of Universal counter tokens with the numbers 1, 2 and 3. They have the same designs as the ones in the Dark Age 2017 Master Rules.
The cardboard rulers are a nice addition, and I love there are two copies, so both players can have their own, they don't need to swap it constantly. I'd probably prefer to have them in plastic, but if you take care, they won't get damaged.
The dice are usual, 20 sided dice. The system only uses d20, and you'll get plenty for your games.
The miniatures come in multiple pieces, and you have to assemble them before you start playing. There are pegs to connect the miniatures, but some of those pegs doesn't fit tightly, so you'll have to glue the minis, at least with adhesive putty for your games if you don't want them to come apart. There are pegs on their legs you could insert into a miniature base, but the bases included do not have any holes for them. You can glue most of the miniatures together before painting, but you could leave the Controllers unglued, because their arms would be harder to reach if you glue them in place. The legs of the Centipede #1 v2 miniature were flat on my copy, and they doesn't support the miniature properly.
The 2D cardboard terrain provide some variety for your playing area. It's good that the rules for the scenery pieces are printed on them.
You get five templates - a Blast (1), a Blast (2), a Blast (3), a Spray and a Stream template. They are exactly the same as the ones in the Dark Age 2017 Master Rules.
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| The templates in the Dark Age 2017 Master Rules | The templates from the Dark Age: Path to Glory |
Evaluation
The game is neither cheap nor exciting. It doesn't give everything to play the game, you'll still need a playing area. The scope of the set is very limited, especially as there are no rules to create your own force, and there is only one scenario to play. There's practically no background information. However, if you wish to play Dark Age, this box offers you a way into the game. The plastic minis are cheaper than the metal ones, and you can download additional scenarios, or you can come up with more.
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Resources - Dark Age: Path to Glory for Dark Age from CoolMiniOrNot
Official
Contents overview
Dark Age: UNBOXING! THE PATH TO GLORY 2-PLAYER STARTER SET: Contents overview article.§
GentleBen (for Bell of Lost Souls): Dark Age: Unboxing the Two Player Starter: Contents overview article.
STF Wargaming studio: Unboxing and Review of CMON - Dark Age Path to Glory 2 player starter set: Contents overview and review video.Ł
Teri Litorco: Unboxing Dark Age's Path to Glory (CMON Games): Contents overview video.Ł
Rules overview
Review
STF Wargaming studio: Unboxing and Review of CMON - Dark Age Path to Glory 2 player starter set: Contents overview and review video.Ł
Miniature showcase
Dave Taylor: DARK AGE - The new 2-player starter set!: Miniature showcase article.
Gameplay
Bryan Steele & Dave Taylor (for CMON): Dark Age Battle Report: Path to Glory Starter Set: Gameplay video, Dragyri Ice Caste vs Forsaken Saint Isaac.Ł
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Buying the product - Dark Age: Path to Glory for Dark Age from CoolMiniOrNot
Price
Base price (Dark Age: Path to Glory)(2017): 70 USD. Price/model: 7.8 USD
Where can you buy it?
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Do you have Dark Age: Path to Glory wargame base set from CoolMiniOrNot? How do you like it? Would you recommend them to others? Tell your opinion in the comments!
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