Age of Sigmar Soulbound: What it Provides for Narrative Gaming

Warhammer Age of Sigmar Soulbound, the new RPG set it in the mortal realms, is now out today as a PDF, or, if you want a hard copy, it is for pre-order. Link here. Although I don't really intend to use many of the combat mechanics, preferring to use the normal Age of Sigmar rules slightly modified, the wealth of lore and background material provided is a treasure trove for narrative gamers.

A Freeguild contingent races to fend off an invader. 

What Soulbound offers narrative gamers are stories to spice up a game and give it a reason for existing. All throughout the book are little hooks tied to a realm, an organization, or a deity that can easily be adapted from an RPG into a game of Age of Sigmar. 

Pictures throughout are there for visual interest, so enjoy!

The Setting

Essentially expanding on what was available in the second edition core book, Soulbound reveals more about how each realm operates, what goals different factions are trying to achieve, how people live and even how they have fun. Now you can plug your games into the setting more fully. Is your war band protecting a caravan of acrobats to the city of Hammerhal Aqsha? Are they doing so because they are patrons of the art or are they being paid in large sums of Aqua Ghyranis? 

Maybe instead a full army has been hired by the pragmatic Kharadron Overlords to defend them from a horde of Tzeenchian horrors as the duardin work to salvage a lost wreck filled to the brim with aethermatic wonders. All you have to do is read through the lore sections of the book to start having ideas.

A lone Bretonnian knight, last of his kind and totally not a GW kit lopes through an empty village. 

 The Characters

Provided in Soulbound are pages and tables of defining the character that you would play as in an RPG campaign. But instead, you could take that and give all of your heroes in your armies backstories as to why they fight. Even the weapons they wield or the mounts they ride into battle can be embellished by lore. The story of you heroes becomes more impactful, and with every battle they bring new tales. 

The progression mechanics can also be adapted with some work. They can be used in a linked narrative campaign, representing your heroes growth as they gain experience and discover new artifacts of power. Of course, always talk to your opponents about what's fair to do. 

An exalted hero raises his flaming blade high. 

I would encourage anyone interested in narrative wargaming, especially in Age of Sigmar, to pick up Soulbound and give it a read. You may be surprised at what you find!