Brotherwise Games, known for its tabletop adaptations of Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere universe, is gearing up for the launch of its next major project: Stormlight: War for Roshar. This expansive new board game, based on Sanderson's Stormlight Archive series, is poised to be the publisher's most ambitious Cosmere game yet. A Kickstarter campaign for the game is planned for later this year.
War for Roshar is described as a war game that aims to blend the strategic depth of Euro-style games with the analytical calculations typical of traditional war games. Players will assume control of either the Coalition or the forces of Odium, engaging in troop and character movement across the map, territorial control, alliance forging, and direct conflict. The primary objective is to accumulate victory points, either by reaching a moving victory threshold or by holding the most points after eight rounds of play.
Each player constructs a team comprising two leaders, chosen from figures like Kaladin, Dalinar, Jasnah, and Shallan for the Coalition, and Taravangian, Nale, Leshwi, or Raboniel within the core box. These leaders possess unique abilities and progression paths, reflecting their in-universe swearing of Ideals and use of Surges. Additionally, each leader comes with a unique set of cards that are added to a player's deck, offering new strategic options. Stormlight, a key resource in the game, is managed alongside hand cards and is crucial for playing and acquiring more powerful cards.
Combat in War for Roshar largely avoids dice, focusing instead on a numerical comparison of forces, with strategic card play offering tactical advantages. The game also introduces neutral factions that can become hostile if players encroach on their territories, adding another layer of complexity. A notable mechanic is the Oathgates, which serve as a victory condition and a potential "mercy mechanism." Players assign point values to Oathgates, influencing the victory threshold. The strategic placement and assignment of these tokens, with sides taking turns to place them each round, introduces a dynamic element of either bolstering one's own position or hindering the opponent.
The game utilizes a symbol-heavy system for actions such as Mustering, which governs unit recruitment based on regional tiles and their icons. These tiles can also grant bonuses like returning Stormlight or enabling special Surge abilities. While the prototype presented a wealth of symbols and mechanics that may require time to fully grasp, Brotherwise Games has indicated that components and design are still subject to refinement, with plans for player aid components in the final release.
Visually, War for Roshar aims to maintain the high standard of artwork seen in previous Brotherwise Games' Cosmere titles. The game will feature over 100 cards, a detailed game board, and plastic miniatures, brought to life by a team of more than 30 artists whose work has been approved by Brandon Sanderson and his art team.
Brotherwise Games plans to offer a variety of add-ons and expansions through its Kickstarter campaign, with the exact launch date to be announced. This upcoming release promises a deep strategic experience for fans of both the Stormlight Archive and complex board games. 
