Eldfall Chronicles
Skirmish Codex

Welcome to Calad

Welcome to Eldfall Chronicles, a skirmish game set in the fantastical world of Calad. Here, players lead bands of adventurers on dangerous quests in pursuit of glory, treasure, and their own ambitions. Handpicked individuals from across the realms come together to forge stories of conflict and discovery.

Whether facing one another in tactical skirmishes or joining forces against the game itself, players must rely on skill and cunning to overcome the challenges ahead. Victory belongs not only to the strongest force, but to the player who best adapts to the unfolding battle.

Before each game, players agree on a quest and a point limit, then recruit, equip, and customize their party from a wide range of models and upgrades. Once warbands are assembled and the battlefield prepared, initiative determines the order of deployment and play, and the battle begins.

At the heart of Eldfall Chronicles lies a dynamic system of activations and reactions. As the active player directs their models across the battlefield, opponents can react to their movements, disrupting plans, seizing opportunities, and turning even the simplest maneuver into a tense encounter. Every decision matters, from positioning to choosing when to commit to combat or press on toward an objective.

The rules that follow contain everything needed to play the Eldfall Chronicles skirmish wargame. We encourage you to read through them to familiarize yourself with the game’s unique flow and mechanics before embarking on your first quest.

The adventure does not end on the skirmish battlefield. Be sure to explore the Dungeon Crawl mode of Eldfall Chronicles, where unlikely heroes embark on perilous journeys shaped by player choice. Narrative progression, ancient secrets, and legendary foes await those bold enough to carve their own path through the Chronicles.

What is Eldfall Chronicles?

Eldfall Chronicles — Skirmish Miniatures Wargame is a tactical tabletop game focused on small warband battles. Each player commands a compact force of adventurers — typically 3 to 6 models — undertaking quest-driven scenarios.

Rival factions compete for dominance across the world of Calad. Explore their lore, discover their unique playstyles, and choose the one you will lead.

Play competitively, cooperatively, or solo. Monsters, as well as other models, can use Hostile Behavior rules, allowing you to play against the game itself.

The game features dynamic, reactive combat where every action can be answered, keeping both players constantly engaged. Games are fast-paced and balanced, designed for both new and experienced players, with most matches lasting 30–60 minutes.

Battlefields can be set up in any style, though tournament games are typically played on a 3′ × 3′ area.

The Skirmish Wargame is ideal for competitive 1v1 play. Each season features its own leaderboards and evolving competitive Quests.

Core Game Elements

A model is an individual entity with its own profile, represented by a miniature or a token on the field. Models represent the individuals and adventurers that have roles or professions in the world of Eldfall Chronicles — each has unique characteristics, pros and cons, skills, weapons, synergies with other party members and fighting styles. Each one is suited to different tasks, excels in different situations, and allows for a different approach.

Models & Model Profiles

A model profile indicates the capabilities of the model it represents — its stats, attributes and abilities. Below is what every field on a profile card means.

1. Name — the name of the model.
2. Class — each model is assigned at least one Class, which to an extent defines its role on the field. (See the Classes list.)
3. Attributes — a model’s default capabilities, also called “stats.” The likelihood of a dice roll’s success is primarily based on the model’s attribute value.
4. Size — the model’s volume on the field, represented by a corresponding Hitbox. From smallest to largest: Small (S, 25×25mm) < Medium (M, 32×45mm) < Large (L, 40×45mm) < Huge (H, 50×50mm) < Gigantic (G, 60×60mm) < Colossal (C, 80×80mm) < Monstrous/Epic (E, 100×100mm). The Hitbox is cylindrical, the same width as the model’s base and a height defined by its Size — it matters for narrow spaces, elevation and, most importantly, drawing Line of Sight.
5. Recruitment Cost — the amount of Recruitment Points (RP) a player must spend to recruit the model into a Party.
6. Limit — how many models of the same profile can be recruited into a single Party.
7. Traits — passive abilities always in effect while the model is present on the field, applied automatically and unable to be disregarded volitionally. Some Traits have multiple levels (shown with roman numerals) — a higher level automatically grants the effects of all lower levels, and the effects stack. (See the Traits list.)
8. Skills — optional abilities a model can use and benefit from in certain situations; a model cannot use the same Skill more than once per Activation. Skills can also have stacking levels. (See the Skills list.)
9. Combat Arts — a form of combat the model has mastered, organized into leveled charts. A model has access to all levels up to its listed level, but may only apply the effect of one level to a single Attack, and may only select one Combat Art at a time if it has access to several.
10. Spellcraft — access to Spells organized into leveled charts, though a model can only cast Spells of an Element it has Affinity for.
11. Special — unique abilities specific to that model, displayed directly on its card.
12. Stratagems — abilities only the Party Leader may use, once per Strategic Phase. Authority Stratagems affect your own models; Subterfuge Stratagems affect enemy models. Unless stated otherwise, a Stratagem’s effect lasts until the player’s next Strategic Phase, and Stratagems have infinite Reach. Models without the same Affiliation as the Leader cannot benefit from that Leader’s Authority Stratagems.
13. Inventory (X) — the available carrying space for Items; X is the total weight or number of Items the model can carry. Exceeding it makes the model over-encumbered (no Movement or Special Action). Dropped Items become a Cache/Loot token in Base Contact with the model, recoverable via Interact.
14. Items — grant various abilities. A model may only have one Item equipped per Item Category at a time, and may equip/unequip once per Activation or Reaction. Items are grouped into four categories: Weapons (give an Attack Reach, Power, Strike and other effects), Shields (a passive effect when equipped, or usable to make an Attack instead of a Weapon), Accessories (a passive effect when equipped), and Consumables (discarded after use, only one of the same name usable at a time).
15. Affiliation — the banner or crest showing which faction(s) the model may be recruited into. Neutral models can join any faction; some models have a split banner allowing recruitment by two factions.

Weapon & Item Table Examples

The Sword, for instance, is a Weapon with no particular effect, capable of hitting targets up to 1” away and rolling a number of Strikes equal to the wielder’s Stamina. The Short Bow is Ranged and imposes a −6 Accuracy penalty beyond 20 inches.

Dice Rolls

Whenever a model performs an Action that requires a roll, the player rolls a 20-sided die (D20) and compares the result to the model’s modified attribute.

• Attribute roll — succeeds if the result is equal to or lower than the modified attribute.
• Attack roll — a model rolls a number of dice equal to its Strike (STK). Each roll succeeds if it is equal to or lower than the modified attribute used for the Attack, and was not canceled during a Confrontation. Each success generates one Hit, which then requires a Damage roll.
• Damage roll — roll a number of dice equal to the number of Hits. Each die equal to or lower than the Weapon’s Power (PW) minus the target’s Armor (ARM) causes one Wound.
• Reroll — some abilities let a player reroll a selected number of dice, completely negating the previous result.

Modifiers

Modifiers alter a model’s attribute and are numbers added to or subtracted from its default value — all applicable bonuses and penalties stack cumulatively, and are applied after an Action is declared but before rolls are made.

If modifiers reduce an attribute to 0, the Action automatically fails (except Damage rolls) — an attribute cannot go below 0. If raised above 20, a roll of 20 becomes a Critical Hit. When halving or doubling, first apply any flat modifiers, then halve or double, rounding up; if an attribute would be both halved and doubled, the two cancel out.

Distance & Measurement

All distances are measured in inches, normally after the relevant Movement, Action or Reaction has been declared. The distance between models is measured in a straight line from the closest points of their Hitboxes; Movement distance is always measured from the same part of the model’s base.

Before the game, players agree on a mode of measuring:

• Assisted Mode — players may pre-measure any distance.
• Standard Mode — pre-measuring is limited to a model’s Awareness and the activated model’s Movement distance; AoE templates cannot be pre-placed.
• Realism Mode — no pre-measuring is allowed at all; measuring must strictly follow the performed Action or Movement.

Base Contact defines a situation where a model’s Hitbox physically touches another model’s Hitbox, a token, or a piece of scenery. A model is always in Base Contact with itself.

Movement, Line of Sight & Reach

There are two kinds of Movement: Normal Movement and Special Movement (see the List of Movement). A player may only voluntarily move or place models on non-vertical surfaces unless declaring Climb or Jump, or using a relevant Ability. A model’s Movement automatically ends if it enters Base Contact with an enemy model, and it may never end its Movement with its Hitbox inside another model’s Hitbox.

While moving, a model can rotate and has 360° Line of Sight, and can move through allied (but not enemy) models. A Ladder — a predetermined set of rungs or holds — can be climbed without declaring the Climb Special Movement. Moving vertically up a ladder or over a surface narrower than the model’s base costs double Movement.

A model’s Hitbox is divided from the top into a Front and Back arc, each 180°. Line of Sight (LoS) exists between two models if an unobstructed straight line can be drawn between points on their Hitboxes; it can be obscured by other models (including allies) or scenery. Unless specified otherwise, a model can only draw LoS from its Front arc.

Awareness is a radius around a model, in inches, equal to its Agility value, measured from the base’s edge — used to determine what a model perceives around it.

Reach (RCH) is the distance at which an Item, Ability or Spell can be used, measured from anywhere on the model’s Hitbox. RCH 0” items can only be used in Base Contact. Ranged Weapons often list multiple RCH intervals, each with its own Accuracy modifier.

Casting Aura is an area equal to the caster’s Awareness in which some Spells can be cast even without LoS — though the casting attribute then suffers a halving modifier, and such Attacks cannot benefit from Cover.

States & Actions (Overview)

A State represents a condition affecting a model — a model can be in more than one State at a time, though States of the same name cannot stack. See the full List of States.

Models declare either Normal Actions or Special Actions. Normal Actions can be declared in both the Active and Reactive Role (and, unless stated otherwise, all Normal Actions can be declared as a Reaction). To declare a Special Action, a model must first declare Idle during its Movement Step — Special Actions cannot be declared as a Reaction.

Activation Points (AP) are a resource generated from a model’s Stamina and spent to activate or react with it. See Playing the Game for the full allocation rules. The Active Player’s models perform the Active Role via Activations; the Reactive Player’s models perform the Reactive Role via Reactions.

Templates & Area of Effect

Some Abilities, Spells or Items have an Area of Effect (AoE). A player places a template over the affected area; it affects all models whose Hitboxes are at least partially covered (the main target must be fully covered). A model hit under multiple templates suffers each effect separately, and may still avoid Hits with a successful Dodge even after a template is placed successfully.

• Circular (S/L) — the target must be fully covered; also affects models 3” above/below the surface. Requires LoS from the template’s center. Small template: 70mm diameter. Large: 120mm diameter.
• Spray (S/L) — placed with its narrow end in Base Contact with the attacker; can also affect models up to 5” above or below. Requires LoS from the attacker. Small length: 213mm. Large: 260mm.

Strikes, Hits & Critical Hits

The Strike value (STK) specifies the number of dice rolled for an Action with a given Item, Spell or Ability. In the Reactive Role, a model’s default Strike becomes 1 (unless stated otherwise), and Strike can never be modified below 1. In the Active Role, if Strike is greater than 1, the Active model may distribute its Strikes among multiple targets.

A successful Attack roll delivers a Hit, which requires a Damage roll to become a Wound. A model may rotate and adjust its LoS after suffering a Hit. If a model uses an Ability that places templates and has Strike greater than 1, it may place a number of templates equal to its Strike and distribute them among targets.

A Critical Hit occurs when an Attack roll result is 1. It reduces the target’s Armor to 0 for that Hit only, and automatically beats all opposing Confrontation roll results. If both sides score a Critical Hit, both suffer the Hit.

Confrontation

Confrontation occurs only when two or more opposing models declare an Attack against one another. Confrontation rolls (parrying, blocking, counter-attacking) are made simultaneously; each successful roll negates all enemy rolls with an equal or lower result. Only the model with one or more successful Confrontation rolls higher than the enemy’s wins, dealing damage. After all rolls, the Reactive Player applies any rerolls first, then the Active Player.

Damage & Wounds

For every Hit dealt, the attacker performs a Damage roll; a success causes one Wound, costing the target 1 HP. A model cannot suffer more Wounds than its HP. A model whose HP reaches 0 becomes Incapacitated at the end of the Activation Sequence; if an Incapacitated model suffers another Wound, it becomes Dead instead.

Fall Damage — if a model falls from a higher to a lower surface (without using Climb) for a distance greater than its halved Speed, it must perform an Agility roll for every interval of that halved Speed value, suffering a Wound for each failed roll.

Spells & Magic

Spells are a focused representation of magic. Wielders of magic channel raw mana from the elements or Items and shape it into unique forms known as Spells. Using a Spell is called Casting; the model doing so is the Caster. Unless stated otherwise, the caster uses its Intellect attribute when casting, and must have an Affinity (Element) matching the Spell’s element.

In the Active Role, if a Spell has Strike greater than 1, the Caster may choose multiple targets (except when casting Conjuration Spells). A model can only cast one Spell at a time, and cannot cast Spells while its “both hands full” (e.g. Shield plus Weapon, or two Weapons, or a Two-Handed Weapon equipped).

Mana Counters

Mana Counters represent the energy required for casting Spells, spent to cover the price of Conjuration-type or other powerful Spells. In the Active Role, a Mage can convert Activation Points into Mana Counters 1:1 and place them in a personal pool — Mana Counters are cumulative and do not disappear at the end of the turn.

The 5 Types of Spells

• Sorcery — short-lasting, destructive effects. Unless stated otherwise, lasts until the end of the Activation Sequence.
• Healing — short-lasting, restorative effects, castable only in the caster’s Active Role. Lasts until the end of the Activation Sequence unless stated otherwise.
• Enchantment — extended-duration Spells that bolster or weaken the target, castable only in the Active Role. Lasts until the caster’s next Strategic Phase unless stated otherwise, cannot be prevented with a Dodge, and a model can only be enchanted by one instance of the same-named Enchantment at a time. If the Enchantment’s Power is the ✦ symbol, the enchanted model’s Attacks gain the Spell Type for the duration.
• Transmutation — permanent Spells that affect the environment, remaining on the field until removed or destroyed. If a Transmutation lists an Armor value, it can be targeted and destroyed with a successful Damage roll.
• Conjuration — summon a creature to the field under the caster’s command, cast only via the Ritual Special Action. The creature immediately receives AP equal to its Stamina and is treated both as a model and as a Conjuration-Type Spell. Conjuration Spells have a Mana Cost (X) Trait — the caster spends X Mana Counters to cast. Summoned creatures have a Summoning Limit equal to their Tier; a caster cannot cast more Conjuration Spells once the combined Summoning Limit of its creatures on the field equals or exceeds its modified Stamina (though a cast that pushes it over that threshold from below is allowed). During its Strategic Phase, a caster may voluntarily dismiss a summoned creature, removing it instantly. If the caster becomes Incapacitated or Dead, its summoned creatures are removed at the end of the Activation Sequence.

Playing the Game

After familiarizing yourself with the core game elements, here is how to set up and run a game — step by step.

Game Setup

Quest Selection

First, select a Quest with the other players. The Quest impacts gameplay by setting the circumstances, goal, end conditions and other variables. The full collection of Quests is available online at eldfall-chronicles.com under “Resources.”

Determine the Game Size

The Game Size defines the amount of Recruitment Points (RP) each player has to assemble and outfit their Party — decided before play begins. Each recruitable model has its own Recruitment Cost.

Creating a Party

A party consists of a group of models belonging to a single player. First choose a Faction, then choose your models — each belongs to a specific Faction shown on its Model Profile. You may enlist models from your chosen Faction plus Neutral models; at least one enlisted model must be affiliated with the selected Faction (or, if you choose the Neutral Faction, you may only enlist Neutral models and purchase only Neutral Upgrades). The number of same-named models cannot exceed their Limit, and a single party may contain up to 10 models. Parties are created in private.

Leader

After assembling your party, assign the status of party Leader to one of its models. As long as the Leader is not Incapacitated or Dead, the controlling player may use Stratagems during their Strategic Phase.

Upgrades

When creating a party, you may purchase Upgrades and assign them to models during Deployment, using any remaining Recruitment Points — the combined point value of party members and Upgrades must not exceed the Game Size. A player may only purchase Neutral Upgrades and Upgrades of their chosen Faction, up to each Upgrade’s specified Limit, and may assign up to one Upgrade per model (never two of the same name). See the full Upgrades reference.

Field Setup

After Quest, Game Size and parties are settled, set up the playing field — any wargaming terrain can be used.

Player Count (Optional)

The core rules are written mainly for two players but apply generally to solo and multiplayer play — see the Solo and Multiplayer supplementary rules online, which are mandatory for tournaments, competitions and other organized play.

Format of Play (Optional)

• Rivalry — party creation as per the core rules.
• Guildsworn — you assume the role of an Adventurers’ Guild member; Affiliation doesn’t matter and you may recruit from any Faction, but all models have Limit 1. Authority Stratagems affect all your party members regardless of Affiliation, though this doesn’t extend to an allied player’s party.

Initiative Check & Deployment

After field setup, all players perform an Initiative Check: roll a single die and add the Party Leader’s Morale value. The higher sum wins the initiative and chooses one of the following (the other is left to the other player):

• Turn order — choose who becomes the 1st Player (Active first). Players deploy in the same order.
• Deployment position — choose which Deployment Zone to occupy, and whether players deploy their whole party at once or interchangeably, one model at a time. Party lists are revealed after deployment.

Deployment Zones are imaginary belts measured from opposing table edges, commonly 8 inches wide (Quest-dependent). A model can only be deployed where at least half its base fully fits, and may be deployed Crouched, Flying or Mounted. Once all players have deployed, the game begins.

Game Sequence

A game consists of a number of rounds, each divided into a turn for each player. After both/all turns are complete, the round ends and a new one begins.

The Turn Phase

In the first turn of a round, the 1st Player assumes the Active Role and the 2nd Player (or all others) the Reactive Role; roles then alternate each turn. The Active Player carries out four phases:

Tactical Phase — The Activation Sequence

An Activation Sequence occurs with every Activation during the Tactical Phase, in five steps:

1. Activation Step — the Active Player activates a model by spending one Activation Point.
2. Movement Step — the model declares Normal or Special Movement (declaring relevant Skills such as Dash, Climbing, Leap, Flight or Flicker). It may enter or cancel Crouched at the start or end of Movement.
3. Reaction Step — the Reactive Player declares which of their models react, if any, and what Normal Action each performs. More than one model may react. A model may only target the activated model with a Reaction Attack.
4. Action Step — the activated model declares a Normal or Special Action.
5. Resolution Step — modifiers are applied, all necessary rolls performed, and damage/effects/States resolved simultaneously and in Active-Player-chosen order where needed.

Reaction & Attack of Opportunity

In its Reactive Role, a model may declare Reaction and react to an activated model by spending an Activation Point — Reaction can only be a Normal Action, and requires LoS toward the activated model at some point during its Movement (or Awareness suffices for a Dodge without LoS).

Attack of Opportunity — if an activated enemy model moves within Reach mid-Movement, the reactive model may declare Reaction at that point and attempt an Attack against it. If it turns out the model wasn’t actually within Reach, the Attack simply fails — but the reacting model still cannot declare a different Reaction this Sequence. A Ranged Attack of Opportunity can be declared while the activated model is still approaching; if it then declares a Melee Attack, this triggers a Confrontation.

If a reacting model declared Dodge or Perceive and has LoS to an activated enemy that then attacks while Shrouded or Flying, it may change its declaration to an Attack immediately after the enemy’s Action Step.

Resolution Step & a Worked Example

During Resolution, players carry out any Confrontation rolls, models that scored Hits perform Damage rolls, and models that suffered Hits may attempt their own prevention rolls. Wounds and their resulting effects/States are applied last, and simultaneous conflicts are resolved in the Active Player’s chosen order.

Hostiles

Hostiles are models controlled by the game itself, similarly to an AI. They function like any other model, with their own Profile Cards — but their behavior is defined by a Hostile Behavior card describing the patterns/hierarchy the model follows when controlled by the game.

Turn Order of Hostiles

Hostiles perform their Active Role — the Hostiles turn — after all players have finished their turns, regaining Activation Points during every player’s Upkeep Phase. Players regain AP at the start of every Hostiles turn. Hostiles perform their Reaction Step after the Active Player’s Action Step and before the Resolution Step.

When a Hostile declares an Action targeting a model, it must rotate to face the target directly; if it suffers a Hit, it turns directly toward the attacker (except Construct or Undead I models, which turn on Wound instead). Unless specified otherwise, a Hostile moves via the shortest route and ignores tokens (it would not target a Shrouded token, for instance). Hostiles can pre-measure distances even on Realism mode.

The Hostile Turn

1. Establish Order of Activations — Hostiles activate by Tier marked on their card, lowest first (Tier I is lowest). Ties are broken by higher Morale, then player decision. Same-Tier Hostiles may interleave their Activations, but must exhaust all AP possible before a higher-Tiered Hostile can activate.
2. Activate Hostiles — the Activation Sequence is the same as for any model, following the “ACTIVE” or “REACTIVE” section of the Hostile’s card as appropriate.
3. Follow the Hierarchy of Behaviors — each Behavior lists a highlighted condition and a described response. Check condition 1 first; if unmet, check 2, and so on. If none are met, the Hostile does not activate or react. If several targets fit a condition, the model matching the Hostile’s Target Priority most closely becomes the target (or the nearest enemy, if unclear). In the Reactive Role the target can only be the activated model.

Rules in General Effect

Advanced Rules

Optional advanced rules that add tactical depth are published online at eldfall-chronicles.com under “Resources,” and expand with future editions of the game.

Broken Morale

If the number of Alive models in a party falls below half its original size, all its models become Panicked until the end of the game (this reverses if the count rises back above half).

Characters

Models with a specific name are Characters and cannot be assigned Upgrades when creating a party.

End of the Game

Different Quests define their own endgame conditions, but universally: the Quest ends automatically if a player begins their turn with all models Incapacitated or Dead, and, unless specified otherwise, the game ends after the last player’s 5th turn. The winner has the most Victory Points (VP); equal totals result in a draw. Unless stated otherwise, the maximum VP obtainable in a single Quest is 10.

Friendly Fire

If a model delivers a Hit that could damage an allied model, that ally must make a Morale roll or become Panicked until its next Strategic Phase.

Monster Factions

Certain Factions (currently the Oni Clans and Goblin Wartribes) are Monster Factions, separate from the civilized ones. They cannot hire Neutral models and may only use Neutral Upgrades and Schemes.

Priority Over the Core Rules

Abilities, Spells, Items, Upgrades, Class-specific abilities, Stratagems and certain effects take priority over the core rules and may override their restrictions — rules stated on cards or within Spells take precedence.

Recovery Check

During its own Strategic Phase, an Incapacitated model may perform a Toughness roll: on success it regains 1 HP and gains the Weakened State; on failure it remains Incapacitated. If it has a non-Engaged allied model in Base Contact, it may reroll this check once.

List of Movement

Normal Movement can be freely combined with a Normal Action; Special Movement can only be paired with Nothing during the Action Step.

No entries match your search.

List of Actions

Normal Actions

Assist

An activated model may declare Assist, targeting itself or one or more allied models — most commonly used to cast support Spells (Enchantments, Heal, Ward, etc.) among allies. The player declares which Skills, Items or Spells the assisting model uses. Unless stated otherwise, LoS is required when targeting other allies. If Strike is greater than 1, up to that many models may be targeted. If assisting with a Spell, the caster rolls INT for each target up to the Spell’s Strike, and only successful rolls grant the effect.

Attack

An activated or reacting model may declare Attack against one or more enemy models — LoS is required unless stated otherwise. The player declares which Skill(s), Combat Art, and Item or Spell will be used (normally only one Item or Spell). The Attack is Melee or Ranged depending on what’s used. In the Active Role, Strike specifies the number of dice; in the Reactive Role it defaults to 1. A roll succeeds if it’s equal to or lower than the used modified attribute (and, where a Confrontation occurs, also higher than the enemy’s rolls). With Strike greater than 1, an Active attacker may distribute Strikes across multiple targets, resolving Confrontation separately with each.

Melee Attack

Performed with a Melee Item or Spell. A model may always choose to fight unarmed instead. Using a Melee Item, a model uses Offense in its Active Role and Defense in its Reactive Role; using a Spell, it uses Intellect (unless stated otherwise). A model with a Shield may instead perform a Shield Bash.

Engaged (State) — if a model ends its Movement or a Phase within an enemy Melee Weapon’s Reach and LoS, it becomes Engaged. While Active and Engaged, it may only declare Idle or Walk (moving directly toward the engaging enemy). While Engaged, it may only declare Melee Attack, Assist (self) or Dodge as its Action. It stops being Engaged by leaving Reach, Disengaging via Dodge, or incapacitating/killing/crouching the enemy. An Engaged model automatically has LoS to whoever is Engaging it, but cannot react to models outside its Awareness.

Ranged Attack

Performed with a Ranged Item or Spell — using Accuracy for Items, Intellect for Spells (unless stated otherwise). During Reaction, a Ranged Attack must specify the exact point along the activated model’s visible path where it is shot.

Cover — a Small/Medium/Large model within 1” of scenery taller than its base that at least partially blocks the attacker’s LoS has Cover. Heavy Cover (object both taller and wider than the model) imposes −4 to the Attacker’s roll; Light Cover (smaller or thinner) imposes −2. A Crouched model always has Light Cover. On elevated ground, partial obscuring from perspective grants Light Cover (or Heavy, if standing behind a solid wall).

Ranged Friendly Fire — targeting an enemy in Base Contact with an ally (without an AoE) imposes a stackable −4 to the shooter for every such ally. A roll of 17–20 instead hits one of those allies (defender’s choice if more than one), suffering Friendly Fire.

Death Blow

“Coup de Grace” — against an Incapacitated model in Base Contact, this Action automatically renders it Dead. No roll required.

Dodge

Performed with a single Agility roll. On success, all non-Critical Hits from the triggering Attack are negated. Declaring Dodge in the Reactive Role requires LoS to the activated model, the activated model being within Awareness, or both — without LoS at any point, the roll uses halved Agility. Whether or not the roll succeeds, the model may then move up to its halved Speed and/or enter or cancel Crouched. Disengage — an Engaged model may cancel that State via Dodge (even on a failed roll). Against multiple simultaneous Attackers, a model rolls Dodge separately against each one.

Interact, Nothing, Perceive, Trade

Interact — while in Base Contact with a Quest-defined object, roll the prescribed attribute against it. Nothing — the model does nothing. Perceive — reveal an enemy model, Spell or Item represented by a token (e.g. Shrouded, Intrigue) within Awareness and LoS by succeeding an Intellect roll. Trade — exchange any number of acquired (non-default) Items with an allied model in Base Contact.

Special Actions

Declaring a Special Action first requires declaring Idle during the Movement Step; Special Actions cannot be declared as a Reaction.

Issue a Duel

Only a model from the player’s original party (not summoned creatures or familiars) may issue a Duel; the opposing player may accept or refuse. If accepted, both dueling models’ AP are restored to their default Stamina and the Duel begins — no other model may activate or react while it lasts (interference automatically loses the duel for the interfering side). The Duel ends when one model becomes Incapacitated or Dead, at which point the game ends too. The winner receives 6 VP; a simultaneous double-defeat is a draw, and both sides receive 3 VP (capped by the Quest’s maximum).

Ritual

Immediately casts a Conjuration Spell (no roll required) or certain Spells restricted to the Ritual Action. When summoning, after paying the Mana Cost, place the creature’s miniature and profile card in Base Contact with the caster.

Uncover

By passing a halved Intellect roll, cancels the Hidden State of all enemy models/Items within this model’s Awareness.

States

A State represents a condition affecting a model. Tokens or markers can be used to track active States at all times.

No entries match your search.

Classes

Each model is assigned at least one Class, defining part of its role on the field.

No entries match your search.

Skills

Optional abilities a model can use and benefit from in certain situations. A model cannot use the same Skill more than once per Activation.

No entries match your search.

Traits

Passive abilities always in effect while a model is present on the field — applied automatically and impossible to disregard volitionally.

No entries match your search.

Combat Arts

Some models have access to leveled Combat Art charts. A model has access to all levels up to its listed level, but may apply only one level’s effect per Attack, and may only use one Combat Art at a time.

Environments

Each Environment term gives specific characteristics to a defined area of the battlefield. By mutual agreement, players may assign Environments to individual scenery pieces, parts of the field, or the entire battlefield — multiple Environments can overlap. A model is affected if it is in Base Contact with, or partially within, the area.

No entries match your search.

Mounted Rules

Mounts are models with the special Class: Mount. A Rider can ride a Mount, linking their profile cards together to form a single mounted model.

Mount & Rider Classes

Mount (Class) — indicates the model can be mounted by a Rider. Rider (Class) — only a model with the Rider Class may use and ride a Mount.

Mounting and Dismounting

A model may mount during its Strategic Phase if no enemy has LoS to it, or by declaring Assist (targeting itself) during its Active Role — the Mount appears instantly on the field. It may dismount during its Strategic Phase, Movement Step, or by declaring Dodge; the Mount is then instantly removed. A model cannot mount while Engaged.

Profile & Attribute Interaction

When mounted, the Mount and Rider are treated as a single model. If an Attribute on the Mount’s profile has a +/−, it modifies the Rider’s Attribute; if it’s a flat number, it replaces the Rider’s. The Rider also gains access to the Mount’s Abilities and Inventory.

HP Interaction & Damage

If the Mount provides bonus HP, that HP is lost first when taking Wounds. Once reduced to 0, further damage applies to the Rider’s HP directly — the Mount itself does not become Incapacitated or Dead when its bonus HP is lost, and bonus HP does not reset on dismounting/remounting.

Other Rules

The mounted Rider assumes the Mount’s Size, except for effects that reference Size differences (e.g. Stagger, Knockdown), where the Rider’s default Size is used. A mounted Rider cannot use Items with RCH 0 unless the Weapon Type is Natural (the Mount’s Natural Weapon), and Weapon Strike cannot be increased by Abilities while mounted. Being hit by a Knockdown Attack, or becoming Incapacitated or Dead, automatically dismounts the Rider. A mounted model that declares Dodge may not move during the Resolution Step except to dismount (no additional movement is made upon dismounting). Mounts cannot become Crouched unless stated otherwise.

Inventory & Items

The Rider may trade items with the Mount during the Strategic Phase or while mounted, and Items can be stored in the Mount’s Inventory. If a Quest Item stored there and the Rider dismounts, the Item is placed in Base Contact with the dismounted model.

Recruitment and Costs

When creating a party, players must pay the Mount’s Recruitment Cost to include it — this cost is added to the Rider’s.

Setting Up Your Field

The table, or rather the field, may be set up according to the players’ preferences — any terrain can be used, and home-made terrain is encouraged.

For standard play, we recommend 3D scenery (obstacles of different heights and widths) and a field size of 36×36 inches — this provides the best balance between ranged and melee combat for parties of 3 to 5 models.

Different field setups affect gameplay in different ways. The balance between melee and ranged combat is affected by scenery layout, the altitude of scenery pieces, terrain density, and the amount and type of Cover available. You can also choose to apply Environments to your terrain setup — don’t be afraid to experiment with different arrangements.

Schemes

Schemes are classified objectives known only to the player who receives them. At the end of the game, all Schemes are revealed and the player receives Victory Points for each completed objective. Each Scheme can only be completed once; if you draw two of the same name, discard one and draw again. To “draw” a Scheme, roll a die and look up the result on the relevant chart.

Upgrades

Upgrades are purchased with remaining Recruitment Points when creating a party and assigned to models during Deployment — up to their listed Limit, and one Upgrade per model. Quest-Specific Upgrades take on properties described in their related Quest.

Sample Quests

Four example Quests from the rulebook. The full collection of PvP, co-op and campaign Quests is available online at eldfall-chronicles.com under “Resources.”

Useful Tips

• If unsure which models to start with, a balanced 3-model, sub-60pt starter roster exists for each faction — see the rulebook’s starter lists, or just try a few. Competitive Play is run at 85 pts.
• Sticking with one Faction while learning helps you understand its synergies — useful even when facing that Faction later. But try them all at your own pace to find your favorite play-style.
• Pay special attention to the Engaged State — it can lock down ranged models, leaving them unable to perform a Ranged Attack.
• Use the Reach advantage: an enemy without Reach cannot fight back.
• Stand in Base Contact with an enemy to protect yourself — other ranged enemies risk hitting their own ally if they shoot at you.
• Dodge is useful not just for escaping, but for closing distance or engaging enemies outright.
• Don’t forget your Stratagems and Class abilities.
• When allying with another player, their models become allies — some Skills (like Chain Attack) can benefit them too, though Authority Stratagems only extend to allies sharing the Leader’s Affiliation. You can still react to an ally’s Activations, which is handy for repositioning.
• Remember you can always Duel — especially if winning one would turn the tide of the battle.
• If your party feels like it’s missing something against the opponent’s build, look into Upgrades for a counter-combo.
• Pay attention to a Quest’s Rewards and Penalties when planning strategy — fighting is not always the best path to victory.

Glossary

Definitions for the game’s core vocabulary — useful shorthand once you already know the rules above.

No entries match your search.

Major Factions & Play-Styles

A quick primer on each faction’s identity and how they tend to play on the table.

What Next?

Visit the Eldfall Chronicles webpage and social media to learn more — eldfall-chronicles.com.

Webpage & Online Resources

The webpage extends the game itself: the store, blogs, lore, tutorials, the gallery and more. The “Resources” section holds free Quests, model profiles, cards, abilities, and the latest versions of all game documents — including print-ready files and, eventually, localized translations. Join the newsletter for news and special offers.

Guild Hall

A free companion app for accessing rules, unit profiles and updates on the go.

Competitive Play

The Skirmish Wargame is built for competitive 1v1 play. Each season features its own leaderboards and evolving competitive Quests, played at 85 pts.

Organized Play Rules

Eldfall Chronicles is a living rulebook — while the core rules stay stable, complimentary documents are frequently added and expanded. Printed materials may not always reflect the latest content; the newest Errata and Organized Play Rules are published online.

How to Expand the Skirmish

Larger Expansions introduce new gameplay options, while Reinforcement Packs add additional models and tactical flexibility to your warbands.

Guildmaster Program

Dedicated players or store representatives interested in hosting events can become Guildmasters — the official community leaders of Eldfall Chronicles — and enjoy a range of associated benefits.

Dungeon Crawl

Eldfall Chronicles – Dungeon Crawl is a narrative-driven tabletop experience where small groups of characters venture into perilous locations, overcome monsters, solve quests, and progress through evolving stories with real agency. It emphasizes cooperative and solo storytelling with campaign progression and character development — a perfect entry point into tactical dungeon-crawlers, combining rich lore, exploration and dynamic combat.

Unofficial reference build · Eldfall Chronicles © Freecompany d.o.o.