After the King

Introduction

 For what seemed like a century, all realms were united under the reign of a transcendent King. The King’s rise to power was sudden and direct as if it was being ushered in by an unseen force. With a series of swift military campaigns and undisclosed political moves he was able to solidify his power over the known realms. Even though there was peace amongst the realms, it did not stop the most powerful regional lords from keeping strong standing armies within their borders, signaling tensions were simmering beneath the surface. 

  During Autumn, on the anniversary of the King’s coronation, while the capital was in celebration and drunk with joy, chaos unfolded within the King’s castle. A band of thieves rushed the guards protecting the King’s vault, located in the deepest dungeon of the capital city. Without armor and only a few guards the King rushed to defend the vault from the thieves. Within the hour the capital city collapsed into a bottomless abyss, dragging everything within its grasp down with it. After the collapse a fiery beam of light shot up from the abyss into the dark gray skies. It still remains, seeming to grow larger and angrier with each passing day. The sky itself seems to mourn the loss of the king, with clouds gathered overhead, blotting out the sun and keeping the world in a perpetual gloom. 

  Strange weather patterns now plague the land, with ferocious storms and natural disasters seeming to warn of a bleak future for the world. Regional lords now seek to expand their dominions, their ambitions no longer held in check with the disappearance of the King, while others strengthen the hold on their territory as to brace for whatever comes next...

What is this game?

  After the King is a late medieval skirmish game set in a grimdark fantasy world moving on after the fall of a transcendent ruler. Designed to be miniature-agnostic, it allows players to customize the inhabitants of this world to suit their vision. Tailored for casual tabletop enthusiasts, this game provides an accessible introduction to tabletop wargaming. The streamlined ruleset focuses on simplicity, encouraging players to immerse themselves in the narrative and embrace unpredictable events without being weighed down by complex mechanics.

Artwork by: Tonny Arias

Updates

- Gameplay changes

- New condensed rulebook formatting

- Commissioned Artwork

Future updates:

- Further playtesting and balancing

- Expanded lore

- Campaign system

- More scenarios

Expanded lore

  The lore for the game is intentionally left vague, allowing room for player-driven storytelling. As the game is playtested, I plan to develop the world’s lore based on the outcomes of battles. This will allow me incorporate factions created by players, as well as the characters and campaigns to create a unique world.