Warhammer Underworlds: Playing Over the Phone
This guide explains how to play over the phone playing: a physical copy of the game with an opponent who is not physically present. It requires both players to have a copy of the game and to communicate over the phone or video call.
Set up
For this style of play, setting up the game will take a lot longer
than usual, especially the first few times.
Traditionally, Underworlds players sit face to face and have their
own board closest to them, but the best way for over the phone play is that
boards go side by side. Players need to explain to their opponent what is
happening so if both players have the same viewpoint, this has a greater degree
of ease and accuracy.
I'd either describe the board or say its name if we both knew it: “I’m using the Beastgrave board with no lethal or blocked hexes and it has a tusk on it” or “I’m using ‘Abandoned Lair’”.
My opponent would say “I’m using Wyrmgrave," so I take my copy of that board.
Then they would have to explain the board placement to me: "My board is on the right side and the lethal hex is closer
to No One’s Territory. Your board is on the left and the 'big tusk' is pointing
to No One’s Territory. Have the boards dead on and then push my board up by one.”
On these instructions, we would both be set up like this:
This means the point of view is the same for both players. The top and bottom of the boards is the same for both players, left and right are also the same. This makes using a clock face simple:
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| The positions of the hexes in relation to the red lethal hex. The hex below the lethal is "6 o'clock of the lethal hex" |
Placement of Objective Tokens
The next image shows the board after each player has placed
one objective token, using the row system. In the row system, row 1 for each player is the row furthest from No One’s Territory (NOT), and row 5 is the row closest to No One’s
Territory.
I place the first objective and describe the position to my
opponent “I'm placing the token on my board, second row, second hex down from the top”
My opponent then places the second objective, saying: “My board,
third row, third up from the bottom.”
We have our boards the same way, so the bottom is the same for both of us. They might also clarify with “Its 4 o’clock of the lethal hex.” Since there is only one lethal hex, this is clear for both of us.
Once all 5 objectives are placed, players flip them. Whoever
placed the first objective reads their numbers out (as otherwise you will have different numbers). Usually this would be left
to right. Eg. “First one the left at the top is Objective 5, on the same row but
underneath is objective 1. The top one in No One’s Territory is Objective 3,
then objective 2 is lower down in No One’s Territory. Then on your board its
objective 4.”
For the lethal hex, I place one on my board, "5th row, 2nd hex from the top".
My opponent might say “I’ll place a lethal at 10 o’clock
of the lethal that’s already on my board.” Once you’re both accustomed to using
the Row System and the Clock system, either can work.
Placement of Models
Carry on using the same system. To place Skritch, Objective
5 can act as a landmark for this placement, so I can say “Skritch is 6 o’clock of Objective 5” and there's only one hex that can be.
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| Skritch is at 6 o'clock of objective 5 |
For my opponent’s placement of Althaen, it makes more sense to state “Row 3, 3rd hex from bottom” since there's not a landmark next to that starting hex.
Avoid descriptions like “On the starting hex next to the lethal hex”. On my opponent’s board there are two starting hexes next to lethal hexes, so this could lead to an incorrect placement.
After placement of all objectives and models, you could send a picture to
confirm you’re set up the same. If the set up is accurate, the rest of the game
has a much better chance at being accurate too!
Play
Once the boards are set up, the most difficult part is over.
You will now have lots of reference points: objective tokens, lethal hexes and
models. However, make sure you are clear so that your opponent can match your
movements accurately.
In the example below, the movement could be described as: "Skritch charges to 6 o’clock of the
lethal hex to attack Skaeth". However, that description is ambiguous. The same description also matches the hex marked with X.
A better description of the movement would be “Skritch charges to 6 o’clock of the lethal hex on my board”.
When a fighter is making a range 1 attack, its usually easier to describe their position as they will have to be in a hex adjacent to their enemy. “Lurking Skaven charges so he’s at Skaeth’s 8 o’clock” would be the movement indicated by the blue arrow below. There's only one hex at Skaeth's 8 o'clock so its harder to make a mistake.
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| Malkin is in hot water since he's charged at the Queen and Varclav, who are now inspired |
Alternatively, if you want some models to be present on the battlefield, models that you do have can substitute for the warband. Such as using three of Ironskull's Boyz when your opponent is using Morgok's Crushas.
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| Now the Malkin is picking on Morgok (a model of Gurgaz is being used in his place) |
Dice Rolls
For dice all rolls, you have two options: Have the camera pointing at the dice or trust your opponent. Its as simple as that- unless you want to use an online dice roll emulator... which I don't personally choose to do.
Final Thoughts
When I play over the phone, its in non-tournament settings, so we do not worry about dicecam, or making sure to tell each other when exactly we are looking at cards. In fact, even if you're on a video call with you opponent, this format means you can have cards face up at all times without risk of them being seen by your opponent.
If you can trust your opponent to report their dice rolls and not mess with their cards, you will have a lot of fun playing like this
If you have any comments or see any flaws in this set up, then please let me know. Happy playing!
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