Battle Masters

Command plastic armies of the Imperial Army or the Forces of Chaos on a giant battle mat.

Designer: Stephen Baker
Published by: MB Giochi
Editions by: Milton Bradley, MB Spiele, MB Spellen, MB Jeux, MB Juegos, Nomura Toy

Battle Masters is a fantasy miniatures battle in a box, made by Milton Bradley in 1992 and presumably licensed from Games Workshop. The Imperial Army faces the Forces of Chaos on a huge vinyl mat about four and a half feet square, covered in ditches, marshes, river fords and a big border tower. Each of you commands twenty-five units, more than a hundred plastic figures in all. A card flipped from the deck decides which units can move and fight, so you cannot count on perfect control. Combat uses special dice with icons, and the whole game is a loud, easy-to-read clash. Best for two players who want armies on the table without the hobby-shop price tag.

Over 100 plastic figures across two armiesGiant vinyl battle mat with terrainCards decide which units act each round

Who it's for

You want a miniatures battle without a hobby shop commitment, perhaps with an older kid or a friend who loves toy soldiers.

Not for you if…

You want tight, balanced tactics. The card-driven activation adds a lot of luck.

Vibe's take

Big, tactile and a little unpredictable. You push armies across a vinyl battlefield, and the card that is flipped next decides which of your plans actually happens.