Anno Domini 1666 - The Old World without the Warhammer

My starting point in the whole wargaming hobby was via Heroquest and Warhammer. I always liked the Old World as a setting because I think its renaissance setting with black powder weapons offered something different and unique against a backdrop of medieval, Tolkien derivatives that were very prevalent in the early to mid 90’s. Its dark, gritty tone coupled with the creeping horror elements also made it a great setting for stories and roleplay games. I also grew out of the Fantasy genre of books and into historic fiction, starting with the Sharpe books by Bernard Cornwell. Since then I have read many different authors in numerous historical settings, but I always find myself drawn back to things set in worlds and times with that mixture of gunpowder and swords. All of this is as true today as it ever was. Needless to say, I was disappointed to say the least when Games Workshop decided to pull the plug on Warhammer Fantasy Battle, although by that time I think I was happy enough to just move on and play something else and buy my models elsewhere.  This is probably why my miniatures and games collection today is so vast and diverse. It also explains why this game in particular caught my eye back in 2018.

Anno Domini is a miniatures boardgame set in Vienna in the year 1666 in an alternative timeline. In this history, the Habsburg emperor, Leopold I has died without an heir and the electors of the Empire are set to choose his successor. All of the major powers of Europe have sent delegations to try and influence the election to ensure that the candidate most beneficial to them is elected to the throne. Meanwhile, dark powers gather on Vienna as Satan himself sends his own agents to sow chaos with the goal of dragging Europe into another war and soaking the continent in blood.

So, black powder weapons and Swords? Check Magic and Monsters? Check A mixture of history and fiction? Check There was no way that this game wasn’t getting purchased! And now its time to start painting it.

Interestingly, at the same time as I am starting work on this, I am also starting work on the Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood of Venice game. Whilst that is set around 180 years prior to Anno Domini 1666, it’s another franchise that I absolutely love and for pretty much the same reasons. So please also keep an eye out for that and check it out as well.