The digital miniature game Moonbreaker caught my eye as soon as it was announced at gamescom. Not only because of its publisher, Krafton, or its Unknown Worlds studio (known for Subnautica). Rather thanks to its universe created by an author of science fiction and fantasy that I particularly like: Brandon Sanderson. Having read almost all his novels (including Fils-Des-Mists and Les Archives de Roshar), I was eager to discover what the author had been able to concoct on another medium. A small disappointment however when I realized that the game did not fit into the cosmere, which includes most of his books. So little hope of seeing some of my favorite characters appear on the set. Never mind. I decided despite everything to give this new world a chance when it launches in early access on September 30th.
The interface goes straight to the point, with the ability to play, collect, and paint. On the right, several quests invite me to participate in different activities, with the key to a currency as a reward. I do not change my good habits and start the tutorial. It's the same mission that I was able to discover at gamescom, with however improved controls, as well as a now quite honorable French translation.
No matter the mode, Moonbreaker games are turn-based with the simple objective of defeating the enemy captain, each player's king (or AI). It is the most powerful unit on the board, with a unique set of abilities. Three are currently available to players: Extilior, Astra and Jax Ja'kar. More will be added in the future. To assist the captain, a crew, made up of pre-selected figurines to form a group, a bit like a deck in card games.
Ash is earned each turn, with a maximum increased by one each turn. On the first turn, only one ash is usable. This increases to two on the second turn, then three on the third, and so on up to seven. In addition, three ashes can be saved for the next turn, to potentially capitalize a maximum of ten centers for a coordinated attack. The ashes are used to use the special abilities of the miniatures, but also to bring new units onto the game board (which in the story are waiting very wisely on board our spaceship and therefore are considered to be on the "bridge" ). It's often quite a difficult choice to make, between making a present miniature act, which will be effective immediately, or deploying a new one which will have to wait until the next turn to enter into action...
The units move in an area, represented in a very visual way by a very visible green effect. There is no cost, but a unit can only move once per turn. Once it's filed, it's too late. Too bad if it is badly positioned! Similarly, abilities can only be used once per turn and per miniature.
The initiative does not exist, with only a notion of turn. Each opponent moves and makes his figurines act in the order he wants when he plays, within the limit of his available ashes. A good player will manage to coordinate the abilities of his miniatures with each other. Many have, for example, a grappling hook, capable of attracting enemies as well as allies. It's a good way to compensate for the relatively poor mobility of some miniatures, helping them get closer to their enemies. It can also be used to secure a unit that is in danger.
Damage dealt on contact has a higher chance to hit, but contact units automatically retaliate with each hit taken. Staying at a distance hurts less, but the chances of hitting are reduced, without forgetting that it is also possible to break the line of fire by using the scenery. Because of area damage, placement is once again paramount. All are affected, friends or enemies. I have more than once failed to kill one of my miniatures with the whirlwind of Extilior (sword of justice). Not very smart!
Finally, a last point concerns the assists, special abilities chosen from a random set at the start of each match, and which are launched from our ship in orbit. Not requiring ashes, they do however have a cooldown.
The game screen gives a wealth of information rather well presented. For example, an enemy's movement area is displayed when hovering the mouse over it, with a gray aura. So does its angle of fire and the amount of damage it inflicts (color-coded to differentiate melee attacks with blue or ranged with yellow). The percentage chance of a successful attack is also very clearly indicated. It is a valuable aid in making the right decisions.
Three game modes are available: against the AI, against other players and transporter mode. In the latter, each attempt costs a contract (with one free per day, the others to be purchased in the shop), taking in successive fights against five increasingly tough random bosses. knowing that the group, the set of usable miniatures, is fixed by the game, with a group for each captain. Rewards are commensurate with performance.
Sold for €29,99, Moonbreaker does, however, have a store and some free-to-play features. Thus, several currencies are present:
- pulsars, the premium currency: 15 for €4,99/160 for €9,99/425 for €24,99
- the sober, the currency obtained in game
- boosters (lootboxes that can be bought in large quantities with pulsars, or individually with sober ones)
- merits (obtained in lootboxes, in case of duplicates, which then allow you to buy a figurine or improve the rarity of a possessed figurine)
- contracts (for carrier mode)
At the moment the shelves in the store are empty except for booster packs and bounties, but I suspect that eventually they will fill with skins and other customizations for miniatures. Basically, everything can be obtained by playing, insofar as 1 booster buys 100 sobers. But those who pay will unlock their new figurines faster.
Finally, the last feature, which is not the least: the possibility of painting your miniatures. Each figurine, whether a crew member or the captain, is fully customizable thanks to the painting tool of rare finesse. It's simple, I must have played five hours of Moonbreaker, 3/4 were dedicated to smearing! With a multitude of colors and tools available to create effects (transparency, brush, dots...), it's a magnificent tribute to the world of miniature games.
Ah, and of course there is the universe. Might as well end with what brought me to Moonbreaker. It is present through the biography of each figurine and a thirty-minute podcast (in English, with a French transcription) recounts the adventures of one of the captains. Linking his adventures to the current season: Awakening of Extilior (which ends in 118 days, or January 26). Considering the speed it took me to even reach rank 2 (out of 50), no doubt this will take a long time!
Still a little empty in some parts, especially due to an interface suggesting much more content, Moonbreaker is however already an excellent turn-based strategy game, which will particularly appeal to fans of board games. It won't quite replace brushes and cardboard backdrops, but it's a good step forward for those who no longer have the opportunity to play tabletop with physical miniatures. If, as the studio promises, captains, units, paintings, audio stagings are added... it only promises good. Just a small flat on the economic model, hoping that the shop will not take a prominent place in the progression.
