I love a story that has deep lore behind it. I love how the backstory unfolds in a particular universe. Halo, Warhammer 40,000 and the old World of Darkness are games that have entertained me – some enough to actually play them. There is a new game I am fixed on.

Trench Crusades combines the dirt, muck and mire of World War One with the religious fantasy that permeates Warhammer 40,000. The official game is not out yet. The Kickstarter is getting organized, and I hope it doesn’t start up after GenCon just because I want to throw some money down on it. I just signed onto the mailing list and have been devouring the lore as often as I can.

Apparently, during the last Crusades, a group of templars apparently opened a gate to Hell – destroying Jerusalem in the process. The War between Heaven and Hell is now fought on the earth, overtaking parts of Europe and North Africa. Now, in 1914, the trenches of the Apocalypse have stabilized into several no-man’s lands near the new axis mundi of New Antioch. I am condensing a lot, just because I am new to the lore and there is not much out there. It’s like Warhammer 40,000 in scale – everything is big. The war has been raging for eight hundred years. People listen to the voice of God for tactical advice. I don’t mean they praise the Lord and pass the ammunition. There are people whose job is to listen to the constant and eternal voice of God, not go insane from lack of sleep and listening to the voice of God tell them the past, present and future, and figure out tactics from the constant barrage. If H. P. Lovecraft were more fervent in his religion, this might be the product.

I like the interplay of religion in games like this. Old World of Darkness had this balanced perfectly, if you ask me. Trench Warfare goes a little overboard for my tastes, but given that this took place a little over one hundred and ten years ago that can be forgiven. I am looking forward to seeing how they treat the rest of the world. Around this time, Russia and Japan were going to war. How would that have turned out differently? America, as well – we were just stepping onto the world stage at this point. Do the Marines earn their stripes in Belleau Woods? I can’t wait to see.

This game might be like Warhammer 40,000 for me in that I don’t play it, but I am interested in the lore. Also, this might be a good opportunity for me to get in on the ground floor with it as far as fiction goes. If it takes off…who knows?

Well, I am still working on my werewolf fiction, and I might make the deadline. I will keep you up to date on that. There’s nothing else really going on here. So…ta-ta for now.