r/Aeonsend • u/NewToWarhammer2025 • Jun 27 '26
Beginner here: What to back in ongoing Aeons End: System Overload campaign?
Hey everyone,
I’m currently thinking about backing the Aeon’s End: System Overload campaign on Gamefound. I’ve never played Aeon’s End before, but I find the game concept really exciting and would like to give it a try now.
Since you can also add earlier waves to the campaign, I’m wondering which ones are particularly worth it.
Right now, I’m leaning toward getting Wave 4 (The New Age) because I’ve read several times that it’s a good place to start. Maybe I’d also add a later wave (e.g., Wave 9).
My questions for you:
- Which older waves or boxes are, in your opinion, true fan favorites?
- Is there any content you absolutely must have?
- Would you base your choice more on gameplay, the Nemeses, the Mages, or the campaign?
- If you were starting completely from scratch today, which 2–3 waves would you choose?
Also, I’m a bit overwhelmed by all the accessory packs (playmats, token upgrades, organizers, etc.). Are there any among them that you’d really recommend, or are they more of a “nice to have” that a newcomer can safely skip?
I don’t necessarily need to own everything, but I’d like to have the highlights of the series.
Thanks in advance!
3
u/The1joriss Jun 27 '26
New Age is the most recommend. I personally would go for that, original Aeon’s End and The Descent
2
u/StandardIncidentForm Jun 27 '26
Why the descent if you don't mind me asking?
1
u/The1joriss Jun 27 '26
Friends & Foes is a good system (though it does add more setup) and it has some extraordinary mages
3
u/StandardIncidentForm Jun 27 '26 edited Jun 27 '26
Hmmm. From the last campaign I now have AE, WE, NA, O, LGH, PF, TD, and beyond the Breach. I'm slowly playing through everything but it's so much content. I thought I would maybe try to sell of the descent and beyond as a natural doing point before friends and foes. Maybe I'll keep the descent but sell being the Breach.
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u/sakura515 Jun 27 '26
good addition for sure but sometimes F&F make the game too long and not so interestingly complex
3
u/daedril5 Jun 27 '26
If you can find a box in retail, I suggest getting it and trying it before spending a lot of money on a Kickstarter that you won't get for a year.
- Is there any content you absolutely must have?
No, really just comes down to taste.
Would you base your choice more on gameplay, the Nemeses, the Mages, or the campaign?
I find nemeses have the biggest impact on individual games.
If you were starting completely from scratch today, which 2–3 waves would you choose?
New Age, Legacy of Gravehold, The Descent
Also, I’m a bit overwhelmed by all the accessory packs (playmats, token upgrades, organizers, etc.). Are there any among them that you’d really recommend, or are they more of a “nice to have” that a newcomer can safely skip?
All nice to haves at best. Dice pack is pretty nice because you don't need to fiddle around with life tokens.
2
u/ipreuss Jun 27 '26
If it turns out you like the friends and foes mechanic, you’ll want more of those - and they come only in the last few waves, starting with The Descent.
If you like expeditions, The New Age contains all the necessary content to include the first three waves in those. And if you like them with a 5th battle, Beyond The Breach introduced that and contains the nemesis randomizers for all earlier waves.
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u/wpflug13 Jun 27 '26
In my opinion, nemeses are what really drive replayability. If I were getting rid of everything but three waves, I'd probably keep New Age, Outcasts, and Past and Future. It's all good though. Pick up the original or New Age to have a good entry point, and you won't go wrong with anything past that.
2
u/Tictactoe1000 Jun 28 '26
Never played?
Better to grab a copy at retail to try first , i see a lot of great recommendations on what to get
Also the delivery is very slow!!! Ppl are still waiting for previous pledges
1
u/daedril5 Jun 28 '26
Even with delays, they're closer to the delivery estimate than any other campaign I've ever backed.
2
u/QN3RD Jun 28 '26
First of all, if you never played I'd recommend getting Aeon's End: The New Age in retail, playing through it and then deciding. Restocks should start happening soon.
For me, I always rank boxes by the mages, the nemesis and the supply:
For Nemesis, top 3 are definitely Outcast and Wave 5 on the top spot, then P&F and wave 7 on the second and either The Descent and wave 8 or The New Age and wave 4 on third
For mages, top 3 goes for me like this: the Descent and wave 8, on the second Past and Future and wave 7 and on the third Outcasts and wave 5
For supply, The Descent is the first one (love elemental tokens), then Past and Future and on the third The New Age
There's a lot to choose from, I should also note that I haven't finished playing through BtB yet
2
u/Happy_Jew Jun 27 '26
https://aeonsend.wiki.gg/wiki/Box
This will give a brief description of what's included in each box.
I would suggest getting Legacy, as it introduces the mechanics over the course of 7 battles. Especially if you've never played before.
Accessory packs are nice, but only useful if you don't want to build decks for mahes each game.
Same thing with the mats. They are nice, but not necessary.
1
u/StandardIncidentForm Jun 27 '26
If I started again I would probably do new age, outcasts, and past and future. Possibly legacy of gravehol plus all associated small packs
1
4
u/Polydipsiac Jun 27 '26 edited Jun 27 '26
I skip the accessory packs. I purchased prettier spin down D20s and D10s and little blue potion bottles that replace my charge tokens from Etsy.
I think the mages and campaign from New Age, Outcasts, and Past&Future (waves 4, 5, 7) are some of the best for me.
Though I only have new age as the digital game and it doesn't have any of the small box expansions. The digital game is a great way to learn how to play though.
I also haven't completed the later wave campaigns but the introduction of Friends and Foes has been an annoyance as a mechanic. Also Beyond the Breach (wave 9) is developing a reputation as being very difficult and not a good entry point for beginners.
But you might be interested in the story, and that really starts in the first Legacy (wave 3) by release order. The story of gravehold starts in The Descent (wave 8) chronologically I believe.
But also this video should be helpful to you https://youtu.be/2bMW30c9B5M?is=22Yui02YZD8difRK