Mythic Americas: The Tribal Nations Warband

Mythic Americas is a fantastic opportunity to explore the diverse cultures of the Americas. This article takes a look at the indigenous Tribal Nations of the North, and how they’ll play on your tabletop!

Developed in partnership between Warlord Games and Mythicos Studios, Mythic Americas takes players on a journey through American folklore, using the incredible Warlords of Erewhon engine to power lightning-fast skirmish games between warbands of the Mythic Americas!

Prior to the arrival of Europeans in North America, indigenous communities spanned the continent and their population numbered in the millions. These diverse native people thrived in nearly every habitat found across the continent; from the permafrost tundra in the far north to the dense hardwood forests of the northeast; from the endless grass in the western plains to the stifling and hostile marshlands along the southern coastline. Primarily organized into small, closely-knit groups, the people lived in harmony with nature and established complex social systems rivalling those existing in other parts of the world, including Europe. At times, these groups would come together to form powerful alliances. Perhaps the most well-known of these mighty Tribal Nations are the Haudenosaunee, the People of the Longhouse. Known to European colonists as the Iroquois, the Haudenosaunee were a confederation comprised of the Mohawk, Onondaga, Oneida, Cayuga, and Seneca tribes of the Great Lakes region of what is today the United States and Canada.

Spirituality

The people of the Tribal Nations were deeply spiritual. They interpreted supernatural phenomena around them as evidence of spirits, gods, and the ghosts of the dead, unseen, yet all around them. At times more malevolent spirits were believed to be responsible for causing suffering and sickness. The men and women of the Haudenosaunee medicine societies were skilled in the secret plants and herbs, spells, dances, and ceremonies used to heal the sick and to chase away evil spirits. In addition to healing sick or injured tribe members, some magic was used to imbue warriors with supernatural protection or capabilities. Sacred charms or amulets were treasured elements of a warrior’s equipment.

Some spirits were believed to be particularly dangerous. In Algonquian folklore, a malevolent spirit of winter can possess and transform a person into a great, cannibalistic beast with a heart of ice. In time, and through feeding on human victims, this Wendigo could grow to gigantic proportions. Such creatures were thought to haunt the vast forests and to prey on hapless human victims. In the Pacific Northwest, many tribal stories tell of a race of mysterious, hairy giants. Some tales describe these beings as living peacefully alongside men, others warn of nocturnal raids and abductions. While there are many names for these creatures, the most well-known is ‘Sasquatch’.

How They Play

The Children of the Tribal Nations are designed to play as a hit and run, finesse army. They are a fast, lightly armoured force that seeks to attack from cover while flanking the enemy with packs of quick beasts. The Tribal Nations tend to avoid direct confrontation with enemy infantry as their lack of armour makes them vulnerable to enemy attacks. Nations units favour ranged attacks and always take advantage of terrain to gain resistance bonuses and to leverage their mobility.

Tribal Nations warbands will centre around a core of Mohawk and Seneca infantry backed by packs of wild beasts acting as fast strike forces. Monsters like the Wendigo and Sasquatch are the hardier units that can take an enemy charge and deal out large amounts of damage.

Many units in a Nations warband have the choice of taking tomahawks. These are a unique hand-to-hand weapon that can be thrown at close range. Warriors with tomahawks will be much hardier in a melee engagement. These weapons are only available to the Tribal Nations.