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Outward Realms: Escape from reality

By Miranda Lu Dec. 8, 2021

Xintong Zhao Art

On a wide, verdant battlefield stands two opposing forces—one is a cluster of sapient, frog-like creatures and the other is a unit of heavily armored, cybernetically enhanced soldiers. Situated next to each is a collection of vibrant battle tanks, hulls and pods poised to attack their adversary on the opposite side of the field. The ground below is marked with black placards emblazoned with the phrase “Objective Zone” and orange tokens displaying words and symbols, such as a fist, fire and target line. On the sides of the battlefield, players order their units and are focused on winning the battle against their opponents.


This is the setting of Outward Realms—a science-fiction tabletop miniature game released earlier this year. On weekends, Neal Schroeder, Classified Support Department, often meets up with their friends at a game store to play a round of this fast-paced wargame. Designed by Sacramento-based gaming company Hammerhead Games, it features its own unique storyline, gameplay, characters and rules.


Set over 600 years in the future, in a world where humanity has colonized the galaxy using advanced technologies, Outward Realms offers players the chance to lead one of four competing factions—the frog-like Batra, genetically enhanced Realm, insectile Hexgota, or artificially intelligent Niphal—into a fight for galactic supremacy.


To set up the game, Schroeder chooses a faction to lead and paints the individual models to their liking. Then, both Schroeder and their opponent carefully scope out the terrain, discussing any adjustments that need to be made to the battlefield. After the attacker, defender, mission and deployment are decided through three consecutive dice rolls, they place their objective zones and units onto the battlefield in accordance with the game’s guidelines. Then, the battle begins.


For Schroeder, playing the futuristic wargame offers more than just a few hours of fun: they can display their creativity by painting their own models, meet players with similar interests, learn valuable life lessons and immerse themselves in a fantasy world.


“I enjoy engaging my mind with concepts and activities beyond what I can normally interact with in everyday life, and tabletop miniature games like Outward Realms allow me to do that. Playing the game has also taught me various lessons, including the importance of staying adaptable and the significance of the opening move—it can often determine whether you win or lose the game,” Schroeder said.


Schroeder has long been fascinated with turn-based, science fiction wargames like Outward Realms since they were a youngster, and they look forward to continuing learning and stimulating their mind through other tabletop miniature games.


 

About the Contributor

Miranda Lu

School News and Lifestyle Editor


Miranda Lu is a junior at Leland High School and the School News and Lifestyle page editor for The Charger Account. In her spare time, she enjoys drawing, upcycling things, watching movies, and sleeping.

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