SAGA (Dark Ages Skirmish)
Officially SAGA
HISTORICAL SKIRMISH MINIATURES WARGAME (2011) by ALESSIO CAVATORE + GRIPPING BEAST / STUDIO TOMAHAWK — features Viking, Anglo-Saxon, Norman, Celtic, Byzantine + other historical warbands in DARK AGES combat. Signature: BATTLE BOARDS with SAGA DICE — each faction has unique board of abilities activated by rolling faction-specific runic dice. Elegant 4-6 unit warbands play in 1-2 hours. Expanded to CRUSADES + ALEXANDER + AGE OF THUNDER. Beloved by historical miniatures gamers for atmospheric combat.
Quick facts
Category
Miniature Wargames
Type
Team sport
Players
2–4
Duration
~90 min
Where played
indoor
Country of origin
🇫🇷 France
Estimated origin
2011 first edition Studio Tomahawk / Gripping Beast; expanded to multiple 'Ages' (Vikings, Crusades, Alexander, Thunder)
Olympic
No
Popularity
regional
How it works
Objective
Achieve scenario objective (defeat enemy, hold ground, escape).
Rules
Basic rules
Small WARBANDS: typically 4-8 units per side (much smaller than Warhammer)
Signature small scale.
BATTLE BOARD: faction-specific card with ability slots activated by placing SAGA dice
Signature ability system.
SAGA DICE (custom faction-runic): rolled at start of turn, allocated to abilities
Signature dice mechanic.
Movement + shooting + melee combat resolved with standard d6 + save rolls
Standard combat.
SCENARIOS: escalation, breakthrough, homelands, etc. — 6-8 published scenarios per Age
Signature scenario library.
AGES: Vikings (Dark Ages), Crusades (medieval), Alexander (ancients), Thunder (Napoleonic)
Signature Ages expansion series.
Scoring
Scenario-specific victory conditions.
Win condition · Complete scenario objectives.
Equipment
Miniatures (28mm typical) representing 4-8 units per side
Standard miniatures scale
Battle Board (faction-specific card of abilities)
Signature battle board
SAGA dice (custom runic dice per faction)
Signature faction dice
Standard d6 + measuring tape + terrain
Standard tools
Terminology
- SAGA
- Skirmish + Alessio Cavatore's design brand.
- Battle Board
- Faction-specific card of abilities activated by dice.
- SAGA Dice
- Custom runic dice per faction.
- Warband
- Small force of 4-8 units representing a chieftain + retinue.
- Studio Tomahawk
- French publisher of SAGA.
- Gripping Beast
- UK miniatures manufacturer distributing SAGA.
Where it is played
Sources & provenance
- Studio Tomahawk— Studio Tomahawk
- BoardGameGeek— BGG