1490 DOOM

What is 1490 DOOM

1490 DOOM is a skirmish game from Buer Games, set in a dying version of medieval Europe. A toxic fog called the Creeping Death is rising out of the earth, and the only safe place left is up. The tagline is “Climb or die.”

Each player brings a Doom Company of exactly three warriors, and the whole fight happens on a round board 24 inches across, built around one tall structure everyone is trying to hold. Setup takes about three minutes and a game runs 30 to 45 minutes.

It’s miniature agnostic. The official FAQ puts it plainly: “Do I need to use official minis to play 1490 Doom? Nope!” Buer Games sells resin minis and STLs for every class, but conversions and kitbashes are welcome.

How it plays

Pick three classes. A Doom Company is any three Doom Warriors: Scout, Scavenger, Brute, Fighter, Assassin, Warrior Priest, Knight, Saboteur, Blacksmith, Beekeeper, Doom Hunter, or Executioner. The free resources page has rules for each one.
Initiative, then alternate. Players roll for initiative and take turns activating models, two actions per activation.
It’s all about height. Besides moving and fighting, the action list has Climb, Scale, Jump, Push, and gear like ladders and grappling hooks. Whoever has the most Vitality on the tallest structure wins the High Ground.
Falling hurts. A model that falls two inches or more rolls a d6 on the falling table, with bonuses for bigger drops. Six inches or more can kill outright, so pushing someone off a ledge is a real attack.
Loot the caches. Resource caches give out herbs, food, scrolls, maps, cloaks, and reliquaries, each a one-shot boost.

It runs on d6s. The quick reference and roster sheet are free downloads.

How to start

Get the rules. The core rulebook is $25 as a PDF, or $50 for the 108+ page print book with the PDF included.
Grab the free resources. The 1490 DOOM resources page has class rules, the FAQ, a quick reference, and a company roster.
Build a company. Three 28–32mm minis on 25mm bases. The official Company Builder helps you pick classes.
Build a tower. Anything tall with ledges works. The FAQ’s advice: one structure taller than the rest, with at least one free way to the top.
Or buy the box. The Outpost at Meerbridge starter set ($75) has four resin minis, three MDF scaffold towers, a ladder, a battle mat, rules, cards, a measuring tool, and dice.