By Evie Moriarty, Lead Game Designer
Photo by Fatima Martín Pérez

 

Just got word of another settlement that needs our help, I'll mark it on your map. No? Ok, well, how about I just tell you about the Minutemen in the upcoming Battle for Boston starter set?

 

Though Fallout 4’s stalwart faction doesn’t have the advanced technology of the Institute or the unpredictability of the Railroad, the Minutemen still manage to hold their own on the battlefields of Boston thanks to their resilience, teamwork, and giant cannons.

 

The Minutemen grunts are the Militia, Rifleman, and Breacher, all of which have essential roles in the overall battle plan.

 

Militia are the auxiliaries of the force. While they are cheap and plentiful in a way that will be familiar to other crews, they actually pack a little more punch than you might expect. With a Perception of 4, they’re a pretty respectable combat unit, and they come equipped with Pipe Pistols, Pipe Rifles, or even double-barreled Shotguns, which can do some serious damage at short range.

 

The Rifleman is the rank-and-file, dedicated to ranged firepower. They can choose a more skirmisher build with a Submachine Gun, or take a sniper’s perch with a Hardened Sniper Rifle, but their most iconic weapon from the video game is, of course, the Laser Musket.

 

 

Not a flashy weapon, by any means, the Laser Musket is the workhorse of the Minutemen, and volleys of them will really do some damage thanks to Pierce.

 

Though they are not known for close combat, the Breacher is the unit to turn to when you need it. They can go toe-to-toe with the enemy, employing revolvers, hand weapons or baseball bats. They are also the carriers of the fearsome Broadsider, a gigantic cannon that can cause incredible damage.

 

The Champions available are the Lieutenant and the Colonel. The Lieutenant is a stalwart, and the Colonel is a relatively low-cost Leader letting you field more grunts to shout at. The Colonel also gets the option to carry an Officer’s Sword, which has a special rule preventing enemy models from falling back out of combat with them. A great way to keep some unlucky mark trapped and useless!

 

Every model in the Minutemen list has a new Innate Perk: Covering Fire.

 

 

This is the real trick of the Minutemen, letting them slowly maneuver their way up the board with a hail of lasers and bullets. It gives them a really surprising turn of speed, and the whole force feels like a cohesive wall pushing their way up the board. It can’t be used to escape engagement, but it can be used to get into it, meaning that a well-placed shot from a Champion can get a Breacher where they need to be. Making best use of this perk takes some practice, but it is a potent tool in the right hands.

Finally, the Minutemen, like most crews, have two Ploys to call on. Mortar Bombardment allows you to drop some artillery on your enemy, while Rapid Response superpowers Covering Fire in your first Turn, letting you move 3” rather than 2” when it activates.

 

 

With that, our development blogs for Battle for Boston are complete, and all that you need to do now is preorder the box!