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Hello Everyone,

We've just released the new website for our new project, The AFTERLIFE Volumes.

This is an all new war game and narrative story line we are developing over the next few months, and we want as much feedback from our supporters and potential player base as possible.

This thread is going to be my "sounding board" for discussing rules ideas and concepts, ideas for new figures and factions and answering any questions you have about the project.

You can see the main website here with initial details of the project.

www.afterlifevolumes.com

I'd love to hear your feedback on the new site and concepts, and lets get the ball rolling on developing what I hope will be an awesome wargaming experience!

For now here is the WIP CAD for an infantry man in an industrial Exo-Suit, 95% done, just needs a few extra and alternative guns!



and here is the model rendered for the website front cover! This was done in Zbrush and Photoshop.



Cheers,

Joel

Anvil Industry

So this is what you've been up to? I like the design, but I hope that guy's got some built-in hearing protection. That mini-gun over his shoulder is going to make him go deaf.

The exo suit is pretty neat. It's unusual to see an exoskeleton that looks like that. It looks more like the kind currently technology can produce. I like that the operator has some exposed bits here and there, too.

The only bit of criticism I'd have for this design is that while it probably is more realistic, his arms do wind up being a little too exposed. Some sort of arm or shoulder mounted shield might be a good idea. I'm not so sure about having that vent on the guy's chest either. It doesn't seem like it's connected to anything and is just inviting a few stray bullets into it. I'd say replace it if you can with some kind of extra plating. Maybe beef up the backpack on the suit too since it'd probably need a substantial battery or engine to run the thing for extended periods of time.

Now, I have to ask, will the existing Exo-Lords figures be compatible with this game system and fluff? And, will Anvil continue to occasionally produce new bits or weapons for them?

Congratulations for putting this out. Will be skirmish rules or mass battles? What are the volumes exactly? The rules will have digital format?

@Barzam -

Yes this has been my "spare time" project for the past few months.

I absolutely designed this based on what might conceivably exist within the next few centuries, Its intended to be a modified industrial design rather than dedicated military hardware, hence the operator is exposed in some places.
Ill look at some extra shoulder armour options.
The vent is more for visual looks, and again its an industrial design though I agree they would probably have covered it. Ill try a few options.
I didnt want to make the power plant too big, to keep the suit looking nimble, I do imagine in the future they have some very dense and efficient powercell technology!

The Exo-Lords will not have an "official" place in the background of this game, but I will create rules for them, particularly the Black Ops, so people who want to can use them in game as an experimental combat unit.

I would certainly like to occasionally put out extra bits and peices for the Exo-Lords range, but it all depends on manpower - at the moment we are severely short on staffing and thats likely to continue for a while before we can recruit and train up some new people.

@Livanbard - Thanks, The rules will initially be skirmish sized- 10-30 figures per side, but I will be designing them to scale up to battle games in later volumes.

The Volumes will be each individual release in the game- Each new volume will include a wave of new figures and kits, a rules update, new missions and scenarios and most importantly the next chapter of the story.

Yes the rules will be available digitally and in print with digital updates.

Joel

Looking good so far, is there a loose idea of the various degrees of "factions" that might be seen in play, the game brief says its a variety of governments, corps, factions etc that could be seen within the game so I'd assume there is quite alot of diversity in even an individual group, but are we likely to see a variety of tech themes (industrial, military, scientifically advanced) and possible the inclusion of AI's since that seems to be a large element of how military technology is heading these days.

Given that you are starting with a relatively low model count will there be the ability to model and play indidual units as highly customised (assault rifle with variety of attachments within one squad for example, grenade launchers, scopes, suppressors etc) since you already produce a fantastic variety of models you clearly have experience making such things.

Also would you be looking to make things like decals, it'd be nice to play a Corporations force and have their brand marked on each unit/armoured suit etc.

Nice looking, though I wonder why with all the armor elsewhere, the guy's got visible skin on his face...

Looks like an (implied) clear visor on the helmet to me. Good point, though - it might be worth looking into an alternate head with the goggles/visor included as part of the sculpt, though it'd obviously then be part of the sculpt and therefore opaque.

Hey Guys,

Im sorry Ive been busy and forgot to check this thread for a few days!


@Melcavuk -

The largest and most well equipped faction is the Unity Council, which had full global control prior to the outbreak of civil war.
A loose alliance of break away corporations and proto-states with a working title "the republic" is the primary opponent of the Unity council in the beginning.

There will be a number of smaller factions, and all sides will be rough alliances of different corporations, private militaries and other influential bodies, so there will be frequent infighting and variety within factions.

There will be AI, certainly, including the malevolent break away and kill all humans kind, but they will appear only in later volumes.

Different factions will certainly have different flavours, styles and technology levels.

There will not be the option to model individual figures like that - the game is small, but not that small, and the more important factor is that Im designing these figures for easy assembly and durability in gaming, so I have to keep separate parts to a minimum.

I will have a look at decals - that is somthing to consider once we have all the models though!


@Balance and Azazelx -

He has a visor which covers his eyes and face, this guy has it flipped open, but the majority of sculpts will have it flipped down and sealed, much more sensible in a fire fight!

Cheers,

Joel