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Here are a few photos of Spartan playing Ground Command, these were apparently shared by Spartan on the Halo: Ground Command Facebook, and then were reposted by 'alfmeister101' on Spartans own forums:

An AA Wraith.

 Tyran wrote:
An AA Wraith.

It's more beautiful than I could have imagined!

Thanks for the pics, I'll slot them into the main post shortly. In the meantime, I have some of my own pretties to upload, and am pleased to say that it works with ANY colour! (not just the Covenant's purple!)




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I'm planning on using this technique on all of my Covenant to give them their various sheens, so I can do a blue for Halo CE Hunters or more of a turquoise for Reach Hunters

 ONI-S3 wrote:
As someone new to Spartan overall, a lot of this is pretty new info to me. I can definitely see how another fleet game would compete for Halo's market, and would 100% agree that the specialist groups are very, very powerful - much more so than the standard formations. I am getting the sense that the rumoured 2nd edition (any word on if there will be a free PDF update for those already owning the current rulebook) is being viewed as a bad thing. Is that because it's coming out so soon after the game's release, and thus eating at the value of the previous book? Or is it that there is the feeling that the game was released unfinished and is only now getting the tinkering it needs to be balanced?

Would definitely agree the starter set is quite expensive, which can be daunting for veterans used to GW prices, let alone the Halo FPS fans considering getting into it.

I thought that there had been quite a few ships released and that that was a sign of ongoing support, plus ships like the Infinity being promised, are these being viewed negatively or not living up to expectation? To clarify, I'm just trying to get my bearings with how H:FB has been received , having been out of the loop so long.

It really sucks that there hasn't been much new blood filtering into the game, and definitely agree the game could have a much stronger online presence if Spartan were to want it. It does make me curious as to how that works, because I really love the universe and think the quality of the ships are quite high - admittedly I have little experience with other ships aside from X-Wing, so perhaps I'm just too inexperienced.

Is the issue that Spartan constantly rereleases rules and updates editions? I'm really disheartened that people aren't interested, even when you show up with painted fleets and all that effort, that's really got ot suck

For me, the ships are the draw. They are good quality and go together nicely. However, the boxed fleet expansions are just too expensive to buy for ships alone, or at all really. I can buy dozens of unique Yamato Mecha Collection spaceships in plastic of the same or greater quality from Hobby Link Japan, and sometimes even Amazon, for less than the Halo sets work out to per ship. A lot less. However, I'd pick up a bunch more Halo ships if they ever sold for a good discount.

As for the rules, I had a friend interested in trying it, but we never got through the entire rule book.


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PS: thanks for he book recommendations! I got the first three and enjoyed them, especially the ones by Eric Nyland. I've got one of the later books you recommended kicking around somewhere for the next bout of inspiration.

I'm really glad you enjoyed them, the Eric Nylund ones are my favourite. I'm actually finishing up both my fleets as we speak! I got sick of the procrastination and am trying to finish the last of them now. Really happy with the purple of the Covenant. But, back on topic, I know that Spartan do quite a few sales throughout the year - so if you're looking at picking some up I can notify you whenever a sale is on? Also, a lot of people have listed this same concern over individual packaging, perhaps with enough people contacting we could see about getting Spartan to make smaller packs?

I'm happy to write up a draft email if there's enough interest in the topic. What's a good number of ships? What price figure would people like to see for a box of just an Epoch/ORS?

Honestly, I wouldn't pay more than $15 per sprue, and that would be only to get the one more cap ship I'd need for a project. For $40, the box should have 4 sprues or more. This game doesn't seem like X-Wing, where people care so much about rules content that they will buy spare miniatures or extras they don't need just to get cards.


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Honestly, I wouldn't pay more than $15 per sprue, and that would be only to get the one more cap ship I'd need for a project. For $40, the box should have 4 sprues or more. This game doesn't seem like X-Wing, where people care so much about rules content that they will buy spare miniatures or extras they don't need just to get cards.

Thanks Bob! I've noted it down in a tally any hopefully get some more responses so I can send it in as an email.

In other news, another pic has been released! Behold, a nice shot of some Covenant miniatures:

Looking forward to this game coming out.

Aren't we all, mate! New pics thanks to Commander Carter-A293 from the Spartan Forums:

The Covenant


The UNSC


And some of the terrain! Each of the boxes gets 2 x these bunkers

Did someone say tanks? Spoiler alert:



From Spartan Game's Facebook page, fittingly labelled "Tanks for the memories"

Exciting new images from Dan Bird! Looks like infantry are in pewter!







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Oh man. This looks cool.

Infantry ought to at least be a good deal sturdier, being metal.

 AegisGrimm wrote:
Infantry ought to at least be a good deal sturdier, being metal.

I very much agree, I think storing them in foam if they were resin would be like roulette each time you got them out again otherwise.

Great to have you back, Oni!!

The models look quite on point here, except with maybe the Warhogs looking a little static not, you know, rolling over like they constantly are in-game

How is this not plastered all over the Spartan Games website?

RiTides wrote:Great to have you back, Oni!!

The models look quite on point here, except with maybe the Warhogs looking a little static not, you know, rolling over like they constantly are in-game

Haha, and we should also pose them so that they're running into walls and getting stuck on nothing, seeing as they're being driven by marines. Thank you for the welcome back, and for fixing that image link! Have missed being here and appreciate your work

TomWB wrote:How is this not plastered all over the Spartan Games website?

Australia is from the future, so we get it a little early, but I believe things will get more interesting as the UK kicks into gear!

Looks really nice. I would love to know how to get that oily sheen to the covenant stuff.

These models look lovely, and I'm glad I got to see them in person at Salute. I feel like they're hitting the Halo thing a few years late, but I'd definitely give the game a shot.

 Maniac_nmt wrote:
Looks really nice. I would love to know how to get that oily sheen to the covenant stuff.

There is a painting guide in the box! So that shouldn't be a problem. They use Vallejo paints for the most part.

Brother SRM, I'm just glad they went here, I love the universe and am so glad that I have the opportunity to play my favourite battles with specifically designed miniatures.




As a side note, in the interest of full disclosure, I have applied and been accepted as a Spartan Vanguard. This means I will get advanced notice of products coming out, but I will not be able to share information obtained via this manner in here. It'll better prep me for answering questions when they come and will allow me early access to stuff so I can do videos and pictures to have ready for when Spartan gives the go-ahead to disclose certain information.

Any information I learn elsewhere I am allowed to post here, so things will operate the same as they have been, I'll still be posting things as I find them, only I'll be a little better prepared for when official releases come out (plus I will have more concrete answers for people). I would also like to say that being a Vanguard does not prevent me from critiquing any perceived flaws I might have. I have signed up because I love the models, love the direction and love the universe. Again, critique and personal opinions are still welcome! I hope this helps spread the word about Halo miniature goodness

 ONI-S3 wrote:
Did someone say tanks? Spoiler alert:

Spoiler:

it was me.

From Spartan Game's Facebook page, fittingly labelled "Tanks for the memories"

Somehow I missed this pic. That is really sweet!

Models are gorgeous.

Cannot wait to see more releases, hope to too Mantis' and Grunt Goblins in the future.

And Prometheans... Oooooh yes.. That would be my pride and joy haha

 ONI-S3 wrote:

 Maniac_nmt wrote:
Looks really nice. I would love to know how to get that oily sheen to the covenant stuff.

There is a painting guide in the box! So that shouldn't be a problem. They use Vallejo paints for the most part.

I'll be curious to see how they get the oily sheen. Most painting guides are pretty basic and don't cover cool stuff like that.

Also, do we know rough dimensions on the pelican?

 Maniac_nmt wrote:

 ONI-S3 wrote:

 Maniac_nmt wrote:
Looks really nice. I would love to know how to get that oily sheen to the covenant stuff.

There is a painting guide in the box! So that shouldn't be a problem. They use Vallejo paints for the most part.

I'll be curious to see how they get the oily sheen. Most painting guides are pretty basic and don't cover cool stuff like that.

Also, do we know rough dimensions on the pelican?

Simply take the canon dimensions in meters and change them to centimeters. The scale is 1:100

 Tyran wrote:

 Maniac_nmt wrote:

 ONI-S3 wrote:

 Maniac_nmt wrote:
Looks really nice. I would love to know how to get that oily sheen to the covenant stuff.

There is a painting guide in the box! So that shouldn't be a problem. They use Vallejo paints for the most part.

I'll be curious to see how they get the oily sheen. Most painting guides are pretty basic and don't cover cool stuff like that.

Also, do we know rough dimensions on the pelican?

Simply take the canon dimensions in meters and change them to centimeters. The scale is 1:100

The scale in theory. In truth there is a lot of variation in scales. Plenty of 18mm figs sold as 15mm, or 12mm sold as 10mm.

So anyone know what's going on with the UK release? Outpost and several other stores shipping it out now, other stores waiting on it and some stores have not even been told when it will ship to them... This has all the makings of another screwed up release.....

 TwilightSparkles wrote:
So anyone know what's going on with the UK release? Outpost and several other stores shipping it out now, other stores waiting on it and some stores have not even been told when it will ship to them... This has all the makings of another screwed up release.....

I preordered at Salute (TrollTrader) and it arrived thursday. just opened up the box and it seems fine (LOVE the acrylic/cardstock bunkers)

Seems a little delayed but no major failures. was kinda surprised the thread fell off the first page

happygolucky wrote:Models are gorgeous.

Cannot wait to see more releases, hope to too Mantis' and Grunt Goblins in the future.

And Prometheans... Oooooh yes.. That would be my pride and joy haha

A Mantis would be epic. I don't normally like the look of Mechs, but I guess I've spent so long piloting a mantis it has grown on me haha. A goblin would be hilarious, every time you moved it however, you'd have to say something ridiculous

 Maniac_nmt wrote:


I'll be curious to see how they get the oily sheen. Most painting guides are pretty basic and don't cover cool stuff like that.

Also, do we know rough dimensions on the pelican?

When my copy arrives I will post whether or not it describes it, and if it doesn't I'll track down someone at Spartan via email and have them find out for me. The dimensions on the Pelican are exactly 1:100, and Tyran was absolutely right. It's 31.5mm from memory and a beautiful model, I'll be posting more pics shortly

TwilightSparkles wrote:So anyone know what's going on with the UK release? Outpost and several other stores shipping it out now, other stores waiting on it and some stores have not even been told when it will ship to them... This has all the makings of another screwed up release.....

Releases worldwide have been delayed. Basically, this is the biggest thing Spartan Games has ever, EVER done. It's huge. The preorders are off the charts, and even predicting that it would be big, they did not realise just how colossally big it would be.

Given that the orders have been so huge, Spartan Games has opted to send out preorders in order of placement. So if you placed your preorder at Salute, your copy should already be sent out. Where there are some difficulties is when a distributor has made an order directly from Spartan Games. Spartan is honouring their place in the queue as well, meaning that if your FLGS ordered 200 copies (a number I pulled out randomly), then they will have their 200 copies sent out before the next person.
This has led to some situations where people can now rock up to this retailer, who has bought a zillion copies, and buy one off of the shelf faster than me who preordered a few days later than this retailer.
Personally, I see this as a situation where Spartan could not keep everyone happy. If they opted to send out individual preorders before retailers, they leave retailers in the lurch. If they send to retailers before private preorders they've pulled a Prodos and annoyed masses of people. I think in the order they were placed is the best medium between the two, but has left some people annoyed.

As for the lack of communication, Spartan has apologised profusely through their forums and emails. They have taken it on the chin and said it has NOT been good enough, and that it is an area they are promising to work on. They have their staff on overtime and are really sorry for the delays, and are doing their best to keep thing on track.

Nothing has really gone wrong, which I think is the part that has confused them the most. It's not like there was a problem at the manufacturer's end, it's just been how many people want this product, it has far outstripped even their wildest hopes for how big this game would be. Hope that clarifies things a little

Charax wrote:

 TwilightSparkles wrote:
So anyone know what's going on with the UK release? Outpost and several other stores shipping it out now, other stores waiting on it and some stores have not even been told when it will ship to them... This has all the makings of another screwed up release.....

I preordered at Salute (TrollTrader) and it arrived thursday. just opened up the box and it seems fine (LOVE the acrylic/cardstock bunkers)

Seems a little delayed but no major failures. was kinda surprised the thread fell off the first page

I think because of the delays, people don't have their product in hand and thus have nothing to report back. But, hopefully I can show you all some fantastic photos.

From Graeme Noble‎




From John Laurie‎











From Shaun Sains‎











[img]https://scontent.fper1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13887038_940283626082911_5645131277772418644_n.jpg?oh=a20e0a6f49247645c641b7ddff2a72e6&oe=5829623E/img]















From Graeme Noble again:


From Ian Elliot Richard Kirton‎:




From Doug Ummel‎:


From Shaun Sains‎ again: