Agreed cracking job on the starter set there Judge. I joked with him earlier that had he posted them last night he would have made the Ghar Community Colour scheme round up:
I finally got my set last night. Im pretty sure I got the second to last set in NZ with Fartok in it too. After pre orders there were 15 sets left. After my purchase there is only 1 left which shouldn't take long to sell.
I love the colour schemes they have shown up. Especially the fact they are community painted.
I think the community round up is pretty cool too. Most of the work is of a good wargaming standard and is attainable to aspire to rather than amazing paint jobs that only the top 1% of painters can achieve. Sometimes the truly beautiful painting just serves to demotivate people from painting their armies.
With the new force prices, I really have no excuse to not finish my Algoryn force....
On another note, how does the rulebook look? Is it basic or of higher than average quality? I guess I need to buy one of them as well. Oh my poor bank account
I'm late to this party, but congrats to Judgedoug and to Thraxas for some very handsome forces painted up in a remarkably short period of time. I don't know how you guys do it.
I'm still waiting on my set from NWS to arrive . . .
Nocturnus wrote: With the new force prices, I really have no excuse to not finish my Algoryn force....
On another note, how does the rulebook look? Is it basic or of higher than average quality? I guess I need to buy one of them as well. Oh my poor bank account
I would say high quality.
If one is judging it by quality of presentation, cover, binding, paper-quality etc I think it's easily up there with the later GW hardback releases.
Rules are nicely laid out and in logical order, with explanation with diagrams etc. Plenty of art and photos of the miniatures throughout.
If you aren't planning on getting the starter set I would certainly say that the book is worth it as a standalone purchase.
Warlord Games will sell miniatures separately in the not so far future - kind of like the bits service of old
Rick Priestley
I made the units a range of sizes that works best in play - very large units get too big physically - they cover too much space - but you need some variation to facilitate the points values and give players some options.
The idea was always that individual models would be available direct - and blisters of troops would be available in whatever number best suited a blister - and as far as I know that is the plan. The squad boxes were based on the Beta lists - hence they are basic size. Future boxes might be different - depending on subject.
It's not an evil plan. Indeed, it may be an evil lack of plan. But I think it's more a case of a relatively small and busy team not being able to do everything at once.
Warlord team
Things are a foot chaps to address this we will have single miniatures available through the web shortly, not all but enough so you can add to you squads. Also keep your eyes open for Friday's newsletter...
Warlord have updated the BTGOA range to bring it in line with the current rules. This has seen 1 or even 2 models added to the squads. The support weapons now mostly have 3 crew rather than 2. At no extra cost. There are even a few new sculpts thrown in. On the flipside the order dice have been removed from the boxed sets.
So our group gave this a go Weds night using the full rulebook and not just the beta rulebook. So far rules seem pretty clunky. We would like to enjoy it but its dying fast. We all have many many years of wargaming, and many played Bolt Action/40k/ you name it but there's some things with the game that are odd.
I know they want to make money but I think a good move would be posting the "Getting started booklet" cause this might help. Or a actual how to play of a few turns of the game explaining everything at once as a real game would be.
Fenrir Kitsune wrote: The book is well worth it. It's what a £30 rulebook should be like!
Yes, this is really true. This is the first time in a while I have really enjoyed reading a rulebook. The fluff is a breath of fresh air and it is major fun reading through all the equipment, weaponry, vehicle info.
I wonder if the expanded units will be included in the skirmish forces. That adds 10 models to the boromite box, and and company amount to get algoryns (less for the others, but still extra models).
str00dles1 wrote: So our group gave this a go Weds night using the full rulebook and not just the beta rulebook. So far rules seem pretty clunky. We would like to enjoy it but its dying fast. We all have many many years of wargaming, and many played Bolt Action/40k/ you name it but there's some things with the game that are odd.
I know they want to make money but I think a good move would be posting the "Getting started booklet" cause this might help. Or a actual how to play of a few turns of the game explaining everything at once as a real game would be.
My starter set came with a getting started rulebook that was easy to follow... unsure about the clunky rules, after reading them once I had them down. Definitely more granular than Bolt Action but about an order of magnitude less clunky that 40k 6 or 7.
Automatically Appended Next Post:
decker_cky wrote: I wonder if the expanded units will be included in the skirmish forces. That adds 10 models to the boromite box, and and company amount to get algoryns (less for the others, but still extra models).
No, the skirmish sets were designed for a specific 750 point list, and are white label boxes.
str00dles1 wrote: So our group gave this a go Weds night using the full rulebook and not just the beta rulebook. So far rules seem pretty clunky. We would like to enjoy it but its dying fast. We all have many many years of wargaming, and many played Bolt Action/40k/ you name it but there's some things with the game that are odd.
I know they want to make money but I think a good move would be posting the "Getting started booklet" cause this might help. Or a actual how to play of a few turns of the game explaining everything at once as a real game would be.
Could it be that you're expecting it to be too like bolt action (or old 40K) and you're being thrown off when it isn't?
judgedoug wrote: My starter set came with a getting started rulebook that was easy to follow... unsure about the clunky rules, after reading them once I had them down. Definitely more granular than Bolt Action but about an order of magnitude less clunky that 40k 6 or 7.
By the looks of it, I'm seeing some of the more frustrating elements of Bolt Action going away as well. Shedding pins whenever you're given an order, as opposed to when you pass an order test? Yes please. Pins making a difference, but a 10% difference per pin on shooting rather than a 16.7% difference? And no huge differences on the 2d6 bell curve when it comes to those orders? Yes please.
Don't get me wrong, I love Bolt Action. It just gets frustrating at times.
My starter set came with a getting started rulebook that was easy to follow... unsure about the clunky rules, after reading them once I had them down. Definitely more granular than Bolt Action but about an order of magnitude less clunky that 40k 6 or 7.
Wading through the book now. Core Infantry rules are smooth as silk, but there seem to be a lot of exceptions - Fast units do this, Vehicles do that. I suspect a little practice will go a long way.
The only rule I've hated so far is "look along the model's gun barrel for LOS" on heavy/support weapons.
I feel the rules expand on Bolt Action sensibly, and that the extra stats do the job. Some nice touches - units without pins don't need to make a command roll to activate, it's only once they start taking fire that they think about refusing orders.
There's a lot in the rulebook, and the background is nicely high-tech science-fictional (to the point where us meatbags may feel a little out of place on the battlefield). Love the notion of Antares itself. I finally worked out that the map is not of the universe, it's the locus of gates across the star's surface. And it's HUGE.
I do like that, just as in Rogue Trader, there's a feeling that this universe has vast unexplored areas for you to fill in with whatever you like.
It looks really good now with proper lighting, JD.
Automatically Appended Next Post: Rick Priestley - Warlord forums
Ipaintedmine
I note that Fartok does not have the option to add Plasma Amps and Dumps to his armour is this an error or is it a reflection of the cobbled together nature of his armour.. see giving you and out there guys
Yea I just didn't give him the options - in retrospect I guess I could have - but there are plans afoot to produce further versions of Fartok as the Outcast revolt progresses - so having room for improvement is no bad thing! His suit is a bit beaten up that's for sure! He makes an appearance (together with the treacherous Karg) in the first supplement - in which we will have a new list for Outcasts too - so I'm happy to leave him where he is for now.
By the way... I have just put an errata together, and one thing I've added is that Ghar support and strategic units can be included in a force that includes any High Commander (regardless of whether he's a Command Crawler) which means Fartok can command an army that includes these - as he was meant to do to be honest.
str00dles1 wrote: So our group gave this a go Weds night using the full rulebook and not just the beta rulebook. So far rules seem pretty clunky. We would like to enjoy it but its dying fast. We all have many many years of wargaming, and many played Bolt Action/40k/ you name it but there's some things with the game that are odd.
I know they want to make money but I think a good move would be posting the "Getting started booklet" cause this might help. Or a actual how to play of a few turns of the game explaining everything at once as a real game would be.
My starter set came with a getting started rulebook that was easy to follow... unsure about the clunky rules, after reading them once I had them down. Definitely more granular than Bolt Action but about an order of magnitude less clunky that 40k 6 or 7.
Automatically Appended Next Post:
decker_cky wrote: I wonder if the expanded units will be included in the skirmish forces. That adds 10 models to the boromite box, and and company amount to get algoryns (less for the others, but still extra models).
No, the skirmish sets were designed for a specific 750 point list, and are white label boxes.
That's what I feel should be posted on their website as a freebie. The getting started rulebook so you can try the game with other models before getting into it. There is a lot of what a previous poster said what fast does this this this but not this during this but does this. OR heavy armored has 50 different things through the rulebook. I understand it, but a lot of what can do what is spread out everywhere. I'm not a big bolt action guy so I don't expect it to be like it, nor do I care for how horrid 40k is now. After watching the 5-7min vids on the "how to play" on YouTube from warlords, and reading the rulebook, no one has any interest without a easier play through being presented here.
BobtheInquisitor wrote: JudgeDoug, that's a great looking set up, but the customers have all fled. Maybe it's because in that pic you have the eyes of a killer.
Haha, the store had just opened. I left work early, ran home, grabbed the stuff, and sped to the store, so I was a little exhausted, and my buddy just took the pic while I was still in the midst of posing (hence the slightly hunched over and what-am-I-doing-with-my-hands pose). But also I hate everyone all the time and that's my normal murder-look
Automatically Appended Next Post:
str00dles1 wrote: no one has any interest without a easier play through being presented here.
Gosh, I really don't get it. It's easier than 40k and Warmachine... maybe the same difficulty as DZC. We ran through a couple two-strike-squads-versus-one-squad-of-ghar to get the rules down and now are doing 500+ point games no problem.
I'm just glad to see that you're true scaled and not hamfisted.
Now, back to something a bit more on topic... is anyone posting a full video battle report for the game anytime soon? I this one on youtube and then the 2-7 minute snippets direct from warlord but maybe DirectorDoug needs to make his debut?
warboss wrote: Now, back to something a bit more on topic... is anyone posting a full video battle report for the game anytime soon? I this one on youtube and then the 2-7 minute snippets direct from warlord but maybe DirectorDoug needs to make his debut?
You can see my previous work with
I think they'll want to do an overview video for GoA as well!
My middle-aged memory... Still a neat rule though.
Wasn't a shot I'm middle aged, too and had to go look it up. I'm interested in what GoA does differently/better than BA.
Didn't take it as one! And if you hadn't mentioned it I would have forgotten it again...
I'm liking that the extra stats seem sensible and add to the game without overburdening it - having the Resistance stat and armour bonuses/weapon strike penalties to the roll makes the damage system that bit more... universal... and flexible than Bolt Action. Still recognisably the same engine at the heart of the game though.
As Stroodles says, there's a lot of detail/chrome - for example, the bonus from the basic Concord armour is dependent on the attacker's range (in the fluff it's an active defence, so the more the armour has to react, the better it protects). Different unit types take terrain tests differently. Not played a game yet to see how we like that level of extra detail though (had to cancel Friday's planned session ).
Other new systems like multiple order dice for vehicles and big monsters... still reading through those sections.
I suspect I'd have laid the rulebook out more like the Bolt Action book - core mechanics for infantry and drones first, complications later
warboss wrote: Now, back to something a bit more on topic... is anyone posting a full video battle report for the game anytime soon? I this one on youtube and then the 2-7 minute snippets direct from warlord but maybe DirectorDoug needs to make his debut?
You can see my previous work with
Spoiler:
I think they'll want to do an overview video for GoA as well!
I don't think I knew (or remembered) that you're an 'official' Warlord rep/outrider/sergeant/etc. - how long have you been one?
Alpharius wrote: I don't think I knew (or remembered) that you're an 'official' Warlord rep/outrider/sergeant/etc. - how long have you been one?
uhm Historicon 2013 ish. BA and GoA are about the only ones I play though (I actually prefer Mantic's KoW for mass battles over HC/P&S/BP, and Tomas Arnfelt's Ga Pa for early 1700's) (and Terminator with the few people that play it, which is unfortunate it hasn't caught on, as it's Alessio's best rules)
Their Sarge program is kinda mismanaged though. There's no great incentive to be a Sarge, so I just do it because I actually really enjoy several of their games. I still had to buy my own GoA box and Algoryn army that still hasn't arrived...
Alpharius wrote: I don't think I knew (or remembered) that you're an 'official' Warlord rep/outrider/sergeant/etc. - how long have you been one?
uhm Historicon 2013 ish. BA and GoA are about the only ones I play though (I actually prefer Mantic's KoW for mass battles over HC/P&S/BP, and Tomas Arnfelt's Ga Pa for early 1700's) (and Terminator with the few people that play it, which is unfortunate it hasn't caught on, as it's Alessio's best rules)
Their Sarge program is kinda mismanaged though. There's no great incentive to be a Sarge, so I just do it because I actually really enjoy several of their games. I still had to buy my own GoA box and Algoryn army that still hasn't arrived...
Hopefully they make their "Sarge" program a bit better than that, and soon!
Your reports so far have got me very interested in GoA.
And while I have your attention...any insider info on the proposed Weird War 2 version of...er...maybe Bolt Action?
Or...am I getting that mixed up with some other company.
Doug - I'm interested in this game, but none of the miniatures grab me. So any advice for appropriate models for proxying other (40k!) ranges into this if I were to just pick up the rules and templates, etc? - I assume the order dice are the same as BA's?
I'd even happily use Forgefathers as Squats. I'd just go with the 40k background and use appropriate rules etc that closest match the 40k factions...
BobtheInquisitor wrote: JudgeDoug, that's a great looking set up, but the customers have all fled. Maybe it's because in that pic you have the eyes of a killer.
Haha, the store had just opened. I left work early, ran home, grabbed the stuff, and sped to the store, so I was a little exhausted, and my buddy just took the pic while I was still in the midst of posing (hence the slightly hunched over and what-am-I-doing-with-my-hands pose). But also I hate everyone all the time and that's my normal murder-look
Automatically Appended Next Post:
str00dles1 wrote: no one has any interest without a easier play through being presented here.
Gosh, I really don't get it. It's easier than 40k and Warmachine... maybe the same difficulty as DZC. We ran through a couple two-strike-squads-versus-one-squad-of-ghar to get the rules down and now are doing 500+ point games no problem.
Id say its on par with 40k. Not counting the 700 different rulebooks, but the main rules are very simple on what you can and cant do. Out group had a lot of DZC play time and its very easy for us. GoA just isn't clicking. If you wanna post a how to play : it would be sweet since you seem to really know it. Besides that or the "how to play" booklet being posted, think our groups just gonna let this die.
I primarily paint and model but have found the basic mechanics of the game very simple to pick up, I am struggling to see how the 4 page "how to play" pamphlet is any more use than the rulebook itself.
@Azazel: Yes the order dice are the same as for BA. As for proxying...hmmm that is hard. At a very, very basic level with a lot of abstract thinking I would say:
Boromites: Use Orks.
Freeborn: Eldar.
Concord: Imperial Guard.
Algoryn: Tau?
Ghar: Necrons?
Isorians: Chaos Space Marines?
In all honesty looking at that list it looks mental and wrong...maybe Doug can help?
Also UK based fans, Wayland have a few hours left on their deal of the day the rulebook at £24 rather than £30 retail, plenty in stock too.
I plan on using Dreamforge Games' Eiseknern Stormtroopers as Algoryn, I think. With some headswapping they would pretty much work for anything, though.
Thraxas Of Turai wrote: @Azazel: Yes the order dice are the same as for BA. As for proxying...hmmm that is hard. At a very, very basic level with a lot of abstract thinking I would say:
Boromites: Use Orks.
Freeborn: Eldar.
Concord: Imperial Guard.
Algoryn: Tau?
Ghar: Necrons?
Isorians: Chaos Space Marines?
In all honesty looking at that list it looks mental and wrong...maybe Doug can help?
Concord and Isorians have the same tech level, so that doesn't work. Maybe SM for Concord and CSM for Isorians? Algoryn Eldar and Freeborn IG. Uhh... even that doesn't make any sense. Wait, Concord has jetbikes, so you'd have to borrow someone's jetbikes for that.
There's no really good direct analogues, at all - so basically just use whatever you feel like using, I suppose.
It's actually kind of very hard because GoA inundates you with a much more realistic universe... and 40k looks like a really bad cartoon to me nowadays. It's like using He-Man and the Masters of the Universe action figures as "counts as" for like a Hundred Years War wargame. Sure it's possible, but it looks and feels wrong. So at that point, just use whatever models look ok to you. Mix and match if you've got other sci fi figures hanging around not being used.
So I've been asking this fairly consistently to no response, but how do the various factions play? Are their subtle or obvious differences in strategies, tech, dirty tricks etc?
You're narrowing you proxies too much by only looking at 40k. Ugly as many models may be, Warzine might be a better choice of proxies for some of the factions. Capitol for sure works as a stand-in for the Concord. Considering that atm most factions don't have much available model-wise besides troops and support weapons, I would think proxying would be even easier.
Barzam wrote: You're narrowing you proxies too much by only looking at 40k. Ugly as many models may be, Warzine might be a better choice of proxies for some of the factions. Capitol for sure works as a stand-in for the Concord. Considering that atm most factions don't have much available model-wise besides troops and support weapons, I would think proxying would be even easier.
Oh neat idea - I have some Brotherhood troopers on the painting table now that I intend to proxy for 40k Eldar.
Dark Sphere in the UK are having a 1/3 off Black Friday sale on them right now. I also noticed some Mantic Deadzone Asterian grav platforms in the sale.
The old Vor lines as well as Ikore and even retro Warzone have lots of nostalgic retro looking figs that you can likely sub in. The at-43 therians and UNA might be good counts as visually for some of the ghar and concord as well.
Ghar outcasts could be proxied by Goblin Town plastic goblins from GWs Hobbit range, though you'll need to give them guns. You'll be missing out on their little walker too
If I expand my Ghar force, that's the way I'll do them. They're great for a lot of things - post-apoc mutants; scifi tribes on undiscovered planets, and I used them for my Skaven slaves.
Hopeless for high-fantasy goblins, but that's not GW's fault...
Barzam wrote: You're narrowing you proxies too much by only looking at 40k. Ugly as many models may be, Warzine might be a better choice of proxies for some of the factions. Capitol for sure works as a stand-in for the Concord. Considering that atm most factions don't have much available model-wise besides troops and support weapons, I would think proxying would be even easier.
Perhaps - but unlike Doug I still wub my 40k figures. They just don't get much play these days since 40k has turned into such an absolute clusterfeth. So it's more wanting to see if I can use the GoA rules as alternate rules for my 40k figures and factions rather than caring about the GoA background (nothing personal towards GoA - I just can't seem to bring myself to care at all about anyone's new Sci-fi or Fantasy backgrounds these days.)
The whole point being to use models I like and avoid the ugly ones!
The most obvious analogues for me would be to use Squats/Forge Fathers for Boromites. Not sure about Space Marines, perhaps even Ghar (you would have very few on the tabletop, but the relative power/invulnerability of the Ghar would fit well with the background of the Marines - although not sure how you would explain reactor explosions!)
Otherwise perhaps Isorians as Eldar, given the tech level (although the concept is more akin to what traitor Space Marines were back in 1st/2nd edition).
The problem is otherwise that remember all of the factions are actually human derived and have more in common with Bolt Action than they do 40k. There is no alien/insect race devouring everything, emotionless terminator robots or mass of greenskins, so a lot of the 40k factions don't really have any obvious analogue in terms of matching their 40k background to rules in GoA. Until some player-made rule lists come along of course..
Zond wrote: So I've been asking this fairly consistently to no response, but how do the various factions play? Are their subtle or obvious differences in strategies, tech, dirty tricks etc?
The Concord and Isorians play pretty much like a modern force. Advancing/Firing while support units put pins on units from far away and pick up models fairly regularly. The Ghar are really the "odd man out". Initially they seem daunting with RES 12, meaning they ONLY fail on a roll of 10 and suffer no pins unless you modify their RES with Strike Value 2 or higher weapons. However in a 500 point game (the box set), they can only field 2 units to the Concords 4. They can pretty much be pinned into uselessness. Once the Ghar get more releases they can field a solid force.
The Freeborn are middle of the road army. Lots of good combinations but their tactical choices aren't anything to write home about.
The Boromites are heavy on support choices and their infantry are difficult to take down but I believe their leadership is a bit lower so they have less staying power once you pour fire into them.
Right now the only "dirty trick" that I know of is for Concord (I play them). They can take a Plasma lance in each Strike squad, which can fire at a different target than the rest of the squad, so you can fire at two squads and if you hit, you can put a Pin on each.
I was thinking of using the old AT-43 Karmans as Ghar. The bases are exactly the same size as the battle suits. Could then easily use some of the Eureka "Boiler Suit Apes" as Outcasts.
Freeborn would be the easiest to proxy/customize as they are essentially a conglomeration of private mercantile houses and various mercs/space pirates.
Bobby Hostile wrote: The Concord and Isorians play pretty much like a modern force. Advancing/Firing while support units put pins on units from far away and pick up models fairly regularly.
Except the Isorians have that amazing phase armor. For those not in the know, if an Isorian unit is shot at it can change it's order dice to Down. Which, in GoA, means, the enemy has to reroll successes to-hit. And then their high stats means there's a really good chance they can remove the Down at the end of the turn.
You have to test to remove down in GoA? That's a big difference from Bolt Action. I'm excited to read the rules - won a rulebook at an event on the weekend (but it was held up at customs ).
Algoryn are lower tech but are physically more rugged. They use nanotechnology/etc but specifically do not want be be a part of either the Concord or Isorian IMTel. They are a minor power (Concord, Isorian, and Vorl, being the superpowers). My army is on order so I can post more detailed playstyles when it arrives Wednesday-ish and I get some games in on Saturday. They definitely look slightly under-dog-y but have some neat tricks (Active Camo on their Infiltrators, D-Spinners, etc)
Bobby Hostile wrote: The Concord and Isorians play pretty much like a modern force. Advancing/Firing while support units put pins on units from far away and pick up models fairly regularly.
Except the Isorians have that amazing phase armor. For those not in the know, if an Isorian unit is shot at it can change it's order dice to Down. Which, in GoA, means, the enemy has to reroll successes to-hit. And then their high stats means there's a really good chance they can remove the Down at the end of the turn.
paraphrasing Manchu here -
People have a real need to pigeonhole anything that comes their way into categories with which they are already familiar; hence people trying to understand the Antares setting by referencing 40k. Which, of course, considering how vastly different the background, societies, technology, etc, are is totally useless, and actually, counterproductive. It creates a false equivalency which then becomes hard to shake.
True but there is also quite some interest in proxying with 40k minis and using the GoA rules for a change. Of course the races do not match fluffwise but Tau for example can be used as Concords. Formerly licensed Judge Dredd Citadel minis being used as Arbites in Rogue Trader and the like. Not a bad thing. In case of the minis I will use some vice versa. The Freeborns will make nice Necromunda gang members too.
You can proxy Concord with Orks. Or quarters or bottle caps for that matter. As long as the base is similar, the look of the model shouldn't matter, much less the model's fluff from a different setting/IP.
judgedoug wrote: It creates a false equivalency which then becomes hard to shake.
Ah, false equivalence. I love that term. So endlessly useful for stopping relativism from devolving into nihilistic, idiotic inertia. Damn it, Judge Doug. You and I were supposed to be implacable enemies with irreconcilable aesthetic and gaming preferences. Stop being so likable.
Oh, wait. I'm supposed to say stuff relevant to Gates of Antares here. Fortunately, I just received my Xilos Horizon box, and can offer some quick first impressions. I'm quite interested in modding figures with bits from other lines, so most of my commentary reflects that. I do want to put up a lot of pictures, which will make the case better than words, but that will need to wait until next week at the earliest. Too busy at the moment. So in the meanwhile, some unvarnished, honest, knee-jerk thoughts on Xilos:
The hardcover is indeed handsome. Having been mostly involved in Mantic games until recently, I am hoping it will remain relevant for awhile, as I'd hate to have to shelve this beauty in a year or less for a paperback with updated / fixed rules.
Concord heads are tiny, tiny, tiny - as I thought, smaller even than Enforcer heads - and their arms are stubby, stubby, stubby short. I think you could swap Dreamforge arms onto Concord troopers, but forget about putting Concord arms on Dreamforge troopers unless proportional awkwardness doesn't bother you. Enforcer bodies / arms / legs aren't really compatible at all with the Concord troopers, but the Enforcer heads, if you trim the round base, would look great on Concord bodies. (But Concord heads look too small on Enforcer bodies.) I think if you're looking for a good fit for putting Concord arms on a Mantic figure then you're probably looking at Zees. Mantic restic Corp trooper heads look great on Concord trooper bodies too. Sedition Wars troopers are indeed pretty much a perfect fit for Concord body part swaps or to bolster Concord forces.
Concord legs look a bit odd in that the upper leg seems to be pretty much the same thickness as the lower leg, which is usually thinner in real life. Also, Concord troopers have no junk in the trunk - their butts are flat as pancakes. Put a Concord pair of legs next to a Dreamforge one and the Dreamforge Eisenkern butt (yep, even the male ones) start looking a bit like they came from a swimsuit calendar. Who cares? I don't really, I just find it funny. However, swapping Dreamforge Eisenkern legs with Concord legs, in either direction, doesn't work well and would take quite a bit of green stuff or other finagling to pull off. The Concord legs / waists are too much thinner than Dreamforge's to be cross compatible.
So I hate the Concord figures? Not at all. They look good unto themselves, they're just smaller than most sci-fi troopers from other lines, so not as compatible for swapping / modding purposes as I might have liked. Built as intended from the parts you get in the box, they're fine.
I have nothing interesting to say about the Ghar battlesuits yet, as they're all still on sprue, and they are hands-down my favorite sculpts from the entire GoA line so far. Models I really like are a little boring, as I tend to build them exactly as intended. Models I don't like or like but find flawed are the ones that get my creative juices flowing. It becomes a personal challenge to see if I can make a silk purse from a sow's ear by monkeying around with said ugly model. The Ghar battlesuits are probably too good as-is to force me to do anything particularly interesting with them. (But once I do get some clipped out, I will be interested in seeing what can be done for alternate arm weapons, at least.) I'm still undecided as to what I'll be using to proxy for the little Ghar guys, whose comedic aspect I don't want any part of. I'd prefer something nightmarish, possibly biomechanical, probably slimy. If anyone can be bothered - and I don't blame you if you can't, because really, why should you care? - suggestions are most welcome.
The blue plastic templates and red pin markers with dials are really nice touches.
NWS sent my box a bit late, so they generously included a blister of the metal Algoryn A.I. unit. So here are some thoughts on that:
The turret is a nice design and well-cast. The floating probe is nice, but not my favorite design - I prefer the Concord plastic units and the photos of the metal Ghar flitters appeal more to me. My biggest criticism of the Algoryn metal figures, confirmed by having them in hand, is posing. These could be a lot less stiff (yes, even with their armor) and more naturalistically / dynamically posed. There's a stiffness across the Algoryn range that looks stilted to me - it reminds me of Eddie Murphy imitating the way White Men walk, "keeping their butts tight." (Dreamforge butts, on the other hand, recall Dana Carvey imitating George Michael. "Look at my butt! The worst thing you can do is try to ignore it! It's a total circle, don't you see? You can't hide from it. It's a force to be reckoned with. Accept it before it destroys you!") I really hope they can improve on this - posing, not butts - with their Algoryn plastic figure set when it debuts. Thus far I'd say whoever is doing GoA's computer sculpting is fine with concept design, but they need a lot more practice with posing 3-D models well. This is one reason I currently favor the hand-sculpted Boromites of GoA, which don't suffer from the CGI stiffness of the Concord or Algoryn lines.
(This issue with some computer sculptors not having the same sense of bodily dynamism as talented traditional sculptors is far from unique to GoA, so I don't mean to say they have an unusual issue with this relative to other companies. On the other hand, Malifaux in particular demonstrates that there are also computer sculptors who can produce astoundingly fluid, naturalistic sculpts. It is most likely an issue of talent and experience rather than sculpting method.)
Metal Algoryn bodies are proportionally very much in line with Mantic Enforcer bodies. I look forward to the conversion possibilities the Algoryn plastic kit will offer.
Algoryn helmeted heads, as I thought from seeing pics online, are really the best thing about them. Very cool visor design, with a Cylonesque vibe of classic sci-fi meanness to them. They even look great on plastic Concord bodies, although doing that swap would be problematic if you're trying to keep things somewhat in line with the Antares fluff. But I do love these heads. I'll probably end up using the two I got from the A.I. blister on other figures from other lines.
Thanks for the review, Vermonter. I'm really looking forward to getting a GoA box...someday. Do the Concord come with any spare helmeted heads? Since they size well with Sedition Wars, I hope they can help properly equip my Samaritans. (If you have any spare enforcer heads, I'd love it if you sent them my way.)
So your friends on the chat boards, playing games with the Concords? But the Concords ain't got motors in the backs of their Fords.
Anyway, for the unsuited Ghar, there are a lot of little creepy monsters in the Reaper Bones catalogue, like brain eaters or charnel grubs, or shoggoths. The Medge minnows, placed on the ground like floppy monsters, might do. Or you could use the squid heads from WGF shock trooper boxes and make little not-Daleks? How humanoid do you want them to be?
BobtheInquisitor wrote: Thanks for the review, Vermonter. I'm really looking forward to getting a GoA box...someday. Do the Concord come with any spare helmeted heads? Since they size well with Sedition Wars, I hope they can help properly equip my Samaritans. (If you have any spare enforcer heads, I'd love it if you sent them my way.)
So your friends on the chat boards, playing games with the Concords? But the Concords ain't got motors in the backs of their Fords.
Anyway, for the unsuited Ghar, there are a lot of little creepy monsters in the Reaper Bones catalogue, like brain eaters or charnel grubs, or shoggoths. The Medge minnows, placed on the ground like floppy monsters, might do. Or you could use the squid heads from WGF shock trooper boxes and make little not-Daleks? How humanoid do you want them to be?
I definitely have spare Mantic enforcer heads (both hard plastic and restic varieties), but you probably meant to say helmeted Concord heads, right? Yes, I could spare a few helmeted Concord heads, as I'll want some of my Concord troopers unmasked for variety. You get 5 Concord troopers and 6 heads per sprue, 5 helmeted, one with an open visor, so they don't give you a lot of spares or variants, unfortunately. On the subject of Mantic Enforcer heads, I was a little surprised by how good they can look on Concord bodies. I think it was Thraxas who posted a picture of a Concord trooper with an Enforcer head which looked like an awkward fit to me. Probably just the angle, or due to not trimming the Enforcer head's neck bulb first. (No offense to our good Thraxas, of course. Photos are photos - nothing beats having the figures in front of you.)
I'll double-check on how well the Concord heads fit with Sedition Wars troopers later today (I was mostly looking at arm swaps before, since Sed Wars Samaritans come with heads attached. Easy to remove with a knife, but I was lazy.) I do like the Concord helmet design. Just be aware that in most cases, Concord heads are going to look smaller than what you're swapping them for. I mean, they even beat Mantic Enforcer heads on smallitude.
As for what I'm looking for for Ghar substitutes, the less humanoid the better for me. I'm interested in taking them back in a repulsive Dalek creature direction. I'll check out those Bones figures you mentioned.
I have to say that I really like my Concord minis. While they are smaller than most other 28mm, they're pretty well proportioned and don't have stupidly huge features such as guns, hands or shoulder pads. I'm not a huge fan of the Plasma Carbine's design and was looking to do a conversion until I realized that the off-hand was molded onto the gun. Too much effort for me to try and carve out or resculpt. The Ghar are pretty cool looking and aren't a rehash of some overdone trope. They're not mindless, just stagnant in tech which is so much lower than other races that the can't be affected by counter-measures. It'd be like dropping an EMP on WWII era troops.
The Algoryn were a close second to my choice of Concord. Mostly because the mini's are hella-sweet. They angular design of the armor appeals to me and they have some cool units to field. The Boromites are the only ones who don't really appeal to me but that's just a taste thing based on aesthetics. They play pretty well.
I've played 2 games so far, both against the Ghar. One of the best features of the game is the pin mechanic. Unlike BA (I believe) you can rally to get Pins off of you. I mainly play WM/Hordes and the occasional game Dropzone Commander or 40K. The initiative mechanic makes BtGoA so awesome for me. Both players stay engaged and your tactics HAVE to be flexible because you can't count on getting the next activation or three. So far I haven't really found anything about the game that I outright dislike, though I'm still in the honeymoon phase.
Here's oneof my C3 Strike troopers with a not-"ODST" head from Puppetswar. I use Puppetswar merc heads for unit leaders and command as well for character.
Have you ever seen a motorcycle helmet on a person? This is was smaller propotionally than that... And consider the HUDs, rebreather etc etc that is crammed into the helmet, this is a bit more "realistic" size. At least to my eyes!
Yeah I have worn full-face motorcycle helmets, I know they are huge. Some things looks ridiculous IRL and they look equally ridiculous when imported into fiction; meanwhile, what looks cool in fiction could look foolish IRL (e.g., your own avatar depicts a futuristic soldier wearing a beret over a helmet). I would guess that the models as depicted in official artwork and sculpts constitute what is "realistic" relative to the setting in question. That said, your toys/your rules.
Manchu wrote: Yeah I have worn full-face motorcycle helmets, I know they are huge. Some things looks ridiculous IRL and they look equally ridiculous when imported into fiction; meanwhile, what looks cool in fiction could look foolish IRL (e.g., your own avatar depicts a futuristic soldier wearing a beret over a helmet). I would guess that the models as depicted in official artwork and sculpts constitute what is "realistic" relative to the setting in question. That said, your toys/your rules.
Manchu wrote: Yeah I have worn full-face motorcycle helmets, I know they are huge. Some things looks ridiculous IRL and they look equally ridiculous when imported into fiction; meanwhile, what looks cool in fiction could look foolish IRL (e.g., your own avatar depicts a futuristic soldier wearing a beret over a helmet). I would guess that the models as depicted in official artwork and sculpts constitute what is "realistic" relative to the setting in question. That said, your toys/your rules.
I've always considered it as part of the price when it comes to sculpting at the miniature size; naturalistic proportions generally don't translate well. If anything, the parts that are exaggerated for scale winds up causing the aesthetic style.
As far as the helmets, I can't see any size being unrealistic for the setting. Giant motorcycle sized helmet filled with electronics? Sure, makes sense. Slim head fitting piece? Nanotech!
Manchu wrote: The "Nanotech!" explanation seems definitively correct.
Considering it's like grey-goo nanotech and machines do not have any moving parts anymore, there's zero reason for giant motorcycle helmets crammed with junk.
Definitely a fan of the Iron Man style thin helmet that the Concord dudes already have versus slapping on a motorcycle helmet.
Alpharius wrote: I really like a lot of what we've seen/heard/read about it terms of the rules, I just wish the miniatures were more appealing to me...
I'll agree they feel a bit generic, and they're not nearly the GW level of detail in the gubbins. As an actual game, though, it's pretty ace.
judgedoug wrote: paraphrasing Manchu here -
People have a real need to pigeonhole anything that comes their way into categories with which they are already familiar; hence people trying to understand the Antares setting by referencing 40k. Which, of course, considering how vastly different the background, societies, technology, etc, are is totally useless, and actually, counterproductive. It creates a false equivalency which then becomes hard to shake.
Or to put it another way - I don't give two feths about the GoA background and dislike the models, so I am looking for a nice ruleset that I can use my existing model collection with. Just like with KoW and "Mantica" or DZ/WP and whatever Mantic call their "Space Mantica".
Automatically Appended Next Post:
Manchu wrote: You can proxy Concord with Orks. Or quarters or bottle caps for that matter. As long as the base is similar, the look of the model shouldn't matter, much less the model's fluff from a different setting/IP.
I don't care in the slightest about GoA's fluff. I'm looking for statlines/unit proxies that work well enough without expecting a pure, perfect 1-1 translation.
Antares factions are not even rough analogs of 40k factions (to clarify, I mean in terms of rules design). Antares is a good rule set but that does not mean it will be good for all purposes, such as playing orks versus space marines.
Yeah, there is no "direct correlation", at all, between any of the factions of GoA and 40k.
However, if you strip away all the background and all the names and all the reasoning why weapons and armor work the way they do, then, you can certainly reskin them with whatever you want.
Even then, there's nothing even remotely resembling a Boltgun in terms of functionality. You would need to simultaneously strip away all the background and design intent of all of 40k as well.
But if you just wanted to use whatever models paired to whatever stats, well, at it's core, GoA is a superb ruleset.
But keep in mind, such games often assume (and sometimes provide tools for) making your own army lists. So that means you can create a generic form of your existing army from whatever game, more or less (more often less). That's simulation rather than translation. By the time you simulated Orks with Antares, you would be pretty far from Antares (given the granularity of equipment in Antares).
Honestly the Concord Drop troops make me wanna play Concord.
for @warboss, they are good counts-as/proxies for Mobile Infantry in the SST minis game (since for some reason he has bad taste and doesn't like M1A4 power suits)
I think if you wanted to proxy 40K models and background, you could use the rules, but you'd need to write your own army lists and unit stats. There's no way to use the existing army lists, really.
judgedoug wrote: Honestly the Concord Drop troops make me wanna play Concord.
Between these guys and that heavy drone they posted, I'm feelilng the same way. I'm curious to see if the finals have 40mm bases or if they get crammed into 25mm. Basing options!
judgedoug wrote: Honestly the Concord Drop troops make me wanna play Concord.
Between these guys and that heavy drone they posted, I'm feelilng the same way. I'm curious to see if the finals have 40mm bases or if they get crammed into 25mm. Basing options!
Concord drop troops? They'll be on 25mm. But any weapons drones are on 40mm, at least the light support and general purpose drones so far.
judgedoug wrote: Honestly the Concord Drop troops make me wanna play Concord.
for @warboss, they are good counts-as/proxies for Mobile Infantry in the SST minis game (since for some reason he has bad taste and doesn't like M1A4 power suits)
That I'd agree with (that they're good proxies for the starship trooper kitba... I mean plastics). What physical differences (besides the poses) are there? It looks like Mr. Ragefist has an extra lunchbox on his chest and their helmets might be more detailed (puffier helmet "cheeks" and a more detailed chin). Can you make a full drop trooper army in GOA? I assume those (from the look) are primed metals and not plastics; does whatever the source of the image is say the material?
judgedoug wrote: Honestly the Concord Drop troops make me wanna play Concord.
for @warboss, they are good counts-as/proxies for Mobile Infantry in the SST minis game (since for some reason he has bad taste and doesn't like M1A4 power suits)
That I'd agree with (that they're good proxies for the starship trooper kitba... I mean plastics). What physical differences (besides the poses) are there?
None, that's just the command squad blister pack.
And yup, in order to field Drop squads you have to a a Drop command squad.
warboss wrote: That's odd then. Haven't the drop squads been available for a month or two already? They weren't usable in that case?
They've been available since earlier this year, during the beta. Don't have the beta rulebook near me, but I'm guessing that limitation did not exist in the Beta.
I would imagine eventually, just like the Strike squads (and the metal ones have moved to direct order only). Considering the modular tooling of the Antares plastics, it wouldn't surprise me in the least.
Its likely that during the beta people just used regular drop dudes as the command squad. You can have an entire list made of drop dudes I believe, as long as you include one command guy as mentioned.
mugginns wrote: Its likely that during the beta people just used regular drop dudes as the command squad. You can have an entire list made of drop dudes I believe, as long as you include one command guy as mentioned.
There is literally no difference as well. It's just a Leader and two guys, with however many buddy drones. Leaders don't have megafists or chainrapiers, and usually their only upgrade is to make them a better Leader. So the command blisters are just the min squad size for command in nice new poses.
On a different subject, I am just wondering if others see what I see when I look at the Isorian medium weapon drone: the bottom jaw of a piranha plant with a gun where the tongue ought to be.
It's funny there are pics of them in the main rulebook (I think what amounts to a basic squad of them) but nothing actually for sale yet. Would be satisfied for just buying the basic squad at the moment!
Ghar December
Concord January
Isorians? February? March?
Algoryn April (including plastic kits)
Any idea of what's inside those releases? I know we're getting Ghar bombers, and I certainly hope a command crawler is in there, but has there been much info beyond that?
The Ghar stuff is pretty well known. There will apparently be a Concord heavy drone and we just saw the Drop Command Squad. There are pics of Isorian troops, drones, and Nuhu floating around. Algoryn vehicles have been previewed and pics posted ITT.
See, those guys look like dudes in Power Armour to me. Any specific reason that using Space Marines or even Mantic's Enforcers with their rules would be an especially bad thing? I don't need to simulate the sergeant's purity seals, cameoline and auspex.
Tactical=Concord Strike Troopers
Assault Marines= Drop Squad
Bikes (though in your case Az you probably have some jetbikes)= jetbikes
And use whatever you want as drones.
I could see using Mantic enforcers as them if you gave them some sort of a backpack (the Puppet Wars one looks pretty cool). I actually rather like the drop troops (and their command) but not really the rest of that faction.
I purchased some of the drop troops last week, they are even better in the flesh IMO and totally concur that they are the standout miniatures in the Concord army thus far.
judgedoug wrote: the Ghar command crawler has been hinted that the mold is currently being mastered (resin vehicle)
I figured it would be resin, even if I hoped against hope for plastic. Still, all my resin Bolt Action stuff has been pretty nifty. My meatchopper sees quite a bit of action.
Any word on the material for the heavy Concord drone we saw the renders for? Another guy in the shop is really excited about it.
I've never had any complaints. My Stuart, Hellcat, Pershing and Meatchopper have all held up very well with more than enough detail for vehicles. The Pershing did have a pretty righteous gap along one of the treads that needed work, but that's the extent of anything egregious.
Warlord started by purchasing other smaller companies, so a lot of the original resin vehicles for Bolt Action are more like garage kits. However, the last couple years of resin kits have been pretty phenomenal, such as the Hellcat.
I have no doubt the new Antares vehicles will be as crisply cast as the Antares metals (which is to say, perfectly, and with little to no flash)
Compel wrote: I've always thought the Bolt Action vehicle kits look pretty darn silly. - They look massively undersized compared to the models.
Ah, the old heroic 28mm is 1/48 and Warlord Vehicles are 1/56 thing. Yeah... always a raging topic. I find as long as all the vehicles match each other it's not noticable. It does become so when you mix vehicle scales together though.
As for the question on Warlord Resin... all the vehicles I have had in resin from Bolt Action have been spot on - although some of the smaller metal parts have had rather a lot of flash - annoying on the very small parts.
I bought the BtGoA rulebook today. Skimming it, it's feeling similar to Bolt Action but with stat lines like 40k. Looks brill. Now if only I didn't play KoW, Deadzone, Frostgrave and Bolt Action - all with multiple factions (and have 8 cases of unused 40k figures in a wardrobe)...
My missus will go mental if I come home with more models from a new game. Gonna have to play Antares with proxies for a while I think. :-(
Compel wrote: I've always thought the Bolt Action vehicle kits look pretty darn silly. - They look massively undersized compared to the models.
They are the correct height (one of the common misconceptions is that most people have no idea how tiny WW2 tanks really are), but, of course, due to "heroic" scales, models are way wider than anyone in real life. Thankfully if you use, say, Perry miniatures, which are true scale 28mm, they look absolutely correct.
Automatically Appended Next Post:
Gimgamgoo wrote: I bought the BtGoA rulebook today. Skimming it, it's feeling similar to Bolt Action but with stat lines like 40k. Looks brill. Now if only I didn't play KoW, Deadzone, Frostgrave and Bolt Action - all with multiple factions (and have 8 cases of unused 40k figures in a wardrobe)...
My missus will go mental if I come home with more models from a new game. Gonna have to play Antares with proxies for a while I think. :-(
The easiest thing to do is offload a case worth of unused 40k figures and replace them with GoA figures - net zero gain in figure density!
Or just play with the 40k figures. Requires no wheeling or dealing and might just gain points with the missus for your sensibly using what you already own.
When you enslave lots of civilisations you need some proper tools to impose your authority I guess. When I saw the Maglash artwork in the rulebook I just had to replace some of the walkers close combat gloves with these magnetic whips.
I also replaced the Gouger missiles (only the front part of the weapon actually) as I wasn't really happy with their look. These Nec ones aren't much different, but have a smaller, sleaker design.
Thinking a while about what plans I have with the Ghar walkers I decided to build a mercenary army. Hired by the Ghar Empire, veterans of several campaigns, weapon aficionados, different personalities in a team with a unified look (black colour scheme), fielding some dedicated equipment like stealth suits, and a Cry, Havoc-mentality. They are deployed to break the enemy.
I use the style of buildings for my bases and maybe later even some terrain/scenery in the same style (Concord?) as seen on the Xilos campaign cover artwork. I really like these white buildings in the background - contrasting well in the blueish lighting against the dark Ghar battle suits.
Unpainted and early w.i.p. pics of the Battle and the Assault Squad
Spoiler:
Vermonter wrote: [...] I have nothing interesting to say about the Ghar battlesuits yet, as they're all still on sprue, and they are hands-down my favorite sculpts from the entire GoA line so far. Models I really like are a little boring, as I tend to build them exactly as intended. Models I don't like or like but find flawed are the ones that get my creative juices flowing. It becomes a personal challenge to see if I can make a silk purse from a sow's ear by monkeying around with said ugly model. The Ghar battlesuits are probably too good as-is to force me to do anything particularly interesting with them. (But once I do get some clipped out, I will be interested in seeing what can be done for alternate arm weapons, at least.)
I like the Ghar walker's shells and legs, but some of the weapons aren't doing it for me. So I used Necron Wraith whips/flails after cutting off the power/plasma gloves. These are early w.i.p. after about an hour or two of converting. I already have the upper parts for the whip 'hands' but I need a new bottle of superglue before putting them on.
I hope these give some ideas for conversions. The Ghar models can turn into really interesting projects. The plastic is excellent material. The buggers really grow on me. I will continue with the slavery theme. Maybe I will convert a large cage on mechanical legs loaded with slaves and some hunter drones.
For the basic poses no, in the knees are joints that already allow for easy vertical angle changes. The hip joints have no limitation until a leg hits the torso.
If you want to turn the knee joint horizontally as well, there is about 10-20 degree without cutting, then like I did on a few suits you could cut out ~1mm each side inside the knee (you dont see it after glueing, the glue melts it) for some of the extremer poses. There is space for deeper cuts, at least twice as much.
I did a Ghost in the Shell-like conversion with a Suit stuck with extreme wide legs (basically 70 degree to each side - straight knees) on top and even between three walls, ready to drop down, it worked but did not fit properly onto a 40mm base obviously.
The Ghar kits are unlike the kind of monopose Wraithknight or Imperial Knight models, they have flexible joints.
I can do 1000 now with my Antenociti's Workshop grav tank. Thinking of grabbing a third AI squad to buff it to a 1250 point force.
Models are great! The Algoryn models are probably the nicest, sharpest, cleanest cast metal figures I've ever had. Almost resin quality, but, obvioiusly, slightly more annoying to assemble than resin. Definitely worth the cost especially since Warlord added +40% more models to the boxes for free.
Oh, and no pics, because, forgot to take some. haha
Warhams-77 wrote: I like the Ghar walker's shells and legs, but some of the weapons aren't doing it for me. So I used Necron Wraith whips/flails after cutting off the power/plasma gloves. These are early w.i.p. after about an hour or two of converting. I already have the upper parts for the whip 'hands' but I need a new bottle of superglue before putting them on.
Sounds wonderful - There's a lot of potential for creepy Necron / Ghar hybridization; I'm sure the ever-popular, ever-fruitful DE Talos / Cronos bits will fuel a lot of interesting battlesuit conversions going forward too. (When I'm perusing conversions, that Talos kit is like my Dog's fur; I find bits of it everywhere.) I'm curious to see what you're doing with your Wraith / Ghar conversions, so I hope you'll let us know here if you ever post pictures of your work. That goes for anyone else tinkering with their Ghar as well.
Incidentally, is there any place one can post thoughts on Gates of Antares miniature designs where the makers are likely to see them? I may just be full of myself, but I really think units like the Algoryn just need a little push to be great, and that push would be taking their excellent design and posing it better. There's a stilted quality to the Algoryn metal miniature poses that holds them back a bit for me, and that I would hate to see transferred into their hard plastic sprues, which would be the logical place to improve them.
Ok, Judge Doug, time to respond and tell me that that's just my opinion, and you see nothing wrong with the Algoryn metal poses in the first place. (In all fairness, if you did, I can't imagine that you would have bought so many of them. So I hope my assumption of a difference of opinion here is a fair one.) Just please keep in mind that I actually mean well, though my opinion may be "wrong" or unique to myself - I agree with you that the Algoryn are great designs, I'm just offering these comments because I think those designs aren't being used to their fullest potential, not to gleefully tear them down and dance on their graves. When trooper models are computer sculpted, what I see of the process online makes it look like their are roughly two parts to the process. First, the model and all its details are rendered in a manikin-like, neutral pose, then the sculptor takes that finished computer model and pushes it around onscreen to generate different poses for different figures. (Computer sculptors, feel free to educate me if I'm way off-base here.) Not infrequently, across company lines, I see digital sculptors who are really good at one aspect come up short on the other one. I basically feel like the GoA digital sculptors are doing #1 very well, but that they could brush up on getting the most out of #2. Compare GW's standing Skitarrii legs to GoA's Algoryn ones. (Leave aside the Algoryn running legs for the moment.) Both standing poses are basically static, but there's a sense of natural balance, weight-bearing tension, and latent potential for action in the Skitarrii leg positions that just isn't there enough in the Algoryn metal figures. (That's easier to see, though, when you look at the Skitarrii leg bits in isolation, without the figure's robes partially obscuring them.)
On the positive side, I also love the new Concord drop troopers Thraxas posted. In part that's down to great armor design. But to me, those new renders are also generally better posed than the Concord figures that preceded them are. So if I'm not entirely delusional about GoA posing being an issue in the first place, this may be evidence that Warlord's computer sculptors are indeed getting better at it.
Q. This game, as one created by Rick Priestley, will inevitably draw gamer comparisons to Warhammer 40,000, a game create by Rick Priestley. Are there any legitimate comparisons between the two?
A. I guess so – although 40K evolved over a long time and many others contributed too – the feel of Antares is quite different to the modern 40K though. In many respects Antares does come from the same place as the original Rogue Trader edition of Warhammer 40,000 – it’s a similar scale of game and it has the same ‘open ended’ approach. Both were created as games to be played by myself with like-minded comrades – they are both either skirmish or semi-role-playing wargames first and foremost. The current 40K is very different and its development has been driven by wholly commercial concerns for a long time – so I wouldn’t say there’s much to compare. I always say – if you really enjoy playing 40K – play 40K! I’ve built a new game and I hope it’ll find its own audience – one more in keeping with the kinds of games I also happen to enjoy.
Automatically Appended Next Post:
Vermonter wrote: Incidentally, is there any place one can post thoughts on Gates of Antares miniature designs where the makers are likely to see them? I may just be full of myself, but I really think units like the Algoryn just need a little push to be great, and that push would be taking their excellent design and posing it better. There's a stilted quality to the Algoryn metal miniature poses that holds them back a bit for me, and that I would hate to see transferred into their hard plastic sprues, which would be the logical place to improve them.
Rick Priestley is all over the Beyond the Gates of Antares (IMTel) facebook group, answering questions and joking with everyone and generally being the coolest dude in the gaming industry. https://www.facebook.com/groups/gatesofantares/
Vermonter wrote: Ok, Judge Doug, time to respond and tell me that that's just my opinion, and you see nothing wrong with the Algoryn metal poses in the first place.
NOPE YOU'RE WRONG
actually i do agree a little bit of some stiffness of poses - but then some poses are ridiculously cool. I love the entire AI Assault squad box set, for example, and the AI Infiltrators. Therefore it's probably a good thing that the first set, the normal AI Squad guys, which are mostly stiff, are getting replaced early next year w/ plastics.
Vermonter wrote: (When I'm perusing conversions, that Talos kit is like my Dog's fur; I find bits of it everywhere.)
I'm curious to see what you're doing with your Wraith / Ghar conversions, so I hope you'll let us know here if you ever post pictures of your work. That goes for anyone else tinkering with their Ghar as well.
Will post a few pics occasionally. You saw those under the spoiler? I should use the Dakka gallery to upload pics instead of imgur I will fix it asap
Considering it's like grey-goo nanotech and machines do not have any moving parts anymore, there's zero reason for giant motorcycle helmets crammed with junk.
Definitely a fan of the Iron Man style thin helmet that the Concord dudes already have versus slapping on a motorcycle helmet.
Padding. Keeps your brain from becoming jellified. (Like in a Motorcycle helmet!) Assuming that physics is still a thing in the "more realistic" sci-fi of GoA? Should be room for both assuming divergent technology and differing tech levels?
Azazelx wrote: Assuming that physics is still a thing in the "more realistic" sci-fi of GoA?
I really don't know how people got the impression that this game is any kind of hard sci-fi, honestly. It is really, really, really not.
Unless someone thinks that Star Wars or Star Trek are hard sci-fi, of course.
For example, the "armor" in the game: for infantry, apparently they might as well go naked while carrying a backpack generator, as all infantry armor in the game except the ghar battlesuits are different kinds of energy shields.
In other news, I finally finished assembling and sanding the starter. There's a lot of value in this game, coming from a comparatively small box:
I also managed to assemble the drop troopers (which I like a lot) and to prime the ghar in gunmetal before running out of time today:
I also managed to assemble the drop troopers (which I like a lot) and to prime the ghar in gunmetal before running out of time today:
Spoiler:
Looking good. I really like the armor they have (especially with the helmets) but am a bit lukewarm on the guns and definitely don't like Mr. Traffic Cop's pointing arm. Could you take a pic with one of them next to the usual scifi suspects (space marine, infinity something, etc)?
warboss wrote:Looking good. I really like the armor they have (especially with the helmets) but am a bit lukewarm on the guns and definitely don't like Mr. Traffic Cop's pointing arm. Could you take a pic with one of them next to the usual scifi suspects (space marine, infinity something, etc)?
Yeah, no problem, but not until the weekend, as I won't go where I have them until then.
judgedoug wrote:Shrug, it's hard sci fi to me. Not retro hard sci fi from the 70's/80's, but hard from the near future.
Definitely the hardest sci fi minis wargame, uh, ever.
Yeah, because stuff like Heavy Gear, for example, doesn't exist. Or the Babylon 5 games. Or Attack Vector: Tactical. Or Dirtside. Or Infinity, FFS.
Manchu wrote:It's straight-up sci-fi and seems hard against the sci-fantasy we're used to.
It's straight up space magic, with magic stardust (nanites, they might as well have called them applied phlebotinum) that can do everything, magic implicationless teleporters, a magic star that is everywhere, breaks space-time and is effectively a time and dimension machine... seriously, it's up there with 40k, Star Wars or Star Trek. Just with different trappings.
It has very interesting stuff in it, but don't make it what it isn't.
No, it's not space magic. In stories, what makes something magic is the lack, ultimately, of hard rules. Fictional technology has technological verisimilitude, however fantastical the result, because it functions according to rules as a matter of narrative. In this sense, the Antares setting appeals to technology rather than magic. I don't see anything wrong with calling Antares a space opera (although I don't recall Rick Priestly saying it) except for their being no romance element (and I mean romance in the literary sense, not as in a love story particularly). That and it might give folks the impression that Antares is anything like Star Wars, which it isn't at all.
Manchu wrote: No, it's not space magic. In stories, what makes something magic is the lack, ultimately, of hard rules. Fictional technology has technological verisimilitude, however fantastical the result, because it functions according to rules as a matter of narrative. In this sense, the Antares setting appeals to technology rather than magic.
Magic, in most settings, have hard rules. Would you say, for example, that Iron Kingdoms lack magic? What about Mistborn? Your definition puts most settings with magic (at the very least the ones with coherent magic) firmly into the "science fiction" label.
The actual definition of hard science fiction would be more along this lines: Hard science fiction is a category of science fiction characterized by an emphasis on scientific accuracy or technical detail or both.
That would put Antares clearly in the "Medium" grade of the scale, but no higher.
I don't see anything wrong with calling Antares a space opera (although I don't recall Rick Priestly saying it) except for their being no romance element (and I mean romance in the literary sense, not as in a love story particularly). That and it might give folks the impression that Antares is anything like Star Wars, which it isn't at all.
Q. How would you describe the type of ‘sci-fi’ that Beyond the Gates of Antares is?
A. I’m not sure – it has an internal logic and scientific elements that are a bit like ‘hard SF’ but really it’s probably closer to what you might call space opera – i.e. it’s a big setting with whole races waging wars on a vast scale. In many ways that’s like Star Wars isn’t it – I don’t know, what kind of sci-fi is Star Wars J
I thought this was clear enough, because I made it explicit, but I am talking about magic as a matter of narrative not what a writer calls magic in a particular setting (call magic in this particular sense Magic to differentiate them). In many settings, Magic obeys physical laws and is reliably harnessed by characters. It is therefore a kind of technology. Magic that is actually magical, however, cannot be harnessed in the end because even if it usually works a certain way it's basic premise, for the purpose of the story, is to break the ordinary physical laws of nature rather than being just another natural, predictable set of phenomena.
Also, I never once argued Antares is hard science fiction. I actually responded to Doug's claim that it is by arguing that it is only sci fi rather than hard sci fi. You seem to be barking up the wrong tree.
I thought it was clear enough, because I made it explicit, that I used "space magic" as a shorthand for "implausible stuff in the setting that is taken for granted", like a red star that is in the vicinity of millions of star systems, to name one. Even by your own definition the Antares star would be what you call "magic".
I think you're applying your definition of magic there (which seems to be "impossible things, impossible to define") instead of the generally accepted ones (The art or practice of using charms, spells, or rituals to attempt to produce supernatural effects or control events in nature; Of, relating to, or invoking the supernatural; The art of producing a desired effect or result through the use of incantation or various other techniques that presumably assure human control of supernatural agencies or the forces of nature), which generally don't preclude them from being quantifiable, measureable or repeatable.
But that's beside the point. I used the term "space magic" just as shorthand to try to make it clear that it is not hard sci fi and because it is usually used to define Star Trek and the like. Even the author says that in many ways it is like Star Wars, FFS.
Yes FFS he even says exactly what he means by that, a big setting with whole races waging vast wars. He didn't say anything about space magic and lo and behold there is no space magic in Antares, so far at least.
Manchu wrote: Yes FFS he even says exactly what he means by that, a big setting with whole races waging vast wars. He didn't say anything about space magic and lo and behold there is no space magic in Antares, so far at least.
The whole concept of the Antares star IS space magic, you know.
So, if we're talking about tabletop games in general for a moment.
That sounds like something like Dropzone Commander is a lot closer to the general definition of hard science fiction. In that every vehicle, every weapon has a technical breakdown with a "here is how things work in this setting and these are the exact rules it goes by."
As for GoA, I don't know what to pidgeon hole it in to (yeah, pidgeon holing is basically what we're doing). Space Opera doesn't seem right either, from what little I've read of the setting, the universe seems a little more sterile than that?
Albertorius wrote: The whole concept of the Antares star IS space magic, you know.
Not even close. Priestly goes into significant detail about the observations civilizations have made about the star over ages and describes the consequences of this predictable phenomenon on interstellar politics and warfare. It is presented narratively as a matter of science and technology.
Compel wrote: Space Opera doesn't seem right either, from what little I've read of the setting, the universe seems a little more sterile than that?
Space opera is fine as long as you're not thinking of chivalrous romance a la Jedi Knights on mystical journeys.
Manchu wrote: Not even close. Priestly goes into significant detail about the observations civilizations have made about the star over ages and describes the consequences of this predictable phenomenon on interstellar politics and warfare. It is presented narratively as a matter of science and technology.
Except when its not, of course. Like when there's no way to know when gates will emerge or sink in the star, or why, or how, or the purpose of the surrounding satellite, or how is it that the very same star is at the same time besides billions of star systems, across time, space and even dimensions.
The people in the setting approach the study of the star as a science, yes. Just like alchemists do with alchemy, or wizards do with magic. That the people in the setting approach it like this doesn't mean it's not magic, IMHO. Neither does a phenomenon being repeatable, quantifiable or observable.
As this is not going anywhere, I'd agree to disagree, here. Your concept of magic is different from mine, and I'm not sure I see anything wrong with it.
Compel wrote: Space Opera doesn't seem right either, from what little I've read of the setting, the universe seems a little more sterile than that?
Space opera is fine as long as you're not thinking of chivalrous romance a la Jedi Knights on mystical journeys.
Space opera, most of the time, doesn't have that. The latest definition of the genre ,coming from the 90s, goes like this: "Colorful, dramatic, large-scale science fiction adventure, competently and sometimes beautifully written, usually focused on a sympathetic, heroic central character and plot action, and usually set in the relatively distant future, and in space or on other worlds, characteristically optimistic in tone. It often deals with war, piracy, military virtues, and very large-scale action, large stakes".
Albertorius wrote: The people in the setting approach the study of the star as a science, yes. Just like alchemists do with alchemy, or wizards do with magic. That the people in the setting approach it like this doesn't mean it's not magic, IMHO. Neither does a phenomenon being repeatable, quantifiable or observable.
Then you end up with zero distinction between magic and technology with the result that everything is technology. A good counterexample is GW, although of course they knicked the concept. In the GW settings, magic is Chaos, the counteressence of Cosmos. Chaos as such does not exist in Antares. The star itself may be mysterious but it is cosmological. It is a natural object that exists wholly in the natural world.
Maybe the main issue with the term space opera as its generally understood is the romance angle, the idea that there is a story about a sympathetic and relatable protagonist growing as a person while having these tremendous adventures against a vast backdrop of war. That doesn't seem to exist in Antares. Antares seems to be much more a story about peoples rather than any given person. I have previously summarized the theme as a conflict between the notion that there is one best way of life that all should practice against the idea that there are many ways, one each for each people that only that people can determine for themselves.
Manchu wrote: Then you end up with zero distinction between magic and technology with the result that everything is technology.
I don't really see a problem with that. As the saying goes, sufficiently advanced tech...
A good counterexample is GW, although of course they knicked the concept. In the GW settings, magic is Chaos, the counteressence of Cosmos. Chaos as such does not exist in Antares. The star itself may be mysterious but it is cosmological. It is a natural object that exists wholly in the natural world.
As I see it, as a general rule magic exist wholly in the natural world, too. Even Chaos in the GW settings would be natural, I think. The Chaos realm is the whole of existence, and the different universes are just specific manifestations of it, solidified into a semi permanent form. Being formless doesn't preclude Chaos from being part of the natural world.
As to the Antares star, the rub is that it's a natural object that exists wholly in the natural world, but it does so in billions of places at the same time, which is not what you would call "natural" by any usual definition. It is, quite literally, one and many at the same time (something like God, actually).
Maybe the main issue with the term space opera as its generally understood is the romance angle, the idea that there is a story about a sympathetic and relatable protagonist growing as a person while having these tremendous adventures against a vast backdrop of war. That doesn't seem to exist in Antares. Antares seems to be much more a story about peoples rather than any given person. I have previously summarized the theme as a conflict between the notion that there is one best way of life that all should practice against the idea that there are many ways, one each for each people that only that people can determine for themselves.
Take into account that the definition of the term is of Space Opera as a literary genre, which is different from Space Opera as a setting. Settings don't usually have protagonists (can't have, actually) except as specific stories inside said setting. For example, Star Wars as a setting can't really have a protagonists, even if the movies/TV series/comics/whatever have them.
I'd say that Antares is the same in that regards, and that for the purpose of defining a setting, what counts is the scope and reach of it, rather than wether it has a protagonist. In that regard I think that Antares is pretty much a Space Opera setting in the same vein as the setting from the Vorkosigan saga, which deals heavily with societal clashes and issues, and how new technologies affects a setting.
Albertorius, is it of a huge importance to you to press Gates of Antares into any specifications? Also do you see a point in what you are trying here or even in your discussion? There is a huge difference between using something to give a description in short, like hard scifi or whatever, and on the other hand a not even in the slightest academic attempt you are pushing here like mad. Could we just end that? It is out of control - and there is no point in pressing a new, in development scifi scenario into something that is not more than just some made up words to describe things. You can describe it like whatever you want and there is NOTHING to win here at all. Fluff cannot be reduced to one or two tiny specifications.
I don't know what you mean by problem. It's fine if you only want technology in your fiction, including if it is reskinned as "magic." No one is going to force you to like something else. But in the world beyond your personal tastes, there is a narrative concept of magic that is distinct from the narrative concept of technology for the reasons I described. Sci Fi appeals to the latter and, generally, not the former. There is no magic in Antares.
Albertorius wrote: which is not what you would call "natural" by any usual definition
Sure it is. Electrons also challenge our everyday concept of position. That doesn't mean they are unnatural. The same is true of the natural phenomenon of the star in this fictional setting.
Settings exist so that stories can take place in them. When we're talking about story, we're in the first place talking about theme. Then comes setting and character and plot. In the case of Star Wars, the theme is about a mystical journey of self-development. Everything else flows from that: the setting is an Empire that reaches across the stars, from a desert world where a farmboy dreams of greater things to the shining galactic core where the Jedi once kept the peace. From that theme, too, arises the protagonist. This theme demands focus on a small group of individuals, especially one in particular, because the theme is about personal development rather than, say, the nature of war. In Antares, the theme is not personal. Therefore, the story that arises from it is one of civilizations rising and falling over long periods of time and how they interact. The star itself is kind of a mechanical answer to the problem of how you can arrange and then rearrange these civilizations.
The point of all this is, people considering getting into Antares and care about the fluff should not be given the wrong impression that we're talking about a mystical, supernatural journey of the hero type story here. No, Antares is a story about humanity far beyond any struggle against technology, when technology and humanity are one and the same and the result is that societies are much more coherent within themselves but have even greater problems understanding one another.
Warhams-77 wrote: Albertorius, is it of a huge importance to you to press Gates of Antares into any specifications? Also do you see a point in what you are trying here or even in your discussion? There is a huge difference between using something to give a description in short, like hard scifi or whatever, and on the other hand a not even in the slightest academic attempt you are pushing here like mad. Could we just end that? It is out of control - and there is no point in pressing a new, in development scifi scenario into something that is not more than just some made up words to describe things. You can describe it like whatever you want and there is NOTHING to win here at all. Fluff cannot be reduced to one or two tiny specifications.
You don't seem to understand. There is people wrong in the internet
You don't seem to understand. There is people wrong in the internet
No need to delete stuff
Automatically Appended Next Post: I forgot to post it a few days ago, Mr. Priestley has given more info about the first campaign book on the Warlord forum
Re: Speculation on Isorian Releases
by rick priestley » Fri Dec 04, 2015 9:44 pm
Yes - strong narrative, characters, scenarios in a campaign format - but playable separately - new army lists, new equipment, new context based rules - e.g. allies, army special abilities, scenario rules - and more fiction slices, background and - hopefully - artwork.
The only thing I'm not sure about is the 'hobby section' - the reason being that, whilst I enjoy painting and modelling and making terrain, that's not something I'm really able to do to an appropriately inspiring quality myself. So - yup I'm all in favour of it - and I'm sure the Warlord team will step up! Step up I say!
A question, in case anyone knows: how do you take Concord light support drones with subverter matrix? I thought it would be in the light support drone squad, but I can't seem to find it there...
Also, the ebook can't get released soon enough. Hardcovers are nice and all, but they are also a pain to read when commuting.
EDIT: Hm, I surely thought that would get caught by the profanity filter ^^.
Hey guys, I need inspiration for my Algoryn. I'm trying to decide whether I want to do a solid uncamo color, like the official Algoryn scheme, or Tau, etc, or if I should do camouflage.
Considering the background of the Algoryn, I think I'm leaning towards a camouflage pattern... but then that opens a whole host of fun flora/fauna/terrain combinations.
I think I'm leaning towards a three-tone angular/square white-bluegrey-brownblack, almost like the Berlin Brigade.
I would be nervous to do a camo scheme because the purpose of camo is of course to disrupt and the shape of sci fi armor is already unfamiliar to the eye. But if you uses a might enough camo scheme, you can keep the definition of the sculpt with washes.
GoA is solidly set in The New Space Opera with the likes of Iain Banks, Vernor Vinge, Peter F. Hamilton and Charles Stross. If there is a better term for that, I haven't heard it.
Ironically enough, the Gates themselves are most similar to wormholes and wormhole junctions from such old-style space opera as Dread Empire's Fall, The Myriad (Tour of the Merrimack), and even 2001.
Manchu wrote: I would be nervous to do a camo scheme because the purpose of camo is of course to disrupt and the shape of sci fi armor is already unfamiliar to the eye. But if you uses a might enough camo scheme, you can keep the definition of the sculpt with washes.
keeping it LightGrey/White, LightBlueGrey, and BrownishBlack I think would take TAP Soft or Strong tone well to create the shadow. A few drops of medium will help the tone travel to panel lines and deep crevices only. Ponder, ponder!!
BobtheInquisitor wrote: GoA is solidly set in The New Space Opera with the likes of Iain Banks, Vernor Vinge, Peter F. Hamilton and Charles Stross. If there is a better term for that, I haven't heard it.
Well said. Four excellent authors there that perfectly capture modern space opera.
BobtheInquisitor wrote: GoA is solidly set in The New Space Opera with the likes of Iain Banks, Vernor Vinge, Peter F. Hamilton and Charles Stross. If there is a better term for that, I haven't heard it.
Well said. Four excellent authors there that perfectly capture modern space opera.
You left out Neal Asher - and you should never leave out Neal Asher!
I still need to read Neal Asher! Any recommendations?
Also, I still need to read the GoA rulebook. It sounds like a lot of fun and a great sandbox universe to play in. Are there any murmurs about expansions or tie-in stories?
Also, I still need to read the GoA rulebook. It sounds like a lot of fun and a great sandbox universe to play in. Are there any murmurs about expansions or tie-in stories?
Start with GRINDLINKED and then read the entire 'Cormac" series (5 books total)!
Alpharius wrote: Start with GRINDLINKED and then read the entire 'Cormac" series (5 books total)!
Duly noted
Those damn drop troopers pushed me over the edge!
They are quite nice, aren't they ^_^. Only thing that kind of irks me is that you can't field drop units unless you also pick a drop command squad, which leaves them out of many small armies.
And on that note, this is what I currently have of the Concord, picked as an army (made up of the starter box and a Drop troopers box):
C3 Drop Command Squad (141 base, 225 modified) 1 x Drop Commander (plasma carbine with sub-mounted X-Sling, HL armor, AG chute)
2 x Drop Trooper (plasma carbine, HL armor, AG chute)
2 additional Drop Troopers (54)
Plasma grenades (10)
Medi-Drone (20)
C3D1 Light Support Drone (59 base, 257 modified) 1 x Weapon Drone (plasma light support gun)
2 additional Weapon Drones (118)
3 x Self Repair (30)
Batter Drone (20)
Spotter Drone (10)
2 Shield Drones (20)
C3D1/GP Light General Purpose Drone (20 base, 50 modified) 1 x General Purpose Drone
Self-Repair (10)
Subverter Matrix (20)
As the points total amounts to a whooping 1.148 points with all options I would need to trim stuff to play at the combat force level. Still, it is very nice to see that you can actually play a regular sized game right with the stuff from the box. Also, I have no idea how that army list would work out, but hey, them's the breaks.
BobtheInquisitor wrote: Also, I still need to read the GoA rulebook. It sounds like a lot of fun and a great sandbox universe to play in. Are there any murmurs about expansions or tie-in stories?
Dooo itttt!!! Yeah, the first campaign, for Xilos, is slated for Jan/Feb.
Manchu wrote: I would be nervous to do a camo scheme because the purpose of camo is of course to disrupt and the shape of sci fi armor is already unfamiliar to the eye. But if you uses a might enough camo scheme, you can keep the definition of the sculpt with washes.
But sci-fi armour would be familiar to the eye of those in the setting who need to shoot at it. Know thy enemy and all that.
So anyway. Padded helmets clearly do have a place in the GoA universe.
Azazelx wrote: So anyway. Padded helmets clearly do have a place in the GoA universe.
And in conclusion, Carthage must be destroyed.
Who knows whether camo is effective in Antares. As usual, I was only thinking of the players' feelings and not those of the toy soldiers. I like to see the details of a sci fi model and some camo patterns interfere with my "gamer gaze."
judgedoug wrote: Hey guys, I need inspiration for my Algoryn. I'm trying to decide whether I want to do a solid uncamo color, like the official Algoryn scheme, or Tau, etc, or if I should do camouflage.
Considering the background of the Algoryn, I think I'm leaning towards a camouflage pattern... but then that opens a whole host of fun flora/fauna/terrain combinations.
I think I'm leaning towards a three-tone angular/square white-bluegrey-brownblack, almost like the Berlin Brigade.
Spoiler:
Honestly I don't think camo fits the universe, I'm assuming that it's far future enough were oldschool camo no longer works. I imagine Gates "camo" would be heat signature reducing tech and stuff like that, for example the camo drone.
As far as the helmets go, clearly no padding is necessary because the helmets are cushioned by nano space magic.
Manchu wrote: I would be nervous to do a camo scheme because the purpose of camo is of course to disrupt and the shape of sci fi armor is already unfamiliar to the eye. But if you uses a might enough camo scheme, you can keep the definition of the sculpt with washes.
But sci-fi armour would be familiar to the eye of those in the setting who need to shoot at it. Know thy enemy and all that.
Spoiler:
So anyway. Padded helmets clearly do have a place in the GoA universe.
Eyes? I have my in helmet heads up display which tells me if it is an enemy or not
If you were to go for camo, I like the idea of something high tech looking, like the blue tank in this pic:
That was done using Anarchy Model's "Mini Digi Camo" stencil, I believe, and should be available to order (they did just complete a different Kickstarter but that was from their first campaign a while back). They also have a normal "Digi Camo" and HexoCam" / "Mini Hexo Cam" which look pretty cool, imo!
Of course this all probably assumes an airbrush and a certain amount of skill with it (likely beyond mine at least!) but always loved these so wanted to suggest it and I think the stencils make it worlds easier than painting camo otherwise.
Honestly I don't think camo fits the universe, I'm assuming that it's far future enough were oldschool camo no longer works. I imagine Gates "camo" would be heat signature reducing tech and stuff like that, for example the camo drone. Bright red troops and armour, gold elites. Mark the offcers with extra bling and bright blue outfits. A recipe for realistic success!
As far as the helmets go, clearly no padding is necessary because the helmets are cushioned by nano space magic.
There's got to be a middle ground, and if we're completely disregarding the concept of camoflague - then neutral tones (khaki, grey, etc) would be pointless, so we may as well go for something like:
Perfect - gonna cut off all the railguns on my Algoryn and give them laser swords (that deflect lasers) and guns that shoot psychic bolts (so they can hurt demons from the warp).
Albertorius wrote: Well, seeing as the current metal army boxes are going to be discontinued, I've snagged an Algorin army for the holidays
Where did you see the metal boxes will be discontinued? If it is true, I'd better get my Algoryns soon.... :(
At the Warlord forums. They said that the Algorin, Freeborn and Boromite army bundles will be discontinued from this week on, to be substituted for new ones. they also stated that the saves would be less impressive than with the current ones.
judgedoug wrote: Hey guys, I need inspiration for my Algoryn. I'm trying to decide whether I want to do a solid uncamo color, like the official Algoryn scheme, or Tau, etc, or if I should do camouflage.
Considering the background of the Algoryn, I think I'm leaning towards a camouflage pattern... but then that opens a whole host of fun flora/fauna/terrain combinations.
I think I'm leaning towards a three-tone angular/square white-bluegrey-brownblack, almost like the Berlin Brigade.
Spoiler:
Honestly I don't think camo fits the universe, I'm assuming that it's far future enough were oldschool camo no longer works. I imagine Gates "camo" would be heat signature reducing tech and stuff like that, for example the camo drone.
As far as the helmets go, clearly no padding is necessary because the helmets are cushioned by nano space magic.
As well as this, you have to think about the different visual spectrums post humans (or aliens) might view in. There is every possibility that a camo that is effective for modern homo sapiens would have no effect at all on others.
But I do think camo can look really cool in its own right, and thats often the most important thing!
judgedoug wrote: And posted on the website, and in the Warlord newsletter. The Skirmish deals are a limited time thing
Hmm. Reading the Warlord newsletter, it sounds like they will be repackaging them into the 7 man squads. Can't seem to find any indication the discount won't be as good on the new sets. Am I missing something?
judgedoug wrote: And posted on the website, and in the Warlord newsletter. The Skirmish deals are a limited time thing
Hmm. Reading the Warlord newsletter, it sounds like they will be repackaging them into the 7 man squads. Can't seem to find any indication the discount won't be as good on the new sets. Am I missing something?
No. These box sets are going, and a new box set will be around in the future - there's no comment on the value in the new sets.
judgedoug wrote: And posted on the website, and in the Warlord newsletter. The Skirmish deals are a limited time thing
Hmm. Reading the Warlord newsletter, it sounds like they will be repackaging them into the 7 man squads. Can't seem to find any indication the discount won't be as good on the new sets. Am I missing something?
I thought I saw it at the forums, but I was wrong. It was Facebook:
Interesting, I thought they would probably go behind the Algoryn and Freeborn in terms of sales (unless they just made less of them of course!)
Pretty interesting, yeah. I must admit I'm not fond of them (I plan on using the boatload of plastic forgefathers coming my way to proxy them, but that's it), but honestly speaking I'd say they are one of the most distinctive factions of the game, after Ghar I guess.
Boromites and Ghar are the only completely different races visually. So far, Boromites they're the only race I'm considering since I love the Dr. Who/Fifth Element style visual.
One of the bits of fluff in the rulebook concerns the "device" that is Antares. the tl;dr version is that the wormholes transcend time/space.
That took me a few minutes to get around, but basically the gates in the systems correspond in local time/space to the distance that gate is from the surface of the star Antares.
It's also why some previously opened gates no longer work. A fluff theory is that Antares is aware and it opens/closes gates for some unfathomable reason and when it looks like the current cycle isn't producing some unfathomable result, it shuts the gates down, re-orders them and tries again.
Interesting, I thought they would probably go behind the Algoryn and Freeborn in terms of sales (unless they just made less of them of course!)
It is odd. I don't like 'em personally, but it seems on the IMTel facebook group, that behind the plastic concord and ghar from the starter sets, they are the faction I see the most painted models of. with my poor Algoryn and the Freeborn a distant distant distant 4th/5th.
C3 Drop Command Squad (141 base, 225 modified) 1 x Drop Commander (plasma carbine with sub-mounted X-Sling, HL armor, AG chute)
2 x Drop Trooper (plasma carbine, HL armor, AG chute)
2 additional Drop Troopers (54)
Plasma grenades (10)
Medi-Drone (20)
C3D1 Light Support Drone (59 base, 257 modified) 1 x Weapon Drone (plasma light support gun)
2 additional Weapon Drones (118)
3 x Self Repair (30)
Batter Drone (20)
Spotter Drone (10)
2 Shield Drones (20)
C3D1/GP Light General Purpose Drone (20 base, 50 modified) 1 x General Purpose Drone
Self-Repair (10)
Subverter Matrix (20)
As the points total amounts to a whooping 1.148 points with all options I would need to trim stuff to play at the combat force level. Still, it is very nice to see that you can actually play a regular sized game right with the stuff from the box. Also, I have no idea how that army list would work out, but hey, them's the breaks.
I don't feel that the C3 strike command squad is cost-effective or combat effective with 3 men. You don't need this command squad to field the rest of the regular strike squads. Besides, you have the C3 drop command squad that has all the functions. On the other hand, why would you bother to field the C3 drop command without the regular drop squads? Strike Squad Alpha cannot take a medi-drone. The subverter matrix should be considered as an option and should not be included in every game. It has no role against Ghar. It probably needs shield drones to survive.
I did see that Judge, more plastic is always welcome.
As an aside Wayland have 25% off BTGOA products, just be wary of *often* long delivery times if products are not shown as in stock. It appears that the infantry boxes are the re-packs with extra figures in:
wildger wrote: I don't feel that the C3 strike command squad is cost-effective or combat effective with 3 men. You don't need this command squad to field the rest of the regular strike squads. Besides, you have the C3 drop command squad that has all the functions.
Good points. The reasons I picked the strike command squad was because I didn't feel comfortable with having my "army commander", as it were, being in the unit that will probably be played most aggresively... and because the starter box came with a sweet metal mini of a special commander, so...
On the other hand, why would you bother to field the C3 drop command without the regular drop squads?
Easy: I only have one drop squad as of now, and I want to field it. As I need to field a drop command squad to field any drop squads, it was the only way to field it.
I do want to pick more drop troopers, though. They look sweet, and their rules look like fun.
Strike Squad Alpha cannot take a medi-drone.
Huh. Wonder where did I pick that up >_>
The subverter matrix should be considered as an option and should not be included in every game. It has no role against Ghar. It probably needs shield drones to survive.
Yep. Right now it's there because that list was a "all I have" list, to be refined for 750 and 1000 points armies.
Good points. The reasons I picked the strike command squad was because I didn't feel comfortable with having my "army commander", as it were, being in the unit that will probably be played most aggresively... and because the starter box came with a sweet metal mini of a special commander, so...
That special metal figure in the starter set is intended to replace the leader of the regular strike squad for am extra +21 points, not as a leader for the command squad. I made the same mistake initially for the army construction. The other special character mentioned in the rulebook is to substitute the leader of the command squad.
As an aside Wayland have 25% off BTGOA products, just be wary of *often* long delivery times if products are not shown as in stock. It appears that the infantry boxes are the re-packs with extra figures in:
That was IBob, up to his usual "LULZ" shenanigans.
The less said about them, the better.
It also has the side benefit of keeping the thread On Topic too.
And here I was, thinking is was a subtle request for images or details. Realistically, I expect the design to be very nice, sci fi to the core with a bit of old school pragmatism in the details yet a bit too small for a full transport vehicle, with a price tag that will be more in line with DUST before it died rather than after DUST freely found the price the market will bear. Essentially, another item to put on my list for next year's BF sales.
Still, I would love to be surprised.
I'm also curious why Doug thinks the first vehicle would be unmanned. I would expect Warlord to aim for something with a little more cross-range compatibility, but Obviously Doug knows people.
Question for anyone with the Concord Drop Troops: Are the heads separate? If so, do you think the Strike Heads will work on them? Not a big fan of the heads with no helmet. Thanks in advance.
BobtheInquisitor wrote: I'm also curious why Doug thinks the first vehicle would be unmanned. I would expect Warlord to aim for something with a little more cross-range compatibility, but Obviously Doug knows people.
Well a Concord plastic vehicle is my guess, and Concord vehicles are all drones And it seems like the Concord heavier drones all share similar chassis.
Automatically Appended Next Post:
Nocturnus wrote: Question for anyone with the Concord Drop Troops: Are the heads separate? If so, do you think the Strike Heads will work on them? Not a big fan of the heads with no helmet. Thanks in advance.
Separate heads, yeah, and usually the box sets give you enough extra helmeted heads to do all helmets, with one or two unhelmeted heads.
The heads on the drop troops are separate, the strike heads should go on no problem.
With the old 5 man boxes you got 7 metal heads, 5 with helmets and 2 without. I assume you get the same 7 with the new bigger 6 man boxes, that does mean you would still have to use one unhelmeted head though.
BobtheInquisitor wrote: I'm also curious why Doug thinks the first vehicle would be unmanned. I would expect Warlord to aim for something with a little more cross-range compatibility, but Obviously Doug knows people.
The first suppement for the game is supposed to be a Concord-Ghar campaign. A Concord vehicle would be the most probably first plastic vehicle release for the game, and as judgedoug says, all Concord vehicles are drones (Ghar vehicles are all multilegged walkers of on or another kind, similar to their battlesuits and the support weapon from the outcast squad). from the five factions, Concord and Isorian forces use drones, ghar use walkers and algorin and boromites use "regular" vehicles. Of those, only the ghar ones actually touch the ground, and all other are hover thrustered vehiles.
Automatically Appended Next Post: The possible Concord vehicles would be four, but as those share two chassises, I guess there are actually tow possibilities:
The first, and most likely, would be the C3M4 Combat Drone/C3T7 Transporter Drone:
The second option would be the really heavy stuff: the C3M25 Heavy Combat Drone/C3M50 Heavy Siege Drone:
Thraxas Of Turai wrote: The heads on the drop troops are separate, the strike heads should go on no problem.
With the old 5 man boxes you got 7 metal heads, 5 with helmets and 2 without. I assume you get the same 7 with the new bigger 6 man boxes, that does mean you would still have to use one unhelmeted head though.
Ninjad by Doug.
No, the +x models also include a +x heads. My Algoryn Assault squad had like 9 heads total for 7 guys, so I helmeted all of them.
How easy are they to read. All solid plastic red makes it look rather difficult, especially if far away. Do they need a good black wash before hand?
Also how do you tell where it is at on the track? Is there a arrow on the top that shows??
They're kind of a pain actually. I wound up painting the numbers white and then washing with undiluted TAP Dark Tone, makes them much readable. There is an arrow-ish elongated part that makes it obvious which number (which i also painted white)... plus they kind of sorta-click into position so that helps.
Yeah, the pin markers are kind of horrible, visibility wise, unless you do something with the numbers.
Seeing as we're probably discussing a bit too many off topic stuff for a news & rumours thread, I've opened a general thread on the Misc. Miniature Games subforum. Not sure if it was the correct thing to do, but I've done it anyways ^_^
Since we're posting interviews, I found this one linked elsewhere on dakka and figured I'd repost the link here as well since it is partly with Rick Priestly as well. The GOA parts are close to the end whereas the majority of the article is more akin to detailing how the HMS GW-Titanic hit the iceberg from an insider's perspective.
So I was just flipping through the rulebook - when are we expecting Isorian miniatures to be released? There's at least several units shown in the rulebook that are ready to go, but nothing is available on the Warlord store.
decker_cky wrote: So I was just flipping through the rulebook - when are we expecting Isorian miniatures to be released? There's at least several units shown in the rulebook that are ready to go, but nothing is available on the Warlord store.
I think March is the bandied about ETA.
And, yes, seriously, I want some models of panhumans wearing eyeball-covered armor. Gimmegimme
It does look nice. Personally I'd rather see grav tanks that are more evocative of the Hammer's Slammers books than Eldar models but hopefully that can be provided by a different faction.
It does look nice. Personally I'd rather see grav tanks that are more evocative of the Hammer's Slammers books than Eldar models but hopefully that can be provided by a different faction.
Hm, I'm not really sure the classic blowers fit in with any faction, TBH.
It does look nice. Personally I'd rather see grav tanks that are more evocative of the Hammer's Slammers books than Eldar models but hopefully that can be provided by a different faction.
That would be nice, but since the universe uses shields I suppose they can build their hulls in whatever shape they want.
Prestor Jon wrote: It does look nice. Personally I'd rather see grav tanks that are more evocative of the Hammer's Slammers books than Eldar models but hopefully that can be provided by a different faction.
Concord heavy drones are probably closer to my own idea of the HS tanks than any of the models produced for HS so far (including Old Crow)
Not a fan of the "blower" type tanks. The look too much like someone stuck a tank turret onto a computer mouse. I like the direction they're taking the vehicle designs though. I wasn't a fan of the early skimmer designs they showed off.
The unhelmeted Algoryn remind me of the Ko-Dan from The Last Starfighter. I like the aesthetics of the game and hopefully it does well and has a bright future. At some point I'll be caught up getting everything in my que tabletop ready and have the $ and time to start fresh with sci fi again.
Automatically Appended Next Post:
Barzam wrote: Not a fan of the "blower" type tanks. The look too much like someone stuck a tank turret onto a computer mouse. I like the direction they're taking the vehicle designs though. I wasn't a fan of the early skimmer designs they showed off.
What's not to like? It's like a box fan and an artillery piece had a baby. An ugly, boxy, badass baby.
"Concord C3M50 Heavy Support Drone. Option. Give
Combat Drone Self-Repair rule"… should read "Give
Heavy Support Drone Self-Repair rule"… i.e. the correct
term for the C3M50 is Heavy Support Drone.
BobtheInquisitor wrote: Are the Concord plastics from GoA the same size as the WW2 plastics? They seem to be less heroic in proportions. I'll certainly get some of those in time, but it looks like I wouldn't be able to use spare parts to sci fi up some Warlord historicals.
Not to wander too far down this off topic rabbit hole but I think your best bet for space Soviets that are the same scale as Eisenkern would be DUST soviets.
Thanks! Definitely going to look into this. It's a bit of a shame, though; as a converter, multipart HIPS miniatures are my dream.
For those of us who used to have metal Land Speeders and the like for 40k, you can make a solid and resilient bond with a good superglue and some pinning.
And going on size those look a somewhat smaller mass than a 2nd edition Land Speeder, don't think it should be an issue if they are metal.
The Warlord flight stands are a pretty tough plastic, too - much stronger than the old brittle GW flight stands (whew especially the ones w/ hex bases)
Ghar outcasts are snivelling, whining and cowardly creatures that wouldn’t hesitate to betray their comrades on the slightest chance of better treatment or remission of their punishment. Such is the general nature of the Ghar who, as a race, have little sense of individual worth beyond the bosom of their cruel and uncaring society. Fartok – however – was different. Fartok was the Ghar who refused to kneel before his masters!
Fartok is portrayed in the recovered and hastily repaired battle armour scavenged by the outcast band from the battlefields of Ephra… but of course you can read more about Fartok and his exploits in the Beyond the Gates of Antares Rulebook!
Please note that this model has not yet entered production, so is still subject to change before release.
For those who aren’t yet subscribed to the Warlord Games YouTube channel, we’ve put-together a round-up of the past few months videos which we’ve released!
If you like what you see, why not subscribe to our channel – this will means that you’re notified whenever we upload a new video!
GAME TRAILER
We kicked things off with a trailer video – encompassing the Antarean universe, and giving a flavour for each of the 6 core factions outlined in the Rulebook.
‘HOW TO PLAY’ SERIES We then tackled a ‘How to play’ video series – with none other than Rick Priestley taking the helm, and guiding you through the core mechanics of the game!
PART ONE – ORDER DICE
PART TWO – SHOOTING
PART THREE – PINNING
PART FOUR – THE ASSAULT
PART FIVE – LEADERS
FACTION VIDEOS Next, we took a closer look at the various factions of the Antarean universe – first, Warlorder Rich.D sat down with Rick to gain a little insight into each…
Next we focused on each of the 6 factions, showcasing the miniatures for each – starting with the Algoryn
Next were the Freeborn…
…and there are more to come over the next few weeks!
CHATS WITH RICK
Warlorder Rich.C sat down with Rick and posed a few questions from the community regarding the technology and terrain of Antares…
We’re looking to release plenty more videos on the next year and beyond, including more chats with Rick, more instructional videos, hobby videos, battle reports, and much more – so keep watching!
I've gotten about 6 games done with GoA and I have to say that it's probably one of the better games I've played in my 30 years of gaming.
The action/reaction system and initiative mechanic require that both players stay engaged in the game. I've done some external playtest for some companies and I'm fairly decent at picking out loopholes or exploits. So far, I haven't found anything that really jumps out. The Pin mechanic balances out heavily armored units w/o decisively neutering them.
You can buy mostly minimum units to get as many order dice as possible, but with Net ammo (no damage, does Pins only) they can be shut down. So you buy more dudes for your units, but you end up with less order dice and thus, less activation's' than your opponent.
Just building your army requires a good amount of thought and what works against Ghar may not work well against Boromites, as I recently found out.
I think as more models are released or are proxied we'll learn more but for now, it seems a solid rules set with some good minis.
Bobby Hostile wrote: I've gotten about 6 games done with GoA and I have to say that it's probably one of the better games I've played in my 30 years of gaming.
The action/reaction system and initiative mechanic require that both players stay engaged in the game. I've done some external playtest for some companies and I'm fairly decent at picking out loopholes or exploits. So far, I haven't found anything that really jumps out. The Pin mechanic balances out heavily armored units w/o decisively neutering them.
You can buy mostly minimum units to get as many order dice as possible, but with Net ammo (no damage, does Pins only) they can be shut down. So you buy more dudes for your units, but you end up with less order dice and thus, less activation's' than your opponent.
Just building your army requires a good amount of thought and what works against Ghar may not work well against Boromites, as I recently found out.
I think as more models are released or are proxied we'll learn more but for now, it seems a solid rules set with some good minis.
Sorry bobby, but your low post count makes me suspicious that you may work for the company making the game, blame this on past kickstarters.
I'm not sure if you're joking but I hope so. I don't get that vibe from him other than just excitement at the game. Now.. if he were gushing about the boromite asthetics, that would be a different story!
Formosa wrote: Sorry bobby, but your low post count makes me suspicious that you may work for the company making the game, blame this on past kickstarters.
Meanwhile I have a high post count but actually DO demo Warlord's games...
So will we see plastic Turian- err sorry Algoryn- and when is it likely to be? I played a demo of GoA at Salute this year and was quite taken with it, but the Algoryn are the only faction that catch my eye aesthetically. But the metal costs are too high.
Taaloc wrote: So will we see plastic Turian- err sorry Algoryn- and when is it likely to be? I played a demo of GoA at Salute this year and was quite taken with it, but the Algoryn are the only faction that catch my eye aesthetically. But the metal costs are too high.
The rumors are first plastic modular-tool sprue for Algoryn in March/April.
I would think two kits from three sprue tools - normal and assault infantry. Purely my guess.
warboss wrote: I'm not sure if you're joking but I hope so. I don't get that vibe from him other than just excitement at the game. Now.. if he were gushing about the boromite asthetics, that would be a different story!
Man, those boromites. They're just so sexy, you know? that Ben Grimm thing they've got going on is just smexy as hell.
Thraxas Of Turai wrote: Merry Dakkamas, we have a shot of the jetbikes. Seems like the chassis is resin whilst everything else is metal:
Interesting - the legs are part of the resin cast. I like these, but would want to convert them, and ideally for a cheaper (HIPS) price... I do like these models, though.
Oh man, that little jetbike is pretty sweet! They are really picking up their game on the models for this rapidly - definitely getting me a lot more interested than previously.
Please feel free to post pics here for those us accessing from work and blocked FB
Think those bikes look fang-bloody fantastic.
And am I the only one who likes Boromites?! Actually collecting them in metal at the moment, know the plastics will be cheaper but think the more rocky/organic (less uniform) texture will work better with metal.
Pacific wrote: And am I the only one who likes Boromites?! .
I'm going with them once they get a full release. In the meantime, metal support and heavy frag borer go! I'm probably going to do a table of Boromite terrain sometime during the spring. I need to make my way through the backlog of work first.
Taaloc wrote: I thought they were trying to go cheaper with the plastics? Or rather, I assumed.
They put too many minis in the initial starters (as they had originally planned a higher priced release I think? or was it that squad size was originally going the be larger) so rather than unpack them and bin the packaging they just sold them for whatever lower margin they made, and in the process helped launch the game more easily (cheaper is always an easier sell)
Now they have they've sold out of the original boxes they've move to the intended smaller number of minis
rather than any changes in material (although they are intending to get at least all of the main troops into plastic eventually)
Thebiggesthat wrote: I'd say the Concord skirmish box is still be good value no?
Yes, the Concord and Ghar skirmish boxes are excellent value. 50 pounds for what you get in the box (which basically amounts to 750 points as-is or around 1000 moderately kitted) makes them basically a whole army.
Automatically Appended Next Post:
Alpharius wrote: As someone who is interested but hasn't picked up any miniatures yet, can someone help me out here?
Should I be looking to pick up some older sets ASAP?
Only if you plan to buy an army box. If you plan to buy bit by bit, I'd say that the individual units are competitively priced (£20 for a 7-man metal unit, usually, plus a drone most/all of the time, so actually 8 metal minis per pack). They are more expensive than historicals metals (...I think), but compare them with something like the infinity unit boxes (which usually contain 4 minis and go for more, IIRC) and you'll see that they are not really that bad.
It's only that the "old" (as in "until the end of december") skirmish deals were a great deal.
For example, I bought the Algorin Skirmish Deal, and for £75, I got:
1 x Algoryn AI Command (3 minis, plus drone) (MSRP £12.00)
3 x Algoryn AI Squad (5 minis each, plus drone) (MSRP £20.00 each)
1 x Algoryn Assault Squad (5 minis, plus drone) (MSRP £20.00)
1 x Algoryn Infiltrator Squad (5 minis, plus drone) (MSRP £20.00)
1 x Algoryn X-Launcher (weapon, 2 crew, plus drone) (MSRP £12.00)
1 x Algoryn Mag Light Support (weapon, 2 crew, plus drone) (MSRP £16.00)
1 x Algoryn Targeter Probes (4 probes) (MSRP £6.00)
That's a steal for £75
Now, they've repackaged the units and they now have more minis per the same price... but the new Algorin Combat Force doesn't go for £75, but £125. Now it contains:
1 x Algoryn AI Command (3 minis, plus drone) (MSRP £12.00)
3 x Algoryn AI Squad (7 minis each, plus drone) (MSRP £20.00 each)
1 x Algoryn Assault Squad (7 minis, plus drone) (MSRP £20.00)
1 x Algoryn Infiltrator Squad (7 minis, plus drone) (MSRP £20.00)
1 x Algoryn X-Launcher (weapon, 3 crew, plus drone) (MSRP £12.00)
1 x Algoryn Mag Light Support (weapon, 3 crew, plus drone) (MSRP £16.00)
1 x Algoryn Targeter Probes (6 probes) (MSRP £6.00)
That's 14 minis more, yes, and it is still cheaper than buying the boxes separately, but it costs £50 more than the skirmish force, so...
OTOH, they plan to make the core units in plastics, so I guess they'll go like this one:
Taaloc wrote: I thought they were trying to go cheaper with the plastics? Or rather, I assumed.
They put too many minis in the initial starters (as they had originally planned a higher priced release I think? or was it that squad size was originally going the be larger) so rather than unpack them and bin the packaging they just sold them for whatever lower margin they made, and in the process helped launch the game more easily (cheaper is always an easier sell)
Now they have they've sold out of the original boxes they've move to the intended smaller number of minis
rather than any changes in material (although they are intending to get at least all of the main troops into plastic eventually)
No, the other way around.
The older squad boxes had LESS models per box.
The newer squad boxes have MORE models, and are the same price.
Automatically Appended Next Post: The internet complained that the GoA metal units were too expensive, so Warlord responded.
The three "limited skirmish forces", as they said, were limited until the stock they had of the old squad boxes with the lower model count ran out.
Then, Warlord put in anywhere from 33% to 50% more models in each unit box and some blisters and did not raise the price. They even sent extra models to retailers so they could buff their stock on-hand so retailers wouldn't be left out.
IIRC, the combat forces that popped up on Black Friday were deep discounts for the holidays. The mostly plastic starters for the Concord and Ghar are fixed at $80, likely as more factions get plastics they'll get cheap starters too.
AngryMojo wrote: IIRC, the combat forces that popped up on Black Friday were deep discounts for the holidays. The mostly plastic starters for the Concord and Ghar are fixed at $80, likely as more factions get plastics they'll get cheap starters too.
Yeah, they were composed of the lower-count model boxes that were being phased out for the higher-count model boxes, so they were clearing them out.
An interesting update from Paul Sawyer over the weekend, on what's currently being worked upon... (taken from the Antares Facebook Group)
"Thus ends the first week back from the Christmas holidays for the Warlord Studio. Time for an update then!
Russ has been working on concepts for a new Algoryn character to be introduced in the first supplement. No more details than that yet though! Work also continues on the renders for the plastic Algoryn...
Wojtek, despite toothache, has soldiered on to do more work on the Boromite Broodmother as well as crews for the Isorian Plasma Cannon. Work has started on Boromite crews for the frag borer, mag cannon and mag heavy support.
Steve is sculpting a new Freeborn character - he will be incorporated into the upcoming supplement. Staying with the Freeborn theme Steve is also working on new crew figures - this time for the fractal cannon.
Andres has today finished painting the Ghar Command Walker - wait til you see this next week! Next he turns his attention to the Boromite Matriarch set as well as some Bolt Action figures...
Other than briefly on Monday we've not see Rick - no doubt he's cloistered in his office writing the next supplement for Antares sustained only by intravenous tea..."
judgedoug wrote: I am barely resisting buying a third AI squad because the plastics are coming out - but they're months away. I can sense myself buckling right now
judgedoug wrote: I am barely resisting buying a third AI squad because the plastics are coming out - but they're months away. I can sense myself buckling right now
...I already have 3 >_>
I only have two, so I read you loud and clear, I must one up you and have four AI squads.
judgedoug wrote: I am barely resisting buying a third AI squad because the plastics are coming out - but they're months away. I can sense myself buckling right now
...I already have 3 >_>
I only have two, so I read you loud and clear, I must one up you and have four AI squads.
Xdddd. Mine are the ones from the skirmish force, though, which means 5-man squads and 1 micro x-launcher each.
Which, of course, means that when I buy the plastic Algorin, I'll be buffing them and adding more launchers, instead of getting more units
Still a neat rule though.
I'm middle aged, too and had to go look it up.
I will fix it asap
