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I really like the idea of doing the tutorial missions. I wish more games did that.

 Barzam wrote:
I really like the idea of doing the tutorial missions. I wish more games did that.

In preparatory work for making the AFTERLIFE game system I look at other games to see what works and what doesnt, and my number one frustration is having to sit down and read the rule book for ages before I can play.

I'm pretty sure with the right structure, its possible to learn an entire rules system "as you play" with no more than 3-4 minutes reading required at any one point, and this is the plan for AFTERLIFE - just a list of models and other things you need, and then get on with playing!

 Anvils Hammer wrote:
Well we are coming toward the end now! Just over 48 hours to go and in the last couple of days I've managed to get some resin miniatures ready to show you guys!

I've just updated the Kickstarter page with extra information and photos for the pledges and Add-Ons, and more importantly posted up a video showing the pre-production figures, these are unfinished but a great indicator of the scale and detail level carried across from the CAD renders!

I've made up a pair of UC Exo-Mechs, a pair of Republic Exo-mechs and a pair of Republic Gun Tractors.



Click the Image to go to the KS page and see the video of these figures!

The Assault Team pledge gets you 19 miniatures plus a full colour background art/story booklet, and if we hit a few of our stretch goals in the next few days extra figures will be included for free!

Ill be working over the next week or two to get all the AFTERLIFE figures ready for full production, including the infantry - still waiting on the prints for those guys unfortunately but will have them next week!

Thanks,

Joel

Well dang... those resins look really good!

The arms on the heavy suit look wonky, but it looks easily fixable. The only other thing I'm thinking when looking at this is, "did someone say gue'vesa stealthsuits?"

addendum: aha! I thought about it, and I think I see now why the exo-mechs look so wonky. Not such a bad idea if my thinking is correct.

Love the Tractor and heavy armour.
Torn on the light armour, but that's just me.

Though the gatling cannon on the lighter armour does make the one on the tractor seem a little redundant.

Alright, I'm in on this.

I snapped up one of those early bird assault teams.


At first I was thinking maybe ~70$ was a little expensive for 19 models. I hummed and hawed for a bit and then I thought about it for a sec and came to the conclusion that a Space Marine Tactical squad costs 65$ for 10 models. So I laughed at myself for being foolish and then promptly pledged.

Thanks a lot guys!

The KS is moving up again which is great, hopefully we will hit a few more stretch goals before the end.

@poda-t Im not sure what you mean by wonky? and which mech? The smaller republic one has the pilots arms inside the mechanical arms. The larger UC mech has totally mechanical arms which are "nerved-synched" to the pilot. The pilots actual arms are deadened and folded across his chest.
Gue'vesa are the human auxiliarys right? Yep I think these would fit quite nicely for that, similar "mecha" asthetics.

@Ovion - They are roughly equivalent units from both factions, but the UC one is a lot more advanced and high-tech, in the early stages of the war the Republic gets pretty beaten up, only their superior numbers prevent a crushing defeat.

The Gattling gun on the Tractor is actually a fair bit larger than the one on the mech, and with a much bigger ammo reserve! The Exo-Mech is quite a bit more mobile though.

@Snrub - You also get the art and background booklet! I know its not what anyone is pledging for really but its hopefully going to be well worth a read! Thanks for your support!



If any one has questions about the proposed miniatures range, background, game system, etc I'm happy to answer them, Ill be sticking close to my computer untill the KS ends at 9pm tommorow night!

Cheers,

Joel

Still looking good Joel - though I often have a hard time seeing the new stuff, because of the tears in my eyes, when I think about you are not making any new bits.
The tractors are really interesting though - which weapons do you have planned for them?

 Manus wrote:
Still looking good Joel - though I often have a hard time seeing the new stuff, because of the tears in my eyes, when I think about you are not making any new bits.
The tractors are really interesting though - which weapons do you have planned for them?

Sorry! Hopefully I will make new bits at some point, and some of the AFTERLIFE range will be available in a bits service, all when we have the man power!


Initial weapons for the Tractors - Minigun, Gattling Gun (with three larger barrels), Autocannon (used in the game as a light artillery piece) and Missile launcher.

I will be making other weapons in future which fit the same size socket, and they will all be interchangeable across the various Republic miniatures which use that style of turret Heavy weapon.

Cheers,

Joel

Cool.
Will you be making both of the missile launchers? Love the singlesided one.

Just joined the kickstarter btw - been trying to punish you for getting out of the bits business - but then you go and bring out those tractors

Initially just the double sided one, but at some point the single sided also I think.

Thanks for supporting the KS, I knew you would crack, You will like the battle drones I'm planning I think :p

 Anvils Hammer wrote:
Initially just the double sided one, but at some point the single sided also I think.

Thanks for supporting the KS, I knew you would crack, You will like the battle drones I'm planning I think :p

Preview, concept art or I'll never happen

 Anvils Hammer wrote:
@Snrub - You also get the art and background booklet! I know its not what anyone is pledging for really but its hopefully going to be well worth a read! Thanks for your support!

Hey i'd never knock back an art booklet. You never know where inspiration will spring from. And background material is always good.


Also or some reason the 2nd vid and they picture with the stretch goals aren't showing up on my computer. They do however appear when i use my tablet. I'm not sure if this a problem on my end or on the KS page but i thought i'd bring it to your attention just in case.

I snagged myself one of the EB 'assault' pledges today, I'd really love to bump it up to the 'Vanguard' level but with all the big Kickstarters lately i'm almost completely broke...

@Anvil,
Is there any chance that the Exclusive bounty hunter model might be added as a paid add-on for people outside of the 'Vanguard' pledge level?

Bugger, can't afford to back this any more thanks to my bloody car needing £525 of work doing to it. Why is it that whenever I back something on kickstarter my car has to go into the garage?

Sorry I'm not able to back this at this stage Joel, I'll definitely keep following developments though and will order some stuff as soon as I am able.

hmmm... well i was just about to put some money down, but, don't have a credit card at the present.... hmmmm.. quite a pickle.... well, it's as much a pickle as it is a sandwich, but the point is i have money, just no way of pleding it... ah well.

@Snrub - they work ok for me. have you tried clearing your browser history or refreshing the page?

Mr Gutsy - thanks very much for your support!

The "bounty hunter" exclusive figure is a named character - Elon Hesp, a contract special forces operative who features in the storyline of the vanguard missions.
I'm not going to make him available outside the vanguard pledge - its exclusive after all, however there will be plenty of other similar bounty hunter/soldier of fortune/mercenary characters in the game, so not shortage of cool models down the line.

Nick - I PM'd you about it.

Poda-t - We know not everyone is able to use a credit card/pledge on Kickstarter directly, so next week we will be making a paypal option available on our website for the pledge levels, for a limited period. Hopefully this is of some use to you! We dont want anyone to miss out on a technicality!

------

Thanks for your support everyone! We are over £10.5k now and closing in on some stretch goals to add free miniatures!

Joel

Just jumped on the bandwagon a day ago. I'm at Vanguard. The video showing the mins sold me! Very awesome looking sci-fi exosuits/mechsuits. Would be great add to my Starship Troopers collection. As well as for the Afterlife game, of course. My gaming group has an *open universe* type setting (using a mod'd Necromunda ruleset). These guys will make for a unique battleforce, to say the least.

I will definitely help playtest the game, as well. Anyway I go, it's great minis at a great deal!


Blaster was here...

 Anvils Hammer wrote:
@Snrub - they work ok for me. have you tried clearing your browser history or refreshing the page?

Well it's working now. I don't know why they weren't appearing. Maybe just a temporary crappy internet connection and they failed to load. It is now a non issue.



And we're only 300 quid away from 11k.

Sold on those tractor units, added two squads to my pledge.

I had to back out of my EB Assault pledge. Sorry guys, but I may have some monetary issues for the next 18 years.

rigeld2 wrote:
I had to back out of my EB Assault pledge. Sorry guys, but I may have some monetary issues for the next 18 years.

Student loans?

~Tim?

Sounds like he's going to be a father! Congrats!

That was my guess! Congratulations!
I have a 5 year old son who knows I make models, but I've not introduced him to the mass violence aspect just yet... give it a few more years!

Less than 12 hours to go, then its on with the manufacturing, I'm hoping we will be able to get at least some of the pledges shipped in time for Christmas, with everything shipped by the end of January.

Im excited to get this project up and running!

Joel

Well congrats on the (implied) impending wee nipper rigeld.

I pledged for the vanguard and then added an additional 15 pounds to get the add on tractor squadron.

Loving the design, concept, and background so far. Keep going!

Hope we hit the 12k mark stretch goal to get the comms specialist and medic

KB

Thanks Khornball!


The Kickstarter ends in just over one and a half hours! I am doing a LIVE Q&A session on the Kickstarter comments page, and you an also leave questions here.

To give you guys an idea of the world and background story of AFTERLIFE, Ive prepared some short sample extracts from the written material we are compiling for our Booklet, which will be supplied with most pledge levels.

I hope you like the extracts, and if you want to read more, its all expanded on in the booklet!

----------------

Extracts from the Afterlife Prologue.

These extracts are taken from the short stories and background pieces which are included in the printed booklet we are working on.

From the history of the Unity Council -

The Articles of Unity

In the darkest hour, one man strove to bring light. Armand Tennyson, the head of the KronoTec mega-corp, managed to bring company chiefs, fractious warlords and political heavyweights to the negotiating table. A director of relentless ambition and ruthlessness, he could see the end of mankind approaching, and with it the end of his wealth and power. By his will, the other parties fell into line. The mega-corps signed an endless series of restrictive covenants in lieu of trust, before turning their attention to restoring order. Tennyson and his followers pooled their resources to form a new global alliance so powerful that none would dare challenge them. A new coalition was formed: the Unity Congress. An embittered populace raised their voices as one in support of the new organisation, which promised to end war and suffering once and for all.

In a campaign lasting less than three years, the Unity Congress eradicated warring factions, political statutes and all hint of rebellion. Troublesome corporations were split up or bought out and forced to adhere to the new laws. Military hardware was seized. Further development of weapons technology was prohibited. National borders were erased, and the old Union dream of a single global nation became a reality at last. Following democratic elections to find a ruling council representative of the whole globe, the Articles of Unity were signed.

***
The Cataclysm

Despite the UC’s best efforts, the underground resistance movement continued to spread. In 181.AU, they had a success that had repercussions beyond their wildest dreams. Somehow, a young resistance fighter named Emir Donovan infiltrated the Sphere Nexus. Before he was killed, he managed to broadcast the resistance’s documentary evidence to an oblivious population for the first time. For many, having sleepwalked through their lives for so long, the revelation was too much to bear. Evidence of the council’s many crimes, the conditions in the slum zones, the Terra Nulia wars, the amoral excesses of the spire-dwelling classes, and the utter disparity of wealth and living conditions were all revealed. It was a spark that ignited waves of protest across the world. As violence escalated, the Unity Council declared martial law, and the standing army was recalled to the hyper-cities to restore order.

Extract from the summary of the current situation -

With the hyper-cities in a state of lockdown under martial law, the Unity Council is under siege, with effective control of less than 60 percent of the world’s territories. UC forces are engaged in high-intensity conflicts across dozens of warzones to restore Unity control. Few within the hyper-cities have any idea of the strife beyond the city walls. The denizens of the lower warrens continue to be oppressed, and the majority of the worker classes continue to ply their trades under a shadow of fear. Surveillance drones buzz about the streets scanning every citizen for the tell-tale signs of defiance. The Unity Council still controls the fusion grid and most of the world’s bio-farms, and has access to the best military hardware. Most of all, they have Afterlife, ensuring that the Council will live through the disorder and see the rise of the UC once again.

Called Upworlders or spire-dwellers, the ruling elite were ultimately the cause of the Cataclysm. Now they live on, protected from the strict resource management of the Sphere. The families of senior mega-corp owners and senior personnel, they have lived in the lap of luxury for too long, and become utterly detached from the people in their charge.

Introduction to the Pan-Continental Republic

Named for the old Pan-Continental Union that had so benevolently changed the course of human history at the end of the 21st century, the newly formed PCR consulate comprises members of civil organisations, industrial corporations, and several former Unity Council members. The most high-profile defector from the Council was Vargo Federici, now First Senator of the new Republic, and head of the Radoni mega-corp.
As a cabal of largely industrial corporations, the Republic is rich in material resource, but lacking in the sophisticated military tech of the UC. They have stepped up their military operations considerably, pushing prototypes into service as quickly as possible to defend their position, and to strike blows against the Unity Council’s forces. The general state of chaos around the world has given the Republic time to build, for the UC is beset on all sides, whilst the Republic is, at least for now, seen as benevolent.

From the short story "Afterlife" by Mark Latham

I continued on, looking for some means of entry, until finally I found a maintenance panel leading to an air duct. I was tired, and even my considerable strength was failing. It took some time to prise it open, but eventually I managed it, and squeezed myself into a tiny ventilation shaft. I crawled, painfully slowly, along the duct until I saw light up ahead, filtering upwards through a large grille. I edged forwards, and peered down into the room below.
Arranged below me were dozens of large pods; glass-fronted, liquid-filled tubes each bigger than a man, and all plugged into thrumming machinery. A lone scientist went about his work, monitoring each pod in turn. To my revulsion, I saw that within the pods were human beings, white-skinned and blue-veined. I watched the scientist pause at one of the tubes, before leaning forwards and tapping on the glass. The activity sparked the occupant to life, and the body jerked in response. I saw the bio-mechanical cables feeding into the wretch’s body, and the pale, milky eyes that blinked open and stared around lifelessly.
I recoiled from the sight of it, too noisily, causing the scientist to look up at the ventilation unit in alarm. There was no time to think—I was discovered. I punched through the grille and dropped down into the room. I was not only strong, it seemed, but agile and stealthy. Even as the scientist turned to run, I was upon him, twisting his head and snapping his neck like a twig. I approached the pod with the pale man inside, and rested my hand upon the glass. The poor creature seemed to see me, and pressed his hand against mine. Then I saw, with mounting fear, my reflection in the glass. We were the same, he and I; whatever these things were, I was one of them. My head swam, I couldn’t process the revelation, but I was slapped back to reality when my eyes alighted on my reflection again. There was someone moving behind me....

From the Short Story "Into the Void" by Joel Pitt, edited by Mark Latham.

Fourteen hours ago, the Radoni corporation had declared its allegiance to the upstart Republic and severed its connection to the Sphere Network, taking with them thousands of Resource Units, several million high-tier citizens, and a significant portion of the Unity Council’s military resources in the sector. Tonight none of that mattered. Radoni engineers had been developing an advanced prototype battle system for the Council. It must not fall into the Republic’s hands. Rearden had his objectives: Recover the project data, and destroy any existing prototypes.

Minutes later, the air filled with muffled screams and weapons fire from inside the building. With spectrum stealth no longer required, Rearden activated his squad’s narrow-band relay, and information flooded into his HUD. Tactical and visual spectrum data from any of his men could be layered over his own, allowing him to see through their eyes. Rorch was in position with the drop gear twenty metres to his right, Dareon and Shrabe were running from the far side of the roof, their elevated biometrics glowing a dull red in the corner of his eye.

Rearden stood on the edge of the world, a chaos of illuminated steel and glass fingers protruded from the smog cloud of the lower industrial levels, reaching towards the night sky. Below his team, the wall sheered vertically down into the darkness. Dareon and Shrabe dropped their innocuous grey cylinders over the edge. They did not pause, trusting to their timed detonations to do their work. Seconds later, the two soldiers stepped into the space above the clouds.

I hope you have enjoyed reading these extracts! For much more, look for the AFTERLIFE Prologue booklet which will ship with all pledges of "Afterlife Booklet" or higher.

Less than 90 minutes left on this one! Getting close to the 12K mark, and still just a handful of early birds left.

 RiTides wrote:
Less than 90 minutes left on this one! Getting close to the 12K mark, and still just a handful of early birds left.

Yep, so many people have upgraded from their early birds to the Vanguard level, so they keep coming up! Hopefully we will get to 12k and every Assault Team pledge gets 2 additional free miniatures.

Joel

Under 30 minutes, only a few hundred needed for 12K!


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Didn't realize the tractors were already unlocked for add-on purchasing! Just pledged for a set


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And a super exciting finish! 201 backers, £12,018 and sucked me in the last day after all my resisting.