Mierce Miniatures Darklands Ongoing News and Rumors Thread! Darklands Rulebook ships on April 18!

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**Mierce Miniatures**

@Grefven - there'll be a new Byzantii Auxilia Warchief (Quintus is a placeholder) and Kaarstan is new. The others are alternates; Bowman Urien is already done, mind.

Of the units, the Rogue-Drunes and Toxokolossi are alternates.

@Zond - you can play the game, there's a Darklands tournament in Sheffield next month - feel free to pop along! Go here for the full rules: http://mierce-miniatures.com/index.php?act=drm

**Bossk_Hogg**

The Ysian rogues are weapon swaps of the shadow drunes (I think only one of them remains unfinished). The piercing ones look to be mods of the mesokolossi (not sculpted). All the other units appear to be all new however.

**Zond**

I'm aware the game can be played. However it's difficult to drum up interest when you're still waiting on a full rulebook and there's always another kickstarter on the horizon.

Obviously your business model works fantastically for you and produces stunning miniatures. I just struggle to actually get others to engage with the game and I'm not going to travel to Sheffield for that.

**Alpharius**

Bossk_Hogg wrote:The Ysian rogues are weapon swaps of the shadow drunes (I think only one of them remains unfinished). The piercing ones look to be mods of the mesokolossi (not sculpted). All the other units appear to be all new however.

Mierce Miniatures wrote:@Grefven - there'll be a new Byzantii Auxilia Warchief (Quintus is a placeholder) and Kaarstan is new. The others are alternates; Bowman Urien is already done, mind.

Of the units, the Rogue-Drunes and Toxokolossi are alternates.

@Zond - you can play the game, there's a Darklands tournament in Sheffield next month - feel free to pop along! Go here for the full rules: http://mierce-miniatures.com/index.php?act=drm

Righto!

Will we be getting 'in between' goals every 5K once we get to 10K?

**Mierce Miniatures**

@Alpharius - of course!

**Yodhrin**

Ugh, why did the Reiver concepts have to look so good, Kaarstan in particular. I'm doing my Marauders Mordheim band now, not in a year :(

**PirateRobotNinjaofDeath**

Mierce Miniatures wrote:
@Zond - you can play the game, there's a Darklands tournament in Sheffield next month - feel free to pop along! Go here for the full rules: http://mierce-miniatures.com/index.php?act=drm

Honestly, I can commiserate with where @Zond is coming from. Sheffield is a long way from my home in Canada. A bunch gamers in the area are very excited for Darklands, but everyone is still waiting on the bulk of their forces to arrive...let alone the rulebook. Without fluff, a hardcopy of the rules, and an assembled and paint-in-progress force, it's tough to recruit further players. Even harder when there's no backer discount on existing miniatures.

The line I keep hearing is "I'll see how it looks once you guys have your minis and are playing games. Until then...I think I'll hold off."

I'm sure we'll be getting some curious folks at the club once we're all up and running playing games of Darklands. Say...in spring when there's the next kickstarter. But it's expensive, stores aren't carrying it yet, and ordering stuff online is a bit of a psychological barrier. The backer discount, even if small, provides an incentive for people to jump on board.

**Mierce Miniatures**

@PirateRobotNinjaofDeath - there is a backer discount, or will be, on existing miniatures for this project.

There'll be hosts (for metal and resin) that reprise those from Savage Hordes, and there'll be a discount on existing miniatures after the project on our website.

Regarding Sheffield being a long way, my point was that Darklands is playable, now - not about where you can play it.

The internet allows you to play it wherever you are... there are no barriers to playing Darklands, except the barriers created by oneself.

**overtyrant**

Ok I backed the original metal hosts KS for Jutes and Atlanties, missed out on the savage hordes I ks (the one with all the ranaged troops). If I back this one for two support hosts can I choose the Atlanties from this one and the Jutes ranged support from the previous KS from the store post KS?

**Zond**

Haha I don't even know what to say to that. I guess good luck with the kickstarter as always.

**zedmeister**

Updates: Stéphane Simon is back! KS:FE2

Shadows

Welcome to this, the first update for this project in 2016!

This week we have:
•sculpt work in progress images from Stéphane Simon;
•a list of what miniatures are currently being sent in their various waves;
• an updated list of sculptors and sculpts for this project;

...and anything else you can expect from us over the next few months.

Let's begin!

As this project is almost complete, there won't be many miniatures to show from here on in. Today we have just the one to show, from Stéphane Simon!

These guys have taken their sweet time but they're finally nearing the end. Here's the last warrior from the Shadows of Carn Bran, Shadow-Drune Unit, and as he's almost done, so is the unit!

The last warrior of the unit is also the unit's champion, Cador...

We do hope that these guys will be Wave 10, but it's unlikely. So they'll be Wave 11!

Automatically Appended Next Post:
Monstrous mounts: One to go...

Lizards

Welcome to this, the very first update for this project of 2016!

This week we have:
•sculpt work in progress images from Roberto Chaudon;
•a list of sculptors and sculpts for this project;
•...and anything else you can expect from us over the next few months.

Let's begin!

As this project is drawing to a close, there won't be many updates from here on in. This week we've just the one miniature to show you, for the Khthones... by Roberto Chaudon!

Roberto Chaudon has been hard at work over Christmas getting Ágriosávra to fit on his mighty Sávrakh, and the results are spectacular, we think!

This fella will be a Wave 11 shipment!

**zedmeister**

Beefy New Kindreds update:

Wolves, Rhinos, Kroks and Men

Welcome to this, the first update for this project of 2016 - and it's a cracker!

This week we have:
•sculpt work in progress updates from Allan Carrasco, Benoît Cosse and Juan Navarro Pérez;
•an updated list of sculptors and sculpts for this project;
•...and anything else you can expect from us over the next few months.

Here we go...

It's mostly alternates from Allan Carrasco this week, but there's also a cracker from Benoît Cosse and an amazing horseman from Juan Navarro Pérez!

We start the Allan Carrasco show with Leaping Creoda, an alternate of one of our very first miniatures, Creoda. It's early days, but we can't wait to see how he turns out!

Hopefully Leaping Creoda will be a Wave 11 shipment.

Next up is Spike Qaano, a wonderful alternate of the original Qaano, of course...

Spike Qaano should be a Wave 11 shipment!

We interrupt the Allan Carrasco show with Aggrakk, the mighty Krokokh for the Khthones - sculpted by Benoît Cosse...

We do hope Aggrakk will be a Wave 11 shipment. He's going to be epic! Remember, he's on an 80mm base...

The original Knútr is awesome - but Bareheaded Knútr is simply superb...!

Wave 11 for this guy we think.

The lovely Jörmungand has a makeover, gaining another axe and a bit more armour - becoming Jörmungand Two Axe!

He'll be a Wave 11 shipment!

The Erilaz Víthar now has a Ravenhelm!

That concludes today's Allan Carrasco show - hopefully more next week with Birna on Fellhrafn!

We've not seen much from Juan Navarro Pérez for a while, so here's Danilo Cruz on Horse to redress that balance!

He should be a Wave 11 shipment.

**Mierce Miniatures**

@Overtyrant - just send us a mail my friend - I can give you access to the Savage Hordes category on our website.

**RiTides**

Mierce Miniatures wrote:
@PirateRobotNinjaofDeath - there is a backer discount, or will be, on existing miniatures for this project.

There'll be hosts (for metal and resin) that reprise those from Savage Hordes, and there'll be a discount on existing miniatures after the project on our website.

Excellent

although if I remember right the discount is a timed thing that ends a few months after the campaign, so have the funds ready if you want to take advantage of it.

Mierce Miniatures wrote:
Regarding Sheffield being a long way, my point was that Darklands is playable, now - not about where you can play it.

The internet allows you to play it wherever you are... there are no barriers to playing Darklands, except the barriers created by oneself.

Obviously, the game being "playable" and there being "no barriers to playing" are not the same thing.

As an example, while folks could play Arena Rex early (maybe even while their campaign was running?) most folks wanted to wait until they had the physical models and rules in-hand. I think there are a lot of barriers still to playing Darklands - delivery time and lack of a physical rulebook being the primary ones.

The models are worth getting regardless, but there's a reason folks aren't playing (and it's not on them) that still needs to be made more of a priority to address than it has! It is hard to think of a game that is less accessible for new players at the moment. I'd love to see some sort of initiative to get people playing when the rulebook finally ships! That is by far the biggest barrier still to be addressed (with the backlog next).

**Mierce Miniatures**

I disagree with you utterly RiTides - there are no barriers for you to play Darklands.

Delivery time is only an issue for Kickstarter items - there are plenty of miniatures out there in stores in the USA, for example, which enable you to play. At the last count almost 300 Darklands miniatures are released to the general public, enabling you to play with eight kindreds effectively, and webstore orders on our website (for those released miniatures) are in stock and shipped within a couple of days.

The rules are downloadable and easily useable in this day and age of tablets and phones, which all support PDFs.

I take issue with the "It is hard to think of a game that is less accessible" - it's perfectly accessible, if you can be bothered. If you can't be bothered, don't moan about it.

Once the physical rulebook is shipped there'll be an initiative by ourselves to get people playing - it's already in its infancy here in the UK, as we'll be running tournaments regularly.

As I said, there are no barriers to playing Darklands - only those you create for yourself.

**OrlandotheTechnicoloured**

Banebeasts Update

Update #43 Jan 22 2016

More Orcs

Welcome to this, the first update for this project in 2016! This week we have:
•sculpt work in progress images from Tim Prow;
•an idea of what will ship, and when;
•a list of sculptors and sculpts for this project;
•...and anything else you can expect from us over the next few months.

Let's begin!

It's a new year and a new start - Tim Prow has completed work on the foot versions of the Orc Warlord and Orc Feral Shaman, leaving just the Orc Warlord with Great Weapon and Orc Shaman variants to do.

Tim assures us these will be done very quickly, so we're hopeful of getting everything out to you in Wave 11 and putting a fork in this project, because it'll be done!

The fantastic Orc Warlord on Foot - the conversion of the rider - is now complete. The sword, topknot and shield aren't needed for the conversion, so they're not shown!

[img]

The Orc Warlord on Foot - and the rider and Wyvern of course! - will be a Wave 11 shipment.

The Orc Feral Shaman on Foot has bags of character! He's our favourite.

The Orc Feral Shaman on Foot - and the rider and Wyvern of course! - will be a Wave 11 shipment.

Wave 8 and 9 shipments are ongoing

Thanks to Tim (our master moulder)'s operation, the recovery from which has not always been smooth, our moulding schedule has been put back by at least two months - which means Wave 8 shipments are ongoing and will be for some time, and we've also just started shipping the first Wave 9 items. There may well be a few stragglers for Waves 6 and 7, but we should clear those in January as long as the shipment items are there.

We will try to get everything out as soon as we can, but there's a lot to ship - and as always we prioritise orders in date sequence; i.e., if you ordered early, you'll get your stuff sent early.

What we're saying, basically, is - please be patient! We are doing everything as fast as we can without compromising on quality.

Tim Prow taking over Gary Morley's work

Unfortunately Gary Morley cannot now complete any of his remaining sculpts as he is ill, and so Tim Prow has kindly agreed to take over from Gary.

Unfortunately Tim has other commitments - not least his own Kickstarter project - but he's started to sculpt the Orcs and the remaining versions should be completed in early 2016.

We'll keep this list updated every, er, update.
• SHIPMENT WAVE 0: (complete): Existing miniatures.
• SHIPMENT WAVE 7 (beginning June 2015): Orc Warlord on Foot with Two Axes - Warlock, Wizard - Plague Priest - Master Converter Kemp-Kemp - War Demon - War Demon with Two Axes - Rat Beast - Rat Beast with Two Tails and Spine Shards - Rat Fiend - Rat Fiend with Mole-Rat Head - Ogre Drake - Unhelmed Ogre Drake with Axe - Ox-Gore - Ox-Gore with Club and Morning Star - Pleasure Demon - Pleasure Demon with Swords
• SHIPMENT WAVE 8 (August 2015): Plague Demon - Plague Demon with Eye and Cleaver - Dark Elf Lord on Dragon
• SHIPMENT WAVE 11 (April 2016): Orc Warlord rider - Orc Warlord on Foot - Orc Warlord with Great Weapon and Heavy Armour rider - Orc Warlord with Great Weapon and Heavy Armour on Foot - Orc Shaman rider - Orc Shaman on Foot - Orc Feral Shaman rider - Orc Feral Shaman on Foot - Wyvern

Items in bold will DEFINITELY be sent in that wave as we have the sculpt; items in italics are in progress and should make it into that wave, but we don't yet have the sculpt.

As there's still plenty you can purchase from BaneBeasts: Mighty Monsters, not least of which are the various hosts, we though it would be a good idea to outline exactly how long you've got to purchase everything.
• Wave 11: items from Wave 11 will be removed from the website at the end of February.
• Individual Miniatures: until they ship!

Keep watching this list as it may well change - and if you have any issues with the above timings, please let us know and we may well be able to push the deadline back a little for you.

Here's the big list of who's sculpting what and when for BaneBeasts: Mighty Monsters! Please bear in mind that this list may change over time, so don't take it as set in stone until the first work in progress shots appear.
• TIM PROW: Due to Gary's unavailability, we've had to give Tim the Orc riders for the Wyvern, as well as the foot versions.

There's a fair few to do but the boys have already eaten into them!

We thought this would be a good idea, as things are cracking on - a list of completed sculpts, in kindred order!

Completed sculpts are in bold; in progress sculpts are in italics.
• BEASTS: Ox-Gore - Ox-Gore with Club and Morning Star
• CHAOS: Warlock - Plague Priest - Ogre Drake - Unhelmed Ogre Drake with Axe - Pleasure Demon - Pleasure Demon with Swords - War Demon - War Demon with Two Axes - Plague Demon - Plague Demon with Eye and Cleaver
•DARK ELVES: Dark Elf Lord on Dragon
• HUMANS: Wizard
•ORCS & GOBLINS: Orc Warlord on Foot with Two Axes - Orc Warlord on Wyvern rider - Orc Warlord on Wyvern - Orc Warlord on Foot - Orc Warlord with Great Weapon and Heavy Armour rider - Orc Warlord with Great Weapon and Heavy Armour on Foot - Orc Shaman on Wyvern rider - Orc Shaman on Foot, Orc Feral Shaman on Wyvern rider - Orc Feral Shaman on Foot
• RATS: Master Converter Kemp-Kemp - Rat Beast - Rat Beast with Two Tails and Spine Shards - Rat Fiend - Rat Fiend with Mole-Rat Head

Let us know if we've missed anything, of course.

**RiTides**

Mierce Miniatures wrote:
webstore orders on our website (for those released miniatures) are in stock and shipped within a couple of days.

I can definitely vouch for this - it's how I've gotten most of my models from you! You even ship replacement parts really quickly, it is excellent

Mierce Miniatures wrote:
As I said, there are no barriers to playing Darklands - only those you create for yourself.

Personally, I gladly buy your figures to use for other games- they feature prominently in my Hordes gator force, and soon will in the companion pig force I'm building as well!

But I think you do yourself no favors with this language, which basically amounts to blaming your customers for not playing. Right now, folks get interested, but realize the rules aren't out (soon to be remedied, thank goodness!) and that to get many models there is a long queue of Kickstarter backing they missed, and thus face a very high barrier to starting.

It's not a problem for me personally because I love doing counts-as armies for other systems, but I just thought it worth pointing out that your language here is imo both a bit untrue and blaming your customers unnecessarily. In the webstore, for instance, some kindreds have very few models available to them. It's not necessarily a problem - but acting as if there is no reason people can't pick up and play is a bit disingenuous is all. I hope the game does well and am looking forward to checking out the book myself when it's available for sale!

---

On a completely separate note, this was teased in the KS comments - has a neat Circle vibe to it!

**Vhalan**

Mierce Miniatures wrote:
I disagree with you utterly RiTides - there are no barriers for you to play Darklands.

I have to agree with RiTides on this one. Here in the states, there are a lot of barriers to entry. The rule book not in print is perceived as a pretty big one. My local group that Ive known for a good long while, likes your minis Ive shown them. Interest vanishes when I mention downloading and printing the full rule book on our own. Before you ask, one of our group is a part owner of a small press book bindery. The perception is, an unpublished rule book = game not worth looking at. Im glad the rule book will be in hands soon.

Mierce Miniatures wrote:
there are plenty of miniatures out there in stores in the USA, for example, which enable you to play.

Do you have a list you can publish? The only retailer I am aware of state side that carries more then a token range is Noble Knight Games. And they dont have what I would consider a lot of stock.

Mierce Miniatures wrote:
I take issue with the "It is hard to think of a game that is less accessible" - it's perfectly accessible, if you can be bothered. If you can't be bothered, don't moan about it.

This type of statement should not be made to those of us in this thread who are largely your converted followers.

Mierce Miniatures wrote:
Once the physical rulebook is shipped there'll be an initiative by ourselves to get people playing - it's already in its infancy here in the UK, as we'll be running tournaments regularly.

As I said, there are no barriers to playing Darklands - only those you create for yourself.

Ill be interested in seeing this develop. I hope it promotes the game and becomes well received here in the states.

**Alpharius**

There are no 'counts as' uses here for me - especially after WFB was killed off - all of these excellent miniatures will be used in games of Darklands for me!

Having said that, however, these fine miniatures do in fact have many, many 'counts as' applications across many game systems.

I do think that finally having the full rules out in a true book form will be a tremendous boost to the Darklands 'brand' and game though!

**RiTides**

Hope I wasn't too negative above, just didn't like the idea of blaming folks who want to play the game for not being able to do so locally! I am really looking forward to checking out when the book hits

**highlord tamburlaine**

My heart almost skipped a beat when I saw Agriosavra on his Savrakh.

YAY! FINALLY!

Looks good too. Still wish the Savrakh had a little more girth around his belly. Looks like he's a bit malnourished and skinny.

The Savra must not be feeding him enough humans!

Can't wait to finally get this guy!

**RiTides**

I could see adding a few straps or chains going around his belly that might help with that

I did that for the Kaairioc-cró, Sea Devil model that Ramos Asura painted up for me, and think it helps a lot!

Spoiler:

**vitki**

highlord tamburlaine wrote:
My heart almost skipped a beat when I saw Agriosavra on his Savrakh.

YAY! FINALLY!

Looks good too. Still wish the Savrakh had a little more girth around his belly. Looks like he's a bit malnourished and skinny.

The Savra must not be feeding him enough humans!

Can't wait to finally get this guy!

Dang it! I have been trying really hard to avoid starting a new game but these lizard/snake people are really hitting all the right notes with me.
Anyone know of a group near North Seattle that plays so I can get familiar with it?

**OrlandotheTechnicoloured**

Vhalan wrote:

Mierce Miniatures wrote:
there are plenty of miniatures out there in stores in the USA, for example, which enable you to play.

Do you have a list you can publish? The only retailer I am aware of state side that carries more then a token range is Noble Knight Games. And they dont have what I would consider a lot of stock.

From the KS comments most US stores are getting stuff indirectly via Golden Distribution (formely Warpath)

but FRP games in California has been mentioned as having a good range of Darklands in stock

**highlord tamburlaine**

I like the Dark Mariner up on top of the Sea Devil. Weren't you going to use that as a Sacral Vault or something RiTides?

**RiTides**

Yes exactly

. It gets tons of comments on the table! Actually blends in well with the Mierce Monstrous Mounts now, too

(I have Erebius on Behema).

**Wehrkind**

RiTides wrote:

Mierce Miniatures wrote:
As I said, there are no barriers to playing Darklands - only those you create for yourself.

Personally, I gladly buy your figures to use for other games- they feature prominently in my Hordes gator force, and soon will in the companion pig force I'm building as well!

But I think you do yourself no favors with this language, which basically amounts to blaming your customers for not playing. Right now, folks get interested, but realize the rules aren't out (soon to be remedied, thank goodness!) and that to get many models there is a long queue of Kickstarter backing they missed, and thus face a very high barrier to starting.

I had much the same thoughts as RiTides when I read that. Only mine were mixed with a dash of "Well, the rule book I ordered a while ago has yet to show up, along with the metals. And oh, I have been waiting on some kickstarter models for nearly 2 years now." So yea, I feel that there are a few barriers at the moment. I am rather hoping Mierce Miniatures pops on tomorrow and says something along the lines of "Sorry guys, I was totally blasted after work when I posted that reply from the pub's toilet." Your customers are telling you they feel like there are a lot of barriers getting themselves and others into the game, you should be listening to their concerns not telling them there are not any.

Hell, RiTides has been described as "The Mierce Sales Rep. for Maryland" by our gaming group. When he says "Yea, there's some issues," there are some issues.
---

**zedmeister**

And now for something completely different

**Baragash**

There are two things wrong with that picture:

1) I want a Greek Fire thrower shoulder-mounted on one of those Searing Ones >.>

2) Dammit, I've been trying to resist adding the new kindreds to my collection, but that might just have gone and done it.....

(Also that Fomoraic concept art is awesome)

**highlord tamburlaine**

If the sculptor can capture the awesomeness of that design (which knowing most of the guys Mierce gets to sculpt for them, they probably can), I'm going to have to add her to my Fomorians.

Which so far I've done really good resisting most human- sized Fomorians.

Of course if that Kaarstan figure ends up as bulky and imposing as his design art, I'll probably have to get him too... and then get the whole damned Fomorian host on offer... sigh.