Individual HOF Castings, New Armies Army, and Manufacturer Guide Update

I can't say enough about the effort 15mm.Co.Uk makes to serve our hobby.

They are unbelievably receptive to their customers' suggestions (which is what brought Danger on Outpost 32 into the gaming world). They give aspiring sculptors an outlet to refine their craft (giving us a fun variety of figures in the SHM range). And they are the only 15mm manufacturer who offers individual castings of hundreds of different figures.

Most figures in the HOF Sci Fi range are offered in 10-packs and as individuals when they are released. But somehow, the earlier Ion Age-style figures were never offered this way. That has now been corrected - we can now purchase individual castings of the Retained Knights and Muster Infantry.

Offering these figures as individual castings is brilliant. Suppose you're looking to start another army, but can't decide which figures to use? You can buy a few castings from this range, see if they match well with your theme, and even try some experimental paint schemes without adding to your pile of unpainted lead. It also works well if you want to round out your existing squads and platoons - the forces we build don't always match retail packs figure-for-figure. Or, especially in the case of the Retained sculpts, you might only need five or six figures for a small skirmish game like In The Emperor's Name or Mutants & Death Ray Guns. You can do that, thanks to 15mm.Co.Uk and their devotion to the hobby. 

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The Armies Army RUSK concept is developing into a complete product range.

Keith scored a major hit with his original infantry pack, and they've now been expanded with command, support weapon figures, heavy weapon teams, and MULE support vehicles. The command pack includes a medic ,a GRID/COMMS operator, three leaders, and a Kommisoner figure.

The support weapons pack includes two gatling gunners with loaders, an ATGM launcher team, a plasma gunner, and and a sniper figure. I like the variety of weapons in this pack.

The heavy weapon teams include three gun mounts, three shields, three different weapons, and three two-man gun crews.

Then we have four different MULES based on a common platform. This is the basic MULE, used as a battlefield logistics support vehicle. Three different weapon variants are currently available, and Keith is working on a few more versions. And I imagine we'll see quite a few custom variants made by customers in the coming months... this thing is just screaming to be converted!

The entire Armies Army range is available from Black Hat Figures.

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Speaking of Black Hat Figures... they actually have three separate ranges available that could be of interest to readers of this site. There's the Armies Army goodies, the ex-Green Eyed Minis Tolero and Yetis mentioned last week, and their signature Martian Empires VSF range.

We haven't talked about VSF much on this site. But it's certainly an interest to many of us. Yet somehow, this range has never been featured in the 15mm Manufacturer Directory on the right side of this page. I've updated that, and added a few more companies that we haven't mentioned before.

Peter Pig used to have a larger sci-fi range (the Phug aliens went to Moonfleet Miniatures), but still carry a nice little selection of - stop me if this sounds familiar - VSF Martians. They also have the most expansive range of 15mm conversion heads available today, including some very desirable beret heads for making elite commando units.

Trench 2114 has developed a very original and detailed setting for their games. Think of it as post-post-apocalypse; the fires burned, the civilizations fragmented, but then came back together and are engaged in full-scale war for the surviving resources. But the figures would be good in any setting, from Weird War 2 to post-apocalypse to gothic sci-fi. The website is still in its infancy, but already offers a couple packs of interesting figures and a standalone set of game rules. There don't seem to be many good pictures of their figures, so I've stolen these from Tom Crandall at Miniature Review.

Clockwork Goblin Minis is another newcomer in the 15mm field. But their Weird War 2 figures and walkers definitely belong on these pages - once again, they could be useful in many different science fiction periods and settings.

Please let me know if we're missing anyone else in the directory! I know there are at least three more out there with Kickstarter projects (Dreamforge Games, Grinning Skull and our own Eli's Loud Ninja) - they will be added as soon as product is ready to order.

Cheers,

Chris

Cataloguing non-biological life in 15mm

Following up on a previous post, Dropship Horizon's technologists have been busy cataloguing non-biological life in the known universe. Researchers have identified several manufacturers of the drones, cyborgs, droids, etc. including:

• Astro Miniatures’ Sybots
• Battlestations’ Bot Marines 
• Blue Moon Manufacturing Robot Legion Skirmishers and Legionaires 
• Critical Mass Games merc Drone Walkers and Blockheads  and Praesentia RAL infantry 
• Ground Zero Games’ Remotes, Drones and Bots 
• 15mm.co.uk Automata, Cyborgs and Polymorphs, Robots, Droids and Laserburn robots and droids 
• Irregular Miniatures Battle Droid 
• Khurasan Miniatures Mekanoid Meleebots and Riflebots  as well as the Server Robot in the DPLS Crew
• Kremlin Miniatures Cyberian Death Commandos, Zomborgs and Cyber-ninjas 
• Traveller Miniatures security bots and support droids (in the support Support Staff pack) 
• The Scene battle robots and heavy battle robots 

As previously mentioned, there is a shortage of generic androids in the style of Star Wars or I Robot - get sculpting guys!

Edit - there is an interesting discussion over on the TMP 15mm message board on the subject of robots, bots and borgs in 15mm.

The SAW Debate

 

One of the things that attracts me to playing skirmish level - individual/squad/platoon level games in the late C20th and beyond over say Crimean War is the range of weaponry available.

No, I'm not a 'gun nut'. Neither is this a prediliction for a particular firearm or love of firepower. I'm a firm believer that the man maketh the weapon. In fact, see this interestiung article in The Marine Corps Gazette that demonstrates this - the lack of training for SAW gunners reducing their effectiveness in the fight, whilst the cursory training metered out to their assistant all but means that the loss of the prime SAW gunner meant the los of the weapon to the firefight.

A range of different weapon systems within our skirmish games provides tactical and leadership challenges that having the single weapon "well it is as powerful as a SAW and has a grenade launcher too" argument does not. In effect not giving you a range of weapons at squad level is tactically consigning you and me to a pre 1917 tabletop. Even in the final years of WW1 the British  were organised into rifle, 'bomber', Lewis gun and rifle grenade teams.

So the question is, are you playing Sci Fi or Retreat from Mons with space helmets?

OK, so you may argue that the character/characteristics given to the figures themselves in a game makes the difference. Yes it does. I don't disagree. But think how much richer your game is when you have a range of different weapon systems with different deployment, combat ranges and effects to add into the mix. The weapons take on characters themselves and at the very least become character multipliers.

Of course, I'm not just talking SAWs. According to Rethinking The 'Rifle' Platoon again from The Marine Corps Gazette:

The SMAW (Shoulder-Launched Multipurpose Assault Weapon), particularly with the thermobaric round, has proven to be one of the most effective weapons used during urban combat in Iraq. Many observers have pointed them out as one of if not the key infantry weapon during the battle of Fallujah in November 2004 and have recommended that their numbers be increased or that one be provided in support of each squad.

Yes, but what about future weapons which will put out a lot of rounds like a SAW and have integral Lasers and grenade launchers. With set Lasers to 'dead leg' or 'a bit of a sniffle', and all that future stuff? Sure, but there'll always be more alien greeblies, always be a bigger alien tin can to defeat.

Take a look at the Zas Mercs (Critical Mass Games: Merc 13) in the banner at the top of the page. In a single pack you get two riflemen, a sniper and a SAW/LMG gunner. Even before you've assigned the first Veteran, Average, Novice character to these figs, you have three different military roles and characteristics on your tabletop.

Right, so let's take a pack of say, Rebel Minis' Earth Force Armoured Troops or Drop Troopers. Am I stuffed then? Luckily NO!

Jon at GZG has brought out a wide range of remotes, drones and bots over the past two years which can augment the firepower and reach of the basic riflemen figures. In fact we can create an opportunity out of a pack of just riflemen to think outside of the squad box by embedding a combination of remotes/drones/bots or even androids and walkers/battlesuits into our small level combat formations.

GZG 15mm Sci Fi:

V15-70 Mini Hover Drones

Suddenly our squad or platoon level battle takes on a greater complexity with aerial, armour and artificial intelligence characteristics. We now enter a multi-D (multi-dimensional) combat environment.

"We're on the Grid, five by five"

The provision of squad and support weapons may even leave us with a false sense of futuristic complacency on the tabletop.  When in fact the human element of a platoon sized combat force in the future may be very small indeed and only need weapons for personal defence as the bots do the rest.

Cheers

Mark

Alien Flying Greeblies

 
All the UAVs and drones we've seen to date in 15mm have been very human in origin. There's nothing that Chad Feldheimer could really call serious 'alien shit'.

Browsing Forbiden Planet's store in Aberdeen a couple of month's back I came across these dim sum with tentacles greeblies in a Dr Weller (?) Stargate SG1 Action Figure blister. Definitely 'alien shit' and better still  reduced to just £1.99.

I was instantly taken. I'm not into the Action Figure thing but always check them outto see if the accessories would be picking up for 15mm, either on Ebay or if the figure was at a suitably reduced price. In this case, just £1.99 - so I bought three.

I'm going to mount them on individual flight bases as 'extreme' alien remotely or articifial intelligence piloted UAVs/drones. They could also be drop pods, some form of alien jet-bike or just a missile. With some pinning, you could stand them vertically as walking/floating alien mechanical or biological multipods.

Cheers

Mark

IN THE PIPE: Khurasan Federal RAM Mortar Team

 
A whole heap of new goodies from Khurasan Miniatures are in the pipe and heading to a galaxy near you soon. I can bring exclusive news from Khurasan Alienworkz gmb that RAM (rocket assisted munition) Mortars are the asset of the day for any self-respecting intergalactic overlord.

There will be mortars for the Feds, Lhurggs and, in time, for the Control Battalion and Sepulvedan Resistance too. RAM Mortars provide a cheap, mobile and versatile weapons platform that can deploy a range of munitions. Providing the grunts on the ground with their own dedicated, on-call artillery.

So we're going to need a forward control element to locate the enemy and direct effective fires onto them. What better than a highly manoeuvrable eye in the sky.

Here we see the Federal Army Infantry Drone team, previewed recently on Khurasan Miniatures' blog. These drones are perfect for providing real-time information back to 'the grid'.

Modern C-RAM (Counter-Rocket, Artillery and Mortar) weapons are ground based - but a fast moving drone with a powerful energy weapon may be able to conduct successful point defence missions and set up a C-RAM environment around the unit or facility it is protecting. I foresee (C-S) Counter Sniper Drones and C-RAMS (Counter-Rocket, Artillery, Mortar and Sniper) Drones in the future.

So, when are these going to be available? The Federal Infantry Mortar team above will be released at the same time as the drone and operator, the army casualty and medics diorama, the DIMOG 3 "Berserker" and Hercules civilian loader (both are conversion sets for the basic DIMOG).

Included in this release and again exclusively to Dropship Horizon will be a new kick ass unit of Federal Elite forces, but more on those tomorrow! Hooyah!

Cheers

Mark

Bring on the Drones

The BBC reported that President Obama has sanctioned the use of armed drones in Libya.

Drones have been used controversially recently in Mexico too. The future is here.

How long before you are sitting in your couch at home doing your National Guard or Reserve duty, and flying Recon, surveillance and combat missions across the world? Is this when all that 'training' on the XBox and PS3 pay off? As technology improves, you can even be doing your day job, be on the train to work, sitting in McDonalds and through your iphone/Android be enforcing the rule of demoncracy and law, maybe even in your own city. Neighbourhood Watch takes on a whole new meaning.

In our lifetime, will we watch a NewsVid to hear that the President has sanctioned the use of androids, like 'GI Joes' in the recent Bruce Willis vehicle SURROGATES, on the streets of La Paz, LA, or Bristol?

 In 15mm, should we be looking at more drones in our tabletop forces? Even replacing men with drones and robotics?  I'm sure there will be a time where we, that's the humanity 'we' use realistic flesh and blood looking androids for hearts and minds purposes.

Personally, I prefer to think of humanity amongst the stars rather than humandroid. A future without man is deprssing though maybe inevitable, but both will live and work side by side on the dirtball colonies and there will be wars and uprisings in both camps.

Who knows, because of the distances involved we may seed the stars with humandroids, to terraform and build new worlds (where have you heard that before), to make it safe for man. But what if the humandroids don't want to give up what they have cretaed or even, what if their defence routines simply see humans as an alien invader?

Cheers

Mark

GZG Spider Drones

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GZG's new Spider Drones
15mm Evil! Evil! Evil!

GZG 15mm Sci Fi: V15-84a
3 for £2.50

There's just something about these Spider Drones that makes them more chillingly evil and unstoppable than the classic Terminator assassin robot.

The articulated legs are really well designed and I'm looking at how to turn a pack of the models into Drone mini MRLS - an idea I've had since my classic Traveller: Mercenary days back in the '70s.

A variant with twin gun disks mounted above each other whihc could rotate in different directions would be cool, as would one with the Gatling chin turret from the AV-7-FanVan.

Cheers
Mark
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Weekend Project - AI 'Drone Army'

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I'm starting another mini-project today. Building and painting the first elements of an AI Drone force of mixed GZG Gun Drones, mini UAVs and Wheeled MAWPS.


I really like the way Jon has mounted them in the picture above, but I have to be more practical and will mount the bulk in two's to maximise their versatility in a spectrum of game systems whilst also attempting to meet my vision for them on the tabletop. My intention is to use them both as near future force multipliers and 'early' Sci Fi 'soldiers' rather than individual mini tanks. I'll discuss more about this in a later post.

As things stand I can lay my hands on 3 packs of Gun Drones, 2 packs of mini UAVs and 3 assorted Wheeled MAWPs. My plan is to supplement them using my Xmas discount voucher from GZG as I always like using these discounts to pick up more of the less 'glamorous' bits of kit or accessories.

I want to build this force up so that it can be an independant AI battle force in it's own right whilst also being suitable as an 'early' Mechanoid Army with Alien Squad Leader.

You may have noticed that I haven't mentioned GZG's Gun Bots? Well, I don't want to have all my eggs in one basket. The tracked Gun Bots are sufficiently different to be used in opposition forces.

I bought the Drones, MAWPS and UAVs originally not for any high fallutin' ideas about military AI, but for purely practical reasons. They are 'anonymous' in their design, so can be used to quickly and cheaply provide support weapons from squad to company level or even become additional 'soldier' units to augment any existing force on the tabletop. But again, more about this later this week.

Cheers
Mark
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Incoming Transmission..... GZG 15mm Tracked GunBots

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You are going to love this little model.! Also available this week from GZG are Tracked GunBots. These fit the bill perfectly for modern day or near future robotics and have a certain 'Terminator' T100 charm to them.

V15-68A GunBots (tracked) - front (pack of 2) £2.50

V15-68A GunBots (tracked) - rear (pack of 2) £2.50

The GunBots will provide perfect support for 15mm.co.uk's Automatons or become the 'soldiers' of a low tech mechanoid army in their own right. Need to storm a spaceship or space station? Send your GunBots out ahead. Lot's of great options with these models. Nice one Jon!

Available from:
WWW.GROUNDZEROGAMES.NET

Cheers
Mark
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Latest Intel.....GZG Remote Wheeled Mini-Bots

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First of several new releases coming from GZG shortly are these Remote Wheeled Mini-Bots. Variants include MG, Rocket and Sensors/Recon.

GZG 15mm Wheeled Mini-Bots
Khurasan;s Corporate Marine for comparison

They are lovely little models. Jon is also in the middle of creating tracked variants too. Despite the fact they are labelled 15mm, there is no reason why they can't be used for 28mm Modern and Sci Fi games as well. If you've played FRONTLINES: Fuels of War on the XBOX360 - you know how useful these little beasties can be!

GZG 15mm Wheeled Micro-Bots
Master Chef's Earth Force Marines for comparison

WWW.GROUNDZEROGAMES.NET

Cheers
Mark
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