OKAMI WALKER PRE-SALUTE PREVIEW

.

Coming from the Critical Mass Games stable on 17th April is the Okami Walker:

Also available in time for SALUTE are:

• Protolene "Ayame Khan" Light Battlesuit "Scout Variant" - 1 vehicle (PRVH8 - £3.50)
• Protolene "Ayame Khan" Light Battlesuit "Hunter Variant" - 1 vehicle (PRVH9 - £3.50)
• Protolene "Ayame Khan" Light Battlesuit "Predator Variant" - 1 vehicle (PRVH10 - £3.50)
• Protolene "OKami" Assault Walker - 1 Okami kit, 3 turret options (PRVH11a - £8.50)
• Protolene "OKami" Assault Walker Platoon - 3 Okami kits, 3 turret options each (PRVH11b - £23.50)
• ARC Fleet Building set 2 redux - re-mastered building set (AFBD2 - £50.00)
• Kaamados Dractamaa Recovery Vehicle - (KAVH15 - £8.50)
• Power Converter Objectives - 2 x Power converters (ACOB3 - £4.00)
• Large Mesa Set - 3 x Mesa (ACTR1 - £35.00)
• Small Mesa Set - 6 x Mesa (ACTR2 - £25.00)
• Mesa Base - 1 x Mesa (ACTR3 - £7.50)

Plus a whole array of new platoon and army in a box battle packs:

• ARC Fleet Rifle Platoon - Contains: 47 x Rifle Infantry, 4 x Rifle Infantry Multi Barrelled Gauss Guns, 4 x Rifle Infantry Missile Launchers, 1 x 30mm x 30mm Command Base, 13 x 40mm x 30mm Infantry Bases RIPT1 - £19.99)

• ARC Fleet Laser Defence Platform Platoon - Contains: 11 x Rifle Infantry, 4 x Laser Defence Platforms, 1 x 30mm x 30mm Command Base, 4 x 40mm x 40mm Gun Bases (RIPT2 - £12.99)

• ARC Fleet Rifle Infantry Missile Support Platoon - Contains: 11 x Rifle Infantry, 8 x Rifle Infantry Missile Launchers, 1 x 30mm x 30mm Command Base, 4 x 40mm x 30mm Infantry Bases (RIPT3 - £6.99)

• ARC Fleet Rifle Infantry Multi Barrelled Gauss Gun Support Platoon - Contains: 11 x Rifle Infantry, 8 x Rifle Infantry MBGGs, 1 x 30mm x 30mm Command Base, 4 x 40mm x 30mm Infantry Bases (RIPT4 - £6.99)

• ARC Fleet Recon Infantry Platoon - Contains: 35 x Recon Infantry, 4 x Recon Infantry Grenade Launchers, 4 x Recon Infantry Sniper Rifles, 1 x 30mm x 30mm Command Base, 10 x 40mm x 30mm Infantry Bases (RCPT1 - £14.99)

• ARC Fleet Recon Infantry Missile Support Platoon - Contains: 11 x Recon Infantry, 8 x Recon Infantry Missile Launchers, 1 x 30mm x 30mm Command Base, 4 x 40mm x 30mm Infantry Bases (RCPT2 - £6.99)

• ARC Fleet Recon Infantry Laser Cannon Support Platoon - Contains: 11 x Recon Infantry, 8 x Recon Infantry Laser Cannons, 1 x 30mm x 30mm Command Base, 4 x 40mm x 30mm Infantry Bases (RCPT3 - £6.99)

• ARC Fleet Heavy Drop Infantry Platoon - Contains: 27 x Heavy Drop Trooper Infantry, 1 x 30mm x 30mm Command Base, 6 x 40mm x 30mm Infantry Bases (HDPT1 - £9.99)

• ARC Fleet Augment Infantry Platoon - Contains: 19 x Augment Infantry, 4 x Augment Infantry Plasma Cannons, 4 x Augment Infantry Laser Cannons, 1 x 30mm x 30mm Command Base, 8 x 40mm x 30mm Infantry Bases (HDPT2 - £13.99)

• Protolene Scout War Pack - Contains: 39 x Protolene Scout Infantry, 10 x Scout Infantry Assault Lasers, 10 x Scout Infantry Particle Cannons, 1 x 30mm x 30mm Command Base, 14 x 40mm x 30mm Infantry Bases (SCPT1 - £19.99)

• Protolene Scout Battle Pack - Contains: 20 x Protolene Scout Infantry, 5 x Scout Infantry Assault Lasers, 6 x Scout Infantry Particle Cannons, 1 x 30mm x 30mm Command Base, 7 x 40mm x 30mm Infantry Bases (SCPT2 - £10.99)

• Protolene Scout Sharp Shooter Battle Pack - Contains: 9 x Protolene Scout Infantry, 10 x Scout Infantry Sniper Rifles, 1 x 30mm x 30mm Command Base, 4 x 40mm x 30mm Infantry Bases (SCPT3 - £6.99)

• Protolene Hunter War Pack - Contains: 39 x Protolene Hunter Infantry, 10 x Hunter Infantry Assault Lasers, 10 x Hunter Infantry Particle Cannons, 1 x 30mm x 30mm Command Base, 14 x 40mm x 30mm Infantry Bases (HRPT1 - £19.99)

• Protolene Hunter Battle Pack - Contains: 20 x Protolene Hunter Infantry, 5 x Hunter Infantry Assault Lasers, 6 x Hunter Infantry Particle Cannons, 1 x 30mm x 30mm Command Base, 7 x 40mm x 30mm Infantry Bases (HRPT2 - £10.99)

• Protolene Predator War Pack - Contains: 39 x Protolene Predator Infantry, 1 x 30mm x 30mm Command Base, 9 x 40mm x 30mm Infantry Bases (PDPT1 - £13.99)

• Protolene Predator Battle Pack - Contains: 19 x Protolene Predator Infantry, 1 x 30mm x 30mm Command Base, 4 x 40mm x 30mm Infantry Bases (PDPT2 - £6.99)

• Kaamados Dominion Naga Platoon - Contains: 12 x Naga Close Combat Weapons, 12 x Naga Rifles, 5 x Naga Assault Cannons, 1 x 30mm x 30mm Command Base, 9 x 40mm x 30mm Infantry Bases (NAPT1 - £13.99)

• Kaamados Dominion Vivipara Infantry Platoon - Contains: 23 x Vivpara Infantry, 6 x Vivipara Slug Cannons, 1 x 30mm x 30mm Command Base, 9 x 40mm x 30mm Infantry Bases (VPPT1 - £13.99)

• Kaamados Dominion Agaamid Infantry Platoon - Contains: 23 x Agaamid Infantry, 6 x Agaamid Plasma Launchers, 1 x 30mm x 30mm Command Base, 9 x 40mm x 30mm Infantry Bases (AGPT1 - £13.99)

• Kaamados Dominion Draco Aganath Maxima Battle Suit Platoon - Contains: 15 x Draco Aganath Maxima Battle suits, 1 x 30mm x 30mm Command Base, 7 x 40mm x 30mm Infantry Bases (DAPT1 - £29.99)

• Kaamados Dominion Draco Aganath Imperator Battle Suit Platoon - Contains: 8 x Draco Aganath Imperator Battle suits, 15 x Squamata Auxiliaries, 1 x 30mm x 30mm Command Base, 7 x 40mm x 30mm Infantry Bases (DAPT2 - £20.99)

• Kaamados Dominion Draco Aganath Prisca Battle Suit Platoon - Contains: 8 x Draco Aganath Prisca Battle suits, 15 x Squamata Auxiliaries, 1 x 30mm x 30mm Command Base, 7 x 40mm x 30mm Infantry Bases (DAPT3 - £20.99)

• Kaamados Dominion Squamata Imperialis Assault Group - Contains: 47 x Squamata Imperialis, 1 x Vivipara Infantry, 1 x 30mm x 30mm Command Base, 9 x 40mm x 30mm Infantry Bases (SQPT1 - £14.99)

• ARC Fleet Srike Force - Gruntz Starter Army - Contains: 1 x Force Commander, 1 x Medic, 18 x Rifle Infantry (3 Squads), 3 x Rifles Support Weapons, 1 x Medium Tank, 1 x Scout Walker, 1 x Missile Support Walker (AFGZ1 - £40.00)

• Protolene Scout Srike Force - Gruntz Starter Army - Contains: 1 x Force Commander, 36 x Protolene Scouts w/Laser Carbines (6 Squads), 2 x Protolene Scouts w/Assault Laser Support Weapons, 2 x Protolene Scouts w/Particle Cannon Support Weapons, 2 x Protolene Scouts w/Sniper Rifle Support Weapons, 6 x Ayame Scout Battle suits, 1 x Ayame Khan Battle suits (PRGZ1 - £40.00)

• Protolene Hunter Srike Force - Gruntz Starter Army - Contains: 1 x Force Commander, 24 x Protolene Hunters w/Rifle (4 Squads), 2 x Protolene Hunters w/Assault Laser Support Weapons, 2 x Protolene Hunters w/Particle Cannon Support Weapons, 3 x Ayame Hunter Battle suits, 2 x Marrok Hunter Battle suits (PRGZ2 - £40.00)

• Protolene Predator Srike Force - Gruntz Starter Army - Contains: 1 x Force Commander, 12 x Protolene Predator Infantry (2 Squads), 2 x Protolene Okami Assault Walkers, 3 x Ayame Predator Battle suits, 1 x Marrok Predator Battle suits (PRGZ3 - £40.00)

• Kaamados Horde - Gruntz Starter Army - Contains: 1 x Naga Force Commander, 18 x Vivipara Infantry (3 Squads), 3 x Vivipara w/Slug Cannon Support Weapons, 22 x Squatmata Infantry (2 Squads), 2 x Vivpara Squamata unit Leaders, 1 x Dragamaa Heavy Tank (w/3 weapons options), 1 x Gekotaa Armoured Car (w/3 weapon options) (KAGZ1 - £40.00)

• Kaamados Heavy Infantry Cohort - Gruntz Starter Army - Contains: 1 x Naga Force Commander, 6 x Naga w/Pistols & Combat Claws (1 Squad), 6 x Naga w/Rifles (1 Squad), 1 x Naga w/Assault Cannon Support Weapon, 12 x Agaamid Infantry (2 Squads), 2 x Agaamid w/Plasma Launcher Support Weapon, 6 x Draco Maxima (1 Squad), 1 x Draco Imperator (Support Weapon), 4 x Draco Imperator Squamata Crew, 1 x Draco Prisca (Support Weapon), 4 x Draco Prisca Squamata Crew (KAGZ2 - £40.00

• Kaamados Mechanised Infantry Cohort - Gruntz Starter Army - Contains: 1 x Naga Force Commander, 6 x Naga w/Rifles (1 Squad), 1 x Naga w/Assault Cannon Support Weapon, 12 x Agaamid Infantry (2 Squads), 2 x Agaamid w/Plasma Launcher Support Weapon, 3 x Dractamaa APCs (w/5 turret variants), 1 x Gekotaa Armoured Car (w/3 weapon options) (KAGZ3 - £40.00)

Cheers

Mark

.

The Walking Dead

.

Begins on Channel 5 tonight at 10.00pm! And if Zombies weren't enough pull to watch this show, then it must be the gorgeous pony-tailed Laurie Holden, who you'll remember as the motorcycle cop co-starring alongside Radha Mitchell in Silent Hill.

More later...............

Later...... OK, contrived in places but overall, great Zombie fare. The 28 Days Later style of beginning leaves the horror and reasons behind the outbreak to our imaginations. The central protagonist has to go through a sudden gear shift of realisation at the new reality..... I like it so far.

Cheers

Mark

.

Force on Force: Free Form Campaign

Still undergoing tests for my collapse at work, so it's been quietly distracting this week to be able to reach for Osprey Publishing's new Force on Force and just dip into the pages.

The free-form campaign rules included within Force on Force have me hooked. Small scale, simple, encourage play and feed results straight back into the next game. Reminiscent of FAD v4. I played them campaign through on paper a couple of times and found it reminded me of the excerpt from "War" by Sebastian Junger I read last summer in one of the saturday broadsheets.

as a result created the small break away province of Slavikova within Eli's Crisis in Alcovia blog. Where the militias have taken over and the region needs to be brought back under control.

What I particularly like is the fact that there's no one size fits all approach. The campaign can be played from either a "regular" or insurgent perspective, where you get to build the insurgency through your military prowess on the battlefield. Needless to say, lot's of potential for a Ghost Recon style campaign, chronicling the headaches of Starshina Grojny and his Motor Rifle Platoon, plus near future, post apocalypse and military orientated Fi settings.

Cheers

Mark

.

DIRTFALL: Khurasan Miniatures 15mm Spacers

.

Unexpectedly at home today and cheered up immensely by the arrival of a red cross parcel of 15mm miniatures from Jon at Khurasan Miniatures.

TTC-2501 DPLS Crew (Spacers) - What can I say? Buy these. They are simply magnificent in the flesh, so to speak. This...this is like having Hasslefree doing 15's!

And what better miniatures could there be to celebrate passing the 250,000th page view since June 1st last year. 

Cheers

Mark

.

Zombies, Girls with Guns, World War One, Oh My!

.

Is think I prefer this version of the Battle of the Somme. Seriously, well, semi-seriously, will Sucker Punch make World War One bigger than Weird/1946 Nazi fodder?

The right walkers and similar 'mechanicals' could make the trench battles of WW1 much more interesting. Don't get me wrong, I studied trench warfare tactics and have played great trench games in the past. I have 2 regiments  of 15mm Peter Pig Late War Hun, plus a Sturmbattalione of Strosstruppen and Brits to boot.

But now thinking with my Sci Fi battle bowler on, certainly an excuse to brush off my 15mm Tommies and those new ArtCrime Productions Valkyrie Battlesuits may just be the trick for WW1 mechanical combat assault troops.

I've heard Suck Punch described as a Fetish Model Zombie Inception Flick. Perfect wargames nirvana then! An excellent excuse to field Khurasan's leather clad Jollina Jo-eli to lead my gas-masked Feld Grau minions for the Kaiser.

Mmm...maybe some mileage in this. Absolutely barking, but mileage nevertheless.

Cheers
Mark
.

INCOMING: Critical Mass Games Reworked Buildings

.

Dale at Critical Mass Games has reworked Arc Fleet buildings AFBD 7, 9, 11, & 13 to give them a more robust appearance. These will make their debut at Salute on April 16th.  The set (AFBD2) will be available at a show discount of £45.00.

Critical Mass Games 15mm Sci Fi

Arc Fleet Building Set 2

The two I particularly like and want to highlight are AFBD9 Armoury and AFBD13 Armoured Command Centre (pictured below):

The new command centre deserves to be surrounded by 'Vietnam' dug in bunkers and weapon pits as the centre of operations in in 'bug country'. It would be nice if an alternative but equally armoured two story version was available that could be used as a flight control centre on the edge of a combat air strip or first foot spaceport.

If you want to see more views of all the reworked Arc Fleet buildings, visit the Critical Mass Games Forum.

Cheers

Mark

.