Odds and ends for the week...

We didn't see as many new 15mm items this week as last, but there are definitely a few things we need to mention.  In addition to the release of the Blasters & Bulkheads rules, we have a few minis... new and old... to put on our Christmas lists.

ArtCrime Productions have released Makat, Nationalist, and Fed starter forces for their flagship Valkyrie game.  Each set includes 250 points worth of minis, along with the PDF version of  the Valkyrie rulebook.  Or if you just want to use ArtCrime's great minis in your own games, Mechanized Infantry Platoons are also available.

For brand new minis, Khurasan Miniatures released the Federal Police/Security Guards.   These are lightly armed, lightly armored, and would be ideal for small skirmishes in urban settings.  They are also valuable minis for anyone collection a Human Colonial force in Alien Squad Leader.

And on the opposite end of the spectrum, RAFM has resurrected the ancient Martian Metals Traveller Grav Armor range.  They are certainly older designs, but they still hold up against today's releases.  And talk about heavy metal - the vehicles themselves are 100% finger-smashing pewter castings.  The interior detail kit for the APC is resin - and a pretty neat piece for diorama modelers.

Cheers,
Chris

Warning - Tekhnolog ZOD "15mm" Plastics

A range of Russian toys was recently brought to the attention of the TMP 15mm community.  They are from a company called Tekhnolog, supposedly for the ZOD 15mm battle game.  There are several different items available on eBay - mecha, flyers, tons of tanks, and an infantry sprue.  They certainly looked interesting - who hasn't thought about 15mm plastics?  So a few gamers (including me) took the plunge and bought a few items.

The results?  Pretty darn bad.  The detail is soft and the plastic is low-quality - I had several broken (and missing) items in the box.  The most glaring problem - all of the vehicles are roughly 1/144 scale, not 1/100.  The tanks are roughly the length of Matchbox cars, and the Mech hatches and cockpits are so undersized that even Games Workshop wouldn't try to sell them.   

Now, because some TMP'ers can't get past the "ooh, shiny!" factor, there are heaps of justifications on those boards.  Everything from "The mechs could be large battle robots" to "there are plenty of light tanks and tracks in the real world with an even smaller footprint than that."  Well, these aren't supposed to be Wiesel AWC- or FV101 Scorpion-sized vehicles.  These are clearly designed to be futuristic Abrams or Challengers.  Don't try to rationalize yourself into buying the tanks and giving them a different purpose - they just aren't worth it.  And maybe the Mechs could be used for conversions, but why buy these when we have so many good walker options in the 15mm market already?

I have contacted the individual selling these, both via TMP and eBay.  I asked that the listings be changed from 1/100 to 1/144, so they could at least try to be sold to the right people.  The seller simply said that the manufacturer claims these are 1/100, and has (inaccurately) listed more items since that contact.

And now we move on to the infantry.  Here's the biggest problem of all (credit to Mark H. for seeing it first):

Look familiar?  They should.  They are slightly modified recasts of Ground Zero Games' SG15-F01 FSE Legionnaires in Helmets.  

I wish I'd taken a detailed look at the eBay seller's feedback before I bothered with these.  This seller has already been caught recasting Forge World minis.  So it shouldn't be a surprise that they would steal from someone else - namely GZG.  I brought these to Jon's attention - he confirmed that he gave no permission or license for his minis to be recast by Tekhnolog.  Producing these figures is theft, plain and simple.  

Even after all this, I know some of you are still wanting to find a way to use them in your 15mm games.  People, I can't tell you how to spend your money - throw it away if you like.  But please think about these last few points before you do:

1. This company (or someone at it) is a thief and a re-caster.  The infantry were stolen from GZG.  It's a good bet the vehicles are also not original designs - we just haven't yet discovered where they were stolen from.
2. These are not 15mm vehicles or mecha.  Yes, I can read.  No, I don't care what the manufacturer says they are.  These are 1/144 vehicles, and you can't just say they are light tanks or robots and call it a day. And if you are a 1/144 gamer?  Even with the low price, these are flimsy and poorly-detailed toys compared to miniatures from Reaper or DP9.
3. Yes, these are cheap.  How unlimited is your wargaming budget?  Would spending a single penny on these deprive you of a purchase from GZG, Khurasan, Rebel, Combat Wombat, Old Crow, Mad Robot, Critical Mass, Micropanzer, Astro Minis, or anyone else we see on this blog?  When it comes right down to it - who would you rather support? 

Cheers,

Chris

Blasters & Bulkheads Released!

The Dropship caught up with Scott Pyle author of the blog Four-Color Figures to find out about Scott’s new wargames rules, Blasters & Bulkheads. Scott was kind enough to me a give a peak at the pre-publication draft of the game and respond to the questions I bombarded him with!

So first off, what is Blasters & Bulkheads (B&B)? B&B provides rules and scenarios for playing skirmish games in a science fiction universe of exploration, adventure, and cosmic mysticism. These rules strive to emulate conflict with a “Space Opera” or “Science-Fantasy” flavour rather than near future, hard science fiction conflicts. You've probably noticed something a "not-Star Wars" theme from the pictures... This is a table top wargames rule set for fast-moving, heroic or “cinematic” skirmishes.

Whilst this isn’t a detailed review (there's a good, more detailed, review over on TMP), it’s worth mentioning that the goal system is based on a simple system of successes (or ‘goals’) achieved on a fixed target number of 4+ on one or more d6, with a 6 counting as two goals. The number of goals achieved in a roll is counted against a required target number based on the difficulty of a task or the power of a weapon for example.

Characters are made up of 4 attributes: Strength, Agility, Mind and Resolve rated in terms of numbers of dice, as well as a variety of background traits, combat skills, special traits and equipped with a variety of weapons and equipment.

The system is IGOUGO, with players determining initiative each turn with dice roles and taking turns to move characters or units in descending order of initiative until all models have had the opportunity to move and the turn ends.

DH: First up, what makes Blasters & Bulkheads different from the 15mm science fiction wargames rules available already?

Scott: Blasters & Bulkheads has been written as a small group action, character driven skirmish game.  It contains rules and material inspired by the Space Opera genre.  It is less hard sci-fi and more cinematic sci-fi.

DH: What's special, innovative or interesting about the Goalsystem?

Scott: Goalsystem has been around since 2002, and it has grown and matured over time.  It utilizes a D6-based dice pool mechanic to help players decide the action.  It features henchmen rules that allow players to move a lot of models around with minimal bookkeeping, a full-fledged campaign system, a system for mysterious powers, and a character-driven sensibility.

DH: A large proportion of 15mm sci fi gamers seem to want to wargame 'hard' sci fi conflict between platoon to company sized 'conventional' forces, do you think there's a market for a smaller scale 'space opera' alternative?

Scott: I sure hope so!  Of course, you adjust the measurements to play with 28mm figures, but I wrote this with 15mm figures in mind. I believe 15mm fans will also want to delve into skirmish, playing their games out on 2' x 2' squares, or even in non-traditional environments like old space-ship toys or play-sets.  These sorts of pieces can be re-purposed nicely as play environments for 15mm skirmish.  Also, imagine how much farther your resin Dwarven Forge sci-fi corridors will go in 15mm.

DH: What type / size of forces do you need to build in order to play Blasters & Bulkheads?

Scott: At the minimum, you'll need 3 figures per side, but most warbands will consist of 4 - 5 character models and a 5-10 henchmen group.

DH: When are the "Space Knights" used in many of the pictures in Blasters & Bulkheads  and on your blog going to be available?

Scott: Great question!  I am hoping they'll be available by January, 2012. Blue Moon has been really busy with a host of other products, so we'll see.  The idea is to release the two figures you've seen the Four-Color Figures blog along with at least a half-dozen others. Thanks for the opportunity to answer questions on Blasters & Bulkheads!

Blasters & Bulkheads is available now from www.wargamesdownloads.com. For $9.95 you get the full-color version (at 101 pages) and the printer-friendly, largely black and white, version (at 100 pages). You can also view full colour sample pages here.

Several of the Dropship crew are now planning to putting together forces to play this fun looking rule set! It's a great excuse to paint up Khurasan Miniatures' DPLS Crew, some of the figures from the Laserburn range, some of excellent Mercs from Critical Mass Games or a host of other unique and interesting 15mm sci fi figures!

New Releases This Week

We already showed you preview pics of Brigade Models' new Mudd Eisley-style dwellings.  Tony has made them available for sale this week:

Meanwhile, Khurasan Miniatures has reinforced the Federal Army with a few new items.  The infantry forces receive the Smart Mortar Army Team and the Medical Diorama, and the DIMOG Walkers receive a conversion kit to make these beauties:

We also showed you preview pics of Ravenstar Studios' upcoming heavy walkers earlier this month.  Those are now available, along with a host of drone walkers and other goodies:

And finally, for all you VSF 15mm gamers, Lead Bones has added some Hard Suits and two different sizes of Alien Pods to their Pulp range.

Apologies if we missed anyone else's goodies.  What an eventful week for 15mm Sci Fi!


Cheers,
Chris


SATURDAY EDIT: 15mm.Co.Uk also released some Heavy Weapons for their Cultists range.  As with most of their offerings, you can buy these as single castings if you don't want a full pack.

Combat Wombat's "Holy Crap it's Almost Christmas" Sale

To celebrate Scotty's recent bout of pneumonia, Combat Wombat Miniatures is having a sale.  (don't try to make sense of it - just enjoy it!)  

WZ-1551 MICV

Through 15 December, orders under $100 (before shipping) are 10% off.  Orders Over $100 (before shipping) are 20% off.

Bullfrog Landing Craft

CWM recently started to accept money orders, as well as traditional PayPal.  Antibiotics may also be valid currency, subject to local laws.

Scorpion Recce with optional brass barrel

If you've had an eye on any Combat Wombat vehicles or buildings, or just want to use some of his brass barrels to upgrade your existing armor, now is the perfect time to buy!

Cheers,

Chris

Preview: Grunts Imperator Mecha

Robin Fitton got in touch with the Dropship Crew and shared some sneak peek photos of the Gruntz Imperator 60 ton mecha. You might have seen the concept sketch of it in the main rulebook, but here it is in the resin (which in Robin's words is "a bit rough")! The final model will be in metal though and stands about 80mm tall.

The legs will be posable to make it either standing or walking and some torso twisting is possible as well. It comes with a particle cannon, a missile launcher and the multi-barrel cannon lying in front of it. The metal master has been cast and ready to go into production so we should hopefully see the Imperator available for sale before the New Year.

There are three more mecha from Gruntz in the pipeline as well (you can see one on the Gruntz front page). They range from smaller to larger with one that might be almost twice the size of the Imperator! So get your mech pilots ready...

While it's not up for pre-order quite yet, you can head over to the Gruntz Yahoo group and voice your interest to help gauge how large the initial production run should be.