New week, new news post. We’ve got plenty of exciting news in this post, from stuff I missed from Spectre last week to upcoming Kickstarters and even some stuff that friends of the site have been getting up to. Without further pause, let’s get to it!
Gunslinger Prepares It’s First Signals Dispatch
Gunslinger is taking a week off as we prepare for the launch of the next range in October. However, we’re not entirely quiet – over on the Flytrap Digital Patreon, we’ve been gathering questions from the backers to include in our first catch-up video. This is going to be a chance for the team behind Gunslinger to talk about the range we’ve just finished as well as providing a sneak peek into what we’re doing next.
You can find the post at this link, and we’ll be recording the video at some point this week.
Spectre Shows off Task Force Fire Support and Covert Actions Details Are Revealed
First up, and due to an error with last week’s post, I didn’t mention the preview that Spectre released early in the week. These four figures definitely show the wide variety of gear that the Task Force Operators coming soon will be carrying. Working from left to right we have figures armed with a Geissele GFR Recce, a SCAR-20S, the SIG MG 338 and the Knight’s Armament LAMG. All the guns are covered with all the attachments you’d expect from a high-end force, with the figures also showing off some nice variety in the smaller details such as the kneepads. The Task Force Operators are the next figure release coming soon, before being followed up by some updated Russians.
This week, however, Spectre provided some more information on a key set of rules for anyone playing modern operations – Covert actions. The latest blog post includes plenty of details about how this is going to work in the new edition, with different Elements having Cover Levels to show how effective they are at remaining undetected even in plain sight of an opposing force. There are some really interesting mechanics mentioned, as well as expanding on civilian rules to bring the battlefield to life.
Enemy Spotted Studios Shows Off October’s Tribe’s Release
Over on My Mini-Factory, the team at Enemy Spotted Studios has released details of next month’s release for the members of Tribe. This Eastern Hazmat team is all rolling short AK74SU carbines with quad rails, as well as full face masks to avoid containments. The figures are described as being the first of a set of spooky/hazmat releases, so potentially we might be seeing some more teams fully masked up.
Anvil Industries Announces The Heist Kickstarter Coming Soon
Something unexpected now from Anvil Industries. To help expand their Regiments system, a new Kickstarter will bring some masked robbers and SWAT operators to the board – this theme has apparently been very popular when voting on the Digital Forge Patreon but only just missing the cut several times. After re-evaluating it, the team at Anvil have decided to give it all the time it needs by expanding it to a full separate campaign rather than cramming it into a single month.
From reading the explanation post on Patreon, this Kickstarter sounds like it’s going to be pretty comprehensive – with 24 masks for the criminals and 10 pre-configured versions of the PASGAT helmet for the police, even these options alone will give you plenty of ways to build you two sides. I’ll link to it once it’s been released, as it seems like the initial weapon choices of SMGs and shotguns (with themed versions for each team) will be expanded on as the Kickstarter moves forward. Alternatively, sign up to be reminded about it here.
But that’s not all! Next month on the Anvil Digital Forge, they will be deploying some Interplanetary Expeditionary forces. Alongside some more Troopery folk, there is a set of parts to assemble your own US Airforce team, complete with the most futuristic weapon an the early 2000s prop department could provide, the P90. There are some nice parts to combine with previous releases as well, such as the new heads and the bodies covered in exploring gear. I can see quite a few people being excited about this release.
Wargames Atlantic Hasn’t Forgotten About Ultramodern Plans
Wargames Atlantic this week reminded everyone of its Vox Populi system, a way to vote for which sets the community would like them to work on next. This is done by putting your money where your mouth is, purchasing votes which are then turned into a discount that can be used elsewhere on the sight.
What’s more interesting is that Modern Insurgents and Modern Operators are still on the list. Plastic ultramodern figures are incredibly rare (aside from the Warlord Games Project Z Operators that occasionally crop up) so seeing Wargames Atlantic still have it on their radar is a good sign. We’ve already seen some previews over the years in the email newsletter they send out, so now we just need to stand by to see when it moves on further.
Medusa Project Returns To The Zone
The news hound at Desk-Ops delivered me this one. Medusa Project, the team behind Unit 9 among other things, is coming back to Kickstarter with another post-apocalyptic survivor set. They ran a previous Kickstarter that produced some rather characterful figures for the lower-tier bandits and Stalkers (currently on My Mini Factory) while this next pack shows off some better-equipped folks. Apparently, backers of the previous Kickstarter have seen little more about exactly what is coming but if it’s anything like the HP Lovecraft Kickstarter they did, you can expect to see plenty of stretch goals filled with even more figures for your zone.
Miska Miniatures Prepares To Launch “Le Coup”
After a few rumblings, this week we finally got the first announcement of what Miska Miniatures has been up to. The next Kickstarter is taking us to Africa, providing the first part of an ongoing story that covers a coup in the country of Zanganie. From this image, you can see two vehicles (a BTR-60 and a modernised Land Cruiser) as well as a selection of fighters armed with Galils (including two on a motorbike). A promising start!
However, we do have a few hints for what exactly might be included. The video above shows off some renders and some test-printed models. I don’t speak French but from the images, you can see both the SF shown previously as well as the local regular fighters shown in the preview images. There is also a mini-van to add to your collection. No date has been announced for the Kickstarter’s release, but you can sign up at this link!
Desk-Ops Releases Soldier Silhouette STLs
If you’ve been keeping an eye on Haywire from The Solo Wargamer (especially his third preview video), you may have noticed some rather snazzy soldier outlines being used as markers on the board. These have been designed and printed by Dan, friend of the site, occasional researcher for this series and supporting technician on Gunslinger who also runs Desk-Ops, a Print on Demand company based in Germany. As well as providing prints for Combat Octopus and Miska Miniatures (and Gunslinger at the start of October), he’s also designed these pieces!
These Silhouettes are available from his site either as STLs or pre-printed in packs of 12. They come in two different styles (Western or Eastern equipment) and are ideal for a whole host of gaming situations. From acting as blips for units your force hasn’t already spotted to lying down on one side to show a casualty marker, I’m definitely going to be getting some of these printed and added to the components box.
Iron Dice Gaming Unleashes The Historical Wargaming Hub on Discord
Iron Dice Gaming, whose members you might know from being part of the Table’s Edge group, running the Ultramodern Wargaming Discord (they are technically my boss on that front) and their blog have kicked off something else. The new Historical Wargaming Hub aims to do for historical gaming what the Ultramodern Wargaming Discord has done for more recent conflicts. With dedicated sections for pretty much any historical period and specific channels for the more popular games, this discord is a great place to come together and chat about all things historical warming.
It’s still in its early stages, but if you want to join in, you can find it by clicking here! I’m much more of a lurker on that server (mostly because I’m busy doing Ultramodern stuff) but its already forming a great little group.
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