The shortest month of the year is here and people are already rushing to give me tons of stuff to look at! Not as many as we have had in previous weeks but still a very good mix of crowd funding, new releases, previews and more!
As always, thanks to the News Fans and other patrons over on the ChargeBlog patreon for buying my time to make this wrap-up each week. If you like these roundups and find them useful, why not chip in on the Patreon?
Spectre Miniatures Launches New Hub Pages And Scenario
Spectre Miniatures are in the process of updating its website and, as part of it, has rolled out several hub pages around Spectre Operations. The Main page includes the core rulebook, a quick overview and a central location for finding links to scenarios, Additional Rules (such as the Solo/NPC rules), Errata and Gameplay videos. There are also two hub pages for the Task Force Operators and Law Enforcement factions, bringing together the products that match the two list builders for those groups.
In addition to these updates, the Scenarios page also has a new downloadable PDF for Operation Harridan, an asset extraction mission pitching Task Force Jackal against the local Militia in an attempt to recover an Agency asset. The mission is presented in the same style as the main rulebook and provides a good framework for both sides to build up their forces and theme them around a convoy ambush mission, without stating specific forces.
Final Week For Breacher Pre-Order
At time of writing, we have less than 4 days left on the pre-order campaign for Black Site Studios‘s latest game Breacher. The game has hit over $37.5k in funding, stormed through its stretch goals (including the two most important ones) and is looking to be a very exciting set once it releases in June 2024.
Bobmack3d Kickstarter Rumbles On
The latest Bobmack3d Kickstarter Schwerpunkt is rumbling on, and storming up the stretch goal list. We’ve already unlocked new items such as the M113A1G shown above as well as (importantly for Ultramodern gamers) the Leopard 2A5 and Marder 1A3 used during operations in Afghanistan. From what Bobmack has been saying, it is highly likely this Kickstarter will hit all the goals, giving a rather fantastic collection for anyone backing it.
Black Hills Games Release British Infantry
Black Hills Games has released a set of British Army Infantry figures. The seven riflemen come with separate heads (with 4 varieties to choose from). For anyone who missed the January release, the set is already on the Gumroad site to purchase. This first set is only armed with the L85 but a follow-up release will add all the section-level weapons you’d need to build up a basic element. There is still some discussion over what else will be in that pack so stand by for previews
Combat Octopus Shows Off Heavy Firepower
Combat Octopus has shown off a WIP of the NSV Heavy machine gun, coming with the upcoming release. He’s gone over some of the interesting challenges with this weapon vs the M2 .50cal he’s made previously, mostly all the fiddly bits. I’m quite excited for this upcoming set as tripod-mounted heavy weapons can occasionally be a pain in the ass to get hold of.
Modern Miniatures Figuring Out New Releases
Modern Miniatures has revealed on Discord that he’s been adding to his skillset and working on learning how to sculpt figures. The figure on the left is the first one he has shown off printed and painted up, well-armed with a drum-mag equipped AK. However, I can see a lot of people being very interested in the other preview he has shown off – an Operator looking ready to man a turret gun. This type of release has been asked about for a while, and Modern Miniatures will be bringing him to an upcoming campaign.
SkullForge Studios Reveal First Rubicon Sets
SkullForge Studios finished off last month with an additional release that included two packs for the new Rubicon range. Rubicon sounds very much like a Twilight 2000-esque skirmish game range, set in the aftermath of a nuclear exchange. The first two sets cover the Polish Solidarity fighters (armed with PM-84 Glauberyt SMG among the more usual weapons) while the Bloc Marauders are local criminals armed with a variety of kit (including an AR pattern rifle that may have been delivered to Poland by a certain 3 letter agency). Skullforge has said they aren’t planning to release much more for Rubicon for a little bit, wanting to take the time to build up the setting before digging in.
Additionally, on the Discord, SkullForge has announced that their Ultramodern releases going forward will trend slightly away from the realistic and more towards horror such as SCP due to personal preferences.
Urban Scatter Gaming Previews Feb Plans
Finally, Urban Scatter Gaming has kicked off the month with a little bit of an update post. Last month had originally planned to include an urban garage piece, however, there were some issues that could not be fixed by the time the month ended. Instead, we’re getting the garage this month, along with a larger two-door version ideal for skirmishing around.
Additionally, and I know quite a few people who will be very excited about this, this month will also include pieces suitable for a Central/Southern American-style cemetery. Currently on the list are tombs, gravestones and mausoleums but other items could be potentially added. I think this is a great theme to include and the fact it comes in the same month as the large release above is going to be great to see.
If you want to support my work on gathering the news together, my Patreon is the best way to keep things going. With a minimal cost of £1 a month, every little helps to keep the news spigot flowing and to let me cover more of the suppliers out there.
Of course, if you are a REAL news fan, there is a brand new tier called, shockingly, News Fan. For £5 a month (or £1.25ish a news post), you can guarantee you’ll get your weekly dose of news updates.
If you think the news is only okay but would like to see me actually do some hobbying, then you can join the Board of Shadowy Figures for £7.50. This group will, before the start of every month, vote from a selection of mini-projects I have in the pipe and tell me which one to work on this month. I’ll then do my best to work on it and by the end of the month report back with my success or failure in a little post. If that sounds exciting, it’s available for you!