April has well and truly begun, complete with our first April showers (I’m writing this as a storm pelts the window). But that doesn’t mean we don’t have a pile of new updates from the world of Ultramodern Gaming – as well as a few other things that had to be included. It appears to be Kickstarter Season!
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 Adds More Items To The STL Store
Spectre Miniatures has continued to expand its STL offerings by reaching into its back catalogue and releasing some old favourites. Perhaps most exciting is that you can now purchase the classic LTV and minivan as STLs, ideal no matter if you want to build up your force of Operators rolling hard in armoured vehicles or sneaking around trying to blend in. However, that’s not all – all three of the BTR-related items from the recent Russian release (The BTR-80, the BTR-82/82A and the BM turret add-on) are now all available to print at home.
Finally, some of the character figures we’ve seen previously are now available without having to pay for postage (assuming you have a printer). The hostage set is always useful, while the Russian vehicle crew fit in well alongside the recent figures (seeing as they wear the same Ratnik gear). The peak for me personally though has to be The Dragon Lady – there is something cool about pressure suit gear, the flash of colour among the terrain, a mission gone wrong, all it’s missing is the wreckage.
BenchTest Games Releases “The Stack” Modern Skirmish Rules
A fun one, we have a new entry on the Wargames Rule List – and it doesn’t even need any dice. The Stack is a squad-level tactical skirmish game from a new company BenchTest Games that utilises two decks of cards (or stacks) to handle all the probability-related actions including rolling to hit and for damage. Cards are also used for initiative (with both players drawing a card and comparing) and activation, with the area of a card selecting which figures you can use once you have gained the initiative in a round. There is a great amount of detail included without it feeling too over the top, with rules for things such as body armour providing protection as well as adding to a character’s Bulk rating. Currently available are two items to support the rules – the core rulebook and the Combat Pack that adds more weapons, more special rules for them and an expansion to the Orders system that includes support assets for your fight.
As a bit of disclosure, I’ve had some great chats with the writer behind the rules and even got to give some feedback on the earlier version. I think it’s a really interesting set to play with, the card-based system giving it a different feel and including some great little tweaks to the more common mechanics in the marketplace. I really need to get it on the table before a full write-up, but it’s a good sign of things to come.
Black Site Studios Sends Out Beta PDF of Breacher
Less to link to for this one but if you were part of Black Site Studios‘s pre-order campaign for Breacher (their upcoming game of high-end mercenaries dropping mooks and earning crypto) then you should have received an email telling you that your order has been updated. This is because the beta preview of the rules is now available and ready for one final checkover before printing – the start of the rulebook makes it very clear that the core mechanics are all locked in. The book does miss some things (such as lore, reference pages and the all-important index) but it provides a good glance inside.
The big question though is, how is it looking? Well, I’ve only done a glance through but Breacher to me feels like a game that knows exactly what it wants to be and is going hard for it. This isn’t a game where you’re commanding a force of operators, you’re building up your Breacher from a list of skills, weapons and gear before kicking the door in for a no-holds-barred operation – or you’re preparing to try and hold off a one-man wrecking crew with your gang of goons.
Miska Miniatures Shows Off Motorbikes for Zanganie
It looks like the land of Zanganie is getting some more vehicles to help the civilians get around, in particular the classic set of two wheels for the bumpy roads. Miska Miniatures has shown off three different figures riding around in different poses – I particularly like the figure with the flag in one hand, ideal for a riotous situation or trying to wave down some peacekeepers.
If you’re looking to get those figures and other civilians to fill your board, then you can sign up on the preview page right now!
Black Hills Games Releases Airborne Specialists
The March Release for Black Hills Games is up, bringing US Airborne Specialists to the table. With marksmen, a Javelin team and two different machine guns (including one for vehicle mounting). The set also includes heads with both helmets and boonies, as well as a choice of accessories such as NVGs or tactical glasses.
If you want to pick these up without joining the Patreon, then you can find them on the Black Hills Games Gumroad.
Combat Octopus Releases Criminals, Radicals and Undercover Cops?
It’s a new month and Combat Octopus has released the second part of the Criminal and Radical theme, this time with the combat poses. This set actually includes an additional figure to the usual four, as well as a little sub-theme focusing on slightly more tactical figures, complete with proper two-handed tactical pistol grip, ready to portray undercover police, low-profile special forces (complete with some bonus heads for this particular look), or maybe even the local criminal who vaguely knows what he’s doing. This set has a literal pile of alternative guns at the Sergeant level (including the 3d printed FGC9 so you can 3d print your 3d printed gun just as Xzibit intended) as well as more street-level equipment such as Molotovs.
The Patrons are also voting on the next theme for May-June, with modern US Cops and Heavily Armoured Octopods fighting each other for the top slot. You can probably guess my preferred option, but we’ll see soon how it goes later this week
Modern Miniatures Releases Big City Scatter Pack for April
Alongside the bank robbers shown off last week, Modern Miniatures has been working hard on to release his usual terrain set as well. The scatter set for this month includes a selection of pieces designed for an urban board, ranging from trash containers, vending machines and ATM machines to a rather cool-looking junk car that has seen better days (and fewer bullet holes). It’s a pretty sizable release, ideal for adding those fine touches to your city streets.
Urban Scatter Gaming Shows Off Upcoming Packs
Finally, Urban Scatter Gaming is talking about some upcoming releases. After solving some of the final issues with chain link fences and more, the Recreation Assets release will give you all you need to assemble a sports court, be it for Basketball or football. There is plenty of variety to the assets, with two different types of backboard for the basketball hoop and six different bleacher pieces based on two designs.
For the wider recreation area, the City Park Assets provide plenty of cover to break up the long sight lines of a municipal park. From the coffee stand and toilet block to chairs, tables and benches (and even the rubbish bins), there are some great little items to add the final touch to your table. I really like some of the details on these pieces, such as the wooden boards around the structures (complete with points where the wooden board has been nailed into place) or the rubbish items filling the bins.
Outside of the Ultramodern space, we have a pair of Kickstarters I thought it was worth bringing to everyone’s attention.
Empress Prepares Arnhem Heroes 2
Empress Miniatures is preparing Arnhem Heroes 2, a follow-up to last year’s very successful Arnhem Heroes. With Paul Hicks at the wheel sculpting, we move our attention from the Oosterbeek Perminiter to the larger British Airborne operation, including the deployment of the Polish paratroopers at Driel – the first KS had troops battered after days of fighting, while this set will be a little less ragged. In addition, new support options (such as the 17pdr) and figures representing important characters such as General Urquhart and General Sosabowski.
The Kickstarter launches on the 4th of May 2024 but you can sign up at the Kickstarter page to be notified when it starts.
Flank March Miniatures Launches Lionheart and Powers Through The Stretch Goals
I just missed it last week but Lionheart from Flank March Minaitures is absolutely killing it. I’ve mentioned them before but Flank March Miniatures has sculpted some Brits from the 1980s, with SLRs, GPMGs, DPM and ’58 pattern webbing in full effect. The Patreon, offering STLs of the sculpted figures, covering everything the platoon needs (with multiple poses for the various roles) as well as various support weapons such as the 81mm mortar and the Milan ATGM (including a rather firey backblast). The pack also includes some crew figures and, as an add-on, some of the rather excellent Bobmack vehicles I’ve printed myself. We’re just over a week into the Kickstarter and already it’s into the upper echelons of the stretch goals, adding items to both the free pack (such as senior officers and additional riflemen) and additional addons (such as Bren Gunners, Blowpipe AA teams and the L118 howitzer for when you need the explosive punch). The figures all come with at least four head options, letting you model the regular infantry, Parachute Regiment or Royal Marines (with more regiments coming soon as part of the GREAT BRITISH BERET-OFF).
The Kickstarter is running up until April 22nd but if you just want the actual physical model they are already being sold over at Full Metal Miniatures.
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