Tag Archives: WIP

Support Cyberpunk Horror

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What’s this?  An appeal to donate money to a new charity for man machines that do grotesque things?  No, its just a catchy title for this posting which concerns what I have been up to over the stretch of yet another Bank Holiday in the UK.  Aside from talking Flintloque with Eve Hallow and a few other things I have been putting to bed three new paid for PDF downloads to be added to the growing list of such that 15mm.co.uk sells.

Released back in time for Salute 2012 this year there have been a number of wargamers eagerly awaiting the time when UM010 Support Pack, UM011 Cyberpunk and UM013 Eldritch Horror would be put out for use on computer screens, portable devices and the infamous ‘ease print’ for a cheap hard copy too; all for the princely sum of just five dollars.  Each of them involves little in the way of real work (well as I would count it) but it needs a dozen or more hours of digital layouts for the purpose designed files for screen viewing and searching.  I have had close to a hundred emails saying how much this is appreciated as few company’s seem to take this time and simply issue a PDF of the print file which often does not display properly and is not tagged for searching.

Each time a new release is made for USE ME I sit back and think of how great it is to see the series grow.  I have said before that I did not expect thousands of copies sold, magazine and blog coverage, a frankly awesome day of sales at Salute 2012 or the constant ping of download versions flying off to far off lands.  All from my own home brewed rules set.  It will soon be time to set up an account and then make these and the rest of the digital titles available through specialised online sellers of such versions.  Not to mention the next new print titles too.

Release is going to be end of this week with an email campaign too courtesy of Mail Chimp.   If you are reading this later than that then refer to the below.

If you want to learn about USE ME then go along to 15mm.co.uk to see the series.

GBS

WIP – USE ME Cyberpunk rules as a download

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A page from the download edition of UM011

This has been a tough week for me a lot of work on and not a lot of free time to go with it.  Next week proves to be much the same but it also has my eldest’s tenth birthday to look forward to but more on that next week!

In the time I have had I took a project from the pile and decided to try and get it done in the twenty or so hours I had spare.  What is this project you say!  Well it is the conversion of UM011 USE ME Cyberpunk from a printed title into a dedicated PDF electronic title.  When it is released it will be added to the growing list of PDF titles which already includes most of the USE ME series and also MOTH as well.  Like the others it will have three parts, full colour separate cover, a full colour main body and an ‘ease print’ plain version of the main body.   All in a zipped file for just $5.00.  Bargain!

15mm.co.uk has done well with PDF versions of its USE ME Series with electronic sales being about twenty percent of the total compared to print.  So far UM001 USE ME Science Fiction is the best selling and most popular but this does not surprise me as it is also the bigger paper seller too and it into its third print run!

I take some time over the conversion to electronic from print as I for one do not like it when I purchase a download only to find it is just a scanned version of the print book.   The files I produce are designed from the outset to be read on screen and as such feature bookmarks, links and other live material for easy navigation and use.  On top of this the ‘ease print’ version is for those who want to go to a copy shop or home print their purchase; it has all of the artwork, colour, table graphics removed leaving plain text.  It takes some extra time but from the email we get wargamers appreciate it and I am all about customer satisfaction!

There are a few dedicated miniature packs for this title including my personal favourite of the year so far…the Corporate Ashigaru.

HOF76 Corporate Ashigaru

I cannot give you a release date for this yet but it will be in the next month or so I imagine.

GBS

Tabletop Wargaming blog goes live!

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Today is a grand day as it is the day that I release my own purpose build wargame blog on the world!  TableTopWargamer.Blogspot.Co.Uk

This blogger blog is quite seperate to my presence here and it will only deal with my wargaming projects.  These projects will include everything I do personally and for the company too including playtesting, battle reports, figure painting and more.  So if you see something on Barking Irons Online from this point it will most likely be on TableTopWargamer too.

Why announce this today…well its down to the first project I have undertaken on TableTopWargamer.  Scenarios for HOF Fire-Team.  The first of these has just gone live and you can see here and look at an AAR on the scenario on the new blog too.  Nice tie in eh!

I will make some announcements here about TableTopWargamer but the two sites are very different beasts so there will be little in common posting’s wise.  See you on the bloggosphere!

GBS

15mm Renaissance Range – Ink & Photos

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Stained fingers and a sense of satisfaction this week with the end to a two week project to get the Altous range of 15mm Renaissance Historicals complete and up on to the page of 15mm.co.uk.  The whole range is now online and while marketing and so on will be a wee while off it is a weight off my mind to have it done.

I do not know how many of you who read this blog work in the wargame industry (it will not be most of you) but many of you are wargamers who regularly paint their miniatures and add to their collections.  You know the effort this takes in the planning and preparation…well let me tell you its nothing compared to this.  Over one hundred codes from master molds with no existing images to be sorted, identified, washed with ink, dried, labelled, photographed, edited, coded, added to catalogues and then to 15mm.co.uk itself.  I took this whole thing on myself and triple checked everything to avoid errors.  But now that it is done it means these pictures and the code list will exist for evermore.

Enjoy the images below and if you wish to see them all then pop along to the Altuos range pages.

I did enjoy this experience over all and I think I will tackle the next one later this year (the much larger Napoleonic 15mm range!).  Just makes you appreciate it when you visit a website and there are pictures of the products…this takes a lot of time and effort…I know!

GBS

An Advert for MW352 Magazine

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It is that time again.  A wee bit of graphic design to create an advert for the August 2012 Issue of Miniatures Wargames magazine.   I used the same basic shape and template that I did the Issue 351 or July issue but the subject matter is rather different.  This time the whole Altuos range of 15mm Renaissance Historicals gets the glossy treatment that it has so long deserved.  Expect to see this one in the shops in a few weeks time at most.  Click on it to see it larger.

Some people have told me that magazine advertising in the wargaming industry is as dead as a dodo since everyone now only wants to look at blogs and online groups for their news and ideas.  Perhaps this is so but we will find out.  Some of those same people have said that one of the worst ideas is to advertise something as unfashionable as 15th to 17th century historicals but lets just say that I not only have faith in this superb range brought back from dusty ruin but also that I like a challenge.  I have done my best so it will be up to MW and Andrew Hubback to see if 15mm.co.uk will see a return on this advert.

But its not all about money, far from it.  These are super miniatures and they were for the most part VERY popular in the 1980’s.  While part of the range has been re-released for some time I have not gotten around to the rest of it but knowing this advert is steaming towards the presses will make me hurry up!  To that end expect a posting on this very blog about inky hands and a load of photos of 17th century figures and artillery real soon.

GBS

Re-Releasing classic Space Marines

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Way back and I mean way back when a company called Asgard released some excellent miniatures in their science fiction range.  That was around about 1980 and for many years these miniatures have not been on general release but that is about to change!  I have been working towards this re-release onto Alternative Armies website for some time and now it has all come together for Friday 15th June 2012.

SM3 Space Marine in full battle armour

SM3a Space Marine flying

HA5 Adventurer with Laser Pistol

As you can see these 25mm scale white metal miniatures are classics and very striking.  Quite unlike anything made now they have a rather Robert Heinlein look to them according to artist Sam Croes.

Here is a listing of the miniatures which includes all of the Space Marines and also the Adventurers too.  While 25mm scale these match up well in height terms with todays 28mm designs especially the SM3, SM9 codes which are actually bloody big even for today.

25mm Classic Science Fiction.

ASGARD SPACE MARINES
SM1 Space Marine in full armour £1.50
SM2 Space Marine in light space armour £1.50
SM3 Space Marine in full battle armour £2.00
SM3a Space Marine in full battle armour flying £4.00
SM4 Psionic Marine with Psionic blaster £1.50
SM5 Space Trooper with Force Axe in Battle Armour £1.50
SM6 Space Trooper advancing with A.P.Rifle £1.50
SM7 Space Trooper kneeling Firing Energy Mortar £1.50
SM8 Space Trooper Captain £1.50
SM9 Large Battle Droid £2.50

SM11 Heavy Mortar + 2 Trooper Crew £4.00
SM12 Loader (included in SM11)
SM13 Officer (included in SM11)

HUMAN ADVENTURERS
HA2 Pirate with assault Rifle £1.50
HA3 Pirate with Laser Pistol £1.50
HA4 Pirate with Force Blade £1.50
HA5 Adventurer with Laser Pistol £1.50
HA6 Adventuress with Laser Pistol £1.50
HA7 Female Bounty Hunter £1.50
HA8 Male Bounty Hunter with Rifle £1.50
TSF6 Szithk Reptilian with laser pistol £1.50

I fancy writing some missions for MOTH with these in them.  Perhaps a rogue world with its own technology on the edge of Prydian Space.  I can see it now Retained Knights against Asgard Space Marines.  Bliss!

GBS

Flintloque special scenarios for the big UK summer 2012 events

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Sharke Rides!

This summer the UK has two big events on the go for 2012.  These are the Olympics and the Queens Diamond Jubilee which take place on the 27th July to 12th August and the 2nd to 5th June with the Jubilee coming first.

I would like to do my part to celebrate these two fantastic events (as I watch them from all the way up here in Scotland) so there will be three brand new free Flintloque scenarios put up on Barking Irons Online.  These will be put up on or around the big days for each event and will be themed to those events.  Here is a little sneak peek at what to expect:

Diamonde Jubliees – The Goblin Queen is celebrating her ascension to the throne of Al-Garvey and her guest Kyng Gorge of Albion, upon visiting her, has given her a gift of diamonds. Now those diamonds are in danger. Can the Blacke Watchit protect two monarchs and the jewels?  A bonkers scenario for two players for Flintloque 3rd edition.

Visting a Kyng – Obidiah Hogswill is a nasty piece of work but sometimes he aids the Army of Albion indirectly by his actions.  The deserter general and his minions have found out that a deposed Elvish princess has become the lover of a Dark Elf noble allied to the Elves of Armorica who is promising to seduce Kyng Gorge III!  This princess is rumoured to have a sizable fortune in jewels among her baggage and Obidiah means to have them…after all Muvver says they is rightfully his!  A trecherous scenario for two players for Flintloque 3rd edition.

Sharke’s Olympnik – Captain Sharke has stolen the box of medals that Marshal Sault plans to give out to his best officers.  Now Sharke and his fellow Orcs must ride like the wind to escape not only a chasing squadron of Elf Lancers but also scattered troops from the Army of Armorica who bar their way.  An exciting two player ‘steeple chase’ moving table scenario for Flintloque 3rd edition.

Each scenario will be a full length and is designed for two players and or solo play too.

GBS

WIP – Diamonde Jubilees

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I am just about done penning a Flintloque scenario for Barking Irons Online.  Due to family matters this has taken me a lot longer than the normal four to six hours plus playtest.  But I do hope to have ‘Diamonde Jubilees’ over to Craig at BIO on Monday for use shortly afterwards.  As normal I do not want to give a lot away as it will spoil the surprise but I can tell you all a little bit about it.

Diamonde Jubliees
A Flintloque Scenario for Two Players or for Solo Play

“The Goblin Queen is celebrating her ascension to the throne of Al-Garvey and her guest Kyng Gorge of Albion, upon visiting her, has given her a gift of diamonds. Now those diamonds are in danger. Can the Blacke Watchit protect two monarchs and the jewels?”

—

‘Oh Gorgy porgy these sparklies are most delightful!’

Queen Maria, the ruler of the Goblin lands of Al-Garvey, danced around the knees of the towering Ogre king of Albion. He had only just arrived in the town of Peptiobisimol in the western part of the kingdom after travelling from Lisabone in pursuit of the Queen. Maria had been hard to find and while Gorge was happy to see her she was acting in rather an odd manner and this dancing was quite unseemly for a lady. He gazed down at her and spoke quietly.

‘Ma’m I am happy you like the gifts but why are we out here in the remotest country while the court resides in the capital?’

Maria stopped her dancing and beckoned for Gorge to lean down so she could whisper in his ear. The ruler of the biggest Empyre on Valon was not used to having to accommodate others but he agreed with a sigh and began to descend. This took him some time and he ended up sitting on the floor with his regal robes all around him. His dozen or so guards of the famous Blacke Watchit regiment remained impassive but he knew that they would be repeating this spectacle to every other damned Joccian they met. Even sitting he still had to lower his huge head so Maria could whisper to him.

‘I just wanted a little private party Gorgy, you know. You, me, the furry ones and Crispin of course. I just love the rubies though. Makes me want to go out in the sun and show them off!’

As she spoke she hopped on to Kyng Gorge’s lap and threw her hands about his tree trunk like neck. He tried not to jump away in shock but he could see ‘Crispin’ the Queen’s aged riding dodo shambling towards them as if this was perfectly normal. Two of the Blacke Watchit now had half smiles on their faces but they went back to stony blankness when the Kyng growled at them. He got to his feet with Maria still dangling from his neck.

‘They ain’t rubies ma’m, them’s diamonds. Finest in the worlde for you on this great day. But perhaps a stroll would be in order. I am sure they will sparkle in the sun and these fine soldiers will keep us safe for an hour or two.”

The Kyng pulled Maria from his neck and gently placed her upon the old Dodo which grunted under the extra weight. Without a word the Queen dug in her heels and trotted for the chamber door and the sunshine. Kyng Gorge strode after her and then turned to his guards.

“Well don’t just stand there. Follow me. Sentinal knows what she will do out there on her own!”

 

This Flintloque scenario is my little contribution to the celebrations of the whole nation of Great Britain and the Commonwealth to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II upon reaching her sixty year milestone as monarch.  An achievement which has only once been equalled before and that was by Queen Victoria.  The Queen is an inspiration and a figure worthy of respect not only due to her station in life but as a person too.

God Bless You Ma’am!

GBS

Article for Irregular Magazine

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After my look at the great free Wargame title Irregular Magazine I struck up a conversation with Dave Barker from the mag and after a chat I offered to write an article for the summer edition (yes, I talk myself into all kinds of things!).  But to my credit when I learned the theme of the issue was to be ‘Mysteries of the East’ it gave me a chance to make use of my knowledge of Japan and Japanese culture.  So I put forward an idea and it was accepted!

More on this when its time but my good friend Sam Croes has agreed to create a piece of art for use with the article.  And what is the article…well did you know that in the 23rd century all disputes in Japan are settled by the use of giant robotic sumo?  I shall say no more.

GBS

Blogger and Wargaming

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Over the last week or so I have watched with  interest some messages posted on The Notables Yahoo Group about why the majority of the wargames I have created or maintain do not have ‘a big presence on the net’.  You might think this strange what with this blog along with the official company websites and Barking Irons Online plus Orcs in the Webbe and other websites all having our material but that is not what the posting was really about.  To me the posting which kicked off this discussion (and confirmed by those who replied to it) was about Blogger.

You see the vast majority of wargamers who are online in their own right use Blogger, a simple and free tool provided by Google, to get their hobby across to the world.  Blogger is a community unto itself in that it links up among its own blogs and its users.  In fact in order to post on blogs like Tony Harwood’s I had to create a ‘Blogger ID’ even though I do not have a blogger blog.  So if you are on Blogger and you search for the wargame products I produce then you will not see them as none of the current online presences we have are part of Blogger.  Makes sense eh!

I had been thinking of putting up my own wargaming experiences, my collection, my terrain and my methods in the form of photos and perhaps video too and this is decided me.  I will do it and I will use Blogger as the platform for it. Separate to my online personal presence here.  When its done you will see all you want to see of my wargaming including the play testing and concept gaming for new games and scenarios.  This will take some time as I am as always ruddy busy with many things but more on this when I have it.

GBS