Warzone Resurrection the basics

I have had a few people ask me to give a very basic rundown of Warzone Resurrection when it comes to table size, model count, game play and cost. So here is the quick rundown.

Warzone Resurrection is typically played on a 4x4 table but has rules to expand it to a 6x4 for large games. Armies can contain as few as 12 models up to 30 models, it seems that 1k points is becoming the standard game level, but some people are pushing that lately up to 1250pts which I personally think is the sweet spot for WZR.

The rules and army lists are available for free on the website, so you do not have to rush out and buy them right away unless you are dieing to know the fluff right out of the gate. So you can literally start playing for around 75 USD that will get you a faction starter and a set of Warzone templates.

Warzone uses a unique resource mechanic to be able to activate special skills or give models extra actions. It really causes you to think about their expenditure. There is also an advanced version of the game that introduces a card deck that each player can build. This allows for new tactics and strategies; adding special Wargear to units, or special skills or the ability to effect the whole battle field with things like a Solar Eclipse that shortens all LOS or an Earth Quake that effects all movement and many more table wide effects.

The game uses an alternating activation system; so you activate a unit do the models actions then you opponent does the same until all units have been activated. The game is D20 based so you have a wider variety to work with for skill numbers.   

Bottom line is Warzone Resurrection is inexpensive to jump into compared to many other major games and has some really dynamic game play that will keep you interested. 

Until next time keep your powder dry and lead flying!

What I have been up to

I have been working my new job with Prodos Games for a few months now and have been busy as heck. Prodos Games are the people who brought back Warzone and late this fall Aliens verses Predator the boardgame and wargame. It is like a dream come true to work for a company that is making two sci-fi settings that I adore as miniatures games.

I am their US Marketing and Sales Manager, things are finally starting to roll and the first five shops should have product shortly. I am working on many others as I type this. Additionally I get to help write rules and do the groovy behind the scenes stuff as well!

So as you can imagine my gaming and hobby time is filled with Warzone Resurrection. This past weekend I attended the Bay Area Open and ran Warzone demos all weekend, it was a total blast! I even made a few new shop contacts for stocking Warzone, so this was a bonus to a great two days of demoing. Here are a few pics from the weekend:

Now on to things 40k, I still love the 40k universe and will still be playing on occasion but as you can imagine the new job will keep me busy. 40k Killzone is dead until I have the time to write a make your own army list out of the codex set of stipulations, cause I just cannot make updates for every single codex.

30k Killzone will get an update and official PDF by October, I still need to order the latest HH book from Forgeworld. I can reasonably update it with only one book arriving every year. 

Finally I am going to try to post once a week from this point forward, more if I can.

Until next time keep your powder dry and lead flying! 

Warzone Resurrection Painting Challenge Month 2

Sorry for the delayed post so late in the month. I have been having computer issues and script issues with Blogger.

So I we are taking this month off as I never got a start date post and people have been confused. The Challenge will resume on 1 May.

More Capitol from Klas

Bauhaus from Christopher

Paul's Capitol

Richards Behemoth

Mikes Capitol Heavy Infantry

I am updating my models as my hand twitching has stopped for the time being and I want the models to look up to my normal standard. So an individual post for them soon.

New game Aetherium Kickstarter coming April 1st

My very close friend Brian and his friends have created a new game company called Anvil 8 Games. They are about to unleash their first game on the world via Kickstarter tomorrow on April 1st, here is some info and art for this great new gaming universe!

Aetherium is a tabletop miniatures board game played on customized battle map and schematic tile system that responds directly to the will of the players during the game. Players control one of two evocative factions and battle across a profound virtual landscape. Aetherium unfolds with a dynamic and intuitive “one roll” combat system.

We have compiled a series of story driven scenarios to take you through the game itself, but the unique structure ensures that no two experiences, no two games, can ever be the same.

In the Aetherium, players will:

- Remain constantly engaged in an alternating activation sequence that never pauses for conventional turns.

- Strategically program activation cards in order to anticipate your opponent’s movement, and to sequence your software as you lead your team on a bold run into the Aetherium.

- Control between 10-25 highly detailed, beautifully sculpted miniatures to represent your unique team of cyber personalities and affiliated programs.

- Engage in a daring struggle for control of an ever-shifting landscape, set against a backdrop of mind-crushing quantum noise.

-  Struggle for control of the psychological reality itself, while managing your resources to push your collective and to manipulate the terrain to its utmost.

- Revel in unmitigated glory.

Warzone Painting Challenge spotlight

Here are some better shots of Klas' Captiol miniatures from January's Challenge. He's got Big Bob as his Warlord, a squad of Light Infantry and a squad of Airborne Cavalry for his troops, supported by a pair of Purple Shark jetbikes.

Warzone Painting Challenge Month One

Here are the completed models for month one of the challenge. Unfortunately mine are not here my camera is so jacked up I need to pick a new one up next week cause it will be cheaper than fixing the old one.

Fist up we have Talos' ginormous pledge!

Next we have Paul's Capitol

Klas' Capitol wrap us up this month!

Until next time Keep your powder dry and lead flying!

Special Operations Killzone Codex Operatives incoming!

Hey guys I am happy to announce that by late March Spec Ops Killzone will be fully updated to 6th ed. The Codex Operatives has been woefully out of date, but fear not I have two very good friends that will be sitting down with me to make sure that this update happens so going forward updates won't be such a daunting task!

Until next time, keep your powder dry and lead flying!

January Warzone Painting challenge extended

Due to a comedy of events, I am extending the deadline for Januarys challenge. Next Wed the 19th will be the new deadline.

My camera has its shutter jammed for some reason and it is not in the shop being fixed. Plus if I am being honest I did not completely finish my pledge as well, since still I need to finish all my bases today.

The importance of terrain in skirmish games

What makes skirmish games different from other miniature tabletop games is the way your models interact with the terrain on the tabletop. Experienced skirmish gamers know that terrain is an extremely important part of having a successful game. It is important to have multiple levels of terrain and having places to hide are both very important; it also adds a very realistic feeling.

Battlesystems starship or military complex table

Your strategy should evolve from the terrain present in your game. Having multiple levels of terrain makes the game interesting and adds to your strategy. There is nothing more realistic and evocative than placing a sniper on the highest point on the board with a good viewpoint of the tabletop. Plus from this vantage point he may be able to ignore some terrain since at this elevation the terrain may be too low to affect the snipers shots as you are looking at your target from above. 

City fight table from the Grunts website

My general rule of thumb when setting up a skirmish gaming table it to make sure that at least 60% of the surface area is covered in terrain of some sort! With this terrain density you can get a really great tactically deep game.

Infinity demo table from the interwebz

No matter in what kind of terrain your game is taking place on you should always have plenty of cover. If you are playing on ruined city streets you should be able to gain cover peeking around corners or hiding behind piles of rubble. Realistically you want to have protection for incoming fire. It is almost always better to get your models into cover suffering any movement penalties than to stay out in the open to move at your full move rate. In my opinion it is better to play smart using every ounce of cover to your advantage than to rush in and get your units killed.

Another fantastic thing about skirmish gaming terrain is that if you are a clever modeler you can have close quarters firefights within buildings. Fighting room by room is a fantastically tense and fun thing to do in skirmish gaming. It can be done with battle level games but is not very practical to do well above the skirmish level.

Until next time, keep your powder dry and lead flying!

Why you should consider skirmish gaming

This is a re-post from my article yesterday on Dark Future Gaming:

Skirmish games are typically played with small armies of miniatures ranging from 5-30 miniatures per side. This makes entry into a skirmish game really easy. The games themselves are usually more detail oriented mechanics wise as well; because the forces are smaller the complexity of the game can be increased without bogging down gameplay.

Killzone at Adepticon 2011, thanks to Brian from A Gentleman's Ones Blog for the pic

Some people will disagree with me on the following, these people will ardently argue that my Micro skirmish category is the only true skirmish game, but this is my opinion. I put skirmish games into 3 categories, Micro, Macro and Scaleable skirmish.

Micro skirmish games are the ones where your force is made up of anywhere between 5 and 15 models, each model usually acts on its own even if part of a “unit.” Typically a Micro skirmish game can be completed in around forty-five minutes or less.

Macro skirmish games are the ones where your force is made up between 15 to around 30 models, sometimes the models act as units and the better ones allow models to act on their own even if part of a unit. These types of games can run anywhere from an hour to ninety minutes depending on the complexity of the system.

Scaleable skirmish games are my favorite by far as they straddle the line between Micro and Macro games. This allows you the gamer to choose how small or large you want your games to be. Both versions of Killzone and Warzone are all Scaleable skirmish games!

So to answer my own question “why skirmish gaming?” it is the easy entry in monetary and hobby outlay; with the added benefit of having fast paces small games that do not take up a lot of time. Sometimes it is just nice to have a force for a game that is painted to a higher standard than you would never consider doing in an army level game like 40k. Plus on top of that you can also go to town converting and modeling your minis to make each one be unique from the rest; this is actually one of my favorite things about skirmish.

Skirmish games also tent to be much more tactical in the gameplay, since you do not have the resources to just throw away a unit, you must seriously consider each of your actions to effectively use your units to complete the mission at hand.

Another of Brian's amazing tables!

Another thing that is really cool is the terrain making opportunities that you have with skirmish gaming that would just be impractical in a battle game (like 40k) setting. Terrain is also infinitely more important in a skirmish game than a battle one; if you play a skirmish game on a standard 25% terrain 40k table it will devolve into a shooting gallery and the side with the strongest shooting will typically run rough shod over other lists.

In my next post I will cover the importance of terrain in skirmish gaming.

Until Next time, keep your powder dry and lead flying!

Warzone Website overhaul incoming!

Prodos Games has hired studio painters and has been previewing their work on Facebook. As they get ready for Warzone's retail launch the word from Prodos is that there is going to be a complete overhaul of the website and webstore within the next 2-3 weeks! These previews really sell the models and showcases the detail of the sculpts!

Until next time, keep your powder dry and lead flying!