Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Weird Wars => Topic started by: Cypher226 on February 02, 2023, 10:18:09 PM
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Just seen this coming from Osprey;
A War Transformed (https://ospreypublishing.com/uk/war-transformed-9781472856258/) by Frederick Silburn Slater.
Anyone heard or seen anything about this previously?
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I believe the rules are out.
Seems they have a lot of magic and occult elements.
It is skirmish level game. Weird troops ect are part
of it. Cost is $35.00.
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I believe the rules are out.
August, according to the Osprey page and Amazon?
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Aye - all I found are pre-orders on Amazon/etc, the little info on the Osprey homepage and the comment on the Northstar Facebook page saying they won't be doing any figures explicitly for it but will be supporting with showing off some modelling/painting contributions.
Definitely a potentially interesting theme, had me toying last night with mixing trench raiders with some of the folk horror figures from Crooked Dice...
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It looks as though there are already plenty of figures already on the market that will be suitable for it. I just hope it includes Belgians so I can use my Chasseurs in the game :)
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A lot of the German weird war figures already out are probably useful (i.e. zombies and vampires).
Wonder if there will be scope for the return of the German Kobolds (e.g.).
https://cpmodels.co.uk/shop/wwg06-goblin-battle-squad/
https://cpmodels.co.uk/shop/wwg09-goblin-flame-thrower-team/
https://cpmodels.co.uk/product-category/28mm-ranges/weird-wars/
Not to mention French and British halflings and Russian dwarves (e.g.):
https://cpmodels.co.uk/shop/wwh10-french-halfling-infantry-adrian-helmets/
https://cpmodels.co.uk/shop/wwh11-french-halfling-mortar-adrian-helmets/
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It is skirmish level game.
As stated by Osprey on their FB page, each player will command 30-50 models.
Personally, I hoped for 5-10...
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I always loved those Goblins in Pickelhaube - wondered where the molds had wound up. This might be a great setting for them.
Artwork on the cover is top notch and makes me look forward to actual reviews.
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It looks interesting and the fact those linked dwarves in great coats have separate heads could make interesting conversions with a helmeted head ?
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Also the fact that it'll apparently be taking place where the Northsea now lies is a bit interesting... ;)
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The rules may inspire me to finally paint my German goblins and French halflings, to join their human countrymen already in my service.
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The Wargames Atlantic website has the below entry from an individual who kitbashed the WW1 Germans and Zombie kits to produce these:
https://wargamesatlantic.com/community/xenforum/topic/84083/ww1-german-zombies
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And also the Warrior Miniatures "Over the Wire" range - not the greatest models (British/German and Turkish aren't bad), but dirt cheap for metals.
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As stated by Osprey on their FB page, each player will command 30-50 models.
Personally, I hoped for 5-10...
For a WWW1 game with 5-10 figures I highly recommend "Never Going Home" from Wet Ink Games
http://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse/pub/9148/Wet-Ink-Games/subcategory/24365_38340/Never-Going-Home
It is a very neat 3 stat RPG system that has virtually no character progression (nobody lives long enough to bother much about stat/skill advancements). Which makes it a perfect skirmish game, it has a great feel, very distinct from the normal Weird War tropes.
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I recommend the Over the Wire figures too.
Great figures. Would work well this game.
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More figs for 28mm Weird War I, there are also the SCIBOR Ogres (48mm to 51mm tall) and (in Pickelhaubes and Stahlhelms), one of the Dwarfs (in Pickelhaube - Dwarfs in stahlhelms are appropriate for WW2 as they are carrying WW2 era weapons) and one of the Goblins (in officer's peaked cap) (Dwarfs and Gobos are "heroic" scale 28mm, so closer to 30mm - perhaps as smaller ogres or other non-humans?).
Ogres:
https://www.sciborminiatures.com/en_,shop.php?art=693#i/28mm_2008/big/Otto01.jpg
https://www.sciborminiatures.com/en_,shop.php?art=694
https://www.sciborminiatures.com/en_,shop.php?art=694
Dwarf:
https://www.sciborminiatures.com/en_,shop.php?art=805#i/sf_30mm/big/dwarf_officer_01.jpg
Goblin:
https://www.sciborminiatures.com/en_,shop.php?art=13770#i/2022/big/goblin_officer_01.jpg
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Recently seen on Ebay:
Weird War 1 German Goblins:
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/SywAAOSwMyxkeNAP/s-l1600.jpg
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/Ow4AAOSw7bZkeNAR/s-l1600.jpg
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/HvYAAOSwjJ5keNAN/s-l1600.jpg
Weird War 1 French Halflings:
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/3HYAAOSwttdkeM5~/s-l1600.jpg
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/ES4AAOSwlC1keM5-/s-l1600.jpg
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/W6EAAOSweA1keM5-/s-l1600.jpg
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I don't want to be a killjoy, but A War Transformed has nothing to do with WW1 Goblins and Halflings.
It's this world, where the Old Gods have arisen and the armies turn to pagan worship and can summon a number of creatures from folklore to fight on their side.
It's not WW1 Flintlock-queue.
Like we always have to say, you can do what the heck you want in your own games, but if you're playing the authors vision, WW1 hobbits it ain't.
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We're starting to get figures painted for it. Here's a Brit, with cult symbols painted on his gasmask and a civilian jacket.
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Sounds like they would be useful for gaming the old Kingdom novels by Garth Nix. South of the wall there is a 1930s industrial world. North of the wall there is a kingdom of charter magic and more ancient and dangerous free magic. Between them is the wall. Not just Hadriabs wall but a trench system with machine guns, wire and artillery. Unfortunately when the wind blows from the North modern technology no longer works. Troops wear WW1 uniforms with chainmail and swords. Some of the troops are charter spell casters.
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The pagan take on WW1 sounds really up my alley Nick (of North Star). While I don't need a new ruleset, I'm tempted to pick up the book for the art and lore alone. Maybe even try my hand at some kitbashing/modelling for it in my preferred scale (15mm). I'm already thinking about making a unit of those cloth sack cultists.
Never heard of the Old Kingdom novels Nick (the Swift), but it sounds very much like trenchpunk (https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&sxsrf=APwXEdeMWpHPi971ya8Fm9_XVctHi0X9wQ:1685753897504&q=trenchpunk&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwid8fTR8qX_AhVCm2oFHaWrAUMQ0pQJegQICRAB&biw=1376&bih=679&dpr=1.4). I really like the aesthetic, so I might give those books a try. I wish there were some models out there in that style. If I ever get my modelling skills up to snuff, I would love to make some 3d printable trenchpunk models!
I think the Gloom Trench line from Fickle Dice (https://fickledice.com/) might be useful for this game.
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It looks a very interesting game, the background is quite deep. I've not read it properly, but it looks like what your Captain can 'tap into' depends on what star sign he is, it's recommended you have a tarot deck for the game, stuff like that.
Plus it's a platoon skirmish game, not man to man, so the rules might be something new & interesting as well.
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Like the mini Nick,is there going to be a supporting range of figures then? :)
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No, that's a Great War Miniature repainted.
We're not doing a supporting range of figures. It looks like the Great War Miniatures range (plus the WA plastics) alongside some witches, wizards and folk lore creatures will do. We have enough already. It'll be in the paint jobs we think, a bit of minor converting, like giving the figures ritual masks and garlands over their helmets will give the right feel.
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No, that's a Great War Miniature repainted.
We're not doing a supporting range of figures. It looks like the Great War Miniatures range (plus the WA plastics) alongside some witches, wizards and folk lore creatures will do. We have enough already. It'll be in the paint jobs we think, a bit of minor converting, like giving the figures ritual masks and garlands over their helmets will give the right feel.
Thanks for clarifying Nick 👍
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I was chatting with a fellow weird war fan about this game and if we were try it how to make it look and feel unique. How to avoid it being a just a mix of WWI and folk horror figures as opposed to cowboys and folk horror or Napoleonics and folk horror.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTvOcm5dgDI (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTvOcm5dgDI)
Doggerland was a mesolithic era landscape so no stone structures of any kind, not even henges. Such hunter-gatherer structures as existed would have been permanent or semi permanent pole frame tepee style. As evidenced by seabed scans now the terrain in that era was flat. Probably marshy with "hills" being little more than low dry humps and ridges above the level of the water table. It was very fertile so abundant growth of reeds and grasses and heavily forested.
All of this would have rotted away during the centuries of inundation and assuming the magical regrowth noted in the game precis insufficient to produce much more than the reeds/grasses and shrubs or bushes (I don't think this is WW1 meets Jack and the Beanstalk).
The terrain could be dotted with the remains of sealife and surface activity since the inundation to give it a "weird" edge, so skeletons of whales and the rotted wrecks of sunken ships.
Trying to include those weird elements prompted us to reassess if 28mm is actually the best scale for this (heresy on this forum I know). A sunken ship, even a small one like a trawler is going to be massive in 28mm. Given the 30 -50 figure per player game size I think 15mm, or even 10mm would potentially be a feasible option. That way you could see WW1 era tanks, vehicles and aircraft on a table with undulating sandy, saltmarsh type grasslands dotted with the eye catching skeletons or sunken wrecks, probably not at 1-1 true ground scale but enough to have scope for plenty of movement and long sighting distances.
I will need to see if the rules would support a game like that, but this has gone from a "neat idea but we already have a great WWWI alternative" (see my prior recommendation) to a consideration of it's potential as something very different to anything else we play.
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I think you're on the right track Rob.
My only downer on the plan is you'd lose some of the character of the figures in 15mm/ 10mm. The artwork gives them a 'turnip28-esque' feel. See attached.
It reads as a very different game to Draculas America/ Silver Bayonet. This seems to be a good platoon action WW1 game with magic. The other games are gang fights/ treasure hunting games with monsters thrown in, Black Powder frostgrave to some extent.
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I’m becoming interested in the idea of doing this in a smaller scale. I have lots of 10mm WWI already so that is an immediate win for me!
I have done a Sludge force in 10mm - a lot of this was by mixing historical and fantasty ranges to give a slightly different feel to their ‘proper’ usage.
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My only downer on the plan is you'd lose some of the character of the figures in 15mm/ 10mm. The artwork gives them a 'turnip28-esque' feel.
Yes, without a doubt, but it is the 30-50 figure (platoon or company) level of Doggerland that appeals as it looks like it could be something different. However I could not even consider converting 100 odd 28mm figures plus monsters etc for a very niche game like this, that is a huge investment in time and money. I would sacrifice individual figure detail but make it up with totems or banners etc on multi figure bases.
Have you seen any more details yet? Any clues as to what is in the bestiary? I notice Amazon and Osprey themselves have pushed the release back to end of September now.
I’m becoming interested in the idea of doing this in a smaller scale. I have lots of 10mm WWI already so that is an immediate win for me!
I have done a Sludge force in 10mm - a lot of this was by mixing historical and fantasty ranges to give a slightly different feel to their ‘proper’ usage.
;)
I am thinking 10mm also, 3 or 4 figures per base counting as 1 28mm, no changes to the rules. The Pendraken WW1 range is wonderful and pulling specific pieces from their Napoleonic and Fantasy ranges will give you plenty of weird options. Plus the tanks are a manageable size.
Just need to see what monster/creature options there are. I have seen one image with German troops dancing around a burning wicker giant so presumably that sort of thing will be covered.
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I would sacrifice individual figure detail but make it up with totems or banners etc on multi figure bases.
I am thinking 10mm also, 3 or 4 figures per base counting as 1 28mm, no changes to the rules. The Pendraken WW1 range is wonderful and pulling specific pieces from their Napoleonic and Fantasy ranges will give you plenty of weird options. Plus the tanks are a manageable size.
Just need to see what monster/creature options there are. I have seen one image with German troops dancing around a burning wicker giant so presumably that sort of thing will be covered.
I was thinking very similair of a few figures on a base (3 on a 25mm round, sounds good) then play rules as is.
10mm lets you get tanks and aircraft and artillery all on the table, without it looking crazy full!
Totems etc sound good - feels some 3d printed additions could work very well
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Interesting ideas in the rules, the figure count is a bit intimidating (my Oathmark armies are similar sizes and are still not painted).
I hope when it is released that Wargames Atlantic have finally released their WW1 British, as a box of them and the Germans would make for a good start (hint hint).
There is a book series by Stephen Baxter (starting with Stone Spring) set when Doggerland was previously above the waves.
Of course, the bodies of whales might not be the only aquatic megafauna found on the battlefields.
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doggerland (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doggerland)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Spring (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Spring)
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Interesting ideas in the rules, the figure count is a bit intimidating (my Oathmark armies are similar sizes and are still not painted).
I hope when it is released that Wargames Atlantic have finally released their WW1 British, as a box of them and the Germans would make for a good start (hint hint)
Yes, the need for that many figures all converted to match the "weird" aesthetic effectively makes this a non starter in 28mm for me.
Maybe if everyone in a club wanted to build up a couple of dozen figures then it could work, assuming the rules support multi-player. But for just one or two people to create a bespoke game set from scratch is a big ask. I can see this being an awesome 28mm presentation game at conventions (with trenches that are below table surface level!!!) but not so much for home games.
A simpler approach could be to make up a small %age of the total as unique character figures and just bulk out units with generic grubby looking WW1 figures in greatcoats and gasmasks or scarves. The Wargames Atlantic boxes could be ideal for this, it looks like the "Grognards" bodies could be scraped and combined with the surplus WW1 figures arms, weapons and heads into rank & file troops that take the style of the game art.
I still really want to know what is in the game bestiary to determine what options exist in the smaller scales.
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A simpler approach could be to make up a small %age of the total as unique character figures and just bulk out units with generic grubby looking WW1 figures in greatcoats and gasmasks or scarves. The Wargames Atlantic boxes could be ideal for this, it looks like the "Grognards" bodies could be scraped and combined with the surplus WW1 figures arms, weapons and heads into rank & file troops that take the style of the game art.
Considering the writer has been saying very positive things on the facebook pages about using the Great War Miniatures range essentially as-is (particularly the British trench raiders), I think this is perfectly acceptable
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Considering the writer has been saying very positive things on the facebook pages about using the Great War Miniatures range essentially as-is (particularly the British trench raiders), I think this is perfectly acceptable
Interesting to hear he is providing some information personally as there is very little detail anywhere else. I am not a supporter of Facebook so have no idea what is being said on there.
Has he given any details of the bestiary yet?
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very little about any kind of 'bestiary' yet, I think the focus is still very much on the soldiers in this new environment and changed world.
The group is public so you should be able to see the posts and comments without an account:
Facebook link - A War Transformed: Unofficial (https://www.facebook.com/groups/540795751511930/)
While the group is 'unofficial' the author is a member and weighs in on comments pretty frequently.
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Thanks for the link. I've just jumped over to join in and hopefully keep up with the flow.
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Hello!
I am the author of AWT and am happy to answer any questions on this thread (I'll be setting up another one generally on the "Weird Wars" board as well)
As a quick aside, several commenters on here are correct that you can play the game with existing models from lines like Great War Miniatures and Wargames Atlantic - Northstar have shared some painted figures by Kev Dallimore which are stock models with imaginative paint jobs and I personally think that they capture the setting perfectly!
You'll find that an existing collection (with a couple of gribllies thrown in from the Frostgrave range (or similar)) will be more than enough for most players. That said, there is plenty of scope for fully converted armies for those players who are into that sort of thing and I've been converting my own stuff (very slowly...) for a while now.
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I am the author of AWT and am happy to answer any questions on this thread (I'll be setting up another one generally on the "Weird Wars" board as well)
Generally mods here try and keep 1 thread per topic when it comes to discussing rules and new releases.
I have been looking for information about the "folk" elements you have included with the WW1 historical aspect. Especially the bestiary.
If I pick up Doggerland it will be to play in 10mm so need to know what monsters/horrors etc are required to look at sourcing suitable figures in smaller scales and whether they appear as individuals or units.
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So creatures in the game are based on archetypal folklore monsters and currently fit into 6 Categories
1. Snatchers (goblins, hobs, knockers etc.)
Smaller than sized creatures who can sabotage enemy equipment or steal special items
2. Beguilers (melusine, will ‘o the wisp, rusalka etc.)
Man sized creatures who tempt enemies towards pools before engaging them in CC
3. Haunters (fledgeists and unquiet spirits)
Man sized creatures who break the enemy psychologically by their presence
4. Devourers (hags, trolls and ogres)
Larger than a man, big melee gribblies
5. Stalkers (great beasts like the black shuck)
Larger than man size, fast and agile predators who excel in melee but can move more speedily
6. Crushers (giants and such)
Huge creatures who are proficient not only in killing infantry, but also armoured vehicles
Hopefully more will be added with expansions! Each of the archetypes is available to all factions, but is summoned in rather than selected at army recruitment phase. All are a single model acting independently, but none should really present to much of a problem for scaling down/finding 10mm models? Snatchers would be tiny, but no reason you couldn’t have a few on a base representing a single snatcher to help bulk it out…
Some armies also have access to some special options, particularly the freikorp who have embraced magic whole heartedly and can recruit some particularly horrifying creatures of their own. All armies with also have access to mindless thralls, whether zombies or otherwise, to screen their offensives.
All told I think it could work well scaled down with a few adjustments. Terrain wise, the fact that you can likely get scale model ships in that size more readily to flesh out the formerly sunken world of the Doggerland front is very compelling. Fighting amoungst the wrecks of sunken ships sounds very cool!
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Welcome Mr AWT! Great to have you here.
Really interesting on the types of monsters - I too am thinking about this in 10mm (not least as I have lots of painted 10mm WWI figures already). I’m assuming I’ll just use 1 base of 10mm figures to represent a single 28mm figure (at least for the human-ish sized stuff.
Giants vs early Tanks sounds cool!
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Thanks for the informative reply, there is a lot of scope there for figures which is good news. Time to start hunting around the various ranges to see what is around.
I am in agreement with Fred about 10mm, 1 base of 3 or 4 figures to represent 1x 28mm model for basic WW1 troops and calculate everything else around that. Should not need any rule changes at all.
Scale scenery is one of the real benefits of going smaller, but also in that it allows tanks and aircraft to fielded in scale.
This could work.
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Welcome Mr AWT! Great to have you here.
Really interesting on the types of monsters - I too am thinking about this in 10mm (not least as I have lots of painted 10mm WWI figures already). I’m assuming I’ll just use 1 base of 10mm figures to represent a single 28mm figure (at least for the human-ish sized stuff.
Giants vs early Tanks sounds cool!
I think that a few 10mm figures on a base acting as a stand-in for a single 28mm figure would be a good way to go. If you were to play in 10mm I would consider keeping the ranges "as is" for weapons like rifles (which need to be abstracted for balance in 28mm gaming!) and only amending the ranges for things like flamethrowers, bomber teams and machine pistols. Obviously you'll need to amend the movement distances, but probably just using the same numbers but in CM rather than inches would be a good first port of call!