Maceface's Crimewave Range (20mm) WIP

[Mr. White]

Any idea what channel they might become available through?

[Maceface]

Any idea what channel they might become available through?

I'm certain North Star Military Figures, possibly through my own website eventually (it's dead) once enough codes exist. That would be an Australian store, so likely you guys would go with Northstar and affiliated retailers.

First goal is to make Reality's Edge playable (noone houses all the stuff you need AFAIK). Then move into gaslands and Dark future territory, as we move from the cities to the Highways and wastelands.

[blacksoilbill]

I'm certain North Star Military Figures, possibly through my own website eventually (it's dead) once enough codes exist. That would be an Australian store, so likely you guys would go with Northstar and affiliated retailers.

Are you planning to sell your fantasy stuff in Australia as well? That would be very exciting!

[Mr. White]

Eagerly anticipating this line, but back to the question, "what would we like to see".

To be honest, one of the largest gaps in 20mm offerings is lack of diverse characters. I mean, between the Dark Future Citadel line and Copplestone's Gaslands there's few women and even less people of color. I think Dark Future has two that appear to be Hispanic, but all the other models across both lines seem to be of European descent. Now, I'm aware that these post apoc lines have sort of exaggerated stereotypes, and maybe any of them can be painted any ethnicity, which is what I have done in my collection, but still there's a lack of obviously diverse models.

Look at something like Foundry's Street Violence line: https://www.wargamesfoundry.com/collections/street-violence for my dystopian dollar, this is still the best line in 28mm and I'd love if we could get similar representation in 20mm. There's nothing in 20mm close to Garfield's Yardies that I've come across:



Copplestone's line didn't have any women until the very last set released, The Punks. But still, you don't have to sculpt whole ethnic groups, but Street Violence shows the way here with diversity even within sets. Witness:





(The sexploitation isn't the highlight here)

Again, I've worked around this by using various skin and hair tones, and at 20mm it passes, but the real opportunity of a new line at this scale is to bring in some representation the scale hasn't had.

[Rick]

That's certainly a good idea if you can avoid making them into caricatures of diversity rather than a more subtle diverse look.

Making a line catering to the different types of characters in Reality's Edge is definitely something I'd be interested in and, as I've mentioned before, is likely to have a broader appeal in other near future/cyberpunkish games as well.

Not sure how to represent the avatar's for the game though; I did manage to find some coloured, translucent figures for some game or other that I'm thinking of using but that's probably not a good option for production.

[Mr. White]

Yeah, of course caricatures should be avoided. I meant it, but thanks for explicitly stating it.

How is Reality's Edge? I've only known one person to play it and he wasn't a fan. He felt it was too crunchy. Almost full RPG-level of crunch. But it was only one play.

For the avatar in the game, he painted a model sorta ghost like. Similar to those blue ghasts I did over in the Burrows & Badgers thread, but if I remember correctly, green.

[Rick]

The book itself is definitely RPG-level crunch but, as long as you have a reference (card or sheet) for the many items and rules you can play, then the game is actually fairly straightforward. I would say that having card references is optional for some games but pretty essential for this one - it'd be difficult to play directly from the book which is the thickest Osprey game book I've seen to date! Much of the book is taken up with all kinds of equipment and chrome, which makes it seem far more complicated than it actually is; most of this will add a few special modifiers or rules to your character if you take those items, but all of that reference area isn't needed for game play (as I said, you just need a reference card or sheet with the list of your upgrades and the game effects).
Using clearly identifiable avatars is essential as both the real and virtual world are represented on the tabletop - you can draw line-of-sight from either a model or it's virtual avatar! This sounds complicated but isn't really with identifiable miniatures and a little bit of prep-work. Having said all that, if you're the kind of player that just wants a beer-and-pretzels game, then it might not be the best fit - it needs a bit more than that to be an enjoyable game.

[Maceface]

The book itself is definitely RPG-level crunch but, as long as you have a reference (card or sheet) for the many items and rules you can play, then the game is actually fairly straightforward. I would say that having card references is optional for some games but pretty essential for this one - it'd be difficult to play directly from the book which is the thickest Osprey game book I've seen to date! Much of the book is taken up with all kinds of equipment and chrome, which makes it seem far more complicated than it actually is; most of this will add a few special modifiers or rules to your character if you take those items, but all of that reference area isn't needed for game play (as I said, you just need a reference card or sheet with the list of your upgrades and the game effects).
Using clearly identifiable avatars is essential as both the real and virtual world are represented on the tabletop - you can draw line-of-sight from either a model or it's virtual avatar! This sounds complicated but isn't really with identifiable miniatures and a little bit of prep-work. Having said all that, if you're the kind of player that just wants a beer-and-pretzels game, then it might not be the best fit - it needs a bit more than that to be an enjoyable game.

It really does have that necro94 level of passion, quite an impressive tome!

The game has very typical roles though, so the models will fit into any rpg or tabletop game, but just knowing it's a solution to an osprey game is pretty tidy.

I do love that street violence range so can take some cues from it.

[Rick]

I was just thinking today that we could probably do with a listing of cyberpunk skirmish wargames alongside the other sci-fi wargames listing. I know there are a few; Reality's Edge, Infinity, Rezolution A Dark Tomorrow, and at least a couple of actual Cyberpunk games; the original Friday Night Firefight and the latest Cyberpunk miniatures game. Alongside those are a good few available on pdf which I'm less familiar with - it might be helpful if we could put a listing together which could act as a guide to players.

[swiftnick]

How about some cool Yakuza enforcers with machine pistols and swords?
The big boss and bodyguards. A geisha style android.

[Maceface]

How about some cool Yakuza enforcers with machine pistols and swords?
The big boss and bodyguards. A geisha style android.

Great Ideas for a pack :-)

[Commander Roj]

Great Ideas for a pack :-)

I like that idea! Can I suggest some modern, super cool, leather clad, techy vampires? That might be another reason to carry katanas...

[Rick]

I like that idea! Can I suggest some modern, super cool, leather clad, techy vampires? That might be another reason to carry katanas...

Underworld style or Blade (films) style?
Could be interesting, although they don't have to be obviously vampires - could do double-duty as hard-a$$ ronin or tooled up street mercs?
The Yakuza types could be really cool but other ranges tend to go for either suits-and-ties or low-level bare torso types - how about some inspired by Akira, Ghost in the Shell or other anime, not to mention the 2000AD Shimura and Hondo City stories? Biker jackets (with rolled-up sleeves of course), shades, leather gloves, etc. could be another way of looking at them.

[ithoriel]

Underworld style or Blade (films) style?
Could be interesting, although they don't have to be obviously vampires - could do double-duty as hard-a$$ ronin or tooled up street mercs?
The Yakuza types could be really cool but other ranges tend to go for either suits-and-ties or low-level bare torso types - how about some inspired by Akira, Ghost in the Shell or other anime, not to mention the 2000AD Shimura and Hondo City stories? Biker jackets (with rolled-up sleeves of course), shades, leather gloves, etc. could be another way of looking at them.

I like the sound of the biker clad Yakuza. At least one on an Akira style motorcycle please!

I've converted a couple of figures to represent the fictional White Dragon Tong, with others earmarked to follow. Yakuza opposition would be ideal.

[Rick]

It also occurred to me, after I wrote the post above, that some Yakuza clans wear a warriors topknot in imitation of the Samurai hairstyle (but without the shaved forehead) so this could also be an identifier.