(Kickstarter) Modiphius 6mm tactical sci-fi miniatures game

[zemjw]

This just popped up in their newsletter - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/modiphius/hardwar-miniature-mech-wargame

KS launches 1st July, nothing about price yet

Preview rules from them at https://modiphius.net/products/hardwar-quickplay-pdf

It claims it's a new edition, which means I completely missed the previous one

It's 2100... The time of wars with soft assets is over, making way for Hardware-Warfare.

Hardwar is a fast-paced tactical wargame set in a realistic sci-fi universe at the turn of the 22nd century. Using an innovative dice resolution system and 6mm-scale miniatures, Hardwar creates brutal combat between mech, vehicle, and air elements, mixing classic armored warfare with futuristic experimental weapons, cybernetics, ECM, and sentient combat swarms for strategic flexibility.

Players take on the role of corporations, paramilitary contractors, or even revolutionary leaders fighting dynamic battles for financial and political supremacy. Starting with a company of 6-10 models each, players use cunning tactics and awesome firepower to destroy their opponents’ forces and complete objectives in a series of gripping, interconnected scenarios.

[Rick]

Almost exactly a year ago (give or take!) Modiphius bought a Polish games company called 'Strato minis games' I believe, giving them several existing products, Hardwar being just one.
Don't worry, I think a lot of people missed that first edition, not sure how big Strato minis games were but it did slip under the radar.
Looks interesting, kind of a Battletech copy mixed with a bit of later Robotech or Gundam maybe?

[YPU]

Aye, stratos used to do a lot of very close but legally distinct battletech figures but also branched out into more original designs.

Rules wise the first edition hard war was a reworked horizon wars (from osprey). Haven't had the chance to see what has changed with this version.

[Rick]

Aye, stratos used to do a lot of very close but legally distinct battletech figures but also branched out into more original designs.

Rules wise the first edition hard war was a reworked horizon wars (from osprey). Haven't had the chance to see what has changed with this version.

The tanks do look different, vaguely reminiscent of dropship or dropzone (I think it was one or the other) commander. I do remember seeing Horizon Wars and was mildly interested, then passed. The most compelling pieces in the whole lot, I'm sorry to say, were the farm buildings - really would like a set of those in an Alpha Strike game!

[robh]

I guess if you bought an existing IP you need to do something with it but I really cannot see why in this case.  No new game is going to surpass Battletech in this genre and the "alternative" for this blocky style of Mecha gaming is pretty much filled by Reaper's CAV and the more curvilineal style  Heavy Gear from DP9.

These designs don't seem to add anything new or different to what is already a well saturated market. To me the farm buildings are the stand out part of this range. If available separately I would pick up a selection of those for my Mekton games but the Mechs and vehicles are a pass.

Hopefully the KS succeeds for them and the range develops but personally I wish they had put the money into expanding the skirmish side of Achtung Cthulhu 

[Rick]

I guess if you bought an existing IP you need to do something with it but I really cannot see why in this case.  No new game is going to surpass Battletech in this genre and the "alternative" for this blocky style of Mecha gaming is pretty much filled by Reaper's CAV and the more curvilineal style  Heavy Gear from DP9.

These designs don't seem to add anything new or different to what is already a well saturated market. To me the farm buildings are the stand out part of this range. If available separately I would pick up a selection of those for my Mekton games but the Mechs and vehicles are a pass.

Hopefully the KS succeeds for them and the range develops but personally I wish they had put the money into expanding the skirmish side of Achtung Cthulhu 

Actually, if you are of the "anything except Battletech/Alpha Strike" persuasion, this might be a good time to launch a competitor, especially if you can deliver a good rulebook and figures at reasonable prices - both Heavy Gear and CAV have run into criticism and problems just recently. If there's a good alternative, players may just jump ship rather than stay with one they feel is sinking.
I don't know too many details but Reaper/Talon appear to have fumbled the latest iteration of CAV fairly badly and Dream Pod 9 appear to have annoyed their loyal fan base with a very poor rulebook. If Modiphius can get Hardwar into that breach, they may pick up the players that DP9 and Reaper/Talon have left behind.
I, however, am still very much of the Battletech persuasion so will watch from the sidelines and, maybe, scoot in like a Locust to pick up some scenery! 

[robh]

..... both Heavy Gear and CAV have run into criticism and problems just recently....

I know the latest iteration of Blitz and some dubious management decisions have divided DP9 fans.  Although I sold my Gear stuff years ago I still have a fondness for the original setting (especially the RPG) and the mech designs, so do tend to follow what is going on. CAV however I have never really looked at so don't know what is happening there.

But I think gamers who dislike a new version of rules they are passionate about will abandon the update, not the game and stick with previous versions.

I can see HardWar being a good "Game in a box" for casual mech players if Modiphius keep the price down enough to catch impulse buyers, but I can't see it taking the playerbase away from existing games

[zemjw]

And it's live - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/modiphius/hardwar-miniature-mech-wargame

£60 for the single player set, £120 for the two player option. However, scenery and tokens are optional add-ons

For those wanting just the scenery, it looks like it's possible via the News and Updates option - although the pieces aren't cheap.

Delivery April 2026, and it closes at the end of July.

Not sure myself now, as it looks like it gets very expensive, very quickly...

[Rick]

They seem to be tapping a vein here - Rangers of Shadowdeep, 5 Leagues/5 Parsecs, County Road Z all are geared towards solo/co-op play and from what I've heard, this version of Hardwar also has a solo/co-op option, although the main mechanism does appear to be a 2+ opposing players. It could be interesting but I'll stick with Battletech and Alpha Strike.

[modiphius]

The tanks do look different, vaguely reminiscent of dropship or dropzone (I think it was one or the other) commander. I do remember seeing Horizon Wars and was mildly interested, then passed. The most compelling pieces in the whole lot, I'm sorry to say, were the farm buildings - really would like a set of those in an Alpha Strike game!

You can choose them as an Add On in the Kickstarter just get the £1 Tier then pick any of the three sets for Add Ons you don't need to get anything else

[modiphius]

They seem to be tapping a vein here - Rangers of Shadowdeep, 5 Leagues/5 Parsecs, County Road Z all are geared towards solo/co-op play and from what I've heard, this version of Hardwar also has a solo/co-op option, although the main mechanism does appear to be a 2+ opposing players. It could be interesting but I'll stick with Battletech and Alpha Strike.

Hi yes, we're building in solo/co-op rules in to the core book along with an updated Quickplay ruleset for really fast games

[robh]

For those wanting just the scenery, it looks like it's possible via the News and Updates option - although the pieces aren't cheap.

Agreed, without "stretch goal" additions they are pricey for block resin pieces, would be good to see some dimensions for the buildings to know how they scale up against other post modern/sci-fi ranges.
I really like their designs for the farm building sets, nicely painted too.

[pixelgeek]

I can see HardWar being a good "Game in a box" for casual mech players if Modiphius keep the price down enough to catch impulse buyers, but I can't see it taking the playerbase away from existing games

I don't think that is their intention. There are a few indie games in this market already. Steel Rift and Flames of Orion being the most popular. People do seem to be looking for a mech combat game that isn't as complex as Battletech. I have been waiting for this KS to start for some time as I was looking to get some of the Stratos Studios minis as well as a copy of the Hardwar rules about a year ago. Modiphius bought the company some time ago and has been working on this rerelease since then.

I think that most of the work has been on redoing some of the sculpts and remoulding them. The Quick Start that they released prior to the KS campaign looks very similar to the old Hardwar rules (most of the text is unchanged) so I don't think they are doing any substantial changes to the rules.

I also had it confirmed from Modiphius that they will be including the unit building rules in the game so you can still stat out your own minis.

It is a fun system and has a distinct combat model from Battletech. It certainly isn't trying to be a 'lifestyle' game like Battletech but I think that decades of experience has taught most companies that you really can't displace games like Battletech and 40K. You build a market in the margins of those games.

[pixelgeek]

I do find it interesting just how many people have asked for a digital tier in this project. Enough that Modiphius went back on their 'physical only' comments and added a digital tier to the campaign.

[modiphius]

If anything we're one of the pioneers getting the first licensed brand (Fallout) in to tabletop 3D printing so we do get it, and decided to listen to the number of fans who were clearly passionate about being able to support the game with 3d printing.