Wyrd Games - Friday Preview

A 'The Other Side' Friday preview from Wyrd Games...

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Time for our second ever Friday Preview!  This time we are sneaking a peek at Charles Edmonton.  He is one of our commanders from the King's Empire.  Let's take a look!

Charles Edmonton is one of the most decorated officers in the King's Empire. After serving a stint with the Dragoons, Edmonton went on to serve for a time in the Royal Rifle Corps. Years of distinction lead to his continued promotion, which in turn resulted in his position as a Captain today.

Edmonton is known for both his unquestioned integrity and for never backing down from a fight. He's a career soldier, and serving in his Majesty's army is the only thing he ever wanted to do with his life.

He is particularly renowned for his accuracy. This served him well in the Rifle Corps, where he caught the eye of an up-and-coming British firearms manufacturer. They outfitted him with a prototype SMLE Mk III Sniper Rifle, a weapon of incredible range and power (and bulk).

In the Battle of London, Edmonton was a key player; if not for his efforts, countless civilians would have perished, and the Hordes would have claimed even more of the city as their own.

On the tabletop, Edmonton focuses on Missile actions. His Volley Fire, On My Mark! allows a single nearby Fireteam to become Inspired and take a Missile action, which, when coupled with his Sniper Rifle, allows Edmonton to put out a lot of damage on his Activation.

Getting the most out of Edmonton is all about choosing your targets wisely. His gun is only Strength 2, but the Piercing rule helps it cut through enemy Armor with ease. He works best when firing into engagements (to assist his Company's Fireteams) or at enemy Champions and Adjuncts, where he can take advantage of the Accurate rule.

Getting Charles Edmonton to flip to Glory isn't too difficult, and once there, he gains a new Morale Action that lets him move a significant distance and potentially take a shot afterward. Coupled with the King's Empire's ability to get the Rush Order and still take a Missile Action, Edmonton can threaten foes almost anywhere on the table.

Forge World - Newsletter

New for the Legio Custodes from Forge World...

The Legio Custodes Dreadnought Collection The Telemon Dreadnought arrives! This massive war machine is the last word on Dreadnoughts in the Horus Heresy - pre-order yours in this Legio Custodes collection. Combining powerful weaponry, artificer-wrought armour and centuries of martial prowess, you'll be able to bring the Emperor's wrath to your foes whoever they are. Pre-order Now

Weapons Worthy of a Hero Equip your Dreadnought with powerful relics. Maul your foes with the caestus or blast them to ashes with the storm cannon. The finest weapons for the finest warriors - order yours now. Pre-order Now

Get your tickets now It's the event of the year for Forge World fans, with your chance to meet designers and get exclusive previews of unreleased models and books. Book your ticket for the Forge World Open Day now and secure your place. Get Tickets

© Copyright Games Workshop Limited 2000 – 2017. GW, Games Workshop, Citadel, Forge World, Warhammer, the twin-tailed comet logo, Warhammer Forge, Warhammer 40,000, the ‘Aquila’ Double-headed eagle logo, Space Marine, 40K, 40,000, Imperial Armour, Warhammer Age of Sigmar, Stormcast Eternals, The Horus Heresy, The Horus Heresy Eye and all associated logos, illustrations, images, names, creatures, races, vehicles, locations, weapons, characters, and the distinctive likenesses thereof, are either ® or TM, and/or © Games Workshop Limited, variably registered around the world. All Rights Reserved. Games Workshop Limited, Willow Road, Lenton, Nottingham, NG7 2WS. Registered in England and Wales - Company No. 01467092. VAT No. GB 580853421 © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All rights reserved. THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY, THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG, THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES and the names of the characters, items, events and places therein are trademarks of The Saul Zaentz Company d/b/a Middle-earth Enterprises under license to New Line Productions, Inc.       (s17) © 2017 New Line Productions, Inc. All rights reserved. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King and the names of the characters, items, events and places therein are trademarks of The Saul Zaentz Company d/b/a Middle-earth Enterprises under license to New Line Productions, Inc.

Gav Thorpe - Newsletter

The most recent news from the author Gav Thorpe...

• Hello!
• Interview with WargamerOnline
• Weird Ales: Last Orders
• The Origins of the Tau
• My Favourite 40K Art
• Newsletter Q&A
• Kickstarter - Human Interface
• Blog Round-Up
• Upcoming Events
• Hard Drive Hot List (or, My Current Projects)
• Submissions Alert - Heroic Fantasy Quarterly
• Bi-Monthly Competition

Before we get to the newsletter proper, I just want to say a huge thank you to everyone who took the time to vote for Warbeast in the David Gemmell Legend Award - your support is truly appreciated.  The winner is announced at EdgeLit on 15th July.

In case you missed it you can now read my short story The Blessed and The Cursed, which was originally published in Legends 2, a 2015 anthology in honour of David Gemmell, over on my website, for free.

Hello!

So, new 40K, eh?

As of writing, I have had one game with the new system and have another lined up to be played at Warhammer World in a couple of days' time. Bearing in mind that I have not actually played 40K for nearly a decade, my overall impressions are very positive. I've been looking at the three ways to play and think that, on the whole, Narrative Games will be my kind of thing.

That said, there's a lot in the Matched Play style that I like as well, and although it says to use points values so that complete strangers can meet up and have a 'balanced' game (yeah, there's no such thing in my experience) I don't see why the scenarios, Tactical Objectives and other stuff couldn't be used if you're just picking forces based on Power levels.

I really like the idea of 'Power' instead of very specific points systems. It makes putting together a force really quick - in fact we just grabbed models out of our cases for our first game and did a rough tally. It also does away with the notion that the value of every single option and tactical circumstance can be rendered down to a specific value.

For example, a lascannon is worth a lot if you're faced with a lot of tanks, and not very much at all if you end up playing against a horde of Gretchin. Value in wargames is so contextual, dependent upon the tabletop, enemy and scenario, that anything other than a 'close enough' guesstimate is pretending to an accuracy that doesn't exist.

It's something I had a little joke with in Ravenwing, as Annael discusses the motivations of the Port Imperial rebels with Sabrael:

“I see your point, brother. We do not ascribe arbitrary value to individuals, but create it from the wider context of our purpose. A host of tough enemies may be slain and yet victory not achieved, whilst the death of a single less powerful individual may prove the victorious moment.”

Just a week and a bit after release there are already people declaring certain parts of the game system broken, troops that need boosting or nerfing, etc etc. Firstly, I envy them the time they clearly have at their disposal as they must have played many times in the space of a week to draw such deep conclusions about a brand new game system. Secondly, really...?

Just as the video games community occasionally has an entitled toxicity, in which certain players will never be satisfied that the game is 'balanced', so too wargames. These people will never be happy, something will always be a point too much or too little, and somehow this will be the ruination of everything they enjoy about 40K.

So I think I'll stick to rough-and-ready power levels for now, because close enough is good enough.

[You can read more about my slippery slope back into 40K in this blog post.]

Interview with WargamerOnline

In a worrying trend, I've been asked to do two video interviews recently.  If this carries on I'm going to have to get my hair cut and trim my beard more regularly.  Anyway, you catch watch the first interview with WargamerOnline here:

Weird Ales: Last Orders

As Black Library always have work for me, it's difficult sometimes to set aside time to work on my own projects - prioritising speculative writing over paid work is daunting when you're self employed and have bills to pay.  One way I manage the need to spread my creativity, is to write short fiction.  I'm able to use my story ideas that don't fit the 'grim darkness' without risking too much in the way of income.

To that end, my latest offering - Psychopomp and Ceremony - has just been published in the Weird Ales: Last Orders anthology (alongside fellow Black Library author Josh Reynolds).

" And now, the end is near... From creator Theresa Derwin and editor Lynn M Cochrane comes the final installment of the Weird Ales trilogy.

From festivals to free houses, clubs to cantinas, bars to breweries to beerkellers, we’ve travelled the drinking world. But the bell is being rung, so from the hangover from hell to Gav Thorpe’s spectacular conclusion, join us for Last Orders. The last drink you’ll ever take."

Find Out More

The Origins of the Tau

As I’ve mentioned in some interviews, the genesis of the T’au philosophy and society pre-dates my employment at Games Workshop (and their official inception) by about a decade.  Read about their origins, and my part in it, in this blog post.

The Origins Of The Tau

My Favourite* 40K Art

*I don't really do 'favourites' because it can vary wildly with my mood, so when Grimdark Magazine asked me for my favourite 40K art I chose an Eldar piece from Rogue Trader, as it triggers something each time I look at it. You can read more about my selection, and those of Graham McNeill and Andy Hall, in this blog post.

See The Art

Newsletter Q&A

Bruce asked: How likely is it for an author, lets say you, to continue a story arch/series left by another author? Is it possible? Is there too much red tape involved?

Authors do occasionally pick up other writers’ series – when Bill King finished on the Gotrek and Felix books Nathan Long, and then David Guymer and Josh Reynolds continued them. However, it’s very unlikely unless for a major ‘franchise’ or by personal arrangement between the authors and Black Library. For instance, Matthew Farrer is writing a second Iron Snakes novel, working with Dan Abnett as the original creator.

Conversely, it has always been my idea that other authors might contribute to the Phoenix Lords series – I certainly had interest from Guy Haley and Aaron Dembski-Bowden – but whether that will be the case remains to be seen. I may end up writing them all.

If you want to ask a question, just reply to the newsletter and I'll get back to you as soon as my schedule allows.  I'll pick a question to go in the next newsletter, and combine them all into a blog post for the website.  Click the buttons below for the full Q&A round-ups for June.

June Q&A - Part 1

June Q&A - Part 2

Kickstarter - Human Interface

"Human Interface: Be a Better Human is a cyberpunk cooperative miniatures game for 1 to 5 players ready to play straight from the box."

There are only two days left on this Kickstarter, which has already reached its target and then some, so you'll have to act quickly if you want to back it.

Human Interface

Blog Round-Up

Elsewhere on the blog this month, you can read my update on Big Stompy Robots after I took it to demo at the new ChillCon Wargaming event in Sheffield.

You can also listen to my interview with Masters of the Forge, where we talk in-depth about my two Phoenix Lords novels, Jain Zar: The Storm of Silence, and Asurmen: Hand of Asuryan.

Read The Blog

Upcoming Events

• 15 July 2017, Edge-Lit, Derby

• 29 July 2017 (10-12noon), Lorgar Book Signing, Warhammer World

• 4-6 August 2017, Nine Worlds Geekfest, London

• 18-19 November 2017, Black Library Weekender, Nottingham

Do come and say hello if you're attending any of these events.

One of the most common questions I get asked is "What are you working on?", so here's my (sorry, sometimes cryptic) list of works in progress, plus future releases.

Hard Drive Hot List

• Primarchs Series - Lorgar (Black Library)
• Frontier Worlds - Hostile Takeover (Snowbooks)
• Cryptid Clash - Conquest of the Nu-world: Ban-manush versus Buru (18th Wall Productions)
• The Journal (publisher to be announced)
• Ghost Warrior (Black Library)
• Ashes of Prospero (Black Library)
• Imperator (Black Library)
• Strontium Dog (Warlord Games)
• Big Stompy Robots (Original Game)
• Sword In Ritual Splendor (Original Fiction)

! Submissions Alert !

At the other end of the 'Grimdark' spectrum, we have Heroic Fantasy Quarterly.

"Heroic Fantasy Quarterly is an ezine dedicated to publishing short works of heroic fantasy. More than that, through both prose and poetry we hope to hearken back to an older age of storytelling — an age when a story well told enthralled audiences."

The next submissions window is September 2017, so you have plenty of time to write and polish your Tolkienesque saga.  The submissions guidelines are really detailed for this one, and should be a big help if you need some direction for your story.

As with all submissions, make sure you read past issues (Heroic Fantasy Quarterly is free to read) so you can get a feel for what they are looking for.

Heroic Fantasy Quarterly

Bi-Monthly Competition Winner

All subscribers to my mailing list are entered into the bi-monthly draw to win a personalised, signed copy of one of my books.  The next winner will be picked in July, and will receive a signed copy of my original fiction trilogy, Empire of the Blood.

Wizkids - Newsletter

HeroClix, Dice Masters and Star Trek: Attack Wing news from Wizkids...

Greetings WizKids Fans, NEW VIDEOS! Scott Porter Unboxes DC Comics HeroClix: Elseworlds! Celebrate the 15th Anniversary of HeroClix with Scott Porter as he unboxes the upcoming DC Comics HeroClix: 15th Anniversary - Elseworlds set!   Click here to watch!  Explore a world in which Kal-El was raised by the Waynes, or Diana Prince as a marshal in the Wild West. See your favorite characters in ways never before possible on the HeroClix tabletop! Visit the WizKids Info Network to sign up for a Release Day OP Event and don't forget to pre-order your boosters today! Check our HeroClix 15th Anniversary page regularly for chances to win amazing prizes in our HeroClix 15th Anniversary contests and watch videos provided by our partners, Hyper RPG and fellow HeroClix player, Scott Porter! UPCOMING EVENT! WizKids Opens at Salt Lake Gaming Con Join us July 7th – 8th 2017 for the Salt Lake Gaming Con WizKids Opens located in the South Towne Exposition Center! WizKids is pleased to announce that this year’s events at Salt Lake Gaming Con will be hosted by Demolition Games! Prepare to do battle in the 2017 Salt Lake Gaming Con WizKids Opens plus many other side events! Play amazing games, win rare prizes, purchase convention exclusives, and compete to be crowned regional champion at one of the biggest WizKids gaming events of the year! Click here to learn more. NEW PREVIEWS! D&D Icons of the Realms: Tomb of Annihilation Bring the heroes, villains, and monsters from the jungle of Chult, as well as the Tomb of the Nine Gods to life in this latest series of fantasy miniatures! Check out some previews from the D&D Icons of the Realms: Tomb of Annihilationset before it hits the stores this July! Meet Ras Nsi, an immortal being known for his brutal revenge against the Eshowe tribe of Chult. Although he is now exiled, if you meet him and see his glowing red eyes, you are being warned of his irritability and ensuing anger! Meet Asharra, a noble wizard who protects the Mezroan royal family. She has been sent to Chult to find the Rod of Seven Parts. Will you help her in her quest to find this powerful weapon and weaken Acererak’s control? Collect all 44 figures of D&D Icons of the Realms: Tomb of Annihilation, featuring a vast array of all-new sculpts, including the challenging monsters that your heroes will encounter in the jungle of Chult and the loyal allies that have come to fight by your side to defeat the evil architect of the death curse. Pre-order D&D Icons of the Realms: Tomb of Annihilation from your FLGS today! NEW PREVIEWS! DC Comics HeroClix: 15th Anniversary - Elseworlds With the 15th Anniversary of HeroClix, WizKids is excited to reveal DC heroes in DC Comics HeroClix: 15th Anniversary Elseworlds, releasing this July! Colonel Wayne is the caped crusader with a western flair who interacts with familiar folk of the time period during his mission. Wearing the familiar cape and cowl, he possesses the Batman Ally team ability, which grants him Stealth. Wayne also has the expected named keyword of Batman Family, but his other keywords of Past and Soldier tell us that this isn’t our usual Batman! Click here to continue reading. With 50 figures to collect, DC Comics HeroClix: 15th Anniversary Elseworlds is sure to be on many HeroClix players’ wish list. Click here for more info and images. NEW PREVIEWS! Star Trek: Attack Wing - Wave 31 Expansion Packs Following the five-year space exploration mission led by Captain James T. Kirk, the U.S.S. Enterprise was due for an upgrade — and here it is. This July, WizKids/NECA will release Star Trek: Attack Wing Wave 31, and StarTrek.comhas the exclusive First Look at the ships in the upcoming expansion packs, starting with the U.S.S. Enterprise Refit (Repaint). The refitted Enterprise went on to see many adventures, including the defeat of Kirk’s old nemesis, Khan, in a battle at the Mutara Nebula. The ship met its ultimate demise in 2286, when Admiral Kirl initiated a self-destruct command as a last resort to overcome a Klingon attack. Continue reading here.  UPCOMING OP! July Organized Play Events This July, visit your Friendly Local Game Store to participate in all-new Organized Play Events for the chance to win limited edition prizes. Visit the WizKids Info Network today to find and register for events near you! Marvel HeroClix: Dormammu Colossal OP Doctor Strange’s mystical foe, Dormammu returns to the tabletop for this all-new Colossal OP Event. The ruler of the Dark Dimension can be summoned to your tabletop this summer in the Marvel HeroClix: Dormammu Colossal OP Kit. Additionally, connecting into the Marvel HeroClix What If? set, the Punisher and Spider-Man have been turned into serpent men, from the pages of What If?: The Marvel Heroes had Lost Atlantis Attacks! Each participant in this special organized play event will also receive a double-sided Serpent Punisher and Serpent Spider-Man bystander token that can be added to any of your teams, without requiring a character to generate them! Click here to learn more. DC Comics HeroClix: Invisible Jet Colossal OP Beginning July 19th, players can visit their FLGS for the chance to win the Invisible Jet Colossal OP Prize Figure! Wonder Woman’s Invisible Plane speeds through the skies and onto the tabletop for this all-new Colossal OP Event! This new vehicle figure can move though the map undetected, and strike down foes when the time is right. The Invisible Plane is also able to be played as Special Terrain on the map with unique abilities in addition to a brand-new Terrain Dial! This Colossal OP Event, will feature special bystander tokens of Justice League of America members as apes from the JLApe: Gorilla Warfare story! Each participant in this special organized play event will receive a double-sided Ape Superman and Ape the Flash bystander token that can be added to any of your teams, without requiring a character to generate them! Visit the WizKids Info Network to find a 15th Anniversary Colossal OP Events near you! DC Comics Dice Masters: Batman (The Animated Series) - Villains This July, the DC Comics Dice Masters: Batman (The Animated Series) Organized Play continues with the Villains OP Kit. Batman’s animated adventures take to a new level as he trains and teams up with Robin and Batgirl. Robin will be forced to confront the man who arranged for his family to have an “accident” at the circus. Batgirl will fight the same criminals as her father, Commissioner Gordon. All in all, together there is no challenge in Gotham – or anywhere else – too big for these heroes to face. This month, players can compete for the chance to win The Riddler: If You're So Smart, Why Aren't You Rich? and The Joker: The Laughing Fish Limited Edition Prize Cards. Each player will also go home with the Harley Quinn: Tough CookieParticipation Prize! Click here to learn more. Don’t forget to visit the WizKids Info Network to learn more about upcoming OP Events! You can find in-store matches and tournaments, earn awesome achievements, build a custom profile and keep track of your game results, all in one convenient place. LIVE CONTEST! #WEAREHEROCLIX Video Contest Grab your cell phone camera, fancy digital camera, camcorders, we don’t care what camera you use, but we want to see you! In 1-3 minutes, please share your best HeroClix memory and favorite figure with us! Post it to YouTube, enter it here and also, don’t forget to share it on Twitter or Facebook using the hashtag, #WEAREHEROCLIX! Help your Friendly Local Game Store (FLGS) win too! In your video, tell us your favorite FLGS that you play HeroClix at – be sure to mention the name of the store, city and state it’s located in! We’ll then randomly select stores to win prizes as well! For legal guidelines.  -The WizKids Team

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