Warzone Eternal

July Update
6 months ago – Thu, Jul 18, 2024 at 06:00:06 PM

Hello Warzone Eternal backers! Checking in with another monthly update. 

Origins

Last month Bryan and I headed to Columbus, Ohio to attend the Origins Game Fair, the annual convention put on by The Game Manufacturers Association (GAMA). For four days we ran demos and hung out with Warzone fans new and old (including a number of you backers!). We had a print proof of the Kickstarter-exclusive short story compilation on hand for people to flip through, but the preview that excited most folks who stopped by were the prototypes of the Mishima Samurai we had on hand. 

These line troops of the Lord Heirs will be released as part of wave 2, after the Kickstarter has been fulfilled, and as with the Algeroth Immaculate Fury revealed at Adepticon in March, are a sneak peek at our efforts to continue supporting Warzone Eternal into the future.

Manufacturer Trip

As soon as I got back home from Columbus I jumped on a plane and flew out to meet with our new miniatures manufacturing partner. They had intended to get up and running on our project right away, but this was going to be my chance to see their process in detail as well as their progress.

And they were indeed up and running! In fact, earlier this week a first shipment consisting of more than 4000 completed miniatures showed up at Res Nova HQ. More such shipments should be arriving throughout the next month. 

While at their facilities I snapped a number of pictures for those of you who may be interested in the process.

Mats by Mars

Some of you may have already seen this mentioned on the Warzone Eternal Facebook page, but we're happy to announce that our friends over at Mats by Mars have included Warzone Eternal amongst the range of games they support with their fabulous game mats. You can now choose a Warzone Eternal overlay, which marks out all of the deployment areas for the game's standard scenarios (thanks to Zach Grogan for compiling those), for nearly all of their 36"x36" mats.

Take a look at them here: Mats by Mars

Check Your Backerkit!

With production on all elements of the Warzone Eternal Kickstarter closing in on the end, it's imperative to know that we're not missing anything. While the completion of your Backerkits suggests you have all reviewed your accounts and verified that things were correct, I'd ask that you take one final look again to make sure that nothing seems off. 

Follow this link if you've misplaced your Backerkit invitation.

For instance, I had found that a number of you who selected the A La Carte option were entitled to Cartel Agent models that the Backerkit system had not added. That has been corrected, but I'd like to make sure that no similar issues exist that will require lengthier and costlier corrections later.

If anything seems amiss, please send me a message here on Kickstarter and I'll take a look.

Production Status

Finally, as has become the custom with these updates, we have a rundown of the production status of the various elements of the Kickstarter products:

• Miniatures - In Production. As noted above, production is well underway and miniatures are starting to arrive at Res Nova.
• Rulebook - In Production. Layout continues, but a few sample spreads from the book can be seen below.

• Unit Cards - In Production. Final review has been completed and we had a meeting with our print partner at Origins to discuss pre-print setup. These have been sent off for print proofs.
• Acrylic - In Production. The most recent update from Muse on Minis stated that all of the measuring widgets and objective counters had been cut and printing was being finalized. Acrylic cutting on the gameplay counters had just begun.
• Dice - In hand at Res Nova.
• Shirts - In hand at Res Nova.
• Decals - In hand at Res Nova.
• Short Story Compilation - In hand at Res Nova.

Until next time!

Alex / Res Nova Games

Origins, Tournaments, & Progress Updates
7 months ago – Tue, Jun 18, 2024 at 07:30:56 AM

Hello Warzone Eternal Backers,

Hope you're all staying cool (or warm for our southern hemisphere friends) as summer rolls in like a Gehenna Puker.

But summer temperatures mean summer conventions, and Bryan and I are off to Origins this week. For those who haven't made the trip to Columbus, Ohio before, Origins is a great mid-sized show that represents the full range of the tabletop gaming hobby. If you are making it in for the convention, swing by booth 214 and say hi. Bryan and I will be running demos all show and, as with the Immaculate Fury at Adepticon, we should have a prototype of another wave 2 unit on display.

I hope to see some of you there!

First Ever Warzone Eternal Tournament!

While the first Warzone Eternal championship won't be occurring until Adepticon of next year, a group of Warzone fans in Hradec Králové, Czech Republic, kicked off the WZE tournament scene by hosting the first ever Warzone Eternal tournament in early May. Nine players, representing Bauhaus, Imperial, Mishima, Cybertronic, and Algeroth battled it out over two days, with Tomas Kohoutek's Mishima emerging as the victor (congratulations Tom!). I suppose that makes Tomas the reigning Warzone Eternal world champion.

Thanks to Mancini (a regular on the fan-run Warzone Eternal Discord channel) for some great pictures.

Packaging

As noted in an earlier update, models for Kickstarter fulfillment will be packed securely in zip top bags (see the April 23rd update for full details). A few people noted that they were collectors, as much as painters or gamers, so the retail packaging was something that was desirable to them, even if it meant paying higher shipping costs than other backers due to the volumetric space taken up by boxes. I invited such people to contact me via Kickstarter messaging to let me know that they would like retail packaging. To date, very few people have sent a message, so if this is something you desire as well, please be sure to let me know as soon as possible.

Production Status

With each passing week, we get closer to completion on this project and more red "completed" checkmarks get added to my whiteboard. Here's where things stand currently:

• Miniatures - Production continues and I will be flying out to our partner's facility the day after I get back from Origins to review the progress and discuss next steps. Pictures will be in the next Kickstarter update.
• Rulebook - Text layout is complete as well as basic page graphics. Rules explanation diagrams are being finished and artwork and fiction inserted.
• Unit Cards - Layout is complete and files are prepped to go to the printer, but still need to undergo one more quality review to ensure that no stats or special abilities were transcribed incorrectly.
• Acrylic - In production. Muse had to revise their delivery date to late June due to production on the project prior to ours running long.
• Dice - In hand at Res Nova.
• Shirts - Complete and arriving at Res Nova tomorrow.
• Decals - In hand at Res Nova.
• Short story compilation - In production with printer. Estimated delivery to Res Nova of early next week.

Unit next time,

Alex / Res Nova Games

May Update
7 months ago – Mon, May 27, 2024 at 05:10:07 PM

Happy May Warzoners (and Happy Memorial Day for those observing in the US).

Things continue moving along here at Res Nova HQ, with Origins rapidly approaching. You'll be able to find Bryan and I at booth 214 where we'll be running demos, showing off a bunch of spectacularly painted models, and, maybe, bringing along a sneak peek of some future models.

But while future models are fine, I know we're all eager to reach fulfillment on last year's Kickstarter. So, diving directly into a status update on the various aspects of that project:

• Miniatures - Production continues and a trip to their facility to see their process in-person is intended for next month. Presuming that trip happens, pictures will follow. At this point, no hiccups have been reported that would throw a wrench in the works of our timeline.
• Rulebook - In layout.
• Unit Cards - Layout is completed and files are being prepped for print.
• Acrylic - In production. Last update from Muse suggested delivery to Res Nova by early June.
• Dice - Production completed and several thousand new dice are in hand at Res Nova.

• Shirts - Production complete and shirts are in transit to Res Nova.
• Decals - In production.
• Short story compilation - Laid out and printer proof is in process. The cover/spine spread can be seen here:

Speaking of the War Stories book, all backers should have just received, or should shortly be receiving, the first batch of digital reward downloads. This includes the first two short stories featured in our compilation, "5 Whys" by David Voderberg and "Mother May I" by Bryan C.P. Steele. These files feature the page design created by our graphic designer, Matt Sturm, as they will feature in the print version of the book.

Additional digital rewards you should have received include the pre-supported STL files for the basing detail kit designed for us by Mike "Epic Duck" Cousins. Once you've printed these out and made use of them, please post pictures to the various Res Nova socials or the fan-ran Discord channel. I'm looking forward to seeing your creations.

Also in the digital rewards is the PDF sheet of print and play counters for you to use. There have been some excellent fan-made versions created over the last many months (thank you in particular to Marijn Bierhof for his spectacular work in this regard), so these will provide an option for those of you looking for tokens featuring the artwork used on our acrylic pieces. Bleed area and cut lines are include to help.

Our final digital reward for this batch comes from our friends at Secret Cow Level, and is a code for 5 digital card packs for their online version of the Doomtrooper card game. Grab the codes, download the game from Steam (https://store.steampowered.com/app/723410/Doomtrooper_CCG/), and check it out.

If for any reason, any of the digital rewards aren't showing up correctly for you, please send me a message through Kickstarter.

Until next time,

Alex / Res Nova Games

The Sun Rises On Venus...
8 months ago – Mon, Apr 29, 2024 at 06:30:27 AM

Hey everybody! Bryan here!
So, with everything is starting to fall into place and layout to head off to the printers soon. For the last couple months, we had playtesters focusing on the Graveton Protocol narrative scenario pack to make sure it is fun and interesting for players... especially the aforementioned Graveton Protocol Unique character Units! 

In the last week or so, I've seen a few comments about Graveton, and I figured it might be fun to give you folks a little tease about who will be arriving to Warzone Eternal when the Graveton Protocol goes live! 

Without spoiling their stat cards just yet (as final playtesting wraps up on them), I figured I could at least let everybody know a potential option for one of their Faction Starter Box miniatures!

Without further ado, let's meet the supporting cast of Graveton Protocol!

Junior Marshall Waltman (Venusian Ranger)

Considered an anomaly amongst the Venusian Rangers, Junior Marshall Waltman left the comforts of his position as the Information Dissemination Officer of a noble house in order to join his unit. His strong personality and ability to steer the minds of others found him a shortened path toward becoming one of the esteemed Venusian Marshalls. While he has yet to finish the training regime necessary to gain his mount and earn the official title, Waltman is dedicated to the cause. Only through the mastery of his Venusian surroundings, leading his fellow Rangers through the weeds in hopes of finding his glorious regalia waiting for him when he returns to the compound after each successful mission.

Capitol Corporation

“Nitro” (Free Marine)

Some heroes find themselves on propaganda posters and all across the Capitol Media Corps airwaves. Some heroes do press junkets and sign autographs. Other heroes, heroes like the woman called Nitro, are only known by the other soldiers who have seen her trudge through the muck and mire alongside them. No one knows exactly why Nitro ended up in the Free Marines; only that she wears the colors proudly and bears the scars of dozens of mission survivals on her face and demeanor. When the Capitol brass needs her to lug his modified M50 with the underslung grenade tube into the thickest and hottest of conflicts, Nitro doesn’t hesitate.

Cybertronic Corporation

“Reaver” (Chasseur)

After a commonplace Chasseur stopped a heretic cell from completing a fortnight of X-mas bombings in the Pagoda Center on Luna City, the Executives enrolled him in an experimental process to create a new kind of cybernetic urban enforcer. Thus, his old persona was overwritten and only Reaver remains – a brutal, close combat expert equipped with reinforced, tungsten edge cyber-claws. Re-deployed to a hotbed of close quarters fighting, the Graveton Archipelago, Reaver seeks to prove the efficiency of the procedure, opening the door for more of his kind in the near future.

Imperial Corporation

“Trencher Dave” (Trencher)

Deployed as a base defense member of the 3rd Imperial Trench Battalion, Private David Flatte never had aspirations to be a hero, but he defied all odds at the Ad-Con penetration into Dark Legion territory. Killing several inhuman monstrosities before getting wounded himself, Private Flatte would’ve been just another number on the medics’ rosters – but a freelance press agent caught the whole thing on video. Moved to a Venusian deployment to bolster the local troops, the now-famous “Trencher Dave” does his part from within the Imperial forward base at the Graveton Archipelago.

Mishima Corporation

Captain Hiroko (Hatamoto)

Known best for a legendary kill total – supposedly – of Dark Legion monstrosities along the shores of the Graveton with a scavenged submachine gun after his Airbrush ran dry, Captain Hiroko is doubtlessly a hero to the local Mishiman populace. He is everything a Hatamoto is trained to be; skilled, honorable, and fearless in the execution of his duties. When Kenji Hiroko dons his brightly colored armor and straps on his aunt’s battle-tested blades, there is nothing he won’t do for the Daimyo.

The Brotherhood of Man

Brother Samael (Sacred Warrior)

The Cardinal protects those who bask in His glory, but His teachings also say that one must seek to destroy the Darkness in order to preserve the Light. Brother Samael personifies that concept more than any other member of his peers on Venus. Having seen his brothers and sisters fall to the blades and bullets of the raging conflicts rife on the Graveton Archipelago, Samael fills his mind with their faces and his heart with rage as he charges into combat. He is always eager to wet his anointed blade; never failing to etch a hashmark in his pauldron for each and every kill made in his fallen comrades’ honor.

Dark Legion (Algeroth)

Phobosh the Devoted (Necromutant)

Risen up from the ranks of a Venusian gutter cultist, Phobosh gave themself over to the Apostle of War years ago. Their local leaders fell to Inquisitors’ flame and blades, leaving a young and ambitious cultist to petition Algeroth directly through rite and sacrifice. When the Centurions came and took them away to be mutated with the Dark Symmetry, they gleefully ended their former life and entered one of direct servitude to the Dark Legion. Phobosh brought with them the mentality, the psychic imprint, of life as a cult member – and Algeroth’s lowest minions seem to follow suit.

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Discuss!

April Update
9 months ago – Tue, Apr 23, 2024 at 04:06:46 PM

Hello backers and happy Spring (for those in the northern half of the world).  Hopefully things are warming up and greening up around you. I have a fairly substantial update for all of you, and would appreciate you all sticking around to the end of it.

Adepticon

Since your last update from me (which was the release of the final WZE beta rules - hopefully you've managed to get some games in), Res Nova made its annual trip to the greatest miniatures gaming convention in the world (fully my biased opinion), Adepticon! Over 4+ days we ran dozens of demos (thanks to Grey for the clutch assist in holding down a demo table), talked to a slew of people, including many of you backers, got in some late night games of Warzone Eternal, and held our first annual Warzone Eternal Adepticon Social (picture below). Pizza was consumed and plans were already being made for next year's inaugural Warzone Eternal tournament. If you didn't see the last update, where Bryan laid out plans for the tournament and its very special prize, go check it out.

We can't wait for next year and are absolutely looking forward to heading to Milwaukee, the new host city for the convention. Milwaukee's a great convention town, and the fact that it was a GenCon in that city where I first encountered Warzone makes the move even more exciting.  We hope to see you there.

Fulfillment

Jumping straight to the topic about which the majority of you are no doubt most interested, as many of you have no doubt surmised already, we will not be fulfilling the Kickstarter next month. May was the most optimistic of timelines, with a year deemed a reasonable window by my production partners, and was calculated before we had any idea of the potential success of the Kickstarter.

Complicating things further, we've had to change our miniatures production partner. One of the significant issues of producing miniatures as a small company, is that we have a limited number of partners with which we can work. Our production run is too small to make the largest manufacturers viable, and yet large enough to overwhelm a boutique miniatures casting studio. Compounding that was my insistence that I keep manufacturing in the USA to limit freight costs and keep a closer eye on the production process.

Things came to a head in late February when my production partner let me know that the size of our Kickstarter was proving difficult to manage and production was going to take another 9 months to a year. They are definitely closer to the boutique end of the production scale spectrum, and creating the number of molds that needed to be completed was going to occupy them full time through the fall. Siocast is a fast casting process, but that speed is irrelevant if you don't have molds in hand.

As fulfillment being pushed to February of 2025 was not an option if we could avoid it, I opted to look elsewhere. To their credit, my production partner tapped into their network of domestic casting houses, much of early March was spent in discussions, and by Adepticon, we had entered into a new deal with a new production partner. They even brought some metal masters of Undead Legionnaires to the convention to show off.

While this move was initially prompted by necessity, and has been the source of significant anxiety over the past two months, it has proven to be the best change we could have made. With a larger staff and production facility, our new partner anticipates that mold-making and casting for the entire Kickstarter production run should be complete by the end of August. That's not May, but it's only a few short months off that initial target date.  And, with any luck, I may have product on hand that I can personally deliver to backers who will be attending GenCon.

I'll be heading to their facility in June and will be sure to provide all of you with an on-site update, including pictures.

Packaging

While getting 24000 miniatures made is one, very significant, production hurdle, we can't just send you a pile of loose plastic pieces rattling around in a shipping box. In the Kickstarter we had referenced the starter and unit sets as "boxes" as that is of course the expectation by retailers for a product line. But after an extensive review of our packaging options, and taking a look at Adepticon at what a number of smaller miniatures producers use for packaging, we have decided not to use boxes for the miniatures being produced as part of the Kickstarter. We will instead be using poly bags sized to contain the contents of a starter or unit set - the miniatures, bases, and cards. As Siocast is a robust material, we're not concerned that this will lead to breakage, and of course the shipping boxes will contain packing material to minimize damage from the shipping process.

By moving to bags for the Kickstarter, we'll be able to drive your shipping and handling costs down significantly (they're lighter and they take up far less space, limiting volumetric price increases), will make inventory maintenance far easier for me, and will help mitigate some of the waste that is produced when packing cardboard boxes inside of a cardboard box just to get the product to you.

I'm sure it's not a perfect solution, but the upsides seem to significantly outweigh the downsides.

To be clear, our retail backers will still be receiving boxes for their items as such packaging is a necessity for merchandising product. For any backers who strongly object to receiving their Kickstarter items packaged as described above, please contact me as we may be able to make the retail packaged versions available to non-retail backers in limited quantities.

Production Status

As noted in my February 24th update, production on all of the peripheral products are well underway, and some of them should be arriving any day now. The rulebook is currently in layout, half of the unit cards have been fully laid out (some of you may have seen them at Adepticon), and the short stories are nearly prepped for release. We're just awaiting approval from Heroic Signatures of the page design for those short stories and we'll be able to start releasing those to all of you.

As I said, a long update this time and I hope you stuck with me to the end. As always, if you have any questions, please let me know.

Alex / Res Nova Games