Overread

Hmm so Wyrd hasn't given any hint nor word that they'll release individual sales for cards. A shame, though I'm sure that its easier for their production line to produce sealed packs of cards (esp if they are not produced in-house) it is a bit of a pain for others. What about local distribution of expansion decks? So that those of us not living in the USA won't get stung with higher postage/import costs when buying the card packs off their store.

Quick question that I'm sure has been asked many times; but I'm looking to get a few of the older metal models whilst building a Marcus force - so some of the beasties come from other factions. Without getting the Wave sets is there any way to get the cards individually without having to trade/rely upon someone on ebay splitting up packs. I've my eye on Waldergiests and Silurids at present, though that could expand if I find I prefer some other mk1 sculpters over the mk2

Just thought I'd drop in and let people know that 4pm Vancouver time (12pm GMT) this evening (sunday) Benij (head of AGM/Drake) will be doing a live chat with fans; more details closer to the time on the KS updates. Also the Ks is now at nearly $70K with the hardback rulebook unlocked!

Mike appears to have gone awol! And its been quite a bit of time sooo: Drake is on KS - running live with over $47K already raised and nearing its next goal at $50K which is unleashing some big monsters for the table (including the amazingly detailed hoarding beast which has stood high on the front page of their KS since the start) They've also had a slew of big news events these last few days including; Increased rewards based on pledge amount not just selection. So now people paying $85, $150 and $240 will get the same reward and unlocked stretch goals as the pledge levels that correspond to those amounts. So you can get similar rewards to things like their Ultimate edition (at the $240 level) without having to limit yourself to the 3 army pack options that the Ultimate edition gives. Of course there are also now added rewards for those fixed price point pledges too - Ultimate edition specifically getting the new $20 KS unique model release in the form of a mercenary warrior for hire - a monster of a bonded half-dragon man dead set on his bloodthirsty path! In addition they've released a video showing 2 of their freshly cast metal miniatures from the range. They've another model coming up today/tomorrow with another warrior model to showcase in metal. In addition they are going to post some photos so that that they can really show off the detail far more than youtube can (although it does a very good job already - plus it also clearly helps to show the truescale design that they've gone for in model design). Their updates also have a several interviews up to listen to and also a podcast reading of part of the story and background to their most recently unlocked monster the Oolen.

I was right - plasticised resin for the dragons and other big miniatures (as yet only the dragons in the KS others to come) and the rest in white metal. The Kickstarter is now launched as well Head over to KS to find Drake the Dragon Wargame

Unless things have changed the last I recall is that the dragons will be resin and the other models white metal. I don't think they have plans for plastics in the range. I would also assume that they'll likely use resin for other larger models in the range as well. There was a post on the forums about this but I can't seem to find it and it was posted a fair while back so some production factors might have shifted their methods behind the scenes. Hopefully more clarification on this will come out with the big info burst when the KS launches.

Just to let any watching know (since Mike appears missing) the Kickstarter Launch date is firmly set on this coming Friday - March 8th! I'm not sure what specific time but I suspect any point after 9am in Canada will see the KS leap into action! Also an early slip of info is that they do have a 2 player starting box for those interested in getting all you'd need in a single box to play with.

Might I suggest peeking down at http://www.wyrd-games.net/showthread.php?37869-Something-to-consider its got dragons - lots of dragons and adding that to your "something else" list - their KS is set to start very soon and hints are that it might be today - with a certancy that it will be starting within the next week if not today (company has been prepared for a while and was slowed by paperwork processing external to the company - paperwork which is now completed)

Click for Hot dragon action picture edit - top picture is a normal sized version, lower one is a fullsize (ie very big photo and takes a while to load - both are the same picture). http://actiongamesminiatures.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Dragon.jpg http://actiongamesminiatures.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/ubb6c-Dragon.jpg *yeah getting this in before mike does because the poor guy needs a break* http://actiongamesminiatures.com/an-awesome-shoot-the-first-of-many/ Edit - small version now added - also link to their news with yet more photos of the dragon and also a few other models

Killing a dragon whilst its sleeping should come with an instant level penalty score - and any paladins should be stricken from their order for dishonourable battle methods.

High fantasy would be a kind of good general description to give the overall theme from how I understand it. That said the design team is also trying to avoid orcs and elves appearing (in fact one news blurb states that the world itself hasn't got either faction present). So there is some determination to shift away from some heavy Tolkien inspired high fantasy and get some of their own ideas on the table.

Hey guys - I've been poking around the Drake game for a while myself and just dropped back in to the site (first time in a long while) to give a few details from what I can recall being mentioned. The card aspect as explained thus far is that its being sold in an open deck method - so the opening pack(s) will have a clear list of what card are in each pack. In addition cousins and warriors will have their own stat/summoning card sold with them in their product pack. The random and collecting element appear to be a little up for debate - I'm not sure how strong the random element will be, but from what I can gather I don't think they are approaching the full "collectible card game" concept (and I've heard tell that this feature might be "dropped" from being mentioned as its not exactly what the game is going for). I suspect we'll see more open decks released in expansions and with new releases - and considering the nature of balance in wargames I wouldn't expect these on anything like the scale of a true collecting card game. As for the mana from what I recall of reading an earlier rules document each turn the casters would get a fixed amount of "mana" based upon their chant score (or it was fix I can't recall now). That said a lot of the rules are up for debate and thus far we've only seen quickstart rules not an in-depth rules version. That said they've shifted a fair bit and changed, for the better, since an earlier draft (in that flight allowed a model to leave the table and then return next turn to any point upon the table - quite amazingly powerful!) Though of course rules are hard to debate without also seeing the monsters and spells that go hand in hand with them. On the getting others into the game front - I've heard tale that there is a 2player starter pack in development (unknown if its just for the KS or not) so that should help encourage people a little into joint pledging or at least giving single people a chance to get enough to field 2 forces to do trial games with. Also its a game where everyone gets a big dragon to play with - where isn't the interest in that ps remember I'm just another fan so I could get some info wrong - best place to ask is on the Drake forums where there has been good and frequent responses by the games head (although a little less now as they are gearing up for the KS)

So his real name is Chuck Marcus Noriss!

The other reason for his popularity is that all the material is in the public domain and I don't think there is an association/trust (like there is for something like Tolkien's work) so its a lot easier for products to use the ideas without having to pay royalties. Heck you can get the complete works he wrote for free - legally - cthulhuchick.com/free-complete-lovecraft-ebook-nook-kindle/ So now no one has any excuses not to have read them. (Ps I hope that link still works my router is deciding that its going to limit where I can go on the net for a random spot....)

Technically they also start every game mostly dead as well Though nothings deader at the moment than the Spartan forums

Groups of people tend to end up working toward a similar standard or type of presentation. So its no surprise that if one or two are setting a "standard" with basing that the others are rising to try and match/beat/emulate that standard. As for if it is or isn't a general approach it honestly varies from player to player. Some will go all to town on everything, others will be quite happy to just have a standard model and a fairly simple base. As a model to be played and used I think many tend to just go for what is functional; whilst models for display purposes tend to get a bit of extra treatment.

Ahh thanks for the confirmation on the flying bases. I'm certainly also giving a look to the Mali bases, the fire one will certainly see some use for Kaeris - as for the others I think the wild beasts can certainly easily fit custom basis with rocks and grit and some glue; though I can see myself using a street scene for the gunsmith!

Thanks for the continued input and also the clarification on the bases that come with the models. A bit of a shame that they confuse a little by using scenic bases on the product shots, though honestly it looks like it will only prove to be a, creative, point on the raptors in getting them flying .

Thanks for the inputs all, seems most of my assessments were fairly right, and it seems I can't get around the (ugly ducklings) silurids for their popularity on the table. Also one question, is there any resource that lists the pack contents specifically? It seems Maliflux likes to use highly decorated bases for model product shots so I'm left a little confused with some as to what actually comes in the box with regard to a model base sections? The shop lists the base size, but I'm unsure which (if any) come with a detailed base or not outside of the flying units (which I assume come with them as part of the model.

So having seen these models dotted around a few retailers and also been reading/chatting/watching youtube vids/etc... I think I'm about ready to commit and at least build a decent force up for a single crew for general appearances and also gaming purposes. Bonus to the fact that it seems my choice, whilst not the best for a beginner it seems, lets me mix beasts and fire spells (which since Diablo 2 is a favoured option!) So to that end it seems Marcus is the beast -- er best way forward. Based on reading around the site and such I've landed on the following rough core for a crew: Marcus Jackalope Kaeris Myranda Gunsmith (1 or 2 though?) That's the rough starting core that seems to be popular in use as well as giving some options for choice. That would suggest a Kaeris box for start up (esp if 2 gunsmiths is suggested) though the fire spirits appear to be more situational in use for a Kaeris crew as opposed to where she is support and considering the box only saves £3 I might pass and just get those that I need for now. rom there things seem to vary out depending on points costs, style, availability, etc... into the following options: Raptors (appear popular as a cheap unit either for filling in points or for a more focused larger trio - if situational unit). Night Terrors (appear to be a bit more of a solid choice over the raptors for a more durable fast unit - again trio appears popular) Shikome (lone heavy hitter/durable unit for a crew) Guild Hounds (Keep hearing their mention yet not seen/read that much directly on their use/application) Waldgeist (medium hitter/unit type it seems - numbers unsure of) Silurids (trios of these appear very popular, though I'm not that enticed based on appearances*) Mechanical Rider (another lone harder hitter it seems - also likely to get just because of the model) It seems the sabretooth and razorspine are somewhat less favoured choices for many, though I'm tempted to get the marcus box just to add these two for some variety of choice in the beast department of the crew. So there are my early thoughts, I'd appreciate peoples views on these rough assessments and also in popular numbers of models. I know such can be hard to give without a points value/army theme etc... but a general outline would still be of use. In addition suggestions as to other units that I've overlooked/not mentioned would also be very welcome. *yes yes I know looks are not the best way to win a battle, but .....