Tomoko's "Steel Warriors" project

[Tengel]

We finally have the full infantry range of factions in our game.
Now are ready:
-- Three lists of different barbarian folks;
-- Two lists of Keno, low-tech faction (infantry and guards);
-- Two lists of Leeanrah, high-tech faction (human infantry and clone infantry);
-- A list of Otlok, low-tech extra faction.
Plus a number of figures from non-finished lists, plus some range of armour and vehicles.

[Tengel]

Leeanrah soldiers

[Tengel]

[Tengel]

Keno soldiers

[Tengel]

Barbarian snipers

[Tengel]

Otlok and Alana soldiers

[Tengel]

Armour museum

[Vermin King]

Very nice. Is the game about ready for release?

[Tengel]

Well, we are now trying match to the New Year with the release of the first albums.
They are gonna be like that:
-- A setting section with some picture art (possibly map) and some text about the universe of the setting;
-- An infantry 1 section with the list of infantry (15 men, 1 heavy weapon) and a text about the unit (it/s history, organisation structure, tactics, weapons...);
-- An infantry 2 section, the same, but of opposing faction.

We plan two double albums like that, and than shift onto "single albums" with some text of the general setting, a list of an infantry unit (a dozen or so rank-and-file and a heavy weapon team) or a unit of armour (or vehicle, or airplane, or helicopter) with crew with a setting notes on it.

We are not going to publish wargaming rules for the "Steel Warriors: Battle For The Empire". In our opinion people could choose any scheme they like for our setting.
We use for our game a strongly modified GZG's "Stargrunt" rules.
I can write here the modifications we made, and stats of the units in 'Stargrunt" terms.

[jeffgeorge]

Nov 12, 2016 10:41:11 GMT -9 Tengel said:

We are not going to publish wargaming rules for the "Steel Warriors: Battle For The Empire". In our opinion people could choose any scheme they like for our setting.

Gun Crawl, anyone?

To my surprise (I'm more of a fantasy/medieval guy usually, rather than near-future sci-fi), I'm really interested in these sets. Please let us know when and where they are available.

[Tengel]

No gun crawlers.
Only tokens of dead soldiers

[tomoko]

Some photos

[whisper31]

All I can say is: WOW! I think I managed to get most of his miniatures at one time, but the tokens and casualties are something that I haven't seen before. I may have to look into making these and dropping them into a Guncrawl/Crushed Metal type of scenario. These might also work nicely with Armor Grid as well.

[coreyhaim8mydog]

Does anyone know the status of this project? I'd love to purchase the minis.

[okumarts]

Dang, I want that Motorcycle with sidecar, by gum.

[nullpointer]

The domain seems to be for sale. It does not make me feel hopeful, which is unfortunate, those vehicles look amazing.

[marzman]

I agree, I'd like the vehicles for some Morrow project scenarios.

[tomoko]

Hello, friends! Sorry for long silence, project is alive, I just didnt posting anything.

Actual website of project here:
vk.com/steel_warriors_battle_for_empire

Project status: WIP
Infantry: 345/545 (200 miniatures left) - Technics: 22/65
From October 2016 to the present I made 195 miniatures of infantry and 5 3D models. At last week I fully completed infantry set of one main faction - Leeanrians.
In general 200 figures of infantry left. I need 2-3 years to complete it (This is a realistic estimate of the time). Making models is easier than doing infantry, so I now concentrate on infantry, mostly

In ideal, I want to create single album with infantry, technics, descriptions, setting, scenarios and illustrations, but it will take 4-5 years minimum. It does not scare me, because I spent more than 10 years on the project.
But I think its a not good idea, so I must think about publishing the material that is already ready.
I'm going to create a starter-set in the near future, then I plan to produce small issues of set of infantry / one unit of vehicles. I plan to publish miniatures on rpg-now

Some photos of new miniatures completed at last year

[nullpointer]

"Onward Men! To the mousepad, and victory!"

[Vermin King]

I have always admired your work. Those vehicles are superb. Your factions of soldiers are units that would fit in many different scenarios. Best of luck on getting things published

[whisper31]

You are doing a beautiful job tomoko!!!  From what I have seen, sending out a basic set with rules/scenarios gets people interested in your miniatures.  After that you can publish a new "expansion" or update every so often to keep the interest alive while still having the time to finish the rest of the figures that you are doing. 

As to the length of time you estimate it taking, so what?  If you have excellent figures (as you do), then the players that truly want them will be willing to wait any length of time you need to get them as you want them for publication.  Take your time. Get it as you like. Don't burn yourself out or become stressed about not turning out so many units in such-and-such a time frame.  We are all patient people and wait anxiously for your next drop!

[Tengel]

About trading etc:
I have some doubt, which I would like to discuss here.
Actually, the project consists of three parts:
-- figures and models themselves, plus supplementary materials (terrain, markers of activations, suppression etc);
-- setting (maps, political and geographical background of the war, descriptions of weapons and machines, organisation of units etc);
-- gaming rules.

We will surely issue our kits with the two parts (combat vehicle or infantry squad, plus their description, plus some story (e.g. a map) from a gaming universe).

But are gaming rules really needed?
They are quite big, and it would be rather difficult for me to rewrite them in English. And those Rusian folks, who has read and tried them, tell they are too much detailed.
I think it would be nice enough to provide figures and setting, suitable to play any rules, one prefers.
What do you think of this?

[Vermin King]

I think that gaming rules are optional, since you have expressed that others have told you that the rules are too detailed.

I believe the figures, maps and terrain would have a market, even without the rules.

[jeffgeorge]

I see no reason to wait to release the figures and models until your rules are ready. There are lots of popular miniature rule sets available already which people could use with your miniatures. There is no reason to expect or require that people use your rules with the miniatures--there are probably many people who would use your miniatures but already have a favorite rule set, and wouldn't want to change.

If it's very important to you to publish your own set of rules, having an established line of miniatures already available will help generate interest in your rules. Some people who picked up your minis to play with some other game may become interested in your rules because they have your miniatures.

[marzman]

I agree, release what you have! It is nice to make them in sets as a theme, but don't limit your options.

[coreyhaim8mydog]

Hey. We spoke on Facebook. Chris Lites here. I agree with the above. If you generate interest with the look of the models, you can worry about a ruleset later. I think the looks of your figures sell themselves.

[Tengel]

I see no reason to wait to release the figures and models until your rules are ready. There are lots of popular miniature rule sets available already which people could use with your miniatures. There is no reason to expect or require that people use your rules with the miniatures--there are probably many people who would use your miniatures but already have a favorite rule set, and wouldn't want to change.

That's exactly, what I thought.
Game rules are completely ready, including everything (from squad formations to airstrikes and psyonics). But they are in Russian, and it would take lots of time and effort to translate them. I don't think they are worth.

I would better start with setting, and then people would use rules they like.

[tomoko]

Hello, Friends!
All lianrian infantry ready (with the exception of characters)
In total full infantry set of Lianra contain 123 figures (+9 characters will add in future)

Video from drone
vk.com/steel_warriors_battle_for_empire?z=video-92217457_456239017%2F97fb9d8870c5a08277%2Fpl_post_-92217457_1966

[okumarts]

WOW!
Let me know when I can buy these guys! That being said, I'd love an option to have black outlines around the figures.

[tomoko]

Full list of all "STEEL WARRIORS" miniatures: Infantry and Technic. List dont contain terrain, fx, corpses and other environment elmnts



And Full Continent map (It will be in basic set)