State of the Precinct

We've had an influx of new patrons over the last couple of weeks and one of them reminded me that I've not been terrific at updating folks on where we are with various publications, so here's a little reminder:

Horizon Wars: Infinite Dark

The spaceship combat game was originally intended to be out by the end of March, but development has taken longer than I had hoped for various reasons (one of which being the excellent feedback and suggestions I've had from playtesters in the Patreon!), so we're now looking at publication being the end of May.  This should give enough time to finish the rules, commission the art, design the layout and get the manuscript finalized.

Zero Dark: Operation Nemesis (POD edition)

I've put aside the whole of next week to make sure the documents for this are finished and ready to go for test printing.  This has been massively delayed (mostly by Infinite Dark but also by the fact that I find the work incredibly tedious so I keep putting it off) but we will get there and should have the POD edition ready to go at or around the end of Feb.

Zero Dark: FEAR

Draft rules were in the old beta version of Operation Nemesis.  I'll be getting to work on finalizing this as soon as the layout work on Infinite Dark is done, so we should see publication (digital only) by the end of July.

FEAR is Fighting in Enclosed AReas: rules for playing Zero Dark in internal spaces based on a grid, so you can use tiles from Space Hulk, Imperial Assault or Core Space to play Zero Dark.  In addition, it adds new rules for the Red Force making them less shooty and more leap-out-of-nowhere-and-eat-your-face-y for those who like xenomorphs or zombies.  It will have its own short (six mission) solo campaign, three Versus missions and guidance on writing your own missions.  If it's popular, I'll write a longer campaign just for FEAR and you can expect to see FEAR missions appear as side missions in future campaign books.

Zero Dark: Most Wanted

This supplement will introduce named characters from the Fallen Earth that you can face as Bosses or Nemeses or recruit as Allies.  The rules will bolt on to existing campaigns, so you can simply swap out a Boss or Nemesis from Most Wanted in a pre-existing mission; but they will also include a unique mission for each Most Wanted character.

Expected release date end of September 2021.

Incidentally, if you have an absolute favourite mini you think would fit into the Fallen Earth and would like to see it feature as a Most Wanted character, feel free to let me know here, in a message or at precinctomega@gmail.com.  Minis by GW, Corvus Belli or Privateer Press are probably off-limits, but everyone else seems to be open to the idea.

Zero Dark: Operation Kurgan

[Minor Operation Nemesis spoilers below]

The new operation manual to follow Operation Nemesis, Kurgan will focus on the Martian team dispatched to track down Amunet, but they must also contend with a traitor within their own ranks and the scrutiny of embedded media assets.

Another 12-mission solo/co-op campaign and another six Versus missions, Operation Kurgan will also expand the rules for EmJays, allowing them to be taken as heroes in their own right, and Spooks.  Both specialists will get access to a range of alternative upgrades.

Additional new rules are still being brain-stormed and the contribution of the patrons will be invaluable!

Expected publication date is now early 2022

Horizon Wars: Midnight Dark

A return to where it all began.  Midnight Dark is the working title for the new edition of Horizon Wars, which I'll be starting work on early next year (who am I kidding? - I'll be sketching stuff out all this year, but not with any focus).  It'll be broadly the same game with all the same design principles, but will learn from the success of Zero Dark (and, hopefully, Infinite Dark).  The one definite addition I can confirm will be solo play in the core rules.  Right now, everything else is up for discussion.

Expected publication date is March 2023.

Beyond Midnight Dark?

I have two other properties I am dying to work on once Midnight Dark is put to bed.  First will be a return to Skrapyard, a fantasy skirmish game I wrote and tried to publish years ago with very little success.  The manuscript is available in the Patreon if you want to see it.

It will be a complete re-write, though, with solo rules included.  Whether it will riff on the Horizon Wars mechanics or stick closer to it's original "just need one d12" mechanics, I have no idea at this time.

I also have Ballmonsters.  If everything else pans out as I'd like, I should have the capital, by 2023, to give Ballmonsters the treatment it needs to capture both the childishly silly humour and accessibility I long for it to have.

When we reach 2025, though, we'll be looking at Zero Dark's second edition, updating the rules with everything we'll have learned by then from our community.  The essence of the game will be the same, but we'll have new art, new missions and a higher quality of production.