Breaking! Warcradle Studios: Buys Spartan Games' Wargames - Dystopian Wars, Firestorm Armada and Uncharted Seas

Warcradle Studios: We have some great news from Warcradle Studios! We are proud to announce that we have acquired all rights and materials relating to the Dystopian Wars, Firestorm Armada and Uncharted Seas settings.

Dystopian Wars, Dystopian Legions, Armoured Clash, Firestorm Armada, Firestorm Planetfall and Uncharted Seas were created by the team at Spartan Games and we are excited to now be able to explore these settings further. We will also be developing and expanding on a large number of exciting scenic products to support these ranges.

We are actively working to bring the games to a wide audience from next year. Through Warcradle Studios, Wayland Games will be investing in all aspects of the design, development and supply of these worlds. We are committed to producing an exciting range of new plastic and resin miniatures to support the growth of our games. These will build on the established releases as well as introduce new narrative and competitive gaming opportunities. We are planning in-store organised play support for our games as well as a range of exciting events planned throughout 2018 and beyond. Look out for our announcements of new products and show attendance in the coming weeks!

Breaking! British Wargame Companies - Spartan Games and Tor Gaming Closing Down Business

It has been a sad day for the tabletop miniature wargaming industry as two independent British wargame companies, Spartan Games and Tor Gaming have announced today that're closing down business. Bad news never comes alone ...

The official Tor Gaming Announcement Link: Statement date: Friday 25th August 2017. Tor Gaming was started back in 2010 with the intention to product the tabletop wargame Relics and with it, bring some originality to your gaming table. We tried to create a world that was distinctly different to what was already being presented from several fronts, and I like to think we managed in this task. Unfortunately, the last few years have been a difficult trading time for Tor Gaming. Running a business in a niche market is never easy but the gaming industry has become very crowded in the last few years for a number of reasons. As such, I have made the difficult decision to close Tor Gaming and sell off the Relics IP and product range. The reasons for Tor Gaming closing are many faceted but as I mention above the gaming market is a much more crowded than it was when I started out. The arrival of crowdfunding platforms certainly shook up the industry and made it even easier for new companies to appear and vie for the limited funds our customers have to spend in this hobby of ours. I have made use of them a number of times for Relics and whilst they are good for raising funds I have found each time I ran a project I had a nasty taste in my mouth afterwards.

Coupled with the fact that the traditional ‘distribution model’ of selling product to end users through retailers is a difficult task in this industry as retailers have only so much shelf space and as such are less inclined try out every range that comes along makes continuing to trade in this industry as a producer is difficult. Over the last couple of years we have seen a steady decline in sales and as such Tor Gaming no longer has the resources to spend on the marketing and advertising required to make our voice heard over all the other voices in this industry. This has ramifications on our ability to develop and produce new products to support the Relics line. We could continue by making use of more crowdfunding projects and moving away from the more traditional ‘distribution model’ for selling but I feel that would be the wrong decision as I am not happy putting the financial risk on to the shoulders of our customers. It’s been a fun journey but as with all journeys, there has to be an end. For Tor Gaming, that end is here. The journey has been fun and exciting, even frustrating at times. But along the way we have met some great people in this hobby and I am proud to call many of them friends now! If you wish to contact us about this closure, or you are interested in purchasing the Relics product package and Intellectual property, we invite you to contact us on contact@torgaming.co.uk

Edit 10/09/2017 - TTCombat has announced that they have acquired the rights to Relics from Tor Gaming. Check the official Troll Trader - TTCombat announcement here

The official Spartan Games Announcement Link: The following statement is issued today, Friday 25th August 2017. Following a prolonged period of challenging trading and despite the directors’ best efforts to manage through, Rebel Publishing Ltd was unable to continue to trade and the directors have taken the difficult decision to cease. All members of staff were made redundant. The company, which traded as Spartan Games, is a Somerset, UK based provider of tabletop miniature games which include

• Uncharted Seas (now retired)
• Firestorm Armada
• Dystopian Legions (now retired)
• Dystopian Wars
• Spartan Scenics

Rebel Publishing Ltd was formed in July 2002 and traded successfully for a number of years. Spartan Games was launched in 2008 and grew rapidly.  However, the tabletop games market is challenging and has changed over recent years, and suppliers are predominantly a small number of large well-known names and several small, cottage industry, type businesses.

Initially the business outsourced production but following quality control and production management issues, manufacturing was moved in house between 2009 and 2011.  Over this time and since, significant investment was made into machinery and infrastructure. The business also expanded to provide models for a well known video game, moving this into the tabletop games arena.  However, significant new development costs, timing issues and the deflection of management time from the core games brands resulted in a significant trading loss for 2015/6. The business was able to continue to trade by raising additional finance and refocusing on core brands, and direct / online trading improved significantly.   Results for 2016/17 were significantly improved.

However, despite this it continued to encounter challenging trading conditions and it became clear this month that the company could not continue to service its liabilities, particularly given the burden imposed by the amounts owing to finance companies. The company was in the process of running a Kickstarter project to raise funds for expansion of one of its successful product lines.  This was well supported and positive feedback on the new products was given showing the popularity of the product line and ongoing demand.  However, this does not, unfortunately, provide the full range of success and resources needed to sustain the business.

In addition to challenging trading issues, one of the directors has suffered from a long period of poor health which became significantly more serious earlier this year and although now back in the business, requires ongoing treatment.  That has inevitably taken a toll on the amount of time available to the business so, along with other challenges, has significantly contributed to this difficult decision.

The directors are extremely saddened by this decision and particularly regret any losses incurred by employees, customers, suppliers or other trading partners.  The directors fully committed their time, energy and personal resources to effect a turnaround.  Employees will receive redundancy payments through state funds and although efforts have been made to fulfil customer orders, it is hoped that anyone who does not receive their goods will be able to redeem their payments through their credit card or PayPal.

If customers have made a deposit or paid for goods or services by credit or debit card and the goods or services are not going to be received by the due date, they may be able to get their money back by claiming a refund from their card issuer.  They should contact their card issuer as soon as possible.  Further information including time limits that apply is available from the UK Cards Association: Credit and debit cards: A consumer guide.  Similar schemes exist in other countries. Throughout the years that Spartan Games has traded, it has prided itself on the highest level of product quality and customer satisfaction.  This has been delivered consistently and is evidenced though annual customer research that the company has undertaken. We would encourage anybody who may be interested in acquiring either stock, assets or the business to make contact as soon as possible.  Spartan Games and its product lines have a strong reputation in its markets together with an asset base which may be of interest to a number of parties, and a variety of machinery in addition to Intellectual Property. All enquiries about this matter should be sent to spartangames@mail.com.

Spartan Games: New Firestorm Space Combat Board Game

Spartan Games: Introducing a Firestorm Board Game! Lethal Fighter Combat In The Firestorm Galaxy coming to your tabletop battlefield soon!

As part of our massive expansion of the Firestorm Galaxy we are hugely excited to announce that we have created our first "out-of-the-box" board game. Called Firestorm: Strike Force, gamers take control of Fighters, Bombers and Boarding Craft in a frenzy of combat as they perform their missions! And just to be clear: when we say "out-of-the-box", we mean no modelling and no painting required. Just read the short rules, put the star map down and dive into the action... our stunning models come pre-coloured for each race.

Aimed at everyone from rookie pilots to veteran aces alike, Firestorm: Strike Force is based around an intuitive and easily expandable Deck Building mechanic and the Fog of War  is provided by our Draw Bag Tokens. Highly detailed Fighters are in the box and then players will expand their games with Bombers, Boarding Craft and larger ships such as Frigates, Freighters and even Cruisers.

And it's not just for fans of the Firestorm Galaxy, anyone who likes a fast-paced game in a Sci Fi setting will want to check this out. Read our blog to find out how the game brings together two of the bitterest of enemies in the Firestorm Galaxy: the Terran Alliance and the Dindrenzi Federation. These races show no mercy in battle and this makes them the ideal choice for our first box. Buy now for a special pre-order deal Pre-order before the end of July (click here) and you will receive double the number of Fighters and Stands - that's 24 highly detailed, pre-coloured models and stands.

Spartan Games: Halo Miniature Game - 30% Discount Code

Spartan Games: To apply the discount, just enter coupon code HALO30 at the checkout and 30% discount will be applied to all qualifying products. Buying more than one? No problem - you will get 30% of all of them! Check the Spartan Games store here

Spartan Games: Special Halo Fleet and Ground Command Deals Ending Soon

Spartan Games: For a limited time, we have bundled together some great products from both our Halo ranges and we're making them available to you at very special prices. Check them here

Spartan Games: Cool Dystopian Wars Battleships, Halo Infantry and Firestorm Daedalus Space Station

Spartan Games: As we continue 2017's exciting expansion of our Dystopian Wars Victorian Super Science Fiction table top game, we deliver you a brand new 2-player box set and we complete the range of highly-detailed modular Battleships for the core nations. Each of our three new blisters allows two versions of a Battleship to be assembled, allowing gamers to choose which variant best suits their fleet or game style. 

And for Halo: Ground Command we bring two of the coolest (and deadliest) Units to the gaming table, making it even easier for gamers to expand their 1/100th scale ground forces.  The UNSC ODST Air Assault Unit and Covenant Elite Ultra Unit respectively bring Jetpacks and Drop Pods to the game's table. In the Firestorm Galaxy, we are releasing the stunning Daedalus Space Station in response to huge demand when we first showed the model on social media.  

Spartan Games: Pre-Stocktake Sale - 50% Discount Halo, Dystopian and Firestorm

Spartan Games: Have you seen our pre-stocktake sale? Over 50 products with 50% off. Prior to our end of year stocktake, we have over 50 products that you can buy at a whopping 50% off for this weekend only. They are in stock and ready to ship now.

Spartan Games: Black Friday Weekend - 40% Discounts!

Spartan Games discounted loads of cool top selling products!

Spartan Games: Dystopian Wars World Expansion Kickstarter

Spartan Games: Here it is - your opportunity to be part of the biggest and best expansion of the Dystopian World. Exciting expansion to the stunning tabletop world of Dystopian Wars for new and existing players based on what gamers have requested.

Dystopian Wars is the ultimate massed battle war game which uses highly-detailed 1/1200th scale miniatures to bring a Victorian era world to life for you on the gaming table. In this incredible setting the great nations of the world are locked in a devastating world war, with incredible machines of war, fuelled by a strange new technology called Element 270, battling for supremacy.

Players control powerful Battle Groups using a sophisticated rules engine that connects all theatres of war together: Air, Sea and Land. The innovative Spartan Exploding D6 dice mechanic delivers exciting gameplay and the rules cater for a myriad of combat options within a game system that already has over 500 models available for it! This expansion campaign is an exciting development for the Dystopian World. Based on the wish list of our worldwide gaming community, we have assembled an array of exciting new products. Check the Kickstarter here

Spartan Games: Upcoming Halo and Dystopian Wars Models

Spartan Games: Check out our exciting December Release! For Dystopian Wars, we bring you our first four brand new highly-detailed modular Battleships. Each pack can build two versions of a Battleship, allowing players to choose which variant best suits their fleet or game style.

And for Halo: Ground Command we have introduced new Unit packs which make it easy for players to expand their ground forces. And in addition to making it easier to buy existing infantry, we are bringing you three brand new Units: UNSC Recon Team, Covenant Jackal 'Snipers' and Jackal Assault. 

Spartan Games: Dystopian World Expansion Kickstarter

Spartan Games: Spartan Games is very excited to announce that our Dystopian Wars World Expansion Kickstarter will go live in November 2016, bringing a host of exciting new models and books that will delight current fans, and capture the imagination of new players.

After working our way through the excellent results of our recent customer survey, we have created a brand-new campaign that embraces the top results that our customers said they wanted from the Dystopian World. Our ability to focus development work on the needs of our customers has enabled us to take in-progress projects and fine tune them to create a campaign offering what we firmly believe will both delight and satisfy the needs of gamers.

Much more information and images will be detailed over the coming weeks, but let’s look at the exciting highlights of our new campaign offering here

Spartan Games: Halo - Fleet Battles Items 30% Discounted

Spartan Games: 30% off selected Halo: Fleet Battles products, this weekend only! Check the discounted items here

You read that right! This weekend only, we're offering 30% off in our online store on selected Halo: Fleet Battles products. Just put the products in your basket and apply the coupon code HFB30 at checkout. This offer will end on Tuesday 4th October.

Spartan Games: The Dystopian World is Changing

Spartan Games: With new models and rules in development, we've been taking a look at how we make Dystopian Wars and Legions more easily available to our customers and players. Interesting changes are going to be made in the coming months and we're very excited to share them with you.

Dystopian Wars - Our stunning Victorian super-science fiction game is very important to us and to you, our customers, and we’ve been looking at how to make it even easier for new players to buy and start playing the game and for existing players to easily buy exactly what they want. This was reinforced by this year’s customer survey, with a large number of you citing your support of the game, and asking us for more support for the Dystopian World. You’ve seen the results of that with the recent blogs that we’ve published, and having spent time exploring different options, we’ve decided to make some changes that will mean the game is more accessible to both players and retailers alike.

We’re going to streamline the boxed sets that we make available to our retail channel, by scaling back what we ask retailers to purchase. We’re doing this in order to make it easier for retailers and distributors to stock the product line and more easily understand which items to carry. The upside of this for new players is that getting into the game will also be easier, with more direction being provided on what’s best to buy first. All of our two-player boxed sets, battle groups and items like rulebooks and gaming accessories will remain available to our sales channel. This will allow us to release new and exciting products to our channel sales partners, which can then make their way to your tabletop forces!

Everything else will continue to be available from our online store, and (here’s the best bit!) at much friendlier prices! We will be able to adjust the pricing down on these items because they will no longer need retail packaging or be priced to cater for trade discounts.  New players can get into the game with purchases at their local store.  Existing players can expand their collection with new nations and accessories from their local store, and then purchase more specialised upgrade models from us direct.

The range available for retailers will be focused on the core products making it easier for them to stock and sell, without the risk of carrying items that appeal to a smaller group of customers.  However, if a retailer has a lot of Dystopian Wars customers, they will be able to obtain the specialised upgrade products from us at a special discount so they can fulfil specific orders for their customers. These changes will be taking effect from the 31st October 2016.

We’re also going to be making key Dystopian Wars models available for sale individually. This will enable customers to have much more flexibility on how they expand their fleets. The options for customisation will be endless, meaning you can fine-tune your Dystopian Wars force with precision, creating an army that will lead you to victory every time!

Dystopian Legions is now four years old and whilst more niche, we know that it has a following every bit as dedicated as Dystopian Wars, albeit somewhat smaller.  We are changing how we sell the product line, and will do everything to continue supporting the game and its loyal players.

We have therefore decided that all of the Dystopian Legions product line will be available via mail order from our online store only, also taking effect from October 31st 2016. By selling it as an entirely mail order product line, we can make it easier for customers to expand their armies with individual models and lower pricing by not needing to cater for packaging or trade discounts. This is a bold move for Legions, but one that we feel will strengthen the game in the highly populated 28mm scale miniature gaming space in which it competes.

This is the start of a number of exciting changes for Dystopian Legions which will firmly put the gaming control in the hands of its players. The greater customisation of purchase options will allow gamers to choose exactly how they want to play with their miniatures, from small squad-based adventures to platoon level actions!

Spartan Games: New Halo: Ground Command UNSC Scorpion and Covenant Wraith

Spartan Games: In our latest release for Halo: Ground Command we have turned our attention to two of the most eagerly awaited armoured vehicles from the Halo Universe: the UNSC Scorpion and Covenant Wraith.

Spartan Games: Free Dystopian Wars Scenery Pack Promotion Extended

Spartan Games: As many of you will know, we ran a Dystopian Wars offer over the weekend for a free Dystopian Wars Scenery pack when you spend over £50 in our online store. Unfortunately the coupon code for this offer didn't work - good old technology! Please don't worry however - we'll be honouring any order placed over the weekend that qualifies for the offer, regardless of the code. For anybody who hasn't placed an order because they didn't want to miss out - we're extending the offer until Wednesday (21st Sep) so you've got 2 more days!

All you need to do is spend £50 or more on Dystopian Wars products to qualify for our free Dystopian Wars Scenery Pack! The offer is running from now until Wednesday 21st, so make sure you get your order in! Please note: The KoB Heavy Battleship is pictured for scale only, and does not come with the deal. From a Sturginium-powered lighthouse to an observatory, sand bar and craggy-rock hazards, to a top secret military facility, this pack of goodies will look amazing on any Dystopian Wars Naval tabletop.

Spartan Games: Kingdom of Brittannia Spotted off the Coast of Africa!

Spartan Games: No doubt many of you have seen the little previews we shared on Facebook of the new ships we're working on.

This is a preview of the brand new Kingdom of Britannia Battleship, seen here in three different variants - Torpedo, Weaponry and Bombard. We're aiming to introduce more modularity into all of our new ships, in order to give you even more variety when it comes to fleet building. Don't think it's just the Brittanians getting some love either - we're busy working away on Battleships for all of our core races. There's still a lot of work to be done before these beauties are ready for release, but we wanted to share our progress with you. 

Spartan Games: Free Dystopian Wars Scenery - Code Inside

Spartan Games: Calling all Dystopian Wars players and fans... have we got some cool models for you!

Element 270 has changed the Dystopian World beyond all recognition, so we've been feverishly working on new scenery and models that will make it super easy for you to create stunning looking battlefields, scenarios and campaigns on your gaming mat.

And to show just how confident we are that you'll love it, we're making a bundle of terrain free for our Dystopian Weekend Deal! Spend £50 on any Dystopian Wars products this weekend only, and receive this free Dystopian Scenery Pack. All you need to do is apply the coupon code 'DWSC01' to your order. 

Spartan Games: Halo: Ground Command - UNSC Warthog Vehicle Boxed Set Preview

Spartan Games: An iconic staple for any UNSC player (and one of the most tactically-capable units available), the UNSC Warthog Box gives you the option to purchase as many 'hogs as you want, along with a wide range of weapons customisation. 

The boxed set contains 2 Warthogs, and an array of weapons and components - 2 Gauss Cannons, 2 Chainguns, 2 Rocket Launchers, 2 Riflemen Drivers and 6 Riflemen Gunners. Players will have all the force-building flexibility they could want. With such a choice of weapon systems, no enemy unit is safe! 

Spartan Games: Halo: Ground Command - Covenant Hunters Preview

Spartan Games: We're also releasing the Covenant Hunters as a boxed set, one of the most fearsome opponents for any UNSC player. Its enormous size and devastating combat ability allow it to engage infantry and armour with confidence... So even Spartans had better watch out! Hunters are always fielded in pairs, and this box delivers two full units to a Covenant player. 

Spartan Games: New Halo: Ground Command Covenant Ghosts Boxed Set Preview

Spartan Games: This month we're releasing the Covenant Ghosts as separate boxed sets, available with either Elite Minor or Grunt Minor pilots - to allow players a greater range of gameplay customisation. A super-tactical addition to any force, Ghosts are intimidating when piloted by Grunts, and lethal with an Elite in control.