Heroscape: Age of Annihilation is here! Back it on Haslab!

[Gold1]

Late to the party, but thanks to IAmBatman's help I was able to get back in. After 10+ long years, it is so good to see Heroscape making a comeback! I am super excited for the future of the game and all the new figures and terrain we'll be getting.

I've painted a few minis before so I'm not super concerned about that. I may need to brush up on the paint skills (no pun intended). It would be interesting to see if the painted vs unpainted factor has any relevance in games such as camouflaging units for line of sight purposes but I think it's cool that everyone could add a personalized flair to their units so each game is unique.

Hoping Hammerhead guy is his own hero though he may be a part of a squad from the sound of it. I thought one of the people from the announcement trailer silhouettes looked like a pirate captain, but might be another monster hunter. I do hope for all the newness that they keep it as the battle of all time, so we'll still get our ancient warriors next to our Chainsaw-axe bearing dwarves. There were so many units that were referenced but never made it into production and they can still do so much more.

All in all I am in on this new Scape and I cannot wait for more news and speculation to come out!

[caps]

Originally Posted by Chris Nadeau AKA "Encarmine" on Discord

DESIGNER'S NOTES - DAY 01 - "THE DAWNRAIDER SYNDICATE" A first look at our initial concept boards associated with one of Heroscape's new playable factions for the upcoming release of Age Of Annihilation. The DAWNRAIDER SYNDICATE represented an amazing opportunity to recognize some of our previous fan favorite species in the new product line, while also creating a platform to experiment with new creatures and unit types. Enjoy:

Our first real update from the Discord server!

[caps]

Originally Posted by capsocrates

Our first real update from the Discord server!

I see an elf *and* a dwarf! And I think also a goblin. The goblin mounted on the back of the cthulhu-looking dude is interesting. A mok-inspired design perhaps? I bet the goblin is a permanent fixture though.

I love the idea that various occupants of Valhalla have adapted to technology and banded together in unusual ways in the intervening years.

[brak88]

Could the new pic mean that the dwarf, the shark and the four armed insect are a squad? Maybe it's a new unique squad type where you can move and attack with each member and they all have the same stats, but each figure has their own special ability? Maybe that's overly complicated, but it could be an interesting idea.

[DragonSlayer2]

I keep coming back to the sketch where it says "scarf color determines faction?". What if they're mercenaries and could work with whoever pays them more? So mercenaries would just be a factionless faction. Prolly a light grey/neutral colored unit card.

[Myriadite]

Originally Posted by brak88

Could the new pic mean that the dwarf, the shark and the four armed insect are a squad? Maybe it's a new unique squad type where you can move and attack with each member and they all have the same stats, but each figure has their own special ability? Maybe that's overly complicated, but it could be an interesting idea.

That is an interesting thought, especially since they mention the faction gives them a platform to "experiment" with "new unit types".

Also, recognizing previous fan favorite species? Looking at the concepts, most look like they fall under the "new creatures" category. I am curious how much of this faction is still unrevealed.

[stumpy_man]

Could be wrong, but I'd guess 7 out of the 10 models that were at Gencon were Dawn Raider syndicate then? The two others normal size ones seem to be druid/shaman type people, then maybe the dragon is with them in a 7v3 scenario?

[brak88]

Originally Posted by Myriadite

That is an interesting thought, especially since they mention the faction gives them a platform to "experiment" with "new unit types".

Another idea I had, what if they have a unit type that could switch between heroes and squads? Like, those three figures could be a unique squad, or they could also be used individually as heroes. It'd be a way to create more units with the same amount of figures.

[Hahnarama]

Originally Posted by Grungebob

I’m laughing at how long it took you to figure out how to craft this response. I guess Geek Squad got you up and running again?👴🏻

18 years of hanging out, and our "relationship" has de-evolved to this point

Squabbling in public

Sad

[Yodaking]

I'm going to need that goblin with a Gatlin gun mounted on a monster figure.

[caps]

Originally Posted by Myriadite

That is an interesting thought, especially since they mention the faction gives them a platform to "experiment" with "new unit types".

Also, recognizing previous fan favorite species? Looking at the concepts, most look like they fall under the "new creatures" category. I am curious how much of this faction is still unrevealed.

There's definitely a dwarf and I kind of bet at least one of the other figures is an elf.

[caps]

Here are some more nuggets I dug out from the Discord channels. Encarmine is Chris Nadeau, the Creative Director for Avalon Hill. I think he is Craig's boss?

Originally Posted by Encarmine

No miniature count has been communicated, and those numbers are definitely wrong.

Originally Posted by Encarmine

Who said there was a master set? ... AoA is the epoch like SOTM

Originally Posted by Encarmine

Contents are finalized

Originally Posted by Encarmine

We have multiple sculptors working on the project

Originally Posted by Encarmine

Craig provides what is called “sculpting inputs” which are the turns based on the final concept drawings.

Originally Posted by Encarmine

Concept sketches are generated, like the ones you saw today. We base those on a combination of the War Council’s unit rules, combined with Craig and my insane thoughts on visual language (provide general art direction on concept). It then goes through rounds with the concept artists (like Max Dunbar) to produce a visual story we want. Then it goes to another artist who does gesture drawing that have to function as a test for a viable sculpted pose (meaning it can be pulled correctly from a mold) then those two pieces go to an artist who produces the turns of the character. Those in turn go to the sculpting team that produces the STL files of the miniatures, that then get grown in our rapid prototyping lab, evaluated by Craig and I and approved to go to the factory for the creation of the tools.

Originally Posted by Encarmine

Unless I’m completely mistaken, Max has done every model in the Dawn Raider Syndicate faction.

Originally Posted by Encarmine

There is a bit of a Marketing strategy behind how much is said each week, what is held back etc. be patient with us, the development team doesn’t get to decide the rules of engagement, but are asked to execute them. It will never be enough.

Originally Posted by Encarmine

Exactly. So much noise and nothing to really follow. You all are the exception, but ask outside this sphere of hardcore fans and historians and you will find a majority that fail to even understand most aspects of the story. It is very hard to follow, and full of contradictions. Took Ryder, Craig and I alot of time to unravel some of the tangle.

Originally Posted by Encarmine

I really enjoy making the Heroquest Lore Videos

(note he said Heroquest here, not Heroscape, but everything they've said so far indicates they'll do similar things with Heroscape that they did with HQ)

Originally Posted by Encarmine

#facts

And some stuff from facebook:

Originally Posted by Encarmine

that's kind of the point. This is YOUR GAME Heroscapers. The galaxy is going back to war for you!