Hey guys and gals... not too much has happened here on the blog rules front over the past couple of weeks. After letting the combat groups 2.0 rules percolate for a while, I've decided to add them into the rules and replaced the combat groups section under of the table of contents with the newer simpler rules.
For those who don't follow the DP9 website and forums, a new edition of Heavy Gear was announced a week ago. The open playtesting will begin next month when the rules are posted but so far the only public info we have is that they're "significantly different" according to the Dave over at DP9 when asked if current books will be compatible.
On a more personal note, I've finally started assembling my NuCoal minis after I got a two more during the recent Miniature Market Black Friday sale. I've also finally assembled (or more accurately based) my hoverbike GRELs as well. To round out the zoom-zoom-zoom NuCoal force, I've got a GP squad of Chassuer MKIIs as well that I've had for a while still to be assembled. That gives me about 1300-1500TV of NuCoal depending on how much I spam the upgrades (BOTB, extra sturdies, etc).
Paradoxically, the hoverbikes are bigger than I thought and the Fusiliers (for a size 10 vehicle) are smaller than I expected when put next to gears. I have to say though that I like the sculpting on both tanks and especially the new Hetairois. The casting was also top notch with only some tiny tiny bubbles on the tops of the Fusilier engine plates occasionally and a few other areas that were covered with other bits when assembled. Apparently at some point they switched from all resin to resin/metal hybrids with the Fusiliers as I got one hybrid and 3 pure resin. The Heterois though are a newer kit and to my knowledge have always been resin/metal hybrids.
Now onto the NuSales part of the title... Is it just me or does it seem like stores are dropping alot of HG on clearance? Miniature Market would be a good example as they basically put all their HG stuff on clearance and haven't restocked the stuff that sold out during the Black Friday sale. HG bags at Battlefoam were 50% off as well. Finally, a friend also mentioned that another online store (have to confirm with him which one before adding it to this post) was doing the same. While the huge sales are great for fans in the short term, I have to wonder if they'll be bad in the long term if the stores are just divesting themselves of their HG stock. If you know of any other stores that are doing the same or other big name online retailers that are instead adding HG to their lineup, feel free to let me know in the comments.
I agree, it seems like everyone is jumping ship on HG. Good for me (buying for less) but possibly bad for the long term of the game.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I am going to be shifting my focus to Arena and Badlands Rally until the new set comes out. No sense in assembling an army just to have it invalidated by the time I get around to playing with it.
I'm still focusing on the more military gameplay of blitz but I wouldn't fault you for switching to the other ones either. The problem for me is that Arena is pretty much an abandoned ruleset that never got the support (or fixes) it needed and they haven't commented publicly about how Badlands Rally fits into the grand scheme of things HG. I do agree that having several of the higher profile stores jump (land)ship isn't a good thing long term.
ReplyDeleteWayland Games who have sole rights in the UK as far as I can tell had a 50% off sale earlier in the year. They are still showing most figures for as available but have very little actual stock now. Basically I think they are ordering from DP9 only when they have enough retail orders to justify it. Hence it is now taking weeks to get stuff you have ordered.
ReplyDeleteAh, thanks. I do recall them having the sale and forgot about it as it was earier in the year. I was tempted to order despite the distance but IIRC I had alot of unfinished figs still on my plate at the time and common sense won the battle that day. That is indeed another high profile (and exclusive retail partner/distributor for an important gaming market) internet retailer that seems to have decreased their on hand stock. I have over the past year or two ordered individual blisters from various retailers as sales and coupons come in and I do get relatively old blisters frequently. Two of the three King Cobras were of older dull pewter from the look/finish of the parts so the retailer must have been sitting on the stock for years.
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