Well, another GenCon has come gone, and I ask myself, yet again, "What happened?" I enjoy the associations I've made (especially hangin' out at the Shadis booth and munching down pizza), but it's such a huge event that, no matter what you do, you miss a bunch of events that you were interested in. I do have to admit that GenCon is the most impressive gaming convention I've ever attended. To provide service to so many participants without a complete breakdown of the system is miraculous. It also seems to me that just about every new release expected at GenCon missed its target date. There were, at least, demo games for Heartbreaker's War, E's Silent Death: The Next Millennium (not implying the release date, I'm sure), Both were showing off some great new figures for their soon-to-bees. They are both due some time in September. Ral Partha had a new, limited edition figuure, Dracolich, with only 6000 issued plus 1000, in pewter). Grenadier also had a Giant that stood about 10 inches tall, with only 100 issued (now that's limited). If you see them at your local shop, jump on them. There were plenty of new miniatures products at the Geo-Hex booth, including all sorts of resin accessories for BattleTech and similar genres. Global Games had a number of newer figures for Legions of Steel, including some fabulous models for their, Black Empire line. Reaper Miniatures has some incredible new figures from Julie Guthrie, Sandra Garrity, and other sculpting greats. In the coming months, we'll 'look at all of this and more. Don't forget to enter the New Perspectives "Gimme" contest. Here's all you gotta do: Send us a letter with your name, address, and the names of the miniatures games you are most interested in. In January, we will draw a random letter from those we've received, and that winner will get a box of miniature goodies! That's right, plastic and/or, metal figures from many of your favorite manufacturers and games. We'll even throw in The Guide to Miniatures Painting: Book 1. It'll cost you all of three minutes and a stamp! Get going. Write: New Perspectives "Gimme", P.O. Box 9, Murrieta, CA 92564. I lied last issue (unintentionally, I assure you). I said that the release date for the first book in The Miniatures Hobbyist- series, The Guide to Miniatures Painting: Book 1 was in August, but it's really in November (calendar dyslexia). Pester your local hobby stores for it. If they can't get it for you, send $8.95 + $1.00 S&H to AEG's Painting Guide, 4045 Guasti Road, Suite 212, Ontario, California 91761. Reviews Tiko Marines 1, Veteran Mercenary, Marta Simtac's Shatterzone line Sculpted by Dave Summers #SZR-23/#SZR-3/#SZR-5 0 25mm 0 $6.25/$2.15/$2.15 Technical: 5 0 Artistic: 7 0 Value: 6 These figures are designed for use with West End Games' Shatterzone role- playing system. The lower body of the Tiko Marines is the same, but the torso and upper extremities are quite different. There are visible mold lines that aren't difficult to remove, but they do run across faces and through detail, so the preparation time is increased. Marta has a very slight mold shift, which will require a bit of time, but it will clean up nicely. The detail is pretty crisp, and there is a lot of it. These marines have a great deal of animation to their poses, with rifles at the ready and one prepared to throw a grenade. Marta is also pretty lively, with pistol up and a knife held down along her leg. The merc veteran has his rifle held loosely, plus another across his back. A cigar, or the stubend of one, is clamped firmly in the left side of his mount. The clothing is well sculpted, as are accessories. These figures will paint up well. Vindicator (EAN-011) and Prometheus (EAX-011) Rafm's JOVIAN Chronicles Sculpted by Stephen Koo #1074/#1075 0 1/285 scale $7.50 Technical: 6 Artistic: 9 Value: 7 Jovian Chronicles and Heavy Gear provide some of the best anime available, and Janus/Dream Pod 9 isn't even a Japanese owned company. In keeping with the quality of the original artwork, Rafm has done some of the most incredible anime in miniatures. I must warn you, however, that while the blister gives the warning "Some assembly may be required", that is an understatement. Both figures show minor parting lines, but most of the pieces are pretty clean. One or two of the smaller bits had minor mold shift problems, so a bit of work is required there, but they won't slow you down much. Vindicator comes in twelve pieces. It is an appropriately bulky figure with curves and angles in all the right places! It is a fantastic example of anime. In only nine pieces, Prometheus is also a huge figure with a really huge weapon on his right arm. Both figures are incredibly well done, showing all the features of great anime. Assembly is pretty simple, once you figure out where all the pieces go. Painting will be a challenge, but well worth it. Lord of Discipline, Lord of Pain Rafm's Fantasy Line Sculpted by Stephen Koo #3623/#3624 # 25mm $3.75/$3.25 Technical: 7 Artistic: 7 Value: 8 With only slight parting lines and pretty simple assembly work, these figures are clean. Only one heavy vent thread and a very slight mold shift on the wooden supports for the rack mar the quality of production. The Lord of Discipline reminds me of my third grade teacher, who, by the way, had the same name. With some rather unpleasant implements, not to mention a rack, he isn't your average house guest, unless you're in the Addams family. The Lord of Pain isn't any more goodnatured than Discipline. Complete with a spike-walled sarcophagus, Pain is the creator of Discipline's tools of the trade. Both are sculpted in bulky detail, with refinements to the details, such as clothing and armor, and sarcophagus. Skeleton with 2 hand weapons Grenadiers Fantasy Warriors line Sculpted by Mark Copplestone #1460 4 26mm $6.95 Technical: 7 Artistic: 8 Value: 8 For use with Fantasy Warrior and other fantasy games, these four skeletons mix creativity into the recipe. They all have minor parting lines, but the morning star has a slight mold shift which will require some time to touch up. These go beyond the typical skeletons. The bony warrior with the two- handed sword has lost the back half of his skull, allowing you to see all the way through his eye-sockets and head, and the polearm wielding skelly has dredlocks. These are a fun piece of work and will paint up well. They come with 20mm. bases for use with most miniatures battle rules. Unicorn Grenadiers Fantasy Legends line Sculpted by Sandra Garrity #3149 25mm $3.95 Technical: 7 Artistic: 5 Value: 6 A unicorn mother and colt, this is a cute set with a lot of possibilities. just think of the consequences to a group of adventurers trying to capture a lone unicorn colt ... or so they thought. There are noticeable parting lines along the backs and underside of both figures and across the bases, but they don't ruin any detail and should clean up well. Both have subtle musculature and pretty good proportions. Some interesting differences between these and most unicorns include the mother's longer mane and the cloven hooves on both beasts. The nub of a horn on the colt is creative as well. Powers of Chaos Ral Partha's Planescape line Sculpted by Jim Johnson, Dave Summers, Geoff Valley, and Jeff Wilhelm #10-520 25mm $19.95 Technical: 8 Artistic: 7 Value: 9 For use with TSR's role-playing setting, this set of eight Chaos deities gives a great cross-section of the pantheons in Planescape. Note: This set was mistakenly priced at $19.95. The price is expected to rise to $24.95 when Ral Partha releases new pricing in Jan '96. Minor parting lines and a horde of small vent threads are the only evidence of the casting process. Some assembly is required, such as attaching Baphomet's hand and shield, and the Fairie Queen's wings. The appeal of the figures range from "okay" (like Ygori) to "wonderful" (like Baphomet and Lolth). They lean toward the wonderful side, which makes this a great set. Painting will be a pleasure, cosidering the excellent muscle tone and detail on most of the figures. Back to Shadis #21 Table of Contents Back to Shadis List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master List of Magazines © Copyright 1995 by Alderac Entertainment Group This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com