Post-Kickstarter Update XXIX: Wave Two Complete and Salute 2017...

April is the busiest period in the wargaming calendar for a vast number of wargames businesses, especially those based in the UK. All because of Salute, the premier Miniature Wargaming show at Excel, in London, which is this weekend.

We’re there (well, some of us anyway - Vince, Elliot, Allan, Hannah and Rob) on stand TC17! Come and say hello! 

Our last update was 2 months ago (That crept up!) and we apologise for the silence since then. Rest assured, we’ve kept ourselves very busy, collecting more equipment, hiring more staff and generally expanding. This has provided a mixture of heartache and epic success in the period (from poor batches of Silicone Rubber, to new equipment not working properly, to reprinting the same unit 7 times due to being scaled incorrectly)… 

…BUT… 

Wave 2 is COMPLETE. 

All Wave 2 parcels are shipped. It’s now time to start WAVE 3. 

We want to start shipping things as soon as possible, so this week we will start to ship out what we are calling Wave 3A. Wave 3B will ship as soon as the final elements are complete.  

Something I need to be very clear on is that Wave 3A is going to EVERY SINGLE BACKER. So if you opted for Wave shipping, you’re getting a parcel. If you opted for shipping it all in one shipment, you’re getting Wave 3A early. We are going to cover the cost of shipping for Wave 3A ourselves, so you won’t have a Paypal invoice from us to cover your Wave 3A shipments. 

Here is what is available as part of Wave 3A (apologies for lack of pictures, we are so busy, not had time!):

• Orc Command Set 
• Orc Support Set 
• Orc Fomori Brute 
• Orc Infantry Section 
• Orc Commando Section 
• Local Orc Volunteer Section 
• Orc Matilda War-Wyrm War-Beast 
• Kaiser Alberich (KS Exclusive) 
• Hanzi, the Kaiser’s Cat (KS Exclusive) 
• Dwarf Command Set 
• Dwarf Support Set 
• Dwarf Zinn Mann Brute 
• Dwarf Grenadiers Section 
• Dwarf Straftruppen Section 
• Dwarf Panzerbär War-Beast 
• Gnome Command Set 
• Gnome Support Set 
• Gnome Ghul Brute (KS Exclusive) 
• Gnome Ghul Brute (Standard “Retail” Version) 
• Gnome Voltigeurs Section 
• Gnome Gasteroportes Troop 
• Troglodyte Command Set 
• Troglodyte Support Set 
• Troglodyte Wojtek Brute 
• Troglodyte Infantry Section 
• Troglodyte Gorales Section 
• Troglodyte Ulani Troop 
• Deathless Command Set 
• Deathless Support Set 
• Deathless Nezhit Troll Brute (KS Exclusive) 
• Deathless Nezhit Troll Brute (Standard “Retail” Version) 
• Deathless Dark Elf Zombi Horde 
• Deathless Dwarf Zombi Horde 
• Skogtroll Gevarstropp Rifle Demi-Section 
• Skogtroll Gevarstropp LMG Demi-Section 
• All Gnome Terrain 
•  All Troglodyte Terrain 
• Messenger Bags 
• Backpacks 

We start shipping this week and expect all shipments to be completed by the middle of May. We are going to try and organise all the UK shipments first, then the rest of Europe, then the rest of the world.

If you want to collect at Salute, please email us (Don’t use the messenger function on Kickstarter!) on hystericalgamesorders@gmail.com by WEDNESDAY MORNING 10:00 AM UK time.

 All of these items (except Kickstarter Exclusives) will also be available to buy at Salute. We have very limited numbers available, as we have manufactured all the stock we need to ship Wave 3A. We have a few leftovers to take to the show, roughly 10-15 of each unit. 

We will also make these available to Pre-Order on our website on this coming Saturday. They will not ship until the end of May.

Haben Sie Einen Weissbier Auf Uns!

Another announcement is that we have a Salute exclusive figure! 

Here’s a quick snapshot from the 3D software to show what he looks like. 

This characterful model, sculpted by Heriberto Valle Martinez and Irek Zielinski, will be cast in Pewter and will be free with all purchases at Salute or on our website over the weekend (22nd/23rd April) of £100 or more.

Alternatively, you can purchase him for £15 during the course of the show or on our webstore on Saturday 22nd April and Sunday 23rd April. 

What's Next? 

So up next we are just about to start 3D printing the Deathless Kazak, Herb is on the Schweinhundereite, Steve and Matthew are still finalising the Skirmish game rules, and Rob is still rolling out kinks in the Mass Battle Rules after doing some playtesting and realising some huge issues he had overlooked! 

Post-Kickstarter Update XVII: Local Orc Volunteers and Skøgtroll...

Greetings fellow Panzerfäustians...

Sculpting:

Heriberto has started work on the Deathless Kazak cavalry which should be awesome and Irek is beavering away on Steurmer’s Stormers (all the character heads are done now) which we are really looking forward to given their history in Panzerfäuste over the last eighteen years...

Great news is that Victor has almost finished the Local Orc Volunteers (LOVies). There are a still a few tweaks required on all the models but we thought you’d like to see some now as they are brilliant!

"Don't tell them your name..."

"They don't like it up 'em!"

"We're doomed..."

"I got some 'essential supplies' lads..."

"I'll tell mum..."

"Bloody hooligans!"

Salute:

All hands to the pump this week to get ready for Salute (well Rob’s hands as Steve will be working in Germany and sadly miss the show).

Where are we?



We are on stand TH06.



What will we have there?

We apart from all the wave one releases we will have the first non-Kickstarter Panzerfäuste models, the mighty Skøgtroll sculpted by Warploque maestro Alex Huntley. They are amazing and will no doubt prove very popular. Rob has cast up a lot but to make sure you get your mitts on them rush over to TH06 as soon as you get to Salute!

Skøg! Skøg! Skøg!

Where if you are very quick you might be able to buy one of our extremely limited edition Panzerfäuste mugs! (we will have some for sale for those of our not able to attend the show so don’t panic).

Two Panzerfäuste mugs - only one on sale!

And if all this excitement is not too much for you, our amazingly talented concept illustrator Will Beck will be on the stand with pencil and drawing pad doodling away all things Panzerfäuste. We have given him the (top secret) list of ALL the planned Panzerfäuste races and historical equivalents so if you are lucky you might get to see what the Canadians or Chinese are going to be…

Oldfäuste:

Whilst looking for SWMBO’s Easter Egg Steve discovered a very small stock of the original 1998 Panzerfäuste skirmish rulebooks. Rob will have some of these on the stand at Salute but if you are not able to attend and want a piece of Panzerfäuste history send GBP5 (shipping included) via PayPal to Steve and he’ll send you a copy. There are just 21 left now and once they are gone, they are gone…



Community:

Aside from the official Hysterical Games Facebook Page there is a fans Panzerfäuste Facebook Group were Panzerfäustians across the world share ideas and photos. It’s a great community so if you want to find out how to make a Gnomish mushroom forest for example, and you are on Facebook, please join it - and if you are not on Facebook join Facebook just to be part of it!! :-)

Robyn's Gnome mushroom forest...

Ok, that’s it for this update.

If you can get to Salute make Hysterical Games your first port of call, if not watch out for the next update coming soon!

Post-Kickstarter Update XVI: Troglodyte Gorale and Steurmer's Stormers

First up, apologies for the delay in this update. We usually do a update every week and we've been really good, but since the shows in March, Rob has been totally rammed up with prep work for Salute. He's taken the time to put together a summary and get this update written - so let's get this show on the road!

Kickstarter Shipments:

We have received over 50% of the Pledge Managers from you guys (not including £1 pledges) - that is excellent news! We really must urge you to complete your Pledge Managers by the end of March (or into the first week or so into April) just so that we know where we stand on getting stuff made. This is paramount to getting Wave 2 done on time, so that we know exactly where our priorities are AND so that we can order out external items that will need printing, like the bags, t-shirts and posters.

If you want Wave 1 shipping, we really MUST request it is completed by the end of March. We know a few of you have to wait until April and, in those few cases, is absolutely fine.

Those of you waiting for Wave 1 orders to arrive, we are still working on shipping these out. Of course, this only applies to those of you who did not tell us which items you want in advance, therefore, we are having to manufacture a few extra copies of those items. We really, really appreciate your patience.

Please keep an eye out for PayPal invoices that we send out to cover the cost of your Wave 1 shipping. It may not seem like a lot, or it may not seem like it matters, but we have not budgeted to cover postage for free and it is really very important that you can cover this cost. If you have received a Wave 1 parcel, and know you haven't paid for the postage, it might be worth logging into PayPal to check if you have an unpaid invoice from us! :) We've tried to keep the costs as low as possible.

Now for some exciting news in the world of 3D sculpting.

3D Sculpting:

Troglodyte Gorale Unit shot Heriberto, our magical Mexican, has been busy working on the Gorale and has done a bloody superb job! He's pumped tonnes of character into this elite Troglodyte unit, I am sure you will all agree. They are currently slated for Wave 3!

Troglodyte Gorale Unit shot

Here's a close up...



A long way from Mexico, in Poland, Irek has been just as busy working on the Dwarf Straftruppen. This unit is full of characters that will play a large part in the Skirmish Rulebook. Steurmer's Stormers are, arguably, the most infamous of all the Dwarven Straftruppen Sections, so we chose to run with them. Irek's been sculpting their heads!

*Far top right Pickelhaube is not finished!

Community:

This article is too good not to share. Ant has made a really nifty guide on how to paint your Gnome Voltigeurs in WW1 Horizon Blue uniforms. It's a super simple guide that will allow you to paint a unit in an evening with ease! Excellent stuff!

Salute 2016:



Yep, we're bloomin' excited for this one. It's obviously our first year trading and we've got a bunch of exciting stuff happening.

Sadly, Steve can't make it; but Rob and Allan are going to be on site to assist you. It's also a shame, but we don't have a demo game this year. As it's our first year and we got in a little late - we're fairly limited on space. Next year, it will be a bit more luxurious. :)

Will Beck is going to be at the show, whilst he's on the stand, he's going to be drawing a variety of different Panzerfäuste subjects, so it's well worth coming and checking out what he's up to (we've never even seen his face before, so that's going to be a surprise in itself!).

Something else that's pretty cool will be the first of our Salute exclusive mugs! Every year, we will announce a new illustrated mug that will be sold at the show and on our website over the weekend. These are strictly limited to 40 copies, 20 on the website and 20 at the show - so please get in there quickly.

Here's a rough (very rough) mock-up of what we intend to print on it. The Panzerfäuste logo is going to be a little bigger!



In addition to mugs, we will also be announcing a number of new releases for the Maveryc range and at Salute, we hope to have physical previews of a number of Wave 2 units. We're not sure exactly what we'll have ready in time; but we'll let you know.

Final point, an exciting development for us is that we have just purchased a 3D printer. It's due to arrive in around 6 weeks and we hope to not only do our own stuff, but offer it out as a service to other small companies. Should you, a friend or a business you like to support require affordable, fast and reliable 3D printing, please get in touch! We already cast miniatures for a number of people, we now need to build up a database of 3D printing clients!

Post-Kickstarter Update XV: Hysterical is Go!

Blimey, what a busy week, indeed it is still ongoing as whilst I type this, Rob is still hard at work with the Hysterical trade stand in Abingdon so I picked up my Supreme Overlord mantle once more! In this capacity my first action is to award Rob the “Busy Bee of the Week” award due to his non-stop sterling efforts on the Panzerfäuste front! (I have graciously permitted him to have a five minute tea break tomorrow and go large on his Happy Meal at McD’s)

Orc Commandos deliver Rob's Happy Meal!

First off the pledge manager is up and running (hurrah!) thanks to Craig’s hard work. Emails are being sent out to pledgers in batches to enable us to manage things so don’t panic just yet if you haven’t had your email. We will let you know when all are sent out and then you can panic!

As promised Rob posted out the first tranche of Wave One Kickstarter Pledges for those who had contacted him as previously posted on Friday. Hopefully some lucky people will be getting deliveries very early next week and we are looking forward to seeing what you think of the miniatures and (more importantly) seeing some painted examples from you! :-)

Wave One parcels off to be shipped...

On Saturday we officially went public with our first trade stand at the Hammerhead show in Newark. We had a great first day of trading and lots of compliments over the miniatures on show. It was great to meet a number of KS backers in the flesh (even ones waiting for wave three!), thank you for your faith in us.

Our first retail customer!!!

Lee, Ant, Allan and Ian deserve praise for all their help and putting on a great participation game using the Panzerfäuste Mass Battle rules at the show (I’ve posted a number of photos in the Panzerfäuste Facebook page) and this was recognised by the show organisers as it won the ‘Best Looking Game’ award. Really chuffed for the guys, it was a great looking game and hopefully we’ll see it around the shows throughout the year. (You boys can go large as well, but no tea break!)

The winners of the Best Looking Game (not gamers!)

The Panzerfäuste group on Facebook is well worth joining and this week we’ve been having “Fun With Flags” with lots of Orc, Gnome, Dwarf and Trog designs being posted by gamers (especially an enthusiastic Robyn!). Some of these can be seen in the game photos as Ant printed them off to add a splash of colour.

Get a room! Mass Battle Ian and Skirmish Matthew discuss rules mechanics and whatnot...

Next Sunday we are at WMMS in Alumwell so hopefully we’ll see some more of you there. We should also have an update on the Troglodyte support and Mountain troops as Heriberto has been beavering away on them and I hope to get enough time this week to slap some paint on a Skøgtroll which we plan to release at Salute next month.

Panzerfäuste at Spiel 2015

Whilst neither Rob or Steve are at Spiel in Essen this week, we have asked Prodos to take some pre-release samples of the Dwarf and Orc infantry to the show for us.

They will have a very limited number available for sale, so if you are at the Spiel we suggest you make stand 2-E175 your first port of call...

If you can't get to Essen by Thursday we understand you may be disappointed but as this is one of the largest games shows in the world we felt it too good a promotional opportunity to miss (and neither Steve or Rob have any figures yet either so you are in good company!)

If you are at the Spiel let us know what you think of the miniatures...