We Made it Everyone!

I have to say that I feel like George Bailey right now. The Kickstarter Drive has come back from the grave in a big way. We've shot past our goal with just a few days to go. May thanks to all of my friends and the gamers worldwide that have helped to make this project a reality.

Now the hard part starts, actually producing the game. In the next six months, we're going to forge this pile of rules and concept sketches into a great product.

Now that teh funding drive is over, we should get back the regularly scheduled programing on this blog. Scott just handed me the finished manuscript for Blasters and Bulkheads, so I'll be beginning the layout now. Stayed tuned from previews for that game. I've just bought a drawing tablet for my PC and I've done some new art that hopefully will make it in the finished book.

It's the Final Countdown

We're having the final week of fundraising for our game The Department: Noir Investigation Skirmish. We've raised almost $2,700 so far, but we're still about $1,100 away from the goal. Pledges are coming at a steady clip, but we everything we can.

We've got a lot of great rewards for backers like t-shirts, posters, and of course copies of the rules.

Some New Art.

Hi guys, just wanted to post some new promo art for The Deaprtment by the very talented Cole Jefferies.

Make sure to check out the Kickstarter as well.

Like us!

I'd like to announce The Department Facebook contest. All you have to do is like our Facebook page. That's It! We'll select one person to receive a free signed print edition of the game. Three other lucky people will receive a free PDF, or, Ebook version of the game.

Note: This contest is null and void if the Kickstarter pitch is unsuccessful, as the game will not be produced.

The Department, Its live folks

It's been another period of inactivity here at the blog, but not without good reason. I've been moving ahead on the artwork for Blaster and Bulkheads, but over the last few months I've also been working on my baby.

I'd like to present to you, my loyal readers, the Kickstarter page for a game I've been wanting to make for a long time.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1931671462/the-department-sci-fi-noir-tabletop-wargame-rpg

I won't rehash the pitch text here, since you can read it on the Kickstarter page, but suffice to say we're breaking new ground in skirmish wargaming. Building on the solid Goalsystem, we plan on releasing a full color 150 page book that lets you fight rogue robots in 2060s America.

While the rewards we have on the Kickstarter page are great, I'd like to extend an offer exclusive to my blog readers. The first ten people who make a donation to the kickstarter at $10 or more will also receive a small print of the above artwork signed by me as a thank you for being one of the first Kickstarter backers. I'll send this out next week(provided there are enogh donations), so you'll have your print right away to help spread the word about The Department. Just send me a message through Kickstarter to claim you bonus reward. Make sure to mention that you heard about it on the blog.

Even if you don't want to donate, I would greatly appreciate making a post about the game on any forums or your blog. The more people know about the project, the more chance we have of making this project a success.

Speaking Mecanically

Here are some Sample pages for the new GWI Rules. I tried to select some that explain some key rule points and shows off some of the awesome art and Karl Perrotton's great layout that's in the book.

For those of you looking for some more information on the rules themselves I'll summarize some of the key points of the rules.

Alternate Activation - Units the consist of several stands of infantry or vehicles activate one at a time and their constituent stands (called fireteams) and vehicles operate within their units command radius.

Combat - Combat is resolved on a opposed roll on 3D6 modified by weapons quality, armour, and shields.

Extra Rules - The book includes rules for spotting, sensors, bailed out vehicle crews and psionics.

Combined Arms - Army list include rules for infatnry, tanks, hover vehicles and flyers.

Full Army Design Rules - Use one of the six included army lists or use the complete army design rules to create you own. The build system is meant to be flexible but balanced.


Hope that Helps. Feel free to ask any additional questions.

Galactic Info

I've been patrolling the various news sites looking at the Galactic War I announcement, and one of the most frequent request was for some basic information about the rules. I figure I would take this opportunity to do a little write up about the rules.

First off, the rules are Company level rules meant with 15mm in mind. Though they can be used with 28mm with a little adjustment to the ranges and movement distances. Armies consist of several units which are made up of three to six infantry fireteams or vehicles.

The system includes rules for all kinds of cool sci-fi troop types that include walkers, grav vehicles, and giant fliers the can not only transport large quantities of infantry, but also vehicles as well.

The Universe is meant to be a pretty open and accessible space opera. It's not hard sci-fi, but its not Skullz(TM) either.

Ther are 7 forces to choose from that range from the forces of Terra, to mysterious psychic aliens.


Mercantile Collective: Mercenary companies that fight for a sovereign corporate free trade zone.

Universalist Military Forces: A militant religious movement that relies heavily on psi support for their armies.

Post Human Liberation Force: Escaped clone slaves that are fighting against those that would seek to enslave them again.

Orion Republic: Humans the rely on heavy armour and large flying dropships.

Terran Confederation: Humans that have a good mix of solid infantry and heavy walkers.

Ferreen Raiding Force: Psychic aliens that fight alongside other savage alien creatures.

The Arlocks: Nomadic aliens that use traded or salvaged vehicles from other faction in their armies.


Though the rules are meant to go with Blue Moon's extensive 15mm sci-fi range, several of the army lists have been written to allow other manufacturers' figures in the force without contradicting the fluff.

I hope that gives you a better idea of the rules. Feel free to ask any questions you may have ion the comments or shoot me an email or a PM.