Last few days to pre-order your HGB Southern Forces

        
         

This is only a very brief article today to remind people that this weekend is the very last time they've got to pre-order any of the Southern faction stuff for Heavy Gear Blitz. Yes Forged in Fire is on its way and Southern players heads must be close to exploding with excitement. I just want to get my hands on the rulebook and see what the hell it is like. I've already got pretty large NuCoal and PRDF armies and going for a third is just out of the question! Must... resist... third... faction...

Any way there are three bundle deals available:

Southern Reinforcement Deal
Southern Super Bundle Deal
Southern Epic Bundle Deal

If you pre-order these bundles you get some extra gubbins, and I think a Diamondback a few months before they're actually released. Sweet! There's also a new re-configured Southern Starter Army boxed set as well. I suppose we shouldn't forget the Southern Faction Field Guide as well, Forged in Fire, as a bare minimum I'd suggest all HGB players will want to pick that up. Any way this is my last warning about this topic, this stuff is launched on Monday the 3rd of December and if you don't pre-order, you don't get the extra free gubbins. So consider yourselves warned. Peace out!

World Exclusive Heavy Gear Blitz Reveal: Street Viper

   
       

Well this is the last of Agent 009 lives Southern faction reveals for Heavy Gear Blitz. He has agreed to be submitted for psychiatric evaluation... as long as we put him in a straight jacket first. I fear my initial concerns about his mental instability will be proven right. But, he has managed to snare some vital information and images for the last of the new Gears for the Southern Faction, the Street Viper:

World Exclusive Heavy Gear Blitz Reveal: Salamander

  
   

Well Agent 009 lives has managed to do it again. He's penetrated the deepest, darkest and most dangers depths of Dream Pod 9's secret base. Although apparently he didn't need to, as he found this concept art just sitting on John Nguyen's desk top! He just wanted to make the mission harder for himself because he's an adrenalin junky... although I have my suspicions that he actually wanted to be captured and tortured. I have some very grave misgivings about giving that cat '00' status. He's clearly not right in the head. Any way, he's managed to grab some more images of a new Gear for the Southern faction for you, the Salamander:

More Southern Fried goodness for Heavy Gear Blitz

     
      

This splendid looking image is the cover for the upcoming Forged in Fire Southern Field Guide for Heavy Gear Blitz, and damn sexy looking it is too. If I were an American I'd probably say something like "dang they hit that one outta the ball park" or something... but being a Brit I'd have no idea what the hell that would mean, so I'll just say that the arty chaps have done a bally good job and that it looks totally spiffing! Obviously I feel artwork is massively important to a games 'feel' and 'tone' and the artwork I've seen so far for Forged in Fire is bang on the money. THe book is now available for preorder now.

World Exclusive Heavy Gear Blitz Reveal: Diamondback

  
   

Right, my secret Canadian operative managed to help my top agent 009 Lives sneak into Dream Pod 9's secret volcano lair, and rescue the cute kittens that John Nguyen was holding hostage, as leverage over me. Now they're fully safe and being housed in woolen blanket lined cat baskets on top of sparkling rainbows, I am free to show you all a sneak peak at some of the Southern Gear goodness that is on its way. Just bear in mind that my operative had to smuggle the information out stored on an IBM 3590 Data Cartridge inserted in a very uncomfortable place. I have no idea why he chose such a large ineffective storage device, especially as I'd given him a 2GB MicroSD card. Actually that's very odd behaviour, I'll be having words with Tyba... erm... I mean Agent 009 Lives about his behaviour. Any way as he's used such ineffective data storage devices I'm only able to give you the first of the reveals today, there will be more.... why the hell would he go back? I mean it can't be fun shoving that data tape up there! Mental note to self, send Agent 009 Lives for psychiatric evaluation after the mission has been completed, he's exhibiting some rather 'odd' behaviour. Prepare yourself for some awesome:

Heavy Fear Blitz

 
  

Oh... ha bloody ha. I see what you did there, the guys at Dream Pod 9 are clearly cunning linguists. But, the news is rather cool none the less, well it is if you live in North America, because if you live in the EU it's probably not so cool. Bloody important duty, stupid sodding customs charges. Any way, the news is that they are running a... wait for it... Heavy Fear Blitz sale, for every $50CAN's you spend at their online store, you will accumulate an extra $10CAN's to 'treat' yourself with. Nice. This sale will run until the 2nd November 2012, so you better not let that pumpkin rot too long and get on with taking advantage of it if you want to. In other Heavy Gear Blitz news Angel Giraldez has been ruining yet another game by showing just what you can achieve with some paint and Heavy Gear Blitz mini's, well if you aren't a cack handed gibbon with no thumbs that is. Take a look and weep:

Heavy Gears Southern faction to get a new toy...

    
    

Warning: Article may contain more pictures of gratuitous Mecha pr0n!!!

... the basta... well I guess NuCoal can't have all the cool looking toys can they? Although I think they should, well them and the PRDF, now that I have a PRDF force too! So here are the remaining two pretty pictures of the rather spiffing looking Hydra Strider (try saying that 10 times fast while patting your head and rubbing your tummy) along with some of the concept art:

Quick Dream Pod 9 sale update

  
  

I'm pretty sure many of you who read this Blog on a regular basis are already more than aware of the current ongoing sales at Dream Pod 9. If not here are the details:

Golden Gear 2012

     
    

Well it turns out lasts years Golden Gear competition, which I believe was the inaugural Golden Gear, was such a smashing success that Dream Pod 9 have decided to give it another go. So if you fancy yourself as a bit of a dab hand with the old paint brush perhaps you might consider entering the competition. Here are the categories for this years competition:

• Best Combat Group - Best Heavy Gear Blitz Combat Group, minimum five models. Prize $200CAN worth of Dream Pod 9 store credit / store vouchers.
• Best Army Commander - Best Heavy Gear Blitz Army Commander. Prize $100CAN worth of Dream Pod 9 store credit / store vouchers.
• Best Duelist - Best Heavy Gear Arena Miniature. Prize $100CAN worth of Dream Pod 9 store credit / store vouchers.

Review: Pefect Storm NuCoal Field Guide

Yeah it totally deserves its Approved by Cats badge.

You possibly won't hear me saying this phrase very often, but in terms of individual army books I think 'Games Workshop do it right'. Sure I like having a main rulebook with faction rules in it as well, and I also like the idea that as a game grows every faction grows too, a la HoMachine, Infinity or MoFaux... but I do like those individual army books. They give game designers and authors the chance to really go to town and develop their universe and enrich our gaming experience. They also help us as gamers to compartmentalize our game systems and actually can greatly reduce the amount of stuff we need to transport with us when gaming, not to mention the weight. When I first started getting into Heavy Gear Blitz I don't mind telling you I found the shear array of books and options a little bit bewildering. Indeed part of the reason I chose the NuCoal faction was that it had this book, its own army book if you will. The other reason was the Hussar, which I'll be reviewing shortly.

Product description

This is a 136 page, full-colour, softback rulebook. It is a faction guide / rulebook for the NuCoal faction, and as such it contains absolutely everything you could possibly want to know about the NuCoal faction in Heavy Gear Blitz... and I do mean EVERYTHING! It also contains the force lists for fielding a PAK force too... which is tempting! From the history behind the faction, to unit breakdowns, where the gears were developed from, and of course, the rules. The internal pages are matte finish and the cover is a soft glossy cover. The book is glue bound, and that's about it for a product description.

More Heavy Gear Blitz stuff

    
      

It's funny you know how sometimes it's like companies can read your mind isn't it? Come on. you know what I mean. You're busy minding your own business and suddenly you think "you know what would be a really good idea..." and then bam!!! Next thing you know there's an advert selling you that exact product on TV. I've often wondered how many people must have thought sliced bread was a good idea before somebody actually did it. Well I had a sort of similar thing recently actually. As you all know I've become a bit smitten of late with all things Heavy Gear Blitz, and it seems a few of you have as well, and you've brought starter sets and all sorts of other goodies. Again I'm sorry about the impact this has had on your bank balance... but I digress.

Heavy Gear Bitz

     
     

With headlines like that I should have pursued a career in tabloid journalism! Well maybe not, I have morals and scruples and I hear those sorts of thing get in the way of being part of the lowest 'profession' in western society. Any way what the hell am I talking about? I'm not sure, my brains still a bit scrambled and I haven't exactly been keeping my blogging skills in shape over the past month or so. Many of you I'm sure will have already heard the news that there will soon be another Heavy Gear computer game on it's way to market as Stompy Bot Productions and Dream Pod 9 link up to bring the franchise back to computer games. You can read the exceedingly bland and dull official press release here. Actually, can somebody explain to me why all press releases read duller than ditch water? A team of scientists could find the meaning of life and it'd still read as boring as hell in press release form... I'm getting side tracked again aren't I?

Heavy Gear Blitz Army Deals!!!

   
     

I know I've cause a bit of consternation for some of you guys for mercilessly pimping Heavy Gear Blitz to you all... and I'm really, really sorry about that, because some of you have been struggling to find the funds to get into the game. That totally sucks, and trust me I do know what that is like. Turns out the terribly nice people at Dream Pod 9 feel the same way, and are having a bit of a special deal on stuff during the month of July to try and help us gamers out a bit and get us on the road to mechanised warfare. How terribly thoughtful. So what's what?

Review: Heavy Gear Blitz Field Manual (full Colour)

    
      

As many of you will know I've been really taken with Heavy Gear Blitz recently. It's all those giant robots and hover tanks that do it I think. Any way I've had my copy of the Heavy Gear Blitz Field Manual for quite some time now, and I thought it was a bout time to give you all a bit of a break down on what I thought of it as a product and as a game... if those two things can be so easily separated out. I'm willing to give it a go...

Product Description

What we have is a roughly 60 page full colour (the book is also available in Black and White for £10.50), soft back rulebook. The pages have a matte finished and the cover has a high glossy cover. It is glue bound, and unsurprisingly contains the rules for Heavy Gear Blitz... what? It's a rulebook, I thought people might like to know it contains the rules is all.

More new hovertank goodness for Heavy Gear Blitz

  
    

I've often poked fun at those of you who I've convinced to spend oodles of cash on shiny new product, my local nickname of 'Games Pimp' it seems has gone global. Not too sure whether I should be proud of that, but hey stuff it, I'll take it as a compliment! However, I am now starting to understand how I must make you guys feel when you all start reading my bloody Blog. You see I have my very own Canadian games pimp, and his name is John Nguyen. This unscrupulous Canuck keeps sending me completely unsolicited emails about giant robots and hovertanks. It's all totally uncalled for and quite frankly I'm getting really fed up with it now. I mean he knows I like giant robots and hovertanks, but that I can't afford them right now, it's torture I tell you, torture! Cruel and unusual punishment it is, here let me show you what I'm talking about:

And the winner of the Heavy Gear PDF's is...

Me!!!! Nah, I'm only kidding, I didn't enter... mainly because I don't win competitions... because I never enter. It's a vicious cycle! The actual winner of the Heavy Gear Blitz PDF's, who was pulled out of the Sainsbury's carrier bag of win is none other than Heid, Avatar picture thingy below, just in case there is more than one of you:

I checked out Heid's profile to see if they had a Blog or anything. Turns out Heid started writing a Blog on December the 13th, 2011. It wasn't quite a Friday the 13th, although it might well have been. He hasn't written anything else on it since. So I'm now using this opportunity to try and publicly shame him into writing more stuff... hey how about you start with a review of your awesome Heavy Gear Blitz PDF's? Also did I mention that I'm his only follower? I think we should all follow his Blog and put loads of peer pressure on them until they cave, and start writing again. Any way if you could email me Heid at:

TheFrontlineGmaerBlog@gmail.com

I'll sort of getting you your prize. Oh yes and congratulations, that's a lot of PDF goodness you now own. Peace out!

PS. There are still two more competitions running on this Blog. The Bushido faction giveaway and the £40 gift voucher for Sarissa Precision, if you haven't already done so follow the links and enter yourself into the competition.

Heavy Gear Blitz bring on the NuCoal tanks...

    
     

I think it's more than fair to say that in the past I've been pretty darn critical of some of the Heavy Gear Blitz vehicles. Some of them don't look so good, I'm thinking of the jeeps and trucks mainly. Some look a little bit chunky and blocky. So when I was told the Voltigeur was on it's way I was a little apprehensive if I'm honest. Why? Because the line sketches / schematic drawings of them in the NuCaol Perfect Storm book looked brilliant, and I have to be honest I quite like tanks, and I'd quite like to buy these specific tanks and put them in my NuCoal forces and when you hear something you want is about to be released you just hope they don't look like a pile of old crap don't you? So what do they look like? Well they're actually quite nice looking:

How did I miss this competition?

Rejoice. Another chance to win free stuff!!!

I'm normally a really, really observant individual that never lets a good opportunity for some 'free' pass them by. So imagine my surprise when somebody informed me of some free that I hadn't actually shared with you all. I was even more surprised when I realised it was something I actually wanted to get my grubby mitts on myself, AND it's linked to my current beau Heavy Gear Blitz. You see Dream Pod 9 are running a competition on their Facebook page, giving you all a chance to win a set of the Reaper Heavy Gear Blitz MSP paints, worth $120. To enter is quite simple, all you have to do is navigate to their Facebook page and like them before Midnight 18th May EST. Should be easy enough for most of you I guess. Just don't all rush at once OK, as you'll reduce my chance of winning... you swine. Peace out!

Review: NuCoal Sampson APC (Heavy Gear Blitz)

 
   

The Sampson Hover APC safely packaged away.

This miniature was sent to me by the lovely John Nguyen at Dream Pod 9 to review. So I didn't cross anyone's palms with silver to gain access to this product. So as always please bear that in mind as you read this review, as although I try to keep things on the level, the fact that somebody has sent me a lovely hover tank for free might have swayed me just a little bit. I personally think not, but you guys and gals are big enough and ugly enough to make your own judgement calls.

Product description

To the left you can see the various components that come in the blister pack. The miniature is cast out of an exceedingly high quality resin, I wish to emphasise that point right from the start. This isn't the hard, grainy, easily chipped stuff from Battlefront and their Flames of War range. Nor is it the brittle and delicate resin Forge World use, and it's certainly not the God awful bubble, defect ridden mess that is Finecast. This is a firm yet impact resistant material, how do I know this? I've dropped it... twice... OK multiple times, and it hasn't dented or chipped once. The resin also retains a great amount of surface detail and produces really sharp casts and exceedingly fine lines. So now that's out of the way what's actually in the blister pack? The first piece and the main component is the rather large main body, or should that be fuselage? There are four engines that attach to the man body, they probably should have come attached to a piece of lose resin spru in the blister, but had manged to work themselves free during transit, as had the resin flight stand. There is a small resin ramp that attaches to the back of the APC, a front bumper of sorts, a small panel that attaches to the underside of the APC near the front and four weapons / loadout options. There's also a small round piece with a disc shaped indentation, that quite frankly the purpose of which, I have yet to ascertain! You also get a large round plastic base to mount the miniature on. So that's 15 components altogether, including that mysterious left over piece... that always happens when I put together Ikea furniture too!

Review: NuCoal Recon Squad (Heavy Gear Blitz)

     
     

Yet again the box is exceptionally shiny and very well presented.

So then after Saturdays review of my NuCoal GP Squad I thought it was best for me to get a crack on and review my second Heavy Gear Blitz boxed set and get it up as soon as I could... so here it is!

Product Description

I made the point in my review of the NuCoal GP Squad that the packaging was clearly designed with the retailer in mind. The small nature of the boxes is designed to help retailers make maximum use of their shelf space, and the production values on the packaging is really high, and it simply look like a nice quality product. None too subtle hint if you're a UK retailer, or hell a retailer anywhere in the world, this is a good product to have on your shelves! There are yet again 5 metal Gears in this boxed set as their is with most Heavy Gear Blitz squads. The NuCoal Recon squad comprises of 4 Jerboa's and 1 Cuirassier CV, all cast in white metal. This time I actually counted the components in the box rather than guessing like I did last time, and there are 72 individual metal pieces, that's roughly 14 pieces per miniature. That's a lot. Some of those will be options and variants... but not as many as you might think, because the Jerboa's themselves are made up of at least 12 parts each! Yes I know, that's a lot. The Cuirassier is made of 11 components too. It literally is only the odd extra arm choice and whether or not you put blades in the hands of your Jerboa's. So yep that's a lot of super gluing and pinning per miniature again!