Precinct Omega posts
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A Brief Sidebar
I got an early Christmas present from my wife in the form of these Go First Dice, from mathsgear.co.uk.These 12-sided dice (my favourite kind, obviously) are marked with numbers in such a combination that, however you roll them, each dice will always show a different number. They are designed for establishing a play order for games of 2 to 4 players.Although I think most of us are playing Zero Dark solo, right now, I hope we'll start to get ...
Player-Created Content
I was chatting with a patron who was really enthusiastic about the player experience in Zero Dark and about contributing to new content. And in the course of the conversation, it occurred to me that there's a lot of room for player-created content in Zero Dark that I don't think we've really yet begun to explore.Just off the top of my head, I thought players who wanted to add content to the game could:- Share their favourite teams- Gi...
Weekly News Podcast is back! - Adverts and Advertising
As promised, a primitive version of my regular podcast. I'll be livestreaming on FB again this afternoon between 1400 UTC and 1500. You'll be able to catch up with that on my FB page later of you can't join the livestream.It'll be a hobby-focused session and I'll be talking about techniques for different scales and effects, as well as answering questions on whatever visitors want to ask. If you want to pop in, ask a question a...
I'm back... briefly.
No sign of my bloody laptop charger cable, yet. We've ordered a second one in the hope that at least one will turn up. But so far, no joy...However, my wife has had a brief lull in her work, so I get to use her laptop. So although I can't do everything I need to, I get to do some of it. One of those things is to get onto Discord and fix the connection with Patreon so now all of the Defence Mech and Heavy Elite patrons should have access.I...
December Update
*sigh*My new laptop charger is definitely en route but, omg, it's so sloooow.I'm going to suspend payments for December because I really feel like I've not given my patrons meaningful value for money for the last few months.But as soon as my laptop is up and running, I'm going to bombard you wonderful people with content.Meanwhile, I'll be livestreaming again this afternoon at 1400 UTC until 1600, and I'm going to try to i...
Honestly, the things I do!
Trying to get the proportions right on the carbine design for the miniatures. This feels just right.Going to see if I can make a full-scale replica for the Kickstarter.
Going live at 1400
I'll be livestreaming on Facebook again, today, between 2 and 4pm, UTC.No new power cable, yet, but the tracker says it's in the UK, so fingers crossed it'll be here very soon...
Normal Service Will Resume Shortly
Well, according to the tracking site, my replacement charger is in the UK, so I'm hoping to be podcasting again by the end of the week.I'll do another FB livestream at 1500 on Friday, because that was fun last time and it's a chance to talk about stuff that, maybe, doesn't fit into the podcast all that well, plus it's always fun to hobby and chat at the same time.I contemplated just buying a new laptop, but the chunk that woul...
Facebook Live at 1330 UTC
As my laptop is still hors de combat, I'll be going live on Facebook at 1330 UTC until... Well, until I get bored or have to make dinner, basically. I'll be painting, chatting about industry stuff and news and answering questions if anyone cares to join me.Hopefully normal service will resume next week, if my replacement charger turns up in time.Andy - I'll be in touch about our chat.
Lemonade from Lemons
After several days of detective work, I've traced a persistent electrical fault to its origin. The bad news is that it's the charger for my laptop, which means my laptop is out of commission until I have a new charger (already ordered!).The good news is that this means spending more time play-testing. Today, we're looking at the integration of shooting with movement.These asteroids are providing my test pilot with a helpful shooting...
Why does play testing always start our looking like Crafts for the under 13s?
I'm getting Infinite Dark onto the tabletop again, today, for the first time in months. The last time we were here, it was a playable game but, ultimately a forgettable experience too much like a straight re-skin of Horizon Wars. I'm five turns into a solo game in which I simply have to manoeuvre around four obstacles and it's already more engaging by far.If you look past the asteroids, against the polka dots, you'll see my little...
Precinct Omega Podcast - Design Discussion #2 - Stats
I decided to abandon the scripted approach. I think the result is less coherent and a little rambly, but I didn't like the script I wrote and didn't have time to write it again.I definitely need some constructive criticism this week: is the unscripted approach (using notes) something I should switch to, and maybe add a YouTube video version as well as the podcast? Or should I go back to scripts? Am I rambling and unfocused or is this actu...
Miniatures News #26 - Stuff vs Good Design
Back to the news, we look atKnight Games's Harry Potter: Catch the Snitch KickstarterPrivateer Press's Warcaster: Neo-Mechanika: Collision Course KickstarterFirelock Games's Blood & Plunder: Raise the Black Kickstarterand, because why stop when you're on a roll,Blacklist Games's Dire Alliance: Horror KickstarterAnd I take a look at why we are so often fooled into thinking that more "stuff" in a game makes it better, wh...
The Post-Release Dip
This week's podcast will be up shortly, but I thought I'd check in with you guys to let you know that I'm wrestling with post-release dip, right now.I've lived with depression for decades and it only occasionally really bothers me. But for the last few months I've been so focused on getting Operation Nemesis over the line that it's been driving me through some tough times. And now it's out there, I've relaxed a bit...
Precinct Omega Podcast - Games Design #1 - Conceptual & Physical Efficiencies
A little late because I swear I thought it was Thursday today!In the first in the new series, I start by talking about conceptual efficiencies and physical efficiencies - what are they, and why do large game companies like physical efficiencies so much?*And thank you, Aurochs Digital, for reminding me to include the link to the panel: https://store.steampowered.com/newshub/group/38511516/view/2930113815186492639*Answer: because they make them mor...
Zero Dark Miniatures - Very Early Sight
Thought you guys would like a sneak peek of how we're getting on with designing the minis for the Kickstarter.Lots of tweaking still to be done, plus posing etc. Feel free to ask any questions or make suggestions at this point.
Operation: ALLHALLOWS
Even with the world fractured, the sky on fire, the air choked with ash and dust and the earth coated with grey snow, there's something wyrd about the homeworld in Autumn. Strange creatures are abroad. Stranger, that is, than usual. Rumour whispers that the dead walk and mischievous spirits leave presents for the unwary that may bless or curse.Operation: Allhallows is a seasonal treat, offered early for patrons but open to all to enjoy. Play ...
Halloween Hobby Zoom!
Robey Jenkins is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.Topic: Halloween Hobby ZoomTime: Oct 31, 2020 04:00 PM LondonJoin Zoom Meetinghttps://us02web.zoom.us/j/2634858305?pwd=anc5ZjlZd2xJYWpyU1hselF5RTZBUT09Meeting ID: 263 485 8305Passcode: hobbyzoomHere are the details for a Precinct Omega Halloween Hobby Zoom this Saturday at 1600 UK time. I've scheduled an hour, but we might well go on for two if people are up for it. You can paint anyth...
Op NEMESIS - Don't buy it yet!
I mean, you can if you want to. But now it's up for sale, I'll be creating some discount codes for Patrons. So give me, like, a day or two, max, and I'll have some codes you can use to get a discount on the new PDF.To answer the inevitable follow-up question, yes, there will be a POD version. It should be out at the beginning of December.
Weekly Miniatures News #25 - Will Stargrave Be the Death of Me?
So Osprey announced that 2021 would see the release of Stargrave, the much-anticipated sci-fi twist on Joe McCullough's smash-hit, Frostgrave.What does that mean for smaller indy publishers and their sci-fi skirmish properties like, y'know, Horizon Wars: Zero Dark?
Podbean Patrons?
I'm conscious that some patrons may be here primarily for the podcast stuff and other posts about game dev and suchlike aren't relevant to them.Podbean offers a separate patron system to support just the podcast. No idea if it's any good, but if anyone would prefer to shift to that option, send me a message on here and I'll set it up.
New Sentry Guns in Stock (& Other Iliada Products)
I'm giving patrons a heads-up before I start promoting these on social media. I've put the laser-cut MDF sentry guns from Iliada Game Studio onto my website.These are absolutely perfect for Sentinels in Operation Nemesis and any other Zero Dark mission you fancy adding them into, as well as making great sentry guns for your heroes. You get seven for £5.00, which should be more than enough for any mission. And they are pleasingly scale-ne...
Halloween Hobby Zoom? - And an update
I'm all guns out for the final straight towards Operation Nemesis. It's all very exciting. But it has meant that, other than podcast episodes, I've been neglecting my patrons a little, recently.I suspect it's unconnected, by I've also not had a great couple of months for retention. All of you new patrons are super-welcome! I won't embarrass you by calling you out by name, but you're awesome. Please do take some time to...
Precinct Omega Weekly Miniatures News #24 - 16th October 2020 - Will The Big Bang Theory Blow Up Knight Models?
Knight Models released the cast of The Big Bang Theory in their Justice League Halloween costumes this week, to an extremely polarized response. But what lies behind this decision, and why is the anger of a good portion of their players so great?In this episode, I look at the history of Knight Models, their relationships with their licensors, and their (lack of) good customer service, quality management and business strategy and ask if there'...
Mega Brush Paint Set Review - Part 2
New review video! I'm following up the review I did last month to report back on the performance of the Army Painter Mega Brush Set box.
Kickstarter Drafts
While Adam at Desert Island Designs gets working on the 3d sculpts for the Zero Dark miniatures, I thought I'd share the very draft designs for the KS page and get your preliminary feedback.So basically ignore most of the formatting, especially on Ngana. It involved a new thing on Adobe InDesign I'd not used before. Did a bit more playing with it since I made this and found out more stuff.But the general thrust of the text and the layout ...
Precinct Omega Weekly Miniatures News #23 - 9th October 2020 - Write the Game You Want To Play
This week, I look at some emerging miniatures wargames:Blood & Plunder: Raise the Black FlagTakkureMighty Armies: InvasionHOFBut wanting a bit of a break from the in-depth industry analysis we've been doing for the last few episodes, I thought I'd talk, instead, about the emotional bedrock of game design and, of course, how it applies to these four and to Precinct Omega.Also, I take an unscheduled side quest to look at translation and loc...
Wire bound rulebook?
Very quick question: would you be interested in the availability of a wire-bound rulebook you can lie flat on your table?This is something I've always wanted myself, but as no one else does it, I've stayed clear. But in my looking around for a future alternative to Wargame Vault, I've found someone who can make them and I thought I'd test to see if there was any interest.
Precinct Omega Weekly Miniatures News #22 - 2nd October 2020 - HeroQuest & Hasbro
Really sorry that this week's podcast is late for patrons. I had a technical issue with my AI and, when I had it sorted out and was doing the editing, realized that I had missed out several things I wanted to cover, so had to re-script and record a new section.However, I think you'll enjoy this one.In August, Hasbro announced that their Pulse programme would run a "HasLabs" crowdfunding campaign for HeroQuest. But HeroQuest has an...
More Zero Dark Mini Concepts
Following yesterday's sneak preview, here are the other two.I should emphasize that the poses best no resemblance to how the minis will be posed - these are purely to give the sculptor enough information about their appearance to create the models. He has an entirely separate (and lengthy) brief for posing etc.The outline schedule for these is:1. Sculptor gives me a quote for the work and (assuming I'm happy with it) we agree a timetable...
