15mm Scifi in 2020

Ok folks, we have new decade, and durning th last one the 15mm scifi was on rise, many great gaming systems were created for this scale. Many companies rose and some fall so lets look what is out there in 2020

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Ground Zero Games (UK)

https://shop.groundzerogames.co.uk/15mm-stargrunt.html

GZG is company based in UK and propably oldest company out there anything you can think of the GZG have, Infantry, Power Armor, Mecha, tanks and even VTOLs. The core ranges are based on old game called Stargrunt II. while this game was released back in 1996, but even newer ranges like Moongrunt which is based on EVA suit combat in near future. One of my personal favorites i own quite a lot miniatures both newer and older sculpts both infantry and vehicles and they always find way in our games.

Brigade Models (UK)

http://www.brigademodels.co.uk/15mmSF/

Brigade is another big player with many ranges availible which can be diveded into two parts first is oficial Hammers Slammers figures (both infantry and vehicles) and second is their more traditional line based on their old Iron Cow setting. Their Infantry are mostly  from old Armies Army ranges they are harder to paint than GZG but very nice painted. Propably most extensive vehicle range out there. This company is still very active and adds new models every few months.

Khurasan Miniatures (US)

http://khurasanminiatures.tripod.com

Infamous Khurasan Miniatures, another big player in 15mm offers many many different line for both historics/Moderns to the Scifi, Vehicles,Dropships, Infantry, Alien lifeforms, modern day infantry and vehicles. Almost every possible setting from today planetary invasion to the space opera setting Khursan got you covered, even thought their are from US the postage is pretty cheap and delivery is fast to Europe.

Rebel Miniatures

http://www.rebelminis.com/15mmscifi.html

RM is another US company, offering range of various aliens, human infantry and vehicles 

(while vehicles ranges are not so extensive as other companies) The minis are nice but 

somewhat on smaller side of 15mm.

Ralpartha (Critical Mass Games) (UK)

http://www.ralparthaeurope.co.uk/shop/critical-mass-15mm-scifi-c-213/

When Critical Mass Games ended their company few years ago their ranges has been bought 

by Ral Partha Europe, unfortunatly while they offer most of their infantry ranges main

reason why i liked CMG was their vehicles and apart from two types (Mecha and Grav tank)

Ralpartha doesnt offer them yet hopefully that will change in future. They also bought Akarr 

alien range from Hydra miniatures.

Alternative Armies (UK)

https://www.alternative-armies.com

Old 15mm.co.uk has transmorphed into AA and was succesfull with their game Ion Age 

(Patrol Angis). They sell various ranges, from many kinds of aliens to the powered armored troops.

Loud Ninjas Ikwen to the Grinning skull aliens

You can find many vehicles, mechas, battlesuit and even lowtech infantry 

definatly worth checking out.

Magister Militium (Oddzial Osmy)(UK)

https://www.magistermilitum.com/manufacturer/oddzial-osmy-3mm-15mm-from-poland.html?cat%5B0%5D=59625&p=1

O8 is well known polish manufacturer of 3mm miniatures but he also created lines for their 

scifi game PMC 2640 consisting of military time infantry and irregular forces well sculpted 

but smaller than GZG or Brigade.

Clear Horizon Miniatures (US)

https://clearhorizonminiatures.com/shop/

Clear Horizon offers fine selection of modern scifi droptroopers, mercenaries and few other infantry

and selection of human dropships , ifvs and other vehicles. sometime ago their released 

Sigma Event Gruntz 15mm Starter set

Reddog Minis

https://www.reddogminis.com/mecha-front-15mm.html

Originaly known as Mecha Front (and before than even by other name) offering various bits for gothic scifi in 28mm

But they also have Mechs in 6mm and 15mm and rather nice. 3 types of chassis in 15mm with different weapon options

can be ordered 

CP Models (UK)

https://cpmodels.co.uk/product-category/15mm-ranges/sci-fi-15mm-ranges/

CP Models offers range of retro monsters and other strange stuff not particulary useful for 

me but but RPG players can find lots of here if 15mm is their scale.

Darkest Star Games (US)

https://www.darkeststargames.com/dark-star-15mm-sci-fi.html

US company which have some retro 15mm scifi range based of old Denizen 25mm scifi. They also have

Cyberpunk/Anime range  and some random skrimish/RPG range. Site also features very nice range of 

vehicles while not many models very modular and very nice

Micropanzer (US)

http://www.micropanzer.com

Micropanzer features huge range of infantry,aliens, mechs and vehicles and also scatter terrain. Very 

nice and popular sculpts and Riavaui infantry is best 15mm alien sculpt i seen IMHO.

DLD Productions (US)

http://www.dldproductions.com/home.html

Another US company that existed for very long time, they only offer hard-scifi vehicles which have strong 

military scifi vibe. 

Antenocitis Workshop (UK)

https://www.antenocitisworkshop.com/product-category/got/got-15mm/

Very nice scifi vehicles based on their GOT range from 28mm very futuristic looking unfortunantly this range

 has "frozen" and was never expanded behind this few models. however they offer range of flock and other basing

stuff andif you are into 28mm scifi (not 40k but things like Infinity) they offer various vehicles and terrain from 

brand designed for Infinity

The SceneUK

https://thesceneuk.com
Scene had have only few figure lines in their range but aquired Armies Army Vehicles range few years back

They offer full range of "Scifi Soviet" vehicles and range of isurgents which is usefull for Tomorrows War players

and just for them

Stratos Miniatures
https://stratominis.com/product-category/hardwar_15/

Stratos Minis hailing from poland is new kid on the block. They are well known for their mechs and vehicles in 6mm

But they also start working on 15mm range of vehicles, mechs but also infantry. They offer very nice modern scifi range

which doesnt have some of the early 2000s vibes like some other designers have

Eureka Miniatures

https://www.eurekaminuk.com/collections/science-fiction

Eureka miniatures doesnt much venture into scifi because their main playground is historicals but they offer 2 Scifi 

ranges, Scifi German Stormtroopers useful for Weird War scenarios or some generic Scifi evil empire and 15mn Resculpt

of Venturians from Denizen 25mm range. Modern Australian range can also makeup some generic near future/scifi troops

Old Glory/Bluemoon

https://www.oldgloryminiatures.com/categories.asp?cat=612

Old venerable range from Bluemoon offers large variety of troops, including robotic ones, and while they are nice they are

rather pricey and ranges lacks variability in terms of support weapons. Bluemoon also offers vehicles and buildings. Vehicles are IMHO bad by today stardants but that is just my 

opinion. US Old glory also offers buildings but i didnt see them so i cant speak for them.

White Dragon Miniatures

https://whitedragonminiatures.co.uk/marine-tactical-unit/

UK company which offers complete 15mm near/scifi range including infantry, power armor troops, support drones, vehicles and mechs

as a result of succesful kickstarter. The range have very strong "MECHA" genre vibe. Worth looking if you are searching for something 

different. Behind this range as concept artist are names such as Kasim Lewis, Edon Guraziu or Alexander Iglesias

Nuclear Shrimp Games

https://ns-games.com/product-category/black_earth_15mm/?fbclid=IwAR1Aq_qXV1CXZXIsgVcs4mxZDZk_t4uM__g1SL5WBXOli8CnWr1gBFtsIDI

Another new company which launched their company with succesful kickstarter, in 15mm they currently offer three ranges:

Sterotypical human infantry UEF, completly with infantry, tanks and battlesuits.

Religious Tecton with hightech vehicles,infantry, drones and knight like power armor infantry

last are brutes which seems like mutants a cross between space orks and supermutants.

the miniatures looks awesome and designs even UEF are classic humans have fresh feel

Vanguard and Oslaught Minitatures

https://vanguardminiatures.co.uk/product-category/defeat-in-detail-15mm/

These two companies offers upscaled versions of few of their 6mm ranges meant for Epic 40k/Armageddon gaming systems

They have strong 40000 vibe, for europeans you can order both ranges directly from vanguard and if you ever wanted to start

6mm Epic army i strongly recomend Vanguard. 

There are maybe other companies out there, but these are those which iam aware of.

Its safe to assume there are others so you can leave me comment and i will add them

Wish you great wargaming in year 2020

Battlegroup: Overlord Hard road english

Yesterday i published Battlegroup battlereport in Czech but it is time for english version.

Two days ago we played Battlegroup using Overlord book. We choosed Hard road and we played 400 pts at squad level.

Again my friend Dejv put his British 6th AAR. He got 3 cromwells, Command Tetrarch,regular Tetrarch,2 paratrooper Squads, Carrier section and towed 6pdr.




I opted for Panzer division list: Command Panther, 2 PZIV, 2 squads of Armored Panzergrenadiers, 2 Pumas and infamous 88.


Germans started deploying into the village on right while British deployed in hills and around the
railroad tracks. From beginning the British player was out of luck. He was able to deploy about half of his battlegroup while Germans deployed their whole might and to top it off they started with 6 orders but British with 3. In first turn Germans were able to secure the village capturing both objectives, 88 strategicaly put on the road was ambushing any one dumb enough to cross the road. Panther tried to brew up one of the Cromwells but without luck.

British then pushed to the railroad crossing capturing the objectives on their side. and started to maneovering toward village using fire and move/ move or fire tactics but without any effect.

Tanks started playing deadly game of cat and mouse but for more two turns any of the shells failed to find its mark. German Panzergrenadiers manages to capture the crossroad objective while they are succesfull they are pinned down on the crossroads by Paras from nearby tower.

Panther now exited village and his shot finally find its mark and one of the Cromwell started burning,
and rest of the Germans forces begining to push British back and next turn another Cromwell burst in flames and Railroad station one of the objectives held by British was captured by Germans.

British Paras Battlegroup has been broken and Germans claimed the victory.

to be honest victory was mainly thanks to the bad luck with BR chits and order rolls.

Tomorrows War need quick missions for your campaing/games?

Very long time ago Ambush Alley games released (hell it was 9 years ago....) Force on Force primer
it was meant for Force on Force 1st edition relativly different beast than game is today but still it works as charm if you want play relativly big games with minimum effort the base game ofcourse if you want use some high speed low drag kit like Power armors againts regular infantry it would require some adjustments

The publication contain 6 scenarios, with example OOBs for modern warfare era so you can easily transfer to whatever setting you use.
The Scenarios are follows:

• Meeting encounter
• Ambush
• River crossing
• The Counter-attack
• The Rear guard
• The Last Stand

 To enjoy these scenarios at maximum you will need propably enhance your motorpool as some scenarios requires 5 tanks and substantial number of infantry consisting of 5 squads, command sections support teams and other support. So if you looking for linked campaing or pickups games.

You can grab this primer here

Strike Legion: Platoon Leader Strange New Worlds

Four years ago i written nice review of Strike Legion Platoon eader, in that time Scifi 15mm has at it peek, and Platoon Leader has been left in shadow of game that everybody talked back then and today is the same - Ambush Alley Tomorrows War.

Strike Legion is nice solid system but original was more or less only sandbox where you have to do almost everything including scenarios you had to do by yourself. The release of expasion for SL:PL called Strange New worlds went relativly unknown to all because not many cared about this i would call "Indie" game which is shame because it is solid and well thought and detailed system.

So what new in Strange New Worlds? Tons of content which transforms Platoon Leader into whole new game. The game introduce off-board artillery support, variants for drops (capsules, teleporting...) but for fans of old pc game Battlefield 2142 even dropcapsule system which enables launching dropcapsules from vehicles. Among other things it SNW allows vehicle commanders so you can play armoured battles with this gaming system along with new vehicle damage system which speeds up the game and ofcourse rules for gigantic monsters and vehicles . Hordes (enemies that didnt use standart fireteam structure), Civilians and partisans (insurgents and untrained militias) are now also in ruleset.  SNW also bring us robust system to design Aliens and organic units.

 But most importantly it fixes lack of scenarios. 7 new generic scenarios which can be played with
any force in your collection. This includes classics like Hasty Assault, Ambush, Meeting engagement or more exotic like orbital insertion.






Another new thing is Black Ops rules which allows you to play skrimish special operations with
handful figures which is neat. It contains only 3 generic scenarios -  Assasinate, Sabotage and Rescue but definatly you can find it worthwhile.

Last section of book is reserved for stat cards and example force organisations so you will get little know how to assemble your forces on battlefield.

If you liked Strike Legion Platoon Leader or want fast but tacticaly challenging game where you can lead your forces from smallest raid to company scale actions this expansion is for you.
Only thing that game now lacks are campaing rules but to be honest you can adapt any campaing system you want.

15mm scifi ground combat in Battletech universe

Few days ago with my friend from different town we started toying with idea recreating ground infantry battles in Battletech universe. Battletech mainly aims for combat big combat robots called Mechs. But there are lots of fighting where mechs arent involved in every battle and sometimes infantry platoons have to takeout on Mechs by themselves as portraied for example in Battletech novel Price of Glory.

Battletech is set in 31st Century meaning you get all that your fancy gadgets you want in your scifi setting - laser rifles, hover tanks, power armors etc are common so you should be worry about losing something. Also this setting can be played across various system from Tomorrows War, Gruntz, Stargrunt and propably many others.

So skipping everythings blachat lets move on how platoon are organised. Most of the platoons shares similiar structure because they share similiar ancestors - Star League Defense Force.

Each Line Platoon consists of  28-men divided into four 7-men squads. first 3 squads are considered maneover squads carrying standart weaponery usually rifles or smgs and two specialist weapons. 4th squad have issued instead of specialist weapons platoon heavy guns for support infantry movement.
Jump Infantry have similiar organisation but they are lacking heavy support weapons squad mainly because this support weapons are hard to setup or carry for jump troops.

There are four basic types of platoon according to their mobility : Foot, motorised, Mechanised and Jump. The last of them are using man-portable "jump packs" to enhance their mobility, in reality in open terrain this mobility is somewhat comparable to motorised troops in terms of speed but in urban terrain these troops have ability to quickly engage troops in upper levels or move past enemy defenses so durning cityfights their skills and abilities are well demanded.
Motorised troops use buggies, trucks, motorcycles jeeps and similiar softskin vehicles for movement. Mechanised are equipped with IFVs. and Foot is good old PBI foot sloggers.


Each platoon also differ by their role/weapons they are using - Rifle, MG, Laser, Flamer and SRM
(Antitank platoons). the exact number of weapons are different from House to House but most of them have prodominance of slug-throwing weapons like rifles or smgs. with suplementary with squad support weapons.

Battletech universe still offers lot of freedom in terms of chosing infantry and vehicle and mechs for larger battles are accessible via 3D print or old unnofficial model kits. or you cant  leave them completely

For this article i used  old Battletroops book which was infantry combat game from FASA while it proved rather uninteresting back then  (it was released 1989) mainly because mechanics and other factors it contains few interesting pointers like platoon organisation and few scenarios. The only expansion pack this game had is named Clan troops which introduced the battlearmor (Powered-armor) but without any hints of organisation but it can be figured out from scenarios.

Quick note also be taken that book itself is very outdated, it almost 30 years old so few things can be
changed like support weapons- for example if your enemy is deploying armor your mg squad will propably requisition few disposable AT weapons or maybe even change one of their LMG for SMR at least in my opinion

I hope you find this article at least informative
see you soon!

Tommorow´s War Fluff: 1st Interstellar War

In years between 2288-2296 humanity saw its first true interstellar war. All major powers from Earth
was quickly drawn it this 8 year long conflict. on one side there was US backed OPS (Organisation of Progressive Nations) and its allies againts NEU (New Economic Union), China (PRC) and their allies on the other.



Brushfire on Glory
Expansion of Republic of Arden (RA) on Glory entered war with dictatorship named Democratic People´s Republic of Glory (DPRG). Quick escalation led to the full spectrum war between these two colonial powers, RA and France Foreing Legion was using superior technology and have edge againts DPRG who have man-power but using almost obsolote technology. DPRG leadership turned to their trading partners and allies from New Economic Union, who brought SF teams, advisors and cutting edge warmachines and weapons. Outgunned and outnumbered Arden nation start seeking help from Grissom and United States Marine Corps answered. Planetfall of Marines lead the US and Brazil into direct confronation, and soon OPS and NEU entered war, war that was new to humanity.

Dragon rising 

Disputes between Republic of Arden and China was evident - in year 2159 PRC invaded Glory but eventualy they were forced to pull out from Glory. China without doubt was major player - top technology and well trained army. Few months after start of Interstellar war they made planetfall on Glory, and not just only there.

Albion under siege
Not only US worlds were under siege but other OPS colonies and garden worlds were under siege and it was evident that OPS would must fight hard to face both PRC and NEU. on Albion British, French and US forces faced invasion force of Brazil and PRC.


Situation on Earth
Durning 1st Interstellar war the situation on Earth was realitivly calm. apart from few SF action like infamous Last stand at Red Ridge, both powers tried to keep war off world.

Batte of Jump point Zulu
Battle of Jump point Zulu was one for the books, suprise attack on PRC/Brazil battlegroup enroute to the Albion. German/French allied fleet attacked NEU/PRC forces as soon as they jump in resulting destruction of 2 assault carriers and 3 battlecruisers in matter of minutes. The effect on morale on battlegroup was immense and rest of fleet surrender to the OPS.

But destruction of this fleet have another effect, supplies which battlegroup carried was meant for invasion troops on Albion - ammunition, medicine and even fresh troops. NEU Command on Albion in fear they will not get resupply in months or even more uncoditionaly surrender to the OPS, which was first true OPS victory in war and have decesive blow on NEU morale.

Western diplomats managed to leveraged this two defeats into armistance and later both sides signed Peace treaty, which lasted to the 2309 - the start of Saints war.

5150:Fighter command thought so far

I played handfull games of 5150 FC, but there things i like and i like, you can agree or disagree since there

are my opinions.

5150 Fighter command is great game, it execute well some concepts like dogfights, combat involving larger ships, campaings. however there are things i don´t like and things that could be better.

So in case you miss my review which you can read here , here is quick overview what 5150:Fighter Command is all about.

In Fighter command you assume role of flight leader of space fighter, you are executing missions like patrols, attack on cap ships escorts and many more, every mission is different , thanks to random encouters, random reinforcements, intel levels. You can run into heavy enemy activity with two or three light fighters and deciding if you finish your patrol or turn tail and run, sometimes your heavy carrier appears in nick of time and some times its just rutine and you didnt encounter anyone. Pretty good stuff. This game also isnt your typical wargame since you have full control of your main character but other fighters are run through reaction tables and you cant knew what they will do.

So what could be done better? i will be maybe jumping from topic to topic, but hope you guys get the point
base system is solid reaction system is easy to hang on after two or three games. but there are things that will maybe make game better - some which i will make up via homerules. But first thing which will be greatly concern me is campaing rules where basics are great some random generator for your starting forces will be great for example - while there is similair according to your invesment vs enemy invesment level greater varienty will be better. another is gaing fame and experience you are rising/lowering your rep according how well you peform as pilot/leader but you also getting promoted but there is no point in this because it hasnt have any effect (meaning being promoted to 1st flight leader or squadron leader) another problem is with mission generator for campaing - you starting with patrol, then boarding action then attack and then attack attack until you win or lose and then you begin with patrol again not bad but some random element here will help.

another thing which is good by needing to be enhanced is random encounters almost every mission there is high propability some unussual event will happen but since there is only six of them they starting to keep repeating, when we were playing Mordheim our gaming group created more random encounters and this can be done for FC - imagine events like mysterious fighters - i taken this from original Freespace game where Shivan fighters appeared for the first time (mission was called from night into the darkness). Mysterious fighters will be armed with best shields,weapons and more maneoverable that anything in "other" races arsenal - randomly come in one of the game sectors and target nearest ship/wing - enemy or yours it doesnt matter who is closest buys the farm, after they fullifil their role they jump out but if you manage to destroy them before they jump out you will get boost to morale, or imagine one of your pilots turn traitor, possibilities are many. while reinforcements is little sporadic, while it is okay for most missions sometimes i will like more greater battles sometime maybe some escalation level before mission.

Mission types are good, but even here more can be better, but it is okay as it is we will see if upcoming expansion will show us more

 another concern is missles while they work fine in larger battles in one on one dogfights they seems lacking something, maybe made them faster and maneovarble version of torps would make them better but just a thought. so what are your thoughts on 5150 FC do you disagree or agree?