"Hammers Slammers: The Crucible" Topic

Anyone been playing Pireme's Slammers and the Anvil rules? What are you expecting to see in The Crucible and how do you like this series of rules so far? I've been tempted to pick them up before…

Great Stuff ! I have the first two Pireme Slammer Handbooks/rules … If you just read the Slammer's stories, the Handbooks makes it a more enjoyable read also … IMO Slammers are the best Mil Sci-fi out there. The Crucible will have update rules, more units, an alien race, etc., all based on the Drake's books. Everything put out in these Handbooks are Drake approved. As are the Old Crow models seen in the Handbooks, Drake approved. The Crucible will add 6mm Slammer Rules as well, for the new upcoming 6mm Old Crow versions of the Drake Approved M2s, M9s, etc. … Which is great for me … all I do now is 6mm Sci-fi. The rules in the first two books are very playable, without being too complicated, but still have a lot of detail. Of Course I'm a bit biased as the Co-author, John Treadaway and I have been exchanging e-mails for years. I like his work in both models and handbooks/rules. My answer to you … BUY'M !!

Old Crow 6mm is really going to happen? Old crow hasnt ben producing much new stuff in the last 18 months.

I feel like I'm asking a question that's been covered else where, but….

Does anyone carry these rules in the States and is willing to ship to an APO AE address?

I've got the two original book, but I haven't had a chance to play yet due to the difficulty of easily getting a hold of 15mm figs. (Yes, I know there are plenty of via mail order, but it's hard to convince people to get into miniatures they have to order rather than buy at the FLGS.) That said I will pick up a copy of Crucible. You never know. Someone might come to their senses and start to mass distribute 15mm scifi figs ala Flames of War.

Its a pretty simple system for bashing out your own designs too. You can add your own fluff without upsetting the balance much.

Hi people.

As to what's in The Crucible, link gives you rough guidance for what's in the new book, but I've uploaded a pdf of the index pages at PDF link

I addition, the new forces cards wil be available in the book and as pdf downloads split into different scales – look at this page link

Obviously the images on the cards are at a lower resolution than the printed items in the book (they're free downloads, after all…), but they are there to aid gaming in different scales plus it means you don't have to cut your book up!

John Treadaway

PS – I've actually seen the masters for the 6mm Slammers: they really do exist! Old Crow just need to put them in production!

That pretty much says it all ! And I don't see why Pireme won't ship to an APO AE …

Looks good. It's not clear though whether The Crucible is an addition to the earlier books or a collation with lots of extra bits…

The Crucible takes are the first two books- cleaned up- as well as many of the articles that appeared in MW. One of the MW articles is Kevin Dallimores excellent painting and modification article.

Cards have been cleaned up and there are a ton of sidebars to help answer sticky question as well as easily pointing out optional rules. It is also loaded with full color shots of just about every vehicle used to include the new Nonesuch tank destroyers and the "modular" vehicle system that Old Crow has done. GZG of course are producing the Molts.

There are also all new rules, etc that have never appeared (i.e. the rules for The Molts and Oltenians are brand new to this book). I've been holding onto the Molt rules for something approaching 2 years now! Very happy to see them in print. Other new items are conversions for 25/28mm, 15mm and 6mm.

As a note the unit cards from my understanding are not "loose" but need to be cut from the book. HOWEVER- as John stated above the official Hammers Slammers site will have all the cards downloadable as pdf so one doesnt have to cut up the book.

SO I guess the simple version is its an updated collation of Slammers and Anvil stuffed full of new things.

Fair enough. Thanks Blackhawk1. Glad i held off getting the other books now.

I should say until now. And thanks John for the extra information. Anyone know what the cost is likely to be?

Wot he said. (as in Blackhawk's answer was spot on).

The only thing I can add is that the cards and playsheets in the book are printed (I am lead to believe) on heavier stock than the regular pages to make them more durable if they are removed. Cards in the previous set also needed cutting out but were printed on seperate sheets, but that makes it a nightmare for stockists (lots of loose stuff floating around) hense the free downloads on the site.

The main change with the cards is simply that they've more than doubled in number – every single mercenary force that Drake mentions in his books is included (and I'll be really cross if anyone finds one we've missed!) plus enough of the regulars to play against: they all get cards and detatchment/army lists. I've also added things like generic militia and vehicles – air cars and so forth.

But – in essence – there's a whole lot of new stuff over and above the older books and articles that have been published. And for completists of Dave Drake's Slammers work, he does write the (albeit quite short) 'in character' introduction to the scenario.

Costs wise, as far as I know it was/is £20.00 GBP on preorder and £25.00 GBP after publication, but – as it's due out Friday – I don't know what qualifies as 'before publication' or if that still applies, I'm afraid. Very much the publisher's department!

John T

Thanks John

I just ran the ISBN from the cover and got nothing so far :D. I checked the pdf copy too just in case but no price was there either.

However, for those interested it appears the cards are up on the Hammers Slammers official sight for all scales.

Now I gotta go bug Jez at OC for some 6mm vehicles to preview :D

I'll be buying mine the Friday then !! And yes, Blackhawk … give Jez another push !! We've been waiting a long time for those 6mm M2s, M9s, etc. !!!

Thanks again. I checked and its to late to pre-order, but I'll be ordering asap.

Oi !!! I went to the Pireme site to order the book … And nothing !!!! Not even anything about the Slammers !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

JUST ORDERED MY COPY of The Crucible !!!! Buy now !! Get'm while they are HOT !!

Pre=-ordered mine via the coupon on ~Miniature wargames, last month, got the paypal request Monday, all paid for

But I have to wait till the 3rd July to get my hands on mine, as Im working in the states currently and wont be home till then – Doh!!!

Looking forward to it

I am leaning toward 25mm, with Copplestone neo-sovs and Old crow vehicles, but not sure on average sizes for games, about how many figs/vehicles in an average game, will be playing most of mine at a club in about 3 hours game time – any help?

Al

Well since Old Crow is finally going to release 6mm Slammer M2s, M9s, etc. and I already have GZG NAC Infantry and one man skimmers in 6mm … and "The Crucible" has 6mm rules in it too … I forsee a lot of my G/W Epic Armies being slammed by Alois & the Boys !!

Aliosborne,

I am leaning toward 25mm, with Copplestone neo-sovs and Old crow vehicles, but not sure on average sizes for games, about how many figs/vehicles in an average game, will be playing most of mine at a club in about 3 hours game time – any help?

I am torn. I collected just enough 25mm before 15mm became vogue to be undecided about what to do. Will i have space for a large 25mm game, even at the club? i doubt it-and there was a general lack of enthusiasm from club members (although they are into sci fi) for picking up an additional genre when we already do Stargrunt in 15mm and 6mm FWC. Do i persist with my 25mm New Israeli, Denizen Ventaurans and Copplestone Neo Sovs? (i couldnt resist a few 15mm NI!) Problem is that th larger vehicles cost a lot in 25mm, and some of the 15mm vehicles are sooo nice (and i like the Neo Germans from Eureka). On the other hand i love the VOID grav bikes i have converted for Ventauran use (helmet swap).

I guess we wont know how long an average game takes until we start trying it out-and that will depend on the size and complexity of games. even if the designer/developers can give us an indication, they will be a lot slicker at running games with these rules. Personlly i am inveterately slow whatever rules are being used.

Got my copy of "THE CRUCIBLE" today !!!! link

Sci-fi tanks hunting New England witches? Weird

It's an allegory for McCarthyism. It's really all about Hover tanks hunting communists…

John T