"What Models For Real World Factions?" Topic

I've been thinking about doing some near future gaming, say a conflict in Europe set 20-40 years from now.
What figure or model lines would you use to represent the forces of real world factions?
So far, I've been thinking:

British, or perhaps Germans
- GZG NAC figures
- CMG Mercenary AFVs

US Army or Marines
- Khurasan Federal troops and AFVs

Russians
- Khurasan Nova Respublik troops and vehicles

Thoughts? I like the idea of a speculative WWIII in Europe, as you get to use some of your WWII terrain and still have much of the creative free hand that straight up Sci-fi gives you in building your setting and associated back story.

I use New Vistula Legion as as Soviet/Eastern European forces, but they would be great for space Danish, Swiss, or Swedes (sp?)

20 years from now? I'd expect the bulk of the weapons in europe to still be most of the kit they are using now… marders, BTRs, current MBTs covered in all maner of new applique armor and reactive plates… lots of drones… civilians in trucks

Militaries everywhere in europe are downsizing and mothballing.

Basically look at bosnia/kosovo and add some more modern kit…

Hmm, true… Better bump the timescale up to ~40+ years

You do know that in the real world they are not called factions, but nations?

Army's Army is worth a look for ultra-modern to near-SF as well. A TMP link on some of the line.

I think if you are doing it 40 years from now, you will be safe using Screamers/The Second Variety as source material.

You do know that in the real world they are not called factions, but nations?

What is this crazy talk!

I've been a member of the US Faction my whole life!

Faction is a good word. Again, look at bosnia/serbia. Look at africa, (current or in the 60's). Look at laos/whatever they are calling themselves over in southeast asia.

Each of those current conflicts, one or two "nations" and about fifteen "factions" plus that times five in petty "warlords" involved.

"civil" war breaks out in a nation, nationalities start getting hazy.

What "national force" would you call the Zetas in mexico, or the FARC?

Not to mention NATO, African Union, the UN…

I thought that "faction" fit better in terms of a gaming environment, but I see the point!

I had suggested the time frame that I did so that next-gen hardware would be prevalent, but current vehicles and equipment would still be around- perhaps with a few wacky sci-fi upgrades.

As far as using Screamers as source… Well, I'm sure that back in the 60s they thought the world would be annihilated… And here we are.

If you're using Khurasan's Novas for Russians, then ArmiesArmy "RUSKS" make wonderful bulgarians/serbs/other pro-russian slavic nation

their less advanced kit and clearly recognizable russian-looking weapons are perfect for a second-tier force of the near future.

you can buy them here:
link

Thanks everyone for the plugs:)

Ive also got a lower tech helmet /militia version out very soon

They have open helmets with either goggles, respirator or just the helmet.

thanks

Keith
AA

Hey I am trying to figure out what the Western Separatist faction of the North American Conflict zone looks like.

Ooh, Western Separatists!
British Columbia and Alberta, having had enough of Toronto (or whatever), separate and form a union with Washington State, Oregon and California ;)

No, faction is not a good word, but if you want to see the world around you in terms of Warhammer 40k gaming I'm not going to stop you. More to the point, if you asked all the noted organisations "so would you call yourselves a faction?", what would they say?

Which sub faction leader will be elected Faction Leader for the US Faction elections?

And on topic, Armies Army has some excellent future Brits/EU types in the pipeline. Your main challenge will be finding the right vehicles. Khurasan is the go to for US and Russian kit, but I've yet to find a clear contender for future Euro/British tanks. IN terms of AFVs, you cannot go past Critical Mass' Merc APC for future Euro/Brit.

Faction may not work when referring to subjects like a single nation, and I apologise for my hastily typed-and-titled thread, but we're talking about WWIII. I seriously doubt that if such a conflict were to ever occur, there would be a total lack of division in larger political bodies such as the EU, etc.

On topic:
Wow, I had forgotten about AA's forthcoming Brits. They do look superb, for sure. I guess that makes my NAC figures Germans!

Combat Wombat's "Chinese" AFVs, such as the Type 123, would probably go well with NVL troops for a Russian-allied force. That would give them a lower tech look than Nova Respublik models, but similar enough that you could guess they bought export equipment.

GZG's New Israelis would work well for… Israelis… They're aesthetically similar enough to the Khurasan offerings to believe the two countries had a tech-sharing deal. Toss in a Rebel Mini Merka 5 and you're set!

For the Western Separatists I see lots of old Ford Pickups and 2 ton trucks (know a farm (ok, kinda own a farm, in parts) that has 15 Ford trucks from the late 30s to the early 60s vintage that all still run strong) and to that the modern mish-mash of SUVs/jeeps supporting a odd collection of Autonomous combat vehicles. Boy do I know a large number of automotive scale robot enthusiasts.

I also can see a large number of Motorcycle and/or Mountain Bicycle mounted calvary/dragoons…

Me and a friend have ordered full armies from some suppliers, and sample infantry and vehicles from nearly all of them. We're gaming two "themes", the first is Hammers Slammers (so far future hover tanks) and late 21st/early 22nd warfare (so you can have grav tanks, hover tanks etc, but good old treads and wheels are the bulk of vehicles). I'll give you my run down on what does and doesn't work, but keep in mind this is subjective and when others have said what I'm about to in the past they've disagreed strongly.

For Near Future US –
* Khurasan Federal Infantry.
* Khurasan tanks and APCs.

Khurasan, and Jon, are my favourites by far. Top quality, though as with all these suppliers you may need to do a very small amount of work on prepping the vehicles. This is part and parcel of 15mm gaming.

For Near Future Russian/Eastern Europeans -
* Khurasan Nova Respublik Infantry
* New Vistula Legion Infantry
* Armies Army Ruskies
* Khurasan Nova Respublik tanks and APCS
* Antenoceti's Workshop's Kabardins

The New Vistula range is great, though the latest release have Essex Gnome Head syndrome. They are in general a slighter figure than the Khurasan range. AA's Ruskies are excellent, and work well with Khurasan – and also both Khurasan and AA figures carry Kalashnikov type rifles, so there's some visual consistency between both ranges. I'm using the AA figures as Spetznas to my regulars from Khurasan. The New Vistula's I'm using for future Poles.

For Near Future Chinese –
You could go with anyone, but Rebel do a decent range of modern PLA that is pretty much the go to for infantry. It's not as fleshed out a range as Khurasans, but the guts of it are there.

For vehicles you can use the Nova Respublik range from Khurasan, though I'm more convinced that the PLA will start to use original designs and not Russian knock offs in by the end of the century.

Israeli's – yep, the GZG New Israeli's + some Rebel Merkas.

Near Future Arab States
Khurasan Raathists. 110% spot on. Again, use Nova Respublik vehicles and you can't go wrong.

Near Future Brits (and Euro types)
Infantry is a bit hard, for the Brits I'm waiting on Armies Army to release their new range, but I've also invested recently in Critical Mass Games ARC Fleet Recon figures but they're about to be re-purposed for generic Euro types. My only problem with the ARC fleet range is that the weapons may look a bit too far future compared to the others, but hey who cares at 15mm.

Vehicles get a lot harder, the Critical Mass Merc range of vehicles have a superb APC, but I'm a bit divided by the tank options. CMG are good, but I don't really like the look of the medium tank. The recently released heavy tanks are superb, they're on my painting pile right now, but visually they don't quite fit with how I see Brit/EU tanks. But can't fault the quality at all.

Near Future Insurgents – The Sepvuldian Resistance range from Khurasan, you're one stop shop.

What didn't work were –
Combat Wombat, lovely range, but smaller than the ones above. My issue with them is solely based on the size of their range compared to the likes of Khurasan and CMG.

Brigade Games – another great range that is just too small compared to the others. I bought a bunch for Hammers, and all I can say is that once the Brigade boys get round to re-scaling their vehicles I'll buy a tonne. They are very small compared to Old Crow.

What does work, but good luck getting them –
DLD Productions. Long off the scene, but very good vehicles that I would pay a premium for if I could get them. Note though that some of the range is rubbish IMHO.

I've left GZG off this list as for me their kit sits well into the 22nd and 23rd Century. GZG make excellent product however, and that's just my take – your mileage may vary.

Old Crow – These guys are the Hammers supplier of choice, but a lot of their ranges would fit in very well for Near Future. Production status is unknown right now with Jez off working in Movie Land, but once he's back I'd give his range a very close inspection as there are some excellent vehicles there. Old Crow and Khurasan are both on the larger side of 15mm, and look the biz on the table.

Nice write up McWong73 thats very informative for gamers old and new and will be appreciated by gamers wanting to dabble with any confrontations that are set in the near future.

For some reason, I thought PLA when I first saw Khurasan's NR troops but Oddzial Osmy's NVL immediately screamed Russians (although he may not be entirely happy with that considering they are supposed to be Poles). Maybe it is their rifles reminded me strongly of the bullpup Russian weapons from the STALKER and Metro 2033 games but I am ordering a bunch of them for a disgraced Airborne platoon for my 2075 setting (very quick and friendly service from PicoArmor BTW).

+ 1 for Armies Army British Commonwealth. That kickstarter seems to be eagerly anticipated by a large number even before it has begun. I am also wondering if anyone has suggestions for Americans that are closer to EndWar's Joint Strike Force – Khurasan's Federal infantry are a little too advanced for my taste.

For news, I have submitted the kickstarter and I am simply awaiting verification that I can go live. Should be no longer then 24 hours I hope. Details will follow.

thanks
Keith
AA

What about NVL troops for the French? They could count as being equipped with a second generation Felin system.

the democratic faction, the republican faction, the teaparty faction, the green party faction, the libritarian faction, the national socialist faction, the communist faction… there are lots of "factions" in the US.

They like to call themselves political parties. but the second one of them decides to take up arms, they become a "faction" in a "conflict".

One of the things that's missing is troops with Russian weapons and US helmets.