Exodus Wars: October News

New Releases

In the run up to Christmas, we have a selection of new releases coming out. Sculpted by some serious new talent, allow me to introduce the new range of Guild armoured vehicles. The Legions have finally got tracked! Created by the combined talents of CAD Sculpter Todd Dillen (Otterman) and Designer Christian Salling (Warmaster Nice), using some serious computer assisted voodoo (no chickens were sacrificed in the production of these models). They are a delectable range of vehicles that will hopefully find a place in most gamers' hearts. This month, we have the Achilles Main Battle Tank, the Cerberus MFRL, the Apollo SPA, and the Cyclops Heavy Mortar. Next month, we'll be releasing a tank hunter, an APC, an IFV, a flame tank, and a command tank.

I've also included a few pictures of some of our 'in progress' vehicles to give you an idea of what else we are currently working on.

Achilles MBT

The Achilles MBT is a legendary fighting vehicle forming the mainstay of the Guild's Armoured Centuri. An Armoured Centuri will usually comprise of ten of these tanks formed into three squadrons of three tanks, with a command tank providing targeting and communications data to its subordinate vehicles. Equipped with a large main cannon capable of engaging most Khazari vehicles it also has a small automated light laser emitter for dealing with roving infantry. Guild Armoured Centuri are often accompanied by a detachment of Ares Heavy IFVs fully loaded with Legionnaires or Myrmidons as support for dealing with a heavier enemy droid or infantry presence.

Cerberus MFRL

The multiple-fire rocket-launcher system provides a devastating spread of incendiary rockets. Deadly to lightly armoured infantry, the liquid fire sticks to everything it touches, and can burn for several hours even in a low oxygen environment. Each rocket detonates in the air above its target, spreading a liquid which has a jellylike consistency. The heat from the blast is enough to ignite the jelly. Once it is alight, the jelly itself releases enough oxygen molecules to stimulate the flames and keep it burning, even if the target tries to extinguish the flames by smothering them.

Icharus SPAAA

The Krondal IV campaign taught the Guild many bitter lessons, notably that it had very little defence against Khazari rocket buggies or Valkryie attack drones. Both proved almost impossible to track due to a combination of the Khazari ECCMs and the speed with which they evaded counter artillery suppression fire. The only solution was with Harpy Space Superiority Fighters or to ensure that ground troops could survive long enough to bring localized firepower to bear. With this in mind, the Khazari tended to make the Guild artillery, carriers, landing strips, and fast attack units their first targets. In an attempt to buy time for the Guild units to do their job, the SPAAA was born. Using twin chainguns firing explosive munitions and a powerful sensor matrix using the latest in Guild technology, it tracks and shoots down any rockets or drones within range. It has also been discovered, to the delight of the Legion Centurions, to be murderously effective against enemy infantry and droids.

Cyclops Heavy Mortar

The Cyclops carries a huge, short-ranged mortar designed to bust up enemy strongpoints and chokeholds. It provides close support to infantry, literally blasting apart fortifications or buildings. Some variants use dozer blades or reinforced armour chassis, but the majority stick to the standard design as so to keep up with the APCs. It is regarded amongst the Legionnaires as an infantryman's best friend.

Apollo SPA

The Legions initially scorned the concept of a self-propelled artillery piece. In the Tarragin Crusades, they could always count on the fire support from orbiting starships, fighters or massed rocket batteries kept well behind the lines. However, after many Legionnaires struggled to get fire support due to late or inadequate resource allocation, a decision was made to provide them with a mobile source of heavy fire support. After seven years of development, M&M Industries came up with the Apollo. A small quantity were made and employed against the Tarragin with great success. Later they were modified to be powerful enough to penetrate a Khazari kinetic barrier. They proved their worth in the Krondal IV campaign, when Khazari AA proved to be impenetrable and star fighters were relegated to orbital patrol duties. They are now a permanent fixture in the Legion's motor pool.

Upcoming Releases (End of 2009)

Edenite Immortals

Eden Pharmaceuticals has long sought to cheat death - possessing the secret of eternal life is a goal that will mean almost limitless profit for the organisation. Various routes have been tried in its secret laboratories, from nanotech to artificial bodes. So far, only partial success has been achieved. To make matters worse, all contact has ceased with the research labs. Fearing the worst, a team of private security guards have been sent in to investigate.

Full story (along with pictures of the painted models) available in November. Models will be available for sale simultaneously.

Valkryie Attack Drone

The Khazari Valkryie is a fast-moving skimmer that provides aerial support for their embattled brothers on the ground. With a variable load-out, they can engage either enemy vehicles or infantry. They are greatly feared by the Guild for their ability to rise out of cover, destroy the opposition, and then disappear again behind cover before reinforcements can engage them. Whilst they are easy pickings for enemy star fighters, they are merciless against enemy ground forces. Their only weakness being their lack of armour.

The Valkyrie has always been a good seller for us, so it was with trepidation that we approached the redesign - unfortunately, we felt it was absolutely necessary due to the hole in the original model not fitting flight stands after the shrinkage from green, to master mould, to production mould.

Whilst we were at it, we gave it optional sponsons for both cannons and rockets, and we increased the cockpit size (for players who didn't want it to be used as a drone). Oh - and we snuck in a Kinetic Barrier device and upped the engines to give it that extra element of danger/awesomeness.

Enforcer Urban Pacification Vehicle

Some riots are beyond the capacity of, or would result in too high casualties for, the Prefects to contain alone. The Enforcer Urban Pacification Vehicle was designed specifically to cater for these events. Twice the size of the biggest tanks in the Guild arsenal, it is a walking fortress. The very sight of it alone is enough to cause terror in the hearts of the staunchest opposition. Its main gun is designed to blast through the toughest walls, and as such, it has an appropriate caliber. On the battlefield, its armour is so thick that it can shrug off most shots, even those of the Khazari plasma cannons. Since its inception, it has found its way into the arsenal of the Legions, providing a way of engaging even the toughest enemy forces.

The redesign for the Enforcer was built around two central concepts: we wanted to have a tank that was more detailed (particularly on the treads), and was equally modular with the rest of the redesigned Guild armoured range. The sponsons on the Enforcer and its counterpart, the Exterminator, can also be used on the chassis of the Guild tank variants, giving players more options if they want slimmed-down turrets or different brands of IFVs. You could also mount the Guild vehicle turrets on the Enforcer or vice versa (although the enforcer turret on the Achilles MBT, whilst impressive, probably would have stability issues).

We also created the Exterminator - because... well, purely because we thought it looked cool. Also, we felt the Legions deserved a dedicated heavy tank, rather than just a Prefect hand-me-down.