As the old year starts to fade from our all-too-fickle memories, we are now at that time where we look forward to the next twelve months with hope, expectation and perhaps even a little optimism. As part of my annual service to Mankind as a whole and subspecies Homo Ludiusbellum in general, here's what can you expect from Baccus for 2014. It promises to be an 'interesting' year.
The Napoleonic French range will continue to be improved upon and expanded. The first set of further resculpts will be available very early in January, and we hope to have finished the replacement part of the process by February. At which point, we will add all the things that people have been asking us for – infantry in greatcoats, infantry in post-1812 kit, Guard artillery, and Horse artillery are all on the horizon, but don't expect us to stop there. We have plans for a lot more than this lot!
The Spanish Succession range will definitely be resculpted in 2014. The current range is a 'classic' in our catalog, and I'd be hard-pushed to put a figure to exactly how many SS1s there are out there in the wargaming world. However, the molds are wearing and we know that we can produce better figures nowadays, so it's time for a change and an update. We won't be starting on this until after the Napoleonic French are completed, so the old warriors will have a few months' life left in them.
The Great War ranges will emerge steadily during the first part of the year, with British, French and German forces all coming out. The aim is to cover all the troop types and equipment for the armies up to 1916 in this initial set of releases. We will then revisit the period next year. The eventual aim will be to cover Western, Eastern and Middle Eastern fronts from 1914 to 1918. This is a huge project, so bear with us as it may take a little time.
We will be finally be releasing WWII ranges. This has been the subject of much speculation over the past few months, as we took some advance samples of our proposed AFV ranges to the autumn shows. We'll be starting with the Normandy campaign, and we are aiming to have British Empire, German, and American codes available for the end of 2014. The vehicles will mostly be produced in a nylon compound, with infantry and equipment in the more conventional metal. Once again, this is a huge undertaking for us, and we are planning this as a long-term project.
You can expect more of Mike Salwey's Ottoman Turks range to appear in the coming months. The next batch of infantry will be with you very shortly, and the aim is to get cavalry out before the end of the year.
Lots has been happening behind the scenes with the Polemos rules series. The aim is to get at least two sets of rules available in 2014, and maybe one supplement. The big news so far as we are concerned is that we expect to be releasing the first of our 'Next Generation' Polemos rules on a stick. These will bring a completely new approach to playing wargames, and will make using Polemos for your tabletop gaming a much easier, quicker, and more streamlined affair. We're very excited about these developments, so look out for the announcements.
Following on from the highly successful Joy of Six 2013 show, we will be holding another event next year. The highly originally title Joy of Six 2014 will once again be held at the Workstation in Sheffield on Sunday, 20th July. Put that date in your diaries and start sorting out your travel plans. We aim to make this one even better. We'll soon have a website up and running, but in the meantime, please feel free to refresh your memories.
By hook or by crook, there will be a new, all-singing, all-dancing Baccus website up and running by the end of 2014.
It can often seem that Baccus consists of myself and the Igor. Nothing can be further than the truth, as the whole thing is only kept going by a large network of family, friends, authors, supporters, contributors and modellers. So, in no set order, I'd like to thank Nick M, David H, Nick D, Nick J, Martin B, Tony Q, Martin P, Peter R, Chris G, Maksim S, Sven L, Rob P, Chris B, Katharine, Ben, Lindy, Bill, Dave, Mark, Barrie, Mike S, Derek, Andrew B, Henry, Janyce, Les P, and the Polemous playtest group, for their invaluable help and input. I'd also like to thank each and every one of those harassed and put-upon wargames show organizers the length of the country, who have worked hard to stage these invaluable events. Without sounding too self-serving, I must also give a big thanks to all of our customers – without you, there would be no Baccus 6mm, and we appreciate that fact and never have it far from our minds. Finally, thanks also the crew at Wargames Emporium, John, Dave and Erik, for their invaluable support over the last year.