EPIC WARPATH: Designing the Miniatures for an Epic Scaled Wargame

In this article we will take a look at how miniatures are designed for an epic scaled wargame.

This is the fifth in a series of EPIC WARPATH blogs heading into the Kickstarter. You can catch up on the previous blogs here:

1. EPIC WARPATH: Kickstarter Announcement
2. EPIC WARPATH: Design Basics
3. EPIC WARPATH: Core Structure
4. EPIC WARPATH: The Movement Phase

You can bookmark the campaign page HERE, and don’t forget to hit the ‘notify me’ button!

DISCLAIMER: The game is still in development and models are still being worked on, so some details might be different in the final product!

The Scale

As discussed previously, our Enforcer Operative models are about 12mm to the top of the head, so about 11m to the eye. A ‘normal’ human would be about 10mm to the eye. So while there is some variation, EPIC WARPATH can be treated as being 10-12mm scale for purposes of modelling and terrain.

We’ve opted for small integrated bases on infantry, walkers and bikes, so that they can “plug” into their larger group bases. As a couple of examples, four Enforcer Operatives (Infantry) would plug into a base to from a small group, or two Plague Bursters (Heavy Infantry) would plug into a base to form a pair. Infantry and Heavy Infantry like this typically have six bases in a Unit and so in our examples, that would be 24 Operatives or 12 Bursters.

Resculpting

Wouldn’t it be easy if we could just simply reduce all the existing sculpts to 33% of the size…but in miniatures design things are never that simple! Bodies, weapons and scaling proportions that work at 28mm often are not a good fit for the epic-scale genre. Some things will simply become too thin or even fall apart. Not only that, but many models need to be redesigned to work as single-piece casts for injection moulding (where those sculpts are destined for hard plastic).

So in a nutshell, that means we are re-sculpting everything for EPIC WARPATH, with proportions and considerations appropriate to the scale and manufacturing materials. We will cram in as much detail as we can of course, but at the size they are we have to get the balance just right!

At the time of writing, we’ve been resculpting the Enforcers and also have the Plague well underway! We are focusing on hard plastics first, which will also include the core units for Asterians and Forge Fathers. Once we’ve got the core plastics done and ready to present, work will commence on the fancier stuff (more tanks, command options, elite units and…yes…super heavies!). Many of these have already been designed, and are now waiting their turn to enter sculpting.

New Shiny Things!

Of course, as well as the classics for each army (no need to concept these as they already exist!), this scale gives us the perfect opportunity to create new Units for every army that aren’t yet in Firefight or Deadzone. New vehicles are the obvious place to go – and we have! We can also look at BIG units that be impractical or prohibitively expensive at 28mm scale.

So for example the Enforcers have a new Panther Grav Tank (with variants) and the Victor Heavy Tank, which the Plague have artillery and we are just working on a new small scale combat tank for the Asterians. Stay tuned for updates as more of these amazing new additions become available for us to show off!

Up next…

In the next article, I’ll switch back to the rules, and explore the Overwatch Phase.