Could Proxy War’s Custom 3D Printing Be Gaming’s Next Step?
November 13, 2013 by dracs
A rather intriguing new Kickstarter has just appeared and has been gaining some significant attention. Described as the next step in tabletop gaming, Proxy War will allow gamers to custom design their own minis and have them 3D printed.
The idea behind it is simple; players can log onto an online database and assemble their own custom mini from the variety of parts and pieces. Simply clip them together and you can get them professionally printed, allowing you to easily make your own RPG models or even entire personalised armies.
Proxy War also offers an option to create a completely original miniature from scratch, teaming you up with concept artists to come up with the miniature you have always wanted to make.
This service will be the perfect way for small companies or even individuals to get started on their own game.
Of course, if you don't fancy making your own game then why not just use the war game rules which will come with every Proxy War miniature, allowing you to game with it no matter how weird and wonderful you have designed the model to be.
As they put it, "If you want to print 17th century pirates and I want to make ninja cat girls we can do that, and then they fight to the death."
There has been talk about how 3D printing could change the industry for quite some time now and it is excellent to see that Proxy Army, the company behind the Kickstarter, are trying to use the technology to its full potential to provide gamers with a greater creative freedom and input than they have ever had before.
There is so much going on with Proxy War and the Kickstarter seems to aim at implementing every gaming possibility the technology of 3D printing will allow, from the simple matter of making your own custom mini to getting your very own game off the ground.
Proxy War contains an awful lot of promise and is built upon an intriguing issue within wargaming, namely the revolution 3D printing could be bringing to miniature design, I will not be surprised if it enjoys significant success on Kickstarter. How about you guys?
Thanks to deaddave for bringing this to our attention.
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I’m following it, but I simply cannot commit to it with all the other campaigns going on and all the money I don’t have. I really think they are on to something here, but I’m really only intrigued by the modelling capabilities. The Kickstarter is so they can make a game, but without a clear theme/backstory, there isn’t much to get attached to.
Hmm, looks like a promising step into the future of gaming, but… $25 for one mini and then $45 shipping?? O_o No thanks…
I am so temped to give these people money but I MUST be good with money for the next month. Why do major appliances MUST die when there is cool Kickstarters?
Sod the game, i want a model of me waving a cowboy hat riding a squiggoth lol
Great idea and the industry will and must move this way: customization to the nth degree. They are sorely missing a backstory or any fluff, and that is a major problem. We barely know anything about the space pirates or gnomish things, or giant robots. Perhaps they want to keep it vague on purpose, but then, it loses a lot of appeal. On the flip side, some of the options are really cool! Design your own mini. Use templates they have to design them. I will be supporting the KS, just not sure which level best suits things… I imagine… Read more »
The idea is good, but can they get the pricing to reasonable level?
What is the real benefit above having a sprue with lots of optional parts? Not having to assemble it? I have some 3D-printed models, and they can be difficult to paint because they can easily print nooks and crannies that are impossible to reach with a brush — and you can’t even paint them prior to assembly.
Sounds to me that at this stage this is most useful to roleplayers who want a custom hero or maybe those “5 guys per side” skirmish games.
Pricing aside, this is the future of miniatures design, sit at home, pose and customize your mini on your computer and they print out your model. And jump further forward and you will print off your own. Brilliant.
The main problem with home 3d printers is the resolution. 2 microns is the standard and isn’t enough for miniatures as yet. But the printers are getting better.
3d printers are great for printing scenery and buildings.
We have been busy making a load of 3d printable scenery ay http://www.printablescenery.com.
I’d love to know what you guys think ?