Weekender: Halo Fleet Battles Special!
July 18, 2015 by lloyd
Welcome to a special Weekender where we're taking a look at the awesome Halo: Fleet Battles game from Spartan Games. We've got Neil and Derek in the studio unboxing the game plus loads more...
Halo
The Halo-verse has been crying out for a proper miniatures game for a while (yes, we know there are some out there but not like this!) so it was great news to hear that Spartan Games were making Fleet Battles.
Lloyd sits down with the guys from Spartan to take a look at whats in the massive Starter Box and learn more about designing the game and fitting it all into the background.
Bolt Action
We also take some times to delve into a new release from Warlord Games and talk Bolt Action. Germany Strikes is the new source book covering the early period of the war.
It is also the time for heroes like the insane Mad Jack Churchill who could make for quite the iconic hero on the tabletop.
Prize Winners
We have some prize winners to announce for USAriadna Week and a recap of those winners from the Infinity Boot Camp since Warren forgot to mention them!
Join Backstage For XLBS Tomorrow
Watch out for the XLBS show tomorrow where Lloyd will be talking about the future of the Halo franchise with Spartan Games.
Are you liking the look of Halo?
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Woo hoo, the weekender is here, now time for some modeling.
Good morning all.
What a nice boxset, well worth buying as a stand alone set. Plus I have loads of computer gaming friends who I can see playing this! First Halo, then infinity and before they know it they’ll be up to their eyes in tiny soldiers!!!! MWAHAHAHAHAHA
God I’m weird when I’ve just woken up…
Halo. Oh my. I have been hanging out to see more of this game as I loved playing BFG years ago and always regretted having to sell it. But now a new awesome fleet game has arrived.
Plastic. Plastic ships! Plastic!! 😀
That is a huge box set… So nice to have both the Creative Director and Game Designer from Spartan in studio to talk about the Halo universe and tell us where this game sits in it. The miniatures are amazing! Love the boarding operations, fighter/bomber actions, and good attempt at minimalist approach to token usage, Could be my game of the year. 🙂
Yeeeeahhh it is weekend again, good show
I do have to interrupt, in the regards to the halo lore (Spoilers!)
While it is true that the covenants primary goal is to complete it’s great journey, they also dedicated alot of their effort to killing humans because of a mistranslated in their religion, they mistranslated a core part of their prophecy to say reclaim (or something along that line) when actually the word translated to reclaimer’s, which was actually a reference to humans as the forerunners had named humanity their successors which is why forerunner tech responds to humans. When the prophets after capturing an old forerunner AI released this mistake they decided that rather than revealing this truth which would destroy the covenant, they would instead wipe out humanity to prevent the spread of this knowledge (they still believed the great journey was a glorious ascension to godhood and that they could do it themselves). So actually the prophets where very interested in wiping out humanity and because they led the covenant, the covenants war of genocide was really as much about wiping out humanity as it was about finding old forerunner relics.
The background is fascinating in halo, I started watching a 6 hour video of cutscenes 🙂
Just six hours? For shame.
But I am one of those massive lore fans for Halo (which has the unfortunate side effect of making me a bit snippy when correcting misconceptions and mistakes people make when talking about the lore), I have watched every cutscene video for every Halo game, even the games I already own, I have several books from the lore and have borrowed plenty more. And on top of that Halo 2 was the first fps I ever played, so Halo has massive nostalgia for me and even though I have yet to properly get into any tabletop game other than 40k, I am definitely going to be buying this set.
was it this one? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RL50p_Qv1BU
…when you could be watching 6 hours of David Icke!
“When the prophets after capturing an old forerunner AI released this mistake they decided that rather than revealing this truth which would destroy the covenant, they would instead wipe out humanity to prevent the spread of this knowledge” Where in the timeline did they find it?
Reach is based before the main set of games and this fleet game is based a month before Reach. Did the Prophets already know of the connection between Humans and the Forerunners at this time?
For anyone wanting to know more try this site: http://www.halopedia.org/Main_Page
The thing about Halo is the story is now massive and has a lot of twists by now. So you can play all the games but by the time you get to the end of them all it can be hard to remember how the story pieces together. It’s not like a set of movies, it takes much more time so you can’t just do a refresh weekend 🙂
The prophets knew about humans connection to the forerunner just before the start of the Human-Covenant war, roughly 25 years before Reach. The prophets who found out that the humans were the heirs to the forerunner technology saw humanity as a threat to the covenants religion and the great journey, so they decided to wipe out humanity to save their own political skins 🙂
I don’t know anything about Halo, but loved your part of the show about the game. Totally stunning by the looks of it. Gone on my birthday list!
As Toxxicvex said, it was just before the start of the war, in fact in a a rather disastrous coincidence this mistake was revealed to the prophets at around the same time as they met the humans. On of the cool parts in the lore (that you won’t find out about in the games) is that many of the covenant, especially the Elites, questioned just why they where wiping out humanity instead of bringing them into the covenant like they usually did, questioning primarily due to how hard and bravely the humans fought, with many Elites coming to respect humanity for it’s fighting spirit.
But yeah, it takes some rather extensive research to learn this stuff, I only know about this because I spend a lot of time online looking up all this information (the Halo wiki is the primary site I use personally http://halo.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page), so I get why the mistake would have been made. As I said it takes extensive research into the background of Halo to learn about all this stuff, so it doesn’t really bother me when people get these kinds of details wrong, since you wont find it in the games. The massive Halo lore fan in me just demands that I enlighten the unfortunately misguided masses to the true glory and actuality of the Halo lore. 😛
Please get Spartan Games to call Roosterteeth. I want a Red vs. Blue tie-in. Also will there be a demo game?
Happy Saturday 🙂 Also HALO :p
Thanks, Carlos 🙂
‘Merica!
I sort of wish I preordered for the busts…
But if it’s the Weekender, that must mean…
IT’S THE WEEKEND!
Video above not playing – YouTube OK though.
I think Halo looks great. Did we really need to spend an hour and 20 minutes on the weekender for this? Couldn’t this have been a show on its own?
I love the weekender but this was probably my least favorite episode. Oh well I guess it’s going to happen once in a while.
Between Halo and Bolt Action this episode had very little in it for me outside of Carlos’ outtake. A range of topics always helps in providing something for everyone, but it’s rare that there’s an episode with nothing it in for me so I can live with that.
Yeah, I agree. Often on the weekender the topics are games that I don’t play or collect but it is still often interesting. I just felt that well over an hour on one game (should have been its own show imo) and then the rest of the show felt rushed by comparison.
I’m rarely disappointed with the weekender(s). Given the number of episodes over the years having one that is a bit of a miss for me is absolutely fine.
It’s al very well asking for things to be a show of their own, but consider how we would do that time and resource wise.
This is a company and game we have never had on BoW before with one of the biggest IP’s in the world … So I think on this occasion a special episode is not out of the question 🙂
Must say it is good to see Spartan on BoW
Umm for first time a little disappointed not in the content but rather that it doesn’t feel like a weekender with so much focus on a single release. You guys nailed the content and the enthusiasm for a great product is clear but for me just didn’t scratch my weekender fix of all things gaming.
Happy Weekend!!!
ok i love that outor
I love the weekender to bits. And the Halo game has me so excited. But this felt like it needed to just be considerably shorter. Maybe even as a series of videos. Most of all with a sample game.
Without a doubt though the highlight of this weekender was Mad Jack Churchill. We need John to have a spin off history series.
Oh my god that outtake! I’m so glad you guys included that, that was hilarious.
It’s a breath of fresh air to see MS, 343 and Spartan communicating so much. I usually just have a vision of a suit saying “no, you can’t do that… ”
Looking at the models, rules and sticking to the fluff, I couldn’t ask for any more out of the game; it’s definitely on the purchase list!
I think the industry that 343 is in lends it’s self to collaboration. Video game studios work with each other all the time. So I would guess they have the process pity much nailed. The Spartan guys are having a great time, which like you say is a breath of fresh air.
I played Halo for the first time with the master chief collection and loved it. This looks great, and particularly like the idea of connected games with the ground based game. Not sure how I feel about the spartan rules, I’ve read good and bad things but the standard of the minis is awesome.
How did you find the story? I say to people all the time that I think they will be surprised by it.
Halo looks impressive and the engineering on the sprues top class.
Dammit stop showing my all these new toys. My bank balance doesn’t like the games i currently play without you guys showing me more things i want/need. Great show as usual guys
Morning guys! 🙂
Haha I thought I’d won… “Meg Smith” sounded a lot like Mike Smith. I nearly dropped my fish fingers.
Interesting weekender… may consider looking at HALO but with so much DZC stuff still to do and the Drop fleet game on its way I am going to shy away from this for now.
Nice box and nice ships! But a game with only two factions? Not for me. I’ll continue to finance Spartan via my Dystopian Wars purchases ;P
Worth staying until the end. When are you playing Halo Fleet so we can watch a game?
Impressive boxset, probably not a game for me but it is very well done, I hope its a success.
Also, Carlos is a legend. And its attitudes like his that is why I spent £40 or so on the rulebook even though the actual rules are free, and will do the same with the Human Sphere book too. Enthusiasm and engagement make me want to support them over and above just enjoying the game, other companies could learn from Corvus Belli.
Hi all,
I’m normally a fantasy but i do like the look of the Halo fleet battles.
I am more inclined to look at the Hawk fleet game – even if it is a different scale that both Halo and FSA
Hear hear
Halo.
My wallet just broke down in tears and my wife gave me the “oh god” look
woohoo! looking forward to hear more about the Halo land battles game
So glade you put the outtake on the end, very funny;)
The gentlemen from Spartan must be 2 of the nicest guys you have ever interviewed – that was a real pleasure to watch and even though I have never played HALO in my entire life, I will have to get into this Fleet game. The minis look superb and I like the mechanics they described. Lloyd did what I call ‘the Parkinson style interview’ whereby the protagonists do 80% or more of the talking. Fantastic!
Early war – looks good for Bolt Action though the Desert campaign is what I am most looking forward to.
must get halo now
I won Icestorm, thank you guy’s you have made my year. great show and thank you again for the prize.
Would’ve enjoyed 1 hour on new Bolt Action book and 20 minutes on new Halo game. Looking forward to XLBS.
Worth waiting just for Carlos’s outtake.
I echo earlier comments though. Bolt action is a game I don’t play, but I’m happy to watch 20 minutes or so on a bolt action release. It’s interesting to see stuff about other games and occasionally you might find something you want to get into.
But well over an hour on one game doesn’t do it for me, and if there are more “weekender specials” with that much focus on a single game, I’ll probably skip those ones.
One of the best Weekenders for a while! Great!
“The fun part of the war” sounds a little strange if you take it out of context.
That Bolt Action book might get me interested. For some reason I always liked the look of early tanks more than the more modern types.
And you get a crazy character as a bonus. 🙂
@lloyd is so correct in what sounds like an offhand comment at 1:32.07, when he says the S-35 looks a lot like a Sherman. I’ve read that the cast armor (as opposed to riveted or welded) of the S-35 was noticed by American engineers who adopted the idea into the early Shermans. Good eye and good call, @lloyd !
Cool, so I was on to something 🙂
Great video. Halo looks awesome. With all those cool miniatures and bits, it must have a high price point. Big box. Good game to team up with a wealthy mate on. Thanks for sharing.
I I would ever go in to space fleet thie would be my choice, USCDDIFGGUHVUU or something look very interesting, great looking ships, also – poles avaible in bolt action? i think its time to break in there for me. I resisted long enough.
I’ll be getting the Early War Bolt Action book. The scenario-driven games interest me more than stand up fights, and I think the period has something special about it too. Not only is there a wide variety of weird and wonderful bits and pieces, but a wider range of forces too.
I think it also lends itself more easily to ‘what if’ scenarios, alternative history and/or pulp scenarios, as well as being able to be used in 1930s civil war settings.
Halo looks interesting… I’ve never played any of the games, and know nothing about the setting, but the ships look really cool, and I love the idea of large fleet battles with tons of ships on either side. Will try to resist for the moment (not least because I’m also waiting to see what Hawk come out with for Drop Fleet Commander later this year / early next year) – although I suspect they will be very different games from what we know so far.
Love the win dance by Carlos
Brilliant as always. Thank you for Spartan coverage!
The Halo game looks like a fun diversion from Firestorm. My only complaint is the use of chit’s for fighters. It would have been nice seeing a variation of the flight tokens used in other Spartan games.
love the unboxing, can’t wait for my copy to arrive, been getting antsy for it since Salute!
I dont know.. I like the Halo Ego Shooters, but the universe isnt that exiting. Wish Spartan would flesh out their own brands.
Ugh… one Weekender a week & this one’s 90% one subject… Not cool… 🙁
Well actuality we do two 🙂 don’t forget XLBS.
the HALO game look amazing when they were talking about the beam weapon I pictured something like the (B5) shadow craft slicing through every thing.
brilliant show people.
gorram it, that game is looking epic!!!! also, I love how “Spartan” games is putting out the Halo fleet game
yay jammie dance lol, love the out take lol
While Fleet Battles looks AWESOME!!! I need some 28mm Infantry to paint!!
That outtake was definitely worth tracking down, Go Carlos! 🙂
Great Show! Thanks for this phantastic HALO FB preview. Immediate preorder.
The models are amazing. They really did a nice job with the tooling. I do hope they do fighters at some point. The formation stands are a great idea as well.
Now you guys need to get them back for some Planetfall coverage.
Just got to watch the last twenty minutes. Someone might have to report Carlos to Interpol for the second of those bloopers! Awesome.
If you want to make a few quid get him to Edinburgh and do a stand-up Infinity game.
I remember hearing that Carlos outtake in the background of a VLOG while you guys were filming the Infinity week stuff. Made me nearly spit my coffee out the first time.
Words can’t describe how seeing it on camera feels.
Holy! The Halo game will be mine! That looks fantastic. I’m sure I’ll be able to twist the rubber arms of my wargaming Halo buddies to play!
Does Stamford have the order to use mobile ship yards as shields for the fleet (this was his core and the only way UNSC could beat covenant fleets)? Will there be mobile ship yards?
The Big weapons from the covenant your referring to are Plasma Torpedoes (or so the UNCS call them) that could be controlled and directed to follow a ship almost anywhere. Books of the fall of reach were so much better then the game.
Great episode as usual guys.
Made even better with the inclusion of the HALO ships we were lucky enough to paint for Spartan Games!
Even the close ups in the video dont do them justice, there is SO much detail on these its untrue.lots to sink your teeth into
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Brush-Demon/1447194675556171?ref=hl
HALO! HALO! HALO!