As part of a broader effort to revitalize its steampunkish, super-science Dystopian Wars miniatures battle game, Spartan Games is turning the series’ main line of battleships in to modular figures. Parts provided for the different variants of each nation’s ships will also be magnet-friendly so players can switch out components as needed.

Other changes to the refreshed game include new Core Nation Expansion Box packaging, additional Alliance Nation factions, and a Dystopian Wars Core Rule Book version 2.5 with Fleet Action alternate fast play rules and a World Builder campaign construction system.

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Spartan Games, which currently has the Halo: Fleet Battles spaceship combat game, has begun taking preorders for a terrestrial combat title, Halo: Ground Command. A two-player Battle for Reach starter box (£65, shipping this summer) will include custom dice, scenery elements, rulebooks and reference sheets, tokens, and around 80 miniature figures (infantry and armor in 1/100 scale).

In developing the rules for Halo: Ground Command, Spartan says it’s given extra attention to recreating the video game’s “high-energy gameplay.” A special phase for flyers also promises to maintain the “menacing shadow of a Pelican Dropship or Phantom Troop Carrier streaking overhead.”

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Based entirely on what looks cool to me…

For Warhammer 40,000, the KV128 Stormsurge ($150) from Games Workshop holds two Tau crew and features ball-and-socket joints for a range of posing options.

From Privateer Press, the gargantuan Trollbloods Glacier King ($135, November) for Hordes freezes lakes, streams, and enemies with its passing. The heavy warjack Hand of Judgement ($60, December) for Warmachine wields an immolator cannon and mace for the Protectorate of Menoth.

Among the Wyrd Miniatures releases for Malifaux 2nd Edition, there’s the pre-colored Swamp Cottage ($21) and the gun-toting Abuela Ortega ($16) in steam-powered wheelchair.

Gale Force Nine’s resin minis for the Dungeons & Dragons Rage of Demons campaign includes a five-piece Orcus figure ($75) seated on a throne of bones.

In Reaper Miniatures’ Dark Heavens series there’s a new Temple Dragon ($33).

And for a very limited time, Reaper’s Bonesylvanian series includes the better-look-at-the-pictures-than-have-me-describe-them Jacques ($8), Howie ($8), and Lou ($11).

Spartan Games adds two new forces to Firestorm Armada this month, including a Terquai Dreadnought Group (£25) and a Xelocian Imperium Dreadnought Group (£25).

And last-but-not-least, Dark Sword Miniatures recently released a Cat Paladin ($10).

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A July 20th street date has been scheduled for Halo Fleet Battles, a miniatures combat game based on the Halo series for Xbox. Rather than focus on the Master Chief, though, this tabletop title highlights spaceship combat, developing a part of the setting previously relegated to background material. Spartan Games says it worked closely with Microsoft and 343 Industries to bring to life previously unreleased elements of the Halo story, while ensuring consistency with established canon.

The initial Halo Fleet Battles two-player box set, subtitled “The Fall of Reach”, includes 49 plastic spaceship models (32 United Nations Space Command and 17 Covenant), flight stands, custom dice, and tokens for a retail price of £80 (about US$125). If preordering direct from Spartan, use coupon code “HALOLAUNCH” by June 21st for a 15 percent discount.

One special feature of the game is the ability to reassemble formations. When, for example, individual ships are lost from multi-ship flight stands, the remaining ships can be joined together to form a new battle group.

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