With the recent release of the Ghost Infiltration Platoon, Steff’s been hard at work on an Imperial Japanese force. We’ve already seen her Onryō, and now it’s surrounded by a truly lethal cadre of the Emperor’s favourites. Take it away, Steff!

The new Ghost platoon came out a few weeks ago, giving Japanese players new ways to play the army, with teleporting troops out the wazoo. It’s a platoon that gives you a lot of powerful toys to play with, and I’ve decided to lean into that and build something that I can take to tournaments. This is my first attempt at a competitive list, so I’ll need to read every rule properly to see how the army rules synergize and think about list building from a different angle than my usual ‘is this cool and thematic?’.

The List

I needed one Ghost Infiltration Platoon Commander, two Ghost Attack Squads, and an Onryō as my mandatory choices. The officer gets a point of Guts, which can really swing a turn with a reactivation. This would be given to the nearest Ghost or Shadow Warrior unit as soon as they were in a good position to hit two targets. He also gets a combat blade for a bit of close quarters punch, as well as an SMG to keep his cost down.

The two Ghost Attack Squads are five-man barebones affairs, except for the (in my opinion mandatory) combat blades and anti-tank launchers. My idea here is to either get into cover and benefit from the 2+ cover save, while shooting a potential ten shots at Pen +1, or teleporting into the rear arc of a high-value vehicle and hitting it with the launchers.

The Onryō was already built with the twin Shiboru cannon, which is a beast of a gun, and it’s highly mobile, so it can get into rear arcs if I need to make sure of a kill on a vehicle.

There were a lot of options for what to add once I got past the basics, but I had a clear vision of what I currently didn’t have in the list: assault units!

In went 2×8 Shadow Warriors with no upgrades. These guys are really mobile, hit hard and have a ton of attacks, so I felt this was an important element to add in. Two squads of eight means I can hit two targets a turn rather than just one, so I opted for this configuration rather than a single full-strength squad. Also, more Order and Rift dice means more bag control and a better chance of a Surging result.

I finished the Ghost Infiltration Platoon off with Kimura Tadaaki. He’s mobile, so matches the rest of the army, and can apply some hefty morale penalties (and remove Fearless!) with his Shadow tokens. This ties in nicely with the rest of the army, softening up enemy units for the Ghosts and Shadow Warriors to finish off.

I was left with a bunch of points to fill to get to 1,750 (the standard size played in our HQ Store tournaments), so I opted for an Engineer Platoon. Two squads of six infantry, each with a flamethrower, plus two independent flamethrower teams (I used the German Veteran plastics for the flamethrowers) gives me a powerful combination for taking out enemy units who’ve already been hit by Tadaaki’s Shadows. Good luck making all those morale checks! I finished the platoon off with a pair of trucks to ensure I can get my short-ranged flamethrowers into action as soon as possible.

The Gameplan

My overall plan is to concentrate fire, hit key targets before they can act, and either destroy them or cripple the unit with Pins to freeze them in place.

Tadaaki will follow one of the Shadow Warrior squads, along with a truck full of flamethrowers, and focus fire on a unit at a time.  The Platoon Commander and Ghost officer will follow the other Shadow Warrior unit in a truck and do the same, spending their Guts aggressively to get some critical early game damage in.

The Onryō will go off tank-hunting with the Ghosts until there’s no more enemy armour, and then pivot to chip in some anti-infantry firepower while the Ghosts secure objectives and provide extra support.

Like all plans, this might not survive an encounter with a determined opponent, but I feel like this is a strong list that should have a good chance on the tabletop. It feels decently thematic, but it’s also focussed on what it’s doing, and it’s not ‘carrying’ any units that don’t have a definite battlefield purpose.

For more articles like this visit - https://warlord-community.warlordgames.com/

The team over at Warlord Games Wigan have been hard at work – not just with making sure our first store outside of Nottingham is running smoothly, but on their own hobby projects too! We spotted Wigan staffer Tom’s fantastic Axis collection on a recent supply run to the shop, kidnapped it for a photoshoot at HQ, and made him tell us all about it. It’s a hard old life for the gang up North!

TR – I chose Konflikt ’47 as my first project to work on because I enjoy the combination of the science fiction and World War II aesthetics, as well as its lore. When it came to picking my first army, the Axis immediately won me over because of the variety within their model range. They’re an army I feel I could never get bored painting! One day I can be working on large, power-armoured Stahltruppen, and the next I can switch to something completely different and paint the grisly undead Totenkorps.

When choosing my colour scheme, I wanted to go with something different from the traditional box art. I decided on an almost bone-like armour colour, contrasted with bold red stripes and red helmets across the infantry. The scheme was incredibly quick to do; in fact, I managed to paint the entire army in just a single day! (Now that’s just showing off… -ed.) To achieve this effect quickly and efficiently, I utilised speed paints and heavy drybrushing techniques, which allowed me to get great depth and contrast without spending hours on every model.

To achieve the armour tone, I first primed all the models using Colour Forge Wight Bone, followed by a base coat of Army Painter Pallid Bone over the entire miniature. Once it was fully dry, I did a heavy drybrush of AK Interactive Buff across the model, purposefully leaving the darker Pallid Bone visible in the harder-to-reach recesses.

For an extra highlight, you can mix a small amount of white paint into the Buff and apply a much lighter drybrush to really make the raised edges pop. The red markings are incredibly simple to achieve; I painted red lines across the chosen armour panels, not worrying about perfectly straight lines because any imperfections are easily masked by weathering.

To create a realistic chipping effect, I took a small piece of foam from a blister pack, dipped it into the AK Interactive Buff, and dabbed most of it off on some kitchen roll. Lightly stippling this over the red stripes instantly creates a weathered, battle-worn look while perfectly hiding any wobbly brushwork.

For the basing, I used AK Interactive Terrain Dark Earth to give the miniatures a realistic, gritty foundation. Once completely dry, I drybrushed the texture with AK Interactive Buff to make all the earth details pop. Finally, I used a variety of Army Painter tufts to break up the earth tones and add some great spots of realistic colour across the army’s bases

Since finishing this initial force, I have more than doubled the size of my Axis army! I have painted up a lot more Totenkorps and Stahltruppen, and I have just finished working on Hauptmann Heinrich Gross and his retinue. Looking ahead, I plan to add the behemoth Wotan walker with its devastating Schienenkanone to the roster in the near future. Sounds like we’ll need to get another photoshoot sorted! -ed.

Has Tom’s force got you inspired to join the ranks of the Green Vault?

For more articles like this visit - https://warlord-community.warlordgames.com/

Your points are coming with us.

Wyrd Loyalty is moving to XP Network, and we are bringing your current balance along for the ride. The move opens the door to a larger rewards program built around the webstore, the games you play, and the communities that keep them on the table.

Thank you for shopping

with Wyrd.

Your current Wyrd Loyalty balance comes from qualifying purchases made through the Wyrd webstore. Every point in that balance can move into XP Network at the same 1:1 value.

Complete the claim during the migration window and we will add 1,000 bonus XP as our thank-you for making the move. This bonus is tied to completing the transfer, not to past demos, tournaments, events, or other community activity.

Bring with you – Your current balance: Your existing purchase-earned Wyrd Loyalty balance transfers to XP Network at the same 1:1 point value.

Our thank you – 1,000 bonus XP: Complete the move during the claim period and 1,000 bonus XP will be added as a migration thank-you.

You have 60 days.

Once the migration window opens, current loyalty members will have 60 days to claim. Any balance left unclaimed when the deadline passes will expire and cannot be transferred later.

What to watch for

Your claim instructions are coming by email.

Look for a personalized message from noreply@xpnetwork.com. It will show the Wyrd balance attached to your email address, your 1,000 XP bonus, your deadline, and a private link for claiming everything.

Use that personalized link to sign in to an existing XP Network account or create a free account, review what is being moved, and complete the claim. Keep the link private. It is tied to the email address that received it and can only be used once.

If the message is not in your inbox, check your spam or promotions folder before contacting us through the Wyrd support page.

Read the full announcement
See the current countdown, migration details, and expanded FAQ.

From the webstore to the tabletop

A bigger loyalty program for the Wyrd community.

This is part of a broader expansion of how Wyrd plans to support the community. Retail partners will be able to take part in the program, while Minions to Masters gives organizers a clearer path to earn rewards for the work they put into local play.

Run an approved demo. Help organize a tournament. Support a local league or other qualifying tabletop activity. Earn XP, then use it to claim available rewards.

SHOP THE WEBSTORE  •  PLAY & PARTICIPATE  •  BUILD COMMUNITY

Keep your points. Claim the bonus. See what comes next.

The full announcement page has the current countdown and answers to the questions we expect during the move.

View the announcement & FAQ

Need help with your claim?

For a missing message, an incorrect balance, or points that do not appear after claiming, use the Wyrd Contact Us page. We will coordinate with XP Network as needed. You can also visit the XP Network Discord.

If you have more than one Wyrd loyalty email, include both email addresses and evidence that you own them so the balances can be reviewed for merging under one XP Network account.

A fresh deck. A new Control Hand. One more chance to make the flip that changes the game.

This Malifaux Fourth Edition Fate Deck is now available through print on demand, bringing Malifaux artwork and its distinctive suits to your next game.

Four suits. Two Jokers. Plenty of trouble.

Rams, Crows, Masks, and Tomes. A Red Joker to celebrate and a Black Joker to blame. This is Malifaux, where every flip can become the moment, everyone remembers.

Pick up a deck for your first crew, refresh a well-loved favorite, or keep a spare ready for demo night. There's always room for one more hand of bad decisions.

Printed for your table.

This is a physical Fate Deck, available to order through print on demand from Wargame Vault. Get your printed copy and give your crew a fresh hand for Fourth Edition.

Get Your Fate Deck

https://www.wargamevault.com/en/product/585579/malifaux-fourth-edition-fate-deck

Explore Malifaux

https://www.wyrd-games.net/malifaux

• For organizers: https://docs.xpnetwork.com/organizer_guide/tournaments-org/

• For players: https://docs.xpnetwork.com/user-guide/tournaments-user/

Request sponsor support. When you set up an event, ask the publisher or brand behind your game to back it with XP to give out, achievements your players can unlock, and Items they can earn and level up. The sponsor reviews the request in their Hub, picks the rewards, and approves it. Your event becomes Official, and those rewards show up in your event’s Rewards area.

• Finalize your date, time, and location first, and be sensible about what you ask for.

• Sponsors have 7 days to respond.

• If your event details change after approval, the sponsorship is withdrawn and you send a new request.

• You get notifications and emails when a request is sent, approved, or withdrawn.

Meet Items. Achievements are earned once. Items live in a player’s inventory and change over time.

• Trophy: an award a player earns again and again, like a league champion belt

• Stat: something you track, like life points, rank, or wins

• Effect: an ability a player can use, like a power boost

Open Adjust User Inventories to give a Reward (level up and give XP) or a Penalty (level down and take XP). Change a level by an amount or set it exactly, and import an event’s attendees to adjust everyone at once. Players pin Items to their profile to show them off.

Coming soon: Items on quest steps, like a dice roll that decides whether a player levels up, gains XP, or loses XP.

Learn more

• Items: https://docs.xpnetwork.com/organizer_guide/items/

• Becoming an organizer: https://docs.xpnetwork.com/organizer_guide/becoming-an-organizer/

The Absence Returns: Annihilation Raid Deck & Spoils of Annihilation

Rising Empire Studios is excited to announce our third player-versus-environment (PvE) experience: the Annihilation Raid Deck, alongside the expansion booster Spoils of Annihilation. Both release in late March 2027.

Something beyond the universe has broken through. The Absence has returned, and its arrival threatens to erase everything in its path. In this solo or cooperative raid, 1-4 players seek out the Sword of the Abundant Flame, overcome a series of Obstacles, and face The Absence before nothing remains.

SOLO OR COOPERATIVE

- Classic Encounter: 1-4 players bring their Alpha Clash decks (a standard 50-60 card deck and one Contender each) against an automated Boss.

- Heroic Encounter: a tougher raid using the red highlighted text on various cards, built for 3-4 players.

FACING THE ABSENCE

- Your Decks Feed It: The top 10 cards of each player's deck and the Boss Deck form The Absence's Life Deck. Its health is the number of cards in it, and it replenishes throughout the game.

- Obstacles Become Auras: Obstacles have health and can be attacked. Defeat one and it flips into an Aura that stays in play, and the next Obstacle arrives.

- Claim the Sword: When the last Obstacle leaves play, the Leader card flips into the Sword of the Abundant Flame.

- Two Sides of The Absence: With no Obstacles left, The Absence spawns an Elite Minion and flips to Side 2. Reduce its health to 0 there to win.

WHAT'S IN THE BOX?

- 1x Oversized Double-Sided Boss Card

- 26-Card Minion Deck, 25-Card Boss Deck and 25-Card Event Deck

- 6x Double-Sided Obstacle & Aura Cards

- 1x Double-Sided Leader & Sword Card

- 4x Double-Sided Info Cards and 1x Double-Sided Portal Card

- 4x Spoils of Annihilation Booster Packs

- 2x 51-Card Player Decks, led by Anzudak, Draconic Destroyer and Fangyin, Draconic Savior

- 1x Rulebook

SPOILS OF ANNIHILATION: ENTER THE DRAGONS

In the aftermath of Annihilation, Dragons have emerged, drawn to the ruins in search of ancient power. Spoils of Annihilation is a special expansion booster box of fearsome Dragons, devastating abilities and legendary treasures, built for both the raid and traditional Alpha Clash play.

- 80 unique cards, with four new Drak'aroth Contenders

- 5 cards per pack (3 Common, Uncommon or Rare, plus 2 Premium Foils), 20 packs per box, 6 boxes per case

- 1 Iconic Art case topper in every sealed case

- Every card is legal in Constructed

BEYOND THE BOX: ENDLESS QUESTS ON XP NETWORK

Defeating The Absence is only the beginning. Scan the QR code on the back of the Annihilation Rulebook to unlock Quests right here on XP Network. You'll find new challenges to conquer, tasks to complete and rewards to unlock, with more Quests added over time. Track your progress and see how far your raiding party can go. The box holds the raid, but the adventure keeps expanding.

HOW DO I GET IT?

The Annihilation Raid Deck and Spoils of Annihilation release in late March 2027. Order now from Covenant or through your local game store.

Read the full announcement: https://www.alphaclashtcg.com/news-old/annihilation-raid-deck-spoils-of-annihilation

Alone or alongside your allies, you are all that stands between existence and total annihilation. Are you ready to face The Absence?

Store: https://shop.alphaclashtcg.com/products/alpha-clash-synthorian-the-harvest-digital

Meet the artist behind our new Crit, the latest GM Perks updates, vote on 2027 merch, and celebrate Game Store Day across the country!

✅ GM Perks Request Form Is Now Live!

The GM Perks Request Form is officially live! The GM Perks Program recognizes and rewards eligible Game Masters for their approved participation in Origins events. Check out the GM Perks Request Form and the 2027 Origins Game Fair Event Policies (https://www.originsgamefair.com/gm-how-to), and be sure to submit your events and your GM Perks requests by the published deadlines!

A quick reminder for Event Organizers (EOs): EOs are responsible for submitting one complete request on behalf of their entire group. Before submitting, be sure to review the GM Perks calculation guidelines, calculate each eligible GM's earned perks based on approved event hours, and verify that all information is accurate and complete. You should not submit a GM Perks Request Form until all of your events have been approved.

GM Perks Request Form

🛍️ Help Shape Origins Game Fair 2027 Merch!

We've got another merch question for you, gamers! What would you choose?

💨 Neck Fan - Keep your cool while exploring the convention, hopping between games, and making your way through all the adventures Origins has to offer!

🎟️ Badge Holder - Keep your Origins badge close, secure, and ready to show off as you meet new friends and find your next favorite game.

✨ Collectible Specialty Pin - Show off your love of the convention with a fun pin worth trading, displaying, or keeping as a souvenir.

Head over to our social media posts or join the official Origins Game Fair Discord to cast your vote!

Vote on Discord

🎨 Meet the Artist Behind Crit - Nate Lovett!

Meet Nate Lovett, the talented artist behind the latest iteration of Crit, Origins' lovable mascot! Nate first began working with GAMA on Crit's artwork in 2022, helping transform our once rather crazed-looking kobold into the cute and lovable character we know today.

Over the years, Nate has created plenty of memorable Crit designs, including Dragon Crit, Crit wearing Crit, and last year's Cyberpunk Crit. While those are some of his favorites, Temple Crit from the D&D recreation takes the top spot!

Now Nate is turning his attention to a whole new adventure: Infinite Worlds! For Origins Game Fair 2027, he's excited to create a variety of unique worlds for our portals, explore different artistic styles, and take on some new creative challenges.

A big thank you to Nate for bringing Crit to life and helping make Origins a little more colorful every year.

Nate Lovett Art

🎨 Hobby Spotlight - Metalhead Minis!

Meet Lyn Orzech of Metalhead Minis, one of the talented people helping organize Origins Game Fair's Paint & Take area and host miniature painting classes during the show! Officially established in 2009, Metalhead Minis works with tabletop gamers, collectors, and companies across the miniature gaming industry. Teaching is a big part of the journey! Be sure to connect with Lyn at Origins in 2027!

More from Metalhead Minis

🎲 Game Store Day Spotlight - Oddwillow's Game Haven!

For Game Store Day 2026, Oddwillow's in Mukwonago, Wisconsin, is partnering with the Mukwonago Community Library to offer a day full of creativity, games, and family friendly fun, including a button making station from the library's makerspace, MetaSpace 511. Guests can enjoy miniature painting, game demos, gift basket drawings, and learn more about the Halfling Adventurer's Guild (HAG), Oddwillow's in-house children's Dungeons & Dragons organized play program. Younger guests will have the chance to meet Princess Belle!

Join Oddwillow's on November 7, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Oddwillow's Game Haven

🎲 Game Store Day Spotlight - Gamescape SF!

Located at 333 Divisadero in San Francisco, Gamescape SF is planning a day packed with in store game demos, plus their regularly scheduled Pokémon League. And when the in store festivities wrap up, Gamescape SF will be taking the fun out into the neighborhood with a game night at Madrone's Art Bar!

Gamescape SF

🚀 Explore Infinite Worlds on Discord!

Join the official Origins Game Fair Discord to connect with fellow gamers, share your latest hobby projects, and stay up to date as we prepare for Origins Game Fair 2027. Your project might even make a guest appearance in a future Origins newsletter!

Find Your Next Adventure

Event submissions open October 26th! Plus, vote on 2027 merch, hobby and game store spotlights, and watch Cyberpunk RED Live!

The next chapter of Origins Game Fair 2027 is taking shape, and there are plenty of exciting things happening across our tabletop community. Our Infinite Worlds journey is just getting started, so dive in, explore what's new, and get inspired for the adventures ahead!

🎲 2027 Event Submissions Open October 26!

The portal to your next great adventure is almost open! Event submissions for Origins Game Fair 2027 officially open October 26, and we can't wait to see what kinds of adventures you'll bring to life! From epic TTRPG sessions, Miniature Painting, exciting tournaments, and everything in between, your events help make Origins a place where countless worlds of imagination come together.

Planning to submit an event? Be sure to check out the new 2027 Origins Game Fair Events Policies, which will be available on the Origins website by the end of this week. Take some time to review the updated policies before submissions open so you're ready to bring your ideas through the portal!

🛍️ Help Shape Origins Game Fair 2027 Merch!

We're exploring new merchandise for Origins Game Fair 2027, and we'd love to know what you'd be most excited to see. What would you like to see in the Origins merch lineup?

🔋 Power Bank - Keep your devices charged and ready for wherever the adventure takes you.

🔑 Keychain - Take a little piece of Origins with you wherever you go!

🎲 Portable Dice Tray - Roll for initiative wherever your gaming adventures lead!

Head over to our social media posts or join the official Origins Game Fair Discord to cast your vote!

Vote on Discord

🤝 GAMA at SPIEL Essen!

This week, GAMA is at SPIEL Essen, bringing together members of the tabletop gaming industry for opportunities to connect, share ideas, and celebrate the community that makes our industry so special. Stop by Booth H4J110 to learn more about GAMA membership, meet fellow industry professionals, and discover how you can become part of the game!

Join us for GAMA's annual reception on October 22, 2026, from 7–9 p.m. for an evening of conversation, connection, and community during SPIEL!

🎨 Hobby Spotlight - Steven Condon

Meet Steven Condon, one of the talented artists bringing Paint & Take to life at Origins Game Fair! Steven has been painting miniatures for 17 years and streaming on Twitch for 10 years. Known for his airbrushing techniques, bright color schemes, and large-scale figures, Steven loves exploring creative ways to make every project stand out. Steven makes and wears his own cosplay, especially during his synthwave color class. When he's not painting or crafting costumes, Steven and his wife run a farm where they host educational events and raise chickens and peafowl.

Classes with Steven Condon

🎲 Game Store Day Spotlight - The Geek Room Hobbies & Games

The Geek Room Hobbies & Games in Omaha, Nebraska, is gearing up for another exciting Game Store Day! Visitors can enjoy demos of some of their most popular war games, skirmish games, and board games. The Geek Room will also host one-shot RPG adventures. Plus, be sure to check out their painting contest and cast your vote for your favorite entry!

The Geek Room Hobbies & Games

🎲 Game Store Day Spotlight - Digital Heroes

Located at 120 East Alder St., Digital Heroes has been Walla Walla's ultimate pop-culture shop since the '90s, offering everything from tabletop games and sports cards to comic books. For Game Store Day 2027, Digital Heroes is planning storewide discounts on tabletop games and accessories, free giveaways, and promotional prizes with purchases. They'll also be hosting free gaming events and demos in their game space, featuring board games, card games, miniature games, and roleplaying games!

Digital Heroes

🍿 Watch Now: Cyberpunk RED Live from Origins 2026!

Night City is calling! Missed the action at Origins Game Fair 2026? Now's your chance to experience a special live tabletop adventure featuring Mike Pondsmith, creator of Cyberpunk! In this non-canon adventure, Mike leads familiar faces Rebecca (Alex Cazares), Maine (William Christopher Stephens), and Dorio (Marie Westbrook) through their first steps into a new story, performed live in front of an Origins audience, using Cyberpunk RED and the Cyberpunk: Edgerunners Mission Kit.

Cyberpunk RED Live

💬 Keep the Adventure Going on Discord!

Join the official Origins Game Fair Discord to connect with fellow gamers, share your latest hobby projects, and stay in the loop as we prepare for Origins Game Fair 2027. Your project might even be featured in a future Origins newsletter!

Find Your Next Adventure