The Models and Hobbycraft of Aggressor

Good Morning Snail-kin!

Last week we began a discussion about Critical Snail’s position on crowdfunding versus self funding and what our intentions are over the long haul. To rehash: crowdfunding is cool, but not for us, and we want grow a reliable fanbase that wants to go on the long ride with us as we work together to bring long-lived games to the market place. In that discussion I identified our unique perspective on models in a model-intensive hobby. Well today I want to delve into that reality in more detail because it is important to the game of Aggressor, and frankly  it is important to the gaming community.

Critical Snail will NOT be producing its own line of models to support Aggressor: Recon, and for good reason. First, we can't sculpt and we are not interesting in burning through 3D printers and experiencing a logistical nightmare if they fail. That would be an incredible mistake on our part to try to be developers and writers while we wear the albatross of physical production around our necks. Second, there are SO MANY AMAZING sculptors and model designers in the marketplace right now operating independently, that we want see their work expand. From a business standpoint, we will be pursuing model design and production partnerships with these independant sculptors to produce Aggressor branded models through their own storefronts, a mutually beneficial relationship.

From a gameplay standpoint, this really means the ragged edge of freedom. Aggressor players will have the opportunity to construct EXACTLY the army they want to field, customize exactly how they like, and the only restriction will be internal conformity. WYSIWYG. Beyond that, if you want to sculpt your own figures and be completely unique, that is absolutely welcome. If you just want to tread out your dusty Game-Workshop Space Marines, swap out some bolters and call them Federated Earth Alliance Marines, we are really cool with that as well. The focus in Aggressor should be zeroed in on only two things: the game on the table or level craft in the models. Neither of these focuses requires a licensed figure, only the licensed rules and IP that creates the play setting. You decide what a Dikari Warrior should look like.

If Aggressor is to ever fail and die, we want that reason to be something other than supply logistics doing something that we don't have an interest in doing anyway. We will let much bigger competitors swallow that nasty pill of capital expense while we write, develop and support games that people will enjoy for a long, long time.

We are only a couple of weeks out from release of Aggressor: Recon! We are expecting to begin posting photos and blog posts about the hobby side of building an army, so stay tuned!

~Salty Ben