Account of the Orin Labor Revolt 2306AD Perhaps it had been inevitable, but it seemed none of the security forces were prepared. In recent months the mine shafts in Orin had suffered several structural failures, the result of a drive to make quotas pushing safe mining practices aside.  All told scores of Tracted workers, including women and children, had been trapped or crushed in cave-ins. As accidents accumulated a rising tide of rage built toward a tidal wave of violence. The miners wanted work to halt. They wanted efforts to be made to try and search for survivors. Corporate had scoffed; this was not in the terms of their contracts. To the executives of FerrumSky it was cheaper to bring in new labor than shut down a mine to search for survivors.  They relented only in part, so long as it was off shift and overseen by volunteer Prods, workers could try and find the strength and time to mount a rescue. This half-measure worked at first, but then came the final insult. ...

June was a busy month and I feel like I neglected the blog as a result. Those who backed the Kickstarter have been getting updates every week or two but if you are just a lover of hobby blogs then you may feel like you've been missing out. If you are a fan of the Making Mine Scenery series here on the blog, here's a sneak peak of how the 'It's Time' board is coming along. It isn't finished yet, but it is playable so it got used in today's playtesting. Several weeks back we got the Breaker Crew Leader, Will Kollis, in from Prodos. He was the first model Prodos did for us and I think he came out fantastic. He blends right in with the existing Tim Barry sculpts too. He was quickly followed with several other renders. Prod Gen-Mod with Shock Fists and I-beam. Overseer Billins with Shock Baton and Riot Shield plus alternate bits. Micha Donelly. The blood will be removed from the final version. As you can see, Prodos knocked out som...

Nanomei Goliath from Aetherium standing in for a Prod Gen-Mod Model courtesy of Anvil-Eight Games Over the last two weeks I've taken time to sit down and try out some ideas for the Prod Gen-Mod. It's always exciting trying out a new character with untested stats and equipment. Our Kickstarter Backers wanted to see the Prod Gen-Mod as more intimidating than the Breaker Gen-Mod. I think I've done so and kept it within reason, though it will take more testing to know for sure. Prod Gen-Mod Core: Actions 4 Move: 3 Wounds: 4 Combat: Shoot: 5 Melee: 4 Strength: 4 Agility: 5 Brain: Intellect: 5 Perception: 5 Psyche: 5 Medic: 5 Social: Lead: 6 Dealing: 6 Intangible: Recovery: 6 Faith: 6 Equipment: Shock Fists, Gen-Mod Apparatus Special Rules: Heavy Lifter, Dependent, Massive. The idea behind giving the Prod Gen-Mod an extra Action was to ensure they could be viewed as an unstoppable threat bearing down on the enemy. Once in close combat they could rain blows on ...

It's been a fun ride, but it's nearing the end. We are entering the final hours of the Broken Contract Miniature Starter Set Kickstarter so it's time for the last big push. We would love to have your support. Here's the breakdown of what's available through the Kickstarter: Broken Contract Miniature Starter Set - This contains 5 Breakers and 3 Prods. Ari Gaylen, Adesi Haddonis, Will Kollis, Nells Turnbull, Trest the Gen-Mod, Officer Moerta, Officer Tulson, and Overseer Billins. The models are all pewter. $40.00 plus shipping. Broken Contract Exclusive Set - This contains 2 Breakers, 2 Prods, and a Speaker Drone. Micha Donnelly, Grippe Candera, Officer Hickley, and Overseer Smythe. $25.00 Prone Officer Hickley $8.00 Broken Contract Miniature Starter Set Add-On - This contains 1 Breaker and 1 Prod. Talla Kellerman and a Prod Gen-Mod. $12.00 Pick up all of these models for $85.00 plus shipping! Or just pick out what you want. Broken Contract Minia...

Officer Hickley - Prod Goon with Shock Baton. Eager future Prods and Breakers! We've got our first casts in hand, and I have to say that I am ecstatic. Sure, there is always room for improvement and this is a learning process, but it doesn't change that this project has come so far in the last year, and rapid progress has been made in just the last 4 months. Valiant Enterprises has sent over three casts (two that we'll show today) and it was such an epic moment opening that parcel; very exciting indeed. That being said, Officer Hickley (above), was our first sculpt, and now we have him in hand and its a proud moment. Officer Hickley will be a Kickstarter and convention Exclusive character. He's a brutal tool of corporatocracy - a willing bloodthirsty goon. I'm even more excited because he is modeled after my friend and play tester - Chuck Hickey. Trest - Gen-Mod Brute with Rocksaw. Trest stands an epic 38mm from foot to eye. He is a genetically modifie...

Ari Gaylen - the Breaker daredevil 3D sculpt by Tim Barry Its been another exciting week of development in the world of Broken Contract. Prototype figures are now in the hands of the caster and we are now eagerly awaiting our very first master models. We also had a batch of 3D renders from Tim Barry that we had sent back for revision, and two of them came back finalized on Friday. Those have now been sent off to VisionProto for prototyping! The initial model range is really coming together. Last week, I posted the new background and art for Overseer Billins . John Gendall 's next project is actually the last essential piece of art for the initial cast of characters - Kollis, the Breaker Crew Leader. He has all of the references in hand, so hopefully he'll be done sometime this week. Officer Tulson - the Prod gunner 3D sculpt by Tim Barry A couple of days ago I showed a snapshot of a page from the rulebook . That same night Sam sent over a brand new mock-up Stat Card...

Overseer Billins by John "Geng" Gendall. Overseer Billins is of those breed of petty tyrants that flourish in bureaucratic environments. A ruthless supervisor who uses the system of indenture to bolster his ego through the systematic abuse and repression of basic humanity and decency in all his employees. Pain, fear, deprivation and a set of rules that none could live up to are the tools he uses to shape a world in which he is a valued member of the FeSky management. A squat and toad-like form combine with mean spirit and a bellowing shout of a voice to create a presence even his peers prefer to avoid. Under the sign of efficiency and order he is allowed to enjoy power over his charges and rather than use that power to build others up he uses it to crush the spirit and make angry and beaten beasts of those who were men. The Prods he keeps closest are men and women who enjoy his methods and relish the opportunity to do violence in the guise of keeping order. What is worse...

Officer Naria Anlika 3D sculpt by Tim Barry Today I had this waiting for me in my inbox. This is the sculpt for Officer Naria Anlika. She's equipped with a shock baton and restraints. Here's the art that Tim Barry was working off of: Officer Naria Anlika by Geng Gendall Pay close attention to updates. The Broken Contract Kickstarter launches September 1! -Nick

Officer Sarie Moerta by Geng Gendall Officer Moerta has a lot to prove. It took the hard work and collective effort of her entire family to secure her a Security Officer Contract instead of work as another Agri-dome worker or worse. Family aside, Moerta is a green rookie just out of her probation period and her fellow Prods view her as an unknown. She is given the most dangerous work and the least support so she can prove she has what it takes to keep the Tracted in line. Ambition and sense of responsibility allow her to put aside any softer feelings and prove she belongs. Each swing of her baton is step toward the power and respect she intends to use to bring her family closer to climbing out of poverty and want. The Tracted themselves are not aware of her history but view her as a weak link and push back against her authority in a hundred ways, some overt, others more subtle. Whether she will stand the test or break has yet to be seen. Officer Sarie Moerta Core: Actions: 3 M...

Officer Hickley sculpt by Tim Barry. Over the last month Tim Barry been working on and off with the first Broken Contract sculpt - Officer Hickley, the Prod Goon. If you missed the Character description written by Chuck Hickey himself, you can check it out here:  XVI. Assembling the Cast - Officer Hickley . Tim Barry has most recently known for sculpting the models for Aetherium by Anvil-Eight Games. I'm really excited with the result and looking forward to more sculpts in the coming months as the project evolves. -Nick

Officer Lamal Tulson art by Geng Gendall Officer Lamal Tulson executes his duties with complete detachment. The best advice he ever got was, "Don't think of them as being the same as us; they are just parts in a machine and your job is to keep that machine running at all costs." Behind hat, glasses, and firearm, there is a mind trained to apathy. His appearance acts as both weapon of intimidation and defense against the smoldering spark of honor and justice that Lamal once believed in. Regardless of how he may have felt before becoming a Prod, he now lives as an engineer of fear. To the Tracted his lack of passion makes the cold brutality of his actions all the more terrible. Officer Tulson  (Prod Gunner) Core: Actions: 3 Move: 3 Wounds: 3 Combat: Shoot: 5 Melee: 5 Strength: 4 Agility: 5 Brain: Intellect: 5 Perceive: 5 Psyche: 5 Medic: 5 Social: Lead: 6 Dealing: 6 Intangible: Recovery: 6 Faith: 6 Equipment: Shock Baton Skills: Intimidating Presence Inti...

Officer Hickley concept art by Geng Gendall Officer Hickley is the product of a system that treats humans as a commodity. Raised by the state, he pummeled his way to the top of the food chain in several orphanages. When he came of age, he contracted with a security firm as a guard so he could dole out any punishment that satisfied his whims. Officer Hickley is a callous, sadistic worm, beholden to no law of God or man. He enforces rules only for the pleasure of sizzling flesh with his shock baton and crushing the weak labor dogs under his jack boots. His zealous pursuit of bullying his charges has kept him a lowly grunt, but he is quietly prized by the Overseers as a deterrent to work stoppage and break attempts. Officer Hickley (Prod Goon) Core: Actions: 3 Move:  3 Wounds: 3 Combat: Shoot: 5 Melee: 5 Strength: 5 Agility: 5 Brain: Intellect: 5 Perceive: 5 Psyche: 5 Medic: 5 Social: Lead: 6 Dealing: 6 Intangible: Recovery: 5 Faith: 6 Equipment: Shock Baton, Gas Mask, R...

Talla Kellerman, Progen Technician by Sam Alcarez. Talla Kellerman  The Kellermans were part of the first wave of laborers to work these mines. They strictly followed contract law and re-negotiated their contracts to allow them to bear a child. Their new contract granted their wish in exchange for them working additional hours and agreeing to contract their child to work. By age 6, Talla, was running tools for the adult technicians. By age 8 she was being put to use climbing through machines into areas where adults couldn't reach in order to perform repairs. This practice could save hours of dis/re-assembly time. As an expert technician born of Progen colonists Kellerman earned access to tiny freedoms and luxuries not afforded to Drop laborers. However, Talla, has no love for the Prods. She has watched her parents and friends get literally worked to death and witnessed countless abuses from her masters. Steely and precise on the outside like the machines that shaped her, T...

Officer Anlika art by Geng Gendall. Officer Naria Anlika has worked in the FerrumSky mines for several years. Naria is attractive, charismatic and knows when to feign empathy and when to draw her shock baton. The Miners like her better for attempting reason first. Her knack for soothing tensions has diffused more than a few laborer outbursts. However, Officer Anlika values her job and status, and will not abide work stoppage. If words cannot quickly resolve an issue, she will jolt the offenders into submission and send them to the box with no regrets. Officer Anlika  (Officer) Core: Actions: 3 Move: 3 Wounds: 3 Combat: Shoot: 5 Melee: 5 Strength: 5 Agility: 5 Brain: Intellect: 5 Perceive: 5 Psyche: 5 Medic: 5 Social: Lead: 6 Dealing: 5 Intangible: Recovery: 6 Faith: 6 Equipment: Shock Baton Skills: Charmer Charmer – Re-roll failed Dealing rolls. Officer Anlika text edited by Lisa Quintero & Robert Ferrick.

Marius Bickler concept art by Geng Gendall. Bickler was once a Prod himself, watching over the Tracted in the agri-domes. He ignored his officer training and befriended some of the workers. Over time he started to recognize the dehumanizing manner in which they were treated and that he was responsible for it as well. One day, one of the workers he joked with fell from exhaustion and another Prod beat them to force them back up. Marius intervened. A fight ensued and he seriously injured the other Prod. He was cited with everything from damaging company property to inciting a riot. AgriCorp sold his contract to FerrumSky where he has been working hard and keeping mostly to himself. The other miner's perception of Bickler ranges from open distrust to silent admiration. Bickler carries his past transgressions against workin' folk with deep regret, and like the others on Kollis' crew, he yearns to be free. Bickler (Former Prod) Core: Actions: 3 Move:  3 Wounds: 3 Combat...

Broken Contract is a science fiction miniature strategy game filled with action and adventure. It is set in a dystopian future where humanity has begun colonizing the stars. Most folks live in indentured servitude to draconian mega-corporations. Though most accept their lot in life, there are those who yearn to be free of their masters. They break free from their mining colonies, agri-domes, and factory cities in the hope of starting a new life on the frontiers of backwater planets like Hathor. These once contracted laborers are called Breakers for short. Not surprisingly, these corporations hire overseers from shadowy security firms like Black Squadron Security, and keep them on site to prevent work stoppage and labor revolt. Two or more players take on the roles of Breakers and the Black Squadron trying to either make their great escape or stop it from happening. Ferrumsky Mine. Art by Filip Dudek, Game play in Broken Contract combines elements of traditional board gam...

Since we have a reasonable idea of what the Security Officers are going to look like, and Sam Alcarez was busy moving this weekend, I asked Geng Gendall if he would do something special for me. One of the Broken Contract play testers is a good friend of mine named Chuck. He gets a charge out of playing as the Security Officers during play testing so I asked him via text, "Hypothetically, if you, Chuck Hickey were a fascist security officer, would you carry a baton, shock baton, arc pistol, or repeater rifle? Would you be in charge or a grunt? Strictly hypothetical." He responded: "I like things up close, and hate responsibility, so I'd be a grunt with a shock baton. :)" This is Chuck standing hard at a grocery co-op, because as we know, co-ops are the hardest. I wanted to see Chuck in Security Officer attire so I sent a brief to artist Geng Gendall who enthusiastically accepted the request. It went something like this: "He'd like to be a lo...

Art by Geng Gendall I just added some links to the right hand side of the screen for Broken Contract on a couple of social media sites. There are now: Broken Contract Twitter Broken Contract Facebook And I'm sure some more to come. The above image was sent via Facebook to me by Geng Gendall, an illustrator who felt that the Security Officers should have more of a hard hat type design, and a light. Rather than simply describe it, he sent it in concept form, even adhering to the uniform that Sam developed. We're still sticking with the "western" hat but it was cool none-the-less, and I really appreciate him taking the time. If you'd like to contribute concept art like Geng did, please go ahead and send it. I can't guarantee it will be used for anything, but it will always be appreciated and noted! And you never know... Maybe you'll define something new? In the meantime, please go follow Broken Contract on Facebook and/or Twitter. Thanks! -Nick

We're still working to define the look of the Security Officers in Broken Contract. Sam has come up with a variety of looks and we're trying to nail down the one that both defines them and makes them interesting for others to eventually paint figures of and play in the game. I happened to notice that Sam has been using consistent posing while we've worked on the look, so I came up with the idea of making paper dolls of his art so that I could combine elements and find what works together. Standing in FedEx Office I printed out his art and then broke out the scissors and got cutting.and pasting. This was a new piece of art Sam provided to me after the last blog post. The goal was to define a much more fascist looking Security Officer. He looks like a loyal boot boy for sure with his high boots, high collar, fitted uniform, and clean cut hair. I was concerned he didn't look rugged enough though, with the horrible working conditions and disparity. Also, the diagonal s...