7/21/2008
- I moved SC3600 to OOP
Shelf status. When Brigade
releases an updated version it will
get its own page with a link back here
for historical purposes.
6/30/2007
- A big announcement from Brigade
Models:
We
have acquired the Squadron Commander
3600 rules from the now-defunct
Mariner Games. This deal didn't
include the rights to the designs and
background, but we figured that we had
a decent background to our existing
ranges so it didn't require a great
leap of imagination to port the game
into the Iron Cow / Starmada universe.
This of course requires new models and
what we have here is your first look
at the initial batch.
The
models are 1/300th (6mm) scale so they
have an intended dual purpose as air
support for the Iron Cow range as
well. This makes them quite a decent
size, 40-50mm in length. So far there
are four finished designs that have
been cast, all will be recognizable to
followers of our Starmada fleets with
more on the way.
|
Eagle
class Interceptor (AmRep) |
Raptor
class Assault fighter (AmRep) |
Wusheng
class fighter (CDSU) |
Zhengsheng
class Attack fighter |
The
designs aren't precise scale-ups of
the 'fleet' scale models - in most
cases simply multiplying all of the
dimensions by a fixed constant
produced some very clunky looking
results, so I've had to apply some
artistic license to tweak the
proportions. Some have obviously
changed quite a bit (the Eagle's swept
wings for example) and we'll be
feeding this back into the smaller
scale models by redesigning those to
match. The missile pods on the Raptor
are retractable pods and are cast separately,
the model will come complete with open
and closed versions.
The
painted examples have custom decals by
John Lerchey at Decals Express (http://wargames.rpgshelf.net/)
and we plan to offer those along with
the models.
The
SC3600 rulebook is long since out of
print, we haven't had any copies for
ages, so we'll be printing an all-new
edition with amended rules (but not
much - they're pretty solid as they
are) under the new title of Squadron
Commander:Reheat. This, more than the
models, is what will take us time as
it will be our first self-published
set of rules and we want to get it
right. The current target is a late
autumn release for the new rulebook
along with an initial set of 16
fighter models plus accessories
(decals, underwing stores etc) but I
can't be any more precise than that as
to date just yet.
The
rulebook will be a good quality, A4
softcover with (hopefully) full colour
throughout. We have a friend, Dave
Shillito, beavering away doing some
very nice CGI artwork for the book. No
idea on pricing just yet, I'd hope for
somewhere in the £12-£15 range but
that will probably depend on how many
copies we can initially afford to
print. We haven't attempted to price
the models yet either.
OK,
that's it for now (isn't that enough
!?). More news and more pictures as
and when ...
1/24/2007
- In an updated to the discussion in
the Brigade Models forums
detailed below, Tony of Brigade
now states:
Things
got a bit stalled by our rather
over-busy summers so it's all still
rather 'in the pipeline' with no fixed
end date. The one solid bit of news is
that we have bought the rights to the
rules from Mariner so it's all in our
court now.
2/26/2006
- Just an update on the status of SC3600.
A question was asked about this game
on the Brigade
Models
Forums, the response was that the
designers are still in active military
service and deployed right now.
But Brigade thinks they have
solution and they should have more
information later this year.
7/24/2001
- A July update of SC3600
and FC3600
from Doug Glover:
Pat and I have been trying to cram a
lot of Mariner Games' work into what
little free time both of us have!
Work on Fleet Commander is coming
along, and I had my first chance to
play with the revised rules a few
weeks ago. I like the speed of
the new system since Pat streamlined
the rules (we felt the previous
system, while fun, was way too slow).
Of course the result of our
playtesting was yet MORE rules changes
and new ideas to implement, so we are
still a long way from a finished
product. The good news is, we
are MUCH closer to a product ready for
playtest! We will post a message
on this board when we are ready to
take applicants for playtesting
FC3600, but feel free to indicate your
interest early by dropping us a line
now!
The 2nd Ed. of Squadron Commander 3600
has become a Pandora's Box since we
began the re-write! The good
news is that the Basic and Advanced
rules will actually be separate
sections of the book, along with a
whole slew of new optional rules to
add detail to your battles. The
BAD news is that with any re-write
there is temptation to make MAJOR
changes! Pat, Mike and I are
wrangling with some of those issues
now, and trying to determine the
impact that they will have on the
present version of SC3600. Our
goal is to have a game that is
compatible with FC3600, without
changing the basic "feel" of
SC3600. Some of the possible
modifications are listed below:
1.
Movement on a 3-4 phase system instead
of pilot-skill based.
2.
Improved detail in Sensor rules.
(power vs. range, etc.)
3.
Simplified damage system.
4.
Tweaked Strengths and Weaknesses.
(consequences for BOTH Tactical and
Campaign games)
5.
Acceleration-based movement system
without maximum speeds.
Let
us know what areas you think could use
some improvement, we are always
looking for feedback!
6/17/2001
- More info on the Squadron
Commander 3600
V2.0:
"A
change in publishing programs and an
upgrade in our printer's capability
has caused us to have to re-vamp
almost every component of the game,
but the good news it.... I think you
will be pleased with the increase in
quality of the Second Edition!"
Other
changes for the second edition
include:
1)
More fighters for the game
2)
Expanded background for Pirate Cartels
3)
New scenarios introducing the Pirate
Cartels
4)
Asteriods, Planets and other terrain
for SC3600
5)
More Concept art... and more art...
and yet MORE art!
4/24/2001
- More news from Mariner
Games:
Yes,
we are still alive here at Mariner
Games!
The
Fleet Commander 3600
rules have been completed and are
undergoing our in-house playtesting.
Check back next month for some updates
and information on the game system.
Balkans
Air War
is slowly progressing, but most of the
Mariner
Games
effort is going towards FC3600.
Also
they have created Mariner
Games Yahoo Group
to help keep their fans updated, and
mentioned in the welcome message is a
real big hint that a 2nd edition of Squadron
Commander 3600
is on the way and to send them your
thoughts on changes and possible
improvements.
7/12/2000
- News from Mariner
Games:
Mariner
Games
is pleased to announce that Fleet
Commander 3600
(FC3600)
is well on its way to being ready for
play testing. FC3600
is a fleet-level simulation in the Squadron
Commander 3600
(SC3600)
universe. But more than just
another gaming universe with a
quick-playing rules-set FC3600
is as customizable as SC3600,
allowing players to adapt the rules to
the sci-fi universe of their choice.
Patrick Doyle, chief designer of SC3600
is heading up the design of FC3600.
Additionally,
Mariner
Games
continues to add optional rules to Squadron
Commander 3600.
Newly revised rules for starship
turrets have been posted online in the
SC3600
section
of Mariner
Games'
website:
http://www.marinergames.com/sc3600
Mariner
Games
is now also able to offer accept
credit card sales directly from their
website due to a partnership with
CCNOW (www.ccnow.com). This
partnership allows you to pay for your
order from Mariner
Games
with your Visa, MasterCard, Discover
Card or American Express, without
having to work your way through
unwieldy screens and set up user
accounts at another website.
4/15/2000
- Rules updates from Mariner
Games:
Yes,
we have finally posted some more rules
updates
on our website. The Morale
rules
have been finished and posted, along
with the first installment of rules
for integrating starships into SC3600.
Rules for starship
turrets
are online, with the Armor and
Structure rules soon to follow.
Drop by and check out the updates,
play them, and give us feedback!
3/14/2000
- Mariner Games
now accepts credit cards!
Click
on our "View open zShop
listings" to display what
products are available and in stock.
At present, only the Squadron
Commander 3600 rules-set is available,
but SC3600 countersheets and maps will
soon be available.
Also
new info on the starship rules from
their Forum:
Okay,
okay, so I promised you the Morale
Rules in March! Well, they are
still a ways from being done! As
usual, I have let my fun day job get
in the way of this business. I have
reduced the number of weekend
cross-country flights I take just so I
can devote some more time to SC3600
and the other projects in the works.
(I hope you're satisfied...) Work on
the modern airpower game has come to a
halt until the first of April due to
the positive feedback asking for
starship rules for SC3600. The first
step in the integration of ships to
SC3600 is underway with rules for ship
structure, armor and weapons.
This will at least allow you to have
some new targets for your Assault
fighters! Soon afterward, we
should be releasing rules for
launching and recovering fighters,
along with Electronic Warfare for
starships. Thanks for the
support over the last few months, the
e-mail is appreciated!
2/16/2000
- The latest news from the Forum on Mariner's
Website:
As
usual, I had less free time on
deployment than I thought I would!
In other words, some of our Mariner
Games projects have slid a month or
two. The good news is that Pat
was busy working while I was flying in
Yuma. Pat did a lot more work on
the starship rules for Squadron
Commander 3600, before dropping the
semi-finished product in my e-mail the
other day! The project is a lot
farther along than I had expected
(that's what happens when you are out
of contact for a month!) and I think
you'll be pleased with the rules.
Unfortunately
the new rule system does not mesh in
with Squadron Commander 3600, but
rather it is spaceship combat inm the
SC3600 universe. Pat and I have
gone back to the drawing board to
integrate starships into SC3600 on a
small scale, while still working on
his new rules for large fleet-level
combat. More updates will
follow, as soon as I can clear the
huge pile of work off of my desk here!
From
