The following is an article by John Wombat, author of Shadows of Centralis.
“The Old Ones were, the Old Ones are, and the Old Ones shall be. Not in the spaces we know, but between them. They walk serene and primal, undimensioned and to us unseen.”
HP Lovecraft
Shadows of Centralis is a dynamic 28mm (1:64) scale tabletop wargame which fuses elements of fantasy, science fiction, and horror, designed for use with any range of miniatures.
With a unique slant on fantasy and science fiction tropes, and providing richly detailed background stories, Shadows of Centralis is an immersive strategy wargame which offers players the opportunity to field a range of different armies. From the nightmarish Undead, resurrected from peaceful slumber by foul necromancy, to the pious Konstrato Empire; from the barbarous Yalif hordes to the technologically advanced Lords. In total, there are fifteen different armies to choose from.
In a similar vein to Warlord Games’ Warlords of Erehwon, one of the refreshing aspects of playing a game of Shadows of Centralis is the involvement of miniatures from any model manufacturer, old or new. Free from the persecution of the ‘model police’, there is no right or wrong way in which a player chooses his models when constructing his Shadows of Centralis army.
Warlord Miniatures in Shadows of Centralis
As Shadows of Centralis fuses aspects of fantasy, science fiction and horror, model manufacturers who cater for such genres are ideal for those players looking to either buy figures to use ‘as is’ or convert. Given their extensive range of 28mm models, available in plastic, metal, and resin, Warlord Games are one of the companies players might look to when building their Shadows of Centralis armies.
Such is the size of their ever-growing catalogue, and in order to give the depth of detail deserved, given the quality of their models, it is not possible to list all Warlord Games considerations in one article, so there will be future features on the company, too. What this article does, though, is broadly set out how many of Warlord Games’ miniatures can be used in games of Shadows of Centralis.
Warlords of Erehwon and Beyond the Gates of Antares
With Warlords of Erehwon and Beyond the Gates of Antares, Warlord Games offer Shadows of Centralis players some great options for models with both fantasy and science fiction aesthetics.
Available in a boxed set, as well as individual sprues, the Warlords of Erehwon Orc Warband allows for some interesting conversion options for players of Orcs, Goblins, Damned or Fiends. Meanwhile, the Warlords of Erehwon Skeleton Warriors, also available as a boxed set or as individual sprues, are perfect for Undead players.
Perhaps more with the idea of using ‘as is’ in mind, though the models do lend themselves to converting, the Warlords of Erehwon Samurai boxed sets provide Shadows of Centralis Samurai players with a superb range of miniatures to choose from.
Warlord Games’ Beyond the Gates of Antares boxed sets offer more of a science fiction slant to Shadows of Centralis players. Algoryn, Concord, Freeborn, and Isorian models provide a number of options for players of the Lords. With their mutated and grotesque forms, and suitably vengeful countenances, Freeborn Misgenic Rejects are great for Damned players, while the impressive Xilos Gulper model makes a perfect Damned Gigantic Hallucigenia. Given their size and often crazed appearance, with a little converting (perhaps sculpting some pointy ears) and creative thinking, Ghar models can be used within armies of Goblins.
Historical Ranges
On the surface, it may seem that historical figures need be discounted for consideration when constructing an army for Shadows of Centralis, however this is far from the case. All of the periods covered by Warlord Games offer miniatures which can be fielded in games of Shadows of Centralis.
Hail Caesar
Warlord Games’ Hail Caesar range is a veritable treasure-trove for players of Shadows of Centralis, especially for those fielding armies of the Damned, Servants of Extinction, and Yalif.
Achaean Slingers are perfect for using as Damned Slingers, while the many different plastic sprues from the Hail Caesar range provide an ideal basis for conversions.
Dynamically posed and suitably armed, the many Viking models of Warlord Games’ Hail Caesar range make for ideal Servants of Extinction units.
With a little conversion work, such as weapon swaps, players fielding Yalif armies will find interesting Warlord Games’ Early Imperial Roman Camel Riders and El Cid: Ben Yusef’s Black Guard models.
Meanwhile, swapping out the crew, the highly impressive Successor War Elephant model (comprising of both metal and resin components) makes a great War Elephant unit for armies of Yalif, as well as armies of Dwarfs. Other figures which may appeal to Yalif players include Ancient Britons: Mastiff Packmaster and Ancient Celts: Warhound Pack.
Pike and Shotte
Using models and kits ‘as is’ or as part of conversion projects, Warlord Games’ extensive Pike and Shotte range is especially worth exploring for those fielding Konstrato Empire armies in their games of Shadows of Centralis.
Black Powder
Much like their Pike and Shotte range, Warlord Games’ Black Powder collection offers players of the Konstrato Empire a number of go-to sets. Notable mentions go to the number of impressive cannon models available, as well as the many Black Powder sprues which provide countless conversion options for both Foot Troops units and Mounted Troops units.
It is not just players of the Konstrato Empire that can find interesting models within Warlord Games’ Black Powder selection; Iroquois Ritualists models are perfect for players of Fiends, making ideal figures for units of Order of the Fiend Cultists.
Bolt Action and Konflikt ‘47
Like many of Warlord Games’ historical miniatures, there are several Bolt Action sets which lend themselves to conversion projects for a number of Shadows of Centralis armies. Meanwhile, with their futuristic weapons, Warlord Games’ Konflikt ’47 models are superb considerations for players of the Lords, with the Waffen-SS Shocktrooper Squad and German Specialist Medic models just two examples.
Thoughts from the Warlord Himself
A few years ago I wrote an extensive, multi-part blog feature on Warlord Games’ owner John Stallard and his company. During the writing of the feature, I found in John a man who is not only highly knowledgeable and enthusiastic in his love of wargaming, but also a genuinely nice guy to boot. Throughout my writing of Shadows of Centralis, John has been a wonderfully supportive. Speaking a little about Shadows of Centralis and using Warlord Games’ miniatures to play the game, John Stallard commented;
“The Shadows of Centralis book caught me out a little to begin with, being A5-sized and something of a whopper, so the format threw me a little, but I really like it. It would have been easy for John to do what everyone else does, the typical A4-size book with standard layout, but I really like what he’s done. I really like a lot of the illustrations, too, including some of the stick-style ones, which are fun. I’m very happy to have Warlord Games’ models used with Shadows of Centralis. It’s a very broad church, wargaming, a very broad church. I’ve always encouraged Warlord to support other company’s models, it’s nice to see the odd model from a different manufacturer side-by-side with Warlord’s figures. I love the idea (with Shadows of Centralis) of mixing fantasy models with science fiction with historical wargaming miniatures.”
Shadows of Centralis
Designed to be flexible and to encourage greater inclusivity, Shadows of Centralis can be played with as few as 20 – 30 models per side, through to players taking part in largescale battles with hundreds of models involved. With innovative gaming features and numerous races to choose from, Shadows of Centralis offers both experienced wargamers and newcomers to the hobby exciting and challenging tabletop conflicts.
Complete with several different scenarios, full rules, and fifteen comprehensive army lists, this 400-page A5 book contains all the information needed to play a game of Shadows of Centralis. So, choose your god, gather your troops, grab your dice and tape measure, and enter into the strange, dark world of the Orb.
Book contents:
• Foreword by Rick Priestley
• Introduction to Shadows of Centralis
• Details of Centralis Portas and the gods
• Map and history of the Orb
• Full rules
• 6 different scenarios
• 15 army lists; Damned, Dwarfs, Elves, Fiends, Followers of the Eye, Goblins, Hag Elves, Konstrato Empire, Lords, Orcs, Order of Ophelia, Samurai, Servants of Extinction, Undead, Yalif
Find out more and order your copy from www.shadowsofcentralis.com
