News from Hysterical Games

Apologies for the radio silence but we needed to concentrate on things behind the scenes to do what was needed to sort out Hysterical Games urgent debts and see what we could do to rescue the Kickstarters.

The former we have mostly done by selling off our mould making equipment etc which unfortunately meant we had to lay off the two members of staff employed by Hysterical (fortunately they have both found new jobs).

This, however, does not leave us with any money that is needed to finish the Kickstarters.

Now, as we are sure most of you realise, Kickstarter is an investment platform and there are no guarantees that projects will be completed (indeed of the many we have personally backed, a few still remain unfulfilled and we suspect never will be).

However, both of us wanted to see if there was anyway we could try and ensure your investments were realised as much as possible and see the Kickstarters completed.

We have looked at various options, including selling the miniatures lines to a third party, but as it will cost several thousand pounds still to complete the Kickstarters, whilst there was interest in taking the miniatures line, there was, unsurprisingly, little in completing the Kickstarters for backers.

So we have decided to transfer the IP back to Wessex Games (Steve's original company which brought out Panzerfäuste in 1998) along with the miniatures line and through sales generated from them, Wessex Games will then attempt to fulfil the Kickstarters to the best of their ability.

Unfortunately there is no magic money tree and Steve doesn’t have a pile of cash sat around to do this quickly so it will take some time, dependent on how quickly he can can raise funds at shows and through mail order. However his intention is to do his best to finish the Kickstarters off as quickly as he can and as well as possible.

At present everything related to the miniatures side is in a storage locker in Bristol and Steve hopes over the festive period to sit down and go through the various boxes of mixed up stuff to sort out what we have and draw up a plan to get everything done as soon as possible.

Wessex Games is a part-time, one man company, and he does have a full-time day job that pays the household bills, so please bear with him as he works through this, there will be periods of radio silence and he will not be able to respond to emails, PM's etc very quickly (if at all).

Hopefully you see this as positive news and hopefully 2019 will be a positive year for both Panzerfäuste and Spitfyre.

Wishing you all a great Christmas and New Year…

Hysterical Games

News from Hysterical Games

Unfortunately we have some bad news.

Over the last few weeks it has become clear that Hysterical Games is facing a major cash flow problem and that we are now only left with the option of winding the company up. Exactly how we will do this has yet to be decided.

To say we are gutted is an understatement, the sudden nature of how this has swept up on us is still very hard to believe.

We are looking at various options at the moment and we are looking at ways for our games to continue. We believe the games and background are good enough to survive and going forward can flourish, the problems that have arisen are largely from other parts of the business.

We appreciate you will have lots of questions but trust you will appreciate that we will probably not have any answers for them at the moment and need to concentrate our efforts on seeing what can be done to salvage the game and sort out other problems, so please bear with us and excuse any immediate radio silence.

The webstore is closed and we cannot take any new orders at the moment.

Hopefully this is just a (rather large) bump in the road and that soon it will be behind us and we will be driving ever forward.

Hysterical Games

Spitfyre: Eagles over Branz-Hûm Rules

Spitfyre: Eagles over Branz-Hûm, Welcome to The Land and the world of Spitfyre, our exciting game of aerial warfare in a fantasy world. Enter a world where Dwarves and Orcs fly giant creatures and arm them with bombs and machine guns to continue their millennia long struggles... Come fight in the skies of Spitfyre and see if you can reign supreme over The Land!

Spitfyre is a fun 'Historo-Fantasy' miniature aerial wargame in which 10mm scale miniatures are used to depict the everyday struggles of standard fantasy races such as Orcs and Dwarves fight out battles with 20th century weaponry.

Spitfyre: Eagles over Branz-Hûm Downloads

Sources

Wargame Vault
Hysterical Games

Just One Hour Left from Hysterical Games

Just one hour left to get on board and grab yourself a seriously good bargain.

Kickstarter
Hysterical Games

Just 24 Hours Left from Hysterical Games

Just 24 hours left - back it or be left saying dammit!

Kickstarter
Hysterical Games

The KampfKondor 52 Funded from Hysterical Games

The KampfKondor 52 has been funded and all ACE pledgers will get one of the largest model in the range FREE in their reward!

Next, something for the Troglodyte Air Force!

Kickstarter
Hysterical Games

48 Hours To Go, Hysterical Games

48 hours to go! £25 pledge gets you almost £60 in product!

Kickstarter
Hysterical Games

Support the War Effort! Pledge Now from Hysterical Games

Support the War Effort! Pledge now

Kickstarter
Hysterical Games

Spitfyre: Gnome Pigeon de Guerre funded!

Well that's the Gnome Pigeon de Guerre caught and one will be sent to all Ace pledgers for free!

Next up something special, the big cousin of the KampfKondor 111 bomber, the KampfKondor 52 with its impressive 15cm wingspan, used by the Dwarves in all theatres of the Great Dwarven War to transport Fallschirmjäger troops into battle, most famously against the Gnome fortress at Edam Emmental...

The model will come complete with a section of Fallschirmjäger mounted on its back ready to deploy into battle against the Kaiser's enemies, providing you successfully escort it through the enemy's fighter defences!

All Ace pledges will receive one massive KampfKondor 52 for free if we reach £10,000 in pledges. The rules will also be extended to include the huge beast and how to land it amongst the enemy!

Kickstarter
Hysterical Games

Spitfyre: Orc Defier Wyvern Funded

Well that was an exciting day! You funded the first Spitfyre supplement Bats over Tôrg Baraz, the KriegAdler 110 Doppelmesser heavy fighters  and P11 War-Bat fighters that come with it and also the Defier Wyvern fighter with its unique rear facing weaponry - and one Defier will now be included for FREE in all ACE pledges!

So what next, well it's back to the Gnomes Aéronautique de Oiseuax Militaire and their frontline, but rather slow and obsolete, Pigeon de Guerre bomber, whose brave crew flew missions in both the Tôrg Baraz and Branzhûm air campaigns as well as in defence of their homeland.

If we can reach £8,000 in pledges we will include one Pigeon de Guerre bomber for FREE in each ACE pledge. Sacre bleu!

Kickstarter
Hysterical Games

Spitfyre: Bats Over Tôrg Baraz Funded!

Well that didn't take you long! It seems you are batty for Bats Over Tôrg Baraz! Thank you for your support. The supplement and its seven miniatures will be included alongside Spitfyre and the eleven miniatures that come with that for all Ace level pledgers!

Ok, so what's next? Well following the Dwarf invasion of Tôrg Baraz a "volunteer" force of Orc Air Force pilots flew to the Troglodyte realm to help fight the invading Dwarves. Alongside the Spitfyres and HurriKanes that headed north were a number of Defier wyverns, a rather unique air-beast with, literally, a sting its tail!

Noting this particular wyverns unique hunting habit of flying ahead of its prey and attacking with its venomous tail, the Orcs came up with the idea of incorporating the breed in the Orc Air Force, supplementing the wyverns natural weapon with a rear gunner firing four machine-guns.

Defier tactics are to fly ahead of enemy bombers and then attack them in their typically unarmed front arc with their own rear facing weaponry. How successful was the Defier in combat? Well you'll have to wait and see...

Every Ace level pledger will receive one Defier wyvern and flying base for free if we reach £7000 in pledges...

Hysterical Games

Spitfyre: New Pledge Level and Supplement Announced

As promised here is details of the first Spitfyre supplement - Bats Over Tôrg Baraz!

The core of the supplement will be a set of campaign rules along with a scenario generator, but we will also look at the air campaign over, and under(!) the mountains of the Troglodyte homeland of Tôrg Baraz.

Like the basic game this will come with seven models - a flight of three KriegAdler 110 Doppelmesser heavy fighters (that have a two man crew allowing forward and rear firing) and a flight of four P11 War-Bat fighters manned by the Troglodytes. (please note the artwork is placement art and will be changed once our concept artists catch up with your enthusiasm!)

After that we have three planned stretch goals for more free models that will ONLY included in the ACE pledge level.

The models from this supplement AND in the Pilot pledge can be used in both the Tôrg Baraz and Branzhûm air campaigns.

As we hadn't planned the first Spitfyre supplement until later next year, we will be unable to ship this until later in the year and are looking at a June fulfilment date.

Kickstarter
Hysterical Games

Spitfyre: Towards New Skies

When we came up with the idea for this year’s beer ’n’ pretzels Panzerfäuste game - an air combat game with dragons and war-eagles, we thought it was pretty cool. Initially the idea was to do something like Futbowel, a small set of rules with some miniatures - a flight of dragons and a flight of eagles.

We then thought, hey if we use Kickstarter we might be able to expand the range sightly with a few more cool models like the vulture dive bomber. So we drew up a list with four stretch goals that we thought, if we were lucky, we might just get through in a two week period - but as long as we got the vulture hey?

In just two and a half days you guys have blown us away with your enthusiasm and pledges and have funded all the planned stretch goals, thank you all so much.

So what are we going to do for the next eleven and a half days?

Well, we’re going to head off for new skies and unveil the first planned Spitfyre supplement six months early!

This will have to be an add-on (the current Pilot pledge gets over £60 of product for just £25), but the idea is that we will do the same approach again, a £25 set with three free model stretch goal add-ons (including the biggest model yet).

We’ll announce the details later and a new £50 pledge level for both the basic game set and the new supplement (and all stretch goals from both), hopefully giving Will a chance to do some sketches for it!

Once again, many, many thanks, you lot are brilliant…

Kickstarter
Hysterical Games

Spitfyre: Dwarf Kampfkondor 111 Funded!

Another Stretch Goal passed! That was a slightly bigger leap, because it's a slightly bigger freebie!
Here's Will's fantastic concept art, until Darko manages to complete the 3D sculpt!

Dwarf Kampfkondor 111 Funded!

So all Pilot backers are now going to receive a Kampfkondor 111 miniature with their pledge for FREE!

Steve has worked out that you are now getting £60 worth of kit for a mere £25!
So, what's up next? Well, some of you have asked about Gnomes, and here they are!

The Gnome Hawk Fighter will be unlocked if we hit £5000.

Gnome Aéronautique de Oiseuax Militaire Faucon fighter

Kickstarter
Hysterical Games

Spitfyre: Orc HurriKane Fighter Funded!

Second Stretch Goal down! All Pilot backers in the Spitfyre Kickstarter will now get a FREE Orc HurriKane wyvern fighter and the rules expanded to include it!

HurriKane Fighter Funded!

Kickstarter
Hysterical Games

Post-Kickstarter Update XXXVIII: Dwarf Schweinhundereite II

Now if you were worried that all the Hysterical love was going in the way of those little airbeasts don't fret, here are the remaining three Dwarf Schweinhundereite sculpted by Herb...

Post-Kickstarter Update XXXVIII: Dwarf Schweinhundereite II

Kickstarter
Hysterical Games

Spitfyre: Dwarf KampfGeier Dive Bomber Funded!

Funded and first Stretch Goal down! All Pilot backers in the Spitfyre Kickstarter will now get a FREE Dwarf Vulture Dive Bomber and the rules expanded to include dive bombing!

Dwarf KampfGeier Dive Bomber Funded!

Kickstarter
Hysterical Games

Spitfyre: Dwarf Vulture Dive Bomber

The feared dive bomber of the Dwarf air force - the KampfGrier 87 vulture dive bomber.

KampfGrier 87 Vulture Dive Bomber

Kickstarter
Hysterical Games

Spitfyre: Dwarf War-Eagle

The main fighter of the Dwarf air force - the KriegAdler 109 "Messer" war eagle.

KriegAdler 109 "Messer"

Kickstarter
Hysterical Games

Spitfyre: Aerial Combat in the skies of Panzerfäuste

Orc Dragons and Dwarf War-Eagles take the war to the skies in this game of aerial combat set in the world of Panzerfäuste.

Welcome to The Land and the world of Spitfyre, our exciting game of aerial warfare in a fantasy world. Enter a world where Dwarves and Orcs fly giant creatures and arm them with bombs and machine guns to continue their millennia long struggles... Come fight in the skies of Spitfyre and see if you can reign supreme over The Land!

Spitfyre is a fun 'Historo-Fantasy' miniature aerial wargame in which 10mm scale miniatures are used to depict the everyday struggles of standard fantasy races such as Orcs and Dwarves fight out battles with 20th century weaponry.

The Kickstarter has proven much more successful than we anticipated (thanks!) with pledgers funding what we planned for two weeks in a little over two days. Consequently we have added a new pledge level that includes the first planned supplement for Spitfyre!


THE PILOT PLEDGE (FUNDED!)

'Pilot' pledgers receive a discounted copy of the core game and the first FOUR stretch goals added in FREE of charge. The core game includes the rulebook, a flight of three 10mm scale resin Orc Spitfyre wyverns, a flight of four 10mm scale polyurethane resin Dwarf War-Eagles and seven flying bases.

You can try the core rules system here for free...

Pilot pledgers also receive FREE of charge...

1 x polyurethane resin 10mm scale Dwarf KampfGeier 87 vulture dive bomber and flying base and the rules will be extended to include dive bombing.

1 x polyurethane resin 10mm scale Orc HurriKane and flying base added to their pledge for free and the rules will be extended to include the HurriKane and its breath attack.

1 x polyurethane resin 10mm scale Dwarf KampfKondor 111 bomber and flying base added to their pledge for free and the rules will be extended to include full bombing rules.

1 x polyurethane resin 10mm scale Gnome Faucon fighter and flying base added to their pledge for free and the rules will be extended to include the Gnomes.

THE PILOT PLEDGE GETS YOU £60 OF PRODUCT FOR JUST £25! 

THE ACE PLEDGE (FUNDED)

The Ace Pledge includes everything from the Pilot pledge and our next target the first Spitfyre supplement - Bats Over Tôrg Baraz! This supplement will include the expansion book, a flight of three 10mm scale resin Dwarf two-headed War-Eagles, a flight of four 10mm scale polyurethane resin Troglodyte War-Bats and seven flying bases.

 (concept artwork being worked on!)

ACE STRETCH GOAL I: DEFIER WYVERN FIGHTER (TARGET £7000 - FUNDED)

If we reach this Stretch Goal all ACE pledgers will receive one polyurethane resin 10mm scale Orc Defier wyvern fighter and flying base added to their pledge for FREE and the rules will be extended to include the design.

ACE STRETCH GOAL II: GNOME PIGEON BOMBER (TARGET £8000 - FUNDED)

If we reach this Stretch Goal all ACE pledgers will receive one polyurethane resin 10mm scale Gnome pigeon bomber and flying base added to their pledge for FREE and the rules will be extended to include the design.

ACE STRETCH GOAL III: DWARF CONDOR TRANSPORT (TARGET £10000)

If we reach this Stretch Goal all ACE pledgers will receive one polyurethane resin 10mm scale Dwarf Condor transport carrying ten Dwarf Fallschirmjäger and flying base added to their pledge for FREE and the rules will be extended to include the design.

Risks and challenges

There are a few potential setbacks in any project, these could be obvious from the start or at the end or when we ship! However, the obvious ones to us now are:

1. 3D Printing - This is now in house so we do not anticipate any problems here.

2. Manufacture of miniatures - This is also now an in house operation and we have many years experience moulding and casting so do not anticipate any problems here .

3. Rules - the rules are written and being typeset. They will be going to print once the Kickstarter is complete.

4. Popularity - we have restricted our stretch goals to what we feel are manageable, even though our imaginations would run riot if allowed to! If the game is a success we will look to expand the model range etc after the Kickstarter is fulfilled.

5. Shipping - International customers (outside of the EU) may encounter unexpected import taxes and/or delays in customs. You can contact your customs department for more information. We are aiming to use UPS, who have a stellar track record.

Throughout this Kickstarter, we will make sure that you guys are communicated with to the best of our ability, to show exactly where we are and exactly where any delays are coming from and how we are tackling them.

Kickstarter
Hysterical Games