Martial Metals was a company that produced miniature figures in the 1970s and 1980s for science-fiction tabletop games.
Martial Metals was a company that produced miniature figures in the 1970s and 1980s for science-fiction tabletop games.
Martian Metals was founded in 1976 by Forest Brown to provide metal miniatures to the burgeoning fantasy role-playing game industry. [1] Miniatures produced by the company had a distinctive six-sided base designed to fit the standard hex grid map used in many miniatures games. [2] The company became the licensed supplier of mkiniatures for games such as Ogre / G.E.V. , [3] Traveller , [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] and RuneQuest . [9] Martian Metals rapidly became one of the premier miniatures companies in the RPG industry, winning several awards.
A major fire in the mid-1980s destroyed everything in the company shop, [10] forcing Martian Metals out of business. As Matt Irsik recalled, "this was one of the up and coming companies in sci-fi wargaming. At the time they were just getting going." [10] Brown would later start up another miniatures company, Deimos Design Studio, that was active until his death in 2010. [1]
Miniatures for the Steve Jackson Games board games Ogre and G.E.V. . In Issue 29 of The Space Gamer , Nevin J. Templin commented that "My sample [of Ogre] needed a minute with a file prior to assembly. The G.E.V. is sharp and crisp, and requires a bit of assembly. The Heavy Tank is an impressive vehicle, nicely cast. The only other vehicle available is the Missile Tank, another sharply detailed casting." [11]
A 1982 line of 25mm bubble-packed sets of denizens of Glorantha for the fantasy role-playing game RuneQuest . In Issue 57 of The Space Gamer , John Rankin commented that "Overall, the Runequest line is a very imaginative and well done offering. Considering how long Runequest players have waited for these figures, the line should enjoy considerable success." [12]
Martian Metals produced many licensed lines for the Traveller .
Twelve 15mm miniatures. William A. Barton commented that "The figures are nicely detailed, as usual with MM figures, and relatively free of flaws or flash." [13]
A 15mm figure of a quadruped beast and rider. William A. Barton commented that "Overall, Beast of Burden will probably prove of more use in your Traveller miniature animal encounters than those figures in the earlier Aliens pack. I'd recommend adding at least one or two to your collection." [14]
A pack of twelve 15mm miniatures. William A. Barton commented that "If you're a completest, you may even wish to pick up a set (no more than one) each of Citizens and Patrons." [15]
A pack of twelve 15mm miniatures. William A. Barton commented that "The figures are nicely detailed, as usual with MM figures, and relatively free of flaws or flash." [16]
A pack of twelve 15mm miniatures for Travellerfeaturing figures in various poses with a variety of small arms, plus a miniature of the map box featured on the cover of the Striker miniature rules. William A. Barton commented that "Overall, the 15mm miniature enthusiast will probably find [this set] of use, as will Traveller players and refs who use the miniatures in their role-playing campaigns." [17]
A pack of three 15mm miniatures. William A. Barton commented that "The figures are nicely detailed, as usual with MM figures, and relatively free of flaws or flash." [18]
A pack of three 15mm miniatures for Traveller. The set features K'kree warriors wearing cloth armor and carrying centaur-sized weapons. [19] William A. Barton commented that "For those who have an interest in them, these K'kree figures will be well received." [19]
A pack of twelve 15mm miniatures for Traveller. William A. Barton commented that "If you're into 15mm miniature use in your Traveller scenarios, you'll probably want to pick up a set or two of Mercenaries." [20]
A line of 15mm miniatures first released in 1980, most of which contained twelve figures per set. Forrest Johnson commented that "All in all, a B plus effort. Recommended to Traveller fans and SF miniatures gamers in general." [21]
A pack of twelve 15mm miniatures. William A. Barton commented that "If you're a completest, you may even wish to pick up a set (no more than one) each of Citizens and Patrons." [15]
A pack of twelve 15mm miniatures of Sworld Worlders, lower tech level troops with smaller weapons clad in uniforms with beret-type caps. William A. Barton commented that "Overall, the 15mm miniature enthusiast will probably find [this set] of use, as will Traveller players and refs who use the miniatures in their role-playing campaigns." [22]
A pack of 15mm miniatures for Traveller. William A. Barton commented that "If you're collecting the MM Traveller miniatures, add a set of Zhodani to your collection [...] But I certainly could have hoped for more than this. And I certainly will expect more from future sets, hopefully with Aslan and other Traveller aliens. You should, too." [23]
A pack of twelve 15mm miniatures featuring figures clad in the distinctive Zhodani battledress. William A. Barton commented that "Overall, the 15mm miniature enthusiast will probably find [this set] of use, as will Traveller players and refs who use the miniatures in their role-playing campaigns." [24]
Martian Metals won two industry awards for their miniatures:
Martian Metals received many positive reviews in industry publications. [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] Various reviews in the pages of Dragon used phrases like "quite distinctive", [2] "a good range of armored and unarmored figures [...] Technical rating of 9/10", [27] "Fantasy 15s series is excellent", [28] and "incomparable 15mm Fantasy Line". [29]
In a retrospective review written in 2011, Matt Irsik recalled that the company "had an extensive range of true 15mm figures for Traveller, plus they were heaven sent for sci-fi gamers of other systems as well. Crude by today's standards, at the time they were believed to be cutting edge." [10]
OGRE is a science fiction board wargame designed by the American game designer Steve Jackson and published by Metagaming Concepts in 1977 as the first microgame in its MicroGame line. When Steve Jackson left Metagaming to form his own company, he took the rights to OGRE with him, and all subsequent editions have been produced by Steve Jackson Games (SJG).
Grenadier Models Inc. of Springfield, Pennsylvania produced lead miniature figures for wargames and role-playing games with fantasy, science fiction and heroic themes between 1975 and 1996. Grenadier Models Inc. is best known for their figures for TSR, Inc.'s Advanced Dungeons & Dragons game, collectible Dragon-of-the-Month and Giants Club figures, and their marketing of paint and miniature sets through traditional retail outlets.
Striker is a science fiction miniatures wargame, designed by Frank Chadwick, and illustrated by William H. Keith. It was published by Game Designers' Workshop in 1981 as a boxed expansion to the Traveller role-playing game. Although Striker is a 15mm miniatures ruleset, GDW consider it their eighth Traveller boardgame. It was republished in 2004 as part of Far Future Enterprises Traveller: The Classic Games, Games 1-6+.
Star Patrol is a role-playing game published by Gamescience in 1977.
Gunship 2000 is a set of rules published by Stan Johansen Miniatures in 1978 for wargaming using science fiction miniatures.
Dragonslayers is a line of miniatures published in 1980 by Martian Metals.
The Iron Wind is a 1980 fantasy role-playing game supplement published by Iron Crown Enterprises.
Cardboard Heroes is a line of miniatures published in 1980 by Steve Jackson Games. An extension, Cardboard Heroes Champions Set 3: Enemies, was published in 1984.
Superheros and Supervillains is a set of miniatures published by Heritage Models.
Beyond is a 1981 tabletop role-playing game supplement for Traveller, written by Donald P. Rapp, and published by Paranoia Press.
Famous Monsters is a set of miniatures published by Heritage Models.
Spacefarers is a 1981 board game published by Games Workshop.
Invasion: Earth The Final Battle of the Solomani Rim War is a 1981 board wargame published by Game Designers' Workshop (GDW). Invasion: Earth is the sixth Traveller boardgame published by GDW, and the first to be released in a bookshelf box. It was republished in 2004 as part of Far Future Enterprises Traveller: The Classic Games, Games 1-6+.
Traveller 15mm Miniatures is a line of miniatures produced by Citadel Miniatures for Traveller.
Maranantha-Alkahest Sector is a 1982 role-playing game supplement published by Judges Guild for Traveller.
Adventure Class Ships, Vol. I is a tabletop role-playing game supplement, written by Jordan Weisman, with a cover by William H. Keith, for Traveller, and published by FASA in 1981.
Space Opera Miniatures is a set of miniatures published by Fantasy Games Unlimited for Space Opera.
Fantasy Lords is a line of miniatures published by Grenadier subsidiary Pinnacle Products.
Crimson Dragon Miniatures is a generic line of miniatures published by TAG Industries of Castalia, Ohio.