This next year is set to be a VERY exciting year for players of the Oak & Iron game! There are new ships on the horizon and several changes happening at Firelock Games that bode well for the game. Let’s talk about the details of why 2023 is going to rock for Oak & Iron and what it means for the game in practical terms.
The Path to Progress!
Oak & Iron has had a wild ride since its release. Its Kickstarter opened on November 7th, 2018, and was an overwhelming success raising $199,592–well over the pledge goal of $45,000. Little would Firelock Games know what was in store for them. Production was completed on January 9, 2020, just before the world was turned upside down. Despite the setbacks, Oak & Iron shipped worldwide fulfilling all orders by June 15th of 2020. Since that time, Chinese manufacturers have failed to be able to keep up production, a global shipping crisis ensued and things looked grim.
Oak & Iron Changes to SiOCAST Miniatures
Rather than being stuck at the mercy of others, Firelock Games has chosen to take matters into their own hands. They have made the decision to move away from foreign manufacturers to produce more of their products in-house. Firelock has purchased new SiOCAST machinery and is in the process of retooling its manufacturing methods.
Benefits of Using SiOCAST Technology
Game companies around the world are making the switch to a new SiOCAST type of plastic. This new material is an injection molding thermoplastic used by specialized hardware at price point viable for small and medium-sized companies. This new material and manufacturing process offers some serious advantages over metal, resin, and PVC. Some of the benefits include:
- It costs 40% less than Resin and 85% less than pewter.
- The new thermoplastic resin hardens with the perfect blend of stiffness and flexibility. The material bends without snapping.
- Supremely accurate detail and quality
- The molds last up to 20x longer than Resin RTV Silicon molds. This reduces the time and cost of retooling and having to create new molds as often.
- Production times are 10x faster than the pour and cure time for Resin models,
Goobertown Hobbies explains why SiOCAST Plastic is Replacing Resin, Metal, and PVC Minis
Goobertown Hobbies takes a tour of of the SiOCAST company and goes into great depth on the manufacturing process and how it’s revolutionizing the miniature wargaming industry. If you’ve not watched it, I HIGHLY recommend it.
Firelock Games Staff Testing Out The New SiOCAST Machines
At long last the new machinery has reached Miami! Mike Tuñez, cofounder and lead designer, shared some behind the scenes sneak peek photos with TimberAndSail.
Detail and Quality Side-by-Side
Photo Comparison of Oak & Iron Minis
Firelock Games has generously shared some photos of their early castings of the redesigned 3rd Rate Ship. On the left are pictures I took of the current 3rd Rate Ship as it exists in the Ships of the Line Expansion Boxed Set. On the right are photos of new minis in their initial casting. You can click any image to see an enlarged version
1st Release 3rd Rate Ship
SiOCAST Prototype 3rd Rate Ship
Coming to Oak & Iron – Single Ship Packages!
One of the other benefits of being able to produce the ships in-house is the ability to produce ships in smaller quantities rather than in bulk containers overseas. Single package ships will allow you to pick and choose what you need to customize your fleets as you see fit. Full box sets with multi-packs will still be available, and likely be slightly cheaper than individual ships. There has been no official announcement on whether single packages will be available through the standard retailer market or if they will remain online exclusives to firelockgames.com.
What New Ships are Coming Soon to Oak & Iron in 2023?
Firelock Games has a number of new ship designs queued up and ready for release. The models for the minis are ready and plans for production are ramping up for 2023. From a few interviews and poking and prodding, the following ships are ready for production as expansion sets in Oak & Iron:
The English 3rd-Rate Ship
Pictured earlier, this ship is the backbone of the English Royal Navy. These ships mounted between 64 and 80 guns on two primary gun decks, with additional cannons on the poop deck. The new sculpt of the mini features a distinctive English-style lion on the bowsprit.
A Full Sized Galleon
This ship is nearly the size of a 1st Rate Ship but it is a merchant vessel rather than a Man O’ War. As such it will have fewer guns and not be a Ship of the Line. This means the ship will be available to the Pirates faction, which is typically not able to take Ships of the Line.
Historically, these vessels were primarily used as armed cargo carriers. However, they were often pressed into military service during wartime throughout the 16th-18th Centuries. Galleons often featured a prominent beak or beakhead-style bow that allowed for a bowsprit sail. The foremast and mainmast were both noticeably taller than the rear mast(s). Average-sized galleons had a 3rd lateen-rigged mizzenmasts. In larger galleons, a fourth lateen-rigged mizzen called the Bonaventure mizzen was added for additional maneuverability and speed.
Urca
An Urca is essentially an oversized Fluyt, occasionally in historical docs referred to as a “hulk”. They were wide, merchant cargo vessels with some elements of the Carracks of old, with Dutch design improvements. Scaled to be roughly the size of a 3rd Rate Ship of the Line. As a merchant vessel rather than a naval warship, they will not be classified as a Ship of the Line. Again adding another heavier ship to the list of options for the Pirates nation.
Merchantman
The term “merchantman” was a bit generic and could apply to a wide range of ships. It typically referred to a privately owned vessel rather than a nationally owned naval ship. They were small to mid-range cargo haulers armed with guns for self-defense to deter pirates and raiders. For Oak & Iron, this vessel is slated to be similar in size and performance to the 6th Rate Frigate. Look for it to have a lower point cost with fewer guns.
5th Rate Galley Frigate
A Galley ship is one that has a series of oars down its sides. Galley ships were popular for warfare and trade from as early as the 4th Century and continued to exist throughout the 17th Century. They were popular in naval warfare in the Mediterranean. As warfare progressed towards cannon duels the space for oars was often eliminated in exchange for more guns.
One of the most famous galleys is the Adventure Galley, the flagship of William Kidd. Kidd was originally commissioned as a privateer, his ship purchased by a conglomeration of investors seeking to hunt down pirates and reclaim their prizes. The Adventure Galley was a warship that combined three ship-rigged masts and two banks of oars. Under full sail, she could reportedly make 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) and under oar, she could reach 3 knots (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph). While rowing was slow, the ship could travel In the Wind’s Eye, or in calm conditions which could leave other vessels adrift.
Lacking heavy guns and needing more manpower for oars this ship will likely have a higher Crew score. It may also have new “Galley” special rules making them more efficient during Row Crew Actions. Since William Kidd and the Adventure Galley are both famous, this ship has the potential to come with a bonus ship stat card and a new Admiral or Captain card.
“Light” 4th Rate
We don’t know much about this ship in terms of rules yet. It is likely a faster and slightly undergunned 4th Rate Frigate or the 5th Rate with a higher Fortitude and Crew of 3.
Additional Ships for Oak & Iron
There are additional ships such as Xebecs and an Indiaman that have been rumored to be coming, but there is no official announcement or models leaked yet. What ships would you like to see added to Oak & Iron in the future? Is there a specific ship style or famous vessel you’d like to see in the game? Let us know in the comments below.
Additional Content Suggestions
- If you still haven’t tried the game and would like a review of the contents and rules check out our Oak & Iron Game Review: Core Box
- Been a while since you played or want to brush up on your skills check out our Strategy & Tactics Guides for Oak & Iron
- Interested in some other new ships for your games look at our Unofficial Ships added to the game: