Newbold Enterprises

Umangan Infantry from Newbold

One of the reasons I was so keen to attend Alumwell this year was that Newbold World were to have a stall, and being a creature of the North West I had not had the pleasure of seeing their products up close and personal. Like many gamers I had seen the striking Newbold adds in Wargames Illustrated, and was keen to see more.

The Newbold World range depicts the inhabitants of the Planet Kendo, a planet in a far far galaxy which provides the fantasy setting in which medieval societies, and the users of magic, vie for superiority. The races vary in physical appearance and ability, and their civilizations reflect attributes that we might link with Earth histories own time periods or mythology. The Unmangans are the oldest of the races and while in their youth they resemble human or eleven warriors as they age, over hundreds of years, they grow to resemble skeleton warriors

Currently at war with the Umangans the Dross peoples of the Kingdom of  Dalgleish. These people are generally tall well built folk, and fierce warriors, although the Demi-Dross of the south are dark haired and shorter of stature. prominent in the Dross forces are an elite unit of heavy cavalry mounted on huge, well muscled warhorses. Allies in the war with the Umangans are the Khazadrim, tall, sturdily built warriors who excel in combat as heavy infantry and especially in mountain warfare.

Meanwhile, waiting in the wings, are the dragonoid ruthless Grak. These creatures and their pitiless legions have been steadily marching westwards, destroying or subjugating the societies they encountered. Now they rest, waiting just East of the Dross borders.

The models in the range are 28mm, cast in pewter, well defined and finely detailed and aimed at the model collector as much as the wargamer. Each race has characteristics that are reflected throughout the models in the range. So the Iron Fist heavy cavalry are mounted on tough, hugely strong horses which are in character with the tall heavy boned warriors that ride them. While the Umangan horse rider altogether leaner, lighter mounts. The models are distinctive, and to my mind are impressive. However, they may suffer in the eyes of some gamers by being too distinctive and not easily merged into units of models from other manufacturers. 

The figures are the work of  the talented hands of a number of designers. The popular Mc Taggart and Logan pack that is selling well to medieval and dark age gamers as well as fantasy players, are the work of Bob Naismith. The Umangan figures pictured above were sculpted by Bill Tyson, with the paintwork by Darren Matthews

I was lucky enough to spend some time speaking to Ian Newbold at Alumwell, and he tells me that he is close to finalising the rules to accompany the figure ranges and which will contain details of the history he has developed for the planet of Kendo. Future plans include a boardgame based on the military and diplomatic campaigns and which can be used to provide a background to the miniature battles. New ranges of figures depicting life on other planets in the Kendo System, and a series of novels based on the history Ian has created

For full details of the range and future releases contact Newbold Enterprises, 7 Habberley Croft, Solihull, West Midlands, B91 3YR. Tel 0121 705 1043: e-mail enterprises@newboldworld.com

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