Privateer Press has announced that its new 30mm tabletop miniatures game Hordes will debut in April 2006.  Set in the wilds of the Iron Kingdoms, Hordes can be played as a completely stand-alone game utilizing unique mechanics and systems, but at the same time it is 100% compatible with WARMACHINE (see 'Hordes From Privateer Press'), and players familiar with WARMACHINE will already understand the basics of this new Hordes release.

Privateer is launching Hordes with a 208-page core rulebook, Hordes Primal, which will be available in both hard and soft cover editions in April.  The Hordes miniatures themselves will be released in three basic formats -- a Warpack is very similar to a WARMACHINE Battlebox in that it contains a playable army with quickstart rules and a balanced force ready to pit against any other Hordes Warpack.  In April Privateer will release Warpacks for all four Hordes factions, Circle Oboros, Skorne, Trollblood, and Legion of Everblight.  The second type of Hordes release is the Warlock, which functions like a Warcaster in WARMACHINE as the heroic central character in a player's army -- and Warlocks for four Hordes factions are also on the docket for April.

The third and final sort of Hordes release is the Warbeast, which is similar to Warjack in WARMACHINE.  These thunderous beasts bring unique abilities to the battlefield.  Warbeasts for all four factions are slated for a May release along with specialized units such as the Wolves of Orboros, the Legion of Everblight Blighted Archers, the Skorne Praetorians and the Trollblood Scattergunners.