Updates for May!
Hey Harriers! Dropping in with a May update on where we're at as a group and what's coming down the pipeline.
First and most importantly, a heads up that I will be away for the entire month of June. Monday nights at Ettin will still be going on during that time and I appreciate everyone's patience while I'm out. The good news is that when I return in early July we will be coming back with something to look forward to: organized competitive play with prize support. More details on format and structure will be shared closer to the time, but I wanted to give everyone a heads up so you can start thinking about your lists and getting your Spartans ready.
In the meantime things have been genuinely fun around the table lately and I want to take a moment to appreciate that. Getting to break out the Reach Deluxe Gaming Mat has been a real treat, and honestly it changes the atmosphere of a game night in a way that is hard to describe until you've played on it. The battlefield aesthetic of Reach is just beautiful and it gives every game that extra bit of immersion that makes Halo feel like Halo on the tabletop. On top of that we have been getting some great 2v2 games in and that format has been a blast, it adds a whole new layer of coordination and communication that keeps things fresh and opens the door for some genuinely creative team compositions. If you have not played a 2v2 yet it is absolutely worth trying.
On the game news front there is quite a bit happening. Mantic has officially launched the Detachments digital expansion, which is now live on the Flashpoint App and also available as a PDF from the Mantic webstore. This is a big addition for list builders. Detachments introduce two new themed faction lists: the ODST Corps for UNSC players and the Jiralhanae Hunting Party for Banished players, each with their own unique Fireteam Upgrades that lean into the lore and playstyle of the detachment. It is a really cool way to approach the game if you want a tighter more focused force and the upgrades system adds a lot of fun new options.
Mantic has also added Teams to the Flashpoint Index for organized play, allowing groups of players to register together and compete as a unit with combined scores tracking across tournaments for a separate team ranking each season. That is something worth keeping in mind as we head into competitive play in July, as we may do competitive 2v2 games.
And looking further ahead, Mantic has confirmed the next major setting on their roadmap is Zeta Halo from Halo Infinite with a new faction called the Spartan Killers teased as an upcoming addition to the game. Year Two of Flashpoint is shaping up to be a big one and it is exciting to be growing this group right alongside it.
Enjoy the rest of May, get those casual games in while you can and I will see everyone on the other side of summer.
See you on the tabletop!
- Anthony | The Black Harriers