Where Were You in 2013?

 2013 was a turning point for us.

It was the year of our first Kickstarter—The Toughest Girls of the Galaxy—which became a massive success. It was one of the most successful crowdfunding projects in the miniatures world at the time, and one of the biggest campaigns on Kickstarter that year. 

For this debut, we had created three all-female factions that truly put our brand on the map: the Kurganovas (KST), the Jailbirds (JB), and the Iron Empire (IE).

If you're familiar with our physical miniatures, you’ll surely remember these figures. Many of you were backers of that first Kickstarter, and we want to take this opportunity to thank you for many, many years of loyalty!

The Dark Origins of the Iron Empire

For our May release, we wanted to revisit that special era and continue the saga of the Iron Empire.

Enjoy the Release Video and rush back here to discover the stories behind this release.

If you recall the world we described during the Toughest Girls of the Galaxy campaign, you might remember that humanity was forced to flee Earth in search of more hospitable worlds as life on Earth had become unbearable.

One group of colonists wandered through space for decades—perhaps centuries—before crash-landing on a hostile cluster of asteroids. Exposed to deadly radiation aboard their decaying ship, over 80% perished or were left critically injured.

On these metallic asteroids, the survivors discovered vast underground catacombs filled with asleep alien beings eerily reminiscent of ancient Egypt. In these tombs, they uncovered occult knowledge—a blend of technology and necromancy—that allowed them to raise their fallen comrades from the dead and rebuild a society.

Because of that, the Iron Empire is now a civilization of the undeads, led by necro-priests and shadowy technologists… 

Few living citizens remain, as most are rendered sterile by radiation. And deep within the steel sarcophagi of the asteroids lie the enigmatic Pharaonites—alien beings who seem to have transferred their souls from flesh to metal, appearing as mechanical gods of ancient myth.

A Fragile Balance with the Pharaonites

The Empire has had minimal contact with the Pharaonites, who remain dormant in their tombs—thankfully. On the rare occasions a very few of them briefly awoke, it was clear that humans were no match for these near-divine machines.

The Empire’s strength lies in the fact that the Pharaonites still slumber. Yet, through studying their necro-technology, the Empire has mastered the creation of automatons to bolster their dwindling ranks.

This month’s release brings you the three pillars of this society: the (mostly)
undead humans, their necro-tech automaton servants, and a glimpse of the mysterious Pharaonites.

Among the soldiers of the Empire is Vera Krabbenhöft, a key figure from our first Kickstarter: One of the few survivors of the interstellar journey—and one of the last women capable of bearing children—Vera hides her living status to avoid being seized by the Ministry of Fertility. As the Empire's banner bearer, she is always the center of attention and walks a fine line between symbol and secret identity.

A Steampunk Empire among the Stars

You’ll also encounter hulking mutant cyber-zombies—crafted from enemy corpses and reanimated by the Empire’s most sinister necro-priests.

And of course, for the first time you'll encounter the regal and terrifying Pharaonites, so be ready.

But what does this so-called Empire look like? Picture towering steel structures and glass domes straight out of the 19th century—Gustave Eiffel meets Jules Verne on a wild, steampunk trip. Baroque, dark, extravagant— yet despite its pretentious name, the Iron Empire is not that big and only prawls across a handful of asteroids in deep space.

Over centuries, they've encountered other factions like the Kurganovas, the Jailbirds, and even the infamous Sisters who, as renegade subjects of the Empire, escaped to build a new civilization centered on life and fertility.

Expanding Your Army (𓀎𓀀𓏥): from the Iron Empire to the Mechanium

We hope you enjoy rediscovering these characters from the Toughest Girls of the Galaxyuniverse. There’s much more to come about them in the coming months—vivid characters, rich lore, and a sprawling saga of humanity surviving far from Earth amidst strange phenomena.

Also, don’t forget, the Sovereign Tier miniatures will be revealed mid-month, allowing you to expand your forces and explore a broader range of characters in your adventures and battles.

This month Sovereign Tier also ties into the Mechanium release, originally designed for steampunk settings. But I had always envisioned it as an extension of the Iron Empire—bringing to life the mechanical troops crafted by the Empire’s techno-necromantic engineers.