The grimdark alternate history of Trench Crusade continues to capture the imagination of tabletop skirmish fans worldwide, blending the horrors of World War I trench warfare with supernatural crusader factions and occult monstrosities. After a record-breaking Kickstarter campaign in 2023, the game has been steadily moving through playtesting, miniature production, and community events. Here’s a look at the latest developments, along with what players can expect in the months ahead.
Playtest Rules v1.6.3 – The Final Step Before Launch
The most recent update to the game’s rules, version 1.6.3, has officially landed. This marks the last major playtest iteration before the team transitions into the long-awaited Rules 1.0 release. Developers confirmed there will be no “1.7” update—meaning fans can expect the next leap forward to be the definitive, polished core ruleset.
For dedicated players who have been stress-testing the system since its earliest drafts, this signals that the ruleset has matured enough to support organized play, league campaigns, and convention demos.
Rulebook 1.0 – Digital First, Print Delayed
The official Trench Crusade Rulebook (v1.0) was initially expected sooner, but the print version has been delayed. The good news: a digital edition of the rules is slated to drop ahead of the physical book, allowing players to dive into the final system while they wait for hard copies to ship.
This staggered rollout is fairly common in large-scale miniature projects—similar to how companies like Games Workshop or Mantic have historically released digital rules ahead of physical books to keep communities engaged. The digital launch should help fuel playgroups, tournaments, and battle reports in the meantime.
Miniature Shipping & Fulfillment: Progress Across Factions
Production on the Trench Crusade miniatures line is well underway, with fulfillment now happening in waves. Backers have already reported receiving shipments for several factions, including:
- Heretic Legion
- New Antioch Crusaders
- Trench Pilgrims
- Court of the Seven-Headed Serpent
Dice sets, accessories, and stretch-goal rewards are also being distributed alongside the core armies. While delays are never fun, it’s clear that the fulfillment pipeline is moving steadily, and the majority of backers should see their orders arrive by the end of the current shipping window.
What’s particularly exciting is how these miniatures have been received—fans praise the resin sculpts for their high detail, gritty aesthetic, and distinctive trench-warfare-meets-occult style. Collectors are already sharing painting guides and conversion tips across forums and Discord servers, which is helping keep the community vibrant during the wait.
Community Engagement & Convention Presence
The developers have also been keeping the game in the public eye with appearances at major events. At UK Games Expo, Trench Crusade had a booth (#3A-430), showcasing new models, demo tables, and faction previews. This kind of visibility not only drives hype but also helps bring in new players who may have missed the original Kickstarter.
Meanwhile, over on Reddit and Discord, the community has been buzzing with army list theorycrafting and homebrew campaign setups. With the full 1.0 rules on the horizon, expect fan-made supplements and narrative scenarios to start appearing rapidly.
What’s Next for Trench Crusade?
Looking ahead, the timeline for Trench Crusade appears to be:
- Digital Rulebook 1.0 Release – expected first, allowing players to begin official games.
- Physical Rulebook Shipping – delayed but on the way.
- Continued Miniature Fulfillment – more factions and accessories rolling out over the coming weeks.
- Community Play & Organized Events – expect tournaments and narrative campaigns to spring up once rules 1.0 is in circulation.
Given the strong momentum from its crowdfunding roots and the unique blend of occult horror with historical warfare, Trench Crusade is positioning itself not just as another skirmish game, but as a distinctive universe in the tabletop hobby space.
Current Developments in Trench Crusade
Trench Crusade, the alternative WW1 skirmish wargame, has seen significant growth in recent months with expanded faction options, a successful crowdfunding campaign, and innovations in miniature design.
Kickstarter Campaign Success
The Trench Crusade Kickstarter campaign by Factory Fortress INC has exceeded expectations, drawing in substantial support from tabletop gaming enthusiasts. The campaign marketed the game as a “truly heretical skirmish wargame set in an alternative WW1” and resonated with players seeking unique gaming experiences.
Despite some production challenges mentioned in recent updates, backers remain enthusiastic about the project’s direction. The campaign’s success has ensured that core rulebooks and initial faction miniatures will soon reach players’ tables.
Factory Fortress has maintained regular communication with backers, addressing concerns about delivery timelines and providing previews of final production components.
Emergence of New Factions
The game has expanded its narrative depth with several compelling new factions. The Trench Pilgrims and New Antioch factions have generated particular interest among players for their distinctive aesthetics and gameplay mechanics.
The Court of the Seven Headed Serpent introduces supernatural elements to battlefield strategies, while the Black Grail warriors bring a darker theme to the alternate timeline. Each faction features unique unit types with specialized abilities that create diverse tactical opportunities.
Players have begun sharing custom paint schemes across social media, with rust effects becoming particularly popular for certain mechanized units. These community developments show how deeply players are engaging with the game’s lore.
Advancements in Miniature Design
Recent updates have revealed both progress and setbacks in Trench Crusade’s miniature production. While the “Trench Compendium 2.0” is currently in development, some players expecting official miniatures have received disappointing news according to the Wargame Portal.
3D printing has become increasingly important to the game’s ecosystem. Many players are now accessing STL files to print custom units, allowing for personalized armies and modifications to existing designs.
Factory Fortress has embraced this trend by improving the detail quality of their designs, particularly visible in the intricate uniform details and weaponry. The 28 Collected campaign mentioned in social media updates features artwork that may influence future miniature designs.
Gameplay Dynamics and Community Reception
Trench Crusade has established itself as a unique tabletop wargame with distinctive mechanics that set it apart from contemporaries like Warhammer 40k. The game blends strategic depth with accessible rules that have resonated strongly with players seeking both competitive and narrative-driven experiences.
Strategic Depth and Combat Mechanics
Trench Crusade’s combat system revolves around innovative cover mechanics that simulate realistic battlefield tactics. Players must carefully position their units behind trenches and terrain to gain defensive advantages while plotting their offensive maneuvers.
The dice-based combat resolution system incorporates modifiers for range, cover quality, and unit abilities. This creates tense, tactical gameplay where positioning matters as much as raw firepower.
One standout feature is the asymmetric faction design. Each faction possesses unique abilities that encourage vastly different playstyles – from New Antioch’s disciplined formations to the Heretic Legion’s aggressive rush tactics.
The game also implements a dynamic loot and artifact system. Units can discover powerful items during matches that provide strategic advantages, encouraging risky pushes into enemy territory.
Cultural Influences on Trench Crusade
Trench Crusade draws inspiration from numerous sci-fi properties. The game’s aesthetic blends elements from Starship Troopers, Aliens, and Blade Runner while maintaining its own distinct visual identity.
The faction design shows influence from Warhammer 40k and Mutant Chronicles, but with a grittier, more grounded approach to warfare. The emphasis on trench fighting evokes WWI imagery reimagined through a sci-fi lens.
The developers have cited The Fifth Element and Terminator as influences on the game’s technology design. These influences create a familiar yet original universe that resonates with sci-fi fans.
Community members often praise the game’s ability to capture the desperate feeling of sci-fi combat while remaining accessible to newcomers to the tabletop wargaming hobby.
Player Engagement and Experience
The Trench Crusade community has grown steadily since launch, with battle reports on YouTube garnering increasing viewership. These videos showcase tactical depth while highlighting the narrative elements that emerge during gameplay.
Players particularly appreciate the game’s balanced learning curve. New players can grasp basic concepts quickly, while veterans continue discovering strategic nuances months into their experience.
Tournament play has begun emerging in local game stores, with competitive formats emphasizing both tactical skill and army composition. The meta remains fluid, with no single faction dominating the competitive scene.
The petition for improved miniature availability demonstrates the community’s passion and investment in the game’s long-term success. Players have expressed desire for retail availability and ready-to-play formats to help grow the community further.
Frequently Asked Questions
Players have been asking about many aspects of Trench Crusade as the game development continues. Here are answers to some of the most common questions about this upcoming tabletop wargame.
What is the expected release date for Trench Crusade?
The expected release date for Trench Crusade has not been officially announced by the developers. Based on current information, the game appears to still be in active development.
The developers are using platforms like Kickstarter to fund the project, suggesting they are working toward a future release.
Players can likely expect more concrete release information in upcoming developer updates.
Which factions are currently confirmed for Trench Crusade?
Trench Crusade features several confirmed playable factions. The Principality of New Antioch, the Heretic Legion, and the Sultanate of the Iron Wall are officially announced factions.
The Cult faction appears to be another playable option based on the available information. These distinct factions likely offer different playstyles and strategic approaches.
Players will be able to choose their preferred warband through the pledge manager system when backing the game.
Can details of the Trench Crusade lore be elaborated?
The complete lore of Trench Crusade has not been fully revealed in the available information. The faction names suggest a setting that blends historical and fantasy elements.
Names like “Principality of New Antioch” and “Sultanate of the Iron Wall” hint at a world inspired by historical conflicts but with unique fantasy elements.
The presence of a “Heretic Legion” and “Cult” faction suggests religious or ideological conflicts play a role in the game’s narrative.
What are the core rules and gameplay mechanics for Trench Crusade?
The specific core rules and gameplay mechanics of Trench Crusade have not been extensively detailed in the available information. The game appears to use a warband-based system where players control specific factions.
The “Trench” in the title suggests trench warfare may be a central theme, possibly incorporating World War I-inspired tactical elements.
A Netlify App associated with the game exists, which may contain game rules or reference materials for players.
Is Trench Crusade planning to offer miniature models for sale?
Trench Crusade does appear to include miniature models as part of its product offerings. Search results mention a petition regarding making the miniatures more accessible through reliable retailers.
The petition also suggests fans want the miniatures to be available in a ready-to-play format, indicating the current distribution may be limited.
The Red Brigade by Westfalia Publishing appears to be related to the Trench Crusade miniatures line, possibly as a specific faction or expansion.
Who are the developers and artists involved with Trench Crusade?
Factory Fortress INC is identified as a developer of Trench Crusade based on the Kickstarter information. They appear to be managing the crowdfunding campaign and pledge system.
Westfalia Publishing seems to be involved with at least one aspect of the game, specifically “The Red Brigade” component of Trench Crusade.
The complete creative team including artists, sculptors, and game designers has not been fully detailed in the available information.
