So, why is this a big matter? Infinity N5 is hot stuff right now and there is no better time to announce this than now! We see an anime series coming in the foreseeable future, there is a new computer game announced and now a new edition of one of the oldest games on the market? What’s not to like? Exactly!
Hopeful personal Infinity thoughts in between
Also, I have been on the fence of playing this game for quite some time. The fact that they could be making the shift to Siocast helps me decide as well, since one of the points that held me back until now is the fact that the models are still metal. You either hate me or love me for that, but I prefer plastic/ resin models. Do note that this is hopeful thinking from me, so don’t shoot me if I’m wrong here.
This is why we decided to have you read through some of the biggest updates we got about Infinity N5 in the form of a list. We didn’t do these here yet, so buckle up Dorothy, we’re going far beyond Kansas!
1: The Infinity Core Game Engine
As far as we know now, this still stays the same. Infinity has been known to not always have polished rules. This is the perfect time to polish them, make some rules a bit more understandable and have some gaming troubles taken out by more clear rules. In all honesty, the game is pretty good as is, but a bit of polishing never hurts an already good system.
2: Infinity Unit Balancing
You can polish something as much as you like, but if the units the game uses aren’t balanced, it’s still a turd of a game. Needless to say that the units and fairness of the game makes or breaks it. All the units in game that are still in production are being rebalanced based on the new rules. There were hints on new models for old sectorials, but more on that later.
3: More Condensed Infinity Releases
To no surprise and to everyone’s wallet surprise, the releases for new models will be condensed. This means that every one will have more models per monthly release, so the game can be kept balanced as much as possible. This will be more optimal for newer players deciding on what to buy. Next to that, it will be supported with more tutorial video’s. These will be focussed on newer players that want to join the community.
4: Keeping the Infinity Momentum
More releases will mean more popularity. There will be a lot more popularity because new media formats are being reached with the Anime Series and the return (or is it the first?) of the video game format in the form of Hexadome. This is an Aristeia type game set in the Infinity universe. The anime-series is being produced by Lex+Otis Studio’s and is gearing up to be something special.
5: A new 2 Player Battlebox
YES, I can hear from a lot of people through my monitors. JSA, formerly only mercenaries for the other factions, are getting their own army!!! This new battlebox will include the armies for JSA and PanOceania, the usual millions of tokens, dice, rules and whatnot. This time around the best starting point for Infinity in N5.
The price is also already announced, coming in at a 130 USD, so that would mean it will be around 125 EUR euro retail, and you might be able to buy it around 110 EUR in the shop. Do know, till we have confirmation, this is speculation, so don’t be disappointed if the prices change!
6: Death Comes With New Life
With the birth of the new 2 player battlebox, also came the announcement that CodeOne is officially declared dead. There was no room for it any more and it became obsolete in function. Does this mean the totality of the concept CodeOne is dead? I guess not, since N5 will get some form of this back in Essentials, complete with its own 2 player starter called “Getting Started”. And guess what. This “Getting Started” box contains JSA and PanO.
7: Infinity ITS 16
Logically, they won’t release ITS 16 till the Infinity N5 has been released, so this could see us waiting a bit longer on the new Tournament packs. As you might see a bit down the reading line here, the wait COULD be over sooner than you think.
8: Updating the Infinity Armies
Slapping new rulesets out is easy! Or at least easy to a certain extent. Updating every card for every army is a bit more difficult and will take some more time. There will be armies like NA2, that will be updated later and unfortunately for the people with N4 armies, they will just have to wait. You could also see it as needing some more minis in the form of the 2 player battle box with brand spanking new JSA army?
I might say it as a commercial trick, but when you look at the sheer amount of models that need to be refreshed, this is a logical choice to take it one army at a time. See it as a bit of a forced holiday or a damn good reason to start a new army, because no-one ever just had one, or two… three? SHUT UP!
There is a positive side to the refurbishing of rules and models. Older sectorials that were out of print, could make a comeback because of this and there were already hints towards it underneath the spoken words.
The Final Countdown
Yeah, you hear it now… I know it! Glam rock time! But it’s actually true. N5 is supposed to come sooner than you think, even already in or around October this year! This will see the 2 player battlebox landing in hobby shops and websites way before Christmas.
So you see, the hype train is once again real. Will I be able to withhold myself yet again to no buy into Infinity with all the cool shiny new goodies coming in faster than a speeding bullet? I could, but one thing I cannot resist is the fact I NEED to see the anime. Problem is, I have already been looking at the Nomads faction.
Be like me, be ignorant of what’s to come and spend it all when it arrives! You can’t resist the shiny! ALL ABOARD… Next Station N5, JSA and PanOceania! In the meantime, check out some of our other blogs right here!
