Welcome to the Arena: Death Fields Arena Beta Launch and Community Playtest Invitation
At Wargames Atlantic, we have always believed that wargaming is at its best when it’s a shared experience — not just on the tabletop, but in creating the worlds, rules, and stories that bring our miniatures to life. With that in mind, we’re incredibly excited to announce that Death Fields Arena is now in Beta Playtest, Version 1.0 — and we want you, our community, to join us from the very beginning, which you can do by downloading the rules, right now, for free. The main idea behind this release is simple yet important: we want the community to start playtesting early. We aren’t just seeking feedback — we want insights from players who have rolled the dice, manoeuvred teams, and genuinely tested the game on the tabletop. What’s in this Beta? Although this is very much an early version of the game, along with all the rules you will need to play, the Beta v1.0 includes two arena-ready teams: There’s also a generic faction template, allowing you to get creative and test your builds and ideas for teams right from the start. We intend to add more factions, abilities, traits, and equipment as quickly as the community requests, with the generic team available throughout testing before being withdrawn prior to the general release. This means the game will evolve rapidly, and your input will help drive that evolution. A few key things to note as you jump in: Small Teams, Big ImpactTeams are deliberately kept small. Every model is important. Each team member is vital and should feel like a personal asset you oversee. Understanding their strengths and timing their activations will be key to success. Master Combat Effectiveness and Activation PhasesThe quicker you understand how Combat Effectiveness (CE) impacts a team member’s stats and how the Activation Phase cycle determines when they act, the sooner you’ll be able to assert your authority across the arena floor! To help you get started We’ve prepared two videos to guide you through the basics: An overview of Death Fields Arena. A battle report video showcasing a full game between Les Grognards and the Raumjäger, illustrating how these rules unfold in some detail. These videos are designed to make your first game as smooth as possible — and to give you a sense of the pace, tactics, and energy we’re aiming for within the Arena. We’ll be following these up with more battle reports featuring head-to-head clashes between the various faction teams as their rules are released. Keep an eye out — the action is only just beginning. How to get involved Whether you're a competitive player, a casual hobbyist, or simply curious, there's space for everyone to participate. Keep reading to discover how you can join the playtest, share your views, and help build something amazing together. The Death Fields range of miniatures You will need Death Field Miniatures to represent your teams. If you don't own any yet, you can find them here on our website - including the Les Grognards and the Raumjäger. Grab a copy of the Death Field Arena rules for free You can download the Death Fields Arena rules from our website here. Make sure you provide a real email address, as that way, you will be automatically notified each time they are updated. Join the official Facebook Group And for now, the best place to share pictures of your games and feedback on the rules is in the official Death Fields Arena Facebook Group. Your positive feedback, criticisms (always shared constructively!), and suggestions will shape what this game becomes. The more you engage — sharing what you love and what needs improvement — the better this game will be for everyone when it reaches full release. The Wargames Atlantic team is ready to answer your questions and discuss your ideas. If you tag me (Andy Hobday) directly in your post with a question, I will do my best to respond as quickly as possible. The arena doors are open. The crowds are roaring. We hope you’ll dive in, test the Beta rules, and help us create a game worthy of the Death Fields name and the imagination of this incredible hobby community. So grab your dice, your miniatures, your tape measures — and we’ll see you on the arena floor. Welcome to Death Fields Arena.
