Into the Rift: My First Steps into Konflikt ‘47

This is the first in what I hope will be a series of blog posts where I share my journey into the weird and wonderful world of Konflikt ‘47. It’s Warlord Games’ reimagined entry into the Weird War genre, blending the beloved mechanics of Bolt Action with an alternate-history 1947 packed with rift-fuelled technology, nightmarish monsters, menacing walkers, and enhanced infantry.

So, where better to begin than with the starter set, right?

Guy, very kindly, passed on the starter set given to the magazine for me to work with on this project. After writing the review in issue 137 of the magazine, I was hooked, even after only playing the game in what of its early forms. When the recent release came out, I was more than eager to dive right in!

What follows is a breakdown, with photos, of what you’ll find inside the box. So let’s take a look!

The Rulebook

Inside the box, you’ll find an A5 rulebook that does a brilliant job of setting the scene of K’47. It opens with the lore of Konflikt ‘47: a shattered world reshaped by rift technology, where familiar nations and armies have evolved into something altogether stranger and more sinister. Once the scene is set, the rules kick in, covering everything you need to start playing while keeping the door wide open for future expansions. The army lists are missing from the book because they are free to access online; the ethos being that the lists will grow and evolve as the game itself develops but this also gives players who are interested in giving K’47 a go, the opportunity to have a look at what’s on offer.

Exclusive Commanders

The first miniatures you pull from the box are the two starter-exclusive platoon commanders - one Axis, one US - both made with Warlord’s Siocast resin. These are nice minis in my opinion, and will stand out as platoon commanders quite nicely.

Gaming essentials

What’s a wargame without dice? In the set, you get:

• 6 Rift Dice (3 per faction)

• 6 Order Dice (3 per faction)

• A handful of D6 to get you started

• And even a free dice bag, which is perfect for those first few games.

Starter battlefield

A nice inclusion is a two-sided gaming mat, which is ideal for new players. One side is a churned-up muddy field, the other a bombed-out city. Both are great for early skirmishes as you step into this strange new theatre of war.

Miniatures, pin markers and tokens

For the Axis you get two sprues of Stahltruppen and for the US, two sprues of US Fireflies, all with appropriate bases. There is also a sprue of pin markers and tokens (still branded Bolt Action, but honestly - why change it?).

The mechs!

Now we’re into the Weird War heart of Konflikt ‘47: the mech units.

• For the US, there’s the hulking Linebacker, a brute of a machine that dominates the table and can jump right into the action.

• For the Axis, we get the Vogelspinne - my personal favourite. It just looks right with the extra pair of legs, perfectly capturing the sinister vibe of the setting.

Both come with the option to base them, but that is down to personal preference, as only one base is included.

The Ruins Kit

Another standout in the box is the new ruins kit - four identical sprues that can be built and customised in countless ways. They’ve even modelled damage from high-calibre weapons, which is a lovely bit of thematic detail and exactly what you want when recreating a war-torn battlefield.

Transfers and Details

No starter set would be complete without transfer sheets, and here you get four:

• 2 Axis (infantry + vehicle)

• 2 US (infantry + vehicle)

There are some brilliant little details on these sheets, including bits of graffiti and “personal messages” for the enemy. It’s a small but flavourful addition that helps bring your minis to life.

Manuals and Missions

Finally, you’ll find the instruction manuals - beautifully laid out and genuinely easy to follow. Having built the Vogelspinne myself, I can confirm they’re clear and frustration-free. There’s even a QR code included, which takes you straight to a digital field manual to guide you through your first missions.

Final Thoughts

And that’s the box. Packed to the brim with models, rules, terrain, and flavour - it’s exactly the kind of starter set that gets you excited to play right now.

For me, it’s the perfect entry point into Konflikt ‘47; It's important to mention that the box has been described as unbalanced by some gamers, with the US coming out on top with the Linebacker. For me personally, this isn’t an issue, as this is marketed as a starter set to build on, which I intend to do. With that said, I can’t wait to start assembling my forces and get them on the table!

Keep an eye out for my next blog, where I’ll be sharing how I got on building the minis and how I’ve got on introducing people to the game at my local gaming shop.