A GROUP of people made redundant from city firm Games Workshop are now enjoying huge success with a new company they set up.
Warlord Games was founded by John Stallard and Paul Sawyer five years ago – and is based in the Lenton Business Centre, just one mile from their old employers.
Their success has been so great that they have now set up a new office in Arizona, USA, to oversee distribution.
Meanwhile they have joined forces with another new company – Dark Space Corp – to develop a new tabletop war game called The Gates of Antares.
Mr Stallard said: "We have been doing very well. We now have 22 members of staff who all worked for Games Workshop.
"The US office opening is a very exciting development. We have two guys who were based over there who are running that office and overseeing distribution of the products.
"We hope in the next five years we can continue to grow, and have 90 staff and more distribution centres across the world."
Warlord is similar to Games Workshop in that it produces model soldiers which people use to play war games, though Mr Stallard says its historical figures set it apart from his former employers.
Models include Romans, English Civil War and Second World War figures.
In producing the new game, they have enlisted the help of Rick Priestley, who created Games Workshop's hugely successful games Warhammer and Warhammer 40,000.
They are looking to raise £300,000 by the end of February through the Kickstarter funding programme, which allows people across the world to pledge money online towards a project. So far, they have raised £77,000.
Mr Priestley said: "Producing the new game is very exciting. It is a science fiction tabletop game.
"We hope to have it finished and ready for launch by December this year.
"I worked with Games Workshop for 28 years, going from shop-floor worker to board director. The company grew in size, and is now a huge local employer.
"But I'm glad to be where I am now. We are not sure how the game will work out, but we are very hopeful it will be a success."
The company sends the models to shops in more than 50 countries, including USA, Germany, France and Russia.
