Jon Chang

Book IX

The pencils for the final 14 pages of Book IX are now complete. After discussion with Josh, we have made the decision to release the pencils for this book and the final colored artwork at the same time.

The conclusion of this book is the culmination of over 8 years of work. We want you to experience it as it was intended, with no spoilers.

Thank you for your patience and support.

Near Present 28mm

The first pieces of Near Present 28mm are here. As always, made in the USA. As always, Patreon gets first dibs. We only have 100 of each model but will be restocking shortly (hopefully before Friday - more on that below). Patreon members also gets $5 discount per model (which is about 20% off MAP).

https://near-present.com/28mm_ancho...

Awbari Book IX [ PAGES 1-73 ]

Now available in glorious Taylorcolor. Josh is aiming to complete book IX in early January 2026 and book X by April 2026. Thank you for your continued support!

Black Friday Red Earth

Some of our hardcore tabletop guys have developed STL (3D files) of the various structures in BPRE28mm as an alternative to the flat terrain included in our game boxes. With their gracious permission, attached to this post is a zip including files for all 9 structures as well as accompanying scatter terrain.

I want to stress this would not have been possible without the continuous effort of a few individuals who have a deep pas...

No Dice, No Glory

Black Powder Red Earth 28mm + Near Present Game Designers Jon Chang and Mike Durao interviewed on No Dice, No Glory.

Also available on Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/no-dice-no-glory-episode-162-near-present-a-modern/id1330276582?i=1000738367492

Awbari Book IX [ WIP ]

Black + White pages 1-73

Near Present Core Book WIP

NOTE: Version 1J is now live. Updates to Anchorage company profile, expanded organization section.

After two years of effort, we are proud to present the foundation of our new series, Near Present. The work in this PDF was created by Jon Chang and Mike Durao(Design Team Ember) with significant contributions by Geordie the Third(known online as 2025-11-20 23:42:26 +0000 UTC View Post

The Dread and Fear of Kings Fall Showcase

The Dread and Fear of Kings Fall Showcase is this weekend in Alexandria, Virginia.

We have an appointment available on Friday, Nov 14, 1600-1700 and another on Saturday, Nov 15 1600-1700. Contact us to secure your spot,

Learn more about the collection and the brand at 2025-11-12 16:35:32 +0000 UTC View Post

Veteran’s Day

Here’s to survivors.

November Kinetic+ Print

It's wabbit season. If you want one of these, please upgrade your pledge NLT 10, November (IE Monday).

Anchorage Tee Shirts

Available now for preorder, Anchorage is the "Cold Harbor" of the Near Present universe.

https://www.near-present.com/anchorage_tee.html

Since we started our design shop, _Echelon has exclusively offered US made tee shirts. For years, we have printed on the 2025-11-06 22:00:05 +0000 UTC View Post

_Near_Present First Look

Hankou (left)

Hankou is a Chinese defense and marine manufacturing corporation specializing in brown water shipbuilding and maritime economic development. Headquartered in Wuhan, its campus is built atop Hankou Airfield, a key Chinese base used against the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II. The company pioneered 3D ShipPrinting, creating vessels and bases to enable Chinese subsurface mineral exploitation.

2025-11-04 16:20:31 +0000 UTC View Post

Awbari Book IX [ PAGES 1-61 ] COMPLETE

Just in time for Halloween.

October 2025 Print

Still two more days to bump to Kinetic ($50+). November print to premier sometime next week!

Awbari Book IX [ Pages 1-61 ] WIP

TFW...

The bass drops.

_Near_Present Interrogative

Excerpt from the Near Present Hypernotes-Core Book Appendix.

Conceptually, each Multifunction Response Team is composed of three troops. Each troop is composed of three elements.

Control is the Team Leader with Systems providing immediate targeting data to enablers (missiles, fighter planes, robots, drones) directly. These Systems teams are not drone pilots. Instead, they have a direct line of comms to th...

Anchorage FFI Patches Available for Preorder Now

One design, three patterns. All designs feature carbon engraved art. The red accents patches are leather in all three sets, but only the Walnut set is 100% leather.

Available exclusively at https://www.near-present.com/merch.html

These are being made to order specifically because we don't want to end up with a ton of AB+ blood type patches ^o^...

Near Present Tee Shirt Concept

Patch preorder is opening tomorrow!

We are planning to soft launch _Near Present on November 20, 2025.

This will include an Hypernotes-Core Book in PDF (art still mostly WIP), the two previewed Collaborative Combat Troops(CCT) at 28mm scale, and if there is demand, a _Near Present tee. A black tee is an obvious choice for the design above. Is there any other format you would be interested in?

Of note, we were shoot...

_Near_Present FFI Sneak Peak

These will be offered with every known blood type, with the Patreon exclusive red accent and then as a straight suit (fully matched). These patches are American made/American sourced. The Alpha Green and Digital Camo are printed on leatherette (similar to the PVC on flight jackets), and the walnut and red accent patches are 100% US leather.

These will be offered at $35 per set for the Walnut and $30 for the Alpha Green and Camo...

_Near Present

COLLABORATIVE COMBAT TROOP PROGRAM [ EXCERPT ]

WILLIAM DURAO . JUNIPER SYSTEMS PROGRAM MANAGER

"As demonstrated in the Force 2041 trials held in Okinawa, integrated man-machine teams are more responsive and less vulnerable to an adversary invested fully in either ECM or kinetic ground control systems."

Awbari Book IX Pages 1-45 Complete

Only 50 more pages to go.

_Near_Present

Feedback from one of the officers who developed the USMC Company/Battalion level wargame.

I can absolutely see the value of your upcoming project in small unit tactics. My goal has been one echelon up, but I've definitely seen how fast guys can get spun up on something tangible compared to a computer-based system with it. There's just something different about being able to see the geometries of fire, and it hits a little hard...

August + September Prints Ship on Monday

Prints just arrived from the printer. We are going to start packing today with a goal of shipping on Monday. Apology for the delays.

Black Powder Red Earth [ Awabri ] Book 9 Pages 1-45 B/W

It's beginning to look a lot like killmas!

Welcome New Members

We've had a influx of members over the past few days. We wanted to make sure you were aware of the Awbari Pawnshop. The totally legit not sketchy webpage where we offer exclusive items and reducing pricing on certain pieces from the BPRE collection.

http://studio-grey.com/awbari_pawnshop/zippos_of_espionage.html

Thank y...

WarGamer Girl speaks with Jon Chang on Game Design and more...

Live now!

_Near_Present

The setting. Map presented in sufficient resolution for a giant 4k monitor :)

WarGamer Girl x BPRE 28mm

WarGamer Girl speaks with BPRE series creator Jon Chang tomorrow night(Wednesday September 17) at 2030/830p EST live on YouTube. Click the link to set a reminder to join the discussion live.

_Near_Present FFI

UPDATED . New Camo

As you know, our studio has been working for over a year on the development of a new series we are calling _Near_Present. We are close to completion on elements ranging from design to world building to story telling.

Our intent is to soft launch with a book that includes a detailed conflict bible, framing the setting, as well as a system for a new 28mm game. For those of you who are not...

The official Black Powder Red Earth® BandCamp is Live

https://awbariburns.bandcamp.com/album/awbari-ost

Presently, this BandCamp hosts the four tracks released in collaboration with Stahl (already available for download on this Patreon).

BandCamp is a great streaming platform which excludes commercial interstitials found on YouTube if you just want to stream the music.