Lock 'n Load Publishing is a developer and publisher of board and computer games, specifically strategy games and wargames. They are based out of Colorado. From a small three-game beginning, Lock 'n Load Publishing has grown to a game company offering over fifty products including the Nations at War, World at War, Lock 'n Load, Corps Command, Tank on Tank series, Command Ops 2, and a company magazine, Line of Fire. In addition to historical, conflict-centered games, Lock 'n Load Publishing has also branched out into science fiction and horror, with All Things Zombie, Space Infantry, and Nuklear Winter '68.
Company history
In 2003, Shrapnel Games published the first Lock 'n Load Tactical board game. Titled Forgotten Heroes, the game became an instant hit, selling out within the first year of publication. The next Lock 'n Load Tactical game quickly followed the module with the ANZAC Attack expansion, which also rapidly sold out.
Following the release of the original games, the next title, Band of Heroes, was published through Matrix Games. The game subsequently won the historical game of the year at the 2005 Origins Awards. In 2006, game designer Mark Walker founded Lock 'n Load Publishing.
In July 2014, entered a new stage with David Heath becoming LnLP's new principal owner and business manager. David Heath was the previous CEO/founder of Matrix Games, The Wargamer, and The Gamer's Network before leaving those companies and becoming the CEO of Lock 'n Load Publishing.
David expanded the design and development team, expanding the game titles and broadening its product lines. The new product lines included writing a series of paperback stories, accompanied by audiobooks editions. Other products and activities included a new sci-fi roleplayer game series, streamlining their popular game series and releasing Starter Kits allowing players to try their game series quickly and cheaply. Lock 'n Load Publishing games are even more accessible, being available for free on virtual gaming platforms such as Vassal and Tabletop simulators and, with the release of the game's Companion books, allowing players to play virtually without needing to own the tabletop board game.
In April 2020, Lock 'n Load Publishing had released, via Steam, its digital computer game line. These include the Tank On Tank, Nations At War, and Lock 'n Load Tactical series games for Windows, Mac, and iPad platforms. The World At War 85 Digital series is currently in development. The computer game, Victory and Glory: The American Civil War, similar to the 2016 predecessor, Victory & Glory: Napoleon (Also with a board game adaptation in 2017), was released for Windows PC in 2020.
Awards
Lock 'n Load Publishing games have garnered awards from The International Gamers, Origins 2005 Historical Game of the Year, The Wargamer, Games Magazine, and a few of Charles S. Roberts' Awards, including best of the year award for Heroes of the Gap. Additionally, Mark Walker's novel World at War: Revelation was nominated for best game-related publication at the 2011 Origins Game Convention.
Complete product line up
Tabletop Board Games
Lock 'n Load Tactical:
Lock 'n Load: Band of Heroes (2005)
Lock 'n Load: Swift and Bold (2007)
Lock 'n Load: Not One Step Back (2007)
Lock 'n Load Tactical: Battle Pack Alpha (2007)
Dark July 43 Expansion: Lock 'n Load Tactical (2008)
Noville Bastogne's Outpost Expansion: Lock 'n Load Tactical (2009)
Lock 'n Load: A Ring of Hills (2009)
Lock 'n Load Tactical: Battle Pack Bravo (2009)
Days of Villainy: Lock 'n Load Tactical (2015)
Lock 'n Load Tactical Core Rules: Lock 'n Load Tactical
Lock 'n Load Tactical Core Rules Handbook: Lock 'n Load Tactical
Lock 'n Load Tactical Player Aids: Lock 'n Load Tactical
Lock 'n Load Tactical Battle Generator: Lock 'n Load Tactical
Lock 'n Load Tactical Skill Cards: Lock 'n Load Tactical
Lock 'n Load Tactical Player Aids: Lock 'n Load Tactical
Lock 'n Load Tactical Quick Reference Flip Cards: Lock 'n Load Tactical
Starter Kit: Lock 'n Load Tactical
Solo: Lock 'n Load Tactical
Day of Heroes: Lock 'n Load Tactical
Heroes of the Nam: Lock 'n Load Tactical
Pledge of Honor Expansion: Lock 'n Load Tactical
Heroes of Normandy: Lock 'n Load Tactical
Heroes of Normandy The Untold Stories Expansion: Lock 'n Load Tactical
We Stand Alone Expansion: Lock 'n Load Tactical
Battles to the Rhine Expansion: Lock 'n Load Tactical
Bear and the Jackal Expansion: Lock 'n Load Tactical
Heroes Against the Red Star: Lock 'n Load Tactical
Red Gauntlet Expansion: Lock 'n Load Tactical
Heroes in Defiance: Lock 'n Load Tactical
Heroes of the Pacific: Lock 'n Load Tactical
Hell Frozen Over Expansion: Lock 'n Load Tactical
Heroes of the Falklands: Lock 'n Load Tactical
A Feat of Arms Expansion: Lock 'n Load Tactical
Heroes of the Motherland: Lock 'n Load Tactical
Valor of the 13th Expansion: Lock 'n Load Tactical
Heroes of North Africa: Lock 'n Load Tactical
Compendium Vol I: Lock 'n Load Tactical
Compendium Vol II: Lock 'n Load Tactical
Compendium Vol III: Lock 'n Load Tactical
Compendium Vol IV: Lock 'n Load Tactical
Heroes of the Bitter Harvest: Lock 'n Load Tactical
Enemy At The Gates Expansion: Lock 'n Load Tactical
Heroes of Grenada: Lock 'n Load Tactical
Nations At War:
White Star Rising Nations At War
Desert Heat: Nations At War
Stalin's Triumph: Nations At War
Compendium Vol I: Nations At War
Solo Assistant: Nations At War
Starter Kit: Nations At War
World at War 85:
Storming the Gap: World at War 85
Storm and Steel: World at War 85
Defense of Frankfurt: World at War 85
Drive on Giessen: World at War 85
Nuklear Winter 68:
Nuklear Winter 68
Heart of Darkness Expansion: Nuklear Winter 68
Space Infantry:
Space Infantry Resurgence
Space Infantry Resurgence Expansion Box
Space Infantry Federation
Space Infantry Resurgence Core Rules
Tank On Tank:
West Front: Tank On Tank
West Front Defenders of the Rhine: Tank On Tank
East Front: Tank On Tank
East Front Red Storm in the Valley: Tank On Tank
Battles On Demand:
The Day is Ours: Battles On Demand
Atlanta Campaign: Battles On Demand
Bougainville – The Forgotten Campaign: Battles On Demand
Totensonntag: Battles On Demand
Dawn's Early Light – Red Hammer: Corps Command
Raid and Riposte: Battles On Demand
It Started Here: Battles On Demand
Wake Island – A Heroic Defiance: Battles On Demand
Against the Odds: Battles On Demand
No Honor in Surrender: Battles On Demand
Lee At Gettysburg: Battles On Demand
Rommel At Gazala: Battles On Demand
Summer Lightning: Battles On Demand
The Devils Beach – The Omaha Landings: Battles On Demand
Bloody Mohawk: Battles On Demand
Savage Wilderness: Battles On Demand
Battle at Guilford's Courthouse: Battles On Demand
Other games:
Ammo Crate
A Wing and A Pray – Bombing the Reich
The Pacific War
Falling Stars Beginner Game
Falling Stars Core Rules
Falling Stars Into the Long Dark Night Adventure
All Things Zombie
All Things Zombie: Reloaded
All Things Zombie: Fade to Black
All Things Zombie: Nowhere Nevada
Digital Computer Games
Lock 'n Load Tactical Digital:
Lock 'n Load Tactical Digital: Core Game (2020) (WW2 & Vietnam War settings. Updated engine & 5.0 rules from old 2014 edition's 3.5-4.0 rules.)
Tools/Misc:
Lock 'n Load Tactical Digital: Battle Generator & Editor (2021)
World War II content:
Lock 'n Load Tactical Digital: Heroes of the Bitter Harvest Battlepack 1 (2021)
Lock 'n Load Tactical Digital: Valor of the 13th Battlepack (2021)
Lock 'n Load Tactical Digital: Heroes of Normandy Battlepack 1 (2020)
Lock 'n Load Tactical Digital: Heroes of Normandy Battlepack 2 (2021)
Lock 'n Load Tactical Digital: Battles to the Rhine Battlepack (2021)
Lock 'n Load Tactical Digital: Heroes in Defiance Battlepack 1 (2021)
Lock 'n Load Tactical Digital: Heroes of the Pacific Battlepack 1 (2021)
Lock 'n Load Tactical Digital: For the Emperor Battlepack (2021)
Lock 'n Load Tactical Digital: Heroes of North Africa Battlepack 1 (2021)
Lock 'n Load Tactical Digital: Noville Bastogne's Outpost Battlepack (TBA)
Lock 'n Load Tactical Digital: Enemy at the Gates Battlepack (2022)
Lock 'n Load Tactical Digital: We Stand Alone Battlepack (TBA)
Lock 'n Load Tactical Digital: The Untold Stories Battlepack (TBA)
Lock 'n Load Tactical Digital: Hell Frozen Over Battlepack (TBA)
Lock 'n Load Tactical Digital: Heroes of the Motherland Battlepack 1 (TBA)
Vietnam War content:
Lock 'n Load Tactical Digital: Heroes of the Nam Battlepack 1 (2020)
Lock 'n Load Tactical Digital: Heroes of the Nam Battlepack 2 (2021)
Lock 'n Load Tactical Digital: Pledge of Honor Battlepack (2022)
Other wars:
Lock 'n Load Tactical Digital: Heroes of the Falklands Battlepack 1 (2020)
Lock 'n Load Tactical Digital: Days of Villainy Battlepack (2020) (Libyan Crisis, 2011)
Lock 'n Load Tactical Digital: Day of Heroes – Battlepack 1 (2022) (Battle of Mogadishu, 1993)
Lock 'n Load Tactical Digital: Bear and the Jackal Battlepack (TBA) (Soviet-Afghan War)
Lock 'n Load Tactical Digital: Heroes of Grenada (TBA) (U.S. invasion of Grenada, 1983)
Fictional settings/themes:
Lock 'n Load Tactical Digital: Heroes Against the Red Star Battlepack 1 (2020) (Cold War)
Lock 'n Load Tactical Digital: Red Gauntlet Battlepack (2021) (Cold War)
Lock 'n Load Tactical Digital: Space Infantry Above and Beyond Battle Pack 1 (TBA) (Exoplanet, sci-fi)
Lock 'n Load Tactical Digital: Zombies The Final Battle Battlepack 1 (TBA) (Zombie theme. WW2 to modern day.)
Nations At War Digital:
Nations At War Digital: Core Game (2020)
Nations At War Digital: White Star Rising Battlepack 1 (2020)
Nations At War Digital: White Star Rising Battlepack 2 (2020)
Nations At War Digital: Desert Heat Battlepack 1 (TBA)
Nations At War Digital: Desert Heat Battlepack 2 (TBA)
Nations At War Digital: Stalin's Triumph Battlepack 1 (TBA)
Nations At War Digital: Stalin's Triumph Battlepack 2 (TBA)
Command Ops:
Command Ops 2 Core Engine (2015)
Command Ops 2 Vol 1: Highway to the Reich (2015)
Command Ops 2 Vol 2: Foothills of the Gods (2015)
Command Ops 2 Vol 3: Ride of the Valkyries (2015)
Command Ops 2 Vol 4: Bastogne (2015)
Command Ops 2 Vol 5: The Cauldron (2015)
Command Ops 2 Vol 6: Knock On All Doors (2015)
Command Ops 2 Vol 7: Westwall (2015)
Other video games:
Mark H. Walker's Lock 'n Load: Heroes of Stalingrad (2014) (Old engine & rules (3.5 to 4.0))
Falling Stars War of Empires (2016)
Tank On Tank Digital - West Front (2017)
Tank On Tank Digital - East Front Battlepack 1 (2017)
Victory & Glory – The American Civil War (2020)
Audio and Paperback Books
Space Infantry: Outpost 13
Storming the Gap: First Strike
Storm and Steel: Second Wave
An Army of Two
The Ghost Insurgency
Heroes of Normandy: The Untold Stories
Edge of the Line
Magazine Issues
Line of Fire Magazine #1 (PDF Only)
Line of Fire Magazine #2 (PDF Only)
Line of Fire Magazine #3 (PDF Only)
Line of Fire Magazine #4 (PDF Only)
Line of Fire Magazine #5 (PDF Only)
Line of Fire Magazine #6 (PDF Only)
Line of Fire Magazine #7 (PDF Only)
Line of Fire Magazine #8 (PDF Only)
Line of Fire Magazine #9 (PDF Only)
Line of Fire Magazine #10 (PDF Only)
Line of Fire Magazine #11 (PDF Only)
Line of Fire Magazine #12 (PDF Only)
Line of Fire Magazine #13 (PDF Only)
Line of Fire Magazine #15 (PDF Only)
Line of Fire Magazine #14 (PDF Only)
Line of Fire Magazine #15 (PDF Only)
In Development
Point Blank V is for Victory
Blood and Fury: World At War 85
Heroes of the Bitter Harvest: Lock 'n Load Tactical
Enemy At The Gates Expansion: Lock 'n Load Tactical
