I have already come to think of Lock & Load as the pin event of the year, though we release pins all year long, of course. And while a host of other exciting and engaging activities, events, and releases will happen this June in the Meydenbauer Center, the first anniversary of Privateer Pins will undoubtedly be my favorite.

Last year, we launched with dozens of pins across all factions, and since then, the list keeps growing—faction logos and zombies and chibis galore. This year, nearly twenty brand-new pins make their debut at Lock & Load, including our celebratory first anniversary pin.

I have had a special fondness for the chibis from the very beginning, so it has become something of a sport to determine which characters get the honor of the format next. They’re hot properties—we’ve already sold out of some limited edition ones on our website, and I suspect these will go in short order as well. Chibi Harbinger, chibi Totem Hunter, chibi Eiryss, chibi Dawnlord Vyros, and chibi Makeda: I imagine your guess is as good as mine as to which ones will disappear first.











We’re also launching a new line this year: our cereal pins kick off with Skorne Flakes, and more cereal pins are on the horizon. Think of them as the prize you used to get in your cereal box when you were a kid.

So, what about the ones that are a bit more challenging to collect? Well, two pins will be available only in the special Haley collector’s box: the Major Rank and the Prime Rank. And once those boxes sell out, those pins are gone forever.





How about that first anniversary pin? The way to add that one to your collection is to shop for additional pins in the Privateer Pins line in order to get it free with purchase. And because it’s dated, it’s only available in limited quantities and for a very short time.

And even if you don’t have a particularly robust collection, you’ll still get to expand your collection by one. Last year, we gave away a silver Lock & Load 2014 pin to every attendee—and you had to trade for the gold variant. Now we’re going straight for the gold, no trading required! So, if you attend this year’s event, the limited edition 2015 pin is yours.

Last year, Mercedes Behan left Lock & Load with every single pin—she was our first hardcore collector. By Sunday, she was admirably weighted down by lots of tiny pieces of metal on her lanyard. This year, I’m looking forward to seeing how her collection has grown and meeting the new collectors Privateer Pins has picked up along the way. I’m also very much looking forward to hanging out with those collectors and hearing what pins they think we should do next.