Blast it all!

You may have been wondering what I've been doing instead of gaming. Aside from furiously working on The Department, I've been finish up a freelance project I was working on before the Kickstarter took off.

I'm actually really proud of Blasters and Bulkheads. I've been working on the page designs since early June and it's really neat to see the whole project for sale. I'm really impressed with Joe Urban's cover art, and I'd love to see a mini produced of that character. Though I admit, it looks kinda like hes burning the hair off of the back of his neck.

You can snag a copy at Wargame downloads(which includes full color and printer friendly). So as always, buy loads so I get more work.

Now it's all Department, all the time until April. It's going well so far and I think the layout is going to be even better than Blaster and Bulkheads! There are a lot of concepts in B&B that I'm going to put in The Department.

The Department, Its live folks

It's been another period of inactivity here at the blog, but not without good reason. I've been moving ahead on the artwork for Blaster and Bulkheads, but over the last few months I've also been working on my baby.

I'd like to present to you, my loyal readers, the Kickstarter page for a game I've been wanting to make for a long time.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1931671462/the-department-sci-fi-noir-tabletop-wargame-rpg

I won't rehash the pitch text here, since you can read it on the Kickstarter page, but suffice to say we're breaking new ground in skirmish wargaming. Building on the solid Goalsystem, we plan on releasing a full color 150 page book that lets you fight rogue robots in 2060s America.

While the rewards we have on the Kickstarter page are great, I'd like to extend an offer exclusive to my blog readers. The first ten people who make a donation to the kickstarter at $10 or more will also receive a small print of the above artwork signed by me as a thank you for being one of the first Kickstarter backers. I'll send this out next week(provided there are enogh donations), so you'll have your print right away to help spread the word about The Department. Just send me a message through Kickstarter to claim you bonus reward. Make sure to mention that you heard about it on the blog.

Even if you don't want to donate, I would greatly appreciate making a post about the game on any forums or your blog. The more people know about the project, the more chance we have of making this project a success.

Speaking Mecanically

Here are some Sample pages for the new GWI Rules. I tried to select some that explain some key rule points and shows off some of the awesome art and Karl Perrotton's great layout that's in the book.

For those of you looking for some more information on the rules themselves I'll summarize some of the key points of the rules.

Alternate Activation - Units the consist of several stands of infantry or vehicles activate one at a time and their constituent stands (called fireteams) and vehicles operate within their units command radius.

Combat - Combat is resolved on a opposed roll on 3D6 modified by weapons quality, armour, and shields.

Extra Rules - The book includes rules for spotting, sensors, bailed out vehicle crews and psionics.

Combined Arms - Army list include rules for infatnry, tanks, hover vehicles and flyers.

Full Army Design Rules - Use one of the six included army lists or use the complete army design rules to create you own. The build system is meant to be flexible but balanced.


Hope that Helps. Feel free to ask any additional questions.

Galactic Info

I've been patrolling the various news sites looking at the Galactic War I announcement, and one of the most frequent request was for some basic information about the rules. I figure I would take this opportunity to do a little write up about the rules.

First off, the rules are Company level rules meant with 15mm in mind. Though they can be used with 28mm with a little adjustment to the ranges and movement distances. Armies consist of several units which are made up of three to six infantry fireteams or vehicles.

The system includes rules for all kinds of cool sci-fi troop types that include walkers, grav vehicles, and giant fliers the can not only transport large quantities of infantry, but also vehicles as well.

The Universe is meant to be a pretty open and accessible space opera. It's not hard sci-fi, but its not Skullz(TM) either.

Ther are 7 forces to choose from that range from the forces of Terra, to mysterious psychic aliens.


Mercantile Collective: Mercenary companies that fight for a sovereign corporate free trade zone.

Universalist Military Forces: A militant religious movement that relies heavily on psi support for their armies.

Post Human Liberation Force: Escaped clone slaves that are fighting against those that would seek to enslave them again.

Orion Republic: Humans the rely on heavy armour and large flying dropships.

Terran Confederation: Humans that have a good mix of solid infantry and heavy walkers.

Ferreen Raiding Force: Psychic aliens that fight alongside other savage alien creatures.

The Arlocks: Nomadic aliens that use traded or salvaged vehicles from other faction in their armies.


Though the rules are meant to go with Blue Moon's extensive 15mm sci-fi range, several of the army lists have been written to allow other manufacturers' figures in the force without contradicting the fluff.

I hope that gives you a better idea of the rules. Feel free to ask any questions you may have ion the comments or shoot me an email or a PM.

Not so Long Ago in Galaxy Far Far Away

http://www.tabletopgamingnews.com/2011/06/29/48100/

Its a good time me right now as a some freelance projects that have been in development are finally entering production. It with a proud tear in my eye that I annouce that Galactic War I has gone on Sale.

I worked on Galactic War I last year with Scott Pyle and Sky Hernstrom. I contributed some core rules, but I was primarily responsible with writing the army lists (Sky wrote all the flavor texts). My most proud moment during development was that I got to name the little 15mm Yeti like creatures that seem to be one of the more popular items in the miniture line. It tickles me to see a name that I made up used around the net.

The Twanax!

http://www.bluemoonmanufacturing.com/view_product.php?product=15ALN-114


You can purchase the book here. Buy the book and make sure that I get more work.

http://www.bluemoonmanufacturing.com/view_product.php?product=Rule%2004

The Fallout from Fallout

Here are some more pictures of some additional post-apoc games that I've played over the last week. I'm working on the rules and should be ready for campaign play this Thursday progress is a bit slow since I've been laying out the latest goalsystem book.

War.... War Never Changes

Its been a while since I posted. I started a new job and the blog has suffered. I'm still doing gaming stuff, but I haven't had a chance to blog it. I'm hoping to load ups some of my pictures over the next few days to make up for it before I get back to the more or less weekly schedule that I have found for this blog.

But I figure I would begin with a bang. Here are some pictures of my 15mm Post-Apocalyptic game I played this evening. I used a modified version of the Infinity rules. Trading inches for CM and playing on a much smaller (48cm x 72cm). I really like how it turned out and I especially like the look of the game. The pictures speak for themselves. I really plan on refining my modifications and hope to publish them on this blog.

Dressed to Kill...

converted figures from The Scene UK

from left to right: Rebel Minis, The Scene, Rebel, The Scene, The Scene

Here are some 15mm Post Apocalyptic figures that I converted and painted for a skirmish ruleset that I've been playing with. These represent a reasonably dramatic theoretical shift in the way I aproach 15mm figures. I focused on keeping brush strokes small and paint very thin, which I think pays dividends in 15mm figures. Instead of doing two layers of highlighting after the normal wash of Devlin Mud, I did one especially strong highlight. I used small washers for the bases as well, which I think gives much more visual balance to the finished figures.

Each scale has its own painting challenges. I feel like I'm finally getting to grips with 15mm. The more 15mm figures I paint, the more convinced I am that they can truly supplant 28mm for small sci-fi skirmishes. I think that eventually, I'll be able to paint a 15mm figure just as well as a 28, it's just a matter of technique.

Appliances for all of your spaceship needs

Are you tired of building all of your starship appliances yourself. Do you need ship appliances right off the shelf in a variety of styles and colours?

Well look no further than Joe's Appliance Hanger. We have all the appliances that a spaceworth ship needs to stay flyin'. These prices will not last forever. So come on down!

Here is the lion's share of my 15mm starship furnishings. After some feedback and sugesstion on TMP, I sculpted all of the furnishing that I figure would sell well for 15mm terrain. From Left to right: large veiwscreen, Wepons Locker, Vacc Suit Locker(could be used as a Cryo Chamber as well), Mainframe Cabinet, Computer Console, A chair, and a Bar/Living Quarters Table.

I opted not to do some of the stuff that I though was not useful to everyone, such as toilets and some of the other everyday things that do not get featured in action adventure type scenarios. Stylistically, I tried to straddle the line between sleek high-tech and totally retro. I could see these things used in a Traveller game, or inside a Fallout style vault. I still plan to do a bad and a regular desk and a bed, which should be good sellers as well.

In the meantime. These are for sale with full repo rights. I designed these with castability in mind. There are no undercuts and all the parts are thick enough to cast. Since this is shaping up to be a whole range, I'm willing to promise exclusivity for future pieces to the person who buys the set. If you are interested, email at Kingjoey85 at yahoo dot com.

The Information Age

Here are some more 15mm scale control equipment that I sculpted this evening. I had a lot of fun sculpting these up. There a few minor details to finish and things to clean up, but otherwise they are finished. I was trying to emulate Copplestone's excellent resin equipment. The great thing about 15mm is that its about 1/10th the cost of 28mm. You can make a great control room with these pieces for under a fiver.

As usual, these are for sale with full repo rights.

Robots... When Robots Attack

Here are a couple of 15mm pulp style robots I sculpted today. These could be useful for any sort of retro space game or a certain unnamed post apocalyptic universe. These greens are for sale with full repo rights. Just let me know if you are interested and leave your email in the comments section and I'll get in touch with you to discuss(I'll delete the comment as soon as I contact you).

Pedagogical Techniques

Ask and you shall receive dear readers. I'm devoting this post to my painting technique fore my Dystopian Wars painting technique. Here is picture of one of my painted and rigged battleships. I was bestowed one of the highest nerd honours last week when my FLGS offered a place in their display case for my DW fleet.

This is the first blog post that uses a photograph taken in my new photobooth. My pictures are getting better, but as they do, they are revealing the painting mistakes that the poorer photos hide.

Without further ado here is the recipe for my quick and easy DW paint scheme.

Prime White

Hull

• Basecoat with Vallejo Model Colour German Beige Camo.
• Wash with GW Devlan Mud(the thicker the better).
• When dry, paint the panels with German Beige Camo leaving the areas around the rivets and seams darker.
• Pick out the hard edges and the gunwales with Vallejo Model Colour Iraqi Sand.

Deck

• Basecoatwith Vellejo Model colour Mahogony Sand.
• Wash with GW Devlan Mud.
• Drybrush with 50/50 mix of VMC Ochre Brown and Saddle Brown
• Lightly drybrush with 50/50 mix of the above mixture with Iraqi Sand

Details

• Windows were just filled in with VMC Deep Sky Blue
• Metal was done with basecoat metal(GW Tin Bitz, Bolgun Metal, Etc), washed with Devlan Mud and highlighted with GW Chainmail.

I hope that helps. Its dead easy and makes a good, quick result.

Stay tuned. I photographed my process for rigging and should be releasing a tutorial soon.

Cardiff Steamer

coming out from the other side of the application season, I finally got some serious painting. I succumbed to the new hotness at the local store here in Cardiff and bought a fleet for Dystopian Wars. Being the token Yank at the store I had to go for the FSA. It was convenient that they were my favourite models of the whole range. The figures are a joy to paint. I really can't compliment them enough. Spartan is really showing us the future of miniature making. I think the process of designing figures on CAD and having them 3D printed had finally matured where it can create models that are superior to more old fashion methods.

I'm really pleased with how these turned out, with the devlin mud adding a grungy feel. I went the extra mile and added a mast and some rigging. I think it adds a certain je ne sais quoi to the models. I have two battleships and some aircraft left to paint and then I'll be ready to enforce the Monroe doctrine at the barrel of a gun!

The Horsemen Are Coming Nearer...

Just a quick post about what I'm painting right now. In the wait to the Christmas Infinty goodness, I have invaded my backlog and did some 15mm converting.

I love the new Ratnik post-apoc figures made available in Europe and the US by Lead Adventure. I wanted to see if I could get similar results in 15mm. Here are some crude shots of my efforts. I'll get some better pictures when I get them on some bases. I'm hoping to increase the productivity of the blog by putting up some work in progress shots.

To Infinity And Beyond

This blog seems to have more comback tours than Cher. the dreaded "Real Life" has gotten in the way of the hobby. After finishing my Masters, I've been swamped with work (slinging satelite TV boxes) and fighing the good fight to get some PhD funding for next year. The application to extend my visa finally pushed out gaming in my freetime. Now that that is submitted, i can gte back to painting. Here is the first real painting that I have done in the last month an a half or so.

These are some Infinity Ariadna figures. I got these for cheap on Ebay and painted them in the hope of flipping them once a give a few rounds on the gaming table. The Infinty minitures are supurb and I really wanted to do them justice.

I tried very hard to "up my game" painting wise with these figures. I'm trying to incorprate more wet blending and I'm really focused on the fundementals (paint consistency, brush stroke, and highlight placement). The Camo pattern turned out well but was a real pain to do, being three times the work of a single colour. I'm really pleased with the results, though the photos leave something to be desired. I really need to get bigger lamps and a dedicated photo booth.

I do plan on playing infinity come Janurary. I have some Nomads coming for Christmas and I'm excited to get a brush to them. Stay tuned for mor miniature madness. hopefully I can get some more painting done in the new year.

AE Bountiful

Here are a few pictures of last nights AE Bounty game. Despite being a rather large game(6 crews) the game relatively smoothly. We made a lot of mistake on the rules, but all in all the game made me really excited about this ruleset and I would love to play again. It was also nice to see the 15mm sci-fi figures that I have been painting over the last few months.

The HOTT sands of Mars

Some pictures of last nights game at the club. We used the HOTT rules to play a game of British colonials versus Martian beastmen. there were 72 AP per side. The game was a blast and a the figures (painted by my friend Steve) were superb.

Greetings from The Humungus! The Lord Humungus! The Warrior of the Wasteland! The Ayatollah of Rock and Rolla!

Here's a quick picture of some 15mm Wasteland Raiders for my 15mm Post Apocalypse project. The figures are from Rebel miniatures. I tried to give them an appropriately scavenged look for the figures, giving them clothing that could be scavenged from a destroyed department store or army base.

On the Road Again...

The blog has been quiet for a while since I have been away doing dissertation research. Here are some 15mm Post Apocalyptic bikers from Rebel Miniatures. I have done a few conversion by swapping torsos with their PA gangers and a few head swaps using GZG heads. I really like these models. The casts are really clean and the bikes are ooze detail.

These are the first figures in a new 15mm PA project I'm working on. There are several good PA projects out there in 28mm but not too many in 15mm. Stayed tuned for more 15mm PA.

A Thin Skin Against the Void

I've begun a new 15mm sci-fi project. Skirmish being my first love, I wanted to utilize the benifits of 15mm's small size. I designed these paper ssci-fi corridors and textured them with free sample textures that I got from Marlin Studios.

Some of you may remember my ship sections built around junction boxes. I really like the results I got from this method, but it was too expensive and slow. I designed the paper corridors in order to cover a 4'x4' table quickly and cheaply. The complex above cost me £6 and took me the better part of an afternoon to cut and assemble. Its not quite finished. I need to make more door clips and lots of stuff needs to be black lined. But it is playable as is.

I also made some adverts and signage for the corridors. I wanted this terrain to have blade runner/star wars feel. I imagine that residents in the had city would be constantly bombarded with advertising and holographic images. Right now, I only have signs printed on paper. Once I figure out to print hem onto acetate, I will hae a whole bunch of holo screens and signs.

I have three sizes of section so far. a 4"x4", a 6"x4" and a 2"x7". I plan on making other sizes. The system works by butting these whole sections against one another and connecting them with door clips. The door clips are made out of styrene with a paper texture pasted to them. I'm really pleased with the system.