Power Elephant here on Dakkadakka has been 3D designing and printing his own conquistador styled ant army, sorry for bringing over the ginormous pictures, but they really are fantastic.
Theophony wrote: Power Elephant here on Dakkadakka has been 3D designing and printing his own conquistador styled ant army, sorry for bringing over the ginormous pictures, but they really are fantastic.
Now I'm on laptop and can see the big pictures for what they are.
Funny how that throws off everything on phone view.
Affects every following reply and photo posted afterwards, too.
Crazy.
From FB: ''Plastic female crew and mercenaries, then a new set we're calling scavengers. We'll also get out some of the rarer creatures, in metal, ones it's difficult to get proxies for.''
Not sure what a scavenger would be that's not already covered by crew, mercenaries and troopers though. Maybe just more ragged and ramshackle? Jerry-rigged weapons and such? Packs and pouches?
But so far all the plastics have been more fun than a barrel containing monkeys so I'm up for them.
Not sure what a scavenger would be that's not already covered by crew, mercenaries and troopers though. Maybe just more ragged and ramshackle? Jerry-rigged weapons and such? Packs and pouches?
But so far all the plastics have been more fun than a barrel containing monkeys so I'm up for them.
They are probably space fairing green muscle builders that weld things together and they mysteriously w ork. Being some sort of fungus they have no need for Atmosphere as use photosynthesis and grow bigger and tougher over time and scrappin.
Not sure what a scavenger would be that's not already covered by crew, mercenaries and troopers though. Maybe just more ragged and ramshackle? Jerry-rigged weapons and such? Packs and pouches?
But so far all the plastics have been more fun than a barrel containing monkeys so I'm up for them.
More packs and pouches would be very welcome. You can never have too many packs and pouches. Seriously.
We've more metal characters and monsters planned for Stargrave, but the next two plastic box sets will be Crew II and Mercenaries II.
What makes them different from Crew I and Mercs I?
This time they are all women.
Hoping for more non-shooting arms in the crew set. While the crew has a few tool and datapad arms they're all (or almost all) in the left hand with all (or almost all) right hands with guns.
It would also be nice to see some other tools, a scanner, a drill, a hammer etc.
Hoping for more non-shooting arms in the crew set. While the crew has a few tool and datapad arms they're all (or almost all) in the left hand with all (or almost all) right hands with guns.
It would also be nice to see some other tools, a scanner, a drill, a hammer etc.
We've more metal characters and monsters planned for Stargrave, but the next two plastic box sets will be Crew II and Mercenaries II.
What makes them different from Crew I and Mercs I?
This time they are all women.
How will we tell? According to Star Trek not all aliens keep their Genitals in the same place ... And Captain Kirk would know.
We've more metal characters and monsters planned for Stargrave, but the next two plastic box sets will be Crew II and Mercenaries II.
What makes them different from Crew I and Mercs I?
This time they are all women.
Latest announcement I've seen has Crew !! in April and Mercs II in May.
''Coming September 2022
Take on the pirate fleets in this campaign for Stargrave, featuring full rules for playing the game solo or cooperatively.
Since the end of the Last War, the great pirate fleets have roamed the ruins of the galaxy, pillaging, extorting, and enslaving. No one has had the power to stand against them, and the desperate few who have tried, have been quickly and brutally crushed. However,
when the independent crews are hired for a simple hostage rescue, it leads to a dangerous opportunity to strike a blow against tyranny. Two of the largest and most vicious pirate fleets are meeting for a parlay near the ruins of an ancient research
station... one that once experimented with ‘supernovalevel events’. If the crews can locate the station, slip past the pirates, and infiltrate the facility, it might be possible to release such an event just as the fleets have gathered...
Hope Eternal is a solo and cooperative expansion for Stargrave. Along with full rules for
playing the game in this new style, the book contains an intricate campaign of connected scenarios. Whether you brave the perils of the campaign alone, or enlist the aid of another independent crew, this is your chance to bring back a little hope to the ravaged galaxy!''
From FB: ''Stargrave: The Last Prospector.
We're making plans for a joint Rules/ Miniatures release, hold off placing your pre-order with Amazon until you see what we have to offer.''
Nah, different place. A lot of hoops and whatnots involved to cancel, but might as well, they offer IOSS shipping, something which my postal services do not respect or even attempt to acknowledge.
Flinty wrote: I mostly like the fact that they all seem to be eminently sensibly dressed, given the environment they are supposed to be operating in!
First, Northstar does not do cheesecake. Second, if they did, and followed Barbarella's example, they'd be starting a line of "Gentlemen's Interest" minis, which I'm not sure really sell that well.
And yes, I want more held tools and other non-combat items. Maybe if they do plastics for The Last Prospector, they'll have things like concrete saws, rock drills, and welding torches. They are tools first, but can be used as improvised weapons if necessary.
Grumpy Gnome wrote: I an pleased, I think the renders look good. And I agree, more tools for my bits box please.
(Obligatory plug)
I'd just note that if you're looking for tools or gun tools Maelstrom Edge's broken come with a ton of funky devices that could be welder or could be laser cannons. They could be glue guns or could be toxic waste sprayers. I haven't tried it yet but they should mix well with Stargrave, and they're pretty cool figures themselves.
The next Stargrave book, The Last Prospector, needs space miners in a couple of scenarios. North Star's Dean goes 'I've already got some, I put the Oathmark Dwarf arms on the Crew figures'. Brilliant. So much so, we'll make the Dwarf frame available to buy singularly when the games' released so you can do the same yourself. Or if you don't want Space Miners, use the Stargrave arms to make Space Dwarves. Or just have the miners as Dwarves! It's all good!!
Now I'm trying to think of how to make the more grimdark. Maybe lop off the hands and glue the picks and shovels right to the stumps?
Skulls. The answer is always skulls. I will accept other visible bones as long as their is at least one skull per figure not including the one in its head.
Grumpy Gnome wrote: I an pleased, I think the renders look good. And I agree, more tools for my bits box please.
(Obligatory plug)
I'd just note that if you're looking for tools or gun tools Maelstrom Edge's broken come with a ton of funky devices that could be welder or could be laser cannons. They could be glue guns or could be toxic waste sprayers. I haven't tried it yet but they should mix well with Stargrave, and they're pretty cool figures themselves.
I always have my eye out for some of the Maelstrom Edge’s Broken at a good price on EBay. At some point I will need to break down and pay full retail from the manufacturer, the Broken look great.
Shadow Walker wrote: ''Women in Space.
Stargrave Crew II. Released April 2022.''
I was doing some kitbashing and yeah, this is what I like. Just give me something nice and modular with bits in proportion to each other so they can swap from kit to kit. I wish Northstar's sculpting and crispness was better but in the end this is what I want to be doing.
Not gluing 20 bits together to make a 5 point rifleman
I wish we would get updates for the next kits for frostgrave and oathmark - I want to share in the excitement of getting new kits, and wargames atlantic is gonna be awhile before they get to scale armored Romans :/
I feel the urge to point out again that North Star models aren't actually formless blobs, it's just the house painter's style to eliminate all traces of edges on a miniature.
I don't know if I'm becoming more discerning or if the heads on Northstar minis are just getting bigger and bigger in comparison to the bodies.
Been painting and playing CMON's Song of Ice and Fire game for awhile now, and the head proportions on their minis are much less exaggerated, so my sense of normal may be shifting.
This sort of thing makes Northstar stuff look even more dated ...
Your 'dated' is another gamer's 'sturdy'. Those figs in the link look pretty, but also like resin prints would last about three minutes on the table before parts get broken off.
Heroic scale isn't just a relic of the past that some companies irrationally cling to. It's a practical design style, designed to make gaming miniatures less prone to breakages and miscasts within the capabilities of the material they're made from. IMO, too many STL offerings out there are designed purely for aesthetics, with little or no regard to actual usability.
Northstar's figures are basic, sure. And some of them do push the 'heroic' scaling a little further than other manufacturers. But they're also well designed, solid figures that should stand up to years of gaming.
This sort of thing makes Northstar stuff look even more dated ...
Your 'dated' is another gamer's 'sturdy'. Those figs in the link look pretty, but also like resin prints would last about three minutes on the table before parts get broken off.
Heroic scale isn't just a relic of the past that some companies irrationally cling to. It's a practical design style, designed to make gaming miniatures less prone to breakages and miscasts within the capabilities of the material they're made from. IMO, too many STL offerings out there are designed purely for aesthetics, with little or no regard to actual usability.
Northstar's figures are basic, sure. And some of them do push the 'heroic' scaling a little further than other manufacturers. But they're also well designed, solid figures that should stand up to years of gaming.
I have heroic scale metal minis that are 30+ years old. I have heroic scale plastics that are approximately as old. I have a hard time imagining that there are a lot of 3d prints that are going to have as much longevity in terms of durability and demand.
I Definately agree that Some stl ranges are too slender, but I think the station crew hits a good happy medium, even when downscaled a bit from the original size to match my Necromunda and Stargrave collection. The costume details will add some decent texture using simple painting methods, and the proportions look nice to me. Arms and legs should be pretty robust. The fingers are pretty tiny, but equally even if they break it would be hard to see the impact.
This sort of thing makes Northstar stuff look even more dated ...
Your 'dated' is another gamer's 'sturdy'. Those figs in the link look pretty, but also like resin prints would last about three minutes on the table before parts get broken off.
Heroic scale isn't just a relic of the past that some companies irrationally cling to. It's a practical design style, designed to make gaming miniatures less prone to breakages and miscasts within the capabilities of the material they're made from. IMO, too many STL offerings out there are designed purely for aesthetics, with little or no regard to actual usability.
Northstar's figures are basic, sure. And some of them do push the 'heroic' scaling a little further than other manufacturers. But they're also well designed, solid figures that should stand up to years of gaming.
Kid_Kyoto wrote: There's also a difference between seeing a 1" model from 5' away and seeing the same model blown up to 200% size right in front of your face.
And a world of difference between a render and painting a 1" model in your hand.
Yep, give me heroic scale any day for the above reasons.
Once the model leaves the painting table it will be viewed from and handled from arms length and I prefer that the miniatures are optimised for this purpose.
Unfortunately I often forget this idea myself and get tricked by pretty 'close-up' pictures.
Shadow Walker wrote: Crew 2 box art and Investigator - New Captain class for The Last Prospector.
Is that great coat model a metal one?
Anything not coming from plastic boxes is metal. It is possible they may release plastic ''captains'' box in the future similar like they have ''wizards'' in Frostgrave.
Thanks for that. I wonder when they will show the new metals other than the Investigators? I'd like to buy the Last Prospector bundle, but at the moment, that's going in blind on the majority of new metals.
Thanks to OrlandotheTechnicolored, I guess I'll spring for the all in bundle. Now the Northstar newsletter mentions the metals will have a price increase in May, so getting a few more Specialists is also on the agenda. Also, the newsletter mentions they will only be selling single sprues until 11th April.
As for the original FG Cultists not having a set of identical masked heads, they were going for a more motley crew as opposed to HYDRA or COBRA uniformed minions look.
Very nice. Aaaand it's preordered.
I hope the solo mode gets better with TLP, the current one doesn't hold a candle to 5PFH. But I really like the style and general rules of Stargrave. Still hoping for a Rangers of Stargrave Deep...
The cultists have a couple of normal hoods (versus pointy hoods) but those darksider hoods seem to have more undercuts than a plastic sprue can accommodate.
Kid_Kyoto wrote: The cultists have a couple of normal hoods (versus pointy hoods) but those darksider hoods seem to have more undercuts than a plastic sprue can accommodate.
While it is a decent mix, I see I was wrong about this sprue having more held tools. Just one wrench arm, and no data tablet arm. They do have a walkie-talkie to glue to an arm. And no crowbars in any of the sets!
I like the knit cap, baseball cap, and beret. I wonder why the men did not get said hats. Especially baseball caps. How can you have space truckers without a Peterbilt baseball cap? You just can't.
Kid_Kyoto wrote: Holstered rifle, flame thrower and most importantly a cat girl head.
''Stargrave Investigators, new Captain class from The Last Prospector.
So far we've just shown you digital renders, these are the actual metal figures.''
More wimmin folk is always nice but not really ground breaking.
Still hoping for industrial robots, techno barbarians or space pirates (with cyber eye patches and laser blunderbuses and servo peg legs and robo parrots!).
More wimmin folk is always nice but not really ground breaking.
Still hoping for industrial robots, techno barbarians or space pirates (with cyber eye patches and laser blunderbuses and servo peg legs and robo parrots!).
We've enough heart-breakers and life-takers. I'd like more yard dogs to build the ships, refit them, and repair them. With appropriately equipped arms; welding torches, rivet guns etc.
Heck, if I'm wish-listing, some civilian dignitaries: Ambassadors, CEOs and the directors of the board, Planetary Leaders, and the more important members of their staff. These are probably better in metal, since most players would not need many of them. Just a few for objectives, either to defend or kidnap depending on the scenario.
More wimmin folk is always nice but not really ground breaking.
Still hoping for industrial robots, techno barbarians or space pirates (with cyber eye patches and laser blunderbuses and servo peg legs and robo parrots!).
We've enough heart-breakers and life-takers. I'd like more yard dogs to build the ships, refit them, and repair them. With appropriately equipped arms; welding torches, rivet guns etc.
Heck, if I'm wish-listing, some civilian dignitaries: Ambassadors, CEOs and the directors of the board, Planetary Leaders, and the more important members of their staff. These are probably better in metal, since most players would not need many of them. Just a few for objectives, either to defend or kidnap depending on the scenario.
As per discussion during the aftermath of the Nickstarter, was that Crew and Mercenaries would both be getting female sprues for a II Box.
(Nothing for troopers as they specifically had female bits put in there as there uniforms would be the same either gender etc.)
It’s after that, that I wonder where we could be going!
I feel that this is already catered pretty well by Wargames Atlantics Cannon Fodder. Their simple jump suits, collars and bald heads scream Genestealer Cult.
With a few techy bits, they make great coven members.
Pacific wrote: Really liking some of the Stargrave sculpts. Also, looking through blister packs again is lovely!
I got these guys and am using them as Techs in a Necromunda campaign, very reasonably priced too.
Very cool. The tekker on the left looks so close to an overweight version of the Second Generation of metal Van Saar. Even got the right facial hair and boots. Might have to buy him.
2nd Gen Van Saar on Far Left, the rest are first Van Saar Leaders and a Scummer.
The metal cultist heads offered as part of the Last Prospector pre-order are now available separately. £5.00 for twenty random heads. They all have the same type of mask, unlike the Frostgrave Cultist heads, so one can have an uniform look.
Now that my Last Prospector pre-order has arrived, I just wanted to say I'm disappointed with the Daughter Ryza figure as a representation of the character and objective for that scenario. As a figure it's fine for a Veteran Captain or First Mate, but as Daughter Ryza herself it is a fail, since in the scenario she's using a Void Blade and Pistol, and the rules for Void Blade state the user cannot use any weapons that take up more than one Gear slot, so the figure could not use the SMG-like weapon sculpted.
As for the Last Prospector campaign, it seems like it will be great fun, although as with all Joe McC's scenarios you will need a lot of one-off figures and terrain. {Proxies are a must, unless one does not mind the expense, and has storage space. Or happen to have the right figures and vehicles. I don't have jetbikes, or even motorcycles, and I don't want them, so I'll improvise something when we play that scenario.}
Bruisers are a fourth type of free soldier, just one that is only close combat, no pistol and no shoot score. The metal figure can also be used as a Striker, who is a 100 credit close combat specialist. A Striker gets Fight bonuses versus Shooting, and when striking in CC, reduces the target's armor. So while they do not have a ranged option, they seem effective.
Ancestral Hamster wrote: Now that my Last Prospector pre-order has arrived, I just wanted to say I'm disappointed with the Daughter Ryza figure as a representation of the character and objective for that scenario. As a figure it's fine for a Veteran Captain or First Mate, but as Daughter Ryza herself it is a fail, since in the scenario she's using a Void Blade and Pistol, and the rules for Void Blade state the user cannot use any weapons that take up more than one Gear slot, so the figure could not use the SMG-like weapon sculpted.
As for the Last Prospector campaign, it seems like it will be great fun, although as with all Joe McC's scenarios you will need a lot of one-off figures and terrain. {Proxies are a must, unless one does not mind the expense, and has storage space. Or happen to have the right figures and vehicles. I don't have jetbikes, or even motorcycles, and I don't want them, so I'll improvise something when we play that scenario.}
Interesting that the model doesn't quite match for Ryla. How tight is the mag molded to the leg? Seems like it'd be a pretty easy to cut down (lose the barrel and mag) or swap out the pistol. Does she have a blade on her somewhere?
Hot Wheels motorcycles can be a great stand-in when you need bikes and at a buck each, it's not a big investment.
The Daughter Ryza mini does have a sword on her back. As for the magazine, it could be cut off, but there is a pocket beneath it that one would have to file off since the magazine covers the upper part, so just removing the magazine would leave a partial pocket. Not sure it is worth the trouble; easier to use the female Mystic received as part of the SG launch bonuses as Daughter Ryza instead. {Although perhaps a sword could be added to her left hand. It would also be suitably heroic looking. "Up and at them! }
Thanks for the tip about Hot Wheels motorcycles. Had forgotten about that toy line. The scenario in question requires four grav-sleds/hover-bikes, or other small one seater fliers.
Thanks for the tip about Hot Wheels motorcycles. Had forgotten about that toy line. The scenario in question requires four grav-sleds/hover-bikes, or other small one seater fliers.
You're very welcome. If you want them to be grav bikes, Denizen and Ramshackle have some nice cheap options
The next Stargrave figure release are the Surfboys for The Last Prospector. There's two new figures, plus a Grav-Sled on it's own. The Grav-Sled you can use to make your own Surfboys from the Stargrave plastics
Surfboys are used in just one scenario in Last Prospector. It does not strike me as a good investment of time and money to buy single-use figures. {Or single-use terrain even more so.}
Ancestral Hamster wrote: Surfboys are used in just one scenario in Last Prospector. It does not strike me as a good investment of time and money to buy single-use figures. {Or single-use terrain even more so.}
I mean, they're only 'single use' if you only intend to play that scenario one single time. And choose to never use them for anything else outside of that scenario.
Ancestral Hamster wrote: Surfboys are used in just one scenario in Last Prospector. It does not strike me as a good investment of time and money to buy single-use figures. {Or single-use terrain even more so.}
I mean, they're only 'single use' if you only intend to play that scenario one single time. And choose to never use them for anything else outside of that scenario.
That's the thing, I don't need surfboys or other flying vehicles. Buying them and painting them would be a waste for me. Now if they could do double duty elsewhere, then it would not be an issue for me. In theory, I could use Tomb Blades and afterwards they'd go into my Necron Army, but I haven't played 40k for at least six years. I'll probably just take Eilif's advice and use Hot Wheels.
Moving forward, I'm trying to assemble a collection of "NPC" minis that can work both in Frostgrave and Stargrave, since Joe Mc requires a cast of dozens. So Reaper Hellhounds for Chronohounds (FG) and Warp Hounds (SG). Need more Giant Rats, and they will be rats in FG, and whatever the equivalent critter is in SG.
Ancestral Hamster wrote: Surfboys are used in just one scenario in Last Prospector. It does not strike me as a good investment of time and money to buy single-use figures. {Or single-use terrain even more so.}
I mean, they're only 'single use' if you only intend to play that scenario one single time. And choose to never use them for anything else outside of that scenario.
I do understand that at first glance this might not seem like a great investment. I respect your self controled approach to a hobby that encourages hoarding.
However, if -like me- you've been into miniatures agnostic gaming (Which Stargrave nearly is) for a long time then your line of thinking is more likely to be that a gang of hover boarders is a cool idea that could find use in allot of scenarios, in various Sci-fi games.
Most of us who play these sorts of games have figures that have been played with several different rulesets over a period of years and also figures that have been painted and seen the table only once, or perhaps not at all. The figures were purchased for a given purpose and then they went into the collection to be reused someday when the need arises.
All this to say, I think if you love the figs and have the cash, buy them and paint them up even if the current use is limited. If you're not wild about then, then Hot Wheels bikes would be a fine stand in.
I see a lot of dirt cheap options for hover boards.
Starting with making hover boards out of plastic card and adding bits and widgets.
After that I'd dip into my box of dirt cheap plastic space ships and planes and seeing if there isn't one that can pass for a flying board. A flying saucer or similar shape might work.
Simply glueing 2 GW style bases together (underside to underside) gives a decent looking flying disc you can jazz up from your bits box thanks to the angles on the edge if you want to go that way
Thanks for the suggestions. I do have spare bases, and in addition to my minis bitz box, there's a plastic model kit bitz box from four decades ago that probably has some appropriate bits. [Stopped non-wargame plastic modeling after I started wargaming at 13.]
In a"D'oh" moment, I've remembered I have unassembled Maelstrom's Edge Epirian Drones. As long as no crew needs Drones, the Drones can be Surfboys. Heck, even if a crew needs a drone, they can proxy their drone for 1 game.
Incidentally, I have no problems with proxies, and my fantasy minis have served in many different games be they mini games like WHFB or AD&D. Prior to Eilif's Hot Wheels suggestion, I was just going to cut out 2" x 1" cardboard rectangles and putty SG figures on each for a driver. I may still get the Hot Wheels for scatter.
Kid_Kyoto wrote:I see a lot of dirt cheap options for hover boards.
Starting with making hover boards out of plastic card and adding bits and widgets.
After that I'd dip into my box of dirt cheap plastic space ships and planes and seeing if there isn't one that can pass for a flying board. A flying saucer or similar shape might work.
Tank hatches with bits might also work
OrlandotheTechnicoloured wrote:Simply glueing 2 GW style bases together (underside to underside) gives a decent looking flying disc you can jazz up from your bits box thanks to the angles on the edge if you want to go that way
Pulp Alley has some flying vehicles along the lines of pulp-era jet gliders which have a 25mm round dorsal recess incorporated into the design, so they'll fit any miniatures based as such. Combine that and the ideas above, and you could probably end up with some nice hover boards or hover discs useful for a wide variety of games and situations.
I mean, if the live-action Masters of the Universe can pull off* handle-less hover discs, so can we!
*certain liberal interpretations of "pull off" may apply
More wimmin folk is always nice but not really ground breaking.
Still hoping for industrial robots, techno barbarians or space pirates (with cyber eye patches and laser blunderbuses and servo peg legs and robo parrots!).
Seem to recall a post when they announced the Female crew saying Female mercenaries and Scavengers were next. The mercenaries should be cool but I have to admit I'm personally more interested in what they do for Scavengers.
Lurking amongst the Musket & Tomahawk collection today was a resin copy of the new Stargrave Mining Robot, accompanied by short bearded Miners.
The mining robot will be released as a metal model soon.
Are these renders or an actual pic of the plastics? Also, I see a flame thrower, so that need is met (EDIT: Never mind. Just saw the ammo belt going into the weapon. The muzzle looks more like a flamethrower spout though.)
Troopers are pretty different I feel.
I have done a soldier crew all from that box and they look pretty good.
My alien heads based crew, that’s 5 merc models and 5 crew models for the bodies.
They blend seamlessly as just different clothed versions of the same guys.
So for me that is good. But yeah quite similar.
It's true though, if you look at the different Frostgrave plastic sets there's a much more distinct theme to each one. It's not easy to tell at first glance what stargrave set each body/legs piece comes from. It's too late now but personally I'd have made the troopers' armour a little bit more stylised and less generic, or else dropped them entirely and done a "crew" box much as it is now and a more ragged looking space pirate/scavenger box instead of troopers.
I like the Stargrave plastics (and some of the metals - the dog set is awesome) quite a bit. After the female mercs, I'd love to see North Star release something different from the humanoid sets we've been getting lately next, like the Frostgrave Gnolls and Snakemen. (Not sci-fi iterations of those particular Frostgrave kits, as they already convert well when kitbashed with Stargrave kits. Just a plastic set or two that departs as much as they do from the standard human form.)
Aside from more inhuman aliens, a hard plastic robot soldiers / bounty hunters set would be great.
The pvc plastic of mantic dreadball teams is well known to be difficult to clean up p for things like mold lines. However, they include some of the coolest aliens (and without guns and other weapons molded on) and robots. The second team below is modular robot bits that you put together as you like.
Again, I’m not a fan of the material, but the designs at least aren’t trapped in grim darkness.
The Chromium chargers are great designs, but among the more difficult Mantic PVC mini kits to clean up well (if mold lines bother you.) Personally, PVC ruins the modular rotek brutes for me. The parts are many and small, and most of the joins aren't fitted in any way, meaning the superglue has to do the entire job of holding all the small bits of the human-sized bots together. It's a shame, because in hard plastic, they would have been a dynamite kit.
Overall, however, I agree with your point that Mantic has many good PVC bots and aliens, especially aliens. I just think there are other examples that are sturdier once built, and less of a pain in the patookus to clean up and put together. (In the case of cleaning up, emphasis on less, of course. It's always annoying to trim mold lines from PVC to some degree, doubly so if you want to do a thorough job that completely removes them.)
In Northstar newsletter #277, they mention that they will be taking orders for Hope Eternal in late September. Also mentioned is that one of the encounters is with axe-wielding barbarians, and every copy of the rules will have a plastic frame of barbarians included. I was planning to add the Frostgrave female barbarians to the pre-order anyway, so at the moment I'm planning on the book, the female mercenaries, and female barbarians. Maybe the Leechwolves from Blood Legacy; they are seriously freaky.
Though, they do showcase new ones as the pre-order progresses. They haven't put the Mercs II box up yet so could be worth waiting for that before purchasing. They're not getting sent out until the 29th either way
Though, they do showcase new ones as the pre-order progresses. They haven't put the Mercs II box up yet so could be worth waiting for that before purchasing. They're not getting sent out until the 29th either way
From the above link:
Pre-order Stargrave: Hope Eternal before the 29th of September and get a free frame of plastic Barbarians with every copy. The axe wielding Barbarians feature in the Hope Eternal campaign, you'll need these for your games.
There is a Stargrave: Hope Eternal miniatures release. If you want the book and free Barbarian frame without the new figures please order it now. If you want to combine it with the new figures, hold off and buy the book (and frame) as part of a deal.
So based on the second paragraph, there will be book + minis deals later.
privateer4hire wrote: The pvc plastic of mantic dreadball teams is well known to be difficult to clean up p for things like mold lines. However, they include some of the coolest aliens (and without guns and other weapons molded on) and robots. The second team below is modular robot bits that you put together as you like.
Again, I’m not a fan of the material, but the designs at least aren’t trapped in grim darkness.
A kit with generic robots like the ones in the movie IRobot, and hover bots, and a tractor bot like in Lost in Space, and of course com bots....my plastic kit dream.
Ah but we know for a fact that the market for Landsknechts Ogres is bigger than the market for modular robots.
Saddly, there is no doubt about it. LO popularity seems to be skyrocketing these days. In just couple of years they will have little to no rivals.
Eventually, GW will figure this out, and 40K will be nothing but codexes for Landsknects Ogres with different color combinations for their slashed sleeves.
Vermonter wrote: Slaver bots can always be distinguished by their superfluous loincloths. Guard and Bounty bots never wear those.
I am a bit surprised, er disappointed rather I think, about the loincloths. I am also disappointed that we are not getting a nicely pulp Robbie the Robot look-alike. Sigh. Still, I like the plastic kits. I am sure one day we will get a modular “build your own robot” kit… ever the optimist me.
Oh. I thought it was a new book. But as you said, it’s cards. Here’s a blerb I found.
A 40-card deck of special missions, plots, and objectives from which players can draw to add extra intrigue to their games.
The goal for most of the independent crews operating throughout the Ravaged Galaxy is that one big score that will set them up for life. Such scores are few and far between, so crews typically find themselves taking whatever jobs they can scrounge – anything for a quick credit. Anyone can sell an alien artefact or a set of neural-fuses, but smart captains know that there are myriad ways to turn a profit…
This expansion for Stargrave consists of 40 Side Hustle cards – missions, plots, and tasks that add variety, depth, and new tactical challenges to wargames in the Ravaged Galaxy. Each card presents a specific objective… and the rewards for achieving it. Some of these missions must be revealed, while others are kept secret. Is your crew attempting to insert a data virus into a key system? Locate a political prisoner? Uncover evidence of a secret scientific cabal? Every crew is out to grab some loot, but what's your captain's side hustle?
Sounds like the Stargrave version of the Ulterior Motives cards for Frostgrave. Mrs. GG and I quite like those cards so looking forward to this release.
Not the best cover art, but I like the idea. Has a Star Wars cantina feel to it. Also a nod to the cliche of tabletop RPGs, of adventures starting in a bar/tavern/saloon. "Your characters are drinking in the Drunken Dragon tavern, when a middle aged man approaches your table and asks if he may join you."
Not the best cover art, but I like the idea. Has a Star Wars cantina feel to it. Also a nod to the cliche of tabletop RPGs, of adventures starting in a bar/tavern/saloon. "Your characters are drinking in the Drunken Dragon tavern, when a middle aged man approaches your table and asks if he may join you."
I already said I'm in so take this from that perspective.
I think with the scavs Star Grave has now covered all niches of sci-fi humanoids with rifles and pistols. We have armored, uniform troopers. Armored mismatched mercenaries (male and female). Unarmored, lightly armed crew (who could use more weaponless arms but are still pretty good).
WHICH IS GREAT!
So I hope that the next release (as much fun as female scavs might be) is something different. Robots, androids, 4 armed aliens, civilians, space suits, cyborgs, miners, space monks with laser swords... Something different.
Ogres or power armor might be good but are well covered by other companies.
Wholeheartedly agree.
And... oh - Spacesuits... that would be great. or some reason pretty much noone does this.
And it would give great options for new game mechanics. Drifting, 3D Movement, pressure etc.
Robots also always in high demand.
So I hope that the next release (as much fun as female scavs might be) is something different. Robots, androids, 4 armed aliens, civilians, space suits, cyborgs, miners, space monks with laser swords... Something different.
Fleet officers - guys in uniforms. Doesn't have to 40k style 19th century uniforms with skulls. but something like movie era Star Trek or Star Wars Imperial Navy. Maybe make them more high tech rules wise with force fields and laser pistols in place of armor and slug weapons. But that's something no one else does now and fits the Star Grave look.
Yea, kitbash robots and functional spacesuits would be my picks. There were actually pretty good GSC-adjacent space suits on the cover of the very first supplement, IIRC, and at the time we all thought that would be the first follow up plastic kit.
Maelstrom’s edge has a pretty good assortment of robots in plastic. I would love to see more from Stargrave or WGA, but for sure if you’re looking for robots you should check out their site.
(And you can pretend the Remnant power armor is also a robot, like Insaniak.)
Yeah, the doggo is from ArtelW. The rest of the crew are converted MEdge figures. I also have a Vic Minis space Dwarf to go in there as a mate, but haven't painted him yet.
Kid_Kyoto wrote: I already said I'm in so take this from that perspective.
I think with the scavs Star Grave has now covered all niches of sci-fi humanoids with rifles and pistols. We have armored, uniform troopers. Armored mismatched mercenaries (male and female). Unarmored, lightly armed crew (who could use more weaponless arms but are still pretty good).
WHICH IS GREAT!
So I hope that the next release (as much fun as female scavs might be) is something different. Robots, androids, 4 armed aliens, civilians, space suits, cyborgs, miners, space monks with laser swords... Something different.
Ogres or power armor might be good but are well covered by other companies.
100% agreed. Frostgrave gave us hard plastic kits of gnolls, demons, and snakemen. It's time for Stargrave to follow suit and do something off the humans-with-guns beaten path.
insaniak wrote: Yeah, the doggo is from ArtelW. The rest of the crew are converted MEdge figures. I also have a Vic Minis space Dwarf to go in there as a mate, but haven't painted him yet.
If you aren’t into resin or prints, Mantic have a robot doggo as part of the Enforcer Pathfinders (or Rangers?). One robot dog per (half-sized) sprue of troops. It’s a bit stiff, but HIPS.
''Here Kev Dallimore has painted one each of the five different body types from the new Scavengers frame.
5? Who's that in the background then?
We've put a number of extra heads and arms on the Scavenger frame so that you can build some Plague Zombies and Zombie Soldiers from this kit as well!''
Including the Zombie parts is still a smart move to expand the appeal of the kit.
So far the main difference I'm getting from this bunch of humans with guns vs. previous Stargrave sets is that these guys wear riff-raffy trenchcoats and a lot of them have post-apoc facegear. I look forward to seeing the final sprue.
That turns out not to be the case. Plastic zombie parts were released with the Frostgrave Cultists box for Thaw of the Lich Lord, but the "zombies" released for Quarantine 37 are metal.
This is a promising kit, but one I'll only want a sprue of. I built some scavengers from the Frostgrave Cultists and the Northstar Sci-fi Cultists resin bits already. They are still available if anyone wants them. FSB002 - Cultist Sci-Fi Accessory Pack
They're the only plastic Space Zombies I can think of.
I'm pretty sure he is. Although I'm getting to the point where I just don't need any more space trooper kits, outside of that well-trodden ground my general feeling is the more kits the merrier, more fodder for kitbashing.
The next plastic box set for Stargrave from North Star Military Figures/Osprey Games will be the Scavengers.
I've not put a release date on these yet because there's a number of things that have to fall into place before fixing a firm date.
First, the frames are tooled, but not cast and we haven't arranged a delivery date with the manufacturer yet.
Second, the printed box is in the same position, art done, but no delivery date from the printer.
But Thirdly, and most importantly as it's the real reason for not giving a date, we're working with Bobby Jackson to have a number of 'Scavenger' Captains + Mates ready for the release as well. The idea is you'll be able to build Scavenger crews led by proper specialist Captains, for example Bobby is making the Robotics Expert Captains right now.
It's all very imminent, I'll keep you posted here!!
Looking at all the Space AK47s this could be the core of a pretty nice Space Soviets army. They'd need some new heads but it could work. Is Pig Iron still around? they had some nice metal Soviet gas mask heads.
Or use the arms with some historical WWII Soviets.
Not that I need another IG army mind you, but the idea has appeal.
@Fugazi If you want to go with a more space raider/space pirate look than the scavengers should be good, but if you want something more chaotic looking or more in line with things like 40k guard/traitor guard the damned should be a better option.
Sculpting and detail wise Stargrave miniatures and Wargames Atlantic miniatures are not that different, although in terms of variety the bodies and head sculpts from stargrave tend to be more varied than WGA kits, especially in terms of faces (WGA often has similar faces in different poses/headgear).
The poses (not the details) of the Stargrave bodies are usually less varied, especially because they are all standing/walking, with no kneeling or other poses that sometimes WGA has on some of their kits.
@GreenScorpion: very helpful, thanks. Good points on the variety of the heads and poses.
Ideally, I’d like a sprue or two of the WGA minis to mix in with the Stargrave stuff, but I’ll see. I doubt I’m going for 3 boxes, if that’s the lowest reward level.
GreenScorpion wrote: @Fugazi If you want to go with a more space raider/space pirate look than the scavengers should be good, but if you want something more chaotic looking or more in line with things like 40k guard/traitor guard the damned should be a better option.
Sculpting and detail wise Stargrave miniatures and Wargames Atlantic miniatures are not that different, although in terms of variety the bodies and head sculpts from stargrave tend to be more varied than WGA kits, especially in terms of faces (WGA often has similar faces in different poses/headgear).
The poses (not the details) of the Stargrave bodies are usually less varied, especially because they are all standing/walking, with no kneeling or other poses that sometimes WGA has on some of their kits.
All very true. WGA tends to go for uniformity in most of their kits which aim for bigger units/armies. They're also the king of having several headgear options in enough quality to outfit all the figs alike
You can build units with Stargrave kits, but they're aimed towards skirmish games, so less uniformity and more variance in style.
If the Bolt Action historicals are as small as the Warlord Hail Caesar line, they will not be a good pairing with the Northstar Stargrave kits. The Hail Caesar figures are small compared to anything except Victrix. Victrix seems to be sculpting at 26mm, not 28mm.
Getting not-Valhallan heads from Victoria Miniatures or Anvil Industries would be safer.
If the Bolt Action historicals are as small as the Warlord Hail Caesar line, they will not be a good pairing with the Northstar Stargrave kits. The Hail Caesar figures are small compared to anything except Victrix. Victrix seems to be sculpting at 26mm, not 28mm.
Getting not-Valhallan heads from Victoria Miniatures or Anvil Industries would be safer.
Bolt Action figs are on the chunkier side of historicals, but still small compared to most sci Fi figs.
Warlord ranges even inside Hail Caesar seem to vary greatly. Their Caesarian Romans are definitely not short and fit OK into 28 mm scale from my memory, however mounted Roman command is absurdly tiny, they're basically halflings riding ponies and feel closer to 1:72.
I have their Japanese Bolt Action figures, and they're relatively short, but they also seem to be very old sculpts.
Don't take this the wrong way but it's actually the difference between historical true scale, traditional GW heroic 28mm and modern GW super heroic scale.Your probably right about checking the scale though
Just thought I would share as I don't think I saw anyone mention it in the thread, but the next Stargrave book is up on Amazon with some tasty details. It is called "Bold Endeavors" and is set for January 2024.
NewTruthNeomaxim wrote: Just thought I would share as I don't think I saw anyone mention it in the thread, but the next Stargrave book is up on Amazon with some tasty details. It is called "Bold Endeavors" and is set for January 2024.
If the Bolt Action historicals are as small as the Warlord Hail Caesar line, they will not be a good pairing with the Northstar Stargrave kits. The Hail Caesar figures are small compared to anything except Victrix. Victrix seems to be sculpting at 26mm, not 28mm.
Getting not-Valhallan heads from Victoria Miniatures or Anvil Industries would be safer.
I think that's changing- their new late Romans are definitely on the taller side.
The stargrave minis are a bit smaller then the WGA deathfield minis. I will get both, they fill different purposes for me. The damned for a chairs army, the scavengers for 5 parsecs from home
... And Captain Kirk would know.
METAL 
