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BLOG ENTRY 1
10.march.08 - "a whisper from the madhouse."

Shades of Grey

As I fight through the endless amount of thinking and making, ideas and failures, rethinking and success, all towards the grand old Royal College of Art graduation show in june, I have spent a few odd hours here and there thinking and sketching and writing about miniatures. Our gaming group is preparing for life after London - as my exile has affected others some too - with a nice dose of fresh blood in the form of the Dark Heresy. My little brainchild = =I=munda, a mix of Necromunda mechanics, Inquisitor rulebook and now RPG elements, will finally start with a model driven, fluff loaded and Warhammer 40000 Gothic beating heart. It's been a year in the planning, and now has 4 eager and modeling crazy hobbyists working towards a late July start.

Now what is this blog all about then?

Out of this year long back-burner thinking a new Golden Demon entry idea has emerged. It will be called the "Shades of Grey" and while I will not share much of it specifically before the event, I hope following and seeing some of the thinking process behind it, coupled with an in detail explanation and pictorial of the entry after the even might be of interest. It will certainly be a slightly different modeling blog. But what is a modeling blog with out pics of models? I dunno exactly yet - but I am sure there will be models along the way to (The TWAR Blog may soon get some updates! too), as the entry has a dual purpose for the Campaign too and there's a host of other small modeling projects relating to the campaign.

The weird thing about GD entries is that having done one, I actually earned a good deal and would do a number of things differently. The TWAR project has been another welcome platform to study different styles of converting, painting and basing and coupled with two more years of schooling, I feel the time is right to see what I have learned.

To let the dakkates in on some of the entry, I want to discuss the new Winged Vampire lord by Seb Perbet - because 1. I think it is a true landmark model for GW and has thus gotten me excited about GW metal model for the first time in ages, 2. It will feature superheavily converted and in a new context, as part of the entry. I kept looking at the figure from the few limited angles we got in the WD and noticed the following:

1. The parts/split for casting must be quite radical for a GW miniature
2. The proportions of th miniature are much much closer to the art work that anything GW has done before, on a roughly "human" sized miniature.

Having it in my hands have further reinforced this expression. The left leg together with the base is one part, left arm from elbow together with sword is one and so is the head, bat + a seprate wing - all the rest is in the body. The pose is super dynamic and anatomically exciting. There's the nice dynamic forward launching stance, but it is awesomely punctuated with a twist from hips to chest round the spine as an axis. (It will be a welcome challenge to sculpt animated armour to fit this pose)

The head is very small, the sword very fine, long, powerful limbs, and plenty of bulk in the torso, even more so when I sculpt on the armour - A touch of Dainton really. The model remains very Warhammer gothic, but has rackhamesque finesse about it...but really with GW art-like motion and drama, so it's a clear GW piece, and more dynamic than Rackham heroes too!

There will be a small tribut to the genius of John Blanche, whose creative productivity is at the core of Warhammer Gothic to an extent most people totally fail to understand, unable to appreciate his macabre, Vivienne Westwood influenced style. (Some may remember the Rosethorn/Eisenhorn entry I did, which a had leopard skin pelt for the same reason)


So this ModelingBLOG is about the ideas and thinking, of the =I=munda campaign, new GW models, converting, painting and finally a finished miniature entry, seeking to communicate the fabric of Warhammer 40000 Gothic. I would like to hear your thoughts of a modeling blog with just text and thoughts, to be then finished with the finished piece. Is it pointless? Should I just confine to my small group of online madmodelers? Only post the finished piece? Does it add to the dakka modeling blogs?


migsula

Any kind of brainstorming, sketching, or other work in progress you care to share is welcome in my book.

The thoughts you've laid out above are very exciting, but it's hard to tell how much attention people will pay if there are no images at all.

When do you anticipate having the piece finished?

Migsula,

I think this is an awesome idea.

I'd love to hear, and see the processes behind modeling, gaming, rules writing/revising, etc. I hope that you don't limit the log to just the GD entry. I would love to hear more about your =I=munda game.

Looking forward to more.

~Eric

Will be watching the project develop. And I agree with you on the winged vampire, I was very impressed when I saw the first teaser pic, much more so than I expected I would be. Excited to see where you take him

- Salvage

Cool, thanks guys and good points too. Alas,

MBLOG ENTRY 2
10.march.08 -

This in many ways will be a "tale of four modelers who love to play games" (very much in that order). A group of friends, have decided to each build a showcase collection of models, with a strong theme for some evolving gaming, driven by coolness on a warhammer gothic scale and narrative. On top of varied and lethal NPC elements, 4 gangs are in the works. An Ordo Xenos Inquisitor Calliber Johann Harker (Hammer), Rogue Trader Extraordinaire Krikham (Gurk), Criminal Overlord X (Northen) and "Shades of Grey" (myself). (There will be at least 9 different NPC Factions too, each led by a dramatis personae.) The basic idea is to create cool concepts and fantastic models, then rules to fit. I have created an adaptive and expanding set of additions to the rules, which are a combination of Necromunda, Inquisitor and Dark Heresy. More of this later in the blog.

So:

Darkmunda Campaign for the summer

This coming July I will be Game Mastering an Inquisitor themed, narrative driven continuum of games based on tweaked and expanded Necromunda rules set. Initiative, cunning and situation savvy will be rewarded, cool models expected. There will be a strategic phase outside the games themselves, when the players need to prepare for future enemies, pursue the right trails, sometimes employ skilled noncombatants instead of buying more guns and generally outsmart the others. Bold, adventurous suggestion to the GM may sometimes be rewarded – or if deemed against the character they may back fire. Is it time to blow cover and induct a company of the PDF? Are you strong enough to harness the great enemy into a weapon against itself?

In tactical level, in the games players need to know when to fight when to run. The scenarios will reward teamwork, combination of right skills and equipment and fate to the Emperor or the Eight-pointed star if you so choose.

The GM will employ NPC gangs, of endless supplies of filth, or unimaginable horrors, or stalwart heroes – mostly to halt your efforts, sometimes to rip you apart, or rarer still to help you!

How does it start?

Starting right now – the players will choose a theme for their gang and briefly outline their character. In due time this will be expanded together with the GM, but according to the players wishes. The first theme will serve as a platform on which the team is shaped. Maybe you want a valiant witchhunter, with close ties to the church and possibly access to archoflagellants, maybe you are a thorian by nature, and decide to go radical in pursue of arcane lore and tools to bind daemons. Possibly the throne agents of the carcass Emperor are simply not your cup of tea, and you decide to steer towards the eight pointed star and promise of quick power, maybe you are a traveller of heart and choose to wear the mandate of a Rogue Trader – it is for you to choose, so choose wisely.

The gaming itself?

Will start in July 2008. The gang can consists of maximum 10 personae. You have 1500 credits at your disposal and access to any weaponry you choose – later you may seek or come across even more potent kit. You are not hive-scum – you are well resourced and extremely skilled. It may however be wise to save some cash for the strategy phase. Start-up rules set will be available soonish, but many rules will be tweaked and introduced as the gaming goes on.

Strategy phase

Everything goes, be imaginative, but true to your character – Dark Heresy will be mixed in! – fluffy and clever suggestions will be rewarded. This phase will see you rearm, recover, die from wounds, accumulate wealth, lose wealth, do detective work, pray for your gods and get ready for the next round. Sometimes narrative dictates your choises – you may need to go special condition or even, god emperor bless you – rogue!



GET CREATING!

This sounds like a hell lot of work. I myself made a 40k Killing Team/Mordheim Crossover which was a lot of fun and is now on ice but this makes me want to go back to work on it.
I think the only Text varaiant does the blog no harm. Go for it!

Symbio Joe wrote:This sounds like a hell lot of work.

That good sir is the second name of my every modeling project! (or Hammers!) That's why it's been so difficult when I have zero free time to dedicate for it. Be it the Biggerised Marine army, or indeed the TWAR project - it's a lot of work

It's unfortunate I don't have a serious gaming group, or I would join you guys in making this a sort of 'world-wide' campaign.

This project sounds like an absolute blast and I may very well end up making a retinue of my own based off of this project, just for the fun of it.

Some folks will simply skim past this from it's lack of photos. But those who stay and read and learn and explore the possibilities will be rewarded with creative insight and a broader understanding of what it is to be inspired.

Thanks for the kind words Aaron! And believe me, I am working very hard to demolish the physical restrictions to getting together for great gaming/modeling - the damn teleporter is just bit of a challenge

If you find someone, you are most welcome to join! We can Ichat/skype the strategy phases.

BLOG ENTRY 13.march.08


Let me introduce you to the first of the "dramatis personae" and see some pics of my first Necromunda gang, from 2006 spring, March in fact! Such a great spring. I was working for my final project for a big company which was all fascinating and I had enough time to work on these guys.







I also played in a brilliant Necromunda campaign that sadly was cut short, by the disappearance of the GM. It's amazing how these individuals came alive with battles and it was a novel experience to do modifications to finished pieces, adding better weapons, blinding an eye that sort of thing.

I worked from grandma's place which was a balance of shutting off her ramblings + trying to concentrate and the delicious lunches

As for the upcoming campaign, 1st lead presented to the players:

Your agents/servants at Berdia have gone to great lengths to secure this information, expending great resources, both financial and bodily. Use it well.



+++ Case file 2177:33AAA4 +++
+++ Berdia Arbites +++
+++ Security-level cadium+++

¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤
…Authority code received … Hackline integrates

…Validating …forcing access

…building access channel …copying transmission

…file loading

…building pict feed

Inquisitorial dispatch: 471AAA1 (Habblock SecFeed access – authorisation Inquisitorial rosette)
LOCATION: Berdia Hive
DATE: 388.M1
AUTHOR: Gauer, Inshar Conrad ; Ordo Hereticus

Status: SPECIAL CONDITION


(sporadic gun fire at the backround)

My lord,

I have proof. The Vessel must be in Berdia. I have followed the thrice damned bastard Inquisitor (feed cuts for 4.5 seconds) …is overpowering. I need (feed cuts for 2.3 seconds)
…for it. Urgently!
(subject catching breath)

I’m operating under special condition and haven’t made my presence known even to local ordos. There is reason to suspect the worst, all the way to the top.

(gun fire erupts close, quiets down as the auto-adjust of the recorder sets in)

I must go now, Emperor Protects! (subject glances left and right nervously)

(the pict feed seems to be freezing, Ice is forming on the lense – vox log hisses static for twenty one seconds – file ends)







+++

Wow, that is great stuff! I like the bearded guy with the old hand flamer and the priest the most I think, but the guy with the pot belly and the shot gun is terribly amusing. I keep thinking of a Mexican guy I saw on like Animal Cops LA or something like that who had a junk yard. Looked just like that (only without the shot gun).
Is the little bloody guy in the middle with all the head trophies a bound Penitent?
I really like the yellow too. That seems to be a color that is award for a lot of people to use, either being oddly bright and garish, or sort of brown with yellow afterthoughts. It really fits together well for this group though, looking like a yellow color someone might actually wear.
Makes me want to buy the Necromunda rules.

Always nice to see your Necro gang, Migs

I was actually thinking of that INQ recently, as I was using something like 4 shades of brown on a model and recalled how many went into that one model of yours. Great stuff. Also refreshing to see an INQ not afraid to go to battle with just a laspistol and chainsword - though the man got a power sword upgrade in pretty short order, IIRC

- Salvage

Wehrkind - The little guy is just a misfit mutant errant of the Inquisitor. He is actually carrying a gang member, who was very unfortunate. So yo see his head sticking out of the bag, his lasgun stock etc. BTW - you can download the Necro rules for free from GW! The shotgun fatso is my fave in the group. Just one of those what if moments...I quite liked the Orlock figure I started with, but the way his vest was worn, just cried out for some "food". The head is that of the Bretonnian monk, carefully shaved.

Salvage - Yes he did! Good memory. I also bought him a plasma pistol just before the campaign died. I actually preferred the earliest incarnation, but he did get significantly scarier with the upgrades.

Wish you two lived closer and could join the campaign too.

WOW! Excellent warband.

Where did you get the textured flooring?

Thanks,

I bought the flooring from a pile of junk at a modeling expo. It has no logo/info at the bottom IIRC, but I'll check this weekend.

migsula wrote:Thanks,

I bought the flooring from a pile of junk at a modeling expo. It has no logo/info at the bottom IIRC, but I'll check this weekend.

That sucks. I REALLY want some of that. Thanks anyway!

That warband really has a lot of character to it. I am a huge fan of making each mini look like an individual but having them still look like a coherent group. You have done an amazing job of doing both. I like the small conversions and think that sometimes it is the smallest changes that really make a model superb.

Hmmm I might have to pull that down when I get home from work! Evolving characters and weapons begs for magnetic fixation, which is exactly what I have!

Hehe maybe we can set up some Necro games like the old school playing chess by mail. Bet the wives would LOVE that...

ancientsociety wrote:

That sucks. I REALLY want some of that. Thanks anyway!

Hi,

There's some text in the bottom of the sheet afterall! KIBRI Art.Nr. 4124
Which thanks to father Google connects one to many german modeling stores, like such:

http://www.euromodellbahn.com//kibri.php?spur=100

Wehrkind wrote:

Hehe maybe we can set up some Necro games like the old school playing chess by mail. Bet the wives would LOVE that...

Oh Yes!

I am in Helsinki now for a month, so I actually got some sculpting, 3 hours straight done tonight! Wohooo

BLOG ENTRY 26.march.08

It's all a little complicated

I'm almost done with 4 models on the subject matter, I show them to friends and discuss the ups and down. But it's rather complicated to discuss the work in a public blog when I am not really hoping to share the pictures with the general public yet. Thus the BLOG will take a little detour as I try to convince more of the campaign members share their work in this blog and hopefully discuss the general themes emerging and basing and other interesting modeling topics.

Lets see and bear with me. You will see all of what I've been up to by September of course, but the point is to make an interesting blog up to then

BLOG ENTRY 21st.July.08

Gaming has started!

for those who like the fluff side of things, I will post a full load down of what has happened thus far - but mainly this will be about models and since I've got no time for GD this year, nor really motivation to go, I can share what I've been up to soon. There's a local painting contest 8th of August, after which I am hoping all the players share their work here - SUBJECT TO INTEREST.

We have:
Northen - Viktor Styg, a syndicate operator (local mafia)
Hammer - Inquisitor Harker
Gurkmannen - Rogue Trader Krikham
and my little brother Pete - Inquisitor Gauer

It wouldn't be fair not to show anything, so here's a taste of things to come. Inquisitor Haag and his Mutants, my "was to be UK GD 08 entry".

And here's some of the fluff, courtesy of Hammer, Northen and myself.


The Jade Vessel


Ragoos, the Green Jewel of the Sector, a planet covered in oceans reels from the momentous after effects of the 13th Crusade. Three gleaming spires visible even to grav anchor, stand from the never-ending sea. Ardia, Berdia and Cerdia, the three hives providing existence for millions of loyal imperial citizens. Beneath the oceans vast, artificial coral reefs, the nutrition farms of the Mechanicus turn in a constant cycle of production and harvest, supplying the planet and it’s merchant fleets with the fruit of the sea.

But beneath the glorious face, the sub-sector capitol, the model of wealth and faith is dying.

Something sinister is eating through it from the inside. The stretched Planetary Defence force, weakened by the vast out flux of personnel and equipment needed to fight the archenemy elsewhere, is hunting cultists and heretics in desperation. A clash of dogma and personalities is ripping apart the Church of the Emperor, the guiding light of the people.

Sighar Sacront, Mayor of Berdia Hive, a ruthless noble with a lineage dating back to the first settlers 6 millenia ago, man who comes from a family of merchants, rogue traders and Navy Officers is causing uproar in the senate, demanding martial law and special powers to bring the planet back to order.

Drastic measures must soon be taken, for the Fabricator Captain Voltemans has threatened to employ the Skitari to secure the harvesting tubuloms and nutri-fung factories, in effect turning off the food supply, unless the unrest is soon solved.

Whispers and rumours bounce in the confines of the hab-blocks and work yards, the faithless minds walking in dark places, turning from the light of the emperor.

Somewhere deep within the underhive, something stirs, radiating with dark power, feeding from the death and destruction wrought by the 13th Crusade. The most dangerous minds sense it’s growing presence, the omens and the leads, and like vultures they arrive from all corners of the sector and beyond to find it, to destroy it, to claim it, to decide the faith of Berdia, the Planet and the entire sub-sector! Rogue Traders, Facilitators, Star Striders, Magoi, and the agents of the Inquisition will battle out the outcome in a secret war of importance beyond the understanding of man.



He is coming...

The Inquisitor and the guildmaster held their gazes, locked in a mental struggle. The eyes of the Inquisitor, blacker than the deepness of space, held the gaze, unwavering. The guilmasters golden eyes stared back, too stubborn to turn away.

“You cannot do this!” The guildmaster finally snarled, braking the eye contact. “Even you Inquisitors are bound by the orders of the Governor-General!”

“You will find…” Hissed the Inquisitor in reply, “…that our authority goes far beyond that of the Governor-General. I will have what I came for, one way or another.”

The guildmaster paled behind his make-up, but still too stubborn to quit, he glanced around for support.

The room held several masters of the various guilds of Bazarra, their servants and henchmen. The Inquisitor had arrived with only one man in tow, a scarred and brooding man bearing an interrogators seal on the front of his coat. Both men had arrived bare-handed, weaponless. Such was the arrogance of the Inquisitor, that the thought he wouldn’t need soldiers or weapons when stepping in the snakes nest that the guildhouse was.

Drawing security from the numbers, the guildmaster grew bolder.

“You cannot have the ship! You cannot just barge in and think that you can take any ship you want and to hell with our schedules and contracts! Our contract is with the Governor-General himself and he will be displeased for any delay in the shipments!”

Several other guilmasters started nodding to his words. He started to get bolder again for their support.

“So take your scarred dog and leave the house. Go to the harbour and find yourself some trash-scowl to carry you where-ever you are going!”

The scars on the Interrogators face paled and he started to step forward. He stopped again after the Inquisitor raised one hand in indifferent gesture.

“This is your final word?” He asked, his voice never rising from the menacing whisper.

Before the Guildmaster could reply, the Inquisitors hand dropped lazily to his side again.

There was a sharp cracking sound as the plas-glas of the sky-window shattered and a fraction of second later the Guildmasters head exploded in a bloody shower of gray matter and bonechips. A second after that came the boom of the weapon.

A frenzy of activity overtake the guildhall and the security men ran to their masters side, searching for a threat. Servants screamed and ran this way and that, unable to tell where the threat was coming from. The Guilders dropped down on the floor, whimpering and scared. In the middle of all the chaos stood two figures, unmoving and uncaring.

Finally, when it was clear that no other shots would be arriving the chaos stopped in a hushed silence.

The Inquisitor looked around in contempt and turned towards the door.

“Pier eleven, was it?” He asked as he strode towards the exit, his interrogator in tow.

The door guards hesitated only a second before stepping aside before the menacing figures.


In the roof of nearby building, a pair of shadows rose. One of them hefted the heavy sniper rifle to carry position. They ran to a waiting speeder.

“How it went?” asked the pilot, a grim faced woman with alert eyes.

“Easy.” grunted the sniper as he leaped in the speeder.

“Teached ‘em a lesson” said the spotter as he climbed inside, beside the pilot.

The speeder rose swiftly from the rooftop and hurried in the night.

Then everything was silent again.






1st lead - Your agents/servants at Berdia have gone to great lengths to secure this information, expending great resources, both financial and bodily. Use it well.



+++ Case file 2177:33AAA4 +++
+++ Berdia Arbites +++
+++ Security-level cadium+++

¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤
…Authority code received … Hackline integrates

…Validating …forcing access

…building access channel …copying transmission

…file loading

…building pict feed

Inquisitorial dispatch: 471AAA1 (Habblock SecFeed access – authorisation Inquisitorial rosette)
LOCATION: Berdia Hive
DATE: 388.M1
AUTHOR: Gauer, Inshar Conrad ; Ordo Hereticus

Status: SPECIAL CONDITION


(sporadic gun fire at the backround)

My lord,

I have proof. The Vessel must be in Berdia. I have followed the thrice damned bastard Inquisitor (feed cuts for 4.5 seconds) …is overpowering. I need (feed cuts for 2.3 seconds)
…for it. Urgently!
(subject catching breath)

I’m operating under special condition and haven’t made my presence known even to local ordos. There is reason to suspect the worst, all the way to the top.

(gun fire erupts close, quiets down as the auto-adjust of the recorder sets in)

I must go now, Emperor Protects! (subject glances left and right nervously)

(the pict feed seems to be freezing, Ice is forming on the lense – vox log hisses static for twenty one seconds – file ends)







+++





SYNDICATE
Not all decision on Ragoos are made by planetary officials (some say that very few actually). Syndicate makes a major player in this planets political field, some doubt that they can even affect the whole sector if they want to. Syndicate has it's hands on everything, trade, politics, PDF, faith, cults and of course on the Ragoos precious nutrition farms. The organization can offer anything man desires, money, power, goods or something you can't find anywhere else. This organization can have anyone they need to do their bidding. Syndicate works on the hives every level, noble houses fight for their cause in political arenas, where syndicates agents whisper their aims from the shadows for their public representatives. Lower levels the hive gangs sold stims, drugs and other illegal items supplied by the syndicate. Also some the hives guilds are on syndicates pay roll, working as their factories to produce goods for the trade. Syndicate is lead by group of powerful men called the inner circle. Inner circle is know only to few individuals. Most of the time numerous agents and henchmen do the organizations work in pupblic.

One of the agents who works for the syndicate is Viktor Styg. He's known as facilitator, a consigliere, a captain and by many other names. Viktors job is to make things happen as the syndicates pleases. Be it to collect dirt on noble mans nightly hobbies or to negotiate a deal with a hive gang to distripute syndicates stims. Viktor has the subtle skills to talk to a noble and the threatning aura to make street mugger respect him.

Now Viktor has spent few weeks in the lower sections gathering clues with his team. He's predictions have come true. There is indeed something down here. The cults have gone mad about it, the big gangs are also after it, he has even seen signs that the ordos might be involved. And someone from the underhive called "Mutant King" was causing much trouble.

Viktor was enjoying his amasce in their safehouse when Vargo Biel, his silent right hand man, came into the room holding hand vox.

"It's him" Vargo told and handed the vox to Viktor.

Viktor listened, man on the other end was Vys Foo, his henchman. Last few days Vys had been observing a group of interesting people who drew far too much attention to themselves in the lower-levels to be here on just ordinary business.

After Vys's debriefing Viktor closed the vox and drank last of his amasce with one big sip.

"They are on the move, get everyone ready" Viktor said to Vargo while starting to dress his ombat gear.

Few minutes later Viktor stepped into their gun-cutter at the safehouses backyard. At the cutter's hatch he exchanged nods with Karl Glean, big man who was mounting his autocannon to the cutters hull. Viktor cheked that everyone was onboard and double checked his custom made bolter and signaled Vargo to lift off.

The gun-cutter arised to the skyes of the low levels and started it's way to the pre-arranged checkpoint.

Wow, Migs! You mind offering a brief tutorial on how you converted their weapons?

Just careful cutting of plastics really! Here's a wip pic of the bunch that shows a little of what went where.

amazing conversions.. simply awe inspiring.

The conversions are just so clean!

Yes! Nice! I've been waiting for an update on this.

Migsula, you are my hero...

Okay, so am I right in guessing that Inquisitor Haag's pistol/SMG started off as a lasgun that you carefully shaved away the front, back, top, and bottom before adding plasticard strips to the top and bottom of the barrel? How did you make such neat cuts in the sides to make gas vents?

Death By Monkeys wrote:.... How did you make such neat cuts in the sides to make gas vents?

He probably used the Kroot rifle muzzle.