Sunday 14 May 2017

"In The Beginning Our World Was Beautiful And It Was Called - Terra."

"Then the aliens came and tried to destroy us - driving the people below ground..."
This multi-part 28mm hard plastic 'Terminator' has been built using pieces taken from the Frostgrave Cultists boxed set by "North Star Military Figures", as well as Nick Eyre's Cultist Sci-Fi Accessory Pack, and is inspired by the fanatical warriors of Terra as pencilled by Kevin O'Neill in the "2000 A.D." comic book series "Nemesis The Warlock". Indeed, this member of Tomás de Torquemada's "quasi-religious order" is the second of three similarly-influenced miniatures I plan to field as part of the Grand Master's human Purity Squad for "Mutants And Death Ray Guns".

The figure was originally undercoated with "Citadel" Chaos Black and dry-brushed with "Vallejo "Heavy Charcoal in order to help bring out the sculpt's details. The Termight soldier then had his boots and waist-pouch 'picked out' with Heavy Sienna and Heavy Brown. Both of these areas were subsequently washed with "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade.
"Frostgrave" Barbarians WIPs - The heavily bearded warriors has simply been assembled and primed
As I didn't want the model's clothing to be entirely black, I used some "Vallejo" Heavy Red to add some seemingly appropriate colour to the model's undergarment, waist-band and shirt, and then washed these areas with "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson. In addition, I painted his shoulder armour, dagger sheath and top's rear lacing with a combination of "Vallejo" Gold and "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade. As a final touch, the fanatic's formidably large firearm was given a coat of "Citadel" Ironbreaker, before being heavily washed with Nuln Oil.

Sticking with "North Star Military Figures" and their plastic boxed sets, I have found myself rather inspired by James M. Ward's science fiction setting "Metamorphosis Alpha". Published these days in a collector's edition by "Goodman Games", and recommended to me by Hils of "The Game Cupboard", this 1976 sci-fi RPG concerns the inhabitants of the starship Warden fighting for their lives against all manner of humans, robots and mutants in a "radiation-saturated world", whilst being completely ignorant of the fact that they're aboard "a seventeen-level colony ship, fifty miles long and twenty-five miles wide..."
Boromite Gang Fighters WIP - The majority of these alien miners have had their girdles finished
As a result I have assembled five Neanderthal-like savages using components from the Frostgrave Barbarians sprues, in an effort to replicate the pre-Stone Age party Gary Gygax originally play-tested the RPG's rules upon. In addition, although I plan to use "Mutants And Death Ray Guns" as my actual rule-set for my adventures amidst the Warden's corridors, these figures will also enable me to build, over time, a suitably large Barbarian party for "Frostgrave" itself.

Lastly, I have made some considerable progress on several of the ten Boromite Gang Fighters I am hoping to field as part of a 500-point Scouting Force for "Beyond The Gates Of Antares". These "Warlord Games" sculpts continue to take up a vast amount of my hobby time, on account of the extraterrestrial miners' numerous pieces of armour and equipment, but some of the miniatures are now, at least, a good two-thirds finished...

44 comments:

  1. Hi Simon, hey I`m really glad you got on so well with "Metamorphosis Alpha" it sounds like you have really taken this one to your heart. It a great game.. a great little game with big idea (like so many of the games back in the 70`s, they really seem to have stood the test of time). Mind you, what`s NOT to like about it: its pure dungeon crawl, but also (potentially) with jungles, ruined settlements, toxic forests, temple complexes (Mayan pyramids, aka Alien Vs Predator style), lost `dinosaur` valleys (aka Shangri-La and The Mummy), as WELL as stock standard dungeon crawls - but perhaps with a twist, using sci-fi plascrete tunnels systems. It really is a world (or space ship, rather) of untapped potential.

    Using Mutants and Death Ray Guns to play it out is, I think a totally inspired idea, and unifies your games into a streamlined whole, don't you think? The genius here is that you get to double up on this project, and everything you make for it becomes usable in Frostgrave as well, so its a total win win situation.

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    1. Thanks Hils, I'm very grateful to you for making me aware of "Metamorphosis Alpha". As you say playing it using "Mutants And Death Ray guns" should allow me not only to explore its rich world but also give me some additional "Frostgrave" forces as well ;-)

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  2. don't know what you`re doing ... you must be deeply inspired or something but your articles are getting real dead interesting lately (oh hell, that could sound like a backhanded compliment, I don't mean they`re not usually interesting: just that the latest ones are especially good lol).

    hey, I don't know if this is any use to you (it is a fascinating read), but I have the original "Metamorphosis Alpha" from July 1976 - on a PDF if you`d like me to send you a copy over?

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    1. Cheers Steve, I'll take that as the compliment I'm sure you meant :-)

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    1. And gratefully received, Steve. very much appreciated :-)

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  4. 'Terminator' is looking suitably fiendish and cool.

    {{Indeed, this member of Tomás de Torquemada's "quasi-religious order"...... I plan to field as part of the Grand Master's human Purity Squad for "Mutants And Death Ray Guns".}}

    yes I wasn't slow to notice the play potential for creating racial purity cults in M&DRG. Wen I think of this I sort of see quasi medieval Red Skull/Hydra images, almost prequel Nazi, with a barely defined agenda - all led be a loopy guy with a tight trimmed moustache, who shouts a lot of course.

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    1. Thanks Tarot, glad you like the Terminator. Just one more to go, and them Torquemada's purity squad will be on the battlefield!!

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  5. hold on, do I mean post Nazi lol.

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    1. If the current run of "Captain America: Steve Rogers" comic books is to be believed, then HYDRA existed well before the Nazis, Tarot, and only joined forces with them when they thought they'd help them attain world power.

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    2. **picks up ears at that**

      Now isn't that interesting, I just made that same connection myself, having had it hinted at in the latest episode of season 4 of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

      Offers sooooo many new possibilities of game thought mmmmm.

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    3. Now isn't that amazing, how synquincity seems to rear its head at the most strangest of times, seemingly almost random coincidence. I was thinking the same thing the other day, and have heard it mentioned a few times lately (again randomly) that Hydra considerably pre-dates WWII. Intriguing isn't it.

      And Hil, if you have that series recorded on Sky+, please, please don't record over it. I`d dearly like to see this when I get back. Haven't seen series 4 yet.

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    4. "Now isn't that interesting" - Sadly, the latest storyline from Nick Spencer, focusing on Captain America being a Hydra agent since he was a little boy, is a tedious mess imho, Hils. But still, it does generate plenty of gaming prospects for a pre-WW2 Hydra organisation, packed full of spies, soldiers and super-villains.

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    5. I've never been able to get in to "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.", Tarot. Like so many of the super-hero TV series I struggle to reconcile them with the comic book characters, as some are so different. Still it seems a remarkably popular show.

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  6. I'm a huge fan of Goodman Games DCC RPG...it is also chock full of the most superb art...and backed their upcoming Mutant Crawl Classics RPG which I think, as a fan of Metamorphosis Alpha, you'd love...and also promises to be full of glorious art!

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    1. Curses! I seem to have missed that one Gordon. As you say it looks very good indeed, and the artwork is spot on for the period. I'm sure you'll let my wallet know when its out on general release ;-)

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  7. The terminator looks great Simon, love the idea of the barbarians wondering through a spaceship of many worlds. Boromites are getting there

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    1. Thanks Dave. I'm hoping to crack on with the Barbarians once the Boromites are all finished, as they still have some work to do before being completed... and then I have another five to paint after that...

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  8. I really like the Terminator. I do not know Metamorphosis Alpha but I like the setting idea. Look forward to future posts on that setting.

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    1. Cheers Mark. Hopefully I can get some more "Metamorphosis Alpha" done once I've got the Boromites finished.

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  9. i'm intrigued by the giant floaty spaceship world Simon, especially with Barbars running around!

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    1. Thanks Andy. I'm planning on doing quite a bit of "Metamorphosis Alpha" over the next few months.

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  10. I really like how that Terminator has come out - it's got a Necromunda vibe to it and is very similar in appearance to tge outfits of House Cawdor.
    And those Barbarians are lovely figures - these are the plastic multi-part ones, yes? Would work well for Norsemen too.

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    1. Cheers Jez. I was thinking the Cawdor thing myself whilst I was painting hi. You're spot on about the Barbarians, and they are great vfm imho.

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  11. Looking good Simon really like how the Borromites are progressing.

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    1. Thanks Simon. The Boromites are coming along, slow but steady...

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    1. Cheers Bob, and a BIG welcome back, buddy. good to have you commenting upon my humble blog again :-)

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  13. There is something very like necromunda in the first figure of which I approve.

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    1. Thanks Clint. He is very Necromunda, isn't he :-)

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  14. You are at your best when you just let the creative juices flow Simon, lovely job Sir!

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    1. Cheers Michael. This is probably my favourite "Frostgrave" Cultist sculpt to date, so easy to get inspired with him.

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  15. Another excellent Terminator. :)

    It will be a great little group when all together. :)

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    1. Thanks Leon. one more to go, though I also want to paint up a second Torquemada in his all-red armour.

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  16. I have to agree with Clint about the Necromunda connection with your Terminator. He's part House Cawdor and part Redemptionist.

    I am quite familiar with Metamorphosis Alpha as it was one of the very first RPG campaigns I played in way back in the early 1980's. Unusually for me, I was a player and not the GM. Fun times!

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    1. Hmmm... You're tempting me to assemble a Cawdor/Redemptionist force for "Shadow War: Armageddon" now Bryan, using Space Marine Scout rules... They could then battle my Necron Raiders ;-)

      "Metamorphosis Alpha" has really grabbed me, and its going to be tough going not to rush off into the Rpg without finishing off my Boromites first...

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  17. I got the Necromunda link too. :) He looks great - the red and gold touches really make him pop!

    Metamorphosis Alpha - never heard of it, bit before my rpg'ing times, but it sounds really cool. I'm off to look it up!

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    1. Cheers Dai. I'm glad the additional colour works on the Terminator. I think he'd look rather boring all in black personally. I plan for plenty of "Metamorphosis Alpha" themed posts in the future, so hopefully it'll grip you as it has me :-)

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  18. Loving that "Terminator" I too see the Necromundar connection, but I really just like the figure whatever you do with him.

    You could have saved the barbarians for Mo'vember by the way ;-)

    Cheers Roger.

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    1. Thanks Roger. "Frostgrave" minis for Mo'Vember? Now that's an idea ;-)

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    1. Roger and I have been painting minis for Mo'Vember for a few years now, Hils. You'd be very welcome to join in :-)

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  20. I can't say I'm a big fan of the "terminator" - he seems a liitle to squat, but my goodness I'm now completely sold on the Boromites - they look great as a group.

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    1. Cheers Joe, I hoped the Boromites would grow on you :-)

      I've one more Terminator to paint up before their little 'alien-hating' group is finished, and then I'll begin on Nemesis the Warlock's band.

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