Wasteland Wondering May 25

Hello and Welcome back,

Time for another Wasteland Wondering, it's been a while since we had one of these. In this chat I will be highlighting the direction my hobby is going in.

There are four or five new blog posts queued, which I hope to get posted up as soon as I have grabbed some pictures. I seem to be struggling to arrange getting pictures recently.

My Post Apocalyptic setting is slowing down. PA isn't grabbing me as much these days. I am working slowly to populate the Skrap Knights and Rustlords factions. 

The Rustlords

Maybe I need to find another name for these rambling posts, as they aren't just concentrated on Post Apocalyptic.

The Wild Galaxy setting is growing exponentially and I am finding it quite inspiring. I think there is such a wide scope for creativity it keeps me interested. I have had to start a spreadsheet to keep track of all the nonsense I create.

A friend recently asked me why I use Genetically Engineered Life Forms (GELFs) for my other Space races instead of rebranding them as aliens. It is in part, a carry over from the Mattblackgod’s world setting as I wanted to use 40k miniatures, as stableised mutations felt a bit of a stretch. The introduction of my Ork collection as combat GELFs felt fitting for the history of Mattblackgod’s world. It just felt natural to keep the GELFs in the wider Galactic setting.

ORCS GELFs terrorise a frontier world settlement 

I have no issue with aliens in Sci Fi, it's just that I want them to be very different to humans. In fact there are some intelligent aliens in my setting. Not to mention plenty of alien beasties. 

But I have other reasons for using GELFs. Firstly, I feel just going "Aliens" is too easy and is a stale go to for most SF settings. Secondly, the chances that another intelligent race out there, being a four limbed biped is extremely unlikely. I feel it is somewhat lazy and arrogant to think so. Thirdly, the GELFs and GELF wars are a satirical view of human nature and it's behaviour to anything "non human" or in many cases other Humans because they differ in some way and our reaction when things go wrong. Our history is littered with examples of such behaviour. I suppose in some ways it's my version of a far future Frankenstein cautionary tale. 

To be honest ever since seeing GELFs in the Red Dwarf TV show, I have liked them as a concept. Even the main character in the 2000AD Rogue Trooper which I read when I was knee high is a type of GELF, genetically bred to survive a toxic contaminated world and operate as an enhanced elite fighting force. 

I have been considering doing a GELF fluff post, but there is so much material built up over the years it will need several posts. Speaking of GELFs, I am planning a new GELF group to add soon. By soon, I mean in probably in next two years, given my work rate! 

The miners of Maddans Independent Mining Company 

The Maddans world setting is slowly growing. I am thinking of adding the only city called Hecksclutch to the world, situated next to the planets main space port as a centre point for conflict. This lawless frontier mining world is inspired by Logans world in the 40K Rogue Trader fluff mixed with Pandora from the Borderlands Computer game, with my own slice of creativity added to it. It was created as a vehicle to allow all my factions to be on world protecting their colonies while trying to extract as much wealth from the world, before a legal owner is found. I am still working on the Dusty Space Port buildings for this setting. I still have a pile of wonderful Fogou Models to finish or modify for this setting. 

Iron Ladies gangers attack Shorty of Loop's Heroes someplace deep in Wreckage Station.

Regular readers of this blog will have seen the introduction of Wreckage Station during my 5 Parsecs campaign. I have been expanding the background fluff for this setting. Terrain has been knocked together from various sets to game in this old moon sized space station. As luck would have it these models will also be useful for the Zone Raiders game set in the Matrioshka. 

Rather than drop a massive peice of fluff for Wreckage Station, I am thinking of news bulletins dropped by the "Authorities". This way it slowly builds and adds colour to the setting. 

Readers of this Blog will recall me doing a review of the Skirm game by Bill Making Stuff. I have been slowly putting together factions and terrain for this game. Check out the Gutterlands or Bill's You Tube Channel. Both sites are cock full of ideas.*share links for Gutterlands and Bill Making Stuff YouTube channel* . I find the Gutterlands (or Tapu to give it, it's true name) setting quite intoxicating. Hobby wise it points to parts of the hobby I find really rewarding, kitbashing, trashbashing and converting models. At present I am working on the Skirm factions. 

Now as luck would have it, Wreckage Station orbits a dead world (called Skeletal worlds). A major battle during the GELF wars turned it into a dusty rock covered in skeletons, wrecks and ruins. I intended to develop it into a setting with crews from the orbital station making salvage ruins in the ruins. But I hadn't gotten around to any world building. So I began to mix inspiration from Bill's setting with my Wild Galaxy setting and Wreckage Station fluff. And so the lost world Corrosion was born. Some of the background for this world will be filtered through to this blog through the planned Wreckage Station News Bulletin. 

Some WIP conversions I am working on to make DEAP troops for the Skirm game.

I am looking forward to creating both colonists and terrain for Corrosion/Skirm/Gutterlands. There will be a lot of future conversion work.

My 5 parsecs from home campaign involving the crew of the Problem Child aka Loop's Heroes is still on hold. Hopefully I can begin organising games again soon. I am hoping to maybe include some future missions to the surface of Corrosion for the crew.

Anyway I have rambled on for long enough, thank you for reading. 

Take care out there.

Fay GELF raiding party.

 Hello and Welcome back, 

Human frontier worlds along the edge of GELF space run the risk of GELF raids in addition to the usual risks of Frontier life. 

This Fay GELF raiding party arrives on world looking for usable loot and humans to kill and torture. The Fay are long lived and long memories of human cruelty. Many Fay are looking for vengance on their old oppressors. 

These figures are old metal 40k Eldar. The blue skinned figure is Sprangdryll the space elf pirate by Skull and Crown. 

Thanks for looking, stay safe out there.

Happy Orktober time

Hello and welcome back,

As it’s Orktober….it’s time to show off what I have been working on this month. Working on the hobby helps distract me from recent family events. Before I press on I have to say thank you to everyone for their kind comments on my last blog post about the  recent passing of my Dad. They mean a lot, sadly for some reason I cannot reply to your comments on Blogger. It keeps saying I am logged out when I attempt it. Thank you all again.

Right on with the Orktober posts. First up is this old metal 40K RT02 Ork. 

He is painted in a Deathskull’s colour scheme which is my favourite Ork Clan. I like that they loot the battlefield and beyond (waits for all the old scouser jokes). This gives the clan a great opportunity of converted “looted” vehicles and equipment which greatly appeals to me. He will be joining my RT02 Ork Deathskulls mob. 

As we all know Orks get bigger, tougher and meaner the more they fight and win. It’s why the Ork Boss is usually the largest and hardest (‘arrdest, sorry) Ork in the warband. I don’t know how many fights this Ork has won…..but I think we are going to need a bigger gun! A much bigger gun! 

This figure is a Grimbatul Giant-Eater a Kickstarter only resin figure by Ramshackle Games. Old Grimbatul is intended for Fantasy games rather than the wastelands of Mattblackgod’s world or the infinite expanses of the Wild Galaxy. But as I of yet have no Fantasy Orcs (I do but they are from the 80’s and in much need of some TLC) he will be a Ork Warboss. A real Mega Boss and I guess he would be a real bullet magnet on the tabletop. 

I chose a paint scheme that would suit the style of the figure which is along the lines of the Snakebite Clan. Plus plenty of rusty metal. It’s not a proper Ork without rusty metal. The Snakebites have a feral old world look to them allowing fantasy figures to be used on the tabletop. 

Grimbatul has a dark elf witch on his shoulder pad which his believes gives him protection in battle. In my settings it will be a psychic Fay Genetically Engineered Life Form (GELF). I like to think of the Fay Wytch as biding her time until Grimbatul is weakened to free herself and exact her revenge. 

That’s my Orktober post done. Onto other seasonal postings. Stay tuned. 

Thanks for looking. Take care out there. 

Nobby Pumpkinhead

Hello and welcome back.

One day over by the Pumpkin patch in the Last City a Grot was caught lurking by the Pumpking’s muscle. The unfortunate Grot was a survivor of the last Trog incursion into the Last City. They hauled the Grot in front of the Pumpking expecting him to blow the green skin away. It came as a surprise when the Pumpking named the Grot “Nobby” and kept him on as his assistant.

Nobby has taken to wearing a pumpkin as a helmet to emulate his new master. He is very happy as new boss is far kinder than any Trog. 

Nobby is a Halloween Goblin from Ramshackle Games.

Thanks for looking and take care out there.

Orktober - The Fungus Boys & Black Skar attak buggy

Welcome back and happy Halloween! 

Orktober is something I have always had the urge to participate in but there was always some other ongoing projects that have prevented my participation. Like most Orkophiles I have always loved Orks and there is a pile of old school Orks waiting to join those in my 30+ year old collection. 

These new additions to my collection will be present on Mattblackgod’s world in the wastelands known as Trogwanna which is largely Ork/Trog dominated wasteland. They are on the world as left over genetically engineered warriors from the wars. 

Another idea that I have is to make the Trogwanna setting into its own world, inspired very loosely by Angelis (the world Gorkamorka is set on), the Mad Max franchise and a variety of other sources. But then Mattblackgod’s world is a setting designed so I can use any figures in my collection and where anything goes. Eventually I am hoping to try and get a few games of Gorkamorka in at some point. 

First up is the Fungus Boyz. 

The boss - Fungus Amnugus. 

I trimmed the bases back to make these newer (& much larger) Orks fit in a Truk. Thinking about it I may try to make a press mould copy of the original Gorkamorka bases. 

The Truk was butchered, stretched to fit more Boyz and a Crows Nest added. This was constructed from a a couple of old pen bodies, lolly pop sticks and a hacked up pill bottle. The crows nest will help spotting scrap out in the wastelands.

This mob could do with a driver and gunner on foot. The models came from a revel rebrand of older GW kits. Now sadly OOP. 

The attak buggy is part of the main clan of the Mattblack Trog - the Black Skarz. This buggy serves to disable enemy vehicles in hit and run tactics. It is a newer model from GW. I find these models need pre painting on the sprue as there are lots of internal details. 

The buggy is a Kustom Booster-blasta kit. It is a great model however I wasn’t too happy with the rear dual wheels as the inner set is moulded into the body. It is a kit that won’t be impossible to hack  up but is does have limitations. It would make a good kit to use for parts but at the prices GW ask I would rather spend the money to supply resin parts from a third party.  

Thanks for looking and beware ghouls and spooks.

Take care out there. 

Still alive out there?

Hello and welcome back,

There hasn’t been a post for a couple of weeks. I am still alive and kicking. I have some 15mm figures to share when I get around to writing their fluff. 

A couple of weeks ago I decided to build the Ork trukk & boys that revell released a few years back for Orktober. Then the conversion bug bit and I fell down the Gorkamorka rabbit (squig?) hole. My inner Mek Boy went into overdrive. 

The trukk was stretched and a rather fun crows nest added. It is still a WIP. No idea about names for this gang yet. Maybe the Black Skarz?

Then I started this build intended for a character Trog I made a couple of years back. They frame is recycled sprue. The engine and wheels come from Foxbox.

Mattblackgod’s world has Trogs (Orks) who are Genetically Engineered Life Forms (GELF) that we’re brought to the world to fight during the end wars. Trogs are hardier than humans and found survival in the post apocalyptic world quite easy. Actually they think it’s great fun. Trogs are a threat across the wastelands and to the Last City. Trog raiders are always on the lookout for loot and slaves to take back to Trogwanna. One of Mattblackgod’s World’s continents is called Trogwanna. It is a wasteland overrun with the creatures and the Grots which share the same genetic engineering. Many humans surviving on Trogwanna are enslaved to the bidding of the Trogs. Some Trogs lead warbands of human “fanboys”. The large mutated Trog known as the Mattblack Trog controls the ruins of the planet’s capitol mega city and the tomb of the Mattblackgod. Another Trog Nob known as Da Duke controls the ruins to the North of the Matt Black City now known as Nu Ork. The Immortan Trog controls some of the deserts of Trogwanna using Humans as the main body of his warband. So I can quite happily twist and fit further Gorkamorka madness into MBW. 

At some point I would love to build this Ork slaver’s walker from the fluff in the 40K Rogue Trader rule book.

Until then the Mad Mek’s will have to keep a eye open for suitable gubbins to build it.

Thanks for looking. 

Stay safe out there. 

Dungers!

Hello and welcome back. 

After seeing a post about Ramshackle Game’s characterful Dungers on social media I thought I would get a picture of my own Dunger Herd as it stands. 

There is a mix of older unavailable models and later ones by Ramshackle games in my herd. I am tempted to get more at some point as they are fun characterful models.

Got an adventurer that needs some luggage hauling across the wasteslands? There are pack Dungers too...

These are not the only dungers to be finished in my collection. There are a number of dungers with riders legs cast on them just waiting for me to decide what torsos to use. I have a massive Dungeron to paint too. 

During last years BYOL Helsreach game I snapped this Dunger Stampede. These models are Curtis’s from Ramshackle games. 

Thanks for looking and take care out there. 

Trogs! Trogs! Trogs!

Hello and Welcome back to my blog. Some new additions to the Mattblackgod’s world grinder. 

More Trogs to terrorise the wastelands. For those who don’t know, Trogs are a Genetically Engineered Life Form (GELF) created for war. They where brought to the world during the end wars. They can exist in environments that would kill humans and survived the orbital bombardment. The world now is a play ground for the Trogs.

A whole horde of Evil Suns.

Some Bad Moons to add numbers to the clan’s warband. Although plasma weapons on Mattblackgod’s world are notoriously unreliable and dangerous. 

I am on a nostalgia kick and collecting 40K oldhammer Rogue Trader era figures. I have a collection of Orks and when I spotted these plastics cheap on I had to pick them up. They were supplied painted which saves me a job. Although the bases could do with updating.

Thanks for looking and stay safe out there.

Matt Black Data #4 - Immortan Ork

Immortan Ork: 

30 miles south of the ruins in the wastelands of the hell zone lies a settlement built around what appears to be a old world aquifer. The leader of this settlement is a old mutated Trog known as Immortan Ork. The Trog has survived here for a long time. He was here even when the Hellzone was too toxic for anything else to live.

He and his Warboys terrorise the wastelands to the south of the ruins in souped up vehicles.

Immortan Ork would contest the Matt Black Trog's position in the city ruins but his Warboys are deeply superstitious of the ruins and cannot be coaxed or bullied to go more than a mile into the old mega city. 

The chances are that it would be suicide to contest the Matt Black Trog as his Trogs outnumber the Warboys. 

Immortan Ork is a based on a current 40K Ork Nob with a heavy amount of customisation. The mask was made to look more Orky than the Mad Max Fury Road character. The Warboys are GW Gorkamorka Digganobs painted in a Warboy style.

Matt Black Data Report #1.

These are some of the data items sent to Utopia High Command by the Expedition team currently setting up in the ruins of Matt Black City.

Halfpintskis:

These stable mutations have been spotted out in the ruins. They appear to be tribal versions of those guarded by Brittannia's Black Daggers company. It is thought that they may be decendants of the people who lived in this city before the end.

They live in the rubble zones of the city and raid for food. However they can be easily won over by gifting or tradeing for food.

The Halfpintskis live in rubble caverns beneath the ruins in a settlement they call "Halfpintington". These mutants are known to help those lost or in trouble near their settlement. However do not cross them as they are well armed and can be aggressive.

I bought these minis as a impulse buy many years ago (because you have to have tribal machine gun toting hobbits! ) and now I can't recall the manufacturer.

Matt Black City Report 3. Into the fire.

Journal of Senior Mag Stevo.
Date 24060117

Day 3:

We took off at first light and discovered to our pleasure that the weather conditions where calm and clear. The legendary near constant storms that haunt the mountains and the hellish wastes beyond seemed to be at a rare lull. I foolishly took this to be a symbol of hope that our mission would be a success.

As we passed the mountains Magistrate Warren pointed out that the sensors where only picking up pockets of contamination. In fact the hell zone was no worse than the rest of the world. As we puzzled this Warren noted traces of what the ancients called Terraforming elements. These microbes and chemicals where designed to transform hostile worlds into places humanity could live. Warren wishes to land on our return trip to collect samples. If Utopia can replicate these we may turn our world once again into a eden. This raised new questions namely who set off the terrafroming and where did they get the kit?

On approach to the Matt Black City we did a high altitude fly past circling the huge expanse of ruins for Mag Monk to get a bearing on the transmission. Many blocks where gone, just piles of rubble or dust. Others stood broken whilst one or two lay on their sides. It was shocking to see the mega city in this state. Again the contaminent levels seemed normal for the rest of our world with only pockets registered here or there.

We noted many active camps and settlements. The immensity of the ruins keeping many of them miles apart. It seems others have been drawn here too. They better take care and avoid the contaminated zones.

Shockingly towards the centre of the ruins there appeared to be what looks like a ramshackle city. Mag Monk confirmed the transmission was coming from the city. Warren also noted that the location of the tomb of the Matt Black God should lie dead centre of the city. This city is not here by chance nor do I feel the recent terraforming and transmission is a coincidence.

Taking a lower sweep we could see the ramshackle city was teaming with Trogz.

Trogz have been recorded in the wastelands for a long time and are incorrectly thought by many to be mutants. Trogz are a Genetically Engineered Life Form or GELF. These are also known as ORCS (Organically Replicating Combat System) produced long ago before the wars on a far off world to act as troops in wars. There use was banned and the were probably brought here illegally as spores during the wars. According to the data the ORCS are hard to control, extremely violent, bloodthirsty and replicate at a alarming rate. Even when dead up to 12 creatures can spore from one for years to come. Worlds were overwhelmed leading to the GELF wars. Reading about the Trogz makes me miss the Pyscho-d up mental street punks of the Blocks.

The tomb of the god lies dead centre (we could see it from the air) and is unmolested by the creatures. It is kept clear of their buildings and detruius. Mag Monk confirmed that The Tomb is the centre of the transmission. The trog city stretches out for a estimated two miles in all directions from the tomb. How many of these beasts are there?

Near the centre of what we callas "Trog City" lies many large constructions. They look like warmachines made from junk. We noted one Trog bigger than all the rest. Here is a picture of the Boss.

The Matt Black Trog is a 40K Ork Warboss I got cheap on evilbay. The usual head wasn't what I envisioned so I gave him a head swap and raised his cranium with greenstuff putty. I added a Scar and Lump on his head. I am happy with his skin which is supposed to be black. The Grot slave is a classic 40K figure I have owned since the early 90s.

He must be the Big Boss/leader. He is unusual in having black skin and a higher cranium than most of his species. Mag Warren speculates that it may have higher intelligence or possibly PSI abilities.

Trogz are known to have various skin colours depending on where they where spawned. It seems local contaminants can effect them. Most are green or brown skinned. Black is a rarity. Note the smaller creature behind. That is a Grots. A smaller GELF closely associated with Trogz. They are of a similar make up but are smaller and weaker. Both their designers and the Trogz use them as a source of slave labour. Like the Trogz many in the wastelands think the Grots are mutants and call them "The mutie men".

We also spied another Trog on one of the construction sites wearing fierce looking power armour. He seems to be a big mek, a trog version of a engineer. Note the Grot slave. 

Big Mek Tinka. This is a standard 40K figure. The grot is a classic 40K metal figure I have owned since the early 90s. 

At this point we started to take hostile fire and we were forced beat a hasty retreat. Thankfully the shuttle only took superficial damage.

I have ordered us to land on a old city block many miles away from Trog City so we can reassess. We have launched spydat drones to collect closer Intel on the Trogz.

We cannot shoot our way into the tomb. Even with our weapons and skills we wouldn't get past the walls.

The shuttle has enough firepower to damage the tomb but will it be enough? Our missiles and cannon have limited stores.

We could use the shuttle as a distraction and infiltrate. Head for the tomb and disable the transmission. However if we get spotted we stand little chance.

Another option is for Utopia to send a bomber or gunships to our location and hammer the tomb from above. A nuke should do it nicely.

As I fear our mission may now be impossible and suicidal I have contacted Utopia city to advise of our findings and for further orders.

In addition I have ordered the shuttle be ready for immediate action in case we encounter large groups of hostiles and we have to bug out.

For now we rest. Tomorrow we may die.

New Trog additions.

Hello and welcome back to my blog. For a change there is actually some miniature related content.

Somewhere in the mists of time I picked up a handful of old 40K RT era metal Orks to bolster my Ork Army from back in the day. Finally I got some paint slapped on them ready to join their mobs in my army.

I chose to go with the traditional green skin. The rest of my forces are a mix of human flesh colours. I get around this by claiming what ever the Trogs are exposed to during spawning can effect skin colour. MBW is heavily contaminated and it gives me a good excuse for Trogs of many colours.

This trio are to join the second Boss Mob of the Mattblack Trog. Note the black war paint and the unit markers on the bases. The Mattblack Clan are a new Trog/Ork clan unique to Mattblackgod's world.

This pair are to join the Evil Moons mob of the Bad Moon Clan.

I had a lot of fun painting these guys and I am resisting the temptation to strip my entire Ork Force to repaint them.

In the to paint pile is a Kromlech Afrika Korps Orks which will form a unit from the Blood Axes Clan. My friend Xander donated lots of feral looking Orks mostly painted which will form a band of Snake Bite Clan (Thanks again Dr X). I know the sizes of Ork figures greatly differ from the late 80's and the modern efforts which are nearly twice as big. But that doesn't bother me. Orks aren't supposed to be uniform and the smaller ones could be Yoofs.

Thanks for reading. Take care out there.

Trogz- The WARRGGHHH arrives.

Welcome back to my blog. Posts have been a bit scattered of late. Part of this is due to the kittens I have running rampage throughout the house.

I have very slowly been working on bits for my Trog Gangs. Here is a Trog Big Mek and Big Warlord. These are WIP. 

The Big Mek is a standard 40K Kit and is slowly moving forward. The Big Warlord needs some greenstuff. I would like to add a larger cranium and some scars. This guy will be mutated. His large cranium is a mutation from visiting the ruins of Matt Black Ruins. It also makes him a little smarter than the rest of the Trogs. 

I decided I needed some bits  for vehicle building. So I visited the Fox Box  webpage. I got these lovely bits for my vehicle building. 

The castings are clean and there are no bubbles. They will not only be useful for my Trogs/Orks but would be useful for Post Apoc vehicles.  I will be ordering from Fox Box again. 

Discussing my Trog plans with my friend Xander, he told me he had a present for me. A few days later a large box arrived. In it a large horde for these guys....

There is enough there for a couple of mobs at least. I am thinking of one mob of Snakebites. 

There was all these bitz too. This should keep my Trog projects going for a long while. Thank you Xander....Mrs Mattblackgod isn't too happy with the extra little men. Hide! Hide I tell you! 

Thank you for looking. 

Dungers & Mutant Plants

Curtis from Ramshackle was kind enough to send me some spare bits as he shut his workshop down for a move. In among the pile of goodies where some Dungers and mutant plants. 

I love the Nuclear Renaissance Dungers. The are very characterful and I have quite a collection of these beasties.  

I had two of the same figure so I had to add some horns from the bits box. 

I love the armored pack Dunger. 

A better look at this angry Critter's grid. 

Curtis also sent me a couple of mutant plants. As I have a alien/mutant jungle in my terrain collection these nasty little plants will add nicely. 

There is more goodies in the Ramshackle Plie, which will get posted up here when I get to them! Thank you Curtis for  your kind donations to my miniatures collection.