Sunday, 30 September 2012

Wild Galaxy....setting & fluff

Its not all Post Apocalyptic madness here. I do like a bit of Sci-Fi fun too. You cant beat a few space ship battles or scraps over some remote station with pirates. 

Over the years I put together my own setting as I love to create my own factions. It is inspired by the Firefly/Serenity TV series/Movie but there is also salutes to the Freelancer computer game, Borderlands Computer game, Starship troopers, Alien(s), Red Dwarf and the Fullthrust/Stargrunt universe. There is some inspiration from the feel of the old 40K Rouge Trader universe too. 

I tend to steer clear from alien races other than bugs but I have included some Space Dwarves and Ratmen in my setting. I like the whole the bad guys are humans thing. Who knows as I get inspired I may add some one day. 

Enough of my rambling and on too the background fluff. I hope you enjoy it. 


Humanity ventured into space and made a glistening empire with Earth as its centre. Many worlds were terraformed and at the height of humanities empire there was an estimated 200,000 settled worlds and colonies. There were millions of space stations and asteroid stations through out the Galaxy. 

Eventually Earth was renamed Terra and it's solar system was the most populated in the galaxy. Earth’s satellite was renamed Luna and became a massive place for Earth’s scientific communities to work and operate. Mercury had a special mining operation on it, Venus and Mars had been Terraformed. Mars became a massive military base for the empire. Venus was a sprawling mass of jungles and used as a holiday resort by those living in the Terra system. Mars’ moons, Titan, Pluto, Charon and many more places in the Solar system had thriving bases on them. Every planet had a string of space stations. Hundreds of  mining operations ran in the asteroid belt and Oort cloud.

When the empire had reached 500 years old a terrible incident happened. Terra simply exploded. No one knows how or why. Some claim an alien attack or some experiment that went wrong caused the event. There are some claims that a GELF (Genetically Engineered Life Form) revenge attack caused the loss of Terra. 

The Terra system was devastated as each planet was subjected to meteor and storms which caused a great deal of devastation. Mars and Venus were worst damaged. Several space stations where destroyed and many more left as wrecks drifting in space. 

Earth was the glue which held the Terra empire together and it unravelled as many wars started as quests for power and control began. This lead to great destruction and countless billions lost their lives in the wars.

Today 150 Terra years on the galaxy is a wild and dangerous place filled with many small empires and many thousands of independent worlds and systems. In many places Corporations flourish without governing forces to interfere in their operations. They break deals and wage war on pirates, independent worlds and each other. Corporations like to asset strip worlds and are mistrusted. 

Near the edge of Human Space there is a much higher density of independent worlds, bases and moons. Worlds and stations range from tribal savagery through to high tech glittering gems of civilization. There are many places were no one rules and many smaller factions scratch a living scavenging and salvaging. Since the empire's collapse Piracy is a very real danger. 

As humanity expands into the Galaxy a new danger is present (or possibly an older one) as it is beginning to encroach on a part of the Galaxy known as GELF Space. GELFkind fled here after the GELF wars some 300 years ago. Many GELFs still carry a hatred of Humanity. 

Many worlds and stations through out the Galaxy were left in a state of devastation by the wars. Venus and Mars lie in ruins and are haunted by gangs of scavengers. A new Asteroid belt exists in Terra’s orbit, haunted by scavengers, treasure hunters and pirates. Luna was battered by Terra’s destruction and without a world to anchor too it drifted out of the Solar system and its position is currently unknown. The other asteroid belt and Oort cloud is currently controlled by pirates. Terra’s other bases have recovered slowly and live in constant conflict with each other for resources.

As the solar system of Mankind’s homeworld is now a solar bad lands littered with Pirates, scavengers and renegades the remains of the Terra Empire retreated to the worlds of Alpha Centauri system. They reformed the empire from the old one. 

The Nu Terra Empire is one of the largest in the Galaxy today but is only a fraction of its original size. It rules some 40 systems close to the Terra System and makes it presence felt in many more near its borders. Despite all this they have real problems trying to inflict any sort of law and order on what was the Terra System. However they keep doggedly trying to keep control of the home system. 

The Nu Terra Empire are looking for Earth’s lost satellite Luna and answers to what happened to Terra. They are also looking for a weapon or technology to give them the edge over other worlds so they can rise again to rule the Galaxy. 

Nu Terran Warriors wear light green or blue uniforms. Navy and Marines wear light grey. Vessels car painted in a white livery with a blue dot insignia.

To 15 or not to 15, that is the question?

The temptation of changing scale after seeing all the 15mm eyecandy online over the last few years has been great. After much research the appeal of 15mm as a scale is really speaking to me than the last time I looked at it (about 10 years ago). There is as nearly as many lines and nice figures as 28's these days. 

For me the main attraction is space saving and cost (a gang in 15mm is the same price as a single 28mm miniature). My current 28mm terrain collection is huge and takes up so much space. My current 28mm skirmish table of 3 x 4 feet would happily support Platoon to Company sized battles in 15mm. A 2 x 2 foot board will be ample for skirmish gaming. 

Another attraction is a new scale to build terrain and models in. New challenges. 

The down side for me is vehicles. There are loads of Sci-Fi out there but very little in the way of toy cars in the scale to chop up to make ganger and post apoc fighting machines. It is very tempting to try to scratch build my own. 

When I looked at this scale back in the mists of time I scored a Laserburn vehicle and about 40 figures for £1.99. I found these and I am working my way through them. It has taken me the same amount of time to paint 18 x 15mm figures as it would to paint 2 to 3 28mm figures. So a time savings there. 

When painted I will be running a few games to see if I like it before I start collecting. Watch this space.....

Sunday, 16 September 2012

Atmosphere Processor 512


Another older piece from earlier this year. As Matt Black Gods world is a space colony it will probably have some sort of Atmospheric processing towers. The cool thing about this model is it works for Sci-Fi & Firefly style Offworld colonies too. 

This started life many years ago as a failed attempt to scratch build a Aliens style Drop Ship. The hull remained and it was bugging me laying about doing nothing so I made this...


A door was added from cereal card and a door way from scraps of foamboard. The data panel is from Blackcat bases. Other details where added. 


Resin detailing from Ramshackle and some place on ebay. 


Rear


Inlet side. Detailing by Ramshackle and Old Crow (15mm pipeline)


The top level


The upper platform. 

The moral of the story...dont chuck out your failed early attempts, years down the line you may be able to do something with them. 

Abandoned Industrial Gubbins -STALKER syle


These are older builds by me, but I thought they where worth posting here. 

Some stalker style abandoned Industrial looking gubbins ideal for any post apoc wasteland or off world colony. 


Members of the Freedom faction check the area out for stashes, loot or mutants. 



Made from a qtip/cotton bud container, drinking straws, Yakult bottles, plastic bottle caps, plastic card, a electrical connector cap, old CDs and bits of a old model space station. The ladder is a plastruct item and the control panel came from Black Cat. Signs from my printer. 

I had fun making these and there are another two waiting for me to paint them (two years later!!) 

Post Apocalyptic/Off world city building 1


The first building for my Post Apoc city - Liberty City is done. The idea is to have several defendable buildings which will enclosed off with walls and fences to form compounds within the city walls each controlled by a gang or faction. These will also work for my Sci-Fi Firefly style off world colonies too. 

The open sided tower is due to a shortage of materials in the Wastelands. The truth is that this started life as a test piece for a new tunnel system I am planning. It was laying about so I put it to use. The tower needs ladders.....I must get a load made soon.  :D 




This side will be the outside of a compound. 




I love collecting/making small stuff that adds detail and atmosphere to a table.  In this case some new vending machines to my terrain set...


The vending machines are by Blackcat bases.

Very British Terrain....


If you have a British setting you need some typical British terrain items to give it the right feel. 


Old British Telephone Boxes and Post Boxes. 


Rubbish tip. This fits most modern urban settings. 

All resin items by Blackcat bases. 

Triffids


Get yer hedge trimmers out....the TRIFFIDS ARE COMING! 

These models where made from scratch for my Alien Plant invasion bit of my 80's British Post Apoc setting. 






Made from plastic straws, cake candle holders, wire tie wraps for food bags, plastic bases and good old greenstuff putty! Simple, cheap n cheerful! 

Hmmm - I think I will have to do a tutorial at some point. 

Saturday, 8 September 2012

Post Apocalyptic Bandits


These bandits roam the ruin and abandoned buildings attacking anyone who wont pay their "ransom".  The ransom usually involves stripping the victims of everything they have including clothes. It is not known where they hole up. Seaforth, Scouse Land and West Vale have prices on their heads. 



Anfield Reds - Post Apoc Street gang


This is a street gang based in the old Anfield Stadium. They gathered there as protection during the end and soon found the pitch, stalls and roof handy for growing crops. Food is supplemented through hunting, raiding or trading salvage. They are at constant war with the Cultists who live across (and control) a nearby park.