Not much happing...so some thoughts!

I am finding myself a little lethargic at the moment when it comes to painting minis. I suspect  it is because I want to build a city scape. Its been a dream of mine for the last few years. The Utopia City project is getting me fired up to make one. I have quite a few bits of terrain but you can never have enough for a urban game. 

Speaking of Utopia City I would like to build some transports for the Mags. I am currently hunting about for suitable conversion items for a Mega City One Sky Bus too. 

One strange thing that crossed my mind this week was to get a copy of the latest WH 40K rules so that I have at least the chance of a game locally. You can get copies off evilbay far cheaper than GW. Don't worry I got over it. 

In my mini collection I still have my old 40K RT era Orks. The thought struck me that the 50 or so minis could see action in Gorkamorka. All I need is vehicles. I may add it to Mattblackgod’s world. Dump them on a island some place. Maybe call it Trogamorka or Apocotrog! lol. After hunting about I spotted the Mantic Orx vehicles. They have some nice vehicles that are useful for post apoc. I am thinking of getting some for this project and maybe use an alternative human gunner and hot swap them with the Orx. If I go this route I will buy a loose sprue or two of the Mantic Orx just to compare the sizes with the older 40K RT Orks. 

Me being me I am also thinking of creating my own Ork Tribe for the game. I need to think up a name possibly relating to myself. 

My weekly madness did not stop there. For a long time I have fancied building a Sci-Fi armored column. In my bitz pile there is a couple of 1/35 RC tanks that a friend got me. The look like the Russian WW2 KW2 and have a nice amount of detail on them. These may be a good start. The 40K IG/Cadians would supply the figures and lots of conversions would make up the column. I am considering using Mantic Corporation figures as they are cheap. But I suspect I would have to go for more of a serious Sci-Fi look with grav vehicle conversions. 

Then the insane thought process moved on to a similar column for my Trogs/Orks. 

Utopia City Non Coms

When you have a mega city....what do you need? Non Combatants! Those ordinary folks who report crimes, get in the way and usually end up dead or injured. 

The mini on the left is a converted EM4 Samurai Lady miniature with the sword & scabbard removed. A hand bag was crafted from putty. I am not too happy with it. The figure on the Right came from Heresy Miniatures and is unconverted. 

May be Mrs Natagi is on her way home from the office (the 10 hour working week is a bind in Utopia City) or perhaps she has dinner? The other lady could be out for a night out, a street punk...or a street worker (that is one job Robots haven't managed to fully take over!). 

There will be more non comms following. 

Another crumbling ruin for the wastelands.

Yet another crumbling ruin for the wastelands....

It was a bit of polystyrene packaging that was laying about. Instead of throwing it out, it was hot glued to a old CD. A tooth pick was pushed into to it. Textured paint was applied (Sand, PVA and cheap paint) and the usual dry brushes and graffiti. 

Quick, easy and effective. Oh yeah I forgot - cheap too!!!  :D 

The mini is a EM4 Scavenger. 

The new members for my Not Firefly crew...

And now for some good old plain Sci-Fi....

Remember the Not Firefly crew I was making was missing Inara and a Doctor? Well now the crew is complete...

Inara is a High Class Escort and can get the crew access to certain places due to her contacts. The Doctor is the brother of River. Both figures are from Heresy Miniatures. 

The Full Crew....

Street ganger of Utopia City

A typical street ganger of Utopia City ...very possibly of the Golden Petals gang from Tomoe Gozen Block. 

The mini is a Japanese female Samurai from EM4 miniatures. 

Bio Booster Armour Mk1 & Service Droid

While experimenting on various forms of Power Armour, the Hypero Corporation developed a form of organic armour they dubbed Bio Booster Armour. Unlike regular Power Armour the Booster links directly with its pilot, or host, bonding with him or her. During field tests it was found that after a matter of weeks the pilot was absorbed by the suit. Hypero undeterred, went forward and continued trials ultimately killing 25 pilots. Before pilot 26 could be installed, the suit some how escaped (or was stolen) into the undercity levels of Utopia City. All attempts to capture the suit have failed. Some speculate that the suit has fled into the wastelands. 

Mini is a repainted EM4 Alien. 

I feel a mention of The Mighty Flip from the Post Apoc Wargames Froum and flipsminiatures is worthy here, as I have nicked his idea and background fluff for the Bio Booster suit. I just changed some names ...Thanks Man. The Rad Beers are on me!   

In Utopia City most of the menial work is done by robots & service droids. In many blocks old droids such as this one can be found carrying out repairs and cleaning. 

The mini is by Heresy Miniatures. 

Utopia City Enforcer and Crazy

The main body of low end Law Enforcement in the City is provided by the Enforcers (known as Grunts by the Mags).  Every Enforcer House has that one Enforcer who can give a Mag a run for his money. 

Figure by EM4. Future Cop Hero. 

This Mag Hero is toting a LMG which is often handy for suppressing the gangs when Block Wars occur.  

Some times life in Utopia City is too much and people just snap. They get what is known as Utopia Shock Syndrome  (USS) and are known as Crazies. Crazies are demented and go on homicidal killing sprees imagining all manner of deluded fantasies. 

This poor lady snapped doing the house work one day....

Figure is a Mongoose Judge Dredd Futsie. 

I like this mini - she has lots of character. Measuring spoons, toilet brush and a feather duster. Good fun to paint. This is my first attempt at using florescent paints on a miniature. 

Meet the Mags of Utopia City.

My older setting was set 40 to 50 years after the nukes rained down on MBW. As I have added a 2000AD style High Tech Mega City. I have wound on the world to +100 PA. 

First up - Utopia City Magistrates. 

The Magistrates or Mags as they are known are the feared elite of the cities Law enforcement. They wear improved body armour and carry better weapons to the Enforcers. With 15 years of training the Mags are authorised to carry out on the spot justice . They are judge, jury and executioner. They will often arrive at riots and block wars and wade in. 

The Mags act as the cities primary defence force and provide defence from Wasteland gangs and some upitty newly formed wasteland states. Occasionally the Mags will go out into the Wastelands to deal with raiders or criminals. Becoming a Mag is a massive responsibility. Once a Mag always a Mag. If they survive they can rise up the ranks and end up a judge or counsellor. However all Mags face retirement one day – those that do have to wander into the wastelands or undercity to bring the law to the lawless. They never return. 

Mags are drawn from the cities Orphan population and trained from a early age. It takes 15 Years to train a Meg. Very rarely an exceptional Enforcer will be asked to join the Mags, assuming he or she can pass the training. 

Mags have high tech pistols that provide a variety of fire modes and ammunition. They are also coded to the users DNA so they cannot be used by unauthorised persons. This gives the Mags a fearsome amount of firepower.  Mags are also equipped with Day Sticks, Stun & Gas Grenades and a Respirator mask. 

There are also specialist Mags to deal with Riots which are a regular occurrence in the city.

The Mag on the left is equipped with Riot Foam. The Riot Foam sprayer coats rioters in a foam which sets solid until they can be removed, arrested and Judged. It is a quick way to get control of dangerous situation. 

The Justice Dept has other specialist Mags too. 

Left to Right - PSI, Tech and Med

PSI Mags provide much needed PSI support and have saved many Mags lives. The mutation is not clearly understood. Each PSI Mag has their own special gifts. 

Tech Mags deal with the robots and computers and Med Mags rush about trying to keep folks alive (at least long enough for sentence to be passed). 

Minis are from Mongoose Minis. 

As rioting can get bad the Mags have adapted an old Warbot for Riot Policing. Meet the Riotbot. 

The Riot Bot is equipped with a shield, Day stick and heavy Riot Foam sprayer. The mere presence of this machine usually calms a situation. 

This was a old Androids toy - repainted. I am thinking it will need a base on it.

Factions in Utopia City

Here is a list of the different factions that can be found in this setting. This is not an exhaustive list and this list is intended to cover a faction type. Hopefully this will allow me massive scope to get creative with tabletop forces and terrain.  

Factions.

Enforcers
The Enforcers are the police of the city. Well armed and trained they try to keep order. When arrests are made they are shipped to the halls of justice and sentence is passed by a Judge. Often the Enforcers deal with the mundane policing duties such as traffic, routine patrols, clean ups or security. Enforcers will often support any Mags in the area. 

Magistrates
The Magistrates or Mags as they are known are the feared elite of the cities Law enforcement. They wear improved body armour and carry better weapons to the Enforcers. With 15 years of training the Mags are authorised to carry out on the spot justice . They are judge, jury and executioner.  They will often arrive at riots and block wars and wade in.  

The Mags act as the cities defence force and provide defence from Wasteland gangs and some upitty newly formed wasteland states. Occasionally the Mags will go out into the Wastelands to deal with raiders or criminals. Becoming a Mag is a massive responsibility. Once a Mag always a Mag. If they survive they can rise up the ranks and end up a judge or counsellor. However all Mags face retirement one day – those that do have to wander into the wastelands or undercity to bring the law to the lawless. They never return. 

Brat Gangs
Brat gangs come from the Lux Blocks where the rich dwell. They have the best stuff and are often targets of poorer gangs.

Bounty Hunters
Bounty hunters are employed by the Mags. The go out into the wastes looking for those fleeing justice and bring them back dead or alive. 

Cit-Def
The Citzens Defence force is a volunteer militia. Citizens gather and train in case the city is invaded. The Mags think its a bad idea to train and arm citizens. 60% of blocks having a Cit-Def unit and they sometimes get involved in block wars. Each Cit Def unit has its own uniforms and equipment which varies greatly in style and quality. Often the block Name influence uniform and equipment. It is rare if two Cit Def units look alike. 

Cit Def units spend a week at a time at the Outposts. Training missions into the Wastelands, Nuclear  Alley or the undercity are also taken. Sometimes they don't come back. 

Corporations
There are many corporations in the city having a block or two which the use to produce goods to sell to Utopia City’s residents. Kraptoidiots Corporation is the largest corp in the city. Corporations often try to out do each other and steal each others designs. This can lead to out right warfare between them. 

Cults
Many turn to cults as a way to cope with day to day life in the City. Many cults are shams to pick the pockets of the gullible, some genuinely want to help, others seek enlightenment but there are darker cults with death cults killing as many as they can or suicide cults wiping themselves and huge portions of the population out. Then there is the problem of My God is Better than Yours syndrome where cults set out to destroy each other in some imaginary holy war. 

The Cult of the Mattblackgod is the most popular cult in the city. 

Gangs
Every block has a gang. Some blocks have up to three. Each gang has a unique look or set of colours that distinguish it. Gangs are made up from youths with only a hand full of adults remaining with the gang. Many don't make it to adulthood. Those that do may find jobs in the Orgs or (very rarely) become model citizens.

Mercenaries
Mercenaries are often employed to deal with a problem outside the city, often with a Mag in support. 

Out in the Wastes there is many who employ Mercenaries to keep bandits and raiders at bay.  Mercenaries can be anything from a few hired guns through to full squads of highly trained well equipped warriors. 

Orgs
The Orgs are the Organised crime syndicates of Utopia. The are involved in all manner of illegal activities. Org gangs have a distinct look. Often suits are the uniform they wear. 

Under the streets:

The Ratmen/Vermen
No one knows for sure where the Ratmen came from. Some claim they evolved from rats after the nukecast and others claim they where made in a lab. What ever their source these strange Rat Men exist under the city and intelligence gathered from other cities show that Utopia is not alone in this invasion. They live in the depths and come to the surface to raid. Ratmen are often seen with giant rats who act as lookouts and additional muscle.

The Grotz
These strange little men are also called goblins or Mutiemen. They are often green but also come in a range of browns with human skin tones also being common. It is thought that these creatures are mutants. They live deep in the tunnels and love old shot gun style technology. Anything with a loud bang and a flash is loved by the grots. They rarely come to the surface but will often attack Scavs and Ratmen. 

 Trogz:
The Trogz like the grots are mainly green but can come in a range of browns and human skintones. They where developed for a war but never saw action. They where thought to have been destroyed when the Nuke Cast happened. The Trogz where tougher than Humans and survived. They escaped and have been living and raiding ever since. They have found a way into the tunnels from the wastelands and enter to raid the grots, Ratmen and scavs. They are seeking a way to the surface to slaughter the humans. 

Some Trogs are employed as Mercenaries by the Mags and see action keeping the city safe. Other Trogs gain employment by those with darker agendas. 

Scavs
Scavengers live in the Undercity having slipped through the cracks of the system. The raid into the city at night to grab the unwary who get dragged down into the darkness to become dinner. 

Mutants
Various types of mutant exists under the cities streets. Many have fled from the city above their mutations to severe. They form bands under the city.  Wild mutant beasts are also found in the dark. 

Rats & Bug
Mutant Rats and bugs are commonplace under the city and are a danger to those who dare wander under the city. 

Rogue Robots
With so many working Robots in Utopia some break their programming protocols and head off on their own (telling them there is no Silicon Heaven usually does the trick). They often head into the undercity where they form gangs. 

Smoggers: 
Smoggers are a strange mutation of mole that live in the udner city. They form bands and compete for resources. These mole men are ideal for living in these conditions. Smoggers can also be found out in the wastelands. Smoggers sometimes make pacts with the Vermen/Rat men. 

Out in the Wastes: 

Settlements
There are many settlements out in the wastes. There are many with up to 20 people living in them. They scale up in size to full blown cities (Liberty City is the largest with 15 thousand people living there).  It is often ill advised to pick a fight in these places. Everyone is armed and usually have some experience. They fight every day to survive. 

Bandits
Bandits live in the Wastelands. Some are criminals from Utopia fleeing the Mags others are Wastelanders born and bred. Bandits raid Utopia traders, prey on Stalkers and keep wasteland settlements in fear. Mags will often act when warbands get too large. 

There are also bandits that operate as Pirates on the Dread Seas and there are some bandit clans that specialise in raiding airborne transports. It seems beyond the walls no where is safe. 

Warbands
Warbands are raised from settlements and go to war or raid others. They often compete with Bandits for spoils. Some times a Warband is raised to rid a place of bandits. 

Warbots
Out in the Wastes many old warbots sit inactive waiting for something to reactivate them. Stalker and Scrap Wranglers love to find such bots. However they must take care for many of them are just waiting for the next thing to kill. Old Warbots are banned in the City.

Scrap Wranglers
The Scrapwranglers head out into the wastelands in huge vehicles looking for salvage. They haul this back and sell it to the Corps for recycling. The often fall into trouble with the Stalkers. 

Stalkers
With unemployment so high in Utopia some consider the dangerous job of routing around the wastelands and ruins looking for items of value some of which can fetch high prices from collectors. It is a dangerous job and many stalkers are viewed with both awe and suspicion. Stalkers often camp close to the Outposts as many find they cannot adjust back to life in Utopia. Stalkers are at times hired by the Mags to act as guides. 

There are a few different gangs of Stalkers (or Clans as they call them) and they sometimes get into conflict over claims. 

Tribals
Tribals exist in the wastes. They have lipped to a more primitive state and live off the land. Some regard the local ruins and tech as evil. Others worship it. Generally the old places near their homes are regarded as sacred. 

Rogue Mags: 
From time to time Mags go bad. They are corrupt and flee the city when they have been discovered. Rogue Mags form bands or lead packs of bandits that raid Utopia merchants and traders. 

Entertainment in Utopia City

Two Under Domes have been secured and are used for “Entertainment” purposes. Moixxie’s Underdome is used gladiatorial style combats where a team is put against all manner of scum from the prisons and mutant beasts. The surviving team wins cash prizes. 

The second secured underdome is known as the Mutant Bash Arena. Hunters travel the wastes capturing Mutant Ghouls & beasts and the contestant has to fight his way through and survive. Amazing prizes can be won.

Mars Arena is in a old city ruins that has been walled off to make a large arena. Here several teams of life prisoners battle it out across a booby trap filled ruined cityscape. The winning team (what is left of it) is granted freedom. The Mars Arena also holds the Running Man tournaments in which a prisoner is hunted and has to escape/survive. 

These shows are amazingly popular with the blood thirsty population of Utopia. 

Auto combat & racing is also popular with a couple of Wasteland tracks providing spills and thrills of vehicles going head to head. In addition to this there is the Death Race. Death Race started as a illegal race around the city with drivers scoring points for kills and style. The Mags soon put a stop to it. However it was reinvented in a prison complex outside the city. Condemned prisoners race in a series of races with the winner gaining his freedom. The track is booby trapped and the cars are armed. It is rare if anyone racing survives the tournaments.

The Death Race was popular and Utopia City has seen it return in a illegal format known as Carmageddon. The only safe place when these races start is inside. Mags and Enforcers move into stop such races.