埋伏胡同

Playing Call of Duty: Black Ops over Christmas has set me off on a thought trail. There's this one heart racing, rabid mission, fleeing across the rooftops and fire scapes of Hong Kong. I'm thinking pseudo Blade Runner - and then when you mix China, Japan, Sci Fi, outer planets and colonies, you have Firefly.

So I want something more than adobe and prefab - surely the future is a bit more commercial and fun, close, crowded and neon fuelled. Now, Eric Burgess is one of the hobbies good guys. A decade ago I played a part in a Korean War campaign he organsed. His terrain was completely scratchbuilt and eye popping.

Erics 'oriental' terrain in this instance used for Boxer rebellion

http://dinofbattle.blogspot.com/

Maybe not Hong Kong tenements, but a claustrophobic 'Chinese' settlement on a colony/frontier world. More modern and Sci Fi elements can be added in, plus Neon signs printed from photos on the web.

 In addition I also have an idea for a concept based on creating high rise buildings, close and tight, black painted streets and alleys, with minimal surface detail. Instead the detail is provided by printed neon store/bar fronts, neon signs and street furniture.

Rather than build a bright shiny city like the 28mm one Antenociti are taking round the shows. I prefer dark and brooding, made alive by light.

It's not an immediate project but whether I go for city or rim colony I think there's mileage, even on a smaller scale. Perhaps beginning with a 'pizza base' street intersection for skirmish and Royale with Cheese gunfight games.

Cheers

Mark

Cap'n Amy Pond

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"Well, Helloooooo..........."

So a quick look at Peter Pig.... and you know, I'm thinking pirate ship (deck plans), pirates (not quite that pretty of course in 15mm - shame) and of course.... Xenos.

Cheers

Mark
   

Divine Intervention

If you want to replay the weekend's events in a Science Fiction setting, let me recommend Traveller Double Adventure 6: Divine Intervention / Night of Conquest.

Divine Intervention is set aboard a private, fortified aerial floating complex which is home to a religious leader. The setting and deck plans are perfect for an assault of the station by one or more small parties of commandos with orders to 'terminate with extreme prejudice'.

Imperial Navy Orca Team 6 has a good ring to it. Time to print up the deck plans in 15mm, order some Orca Assault Warriors as the good guys and get some Zidhe from 15mm.co.uk to be Vin Bladen and his Telikabani jundies.

Cheers

Mark

Sci Fi / Cyber House Inspiration

Looking at more Sci Fi buildings suitable for the tabletop. OK, so GZG and Critical Mass Games have provided us with a superb range of prefabs but something is still missing.

First, nothing says MOON BASE does it - you know, interlinking connection tunnels, domes, that sort of thing. But maybe the ultimate test of mankind, living and fighting in a ZERO-G  or airless barren rock environment is NOT where you want to take your Sci Fi battles - after all I see a lot of green out there in blogland. 

Second, what happens after first dirtfall? How do you expand your prefab palace? Go up maybe?

I found this superb 3-D render by Roomper. You can imagine 2nd generation colonists breaking out from their portakabin environment - building outwards, with more levels and a city as we know it begins to emerge.

Maybe this is the home of the Mayor of Dirtville, son of a 3rd generation Colonist family. Or maybe it's part of the slums of a shiny city of tall iridescent spires. It has a very Blade Runner feel - don't you think? Wouldn't it be great to have a small district like this to game in - Blade Runner Ambush Alley style - rather than mono-level portakabins or ersatz Middle Eastern adobes?

Cheers

Mark
 

Zombies, Girls with Guns, World War One, Oh My!

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Is think I prefer this version of the Battle of the Somme. Seriously, well, semi-seriously, will Sucker Punch make World War One bigger than Weird/1946 Nazi fodder?

The right walkers and similar 'mechanicals' could make the trench battles of WW1 much more interesting. Don't get me wrong, I studied trench warfare tactics and have played great trench games in the past. I have 2 regiments  of 15mm Peter Pig Late War Hun, plus a Sturmbattalione of Strosstruppen and Brits to boot.

But now thinking with my Sci Fi battle bowler on, certainly an excuse to brush off my 15mm Tommies and those new ArtCrime Productions Valkyrie Battlesuits may just be the trick for WW1 mechanical combat assault troops.

I've heard Suck Punch described as a Fetish Model Zombie Inception Flick. Perfect wargames nirvana then! An excellent excuse to field Khurasan's leather clad Jollina Jo-eli to lead my gas-masked Feld Grau minions for the Kaiser.

Mmm...maybe some mileage in this. Absolutely barking, but mileage nevertheless.

Cheers
Mark
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Xenos Don't Surf

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Sooo much potential in this pic...

"In the keg, five by five". 

"Why are we taking this beach Sir?"
"'Cause Xenos don't surf son!"

Cheers
Mark