Dreadful Things: Custom monster kitbashing

Every now and then I need a break from painting fleets of starships or platoons of Dirtside troops, and over the last few years my "relaxation" jobs have frequently been large monster kitbashes, mostly out of soft plastic models.  The softer plastic is ideal for conversion work, and they're cheaper than figs made of higher-quality material so it's relatively inexpensive to get suitable models for parts.  The most recent examples of these are the critters I call the Wormkin Beholder and Leechmaw Horror.

I've done several of the Wormkin Beholders over the years, refining my technique a little each time.  Requires some hacksaw work to remove part of the front end of the worm and some putty to join the beholder to the worm, as well as adding the weird dangling globes to the "chin" tendrils (which are cut to remove the model from its integral base).

It's quite a large model, and sits comfortably on a 60mm base.  Seen here menacing a human-sized 28mm trooper from the old Vor Neo-Sov range.

The concept comes from D&D, obviously, where Beholders are prone to weird mutations and genetic instability. 

How one managed to crossbreed with a Purple Worm is beyond me.  Maybe a worm ingested a beholder spawn and it somehow got lodged in the critter's digestive tract as a parasite and eventually grew into this nightmare?

Regular (using the term loosely) beholders probably hate these things, given their intolerance of physiological deviations from their own phenotypes.  Or is that no longer a thing in the days of 5E?

Now, building the Wormkin Beholder left me with a leftover worm maw just crying to be used.  I briefly debated using it as a "surfacing" worm (a trick I've done many time in the past) but after some test fitting I decided it would make an interesting head swap for a oddball demon instead.  The resulting nasty I'll call a Leechmaw Horror.

Another big model on a 60mm base, and it barely fits at that.

The demon's original (tiny) head was carefully clipped off and the worm maw attached upside down, where it fit snugly.

I then sculpted a larger spinal hump on while blending over the join between the parts.  Bit more work than the Wormkin was, but I like the way it came out in the end.

The overall shape reminds me of the old Vor Growler Bull models, and it would make a decent Warpfang (the growler "weird mutant" subfaction) for the game if anyone actually played it these days.  The paint scheme was inspired by some Google images of actual leeches, which turned out to be more colorful than I thought they were.  They aren't all boring blackish-green lumps, who knew?

Rogue Stars Science Fiction Skirmish Rules: Alien Psionic Cult & Alien Cyborg Crew

I suspect the Cultist theme in Rogue Stars was meant for something a bit more Grimdark, but I like it for seriously weird alien types.

Built using the old "Large Sadistic Demons" from Asgard, currently in production as "Flesharons" through Alternative Armies.  I love these nostalgic old models, simple as they are.

As far as Rogue Stars stats go, I'd use the following:

Theme: Cultist

Tactical Discipline: Gestalt

3 x Servicer Xenopods (the little guys) each with the Vegetable and Psionic traits and the psionic abilities of Blink, Healing, Levitation, and Telekinetic Push (30XP each)

2 x Enactor Xenopods (the mid-sized ones) each with Vegetable, Psionic, and Psionic Mastery level 1, and the psionic abilities of Blink, Levitation, and either Nightmares or Telekinetic Strangle (30XP each)

1 x Director Xenopod (the big critter) with Vegetable, Psionic, and Psionic Mastery level 3, and the psionic abilities of Blink, Mindscream, Nightmares or Telekinetic Strangle, and Teleportation (50XP)

No equipment at all, relying on their mix of psionic abilities for offense, defense, and mobility.  They get a huge +6 to psi rolls initially due to Gestalt, but if you can inflict casualties on them they fall apart pretty quick.  Early priorities for spending XP would be levels in Psionic Mastery, followed by more psi abilities and eventually defensive and buffing traits.  They really don't want to melee anyone (which is, again, probably not what the designers were thinking of with the theme) and focus instead on using psi abilities to move themselves and their enemies around, heal damage, accomplish goals (or foil the other guy's) and generally be irritating.  The Director's ability to teleport (at +9 to the die roll!) and then pop a Mindscream is the biggest offensive trick, and the Servicers' TK push lets them make juicy clumps of targets for to aim for with it.  Robots are a problem for the crew as a whole, although TK strangle (aka "mentally unplugging your CPU, tin man") gives you something to use besides unarmed combat.

The species aren't really Vegetables, but the trait seems like the best way to represent their extremely alien nature.  Bit of extra durability, immunity to some effects, resistance to others, but (as with all horrific infestations) they don't like being purged with flame.

The other "Flesharons" make a very different crew, this time relying on integrated cybernetics.  Some background fluff, the "Awfuls" (as humanity has nicknamed this largely incomprehensible species) are undergoing a schism.  The Purists in the first post are the Old School faction, using psionics for virtually everything.  These guys are the Melded, a recently arisen group that eschews native psi power for biomechanical cyborg enhancements.

Suggested game stats:

Theme: Cyborgs

Tactical Discipline: Hard to Kill

2 x Sickle Drones (the little guys) each with the Ambidexterity, Claws, Tough level 1, and Vegetable traits and two Bionic Arms (30XP each)

2 x Warmasters (the big guys) each with Ambidexterity, Big, Claws, Tough level 3, and Vegetable traits, with two Bionic Arms, Cyborg Body, and two Torso Weapon Mounts (laser rifle and sonic rifle) (70XP)

Extremely tough for critters with no actual gear, with even the little guys getting a +4 on most damage result rolls against them and the big guys going to at least +7 (more if a hit lands on a bionic arm).  Hard To Kill makes it hard to make early wounds stick on them as well.  They're usually going to be outnumbered, but having Ambidexterity on everyone lets them get more attacks per action than you'd expect.  Not very accurate attacks, but lots of them and with some fairly nasty weapons.  Don't forget all their Claws have Crunch due to the twin Bionic Arms, so you can remove troublesome enemy equipment if need be.

This was originally posted last year over on Lead Adventure Forum, but I'm mirroring it here since my original photo links have died.

Rogue Stars Science Fiction Skirmish Rules: ExoTech Security Team

Latest project for 2018, a crew of 28mm figures for use in Rogue Stars by Osprey Wargames.  Rogue Stars is one of those minis games that also borders on flat-out roleplaying, with the rules, setting, and theme encouraging you to personalize your crews and track their successes and failures on the tabletop.  Taking that to heart, I've cribbed a quartet of models from the Gates of Antares range for use as a slightly shady corporate "security" team.

ExoTech Incorporated is a mid-sized manufacturing company that specializes in xeno-technological synthesis - the science of combining various alien technologies with human tech and each other to produce an end product whose final result is greater than the sum of its parts.  They produce a wide variety of high-end civilian gadgetry that sell well in Core Space, as well as a line of military/paramilitary gear with a distinctive biomechanical look.

ExoTech acquisition agents are common sights in Rim Space where they purchase all manner of new alien technology for use in research and development of new products.  On occasion they encounter dangerous criminals, hostile local rulers, and species who refuse to share their unique scientific advancements no matter what they're offered.  When that happens ExoTech Security is called in, dispatching heavily equipped combat specialists to troubleshoot whatever the problem may be - often by literally shooting things.

The most common Security troops are the armored infantry, wearing their signature heavy combat suits with integral powered gauntlets and generally carrying sophisticated molecular slugthrowers as primary weapons.  Each trooper is generally given some specialist training beyond their basic combat skills, ranging from medical to scientific to leadership skills.

Rarer but even more lavishly equipped are the Independent Operations Specialists, who are most often issued elaborate stealth suits, dual molecular slugthrowers with advanced silenced ammunition, and a variety of other advanced intrusion and restraint gear.  IO Specs often work alone in Core Space, but out on the Rim they're more often seen (when they're seen at all) with standard Security troopers in support.

In Rogue Stars terms, this crew is built using the "Star Cops" theme since ExoTech Security is (at least in theory) wholly legal and aboveboard.  They certainly never participate in ethically questionable activities like corporate espionage, technological thievery, or outright assassination.  Rumors of gray or black ops activity by ExoTech are just that - rumor.  Only rumor.

Their tactical discipline is usually going to be "Heavy Firepower" to exploit the Hail of Fire potential of their weaponry in the early stages of any fight.  They can easily blow through all five counters in a single flurry of shooting, but if that kills enough of the opposition then who needs to play for a long game?

Individual characters from left to right above:

Artema K-777 ("Killer")
IO Spec
70 XP

Traits:
Ambidexterity
Difficult Target 2 (3 with Stealth Suit)
Marksman 1
Stealth 2 (3 with Stealth Suit)

Gear:
2 x Alpha Class Needlers
Stealth Suit
Disentangler
Electromag Shackles


Jaro D-91295 ("Boss")
Security Trooper
45 XP

Traits:
Leadership 1
Marksman 1
Weapon Master 1

Gear:
Molecular Slugthrower
Powered Gauntlet
Combat Dress


Dev TX-0038 ("Tex")
Security Trooper
42 XP

Traits:
Marksman 1
Weapon Master 2

Gear:
Molecular Slugthrower
Powered Gauntlet
Combat Dress


Ondin MX-723 ("Doc")
Security Trooper
43 XP

Traits:
Marksman 1
Medic 1
Weapon Master 1

Gear:
Molecular Slugthrower
Powered Gauntlet
Combat Dress

In game terms, the strength of this crew is largely in their gear.  They've got pretty good armor on the troopers and Killer is extremely sneaky and hard to shoot.  All of them carry automatic weapons with infinite ammo, which means they can really lay down a lot of attacks per action in a pinch.  The troopers are also fairly effective in a melee although that's likely to be more of a defensive option than a primary tactic.  All their armor is sealed, giving them a lot of resistance to many annoying effects.  Finally, Killer's access to the rarest equipment gives them key gear like a Disentangler and Electromagnetic Shackles.

Their weaknesses include very limited mobility, a lack of really hard-hitting weapons (nothing over damage 4), and no veteran characters or other action/reaction boosters.  With only four models they'll also start many games outnumbered, although their damage output may make up for that.  They also don't have any grenades or psionic tricks up their sleeves.

Early priorities for XP spending should probably include getting some mobility gear (maybe jump packs on everyone?), improving existing skills, adding a heavier weapon or two (conversion time!), and the usual increases in experience levels and adding toughness.  As with any Rogue Stars crew you'll probably lose characters in battle pretty often.  Replacement carbon-copy troopers will probably work well enough, but if Killer goes down for good you might want to shuffle around her replacement's gear and skills to better suit whatever kind of crews and scenarios are giving you the most trouble.

    



Stargrunt 15mm Kra'Vak

Been busy the last few days working on a large batch of Ground Zero Games' 15mm Kra'Vak, the canonical Bad Guys of the First Xeno War. 

Two lots of infantry, each with command, heavy weapons, and a supporting grav drone.

 

Two packs of the new alien warbeasts with their handlers. 

 

Quite a few different infantry sculpts in the range - and all of these have "face mask" variants with head swaps available from GZG.  Myself I prefer the bare-headed version since the sculptor did such a good job actually giving them clear (and very alien) facial features, but the "goalies" do allow for more variety.

 

And a quartet of the new grav bikes.  Wonderful sculpts, these.  They require some assembly but go together well and the detailing is excellent.  GZG is doing more and more minis sculpted using a 3D drafting program and these are an excellent example of the results of the process.

 

Group shot to give a feel for scale of the various figures.

 

Ground Zero Games sells all these figures on their web site over here: 

 

https://shop.groundzerogames.co.uk/15mm-stargrunt/infantry/kra-vak-aliens.html

 

 

Worth mentioning that GZG is one of the fastest and most reliable shippers in the industry, and has some of the best customer service I've ever encountered.  Order with confidence, folks.

Full Thrust Xar Fleet Revisited

 

Had some time to work on the Xar fleet project I started back in this post:

http://brokenstarsburningships.blogspot.com/2017/08/full-thrust-xarr-strike-swarm.html

The fleet's grown considerably, with three new classes of ships.  UNDIA is deeply concerned by this expansion, largely because they're rapidly running out of codenames that start with the letter X and no one wants to lose a ship to a Xylophone.  New intelligence has also led to the original "Xenophobe" class being re-rated as a frigate-class hull, now equipped with a full-powered pulse torpedo.  In other words, I finally got around to comparing the minis sizes and decided the little guys are way too big to be mere corvettes.

Xevexex-class Xar Assault Frigate (UNDIA Codename Xenophobe)

Mass 24 NPV 81 / CPV 63

Thrust 6  q 3 q

FTL q

1 Fire Control System q

1 PDS q

1 Pulse Torpedo (F/FS/FP) q

1 Armor, 6 Hull (2/2/1/1, 2 DCTs)

m

qq

pq

q

p

An agile and aggressive design, the Xenophobe has been designated as an assault frigate by UNDIA observers.  They commonly operate in strike swarms of up to a dozen ships, relying on speed, concentrated fire, and sheer numbers to make up for their small size compared to most human combat vessels.  Equipped with an alien equivalent to human pulse torpedoes, they pack a powerful punch for their size but suffer from a lack of rear-arc weapons coverage.

Xovaxex-class Xar Assault Frigate (UNDIA Codename Xenovore)

Mass 24 NPV 81 / CPV 63

Thrust 6  q 3 q

FTL q

1 Fire Control System q

7 Beam-1 (360) qqqqqqq

1 Armor, 6 Hull (2/2/1/1, 2 DCTs)

m

qq

pq

q

p

The Xenovore class shares major spaceframe elements with the Xenophobe, but sports a completely different and more specialized weapons payload.  Studded with light energy projectors, these ships have very short range but tremendous hitting power and unequalled firing arcs.  They lack dedicated point defense systems but the sheer amount of beam fire they can put out still makes them a hard target for fighters and missiles.  Xenovores make up the majority of most assault swarms, backed up by smaller numbers of ships armed with longer-ranged weaponry.

Xax-class Core Cruiser (UNDIA Codename Xerxes)

Mass 74 NPV 316 / CPV 329

Thrust 6  q 3 q

FTL q

Screen-1 q

ECM System q

2 Fire Control Systems qq

2 Point Defense Systems qq

3 Beam-2 (F/FP/FS) qqq

1 Pulse Torpedo (F/FP/FS) q

1 Armor, 21 Hull

qqqqqp

qqqqq

qpqqq

qqqpp

The exact role of the Xax class is poorly understood by human intelligence analysts.  They appear only in very small numbers (rarely more than one a swarm) and carry extensive sensor jamming systems but don't act as any kind of recon or stealth ship.  They carry slightly heavier weapons than the smaller assault frigate classes but don't appear to be pure combat ships.  They are among the largest commonly seen Xar ships but they don't seem to perform any actual command role, and their destruction has no appreciable effect on swarm coordination.

Xavxevxevvex-class Scout (UNDIA Codename Xanthous)

Mass 6

NPV 32 / CPV 27

Thrust 8  q 4 q

FTL q

Enhanced Sensor System  q

Point Defense System q

1 Hull

p

Xanthous?  What does that even mean?  Oh.  Yellowish.  Okay, I guess I see that.  You sure we're not just running out of X words?  Well, okay.  It's a tiny scout ship.  Most swarm fleets have one or two along.  They often show up in advance of the main attack and scan defending systems for opposition and then lead the assault ships to them.  Pretty much unarmed and as fragile as it gets.  Kill them if you can, but don't waste shots on them if something with more teeth is in range.