Resent Game Pics 1

Here are a Few Shots of a Game last Week.  My Friend Squinch & I Try to game Weekly at Endgame in Oakland CA when ours Schedule Allow.   This Last Game was a Withdrawal Under Fire Mission.

The Defender (me) consisted of 5 Squads of Infantry & 2 Tanks.
The Attackers (Squinch) Started with 4 Transports (APCs) 3 with 2 Infantry Squads Each 1 with 1 Infantry Squad, 1 Tank (witch are recycled the Turn After they are Destroyed. Recycled APCs include Infantry Squads)  With Additional Units Entering Every Turn.

Trans-Human Legeon

The Trans-Human Legions once were the Protectors of a Vast Terran Empire which attempted to Unite Humanity.  In the Name of Mankind they waged a War of Conquest & Genocide attempting to Exterminate all other forms of sentient Life.  Each Legionary was Genetically Altered to create Titan of Battle, towering. over lesser men.  Standard Equipment Power Armor, Heavy Pistols, Powered Combat Blades,  Heavy Rifles, Plasma Charges ( anti-tank Bombs ), in Addition to Heavier Weapons with a Anti-grav displacer.   When the Empire finally fell it was Many of  The Legions War-Lords turning on Each other & The Emperor was Slain & His Praetorian (Loyal Legions & adviser ) Scattered forming Smaller Protectorates.  The Traitor Legions have Become Raiders & Dictators of Many Scatter Systems.

Felid Empire

One of the first alien races I Purchased was the Felid, once I got them I faced a deli ma.  I could not find any vehicles that felt right to me & this became a pattern with my other alien forces.  I feel that all Aliens should have a Style of Equipment & Vehicles that is distinctly not Human.  In the Months that followed I saw a few Vehicles that Would work for alien races but nothing really grabbed me as usually it is 1 or 2 vehicles if you are lucky with the same Style.  Finally I found 2 Different Sizes of the AAT from Star Wars at a low Price & easily Available on E-Bay, Next I Picked up 2 Large Skiffs From Return of the Jedi for their Large Transports. 

In addition to the vehicles I decided to paint them in pattern using colors that are not typical for camouflage.  The colors are representing their visual spectrum, which is different than the human norm.  I used a mixtures of Blues with Ink washes & it turned out to be a good scheme.

Simplified Hive Mind Rules Version 1 Test Game

 This is the Battle report for the the Swarm Scenario Using my Simplified Hive Mind (Intellect) Rules.  The engagement is between The Federal Army & Hive Mind (Intellect) represented by my Zerge.  Is the third post in my series Simplified Hive Mind (Intellect) Rules.
The other 2 posts in this series are. #1 The post on a Simplified Version of Rules for a Hive Mind (Intellect) Army for Gruntz V1.1. That Explains the Rules I used & other Possible modification.
#2 The pregame post which presented The Unit Cards & Army compositions ((TO&Es) for the forces Involve in the Game.
Sorry it took so long to post but Was visiting with my father & Learning a Battle report program for the Maps at the end of the report.


Test game for my simplified Hive Mind Using  a Swarm scenario.

Specialist and and Scout Mechs

I have acquired a decent selections of Mechs in a number of different scales most of these are from Japan and are primarily from the Robotech & Dougram television series. I needed a break from the projects that I have been working on so I decided to do some old-fashioned modeling beginning with my Fang of the Sun Dougram Mini Figures I do not know the scale of these figures but I used to use some of these when I played Battletech years ago and they seemed the same scale. These figures came pre-assemble so all I had to do is mount them on the poker chips that I use for all my specialist teams and huge infantry. For now I plan to use them as is until I can budget in time to repaint them for the factions they will be assigned to,there are two reasons for this first I am not sure of which armies to assignment to & am going to" playtest them with the armies prior to making this decision. The second reason is I do not have the time to paint additional figures that already tabletop usable so I will be using as is. I may be doing a couple more posts on Mecha as I plan to put together the other models and mini figures that have been sitting in a storage box for last couple of months. I've been slow with putting together any Mechs as I have always had a problem with giant Mechs fighting alongside infantry, but I have recently read a few after action reports where the used Mechs alongside infantry and it was not a game breaker.  After seeing some other peoples armies where they use Mechs alongside infantry my views have changed and I think of them just as another support aspect just like tanks or other vehicles.

Below are pictures of my Fang of the Sun Dougram Mini Figures which will be used as either specialists units or as scout Mechs using the Gruntz 1.1 system. I may be adding more variety of scales to the blog, but primarily it will stay 15 mm with the possible exception of some Battletech or Mech Warrior posts due to the fact that many of the models can be used alongside to 15 mm figures, in addition to the fact I always liked Mech battles, but I'm not rushing out to purchase a bunch of stuff in any other scale.  I apologize to anyone who takes offense to this but I do not have the time or energy to multiple blogs for each scale I play.  The blog will remain exclusively  science-fiction.

After the  Fang of the Sun Dougram Mini Figures I have some Comparison Pics with them mixed in with some of the other models I use as Specialist & Scout Mech that are made by various 15mm Manufactures as well as a few Star Wars Miniature from Wizards of the Coast.  Hopefully this gives a good idea of scale compared to the other units that are used for the same purpose.

Gruntz Cards for Federal Army Armored core Force

Here are the cards for my Federal Army.  I play with modified Squad sizes between 4 & 10 Troops including Squad Attachments.  In addition all the Gruntz Specialist Weapons Teams must be attached to Gruntz Squads or form squads of there own of 2 to 4 weapons teams.The stats are very High as they are Elite troops augmented by  Technology.  The core force is 1350 point.

Federal Army Armored Planetary Assault Force (core)

 I have finished up most of the core units for My Federal Army Armored Planetary Assault Force.  It contains 2 Heavy Tanks, 2 Heavy Missile Tanks Painted but still have to build the Missile Turrets, 5 Heavy Infantry Fighting Vehicles to transport  2 x 5 Man Recon Teams 4 Riflemen & 1 SAW gunner, 3 x 4 man Assault Teams 2 Riflemen & 2 SAW gunner, 3 Fire Support Teams 4 Riflemen & a 2 Man Heavy Machine Gun, 3 Tank Hunter Teams  3 Riflemen, 1 SAW gunner, & a 2 Man Portable Missile Launcher Team & will Contain 4 Command Figures only 1 Shown.  I Still Have 1 Heavy Tank, 1 Heavy Missile Tank, 1 Heavy Infantry Fighting Vehicle for the core force to be finished & 6 Scout Walked & 4 Super Heavy Power Armor models to complete the entire force.

Control Battalion

I am using the Control Battalion from Khurasan Miniatures for My Crimson Guard force.  The Crimson Guard are Partially converted Cyborg Troops.  They are a Medium Tech Force that can use Either Lasers or Projectile Weapons.  I just received the Paints & Inks I Ordered about 2 weeks ago, when I made the order I Got all the Paints  & Inks I would need to Hopefully complete Many of the forces I have.   I had completely ran out of metallic colors so was stuck unable to finish anything.  The Paint Job on the Crimson Guard is very simple with only 3 colors of Paints & 2 Inks being used to compliment the Paint job.  I Painted up 3 x 6 Man Squads  1 Command Figure & 1 APC (a M114 from Roco with no modifications to the vehicle) as the starting force.  I Hope you like them.  

Comparison Pictures for Star Craft Part 4 of 4

Comparison 4 will be dealing with the Protoss.  I will upload more detailed pics later just wanted to make sure to get the Protoss forces up as quickly as possible to allow a basic sense of Scale.  This is another Pic Heavy Post.  With the Protoss finished with a couple of comparison pictures for the figures from the Star Craft Board Game & Risk Game. Again I  did Multiple large scale Pictures of them with the same 15mm Figures from before in case some one didn't check the first two posts they are Eurika Miniatures Venusians & SF German Storm Troops; Khurasan Federal Infantry, Red Faction Including Power Armor-Robot vehicle, Neo-Arabs, Control Battalion, Felids & Gorn; Rebel Minies Pan Galactic Legion; Astro Miniatures Sybots: Blue Moon Velium Skirmishers as these are the forces I had easily accessible.

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I will be replacing these pics later. & finishing the size comparisons

Comparison Pictures for Star Craft Part 3 of 4

Comparison 3 will be dealing with the Terran Marines.  I will upload more detailed pics later just wanted to make sure to get the Terran Marine forces up as quickly as possible to allow a basic sense of Scale.  This is another Pic Heavy Post.  With the Terran Marines I finished with a couple of comparison pictures for the figures from the Star Craft Board Game & Risk Game.  But the first thing I did was take Multiple large scale Pictures of them with the same 15mm Figures from before in case some one didn't check the first two posts they are Eurika Miniatures Venusians & SF German Storm Troops; Khurasan Federal Infantry, Red Faction Including Power Armor-Robot vehicle, Neo-Arabs, Control Battalion, Felids & Gorn; Rebel Minies Pan Galactic Legion; Astro Miniatures Sybots: Blue Moon Velium Skirmishers as these are the forces I had easily accessible.

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I will be replacing these pics later.

Comparison Pictures for Star Craft Part 2 of 4

I took these pictures a few minutes ago my camera battery is charged.  I Just finished the Zerg Comparison Pics first thing & will be Putting up Post 3 of 6 almost immediately After this Post.  The rest of the Zerg from Star Craft Board Game & the Risk Game comparisons to the same 15mm Figures from before in case some one didn't check the first post they are Eurika Miniatures Venusians & SF German Storm Troops; Khurasan Federal Infantry, Red Faction Including Power Armor-Robot vehicle, Neo-Arabs, Control Battalion, Felids & Gorn; Rebel Minies Pan Galactic Legion; Astro Miniatures Sybots: Blue Moon Velium Skirmishers as these are the forces I had easily accessible.

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Comparison Pictures for Star Craft Part 1of 4

I took these pictures earlier today before my camera battery Died.  I will upload more once it recharges.  even so this is a Pic Heavy Post.  I started with comparison pictures for the Zerg from the Star Craft Board Game & Risk Game.  Then I took Multiple Pictures of The both types of Zerg with 15mm Figures from Eurika Miniatures Venusians & SF German Storm Troops; Khurasan Federal Infantry, Red Faction Including Power Armor-Robot vehicle, Neo-Arabs, Control Battalion, Felids & Gorn; Rebel Minies Pan Galactic Legion; Astro Miniatures Sybots: Blue Moon Velium Skirmishers as these are the forces I had easily accessible.

To see the Pics go to post

Stage 1 of the Terran Colonial Empire Force

I picked up the rest of the 1/2 Tracks that I Need to complete the Forces that I currently have so I have to Paint this army.  this is 2 Short platoons of Infantry with transports but I haven't had time to do the conversions for the support vehicles yet but I just receive some parts of e Bay That should allow me to do the conversions much faster & Easier.

The force consist of  1 Line Company of 2 platoons each with 6 squads of 6 + Command & Heavy Weapons which are attached to squads.  2 Reconnaissance Platoon with 4 Squads of 8 +_ Command & Heavy Weapons Attached to Command compose the Reconnaissance Company.  There will be 24 Support Vehicles once I Convert them & 2 Tracked Tanks.  All Troops are mounted in 1/2 Tracks Total # of Transport 1/2 Tracks is 29.

This is another project Company I have to paint up.

The Riek Company in progress

The Riek's Military Is Composed of Elite heavy Infantry with Laser Rifles in 5 or 6 man Squads with War Bot Support at the Platoon Level & Cyborgs at the Company Level.  The Company Consist of 2 Platoons with 4 squads of 5 men Each + 2 Missile Launcher Teams, 1 Heavy Laser Cannon, 1 Sniper & a Platoon Commander In addition to 18 War Bots 3 Heavy War Bots 3 Attack Drone Air, & 3 Attack Drones Tracked,  A Command Platoon with 3 Squads of 6 Men + 2 Missile Launcher Teams, 1Heavy Laser Cannon & Company Commander,  in addition to 24 War Bots,  6 Heavy Cyborgs, 6 Air Attack Cyborgs, & Company Transport of 6 APCs.  An additional 6 Super War Bots are available but Not in the Photos.   This is a work in Progress Post & the Figures have Been Primed, Base Coated & Given their First wash.  Will update on Progress as I finish up units.

 

The Riek has arrived

I am planning a Narrative Campaign for the Invasion Of Over-Watch which has been used as a Major Military Staging Area for the Terran Colonial Empire (TCE) in their war with The Riek & others.   I decided to use the Riek as the Planetary Invasion Force as they are a good Contrast to the TCE Being a Human Force Made  up of the Elite Panzer Grenadiers Supported By Combat Robots & Cyborgs. For now I wanted to Post Pictures of the first uits I Painted for the Riek Including 1 Medium APC, 8 Panzer Grenadier Storm Trooper & War Hound Class War Bots.

This is just a Quick Upate

City Fighting Current Terrain in Progress

Here are some pictures of the current terrain Project I am working on it will be a large Area of a Small city that has been heavily shelled & bombed for day or weeks.  I am building this City to represent the city of Over-Watch which is on the edge of the Terran Colonial Empire which has been used as a major staging point for the last 80 years for multiple incursion into neighboring systems in an attempt to conquer them. Details on this campaign will be forth coming in the next few months.

First of this is a factory that is still in the first stages of being put together & still has a lot ow work to be done.  Currently I have only done the external facade of the factory when I get done it will include a fairly detailed control room & automated machinery as well as a top level vehicle storage facility, fully detailed doors from combat Wombat & Proxy models rolling doors that have been increased in both hieght & width to allow access of Mech & Vehicle unitd & 2 sets of  doors for the loading docks.



Here are most of the building I have gotten built for this Campaign  in variouse stages of progress I am planning out a Single fully intact Appartment Building with 4 floor & these are some of the pieces that will go into it.

Recce Platoon now Mechanized

My Imperial Recce Platoon now has 2 Medium Tanks & 4 of the 1/2 tracks ready for battle.  I am finally able to play games with 2 fully integrated forces with no stand in or unfinished models.  Can't wait for Gruntz Version 1.1 to be released so I can start using the new auto fire rules.  Warning this Post is very Pic Heavy.

The Neo-Arabs are not being neglected.

I haven't done much for the Neo-Arabs since I first posted them.  They will be reinforce soon by 2 Medium Tanks a some 1/2 Tracked APCs.  Here are some Pics of my beloved Imperial Reece Troops.

Building Runes

These are some of the models I have been working on for my War Torn City Hell terrain.  Some of them may seem a bit large but I am trying to go closer to true scale with this terrain.  Yes I Know it is not possible to do a  hole city true scale .   I also Know I do not have enough ruble made at this time but it on the list after finishing all the building ruins.

The Store is closed.  This building is a bombed out Small Department Store or Strip Mall with Apartments above the store.  It feature over sized windows & had 2 stories of apartments above the stores.

Home sweet Ruins.  These are ruins that can be combined to form the majority of Apartment Buildings & small Office Building.  They vary greatly in size to give a vary chaotic look to the city.

 

 More Pics Following in post

Why I chose 15mm Sci-Fi

 I was away from gaming for over 5 years.  Prior to this I played a lot of Genres in a couple of scales.  Then most companies Started to become the flavor of the month gaming & all about Profit It was no longer about the hobby any more.  Firstly I understand most companies are in business to make a profit.  But It was no longer about strategy & tactics it was about making the new releases sell so it became all about who cold afford the Newest best units & a lot of gamers & even miniatures companies Started allowing or playing with unpainted models.  Part of my enjoyment of the hobby is the preparation I put into my Miniatures & seeing what other gamers have done with their miniatures.  Don't get me wrong I enjoy getting together & gaming as much as the next Guy but have never used unpainted Miniature in a game, I have however used Proxy models to represent a force I haven't finish or am considering purchasing.  I admit up until recently wee were using a friend WW2 Infantry & Tanks to simulate Sci-Fi Forces.  This is due to all the other gamers I game with having multiple gaming Interest as I used to.  So when I decided to play gruntz 15mm Sci-Fi & Hammers Slammers the Cruisable in 15mm I Purchased all of the Forces for us to Use & am Assembling & Painting them all With only a Little Advice on Modelling & Painting from every one.  I will admit I went over Board on my spending when I Started back up again & have way to much to build & paint at this Time.  I still Have to get more vehicles as I Have Nearly One Thousand 15mm Figure & Only a handful of vehicles.  I Plan to build My Forces Up as I go On, I Need Vehicle for my aliens Each with 2 Infantry Platoons Currently only 3 Forces. My AI Army 60 Infantry Cybots, 12 Spider bots, 18 Drones & 3 Grav Scouts.   Need to replace My Blower Tanks For My Slammers Still have a Foll Platoon of Combat Cars & 4 Jeeps + 24 Infantry Skimmers to Form part of each of my 2 Platoons of Infantry Will Try to get them in October or November .   Both  Tomorrow's War Forces with 50 or 60 minis each from GZG But have no Vehicles for them yet.  2 Human force From my Hammer Slammers Starter Sets By GZG but I Stole their vehicle for My Largest force Consisting of 2 Platoon Pack of each of Khurasans Red Faction & Neo-Arabs as a single force with only 2 Light Tanks 6 APCs & 9 1/2 tracks &  I need more.  My Venusian need more APCs for their 2 Platoons But are using all My GEV  Consisting of a  British Battle Force From Combat Wombat & the 4 Old Crow Models Hammers Slammers Blower Tanks except those listed above in my slammers.  My Control Battalion have no vehicles yet but 2 platoons of infantry, Space Nazies the Same.   My Khurasan Federal are using the 12 tracked vehicles I go from Combat Wombat.  I do have 20 Light & scout mechs or mech Specialist units as I am classifying them & just got 6 Micro Panzer 2 leg walker & 20 or 30 infantry. In addition I have 3 Grave Scout Cars & 1 Grav Tank from Combat Wombat. My wife was trying to help me out with this problem & ordered me 2 packs of Zod Super Tanks We didn't Know about the Pircy Issue at the time.  So I have 24 Tanks that are so small that I have decide that once I get my Main forces out of the way they will become 1/2 Tracks &/or Double tracked vehicle This will help with my vehicle situation.

I've Noticed a lack of Alien looking vehicles in 15mm Sci-Fi, but the few I have seen are really Nice.   We need more of these. 

Firstly I Love the current miniature being produced in 15mm.  Sci-Fi allows more freedom from restritions in the way of equiptment uniforms Weapons Ect.  I chose gruntz because it is not Directly affiliated with a Single miniatures brand & allows Most options I am interested in & can be easily modified to suite.  Robin is also very active in the comunity I asked a question yesterday & had an anser today on a mod to the rules.  Nothing official but He allowed me not to have to brek down the complat point system to do Something Unusial.  Finally 15mm is the last affordable scale & I can paint th miniatures even if not as well as others,  watch out I am improving quickly guys as time gose on I will constantly be improving with my modlling & painting. 

Thanks for listenning to my rant

Tim Vidlak