Nor the battle to the strong (2)

Back before 40K was officially cinematic again, I had a discussion with Big Jim - who's just posted the latest update to Killzone, for sixth edition - on the subject of a kind of automatic GM to get more unusual events into games without needing an extra person.

I posted the first three cards for a deck to do this, but for wargaming in general rather than just 40K, possibly also tactical roleplaying. The idea is that the cards interact with and modify various game elements, to set up chains of events. With the first trio - Spill, Spark and Plume - flammability could be added to the table and elements set smoking.

Below are four more - Flaw, Gust, Lapse and Agent - adding new interactions involving smoke, as well as disorientation and the possibility a unit can be seen as compromised.

A general approach to using them is given in the original post. Now there are more, it's worth mentioning the deck can be modified to suggest certain situations, by removing cards or using multiples. For example, more Gusts or Sparks could suggest a storm.

40K OSR? (19)

What's a 40K OSR? There's some basic info on 40K here and a definition or two for 'OSR' here.

Colonel Kane's logo is to the right, and ready for anyone who identifies with the idea. If you use it, consider giving him credit and adding Tales from the Maelstrom to your blogroll for the inspiration.

Like the Inq28 battle report posted yesterday, which also has news on a July event at GW HQ.

Here's the list, with a lot of new rules especially.

• As per yesterday, The M42 Project lives on, still looking to improve on 40K.

• Big Jim over at Adventures in Wargaming updated the Soul Reapers codex.

• Bryssling has core rules for Kill Team IV, and a fix for Necron destroyers.

• At Warpstone Flux jabberjabber posted a blended ruleset for Mighty and Planetary Empires and has the map and background for the campaign.

• Hum_Con at Wargames & Stuff looks at creativity and random tables, covering emergence and narrative in wargaming and Ghazghkull's history.
  

• At Do You Have A Flag? Headologist gives us rules for a space marine chariot attack bike - conversion here - and more on the world of Mawdryn.

• Brian at A Gentleman's Ones has a Killzone roster and trails the tables.

• At Confessions... dwez has the story of techno-archeologist Avro Vulcan.

• A while back I forget Dark Magenta's new Inquisitor pdf - the full list is here.

• At Spiky Rat.. izeColt finishes the Rifleman and okkiW begins Nicodemvs.

• Ron at From the Warp has another sculpting guide, this time scrollwork.

• At Heresy Workshop Will Wright explained how to make icicles, introduced the counts-as Sly Marbo and showed an old-and-new mixed entourage.

• Pedro Kantor at 2nd City Warzone has some mechanicus weapon teams.

• LuckyNo.5 continued the Mariners Blight nautical marines at Eye of Error.

• Godfrey at Rites of Battle looks at marine body size in concept and minis.

• Apocalypse 40K posted a preview for a possible pre-Heresy jetbike...

• ... while Desert Scribe at Super Galactic Dreadnought showed IG originals.

• Outremer has been posting part-sculpt Nurgle conversions at The Back 40K, including sorcerers and a dread, and just posted scratchbuilt vindicators.

• Warhammer in Progress posted ideas for spawn and wants obliterators. 

• ShotDownMind converted a batch of Dark Eldar grotesques from all kinds.

• Fine Detail Miniature Painting have been busy, with 1, 2 more video battle reports for Necromunda, an ash nomad with long rifle and some spyrers.

• Odd-Leg has another Necromunda report, this time a multi-player game.

• Linked with that, 40Korigins posted some work in progress hive terrain.

• Rictus at Recalcitrant Daze has three posts on an alternative to Forge World interiors - basics, scatter pieces and a setup - and no. 25 on the wagons.

• This time too there's a Ragnarok, a past build newly souped up by Hudson.

• TheAmbit posted plenty of conversions, including a buzz saw deffkopta, warbikes and an unusual deffrolla, as well as a scratchbuilt warhound.

• Mordian7th has a command trench built around a separated titan head.

• Wargaming Workshop finished the Epic Squats and moved on to the Eldar.
  

• Still with Squats, Tentakel Games posted a trio of classic images, showing Squat bikers, Khornate Chaos marines and a Bloodthirster with stats.

• And Space Crusade art keeps coming at All Things Fett, with 1, 2, 3 more. 

The usual applies: if I've missed anything at all, just leave a link, even to your own posts.

_

40K OSR? (18)

The latest 40K OSR? update. What's an OSR?

Could be an Old School Renaissance, an Other School Renaissance or even an Optional School Renaissance, or not, and maybe the 'R' stands for 'Review', 'Revolution' or 'Revelation'. Maybe...

Colonel Kane's logo is to the right. If you use it, consider giving him credit and adding Tales from the Maelstrom to your blogroll for the inspiration.

Here we go then - even more of that inspiration.

• Big Jim at Adventures... talked more about Killzone Evolution, posted a house rules pdf and looked again at the wow factor and using GMs in 40K; his full interview with Loquacious is also up at World of Wonder, ...

• ...while Brian at A Gentleman's Ones covered KZ's missions and tokens...

• ... and the third full interview was Lantz, looking at the AdMech FanDex.

• Bryssling has hints for homebrew weapons and more on the Disciples.

• Overlooked last time were the custom missions and cards at Roll With It.

• Karitas at Excommunicate Traitoris has a three-way idea, with a H Mudd. 

• At Confessions... dwez has biomorph markers and looks at terrain setup.

• Zac's Gaming Blog has a second edition battle report, found via Musings.

• Fine Detail Miniature Painting posted the Necromunda video report that triggered the multi-system online campaign, as well more Necro painting and an ash nomad conversion, with the shrike, and a nomad long rifle.

• Loquacious also posted a Specialist Games-focused Top X with Von over at HoP and the very next day Von posted a thoughtful look at Inquisitor.
  

• At Kenzie's blog the action moves to a Deathwatch drop on the starport.

• There's a list of warbands and two mini reports up at Terminus Omega.

• TheAmbit has parts two and three of a Night Hawks tale; the first is here.

• At Warpstone Flux jabberjabber presented a Tyranid origin hypothesis...

• ... and Laughing Ferret has pics of a genestealer cult infantry squad.

• Drathmere at 40k Hobby Blog is scratchbuilding a Ragnarok - 1, 2 so far - ...

• ... Krisken at Scratchbuild 40K built then painted some Eldar platforms, ...

• ... Kamui showed a scratchbuilt opening drop pod at Creative Twilight, ...

• ... Rictus at Recalcitrant Daze put up 1, 2, 3, 4 more posts on Ork looted wagons, and 1, 2, 3 on the defensive walls, moulds for which are for sale, ...

• ... Apocalypse 40K gave us a look at a scratchbuilt Ork soopa stompa...

•  ... and at Heresy Workshop Will Wright made a salamander on a chimera.

• Scaling back down, Warhammer in Progress converted a demon prince, a great unclean one, cyberwolves and some cyclone missile launchers.

• More Nurgle at Rust and the city, where Cameron has some terminators and more plague marines, and looked at sculpting the belly plates.

• Brovatar finished the female C'Tan and a Necron overlord; court here.

• At Spiky Rat Pack izeColt introduced us to Skull Hopperre, a companion for Mutie Kul, and there's a new JB-inspired build underway, the Rifleman.

• And to finish, another Goatboy interview, also for ID at World of Wonder.

If I've overlooked anything this time round, feel free to leave a link - even your own work.

Update: I missed Ron's post at From the Warp on sculpting hair and beards, as well as this 28mm Inquisitor force at The Grim Darkness, of which there's even more here.

_

40K OSR? (14)

More 40K OSR?, and just a week from the last.

I'm aiming to post smaller updates more often, with more wild cards, for non-40K gamers too.

Some possible definitions of 'OSR' are here and Colonel Kane's logo is to the right. If you use it, consider giving him credit and adding Tales from the Maelstrom to your roll as a fine exemplar.

On to the action then, with the wild cards mixed in, just because it really is hard to draw the line.

• Sad news first: Tobias Reinold passed away; he may have been relatively unknown, but he gave us a lot and shows how much we can each achieve.

• Grazer posted a three-page preview for Codex: Squat Stronghold over at Rogue Trader, and there's discussion underneath with Sons of Taurus.

• Sons of Taurus also adapted the Lost and the Damned project to Killzone.

• I've just found Dangerous Brian's Terminus Omega; this week he posted on the pre-40K Laserburn books, a possible navigator, with Rogue Trader stats, and some converted 15mm counts as Tau, but he also has more counts as ideas, finished Orks, terrain and details of a new campaign.

• On 15mm minis, Atom Kid has more at Maximum Rock & Role Playing.

• Also on campaigns, Tallarn may have finished one run, but Kraggi at the Varcan Cluster is running another one and posted a huge mass of great rules in 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 parts so far - you can see all of the material here.

• At Confessions of a 40K addict dwez posted on a modular terrain plug base, the Dawn of War plasma generator and a new man-made hill.

• There's a superb tutorial on building a tabletop at wargaming tradecraft.

• At Dark Future Games Old School Terminator is converting and sculpting a daemon primarch, Angron, and also posted an obliterator conversion. 

• Will Wright at Heresy Workshop has a converted Blood Pact priest.

• Spikey Bits looks at magnetising options, using the land speeder kit.

• Apocalypse 40K points out a counts as jetbike due soon from MaxMini.

• At Adeptus Malaysia deathkorp is in uncharted territory with 3D printing.

• Natfka at Faeit 212 reposts what may be surprising news re The Lord Inquisitor fan-made movie, suggesting GW is finding a way to accept it.

• BoLS posted a logo sheet with various adeptus mechanicus markings. 

• Chosen entries are up for the chapter design contest at For Holy Terra.

• There are 1, 2 new pieces of John Blanche artwork over at gothic punk.

• CounterFett at All Things Fett showed a piece of art in Space Crusade.

• This week's Blogroll Spotlight at FTW also has plenty of OSR-y links.

• On that big sixth edition leak-not-leak, Jake Thornton at Quirkworthy has a theory and sandwyrm at The Back 40K a good look at the evidence.

• Finally, the Citizens post here has new rules by SinSynn, and ideas from garrisonjames, and I'm thinking of hosting work on a possible new faction.

As ever, feel free to add links to anything at all you think I've missed in the comments.

_

A new Specialist Game?

I don't usually react to rumours. But I will now. Faeit 212 has reported the possibility there'll be a new GW Specialist Game released. That's big news for a lot of us I'd bet.

Apparently it's not a rerelease of Blood Bowl, Man O'War or Warhammer Quest, or even a supplement for Space Hulk. Then again why would it be a rerelease, not wholly new?

Perhaps wishful thinking, given some of our happiest gaming experiences might have been with the past games. I'd guess most players who've tried one or more of these, or Necromunda, Gorkamorka, Mordheim or Inquisitor say, have fond memories, and the 6mm Epic system was for a time near equal of Warhammer and Warhammer 40,000.

Epic itself seems an unlikely choice. After all, we have Apocalypse nowadays, which has a similar scope with a higher price per model in real world currency. Warmaster seems unlikely for the same reason, if that's what the coming Storm of Magic means.

Surely the right answer is Killzone? A Necro-Gorka-Mordheim approach blended with wider 40K. It would offer a path into what many see as an increasingly costly hobby, quieting critics on price and simplicity and opening the door to new players, the future.

But then I thought, well, why do we need GW to release that particular game? We already have it. In fact, why do we need a company to release any game if we can just make it ourselves? A public limited company has shareholders to please as well as us.

I really can't answer that. Higher production values maybe, but personally I'd still prefer multiple smaller designers sourcing art or card elements than one large.

A wider player base? Well, we've been there - one guy picking up a less expensive game system can more cost-effectively run demos and get a group interested.

Future support? I don't see much for the Specialist Games. Pure passion seems a better guide to that. Look at the D&D OSR. That's what player love can do. They still have a whole community of new ideas, and revisions and releases, decades later.

Maybe love is all you need?

_

40K OSR? (4)

Warhammer 40,000, yes, but what's an OSR?

Could be an Old School Renaissance, or Other School Renaissance, even an Optional School Renaissance, maybe something else again. Could even be a Revolution, or another 'R'.

Don't forget there's a 40K OSR logo now too, here to the right, thanks to Colonel Kane over at Tales from the Maelstrom. If you identify with the concept, and especially if you're putting out alternative content or ideas, feel free to use it.

If you do use it, I'd ask only you credit Colonel Kane and think about adding Tales from the Maelstrom to your blogroll. Why? Take a look at the APC up now, have a browse.

This week's update then, and a good mix it is.

• Miniature Wargame Conversions has an interview with Big Jim covering the past and future development of the Killzone ruleset.

• Port Maw has a battle report using the Book of the Arbitrator ruleset, and also gives us an expansion of those rules, for campaigns. Can you help?

• More great terrain at Mordian 7th Regiment, in the set-up for a battle report featuring the adeptus mechanicus, with advice on the setting-up process.

• Mordian7th also posted his robot maniple complete, with one each of the classic minis. If you want to convert some up yourself, try Lantz's latest tutorial. As complex as the old rules were, pure robot on robot skirmish games using an updated version of the program rules could be cool.

• Staying with modelling, Rictus at Recalcitrant Daze has made some resin Ork glyphs, while Unite All Action has an Ork warboss using some of the glyphs from the original battlewagon.

• Especially inspirational modelling for me was this plastic Snikrot converted up at The WarBlog, an approach that may be more necessary over time.

• Some inspirational modelling now on the horizon is CounterFett's plan to build Forgeworld's Vraks Heretics from Skaven.

• A surprise entry this week could be Stelek's suggestions for new vehicle rules. It's similar to the way Lantz does things in his AdMech FanDex.

• Mik at Mik's Minis gives us an overview of his Sons of Minos space marine chapter following the Deathwatch RPG structure.

• This week I posted a new approach to 40K, designed to simulate hives and closed spaces. It looks complex because I try to cover as much of the translation as possible, but the core mechanism is simple.

• I've also been posting very short fiction for Heroes of Armageddon, five entries so far, which could be set in the 40K universe.

• Finally, for a bit of reminiscing, try Dylan Gould's primed marines, which I can almost smell, and look more tempting than if they were painted by the greatest. Check out the whole blog in fact if you love the early days.

And that wraps up my list. If you've seen any other great posts, more alternative ways of looking at 40K, feel free to leave the links. The project's all about openness, variety and breadth. Carry it on at your own blog, do things your way, put cool new stuff out.

Remember the logo's available too if you want to promote the concept.

Update: This post at Blue Table Painting seems to fit, on a hypothetical minis game.
_

40K OSR? (2)

This is 40K. What's an OSR? Maybe an Old School Renaissance, maybe an Other School Renaissance, maybe an Optional School Renaissance, maybe something else.

Loquacious posted on the D&D OSR earlier today. Go read. Some passages:

... these guys ... are helping the roleplaying/gaming community simply by having discussions. ... The OSR guys know their stuff, they like to talk about it, and in general, help grow a cottage industry when no one else is doing it. ... Being passionate about what you do, and getting others to join in - whether to agree or find fault- is something we as gamers could do more; and benefit greatly.

Not quite a manifesto, but very nearly, and great encouragement to engage.

Before we get to this week proper, if you haven't seen it, the discussion carried on at last week's post, on a DIY ruleset and the potential in Rogue Trader, i.e. first edition.

There was an update 1.5 on Monday too, here, with a link to the Tales from the Maelstrom battle report using RT rules, and Warp Signal's post on motivation.

Here we go then. Not so much in the way of rules this week, but lots of ideas and discussion. The bold links I recommend at least browsing.

• More support for Killzone in this post at Wolves for the Wolf God, with plenty of info if you'd like to know more, and even video of Brian's AdeptiCon tables.

• Big Jim introduces the second part of the review of the Soul Reapers Fandex by The 11th Company podcast.

• On the modelling front Rictus at Recalcitrant Daze is building a weirdboy tower, blending the early '90s Epic-scale with the new junkyard style.

• Still on minis, Colonel Kane left an interesting comment at a post here not directly related to 40K, re using other models in the game, names and all.

• On the subject of outside influences, at Warp Signal there's an overview of the role of 2000 AD in shaping 40K, the third post in a great series.

• Linked with that earlier Warp Signal post, on motivation, this post at Dark Future Games might be interesting. Old School Terminator asked for readers' 40K gaming histories and got a great response. A trip down memory lanes.

• Also, GMort wondered here at House of Paincakes what might be wrong with fifth edition, and the responses cover a lot of ground.

• Still can't stop thinking about Squats and/or Demiurg? Gyro at Mik' Minis gives us an update on progress with his Squat army, full of classic models.

• If you're after a newer look, more Demiurg, the Ulkans at pegaminidesign are for you, and this one has been partially painted up. Could GW top this?

• Re Warhammer, but still interesting, Shawn Gately at Blue Table Painting mentioned a proposal put at two of the forums, for a net standard rules adjustment. I'll try to find out what's going on with that and update. The Codex Project is an existing approach for 40K of course.

• If we're doing WFB, the Fimir project at Mr Saturday's Mumblings is coming along very well. That's right Fimir.

If I've missed anything, just say so in the comments, and leave any links you think are relevant. If you think anything should be said, just get it out. I'm just trying to help things, but I'm making no claim to any kind of leadership. The discussion at last week's post got to future direction, and for me it looks, and should be, completely open.

My first rules contribution is due on Sunday, the first of a series of guest posts at Roll With It. It's quite small, about as small as could be in fact, a variation on a familiar face often overlooked. Also, if you're having trouble getting excited these days, my first post there tried to get the sparks flying, and ought to be good for an idea or two.

Okay, I'm done - your time. Anything and everything very welcome.

Update: The Warhammer rules adjustment comment at Yes, The Truth Hurts is here,
             one up from the bottom; no response yet. I haven't found it at Beasts of War.

Update: Lantz has just put out a call at Miniature Wargame Conversions for writers
             and artists to help detail the Adeptus Mechanicus and Sons of Horus projects.

Update: Auberon at Digital Waaagh! has put up the latest interview, with Gav Thorpe.

_

40K OSR? (1)

An OSR for 40K? Might be a good thing. Not necessarily an Old School Renaissance. Better would be an Other School Renaissance or Optional School Renaissance.

GW's giving us a helping hand with the first, with the new Jokaero for example. But the essence of the others is doing it ourselves, and getting new ideas out there. And let's not forget, 40K's roots are in roleplaying and improvisation. Rogue Trader used a GM.

Let's follow up.

I propose a weekly compilation, or maybe compendium, when there's material.

Here's the first. If you play 40K, I recommend at least browsing all of the bold links. It'll take a few minutes max, and could be game-changing.

• This week we had Von's response at GAME OVER to the criticism of kill points - second-edition style missions. He has a table of six ready to go, an intuitive approach to victory and a set of rules for tournaments. It's a big tent.

• Auberon at Digital Waaagh! can always be relied on for good old school material. This week he has Ork madboyz, specifically frantiks. Here's the original. Politically correct it may not be, but that's how it was.

• Big Jim almost is a one-man OSR. Killzone is a good skirmish game if you play 40K or would like to, for the overlap in models and rules. There's a rundown at Dark Future Games. Old School Terminator was lucky enough to play at AdeptiCon on the tables made by Brian, formerly b.smoove.

• Re another of Big Jim's ideas, the Soul Reapers Fandex, there's a contest running at Table Top War to support both the book and The Codex Project as a whole. The first video is here at Galaxy in Flames.

• I had my humble offering too, a suggestion for a pruning of the basic ruleset, and that got a bit of back and forth going a couple of days ago.

This week I was also reminded of Gotthammer's intriguing three-part discussion of updating 40K for the 21st century, which starts here, at Collegia Titanica.

So join in. Get under the hood. Get greasy and let's tweak this baby.

Update: I forgot Warpstone Flux's homebrew for the quantum cannon, and he's just
             posted more for daemon carriers, and he actually has far more homebrew
             and house rules at the blog than I thought, all here.

Update: Colonel Kane at Tales from the Maelstrom has just posted too, and those
             guys epitomise this, mixing up old and new. He has a question, about rules
             for getting hordes of less-detailed characters into Inquisitor. Can anyone help?

_

Plan B: Killzone Secondary Objectives

Listen up, you lot. I take it you've all heard of b.smoove. Iron fist at A Gentleman's Ones. One of the masterminds behind Special Operations: Killzone. That's right, Killzone. Jobs like that don't finish themselves.

He's at a key location this weekend, running exercises. Keen eyes will spot him in this video, moving up at 12:18-12:37, hugging the terrain, and pulling out at 13:12-13:35.

Eyes back on me. Right. Open your files. That's the new pdf for Killzone, a selection of the best secondary objective and fate cards available. Twenty-six in all, picked out by a crack team. Two of the 13 secondary objectives are based on ideas I submitted, Beacon Transmitter and Lead from the Front. That's right: two. Watch and learn, rookies.

But I'm no glory hog - that's the crux. We have a problem, and maybe no one else can help. I submitted more than two. They couldn't use them all. Maybe. It's a blemish...

Five rejects then. Your mission: tighten them up. Do what it takes so they make the grade. Make them tough. Killzone players are the creme de la creme. They can take it.

Better still, suggest new, adapt them. The idea is to think outside the box, go beyond simple combat mechanisms, killing. That's getting old, and not before time...

I'll retire, dust the medals...

Survey

The region is unexplored and has the potential to harbour precious flora and fauna. Secure the area and allow scientific teams to collect.

If a Team Member finishes the game closer than an enemy model to any one table edge, you gain 5 Mission Points. You may gain a maximum of 10 Mission Points in this way.

Inbound

A supply transport is inbound and arrival is imminent. A landing zone must be cleared.

If at least one Team Member finishes the game in contact with the table surface, but at least 12" from any and all terrain pieces, you gain 10 Mission Points. If less than 12", but at least 6", you gain 5 Mission Points.

Sacred rite

The time for supplication is near, to clear the mind and strengthen the arm. Perform the rituals. 

If at the beginning of any one of your turns at least three Team Members may be covered or partially covered by a blast marker, you gain 5 Mission Points. If in the subsequent turn, the same models remain covered or partially covered, you gain an additional 5 Mission Points.

Underground

An extensive subterranean network is known to exist in this area, and may be of great strategic value. Enter and begin the exploration.

If you remove any one Team Member from play at the start of your third turn, you gain 10 Mission Points. If you remove this model at the start of your fourth turn, you gain 5 Mission Points. This model must be removed before any other action is taken in the turn. It does not count as killed.

Non-combatants

Innocent civilians have been caught up in the fighting. They are taking shelter and must be protected. 

If at the end of the game three different terrain pieces each have a Team Member closer than an enemy model, you gain 5 Mission Points. If four or more terrain pieces, you gain 10 Mission Points.

If you haven't yet, you can download Killzone for free via the graphic above the blogrolls.

.