IKRPG Trailer

As promised I have gotten a lot of work done on terrain in the last 2 weeks, however I'm doing a whole pile of pieces at the same time so none of them are quite finished. I've also been working on other projects, like my group's upcoming IKRPG and developing an idea I had for a Warmachine campaign.

The first few sessions of my IKRPG are written, but I need to finish making terrain for the game and coming up with stats for all my NPC's. So, with all that work left to do for the game I've decided to procrastinate and do other stuff, of course. The first of these side projects was making a video trailer for the game, which I'm actually fairly happy with.

This has been pieced together from many sources and assembled using a mix of iMovie and Adobe Premiere. The music is a song called Stabbing Hate from a pay-to-use music group called Epic Score.

Also, on an unrelated note, here's the best promo video for Game of Thrones ever made:

NorCon XIII Part 1- New Terrain

I just finished the first batch of terrain that I will be making for NorCon XIII. I also have plenty more on deck waiting to be painted, so I should have more ready to go by the end of next week.

 

The first pieces of terrain shown here are dense forest markers that are going to be used to represent the moors of Ord in my upcoming Iron Kingdoms RPG, but at NorCon they will be joined by many more pieces to represent the forests of Northern Caledonia. I have four pieces finished so far, and four more on deck, but I will need about 12 more after that to make a full forest table. These were made using a variety of tree kits from Woodland Scenics as well as plaster rocks from Woodland Scenics. The bases are made of thin MDF board that I covered with sand and flock.

 The next set of pieces are ultramodern concrete benches and planters. These planters will be used as ground cover and decoration for the city table that I am planning. Down the road I will upload a photo of the layout that I have designed for this table, but the short version is that there will be a large central building on the table with a small courtyard. These chairs and planters will be used to fill that courtyard to provide some cover in the middle of the table. These were made using a variety of resin cast pieces from my favorite terrain makers at Antenocitis Workshop.

The next two pieces are both reflecting pools that will be used as decorative terrain for the first session of my IKRPG game. I will probably use them again down the road in later chapters of the IKRPG game, but I'm ultimately planning on donating them to Matrix Cards and Games to beef up their terrain. Both pools were made using plaster blocks from Hirst Arts, and are topped with minis from Reaper Miniatures.

For very simple pieces of terrain these turned out to be a pain in the ass. After the beach table I made for NorCon last year I decided that I needed to put much more dye in the water if I wanted to get a nice shade of blue, but unfortunately I over-corrected and made this water way to blue. Even worse, the amount of dye that I used prevented the resin from curing correctly, and it never fully hardened. To try and fix it I added a thin second layer of clear resin over the top. However, the blue resin underneath continued to harden and shrink, causing it to peel away from the fast-drying clear layer, creating weird fractal-shaped bubbles around the edges of the water. Well... Live and learn, I guess. Maybe the third time I do a water effects I'll get it right.

 The final pieces here are a set of garden planter boxes filled with trees. These will also be part of the terrain for my IKRPG game, but they will also be used as ground-level cover for the apartment complex Infinity table for NorCon. I know that pine trees are a weird choice for trees to grow in a garden, but I had an overabundance of these that were to small to use on the forest templates that I was making, so I ended up using them here. The garden boxes were made using plaster bricks from Hirst Arts, and the trees are from Woodland Scenics.

NorCon XIII

I've changed obsessions and switched back from my video editing project to making terrain. I've started assembling my tables for this year's NorCon event. In the last couple of weeks I've put quite a bit together, and I'll start uploading photos as soon as I get some painting done.

I'm not sure what to expect for Infinity turnout this year, and I'd like to participate in the Warmachine tournament this time round, so I'm planning on fewer tables. However, I want to try and outdo myself this year, so I am working on some cool new stuff to make better tables.

My plan is to have either 4 or 5 tables this year, plus a Warmachine table that I am making for our local Pressganger, Scottie. Like last year, each table will have a separate scenario unique to the table. One table will be a straight victory point scenario, and for the others I will be running simplified versions of some of my favorite scenarios from the Paradiso campaign book.

Table 1- I'm bringing back the Desert Town table from last year, but this time with some new additions. I've ordered a few more buildings to add more complexity to the table. Also, I've taken steps to correct the one complaint people have with the table by making the cover on the rooftops of the buildings more clear cut.

Table 2- The Apartment complex will also be making a return, with the addition of a few more pieces of cover.

Table 3- One of the new tables I'm making will represent a mining prospector camp on Dawn, just outside of the borders of Ariadna. The miners have uncovered a dangerous alien artifact, and two factions have arrived to investigate.

Table 4- Last year I wanted to make the holy grail of wargaming tables: a non-ruined city. At the time it turned out to be more expensive than I could afford, but I have a new plan to try again this year. The idea is to make a table with a three or four story building in the middle of the table, surrounded by shorter buildings. The central building has been affected by a cyberwarfare attack, and local police have secured a perimeter around the building.

Table 5- I'm still waiting for a flash of inspiration for a fifth table, but I have plenty of time before NorCon. I may ask someone to help me out, like the excellent Japanese Sectorial table that Joel made last year.

Warmachine Table- For the Warmachine tournament I'm building a table to represent a hamlet and lumberyard in the northern Thornwood. This small community has had the misfortune of landing right in the middle of every major faction in Western Immoren.

Elevator Ride HD

Here's the Elevator Ride video re-rendered in HD. After watching it in HD I realized that it wasn't the video quality that was the problem, it just wasn't a very good photo in the first place. Scottie, next time we play I need to reshoot these models and fix this movie!

w00t. I haz TAG.

I had been waiting for more than a year for the Nomads to get their Iguana so that my Qapu Khalqi could finally steal it and have a TAG of their own. Then GenCon happened this summer and Corvus Belli released Joe "Scarface" Turner and his sister Cordelia as a limited edition model, and later announced that this new TAG would be allowed in my Qapu Khalqi force. Sadly, Scarface quickly sold out at GenCon and I had to continue to wait before he and his sister would join my army.

And, finally, after months of waiting the two of them were released to the general public last month. He may not be the best TAG in the game, in fact, he may be the worst TAG in the game (seriously, there are heavy infantry with better stats), but he is packed with tons of personality. I am so excited to have him on my team, and even though he did nothing in my first game with him last night, his sister Cordelia managed to grab the main objective in Scenario 101 for me.

Incidentally, and perhaps even more exciting, I finally got my new camera today. So, starting soon I will finally have better art to post with my battle reports!

Missing Ingredient: More Evil

I originally designed my new Infinity army as a group of comedic villains. They were criminals involved in smuggling and security operations, not particularly bloodthirsty, and always ready with a snappy comeback. It was fun to win with them, but it was also fun to lose because it was always amusing to root against them as they got beat up.

Our current campaign needs something a lot more evil though. Zac's Combined Army will make fantastic villains, but as the alien menace they are the natural enemies of all the other factions. What I want to bring to the campaign is a more insidious and human evil.

To ratchet up my evil quotient I'll be adding Joe "Scarface" Turner and his sister Cordellia, as well as several of their friends from the Druze Crime Syndicate. Combined with my new favorite unit, the Sekban naval marines (pictured above), I'll have a whole new way to play my army. Joe and the Druze are most famous for their work with MagnaOrba, a mining corporation involved in the Ariadnan commercial conflicts.

I expect Joel and Scottie will get a kick out of this: while working for MagnaOrba, Joe and the Druze kidnapped and murdered numerous Aridnan civilians, burned Caledonian villages to the ground, and committed dozens of other terrible war crimes. Also, I like to think that they helped destroy a certain Corregidor trade delegation with a small antimatter device at the end of our first campaign.

It's time to do some evil!

Spec-Ops Options

This is the expanded list of Spec-Ops models available for the Infinity Campaign relaunch. 

I wanted to expand the options for every army so that everyone can have a Spec-Op who is a badass beatstick, a tech specialist, or a cheap and cheerful soldier.

I made a couple of changes to this list since I sent it out to everyone in the campaign. I made a couple of changes to try to limit the points cost of Spec-Ops to 50, and to stick to the most basic weapon profiles.

Generic PanO:

Fusiliers (C 10) Combi Rifle

ORC Troop (C 40) MULTI Rifle

Bagh-Mari (C 22) Combi Rifle + Light Shotgun

Kamau (C 16) Combi Rifle

Nisses (C 31) Combi Rifle + Light Shotgun

Military Orders:

Fusiliers (C 10) Combi Rifle

Order Sergeants (C 13) Combi Rifle

Knights of the Order

-Knights Hospitaler (C 48) MULTI Rifle

-Knights of Santiago (C 44) Boarding Shotgun

-Knights of Montessa (C 46) Combi Rifle

-Knights of the Holy Sepulchre (C 52) Combi Rifle, D.E.P.

-Knights of the Teutonic Order (C 42) Combi Rifle, Panzerfaust

Neoterran Capitaline Army:

Fusiliers (C 10) Combi Rifle

Deva Functionary (C 23) Combi Rifle, Nanopulser

Shock Army of Acontecimento:

Acontecimento Regulars (C 10) Combi Rifle

Bagh-Mari (C 22) Combi Rifle + Light Shotgun

Knights of Montessa (C 46) Combi Rifle

Generic Yu-Jing:

Zhanshi (C 11) Combi Rifle

Bao Troops (C 29) Combi Rifle + Light Shotgun

Invincibles (C 42) MULTI Rifle

Japanese Sectorial Army:

Keisotsu Butai (C 9) Combi Rifle

Kempeitai (C 17) Combi Rifle

Domaru Butai (C 27) Chain Rifle, E/M CCW

Haramaki Zensenbutai (C 28) Blitzen, Contender, AP CCW

Imperial Service:

Celestial Guard (C 13) Combi Rifle

Bao Troops (C 29) Combi Rifle + Light Shotgun

Wu-Ming (47) MULTI Rifle

Generic Ariadnan Army:

Caledonian Volunteer Militia (C 8) Rifle

Metro Militia (C 8) Rifle

Kazaks (C 9) Rifle

Veteran Kazaks (C 47) Mimetism, AP Rifle

Loup Garou (C 21) Viral Rifle

6^th Scots Guards (C 18) 2 Submachine Guns, D.E.P.

5^th Minutemen (C 28) Rifle, Light Shotgun

Merovingian Rapid Response Army:

Metro Militia (C 8) Rifle

Loup Garou (C 21) Viral Rifle

Briscards (C 24) Marksman Rifle

Moblots (C 28) Rifle, Light Shotgun

Caledonian Highlander Army:

Caledonian Volunteer Militia (C 8) Rifle

6^th Scots Guards (C 18) 2 Submachine Guns, D.E.P.

3^rd Grey Rifles (C 30) Rifle, 2 Shotguns

Generic Haqqislam Army:

Ghulam Infantry (C 13) Rifle + Light Shotgun

Hafza (C 17) Rifle + Light Shotgun

Djanbazan (C 28) Rifle + Light Shotgun

Hassassin Muyib (C 25) Rifle + Light Shotgun, Viral Mines

Qapu Khalqi:

Ghulam Infantry (C 13) Rifle + Light Shotgun

Hafza (C 17) Rifle + Light Shotgun

Sekban (C 25) AP Rifle, Chain-colt

Djanbazan (C 28) Rifle + Light Shotgun

Hassassin Bahram:

Ghulam Infantry (C 13) Rifle + Light Shotgun

Hassassin Farzan (C 25) Forward Observer, Rifle + Light Shotgun

Hassassin Muyib (C 25) Rifle + Light Shotgun, Viral Mines

Generic Nomad Army:

Alguaciles (C 10) Combi Rifle

Moderators (C 9) Combi Rifle

Securitate (C 23) Combi Rifle + Light Shotgun

Wild Cats (C 19) Combi Rifle + Light Flamethrower, D-Charges

Mobile Brigada (C 43) MULTI Rifle + Light Flamethrower

Corregidor Jurisdictional Command:

Alguaciles (C 10) Combi Rifle

Wild Cats (C 19) Combi Rifle + Light Flamethrower, D-Charges

Mobile Brigada (C 43) MULTI Rifle + Light Flamethrower

Bakunin Jurisdictional Command:

Moderators (C 9) Combi Rifle

Reverend Moiras (C 38) MULTI Rifle

Riot Grrls (C 31) Combi Rifle, Blitzen, Flash Grenades

Generic Combined Army:

Morat Vanguard (C 16) Combi Rifle

Shasvastii Seed Soldiers (C 14) Combi Rifle + Light Shotgun

Yaogat Infantry (C 30) Combi Rifle, Grenades

Shasvastii Aswang (C 25) Combi Rifle, Adhesive Launcher

Morat Aggression Force:

Morat Vanguard (C 16) Combi Rifle

Yaogat Infantry (C 30) Combi Rifle, Grenades

Oznat Hunting Regiment (C 21) Combi Rifle, Light Smoke Grenade Launcher

Shasvastii Expeditionary Force:

Shasvastii Seed Soldiers (C 14) Combi Rifle + Light Shotgun

Shasvastii Cadmus (C 23) Combi Rifle

Shasvastii Aswang (C 25) Combi Rifle, Adhesive Launcher

Shasvastii Caliban (C 23, Evolved Form Only) Combi Rifle, Nanopulser, D-Charges

Tohaa Trident:

Kamael Infantry (C 12) Combi Rifle

Sakiel Infantry (C 20) Combi Rifle, Swarm Grenades

Gao-Rael (C 32) Combi Rifle, Adhesive Launcher

Generic ALEPH:

Deva Functionary (C 23) Combi Rifle, Nanopulser

Thorakitai (C 16) Combi Rifle, Nanopulser

Myrmidon (C 25) Combi Rifle, Nanopulser, AP CCW

S.S.S. Assault Subsection:

Thorakitai (C 16) Combi Rifle, Nanopulser

Myrmidon (C 25) Combi Rifle, Nanopulser, AP CCW

Agema (C 28, SWC .5) Mk 12

Infinity Campaign 11/3

Sorry about the lack of articles lately. I've been working on terrain and other games while I eagerly awaited the arrival of my copy of Infinity: Paradiso.

My book is here now, and its game time! The campaign begins 11/3 at the Matrix, and I hope to see everyone there!

Check out A Light in the Grimdark for news, updates, and fluff as the day of destiny approaches.

Army Lists

Here are the army lists from the latest Infinity battle report on A Light in the Grimdark.



 DOMINION, EI PERSONALITY ASPECT
───────────────────────────────────────

 GROUP 1 (Regs: 6/Irrs: 0):

  CHARONTID Lieutenant  Plasma Rifle, Nanopulser
       Pistol, Monofilament CCW (81)
    MOV:4-2  CC:15  BS:13  PH:14  WIP:16  ARM:5  BTS:-6  W:2
    Regular, Not Impetuous, G: Mnemonica
    V: No Wound Incapacitation, Lieutenant, Multispectral Visor L3

  SHROUDED MULTI Sniper Rifle / Pistol, Knife (38 | 1.5)
    MOV:4-4  CC:13  BS:12  PH:12  WIP:13  ARM:0  BTS:0  W:1
    Regular, Not Impetuous, Cube, Shasvastii
    AutoMedikit, CH: Camouflage, Infiltration

  SPECULO KILLER Combi Rifle, Smoke Grenades / Pistol, Monofilament CCW (39 | 1)
    MOV:4-4  CC:17  BS:12  PH:12  WIP:14  ARM:1  BTS:0  W:1
    Regular, Not Impetuous, Cube, Shasvastii
    Martial Arts L3, AutoMedikit, Impersonation Plus

  3x SEED-SOLDIER Combi Rifle + Light Shotgun / Pistol, Knife (14)
    MOV:-  CC:-  BS:-  PH:-  WIP:-  ARM:2  BTS:-3  W:1
   
    CH: Limited Camouflage, Seed-Embryo

    DEVELOPED SHAPE
    MOV:4-4  CC:12  BS:11  PH:9  WIP:13  ARM:1  BTS:0  W:1
    Regular, Not Impetuous, Cube, Shasvastii
    Seed-Embryo

 200 Points | SWC: 2.5



 MIRAGE TEAM 5, F.O.B. SECURITY TEAM
───────────────────────────────────────

 GROUP 1 (Regs: 9/Irrs: 0):

  ZOUAVE Lieutenant Rifle, D.E.P. / Assault Pistol, Knife (20 | 1)
    MOV:4-4  CC:13  BS:12  PH:10  WIP:13  ARM:2  BTS:0  W:1
    Regular, Not Impetuous, No Cube
    Mechanized Deployment, V: Courage, Lieutenant

  LOUP-GAROU Sniper Rifle / Pistol, Knife (24 | 0.5)
    MOV:4-4  CC:14  BS:12  PH:11  WIP:13  ARM:2  BTS:0  W:1
    Regular, Not Impetuous, No Cube, Linkable
    V: Courage, X Visor

  LOUP-GAROU Boarding Shotgun, Adhesive Launcher, Flash Grenades / Pistol, Knife (19)
    MOV:4-4  CC:14  BS:12  PH:11  WIP:13  ARM:2  BTS:0  W:1
    Regular, Not Impetuous, No Cube, Linkable
    V: Courage, X Visor

  2x LOUP-GAROU Viral Rifle, Flash Grenades / Pistol, Knife (21)
    MOV:4-4  CC:14  BS:12  PH:11  WIP:13  ARM:2  BTS:0  W:1
    Regular, Not Impetuous, No Cube, Linkable
    V: Courage, X Visor

  LOUP-GAROU Viral Rifle, Flash Light Grenade Launcher / Pistol, Knife (22 | 1.5)
    MOV:4-4  CC:14  BS:12  PH:11  WIP:13  ARM:2  BTS:0  W:1
    Regular, Not Impetuous, No Cube, Linkable
    V: Courage, X Visor

  112 Light Shotgun / Pistol, CCW (12)
    MOV:4-4  CC:13  BS:11  PH:12  WIP:13  ARM:0  BTS:0  W:1
    Regular, Not Impetuous, No Cube
    Doctor, V: Courage

  PARA-COMMANDO  Rifle / Pistol, Knife (23)
    MOV:4-4  CC:13  BS:12  PH:11  WIP:14  ARM:2  BTS:0  W:1
    Regular, Not Impetuous, No Cube
    CH: Mimetism, AD: Parachutist, Forward Observer

  PARA-COMMANDO HMG / Pistol, Knife (32 | 1)
    MOV:4-4  CC:13  BS:12  PH:11  WIP:14  ARM:2  BTS:0  W:1
    Regular, Not Impetuous, No Cube
    CH: Mimetism, AD: Parachutist

 194 Points | SWC: 4

Upcoming Infinity Events

Next Infinity Night will be Friday at the Armory, 9/21. I'll be running demos, and hopefully enrolling the last few players for the Infinity Campaign.

For those who still want to play in the campaign time is running out! Please come find me at the Armory Friday night so I can get you set up.

The next weekend, 9/28 and 9/29, I will not be running an Infinity night due to a conflict with my work schedule. However, I will still try to make it out one night to play some Infinity, and maybe even some Warmachine. I'm hoping that one of the other Infinity veterans in the group will be willing to take the reins and organize some Infinity free play or scenarios one of these nights.

The following weekend I will be flying down to Orlando to kick off the holiday retail season with a week of business meetings, but when I get back the Infinity campaign will be starting up. Before I can finalize plans I need to talk to the organizers of some other upcoming game events, and of course I also need to wait for the campaign book to be released. If everything works out the Infinity Campaign will finally begin on Staurday, October 13th, at the Matrix!