Ilian mistress of the void commands it to tell you all that the Mutant Chronicles 3rd edition Kickstarter is now live. Here's what that Chris from Moediphius (I think that's the correct spelling) has to say for himself.
Yes I realise that this is primarily a wargaming blog but there may sneak in other stuff from time to time. Now I'll go into elements of what they have done later as for now, I hope to see you in the trenches.
tisdag 28 januari 2014
lördag 25 januari 2014
Anglica Drachen... kind of
Lo folks I finished my version of Angelica Drachen, I decided not to go
for the custom sculpted hair at this time but hope to pick up another
Angelica later to convert more extensively.
You'll notice I place her far back on the base to get a sense of dynamism.
I switched out her whip for a knife arm from the Etoilies Morant. Also this model is a reminder that while I'm more of an effect guy I can paint detail decently well if I want to.
I went with only a single wash of black over the grey this time, the Vulcan ended up beign so damn black that I wanted to be careful this time around, I'll likely try two coats on a hussar later and if it works I may go back to Angelica Drachen.
Oh btw since Angelica Drachen is a blonde (as I understand it) with a whip this is not actually ministry operative templar Angelica Drachen, but Lady Erin Semora of the noble house of Semora. I'll be adding more back-story on her later on.
But now I have other stuff to do
Until next time folks.
Oh btw since Angelica Drachen is a blonde (as I understand it) with a whip this is not actually ministry operative templar Angelica Drachen, but Lady Erin Semora of the noble house of Semora. I'll be adding more back-story on her later on.
But now I have other stuff to do
Until next time folks.
måndag 20 januari 2014
A Sinous Golgotha, and some work on another lady
Lo folks I promised I'd show you my Golgotha and since I'm finished with
her (well she still needs a coat of gloss varnish) the time for that
has come, oh and btw this is my first finished Dark Legion WZR mini.
The body is wire and green stuff, and I have to point out that liquid green stuff is a real hero here since it allows you to cover up dents much better than regular green stuff. I cut the legs below the waist to try to retain some femeninity in the figure you'll have to be the judges on if I succeeded. I opted out of the back spines because I felt they made her look like a large facehugger from alien.
I wanted her to look scaled but didn't have any means to actually sculpt
scales on her so I painte dher up in bright gold and washed her in
greens and browns. Details I painted up in silver and washed in other
greens and browns. I then painted the stripe pattern on with gold and washed in first orange then brown (so it wouldn't stick out to much), as usual I'm more of an effect guy than a detail guy.
The claw I washed in orange in hopes I could give it a
crab like a appearance not sure it worked. the hair was painted silver and washed several times with brown.
Now on to another lady I've been workign on, that is Angelica Drachen, I've been thinking of sculpting an alternative hair on her, and first of I want to say that I'm in no way displeased with the standard version of Angelica Drachen I just prefer to have my minis unique. Anyway i didnt want to ruin the original head so I tried to make a green stuff mold of her face.
As seen here, now did it work? Not a chance.
The green stuff mold simply doesn't take enough detail, sadly I'm not good enough at sculpting to scult an entirely new head, but I got the idea of sculpting new hair separately and then glue it on if I managed to make it look good. So here's where I am at the moment, I didn't manage to find any good guides on how to sculpt curly hair on the internet so I just went ahead and tried, if the final results work out I'll publish a guide.
Sorry for the bad picture but I'm kind of at the limit to what my compact camera can do, that metal rod is a needle for size reference. The idea is that I'll with a really sharp knife score some more 'hairs' on the hair one it dries then add some loose curls separately.
Well until next time.
Now on to another lady I've been workign on, that is Angelica Drachen, I've been thinking of sculpting an alternative hair on her, and first of I want to say that I'm in no way displeased with the standard version of Angelica Drachen I just prefer to have my minis unique. Anyway i didnt want to ruin the original head so I tried to make a green stuff mold of her face.
Well until next time.
söndag 19 januari 2014
The moment has come!
Lo folks I've finished my first WZR mini, and as you can assume from the
headline it's Bauhaus. Here's my Vulcan, the colourscheme is black
(actually dark grey) and red with metallics in copper.
The camera doesn't show it well but there's actually a lot of copper detail on his legs.
And from another angle. I painted him first wholly in codex grey then washed once with black was then picked out the metallics in tin blitz, all bauhaus cogwheels in gold and other stuff in mecharite red. Then I washed again with black and finally picked out all lenses and windows in red again and highlighted the edges of the metallics in beaten copper.
And from the front.
I hope to be back with an update on my legion later int eh week but I can't make nay promises, the semester is beginning and I'll have a lot to do.
edit: I also when looking closer realised these are really blurry pictures I'll try to retake them in daylight asap.
Until next time folks.
I hope to be back with an update on my legion later int eh week but I can't make nay promises, the semester is beginning and I'll have a lot to do.
edit: I also when looking closer realised these are really blurry pictures I'll try to retake them in daylight asap.
Until next time folks.
torsdag 16 januari 2014
Review Overview
Lo folks this is not really an update, I have realised that posting links to all nine pages of the review is going to get old very quickly so I'll make this update a Review overview or hub if you will.
I also want to announce I shall on the request of 'That Austrian guy' write a tenth part of the review where I try to review the rules system.
But here are the first nine parts
1. Dark Legion Miniatures
2.Dark Legion Cards
3. Brotherhood Miniatures
4. Brotherhood Cards
5.Bauhaus Miniatures
6.Bauhaus Cards
7. Misc Miniatures
8. Misc Cards
9. Rulebook from a non rules perspective
I'll also add this list to the beginning of each review entry.
Until next time
I also want to announce I shall on the request of 'That Austrian guy' write a tenth part of the review where I try to review the rules system.
But here are the first nine parts
1. Dark Legion Miniatures
2.Dark Legion Cards
3. Brotherhood Miniatures
4. Brotherhood Cards
5.Bauhaus Miniatures
6.Bauhaus Cards
7. Misc Miniatures
8. Misc Cards
9. Rulebook from a non rules perspective
I'll also add this list to the beginning of each review entry.
Until next time
lördag 11 januari 2014
Some progress
Here's the necrobeast rider whom I've finally finished converting.
And yet another angle. The breather is based on the following picture.
Found it in my by now quite extensive archive of pictures I've downloaded over the years.
And here's my first painted mini for this force and no it's not a new mini it's the unholy cannonade.
Yeah I know I still need to put up the pictures I use for inspiration, but tomorrow I first have to start on a writers challenge I signed up for with the writing blog. 500-1000 words on someone going on a vacation (ok a few more things but that's the hard part, I don't write contemporary pieces).
fredag 10 januari 2014
Unveiling my new Project
Lo again folks, three or four days ago (depending on whether you believe it's Thursday or Friday at the moment) I promised you to show you my new project two days later (that would be Wednesday for those starting to get confused) and I didn't. Now those who have been reading this blog are likely not surprised I'm quite good at promising things and not keeping them (like finishing my high elfs like I promised in my very first post), but this is not one of those times. I have decided to unveil this project now. I'll show you pictures and you'll guess what the project is, ok let's start i with the hard pictures.
Aren't I great fun? (What do you mean with sadistic psycho? I'm not! Well not that much)
First Picture for 10'000€ (I'm not actually going to give you any money)
No? then we continue to the next level.
Second picture for 8'000€, you getting there? No? Let's try it again then.
6'000€ No? Come one please folks.
4'000€, Ok well that's all the minis I have on it right now, how am I going to make it easier...
Oh I know
Get it now? Well thank you yeah I'll be making a underwater horror themed Dark Legion army led by my Golgotha seawitch from above. Her tail is made from one of the 'sprues' of resin that my parts came on that I rounded of and then bent with hot water. It still needs some thinnign down so I can sculpt scales on it. The unholy cannonade had barnacles on it.
The basic idea came from this wonderful Chaos Space Marine Plog by Lucky no.5 who hosts the eye of error blog. Now the execution will be quite diffrent, becuase dark legion are generally less armoured than space marines, I'm going to try to more go with a drowned dead vibe than a rusted armour.
The other day I was skimming around the web looking for pictures on sunken ships (that one above amongst them). I'll hopefully publish my findings tomorrow, by the way this is a very strange theme for me cause I utterly loathe sunken ships, other people can't stand blood or skeletons or gore, me I can't stand dead boats. But maybe that's why the horror aspect of it appeals so much to me. Well now I'm going to sleep (and probably have nightmares about shipwrecks) until next time.
Aren't I great fun? (What do you mean with sadistic psycho? I'm not! Well not that much)
No? then we continue to the next level.
Oh I know
The basic idea came from this wonderful Chaos Space Marine Plog by Lucky no.5 who hosts the eye of error blog. Now the execution will be quite diffrent, becuase dark legion are generally less armoured than space marines, I'm going to try to more go with a drowned dead vibe than a rusted armour.
The other day I was skimming around the web looking for pictures on sunken ships (that one above amongst them). I'll hopefully publish my findings tomorrow, by the way this is a very strange theme for me cause I utterly loathe sunken ships, other people can't stand blood or skeletons or gore, me I can't stand dead boats. But maybe that's why the horror aspect of it appeals so much to me. Well now I'm going to sleep (and probably have nightmares about shipwrecks) until next time.
torsdag 9 januari 2014
Warzone Resurrection Review Part 9: Rulebook.
1. Dark Legion Miniatures
2.Dark Legion Cards
3. Brotherhood Miniatures
4. Brotherhood Cards
5.Bauhaus Miniatures
6.Bauhaus Cards
7. Misc Miniatures
8. Misc Cards
9. Rulebook from a non rules perspective
Lo gain folks, final part of my review of Warzone ressurection. Part 8 is found here.
This time we'll be doing something different, because it is not miniatures or cards this time but the rulebook. Now I have yet to play the game so I will not comment on the actual rules, instead I'll focus on quality design and fluff.
Ok let get going.
This is the Warzone Ressurection Rulebook.
The quality of the book is great smooth velvet cover, nice paper quality and as far as I can tell real binding (unlike my told first edition warzone rulebook where only half the pages are still in place).
All in all it feels more like the artbooks I usually get when buying limited edition games than a a rulebook. That only applies to the quality of the materials though, the content is very much a rulebook smack full of text, both rules and fluff. And the occasional art page.
Design Wise the Book is broken up into seven sections, one for the main part and one for each faction, each with it's own unique page design.
This is the design used for the 'rulebook' part (as well as the fluff part, timelines, and armoury)
It's certainly good looking but it gets better.
This is the design of the Bauhaus pages, Notice the water stamp cogwheel of Bauhaus in the back.
This is the page design for Capitol, with easily recognisable with an eagle and skyscrapers, ah these americans... I mean Capitolliers.
This is the Mishima design.
And Cybertronic
The Brotherhood
And last but by no margin least, the Dark Legion. And this is where I have my first Issue on the book, that font they're suing for the header there they use it for loads of stuff in the book, and when it's smaller it's really hard to read.
Well that's quality and design. now On to my favourite part fluff. We'll start from the beginning, I will not explain the fluff here only changes I feel have been made and if I find them good or bad. It starts of with an explanation of the history of the setting.
Rise of the corporation
And right there is my first issue, the russian federation is said to be the only country that stands against the rise of the federations... ok sure if Russia was still communist but now days it's an oligarchy the closest thing to the corporations of warzone that exists in the present world. But that doesn't stop them from making up the white star federation which seems very communist in nature. Also another Russian faction, yeah! It's not like we have Bauhaus which is 1/4 Russian, or the sons of Rasputin who are Russian, and it's not like we already have six factions who are either european or pan-european (Bauhaus, Imperial, Sons of Raputin, Crescentians, Lutherans and Templars) and that Capitol and Brotherhood also falls under much the same culture. No let's add another. Now as I understand it this isn't Prodos fault as I understand it this is Modiphius' brainchild, but it proves that Paradox has ceased to give a damn about what they approve. There are so many cultures across the globe that could have been used for a faction, maybe a near eastern one (though the crescentians are roughly that), or an African faction, or maybe a native American (either north America or south America) any culture could have risen in the power vacuum. But no let's make it Russia and let's make them communists! That's original. Also they attack the corporations when they set down in the ruins of washington? if they hold all of earth then how can the tribes exist? Well moving on.
The exodus
Adding natural disasters is a good idea, but could use some why there are natural disasters happening at the same time as an economic collapse. Spreading wat Corp did what in the terraforming out is nice.
The bombing of earth I don't know if that's new or not, but also a good part, because it explains why there's absolutely nothing left on it later.
Then the first corporate wars, not much new there, some added detail on the pluto landing, all very nice stuff. Then there isn't anything new in the following parts up until...
Second corporate war
A slight mention of Imperial blaming the kingsfields for shooting down the capitol airsstrike on the citadel of saladin. Not a bad fluff piece but it had a problem, and that is what we'll discuss next.
Most of this background story is lifted directly from the first edition of warzone (which is in turn lifted from first edition of the mutant chronicles rpg), and it's written as a monk chronicling these events yes it's the chronicles of mutant chronicles. It's written in a preaching bombastic style that is very nice. In this incarnation it has however been added to not just in the new stuff i mentioned but stuff that has been part of the story before but been written elsewhere. And this new stuff is written like someone telling his neighbour about last nights game, not at all in the same style.
Contrast
"No longer did the followers of the darkness win easy victories over terrified foes. Now they were met by stiff resistance carried out by determined warriors who knew they where humanity's last hope"
with
"The apostles were revealed as integral parts of this pattern. In essence, each apostle is a sentiment part of of the structure and through it is capable of manifesting physical form"
There are plenty of such examples in this text, sure not all new additions suffer from it, there are some parts that blend in really well, but others that lack the emotional drive tat the original author managed to get across, it's not bad just bland in comparison.
Moving on, let see timeline, very nice no arguments there (aside from the whole White Star federation), and then we're at the faction sections.
Bauhaus
Nothing new (well except the new units) but loads lifted from the RPG Bauhaus sourcebook, very good stuff, very well phrased. I really liked the part about Max Steiner, not sure if it's new or not. I'm not sure I agree with Valerie Duval being described as an 'immaculate beauty', such phrasing just come of as cheap to me I know she has been described as such in some earlier sources but she has also been described by herself as "Not a sweet young girl any more", and a person can be good looking without resorting to fan fiction levels like immaculate beauty. Other than that it's a nice piece. It's nice to see the vast Bauhaus ministry structures mentioned in several stories. I like the part about Golden Lions and Vensusian rangers respecting each other.
Capitol
Again most general stuff is from the capitol sourcebook. Mitch hunter is Mitch hunter, I never managed to like him in the past and not doing much better now. The story about him meeting Pride is nice though, the blurb in character, not the description of it. That along with a blurb in the old Warzone first edition rulebook where Mitch and Bob storms a citadel gives him a smart mouth which makes him much easier to like.
Big Bob Watts seems much the same.
Henry Thomas is a fairly well written character.
Mike Sanders feels like he has a little to much going on, his story could have been elaborated less here and more in some other source later. Also a character being the nemesis of Saladin is a little over the top.
I really like the stuff on the orca about the driver having a miserable job. I hate that the leviathan is described as the end of all tanks when Capitol isn't even supposed to be much of an armour faction.
Mishima
the seven sages part might be new, I think so but I could be wrong, it's really nice to get where the falling out between mishima and the brotherhood came from.
I see that they mention the idea of bushido samurai but it seems no units follow that code any more, my question is "why do they mention it at all?" Why not just retcon it?
I like Nozaki's story especially the part of him meeting Steiner. What I dont get is how the heirs can be afraid of him, even if he controlls lord Moya's teritories on Mercury (because Lord Moya went insane when his son died) Mishima's system is built on the balance of power, that no one heir can defeat both the others, not even the one holding mercury.
I dislike that they turned Hiroko's grand achievement in killing stalkers to killing un-animated bodies. They could have had him kill them over an extended period of time instead of just dumbing it down to a shoot the barrel moment.
The new stuff on the crimson devils is nice. The Kunshu riders are cool but just like many easterners venerate the dragon it would have ben cool if they were held as an embodyment of Ki and thus equal to the samurai rather than below the samurai but above the commoners. Consider the dragons in the 'Avatar: the last airbender' episode 'The Firemasters'.
Cybertronic
Cybertronic stuff has been increased a lot with the whole where cybertronic came from storyline. I wasnt to fond of old cybertronic (warzone takes the Romanticism standpoint to technology while I am a strong believer of the enlightenment view on it) and not much has changed. I'd have loved them to become more ambivalent, not just as technological jerks who conspires for world dominence but at least possible to interpret as the good guys who believe that resuming the technological progress will in fact save mankind (more Data from TNG, and not only Agent Smith from the Matrix). But that goes against the basic premisses of the setting I guess.
The idea tat Cybertronicis the most populous corporation if new I feel is pointless and kind of fits badly with their position of being the smallest Corporation.
The immortal isnt a bad story it just feels like more of the same of what we already had of Cybertronic, it adds very little.
Dr Diana is kind of interesting, i like the part where the clones seem to be lacking something it fits with the in setting idea of their being a soul which the clones lack (and cybetronic has no use for anyway). Which fits Cybertronic in their current incarnation, it adds more than the immortal's story. But still lacks the fresh take I could have really liked.
I'm a little perplexed with the chasseurs being named as the best basic troops where earlier incarnations say that Cybertronic cares little for low value assets and prefer to spend their resources in high value assets. Especially now that they are to most populous corporation it seems strange.
I donä't udnerstand the idea that the Atilla can't react to a situation on it's own, but must be commanded to react, our computers today can do that, why should the advanced AI used by Cybertronic be lacking that ability.
And in the next entry the machinators they claim that the attila AI is capable of acting on it's own and even learning, so which is it? That said I prefer the Machinators version, it seems more Cybertronic.
The scorpion entry again seems to say that the Attila system is flawed and in order for scorpions to be useful they had to be run by chasseurs, so will they make a decision on if the Attila AI can think or not? I however love the idea that these can shift back and forth between scorpion chassis and mechanical legs, that kick ass.
Oh and the best thing in the cybertronic part is the use of metric units in the little story blurb on the Eradicator entry, unlike most of the book that seems to use imperial units (including game play for some reasons, why inches? there's this great unit that's called centimetres that like 90% of the world uses) .
The Brotherhood
Not much new in the faction explanation, again most is from the sourcebooks (which is great).
Dominic's stuff is quite good, I think the mysterious death of his predecessor is new and it's a good addition. The statement that the highest rank is entirly beyond him seems to indicate we haven't retconned the three bothers out of existence. I would still recommend doing this if it's possible to get Paradox to approve it (but since they approved the White star federation I cant see why they would not).
Blessed vestal laura is a nice piece, she is however the third character to see the light and become a beacon of goodness after fighting the dark legion, considering the old stuff says that fighting the legion for to long is more likely to corrupt you it seems strange every other named character became pure by doing it. Not really fussed it's just an overused plot device.
Hamilkar's stuff is nice since it makes Luna larger than luna city. Is he the leader of the entire second directorate though? Is there a single guy in charge of all that? Haven't the brotherhood heard of division of power? I mean it's not like the other directorates have anything to put against a supreme of the second directorate should he try a coup.
Sacred warriors are the same as ever sadly there are no unhelmeted heads for the miniatures considering "they often forgoe the use of helmets" but maybe those will be added later.
I like the idea of jump pack Valkyries let's see some miniatures for those in the future.
The cardiani oblati is an entirely new unit as I understand it, i however don't get what they are the story is very strangely written. maybe it becomes obvious when the miniatures come out.
The Dark legion
The faction explanation contains my favourite new fluff piece, the thing that almost make me forgive the white star federation's existance, and that's the final and utter specification on what was outlawed technology wise by Toth's first edict, the use of microprocessors. I think it's a very nice compromise between the faction saying all computers (like myself) and those only saying AI's. Without microprocessors they can still have punch card computers, but nothing really advanced. Except cybetronic who don't give a damn. The fact that cybertronic has been around for 300 years (and people have been trading with them) when the legion returns account for the existence of powered armour. I also approve massively of Demongonis being made lord of mutation in addition to disease that makes him different from a very similiar being in another famous wargame setting.
It's sad all reference of Alakhai plotting against Algeroth has been dropped. But since it's not contradicted I'm going to assume it's still true.
Golgotha i know very little of, whe wasnt in the RPG and not in first edition of warzone. she still seem to plot against Alakhai, the reference that she does it because she know that alakhai is trying to betray Algeroth seems to have been removed though.
Valpurgis is the same guy as ever, which is nice, they don't need to fix what isn't broken.
I do not approve of the changes to the story of the praetorian behemoth, it used to be the brain of a praetorian stalker infused in the fused bodies of two razides, now it's a extradimenional being summoned from another universe. If it has no link to the stalkers any more why is it still called Praetorian? they took a cool story and replaced it with a stnard story from the dark legion and one that fits Ilian more than Algeroth. Other dimensions is her thing, Algeroth's is the use of dark/necro/black technology.
The necrobeast story also seems kind of strange to me, we know the Apostles were created to destroy the solar system but this story suggests Alakhai has been presentt when the dark soul destroyed another solar system, would that mean that Alakhai is in fact older than Algeroth?
Also a centurion didn't use to be a sort of necromutant. they had similarities yes but a centurion was passable for a human, a necromutant never was. A necromutant is a slave a centurion is just below the nepharites in the favour of algeroth and is generally made from willing cultists. While necromutants are exclusively made from prisoners of war. beign made a necromutant is a horrible thing, being made a centurion is as far as the dark legion views matters a great honour.
And I think that's it there are some minor things I disapprove of, some major (white star federation) and some things i really really like, but mostly there are slight minor improvements all across the board.
If I didnt mention a story or explanation it probably means I liked it but couldn't come up with a more constructive way of saying that than I like this (And I had a fair few of those anyway).
All in all it's a great book, I hope the sourcebooks from the RPG lives up to this quality when they come out, Modiphius should you read this, if you make a this nice book I'll forgive you for the white star federation, deal?
2.Dark Legion Cards
3. Brotherhood Miniatures
4. Brotherhood Cards
5.Bauhaus Miniatures
6.Bauhaus Cards
7. Misc Miniatures
8. Misc Cards
9. Rulebook from a non rules perspective
Lo gain folks, final part of my review of Warzone ressurection. Part 8 is found here.
This time we'll be doing something different, because it is not miniatures or cards this time but the rulebook. Now I have yet to play the game so I will not comment on the actual rules, instead I'll focus on quality design and fluff.
Ok let get going.
The quality of the book is great smooth velvet cover, nice paper quality and as far as I can tell real binding (unlike my told first edition warzone rulebook where only half the pages are still in place).
All in all it feels more like the artbooks I usually get when buying limited edition games than a a rulebook. That only applies to the quality of the materials though, the content is very much a rulebook smack full of text, both rules and fluff. And the occasional art page.
Design Wise the Book is broken up into seven sections, one for the main part and one for each faction, each with it's own unique page design.
It's certainly good looking but it gets better.
Well that's quality and design. now On to my favourite part fluff. We'll start from the beginning, I will not explain the fluff here only changes I feel have been made and if I find them good or bad. It starts of with an explanation of the history of the setting.
Rise of the corporation
And right there is my first issue, the russian federation is said to be the only country that stands against the rise of the federations... ok sure if Russia was still communist but now days it's an oligarchy the closest thing to the corporations of warzone that exists in the present world. But that doesn't stop them from making up the white star federation which seems very communist in nature. Also another Russian faction, yeah! It's not like we have Bauhaus which is 1/4 Russian, or the sons of Rasputin who are Russian, and it's not like we already have six factions who are either european or pan-european (Bauhaus, Imperial, Sons of Raputin, Crescentians, Lutherans and Templars) and that Capitol and Brotherhood also falls under much the same culture. No let's add another. Now as I understand it this isn't Prodos fault as I understand it this is Modiphius' brainchild, but it proves that Paradox has ceased to give a damn about what they approve. There are so many cultures across the globe that could have been used for a faction, maybe a near eastern one (though the crescentians are roughly that), or an African faction, or maybe a native American (either north America or south America) any culture could have risen in the power vacuum. But no let's make it Russia and let's make them communists! That's original. Also they attack the corporations when they set down in the ruins of washington? if they hold all of earth then how can the tribes exist? Well moving on.
The exodus
Adding natural disasters is a good idea, but could use some why there are natural disasters happening at the same time as an economic collapse. Spreading wat Corp did what in the terraforming out is nice.
The bombing of earth I don't know if that's new or not, but also a good part, because it explains why there's absolutely nothing left on it later.
Then the first corporate wars, not much new there, some added detail on the pluto landing, all very nice stuff. Then there isn't anything new in the following parts up until...
Second corporate war
A slight mention of Imperial blaming the kingsfields for shooting down the capitol airsstrike on the citadel of saladin. Not a bad fluff piece but it had a problem, and that is what we'll discuss next.
Most of this background story is lifted directly from the first edition of warzone (which is in turn lifted from first edition of the mutant chronicles rpg), and it's written as a monk chronicling these events yes it's the chronicles of mutant chronicles. It's written in a preaching bombastic style that is very nice. In this incarnation it has however been added to not just in the new stuff i mentioned but stuff that has been part of the story before but been written elsewhere. And this new stuff is written like someone telling his neighbour about last nights game, not at all in the same style.
Contrast
"No longer did the followers of the darkness win easy victories over terrified foes. Now they were met by stiff resistance carried out by determined warriors who knew they where humanity's last hope"
with
"The apostles were revealed as integral parts of this pattern. In essence, each apostle is a sentiment part of of the structure and through it is capable of manifesting physical form"
There are plenty of such examples in this text, sure not all new additions suffer from it, there are some parts that blend in really well, but others that lack the emotional drive tat the original author managed to get across, it's not bad just bland in comparison.
Moving on, let see timeline, very nice no arguments there (aside from the whole White Star federation), and then we're at the faction sections.
Bauhaus
Nothing new (well except the new units) but loads lifted from the RPG Bauhaus sourcebook, very good stuff, very well phrased. I really liked the part about Max Steiner, not sure if it's new or not. I'm not sure I agree with Valerie Duval being described as an 'immaculate beauty', such phrasing just come of as cheap to me I know she has been described as such in some earlier sources but she has also been described by herself as "Not a sweet young girl any more", and a person can be good looking without resorting to fan fiction levels like immaculate beauty. Other than that it's a nice piece. It's nice to see the vast Bauhaus ministry structures mentioned in several stories. I like the part about Golden Lions and Vensusian rangers respecting each other.
Capitol
Again most general stuff is from the capitol sourcebook. Mitch hunter is Mitch hunter, I never managed to like him in the past and not doing much better now. The story about him meeting Pride is nice though, the blurb in character, not the description of it. That along with a blurb in the old Warzone first edition rulebook where Mitch and Bob storms a citadel gives him a smart mouth which makes him much easier to like.
Big Bob Watts seems much the same.
Henry Thomas is a fairly well written character.
Mike Sanders feels like he has a little to much going on, his story could have been elaborated less here and more in some other source later. Also a character being the nemesis of Saladin is a little over the top.
I really like the stuff on the orca about the driver having a miserable job. I hate that the leviathan is described as the end of all tanks when Capitol isn't even supposed to be much of an armour faction.
Mishima
the seven sages part might be new, I think so but I could be wrong, it's really nice to get where the falling out between mishima and the brotherhood came from.
I see that they mention the idea of bushido samurai but it seems no units follow that code any more, my question is "why do they mention it at all?" Why not just retcon it?
I like Nozaki's story especially the part of him meeting Steiner. What I dont get is how the heirs can be afraid of him, even if he controlls lord Moya's teritories on Mercury (because Lord Moya went insane when his son died) Mishima's system is built on the balance of power, that no one heir can defeat both the others, not even the one holding mercury.
I dislike that they turned Hiroko's grand achievement in killing stalkers to killing un-animated bodies. They could have had him kill them over an extended period of time instead of just dumbing it down to a shoot the barrel moment.
The new stuff on the crimson devils is nice. The Kunshu riders are cool but just like many easterners venerate the dragon it would have ben cool if they were held as an embodyment of Ki and thus equal to the samurai rather than below the samurai but above the commoners. Consider the dragons in the 'Avatar: the last airbender' episode 'The Firemasters'.
Cybertronic
Cybertronic stuff has been increased a lot with the whole where cybertronic came from storyline. I wasnt to fond of old cybertronic (warzone takes the Romanticism standpoint to technology while I am a strong believer of the enlightenment view on it) and not much has changed. I'd have loved them to become more ambivalent, not just as technological jerks who conspires for world dominence but at least possible to interpret as the good guys who believe that resuming the technological progress will in fact save mankind (more Data from TNG, and not only Agent Smith from the Matrix). But that goes against the basic premisses of the setting I guess.
The idea tat Cybertronicis the most populous corporation if new I feel is pointless and kind of fits badly with their position of being the smallest Corporation.
The immortal isnt a bad story it just feels like more of the same of what we already had of Cybertronic, it adds very little.
Dr Diana is kind of interesting, i like the part where the clones seem to be lacking something it fits with the in setting idea of their being a soul which the clones lack (and cybetronic has no use for anyway). Which fits Cybertronic in their current incarnation, it adds more than the immortal's story. But still lacks the fresh take I could have really liked.
I'm a little perplexed with the chasseurs being named as the best basic troops where earlier incarnations say that Cybertronic cares little for low value assets and prefer to spend their resources in high value assets. Especially now that they are to most populous corporation it seems strange.
I donä't udnerstand the idea that the Atilla can't react to a situation on it's own, but must be commanded to react, our computers today can do that, why should the advanced AI used by Cybertronic be lacking that ability.
And in the next entry the machinators they claim that the attila AI is capable of acting on it's own and even learning, so which is it? That said I prefer the Machinators version, it seems more Cybertronic.
The scorpion entry again seems to say that the Attila system is flawed and in order for scorpions to be useful they had to be run by chasseurs, so will they make a decision on if the Attila AI can think or not? I however love the idea that these can shift back and forth between scorpion chassis and mechanical legs, that kick ass.
Oh and the best thing in the cybertronic part is the use of metric units in the little story blurb on the Eradicator entry, unlike most of the book that seems to use imperial units (including game play for some reasons, why inches? there's this great unit that's called centimetres that like 90% of the world uses) .
The Brotherhood
Not much new in the faction explanation, again most is from the sourcebooks (which is great).
Dominic's stuff is quite good, I think the mysterious death of his predecessor is new and it's a good addition. The statement that the highest rank is entirly beyond him seems to indicate we haven't retconned the three bothers out of existence. I would still recommend doing this if it's possible to get Paradox to approve it (but since they approved the White star federation I cant see why they would not).
Blessed vestal laura is a nice piece, she is however the third character to see the light and become a beacon of goodness after fighting the dark legion, considering the old stuff says that fighting the legion for to long is more likely to corrupt you it seems strange every other named character became pure by doing it. Not really fussed it's just an overused plot device.
Hamilkar's stuff is nice since it makes Luna larger than luna city. Is he the leader of the entire second directorate though? Is there a single guy in charge of all that? Haven't the brotherhood heard of division of power? I mean it's not like the other directorates have anything to put against a supreme of the second directorate should he try a coup.
Sacred warriors are the same as ever sadly there are no unhelmeted heads for the miniatures considering "they often forgoe the use of helmets" but maybe those will be added later.
I like the idea of jump pack Valkyries let's see some miniatures for those in the future.
The cardiani oblati is an entirely new unit as I understand it, i however don't get what they are the story is very strangely written. maybe it becomes obvious when the miniatures come out.
The Dark legion
The faction explanation contains my favourite new fluff piece, the thing that almost make me forgive the white star federation's existance, and that's the final and utter specification on what was outlawed technology wise by Toth's first edict, the use of microprocessors. I think it's a very nice compromise between the faction saying all computers (like myself) and those only saying AI's. Without microprocessors they can still have punch card computers, but nothing really advanced. Except cybetronic who don't give a damn. The fact that cybertronic has been around for 300 years (and people have been trading with them) when the legion returns account for the existence of powered armour. I also approve massively of Demongonis being made lord of mutation in addition to disease that makes him different from a very similiar being in another famous wargame setting.
It's sad all reference of Alakhai plotting against Algeroth has been dropped. But since it's not contradicted I'm going to assume it's still true.
Golgotha i know very little of, whe wasnt in the RPG and not in first edition of warzone. she still seem to plot against Alakhai, the reference that she does it because she know that alakhai is trying to betray Algeroth seems to have been removed though.
Valpurgis is the same guy as ever, which is nice, they don't need to fix what isn't broken.
I do not approve of the changes to the story of the praetorian behemoth, it used to be the brain of a praetorian stalker infused in the fused bodies of two razides, now it's a extradimenional being summoned from another universe. If it has no link to the stalkers any more why is it still called Praetorian? they took a cool story and replaced it with a stnard story from the dark legion and one that fits Ilian more than Algeroth. Other dimensions is her thing, Algeroth's is the use of dark/necro/black technology.
The necrobeast story also seems kind of strange to me, we know the Apostles were created to destroy the solar system but this story suggests Alakhai has been presentt when the dark soul destroyed another solar system, would that mean that Alakhai is in fact older than Algeroth?
Also a centurion didn't use to be a sort of necromutant. they had similarities yes but a centurion was passable for a human, a necromutant never was. A necromutant is a slave a centurion is just below the nepharites in the favour of algeroth and is generally made from willing cultists. While necromutants are exclusively made from prisoners of war. beign made a necromutant is a horrible thing, being made a centurion is as far as the dark legion views matters a great honour.
And I think that's it there are some minor things I disapprove of, some major (white star federation) and some things i really really like, but mostly there are slight minor improvements all across the board.
If I didnt mention a story or explanation it probably means I liked it but couldn't come up with a more constructive way of saying that than I like this (And I had a fair few of those anyway).
All in all it's a great book, I hope the sourcebooks from the RPG lives up to this quality when they come out, Modiphius should you read this, if you make a this nice book I'll forgive you for the white star federation, deal?
Warzone Resurrection Review Part 8: Miscellaneous Cards.
1. Dark Legion Miniatures
2.Dark Legion Cards
3. Brotherhood Miniatures
4. Brotherhood Cards
5.Bauhaus Miniatures
6.Bauhaus Cards
7. Misc Miniatures
8. Misc Cards
9. Rulebook from a non rules perspective
And we're almost at the end part 8 (out of 9), part 7 can be found here.
It's cards again so it'll work like explained in part 2.
Imperial Doomtrooper Stack
Unit Card Andrew Drougan x1
Unit Card Michael Farraday x1
Strategy Card Imperial Agent of The Cartel x2
Tactical Card Charge x2
Gear Card Graviton Jungle Boots x1
Gear Card In Deidre's Sight x1
Tatsumoto Stack
Unit Card Tatsumoto x1
Strategy Card Mishima Agent of the Cartel x2
Tactical Card A gift of thanks x2
Gear Card Destruction of the tornado x1
And this is not a set list it's a picture of the one bad card I recieved. It's not visible from the back so it's totally usable but I'll see if I can get Prodos to replace it anyway.
Ronin Samurai Stack
Unit Card Ronin Samurai x1
Strategy Card No Honour! x2
Tactical Card Snipe of the Cobra x2
Gear Card Fragmentation Ammo x1
And that's that. In the next Part I'll review the Rulebook, but since it's soon 3 in the morning I'll do it tomorrow... or rather later today. night folks see you in the next part.
2.Dark Legion Cards
3. Brotherhood Miniatures
4. Brotherhood Cards
5.Bauhaus Miniatures
6.Bauhaus Cards
7. Misc Miniatures
8. Misc Cards
9. Rulebook from a non rules perspective
And we're almost at the end part 8 (out of 9), part 7 can be found here.
It's cards again so it'll work like explained in part 2.
Unit Card Andrew Drougan x1
Unit Card Michael Farraday x1
Strategy Card Imperial Agent of The Cartel x2
Tactical Card Charge x2
Gear Card Graviton Jungle Boots x1
Gear Card In Deidre's Sight x1
Unit Card Tatsumoto x1
Strategy Card Mishima Agent of the Cartel x2
Tactical Card A gift of thanks x2
Gear Card Destruction of the tornado x1
Unit Card Ronin Samurai x1
Strategy Card No Honour! x2
Tactical Card Snipe of the Cobra x2
Gear Card Fragmentation Ammo x1
And that's that. In the next Part I'll review the Rulebook, but since it's soon 3 in the morning I'll do it tomorrow... or rather later today. night folks see you in the next part.
Warzone Resurrection Review Part 7: Miscellaneous Miniatures.
1. Dark Legion Miniatures
2.Dark Legion Cards
3. Brotherhood Miniatures
4. Brotherhood Cards
5.Bauhaus Miniatures
6.Bauhaus Cards
7. Misc Miniatures
8. Misc Cards
9. Rulebook from a non rules perspective
Welcome to the 7th instalment in my review of Warzone Resurrection this time dealing with Miscellaneous Miniatures yep that stuff I couldn't fit anywhere else. For the 6th part look no further.
So here we go.
First of we have Mishima Ronin samurau, now these may be the best standard troops in the range, they are absolutely gorgeous. Sadly their swords dont seem to agree with being shipped. Let's look closer at that.
Yep out of three katanas in the box two are broken and it's not exactly like I can pin them. But I'll have a word with prodos about that, of course they can't be blamed for how the Swedish postal service handles their packages, but who knows. On to happier things.
This Is Andrew Drougan, I named him, he is also Michael Farraday I didn't name him. Really nice mini, I prefer the rifle to the chainripper (?) but I have four of them so I'll assemble both versions. No issues with any of my four sets of this guy, I' recomend getting him but since he was Limited edition that may not be so easy.
As was this guy, this my friends is Tatsumoto, he's a tiger dragon doomtrooper. and a really nice mini, i have two or three of him. Going to assemble one I'm thinking flying stand to make it look like he's leaping though the air.
He has some weird pins sticking out if his back though and nothing that seem to fin those, anyone care to shed light on the situation?
anyway we're done with the Miscellaneous Miniatures, see you in part 8 the last card instalment.
2.Dark Legion Cards
3. Brotherhood Miniatures
4. Brotherhood Cards
5.Bauhaus Miniatures
6.Bauhaus Cards
7. Misc Miniatures
8. Misc Cards
9. Rulebook from a non rules perspective
Welcome to the 7th instalment in my review of Warzone Resurrection this time dealing with Miscellaneous Miniatures yep that stuff I couldn't fit anywhere else. For the 6th part look no further.
So here we go.
anyway we're done with the Miscellaneous Miniatures, see you in part 8 the last card instalment.
Warzone Resurrection Review Part 6: Bauhaus Cards.
1. Dark Legion Miniatures
2.Dark Legion Cards
3. Brotherhood Miniatures
4. Brotherhood Cards
5.Bauhaus Miniatures
6.Bauhaus Cards
7. Misc Miniatures
8. Misc Cards
9. Rulebook from a non rules perspective
Ok so this is part 6 of my Reviewing Warzone Ressurection series, I'm getting really tired about now so if I trail away and my humor sucks that's why, onwards to Bauhaus cards!
Oh and this still works like explained in the second article of this series.
Right about now someone will say Hey that's not Bauhaus cards, and that's quite correct thank you for stating the blatantly obvious. this is the box my minis came in, or well one of three that were taped together. Well the point with this one is that it reads my old address. And I did send a mail to prodos when I moved, fortunately the Swedish postal services figured it out and sent it to the right place... Why do I have a feeling that posting my old address in a picture online is still a very bad idea...
Valerie Duval Stack
Unit Card Valerie Duval x1
Strategy Card Deep Infliltration x2
Tactical Card Life Taker x2
Gear Card Dying Stars x1
Etolies Mor(t)ant Stack
Unit Card Etolies Mortant x1
Strategy Card Barren x2
Tactical Card Flash Bang x2
Gear card Widow's Revenge x1
Max Steiner stack
Unit Card Max Steiner x1
Strategy Card Inspiring Bravado x2
Tactical Card Driven to Exelence x2
Gear Card Battle Scar x1
Venusian Rangers Stack
Unit Card Venusian Rangers x1
Strategy Card Expert Training x2
Tactical Card Vicious Assault x2
Gear Card Superior Equipment x1
Bauhaus Starter Stack
Unit Cards x4
Angelica Drachen x1
Vulcan x1
Hussars x2
Strategy Cards x24
Uranium Deposit x3
Bunker Down x5
Sesmic Disruption x3
Spiraling Costs x2
Field Resources x3
Plasma Shells x2
I am in charge! x2
Pride of Bauhaus x2
Defensive Mode x2
Tactical Cards x19
Arachnid Infestation x3
Venusian camoflage pattern x3
A spoke in the cog x5
Field Rations x3
Assassinate x1
Munitions Change x2
Charge! x2
Gear Cards x18
Medipack x5
Aerial Barrage x3
Air Strike Flare x3
Plasma Grenades x3
Medal of Honour x2
Stick Grenades x1
Chassis Upgrade x1
Resource Cards x8
Fabrik x8
And that's that people see you in part 7 miscellaneous miniatures.
2.Dark Legion Cards
3. Brotherhood Miniatures
4. Brotherhood Cards
5.Bauhaus Miniatures
6.Bauhaus Cards
7. Misc Miniatures
8. Misc Cards
9. Rulebook from a non rules perspective
Ok so this is part 6 of my Reviewing Warzone Ressurection series, I'm getting really tired about now so if I trail away and my humor sucks that's why, onwards to Bauhaus cards!
Oh and this still works like explained in the second article of this series.
Unit Card Valerie Duval x1
Strategy Card Deep Infliltration x2
Tactical Card Life Taker x2
Gear Card Dying Stars x1
Unit Card Etolies Mortant x1
Strategy Card Barren x2
Tactical Card Flash Bang x2
Gear card Widow's Revenge x1
Unit Card Max Steiner x1
Strategy Card Inspiring Bravado x2
Tactical Card Driven to Exelence x2
Gear Card Battle Scar x1
Unit Card Venusian Rangers x1
Strategy Card Expert Training x2
Tactical Card Vicious Assault x2
Gear Card Superior Equipment x1
Unit Cards x4
Angelica Drachen x1
Vulcan x1
Hussars x2
Strategy Cards x24
Uranium Deposit x3
Bunker Down x5
Sesmic Disruption x3
Spiraling Costs x2
Field Resources x3
Plasma Shells x2
I am in charge! x2
Pride of Bauhaus x2
Defensive Mode x2
Tactical Cards x19
Arachnid Infestation x3
Venusian camoflage pattern x3
A spoke in the cog x5
Field Rations x3
Assassinate x1
Munitions Change x2
Charge! x2
Gear Cards x18
Medipack x5
Aerial Barrage x3
Air Strike Flare x3
Plasma Grenades x3
Medal of Honour x2
Stick Grenades x1
Chassis Upgrade x1
Resource Cards x8
Fabrik x8
And that's that people see you in part 7 miscellaneous miniatures.
Warzone Resurrection Review Part 5: Bauhaus Miniatures.
1. Dark Legion Miniatures
2.Dark Legion Cards
3. Brotherhood Miniatures
4. Brotherhood Cards
5.Bauhaus Miniatures
6.Bauhaus Cards
7. Misc Miniatures
8. Misc Cards
9. Rulebook from a non rules perspective
This is part 5 of my review of Warzone Resurrection part 4 is found here.
Bauhaus Miniatures it is, starting of again with what I have already started working on.
Angelica Drachen, again on a custom base, I may actually field her on this. It's a very awesome model, I kind of wish I had the option of an open hand instead of the whip but you cant get everything. She's kind of smallish on her huge base and other have complained about that, that's the same size base that Alakhai was fielded on, which gives you the feeling for hos big he really is, don't worry I'll post a picture of them beside each other some other day. Myself I feel a larger base is an opportunity, by placing frau (fraulein?) Drachen far back on her base i give her a sense of dynamism that is hard to get a on a smaller base, in this version of it the idea i to have a soldier from another corporation on the ground that he absently without even caring enough too look executes. My other idea is this:
Here she is circling the edge of the base giving the feeling she's circling an enemy waiting for the right time to strike with her whip.
And her alternative head, I went for the unhelmeted one I'll see what I can do with this later.
Here's a Vulcan that I have begun basing, I however have some time getting the basecoat to stick on it, it seems the resin that Prodos uses is hydrophobic and I have unwisely in my youth (ok quite recently as well, what can I say, I'm a cheapskate) diluted my colours pots with water when the chemical solvent in them has evaporated. I don't complain it's my own fault but it's something for other to have in mind.
This is the alternate head for the Vulcan, and as you can see I've already managed to break of the spike on the head. Those spikes are very fragile so I recommend handling Hussars carefully.
Venusian Rangers, Great looking kit except I preferred the old school helmets, the new ones look far to much like necrons. It's also a shame there are no cowled heads in the set.
Max Steiner Hero of Bauhaus, Major of The Venusian Rangers. And generally big cool guy with a really big gun. This guy took old Teddy's advice to heart and carries a really big stick. Unlike Angelica Drachen Max Steiner fills out his base very well, no tricky posturing is needed here just put him on the base and this guy looks like he could stand his ground be it Alakhai or Algeroth himself who's charging him. I especially like the old school Bauhaus Venusian Ranger mask.
Etoilies Mor(t)antes, I hereby renew my appeal to change their names to Etoilies Morantes, still not perfect French but at least closer. Lovely girls, much better since they were redone during the kickstarter. The heads are a bit meh I guess but I guess every girl can't be Anglika Drachen. Some people have complained their punisher knives are fragile, I have not experienced this, there are a few fragile kits in warzone but this is not it if you ask me.
Now this is the true might of Bauhaus, the Hussars, a very nice set I especially like that the weapons are separate from the arms. As I said earlier the head spikes are a bit fragile. Kudos on the two heads with gas-masks I really liked those.
Valerie Duval, At the moment she mostly look like a bit more dramatically posed Etolies Morant
2.Dark Legion Cards
3. Brotherhood Miniatures
4. Brotherhood Cards
5.Bauhaus Miniatures
6.Bauhaus Cards
7. Misc Miniatures
8. Misc Cards
9. Rulebook from a non rules perspective
This is part 5 of my review of Warzone Resurrection part 4 is found here.
Bauhaus Miniatures it is, starting of again with what I have already started working on.
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