Edge of the Storm part 3: 983 Deon b.

Picking up this campaign again. Some time has passed. Sara is not on this mission while Ulrich and Corde have picked up a few other bodies just in case. To make it more solo friendly I have generated a simple AI, inspired by an AAR of Blood in Space over on ...

Here are the stats for the three heroes: 

Ulrich Nolan – Hero

Traits

C Tracker: +1D6 against target after the first time targeted by this character.

C Sharpshooter: +1D6 over 18”.

S Explorer: Discover hidden items with 4+.

Gear

Lenherr Rifle: -1D6 defense against this attack.

Survival Gear: +1D6 to pass environmental tests.

Corde Tane – Hero

Traits

C Veteran: +1D6 on combat.

L Inspiring: +1D6 on morale test.

S Tinkerer: Succeeds on a 4+ on repair rolls.

Gear

HySys 2212 Shotgun: +1D6 within 12”. No shot over 12”.

Lief Weyer – Hero

Traits

C Brawler: +1D6 on melee combat.

S Can be bribed: Roll 1D6 when in contact with an enemy leader. On a 6 he switches sides.

S Looter: +1D6 fistfuls of credits after encounter.

Gear

Nordarms Assault Rifle: +1D6 on ranged attacks

As the team approach within 8 inches of one of the event markers, it is flipped and something appears.

On the left, the goons, cannon fodder, hired guns. On the right, Lief Weyer, Corde Tane, Ulrich Nolan.

 Exploring habitable planets pre-colonization was a good gig. Identifying suitable settlement areas, rich mineral deposits, arable land, or dangerous zones is an invaluable service and many corporations and governments will willingly outsource this job to nameless, faceless, expendable nobodys. Ulrich Nolan and Corde Tane are such nobodys. Scans from orbit had shown activity in this area, and as such it needed to be investigated. It could have been anything from local fauna, other exploration teams, pirates lying low or even an illicit colonization attempt.

 As Lief Weyer approaches the ridge he stumbles across a friendly face.
"What are you doing out ahead here?" he asks.
"Just scouting ahead," comes the reply. Happy for an extra body Weyer calls over to Nolan to let him know what is happening.

 Ulrich Nolan crests the ridge and sees fields and buildings in the distance. This shouldn't be here. Deon b is an uninhabited planet and this place looks like it is more than just a pirate hideout.

 Corde Tane approaches another ridge and is ambushed by a few unknown gunmen. These armour-clad strangers might prove to be dangerous. Thank goodness for always being prepared.

 A fierce firefight ensues in which one of the armoured men dives for cover, as does Corde. Bullets fly, dust is kicked up. This exploration job might prove to be one of the more difficult ones.

 Ulrich unloads a few rounds at what looks like the leader, missing him miserably.

 Weyer opens fire on one of the enemy goons, killing him. One less problem to worry about.

 Popping his head up to get a good shot, Ulrich comes under more fire, takes a few hits and goes down bleeding heavily. Luckily he is able to stem the bleeding but is unable to continue the fight.

 More fierce firefighting. Tane and Weyer doing their level best to keep the gunmen pinned down. Their fellows advance on the settlement in an attempt to find out what is going on.

 While advancing towards the village another obstacle is found. This obstacle takes the form of a large, teethy, clawy beast. Definitely not one for the faint hearted! How is this going to impact things.

 Thundering towards the grunts the beast attacks. It takes many hits, bullets finding their way through it's thick hide, but they don't seem to have much impact. Slowing this monster only slightly.

 Corde manages to finally take down the leader, tearing his armoured torso to shreds with her shotgun.

 Unfortunately three more mysterious gunmen appear. These uniformed miscreants look like they are on the payroll of a much more organised institution. Who could they be?

 Weyer managed to keep the monster pinned, damaging the hide even further.

 One of Nolan's team goes down in a hail of claws and teeth. There is little left of him to send back home. Weyer starts to think of the letter that will need to be written.

 Grunt vs grunt. The last of the original gunmen is finally killed.

 Corde and her companion pin and kill the new imposters. Keeping up this hail of bullets isn't, however, sustainable. They need to move on and find out more about this settlement.

 Backing up, the remaining grunts keep firing on the beast.

 Finally, at long last, Weyer manages to take down the beast. It shrieks, hauntingly as it collapses. There might be something here. Something worth studying...or selling.

 The last two gunmen go down in a hail of bullets. Their aim was poor, so maybe their employer had cheaped out on their gear and training, even though they looked formidable.

Corde and Lief enter the village and are met by a solitary figure.
"Who are you, and why are you here?" asks Corde.
"And what the hell was that giant creature?" adds Lief.
"Come inside" is the only response they get.

I loved the random event generator. It made me have to think less and be less worried about being biased in any way. I have missed playing Starport Scum.

New Mecha and some terrain

Finally finished these mecha. I went for a simple one colour paint job for them and actually I am very happy with them. They can match the Green Jackets for colour or I might be using them for another faction at some point. I can see them going along with the Coyotes also.

When you take a job to explore an uncharted world on the edge of human space and come across these crops. Does God build in straight lines? Or are there already people here? Call it in and turn the safety off.

Modular Industrial Complex pt. 3

Progress is being made on my modular complex. I am finding the danger stripes the most difficult thing, especially on the door. It is just at a tough angle. I might need to rethink how I paint and make these things now.

I just need to decide what sort of shades to paint onto the ground and then start weathering. I am looking forward to doing some proper weathering for once.

Modular Industrial Complex pt. 2

Having posted the first primed section, I thought it might be a good idea to post the next two before they are primed to give a better idea of the junk I used to make them.

A pen liberated from a Hilton hotel, two printer ink cartridges, straws, lids, letter beads. Bits I had lying around.

The Coyotes - Space Pirates

Finally finished with this faction, they now have some speedy vehicles to go along with their infantry. There are four figures per base, I think this hearkens back to my purchase of Laserstorm, a set of rules I have yet to put into use. I think it suggested that many figures per base, or something. Either way I haven't played it, and am now moving back to three figures per base. Cheaper that way and easier to paint.

The Coyotes - preying on colonists on the Fringe for years now. The vehicles are the British army Jackal and a Soviet BRDM with rockets (A22? Maybe?) I wanted fast looking all terrain vehicles without having to pay loads for sci fi specific miniatures. Both vehicles from Heroics and Ros.

Some civilian vehicles from Heroics and Ros. The Stalwarts are very nice and sci fi looking. The pick up looks generic and I think will be fine mixed in with other things. I can also put my irregular riders in the back when painted.

Scum for the Starport part 4

Finished my latest batch of characters last night. I am pretty much sold on the small washers for bases, although they aren't battle tested yet. They may as yet prove to be too unstable. They look pretty sexy though.

A group of colonists posing on a patch of crops. This crop has been designed to be growable in just about any place imaginable. It will keep you alive, long after the animals have died.

Sometimes you need the hired guns. One can scrape a living protecting those who can't protect themselves. Of course, if the money is good...it is not inconceivable that sides might be swapped...

Pack animals and travelers. There are those who lead nomadic lives, traveling from one colony to another, seeing the universe. Others can be found settling on a planet and leading a hermetic existence. Either way, one must be wary of such folk.

 And sometimes, you just meet plain old weirdos.

 ...or you bump into assassins.

Modular industrial complex pt. 1

Inspired by numerous other terrain builders I decided to finally create my modular city. I have six 12 x 12 cm squares of hardboard and intended to experiment. However, after a few weeks of lying around I decided to do something about my huge collection of bulbs and other junk. So here we have part one of my modular industrial complex as opposed to a city.

The Defense of New Charon pt. 3 - Investigating the Enemy

Scouting elements of the New Charon Militia had noticed patterns. Concentrations of these invading forces seemed to be gathering in little explored areas beyond the reaches of any known settlement. Merissa Cantos has sent a detachment of the militia to investigate one such concentration out in the rocky steppes beyond an outlying farm. Unsure what to expect the militia, led by Natalya Phillips cautiously advance in an attempt to avoid ambush. 

Advancing past the farm buildings, Natalya orders her team to stay alert. They split into two forces, one entering the farm, one skirting around the perimeter. 

Almost immediately one infantry unit comes under fire from an advancing tank. Running for cover, it was about to get real.

 In response to this first blood, Natalya advances and takes the enemy tank under fire. The missiles ring true blasting a hole or two in the armour causing some damage. The crew, however remain resolute.

Malcolm Kennett, Natalya's trusted second advances in his CSMP and fires a salvo at another enemy tank. A few strike true and damage the engines. 

Natalya and some infantry support take the tank under fire again. Mysterious infantry advance up behind the tank in order to support it better.

The advancing enemy infantry comes under fire from some militia. This fight is getting more intense, there are more of these mysterious attackers than Natalya originally thought. 

Some of Natalya's men come under fire from the mystery invaders. Trying to get back in touch with central Natalya reports what is going on. Merissa Cantos assures that reinforcements are on the way.

One of the supporting CSMPs launches a spread of rockets at another enemy infantry unit completely obliterating it. The price for not hugging cover is high, especially when facing high explosive missiles from those protecting their homes.

Malcolm Kennett comes under fire, taking damage to his leg servos. He frantically calls for more infantry support.

 Support comes, with infantry lauching their handheld anti armour weapons, further damaging the tank. The engine sputters, the tank falls to the ground. Hopefully it's resistance is over. 

 Caught in the open one militia unit comes under fire and becomes combat ineffective. Severe casualties take them out of the battle.

Finally the militia infantry get that desired hit, blowing up the ammunition storage, causing catastrophic damage.

 Natalya and the infantry support finally end the firefight with the remaining enemy tank, destroying it handily. It looks like those reinforcements might not be needed.

 Combining fire Natalya eradicates another infantry unit. There is little resistance left. The militia might finally be able to get to the bottom of who these people are and what they want.

 Kennett takes more damage to his walker from the remaining enemy infantry, he gets a missile off but misses wildly. His HUD malfunctioning he manages to get a cry for help off to his team.

 The other CSMP walker comes in and finishes off the enemy resistance. Now to investigate what they were doing there.

 Advancing past the rocks, the militia uncover some strange objects. They look like ruins, but the earliest known colonists on New Charon, before it was called New Charon arrived less than a century ago. Could these be evidence of some kind of other civilization? And if so, what do these invaders want with them?

Scum for the Starport part 3

All week I have been dying to highlight these miniatures in order to get them done. I am pleased with the results. I am still scared of the small bases, but think they will be fine. Although, some of them do not stick to the magnetic strip in my containers very well because they have super glue on the underside. I might need to rethink my storage solutions. The individual based figures are all Angel Barracks miniatures, which are now being produced and sold by CP Models. The group based miniatures are a variety of GZG, CinC, and Angel Barracks.

 Vanguard Company is a small group of mercenaries who will hire themselves out to protect colonists. Often forgoing payment, these grizzled veterans have been to the edge of space, seen the chaos that exists, and are determined to keep that chaos away from the innocent. 

 Frontier Law Enforcement. Out on the Fringe, where the UCS reach is very weak, a person with a gun and a desire to protect fellow colonists can be the only form of law enforcement to be found. Hardened by life on the edge, they are all that stand between chaos and the veneer of civilization.

 Protecting yourself is vital. There is no telling what kind of encounter you could have, and with goodness knows whom. Here we see three typical Fringe colonists, and a mysterious masked warrior.

 Living on the edge of space is not safe. Many have stared into the abyss, only to find the abyss staring back into them. Many of those people become part of the problem, realizing their true insignificance, and the insignificance of their existence changes a person. Many cults, clans and groups of beings who have thrown off their humanity spring up in the Fringe. One does not trifle with them. In fact, the first rule when encountering these groups is often "run first, fight second". On the right we see an example of a barely human being, come to wreak havoc among those who are not yet "enlightened." The rest look like sensibly armed colonists, ready to run or fight.

The Coyotes. A pirate gang, feeding off those in the Fringe, who are unable to defend themselves. Occasionally taking a bite of organised militias if desperate enough. This lawless bunch will salvage and re-use any vehicles they can acquire and keep in running order. They strike fast, take what they want, and leave few witnesses.