Cyborkz - Resistanz Iz Futile

Who wouldn't want to add a few Borg to there miniatures collection?

The trouble is though that if you do want to, there just aren't any good Borg miniatures readily available. In fact, I'm not sure there are any "out of the box" Borg available full-stop. Of course, I could be wrong but, I can't find them!

So, what's a modeler to do? Assimilate of course! ;0).

My first thoughts on going custom were that Cadian Shock Troops would make a pretty good starting point for any Borg model. I'd need new heads and probably a few servitor arms from other models but the end result should be pretty close.. Or so I thought.

Then I found this picture on-line:

Click to enlarge.

Whilst the Cadians would do a fine job representing labor and transport drones, the arms would need some serious modification for every other type. The Games Workshop servitor arms just weren't going to cut it.

Not particularly practical from a personal point of view as I have none of the parts in my bit box nor anything to mod them with, meaning that this idea could quickly turn into a cash sink.. But looking in my bits box did give me a brainwave.

I have 40 or so Marauders from Mantic. Orks, that straight out of the box have a very Borg look about them. At one point I was even going to convert several of these to Mech Boyz for 40k. So, these would seem to be the perfect low-cost option for the project at hand. After all, the Borg didn't just assimilate Terrans did they?

So, depending on how well this pans out, I may even produce an unofficial codex for them. Not that Games Workshop will ever let you bring them to their gaming table... You can always use the paint scheme and ideas though, bringing cybernetically  enhanced Orkish killing machines to a workshop gaming table near you.

Alchemy's Workbench #4: Just Scratching The Surface

Not going to happen. At least not anytime soon.

Getting an early morning in today gave me just the opportunity that I was looking for to hit the drawing board and, to start prototyping my scratch build projects. It's been quite a learning experience.

The first thing that I have learned that is no matter how cool I may think David Gaffam's papercraft model is, it probably isn't going to happen with Balsa Wood.

At least not anytime soon.

This is pretty much down to the second lesson that I have learned today, which is to play to the strengths of your chosen material. Balsa Wood doesn't handle cutting curves into it too well at all, so the arches in David's model are a definite no go for someone as new to scratch building as me, even with an experienced hand to guide me.

This has lead to some interesting compromises from a design point of view, as a lot of science-fiction architecture tends to be curve heavy. It has also lead to what I thought would be a ruins construction project going in a completely unexpected direction, with what I have on the drawing board now resembling something better described as an Imperial barracks.

All this has inspired a number of other ideas that I already had swilling around as well as sparking a new one. That's about as far as I've got so far (well apart from a card mock-up of some of my ideas) but, I have to say that I think I am coming along great guns!

Win A Fully Painted Rogue Trader Era Imperial Guard Army!

Yep! You read that right. A fully painted Imperial Guard army from the Rogue Trader era is up for grabs.

I came across this great give away run by the folks over at Bell of Lost Souls whilst searching the web for research material (amazing the things my research keeps digging up of late) and just had to share it with you all.

The best bit? It's free and, you still have time to enter. Hell, you can enter the draw up to six times if you have the means.

For full details, check out their competition posting here.

DMotivational #9: In The Grim Darkness Of The Future There Is Limited Segway Parking

Only War: Is it the Future?

With Warhammer: 40,000 6th edition coming hot off of the press as i type it would be easy to overlook Only War, the latest roleplaying offering from Fantasy Flight Games set in the grim darkness of the future.

But who'll be top dog on the tabletop?

For me, i'd have to say that Only War is has left a very strong first impression. The system is simple and sleek without being rules light. It opens many avenues for roleplaying and, for a product that's still in development (available under beta release) it shows a great deal of promise. It also offers a great deal of grit by casting you in the roles of fearsome Imperial Guards, the squishy front line in a never ending war. In fact, my only real bone of contention with it is the seemingly minimal press coverage it has received. Okay, two bones. The price tag.

Whilst you can pick up a free copy of the quickstart rules here, if you want a full copy of the beta release it's going to set you back $20. Not the end of the world granted but for the PDF of what is still a work in progress it seems a little steep.

That said, there is no guarantee that a fully developed product from Games Workshop is going to be any better and, it largely comes down to a matter of taste. If you enjoy skirmish games then the new release of Warnammer: 40,000 is probably still going to be your go to game but, if you're looking for something new but with a familiar feel then you really can't go far wrong with a free product from an industry giant.