Up and at 'em = down and out?

Thanks to the film Gravity the Kessler syndrome is getting plenty of discussion at the moment. That's the idea that objects colliding in orbit could trigger a cascade, with the mass of debris produced potentially rendering spaceflight very hazardous, keeping us on the ground, grounded.

It's easy to imagine it used as a weapon, but for sci-fi and fantasy it could make for a strange new world - one not so far from the world we're in now.

40K OSR? (21)

More 40K OSR? We know what 40K is, or think we do, but what's an OSR? Still a good question.

If you're part of it, feel free to use Colonel Kane's logo, here to the right, and think about linking to their exemplary blog Tales from the Maelstrom.

Since the last update Major Hazzard has posted an Eldar shuttle and crew - with spirit warriors.

And there's more of that heresy right here...

• Big Jim at Galaxy in Flames released the latest version of Killzone - now updated for sixth - and posted on changes and rules being tested, as well as looked in 1, 2 parts at adapting his Soul Reapers to the new CSM book.

• Old School Terminator at Dark Future Games has been suggesting parts for modelling better noise marines, bezerkers, Thousand Sons and plague marines, and is building an alternative flyer, but Nurglified - the hellworm.

• I managed to overlook Spiky Rat Pack last time - izeColt has now finished Hagard and the Færwyrd, with a snippet of fiction, and okkiW is building Task Force Pherion, in both cases for playing 54mm Inquisitor at 28mm...

• ... regarding which, zhu bajiee suggests a possible origin for the Inquisition symbol and presents a rebound tome of some classic 40K rule resources.

• Staying on the subject of playing at smaller scales, Relic at Lead Space has 1, 2, 3 more 6mm Epic Crimson Fists models for use in skirmish games, ...

• ... and scottsz has some shots of how it can look in practice, with a map, ...

• ... while Carl at Dropship Studio is back and redoing a titan battlegroup, ...

• ... Wargaming Workshop has phantoms - one reposed - and revenants ...

• ... and Realms of Chaos has two great gargants: a snappa and a gutbuster.

• At 15mm scale Dropship Horizon suggest possible base space marines...

• ... and for Ork conversions in 15mm, Wesley over at TheOrky 15mm SciFi suggests the bodies of those Wasteland Warriors with Khurasan orc heads.

• Still with greenskins, FrDave at Blood of Prokopius has stats for Ork types in Stars Without Number, for the Black Reach campaign he's developing, ... 

• ... Kamui at Creative Twilight is working on old-new lootas with grotbots...

• ... and The M42 Project have more on the Grün, as well as some possible sub-factions, and continued developing their ruleset, an alternative for 40K.

• Master Bryss posted the first abilities of the revised creature creation rules.

• Laughing Ferret has a possible genestealer cult character and hybrids.

• At Confessions... dwez has done more work on the Tyranid defence line...

• ... Rictus at Recalcitrant Daze is retailing his dragons' teeth tank traps, ...

• ... - and there's a tutorial at 122nd Cadian if you fancy making your own - ...

• ... but Spyrle decided against mass-producing his Eldar-inspired defences.

• T Planet at Conflict Valorax showed off some potential scatter terrain for 40K interiors and some mixed-source adeptus mechanicus and Squats.

• Grazer at Claws and Fists has a scratchbuilt overlord armoured airship.

• Mordian7th is working on some sagitarii robotic weapons systems for his adeptus mechanicus and making progress on the scratchbuilt leviathan.

• Mike at SC Warhammer near-scratchbuilt a big cannon for the traitor guard.

• At From the Warp Ron has a superb tutorial for Death Korps-like troopers.

• Robert Morris at Back to the Keep has some pics of classic IG regiments...

• ... Col. Ackland at The Thunder Guard has a thorough introduction to two producers of conversion kits suitable for building a praetorian-like regiment...

• ... and Blight Wheel Miniatures have added arms to the new human range.

• Back to the Crimson Fists, Coopdevil of FightingFantacist played the Battle at the Farm from Rogue Trader, with miniatures then with the counters.

• TastyTaste at BoK has some thoughts on the Horus Heresy then and now.

• At The Evandalists, vandalworks has an interview with the ex-GW designer Andy Chambers, and there's an older blog interview here at Digital Waaagh!

Also worthy of mention, Rob at Warhammer 39,999 is selling a large range of classic miniatures for various 40K armies and some fantasy, with the final day being Sunday.

I have a contribution this time too, the introductory post to a series on developing 40K the wargame into an easy-start RPG, with or without a GM. The next part isn't far off.

If you think I've missed anything, leave a link in the comments, even to your own work.

Update: In the comments scottsz has a link to Angel Barracks, where there's 6mm with possible counts-as squigs, a wheeled chimera-like chassis and various humans.

I also want to mention Dave G's weekly updates at Wargaming Tradecraft, which very often link to fan-made art, and BoLS this week had a Necron piece with a timelapse.

And I've just seen Curis at Ninjabread recently posted on building a Squat force - the Furnace Valley Brotherhood - with some newly-painted classics and current stats.

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40K OSR? (18)

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

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

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

Here we go then - even more of that inspiration.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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40K OSR? (14)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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40K OSR? (13)

Long time, no update, so this time it's massive.

As usual, if you're not sure what a 40K OSR? could be, there are potential definitions here.

If you identify with it, especially if you're coming up with new material, Colonel Kane's logo, to the right, is ready to use. If you do, consider giving him credit and adding Tales from the Maelstrom to your roll. The battle report the guys posted just before Christmas should be reason enough.

This time milestones, bad news and possible surprises, plus the usual wild cards at the end.

• As mentioned, Killzone v 3.0 is out after playtesting, with some thoughts up at A Gentleman's Ones and notes on the future at Galaxy in Flames.

• Big Jim also announced the TCP podcast and Bay Area Open narrative event, and posted on progress with the Soul Reapers - the codex is here.

• Rules Manufactorum has now gone in its original form, but been adopted by the renamed Casual Rules Bryssling of a Ruthless Mind Manufactorum.

• Sons of Taurus has now released Version 1.1 of the Codex: Lost and the Damned, and there are designer's notes and a sample army list up too.

• Sons of Taurus also introduced Ethereal's Projects, home to a fandex each for the Lost and the Damned, the Tau and the Sisters of Battle, and today linked to the progress report at Rogue Trader on Codex: Squat Stronghold.

• At Warpstone Flux jabberjabber posted a power, Psychokinetic Sphere.

• Tallarn at still practicing_ posted the end of the planetary empires campaign with two more rules, Tremors and Pyroclastic Barrage; I don't think I've ever mentioned the 5 minute history series, but it's a great refresher.

• Gotthammer has been posting on Rogue Trader RPG at Collegia Titanica, with the superb Koronus Gazetter and a set of non-player characters.

• At GAME OVER Von and Lexington ponder the motives of the Necrons.

• Lantz finished another unit for the AdMech FanDex, the Caminus Priests, and converted a Skitarii Jetbike based on the Antenociti Workshop kit, while Sandwyrm at The Back 40K also likes Micro Art Studios minis.

• Pirate Viking Painting has solid conversions for generic Imperial infantry.

• Rictus at Recalcitrant Daze had this emplacement mentioned at FTW, here, has a CAD development of it here, and was also busy with the Ork looted wagons at BoLS, the highlight for me being this thorough guide.

• Also linked there at FTW was The Mentor Legion, focused on the chapter.

• Chris Swaine at Roll With It converted a fine Malakim Phoros from IA9.

• Spikey Bits ran a tank conversion contest and got some great entries, with this Tau titan arguably the most unusual, spectacular and controversial, while the blog as a whole is tipped by Lantz as a possible heir to BoLS.

• Hungry Ghosts has posted huge amounts since the last update, including a look at the HQ, the third appendix for Historia Squataticus and a space Skaven, plus three parts of a series on Bob Olley not-Squats, 1, 2 and 3.

• At 3++ Aueretious Taak posted a Tyranid army using classic miniatures.

• Dylan Gould has a mass of Necromunda gangers and some classic IG.

• Back at FTW, Ron talked about leaving the gaming aspect behind.

• Tears of Envy's blog has another new piece of artwork by John Blanche...

• ... there are 1, 2, 3 more 40K-themed sketches over at Spiky Rat Pack...

• ... and at Confessions... dwez has more classic pieces by Gary Herrod, ...

• ... while back on Squats and Tyranids, Curis at Ninjabread pointed out the Beardy Bastards web comic, and looked at use of orange in sci-fi...

... and both of those links could almost be wild cards, making me think the distinction might be blurring as time goes by. Here are the three that seem just outside this time.

• Atom Kid over at Maximum Rock & Role Playing is in the early stages of sculpting a Space Ork in 15mm, i.e. at more or less half the usual size.

• At Swords & Stitchery the prolific Needles holds a weird, retro sci-fi mirror up to the Imperium with this post, offering a setting concept for Rogue Space.

• And Sandwyrm, again at The Back 40K, looks at GW's half year results.

All related posts here get the 40K OSR? label, so you can keep up with what I see. If you think I've missed anything, go right ahead and leave the link to it in the comments.

Update: As usual I find one right away - Spyglass Asylum has a John Blanche mini.

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40K OSR? (10)

Been a while since the last full 40K OSR? post.

I don't know what's up, but it seems to me output is down. I'm assuming it's just a mix of summer, anger online at price rises and limits on sales to Australia, maybe the move from metal, plus the fact GW itself is bringing old 40K material back, possibly early edition complexity in sixth edition.

I'm still linking though. I'll do full updates like this less often, but you can see the latest mentions at any point using the 40K OSR? search label.

So then, the usual. First, what's a 40K OSR? There are some potential definitions here.

If you identify with the concept, especially if you're putting out new ideas, feel free to use Colonel Kane's logo, at the top of this post. If you do, consider crediting him and adding Tales from the Maelstrom to your roll. It's 40K magic; up now is an inquisitor's retinue.

• A little sadness to start, the sale at Mordian 7th Regiment of a converted adeptus mechanicus force, but check out the Thousand Sons jetbikes.

• Rules Manufactorum have been running reviews of Shawn Abreu's homebrew, the renegade Constantinus, Necron Stalkers and the Dark Eldar Avatar.

• If you're a craftworlder, For Holy Terra is creating Fandex: Eldar unit by unit, while for Chaos Chaotic Painter has some work on a Word Bearer fandex.

• Bix at The Veil's Edge has more for the Blood Drinkers too, on the Flaw.

• Auberon at Digital Waaagh! is back with more Ork madboyz, moroniks.

• Commissar Carrie at Inquisitork has a project status list - work for Lantz's AdMech FanDex is done, and there'll be a new blog, plus some Ork fiction. 

• Lantz himself gave us a conversion at Twin Linked Awesome, the Leman Russ Butcher, and as mentioned here, more AdMech minis completed.

• Staying with the adeptus mechanicus, fuzzbuket has a patrol droid.

• Over at A Gentleman's Ones Brian is making strong progress on the Heroes of Armageddon boards, and HoA itself only has a week left to run.

• Ghola Scale is sculpting an ambull, that classic Rogue Trader beastie.

• On the subject of building from scratch, thanks to James S at Warp Signal I found In the Grim Cheapness of the Far Future... and the 'Paperhammer'.

• And get this: The Inner Geek is building a card Emperor-class titan. There are Epic-scale reavers and warlords over at Confessions of a 40K addict.

• Unite All Action has a pair of the original Ork battlewagons converted.

• The Squat project at You Aint Seen Squat! proceeds apace, while Hungry Ghosts at his Chaos Squat blog adds to the history with the Citadel flyers.

Finally, perhaps as a wild card, Gotthammer at Collegia Titanica had a look at the development of the game, focusing on a critical juncture; first part here, second here.

If you think I've missed anything, leave a comment, and feel free to make suggestions.

Update: Big Jim has the first in a series on narrative gaming at Galaxy in Flames.

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40K OSR? (8)

This week's update on a possible 40K OSR. What is it? Some potential definitions here.

If you identify with the concept, especially if you're putting out new ideas, feel free to use Colonel Kane's 40K OSR logo - to the right.

If you do, consider crediting the Colonel and adding Tales from the Maelstrom to your roll,
as one of the great 40K and gaming blogs.

So what does this week bring?

Fresh approaches, a scenario and battle report, conversions, brand new rules and original writing, as well as some comment and reflection, all in that order. Plenty.

• Martin at Fire Broadside! shows a way forward with plans for Necromunda using the AE Bounty ruleset and minis including the Pig Iron Kolony Ferals.

• Mik at Mik's Minis is on the same track re rules, but with SuperSystem; his thinking on 'UN40K' is here. He gives us a scenario with background and briefings for the Imperials - Dark Angels and IG - and the aliens - Tau and Orks - following up with the battle itself, using the alternative ruleset.

• Mordian 7th Regiment has some converted adeptus custodes terminators...

• ... and Ron at From the Warp shows us how to do it for power armour.

• Staying with conversions, Lantz has a striking adeptus mechanicus cult abomination at The Magnet Pro, another entry in his AdMech FanDex.

• Hungry Ghosts has more inspirational converting at his blog, as ever a spot-the-bit contest from across Citadel history; this time it's an undead Khornate Squat-genestealer hybrid. Something for many there, if not all.

• Getting back to rules, sonsoftaurus has been working on Codex: Lost and the Damned and given us entries for two units, stalk tanks and operatives.

• Bix at The Veil's Edge has more material for the Blood Drinkers Fandex, this time round chapter organisation. I mentioned the post in this week's summary of the strange new worlds blogroll, but it's relevant here too.

• Thanks to jabberjabber at Warpstone Flux I got to read an alternative history for the Dark Angels published at The Bolter and Chainsword.

• N Wright over at Lawful Indifferent explains a dislike of space marines, at least in the context of 40K roleplay, a post with strong language; wargamers are forgiven, and Bix certainly is for the depth of personality in the chapter.

• Strong language at FightingFantasist too, in a farewell to GW metals.

If you think anything else should be in here, just go right ahead and leave the links.

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40K OSR? (7)

This week's update on a possible 40K OSR. What is it? Some potential definitions here.

If you identify with the concept, especially if you're putting out new ideas, feel free to use Colonel Kane's 40K OSR logo - to the right.

If you do, consider crediting Kane and adding Tales from the Maelstrom to your blogroll.

It's a great blog; up at the moment are some orc pirates, and this week Kane and Martini Henrie gave their thoughts on Old School gaming.

And here's more good stuff, alternative ideas old and new and hands-on creativity.

• Atrotos at Rules Manufactorum asks whether 40K should be more like Magic the Gathering in terms of composition and theme. I'm intrigued.

• The second and third parts of the in-depth battle report have now gone up at A Gentleman's Ones, and in the latter Brian reflects on the impact of that alternative approach to deployment.

• Von has reflections at the new GAME OVER, on the hobby over the years, with links to four thought-provoking posts, including Brian's intro to the report.

• Lantz has wonderful conversions at The Magnet Pro of a tech-priest transmechanic and a Leman Russ burrower. Yes, you read it right - the shells burrow. Sound familiar? Check the AdMech FanDex for details...

• And if that's got you excited about Squats and/or Demiurg, Mik over at Mik's Minis gives us a link to a new blog - You Ain't Seen Squat! - building a new force and considering counts as options. It all excites me, but the living ancestor pushes a special button by using an Epic mini.

• On the subject of counts as, Andy has the second part of an Apocalypse battle report at Creepy Corridor with a scary biotitan and some great Ork vehicles; first part here, set up here.

• At Strictly Average Brent gives us an update on his ongoing Brotherhood project, a fantastic mix of old elements and new.

• Commissar Carrie at Inquisitork has put up an index for the growing Radical and has the ninth instalment, Rest, bringing another force into the mix...

As for me, I'm not sure what's up with the Orkosystem series at Roll With It - a squig is due to follow the snotling sabbatur, but must have flown off. I hope the ladz can get him back. When the current run of flash fiction for Heroes of Armageddon finishes I'm planning to expand on the hive interior supplement with something very Orky...

As ever, if I've missed anything - and this week I think I must have - feel completely free to leave recommendations and links in the comments. Better still put something up.

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40K OSR? (6)

The latest update on the possible 40K OSR. What's that? Some potential definitions here.

Feel free to use Colonel Kane's 40K OSR logo - eyes right - if you identify with the concept, especially if you're putting out new ideas.

If you do, please credit Kane and think about adding Tales from the Maelstrom to your blogroll, for reasons that will be clear; there's an excellent rogue trader bridge crew up at the moment.

It's a varied week, with a good mix of rules, fiction, modelling and suggestions.

• Master Bryss at Rules Manufactorum has encouragement and a full example - disciples - for creating new troop types.

• Ricalope has his Quadruped at Ricalopia, a fast armour-hunter with rules.

• Lantz announces the four-strong writing team for the AdMech FanDex.

• One of the team, Commissar Carrie at Inquisitork has been productive, putting out two new instalments for Radical - Rain and Resurrection - this week, with a new menace, well-adapted combat and some strong language.

• At Warp Signal James S also wrote some background for key characters, heroes of Iybraesil, inspiration for some painting.

• Back to the adeptus mechanicus with Mordian 7th Regiment's battle report over gorgeous terrain; the set-up and advice on the same was here.

• There's more great terrain in the first part of a battle report with an alternative approach to deployment from Brian at A Gentleman's Ones.

• Staying with battle reports, Warpaintguy played his first games with Orks, using Killzone no less, three battles altogether.

• Over at Warpstone Flux jabberjabber has the last of the five horsemen of Chaos, with Slaanesh, Tzeentch and the icon bearer now complete.

• Rictus at Recalcitrant Daze has a converted Trojan recovery vehicle.

• Apocalypse 40K shows a conversion of a current rhino to the original pattern, a potential kit, and plans for an Epic space marine lander in 40K.

• CounterFett at All Things Fett has a suggestion for an alternative to the standard terminator design, borrowed from Dust Tactics.

It's worth mentioning too that Von has moved GAME OVER to Wordpress, and the new address is http://kaptainvon.wordpress.com/. His week takes in the key events, first the Blogger outage and then the Games Workshop news - his discussion of new army choice gave way to a decision to limit GW gaming to the Specialist Games.

At Galaxy in Flames too Big Jim too tells us he'll be playing some Battlefleet Gothic.

You might also like to know that Miniature Wargame Conversions has compiled a list with links to online activity inspired by the dissatisfaction with GW's behaviour.

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