Meet the Colonists #2: Alien Zoologist Team

Hello and Welcome back,

In this post, we are going to take a peep at my Alien Zoologist Expedition Team. While they are for the Alien Zoologist Game, some of these figures will also double up as Colonists for the Skirm game or the township of Pusteron on my own world of Corrosion.

In case you don’t know, Alien Zoologist is a solo game by Florian F. Manthey, where an expedition hunts alien creatures, eggs and poo for a zoologist's collection. The game leans heavily on kit bashing a expedition team and creating alien critters from butchered toys. It features tokens to collect or interact with the critters. I made mine last year but I haven’t got around to painting them.

The Expedition Team.

The Zoologist:

Lord Aluicous Sidney Oldwood Smythe Smythe Smythe (just known as Lord Oldwood to every one who doesn’t want to run out of breath just speaking to him) is a Aristocrat from the Brittainna group of systems who has a passion for building up his own zoo. He is a old friend of Lord Valchiria of Wreckage station which orbits Corrosion. Lord Oldwood ect ect, has brought an expedition to the world in the hope finding creatures for his alien zoo. In the game the Zoologist acts as the guy trying to capture critters hopefully uninjured.

The figure started out as a Sci Fi ganger by the now sadly vanished Kallistra games. I have another one of this figure, so butchering it to make the Zoologist didn’t smart too much. The tares in the t shirt were filled and big buttons added to it. I sculpted a gas mask and added a back pack with hoses to house the ventilator (not all worlds have a breathable atmosphere). The sword was removed and a post to make a big butterfly net added. The butterfly net was built from wire and had putty wrapped around it. The netting came from a bag of halloween sweets. The shoulder epaulettes are resin and came from Anvil Industries.

Sadly, I cant see many characters roaming about with a giant butterfly net searching for junk to salvage on Tapu or Corrosion. Not unless they are really eccentric!

The Big Game Hunter.

Simply known as 'The Major', he is ex Brittannia military from an aristocratic family. He has a passion for killing animals to make himself feel better ("well they don’t complain about it as much as the poor, eh what!"). He sports an old antique hunting rifle owned by one of his equally blood thirsty ancestors.

The Major figure is based on a Stargrave Crew man torso. A pair Dead Mans Hand cowboy rifle arms were added. They didn’t fit too well so a pair of putty shoulder pads were added to cover the area. One of the great things about Sci Fi figures is that a lump of putty can hide a multitude of kit bash sins and not make the figure look odd. As the rules say he needed an antique hunting rifle I scratch built one. The head came from the Dead Mans Hand set and the backpack is from Anvil Industries.

On Tapu/Corrosion the Major arrived on the world and brought his great granddaddies' big game gun. He heard there is plenty of stuff to kill and is looking forward to indulging in his favourite hobby.

Doc Wildeyes, the Scientist:

Doc Wildeyes is the Expedition Team's biologist and is interested in studying the creatures and collecting their genes. In the game the biologist collects the critters eggs for captive breeding and research.

The figure is the only one of the set un modified, as I thought it was perfect for the job. It is from Northstar Miniatures Steampunk range.

On Tapu/Corrosion Doc Wildeyes serves as the colony's resident medical practitioner. If the med packs cant fix you, are you brave enough to go under his scalpel or terrifying rusty Autodoc machine?

Riff Void, the Assistant.

Riff Void is the assistant to the Doc. A young man wishing to start a career in Alien Biological research. His job is less glamorous than the other members of the team. He has to collect the alien critters dung for analysis. He also has the fun job of distracting the beasts if the team members are in danger.

The figure torso is a Warlord WW2 German in a great coat, I got as a free addition from Northstar (thanks guys). The arms are from a fantasy dwarf sprue, complete with shovel. Putty shoulder pads cover any limb misalignments. The head is from Ramshackle Games. The bucket is scratch built using a medical connector cap and some wire. The backpack was made from a lump of spare putty (I always mix too much!).

On Tapu/Corrosion, as Riff Void is the youngest colonist he has the great job of cleaning the town's outhouse. A job even the beadbots turn down. You know you are the bottom of the pile when a beadbot outranks you.

Gnarly Petain the Ranger.

Gnarly Petain has travelled many worlds, learning the ways of the beasts and how to live off the land. Gnarly Petain is hired to find and track the animals. In Alien Zoology the Ranger puts out food to attract the beasts.

The figure is a gunfighter torso, head and arms from the Dead Mans Hand set. I chose it as the Ranger is described as being armed with two pistols. Shoulder pads were added to Sci Fi the figure up a little. The backpack is made from spare putty.

On Tapu/Corrosion, the character is just another scrap hungry adventurer from a frontier world, hoping to make his fortune.

Thanks for looking,

Take care out there.

Wreckage News Bulletin #1

The all new news bulletin 

Residents and Visitors of Wreckage Station, Lord Valchiria has commissioned this news bulletin for your information. Please enjoy.

Defence systems now operational

Lord Valchiria is pleased to announce that the salvaged weapons systems from various wrecks in the debris cloud, are now operational after successful test firings. These will join the salvaged fighter ships in defence of the station.

Dead world finally named

The name of the Skeletal world that this station orbits has been lost to time. Lord Valchiria has named the world from his first impression of it when he discovered this system. From now going forward this world is to be known as "Corrosion".

Polite Notice

Residents are reminded not to call visiting Pirates "villainous murderous scum" (at least not to their faces) as the pirates either respond with extreme violence or go into extreme party mode, causing much mayhem and havoc. Residents are reminded that Pirates, Smugglers and the professional criminal entrepreneurs from across the Galaxy are the life blood of this station. We need them to keep us supplied and in business. Anyone killed from insulting Pirates will be treated as a suicide or as "Death by extreme stupidity" as decreed by station law. Any damage or mayhem caused by Pirates reacting to insults by extreme partying will receive a bill for the damages. Thank you for your attention. 

Not an Assassin

It has come to the ear of Lord Valchiria that there are rumours circulating that he is a trained assassin or that he keeps assassins on his staff. Valchiria rebutes these rumours saying that the death of his father and several Residents who do not have the station's best interests at heart are just unhappy coincidences. He went on to say that people need to take extra care with space craft filtration systems and using air locks. Laser shavers also need to come with much stronger warnings for use, after his late Father accidentally and brutally decapitated himself while shaving with one. 

Tengun 

Recently a crew of Freelancers operating in the station's dark zones ran into a band of Tengun convict Legionaries. These people have gained unauthorised access to the station and their presence here is of some concern, as the "empire" (as it likes to call itself) has a habit of occupying places by force. Tengun is a threat to us and all free peoples. They are also bitter enemies of many of the pirate clans, with whom we do business with (who also see them as ruthless competition). If you discover anyone with a Tengun accent or uniform please report them to the Station authorities or the Guard. 

Image of Tengun Legionaries captured by station security cams.

Reminder

All residents and Station visitors are reminded that trips to the surface of the world below (now known as Corrosion) is strictly forbidden. This world is possbily still contaminated by replicating GELFs, all vessels must be authorised by Lord Valchiria personally and must not land on the surface. Any vessels breaking this rule will be destroyed without question.

Dockside Resident Association 

On the way up socially? Want to live in a trendy upcoming area? Then come visit the Dockside Resident Association and see the fabulous selection of Habs available overlooking the space port. Come see us at our dockside offices for further details. 

Wasteland Wondering May 25

Hello and Welcome back,

Time for another Wasteland Wondering, it's been a while since we had one of these. In this chat I will be highlighting the direction my hobby is going in.

There are four or five new blog posts queued, which I hope to get posted up as soon as I have grabbed some pictures. I seem to be struggling to arrange getting pictures recently.

My Post Apocalyptic setting is slowing down. PA isn't grabbing me as much these days. I am working slowly to populate the Skrap Knights and Rustlords factions. 

The Rustlords

Maybe I need to find another name for these rambling posts, as they aren't just concentrated on Post Apocalyptic.

The Wild Galaxy setting is growing exponentially and I am finding it quite inspiring. I think there is such a wide scope for creativity it keeps me interested. I have had to start a spreadsheet to keep track of all the nonsense I create.

A friend recently asked me why I use Genetically Engineered Life Forms (GELFs) for my other Space races instead of rebranding them as aliens. It is in part, a carry over from the Mattblackgod’s world setting as I wanted to use 40k miniatures, as stableised mutations felt a bit of a stretch. The introduction of my Ork collection as combat GELFs felt fitting for the history of Mattblackgod’s world. It just felt natural to keep the GELFs in the wider Galactic setting.

ORCS GELFs terrorise a frontier world settlement 

I have no issue with aliens in Sci Fi, it's just that I want them to be very different to humans. In fact there are some intelligent aliens in my setting. Not to mention plenty of alien beasties. 

But I have other reasons for using GELFs. Firstly, I feel just going "Aliens" is too easy and is a stale go to for most SF settings. Secondly, the chances that another intelligent race out there, being a four limbed biped is extremely unlikely. I feel it is somewhat lazy and arrogant to think so. Thirdly, the GELFs and GELF wars are a satirical view of human nature and it's behaviour to anything "non human" or in many cases other Humans because they differ in some way and our reaction when things go wrong. Our history is littered with examples of such behaviour. I suppose in some ways it's my version of a far future Frankenstein cautionary tale. 

To be honest ever since seeing GELFs in the Red Dwarf TV show, I have liked them as a concept. Even the main character in the 2000AD Rogue Trooper which I read when I was knee high is a type of GELF, genetically bred to survive a toxic contaminated world and operate as an enhanced elite fighting force. 

I have been considering doing a GELF fluff post, but there is so much material built up over the years it will need several posts. Speaking of GELFs, I am planning a new GELF group to add soon. By soon, I mean in probably in next two years, given my work rate! 

The miners of Maddans Independent Mining Company 

The Maddans world setting is slowly growing. I am thinking of adding the only city called Hecksclutch to the world, situated next to the planets main space port as a centre point for conflict. This lawless frontier mining world is inspired by Logans world in the 40K Rogue Trader fluff mixed with Pandora from the Borderlands Computer game, with my own slice of creativity added to it. It was created as a vehicle to allow all my factions to be on world protecting their colonies while trying to extract as much wealth from the world, before a legal owner is found. I am still working on the Dusty Space Port buildings for this setting. I still have a pile of wonderful Fogou Models to finish or modify for this setting. 

Iron Ladies gangers attack Shorty of Loop's Heroes someplace deep in Wreckage Station.

Regular readers of this blog will have seen the introduction of Wreckage Station during my 5 Parsecs campaign. I have been expanding the background fluff for this setting. Terrain has been knocked together from various sets to game in this old moon sized space station. As luck would have it these models will also be useful for the Zone Raiders game set in the Matrioshka. 

Rather than drop a massive peice of fluff for Wreckage Station, I am thinking of news bulletins dropped by the "Authorities". This way it slowly builds and adds colour to the setting. 

Readers of this Blog will recall me doing a review of the Skirm game by Bill Making Stuff. I have been slowly putting together factions and terrain for this game. Check out the Gutterlands or Bill's You Tube Channel. Both sites are cock full of ideas.*share links for Gutterlands and Bill Making Stuff YouTube channel* . I find the Gutterlands (or Tapu to give it, it's true name) setting quite intoxicating. Hobby wise it points to parts of the hobby I find really rewarding, kitbashing, trashbashing and converting models. At present I am working on the Skirm factions. 

Now as luck would have it, Wreckage Station orbits a dead world (called Skeletal worlds). A major battle during the GELF wars turned it into a dusty rock covered in skeletons, wrecks and ruins. I intended to develop it into a setting with crews from the orbital station making salvage ruins in the ruins. But I hadn't gotten around to any world building. So I began to mix inspiration from Bill's setting with my Wild Galaxy setting and Wreckage Station fluff. And so the lost world Corrosion was born. Some of the background for this world will be filtered through to this blog through the planned Wreckage Station News Bulletin. 

Some WIP conversions I am working on to make DEAP troops for the Skirm game.

I am looking forward to creating both colonists and terrain for Corrosion/Skirm/Gutterlands. There will be a lot of future conversion work.

My 5 parsecs from home campaign involving the crew of the Problem Child aka Loop's Heroes is still on hold. Hopefully I can begin organising games again soon. I am hoping to maybe include some future missions to the surface of Corrosion for the crew.

Anyway I have rambled on for long enough, thank you for reading. 

Take care out there.