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Miniatures Adventure => Fantasy Adventures => Topic started by: Hobgoblin on June 14, 2020, 04:35:17 PM

Title: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (Pe Choi raw materials)
Post by: Hobgoblin on June 14, 2020, 04:35:17 PM
A bizarre thought struck me yesterday just before our daily D&D game. Why not send the players to Tekumel? I've always wanted to have a go at running Empire of the Petal Throne, but rather than start a new campaign at some point in the future, I thought it might be better to have the existing group of D&D PCs turn up there: either through a portal of some sort or - more likely - simply by washing up "off the boat" in Jakkalla after getting lost at sea.

With that in mind, I gave one of yesterday's villains The Eye of Advancing Through Portals and, today, had his captive companion state that it had been found on a far, far continent in a city called Jakkalla. The seed is planted, and the PCs are already thinking about how they might travel to this place.

So, there's a chance that they might end up in a 'pocket Tekumel' on the far side of the campaign world. We're running the game with miniatures (more for my convenience than anything else, as only two of the seven-strong party are in the room with me, but the miniatures, floorplans and scenics show up reasonably well over Zoom).

For that reason, I'd like to have a few Tekumelish types painted up to give them the sense that this is somewhere very different. And that's where I'd like some expert advice. If I'm painting up ten or twenty miniatures to launch a campaign segment in Jakkalla, what can I quickly proxy (preferably with cheap historical plastics!)?

I have quite a few RAFM reptiliads kicking around, and I think they'll do quite nicely as Shen. They have the characteristic digitigrade legs, unlike most lizardmen, and I'm not too fussed about small details like beaks.

But what about the Tsolyani, etc? Any advice gratefully received!
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies?
Post by: white knight on June 14, 2020, 05:16:21 PM
Someone did a Tekumel range a few years ago in collaboration with Eureka Miniatures. You should be able to find more about it through google.
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies?
Post by: joroas on June 14, 2020, 05:20:02 PM
https://thetekumelproject.blogspot.com/
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies?
Post by: Hobgoblin on June 14, 2020, 05:25:54 PM
Thanks! Yes, those official figures are nice.

To be honest, though, I'm more interested in things that might just 'do' - in the way that reptiliads will work as Shen. I'm wondering about whether there are any historicals that might be kitbashed and 'converted' mainly through paint - or odd fantasy or sci-fi creatures that might stand in well enough.

I'm no expert on Tekumel, so I'm wondering if there are any reasonable proxies out there.
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies?
Post by: aliensurfer on June 14, 2020, 10:29:29 PM
Have you looked at roll20 or fantasy grounds for gaming with people too far away? I have used both recently with mates to play DnD 5E and both work well (and they have other systems you can run), roll20 I find cleaner and easier to use.
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies?
Post by: Hobgoblin on June 14, 2020, 11:06:47 PM
Have you looked at roll20 or fantasy grounds for gaming with people too far away? I have used both recently with mates to play DnD 5E and both work well (and they have other systems you can run), roll20 I find cleaner and easier to use.

I haven't at all - I feel that would take some of the fun out of the tabletop game, especially for those of us who are around the actual table. We have the table set up with a phone on a tripod so that those 'dialling in' can see the action (we pin that view when required). And I've found that dungeon tiles and scenics have really come into their own - especially outdoor dungeon tiles, which seem to 'read' particularly well when broadcast.
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies?
Post by: Johnno on June 15, 2020, 01:47:38 AM
PM Sir Barnaby Hammond-Rye
He's the LAF member in question.
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies?
Post by: Hobgoblin on June 15, 2020, 06:55:21 AM
Thanks, Johnno - but I'm really interested in proxies rather than official miniatures.

What I have in mind is the sort of kitbashing and proxying that many people have engaged in for Glorantha (Persians or Romans for Lunars, etc., gnolls for dark trolls, etc.).


Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (GW elf as Tsolyani legionary?)
Post by: Hobgoblin on June 15, 2020, 10:13:20 AM
I'm sort of answering my own question here, or at least thinking aloud, but I wonder if GW elves of this sort might make reasonable Tsolyani elite soldiers - perhaps with some Aztec-y accessories from GW lizardmen and a demon-faced shield on the back?

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aiUsoLVrLgQ/Xq3HjllJOMI/AAAAAAAABmk/Tw8MVTAZqIYgUhwjkJaR9jbusVU4zQ0ZgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Elf.JPG)

 I have a few of these elves sitting around, and the plumed helmet and two-handed sword seem to fit the bill. The main 'conversion' would take the form of painting the armour as blue Chlen-hide.

I thought this fellow might be a bit tall, as the Tsolyani are supposed to be shortish, but he's actually a head shorter than Perry knights.
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (GW elf as Tsolyani soldier?)
Post by: Hobgoblin on June 15, 2020, 01:46:31 PM
Just found these by Mantic - fairly close for the Hluss, I think (I'd happily overlook the three tails). I can't imagine there's anything closer - but if anyone knows of something, please shout!

(https://s3-eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/mantic-assets/uploads/2019/04/KoW_Nightstalker-Fiends-colour-shot_WEB.jpg)

I should add that I'm envisaging the Tekumel bit of the game principally as a dose of weirdness/alien culture followed by some terrifying expeditions to the Jakkallan Underworld - so more than anything else, it's weird Underworld monsters that I'm looking for.
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (GW elf as Tsolyani soldier?)
Post by: PhilB on June 16, 2020, 06:53:20 AM
Those GW elves look perfect for Tsolyani noble infantry.

When I first picked up a copy of Empire of the Petal Throne in '75 I was in awe. It was so strange! It was like my new D&D obsession had gotten dipped in science fiction and space opera, with a dose of oriental pagentry thrown in. And such strange races, like the Ssu.

Great to see that 45 years later this unique dream of a strange world is still alive. Good luck on your figure hunt.
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (GW elf as Tsolyani soldier?)
Post by: Hobgoblin on June 16, 2020, 08:57:35 PM
Thanks, Phil!

Yes, it's certainly an intriguing setting. I came across the rules when I was still at primary school and read them with a mix of awe and confusion. It's been an itch waiting to be scratched ever since. Dropping it into our D&D campaign - or rather, dropping that campaign into Tekumel - seems like a cheap and easy way to do it.

I've been thinking about how to get the Ssu done - and I think the Reaper Mi-Go might be the best place to start. There might even be a neat way to transplant a mummy's torso or something similar onto the four-legged abdomen:

(https://images.reapermini.com/4/77522_w_1.jpg)
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (GW elf as Tsolyani soldier?)
Post by: swiftnick on June 16, 2020, 09:01:56 PM
Sorry Justin had a nice long answer but due to finger problems have lost it!
Sounds like a cool idea.
In short for humans I would go for anything Greco Egyptian but painted bright colours. Skin colour nice and dark and not much metal.
Have you seen the Dark Fable figures?
I use them a lot as characters, set dressing in my Aegyptus mythos games.

For the other races well who would know?
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (possible Ssu starting point)
Post by: Hobgoblin on June 17, 2020, 08:12:14 AM
Thanks, Mike! Yes, the Dark Fable stuff looks great. I may well pick up some of that if the game gets past a crawl of the Jakallan Underworld. Currently, the PCs have discovered a Tsolyani grammar in an ogre's lair and have heard rumours of a distant continent far to the south ...

The other races really are a bit of a head-scratcher. I can see two possible approaches:

1. Convert and scratch-build heavily for all the six-legged beasties.

2. Use lightly converted 'close-enough' proxies (tyranids for Hlyss, for example - or perhaps a tyranid with a lizardy head for a Pe Choi) and get distinctive paintwork to do most of the 'talking'.

There are some things (Hra and the various other forms of undead) that can be achieved easily enough, though.
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (possible Ssu starting point)
Post by: Hobgoblin on June 17, 2020, 07:31:00 PM
These Irregular "scorpion bugs" might make a decent starting point for Hlyss - and they're very cheap.

(http://www.irregularminiatures.co.uk/images6/DSCN0476bug.jpg)

Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (possible Ssu starting point)
Post by: swiftnick on June 17, 2020, 08:01:29 PM
They actually look not bad.
I can't praise irregular enough. Their stuff is cheap and they do like everything.
Sometimes the sculpting can be basic but always has a charm.
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (possible Ssu starting point)
Post by: Hobgoblin on June 17, 2020, 08:29:16 PM
Yes - there's definitely something great about these smaller, old-fashioned manufacturers. And I increasingly think that simpler - even cruder - miniatures often look better on the table.

The 'scorpion bugs' will definitely do as a starting Hlyss encounter - and they might be quite easy to convert. I'm going to order a few and perhaps just paint some up straight, then convert a few more to be leaders and the like. I've also got my eye on converting a Reaper Bones oxidation beast (rust monster) into a Hlyss of note. After all, as long as the players say "Remember those weird scorpion guys in that huge floating hive?", it's job done!
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (possible Ssu starting point)
Post by: Hobgoblin on June 22, 2020, 04:05:33 PM
During today's coffee breaks, I've been playing around with some kitbashes for the Qol. I'm not sure that I can be bothered with the tentacle arms; they're not mentioned in the text of the various books, as far as I can see, and there's surely room for more than one variety of these vat-grown monstrosities. So I'll probably just give them hands. I might smooth out the scales with green stuff, though, as I like the uncanniness of smooth snakemen.

I've also got a converted Shunned One on the painting desk; I hope to get him done tonight.
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (kitbashing the Qol)
Post by: Hobgoblin on June 23, 2020, 07:38:05 AM
I got some of the Qol kitbashes firmed up last night - barring a bit of green stuff - and painted up the first one. These is a really simple paintjob because I'm highly conscious that I might need to field a fair few of these chaps as soon as Saturday. One of the things about the Qol in Tekumel is that they only attack parties who they outnumber considerably - and our game has seven PCs! So I'm going to have to knock these out at pace.

I didn't bother with the tentacle/snake-tail arms, but it is a great pulpy touch that I'd like to add to at least one or two later ones. But I'll get the first wave done with hands. In today's poor light, I can't get the right side of his face in focus, but it looks a bit better in the flesh!
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (first painted Qol)
Post by: The Dozing Dragon on June 23, 2020, 07:41:16 AM
Looking good!
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (first painted Qol)
Post by: Steam Flunky on June 23, 2020, 08:41:39 AM
Great idea for a kitbash!!
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (first painted Qol)
Post by: swiftnick on June 23, 2020, 10:18:26 PM
I like them!
Being lazy I would have just used the North star snakemen.
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (first painted Qol)
Post by: Hobgoblin on June 23, 2020, 10:21:15 PM
Thanks, all!

I like them!
Being lazy I would have just used the North star snakemen.

I did toy with that, but they're very big and butch-looking for the cowardly, one-hit-die Qol. (Also, I've run out of bodies but not heads!)
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (first painted Qol)
Post by: Hobgoblin on June 23, 2020, 10:39:56 PM
Here's a batch of finalised kitbashes:
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (more Qol kitbashes)
Post by: Severian on June 24, 2020, 11:34:12 AM
Great stuff!

I wonder whether this giant ant soldier from Newline would make a useful base for some of the six-legged races, with appropriate head-swaps &c?

https://newlinedesigns.co.uk/product/giant-ant-soldier/
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (more Qol kitbashes)
Post by: Hobgoblin on June 24, 2020, 12:19:10 PM
Great stuff!

Thanks!

I wonder whether this giant ant soldier from Newline would make a useful base for some of the six-legged races, with appropriate head-swaps &c?
https://newlinedesigns.co.uk/product/giant-ant-soldier/

Wow - that's exactly what I've been looking for over the past few days but had been unable to find! With a quick headswap/sculpt, that should be my Pe Choi problem sorted - and maybe that of some of the other beasties too!

Thanks so much!
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (more Qol kitbashes)
Post by: swiftnick on June 24, 2020, 09:54:43 PM
That Newline range is pretty interesting, very much a Runequest flavour to it.
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (more Qol kitbashes)
Post by: Sir Barnaby Hammond-Rye on June 27, 2020, 05:41:12 PM
Proxy Figures are a way of life for Tekumel Gamers!  :D

Those Qol conversions are pretty cool.   :-*

I have proxy figure threads on both the Tekumel Project blog and my Heroes of the Age blog (for Tekumel gaming)

https://thetekumelproject.blogspot.com/search/label/Proxy%20Figures

https://heroesoftheage.blogspot.com/search/label/Proxy%20Figures

Also, my most recent post on the Heroes of the Age blog is about my recent foray into 54 mm figures for Tekumel gaming:

https://heroesoftheage.blogspot.com/2020/06/heroes-for-band-of-joyous-heroes.html

Best Regards,

Howard Fielding
The Tekumel Project

Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (more Qol kitbashes)
Post by: Hobgoblin on June 27, 2020, 08:27:52 PM
Thanks, Howard!

If the current project takes off, I'm sure I'll be looking to acquire some of your Hlutrgu before long.

I've got a couple of questions on Tekumel races:

1. Is there any textual source for the Qol's tail/tentacle arms, or is it just the illustrations? I'm going to attempt a tentacled kitbash tomorrow in any case.

2. Did Professor Barker ever describe the skin colour of the Shunned Ones? I have some conversions underway and was going to go with a pallid, off-white colour, but I saw that they're a reddish colour on the cover of the Excellent Travelling Volume zine.

Thanks in advance for any insights!
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (more Qol kitbashes)
Post by: Gibby on June 27, 2020, 08:35:51 PM
Tekumel seems like a really interesting project/world/setting. I am tempted to get reading about it more! Excellent kitbashing, by the way!
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (more Qol kitbashes)
Post by: swiftnick on June 28, 2020, 03:35:18 AM
I must say I do like Howards figures. I have some Yan kor troops that will one day find their way to Mythological Aegyptus to cause havoc.
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (more Qol kitbashes)
Post by: Sir Barnaby Hammond-Rye on June 28, 2020, 05:22:09 PM
re. Qol. The text from both Empire of the Petal Throne and the later bestiary only mention the snakelike neck and heads. However, all the art shows the tentacle arms, including this early piece by Professor Barker himself. This was on the border of the "War of Wizards" game board, published by TSR around the same time as EPT.

(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/c2/3f/23/c23f23b0b5d2a9b0336df9a1fcb2bcb7.jpg)

Also, it is well to remember the Professor's own advice on Tekumel Gaming:

Quote
“There is no need for ‘your’ Tékumel to be identical with ‘my’ Tékumel. Introduce other characters, different animals, further races — after all, my terrain maps show only a portion of the planet’s northern hemisphere, and there is lots of room around the other side! Change the social structures, throw out or ignore features which do not appeal to you. Use your own imagination to bring in features which you and your players will enjoy. The game can function as a springboard into your own fantasy mythos, and if you go on to develop this, we shall all be the richer. If you have a campaign which uses some other set of rules, you may still wish to utilize these background materials either directly or as a stimulus to enhance your World. Even were we to issue a monthly newsletter or exchange data by telephone, there is no real way to prevent your history from diverging from mine. I can indeed provide further material — and some are already available from the publisher of this book — but we cannot keep your Tékumel from drifting away from mine. This is as it should be. You have just bought MY Tékumel. Now make it YOUR Tékumel.”

And, as I always say: "Canon" is a four-letter word!  :D

Thanks, Howard!

If the current project takes off, I'm sure I'll be looking to acquire some of your Hlutrgu before long.

I've got a couple of questions on Tekumel races:

1. Is there any textual source for the Qol's tail/tentacle arms, or is it just the illustrations? I'm going to attempt a tentacled kitbash tomorrow in any case.

2. Did Professor Barker ever describe the skin colour of the Shunned Ones? I have some conversions underway and was going to go with a pallid, off-white colour, but I saw that they're a reddish colour on the cover of the Excellent Travelling Volume zine.

Thanks in advance for any insights!
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (more Qol kitbashes)
Post by: Hobgoblin on June 28, 2020, 10:56:48 PM
Many thanks for that - very much appreciated! I've got some spare Skaven tails that will be doing service as tentacle arms shortly (though I'll keep most of mine with hands, I think).

And, as I always say: "Canon" is a four-letter word!  :D

Ha! Quite!
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (more Qol kitbashes)
Post by: Hobgoblin on June 29, 2020, 07:44:05 PM
I've taken some very basic steps towards constructing an Ahoggya:
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (A potential Ahoggya)
Post by: Sir Barnaby Hammond-Rye on June 30, 2020, 02:33:04 AM
In 54mm, I am thinking of using Reaper Rockmaws. They are 3-legged things with 3 arms, but I think I could get 3 Ahoggya legs sets from every 4 Rockmaws.

Unfortunately, Reaper appears to be out of stock of the Bones variety ATM.  :(
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (A potential Ahoggya)
Post by: Hobgoblin on June 30, 2020, 08:00:19 AM
That's the not-Xorn? Oddly enough, it was the very first thing I looked at - but then realised it would be a bit big for 28mm.

Here's my first Hra (a Reaper Bones undead ogre). I've got the smaller "Barker's Hra" underway too, in the form of the Ral Partha troll/trill. I've also ordered some Mantic dwarves to use as the squatter variety of Hra mentioned in the Bestiary.

I suspect the gaping wounds and bare bones on this fellow aren't quite right, but they'll help to remind the players that this relentless monster is a dead thing.
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (the first of the Hra)
Post by: Severian on July 01, 2020, 09:32:19 AM
Lots of great ideas here and some fine conversion and painting work as ever.

Re Qol arms, I came across this in chapter 37 of The Man of Gold: "Something else came with her, a threshing, hissing whirlwind of black cloth and sinuous limbs. The arms terminated in bluish-white tentacles rather than hands." It's on p.300 of the recent-ish Tekumel Foundation edition. Not that this means you can't have Qol with hands as well, of course, for all the excellent reasons already mentioned.
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (the first of the Hra)
Post by: Hobgoblin on July 01, 2020, 10:17:03 AM
Lots of great ideas here and some fine conversion and painting work as ever.

Thanks!

Re Qol arms, I came across this in chapter 37 of The Man of Gold: "Something else came with her, a threshing, hissing whirlwind of black cloth and sinuous limbs. The arms terminated in bluish-white tentacles rather than hands." It's on p.300 of the recent-ish Tekumel Foundation edition. Not that this means you can't have Qol with hands as well, of course, for all the excellent reasons already mentioned.

Aha - well, that's as canonical as it gets - many thanks! I'm reading The Man of Gold at the moment (on Kindle), but I'm still less than half-way through. I've got some bits for some tentacled fellows lined up, so I'll make a few of those to go with the more conventional serpent-men.

I must say that I'm pleasantly surprised by the novel so far. I'd heard that it wasn't great, but I've been gripped so far. Have you read Flamesong or any of the others?
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (the first of the Hra)
Post by: Severian on July 01, 2020, 10:42:49 AM
No, just Man of Gold so far. Though I do have Flamesong on order, in fact, second hand from somewhere in America.

The other three novels seem to be unavailable except for silly money. With any luck, though, the Foundation will turn them into e-books at some point.

Interested to hear your thoughts when you finish Man of Gold. Won't say anything else for now...
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (the first of the Hra)
Post by: Sir Barnaby Hammond-Rye on July 01, 2020, 01:18:15 PM
I liked Man of Gold and Flamesong as much as I like any novels; there are always bits one likes more than others. (Tom Bombadil springs to mind!)

The later novels don't flow as well, being more of a series of loosely connected vignettes. A professional editor might have got him to tighten it up and make the connections less loose. That is, of course, just my opinion. YMMV.  ;)
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (the first of the Hra)
Post by: Hobgoblin on July 01, 2020, 09:39:39 PM
I liked Man of Gold and Flamesong as much as I like any novels; there are always bits one likes more than others. (Tom Bombadil springs to mind!)

I think it was JG Ballard who said that there are no perfect novels but many perfect short stories.

I did detect a little bit of the classic SF "As you know, Dave ..." trope at the start (especially in the conversations on the road to Bey Su), but that's almost a bonus when you're trying to absorb as much setting background as possible rather than simply enjoy the story!

Meanwhile, in Proxyville, I'm wondering whether this Reaper Bones dracolisk might make a cheap Serudla with the removal of wings and addition of small, weapon-equipped arms. Or one of the myriad other six-leggity beasties ...

(https://images.reapermini.com/4/77379_w_1.jpg)
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (the first of the Hra)
Post by: Hobgoblin on July 01, 2020, 09:59:24 PM
Or a Gachaya without conversion.
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (the first of the Hra)
Post by: Sir Barnaby Hammond-Rye on July 01, 2020, 10:01:37 PM
I've been wondering about that Dracolisk as well! What about chopping off the head and sticking a dragon arms and head on it. There are a bunch of Reaper dragons that are small enough I think, but many of the scale patterns are different so that might be an issue.

Perhaps one of the Hatchlings?
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (the first of the Hra)
Post by: Hobgoblin on July 01, 2020, 10:13:58 PM
Yes, that might work - although the hatchlings are tiny. I've just ordered a dracolisk, so I'll see how big it is when it arrives.

The one thing I quite like about it as is is the weird head - it's got a bit of a 'sword and planet' look about it already, I think. And the wing 'shoulders' could be used to attach the weapon-wielding arms - perhaps from Mantic salamanders. I don't really mind if it doesn't match up well with the official Tekumel illustrations so long as it broadly fits the description.
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (the first of the Hra)
Post by: NickNascati on July 02, 2020, 12:38:22 AM
If you are looking for proxie troops, take a look at the Reaper minis Anhurians.  They are nice, generic Dark Age type figures, good detail, and the bones versions are pretty inexpensive.

https://www.reapermini.com/search/Anhurian
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (the first of the Hra)
Post by: Sir Barnaby Hammond-Rye on July 02, 2020, 02:09:41 AM
The Anhurians are nice, though a bit on the chunky size. Also the City Watch figures - Darkmere? - the ones with the skulls on their shields.
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (the first of the Hra)
Post by: Hobgoblin on July 03, 2020, 07:17:49 AM
Thanks, Nick - those look handy - as do the Dreadmere guards. Maybe a trifle overdressed for Tekumel? But there aren't a lot of perfect options outside of metals. I've been mildly dismayed to find that there don't seem to be many bare-chested ancients options in plastic - barring Gauls and Germans, who are overly trousered/skyclad!

Here's another Hra. This one's a Ral Partha "trill" (just a typo for "troll:, I think - I'm sure it was relabelled as such later in its production career), and I gather it's the figure used as a Hra in Barker's own games.
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (another Hra)
Post by: Severian on July 03, 2020, 07:26:06 AM
Nice work on the troll/trill. The armour is very well done.

Would the Frostgrave tribals be any use? They seem to be mostly bare-chested, with interesting head options to boot.
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (another Hra)
Post by: Hobgoblin on July 03, 2020, 07:47:47 AM
Thanks!

Yes, I think they might. I was having a look at the sprue yesterday. It's a bit of a shame that they're all so heroically proportioned, and the weapons will need swapping, but, as you say, the heads have some great possibilities. And a lot could be done with weapon swaps (I've been considering some peculiar-looking GW dark-elf blades that I have lying around) and - especially - shield swaps.
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (another Hra)
Post by: Severian on July 03, 2020, 08:55:57 AM
Another possibility might be the Perry plastic Mahdist Ansar - they're more sensibly proportioned, and the heads include a good number of bald ones, which can be hatted or given greenstuff hair to taste. Lots of conversion potential of all sorts. Also you get 40 of them in a box (or a dozen per sprue). Weaponry is a bit basic (mostly spears) but that's easily supplemented.
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (another Hra)
Post by: Hobgoblin on July 03, 2020, 09:36:19 AM
Aha - now that's a good call! I've ordered a sprue to see how they work out (at 50p a figure, you can't really go wrong!).

My modus operandi for the time being is to try to cover most of the first couple of wandering-monster tables for the Underworld in Empire of the Petal Throne. Those includes warriors and priests, so I'll need to have a few of them on hand. I'm thinking that the Jakallan Underworld might work quite well as a 'dungeon' with lots of places of interest but very few 'fixed' monsters, barring a few guardians - so that there's plenty of uncertainty for players and GM alike.
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (another Hra)
Post by: Sir Barnaby Hammond-Rye on July 03, 2020, 11:14:03 AM
My modus operandi for the time being is to try to cover most of the first couple of wandering-monster tables for the Underworld in Empire of the Petal Throne.

I need to do this!  :)
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (another Hra)
Post by: Hobgoblin on July 04, 2020, 05:55:02 PM
This one belongs a bit deeper down. I'll try to get some paint on him tomorrow ...
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (greenstuffed Thunru'u)
Post by: Sir Barnaby Hammond-Rye on July 04, 2020, 08:33:31 PM
Very cool!  :-*

What is the base figure?
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (greenstuffed Thunru'u)
Post by: Hobgoblin on July 05, 2020, 01:14:04 AM
Thanks! He's a Reaper Bones Flesh Golem (the newer one - looks like a big baby with bolts and stitches).
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (greenstuffed Thunru'u)
Post by: 3 fingers on July 05, 2020, 11:08:17 AM
I have never heard of this so googled it, seen some of the figures and thought they had a ancient sea people appearance to them? Don't know if it helps.
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (greenstuffed Thunru'u)
Post by: Hobgoblin on July 05, 2020, 11:30:03 AM
That's a very good call - and one that hadn't occurred to me. Many thanks!
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (greenstuffed Thunru'u)
Post by: 3 fingers on July 05, 2020, 03:01:50 PM
This was the pic that I seen
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (greenstuffed Thunru'u)
Post by: Sir Barnaby Hammond-Rye on July 06, 2020, 02:19:14 PM
That is the khil, the classic Yan Koryani helmet style. It is superficially similar looking but not actually the same construction at all. The Sea People helmets have a fringe of horsehair or feathers (per one Osprey cover). The Khil, on the other hand, is a conical helm, often with a central spike onto which the plume is attached. A rim of fluted vertical plates runs around the side, often lacquered in alternating colours. The may or may not be a plate on top (my figures all have a plate for ease in casting). Sometimes there is a crest in place of the plume. The fluted plates can vary in height from one helmet to another. The face of the helm can vary as well, some having a sort of beaked front piece.
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (greenstuffed Thunru'u)
Post by: Hobgoblin on July 06, 2020, 02:27:58 PM
I can half-see some conversion possibilities with Napoleonics there.

In another development, I've just received some Ral Partha gremlins for use as Vorodla; I believe these were what MAR Barker's groups used Vorodla! They're based up and awaiting paint.
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (greenstuffed Thunru'u)
Post by: Sir Barnaby Hammond-Rye on July 06, 2020, 06:30:42 PM
A Sea Peoples helmet - the fringed variety - does make a pretty good khil. I suppose a shako could work, but personally I think the sea peoples is a better fit. Professor Barker told me once that the Yan Koryani would be more irregular in appearance than the Tsolyani. Doing the three different helmet designs was my solution, adding varying facial hair was another part of that. It only cost me 10 GBP per head; of course, there were quite a few to be done so it added up quick!  :o
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (greenstuffed Thunru'u)
Post by: Hobgoblin on July 06, 2020, 10:16:24 PM
Here's the Thunru'u.
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (The Eater of Eyes)
Post by: Severian on July 06, 2020, 10:29:06 PM
Ah, he's excellent - in a horrible eye-eating sort of way, of course.
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (The Eater of Eyes)
Post by: Sir Barnaby Hammond-Rye on July 06, 2020, 11:02:56 PM
The expression on its face is priceless!  :-*
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (The Eater of Eyes)
Post by: Hobgoblin on July 12, 2020, 09:42:12 PM
Thanks - he'll certainly startle the PCs, I think!

Here's the start of a kitbashed priest of Vimuhla. I'm very much on a "don't let perfect be the enemy of good" drive with this project, so this guy won't be quite right. But I think he'll more or less look the part - especially when I've added some epaulettes and done him up in reds and gold and azure.

This is the drawing that I took as a starting point:

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MVnfQurvdcw/UaI-JPblwYI/AAAAAAAADCE/bxtgbyEM6w0/s320/T5.jpg)
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (Priest of Vimuhla WIP)
Post by: swiftnick on July 12, 2020, 10:18:33 PM
He is pretty cool!
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (Priest of Vimuhla WIP)
Post by: Sir Barnaby Hammond-Rye on July 13, 2020, 01:33:53 PM
Yup, that he is!  :-*

"Dark Elf" sword?
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (Priest of Vimuhla WIP)
Post by: Hobgoblin on July 13, 2020, 09:15:58 PM
Thanks, guys! Work might not allow for much more progress on him for a while, but I'll try to get him done when a spare moment presents itself.

Meanwhile, I've hit a bit of a motherload for Tekumel-ish stuff while searching for suitable Chnehl (apes), at Lucid Eye.

Chnehl (and there are many more):

(https://static.wixstatic.com/media/72272d_a04ade2fd8a548609476f00c327a2662~mv2_d_3000_3000_s_4_2.png/v1/fill/w_375,h_375,al_c,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/72272d_a04ade2fd8a548609476f00c327a2662~mv2_d_3000_3000_s_4_2.png)

Hlutrgu (two sets of these plus a leader):

(https://static.wixstatic.com/media/72272d_5d92e78fa22f41b295fd4d5ad8b0c054~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_375,h_375,al_c,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/72272d_5d92e78fa22f41b295fd4d5ad8b0c054~mv2.png)

Undead of one sort or another:

(https://static.wixstatic.com/media/72272d_fbc124bc6745459fae302b595cf6dc7f~mv2_d_3000_3000_s_4_2.png/v1/fill/w_375,h_375,al_c,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/72272d_fbc124bc6745459fae302b595cf6dc7f~mv2_d_3000_3000_s_4_2.png)

Pe Choi (after wing amputation and a head swap):

(https://static.wixstatic.com/media/72272d_748feaffc41245b889ec0f5ce78c5364~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_375,h_375,al_c,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/72272d_748feaffc41245b889ec0f5ce78c5364~mv2.png)

And then there are the Amazons and Sea People in their Ziggurat range, plus various Aztecy and Atlantean sorts in the Savage Core range.
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (Priest of Vimuhla WIP)
Post by: Sir Barnaby Hammond-Rye on July 13, 2020, 10:30:44 PM
I think the Vespans are missing a thorax. The others are all good proxies IMO. The Swamp thingies are better fed than my Hlutrgu, I understand.
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (Priest of Vimuhla WIP)
Post by: Hobgoblin on July 16, 2020, 07:05:28 PM
I think the Vespans are missing a thorax. The others are all good proxies IMO. The Swamp thingies are better fed than my Hlutrgu, I understand.

Good point! They do look a little 'cramped', at least from this angle. Yes, your Hlutrgu are better all round, I'd say - but these are fairly decent, I think.

I was idly musing over Tekumel in 1/72 during work breaks today. Before Covid, I was working up a set of 1/72 RPG miniatures for ease of transport (I was getting down to London with work now and then, and was meeting up with old friends for some gaming, so wanted ultra-portable miniatures. 1.72 based on coins and carried in magnetised boxes are ideal for that). I'd thought about both Glorantha and Tekumel in that scale, but hadn't really investigated the latter. I think it could work quite well - especially for humans. And of course it's dirt cheap.

Here are some possibilities from the Plastic Soldier Review website.

Tsolyani, etc. (Caesar Incas):

(http://www.plasticsoldierreview.com/SetScans/CAEH026a.jpg)

(http://www.plasticsoldierreview.com/SetScans/CAEH026b.jpg)

(http://www.plasticsoldierreview.com/SetScans/CAEH026c.jpg)

More of the same (Caesar Maya):

(http://www.plasticsoldierreview.com/SetScans/CAEH027a.jpg)
(http://www.plasticsoldierreview.com/SetScans/CAEH027b.jpg)
(http://www.plasticsoldierreview.com/SetScans/CAEH027c.jpg)

Yan Kor (Caesar Philistines - and note the Nluss bodyguard at the end!):

(http://www.plasticsoldierreview.com/SetScans/CAEH046a.jpg)
(http://www.plasticsoldierreview.com/SetScans/CAEH046b.jpg)
(http://www.plasticsoldierreview.com/SetScans/CAEH046c.jpg)

There would also be some potential for priests of Ksarul among that lot.

There are loads of options for Salarvyani. These are Caesar Assyrians:

(http://www.plasticsoldierreview.com/SetScans/CAEH007c.jpg)

Now, the non-humans present a bit of a problem at 1/72. But not, perhaps, an insurmountable one. Pygmy folk are easily created from 15mm ratmen and the like. And 15mm werewolves would work as Renyu. And I think there are a few "weird centaur" aliens kicking around that are big at that scale and might work just right in 1/72.

Also, for big creatures of variable size (Sro, Serudla, Hra, Thunru'u, etc), smaller 28mm types - like the 'trill' - might work as the bigger sorts at 1/72.
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (Priest of Vimuhla WIP)
Post by: swiftnick on July 16, 2020, 07:29:30 PM
Yes something I think about a bit. More a these figures are cool but what could I use them for?
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (Priest of Vimuhla WIP)
Post by: Hobgoblin on July 16, 2020, 07:38:41 PM
Just tested out a 1/72 hoplite against my smaller Hra. It works, I'd say (10-12' tall):

Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (Priest of Vimuhla WIP)
Post by: Hobgoblin on July 16, 2020, 07:44:31 PM
These old Asgard (or TTG?) Centalons from Alternative Armies might work as the basis of Ssu or Pachi Lei or Swamp Folk conversions. They must be a reasonable size for 15mm, given their price.

(https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0371/5545/products/LB18_Centalon_Warriors-Value_Pack_450_1024x1024.jpg?v=1571439174)
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (ideas for Tekumel in 1/72)
Post by: Sir Barnaby Hammond-Rye on July 17, 2020, 12:21:40 PM
The 1/72nd plastics are attractive - and some manufacturers do Amazons so you're Aridani might be take care of as well.

I've been tempted many times, but I know the scale, and soft plastic, won't work for me. (1/32nd scale is another story.)

In metal, I am using Gringos Maya, and similar, as Kachor Tribes from the Chakan forests (mentioned in the Man of Gold). I use Foundry Inca for clan Household troops/militia from Western Tsolyanu. I use their most savage looking Aztecs to mix in my Haida Pakallan pirates, and probably elsewhere as well: Tsolei, for example. I've been avoiding using the feather suits but I know people who do use them. The Gilraya Forest tribes I used Forest Indians from a number of Ancient Indian ranges.

Assyrians are often used as proxy Salarvyani b/c of the full beards. Newline and Eureka make biblical highlander figures - Lulubi? Gutta? which have hairstyles like the Mu'ug skirmishers. Also some of Victrix Numidian hairstyles IIRC.

I also like the caps worn by Punic Era Spanish. Casting House has a couple of packs that I think are useful.

re. Centalons, what size bases are those?
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (ideas for Tekumel in 1/72)
Post by: 102-year-old-man on July 18, 2020, 10:24:14 AM
awesome ideas and I also play D&D with 1/72 miniatures. Our battle maps and rooms can be much bigger now as the figures are smaller

More size comparisons with 1/72 miniatures as reference would be awesome!  :-*
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (Huru'u, "The Howler")
Post by: Hobgoblin on July 18, 2020, 12:45:22 PM
awesome ideas and I also play D&D with 1/72 miniatures. Our battle maps and rooms can be much bigger now as the figures are smaller

Yes, I really like 1/72 for role-playing - especially for open-air encounters. Before lockdown, I was pretty much intent on switching all our RPG stuff over the 1/72, on the basis that big 28mm monsters still work at that scale (they're just bigger!) and it's so much quicker, easier and cheaper to get a horde of 'extras' painted up. And, as you say, there's just much more space on the table.

They don't work quite so well for a video-streamed game, though!

More size comparisons with 1/72 miniatures as reference would be awesome!  :-*

I'll keep them coming! A lot of the smaller, older Ral Partha monsters work very well with 1/72 - the Julie Guthrie gnolls, for example. For Tekumel, I think the JG lizardmen might make excellent Shen - and possibly her dragon-men too, if the wings are cast separately.

The 1/72nd plastics are attractive - and some manufacturers do Amazons so your Aridani might be take care of as well.

Yes - the Dark Alliance ones. They're pretty much perfect - especially the "modern Amazons". For the other troops, the absence of suitable two-handed swordsmen might be the biggest deal.

re. Centalons, what size bases are those?

I think they must be 20mm, though I'm just guessing. So I reckon the Centalons might make a pretty good base for any of the four-legged, two-armed species in 1/72 (Swamp Folk, Pachi Lei, Ssu, etc.). There would need to be a fair bit of head carving, of course!
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (ideas for Tekumel in 1/72)
Post by: Hobgoblin on July 18, 2020, 01:32:03 PM
Nothing fancy here, but a quick Huru'u ("The Howler"). I notice that in Man of Gold, the undead seem to use weapons of bronze rather than Chlen-hide. That suits me - it means that the paintjobs needn't be Tekumel-specific.
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (ideas for Tekumel in 1/72)
Post by: swiftnick on July 18, 2020, 05:57:16 PM
Superb!
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (ideas for Tekumel in 1/72)
Post by: Hobgoblin on July 18, 2020, 08:27:22 PM
Thanks (it virtually painted itself)!

Here's another quick undead type: a Mrur - or perhaps a Jajgi. He's an old Citadel chaos warrior.

The undead are good for this project because I don't have to keep them secret from the kids for full impact on their debut. Alas, my daughter has glimpsed the Thunru'u and is spreading rumours of a "fat chicken man"!
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (Huru'u and Mrur)
Post by: Hobgoblin on July 20, 2020, 07:31:16 AM
Just stumbled across these resin figures on the Mantic site (Dreadball: "Wu-ling Wanderers"). They're multipart, and I think they might well form the basis for some pretty decent Ssu (just a question of adding a two-armed torso and head and slopping up the surfaces to look like tattered integument):

(https://s3-eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/mantic-assets/uploads/2019/04/wu-lang-wanders-koris-team-e1470147939486.jpeg)
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (Ssu possibilities)
Post by: Sir Barnaby Hammond-Rye on July 20, 2020, 03:20:27 PM
Those are pretty cool! I am interested on how you work out the skin dilemma. I have yet to come up with a satisfactory solution.
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (Ssu possibilities)
Post by: Sir Barnaby Hammond-Rye on July 20, 2020, 03:23:31 PM
Only look how small the bases are?!  :o

Are they tiny bases or very large figures?   ???
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (Ssu possibilities)
Post by: Hobgoblin on July 20, 2020, 03:28:51 PM
I think the bases are pretty small. A lot of Mantic figures have a small circular base that's designed to fit the hole in their 25mm and 20mm bases. I have a couple of Dreadball aliens (one of which is four-legged and two-armed, but with a squiddy head), and they were on very small circular bases that would easily fit on a UK 1p or 2p coin.

For the skin, I was thinking about rolling out long strips of green stuff and then winding them round the limbs before adding tatter-marks and holes once they were in place.

From what I can see, those creatures come with separate heads and arms, so it might be easy enough to substitute heads and simply leave off one pair of arms.
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (Ssu possibilities)
Post by: Sir Barnaby Hammond-Rye on July 20, 2020, 05:24:58 PM
Yeah, and the skin covering will hide any imperfections.
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (Ssu possibilities)
Post by: Sir Barnaby Hammond-Rye on July 21, 2020, 05:58:29 PM
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-He1Nvt4bLZc/XxchRlXdfOI/AAAAAAAAFfU/tb8ljdeiY48Q2Lx-0bFvsxE_I70rt-a4gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/102_4561.JPG)

A customer sent me some painted pics of the Tekumel Project Hlutrgu. More pics here:

https://thetekumelproject.blogspot.com/2020/07/painted-tekumel-figures-by-kestral.html
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (Ssu possibilities)
Post by: Hobgoblin on July 21, 2020, 10:37:32 PM
Those are ace! If the Tekumel section of our campaign holds the players' interest (or if I simply refuse to let them find their way back to the 'normal' world!), I'll definitely be looking to acquire some.

I was casting around for 'instant' Shen and alighted on these fellows from Lancer Games (on reflection, I think the big Rafm reptiliads are too snakey and the small ones too small). I've ordered a few and will beak them up with greenstuff (so not quite instant). I might change some of the weapons, too, and add tail-maces. I note that the Tekumel Sourcebook says that most Shen warriors are unarmoured (although most illustrations show them all tooled up).

(https://i0.wp.com/lancerminiatures.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/more-lizards-001-1.jpg?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1)
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (Ssu possibilities)
Post by: Sir Barnaby Hammond-Rye on July 22, 2020, 02:24:36 AM
re. armoured Shen - I think there is a difference in those serving in a legion and the "typical" Shen. Almost all the illustrations are of army dudes, except in the Shenyu army book.

The illustration I really don't like is the one with them decked out in kilts like Romanized Shen. Shen have no need for "human" clothes. Not IMO at least. The best illustration IMO is the one from the Battle of Ry account from Wargamer's Digest, circa 1976 +/-. The Tekumel Project Shen officer is based on that illustration, as is the basic armour worn by the Troopers.

Did you see my reply to the new plastics over on the Frostgrave thread? You mentioned using the one demon style (with the proper leg pattern) as a basis for a Gnoll. Why not a Shen, assuming it is large enough?
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (Ssu possibilities)
Post by: Sir Barnaby Hammond-Rye on July 22, 2020, 02:26:57 AM
There are one or two Crocodile Games characters that could be converted as well. From that demon-race...not the Anubi...the Set thingies, can't recall the name. Check out their characters.
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (Ssu possibilities)
Post by: punkrabbitt on July 22, 2020, 08:15:27 PM
There are one or two Crocodile Games characters that could be converted as well. From that demon-race...not the Anubi...the Set thingies, can't recall the name. Check out their characters.

That would be the Typhon: https://www.crocodilegames.com/store/itemList.cfm?catID=30&sort=prodID

(https://www.crocodilegames.com/content/storeImg/WGE-157.jpg)
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (Ssu possibilities)
Post by: Hobgoblin on July 22, 2020, 08:39:02 PM
re. armoured Shen - I think there is a difference in those serving in a legion and the "typical" Shen. Almost all the illustrations are of army dudes, except in the Shenyu army book.

Yes, the Sourcebook says that most Shen warriors don't wear armour, but a few that fight as heavy infantry do. Most of the legions described seem to be heavy infantry.

The illustration I really don't like is the one with them decked out in kilts like Romanized Shen. Shen have no need for "human" clothes. Not IMO at least.

That's the one on the back of the Sourcebook, right? With the pair of Shen in high-crested helmets. I quite like that one (it might have been among the first Tekumel illustrations I saw, though I can't remember when), but I take your point about the human gear. They're not Pe Choi, after all!

It's interesting how much the illustrations vary - starting with the EPT one in which the Shen have big ears and fairly human bodies!

The best illustration IMO is the one from the Battle of Ry account from Wargamer's Digest, circa 1976 +/-. The Tekumel Project Shen officer is based on that illustration, as is the basic armour worn by the Troopers.

I tracked that one down; yes, it's nice. Again, it's interesting to see the variation. Your Shen are at the more avian end of the spectrum, in line with that illustration. It's probably the most striking take; the Tekumel Project Shen look terrific!

Did you see my reply to the new plastics over on the Frostgrave thread? You mentioned using the one demon style (with the proper leg pattern) as a basis for a Gnoll. Why not a Shen, assuming it is large enough?

Yes, I did - great suggestion, and it looks like it would work well. It occurs to me, too, that my beaking up of some GW lizardmen as Gloranthan dragonewts isn't terribly far off either. I suspect black scales and red eyes would go a long way towards Shendom (Shenyu?)!

(https://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=124051.0;attach=122823;image)

Those Crocodile Games fellows would be good for a nice 'free' take on the Shen - like that illustration with the ears! Again, an appropriate paint scheme would do marvels.
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (Ssu possibilities)
Post by: Sir Barnaby Hammond-Rye on July 23, 2020, 01:07:55 PM
The lizardmen are Ace!  :-*

The main thing, for me, is to get the legs right b/c you can fix the heads and tails fairly easily. Those have the correct legs. Too often lizardmen have legs that are just human legs with scales and clawed feet.

And the Shen are large. They should be bigger than humans.
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (Ssu possibilities)
Post by: Hobgoblin on July 25, 2020, 09:06:44 PM
A couple of quick (and very minor) Shen conversions. Going to throw some paint at them now.
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (Shen conversions)
Post by: swiftnick on July 27, 2020, 11:01:02 AM
Very nice! Looking forward to seeing them painted.
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (Shen conversions)
Post by: M.P. on July 29, 2020, 12:41:53 PM
They look great. I was thinking about something very similar that is tekumel in 1/72. I even have somewhere basic sculpts of a tekumelian zombie and Ahoggya. Doing some dungencrawling in the underground ditlana ruinened structures under Jakalla is SO tempting.


Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (Shen conversions)
Post by: Sir Barnaby Hammond-Rye on July 29, 2020, 02:24:50 PM
They look great. I was thinking about something very similar that is tekumel in 1/72. I even have somewhere basic sculpts of and tekumelian zombie and Ahoggya. Doing something dungencrawling in the underground ditlana ruinened structures under Jakalla is SO tempting.

Sounds cool! Show us pictures (please!)  :)
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (Shen conversions)
Post by: M.P. on July 29, 2020, 06:39:40 PM
As soon as I find them :).
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (Shen conversions)
Post by: Hobgoblin on August 18, 2020, 08:30:53 AM
Here are my Hluss stand-ins. I was thinking about converting them to make them match up better with official illustrations (weapons, more upright torsos, three eyes), but in the end, I couldn't be bothered. All that's needed for the game are gribblies with pointed snouts and scorpion tails, and these Irregular Miniatures scorpion bugs have those already.

I painted all six in a couple of hours last night: quite refreshing to get a whole encounter set done at one sitting, even if the paintwork's primitive!
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (Hluss stand-ins)
Post by: M.P. on August 18, 2020, 09:43:11 PM
Fast and very nice paintjob :).
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (Hluss stand-ins)
Post by: Hobgoblin on August 26, 2020, 12:08:28 PM
Thanks, M.P.! Here are some better shots of them. They made their tabletop debut in last night's session; on Monday, the party, having 'sailed' into Tekumel through a dimensional gate, encountered a Hluss hive ship. That session was largely taken up with exchanges of spells and ballista bolts; last night, the boarding action began!

Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (Hluss stand-ins)
Post by: M.P. on August 26, 2020, 04:08:06 PM
They Look sweet (If you can say it about Hluss :p). What rules are you using? OSR? ADnD?
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (Hluss stand-ins)
Post by: Hobgoblin on August 26, 2020, 04:59:01 PM
Thanks!

We're using Basic D&D (Rules Cyclopedia), but with a couple of tweaks. I've borrowed Into the Odd's strength-save system (lose all your hit points and you start losing STR: save under when you get down to 0 hit points and for every wound you take thereafter), and we use the Target 20 system (add STR bonus, fighter level - fractions for other classes - and opponent's AC to your d20 roll, with a total of 20 or above needed to hit).
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (Hluss stand-ins)
Post by: Hobgoblin on August 28, 2020, 11:49:15 AM
I have found the basis for my Pe Choi: all these will need are new heads!
Title: Re: Cheap or readily available Tekumel proxies? (Pe Choi raw materials)
Post by: Sir Barnaby Hammond-Rye on August 28, 2020, 12:13:23 PM
Dark Sun? Those are pretty much "Pe Choi" copies!