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Miniatures Adventure => Future Wars => Topic started by: JMGraham on 01 August 2013, 07:53:31 PM

Title: (KICKSTARTER) Worldsmith Industries Wrecked Vehicle Markers
Post by: JMGraham on 01 August 2013, 07:53:31 PM
Hi, all -

I just launched a Kickstarter, in an attempt to kickstart a terrain and gaming aid company that I've been dreaming of for a while. For the KS campaign I'm creating a series of resin wrecked vehicle markers suitable for use in a "dark and gothic science fiction miniature wargame of the far-far-future", albeit in a non-IP infringing kind of way. I'm starting with "Galactic marines", but have stretch goals planned for just about every suitable race you could imagine (in the dark future of grimness, that is). If it sounds like it would suit you, please take a look (and please feel free to spread the word!).

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/48375726/worldsmith-industries-wrecked-vehicles-for-sci-fi (http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/48375726/worldsmith-industries-wrecked-vehicles-for-sci-fi)

(http://i.imgur.com/0muPuUT.jpg)

Title: Re: Wrecked Vehicle Markers Kickstarter
Post by: Elbows on 01 August 2013, 08:36:17 PM
I understand not wanting to infringe on IP's etc...but I don't see the "vehicle" in the wrecked vehicle pieces.  I just piles of...stuff.  :?  (not that those aren't worthy terrain too of course)

Maybe the addition of some generic turrets, or tracks etc. would help me visualize that it's a vehicle?
Title: Re: Wrecked Vehicle Markers Kickstarter
Post by: Elk101 on 01 August 2013, 08:59:13 PM
I'd agree with Elbows on this. I don't 'see' the vehicles and it looks a touch 'unnatural' if that can be said in a future sci-fi context. No intention to have a go here, by the way, just an attempt to help with some honest feedback. It's great to see guys doing stuff like this  :)
Title: Re: Wrecked Vehicle Markers Kickstarter
Post by: superflytnt on 01 August 2013, 10:00:11 PM
Yeah, I'm third-ing that. It looks like beautiful rubbish piles with no tires, no turbines, nothing to identify them as vehicles. Maybe cast some half tires from resin and glue them to the existing stuff so it looks like a half buried tire, plus giving some terrain to duck behind and whatnot.

AH, mates, go to the KS page....you can see more there. Still, not quite "vehicles" but a hell of a lot more like them. In any event I need terrain for my junkyard, so I just backed him for 24$.
Title: Re: Wrecked Vehicle Markers Kickstarter
Post by: CptJake on 01 August 2013, 10:08:48 PM
And a little more criticism, hopefully taken as constructive, since it is intended that way.

I've seen vehicles that have been blown up/destroyed and even just wrecked in collisions.   What you show, partially due to the paint jobs and terrain/basing and partially due to the vehicle 'pieces' just look too nice.  Like they were cleaned up and freshly painted then laid out neatly in a rocky field.

I would expect the grass to be burnt, the metal mangled and showing fire/blast damage, and larger chunks with jagged edges.   

Just my take...  I do hope your intended customer base make this a very successful project for you.

Title: Re: Wrecked Vehicle Markers Kickstarter
Post by: fastolfrus on 01 August 2013, 10:21:55 PM
Maybe you should make some wrecked WWI tanks?
It wouldn't infringe on IP unless someone admitted that they based their products on WWI vehicles.
Look at 2 - 6 -14 on here (although there are others too):
http://military.discovery.com/battles-history/busted-tank-photos.htm
Title: Re: Wrecked Vehicle Markers Kickstarter
Post by: JMGraham on 01 August 2013, 10:38:36 PM
Cheers, gents - thanks for the feedback! I've never taken any feedback I've gotten from LAF as anything other than constructive. :)

I agree that the wreckage markers don't look like exploded vehicles as much as they look like pieces of wreckage. The game for which I reckon most folks will use them is one where the rules state that, after a vehicle explodes, it should be replaced with "scattered wreckage" ... "roughly the same size as the vehicle". While I think that the burned-out hull of a tank would look cooler, I wanted to address concerns for tournament players, as the wrecks aren't supposed to block line of sight. The wrecks aren't as pretty as they could be if you were just focused on the narrative, but they are a thousand times better than what most folks would use.

As for them not being painted like debris - that's totally my fault. I'm a cartoony, unrealistic, no-grime kind of painter. The grass has been pointed put before. My reason for adding grass? I wanted another color and texture. Purely aesthetic (and unrealistic) decision.

With that said, the initial wrecks have been funded and the "Human Corps" wrecks are being stretched towards. Thanks for your help, all!
Title: Re: Wrecked Vehicle Markers Kickstarter
Post by: Elbows on 01 August 2013, 10:39:06 PM
Additional question - are there plans for more 3D models too?  I like when burning vehicles etc. become cover, or obscure line of sight.  I know this is more dodgy on the IP side of things, but some generic boxy shaped hulls with road wheels and some track links strewn about could be fun.  Even more awesome if you could get into the vehicles (perhaps a tank with an empty or hollow turret ring, allowing it to become an ad hoc bunker for a heroic last stand?).

Lots of potential here.
Title: Re: Wrecked Vehicle Markers Kickstarter
Post by: JMGraham on 01 August 2013, 11:20:09 PM
Not for the Kickstarter (which is just focused on the wreck markers, and will hopefully help me get the equipment I need to start the company in earnest).

Post-Kickstarter, yes, yes, and yes again. My plan is to make larger terrain pieces that can be put together into themed tables (steampunk distillery, sci-fi shipping yard, etc.), or used piecemeal. The thing with the flat-ish wreck markers is they allow players to place models on top of them (which is needed for the rules of the game most would use them for), but they don't create particularly interesting or evocative tables. Think of them more as gaming aids, rather than terrain. I'm really hoping they'll provide a springboard to allow me to do some of the larger-scale terrain ideas I've got bubbling around.
Title: Re: Wrecked Vehicle Markers Kickstarter
Post by: Sangennaru on 01 August 2013, 11:51:21 PM
Your start is nice, even though i second the other criticism, i also note that gw is evil, and sculpting that looks like one of their vehicle is dangerous for any company!

We'll see your next pieces! At the moment i'd never buy junk vehicle-shaped, but that's because i don't play 40K...
And keep on with scenery making! If you'd ever need a hand in something, drop a PM! ^^
Title: Re: Wrecked Vehicle Markers Kickstarter
Post by: JMGraham on 02 August 2013, 04:34:08 AM
The Human Corps models are below.

(http://i.imgur.com/WPCrQdq.jpg)
Title: Re: Wrecked Vehicle Markers Kickstarter
Post by: Commander Vyper on 03 August 2013, 05:12:16 PM
Sorry but nothing like any vehicle wreckage I've seen. Comments are as per everyone elses.
Title: Re: Wrecked Vehicle Markers Kickstarter
Post by: Conquistador on 03 August 2013, 06:53:13 PM
Well, I don't need any but I just wanted to encourage your efforts, say i am hoping you succeed beyond expectations, and look forward to seeing your next efforts.

Gracias,

Glenn
Title: Re: Wrecked Vehicle Markers Kickstarter
Post by: JMGraham on 08 August 2013, 08:18:57 PM
Sorry but nothing like any vehicle wreckage I've seen. Comments are as per everyone elses.

YMMV, for sure - these are designed for a very specific ruleset (to be compatible with the exploded vehicle rules for Warhammer 40k), and I reckon they'd be of limited interest for folks who don't play that game.

@ Glenn - Thanks for the encouragement!

The $1500 stretch goal has been reached, and next up are the "Space Elf" wrecks:

(http://i.imgur.com/OchV7lE.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/8WDuHX2.jpg)
Title: Re: Wrecked Vehicle Markers Kickstarter
Post by: fastolfrus on 09 August 2013, 07:30:25 PM
I don't want to sound negative, but all the bits look to have landed "butter side up".

They all look like external panels, no interior details, if you catch my drift.
Title: Re: Wrecked Vehicle Markers Kickstarter
Post by: Wachaza on 09 August 2013, 07:36:24 PM
Clearly these are intended for the most anal of tournament players but I could do better cutting out an outline and sticking bits on or by buying an actual badly assembled vehicle from ebay and then wrecking that.
Title: Re: Wrecked Vehicle Markers Kickstarter
Post by: Commander Vyper on 10 August 2013, 08:11:43 AM
And while I think about it, why are yhe vehicle's apparently full of rubble.

Simply put: GW coat tail riding.
Title: Re: Wrecked Vehicle Markers Kickstarter
Post by: Commander Vyper on 10 August 2013, 08:13:04 AM
Shame that you couldn't do something more with more thought.
Title: Re: Wrecked Vehicle Markers Kickstarter
Post by: JMGraham on 16 August 2013, 04:03:30 AM
Simply put: GW coat tail riding.

I'd hardly call a low-level specialty Kickstarter riding on anyone's coat-tails. If so, I reckon it's a pretty short ride.  ;) Your opinion is noted.

I've got to say, I'm a bit surprised by how negative and non-constructive some of the comments have been. I have no problems with folks not liking the exploded vehicle markers, but I've come to expect a higher degree of politeness from the LAF crowd. With that said, I appreciate the comments, supportive or otherwise.

For those who are interested, the Space Elf (evil and not-so-evil) wrecks have been unlocked, with new stretch goals for Space Orc exploded vehicle markers and for some Alien Bug tunneling markers. Thanks for looking!

(https://s3.amazonaws.com/ksr/assets/000/826/591/69291ec0149651631e0d5430443c4f1c_large.JPG)

(https://s3.amazonaws.com/ksr/assets/000/826/594/bc6a7882027bc42c432125eb4789f7e2_large.JPG)
Title: Re: Wrecked Vehicle Markers Kickstarter
Post by: Sangennaru on 16 August 2013, 07:21:16 AM
Even though i'm not impressed as well from the pieces offering, i have to agree with JMGraham: people here are being a little too rude: afterall, he is sculpting something, and even though he is obviously doing something in the "shadow" of GW, he is still doing something new! Ok, it could have been done in a more realistic way, but that's the way it is.
Considering the huge amount of semi-amatorial scenery that you can find online, those are not bad.

I don't see the anticonstructive criticism that you said, JM, but there's hate against GW that is reversed to you, that's my feeling. Apparently after a first negative comment people are more tempted to comment harshly.


That said, the funding of your kickstarter speaks himself. So even though i will not invest money in those markers, imho you did a good job! :)
Title: Re: Wrecked Vehicle Markers Kickstarter
Post by: Elk101 on 16 August 2013, 07:43:12 AM
Now I do like the look of those alien tunneling markers. I could see them having a few different uses; sci-fi, occult horror, fantasy, and so on.

I think the main issue with the wrecked vehicle markers is an aesthetic one; they perhaps look too abstract which is fine if they are simply markers, but maybe not to everyone's taste. My personal preference would be to see more obvious vehicle parts and crash site type debris that would provide cover and block line of dight, etc. I think that generally the other comments were offered in a similar vein; i.e. ad potential customers this would be what we would buy, etc.

Back to the tunnel markers, what about some open tunnel mouths without creatures too?
Title: Re: Wrecked Vehicle Markers Kickstarter
Post by: Commander Vyper on 16 August 2013, 07:07:17 PM
+1 on the sarlac/worm markers. Those are nicely sculpted.
Title: Re: Wrecked Vehicle Markers Kickstarter
Post by: rwwin on 16 August 2013, 09:15:36 PM

I've got to say, I'm a bit surprised by how negative and non-constructive some of the comments have been. I have no problems with folks not liking the exploded vehicle markers, but I've come to expect a higher degree of politeness from the LAF crowd. With that said, I appreciate the comments, supportive or otherwise.


I suspect because your showing a product that has a small niche even in 40K and then your showing it on a forum that even on it's best days is quite apathetic to GW in general and and often hostile to 40K in specific.  Essentially this is kind of the wrong crowd to expect a warm reception to your products regardless of design or production values.