Lead Adventure Forum

Miniatures Adventure => Future Wars => Topic started by: area23 on 03 May 2014, 09:38:26 PM

Title: Force fields?
Post by: area23 on 03 May 2014, 09:38:26 PM
I'm looking for suggestions to represent futuristic troopers with force fields, in the classic Dune sense.
Ideally it would be crystaline humanoid shapes, a bit like these Shadowrun creatures:
(http://www.ralparthaeurope.co.uk/shop/images/sh20-528.jpg)
Any ideas?
Title: Re: Force fields?
Post by: Dewbakuk on 03 May 2014, 10:04:42 PM
Sounds like the ideal Shapeways figure :)

My first thought was ice golem type figures but I can't find anything suitable sorry.
Title: Re: Force fields?
Post by: 6milPhil on 03 May 2014, 10:33:17 PM
Have you considered just hacking some greenstuff onto a figure?
Title: Re: Force fields?
Post by: Inso on 04 May 2014, 02:07:58 AM
I know it isn't crystaline but have you considered just throwing a dome over the miniature? It would be fairly simple and you wouldn't have to have a shielded/unshielded miniature (just the one).
Title: Re: Force fields?
Post by: Dr Mathias on 04 May 2014, 02:38:56 AM
There's got to be a Minecraft figurine made by someone :)
Title: Re: Force fields?
Post by: Inso on 04 May 2014, 11:28:04 AM
Ice elementals from lesser scales (15mm/10mm)

VOR have crystalline warriors.
Title: Re: Force fields?
Post by: baldlea on 04 May 2014, 12:08:40 PM
In all seriousness, it isn't that bad. Something along these lines might work.

(http://www.highdefdigest.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/gurney-paul-shield-up.jpg)
Title: Re: Force fields?
Post by: baldlea on 04 May 2014, 12:10:15 PM
Or these from Khurasan perhaps using custom decals made from photos of people.

(http://khurasanminiatures.tripod.com/t2102.jpg)
Title: Re: Force fields?
Post by: area23 on 04 May 2014, 03:38:35 PM
Ha! that Dune toy is fantastic!
Title: Re: Force fields?
Post by: Hrothgar on 05 May 2014, 07:17:53 PM
I have been struggling with the same problem as the OP, but my solution thus far is a bit more like Baldlea's than actually using replacement proxy figures. In my game system (home grown), personal shields are useful for toughening up hero and elite models (basically giving them a 2nd armor save), but that can burn out easily if they overwhelmed. Hence, they need to be easily added to and removed from figures without completely messing up the astethic. My ideas thus far are these:

1-Colored plastic disks, ideally a bit wider than the figure bases itself, that would sit under the figure. The cons to this approach are that it will be a pain finding such disk (even worse would be making them) and it will be difficult moving the figures around the table without them constantly sliding off their shield bases.

2-Colored rubber bands which could be draped over the figures. This is the simplist, easiest, and probably most practical approach. I just don't really want rubber bands (even brightly colored ones) mucking up the astetic of my figures.

3-Small colored plastic beads that would sit on the base. Down side-they roll off. All the time. And they don't look the best.

4- Small, clear plastic domes that would sit on the figures' bases. My thought was to something like the plastic googly eyes meant for dolls and stuffed animals and which you can find in most craft shops for a dollar or two for a large pack. My idea is to cut the bottoms out and paint the inside of the dome a bright, neon color. The dome's lip will naturally grab onto the textured surface of the base, and the glowing neon dome underneath the figure could be interpreted as some sort of ground effect reflection of the shield's radiation (or whatever). They would be easy to make, easy to see and manipulate, cheap, and they won't damage the figures. I will probably go with this. They look something like this and come in many different sizes: http://www.createforless.com/Googly-Eyes-by-Darice-Sew-On-15-mm-Black-144-pc/pid159271.aspx
Title: Re: Force fields?
Post by: Dr Mathias on 05 May 2014, 08:06:35 PM
1-Colored plastic disks, ideally a bit wider than the figure bases itself, that would sit under the figure. The cons to this approach are that it will be a pain finding such disk (even worse would be making them) and it will be difficult moving the figures around the table without them constantly sliding off their shield bases.

Magnetic plastic colored bases:

http://www.aleatools.com/category-s/36.htm
http://www.aleatools.com/Default.asp

These are actually pretty nice products if you don't mind the look-I think they're a little thick personally. They are seamless plastic with a magnetic core. I picked up a bunch at GenCon last year. There's a lot of shades and hues so one could swap out the disk to show shield degeneration.

I haven't used mine yet but the shield idea really appeals to me now...

(http://www.aleatools.com/v/vspfiles/photos/home/v01_feature_01.jpg)
Title: Re: Force fields?
Post by: Oldben1 on 05 May 2014, 08:07:44 PM
MY wife uses this mousse where the top is coloured and more of a tall cylinder shape.
I like the idea of the coloured chips on the bottom, you could use sticky tac to keep them in place.
Title: Re: Force fields?
Post by: area23 on 05 May 2014, 09:35:11 PM
Many interesting ideas, thanks a lot for all the input. I wonder if cutting pieces of 3cm. transparent plastic piping could work like the rubber band idea.
Otherwise, at my work I have alluminium and copper o-rings for hydraulic systems of various sizes. Sprayed with some electric blue might work if positioned on the base, over the feet.

But still, these would only be fancy counters and it would be better if they were miniatures I could paint. I had a look around but none of the crystal and ice elementals I know of have realistic human proportions.
Title: Re: Force fields?
Post by: baldlea on 05 May 2014, 11:49:11 PM
What about these in 15mm by Critical Mass Games?:

(http://www.criticalmassgames.com/images/mercenaries/MERC6-600.jpg)

Appreciate the guns might be a problem.
Title: Re: Force fields?
Post by: Timotl on 05 May 2014, 11:59:20 PM
This might work for you...it could be a force field creature.
https://www.coolminiornot.com/shop/miniatures/dark-age-games/dragyri/dragyri-ice-elemental-1.html

They even have one in clear blue resin...
Title: Re: Force fields?
Post by: Finn on 06 May 2014, 12:22:03 AM
How about coating a suitable figure with a clear polymer clay, such as Fimo. Tinted the right colour it could could look really cool ( or it could look like a figure covered in gloop).