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Miniatures Adventure => Future Wars => Topic started by: Bako on December 29, 2009, 04:41:03 AM

Title: Any ideas for gaming markers? (or examples?)
Post by: Bako on December 29, 2009, 04:41:03 AM
Hello all!

I've found myself interested in Star Grunt for seemingly ever and am needing a little bit of coaxing to start playing with the rules system.

GZG has the marker sheets for download but I prefer "shiny"/3D markers when I play. Examples of such would be etched transparent or translucent plastic markers and ones I could make myself.

I was wondering what input you guys could put in in relation to making markers. Some of the more obvious markers, such as the black skull/casualty marker, I have an idea for already. However things such as 'steady', 'confident' and 'broken' condition markers and similar seem a bit more difficult to represent. Any ideas?

I really don't want to just print out a pile of paper markers.
Title: Re: Any ideas for gaming markers? (or examples?)
Post by: former user on December 29, 2009, 08:06:44 AM
casualties as "broken" markers are a standard
if You go with this concept, "confident" could be an orderly who distributes a gin ration
and "steady" a medic who is patching someone up
Title: Re: Any ideas for gaming markers? (or examples?)
Post by: P_Clapham on December 29, 2009, 08:24:03 AM
I'm working on goalsystem version of X-Com, that will end up using markers for hidden movement and other conditions.  My plan is to print some paper tokens out, and then glue and laminate them onto some MDF board bases I bought online.  That way I go with the art / look I want, yet still have them substatial.  You could do the same with some cheap poker chips I'd imagine.
Title: Re: Any ideas for gaming markers? (or examples?)
Post by: Gluteus Maximus on December 29, 2009, 10:05:57 AM
Examples of such would be etched transparent or translucent plastic markers and ones I could make myself.

Dare I suggest the plastic ones from Games Workshop's 40K?

A horrible luminous green colour and some are too obviously GW, but could be useable if painted up.
Title: Re: Any ideas for gaming markers? (or examples?)
Post by: Hauptgefreiter on December 29, 2009, 02:42:06 PM
May I propose Micro Art Studio?
http://www.shop.microartstudio.com/accessories-c-22.html (http://www.shop.microartstudio.com/accessories-c-22.html)
Title: Re: Any ideas for gaming markers? (or examples?)
Post by: Geudens on December 29, 2009, 02:49:09 PM
Try EM4:

http://www.em4miniatures.com/acatalog/Accessories_and_Dice.html

90% of the time, he's got a solution for my marker-problem...

Rudi
Title: Re: Any ideas for gaming markers? (or examples?)
Post by: geronimo on December 29, 2009, 02:57:56 PM
We can cut custom tokens/markers/whatever in acrylic in a range of colours. PM me for details :)
Title: Re: Any ideas for gaming markers? (or examples?)
Post by: YPU on December 29, 2009, 03:56:46 PM
http://www.litkoaero.com/ (http://www.litkoaero.com/) is all you need. Go look around there.
And if you still miss something vital make sure to email the guy.
Title: Re: Any ideas for gaming markers? (or examples?)
Post by: AKULA on December 29, 2009, 05:27:56 PM
We can cut custom tokens/markers/whatever in acrylic in a range of colours. PM me for details :)

I'll second this - Fenris Games have just made some for me - first class!

 :D
Title: Re: Any ideas for gaming markers? (or examples?)
Post by: Bako on December 30, 2009, 12:02:16 AM
Alrighty, thanks for the input, guys.

Part of the reason I brought up the etched markers is because it being a futuristic game and all could help add that feel of a commander's HUD (Head's Up Display).

"confident" could be an orderly who distributes a gin ration

That could potentially make use of a number of my Imperial Guard canteens I've acquired over the years (after filing off the Imperial Aquila of course). Certainly you don't actually put water in those things!

Though maybe something other than gin.

I'm working on goalsystem version of X-Com, that will end up using markers for hidden movement and other conditions.

How is that working out? I'm a huge fan of Julian Gollop's strategy games, so consider me interested. Speaking of which, I've always been thinking of emulating Laser Squad/X-COM style games onto the tabletop. Even been eying plenty of greys and similarly suitable aliens for some time.

Dare I suggest the plastic ones from Games Workshop's 40K?

I do have those under the category: "last resorts." lol

We can cut custom tokens/markers/whatever in acrylic in a range of colours. PM me for details :)

Ooo, interesting. And AKULA's vouching for you too. I'll look into it and see how things go. A bit strapped for cash right at this instant however. :)

Got pictures, Akula? (Prolly already seen 'em though knowing me memory. o_o)

GZG seems to make filled body bag props. Though it's rather obvious what they'll look like I can't gauge how many comes with each purchase because someone forgot to state it and a picture. Knowing how I play games though, one side regardless of who is playing will have accumulated a large number of casualties so I'm going to need plenty of markers for each poor sod.

Think I may just stick to a bum-load of skulls from all that 40k stuff (and Empire flagellants (oddly enough, the skull bits are properly sized for 28mm in this set! :o))rattling about my bits bins for the black skull markers.
Title: Re: Any ideas for gaming markers? (or examples?)
Post by: Gluteus Maximus on December 30, 2009, 08:43:29 AM
Think I may just stick to a bum-load of skulls from all that 40k stuff (and Empire flagellants (oddly enough, the skull bits are properly sized for 28mm in this set! :o))rattling about my bits bins for the black skull markers.

I assume you know Pardulon have some lovely skull piles:

(http://pardulon-models.com/images/product_images/info_images/52_0.jpg)

1 Euro each though and I suppose shipping to Canada would be quyite high  :?
Title: Re: Any ideas for gaming markers? (or examples?)
Post by: Zafarelli on December 30, 2009, 10:54:54 AM
1 Euro each though and I suppose shipping to Canada would be quyite high  :?

Shipping to Canada might be a killer, that's true :? I do have individual skulls as well though. PM me for details if interested.

On the marker subject, I have made some very effective ones using small polystyrene disks and rod. Just cover the surface of the disk with superglue, put a number of small rod pieces in the superglue, and sprinkle sand over the remaining surface. Then paint the rod pieces brass to resemble spent cartrides, et voilą. In my T&T skirmish version, I use them as suppression markers.
Title: Re: Any ideas for gaming markers? (or examples?)
Post by: tima113 on December 30, 2009, 07:56:50 PM
I've heard of chickens being used for routed/broken units.
Title: Re: Any ideas for gaming markers? (or examples?)
Post by: former user on December 30, 2009, 08:23:53 PM
 lol lol lol lol lol
Title: Re: Any ideas for gaming markers? (or examples?)
Post by: Gluteus Maximus on December 30, 2009, 09:18:39 PM
Shipping to Canada might be a killer, that's true :? I do have individual skulls as well though. PM me for details if interested.

On the marker subject, I have made some very effective ones using small polystyrene disks and rod. Just cover the surface of the disk with superglue, put a number of small rod pieces in the superglue, and sprinkle sand over the remaining surface. Then paint the rod pieces brass to resemble spent cartrides, et voilą. In my T&T skirmish version, I use them as suppression markers.

I like that idea - it would be useful for a lot of other rule systems too  :D
Title: Re: Any ideas for gaming markers? (or examples?)
Post by: P_Clapham on December 31, 2009, 01:09:41 AM
I just started the project a week ago.  So far it's going pretty well.  Hoping to have it done before my school break ends.

How is that working out? I'm a huge fan of Julian Gollop's strategy games, so consider me interested. Speaking of which, I've always been thinking of emulating Laser Squad/X-COM style games onto the tabletop. Even been eying plenty of greys and similarly suitable aliens for some time.
Title: Re: Any ideas for gaming markers? (or examples?)
Post by: Bako on January 01, 2010, 01:19:52 AM
I've heard of chickens being used for routed/broken units.

Ah, that's excellent! lol. Where would one acquisition a small pile of these?

1 Euro each though and I suppose shipping to Canada would be quyite high  :?

Yeah, it usually is. I average about 4-7 miniatures-related orders a year because a good chunk of my expendable cash is always feeding the hell that is, the post. And that's including birthdays and Christmas gifts.

On the marker subject, I have made some very effective ones using small polystyrene disks and rod. Just cover the surface of the disk with superglue, put a number of small rod pieces in the superglue, and sprinkle sand over the remaining surface. Then paint the rod pieces brass to resemble spent cartrides, et voilą. In my T&T skirmish version, I use them as suppression markers.

That's a good idea. Another one I was thinking of was for markers with a couple sandbags, or so, and a bullet-ridden helmet or similar to represent suppression as well.
Title: Re: Any ideas for gaming markers? (or examples?)
Post by: Weird WWII on January 01, 2010, 04:07:46 AM
Litko is what I use and they offer custom work for pretty good prices and a large and ever growing catalog of 3D and 2D markers.

You can see them in action on the various battle reports below.
http://whattheminiatures.com/forum/index.php?board=22.0

http://www.litkoaero.com/

Brian
Title: Re: Any ideas for gaming markers? (or examples?)
Post by: tima113 on January 01, 2010, 02:10:55 PM
For chickens, I think your best bet is either model railroad suppliers (O or HO gauge laready painted) or mega minis if you want figures rather than markers. Here's a link to mega's chicken pack, they also sell a duck which could also be useful.

http://cgi.ebay.com/MEM-40005-Chickens-x-16-miniatures-25mm-Animals-Farm_W0QQitemZ8784673387QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item20b9b7a6b

I'll echo litko again. Their site includes a custom marker design area (think you get 10-20 in a set and you choose the shape, color opacity, etc. from their standard options and can insert so many characters of text). They can make custom markers for a quoted price. A couple of years ago I had them make bullet markers with a number inside (1, 2 or 3). I use them to mark shots fired in All Things Zombie  where each shot has the possibility of attracting more zombies. You dice for them after the turn based on the marked shot locations.