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Miniatures Adventure => Future Wars => Topic started by: Captain Blood on January 29, 2012, 04:29:42 PM

Title: Silent Invader's Aliens Game redux - in the dark!
Post by: Captain Blood on January 29, 2012, 04:29:42 PM

Here are some (crappy) pics of the game we played on Friday.
In a very dark room, to take advantage of Silent Invader's cunningly lit game board...
Unfortunately, very atmospheric game makes for very poor photos, since the shutter has to stay open for about 10 seconds each shot - making some shake unavoidable, even using a timer...

Still, it gives you a flavour  :)

The claustrophobic dark.
The flickering lights.
The nagging score of Alien playing on a loop for hours...
Malamute making his own sound effects...
Oh the horror. The terror...


Rebel colonists inside the facility...

(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/9/577_29_01_12_4_59_41_0.JPG)

(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/9/577_29_01_12_4_59_41_2.JPG)

Aliens v marines in the inhospitable exterior...

(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/9/577_29_01_12_4_59_41_1.JPG)

(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/9/577_29_01_12_4_59_41_3.JPG)

(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/9/577_29_01_12_4_59_41_4.JPG)

There's something nasty in the room with them...

(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/9/577_29_01_12_5_01_40_0.JPG)

(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/9/577_29_01_12_5_01_40_1.JPG)

The marines enter the facility...

(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/9/577_29_01_12_5_01_40_2.JPG)

And secure the doorway...

(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/9/577_29_01_12_5_01_40_3.JPG)

Unfortunately, they're watching the wrong doorway...

(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/9/577_29_01_12_5_01_40_4.JPG)

'Spread out'

(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/9/577_29_01_12_5_03_25_0.JPG)

Hostages secured... (Actually, they are escorting the rebels out... Fools!)

(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/9/577_29_01_12_5_03_25_1.JPG)

But it's too late. Aliens are swarming...

(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/9/577_29_01_12_5_03_25_2.JPG)

Next game...

(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/9/577_29_01_12_5_03_26_3.JPG)

The marines land in the eerie red glow of the landing pad...

(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/9/577_29_01_12_5_03_26_4.JPG)

Kick-ass action from the colonists takes down the first wave of aliens...

(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/9/577_29_01_12_5_05_13_0.JPG)

Meanwhile the marines are somewhat distracted by rampaging terminators...

(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/9/577_29_01_12_5_05_13_1.JPG)

The colonists make ready to escape - stepping carefully round the pools of acid goo left by splatted Aliens...

(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/9/577_29_01_12_5_05_13_2.JPG)

More heroics from the colonists... WHERE ARE THE GODDAM MARINES FOR CRISSAKES!!!

(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/9/577_29_01_12_5_05_13_3.JPG)

(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/9/577_29_01_12_5_05_13_4.JPG)

Getting annihilated by the terminator hordes round by the back door, that's where...

(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/9/577_29_01_12_5_06_35_0.JPG)

17 Aliens died in this game... Here you can see some of their pools of luminous acid...

(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/9/577_29_01_12_5_06_35_1.JPG)

Endgame. The reactor has been neutralised. The scientists and colonists have escaped. The Aliens are swarming the facility, and in one dark corner, the last surviving marine meets his nemesis... Or does he?

(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/9/577_29_01_12_5_06_35_2.JPG)

Title: Re: Silent Invader's Aliens Game redux - in the dark!
Post by: Prof.Witchheimer on January 29, 2012, 04:41:32 PM

What a game!

Title: Re: Silent Invader's Aliens Game redux - in the dark!
Post by: Steve F on January 29, 2012, 04:48:35 PM

Very atmospheric indeed.  I hope that you could see well enough to read the dice.

Title: Re: Silent Invader's Aliens Game redux - in the dark!
Post by: Malamute on January 29, 2012, 04:58:01 PM

Excellent memories of a great day. :-*
Can't wait to repeat it when Silent Invader enlarges the board ;D

Title: Re: Silent Invader's Aliens Game redux - in the dark!
Post by: Mason on January 29, 2012, 05:23:49 PM

 :o :o :o

Wow!

That looks like a fantastic game, board etc anyway, but I bet that was an even more amazing game to play in that manner!
It must have been amazingly atmospheric.
Those lights really bring it to life.
Love it!
 :-*

I MUST steal that idea for a game of Mordheim!
(That may not be such a good idea if one particular member of our group is playing. It is quite likely he will leave an eyeball behind on a church spire.............!)  lol

Title: Re: Silent Invader's Aliens Game redux - in the dark!
Post by: Weird WWII on January 29, 2012, 06:24:23 PM

Looks fantastic!

Great stuff,
Brian

Title: Re: Silent Invader's Aliens Game redux - in the dark!
Post by: Clearco on January 29, 2012, 06:27:30 PM

Really astonishing!!
Cracking stuff, for real.

Title: Re: Silent Invader's Aliens Game redux - in the dark!
Post by: Hauptgefreiter on January 29, 2012, 06:29:28 PM

COOOOL!  :-*

Title: Re: Silent Invader's Aliens Game redux - in the dark!
Post by: Silent Invader on January 29, 2012, 08:16:49 PM

Thanks for taking and posting up the images Cap'n B - it was a great day of gaming.  :-)

Title: Re: Silent Invader's Aliens Game redux - in the dark!
Post by: aggro84 on January 30, 2012, 02:43:33 AM

Looks like you guys really had a good time.

Aliens and Terminators?

Those poor Marines.

Title: Re: Silent Invader's Aliens Game redux - in the dark!
Post by: Faber on January 30, 2012, 09:50:56 AM

I'd really like to play a game like that  :o Wonderful board.
What a quality!  :-*
guys...you are really lucky. Thanks for sharing Captain!

cheers
Faber

Title: Re: Silent Invader's Aliens Game redux - in the dark!
Post by: aircav on January 30, 2012, 11:49:10 AM

Looks brilliant  :D :D

Title: Re: Silent Invader's Aliens Game redux - in the dark!
Post by: DFlynSqrl on January 30, 2012, 12:28:43 PM

Well done.  Looks like a lot of fun. 

Title: Re: Silent Invader's Aliens Game redux - in the dark!
Post by: Damas on January 30, 2012, 02:38:27 PM

Ooh, jealous!  I want to play the game again.  I suppose I'll have to wait until BLAM 2012. :(

The in-game lighting really brings out the full character of the game.  :-*

Title: Re: Silent Invader's Aliens Game redux - in the dark!
Post by: Cosmotiger on January 30, 2012, 03:01:33 PM

Game over, man! Game over! 

You've really captured the atmosphere of Aliens with the lighting effects.  (Although I did notice that the colony appears to have a giant light saber in the back room)>  lol

Title: Re: Silent Invader's Aliens Game redux - in the dark!
Post by: NickNascati on January 30, 2012, 07:17:12 PM

Wow, what a neat idea.  Really creates a creepy atmosphere. Add some background noises and you'd have some seriously spooked gamers!

Title: Re: Silent Invader's Aliens Game redux - in the dark!
Post by: Marine0846 on February 10, 2012, 09:42:44 PM

I sure missed this one, when it was first posted.
Excellent photos of what looks like a great game.
Looks like it could be part of a movie set.
 :-* :-* :-*

Title: Re: Silent Invader's Aliens Game redux - in the dark!
Post by: uti long smile on February 10, 2012, 11:26:25 PM

Outstanding.

Title: Re: Silent Invader's Aliens Game redux - in the dark!
Post by: Sangennaru on February 11, 2012, 12:13:11 AM

i'm impressed. I have to make something similar, soon or later! I've already bought the ligt bulbs, it's just a matter of time!

Title: Re: Silent Invader's Aliens Game redux - in the dark!
Post by: Wirelizard on February 11, 2012, 05:59:23 AM

At least five years ago, I tripped over an Aliens fan-site that had ripped, from DVD, the "missing" soundtrack that didn't make it onto the Official Soundtrack CD. Having bought and ripped that CD and combined it with the "missing" tracks, I have the full soundtrack to play during skirmish games.

We haven't done SF skirmish games in a few years, but it's creepy as hell having the full score of Aliens playing while you're gaming. Especially if you're two or three drinks into the evening...

Doing it on a work of gaming art like this LED-equipped board would raise the tension (and the pure awesome) to dangerous levels. Hmm, somewhere around here I have a soldering iron and a baggie of mixed LEDs and resistors!

Title: Re: Silent Invader's Aliens Game redux - in the dark!
Post by: Silent Invader on February 11, 2012, 08:37:41 AM

Hmmm... I was certain I made a post on here late last night.  Maybe I fell asleep before finishing it, maybe I just dreamt it. Weird! Anyways....

Thanks for all the comments.

Captain Blood made a huge effort with the photography taking many, many more photos than he has been able to share. :-(

The game has been designed for play in the dark, which means the general terrain has to be rather dark and dull or otherwise it just reflects available light and diminishes the atmosphere. I originally painted the complex a light grey (as might be the reality) but it just didn't work.

Malamute was our generous host and he kindly provided the Aliens soundtrack, which really did encourage tension, making me jump a few times (not too surprising as the score was written to add atmosphere!).

One other thing worth explaining is that it was easy to overlook minis that were on the table. The combination of shadows and  walls meant that - depending on where the player was seated - minis could be hidden from view and overlooked.

Title: Re: Silent Invader's Aliens Game redux - in the dark!
Post by: joroas on February 11, 2012, 08:58:16 AM

Lovely, I bet that game was spooky............... :o

Title: Re: Silent Invader's Aliens Game redux - in the dark!
Post by: commissarmoody on June 20, 2012, 09:54:09 AM

This was pretty cool! Now you need to do one based off of the game Dead Space  lol

Title: Re: Silent Invader's Aliens Game redux - in the dark!
Post by: Kestrel on June 20, 2012, 12:29:23 PM

I'd missed this previously, I remember seeing it at BLAM, but I see we had too much light to appreciate it's true majesty.

As to missing models because of the darkness, even better so long as it wasn't a xeno coming up behind you that you missed. 8)

Title: Re: Silent Invader's Aliens Game redux - in the dark!
Post by: SBRPearce on June 20, 2012, 01:41:06 PM

Do they still make those novelty key-fobs that generate machinegun and rocket launcher sound effects at the press of a button? A couple of those would add to the audio atmosphere.

I wish I could play on a board like this. Magnificent!

Title: Re: Silent Invader's Aliens Game redux - in the dark!
Post by: Lindegaard2007 on June 21, 2012, 05:22:59 PM

Awsome:-)
What rules did you use??

Title: Re: Silent Invader's Aliens Game redux - in the dark!
Post by: Silent Invader on June 21, 2012, 10:20:36 PM

Thanks for the comments  :)

I'm working on a sound engine at the mo   ;)

The rules are my own - I am using the same mechanics for all the genres I play.  There's a copy attached to one of my posts on p4 of the following thread:

http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=34770.45 (http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=34770.45)

Title: Re: Silent Invader's Aliens Game redux - in the dark!
Post by: demi_morgana on June 22, 2012, 06:34:11 AM

Epic! :-*
I was wondering how to take nice dark pictures from the game - looks like using leds is good idea.
Thanks!

Title: Re: Silent Invader's Aliens Game redux - in the dark!
Post by: Dentatus on June 22, 2012, 12:54:37 PM

Nice job. That's how gaming is supposed to be.