Khurasan previews the 15mm Taurans

[Khurasan Miniatures]

We're very pleased to give you the first peek at the Taurans, one of the warrior races in the Carnivoran Hegemony, as the Garn euphemistically refer to their imperial possessions outside the Confederation.  There are eight poses of these huge, powerful flesh eaters -- five with Stogg Gun, Two with Stogg Cannon, and a Herdmaster.



The Taurans are feared predators on Tauros, usually loners but sometimes congregating to share massed prey, as crocodiles will on Earth when a herd of wildebeest is crossing a river.  As such, they may not be cunning unit strategists, but at least they do not attack each other in the battle line.  

These dim-witted, ferocious creatures want nothing more than to fly at the closest prey species and tear it to pieces with their bare hands, which creates something of a dilemma for their Garn masters, but with their normal cold-blooded efficiency the Garn have found a way to get the Taurans to shoot themselves into combat.  Normal weapons felt puny in the hands of the Taurans, who tossed them aside and ran straight into the enemy's waiting guns. So the Garn developed the Stogg Gun, an energy weapon that does not require fussy reloading, and, more importantly, is made immensely heavy by bars of solid lead attached on either edge of the weapon.  As a result, the Stogg Gun is so heavy that it slows even the titanically powerful Taurans -- the weight feels substantial enough in their hands that they will hold onto it as they close to combat, for the Taurans never refuse a challenge to their physical strength.  In order to support the formidable weight of the lead bars, the Stogg Gun's frame has to be manufactured of stabilised osmium, making it quite expensive, especially as stores of osmium are more readily found in Federation space.

The Taurans love their Stogg Guns, because no one else can pick them up, they make a satisfyingly loud blast as they are discharged (a sound effect added by some clever Garn engineer rather than caused by the action of the weapon), and they function as amazing clubs at close range, cracking the thickest carapace armour with ease.  The Stogg Cannon was then developed to increase the stormherd's firepower, an even larger and heavier weapon which has two settings for either a high rate of fire or slower rate with increased armour penetration.  Much to the surprise of the Garn, the Taurans turned out to be fair shots, although their first preference remains hand to hand combat.

In addition to smashing opponents flat with their Stogg Guns, the Taurans carry a carving knife, a weapon the size of a broadsword to human eyes, so they can cut hunks of flesh off of their enemies and devour them right in the midst of battle.

The Garn created complete carapace armour for the Taurans but the Taurans immediately tear most of it off and discard it as too constricting.  The average Tauran in the field usually has only one or two bits of armour remaining from his original full suit.

The Garn use Taurans both as cannon fodder and terror troops, a unique combination in one warrior race.  They salute the bravery and battle lust of the Taurans, if occasionally rolling their eyes at the predicaments the Taurans frequently bring on themselves as a result of their bull-headedness.  The Felids, the most common line troopers of Hegemonic armies, hate serving alongside Taurans, as they detest the crude stupidity and lack of honour of the Taurans as well as their undiscriminating carnivory, and because Tauran impetuosity is the antithesis of the Felid way of systematically stalking and isolating the foe.

These are the first models that will be released in the reboot of the Carnivoran range -- the enormous GAU (Garn Assault Unit), the superheavy war unit of the Garn, will be released at the same time.  Stay tuned for future developments!  Thanks for looking -- models painted by Spacejacker.

[Brummie]

Excellent! Been hoping for some space moos to fill in for a faction of mine until I can fill in the gaps myself! Personally I'd have them more armoured, but they'll do!

[The_Beast]

I actually think I'd prefer them without the horns, but if I ever so modify a set, I promise to keep it to myself. 

Any guess as to ETA?

Oh, and I suppose you could make up some 'parade' Taurans with full armor...

Just to keep Brummie happy. You can still have action poses; not like they'd actually ever stand at attention.

Doug

[Brummie]

Thankyou Beast, I'd buy them too, but you know, everything just becomes so much cooler in armour...

[stone-cold-lead]

Like those. Reminds me a little of the old 40K Minotaurs.

[Cacique Caribe]

Or perhaps this?



http://www.flickr.com/photos/9593487@N07/sets/72157604647689745/

http://theminiaturespage.com/boards/msg.mv?id=276897

Dan

[Michka]

Those Tau conversions are so cool! Makes me want to try my hand at a Tau head swap. Great idea!

[The_Beast]

Thankyou Beast, I'd buy them too, but you know, everything just becomes so much cooler in armour...

Well, with a chainmail bikini, anything other than shoulder pads...

And, yes, I'm sure there's plenty of images on the net to make me rue those words. I suppose it's inevitable someone will be so tedious as to post some.

@Dan, I had to go search up Tau before I could accept the 'feet' as standard. They SO work with the head swap!

After seeing yet another rant on anthropomorphic aliens, I'm wondering if these could be torso-swapped into centaur...

Any appropriate bull bodies in 15mm around?

Doug

[Ajsalium]

Well, with a chainmail bikini, anything other than shoulder pads...

And, yes, I'm sure there's plenty of images on the net to make me rue those words. I suppose it's inevitable someone will be so tedious as to post some.

Here you have, then...

[Steve F]

Good lord.

I'm sure I'll regret asking, but where does that mini come from, Ajsalium?

[Conquistador]

An improvement on the Reviresco Taurans (spelling?) figures.

Gracias,

Glenn

[Ajsalium]

Good lord.

I'm sure I'll regret asking, but where does that mini come from, Ajsalium?

It's made by Reaper Miniatures:
http://www.reapermini.com/Miniatures/zodiac/latest/03320

Click here for a painted version:
http://www.reapermini.com/InspirationGallery/3320/latest/

[Dolmot]

Any relation to the Taurans of Haldeman's "The Forever War"?

[The_Beast]

Any relation to the Taurans of Haldeman's "The Forever War"?

Pretty sure that was related to a star/constellation's name, not the body type of the enemy, but that was a long read ago.

Edit: Confirmation: http://www.cinemaspy.com/spotlight/drawing-on-imagination-the-forever-war-concept-art-4803/

@Ajsalium My main worry is someone will come up with an image of a fellow of my age and girth attired as such. Less shocking than tedious, as I indicated. Actually, I like the figure. May order it through the shop. Thanks for the tip!

Doug