[5 Parsecs] - Bullshott in Space - crew of the Sun Chaser added

[Bullshott]

This thread will cover my attempts to play a Five Parsecs from Home set in the universe of the late 70s/early 80s TV series Blake's Seven.

This campaign is set after the conclusion of the Blake's Seven series, set against the background of a much-weakened Terran Federation trying to take control of breakaway outer worlds.

Background

The Intergalactic War in the third century of the second calendar saw the forces of the Terran Federation defeat the invading Andromedan fleet. However, this was at the cost of the destruction of 80% of the Federation fleet and the loss of the Star One supercomputer that controlled transportation, communications and weather on hundreds of Federation worlds.

The region of space on the edge of the Outer Worlds formerly controlled by the Federation is commonly known as the Fringe. In the aftermath of the war, the huge military losses allowed many of the Outer Worlds to shake off the tolalitarian Federation's yoke. For some worlds this freedom was short-lived as the diminished Federation forces conducted a rapid campaign to reconquer them. During this period, political intrigue within the Federation's upper echelons saw President Servalan deposed and a cull of those most loyal to her.

Soon after this, free worlds started coming back under Federation influence at a high rate. This was due to the Pacification Programme, under which whole populations were drugged with the pacification drug Pylene-50. This programme effectively came to an end when the rebel worlds acquired the means to mass-produce a vaccine to the drug. Following the ending of the Pacification Programme the Federation's efforts to re-assimilate lost outer worlds has effectively stalled, as their fleet has had to re-deploy to counter the threat of incursions from (what were once considered minor) alien races from beyond the fringe worlds. The only recent good news for the Federation at this point was that the infamous terrorist (or freedom fighter, depending on your point of view) Roj Blake was confirmed as being killed by Federation forces on the planet Guada Prime.

The power vacuum created by the loss of Federation control amongst many worlds on the Fringe has spawned a plethora of new planetary governments (of various levels of loyalty to the Federation), as well as various rebel factions determined to take their fight to the Federation, mercenaries after a fast credit, pirates and adventurers seeking fame and fortune.

Page 1 - Background
Page 1 - Federation troops
Page 1 - Local Security/Rebels types
Page 2 - Crew of the Sun Chaser added

[Bullshott]

In terms of gaming the B7 universe with Five Parsecs, the obvious difference is that Unity is replaced by the totalitarian Terran Federation, so this seems like the obvious place to start.

Two companies supply suitable figures to represent the Federation rank and file troops:


These were originally manufactured by Crooked Dice, but are now available from Beast in the Broch (who also sell crew figures for the Liberator and Scorpio)


CP Models also do a nice collection of Federation troops. The heavy weapon trooper is a conversion using weapon and arms from the Stargrave plastic Scavengers set.


The two ranges are close enough to use on the same table, but with sufficient differences in style to allow me to use them to represent two different (and easily identifiable) units.
The 2nd, 4th and 6th figures in the line-up are from CP Models. The rest are Crooked Dice/Beast in the Broch. The figure on the right is the Crooked Dice sculpt of a Federation mutoid (more of these later).

In terms of Five Parsecs rules, the Federation troops are treated as Unity grunts, except that they are always armed with Blast Rifles. Lieutenants are armed with Blast Rifle and Blast Pistol. Specialists roll for their weapon as normal.

[Grumpy Gnome]

Sounds like a brilliant project! I have only seen a little of Blake‘s 7 but what I saw was quite compelling, in a Tom Baker Dr. Who kind of way.

[Bullshott]

Sounds like a brilliant project! I have only seen a little of Blake‘s 7 but what I saw was quite compelling, in a Tom Baker Dr. Who kind of way.

Ignoring the low budget production and concentrating on published lore actually gives a perfect campaign setting, especially if set after the conclusion of the series. Lots of independent worlds and a Federation struggling to regain control (struggling particularly hard, as I'll be adding pirates and interested alien races on the Federation borders, all trying to take advantage of the Federation's loss of influence). With only two of the cast having escaped the series unscathed I don't even have to enclude them, except for maybe the occasional mention.

[Spinal Tap]

Looking forward to this. I only have vague memories of the show but expect you'll pull it off exceptionally.

[Tactalvanic]

can't ignore a bit of Blake's 7.

Duly notification set and +1 looking forward to what you do with this very much.

[Bloggard]

great stuff.
this should be really good. look forward to further developments.

[nozza_uk]

I like your Federation troopers.

If you want to bulk out your army, you can get 3d printed versions of them on the likes of Etsy and other places.

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1070827406/space-federation-troops-and-robots-28mm?click_key=a17b6223e2cd039d3e44406604371286f7b7ce70%3A1070827406&click_sum=cefa9759&ga_search_query=federation&ref=shop_items_search_3

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1146019896/space-federation-set-2-28mm-scale-3d?click_key=720005083fe869d08bbe89fd7aa02c9e8b1b1ccd%3A1146019896&click_sum=8b5c9288&ga_search_query=federation&ref=shop_items_search_2

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1284485597/28mm-officers-and-robots-x10?click_key=104fdaa51640b503d2f3918e582899f036e97c91%3A1284485597&click_sum=536024a6&ref=shop_home_active_7&pro=1

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1270466998/28mm-troopers-and-robots-x10?click_key=c2e92b55b0bfe68927190d072758ae53ace3df2d%3A1270466998&click_sum=82c27043&ref=shop_home_active_6&pro=1

[Mad Lord Snapcase]

Looking forward to following this, great idea!

[Bullshott]

@nozza_uk - thanks for the links. However, I have enough Federation troopers for my current needs. I currently need to add other armed factions as opposition for my crew. Talking of which ...


These are head-changed CP Models Fed Troopers. The chap with the heavy weapon is a conversion using a Stargrave plastic Scavengers gun and arms.

These will be used for a variety of roles; including corporate security, local enforcers and rebels. I went for these figures because I wanted them armed with Federation-style weapons and dressed in coveralls (to match the BBC aesthetic for dressing extras, i.e. do it on the cheap and stick them in overalls!

[Doug ex-em4]

Never saw Blake 7 but I can tell this is going to be topic to follow. I’m looking forward to seeing how it goes and how the 5 Parsecs rules handle the campaign.

Doug

[Grumpy Gnome]

Looking good!

[Commander Roj]

I loved Blames 7. The ex Crooked Dice miniatures have been appealing to me for ages. I can't understand why B7 hasn't been reimagined for TV, it's mix of oppression and paranoia seem just right...which makes me wonder if we are 're-living the '70's. 5 Parsecs is great and seems just right for this project. I'm sat Bing with interest since there doesn't seem any chance of a reboot any time soon.

[Tactalvanic]

there have been several attempts to "redo" a blake 7 but I think like other Great British Sci-Fi

They fail miserably at "getting it", and added to that unlike Dr Who, it does not have the same level of global distribution or recognition.

Butt.. Disney and the latest with Dr Who and their involvement in getting into Sci FI franchises and spreading them as thin as possible..I mean expanding the Universes.

Just like doing marvel movies based on 1980's comics..

They might be willing to throw money at any old BBC Franchise they can..

Probably the original will still be better than their spin-offs but.. who knows?

Meh - lets have some quality AARs and minis and gaming imagination in the meantime?

[Sgt_T]

Yes! A Blake's Seven thread.
I'm a fan of the series and am looking forward to seeing more of your B7 stuff.

T.