Weird war project 2010, need some good idea’s!

[YPU]

I am deciding upon what project ill center upon in 2010 besides my normal warhammer expanses.
The project hat currently holds my favor is weird war II. But I am not yet entirely set what direction I want to go with it.
First of, 28/25mm I am sure of, since that’s what all my opponents like.
I will be using savage worlds showdown as I feel most comfortable with designing and balancing in that. and its free, well actually I am also avidly awaiting the companion that will have many additional rules and options.

Anyhow, I trying to decide upon what armies and units I will try to get together this year.
I think I will try to get four small forces together, for those interesting team up battles.
I am also planning to do a somewhat balanced army list thingy, the plan so far.

The idea is that all war magic is fundamentally evil, no matter what side is using it.

CO, the military guy in charge. Easy.
Mage, all armies should have magic available, I’ll try to split the spells between them.
Group specific, i.e. a samurai or whatever.

+ Normal unit, yep, your typical group of soldiers for the army.

+ Mad science unit,.

+ Supernatural unit. Magic or mystic origins unit, ninja qualify for this.

+ individual or weapon team, snipers or HMG’s something to ad in some more normal units.

+ Vehicle, I don’t plan to use tanks, as they tend to draw to much attention to themselves, open topped transports might work.

+ Monster modelt, a troll or something like that, could be both magic or technological in nature.

Now what armies would be most interesting?
Germans, have to have these guys, I think I could use power armor space marines as science unit and I love the idea of zombies as supernatural unit.

American, I was thinking about what to do with these guys, I could use Native American shamans, but that didn’t sound to exiting to me. Instead, going with the all magic is evil idea I decided that America will be into deep one cultists, freeing up some interesting units.

Soviet union. Not sure about what I will do with these guys, but I think they make the most logical other ally. Winter magic has a nice ring to it tough. Battlefield control with storms etz.

For the second axis I am thinking Japan or Italy, Japanese have a all those nice cliché’s I can pick from ninja samurai etz. On the other hand the idea of Italy borrowing from the roman empire seems like les trodden but very interesting ground.

So any suggestions for units, any suggestions for forces, good suggestions for minie’s always welcome as well of course!

[Will Bailie]

The A-Team was from the Vietnam War, but could easily be remodelled for 1940s era.  Other way to do the Yanks is with Sgt Rock-types (and Eureka has some great figures for that) and a haunted Stuart tank that is capable of knocking out King Tigers with its 37mm pop gun.

I'll put in a plug for a Canadian force, with the special unit being Sasquatch or Wendigo (look at Wargods line for some appropriate miniatures).  Or maybe a British Empire combined force, which would let you pick and choose between all the cultures of the UK, Canada, India (India alone would give you a pretty amazing force with Sikhs and Gurkhas as the regular troops, and swamis and other mystics for the supernaturals), New Zealand, South Africa, Australia, Caribbean islands, East Africa, West Africa, Hong Kong (proto-Bruce Lee martial artists!), and more.

You could have an interesting Jewish force, with the regulars based on the Jewish Brigade, but with the support of a group of Kabalistic Rabbis (a golem would be a good equaliser when taking on Nazi superscience).

[white knight]

Well, you can see my take on WW2 civilian zombies here: http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=11988.0

And some of my Weird War Japanese, Americans and Germans here (click on the different categories):
http://whiteknight.skynetblogs.be/category/1466250/1/Weird+War+II+Germans

[YPU]

White knight, I actually thing it was your Japanese that got me thinking on this project.

Will, I might just make a Indian force, Gurkhas (fear causing of course) going into hand to hand with german zombies is indeed very much if the style I’m going for.

I plan to avoid named characters or imitations thereof. For me they tend to take away from the fun for me.

[YPU]

I had some spare time so I did a quick conversion on a space marine, giving him a gun that looks like a MG08

Now on the paint scheme I am not entirely sure, I tried a panzer grey scheme with a red and black shoulderpad and the other a german cross. I cant say I find this to work. It might look good in a unit of a few, but I’m not feeling it right now. I want to avoid the stereotype black armor but it might just be better then what I have now.

[Scorpio]

You should have Britain as well. Maybe high elemental magic? Earth, air, fire, and water mages could each have different abilities (and weaknesses.)

Alternately, leprechauns.

[former user]

John Birmingham WWII trilogy - no magic, but lots of WWWII ideas

[Agis]

John Birmingham WWII trilogy - no magic, but lots of WWWII ideas

The Axis of Time triology is indeed a very fine series of books, but IMO definately NOT weird war.
It is pure alternate history. No Zombies, no magic etc.

Just 21st century tech in 1942.

[former user]

right, forgot that weird WWII has to include all kind of disgusting gory stuff 

anyway, 21st C in WWII is not bad for a start as inspiration IMHO

[Hauptgefreiter]

I propose a look at the "Return to Castle Wolfenstein" computer game
For 28mm minis, i suggest you look here
http://www.westwindproductions.co.uk/catalog/index.php?infoBox=0&cPath=126&osCsid=7753032b0e9ae945323dbbf36cd142a1 Secrets of the Third Reich and Incursion
http://whattheminiatures.com/: some special characters
https://cipher-studios.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=22_23&zenid=fdf7e16889de8172856b1a378f2cdc94: AE-WW2

[commissarmoody]

You beat me to posting both thouse ideas up Hauptgefreiter

[white knight]

Actually, for minis look here: http://wk.frothersunite.com/sc/pulp/weirdwar.htm 

[Scorpio]

right, forgot that weird WWII has to include all kind of disgusting gory stuff 

The original poster did in fact mention magic, mad science, and the supernatural. Which takes it from alternate history into the realm of weird war.

[former user]

 

[YPU]

Well between those I should find anything I need.

I want to have a theme for every army, but I think that all armies should dabble both in magic and technology, trying to be stronger then the others on every front .however the feel of both tech and magic should vary for every army.

I might just add in cohort units, interesting units from armies I do not use. Four forces is stretching my resources a bit, six would be to much, but all of the six big ones have potential, so this way I can field something of all.

The Americans magic will come from the Insmouth Officers Academy and Research Institute. (or something with a more sinister acronym if I can think of it.) spells will mainly be mind control fear and grasping tentacles.
 Perhaps technology from Roswell, not sure yet.

The Germans will have pinnacle body altering magic. Healing, boosting and reanimating soldiers. Technology I am once again not sure of.
I will give them motorcycle combinations, and perhaps some halftrack to move zombies.
Allied Italians in modernized roman soldier attire, big shields and machine pistols.

Then either British or Russians, for the British I can see a theme but no magic, for the Russians I can see winter magic but no real theme beyond that.

Then the Italians/Japanese. Somewhat similar theme on these, I think the rising sun would be easier to get a hold of the correct miniatures.