My Last stand game - who would you have defending?

[Germy]

As you may or may not know I'm in the process of scratch building 100 Robots like this

for a game I am putting on at my clubs open day this year.
Club details and a look at last years Open Day here

The plan is for a Rorkes Drift / Last stand scenario. I will have the defenders (3 or 4 squads, about 16 mini's) in some sort of compound trying to hold out
againts the 100 robots!

My original plan was to use my good old human troopers

to face the robot menace. But as I was sorting out the miniatures I came across my organic alien mini's and my terminator style robots.
  
Now I'm wondering if I should break the mould a bit and have either of these as the defenders?

What appeals the most? Stick with Humanity against the cyber hordes? Organic based aliens against the mechanical menace? Or the last stand of the Terminators in an AI vs AI stand off?

[Germy]

Scurv, that's more a game of custom designed robots fighting other robots.
Is that a vote for the Machine on Machine idea?

Although if I do that one, the defenders will be almost sentient AI with the horde being rather restricted more primitive AI working to a set number of actions depending on situation.

[blacksoilbill]

I'd put in a vote for humans. More empathy for and identification with the heroic defenders if they're 'like us'.

[Puuka]

Those are so cool. Must steal. Same with the Tri-pod

[Germy]

I'd put in a vote for humans. More empathy for and identification with the heroic defenders if they're 'like us'.

I know what you mean, I was also thinking of giving the humans names from the real battle of Rorkes Drift just to push that point.

[aliensurfer]

'Although if I do that one, the defenders will be almost sentient AI with the horde being rather restricted more primitive AI working to a set number of actions depending on situation.'

how about switching it around? give a couple of players a mass of the basic robots, tell them to construct a program for the battle to try and out do the advanced AI defending. Do they work together to achieve it by clever use of programs, or do they all try for the glory themselves? Would be different. Of course, doing it this way means you can use humans and still be doing something different.

If you go with my idea you can have it for free this time 

[nils]

HUMANS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
robot vs robot they dont fell/fear

[Germy]

how about switching it around? give a couple of players a mass of the basic robots, tell them to construct a program for the battle to try and out do the advanced AI defending. Do they work together to achieve it by clever use of programs, or do they all try for the glory themselves? Would be different. Of course, doing it this way means you can use humans and still be doing something different.

Blimey that's very cerebral of you mate 
Nice idea but I want something people can pick up on the day.

HUMANS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
robot vs robot they dont fell/fear

I know, I'd have to do something clever to replace morale otherwise it would just be a fight to the death. 

[FramFramson]

I'll mix it up with a vote for organic aliens. In a robots vs organics fight, people will still readily identify with the organics, but you still have a nice twist.

[The_Beast]

I'd really like to see a small, mixed group. Dead hard humans, AI's with random foibles that appear human, and a few aliens NO ONE is sure of.

More Magnificent Seven than Rorke's Drift, I suppose...

Doug

[Germy]

Now that's an idea ... Seven super characters 

I think the reality of this game is that I'm going to have to run it several times with each of these ideas!

[Duke Donald]

This is looking great. I would definitely go for humans myself as my ability to empathize with anything that has bolts or tentacles is limited. It would be great if you could give a feel of "Seven Samurai / Magnificent Seven". I would give to each player a single miniature with a unique set of skills and flaws (HMG, sniper, medic, mechanic, hacker, psychic ...). This could help a narrative to emerge and force the players to make some tough decision on whether to save their skin first or help the group.

[sean_68333]

Very nice models.  I would like to see the humans on defense, but maybe throw in a group of aliens as an ally or mix them in the squads.  I'm thinking of an intergalactic mixed military force with recruits from multiple worlds. 

You could use the Terminators mixed in with the attackers.

What I would really like to see is a tutorial on how you scratch-built the robots. 

[Germy]

What I would really like to see is a tutorial on how you scratch-built the robots. 

Now that I can do

[The_Beast]

I'm thinking I'm seeing some electronic connectors on the arms.

'Caps' look almost like pipe end covers, or for table legs.

The 'legs', not a clue.

Anything close, Jeremy?

For pointers, Sean, what you SHOULD be asking is about his Cimexians... 

http://www.brigademodels.co.uk/6mmSF/Cimexian.html

http://www.brigademodels.co.uk/Spaceships/Cimexian.html

Doug