[15mm] Ockman's Sci-fi, update 240203: Why 15mm gaming is best

[Ockman]

Thyrax the Swift by Oscar Falk, on Flickr

Thyrax the Swift sneaks up on a possible threat by Oscar Falk, on Flickr

She hadn't been the largest hatchling of the brood, but size isn't everything. Most often, the larger hatchlings devour the smaller ones, and cunning hatchlings tend to survive as well, hiding and tricking the less sly ones. The nurses had seen from the start that Thyrax had something else. She might not have been as cunning or strong as the others, but she was alert and swift. Whenever a larger hatchling pounced, or a tricky one tried to lure her into a trap, Thyrax sensed the danger and managed to escape it in a flash.

Surviving into maturity, Thyrax puzzled her community by her specific set of strengths. She didn't fit in; she was quick but not bright, she could fight but not hard. She led a scouting unit during her military service, but after several engagements where she had (according to her squadmates) 'acted preemptively', she had been relieved of her duty. Thyrax herself saw it differently; she had neutralised the threat before her slow squadmates had even been aware there was one.

Following her military service, Thyrax began travelling United Government space, selling her services to the highest (or most interesting) bidder. She held a wide assortment of jobs, often as a bodyguard or a lookout. Thyrax came to join Captain Biro's crew by mistake ("I didn't know that 'Thyrax the Swift' wasn't an actual flying-lizard Swift!"), but the skills she brought was highly valued by her new crewmates. Sure, sometimes she acts without informing the rest of them, but if that saves them from being ambushed or lets Thyrax attack when an opportunity arises, the crew is okay with that...


Thyrax encounters a Hulker by Oscar Falk, on Flickr

Thyrax the Swift by Oscar Falk, on Flickr

Thyrax and the giant gourd by Oscar Falk, on Flickr

[DivisMal]

Brillant as usual, Ochman! I love the fluff and admire your execution.

[CookAndrewB]

Ah, yes, something truly alien. I love it. That gets my sculpting juices flowing!

[Ockman]

Brillant as usual, Ochman! I love the fluff and admire your execution.

Ah, yes, something truly alien. I love it. That gets my sculpting juices flowing!

Thank you, friends!

I'm most happy with how well the fluff describes the character I rolled up:

- Feral (less chance of losing "Seize the initiative" rolls, with a higher risk of her acting on her own device)
- Military Outpost
- Discovery
- Ganger

She has a massive Reaction value of 3 (which is great for getting to act early in a turn)

[Cacique Caribe]

Ockman, YOU are the man!

Dan

[War Monkey]

Gerat background for the new crew member! Plus, great work on the paint work too.

[Ockman]

Ockman, YOU are the man!

Dan

Thanks, Dan!

Gerat background for the new crew member! Plus, great work on the paint work too.

Thanks, Doug! I'm happy myself!

[Cacique Caribe]

Ockman

What figure is Thyrax, what range?  Thanks

Dan

[Ockman]

Ockman

What figure is Thyrax, what range?  Thanks

Dan

It's a mini from Khurasan Miniatures Jasmine Throne Foreign Battalion range (pack JTFB3).

[Cacique Caribe]

Thanks!!!

Dan
PS.  Found it:

[Ockman]

It's been a while since I posted anything here, but I have been busy!

I have become obsessed with building spaceships for my crews to travel in, to use as terrain and objectives. I've mainly been focusing on smaller ships (not the ones where you can play games on the interior set of a ship, although I've got one of those in the works). One is finished, but I haven't been taking photos or written any stories about it.

I'm still thinking about whether I should paint the ships in generic paintjobs, making it possible to easier use them for different things, or if I should be a bit more specific and flavourful, and if needed, use them as proxies (if I need a certain kind of ship)...

I have built:
- Lander
- Fighter
- Breacher

Lander WIP by Oscar Falk, on Flickr

Lander WIP by Oscar Falk, on Flickr

Fighter WIP by Oscar Falk, on Flickr

Breacher WIP by Oscar Falk, on Flickr

Breacher WIP by Oscar Falk, on Flickr

[CookAndrewB]

Love it all, but that Breacher is particularly inspired. I may swipe that idea if I can ever find the time to do some 3d design work again AND my 3d printers get back in action. I've been awaiting parts for my FDM printer since October. It has been a comedy of errors from the start, so I'm many months without one of my favorite toys.

It has returned me to scratch building, but I've mostly focused my efforts on updating and adding to my post-apoc terrain.

Always good to see you back in the swing of it!

[Scarper]

Wow, that's some inspired plastruct work! I'd be inclined to go for something specific and flavourful, especially if it's designed around a particular crew. You could always make more to do the generic thing, right? 

[zrunelord]

Nice scratchbuilding work Ockman.
Good to have you back.
Must get me some of those Khurasan aliens.
Thanks for sharing.
Z

[Ockman]

Thanks, friends!

Love it all, but that Breacher is particularly inspired. I may swipe that idea if I can ever find the time to do some 3d design work again AND my 3d printers get back in action.

I think of it as a salvage vessel, powerful electromagnets lock on to the ship (or hulk), after which the industrial strength power beams cut a hole in the hull. The frontal doors open and a crew can enter the ship. Originally, this was designed for rescue operations, where personell could be rescued, even if they were stuck in areas of the ship where there were no access points. Later on, salvage crews started to use them on space hulks for easy access, and pirates started using them to board unsuspecting vessels...

Wow, that's some inspired plastruct work! I'd be inclined to go for something specific and flavourful, especially if it's designed around a particular crew. You could always make more to do the generic thing, right? 

Yeah, I think that I will go specific. The only thing I am thinking about is whether I should make both the fighter and the breacher pirate craft (my "Crimson Reaver" crew), or if I should let the fighter be used by yet another faction. I am leaning towards the latter.

Nice scratchbuilding work Ockman.
Good to have you back.
Must get me some of those Khurasan aliens.
Thanks for sharing.
Z

Thanks Z! Your cardboard builds have been an inspiration!