The legendary Thuloid's gold

If you're reading this, you might be interested in a solid and fairly wide-ranging batch of discussions going on at Thuloid's latest post at the House, all assisted by that gleaming new Disqus plug-in.

The post looks at what makes a game interesting and the comments cover D&D and old school art, the aesthetics of GW's Age of Sigmar, the Iliad, Vampire, The World's End, Frozen, roleplaying the life enlisted, milking in the industry, and character history tables.

If you don't already know and you're a blogger, the House is a network you can join here.

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Pro-millinerial tension

Hats can be big in adventure fiction. Best known of all maybe is that myth made for Indiana Jones.

But how do we know how important they are, or more importantly when they've fallen off? In mass wargames, who cares? In skirmish games many might, and in tactical roleplay it could be critical, not least because there could be things under them. But where's the rule, or rather that option?

And what about wigs, bandannas or weirder, grimdarkling-ish things? The navigators of 40K have a third eye with an effect that in D&D and related games could be save or die: if it slips, we really need to know. They might be the season's must-have accessory - or not - and affect reactions. Here's a simple approach:

The Unbearable Lightness of Grimdark?

This particular thread is one of the more useful discussions on the aesthetic trends in 40K that I've seen in a while, going beyond level of detail, phwoar factor and producer ranking. It's at BoLS believe it or not, on a more or less ephemeral post.

One of the arguments corresponds to that idea that D&D is now its own set of reference points, which came up again with the nods to past fiction in fifth edition. A couple more:

 

The lit darkness - John Blanche and primeval parents

Two rather stunning thoughts struck me yesterday. I'm almost certainly not the first to think either of them, but given they're both related to gaming, and to each other in some way too, I thought I'd discuss them here. They concern living links to the past and future.

40K OSR? (19)

What's a 40K OSR? There's some basic info on 40K here and a definition or two for 'OSR' here.

Colonel Kane's logo is to the right, and ready for anyone who identifies with the idea. If you use it, consider giving him credit and adding Tales from the Maelstrom to your blogroll for the inspiration.

Like the Inq28 battle report posted yesterday, which also has news on a July event at GW HQ.

Here's the list, with a lot of new rules especially.

• As per yesterday, The M42 Project lives on, still looking to improve on 40K.

• Big Jim over at Adventures in Wargaming updated the Soul Reapers codex.

• Bryssling has core rules for Kill Team IV, and a fix for Necron destroyers.

• At Warpstone Flux jabberjabber posted a blended ruleset for Mighty and Planetary Empires and has the map and background for the campaign.

• Hum_Con at Wargames & Stuff looks at creativity and random tables, covering emergence and narrative in wargaming and Ghazghkull's history.
  

• At Do You Have A Flag? Headologist gives us rules for a space marine chariot attack bike - conversion here - and more on the world of Mawdryn.

• Brian at A Gentleman's Ones has a Killzone roster and trails the tables.

• At Confessions... dwez has the story of techno-archeologist Avro Vulcan.

• A while back I forget Dark Magenta's new Inquisitor pdf - the full list is here.

• At Spiky Rat.. izeColt finishes the Rifleman and okkiW begins Nicodemvs.

• Ron at From the Warp has another sculpting guide, this time scrollwork.

• At Heresy Workshop Will Wright explained how to make icicles, introduced the counts-as Sly Marbo and showed an old-and-new mixed entourage.

• Pedro Kantor at 2nd City Warzone has some mechanicus weapon teams.

• LuckyNo.5 continued the Mariners Blight nautical marines at Eye of Error.

• Godfrey at Rites of Battle looks at marine body size in concept and minis.

• Apocalypse 40K posted a preview for a possible pre-Heresy jetbike...

• ... while Desert Scribe at Super Galactic Dreadnought showed IG originals.

• Outremer has been posting part-sculpt Nurgle conversions at The Back 40K, including sorcerers and a dread, and just posted scratchbuilt vindicators.

• Warhammer in Progress posted ideas for spawn and wants obliterators. 

• ShotDownMind converted a batch of Dark Eldar grotesques from all kinds.

• Fine Detail Miniature Painting have been busy, with 1, 2 more video battle reports for Necromunda, an ash nomad with long rifle and some spyrers.

• Odd-Leg has another Necromunda report, this time a multi-player game.

• Linked with that, 40Korigins posted some work in progress hive terrain.

• Rictus at Recalcitrant Daze has three posts on an alternative to Forge World interiors - basics, scatter pieces and a setup - and no. 25 on the wagons.

• This time too there's a Ragnarok, a past build newly souped up by Hudson.

• TheAmbit posted plenty of conversions, including a buzz saw deffkopta, warbikes and an unusual deffrolla, as well as a scratchbuilt warhound.

• Mordian7th has a command trench built around a separated titan head.

• Wargaming Workshop finished the Epic Squats and moved on to the Eldar.
  

• Still with Squats, Tentakel Games posted a trio of classic images, showing Squat bikers, Khornate Chaos marines and a Bloodthirster with stats.

• And Space Crusade art keeps coming at All Things Fett, with 1, 2, 3 more. 

The usual applies: if I've missed anything at all, just leave a link, even to your own posts.

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Grilled Porky

The interview I did with Loquacious for the ID series is up here at World of Wonder. If you don't know the series, the subject is game design and it goes wide and deep. All of the interviews are here, and to anyone interested in gaming I recommend a good read. 

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40K OSR? (18)

The latest 40K OSR? update. What's an OSR?

Could be an Old School Renaissance, an Other School Renaissance or even an Optional School Renaissance, or not, and maybe the 'R' stands for 'Review', 'Revolution' or 'Revelation'. Maybe...

Colonel Kane's logo is to the right. If you use it, consider giving him credit and adding Tales from the Maelstrom to your blogroll for the inspiration.

Here we go then - even more of that inspiration.

• Big Jim at Adventures... talked more about Killzone Evolution, posted a house rules pdf and looked again at the wow factor and using GMs in 40K; his full interview with Loquacious is also up at World of Wonder, ...

• ...while Brian at A Gentleman's Ones covered KZ's missions and tokens...

• ... and the third full interview was Lantz, looking at the AdMech FanDex.

• Bryssling has hints for homebrew weapons and more on the Disciples.

• Overlooked last time were the custom missions and cards at Roll With It.

• Karitas at Excommunicate Traitoris has a three-way idea, with a H Mudd. 

• At Confessions... dwez has biomorph markers and looks at terrain setup.

• Zac's Gaming Blog has a second edition battle report, found via Musings.

• Fine Detail Miniature Painting posted the Necromunda video report that triggered the multi-system online campaign, as well more Necro painting and an ash nomad conversion, with the shrike, and a nomad long rifle.

• Loquacious also posted a Specialist Games-focused Top X with Von over at HoP and the very next day Von posted a thoughtful look at Inquisitor.
  

• At Kenzie's blog the action moves to a Deathwatch drop on the starport.

• There's a list of warbands and two mini reports up at Terminus Omega.

• TheAmbit has parts two and three of a Night Hawks tale; the first is here.

• At Warpstone Flux jabberjabber presented a Tyranid origin hypothesis...

• ... and Laughing Ferret has pics of a genestealer cult infantry squad.

• Drathmere at 40k Hobby Blog is scratchbuilding a Ragnarok - 1, 2 so far - ...

• ... Krisken at Scratchbuild 40K built then painted some Eldar platforms, ...

• ... Kamui showed a scratchbuilt opening drop pod at Creative Twilight, ...

• ... Rictus at Recalcitrant Daze put up 1, 2, 3, 4 more posts on Ork looted wagons, and 1, 2, 3 on the defensive walls, moulds for which are for sale, ...

• ... Apocalypse 40K gave us a look at a scratchbuilt Ork soopa stompa...

•  ... and at Heresy Workshop Will Wright made a salamander on a chimera.

• Scaling back down, Warhammer in Progress converted a demon prince, a great unclean one, cyberwolves and some cyclone missile launchers.

• More Nurgle at Rust and the city, where Cameron has some terminators and more plague marines, and looked at sculpting the belly plates.

• Brovatar finished the female C'Tan and a Necron overlord; court here.

• At Spiky Rat Pack izeColt introduced us to Skull Hopperre, a companion for Mutie Kul, and there's a new JB-inspired build underway, the Rifleman.

• And to finish, another Goatboy interview, also for ID at World of Wonder.

If I've overlooked anything this time round, feel free to leave a link - even your own work.

Update: I missed Ron's post at From the Warp on sculpting hair and beards, as well as this 28mm Inquisitor force at The Grim Darkness, of which there's even more here.

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40K OSR? (17)

Yet another batch of 40K OSR? links, because the posts are coming thick and fast. There are some definitions for 'OSR' here, but my current mood has me thinking 'Other School Revelation'.

Colonel Kane's logo is to the right. If you identify with the idea and want to use it, consider giving him the credit and adding the great Tales from the Maelstrom to your blogroll as an inspiration.

• The Hogs of War finished the fortress walls and posted 1, 2, 3 scenarios - the first for the table with the walls - and a set of 18 mission cards per player.

• Stealthy Stealth posted entries for fire warriors and the devilfish, the second part of the Tau Fandex being developed over at Creative Twilight.

• Brian has more Killzone design at A Gentleman's Ones, the themes, and Loquacious at World of Wonder posted the full interview for the ID series.

• The current army list challenge at Warpstone Flux uses deep darkness...

• ... and Odd-Leg played 'Space-Munda' with a new rule for flickering lights.

• Curis at Ninjabread looks at costing Squat thunderers in the current Epic.

• Gothmog has ideas for moving the history on at Sepulchre of Heroes.

• Bryssling has some unfinished fiction not posted at Rules Manufactorum.

• The DH campaign at Kenzie's blog reached an agriworld and a starport...

• ... and Gotthammer has an update on the RT campaign at Collegia Titanica.

• Ron over at From the Warp sculpted a Tyranid spore mine in greenstuff, ...

• ... Spikey Bits showed a screamer-killer conversion from the current kit...

• ... and LuckyNo.5 at Eye of Error posted a tutorial on sculpting tentacles, with thanks again to Dave G at Wargaming Tradecraft for putting up the link.

• For help casting your work, Tallarn at still practicing_ has an introduction.

• Krisken has part three on the DIY rhino chassis at Scratchbuild 40K...

• ... and Redscorps finished work on a modified design for the predator.

• One I missed last time is Fire Broadside! on alternative IG vehicles...

• ... and The March Rider at Codicium Aeternum also reviews a six-wheeler.

• Following all of which, I'll give a mention to my own crewbrew expansion.

• Brovatar is working on a female C'Tan, with parts here and a video here.

• Cameron at Rust and the city converted a plague marine champion, and the trio of WIP marines seen in that post are shown finished in this one.

• Warhammer in Progress shows 1, 2 obliterators built from starter set rat ogres, but if you prefer ready-made, The Hogs of War found a fine batch.

• Fine Detail Miniature Painting has some finished ash waste nomad conversions for Necromunda, with pics of the basecoated minis here.

• Rictus at Recalcitrant Daze posted part eight of the ongoing series on 3D printing defensive walls and 17 and 18 on converting Ork looted wagons.

• At Confessions... dwez added a terrain template to the archive page.

• At The Dark Workshop Cursed13 is building an spaceship hull turret.

• Infamous at Cobblestone Chaos looks at grocery store terrain materials.

• Apocalypse 40K has an update on the legal situation re Chapterhouse and Paulson Games and reports Quantum Gothic is back, with plenty of pics.

• Colonel Shofer linked to this solid video on the Pig Iron System Troopers.

• Steve at Bleaseworld posted 1, 2, 3, 4 batches of newly-painted early IG.

• Old School Terminator interviewed Goatboy over at Dark Future Games.
  

• There's an at-a-glance archive for the John Blanche art at gothic punk.

• For Old Stuff Day Griffit linked to a tumblr for the Rogue Trader era.

• And finally, another 1, 2 images from Space Crusade at All Things Fett.

You know how it works: if I've missed anything, just leave a link, even to your own posts.

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40K OSR? (15)

Another flood of 40K OSR? links. I let them build again, but I'd like to get this weekly to fortnightly.

Various definitions of 'OSR' are here and Colonel Kane's logo is to the right. If you use it, consider giving him the credit and adding Tales from the Maelstrom to your roll as a fine example - since the last time they've posted on Rogue Trooper.

And away we go then - just don't look down...

• First a PSA: Inquisitork is moving blog, to The Maddening Words of C M Forde.

• A Night Lords playtest codex developed via TCP was announced at Galaxy in Flames, the blog now renamed Big Jim's Hobby Adventures.

• Chaos Gerbil released his Codex: Lost and the Damned Fandex v4.

• Tabletop Fix announced an Inquisitor sourcebook from Dark Magenta.

• Rules Man Bryssling has an unfinished post from Rules Manufactorum on rules design for tournaments and a reworking of Necron flayed ones.

• Kraggi at The Varcan Cluster posted the 36-entry events table for the campaign as well as parts 7 and 8 of the rules and pics of 1, 2 maps.

• The campaign is underway at Terminus Omega, with 1, 2 parts of an IG v. Harlequin battle report, details of a solo approach and throne agents.

• Thor's final versions of the King of the Hill, Search and Destroy and Target Priority missions were posted at Creative Twilight, along with updated versions of The Long Haul and Attack and Defend.

• At Warpstone Flux the current army list challenge uses a fiery scenario.

• Nurglitch is looking at a card-based approach to Adeptus Titanicus.

• Naftka at Faeit 212 reports the sixth edition leak is real and part of a plan.

• There's a celebration of 25 years of Rogue Trader at Fawcett Avenue Conscripts, and thanks to Dave G at Wargaming Tradecraft for the link.

• Not so far back, Stillfrosty at White Scars has the Movie Marines rules.

• Also re old rules, HoP has links for 'flash 40K' via Dracus' Journal.

• Gotthammer at Collegia Titanica has the second Koronus Gazetter.

• Kenzie's blog has 1, 2, 3 more write-ups for the Dark Heresy campaign.

• Miniature-wise the big news was Mantic's human Corporation range, ideal for counts as IG, and the Privateer Press Colossals, possible knights.

• Eldar Addict has some dangerous-looking Dark Eldar grotesques in 1, 2 parts so far based on this approach by Lucky No. 5 at Eye of Terror.

• Warhammer in Progress has an unusual Ork trukk build, the Grot Rod, and a work in progress on the wider Ork army, with all kinds of conversions.

• Unite All Action has an old, bits-heavy feral Ork warboss conversion.

• Ron at From the Warp sculpts detail to get a fuller Mk. 6 power armour, and has an Eldar corsair based on Forge World's, modelled and painted.

• Hungry Ghosts has the Chaos Squat bikers on parade in 1, 2 parts.

• Cameron at Rust and the city is building a spectacular Imperial renegade force and looking for some advice on going with counts as Grey Knights.

• Laughing Ferret is working on a scary counts as genestealer cult.

• Mordian7th finished a whirlwind built the good old White Dwarf way and now has a Magnus the Red as well, with possible rules in the post.

• At Spiky Rat Pack izeColt is part-sculpting a mutie and companion.

• Apocalypse 40K linked to work on a scratchbuilt Eldar superheavy flier and a Nightwing and mentions the Necron-like Cyber Bike and Orc Gruberwagen from Puppets War and Chaos pauldrons from Kromlech.

• On the subject of alternatives, specifically Ork buggies, Whelp Slayer likes the Mantic Raptor; thanks to Miniature Musings of a Bear for the link.

• Old School Terminator at Dark Future Games has some uses for the new Mantis Tank from Blight Wheel Miniatures, with the measurements here.

• Imaginary Life shows off some 28mm bits good for cultists and marines.

• An alternative to buying new of course is refurbishing old, and Sign of the Aquila is doing that with a marine dreadnought in 1, 1.5 parts so far.

• There are sci-fi interiors at Hudson, for a Space Hulk, BFG and 40K mix.

• Hogs of War posted a work in progress on a set of large fortress walls.

• Vitor at Aurelius Legion finished the ventilator, inspired by Necromundicon.

• At Confessions... dwez painted the modular plug and the second man-made hill, and posted 1, 2, 3 updates on the plasma generator.

• Goblin Mini-Mart has some work in progress Necromunda scrap wastes. 

• Redscorps has research station terrain, with a weathered stormraven.
  

• On the 3D printing front, Apocalypse 40K also has a shout-out for a pioneer.

• Rictus at Recalcitrant Daze looks at using 3D printing for defensive walls in 1, 2, 3, 4 , 5, 5a, 6 parts, as well as building elements in 1, 2 parts so far.

• How 3D printing might change things is suggested by this story at TGN.

• CounterFett has 1, 2, 3, 4 more pics from Space Crusade at All Things Fett. 

In case you haven't read it yet and you have an interest, I'll also plug my recent post on ownership of IP. It's closely linked to the essence of this and possibly 3D printing most.

As ever, if you think I've missed anything, even your work, drop a link in the comments.

Update: Here's the first, a link to a series of posts at The Retired Adventurer on using Stars Without Number to run games set in the 40K universe; the introduction is here.

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40K OSR? (14)

More 40K OSR?, and just a week from the last.

I'm aiming to post smaller updates more often, with more wild cards, for non-40K gamers too.

Some possible definitions of 'OSR' are here and Colonel Kane's logo is to the right. If you use it, consider giving him credit and adding Tales from the Maelstrom to your roll as a fine exemplar.

On to the action then, with the wild cards mixed in, just because it really is hard to draw the line.

• Sad news first: Tobias Reinold passed away; he may have been relatively unknown, but he gave us a lot and shows how much we can each achieve.

• Grazer posted a three-page preview for Codex: Squat Stronghold over at Rogue Trader, and there's discussion underneath with Sons of Taurus.

• Sons of Taurus also adapted the Lost and the Damned project to Killzone.

• I've just found Dangerous Brian's Terminus Omega; this week he posted on the pre-40K Laserburn books, a possible navigator, with Rogue Trader stats, and some converted 15mm counts as Tau, but he also has more counts as ideas, finished Orks, terrain and details of a new campaign.

• On 15mm minis, Atom Kid has more at Maximum Rock & Role Playing.

• Also on campaigns, Tallarn may have finished one run, but Kraggi at the Varcan Cluster is running another one and posted a huge mass of great rules in 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 parts so far - you can see all of the material here.

• At Confessions of a 40K addict dwez posted on a modular terrain plug base, the Dawn of War plasma generator and a new man-made hill.

• There's a superb tutorial on building a tabletop at wargaming tradecraft.

• At Dark Future Games Old School Terminator is converting and sculpting a daemon primarch, Angron, and also posted an obliterator conversion. 

• Will Wright at Heresy Workshop has a converted Blood Pact priest.

• Spikey Bits looks at magnetising options, using the land speeder kit.

• Apocalypse 40K points out a counts as jetbike due soon from MaxMini.

• At Adeptus Malaysia deathkorp is in uncharted territory with 3D printing.

• Natfka at Faeit 212 reposts what may be surprising news re The Lord Inquisitor fan-made movie, suggesting GW is finding a way to accept it.

• BoLS posted a logo sheet with various adeptus mechanicus markings. 

• Chosen entries are up for the chapter design contest at For Holy Terra.

• There are 1, 2 new pieces of John Blanche artwork over at gothic punk.

• CounterFett at All Things Fett showed a piece of art in Space Crusade.

• This week's Blogroll Spotlight at FTW also has plenty of OSR-y links.

• On that big sixth edition leak-not-leak, Jake Thornton at Quirkworthy has a theory and sandwyrm at The Back 40K a good look at the evidence.

• Finally, the Citizens post here has new rules by SinSynn, and ideas from garrisonjames, and I'm thinking of hosting work on a possible new faction.

As ever, feel free to add links to anything at all you think I've missed in the comments.

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40K OSR? (13)

Long time, no update, so this time it's massive.

As usual, if you're not sure what a 40K OSR? could be, there are potential definitions here.

If you identify with it, especially if you're coming up with new material, Colonel Kane's logo, to the right, is ready to use. If you do, consider giving him credit and adding Tales from the Maelstrom to your roll. The battle report the guys posted just before Christmas should be reason enough.

This time milestones, bad news and possible surprises, plus the usual wild cards at the end.

• As mentioned, Killzone v 3.0 is out after playtesting, with some thoughts up at A Gentleman's Ones and notes on the future at Galaxy in Flames.

• Big Jim also announced the TCP podcast and Bay Area Open narrative event, and posted on progress with the Soul Reapers - the codex is here.

• Rules Manufactorum has now gone in its original form, but been adopted by the renamed Casual Rules Bryssling of a Ruthless Mind Manufactorum.

• Sons of Taurus has now released Version 1.1 of the Codex: Lost and the Damned, and there are designer's notes and a sample army list up too.

• Sons of Taurus also introduced Ethereal's Projects, home to a fandex each for the Lost and the Damned, the Tau and the Sisters of Battle, and today linked to the progress report at Rogue Trader on Codex: Squat Stronghold.

• At Warpstone Flux jabberjabber posted a power, Psychokinetic Sphere.

• Tallarn at still practicing_ posted the end of the planetary empires campaign with two more rules, Tremors and Pyroclastic Barrage; I don't think I've ever mentioned the 5 minute history series, but it's a great refresher.

• Gotthammer has been posting on Rogue Trader RPG at Collegia Titanica, with the superb Koronus Gazetter and a set of non-player characters.

• At GAME OVER Von and Lexington ponder the motives of the Necrons.

• Lantz finished another unit for the AdMech FanDex, the Caminus Priests, and converted a Skitarii Jetbike based on the Antenociti Workshop kit, while Sandwyrm at The Back 40K also likes Micro Art Studios minis.

• Pirate Viking Painting has solid conversions for generic Imperial infantry.

• Rictus at Recalcitrant Daze had this emplacement mentioned at FTW, here, has a CAD development of it here, and was also busy with the Ork looted wagons at BoLS, the highlight for me being this thorough guide.

• Also linked there at FTW was The Mentor Legion, focused on the chapter.

• Chris Swaine at Roll With It converted a fine Malakim Phoros from IA9.

• Spikey Bits ran a tank conversion contest and got some great entries, with this Tau titan arguably the most unusual, spectacular and controversial, while the blog as a whole is tipped by Lantz as a possible heir to BoLS.

• Hungry Ghosts has posted huge amounts since the last update, including a look at the HQ, the third appendix for Historia Squataticus and a space Skaven, plus three parts of a series on Bob Olley not-Squats, 1, 2 and 3.

• At 3++ Aueretious Taak posted a Tyranid army using classic miniatures.

• Dylan Gould has a mass of Necromunda gangers and some classic IG.

• Back at FTW, Ron talked about leaving the gaming aspect behind.

• Tears of Envy's blog has another new piece of artwork by John Blanche...

• ... there are 1, 2, 3 more 40K-themed sketches over at Spiky Rat Pack...

• ... and at Confessions... dwez has more classic pieces by Gary Herrod, ...

• ... while back on Squats and Tyranids, Curis at Ninjabread pointed out the Beardy Bastards web comic, and looked at use of orange in sci-fi...

... and both of those links could almost be wild cards, making me think the distinction might be blurring as time goes by. Here are the three that seem just outside this time.

• Atom Kid over at Maximum Rock & Role Playing is in the early stages of sculpting a Space Ork in 15mm, i.e. at more or less half the usual size.

• At Swords & Stitchery the prolific Needles holds a weird, retro sci-fi mirror up to the Imperium with this post, offering a setting concept for Rogue Space.

• And Sandwyrm, again at The Back 40K, looks at GW's half year results.

All related posts here get the 40K OSR? label, so you can keep up with what I see. If you think I've missed anything, go right ahead and leave the link to it in the comments.

Update: As usual I find one right away - Spyglass Asylum has a John Blanche mini.

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