Jester's I.A.O Squad. Jester himself and Skelch the Sharpshooter

Spurred on by seeing the painted State figures over at Rich's house the other night I've decided to crack out the paints on my own set. First two are finished though I ended up going back and changing some of the material on the bases as they didn't look right. Some comments where bags, severed dinosaur penis and erm looks like a turd lol!

I've restructured some of the debris and add in some rust metal and sand. I'm leaving as is for now until I get hold of some tufts and other basing bits.

First up is Captain Jester the leader of the State I.A.O squad. As there meant to where a mix of military, police and other clothing I went for some randomly created camo trousers a British officer cap and shirt and just a brown leather trench coat.

Next up was Skelch his base wasn't so bad but again I've altered it a bit more. Paint scheme wise I wasn't sure what to do with his rifle it didn't look like it should be wood and I felt would look odd all in metal so decided to have a go a doing some sort of camouflage cover on it. Adding a third random camouflage pattern to his bandanna I didn't want to do another different camouflage on his clothing so just did a plain brown jacket and green trousers.

Here are just a few pic of how the bases where before.  There was two revisions first changing there shape and adding in some steal and then to add in some sand.

Working at a fast pace to get some more bits of scenery serviceable as I have Pulp Citizen joining me for a game of Across the Dead Earth on Tuesday evening. I still haven't added flock to my ruins yet (haven't managed to buy any yet) but the will still get used.

Sollus Rising

Final proof reading has been going ahead with the core rulebook for Across the Dead Earth. Time has now begun to start working on the games first supplement. As yet untitled and merely a bunch of ideas it focuses on what is happening in Europe and the good old United States of Apocalypse. (ha ha I'll get my coat).

First up on the agenda is testing out rules for Sollus (Soulless or plain old zombies) at the moment they have been used as more of an environmental hazard which we trialled for last in a game we plated last Thursday .

We made the choice of playing a three way fight with a single objective to capture an old abandoned tank. We initially rolled a random number of Sollus using a D6 at the start  We rolled a 5 and decided to deploy the Sollus around near the objective just to make things more interesting.

It was a 3 gangs playing was Adam's Family (played by Tom), the newly painted and arrived that day Jesters IAO squad (by Rich) and the final gang the Red Claws (by me).

The Sollus activate each round like each player normally but the rule control which Sollus activates and what they do is rolled against using dice and some simple charts determining what and how they react.

It worked quite well It was decided that when moving into building or a new room a dice was rolled to see if there was a Sollus lurking inside. It was quite interesting and a few gang members got surprised at what they found as they explored rooms and buildings

After a few turns we had pretty much killed off most the Sollus (Shambler types have considered not to have fed very recently and aren't very strong.) and only a few were being spawned by exploration. We then decided to add in a sort of dice pool that increased in number for shots fired or grenades etc going off.

Note to self I keep meaning to mention to Rich that perhaps there should be a hazard level determined at the start of the game so that if everyone keeps quiet Sollus can still be spawned. We didn't want teleporting Sollus so we rolled for each Sollus that spawned and it came on at a randomly determined table edge in the middle of it when possible.

It worked out quite well and was a distraction to the normal shooting at each other that goes on especially when advancing on objective though towards the final turns there was some combat between us all with Tom coming out the worst and the State showing how resilient they are though I did manage to torch Yoshi with Pyro's flame thrower. The Red Claws one as the State and Adam's family tore into each other I managed to seize it around turn 3 and then hold it against all comers.

The Sollus could do with toughening up perhaps but they do use up actions that normally would be used against other gang members so they can be a nuisance especially en mass and if you are noisy as that attracts them like nobody's business. It would of been interesting had there just been two gangs and not three. There was a lot of shooting from Adam's family and the State so a lot of the Sollus got attracted towards them and I was lucky with the random placement being all the other table edges apart from mine.

Bit or boring post so here are some highlights of the game (taken on my mobile as I forgot my camera).

 The central objective with the Sollus milling about doing well Sollus stuff.

 My Redclaws enter the area cautiously.

 Pyro and Topper head up the road.

 This Sollus proved to be extremely resilient I think it took about 4-5 shots at practically point blank range and a grenade before it eventually went down. (thats just the way the dice rolled it was quite lucky with saves)

 A large group spawn behind the State.

 Yoshi gets attacked from behind by a spawning Sollus.

 Squint saves the day jumping up onto the car roof and then drilling the Sollus from his elevated position with his assault rifle.

 A Sollus spawns inside the church but is quickly stomped on by Fatboy.

 The tank is taken by the Redclaw  gang. Topper then rips into SIWOC with his scattergun at close range

 Yoshi should of got man of the match really he managed to grenade Reggie, Pyro and Adam and himself before Pyo moved up and took him out with a burst of his flame thrower.

  Just some cool pics taken by Rich of the game a Sollus spawned in the centre of the first floor landing it was quickly despatch by Skylar

ATDE Reggie Final member of the Family finished

Finished off Adam's family this week with the completion of Reggie. I kind of took my time with him as I really wasn't sure what colours I wanted to with him. I think he'd be great in an all things zombie game as a survivor he's certainly well equipped with an assault rifle, a pistol wedged in his belt and carrying a grenade. One thing I love about Adam's Family is all the backpacks and pouches they carry. 

The gang all complete and ready to go!

This will be a theme I'll be using on some of my other gangs and survivors in the future they just look so much better. Fortunately Project Zeke miniatures do a pack of rucksacks and bags shown Here. I already have a couple and have used some on my other miniatures and just sculpted on the straps. There some more figures and resin vehicles being made by Simon whose the awesome guy behind Project Zeke I shall certainly be getting some more of these bags they are so useful and look so effective.

Work has begun on the State and we tried them out last Thursday night and there debut along side the Redclaws and Adam's Family also had Sollus being tried out for the first time.

Project Zeke Minitures Eddie

Recieved my order from Project Zeke miniatures this work some more resin cars and I picked up William a survivor who will be useful for zombie gaming and Across the Dead Earth. I also got Eddie a new survivor not yet released. Eddie is equipped with an M60 machine gun and has a large knife in a sheath on his hip. This is such an awesome figure I really enjoyed painting this fella up he so full of character. I think firstly he's going to be used in Across the Dead Earth. Not sure which gang yet he'd work with Adam's Family but he'd also fit in well with bikers or even my Jaguars!

As you can see he fits in well with Adam's Family.

Dept X agent and Squaddie

Couple more figures completed off the paint table this week that have been lingering there for far to long. First up is an unnamed department X agent for when extra characters or small missions require a lesser well known person to take part.

The second is another squaddie in civvies ready to join up with the rest of my agents. Toting a Sterling smg he adds a bit more firepower to the undercover operatives that I already have done.

Have been slowly going through my  Spy Fi collection adding in eyes and touching up some of my older paint jobs. I don't fancy re-painting them all from scratch so adding eyes that I was to scared to seems to have worked well.

 The Wild Ducks are now no longer blinking from the flash!

S.D.Z.A Superhero Dinosaur Zombie Apocalypse Game.

This is a labour of love being started up by one of my best friends Drew Wood or Doctor Warlock as he is known in many places. Its his own label and is in the processing I've writing and testing his own rule system as well commissioning his first few sculpts for the game system. 

I'm actually really quite excited about this game system its got a lot going on for and a lot to attract people who like a wide variety of genres.

S.D.Z.A. (Superhero Dinosaur Zombie Apocalypse) is a miniatures range (and eventually a game) set in a world that's tearing itself apart - its not a dystopian future, its our world - here and now, But a version where the shit has truly hit the fan.

The Dino-Parks were a vision of the Uni-Tech corporation (the business that funded the research) for the future, a vision of them making a LOT of money, they no only saw Crichton's novel as a gateway to providing the holiday experience of a lifetime (and charging a ridiculous amount of cash for the privilege) - a lot of the Technicians and Scientists involved in the project saw it as a way of potentially ending world hunger.

The only problem was finding a way to get the long dormant Dino-DNA to combine with modern donor tissue, once that was achieved - using accelerated growth cloning techniques (though illegal, Unitech still intended on using ANY resources available to achieve their goal) - they used the DNA and Chemical make up of a Virus as a "carrier" . . . . .

R.D.S. Virus (Reactive De-evolution Syndrome Virus) - and its attempted Cure, has led to all sorts of problems. Mutants with Human and Dinosaur traits roam the barrens outside the surviving walled cities, totally rejected by society - unlike their more physically accepted Mutant Brethren dubbed "Primes" by the Government. Carrion wander in formless bands preying on the weak and defenceless, and the Ghoulish Giaour feast of the flesh of Carrion and Human alike.

The world of S.D.Z.A. is a world rocked by revelation, a world where Dinosaurs roam free, Zombie outbreaks are a common and ever increasing threat, Mutant Superheroes fight to keep the status quo, and Mutant Super villains seek to end it, Hunters and Freelance Dinosaur Wranglers rub shoulders in seedy bars selling their services to the highest bidder., Rich Industrialists seek to solve the problems they created whilst holding onto their wealth and power.

A world similar to our own, but distinctly different - THAT is the world of Superhero Dinosaur Zombie Apocalypse. Some will insist its a dystopian view of the future, it's not - its our world, here and now. But a version of it where the shit has truly hit the fan.
Some info on the factions involved so far.

Human Faction. 

Unitech are the Corporation responsible for the Dino-Parks and the subsequent mess created - they can be played as either bad or good guys (depending on your own perspective.

On top of that you have Regular Survivor types - both those from within the walled cities and the "Redneck" Types that live out in the Barrens, these can be "mixed in" with Cops and Governement Types - Special Agents, the Military etc.

The Primes.

Our beloved Super Beings are technically split three ways, you have the Sanctioned Primes - these are your "Freaks Of Nature" Operatives, they can be included in with any "Good" Army, so Military, Government types, Human "Survivors", even Unitech forces.

The Carrion. 

The Carrion aren't always your "predictable" Zombie faction - you might even see some humans mixed in with Carrion on the battlefield. There are Rednecks who have lived in the Barrens so long they've become cannibals and live alongside the Carrion - picking up their leftovers for food -they are basically a clan of modern Ghouls. The "Giaour" as they call themselves either function as "back-up" for Carrion Forces, or you can field a Force of Giaour and take a few Carrion as cannon fodder.

The Brotherhood. 

The Brother faction is the most exclusive - and has the least "mix and match" potential. They are led by the children of the original Rebels who almost started the war between the Normals and the "Chosen" (as they choose to call themselves), the Brotherhood is made up of Primes (both lesser and greater) and their sympathisers.

The Dinosaurs.

Along with regular Dinosaurs, you have "Smart" Dino's who lead their brethrin and the "True Breeds" that are mutants like their more tragic brethren the Mutts (see below) but are evolved Carnivores rather than hybrids.

Mercenaries and Renegades.

Then you have those who call themselves "The Ronin" - the Ronin are renegade Primes who refuse to become sanctioned and be part of the system - some side with Humanity, others are violently opposed to the rule of man, and still others care nothing for anyone but themselves. 

The "Mutts" are poor souls are those who through exposure to early versions of the R.D.S. (Reactive De-evolution Syndrome) Virus ended up as twisted fusions of Dinosaur and Human.

The Giaour name comes from the Epic Poem by Byron.

Onto the greens of the first few sculpts done by the talented Ian Mountain. These have been sent off to the casters for an initial run in resin and hopefully released in metal in early 2015.

Anyone wishing to order a copy or the initial resin release can send an email to

nexus-miniaturesAToutlook.com (obviously correct the AT with @)

Most the news and info hits Facebook first though there are threads on Lead Adventure and various other forums.
Facebook Group Clicky Text

 First two F.O.N Agents (Freaks of Nature)

British Agents

The Jaguars

This is my custom made gang for Across the Dead Earth. I'm basing it around Birmingham (The Rag Market s its called in the background) So those who are local might recognise a few places. Some factions will be from the surrounding area's.

The Jaguar's

The gan hail from an area of The Rag Market now simply known as the Vale living in a old semi ruined office block known as the Fort. They get there name from an old car plant they found buried nearby everything that is retrieved from the depths seems to have a large leaping cat on or the words Jaguar stamped into the metal. The Jaguars are all highly skilled engineers all a bunch of like minded individuals who like nothing better than tinkering with mechanical devices.

There weapons and equipment they carry are often irregular in appearance as they have usually been dismantled numerous times and there inferior parts replaced with newer machined components made by the gang that supposedly "improve" there power or range.

The gang has a small workshop set up in the basement of the Fort where they spend a lot of there time tinkering with anything they can lay there hands on usually scavenged from an old buried car plant and an ancient shopping centre nearby. The Jaguars fiercely guard the old plant from other scavengers as they try and dig out and recover as many old tools and machinery as they can. They clean up what they find and sell them onto passing traders for other goods such as  food that they can't be bothered to grow themselves.

Maximillian the Gangs Leader.

The gang is led by Maximillian or more simply just called Max. Wielding his trusty sawn off shotgun and clad head to toe in faded black biking leather Max comes across as the intimidating silent type. Max is obsessed with the old days and dreams of building a petrol driven vehicle of the days now sadly long gone. When Max is not out scavenging for parts or materials to make his dream become a reality he spends his time tinkering with guns and making things to trade.

Joe Z the gangs scout.

Joe Z is the Jaguar's sure footed  and sharp eyed scout. It was Joe Z who first found the old car plant that Max is now obsessed with. Joe Z isn't as interested in the tinkering like the other but his younger brother Mich is Max's best friend and if Mich wants to stick around then so shall he. Joe Z doesn't spend much time in the Fort or its noisy workshop and is more likely to be found patrolling the area using his sharp eyesight to spot for signs of trouble or interlopers to the gangs territory.

The two finished members so far. Max on the left is obviously Studio miniatures Mel from there survivors range.

Joe Z is a bit of a mish mash part kit bash and part sculpted. Mostly he consists of a Crooked Dice minion with baton body. Crooked Dice Grizzled Minion head. The Left arm and rifle is a shotgun arm/hunting rifle spliced together from the Wargames Factory Male Survivors set and the back pack and shoulder pad is putty.

The rest of the gang are receiving paint and I hope to have them finished in the next week or so!