The Conclave

Hi everybody,

I am wondering if some of you would be up for joining me in a model building challenge, namely making some original Xenos miniatures? There's a few reasons for this - I think aliens are an untapped resource in Inquisitor; the modelling possibilities are endless, if more challenging than building a human; I intend to have an Ordo Xenos section when I write the Monodominant sourcebook and would love some collaborative entries; and there's been a bit of a drop off in production round here (myself very much included).

I would like to propose a final date of 1/10/16, three months from now, as I feel this would spur us on, much like last year's A Storm of Brushes challenge.

One models is all that's required, though a group of aliens would be super cool to see.

Ideally, I'd want to see races that haven't had models at any scale produced before. If there's a race mentioned in the fluff somewhere that's not got a figure yet then that would be nice to see too.

A bit of background for the character and its race would be nice too, for inclusion in the sourcebook and for the Carthax Wiki.

For base miniatures, trawling the alternative 54mm manufacturers, especially those that have fantasy and sci fi ranges would be a good place to start. As always, GW produces plenty of "monsters" for their games that could be used as base models.

Of course, the skilled amongst you might be able to sculpt something from scratch, or use 3D modelling software to create a 3D print.

For inspiration on creating a model, especially if you love letting the dice decide, you could use the Alien Bounty Hunter creation rules from Exterminatus 2004 (which should be in Marco Skoll's archive if I remember rightly).

Anyone up for this? Does anyone have any more suggestions for the creative process?

Ruaridh

i am committed to quite a few projects at the moment but i will try to get in on this. I have had an alien race slowly coalescing in the back of my mind for a while, even have the parts i need :)
if i can find the time i would love to get them into a source book :)

I can't hang around long enough for a proper post, but I am potentially interested.

Quote from: Van Helser on July 01, 2016, 08:43:32 AMthe Alien Bounty Hunter creation rules from Exterminatus 2004 (which should be in Marco Skoll's archive if I remember rightly).

All the 2004 Annual articles are on the archive, but not under that name. When it came to the time to digitise it, I found all the articles were already in the Exterminatus magazine section or the Specialist Games section, so I saw no point in replicating them.

i'll try to give it a go but only just started my community sculpt too :lol:

also +10 points for getting some movement (something the crazy amount of hours i'm putting in at work hasn't left me the energy to do!)

Despite other projects having a closer deadline I have started playing with bits for this project :)
I have more than one idea for alien races, one of which worship chaos, would they also be suitable? Or are you aiming for "pure" xenos?

Glad there is some interest.

Chaos-worshipping xenos are a-okay in my book. I don't want to stifle creativity!


Ruaridh

Are you mainly thinking 54mm?

Jeff Vader on the ammobunker came up with the skadiir
http://s3.zetaboards.com/The_Ammobunker/single/?p=8341062&t=7623097

Kendoka then took it a bit further, showing the larger male and a few more females
http://s3.zetaboards.com/The_Ammobunker/single/?p=8349616&t=7836720
Could be worth contacting them if inq28 will be included?

They look pretty cool. I will certainly be doing 54mm, but again, I'll be happy for anyone to produce whatever they want.

Ruaridh

EDIT: Let's get the ball rolling then.

I decided to use the character creation tables in the article Dead or Alive, You're Coming With Me... in Exterminatus 2004 to give me a kickstart in creating a brand new race. Anyone who has used tables to create characters in any game must know that contradictions and nonsense are commonplace. I kind of felt this way when the dust settled on my dice rolls. Both had two arms and two legs, which was fine enough, and their stats were rolled without much excitement. My first character was to have Elastic Limbs and Chitinous Hide, which didn't compute in my head, so I swapped out the bendy limbs for razor sharp claws. It rolled a fairly generic mix of weapons. Fortunately the hard shell makes up for the lack of armour. The second was to have Tentacles, psychic powers (Detection and Distraction), Force of Will, Lightning Reflexes, a Med Skull, 2 points of ablative armour, an Implant Weapon in place of his right hand, and rare and common basic weapons.

I decided that the second sounded more interesting for now, and in my head excused the very Imperial Med Skull as some kind of symbiotic creature that heals the alien. Tentacles don't allow the use of guns (can't pull the trigger), so rolling the implant weapon was just as well. The race clearly sacrifices one of their limbs for ranged attacks. Not quite sure how I'll model ablative armour only at the moment.

I dug around my bits box and found some old Greater Daemon bits. Think I have Keeper of Secret legs and a Bloodthirster torso here. The left arm is the tentacle from the Chaos Booster pack that I have had for well over ten years and never put to good use. Not sure where the upper right arm comes from, but it was already cut so that was handy. There's a Space Crusade conversion beamer attached at the moment, but that looked like it fit the best for the time being. I have two head options - the Bloodthirster head, or one of the Alien Bounty Hunter heads. I need to sculpt a pelvis, and the symbiote med skull will be sculpted over the skull pendant.


Any other input or ideas folk? Which head is best? How can I represent ablative armour?

Ok. I'm willing to give this a go, although I've not got much time at the moment and still haven't finished the inquisitor I was working on for the community sculpting project.

Now what kind of alien should I create? I'm not a fan of random tables so I'm not going to use the alien bounty hunter creator as I usually find you end up with weird combos and end up changing everything anyway. Instead I  think I'll be drawing my inspiration from various sci-fi classsics and wookiepedia.

After a bit of thought I decided that I'll base my alien on the Falleen race from Star Wars (including the mind altering pheremones) and the various races found on Edgar Rice Burroughs Barsoom. So my alien race will be a sort of cross between a reptile and a mammal, probably cold blooded, will reproduce by laying eggs, be bipedal and probably have two arms (I'm not sure how best to sculpt four armed creatures as they always look odd to me). Weapons wise I'm not sure yet and despite my earlier statement I may use the random tables for those.

Now just to find time to sculpt it.

Man, this sounds fun. I may try and hop on this after August rolls around, though I should really finish my scratch sculpt piece (as it was a similar "contest"). I also have a drawer full of alien concept pieces.

I know I've been rather absent from the Clave recently. In a positive development, I finally got a solid gaming group together. The downside is that now I'm DMing a 2E D&D game (the first game on the docket) and that's been eating a bulk of my nerd-time the last few months.

I'm in! Can't post much at the moment or read full thread, but love this idea.

@greenstuff_gav Gav, you could enter Dimi the abhuman you sculpted for me XD im interested in seeing this idea evolve though im nowhere near good enough to contribute good luck guys

Aaaand a perfect excuse to move this guy along a bit! Obviously there is a 28mm model, but not seen one in 54mm. I wanted him to have a few bits and pieces on him, the front bandolier still needs some pouches or even better a bunch of techno-junk for him to use in his creations. Thinking Kroot ammo bandolier as a start here. A backpack gives him some more pieces, I don't love the idea of these guys creating something out of nothing, they should still have raw components to work with. His right hand is some kind of gun hand, from those awful old obliterator models.... hmmm character hook there maybe?Jokaero infected by the Obliterator virus? Making more and more weapons?...

Anyway some WIP shots. Gah mould lines very obvious here, so hard to pick on furry models. Will rectify.
(http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/g362/riverside_adama/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-07-13%2022.31.20.jpg) (http://s1098.photobucket.com/user/riverside_adama/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-07-13%2022.31.20.jpg.html)

Easier to see his hand attachment here, I still need to GS the gap and maybe provide a bit of a shield plate to the forearm to balance it a remove the flatness when viewed from other side.
(http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/g362/riverside_adama/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-07-13%2022.33.10.jpg) (http://s1098.photobucket.com/user/riverside_adama/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-07-13%2022.33.10.jpg.html)

Great idea on a challenge ruaridh, good to fire the imagination.
Cheers, Aurelius

Quote from: jediknight129 on July 13, 2016, 12:58:40 AM
@greenstuff_gav Gav, you could enter Dimi the abhuman you sculpted for me XD

kinda bypasses the idea of making a new character :)
(i made This Lass (http://buildyourimagination.co.uk/minis/gallery/commissions//inq_felinid.jpg) on commission!)
of course, you could write / sketch a character if you don't feel upto the conversion side!

i havea couplea ideas but time is my main constraint :(

I left a message/question for you in annother post @greenstuff_gav btw dunno if you've seen it?

I dont have the talent to sketch I have a few ideas though and im currently working on a weapon pack for the archetypes community project. Working on some sort of conversion pack for the victrix 54mm cannon. (think heavy weapons of various types) currently have a Rotary Cannon, a Las Weapon, a mortar a low calibre automatic a Webber/anti riot weapon and some hi tech evilness on the bench.

Dimi is currently being painted so..  If you want painted shots for advertising your commission stuff I think il be able to supply then soon.

Once again Gav you are an amazing sculpter EVERYONE iv shown her too has been just as in love with her as I am as a sculpt. Also would you mind PMing me at somepoint iv got annother oroject I want ready for the next event

Yes! I'm super up for this. How obscure are we allowed - does it have to be completely homebrew or are we allowed to tinker with some of the 'established' minor xenos races? I've got a bit of a thing for the Umbra from Xenology as well as the Slaugth from the WH40k RPG series...

on the last 'clave, didn't the community develop the Dog Soldiers some?

@Aurelius digging the Jokero, under-utilised species in the background I think. He's got a very "sassquatch" pose  ;)

Quote from: Heroka Vendile on July 17, 2016, 01:25:35 PM
@Aurelius digging the Jokero, under-utilised species in the background I think. He's got a very "sassquatch" pose  ;)

Cheers mate! Haha well he has that pose as he is based on the Reaper 'bigfoot' mini, I think that sculptor nailed the famous pose  ;)
Actually almost finished painting this guy, so will hopefully post him up soon. I think they do make a cool character, I've overcome the 'no language' thing with a translator box on his front which he has pieced together, to allow for basic communication.

Quote from: RobSkib on July 16, 2016, 09:32:05 AM
Yes! I'm super up for this. How obscure are we allowed - does it have to be completely homebrew or are we allowed to tinker with some of the 'established' minor xenos races? I've got a bit of a thing for the Umbra from Xenology as well as the Slaugth from the WH40k RPG series...

If it's part of the background and doesn't have a 54mm model then it is fair game. Really interested to see how you'd model an Umbra...

@Gav -  I have distant memories of the Dog Soldiers. There may have even been models, or at least miniatures that would have been conversion fodder. I don't recall who worked on them though.

@Aurelius - I remember that Sasquatch! Good to see it has been dusted off. Obliterator virus would be an interesting way to take it.

Ruaridh

i remember looking at the Rackham Wolfen but that's about all :lol:

i've started a sculpt; a fairly avian looking Xenos race that's quite different to my normal "style". .slow work and little to show while i sort out the sketchlayer!

Quote from: Van Helser on July 20, 2016, 10:00:42 AMIf it's part of the background and doesn't have a 54mm model then it is fair game. Really interested to see how you'd model an Umbra...

After a quick google, there are a couple (http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f105/hephesto555666/40k/umbras2.jpg) of instances (http://www.lounge.belloflostsouls.net/photopost/data/500/Umbra2.png) of 28mm umbra, but no 54mm.

I had always liked the passage from Xenology about one of the preliminary reports of the Umbra, specifically the bit where it mentions how it could even control the darkness in the pupils of your own eyes...

Those do look interesting.

I've begun pinning and filing away mould lines and the like, and realised I have a bit of nightmare fuel here...


As you can see he's a lanky hunter.

Now, this may be a long shot, but does anyone have the K'nib multi launcher from the Kroot mercenary lying around, and would they be willing to part with it?  I think it would be the perfect implant weapon for this guy.

Ruaridh

I might have a complete knib launcher arm, I definitely have one cut off at the elbow. If that's useful PM we and we can work something out, I'm definitely willing to part with it. Frankly I'm not overly attached to it so I'm pretty open in regards to trades.

i'm about 1/2 way done on my sculpt, got the basic background sorted .. took me a photo and it looks terribad so gonna hold off posting actual pics :lol:

Question... Would a demon count for this or is that too abnormal/like human aa im currently with the help of lord borak plotting one.

Quote from: jediknight129 on July 29, 2016, 02:57:54 PM
Question... Would a demon count for this or is that too abnormal/like human aa im currently with the help of lord borak plotting one.

A daemon-possessed or chaos worshipping xenos would fit the outline of the challenge.

Ruaridh

He's certainly humanoid in shape but not a human, at this stage I'm not exactly sure what he was before the ruinous powers touched him at least based on the concept. He's an odd one tbh. The face the stance dom't really suggest human to me merely humanoid.  He's annoying me. Will post pics when he's at a workable stage.

Not sure that I can contribute to this project myself but I do have a couple of ebay-rescue models that might be of interest/inspiration.
Both were bought from a seller by the name of cerberus_reborn2012 but that's the closest I can get to giving credit where it's due.
I originally planned to repaint them but can't bring myself to undo the effort that's been put in.

The first, based on a metal LoTR cave troll was sold as a 'mutant gladiator' and has inspired me to create this (http://www.the-conclave.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=2677.0) background piece.
(http://i1341.photobucket.com/albums/o749/unslain/Inquisitor%20wips/Inquisitor%20-%20Ebay%20Rescues/Mutant%20Gladiator%20sold%20by%20cerberus_reborn2012%20ebay_zpsk3irzm2g.jpg)
The fleshtone actually includes more purple than shows in this pic.


The second is my favourite of four 'alien bounty hunters'.  Can't see myself fielding them as a whole warband though they might see action one day as NPCs.
(http://i1341.photobucket.com/albums/o749/unslain/Inquisitor%20wips/Inquisitor%20-%20Ebay%20Rescues/Alien%20Bounty%20Hunter%20crew%20sold%20by%20cerberus_reborn2012%20ebay_zpsfkdf6l6e.jpg)

Those are some freakish abominations!! LIKE 'EM!  ;D

Mutant Gladiator......... Pah. I guess I didn't get there first then  ::) I'm certainly going to be looking at my old Fantasy monsters a bit differently from now on though.

You said four alien bounty hunters, where are the other three?  :D

Is there any established lore for your lizard/beetle thing or are we looking forward to a tasty write-up?

Quote from: greenstuff_gav on July 20, 2016, 09:03:14 PM
i remember looking at the Rackham Wolfen but that's about all :lol:

yeah the Wolfen and Devourer models from Packham are great, the original metal casts are still available from Cadwallon (http://cadwallon.com/rackham-confrontation/devourers-vile-tis), who bought up the moulds when Rackham went phuft. If you hunt around you can get the plastic Wolfen from the failed relaunch of Confrontation for stupidly cheap amounts from online retailers still (like Miniature Market).

You've got the alpha-mutant there though, Lord Borak!  My half-baked ideas for deliberately Ixine models don't come anywhere close to what you've achieved.

As requested by RobSkib, here's the full set of alien bounty hunters as I received them.  On the off chance that anyone here happens to know who crafted them, please speak up so I can credit them for these and the gladiator.  There is another choppa arm for the model at top right but I've not glued it back on because I felt it needed something different.
(http://i1341.photobucket.com/albums/o749/unslain/Inquisitor%20wips/Inquisitor%20-%20Ebay%20Rescues/alien%20bounty%20hunters_zpsxqszgtyz.jpg)

I've had no inspiration for lore on these models in two years so anyone with an idea should feel free to let loose!

Received the K'Nib multi launcher from Alyster Wick and have attached it to my xenos.


I've been doing some sculpting since the last update.  More needed to get the symbiote on his chest looking right, and I think some tubes to further integrate the launcher with the arm are needed.

Ruaridh

Wow! I love the sense of movement in that miniature. It's really balanced and focused. Waiting to see where you take this.

Very weird and wonderful! What colours are you going to do?

Also nitpicky, but his right arm has some scales going on near the shoulder, but these aren't really present anywhere else on the model. Are you going to blend them in a bit or sculpt some on the other shoulder?

It probably doesn't show well in the photos, but I've already got started on some scales on the other shoulder.  They will spread to act as the Ablative Armour I rolled up for this beastie.

Haven't thought as far ahead as to colours yet.  Greens could be a nice direction to go in.

Ruaridh

<<<INCOMING TRANSMISSION>>>
<<<VIDFAILURE>>>
<<<TEXT CONVERSION>>>
<<<FROM: Adept Decius Stolt>>>
<<<SUBJECT: Kark Pelimanary Findings>>>
<<<THOUGHT: Better to light a flamer than curse the Dark>>>

Hail brethren
This transmission is the basis of my report into the Kark, a Xenos race with a symbiotic relationship with the Obliterator Virus.
While unable to ascertain the species origins, the effect the Virus has had on the species is remarkable, the Virus mutating the xenos' form and function, yet allowing them to extract nutrients from any matter, from the metallic rocks to the bones and carcasses stewn across the planet.
<<<SEE FILE K02948-d039 - Planetary Data>>>

They also appear to retain their sentience, something those suffering from The Virus tend to lack.
If it's a case of the Kark being of lesser intellect, boosted by the Virus or their natural evolution granting resistance to the mental difficiencies are yet to be investigated.
While mainly able to grunt, click and squeal they certainly understand Low Gothic and some of the younger members of the pack i am studying seem inquisitive and cooperative enough.

While the immense data-static produced by these creatures renders most of my transmissions unable to relay, i have attached an smaller image to provide illustration

The Will of Metal Endures Longer Than The Flesh Of Man

Tech Adept Stolt
2569-8-RA1-F54
<<<FILE ATTACHED>>>
<<<TRANSCRIBING>>>
<<<DONE>>>
(http://buildyourimagination.co.uk/minis/gallery/inq/challenge/stalk01.jpg)

<<<TRANSMISSION ENDS>>>

i had planned on doing a full sculpt for this and did some pretty cool looking concept art, but my sculpting ability has failed so been throwing somethign out of the bits box :)
only basic stages as of yet, here's an idea i had for a new 54mm warband; investigating Xenos and Warp infections!
gonna do a slew of pipework next; the Obliterator Virus warping strangely :)

Now that is COOL! I kinda want to see little fore arms on it though. I really like the idea of a race totally taken over by the Virus, that's cool.

That's a cool idea Gav.  Like the In-Character write up provided by the Tech Adept too.

Ruaridh

was tempted to add tiny little parasitic insects, almost like those birds that clean crocodiles but i like the concept of them not really being anygood at fine-detail work; would make for an interesting character methunked :)
plus ingame i love the concept of eating peoples weaponry! :D

had planned an avian-style race but the sculpt looks proper crap :lol:

The more I look at it the more I'm reminded of Tremors 2.  ;D

More or less finished the build for mine now:


Went back to the symbiote on its chest and added some more details.  This gribbly little bugger is actually the brains of the operation - the bigger, dumber, tentacled beast was unfortunately latched onto by this wee monster and is now its chassis for carrying out its schemes.

Ruaridh

<<<INCOMING TRANSMISSION>>>
<<<VIDFAILURE>>>
<<<TEXT CONVERSION>>>
<<<FROM: Adept Decius Stolt>>>
<<<SUBJECT: Kark Continued Findings>>>
<<<THOUGHT: Without Faith, What Are You?>>>

Hail brethren

Please accept my latest findings into the Kark.
These reports have been delayed due to disturbance from the Golden Aegis affair, but now continue.

We have been tempting younger members of the pack we are following but offering peices of technology and raw materials; the Virus allowing the species to consume any matter so finding "treats" has been difficult.
It would appear the Virus favours energy based items; from Plasma weaponry, charge relays and the like; if this is due to the intricate circuitry or the ability to generate energy we have yet to determine.

The key reasoning behind our methods has been to closley examine and take samples; the younger members of the pack being far more receptive to our company and compliant to our investigation.

While the Obliterator Virus is certainly a warp-spawned affliction, the Kark appear to be uninterested in items of a Chaotic nature, instead treating metal iconography of Loyal or Heretical nature with the same regard as shipments of base materials.
Further scanning and testing has revealed they are also passive in the Etherium; generating no more Warpstatic than a non-psychic member of the Human Race.
We have been thoughout in our work and adhering to standard procedures to eleminate chance of infection to our team, however i suspect the Virus lacks its contagious manner from the Traitor Legions.

With the twin-solar season approaching the males of the Pack are certainly more active and i suspect we will be able to examine what must be complicated mating rituals soon!
Attached is an image of a young male who i have named Constance.

The Will of Metal Endures Longer Than The Flesh Of Man

Tech Adept Stolt
2569-8-RA1-F54
<<<FILE ATTACHED>>>
<<<TRANSCRIBING>>>
<<<DONE>>>
(http://buildyourimagination.co.uk/minis/gallery/inq/xenos/02.jpg)
<<<TRANSMISSION ENDS>>>

while everything was on hold while i write a print'n'play compaign, the sculpting is almost done; gonna do 40k-esk rivets about the place and then he's ready for painting!
possibly notural browns for skin and dull metals with patches of faded colour but i'm not sure yet!

That's looking very very cool Gav. Almost puppy like in it's cuteness.

Looking great, the robotic parts are sculpted with precise, straight lines which is always hard to do. Only part I can critique would be the tail, it seems like it's missing some mechanical parts.

<<<INCOMING TRANSMISSION>>>
<<<TEXTONLY>>>
<<<FROM: Adept Decius Stolt>>>
<<<SUBJECT: Kark Procreation >>>
<<<THOUGHT: Man and Machine as One>>>

Hail brethren

We have been lucky enough to witness the procreation procidures of the Kark, albeit with slight injury; my own failing for fogetting these are wild animals with which we are dealing.
However the medicae has attended me and i have been cleared to continue my work.

As noted, with the twin suns scorching the planet mating rituals have begun amongst the pack weare follwoing.

It appears that the species is hermaphrodidic; the male or dominant partner during procreation simply having the larger size; until now we had failed to account that the Kark grow according to power as well as diet.
The dominant partner mounts the smaller Kark in a manner similar to a canine; a slew of connections made from their groin toward a series of trailing cables upon the Karks back; while each has individual sizes and quantity of connections apparently the Virus adjusts these extreminities to form fitting connections.
During this act, we witnessed fliuds being transferred to the passive Kark; we assume this is genetic data to form a unique offspring.
It is worth noting that after this pairing, the smaller Kark will not be mounted again but may mount smaller Kark.

It was in an attempt to examine these connections that Constance bit me; i can assume the Virus adjusting such unique extremities must be uncomfortable.

After the frenzy of pairings, matters calmed as the second sun passed over the horizon.
It was now that behaviour adjusted dramatically; the unmounted Kark continued their scavenge for sustinance, however they bought the most interesting finds to the mounted Kark and several of the smaller Kark moved more like a close pack; it appears the ones gestating form huddles to restrict the distance "males" have to bring sustenance.
The "females" had a massive gain in appetite, even eating stone and rock, until they give birth to a sphere of stone and metal, from which hatches a tiny Kark, again each unique and hungry!
They are hatched fully formed and are able to move and fend for themselves with stone teeth until they have digested enough metal to form a set of metallic teeth.

As to why some of teh Kark were unable to conceive and some of the "eggs" not hatching further examination is required along wit hthe documentation of their unique genitalia, if such a term is even appropriate!

The Will of Metal Endures Longer Than The Flesh Of Man

Tech Adept Stolt
2569-8-RA1-F54
<<<FILE ATTACHED>>>
<<<TRANSCRIBING>>>
<<<DONE>>>
(http://buildyourimagination.co.uk/minis/gallery/inq/xenos/03.jpg)
<<<TRANSMISSION ENDS>>>

nearly done; i've lost my favourite rivet tool so may not go crazy on the detailing!
hoping to undercoat tomorrow or sunday, ready to paint! :)

<<<INCOMING TRANSMISSION>>>
<<<TEXTONLY>>>
<<<FROM: Adept Decius Stolt>>>
<<<SUBJECT: Kark Procreation >>>
<<<THOUGHT: Man and Machine as One>>>

Hail brethren

Forgive the delay in sending this missive as we have had to... reorganise the explorator team here thanks to some... unwillingness to focus on the task at hand.

We have had the experience of witnessing the brith of the Kark and a remarkible procedure that entails.

After mating the "female" Kark grow in stature and bulk up in their abdomen, appearing todistend between the legs, all the while devouring anything they find or are bought by the pack not carrying an egg.
after a period of between 4 and 6 weeks an egg is regurgitated by the "female" and i am positive they reduce in mass but this wil lrequire further examination.
This egg is metallic and apparently slightly soft, however i was unable to interact with any of the eggs.
The Kark inside will, after a couple of hours, break out of his egg and are immediatly mobile and selfsufficient.
hey are remarkably less armoured and display less mechanical parts than older Kark, but their omniverous nature is displayed as they eat the metallic egg.
As the Kark eats more and more they begin the cycle of feeding the Virus and grow in size and their metallic symbiotic parts meld and alter across their life.

Their skintone is worth noting; rather much like the reactive plate of the Astartes, their "organic" flesh alters according to the temperature and local fauna, patterns appearing and fading with every substancial meal.
Consuming coloured plate also apparently affects them; Constance ate some plasteel coloured blue and i can certainly see some of the colour in her own armourplate; i enclose an updated image.

I must cease this report now; we have been losing tools and this keypad appears very tacky to my touch.

The Will of Metal Endures Longer Than The Flesh Of Man

Tech Adept Stolt
2569-8-RA1-F54
<<<FILE ATTACHED>>>
<<<TRANSCRIBING>>>
<<<DONE>>>
(http://buildyourimagination.co.uk/minis/gallery/inq/xenos/04.jpg)
<<<END TRANSMISSION>>>

She looks brilliant. Nice bit of fluff too.

I must get mine done. Set a deadline of 1/10/16. Can't believe how quick that's come around!

Ruaridh

Oh dear are we that close to the deadline. I've only sculpted the head so far, not even finished the hair... oops. Looks like I'll be busy for the next few evenings then.

Yeah, it has snuck up quickly.  There's a gale coming in up here, and any attempt at priming is going to result in me or the garden getting a coat of Chaos Black.  I may miss my own deadline.  How embarrassing.

We can pretend there was never a deadline in the first place if everybody likes!

Ruaridh

i beleive you can make it! ;)
on the flipside, as a fun community thing i doubt anyone'll be too miffed; i'm gonna be away till the 7th anyway!

With a lot of rl crap going on I knew I wouldn't hit the deadline so didn't really bother. If there's now no deadline pressure I might start on some thing?

Quote from: greenstuff_gav on September 27, 2016, 09:46:20 PM
i beleive you can make it! ;)
on the flipside, as a fun community thing i doubt anyone'll be too miffed; i'm gonna be away till the 7th anyway!

Gales and heavy rain here, so no spray priming today or tomorrow by the looks of things.

Radu, there's no need to worry about a deadline I picked out of thin air - it was really just an impetus tool (that hasn't worked on me!)

Ruaridh

Worked on me :)
Even trying for a baby one and its inspired a new character so i can play the crew!

Looks like I'll be a few days late with this :(. I have actually made some progress though. The hair is done, and I've posed the model and started work on the clothing (what there is of it) and weaponry.

Well I've just about finished the sculpt.

(http://i609.photobucket.com/albums/tt177/steyates/Alien%20Bounty%20Hunter_zpsn4qcxucp.jpg) (http://s609.photobucket.com/user/steyates/media/Alien%20Bounty%20Hunter_zpsn4qcxucp.jpg.html)

I might add a few extra details such as stitches to the skirt and boots and maybe a few more scales here and there, before I send it to shapeways. I'm also not sure whether or not to add a combat knife/machete to the model as I'm not sure where to put it.

It's not my best sculpt and the pose is a bit static, but overall I'm fairly satisfied with her.

One of these days I'll make use of shapeways myself I think.
I've got the software, I just need the practice.

She looks good. I did think she was human at first to be honest with you. I'm thinking she doesn't look 'alien' enough but other wise she's fantastic. More details are always good but they can be added afterwards.

Oh, a less human looking gun would be good as well.

And price for reprints ;)
I like the almost humanish look; very asari
Maybe less digets qould help along with the alternate weapon?

My original idea for the species is that it is supposed to look quite human in appearance and that they are often wrongly believed to be a mutant strain of scaly. Although perhaps she looks a bit too human, which is why I was thinking of adding some more scales or possibly some spines. The forearms in particular look a bit bare to me on reflection.

I like the idea of creating a more alien looking weapon, although my original concept was that the race is quite primitive and thus makes use of mostly human technology.

Removing one of the fingers isn't a bad idea either, although it is probably harder to do (at this stage) than it sounds. I might experiment and see what it looks like and how easy it is to achieve.

As for reprints setting up a shapeways shop is on my to do list  :)

I liked the theory that asari are so rediculously psychic they appear humanoid to us; maybe a warpbased species like the psychunin where theier physical form adjusts according to the veiwer!

Did you have background / thoughts on the species? Thats what i enjoyed about the challenge :)

Yes I've been working on the background, which has been fun.

The Cliff's notes version is that they're a primitive humanoid race that make both excellent hunters and useful labourers due to their tough skin which is highly resistant to toxins and radiation. They're a monotreme style species (i.e mammals that lay eggs), cold blooded (not sure if that combination is technically possible in reality, but who cares really, it's a fictional alien) and can see into the infra-red spectrum. They emit powerful mind altering pheromones from the tentacle like appendages on their heads, which are used on their homeworld to ward off predators, lull prey animals into an illusion of safety and for mating rituals. These pheromones seem to work on most species and have proved especially useful in the wider galaxy.

I haven't come up with any names yet though (I really am terrible at making up names for things).

I quite like idea that they only appear to be human to us. Perhaps I could work that into the pheromone idea somehow, i.e. the pheromones could make them appear more attractive/normal and less threatening to people. Not sure though as it wouldn't work on anyone who has a re-breather or enclosed helmet.

Wasn't there that red dwarf episode with the slimy green blob that looked like the dream lover of the observer? Something similar sounds fun and I can see the inquisition being interested in what amounts to a race of callidus assassins

Lol, I was actually thinking of the Red Dwarf aliens when I was reading Gavs post and then got to yours! Although I was thinking more of the Psirens rather than the pleasure Gelf called 'Camille'............ Not that I'm a red Dwarf fan or anything.........

*Goes to make some Gelfs and/or Rogue Simulants*

Actually. A Rogue Simulant might be kinda cool. A combat mechanoid created by an alien race for a war that never took place but turned on their creators so all that are left afe the combat mechanoids prowling space for loot and combat. One rogue simulant is even called "The Inquisitor"

Quote from: Cortez on October 06, 2016, 01:18:57 PMThey're a monotreme style species (i.e mammals that lay eggs), cold blooded (not sure if that combination is technically possible in reality, but who cares really, it's a fictional alien)

It's probably not, although not really because of the combination.

Some years ago, in response to the fan theories that the Tau were egg layers (of some sort, anyway), I looked into the viability of the idea of humanoid monotremes. The short version is that it just doesn't add up very well.

The longer version is:
Humans (and specifically our brains) take a lot of time and energy to gestate, and we already push the limits of what's possible with placental birth.
Given a baby's brain has to fit through its mother's pelvis, there's a major trade off between how helpless our young are, the shape of women and how dangerous childbirth is. Given that any egg would have to be larger than the young it bore, you certainly can't get a human baby from a laid egg (at least, not any egg a human female could actually lay).

If I were strong-armed into coming up with an explanation for monotreme humanoids, then I'd say that it'd have to be down to alien biology supporting a much bigger ratio of growth from birth to maturity. If their young could theoretically start no larger than about the size of an apple, then it might be possible.
The knock-on effect of that though would be even more helpless young and quite possibly even longer to mature than humans take. (Which is a damn long time. Most mammals in our size range reach adulthood within a couple of years, but our maturation is closer in time span to 6 tonne African bush elephants).

And yes, I do know you said "who cares", but I'm not very good about not thinking about things like this. :P

That's a good point Marco.

Thinking back to some of my original inspiration for the character which came from the various creatures of Barsoom. The species there are egg layers and the eggs are incubated (in specially designed incubators on the sides of mountains) for three years. As I recall the eggs start off about the size of an apple and grow much larger over the incubation period until reaching a more normal child size. I also recall that the young mature faster than human children.

Super late, and really needs a wee bit more fine tuning (and gluing to the base!) here is the hybrid Enlightened Bremir.


Suffice to say, I went full 90's 'Eavy Metal with this one.

As a bit of background:

The Bremir are a semi-aquatic species of rudimentary intelligence, native to the jungle world Mercy.  In their natural state, these primitives are little threat to man, and were largely eradicated by mid M41.  In recent centuries, a non-native introduced parasite known as the Vorapicline have been found to latch onto larval Bremir, and as they grow, form a symbiosis.  These "Enlightened" Bremir show intelligence equivalent to many of the other foul xenos that exist within the Emperor's realm, and a good number have been seen on worlds an in shipping across the sector.  While their natural tentacles are dangerous, a few seem to have undergone bionic enhancement to better allow them to use ranged weapons.  It is believed that as well as boosting intelligence, the Vorapicline enhance the healing capabilities of the Bremir, allowing them to undergo implant surgery successfully.  As with all Xenos, we recommend the Enlightened Bremir be eradicated at all costs.

I've also got a new picture set up.  How does the background look?

Ruaridh

That's a very very nicely done model and paintscheme - what can I say, I'm a sucker for GW's "red" era.
The background is short and sweet, and covers an interesting look at the race in general.

I wouldn't mind seeing it from a few additional angles with this scheme.

Awesome! I think the garish colour scheme really suits it and makes it look very alien, both in-game and out of game. I'll echo the requests for more pictures though, one angle isn't enough to satiate me!  :P

I apologise hugely for the delay in getting these alternate angle photos taken.  It was on my to do list, but I have been hugely distracted from Inquisitor models for a long time.


Ruaridh