Saturday, 22 June 2013

Doctor Who - Cybermen.

Doctor Who foes: Some Cybermen.


Cybermen were a "race" of cybernetically augmented humanoid. They varied greatly in design, with different factions throughout time and space. The two major groups, from which all other known versions derived, were the Mondasian Cybermen, which originated on the planet Mondas – Earth's twin planet in the Doctor's Universe – and the Cybermen created by Cybus Industries, which originated on Earth in an alternate universe.

Mixed Cybermen faction group.
Despite the different origins, there were similarities between both groups of Cybermen, and there were groups that shared the characteristics of both. For the most part, they lacked individuality or names. Cybermen had no emotions and viewed them as a weakness. They frequently attempted to physically and mentally re-engineer humans and other humanoids into Cybermen, via a process called "cyber-conversion" or "upgrading".

Tenth Planet / Tomb / Wheel in Space / Invasion / Earthshock / "Pete's World".
I have several Cybermen on the workbench - about 16 Earthshock, 10 Invasion plus a few random others, including a Telosian and a Tenth Planet figure. To be honest, I get a little confused with all the variants!

'Earthshock' Cyberman.
Poor photo below showing some of them...

Cyber-horde!

Painted using Chris's suggested Cybermen painting method on The Conflict Cornucopia.

All figures are Harlequin / Black Tree Design.

Saturday, 15 June 2013

Doctor Who - More Doctor Who Monsters!

A few of the Doctors adversaries...

The Silurians, also known as Earth Reptiles, Eocenes, Homo reptilia and Psionosauropodomorpha, were a species of Earth reptile. Technologically advanced, they lived alongside their aquatic cousins, the Sea Devils. Unlike other species, Silurians showed an important intraspecific variation (vast differentiation between breeds), such as the number of eyes, the formation of their pupils or the colour of their skin.

Silurian...
The Silurians were generally a peaceful race. Their highest laws forbade outright warfare except for defence. There was also great importance placed on the species' pure eugenics, which was believed to be their most important principle and most sacrosanct belief. Breeding between a Silurian and a Sea Devil was considered a crime punishable by death. The eggs of such a union were usually crushed and the parents executed.

The Silurians were generally led by a Triad, three Silurians who ruled jointly. These Silurians came from different backgrounds and controlled different professions, such as the military and the scientists. Silurians were also split into different tribes. The majority of Silurian warriors appeared to be female, just as the females were the more aggressive in some species of lower reptile.

Okdel, leader of the tribe beneath Wenley Moor.
Bok was a grotesque statue animated by Azal's power and used by the Master to gain control of the residents of Devil's End and resist attack. After the Master was defeated and Azal and his spaceship were destroyed, Bok ceased to be animate and was destroyed by UNIT.
"Chap with the wings, five rounds rapid"
Bok had glowing red eyes when animated and was short in stature. He was still a powerful force to be reckoned with. He could vapourise objects and people instantly and resist injury, including being blown apart. However, he did have a few significant weaknesses such as being afraid of iron, and could be mollified by Venusian lullabies.
The Doctor & Jo confront Bok.
Gell guards were blob-like creatures created by Omega, trapped in a black hole domain made of anti-matter. They had the ability to travel from Omega's anti-matter universe into that of matter. An advance guard appeared in the form of a shapeless jelly-like blob.
Anti-matter.

Others appeared more solid and could use their claws as weapons to fire blasts. They were immune to gun and rocket fire. Under Omega's command they attacked UNIT HQ. They killed a number of soldiers. They captured the Third Doctor and his friends. They took them to Omega's lair.
Blobby.
Haemovores were a species of vampire-like humanoids who evolved from humans. They fed on the blood of humans, though they could also survive in sea water, which had a similar salt content. The Haemovores had enormous strength and power, and could climb sheer surfaces with ease. They were resistant to bullets, and could only be killed by a stake to the heart. Also, Haemovores had razor-sharp claws, which they used to kill people. Haemovores could even weld metal with their hands, and older Haemovores built up armour made of metal they collected and melted together. The Haemovores could be stopped with a psychic barrier, which in humans was created by the mental processes associated with strong faith; the Doctor (and, presumably, other Time Lords and psychically-aware beings) could create this barrier at will. In the presence of the barrier, the Haemovores often responded with ear-splitting shrieks.

Haemovore - hungry.
Haemovores were known to only hunt in the fog or mist. Whether they created this fog themselves, or simply hunted when the time was right, is unknown. The Haemovores communicated with each other telepathically. This could be detected by telepathic humans. They could also telepathically control humans, making them easier to feed on. They were all controlled by Ingiger, who could kill them with a thought.Partially transformed Haemovores, about to advance upon their prey.

The Haemovores started life as humans, who were changed by other Haemovores. At first, the only signs of change were pale skin, large red lips and sharp claws. They still had their minds and memories, but a more feral mindset. As they aged, their appearance started to change: Their skin grew slimy and wrinkled, their eyes were swollen shut and their mouths turned into suckers for feeding. After a century, they were completely transformed into Haemovores.

After being killed, they would rapidly decay into charred bones and slime.
Poor skin care.
Robomen were humans converted by the Daleks into wholly obedient slaves during 2025 and the 22nd century Dalek invasion of Earth. The Daleks captured prisoners and operated on their brain in a surgical procedure called the Transfer, fitting them with large, helmet-like headsets. The Daleks' mind control technique was unstable, and the Robomen would often go insane and commit suicide.
Robomen on patrol.
Robomen also featured in the theatrical version of this story "Daleks - Invasion Earth 2150 AD" and are the ones displayed here.
No sense of humour.
Daleks were the armoured, mutated descendants of the Kaleds of the planet Skaro. They fought the Time Lordsin the Last Great Time War, ending in the near-total destruction of both races. The Daleks were hated and feared throughout time and space. They were the oldest and most frequent foes of the Doctor, having faced him several times in every one of his incarnations.

In the background some Red 'drone' Daleks of the New Dalek Paradigm. This was an empire of purebred Daleks created by a Progenitor device, which made use of original Dalek DNA. The Progenitor was activated by the only three surviving Daleks of the previous empire, themselves "unclean" specimens since they were generated from the cells of Davros. The original five Daleks of the New Paradigm, and the leadership class once their new empire was created, were more powerful and much larger than any of their predecessors.


At the front we have gold Daleks led by a single black Dalek. These are essentially based on the 'Cult of Skaro' Daleks, (but more of 'em...)

I still have a veritable horde of Black Tree Daleks to paint and these will likely be more of a classic look.

All figures are Harlequin / Black Tree Design.

Wednesday, 8 May 2013

Doctor Who - Day of the Autons (A Bridgehead from Space Pt 1.)

Rob and I played our first DWMG - the 'Locate Swarm Leader' scenario.

The scenario is about recovering a Nestene Intelligence spheroid that has fallen near an old farmstead. UNIT and the Doctor have arrived at the farm and taken up position but are quickly surrounded by Autons sent to retrieve the plastic spheroid...

The Cast:

The Doctor and Sarah Jane with the Brigadier and UNIT troops.
UNIT & Allies.
(Rob)
The 3rd Doctor
Sarah Jane Smith
Brigadier Alistair Lethbridge-Stewart
Corporal Atkins (rifle and grenades)
Pvt. Bradford (rifle)
Pvt. Cohen (rifle and grenades)
Pvt. Fletcher (rifle)
Pvt. Lang (rifle)
Pvt. Stanley (rifle and grenades)
Pvt. Sweet (rifle)
Pvt. Wells (rifle)

Autons (one is a shop dummy...)
The Nestine Inteligence.
(wardy-la)
6x Autons


Setting:

Some time in the 1970's.
The Wagstaff Farm, Creek Cottage near Mallard Wood in the New Forest, England.

By this point, UNIT had tracked the impact points and set about securing the Wagstaff place. Despite its current 'inactive' state the Doctor insisted the TARDIS be brought along...

The Wagstaff Farm, looking North.
The Game:

The TARDIS sits between the farmhouse with the white-boarded workshop. Using various supplies and boxes (taken from the wooden store at the front) the UNIT troops have built up a couple of barricades.


Autons, styled after the 70's Actionman pilot, gather on a low hill overlooking the Wagstaff farm, awaiting orders from the Nestine Intelligence...


The Doctor discusses a plan of action with the Brigadier (wearing the red beret) whilst the UNIT troops take up their defensive positions. Sarah Jane casually surveys the area wondering what mischief she can get up to.


An Auton slowly approaches through the nearby woods, so far unspotted by the UNIT men.


The plastic menace on all sides!


The glowing blue tinged meteors glint in the sunlight. It is going to be a race to see who gets to them first...


"Sweet. Wells. Follow me, on the double!" The Brigadier is first to act and bravely leaves the safety of the farmhouse grounds, calling to Pvts. Sweet and Wells to follow. Pvts. Lang and Stanley leave via the other gate. The Doctor immediately rushes to the workshop to look for something to use against the Autons.


The Doctor feverishly rummages around in the workshop, desperate to find the ideal piece to begin his invention with. "I need to reverse the polarity of the neutron flow"...


The Brigadier, flanked by Pvt. Wells begin the search for the first meteor. Pvt. Sweet is close behind as Sarah Jane looks on.


Two Autons make their way past farmhouse, one heads for another meteor whilst the second lurches toward    the watching Corporal Atkins and Pvt. Bradford.


Pvt. Cohen and Pvt. Fletcher secure the grounds by the workshop. An Auton steadily moves from the edge of the woods towards them and the workshop where the Doctor continues his work.


An Auton confronts the rather surprised UNIT men at the hedge...


...as the second Auton has the meteor within sight.


By this time, the brave UNIT men to the south of the farmhouse have made more progress but the signal proves to be simple impact crater. Pvt. Wells and the Brigadier spot another Auton in the trees ahead. Pvts. Lang and Stanley also have no luck as they find another empty crater. Yet another Auton (this one apparently a shop dummy) can be seen approaching.


Meanwhile, Corporal Atkins, frustrated at waiting, leaps the small hedge and run towards the Auton closest to the impact crater. Pvt. Bradford is at his side as they jump the hedge past the slow to react Auton. Several rounds are pumped into the other Auton, "rapid fire" but these seem to have little effect. The Corporal lobs a grenade but as the dust clears the Auton still stands! "Bloomin' 'ell! Wots 'e made of?".


Pvts. Lang and Stanley rush towards the next meteor signal, unaware another Auton lurks in the treeline...


...as it steps out to confront them! A gun battle ensues but with little apparent effect from either side. Pvt. Lang fires off another round shouting "are we firing blanks??" as Pvt. Stanley primes another grenade.


The Brigadier and Pvt. Sweet spot the Auton approaching the workshop and lay down suppressive fire. It has already reached the meteor crater but fortunately for the UNIT men this is yet another false signal.


"Chap with the bald head, five rounds rapid fire, FIRE!". Pvt. Wells catches up with the Brigadier and Pvt. Sweet and the three open fire on the Auton...with little appearing to harm the plastic lurker.


The Auton in question has spotted the Doctor inside the workshop and awaits orders. By this point, the Doctor has spotted the motionless plastic creature outside the window and calls for Pvt. Cohen to join him inside...just in case.


Rifle shots crack and a small explosion erupts near the Auton to the south-east of the building but still the UNIT mens weapons seem to have little effect. The Auton fires back but hits nothing.


Corporal Atkins and Pvt. Bradford are too late to stop the Autons reaching the meteor crater signal ahead of them but fortunately this proves to be another false signal.


As the Auton spins round and fires at them, Corporal Atkins lets fly another grenade (at scarily close range) - BOOM!
At last, an Auton is felled by the jubilant UNIT men!
Suddenly, the second Auton turns around and begins to march back the way it came..."Where's it goin' Corp??"


Things are not so good to the south. The Auton has beaten Pvts. Lang and Stanley to the next signal. This one actually proves to be Nestine Sphere. Pvt. Lang looks on in horror!


Meanwhile, the Doctor is apparently making progress with his invention. Pvt. Cohen watches for movement through the window as Pvt. Fletcher, impatiently waits by the door - "C'mon Doctor, the lads are in trouble out there..."


Indeed they are. Pvts. Lang and Stanley come under fire from two angles as an Auton approaches from the north of the farm. The Auton with the sphere slowly walks to the treeline - "Bluddy 'ell! E's gettin' away!!"


Sarah Jane, fed up with waiting for the Doctor decides to help the desperate UNIT men.


As Pvts. Lang and Stanley shoot ineffectually at the escaping Auton Corporal Atkins and Pvt. Bradford appear in support, Atkins lobbing a grenade as they run past the other Auton.
BOOM!!


Second 'kill' for Corporal Atkins (he'll be getting a promotion at this rate) - this time with a little bit of 'Luck' from Sarah Jane being present.


Pvt. Lang wastes no time to revel in the Corporals glory. With Pvt. Stanley in support, he quickly rushes forward and snaps up the loose Nestine Spheroid as the other Auton moves relentlessly towards them past the watching Sarah Jane.


"Damn! She's too close to chuck another grenade..." laments the Corporal as the Auton passes by Sarah Jane. Pvt. Stanley looks back as Pvt. Lang struggles to lug the sphere away...


At last the Doctor finishes his invention! "They're Autons! Bullets can't stop them!" he shouts. With the help of Pvts. Cohen and Fletcher, the Doctor carries his new 'Auton Jamming' device. Though he can't be sure of its variable effect, he is sure it can potentially disable the Auton command signal...but will he get there in time??


A desperate battle ensues...more of the plastic, boiler suited menace close on Pvts. Lang and Stanley. Despite putting up a brave fight, a shot rings out and Pvt. Lang drops the glowing sphere to the ground...then falls to the floor and rolls down the hillside. "Man down!!" cries Pvt. Stanley.


Things are looking bad for Pvt. Stanley. Sarah Jane is practically frozen to the spot and Corporal Atkins can't reach him before the two Autons do...


The Doctor and two UNIT men appear around the side of the farmhouse...he points an unusual contraption ahead of him...


...and suddenly the Autons stop moving!


Pvt. Stanley secures the Nestine Spheroid.


"Blimey! That was a close 'un." remarks Corporal Atkins.


Sarah Jane breathes a sigh of relief.


As UNIT and the Doctor congratulate themselves, all are unaware as a last Auton waits patiently in the trees...


to be continued...?

Final Result:

The Brigadier and UNIT acted quickly and secured several of the crater signals but their SLR's seemed to have little effect on the plastic Autons. Despite lobbing grenades all over the shop only two managed to have any effect, one of them at a critical moment - Sarah Jane was able to influence events here and help UNIT (namely Corporal Atkins) stop the Autons leaving the table with the Nestine Spheroid.

Though the Autons seemed to shrug off the UNIT bullets their own fire-power was as equally ineffective - only one shot actually took out a UNIT soldier (the brave Pvt. Lang RIP) but again this was at an important moment, stopping UNIT from removing the Spheroid from the table.

Ultimately, just like the TV show, the Doctor managed to save the day in the final moments of the game with his 'Variable Auton Jamming' invention!

The full cast.

A great game that played fairly instinctively, despite a couple of minor mistakes we made with the rules. We loved the fact the game went right to the wire with the a Companion influencing events to a minor degree and then the Doctor appearing back in the game at just the right moment to save the world!

Check out Robs AAR for more pics on Alleys of Distraction.

Figures are mainly Black Tree / Harlequin with a few Gripping Beast Mo-Fo soldiers to bolster the UNIT ranks. Buildings are from Sarissa Precision and 4Ground.