Home Forums Sci Fi General Sci-Fi Space opera mecha minis

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  • #91980
    Avatar photoDarkest Star Games
    Participant

    I really love anime like Gundam, Vifam, 5 Star Stories, and the like.  Mecha battling in space and on land always makes me smile.  Back in the day we played the crap out of Mekton2, Mekton Empire and even a little MektonZeta (as well as Robotech, Mechwarrior, etc…).  I’m a little bummed as it seems that despite a great kickstarter (that I wasn’t able to get in on in time) Mekton Zero has stalled (if not been shelved completely).  I was hoping to create 6mm scale minis ala Mecha Space Opera style (both standing poses as well as flying in space poses) but now I don’t know if there’s any interest.  I’d use them for 3d space battles using telescoping antennas for flight stands (will be running a convention game soon).

    Anyone interested?

    "I saw this in a cartoon once, but I'm pretty sure I can do it..."

    #91985
    Avatar photoMr. Average
    Participant

    If I recall, DP9’s Jovian Chronicles line is something similar – so yes, I think there is definitely interest. The standing/flying configurations would be a big selling point to me, so that you could swap out your mecha when they take off. Integrated ground and air battles seem to elude most mecha games – it’s either all one or all the other.

    I too played the hell out of the Mekton games back in the Beforetime, although I could never get infantry to work – no idea why they left that out, but whatever. No reason you can’t have an all-tank, all-mecha game, but it never seemed quite real to me.

    #91986
    Avatar photoThomaston
    Participant

    Obviously I’m interested and bought a few of these from Alternative Armies

    6mm and Fleet Scale ranges

    But I have to disagree with Mr.Average. I don’t think there’s enough interest to sustain sales.

    I’ve been keeping my eyes on DP9’s Jovian Wars but that range leveraged off to their RPG setting (not sure if anyone plays it anymore but nostalgia is a big thing). Considering it took this long for Jovian Chronicles to get some attention I think DP9 knew how limited the market is. They also Kickstarted their minis so there’s that aspect of it.

    #91997
    Avatar photoDarkest Star Games
    Participant

    I’ve been keeping my eyes on DP9’s Jovian Wars

    HG and JC are also 2 games we played the daylights out of.  I still play Lightening Strike (GREAT game!) and though I got in on the first JW kickstarter I haven’t gotten around to painting the ships and minis yet, nor reading the rules.  From what I have seen it seems like a HG Blitz style game, and I really like the LS sort of game where it’s a lot like “Silent Service in spaaaace” as far as maneuver and spoofing.

    They do have some great tiny mecha minis though!

    Perhaps I need to come up with my own rules to justify the minis (as that “what rules are these for” is a question I constantly field over DSG minis)?  The current set I have for the Gundam convention game uses X-Wing style dice, and I have discovered that some people have great difficulty with 3d type games, even when the minis are on adjustable stands that show exactly what level they are at.  Of course, others take to it naturally and tear up the competition…  It’s going to need a construction system though.  …sigh…

    "I saw this in a cartoon once, but I'm pretty sure I can do it..."

    #91999
    Avatar photoMr. Average
    Participant

    Well, your Federation and Venurian minis are clearly for Striker.  Or Striker II, if the game were playable (“Let’s include stats for everything but not tell anyone what mobility class any vehicle happens to be, and require a degree in advanced theoretical physics to design a custom vehicle.”)

    Or, more obviously, Dirtside II.

    #92004
    Avatar photoThomaston
    Participant

    Lightning Strike and Heavy Gear 2nd ed are up there on my list of favorite rules. Jovian Wars group their exo armor into flights though so to me it feels like exo are not the star of the game anymore.

    Your own rules might work, haven’t seen many rules with space robots, it’s a super niche.

     

    Also the Alternative Armies 6mm mecha also work as 6mm power armor, maybe if you design yours like that too.

    #92007
    Avatar photoLogain
    Participant

    I’d buy them. Seems like with all the recent 3mm sci-fi releases (Pico, Vanguard, Microworld) there would be a market for models that be used as 6mm or 3mm.  I’ve got a bunch of  Onslaughts Assault Rigs that I’m using for 3mm. A couple things I’d love to see:

    1. a set with three or four visibly different size categories (i.e. light, medium, heavy)for sculpts in the same style… most mecha rules have these categories, most 6mm mecha in existing lines do not.

    2. An opfor released at the same time.

    #92034
    Avatar photoMr. Average
    Participant

    I’d buy them. Seems like with all the recent 3mm sci-fi releases (Pico, Vanguard, Microworld) there would be a market for models that be used as 6mm or 3mm. I’ve got a bunch of Onslaughts Assault Rigs that I’m using for 3mm. A couple things I’d love to see: 1. a set with three or four visibly different size categories (i.e. light, medium, heavy)for sculpts in the same style… most mecha rules have these categories, most 6mm mecha in existing lines do not. 2. An opfor released at the same time.

    Yes to all the above! I agree entirely. Cohesive forces and OPFORS and a well defined light/medium/heavy/assault class set would be BIG advantages to me and the games I play.

    #92054
    Avatar photoAlexander Wasberg
    Participant

    You know I love me some mecha, so I am definitely interested in more stuff in the vein of JC/FSS mecha. What sort of size were you thinking about for the mecha themselves?

    I’d buy them. Seems like with all the recent 3mm sci-fi releases (Pico, Vanguard, Microworld) there would be a market for models that be used as 6mm or 3mm. I’ve got a bunch of Onslaughts Assault Rigs that I’m using for 3mm. A couple things I’d love to see: 1. a set with three or four visibly different size categories (i.e. light, medium, heavy)for sculpts in the same style… most mecha rules have these categories, most 6mm mecha in existing lines do not. 2. An opfor released at the same time.

    Yes to all the above! I agree entirely. Cohesive forces and OPFORS and a well defined light/medium/heavy/assault class set would be BIG advantages to me and the games I play.

    I totally agree with this sentiment, distinct “classes” makes it that much easier when playing at the smaller scales I usually use 🙂

    #92156
    Avatar photoAlexander Wasberg
    Participant

    I’ve been working on something similar for myself, while clearly not as neat as something done by a professional it doesn’t cost me as much as comissioning someone to do so for something this niche.

    The first one is blurry, but hopefully some details are visible (both mecha is about 30mm from head to toe):

     

    The second one is slightly better:

    These two will be the light class of mecha for the respective factions. I have some ideas for medium and heavy ones as well as a civilian worker model, but we’ll see how far I get.

     

    #92202
    Avatar photoDarkest Star Games
    Participant

    I’m not seeing your pix, Alex.  Broken links?

    A couple things I’d love to see: 1. a set with three or four visibly different size categories (i.e. light, medium, heavy)for sculpts in the same style… most mecha rules have these categories, most 6mm mecha in existing lines do not.

    Hmm.  I wasn’t thinking in this line, as the “Lt, Med, Hvy” setup has always seemed so Battletech to me (though I guess we do see it in the JC Pathfinder, Retaliator, Vindicator progression), but it might be possible.  I was thinking more Gundam, where there are newer and older models mixed together at times with the occasional specialist mech in the mix.  I’ll take a look and see what I can develop.

    2. An opfor released at the same time.

    Oh yes, for sure!  I was actually thinking 4 “national” factions (with 3 mech designs each), some mercenary mechas (maybe another 3 to start with, but individual designs rather than carrying the same design ethos), and at least 1 alien faction (of course they’ll have to be bio-weapons!)

    So now we are talking 18 mecha designs as an aim, but at least 9 for the initial release.  Might end up having to be a Kickstarter… yuck!

    As for sizes: I have a lot of the 1/400 Gundam trading figures, and they’re great!  But, they look too small to use with the 6mm vehicles I have.  So, I’m thinking they’d be 1/300 scale which would put them somewhere around between 1-3/4″ to 2-1/4″ tall (about 44mm to 57mm) depending upon if it’s head or chest cockpit type.

    Too tall?

    "I saw this in a cartoon once, but I'm pretty sure I can do it..."

    #92212
    Avatar photoAlexander Wasberg
    Participant

    It’s wierd, I can see them in both FF and Chrome.. I’ll try again:

    I’ll make some better photos when I have one of each painted up!

     

    I like the idea of mixing different models like that, but I think you can have several archetypes/roles rather than huge size differences as an alternative. For example a sniper mecha with long range, close-assault models with bulkier armor and close combat weapons/big shields and some general purpose striker with a bit of range and some options up close.

     

    I like an ambitious plan, but starting with 2 factions and the mercs for the initial 9 might be a good way to start things off. As long as they are distinct enough in style I can see them being quite useful even as ground-pounder mecha if you were so inclined.

    40-60mm or so sounds like a good size if you aren’t expected to have more than a dozen models per side, that will allow you a sizable model without a huge table. The two I put together so far is just about 30mm, but the next pair will be more like 40mm to try out the size.

    Now I want to see/hear your ideas for designs!

    #92216
    Avatar photoDarkest Star Games
    Participant

    Those are pretty cool man!  I don’t have the dexterity any more for hand sculpting, too many years drumming.

    I don’t have any designs drawn up, just ideas in my head.  The background fluff is pretty deep but will basically be: a small and confused brushfire war is developing over a newly discovered system and it’s resources.  2 members of a confederation and a medium sized polity are going at each other in a 3-way campaign while the confederate military is trying to tamp it down and keep the peace when a small alien colonizing fleet pops into the zone sowing even more chaos.  Basically a free-for-all with alliance switching, backstabbing, and lots of manipulation and mecha skirmishing.

     

    "I saw this in a cartoon once, but I'm pretty sure I can do it..."

    #92220
    Avatar photoMr. Average
    Participant

    Sounds like the Mekton “Algol” milieu. Which is a good one so don’t stop now!

    #92235
    Avatar photoDarkest Star Games
    Participant

    Sounds like the Mekton “Algol” milieu. Which is a good one so don’t stop now!

    (I just realised that like half of the post I wrote didn’t post for some reason!  Probably user error…)

    Sort of like Algol, though more based on a thinned version of what I was going to do with the background of the “Colony 15” range before it fizzled, but with mecha!

    Spent some time sketching last night, wish I had taken pix.  It’s tough to make an alien species that doesn’t look too much like others that have already been published… but I think I have a couple of viable designs.  Might have to do them by hand rather than on in 3d, which will be a challenge for me, especially to keep the same aesthetics/style.  First attempts looked like a combo of Invid and Tyranids, was kind of funny!

    Going to knock together a test blockout of a mech an see what the print cost will be.  It’ll probably be in-line with my Pilum and Pugio armors, but I don’t plan on these being multi-part.

    "I saw this in a cartoon once, but I'm pretty sure I can do it..."

    #92255
    Avatar photoAlexander Wasberg
    Participant

    It sounds really intriguing, I know I’m not the only one who’d like a look (or more accurately, a read) of your setting’s background!

    I’d love to see some of your sketches when you feel like sharing them 🙂

    #92283
    Avatar photoDarkest Star Games
    Participant

    Will do!  Honestly though, I am a bit hesitant to reveal too much before the project is well along as time and again I have been “claim jumped” by a company or 2 that have much more capital behind them and can thus knock things out more quickly.  As this will be a tertiary project (my Dark Star and Spec-Sec lines being priority) progress will inevitably be slow…

    "I saw this in a cartoon once, but I'm pretty sure I can do it..."

    #92297
    Avatar photoAlexander Wasberg
    Participant

    I totally get that, it sucks that people can’t have ideas of their own. I don’t want you to reveal anything before you feel ready to do so.

    And I realize that you have to keep the lights on and all that   That being said I am exited to see your stuff when it is ready. If they turn out anything as nice as the colony 15 mechs then that will be vetter than awesome!

    #92788
    Avatar photoAlexander Wasberg
    Participant

    After another week I have managed to smash together another set of mecha:

    Now I’m waiting for some moulding materials and then I’ll try to cast up and paint a few of each. Then we will have ourselves a space war 🙂

     

    http://lasersandbroadswords.blogspot.com/2018/06/some-more-space-mecha.html

    #92796
    Avatar photocmnash
    Participant

    They look really good Alexander – well done that man!

    .

    #93003
    Avatar photoDarkest Star Games
    Participant

    Look at you go, dude!  You are just whipping them out, that’s great!  I actually had time this weekend to do some 3d, but let a friend drag me into the Post Scriptum test servers since they were up.  I need to buckle down!

    "I saw this in a cartoon once, but I'm pretty sure I can do it..."

    #93084
    Avatar photoAlexander Wasberg
    Participant

    Cheers to you both, they are a bit rough, but I kind of like them..

    All in good time, it’s important to get a bit of gaming in with your friends when you can! 🙂

    #93110
    Avatar photoThaddeus Blanchette
    Participant

    Those are really nice, but I gotta ask: are you using bubble gum for your modeling medium?

    We get slapped around, but we have a good time!

    #93122
    Avatar photoDarkest Star Games
    Participant

    Looks like Sculpy, but I wouldn’t try chewing it!

    "I saw this in a cartoon once, but I'm pretty sure I can do it..."

    #93140
    Avatar photoAlexander Wasberg
    Participant

    No Thaddeus, it’s regular poster tac and not bubblegum. I had to find a way to hold the various bits together to photgraph as I intend to make moulds and I dont want to glue them only to break them apart again. But maybe bubblegum would work in a pinch..

    Looks like Sculpy, but I wouldn’t try chewing it!

    Correct, on both counts! 😉

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