15mm Sci Fi - More Characters for Five Parsecs from Home & Showdown at the Stardust Saloon

Yesterday was a semi-productive day for figure painting, 11 done.  Not a huge number, but considering half  of them were characters I call that a good day.  

I had these guys kicking around for awhile.  So, they received some much needed love (closeups always make my stuff look like shit  ugh)  

GZG Robots, Rebel Minis Android (Soulless) & Commissars/Assassins

Robots and psychotic assassins/police.  What could go wrong?

The metallic droids allowed me to play with the Vallejo Shifters paints again.  You cannot tell from the photos at all, but they do change color...slightly, depending on their angle.  Another 16 figures to go and my inventory will be almost clear.

Bonus:

On Saturday I managed to get a game of Five Parsecs in with a friend, Stephen, who was kind enough to join me in a Cooperative game.  Sadly, I did not take photos of the two games we played.  It was a long day and my attention span does not hold.  Our band was outfitted with an upgraded shuttle on the planet Outpost, an Imperial world located in the Drexilthar subsector of the Reaver's Deep sector of the Third Imperium.  

Our fateful crew of starport scum: bot (I call him Clint due to his bizarre accuracy with firearms), a human criminal (I am ashamed to say I forget his name), Wes Sykes (former miner), Ray Meers (former gang member and small time crook  with stolen combat armor), Linda Collins (another former gang member and computer hacker and Ray's sister and Wes's lover)...and one Soulless...just because (he wanted to experience love I think).

The first battle was against Kra'Vak colonists, an aggressive alien species native to this sector (K'Erin stand ins).  Our party of 4 humans, 1 bot and a Soulless had to get across and exit the field.  We got lucky and only had to deal with 4 Kra'Vak and their nasty pet dog.  The battle raged around the central hill, with Kra’Vak warriors charging our position in the attempt to enter into a brawl. We killed them rather easily with very accurate fire from Clint and finished the mission.  Only Clint went down during the fight, engaging during a duel with a rather excitable Kra’Vak (he had a Glare Sword and still lost). Luckily all Clint needed was a new paint job and he was ready to go.  

Sadly, during the Post-Mission wrap up, Ray (one of my humans), misplaced his Combat Armor.  :-/

How do you "misplace" Combat Armor?  

Anyway, we made enough to pay off out shuttles debt and get some advanced bot training for our group (with two robotic crew members we figured this was a good idea).

The second game was more intense, "Shoot-Out at the Stardust Saloon".  

Our group was ambushed by one of my rivals prior to embarking on our next mission.  Apparently Ray's past finally caught up with him and a psychotic techno-gang of 8, lead by a renegade PSI leader tracked him down, upset at his latest scheme of selling contraband goods in their territory without paying the appropriate kickbacks.  Ray is an idiot.  

We added civilians to the mix (they counted as cover and would possibly flee due to gunfire...they intelligently fled soon after the blasters were firing).  It was a straight up kill mission (ideally with our foes the ones who would be killed).....do or die.  

Shoot-Out at the Stardust Saloon

We advanced along the one axis of the town.  The techno-gang was armed with infantry lasers and two shell guns.  Luckily, the Outpost was plagued by "Reflective Dust", limiting their lasers effectiveness.  We slowly and methodically eliminated each group of gangers, with the majority deciding to hide in various buildings to the horror of the terrified citizens.  The did manage to take take pot shots from various windows throughout the game.  The PSI leader took cover in the Last Chance Motel, trusting to his supernatural powers to save him.   

Sadly, luck turned against us quickly (I am a jinx).  Our trio of crew members (Ray, Wes and Linda) each fell to enemy fire in quick succession, as did our robot who bravely advanced down the center of town, blasters drawn taking the fight to the enemy.  

However, in the end, our two remaining crew members finished off the gang (well most of them ran away actually, otherwise we would been in trouble) and their psionic leader.  However, four of our characters were gunned down: our trusty bot gunslinger came out with only a couple of dents, however our carbon based units were not so lucky.  Ray and Wes each lost a leg (they did not have enough credits to afford medical treatment) and, sadly, Linda lost her life, vaporized by the gang leader (at least it was quick).

Ray, your an idiot.  

Linda, Ray and Wes are about to be in a world of hurt.  Ray was making due with Halloween Costume combat armor at the time.

Despite this setback it was a good time and we plan on revisiting the Drexilthar Subsector soon.

15mm Sci Fi - Five Parsecs from Home Characters, Part 2

Continuing from my last post.....

Although I had no "characters" specifically painted for Five Parsecs from Home, I did have several thousand other figures painted from various ranges.  These are but a small sample of models which will likely be used in games, both as friends and foes.

Although I have tons of robots, I did not have anything that really stood out as "Soulless" figures.  However, I did have 12 Rebel Minis Androids kicking around which I never bothered to paint.  They fit the bill nicely.  

Khurasan Lhurgg make excellent Feral aliens (anything wielding both a rifle and a sword while completely nude with their dick flopping around under the Altair sun looks pretty feral to me).  

Alternative Armies Asgard Space Marines, Khurasan Lhurgg, GZG Robot and Rebel Minis Androids.

Alternative Armies Asgard Human Scouts make rather interesting villains and space wizards.

Last year I painted a large force of GZG Mercenaries, in a tan pattern.  They make excellent generic troops or the core of a player mercenary ship crew.  Some head swaps make the range of poses more interesting.  

GZG Kra'Vak are a suitable stand-in for K'Erin.  

The sheer number of characters and dangers in Five Parsecs is staggering.  There are literally dozens of different types of aliens, foes and dangers.  Newer players will be forced to proxy until their collection expands (we all start this way).  There is little need to collect everything possible however...a little imagination goes a long way.  

Luckily I  have many figures already done to choose from: GZG Phalons, Ixx, Xar are great as "Manipulators" or even "Precursors"; GZG Crusties (both warriors and civilians) are useful in a variety of roles; GZG Alien Mercs fit nicely as Brutes or K'Erin.   Alternative Armies Greys make great Abductors or Engineers; Alternative Armies Post Apocalyptic figures are useful as Planetary Nomads and assorted Primitive Scum; GZG Unarmed Colonists for passengers and general misanthropes.  (although they are unarmed we an assume they have Concealed Carry Permits).  Finally, Khurasan is an excellent source for humanoid aliens and monsters of various sorts.

15mm Sci Fi - Five Parsecs from Home Characters

 The last month has been a busy one for me.  I do not normally paint a lot of individual character models.  My focus is typically on platoon based games.  Five Parsecs from Home changed that.

Designed by Ivan Sorensen (my favorite game designer), Five Parsecs finally allows me a true solo game experience without the fuss.  Set in the same universe as Clash on the Fringe, it reminds me of the days of Laserburn and Traveller.  

The problem was that I really did not have any characters painted up.  So, this past month has been a furious painting ordeal to get all of the stuff I have had lying around for years done.  First off is a selection of Alternative Armies figures.  This company produces a fascinating range of models from all eras.  To be honest, if you could shop here for everything you  need for Five Parsecs and not be disappointed.  

All  manner of scum can be found at "Lucky Stars", the dingiest saloon in the Outer Rim.

Remember, I do not claim to be a great painter.  Sometimes I suck....and sometimes I pull off something magnificent.  Its just how I roll.

"Bow to Emperor Ming and his alien worm minon!"

The figures from AA range from human scum to the larger reptilian Thulg and the feline Mrurz.  

Captain Lucien prefers to shoot first and not bother with questions.  Flash Gordon prefers to enter combat blindfolded.  Sometimes he even hits is foes (...or friends in the back of the head).   

Alien Cyborgs and assorted space trash linger, hoping for the next big score.

The problem I have with figures like this is that I never know what the hell they are supposed to look like.  

Captain Braxton, "Humanity, fuck yeah!"

Thulg mercenaries are always eager to fight and eat....or just plain eat.

Next up are a selection of GZG figures, mainly Armed Colonists.  

GZG Armed Colonists

Lately I have been attempting eyes on 15mm.  Yes I am insane.  

The yellow guy in back is my tribute to Reggie Bannister from the Phantasm films. 

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I took inspiration for some of these figures from the Alien movies.

The only thing left I have to finish is roughly 50 gang members from AA and GZG.  That will complete almost all of my 15mm infantry inventory (yes that means I am done).