Tumbling Grey

An experiment. Thoughts, art, and randomness from the person behind the character of Tharion Greyseer.

[catalystgamelabs]

Our BT Art

The next Community Mission from HBS’ BATTLETECH Kickstarter is up and running, #MyBTArt. And it’s already bringing out a huge spread of art from the community…love seeing this stuff! Keep it coming!

Now there isn’t an ounce of artistic capability in me (even my miniatures painting is just so, so). I’ve done art direction and I’ve a descent eye for what does or doesn’t look good, but I make stick-figures look bad. However, I think I’ve got something that fits this bill.

In 1989 I began work on an an alternate War of 3039 Succession Wars game. I took a break from the work for two years, but from 93′-’94 I wrapped it up and started playtesting with my gaming group, the BC Legion. I created every last counter by hand (over 400 of them), along with the map (I can color in the lines…ha!)

Now it’s not a 100% new game. But it’s pretty close as I took just the bedrock of the original Succession Wars game and then re-build it with numerous new rules. One of my favorite additions was the ComStar clock; i.e. the paper grid you see at the bottom right is where you’d place all of the Com Guards chits. Then, during the game, you could bribe and/or gain access to one of the spines of the ComStar clock for a certain number of turns, so then you’d take those forces (chits) and drop them into their respective locations, now under your command.

Ultimately, the game is terrible. It’s got problems the size of DropShips. However, in 1995, then BattleTech Line Developer, Bryan Nystul was at a local convention in Tempe AZ (Hexagon), and trying not to geek out, I casually asked him if he wanted to play a midnight game with us. Not only did he accept, but Byran stayed up all night long–until the sun came up–playing. So despite the terrible deficiencies, he must have seen something in there because within 8 months I’d be living in Chicago and working at FASA. (I’ve thanked him profusely many times for that gracious act towards a fan and for giving me a chance…thanks again Bryan!)

I’ve not played it in 20 years…but with that legacy, no way can I part with it.

Please keep showing us your fantastic art, memories and experiences!

Randall

[thegreyseer]

After 2.5 months of building and painting, my Mars Pattern Alpha Warlord titan is finally complete! Thus walks the first god engine of Legio Exordium, the Dawning Sons. At 21" tall (not including banners) and about 15 pounds, this model is a monster. But it was a heck of a fun experience.

[thegreyseer]

The Emperor's Throne, a massive personal mobile HQ designed to protect the Emperor on the front lines during the Great Crusade. Only a handful were made before the Warmaster, Horus, took over. This one is believed to be the last remaining: a relic of an older time. (Made with 2 Baneblades and an Aquila Strongpoint)

[thegreyseer]

Time for a different kind of Warhammer! This is a modern kitbashed Warhammer Battlemech for Battletech. Unsatisfied with the Project Phoenix redesigns from a few years back, I decided to kitbash a couple of existing minis together to make one that looked like the old "unseen" version. This one uses a HMH-3D Hammerhands center torso and a WHM-8K Warhammer (the "reseen" version) for the rest of it. Requires a couple of cuts abd filing, but nothing too bad. My next attempt will be a Marauder.

[thegreyseer]

I was asked to kitbash a Thunderhawk from a set of pre-existing models. And while I’ve seen the online instructions, I chose to go my own route. As such, I present to you the Nighthawk / Storm Spectre gunship. Definitely meant to be a “counts-as”, despite a slightly smaller overall size.

Built from 2 Storm Ravens, 1 Rhino, and bits from a Valkyrie (front, wings, and landing gear), Imperial Knight (battle cannon barrel), and Storm Talon (canards and flight stand peg). Total cost of models at about $250 - $300.

"The Nighthawk retains most of Thunderhawk’s capabilities, but fits it into a smaller vehicle. It also has a rare optical camouflage system that makes it ideal for covert insertions.

The Storm Spectre variant (shown in images), removes the camouflage system and brings the craft’s capabilities fully in line with its larger sibling.”

[thegreyseer]

The Imperial Knights of House Yamato rise to defend their world from the enemies of the Imperium and the Adeptus Mechanicus... I decided to try a samurai theme for my trio of Knights, inspired by the three Imperial Regalia of Japan: the sword (Kusanagi no Tsurugi), the mirror (Yata no Kagami), and the jewel (Yasakani no Magatama). They each guard a segment on the path to the shrine of the the ancients. The first guards the gate, the second the pond of reflection (my attempt at a koi pond), and the third guards the shrine itself (the remains of an Eldar Knight).

[allthingswarhammer]

Hive Fleet Gorgon - Ferron Splinter Fleet - Tervigon, Painted by Dave Weston http://gbp24.me/1jD61PQ

[tgcnews]

The Gamers’ Table has been a long time friend and supporter of The Game Crafter community. In late 2011, they launched a new independent edition of their show, (sponsored by TGC), and have aired 68 episodes so far. Most of these are from The Game Crafter community and they have done...

[thegreyseer]

The Khorne “Lord of Treads” awakens! I’ve seen a lot of “legged” conversions for the Lord of Skulls, but I wanted to give it my own personal spin. A beast such as that just needed more mass.

Made it as a gift to my girlfriend so she’d have a proper super-heavy for an upcoming Escalation and Apoc game.

[erickheartsadtr-deactivated2014]

Why does it have treads on the legs? I don’t get it. Bad ass. Just don’t get it.

[thegreyseer]

Two reasons for the treads:

1) It's all I had to work with at the time that had the right size. Not counting scratch building, that is (and with 3 Imperial Knights and a kitbashed Thunderhawk build on my bench, scratchbuilding wasn't in the cards).

2) What better way to smear your enemies into the ground than to step on them and roll your spikey, Khorne-adorned treads until they're nothing but paste? =P

[thegreyseer]

The Khorne "Lord of Treads" awakens! I've seen a lot of "legged" conversions for the Lord of Skulls, but I wanted to give it my own personal spin. A beast such as that just needed more mass. Made it as a gift to my girlfriend so she'd have a proper super-heavy for an upcoming Escalation and Apoc game.

[thegreyseer]

As I wait patiently for Saturday and my new Tyranid models, I decided to put together my flyers for my Inquisitorial retinue. What should have been a simple build of the Stormwing bundle and Valkyrie became my attempt to create something to match the Storm Eagle from FW.

I present: The Storm Angel (WIP)! It serves as Ordo Xenos Inquisitor Sol Rephaim's personal gunship / mobile HQ.

[thegreyseer]

Finished up some Tyranid terrain and objective markers over the New Year holiday. Six capillary towers and three eggs completed. I still have two spawn point objective markers left to finish up.

[thegreyseer]

Something a little different. I'm building some Adeptus Mechanicus to go with my Inquisitorial retinue. This is the first of my Secutors that will be escorting my Ordo Xenos Inquisitor.

Centurion kit with Dark Angel Knights heads

[panzertron]

Holy crap, that paint job is classy.

[via Kotaku]

[thegreyseer]

Inspires me to try and cell shade some of my own models. But I'm not sure cartoon Tyranids qualify as "grimdark."

Gorgeous work, though!

[innotune]

Irillyth, Pheonix Lord of the Shadow Spectres

[rogueshader]

My eldar…. So not worthy…

[thegreyseer]

These types of paint jobs always impress me. Absolutely gorgeous!

[thegreyseer]

And it's done! This is my Tyranid Exocrine reimagined into the modern day aesthetic. Parts from four kits were used: Trygon, Tyrannofex, and two Bastiladon kits from WHFB. Well, five kits if you count the lone Imperial Guard Stormtrooper who should have been holding the line in the last pic. Slacker.

[thegreyseer]

This is the assembled state of my Tyranid Exocrine reimagining. While I have a fascination with the old "slug bugs", I never quite liked the slug bioform. So this was my attempt to move it into the modern aesthetic.

Next step is to prime and paint.