Infinity Cardboard Terrain

A few years ago, when I was getting into Infinity, there was a scenery pack included in a box set (Moto.Tronica) plus I picked up another one in an Arianna large starter box (Navajo Outpost Pack). They provide the same number and sizes of easily put together cardboard buildings and containers, four large and six small. I decided to put together these for extra scenery for multiple miniature game systems.

    Below is a three by three mat with both assembled terrain packs. As you can see it covers an appropriate amount of table area. It just needs some scatter terrain. The only minor quibble I have are that not many metal models should be placed on the top of the larger buildings, but extra cardboard lightly glued inside will reinforce the roof.

    For 32mm models, like the Batman Miniature Game, the size is perfect. Although the look of them are futuristic it still fits, but the smaller containers would work well in a warehouse or dock themed scenario.

    For Battletech: Alpha Strike they can be stacked as buildings and work extremely well for city terrain.

    40mm Marvel Crisis Protocol models also fit well. Same issue as with the Batman game, in that the theme is futuristic. Would work well in an alien world themed table.

    These sets are not sold on the Infinity Corvus Belli's website, but several others are here in particular on page two. A similar assortment, with different art, is the Dawn-02 Aplekton scenery pack for a reasonable price. Two other good sets for the price are the Neon Lotus scenery pack and the Daedalus scenery pack.

Badlands Terrain from GF9

 I picked up some GF9 Badlands terrain boxes recently and am very glad I did. I had plans to build some, but these were already made, prepainted, and solid. Also, even though they are labelled as being for 25-35mm models, I have found they are useful for any scale models from Dystopian Wars/Uncharted Seas 1:1200 scale to Marvel Crisis Protocol 40mm scale (1:43).

Out of the four the company sells, I picked up these three. Here they are with Marvel Crisis Protocol figures...

...Malifaux models...

...Battletech models...

...and Batman Miniature Game models.

I intend on using these in any outdoor scenario or setting as they are very handy and much better then my carved styrofoam "rock" escarpments.

Bot War - First Game

I played my first game of Bot War on Thursday at Everything Games. It was a 60 point game with three of my Beastlords (Brontous, Arkynor, and Parasolar) vs original starter box Valiants (General Duke, Aegis, Wolf, Angel, and Topstar). The scenario was "protect the cargo" and the Valants won the roll, with my honoured opponent choosing General Duke to carry it to my side of the table.

As promised by the game designer, the game is fast and easy to play with good strategy for deciding what to do. The Bot War cardstock scenery looks great on the table with my N scale cars and trucks. 

It was a fun game. Mistakes I made were not using my model's special abilities sooner so I could engage in melee quicker. Also having Brontous leave cover meant he was shot up sooner and couldn't use his earthquake ability more to take out the Valiants smaller models.

Next game I should have some tokens made for interactable scenery so they can be used as one shot shields, clubs, and such. I also need to make damage tokens. Making a card sized paper guide to each model's special rules will also come in handy. Looking forward to my next game in three weeks.

Epicast Tek Archway

 Epicast once made Games Workshop 40k items under license until Forgeworld started in 1998. No idea when this Tek Archway was made but it has been a decade or two since I bought it. Primed black it was painted with cheap gunmetal and silver, then small conduits painted Rhulic Gold and large pipes and knobs painted Pig Iron. Because it has no controls or scale indicators on it, it could be used for just about any miniature game.

Planetfall Objectives

 For the Spartan Games Planetfall game, I picked up an objective pack online last year. The company went under but the license and IP was purchased by Wayland Games with no date to re-release it. However, the objectives will work very well with my small scale games, as they are 10mm scale. They were painted with various cheap and Privateer Press paints.

As you can see, from left to right, the Horizon Wars/Hard War heavy troopers, Bot War Ageis and Tyranosaur, and Aquan Planetfall models fit with the objectives nicely.

Bot War Card City/Airport Terrain

 From Trader's Galaxy I bought the Bot War card City/Airport terrain. It was on sale, which is nice, and instead of glue I used cheap masking tape as it was less temperamental. The results are great! It came in a flatpack and comes together just great. Scale is 10mm, which fits in with my models for Horizon Wars/Hardwar.

The Airport tiles and terrain.

Here is the city tiles and terrain.

They also fit in medium sized totes very nicely, with room for more terrain.

Botwar - Valiants - Overcharge

 Overcharge is a Bot War Valiant model, with obscure, surge, and ram attack special ability.

Primed black, metal rough drybrush, Sulfuric Yellow, Khador Red Base, Coal Black, mix Coal Black/Mentoth White Highlight, Arcane Blue, Menoth White Highlight, Army Painter Gloss, GW Nuln Oil pinwashing. Base made with Basius Hex pad and painted black, heavily drybrushed dark green, Necrotite Green, washed with GW Thraka Green, lightly drybrushed Necrotite Green, rim pinted Meridious Blue, and name of model written on rim with silver fine paint pen as well as the lines between the hexes highlighted.

Botwar - Valiants - Topstar

 Topstar is a Bot War Valiant model, with efficient, lucky, obscure, and the ram attack special ability.

Primed black, metal rough drybrush, Beaten Purple, mix Beaten Purple/Mentoth White Highlight , Khador Red Base, Coal Black, mix Coal Black/Mentoth White Highlight, Army Painter Gloss, GW Nuln Oil pinwashing. Base made with Basius Hex pad and painted black, heavily drybrushed dark green, Necrotite Green, washed with GW Thraka Green, lightly drybrushed Necrotite Green, rim pinted Meridious Blue, and name of model written on rim with silver fine paint pen as well as the lines between the hexes highlighted.

Botwar - Valiants - Aegis

 Aegis is an inexpensive Bot War model for the Valiant faction, with obscure and the ram attack special ability.

Primed black, metal rough drybrush, Iosian Green, mix Iosian Green/Mentoth White Highlight, , Coal Black, mix Coal Black/Mentoth White Highlight, Wurm Green, Army Painter Gloss, GW Nuln Oil pinwashing. Base made with Basius Hex pad and painted black, heavily drybrushed dark green, Necrotite Green, washed with GW Thraka Green, lightly drybrushed Necrotite Green, rim pinted Meridious Blue, and name of model written on rim with silver fine paint pen as well as the lines between the hexes highlighted.

Botwar - Beastlords - Dactylous

 Dactylous, aka the Wind Dragon, has the alternative form of a Winged Dragon. Excellent stats and expensive in points, as all Beastlords are. Has the Air Support special ability. Has "Ground to Air Missile" rule that gives the targeting Matrix and Sharpshooter rules when targeting models with the Air Support/Dedicated Flyer/or Jetpack special rules. Also immune to Mind Control and Mind Read with "Pure of Purpose" and only requires a single energy cube to maintain their super ability with "Superior Being".

Primed black, metal rough drybrush, Khador Red Base, Cygnar Base Blue, mix Cygnar Base Blue/Menoth White Highlight, Sulfuric Yellow, Coal Black, mix Coal Black/Mentoth White Highlight, Army Painter Gloss, GW Nuln Oil pinwashing. Base made with Basius Imperial pad and painted black, heavily drybrushed dark brown, drybrushed brown, lightly drybrushed light brown/yellow, washed with GW Agrax Earthshade, lightly drybrushed yellow, rim pinted Khador Red Base, and name of model written on rim with silver fine paint pen.

Botwar - Beastlords - Brontous

 Brontous, aka the Hidden Wisdom, has the alternative form of a Great Dragon. Excellent stats and expensive in points, as all Beastlords are. Has the Armoured Might special ability. Has the "Earthquake" ability that exchanges its ranged attack for damaging all models within 6" with one point of damage, ignoring shields. Also immune to Mind Control and Mind Read with "Pure of Purpose" and only requires a single energy cube to maintain their super ability with "Superior Being".

Primed black, metal rough drybrush, Trollblood Blue, mix Trollblood Blue/Menoth White Highlight, Cygnar Blue, mix Cygnar Blue/Menoth White Highlight, Sulfuric Yellow, Khador Red Base, Murderous Magenta, Coal Black, mix Coal Black/Mentoth White Highlight, Army Painter Gloss, GW Nuln Oil pinwashing. Base made with Basius Imperial pad and painted black, heavily drybrushed dark brown, drybrushed brown, lightly drybrushed light brown/yellow, washed with GW Agrax Earthshade, lightly drybrushed yellow, rim pinted Khador Red Base, and name of model written on rim with silver fine paint pen.

Botwar - Beastlords - Stegarous

Stegarous, aka the Mane of the Sun, has the alternative form of a Flare Dragon. Excellent stats and expensive in points, as all Beastlords are. Has the Armoured Might special ability. Rolls a shield die as a critical die. Also immune to Mind Control and Mind Read with "Pure of Purpose" and only requires a single energy cube to maintain their super ability with "Superior Being".

Primed black, metal rough drybrush, Cygnar Base Blue, mix Cygnar Base Blue/Menoth White Highlight, Sulfuric Yellow, Khador Red Base, Coal Black, mix Coal Black/Mentoth White Highlight, Army Painter Gloss, GW Nuln Oil pinwashing. Base made with Basius Imperial pad and painted black, heavily drybrushed dark brown, drybrushed brown, lightly drybrushed light brown/yellow, washed with GW Agrax Earthshade, lightly drybrushed yellow, rim pinted Khador Red Base, and name of model written on rim with silver fine paint pen.

Botwar - Beastlords - Tyrannous

Tyrannous, aka the Dragon of Rage, has the alternative form of a Rage Dragon. Excellent stats and expensive in points, as all Beastlords are. Has the Armoured Might special ability. Can re-roll two dice in close combat. Also immune to Mind Control and Mind Read with "Pure of Purpose" and only requires a single energy cube to maintain their super ability with "Superior Being".

Primed black, metal rough drybrush, Khador Red Highlight, mix Khador Red Highlight/Menoth White Highlight, Sulfuric Yellow, Khador Red Base, Murderous Magenta, Coal Black, mix Coal Black/Mentoth White Highlight, Army Painter Gloss, GW Nuln Oil pinwashing. Base made with Basius Imperial pad and painted black, heavily drybrushed dark brown, drybrushed brown, lightly drybrushed light brown/yellow, washed with GW Agrax Earthshade, lightly drybrushed yellow, rim pinted Khador Red Base, and name of model written on rim with silver fine paint pen.

Botwar - Beastlords - Arkynor

Arkynor, aka the Forest Beast, has the alternative form of a Spined Dragon. Excellent stats and expensive in points, as all Beastlords are. Has the Armoured Might special ability. In close combat opponents roll one less shield die and rolls a shield die as a critical die. Also immune to Mind Control and Mind Read with "Pure of Purpose" and only requires a single energy cube to maintain their super ability with "Superior Being".

Primed black, metal rough drybrush, Beaten Purple, mix Beaten Purple/Menoth White Highlight, Sulfuric Yellow, Khador Red Base, Murderous Magenta, Coal Black, mix Coal Black/Mentoth White Highlight, Army Painter Gloss, GW Nuln Oil pinwashing. Base made with Basius Imperial pad and painted black, heavily drybrushed dark brown, drybrushed brown, lightly drybrushed light brown/yellow, washed with GW Agrax Earthshade, lightly drybrushed yellow, rim pinted Khador Red Base, and name of model written on rim with silver fine paint pen.

Botwar - Beastlords - Tricerous

Tricerous, aka the Searing Flame, has the alternative form of a Fire Dragon. Excellent stats and expensive in points, as all Beastlords are. Has the Ram Attack special ability. Can re-roll two dice in close combat, rolls a shield die as a critical die, and with ranged attacks ignores Obscure and Terrain dice at close range. Also immune to Mind Control and Mind Read with "Pure of Purpose" and only requires a single energy cube to maintain their super ability with "Superior Being".

Primed black, metal rough drybrush, Trollblood Highlight, mix Trollblood Highlight/Menoth White Highlight, Sulfuric Yellow, Khador Red Base, Murderous Magenta, Coal Black, mix Coal Black/Mentoth White Highlight, Army Painter Gloss, GW Nuln Oil pinwashing. Base made with Basius Imperial pad and painted black, heavily drybrushed dark brown, drybrushed brown, lightly drybrushed light brown/yellow, washed with GW Agrax Earthshade, lightly drybrushed yellow, rim pinted Khador Red Base, and name of model written on rim with silver fine paint pen.

Bot Wars - Beastlords - Parasolar

Parasolar, aka the Unstoppable, has the alternative form of a Rhino Dragon. Excellent stats and expensive in points, as all Beastlords are. Has the Ram Attack special ability. Can re-roll a die in close combat. Also immune to Mind Control and Mind Read with "Pure of Purpose" and only requires a single energy cube to maintain their super ability with "Superior Being".

Primed black, metal rough drybrush, Iosian Green, mix Iosian Green/Menoth White Highlight, Sulfuric Yellow, Khador Red Base, Cygnar Blue Highlight, mix Cygnar Blue Highlight/Menoth White Highlight, Coal Black, mix Coal Black/Mentoth White Highlight, Army Painter Gloss, GW Nuln Oil pinwashing. Base made with Basius Imperial pad and painted black, heavily drybrushed dark brown, drybrushed brown, lightly drybrushed light brown/yellow, washed with GW Agrax Earthshade, lightly drybrushed yellow, rim pinted Khador Red Base, and name of model written on rim with silver fine paint pen.

Bot War

Bot War is a miniature skirmish game set in the era of the mid-80's and the theme is strongly influenced by the cartoons that were on TV. The game company is basically a one-man show in Australia (Anthony Mallett), the rules are simple, solid, with complexity for veteran gamers, and his miniatures are very nicely designed and made. His customer service is excellent. The game's scale is 10mm. The factions are:

Transformers-like factions: Valiants (Autobots), Deceivers (Decepticons), Beastlords (Dinobots), Infesters (Insecticons) and Trashers (Junkicons).

Human Factions: Democracy (G.I.Joe and M.A.S.K), C.O.I.L.S. (Cobra), Red Star Nation (Dino-Riders and Soviets)

Non-Human: Overlords (Quintessons, Allicon, and Sharkicons) and Atlanticans (mix of transformers and Atlanteans).

The game is for two or more players. Average games are 80 points and every model has a point value, from single digit cost to 25 or more for potent models. There are also upgrades that can be purchased to fill the points decided upon for the game. An average game will have 5 to 10 models. Once you and your opponent select the models you are using, a scenario is determined. Games are on a three by three foot table. 

The rules and model cards are free to download from the Bot War website of Trader's Galaxy, you just need to make an account. Model cards have various statistics and specific model rules. These include Strategy rating (SR), Movement in inches (M), purple Attack dice for ranged attacks (RA) and close combat attacks (CA), Shield Dice rolled against attacks (SA), Damage that can be taken (D), and energy cubes that generated at the start of each turn. Each model generally also has some abilities and one super ability.

During a turn, first the cubes each model generates is added to a pool that is redistributed to your models. Then models activate in order of SR from lowest to highest. In case of a tie for SR, good guy faction models go first. If both sides are good or bad, roll a die and that die will be the deciding factor in future turns for those tied models.

When a model activates it can move, conduct a ranged attack, close combat attack, or special ability in any order. Moving and attacking costs one energy cube each and power boosting during an attack (ranged, close, or shield) costs an additional energy cube. A maximum of two activations can be done by each model in a turn.

I have models for a few factions, purchased through my local game store last year, some more during a Boxing Day sale, and a few more to fill out my factions recently from the Trader's Galaxy recently. I just finished the Beastlord "Hammer of the One" box set and three Valliants. I have a bunch of other Valliants, a handful of Deceivers, all the Infesters and Trashers, most of the Democracy, and a few Atlanticans (it was a really good Boxing Day sale). In the next few weeks I will post what I have done so far and later this year paint up the Infesters. I will also show my models in action in a few brief battle reports.