Commentary On Fantasy Modeler Magazine Issue #1 From Roebeast's Magical House Of Sun Shine Blog

Take A Look Right Over
HERE

Fantasy Modeler is one of those magazines that appeared from time to time in adds in the back of various publications of Star Log, Fangoria, and I think Ares magazine. I've seen them in modelers workshops and friends basements  from time to time. But I've never been unable to really take a hard look into the magazine themselves.

 I was enthralled the other day when I happened to be on Facebook and Roebeast of Roebeast's Magic House of Sunshine blog mentioned causally in a thread that he had scanned all six of the issues  of Fantasy Modeler online.
First of all a huge bit of thanks to Roe Beast for scanning these issues in. Issue one is like a time capsule of 1980 gaming and modeling goodness.
Let's take a look at the contents (Yes I stole this from Roe Beast's Blog) :

The Popular Imagery of Boris VallejoThis is a neat look into making miniatures of the great artist's creations and its a really nice look into what was happening in 1980 in modeling and gaming. 
The Plastic Industry Strikes BackA very nice look into the direction that the plastic model industry was starting to take back then. 
Atlantis LivesThis incredible diorama is ground zero for early 80's pulp rpg inspiration. 
The Military Corner: Historex Walks New Paths
Origins '80Man I wish I had a time machine and this really was a whole different time. Really nice little article. 
Kit Bashing SpaceshipsStill a damn useful article for creating certain styles of sci fi war gaming pieces. Very nice bits of rpg inspiration. 
War Games: the Greatest Fantasy of Them AllGood overview of the hobby that makes me weep for a whole different time. 
Book ReviewsSolid reviews on some of the science fiction, fantasy, etc. of the days of yore. 
Fantasy CollectiblesMan some of these really take me back to a different time period. 
Adventures in GamingThis was a pretty interesting slice into our hobby. Made my teeth ache for a different time period.
The other thing about Fantasy Modeler are the adds, man these are like looking at a whole different world. There are enough adds to send a grogard into a fit of nostalgia. Martian Metals, Ares magazine, TSR, are all there in equal measure.

The over all feel of  the 'Gee Whizz' factor and you can do it yourself too is echoed throughout the magazine. There's no attitude about the miniature hobby or gaming here just go have fun and see what you can do. Over all this was like a breath of fresh air for me. Grab issue one over at his place and take a look at a whole other world that we seldom see today.
 Special thinks to Roe Beast for taking the time to do this. 

Dwarf Gladiators - finely sculpted 28mm resin miniatures Kick Starter

So my buddy Mick Leach over at Eastern Front studios is a getting this off the ground & personally I think these are just fantastic.

In his words "A brand new line of miniatures based on the mighty Gladiators of Ancient Rome, for skirmish games and Fantasy Football." Eastern Front Studios can be found right over Here 

How the project got started,  "The Alessio's basic idea was to build up a new team for Fantasy Football. He noticed there wasn't a team of dwarf gladiators around so he started to work on it drawing some sketches. He based his work on historical sources: armors, and weapons are from ancient mosaics, sculptures and archeological finds. Of course the Fantasy part wasn't ignored: some figures (for example the Retiarius) are inspired by existing miniatures for Fantasy Football, so the player can easily recognize the role of the miniature in the game."

So me being the science fantasy geek that I'm the first thing that came to mind was the original Star Trek episode Bread & Circuses.

With the release of Star Ships & Spacemen as well as Terminal Space already on the market. The idea of being able to incorporate fantasy races becomes that much easier with something like these guys.
 Simply have your away team captured by these guys


1d8 3rd level Fighters armed with sub-machine guns 1d4 per spray 60 yard range.

Before you know it your away team will be reduced to this

Some how facing down these dwarves is going to result in an epic win for the party but who knows? If I were you as the DM I'd string it out for quite a long time.
There are lots of opportunities for adventure in this vein. 

So there you have it an encounter with two classics. Dwarven gladiators & classic space opera trek style.
You can go over to the kickstarter  right Here
Personally I'm going to be supporting this kickstarter otherwise these guys might be waiting in the wings
 

There's no copyright or trade mark infringement implied by this blog entry to the copyright holders. This is merely an entertainment idea & support for a great project. 

28mm Demons & Devils Mini's Kickstarter

 I know that I'm late to the show on this one but man this is another old school monster or monsters that near & dear to my head thrashing metal heart. I've seen the quality of Center stages stuff about a year ago. If this is anything like the Reaper kickstarter then they've got a wild one by the tail. According to the Kickstart
"Center Stage Miniatures has been producing high-quality 25 and 28mm miniatures for use in fantasy role-playing games since 2009. With over 40 figures available in our Advanced Fantasy Miniatures range and the recent acquisition of the Julie Guthrie Fantasy Personalities range (196 figures), we've been growing in leaps and bounds thanks to you, our customers."

Here's what's got me excited the Horned Devil & the Ice Devil. Classic lines, great old school styling.. 


Jump on this one folks because this is going to fill up fast! According to Center Stage :
I'm extremely excited about this range, because not only are these figures usable with any role-playing game or system out there, but the majority of these figures have their basis in literature or history. Whether it's a name, layer of the underworld, or specific demon or devil, all at some point got their start in history, myth or legend.*

Lets just face facts Demons & Devils are near & dear to every AD&D old school gamer's & DM's hearts. These things are iconic & partially responsible for some many religious nut panics with the hobby. So backing these is a natural progression.. You can find out more right over here

The Tentacles & Eyeballs Rpg Horror Miniature Kickstarter

So Dark Platypus Stuidos is doing a kickstarter for this awesome set of minis. They're raising the money for the following : "The goal of this KickStarter is to raise funds for mold-making and production costs to add this pile of similarly-themed monster sculpts to my product line. These tentacled aberrations come straight from the darkest reaches of the Far Realms, and would be at home eating the PC's off of any D&D, Pathfinder, or Old School roleplaying table!  Castings of the models themselves will be the rewards that backers can choose to receive for their assistance in helping me meet this goal. "

The models are very nice & they're old school as well. 

I've got my favorites especially this guy here. 

 I love the description of this one :  The Lensman is a minion monster associated with Eye Abberants. It's face, composed of one huge leering eye and a gaping maw, is centered on its torso, Arnim Zola -style, while a writhing tentacle sprouts from where it's head should be. It favors double-bladed pole arms as weapons, and this one wields a two-headed axe in its hand and tentacle.
 The rewards go up with some awe inspiring hidious monsters but the final one is my all time favorite



Ladies & Gentlemen the DeepMother! This hideous Far Realms horror literally gives birth to other monstrous aberrations as you fight it, 'spawning' them off of its own fleshy mass, or 'horking' them out of its three alligator-like mouths. It's 15' (3") diameter body is festooned with eyes, including 4 that are protruding on little tentacles. Three of its six main tentacles end in the afore-mentioned 'gator-like mouths, while the other three coil to termination, and are capable of holding weapons (there is actually a little hole through the final coil, which you can insert weapon hilts into). The DeepMother 'stands' on its own tentacles over a Huge (3") base, but it's extra-long tentacles reach up and out, making the model almost 7" across at it' widest dimension.

You can read a whole lot more right Here

 I can see using any of the featured miniatures in any of the old school science fiction or post apocalytpis retroclones. There is a metric ton of ideas floating right around with these aberrants. I can see adding these to Terminal Space or X-plorers with no problem. A hive of these bastards could appear in Metamorphis Alpha or straight into the Mutant Future Timeline of your choose. 

Go fund this & get this happening! Just wanted to bring this to your attention with all the activity over at Reaper Miniature's kickstarter. 

Some have said that the OSR is dead or over. If these kick starters are any indication. Things are just starting to heat up baby!