Showing posts with label Development. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Development. Show all posts
Friday, February 7, 2014
Ikwen Progress Report
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Hey folks,
Work continues on the Ikwen sculpts. I received these quickie WIP shots from Rod the other day and I think they capture the Ikwen pretty accurately. Of course this is still a vague rendition, but that is to be expected as this is a doll that the final sculpts will be finished onto.
These should be taking final form in the next couple of months.
Thanks,
-Eli
Ikwen in Action
Designing the Ikwen, I have always had an image of their conflict in my mind, even if I have never quite assigned an enemy to them (this has become part of their appeal). In their back story they are an exploited indigenous people, rising up to fight for their home world. Part of exploring this back story has been trying to visualize what this world and their conflict might look like. To this end, I have been working with my concept artist, Todd Ulrich, to do some art that depicts their fight.
In the above picture we see several Ikwen moving through the rocky terrain of their home world. In the foreground three militia fighters move cautiously passed a long-downed flyer of alien origin. The foremost fighter packs with him a case containing extra ammunition. His companions can be see carrying Huli blades and assault rifles purchased from arms dealers, likely with valuable natural resources.
In the background, the other Ikwen are engaging an overhead enemy. The rocket launcher, hunkered down behind a half buried industrial rig is firing off his first rocket. After that, he can eject the spent canister from the disposable frame, dropping the second canister into place. ready to fire.
I hope that you enjoy this art from Todd Ulrich. As the Ikwen miniatures progress, I hope to have some more art done.
-Eli
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
It's Not a Skirt!
It's a Zkoot!
By Eli
My background in gaming starts as an RPG guy and this has stuck with me all along. I usually end up on the GM side of things and as such world building, character developing and background fluff are sort of second nature to me. This comes out in my miniatures projects as well whether it is my own gaming or designing stuff for release by LNG.
When developing the Ikwen, it was important form to manifest some sort of cultural elements in their designs. One of the easiest ways to do this in miniatures is through distinctive articles of clothing. In the Ikwen this came out as a sort of ceremonial cloth worn around the waist called a "Zkoot".
Every Ikwen receives a Zkoot at birth. It is the first and last thing they will ever wear. The Zkoot is tied into their belief system and the Ikwen believe that they record the events of their life to be proclaimed when they enter the afterlife and join their ancestors. To die without a Zkoot is to be denied the afterlife.
Zkoot are worn tied around the waist in a way that allows a wide panel to hang between the legs. This panel displays patterns and symbols that identify the family ties, community and even nationality of the Ikwen wearing it. The Zkoot is worn at all times except when being washed or repaired and even then certain rituals must be upheld in the way it is maintained including restrictions on materials, folding and storage. Holy men among the Ikwen do not wear the Zkoot around their waist. Instead they wear their sacred cloth draped over their head and shoulders, shrouding their faces. In this way, interaction with the holy men is not with them but directly with the lineage displayed on the Zkoot and thus the ancestral line of the Ikwen.
Because of the connection with the afterlife, the absence or loss of a Zkoot is a serious crisis for Ikwen. Those born outside of traditional family bonds or who are orphaned often have no Zkoot and live marginalized lives. Those without Zkoot or "Hadzakoot" are often looked on as untrustworthy, false, even corrupted as they are seen to have no accountability. It is no surprise that Hadzakoot are often involved in criminal dealings and other undesirable lines of work. It is possible for a Hadzakoot to acquire a Zkoot in some cases such as adoption, special religious rituals and high-level political decree. It is considered an incredibly solemn and selfless act to bequeath one's own Zkoot to another Ikwen and thus surrender ones chances at an afterlife.
Ki-Ki-Zkoot
There are few instances where the Zkoot plays directly into the actions of Ikwen as in the case of the Ki-Ki-Zkoot, a sect of fanatic warriors. Ki-Ki-Zkoot have always existed among the Ikwen but have always risen in numbers during times of great conflict when there is a need for those who are willing to do the things that would shame their lineage.
Ki-Ki-Zkoot surrender their sacred cloths in a ceremony in which they pass them on to an unfortunate soul, bringing them into their families to replace them. While this frees the fanatic of his obligations to his ancestors, it also indentures the recipient of the Zkoot to the great responsibility of not only fulfilling his obligation to his new family but also honoring the warrior who's place he has taken. The recipients known as Yotzkoot often go on to be civic leaders, frequently rising as priests, teachers, or other mentors to their communities.
Once they have shed their Zkoot, these fanatics are unfettered by societies rules and expectations. They are now ready to fight an unrestricted battle and it is expected that they will do anything and everything to win short of suicide. While sacrifice and extremes are the stock and trade of these fanatics, to waste their lives and the opportunity needlessly is still looked on as taboo. Ki-Ki-Zkoot are often scarred and marked, showing their savagery in open displays. They often carry multiple weapons, including melee weapons.
Mugoda
Every society has it's rebels and those who buck convention. Among the Ikwen, these are the Mugoda or "Shadowy Ones". These Ikwen live by a different set of rules within proper Ikwen society. They are a sort of under-society that exists to function where a society needs them to - breaking rules, while adhering to their own. In many ways the Mugoda are the organized crime syndicates of this alien culture.
Like the Ki-Ki-Zkoot they exist to do things that polite Ikwen society does not look fondly upon. Unlike the warrior fanatics, these Ikwen have not surrendered their Zkoot but instead wear theirs proudly and garishly, attaching charms and trinkets, trophies and other embellishment to what is normally a very modest attire. They also pierce their skin with obvious signs of wealth and wear jewelry. To the Mougoda, it's best to live life well because the afterlife is not going to be pleasant. Mugoda afterlife is an eternity of low service and drudgery. It is also worth noting that dealing with Mugoda is allowed by common Ikwen belief as the layer of detachment absolves one of any real guilt.
The Mugoda figure prominently in the Ikwen's fight as their underworld enterprise allows them access to materials and resources not available to those among regular society. This has allowed them to stockpile weapons and armor, fighting with gear that is often far more sophisticated than the rest of the Ikwen militias. In this way, these criminal syndicates provide a much needed backbone to regular militia, though often at a cost.
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Ikwen Weapons Concepts
Developing the Ikwen weapons has been a bit of a trick.
The Ikwen range is designed to represent one side of a conflict against an undetermined foe, making them ideal opposition force for any range of miniatures as they are not designed to fight any specific force. This is not special, in itself, but what makes their weapon design tough as a militia force is that they have no pre-made world from which they would have sourced their irregular arsenal. When considering how to arm them, the decision was made to give the Ikwen weapons that were analogous to the weapons seen in terrestrial militia forces, but not human weapons. A balance between form and function had to be reached and with the help of artist Todd Ulrich, I think we did just that.
Todd took my notes and together we came up with what you see above. With the exception of the blades (Huli) the other weapons are very much cousins to weapons we know. Assault rifles, submachineguns, shotguns, and the rest of the cast are here. All familiar, but looking like they were made in a factory far away. This will allow them to fight any force of miniatures enemies and not have to worry about having weapons that are too human or too alien.
In a lot of ways the weapons were picked based on how they would look in the hands of miniatures. I can see Ikwen swinging around their Huli or lugging around the suitcase-like reloads of their rocket launchers while they scurry around, snapping off shots with their rugged assault weapons, all in a desperate play to fight whoever players pit them against.
Friday, November 22, 2013
More Ikwen Concept Art
While I had planned to hold off on showing more Ikwen
concept art, I decided what the heck. So, in the spirit of holiday cheer and
good fun, here are some more pictures of LNG's upcoming new alien species range
due out in 2014.
Enjoy More Ikwen...
Enjoy More Ikwen...
A note on weapons: With the exception of the blades, the weapons in the concept art are not the final weapons that will be used in the sculpts. These were placeholders used in the concepts. The final weapons will look to have a more alien origin.
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Final Master Fixes Shipped
In the long process of pre-production, I have finally finished the last of the work left for me to do myself.
This week, I finished the last of the fixes needed on the metal masters so that they can be shipped off to the casters in the UK and be put into production molds. We've still got the final mold arrangements and the final collation of the packs to sort out, but that's it.
The next weeks following the caster's receipt of the masters will see the production run of the miniatures to satisfy the Kickstarter. Once this is finished, I will begin arrangements for regular retail sales of Loud Ninja Games' Chuhuac range.
At this time, the all-resin APC kits are being produced and I hope to have all 200 of them in the coming weeks.
Hopefully, it's smooth sailing from here.
-Eli
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Chuhuac Support Units (Part One)- Battlesuits
Sheshrawl felt the hum of his battlesuit around him. Eyes darted about, keying in status checks as the on board AI analyzed the battlefield below. Firmly ensconced in the carry bay, he and his packmates were on their way to the ground to assist several other packs of the Caltheed Herd.
The herd had been pinned down by their enemies and his saurian brothers were unable to maneuver away and make use of their speed. The AI on his suit had already received drop zone data from the AI on the Chathra dropper and he was figuring the best drop pattern to deploy his pack in. He would have to make sure that they didn't drop into the field of some of those big pulse cannons but he was going to make sure the enemy would start to pay it's tole as soon as claws hit ground. Nine and one enemy packs and one hand (3) of pulse cannons would have to be dispatched for optimal effect, but there were many more on the ridges overlooking the settlement where the Caltheed Herd had been ambushed.
A klaxon sounded inside his armored cocoon, signalling the dropper was on final approach. His battlesuit AI warbled indicating it had completed its analysis and transmitted the data to his packmate's suits. Their combined AI network would maintain constant real-time analysis of their battle, feeding information to their pilots for optimal effectiveness on the field. Sheshrawl, felt his tail twitch, housed in the tail of the battlesuit and felt the feedback systems confirming his input, despite the tail being held by carry clamps.
With the battlefield rising in his optical feeds, the sound of his packmates began to click and whistle. Thrask, goggled and clucked one of his usual jokes and the hissing and guttering of the packmates could be heard in appreciative response. Then, as quickly as the mirth had come, all went silent, the cunning minds of the predators in their metal avatars honing in on the imminent task.
Lurching into a tight banked turn, the dropper's engines rose up in a growling cadence that vibrated through the hull and into the battlesuits it carried. Grav drives working overtime to bring the dropper into a controlled hover. Clamps released and freed the battlesuits in their carry bays, the only grip that of their talonned feet and the molecular adhesive pads in their soles and as the bays opened from beneath them, the battlsuit dropped down onto the battlefield amid theh ail of fire both friend and enemy...
CHUHUAC BATTLESUITS
GENERAL DESIGN
Like many other Chuhuac designs, their battlesuits capitalize on their advanced technology and unique approach to the ergonomics of their species. At first glance, the battlesuits appear to be nothing more than large approximations of the species that constructed them, and this would not be an unfair assessment.
These weapons are designed to augment the abilities of the Chuhuac in ways that even their advanced biomechanical augmentation can accomplish. Incredible strength, heavier body armor and power enough to move at a speed comparable to that of Chuhuac infantry on the ground. Sensors and an on board AI, make the battlesuits incredible agile and aware, able to take in and process data at the speed of thought,s sometimes faster. Interpretive reflex systems, help protect pilots, kicking in intuitively when the AI detects a threat missed by the pilot.
WEAPONRY
Weaponry is made up of two standard rapid-fire plasma guns, similar to those carried by the infantry as SAWs and two hard points on the back. These hard points can be given any number of loads to carry or left empty if a lighter mission role was desired. Standard weapons include:
Heavy Plasma Cannon - Essentially a scaled up version of the infantry weapon, this weapon is capable of rapid-fire, launching scores of powerful plasma bolts down range to pin down the enemy, chew up light cover and destroy lighter vehicles and structures.
Particle Accelerator Cannon -The heavy-hitter for the battlesuits, this weapon fires an incredibly powerful beam of charged particles moving at near relativistic speeds. The impact caused by these particles is so great that they can disrupt the molecular bonds of a target. The resulting release of energy is usually rather dramatic and produces a spectacular light show as the target is rendered to pieces.
Drone Missile Launcher - The primary indirect support weapon used by battlesuits in support of infantry, drone missiles are guided by the battlesuit's AI. through this control, the missiles can be directed to move around intervening terrain and impact in a variety of nearly limitless patterns. The payload on the missiles is also variable and consists of a flexible sort of proto-matter that can be set for varying degrees of solidity and instability. In this way, a single drone is capable of being used for anti-armor, high-explosive, fragmentation, air-burst and other roles simply by the pilot designating the needed mix of material properties.
OTHER SYSTEMS
The versatility of the Chuhuac battlesuits is one of their greatest attributes and in addition to the more common weapon loads, there are a host of other options utilized for specialize missions. Sensors, stealth systems, even gravitic jump motors have all been utilized in one mission or another. In space, they often employ thruster packs to allow for greater maneuverability.
Monday, May 13, 2013
New Print for Chuhuac APC
While the original printing was good, the tech available for prints has improved while the project has been developing. I took advantage of this extra time to see if a few tweaks to the design and a new print might make a difference. I think it has.
The finished print gives you a really good idea of what a resin model of the vehicle will look like. The material used in these new prints has a similar weight, texture and consistency to the resin being used in good resin models.
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Chuhuac - Melee Poses Revealed
Hey all,
Just another quick update to show the new greens I received pictures of. This time it's the melee posed Chuhuac.
These figures are cast in a number of poses that mirror their fighting style. The six poses depict the Chuhuac troopers crouched, slashing, biting and even leaping at their foes. While close combat is not preferred, they are well suited and naturally equipped for it and their fast hit and run tactics often bring them closer to their enemies than many other forces.
The figures are going to be cast with their guns separate so that you can place the weapons where you like. We designed them with the Chuhuac's high-tech in mind, assuming a sort of magnetic or molecular adhesion that allows them to park the weapons anywhere on their armor. Of course you could put the weapons in their hands or even on the ground if you like.
It has been remarked that these poses will also make a good bases for conversions of casualties as well as techs, and others sorts of field personnel that you might not want to have a weapon in hand.
Lunging and leaping!
Slashing and crouching!
Slashing and crouching!
Biting and kicking!
Thanks for taking a look!
We grow ever closer to being able to sink teeth and talon into our enemies...
-Eli
Monday, December 24, 2012
Happy Nesting Day
"It is that time of year when all Chuhuac turn
their memory to the time when the Great Star Mother came to rest on Sherawl and
laid The First Egg from which all others came. It is Nesting Day.
Nesting day is the most profound day among the
Chuhuac. It is a time for remembrance and for reestablishing family bonds. All
Chuhuac celebrate in one form or another whether it is through the traditional
hunts and contests of ability or the simple setting out of family/unit icons
and trophies. Gifts are often exchanged between households, reinforcing bonds
between families and community.
The most devout make a ritual pilgrimage to the First
Nest where the ruins of the The First Egg can be found. It is a place of great
reverence and historical import to the entire Chuhuac species. It represents
both scientific and religious proof of their off-world origins."
The Holidays are upon us and as such it is time for all Chuhuac to
remember their coming to their new home and for the people of Earth to
celebrate peace and brotherhood in its many forms.
Here at Loud Ninja Games we all wish you a very
Happy Holidays and look forward to growing with you in the New Year.
Please enjoy this preview of the Chuhuac Recon Bioform,
a sort of cybernetically enhanced flying reptile used as a drone by Chuhuac
Data/Comms Specialists. One of these will be included in in each Command
Pack as the "other half" of your Data/Comms.
Thank you,
-Eli
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Attack Bike Concept Drawing
The above art for the attack bike was done by the awesome Jared Blando. He makes this thing look truly wicked. I'm not even sure we'll be able to pack all that yummy detail into the final 15mm scale sculpt.
-Eli
Sooooo....where are we now, Eli?
Folks, I realize the update scene has been rather slow and
quiet for a bit but we've reached that point in the game where I am waiting on
the work of others.
Right now, I have the sculptor working on the greens for
everything but the powersuits, bikes, commandos and of course the APC which is
getting ready to go to the printer in the coming week or so. Those things not
being sculpted right now, are waiting for final concept art which is being
produced as we speak. This art will be clean, nicely finished stuff that will
give the sculptor a clear idea of what we want to achieve.
Thanks,
-Eli
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Sunday, October 21, 2012
New Images of Chuhuac APC 3D Modelling
Hey all,
Sooooo, my 3D guy, the talented Andreas, got me some new images along with the print file for the Chuhuac APC (I need to name this thing). I am posting them here not only to show their relative scale, but also to show what they look like outside of the classic scifi white with red stripe color scheme.
Sooooo, my 3D guy, the talented Andreas, got me some new images along with the print file for the Chuhuac APC (I need to name this thing). I am posting them here not only to show their relative scale, but also to show what they look like outside of the classic scifi white with red stripe color scheme.
Monday, October 15, 2012
Double Vision - Alien Design Discussion Results
While we're acing toward getting everything going for the Chuhuac we here at LNG continue to discuss the future and what sorts of weird and wild beasties we'd like to see. Sometimes this results in unplanned fun and when Mik threw out the following description...
"Slight, furry, with multiple eyes and bat ears. Long digits. Robes with tac gear"
...we both scribbled out our own interpretations of this alien and sent the image to one another via text message (we're in different states). The images below are what came of that.
Mik's Version
My Version
As you can see both designs have an uncanny resemblance. Two interpretations off the same vague text, doodled hundreds of miles apart with very striking similarities. Not that both have a similar, clunky weapon as well as the same segmented add-ons over the robes. There are differences as well, but it's pretty cool just the same.
Thanks for checking it out,
-Eli
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Bike Design Update
There had been some feedback indicating that a smaller windscreen on the attack bike would be better for making it obvious that the bike was being piloted by an alien instead of a human. I took this to heart and present this new sketch showing how this might look.
Saturday, October 13, 2012
A Question Grav Bikes
The above scribble demonstrates the current route I'm considering for the Chuhuac bikes. The design is an open-topped, but streamlined affair with the pilot protected behind an aerodynamic fairing. This produces a sleek design but doesn't leave much of the rider exposed.
Now, the issue is that a raptor is a long beasty and any bike design has to account of that neck and tail. I figure the raptors already use their tails for steering, so might have the tail part of the part of the bike work as the steering mechanism. This would leave the raptor's hands free to target and work with that part of his brain that is already keyed in to maneuvering.
It may not make for a wild rider waving guns around and looking about, but it will produce a unique sort of bike that looks different than most out there.
-Eli
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Thinking Chuhuac Power Armor
As the machine grinds away on bringing you the debut packs for the Chuhuac, my imagination continues to spin out of control on what things may join them on the battlefield in the future.
One of the constant requests in 15mm science fiction is power armored troops for new armies. I imagine that the Chuhuac will be no different. Making power armor for something shaped like a semi-bipedal dinosaur presents a fair challenge and in considering how to go about it, I find myself with two particular things I'd like to accomplish -
- Accommodate the dinosaur anatomy in a way that reinforces it and protects it, while allowing it to function in a manner that is consistent with its overall geometry.
- Design a look that does not look like a robo raptor or a Zoid.
Below are some images of some of the ideas I have come up with. The idea if an enclosed clam shell arrangement that keeps the head and neck protected. The trooper inside would use micro-cameras and HUDs to operate without fear of a vulnerable neck to torso connection in a servo-assisted armor suit. The other notable feature is the simplified tail that remains flexible at the base so that it can operate as a rudder, allowing the raptor a very natural movement. I also thought that the new rigid tail could be a good place for the suit's heat exchange system.
As for the weapons configuration, I figured the use of hands might not be all that necessary for battlefield purposes, so I relegated the arms to small, anti-personnel weapon mounts. In fact, I've even considered these being just weapons mounts without the trooper's arms in them at all. Still, this might change because hands can still be useful.
Main armament currently takes the form of weapon pods on the back of the power armor. The primary weapons tech for the Chuhuac is energy/plasma based so ammo feeds need be nothing more than power lines in the housing. Missiles, plasma cannons, rapid-fire lasers, all manner of fun could be put back there, though I think any final designs will have smaller, sleeker weapon pods than these sketches show.
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All of the pictures here are just really quick conceptual sketches and brainstorming on paper. Heck these are right off my camera phone because I did them at work. I hope you like this little insight into my creative process and would love to hear your thoughts on this direction with the Chuhuac power armor design.
Take care and have fun!
-Eli
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