Friday 28 August 2015

long awaited Aequatherium scenario.

I must admit that I've had this one sitting around for a while but have had other distractions to contend with. The rules for the figures can be found on the Interdimensional Bestiary KS updates but I will olate them here in the next update for your convenience.

Scenario
Aequatherium Hunt

One of the most prized beasts yet discovered in the wasteland, the Aequatherium Magnus is a tentacled hulk – a nightmare made manifest. The price offered for the recovery of a live specimen is so great that it outweighs the need for caution, and wasteland expeditions will often abandon their objectives for the chance to capture this deadly beast and its offspring.

The Battlefield
If you’re playing a game of 100 points a side or less, then the maximum sized playing surface you will need is 4’ x 4’ (48” square). For larger battles, of around 200-500 points, a table 6’ x 4’ (72” by 48”) will afford more room for manoeuvre.
Set up your terrain on the battlefield in a mutually agreeable fashion. In the centre of the board, set up the monster’s lair – a circle of rocky outcrops, ruined building, swampy forest or other suitably fecund scenery. This should cover an area of approximately 12” diameter, and be considered dense terrain. If you are able to place at least one aquatic scenery feature (river, pond, swamp, etc) near to this lair (within 6”), it will make for an even more challenging scenario.

Deployment
The forces are set up opposite each other, within 12” of a corner of the board (see diagram). The players choose their deployment zones – if one player set up the scenery, the other player gets to choose. If not, both players should roll a D10, and the highest scorer gets to choose his corner. The opponent must take the corner opposite.
Players then ‘dice off’ again to see who starts deploying first – the highest scorer chooses to start deploying first or second. Once this is decided, the player who deploys first places a single Element in his deployment zone. The opponent then does the same – deployment alternates in this way until all forces are set up on the battlefield.
The player who finished deploying first then places the monster models within 6” of the centre point of the board, in the monster lair. These consist of one Aequatherium Magnus, one Aequatherium Whelp swarm (comprising 5 models for every full 100 points of the game being played, to a maximum of 20). For example, if the players agreed on a points limit of 300 points for the game, the Aequatherium Whelps swarm would number 15 models.
Finally, the player who placed the monsters should roll a D5. Starting with the same player, take it in turns to place that many Egg Clusters around the board, no closer than 12” to another model, friend or foe.

Game Length
The game lasts for 10 turns, or until the Aequatherium Magnus is killed.

Special Rules
Controlling the Monsters: While it is possible to play this scenario with a third player controlling the monsters, the rules assume that the monsters will have to be controlled impartially by the two regular players. The player who finishes activating his Elements first in each round moves the monsters that turn. The monsters’ turn always occurs after both players have finished their turns, but before the next Round begins. All monster Elements are activated in the monsters’ turn – there is no alternating.
Monsters are activated using the Act on Instinct special rule. Players should agree the fairest way to move each monster element, so that it attacks the closest target, or moves into cover, for example, conferring an advantage to no one player if possible. When seeking cover, the monster will attempt to shelter from the largest number of enemies possible, regardless of whose side those enemy models are on.

Egg Clusters: Egg Clusters are in effect scenery pieces, which can be attacked as though they were large models. They may not perform any actions except Engage. When they are able to Engage a foe, the Egg Cluster model is removed, and is replaced with a swarm of 5 Aequatherium Whelps, which then completes the Engage action and thereafter behaves as a normal Element.

Victory Conditions
At the end of Turn 10, or when the Aequatherium Magnus is destroyed, the game ends. Each player adds up the casualties he has inflicted on his opponent’s force, receiving a number of victory points (or VPs) as follows:

  • Egg Cluster destroyed 1 VP
  • Aequatherium Whelp swarm reduced to 50% strength or less* 1 VP
  • Aequatherium Whelp swarm destroyed/Routed* 1 VP
  • Enemy Element destroyed/Routed 1 VP
  • Enemy Leader destroyed/Routed 2 VP
  • Aequatherium Magnus destroyed 5 VP

* Note that the points for destroying an element are not cumulative with the points for reducing it to below half strength – the half strength point only applies to those enemy Elements left on the battlefield at the end of the game.

Monday 20 July 2015

Steampunk Militia now on Kickstarter!

STEAMPUNK MILITIA KICKSTARTER LIVE!!!

I am pleased to announce the long awaited follow up to the first Meridian Miniatures Kickstarter "Steampunk Army". This campaign has bee set up to fund the production of a range of 28mm  "Steampunk Militia"  to complement the military figures with their civilian counterparts in the "Steam & Aether" table top setting.

As you can see below the, initial miniatures are already sculpted with the pre production painted masters shown. In each of my previous campaigns I have tried to avoid leaving to much ambiguity between the miniatures promised and the actual product you will recieve, where possible I try to avoid relying on renders and "concept art". Occasionally I will illustrate an idea using either but feel I have built up the reputation for delivering on promises by this stage that you won't be dissapointed.




The above figures show painted preproduction masters on resin bases, your reward will consist of metal castings supplied with round plastic bases, the option to upgrade to resin bases is given on the campaign page. 



In the Steam & Aether setting I will be introducing rules for "benefactors", these miniatures represent rich patrons that fund expeditions into the apocalyptic ruins. This aristocrat figure is the first of them, en extremely highly detailed figure that will be cast in high quality resin providing a centerpiece to your force or a great project for the modelers and painters out there. This figure is a KICKSTARTER EXCLUSIVE figure. I will. at a later date remodel it as a simpler one piece casting for those that missed out but this figure will never be cast again after the rewards are sent out.

Thank you to any and all that come onboard to back this project, I appreciate all support offered. Meridian Miniatures is a "one man band", I do 90% of the sculpting, painting and promo by myself with much needed support form a small number of others. If you like what I do then please take 5 mins to share this campaign with your friends, be it on social media, blogs or forums and you will have my sincere gratitude. 

Andrew 

Monday 13 July 2015

Interdimensional Bestiary creatures now online.

Hi all, just a quick note to say that the Interdimesional Bestiary figures that were funded via Kickstarter last year are now available online for those that missed out first time around.

Online store
 

I'll drop by later in the week to post the rules for using the figures in Steam & Aether alog with a scenario from the Pen of Mark Latham.
Cheers again to all the backers.
Andrew

Tuesday 7 July 2015

Sorry for the extended silence!

Hi all, just a quick post to say sorry for the gap in comms. I've had a very busy year, two house moves, one house renovation, a son approaching 2yrs old and all sorts of other distractions! Combined with a relentless freelance sculpting schedule I've had precious little time for blogging.

I had switched over mainly to the easy updating of Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Meridian-Miniatures/278329682295664
Those following me on there will have seen plenty is still going on in the world of Steam & Aether but I now feel it's time get stuck into the blog again.

I'll be updating here at least once a week from now on with WIP photos, news, rules, background information and all sorts of other cool stuff.

Thanks all!
Andrew

Friday 5 December 2014

Online store now launched

Hi everyone, Just  a quick note to say that I now have an online store for Meridian Miniatures. The complete Steam & Aether range from my first KS is now available to the general public. So if you missed out the first time around then now is the perfect time to stock up. Thanks again to everyone that pledged to make this range possible. Check out the store at:
Meridian Miniatures

Please if you can take time to share the link with anyone that you think might enjoy the figures.
Cheers!
Andrew


Monday 15 September 2014

Interdimesional Bestiary Kickstarter launched.

Hi all, those of you that follow me on Facebook  will have seen that I have been feverishly working away in the darkest recess of the Steam & Aether setting and have birthed quite a monster! I launched a Kickstarter campaign this morning ad it's gone great guns! Here's the blurb from the front page:

Meridian Miniatures hope to bring you the first in a line of impressive creature models to populate your tabletop worlds.
with this, my second project in the world of Steam & Aether, I invite you to contribute towards the moulding and casting of a monstrous 28mm scaled creature and more!
As expeditions into post-catastrophe France increased in frequency, so too did the discovery of bizarre and monstrous forms of life inhabiting the Aetheric wasteland. Whether these creatures are divergent mutant strains of life corrupted by the Aether explosion, or are not of this world at all, remains to be seen. The Prussian science ministry and British Royal Society demanded military missions into the wasteland carry out research and bring back samples, both mineral and biological. The Prussian Guildmasters and British regimental commanders were initially reticent to endanger their men by subduing some of the more ferocious beasts of the Wasteland, but as soon they saw the rewards offered by the authorities, they danced to a different tune.
Just over a year ago, with the help of many generous backers, I successfully funded my "Steampunk Army" campaign to produce miniatures for my Steam & Aether game setting. Since then the backstory for my Victorian sci fi world has grown, unveiling a rich setting that demmands to be populated!
After the Aetheric catastrophe, much of Western Europe was permeated with cosmic emanations, transdimensional elements and particles were strewn about the land, wreaking chaos everywhere. While the Consulate's portals remained open, stranger things still crawled, strode, slithered and floated through into our dimension.
The first monster that I have chosen to create is this horrifically tentacled maritime mass, dubbed "Aequatherium Magnus", of the many concepts and sketches that I have compliled I felt that it was the most versatile in that it has plenty of scope for use outside of the Steam & Aether setting. I can imagine it being used in plenty of other sci fi/fantasy/mythos games.
Many soldiers and collectors have lost their lives in the pursuit of these terrifying monsters, but their high demand and sky-rocketing value ensures that there are always others willing to risk life and limb for the sake of the hunt.
Of course, in the Steam & Aether setting someone needs to step up to the challenge of defeating such a monster, each side needs it's steampunk monster hunters to take to the tabletop! Both of these 28mm scale miniatures are cast in high quality resin and aretimed limited figures available for the KS campaign, only seeing general release one year from campaign end.
Hanne Haas is an infamous maritime hunter, renown across Prussia for her explosive exploits since the Aether catastrophe.
William Scoresby III is an avaricious British whaler turned monster hunter, leading expeditions deep into the northern teaches of former France in pursuit of riches.

I have full back story and rules to publish for these figures too, it will be posted on the Kickstarter first and then compiled here. So even if you don't pledge do check in periodically to see what develops.
Many thanks for your time Steam & Aether fans, please spread the word far and wide!
Andrew


Monday 1 September 2014

Imagining post-europocalypse France part 2

Hi everyone out there in S&A land.
My Tooth & Sword Kickstarter turned out to be quite a success but don't think that I have been entirely distracted in the mean time! Behind the scenes I've been busy with my gaming terrain project and have received the first laser cut sheets components that I need to bring an aether ravaged world to life.
The concept has translated really nicely and I've been busy trying out prototype building ideas. Sadly it seems that these A4 sheets may turn out too expensive to sell on to you, my dear readers but I will endevour to find a solution, I will email round some more cutting firms shortly. I'm also toying with a couple of other ideas to get my vision of ruined splendor into your  hands including resin components and cardstock buildings, I will keep you up to date!

Meanwhile, remember that you can keep up to date with all Meridian Miniatures on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Meridian-Miniatures/278329682295664
At the moment I'm working on and chronicling one of the less pleasant inhabitants of post catastrophe France....