Messages

1

General Ranting / Triples?

« on: May 17, 2013, 09:14:24 AM »

Anyone going to be there? FoD companies? Aimless wanderers?

2

Hasslefree / Re: Grymn Walker: One 'careful' owner...

« on: May 03, 2013, 09:16:41 PM »

Look at the state of that. Just goes to show you shouldn't paint your bullet magnet in yum-yum yellow
 

3

Heresy - Announcements/News / Re: New stuff coming soon...

« on: April 08, 2013, 07:24:21 PM »

Oooh, love the new Mullet. The rest is a bit... sci-fi-y for me, although I might be tempted on the Sarclons.

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Questions and Answers / Re: Rifles!

« on: February 19, 2013, 06:32:54 PM »

Thanks guys! I'll PM my address to both of you.

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Questions and Answers / Re: Rifles!

« on: February 19, 2013, 03:24:18 PM »

Perfect! If only I could get hold of a sprue. I'll keep my eye out on evil-bay.

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Questions and Answers / Rifles!

« on: February 19, 2013, 02:08:27 PM »

I'm looking for a decent 28mm(ish) sized bolt action rifle. I'm currently involved in a Neo-Victorian gasmask horror RPG and my character is a sharp shooter with a bolt action. I've been trying to convert a few figures but I always end up with a rifle that's a bit too modern/sci-fi looking. Anyone got any suggestions for something of a more historic vein that's easy to get hold of and convertable? Plastic, resin or metal, I'm good whatever.

7

General Ranting / Re: Ok EE this really is extracting the urine now.

« on: February 11, 2013, 08:24:03 AM »

This is an interesting take on the affair, which has in the main resolved itself, from the writer of the webcomic Schlock Mercenary. Well worth reading on the subject of originality and inspiration. I like the river metaphor

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General Ranting / Re: Ok EE this really is extracting the urine now.

« on: February 08, 2013, 07:43:28 PM »

In an ideal world that's right, Brandlin. But in many cases at the moment the cease and desist is used as an unassailable threat against a small business or targetting a distribution outlet that caves without checking the facts.
I guess a problem I have is that I'm pre-GW Space Marine. I was reading sci-fi  before they arrived on the scene and so whilst they are admittedly an image I associate with the term they are far from the only image I associate with the term. I know I'd certainly use the term if I was writing a sci-fi book simply as a logical extension. Warships are in a navy, the assault teams associated with warships are the marines. Space faring military vessels are usually referred to as ships, are found in fleets, armadas and navies and so it's a sound premise to extend the logic to naming associated troops. And to add the prefix "space" to distinguish them from contemporary ships and marines. By all means protect yourself if these "marines" are warrior monk types, in powered armour that is stylistically similar, with back stories involving distinct homeworlds but to lay claim to clearly unrelated uses is surely pushing it a bit far.

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General Ranting / Re: Ok EE this really is extracting the urine now.

« on: February 07, 2013, 08:16:14 AM »

I think it's more of the fact that they are throwing their legal weight around again against the "small" guy that has got people wound up ? 

It's partly that for me. There is no need for them to do it and it aggravates me that they can do something like that with no recourse for the victim to defend themselves. The system is seriously flawed in that way. All that has probably happened is that the GW legal team has an intern and a search engine and every time "space marine" crops up they fire off a Cease and Desist type email without actually checking on if it really infringes on their products. It's lazy and bullying, something I abhor. And it begins a process of ring fencing a trademark. And you can do it with everything if you have the initiative. Perhaps to bring it a little closer to home for Inso, what if they decide they were the first people to put a dwarf race in space? It would be very difficult to make stick in court I would suspect if money could be brought to bear in the defence of other space dwarf manufacturers. But can HF afford to go to court over it? And if they can't then they've lost. Something to think about.
All that's really needed to stop this bullying is to make it necessary to prove infringement before a cease and desist letter can be sent. That would cost money and make it less likely that small, frivolous cases and this lazy ring fencing could take place.

10

General Ranting / Re: Ok EE this really is extracting the urine now.

« on: February 06, 2013, 05:54:54 PM »

I looked up the book to see if I could draw parallels between the author's use of images, imagery and other terms and GW stuff and there really don't seem to be any, the characters are more a mix of pulp space rangers (goldfish bowl helmets and the like) and the Aliens marines. It honestly seems like a property grab and that worries me. I have no issue with them defending the designs or fluff but "space marine" feels too generic to me. For me it conjours up a whole range of sci-fi mental images, Adeptus Astartes included I'll admit.

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General Ranting / Re: Ok EE this really is extracting the urine now.

« on: February 06, 2013, 04:33:12 PM »

My apologies. I frequent no other relevent forums and felt that the issue was one that would be of particular interest because of its possible impacts on smaller companies such as those on the FoD. My aim was generate informed debate on the subject, despite my inflammatory topic title, rather than propagate a slagging match or flame war.

12

General Ranting / Ok EE this really is extracting the urine now.

« on: February 06, 2013, 03:51:37 PM »

Thoughts, rants and ramblings on this people? It seems GW are trying to assert trademark rights over "space marine". It seems to me to be something of an abuse of power, smaller companies simply can't afford to fight spurious claims like this and as I recall "robust defence" of a trademark like this can actually set legal precedent and become enshrined in law. Once a cases few have been won "space marine" may actually end up belonging to GW.

13

Deathball / Re: Deathball Resurrection

« on: February 06, 2013, 03:40:11 PM »

To be honest, much as I like the Netherhells idea, I think this would be an awesome game well worth putting a bit of extra concentration on. Perhaps even better as a kickstarter if just to provide sprues of slaves to bulk out your team.

14

Ideas for New Heresy Models / Re: Kickstarter?

« on: February 02, 2013, 01:20:15 PM »

I'm going to add a little bit of an addendum to my blather from earlier too. Don't go straight onto a KS. Spend a while sculpting some more little guys of all sorts. Even (perhaps especially) things that will later become playing pieces. The reason I'm saying this is that one of the beauties of Heresy back when I started buying from you, was the diversity of the range. I'd go on the site and spend my time going "Ooooh!" The Dragon Problem has eaten up too much of your time and that diverse fresh output that kept me coming back and going "Ooooh!" has dried up a little. You need to get that back, so I can go back on your site without going, "Got. Got. Got. Got 6 of. Got. Got." I want my "Ooooh," back

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Ideas for New Heresy Models / Re: Kickstarter?

« on: February 02, 2013, 01:01:09 PM »

I'm going to go with Netherhells on this one. I just think that an infinitely variable dungeon crawl type game has a better mass appeal. On top of that the whole Netherhells game is more than just a germ of an idea, it's well fleshed out in your head already. The fluff exists, a working and fairly unique kernel of game play mechanics exists, a load of minis that can be used as playing pieces already exist. It already feels like it's only a few steps from a product and not too far from a polished product.
I honestly think that a sprue of plastics just isn't going to get anybody who isn't a hardcore Heresian that excited and you're trying to appeal to a wider audience than just us.
On a final note, take my advice with a pinch of salt. It's based a lot on what I would back. As a sci-fi averse mini collector I'm only likely to back something of that type that feels really "finished". Something I can open a box of and get to work playing with immediately. A sprue, no matter how good, doesn't fit those criteria.

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Ideas, Inspiration & Idle Thoughts... / Re: And so it begins...UNDoD-2013. Post your suggestions here for debate.

« on: February 02, 2013, 12:29:23 PM »

I reeeeeally want to have a go again. I had such a blast making my last one. That said the "must only have two miniatures" for the duel has scuppered my idea for that. Perhaps I can expand the idea into a diorama...

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General Ranting / Re: laser cutting (scenery)

« on: February 01, 2013, 12:27:15 AM »

I know a friend of mine designs the stuff he makes on his unit full of laser cutters using a free vector graphics package. I keep meaning to download it so I can make use of his machines' deadtime for a little personal puppet making. But I keep forgetting what it's called 
Also he doesn't have any deadtime at the moment. "We'll break even at 1000 units, and we'll be lucky to sell 3000 tops," he said. 28,000 units and the UK's first funded kickstarter later...

18

Books/Comics/Etc / Re: Light reading needed

« on: January 30, 2013, 10:43:08 PM »

The Book of Jhereg by Steven Brust - mustachioed fantasy human crime boss/detective/assasin/sorceror/witch with psychic flying lizard companion vs. Elves.

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Announcements and News / Re: 2012 SCULPTING COMPETITION

« on: January 21, 2013, 09:34:03 AM »

Ah, St. Johns. I spent a few crazy and coincidentally snow filled days there when I was a fisheries observer for the EU (there's a Spanish/Portuguese fishery just outside of Canadian national waters). Nice town... baaaaaaaad rum.

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General Ranting / Re: Can I Ask a Favour?

« on: December 09, 2012, 09:41:22 PM »

Oooooh, good plan BB. I might have to get to editing something like that in the not too dim and distant future... time for the mantra of the small business owner everyone... when I have some spare time. Actually I should have a bit in January.

21

General Ranting / Can I Ask a Favour?

« on: December 08, 2012, 12:29:59 AM »

As some of you know I'm trying to get a small business off the ground as a puppeteer and puppet maker. To this end I've been making a website. I'd be ever so grateful if you'd mebbe take a peek at it for me, I've known quite a few of you for several years now and I respect your opinions. I've been staring at it so long I'm fairly certain I'm no longer seeing mistakes on it anymore. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
This it over here http://puppetuity.weebly.com/index.html.
I'm hoping this doesn't tread on any toes, mods feel free to squish this if it does. If it helps there are monsters, dragons and goblins on there so it's tenuously within the bounds of the genre

22

Eye Candy / Re: Hammergurrl!

« on: December 01, 2012, 01:52:49 AM »

Gabrielle... why? Sledgehammer - Peter Gabriel - Gabrielle.

23

Libertee's Miscellaneous Musings II / Re: things that really p** you off

« on: November 27, 2012, 03:11:06 PM »

Enhanced CRB checks. I need one to get into a lot of schools to do puppet shows and workshops. I don't object to protecting kids but I do object to the system meaning it's impossible for me as a self-employed individual to get an enhanced CRB. You need to be covered by a large business or recognised umbrella group. What's further galling is that I don't actually need one as I'm never supposed to be left alone with kids, it's just LEAs being over-protective and misrepresenting government advice. I've found a sidestep fortunately and so now I'm a STEM Ambassador to schools and they'll provide me with an Enhanced CRB.

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General Ranting / Re: *** NOW *** Looking for luggage...

« on: November 17, 2012, 03:23:27 PM »

I'd honestly make it myself. File a blob of putty or cut something from the correct thickness plasticard, then add a few details.

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Non-FOD minis / Re: Judge Minty

« on: November 16, 2012, 08:44:01 AM »

Ooooooh!