"STONE & STONE"

"IT'S ALL IN THE COLOUR"

Having produced a lot of pre-coloured resin, I know a lot of people can be daunted by the prospect of painting it, so I thought I would do a step by step guide as there are some parts in Death Match produced in this way

In the above image this is the resin before painting, in it's natural translucent blue colour.

Step 1

First put a black wash on the back of the shield and let dry.

Step 2

Now paint the handle of the sword, and the back of the shield in silver, you will also want to paint the five energy nodes on the front of the shield.

Step 3

Next put a black wash over the parts you've painted silver, you could highlight this once dry with some pure silver, but I like the tarnished look so leave as is.

Step 4

Next we paint all the electrical discharge with a light blue, be careful not to get any on the background area

Step 5

The last step is to use some pure white at the points the electrical discharge meets the emitters and where the arcs inter connect.

As you can see relatively easy with a steady hand, your still painting in a similar way to normal, just missing out the undercoat to keep the translucent colour.

                

Until next time have fun

Cheers Dave

)o(

"SARAH SPEAKS"

Anyone who knows Dave can see his drawings, amazing sculpts and hear his passion for the hobby in his descriptions.  What many people do not know is that if you ask Dave to write anything down, it's not the best ( Can't be too harsh I'm married to him).  And so it was that, knowing his own weaknesses, I was coerced into writing the background for Death Match.  

Last week after coming home from the gym and shopping for a late birthday present for Dave, I am greeted by a sight that has become very regular nowadays.  Dave is smoking at the back door.. talking away on the house phone.  I shouted hi to Steve he is the only person that calls us on the house phone and I carried on pottering around.  Suddenly I'm passed the phone and, with a mischievous smile, told Steve wishes to have a word.  Apprehensive I take the phone. I have only communicated through a few emails with Steve: and so I listen intently to his request, while Dave (already knowing what`s coming) laughs in the background.

I have been asked to write part of this article and give an insight into how I came up with the universe for Death Match.  

So Here Goes!

Firstly, I wish to make everyone aware I personally think I lack imagination, so the idea of writing filled me with dread!  Dave will still stupidly bring me a half made model and ask me what I think. Unable to see the potential he regularly hears "just show me once it's finished."

The models for the Death Match gladiators were among the first models created, so I started with their backgrounds.  The humans were left till last as I find the history or in this case, our possible future.. boring!  The alien races intrigued me more.  Through several hours of discussion - and Dave and I distinguished attributes and attitudes for each of the species. 

Dave gave me a very basic idea of fighting skills and abilities and left the rest up to me.

Thanks a lot. 

Each species had at least four drafts done, so much of my time was taken up writing it all out into a manageable form.  I may be young but I'm old school, and like to write using a pen and paper.. allowing for a lot of scribbles before finally typing up a version of the finished product.

Having no idea where to start, it was eventually decided that I needed to create the planets each species originated from.  The Planets were designed in keeping with the attitudes of the species.  The Scabendi a violent race were best suited to an Amazon jungle style planet with lots of aggressive life forms.  The Exuviums desired a symbiotic perfectly balanced ecosystem; and the Ceratids being similar to a rhino in my opinion a lush vegetative planet. 

Once the origins of each planet was decided, I researched (a lot) into different plants.  Each planet has unique plants, and these needed to suit the environment. Once a rough outline of the plants had been conceived I delved further to populate the planets and create their unusual ecosystems.

Next up was the evolution of the species, to allow the reader to delve into the history and create a picture surrounding how we came to have the creatures we see in the arena.  As a non gamer I know shh don't tell everyone.. I required massive amounts of information about the species to encourage myself to get excited about Death Match. 

It worked!

I have played a few games but I prefer to immerse myself in the writing than play.  Each species has been given a different emphasis for life, the Ceratids are avid learner and are driven for a need to equip themselves with as much knowledge as the universe will allow.

The Exuviums (my favourite race the model does not belong to Dave its mine.. mine.. always mine when I eventually do play) are at one with their environment and wish to sustain the planet for as long as is possible.  Lastly the Scabendi have a thirst for fighting and value their weapons and winning at all costs.

I took inspiration from many sci fi films, and read hundreds of short stories on line to try to spark my non-existent imagination.  If you look hard enough you can see the Exuviums spires take inspiration from Enders Game.  Thanks so much Hubby, I get forced to watch sci fi films.  I can't watch one now without seeing some scenery that would look good on a gaming board.

After the final drafts were completed, it was time to start looking at the Humans.  We are slowly destroying our beautiful planet so I extended our abuse and considered what might happen if we continue down this route of destruction.  Several articles about nuclear warfare and its effects were strewn across the living room floor, myself in the centre of an ever increasing amount of research.  I pulled from articles containing details about soil degradation possible weather effect and bio domes in an effort to sustain life.  So in my story ethos (it seemed only logically inevitable) , eventually the Human race destroy Earth and take to the stars.

Exhausted by the hours put into writing, I welcomed the end and looked at the worlds I had created.. completely bewildered that I had managed to write anything: and still adamant I have no imagination. Dave finds this idea hilarious and just points to my writing and the worlds created.

Unfortunately for me I was not finished, and given instructions for writing the history of the games.  I was allowed details on the order the gladiators started competing in the games, and the introduction of the beasts.  But once again I was told "off you go come up with something."  I approached this slightly differently to the planets. There were simply too many questions that I wanted answered.  Who invented the Games and why? Was there a benefit.. a financial gain? and so on. As I came up with the answers: and Dave would periodically pop his head round the living room door and declare " I've had an idea for the history".  Usually just after I had finished that specific section.. it would need to be rewritten.  I managed to include all the additional details Dave asked for and came up with a finished product.

AT LAST.

Steve has now taken this and extended my writing into the background you see in the rules today and I couldn't be happier with the results.

I hope this has given an insight into my writing.  I had no idea where to start so with my trusty pen and paper I began.

I have a feeling this will not be the last you hear from me.  Dave can be very persuasive when he needs me to do something for Wargames Terrain Workshop. 

Until Then Bye, and thanks for reading.

Sarah  

Article by Dave & Sarah Stone