Tuesday, April 2, 2019

The Good Steal

Genestealers. You cannot fail to notice a thing that loves you so much and wants to make you a part of the family. By Any Means Necessary. When Games Workshop turned the Lord of the Rings in Space into a more general Sci-Fi homage (and who wouldn't, really, given half a chance) it was perhaps inevitable that they should lean on the great works of the day. In Rogue Trader they gave us elves, dwarves, orks, and evil wizards. They mentioned ornithopters and laser swords. They had dusty waterless settlements, slaves, mines, and gangs of motorcycle punks. They even named a prominent setting after a half forgotten B flick. But they made only the most bare, passing reference to the crazed space bugs with a penchant for violent and involuntary cross pollination that were then taking the world by storm. It didn't take long to rectify the omission. (With a disco beat. Oh yeah, you know what I'm talking about Mr. Soul-Patriarch.)


Normally, Citadel seems to have entrusted one sculptor with getting a range started; with setting the tone and creating the atmosphere that would define it forever after: Bob Naismith gave space knights bascinet beaks. Mark Copplestone taught us the army of the future needed spats. Bob Olley gave dwarves giant noses and cigars and pirates a perennial hunch. Jes Goodwin gave elves shiny space chainmail and a dancer's poise. But when it came time for extra arms . . . we got the Olley hunchbacks and big noses, oh yes we did, but also Goodwin's dancers. I'm not sure I can think of another iconic sci-fi trope where two such different artists had such a dramatic impact so early. But you really can't have genestealers without both. And so far, my collection was a little wanting for the dancier hybrids. I have fixed that.



That Jes Goodwin fencer's pose is unmistakable. (Olley, to his credit, even seems to reference it in some of his more recent offerings in the style.) So it's a happy making moment to add a Goodwin genestealer to the cult. Welcome home, Mr. Goodestihl. The congregation has been waiting for you.


Thank you for joining me. May your gaming bring you joy and may you find your treasures without turning too much gold into lead. ;-)

Sincerely,
The Composer

8 comments:

  1. Classic genestealer hybrids are always nice, but now we are left with using kitbashing genestealers pices on everything else

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    1. Hey, I've done that too, come think. Nothing at all wrong with a good kitbash. (Or an Olley. Or a Goodwin. Or . . . there are too many great things to list 'em all.) In the end, the best part is to enjoy playing with your toys. ;-) (Be that painting them, or putting them on the table, or both.)

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    2. "But Mom, this is not a toy, but a collector figure!"

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    3. Well . . . toys for grown-ups. (Sort of. Not that I really count.)

      Okay, the important part is playing with your collector figures. ;-)

      Poh-tay-toh, poh-tah-toh.

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  2. Beautiful and impressive units, love their expressive poses and faces...SUperb!

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    1. I really feel like the mix of different sculptors helps to create a sense of individuality that is particularly apt here. Yes, lovely miniatures. Glad you like them. :)

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  3. A true classic that is always welcome. The Cult is certainly appealing; not sure if it's just the general design or the poses, or a combination of both, but there were some real treasures in those ranges.

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    1. Genestealer cults have been pretty awesome since day one, yes. And the variety really does it for me: the poses and design and the whole nine yards.

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