pantmonger

[pantmonger]

Real life bias and prejudice were responsible for some of the problematic elements enshrined in the bones of settings we otherwise love. It stands to reason that current real life concerns constitute a valid reason for those things to change. Or. Why FemCustodes and combat wheelchairs are good.

Back when a lot of our long running and beloved franchises were penned, there were a lot of unexamined biases floating about that became ingrained. From Gygaxes women don't game, to shops reporting there is no desire for fem mini in the wargmaning community. To generic white guy becoming a circular logic stand in for protag (Lets almost exclusively focus on generic white guys, and eye candy fem, hey looks like mainly generic white guys are interested in our games. Other folk must dislike gaming)

This means those setting have a baked in, real life induced, bias. Yet as we have moved on, started examining those biases more closely. Started to understand how we were perpetuating the problem. Started to realise that excusing it as 'What can you do, its the lore. It was a different time' doesn’t really cut the mustard when you are still building on that externally influenced foundation. Lore is not a special gem, crafted in a vacuum free from external bigotries. If real life was allowed to influence the settings then, no reason it should not be allowed to do so again now. Any work of fiction can be altered by the addition of new fiction after all.

Examining areas were this kind of bias is present and correcting for it, should be of concern for any ongoing franchise. GW have been stepping up, making sure a broader array of skin tones are more commonly represented in their art and minis. Adding FemCustodes removed a narratively irrelevant gender bias. Space marines remain the elephant in the room and as long as they are both: the flagship and gender locked, a lot of other changes are going to feel a bit token. DnD also stepped up doing similar with its diversity and removing problematic language. The last big 'outrage' in the faux culture war around DnD was the inclusion of the combat wheelchair. In a setting were high level healing magic is NOT available to common folk or low level adventurers. Where abilities like 'blind fighting' allow a fighter to overcome blindness and be better then a sighted character (cause Daredevil is cool). Having a wheelchair with some mods to overcome terrain difficulties, was the bridge too far for some internet warriors. A weird selfish reaction that amounted to: I don't care if this totally optional addition I'm not forced to include in my games makes the marginalised feel included, my limit imagination cant parse it, so no one should be allowed to have it! A reaction that should never be pandered to.

Which brings me back around to the point of this ramble. There are a million ways you can justify these changes in setting, fiction is fiction. And given that these fictions were subject to real life sensibilities at the time, it is completely justified for real life concerns around inclusion and representation to be the exclusive reason changes are made now. People puffing out their chests and demanding that there needs to be a good in universe reason for changes to the sacred lore, are ignoring through ignorance or deliberate bad faith, how it was formed in the first place. Often to excuse/obfuscate their own unexamined biases or straight up bigotries. Changes don't need 'in setting' drivers before they are allowed to happen. That can get crafted after the decision and as part of the inclusion. If you like the setting and world building up to then, there is no reason to assume it will not be handled with equal care.

[pantmonger]

Just finished reading 'Above and Beyond' the sequel to one of the best modern 40k books (IMO) ' Outgunned. It is also an excellent book. Not quite as good as its predecessor, but still outstanding.

Simlex and Shard have both lost their arrogance, now both bitterly broken characters and both 100% pushed by forces outside of their control or even understanding. Its a story of PSTD vets in an unending war, where knowing too much (or even a little bit) or saying the wrong thing will get you killed. Its a character driven tale, far less punctuated by combat then the average 40k novel (good) and layered in mysteries.

I strongly recommend both if you are a fan of 40k narratives.

As per usual I'll now write some cool bits that are telling about the setting and those within it, that fuel my imagination and intrigue me. Spoilers ahead.

Funny warp travel: how to know if you are in danger 53/ “Hard to say. If you see odd lights, or taste colours, or feel like your reflection is plotting against you, then there is no immediate cause for concern.”

Aeldari facing human xenophobia.

268/ Human :“The aggression if yours, you attacked us”

Aeldari: “Your creed decrees that my species should be slain for the crime of existence. How is the aggression mine?

Human: “This is not your world!”

Aeldari: “You think it your world. Do you know how long this planet existed before your kind? Or how long it will persist after the imperium fades. You think you are entitled to any of this?”

Aeldari on working with an inquisitor

364/ “Your kind are waning, your empire crumbling. But there are terrible things lurking in the void and beyond the veil, and my people lack the numbers to fight them without aid. Sadly, your society is founded on principals of xenophobia and violent ignorance, and you are so indoctrinated that few of you are capable of grasping the bigger picture.”

The rest are on the shittyness of the imperium.

27/ Of course they would kill her. Advancement in the imperium involved ascending a ladder built from the bones of those betrayed along the way

294/ She took another shot, I had never seen her drink like that “It was just darkness.” She said “Darkness and mouths. And I couldn't help but think out masters would kill for servants like that, soldiers willing to hurl themselves to their deaths without a thought.”

295/ “I don't care. Let them hear the truth. The Ecclesiarchy are crooks and liars and I know this because my brother is one of them, and he's as fat and content as a tick suckling on a grox. And whilst he pays lip service to the God-Emperor, I've noticed a curious phenomenon. Serving the God-Emperors will always seems to involve an outcome beneficial to my brother.

457/ “After all, is that not what the imperium is built upon (ed: lies). We are instructed that we can not permit the xenos, the witch or the heretic to live. Unless the xenos is employed by an inquisitor, or a commissar elects to transport a witch, or our commanders decide that condemning a planet for heresy is just too inconvenient and expensive.

And with that I'll wrap up and say I hope we get a third and round this out as a solid trilogy. The seeds are definitely there. Id also very much love a mini, Maybe one of those black library narrative sets. Lucille von Shard, Simlex, Plient and a trio of pet servo skulls. Please :)

[pantmonger]

Vongrim Harpoon Crew:

The heads and the continuing lack of true parity. The new Overlords kit comes with women heads, a welcome addition. There are 18 heads in the kit for 5 models, so on the surface, lots of choice. But I'll start with some simple facts out the gate.

Parity present: If you want a squad of half masc, half fem with the 3:2 ratio favouring either, you can. If you want a squad all masc or all fem, you can. Neither masc or fem has enough helm on heads, for an all masc or fem helm on squad.

Parity fails: There are double the choices for masc heads over fem heads. If you want all masc squad with helms off you can… but can't for fem. If you want an even split squad helms on, you can, but only if you favor masc 3:2, the inverse is not possible with this kit.

Greater range parity fail: Due to a lack of fem heads in earlier kits, and loads of masc spares, you can easily kitbash an all masc, helms on for this squad by adding 1, but not the inverse.

Opinion: I am glad GW finally added fem heads to the Kharadron Overlords range. Why they were absent up to now despite their presence in lore… But again we run into this problem where companies insist on taking the tiniest steps towards parity, while frustratingly and pointlessly leaving imbalance in the mix.

Why let the kit make a full masc helm off set (including 3 spare options) while fem is denied this entirely? What's the logic behind that? Such a pointlessly frustrating omission, so conspicuous by its absence.

Why have literally double the amount of masc head options? If anything given the complete lack in earlier kits, this ratio should have been inverted to let players populate the older lines with fem-heads. Infuriating decision. Lift. Your. Game. GW.

Aside: For the interested, you can probably use these heads for SM to add femSM or some interestingly bearded Masc Marines.

[pantmonger]

I'm no Lore Nerd (My relationship with lore)

According to the Nerd Amongst Us, 40k tru-fan index (tm) I easily place in the top 1% known as one of the 'for the love of god, go outside' folk. But I am no lore nerd.

That is to say, I know enough to get by, but have no interest in deliberately committing to memory the minutia of a broad, often contradictory fictional universe (no shade) Just not my thing. My preferred engagement with that side of the hobby is more of a blurry watercolor. Enough setting fundamentals to facilitate my enjoyment of a novel, not where it is the focus of the novel.

Hence why I really liked 'Day of Ascension' and 'Outgunned' where the setting is the back drop for the character driven narrative, rather then say 'Cadia Stands' which was (IMO) more about events and places and definitely was not for me.

With the amount of 40k media I've engaged with (rules, codices, novels, TV) It's next to impossible for me to have not pick up some of the broader lore, but it is always scoped by the content in the media, and tainted by the POV of the unreliable narrators. and that's before you get to lore that's been retcon'ed and me having almost no capacity, and definitely no interest, in finding out specifically which bits don't count any more. (Looking at you space marine and inquisitor)

I'll also delve a bit more into a particular faction/subfaction if I'm looking to build a bunch about them, or make fan stuff around them. But that can be pretty sketchy too if the info is not in an easily accessible official source and I become reliant on fan info (so reliable) But lore for the sake of it is just not my jam and if you want to 'catch me out' as a fake fan you can ask me weird lore shit and I'll probably not know it (But I won't pretend that I do, nor care that I don't)

[pantmonger]

Test Model for my overlords (a refinement of a scheme I tested before) I like the whole ancient diver feel, so dark leather and canvas suit. The Sons of Horus style green I think will look amazing on the ships with the ur-gold trim.

[pantmonger]

Within the free city of Lethis on the shores of the lake bearing the same name, lies the black stone structure known as the Grand Mausoleum, Stormkeep of the Anvils of the Heldenhammer, built to guard the Realmgate known as The Veil. Liberators stand as the backbone of the defence against the legions of Nagash, in this his home realm.

Being older style liberators, fem sculpts were rare numbering 2, 1 from underworlds and a limited run primus. Thus this kitbash of Neave Blacktalon. Her fur cloak was filed smooth, extras folds sculpted in, her trademark axes swapped out for a warhammer and shield. A few other bit and pieces were modified and finally a head swap.

[pantmonger]

The Daughters of Persephone Space Marine sketching continues. Lots o pencils. Will play with it a bit more then consider colouring it.

[pantmonger]

With each reforging the Anvils of the Heldenhammer grow more death like. Their skin becoming corpse, their voices unable to be raised more then a whisper. These heroes long dead, returned to life.

Finished my store anniversary Knight Questor, and a rescue mini Knight Incantor

[pantmonger]

Painted a singular mini for my Daughters of Persephone to try out mixing up a few bits of my approach. Almost no washes, and doing the black line earlier then usual. Wont be my go to, but will incorporate some of the approach.

[pantmonger]

Belladonna De'Escher, Former noble turned underhive bounty hunter after the murder of her husband during their wedding reception, also costing her an arm, leg and eye.

Hates being confused with the other Donna It was a fiddly one to paint

And added to my collection of Necromunda resin. +Metal Donna

[pantmonger]

90s Necromunda plastic Goliath painted in my approximation of the box art. Maybe if I could can go back in time, I might be able to work for GW as a 90s mini painter

[pantmonger]

We refused to be drones of the emperor. Fodder in forever wars, fed a diet of our own endless dead. We refused to be forcibly mechanized by zealots of ancient technologies. Instead we welcomed union with demons, pacts that cost humanity to preserve it. We chose it. Didn't we?

[pantmonger]

376 miniatures painted specifically for my Dungeons And Dragons games. Backlog cleared, may I never know of one again :P Link to youtube video flyby here

[pantmonger]

Every DnD mini in my backlog is now done. Might see about taking a group photo later as I need to sort them. But its done!

[pantmonger]

Final Dungeons And Dragons minis, 15 to 20. 3 Orcs, painted as Bugbears as I have enough orcs, (and they made them very furry) 2 Yuan-ti and 1 Bones Tiik warrior (a kind of Sahuagin proxy) Leaving me with a single DnD mini to go, and its a big one!

[pantmonger]

Final Dungeons And Dragons minis, 8-14 of 21. A loose collection of PC and NPC models.

Wow these ones were rough going. Featureless faces, detail that might as well have been painted on. Bundles of undecipherable gear, random scale differences. I think I did ok for what they were

7 more to go...

[pantmonger]

Final Dungeons And Dragons minis, 7 of 21. Merregons, A Kobold leader who is very clearly a PC mini, it has a backpack &coin pouch :P & 3 Duergar. Some of these were practically featureless. Some had deep scratches and gouges in the castings. Pretty rough all round. But they are done now. 14 to go!