Sunday 17 May 2020

Prog 11 - Showdown on the Lido

A continuing series of session reports from my current Judge Dredd game using Starblazer Adventures rules. 

The Judges take up defensive positions in the corridor with a commanding view of the elevator doors.  A few moments later a soothing bong indicates that the lift has arrived.  A waiter emerges pushing a trolley followed by an imposing man mountain dressed in bermuda shorts.  The henchman grabs the waiter with one arm as his other transforms into a stub gun.

Wallaces fires off a Rubber Ricochet round which bounces off the henchman's head and into Hiro's right arm.  Steele selects Armour Piercing ammo and fires a 3 round burst hitting his target square in the forehead.  He crumples to the ground dead leaving the waiter a quivering wreck.  Que attends to the overwhelmed hotel worker.

Hiro steps into the lift and examines the body of the cyborg and determines that he has had extensive work done including cyber-ears.  He surmises that the henchmen are all networked together sharing seamless collective communication.

Wallace runs back to the suite and can see that Faraway is huddled in conversation with the other henchborg.  Holmes stays to give overwatch via the CCTV whilst everyone else bundles into the elevator and heads for the Lido Dec.  The soothing tones of the "Girl from Ipanema" waft from the elevator speakers as everyone chambers AP rounds in their trusty Lawgivers.


Hotel Chupacabra Jessica Alba Block
Hotel Chupacabra Lido Deck
As they exit the elevator the only person in sight is Iona Skye reclining on a deckchair.  Wallace heads for right hand stairs which lead to the upper Lido Deck.  Steele's egress is blocked by three terrified guests who run straight towards him screaming "Save us Judge Steele" and knock him over.  Que similarly swamped smashes one in the face with her nightstick nocking him out.  Hiro runs over to Iona Skye and attempts to talk to her.  Iona is completely oblivious to everything around her as she is listening to some music on a pair of earbuds and reading a Jackie Collins novel.

Henchborg #2 reveals his position and unloads a full clip at Hiro from the upper lido balcony.  Hero dives under the overhang.  Holmes spots Faraway on the CCTV on the upper deck and radios his location through to the assault team.  Wallace fires a Stumm gas grenade onto the upper deck.  Steele shoots one of the citizens holding him figuring that AP rounds leave easily treated wounds when fired at pointblank range.  Que struggles to reach the other citizens on top of Steels she flails at them with her nightstick.  Hiro shoots a 3 round burst of AP at Henchborg #2 but only hits with one.

Henchborg #2 leaps down from the balcony simultaneously firing another burst at Hiro hitting him in the helmet, the most heavily armoured part of a Judges uniform.  Wallace shoots 3 AP rounds into the cyborgs leg.  Steele fires another AP round at another citizen whose body goes limp.  Que calls Sector Control for an H-Wagon backup and throws a Stumm gas grenade at the observation deck which is slowly filling up with gas.  Shaking of the headshot, Hiro fires a 3 shot burst of AP into Henchborg #2.  Holmes spies two more henchborgs emerging from the shadows and immediately abandons his CCTV station running as fast as she can to the elevator.

Henchborg #3 fires at Hiro and Henchborg #3 fires at Wallace, both miss.  Avoiding the gunfight and the billowing cloud of gas, a group of 4 lemming like citizens leap off the balcony landing in a bone crunching heap below.   Emerging from the pile of bodies, Steele pulls down his respirator and heads for the stairs.  Que gets a bead on Faraway and fires a 3 shot burst of Grenade rounds.  He locks her in a stare as a round hits him in the leg blowing off his foot and ankle.  Hiro tossess a grenade through the balcony glass showering the two Henchborgs in shrapnel and knocking them down.

The unmistakeable drone of a hover vehicle pierces the chaos and a bright yellow hover-taxi floats  into the hotel over the pool.  Whoever's driving that vehicle has just earned an immediate ban and a charge of Dangerous Driving (Code 201: 5 to 15 Years).

Holmes frantically presses the lift buttons to the Lido Deck.  Wallace fires 3 rounds of AP at the oncoming taxi but misses.  Steele gets to the top of the stairs and shoots 3 Grenade rounds at Faraway who is crouching by the edge of the balcony.  The grenades explode showering Faraway's other leg with shrapnel.  Que fires 3 Grenade rounds into the taxi as it slews alonside the balcony with its door open.

Faraway crawls desperately from the balcony into the taxi leaving a trail of blood, and one foot, behind him.  The taxi door swooshes closed and it begins to accelerate away from the scene.

With a bong the elevator doors open and Holmes has a clear shot at the soft mechanical parts of the taxi.  She calmly selects High Explosive rounds and fires a salvo of perfectly timed shots.  The first punches a hole in the floor of the cab, the second passes through the hole and explodes inside the cab, the third blows apart the fuel lines causing the engines to splutter and a fireball erupts from the underside of the cab.

The taxi leaves a firey trail as it coughs and splutters to its death sliding along the perfectly manicured lawn before finally tipping into the pool.  A dull thud shakes the entire block as the cab explodes.

Back at the Sector House

The Judges spend a few hours in the rejuve tanks before reporting to Sector Chief Belloch for debrief.
"Iona Skye has been safely returned to her apartment and compensated for the damage to her property and the distress caused by the perps.  The bodies of Nigel Faraway and the Taxi Cab driver were recovered from the scene of the crime along with the four hired henchborgs.  Tek Squad are doing a full autopsy on their brains to find out who they were, who performed the surgery and who they worked for.  The hotel guests injured in the shoot-out are all making excellent recoveries thanks to your swift actions.  The BREXIT Campaign HQ was raided last night and arrests made, we're submitting them all to lie detector testing to find out who knew what and when.  Tom Vampire is on his way to Luna City so he's Witness Protection's problem now.

The Tek Squad matched the idol to the hood ornament of a Class 1 Mega Hauler.  These behemoths were used to move Pre-Atomic blocks from the edges of the Radzone to their current location and foundations built around them.  Iona Skye is one of the last citizens alive with first hand knowledge of how to operate these machines.

Several explosions have occured on pedways and zoomways connecting Thatcher Towers to the rest of the blocks in the Eurozone.  Arrests have been made and the remaining Nitro-9 recovered.  Citi-Def units in Thatcher Towers have been disbanded and a period of Martial Law has been enacted until such time as new Citi-Def units can be established.  

An alien invasion from the Pokemon dimension is currently being dealt with.  Tek Judges have developed containment field generators (CFGs) which are being issued as we speak.  If you spot any of these cute looking furry spugs then make sure you use your CFGs.  Until we know the scale of the threat, their capabilities and just what they're doing in Mega City One, the policy is Catch 'em All!.

Well, what are you waiting for a medal? Get out there and dispense some Justice!"

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Saturday 16 May 2020

Prog 10 - Confronting Nigel Faraway

A continuing series of session reports from my current Judge Dredd game using Starblazer Adventures rules.

The Tech Judges performing the crime scene investigation of the basement temple in Thatcher Towers have identified the bodies of the dead cultists.  All 13 are residents of Thatcher Towers and are wearing clothing displaying their respective Citi-Def Chapter insignia.

They have taken a 3D scan of the idol statue and are preparing to run through BARNEY and MAC when computer time becomes available.

BREXIT Campaign Headquarters

The Judges contact Nigel Faraways campaign office and arrange an appointment.  They take the lift from level 10 to level 300.  The office is located in a converted shop in one of the blocks gentrified retail parks.  They are met by Philomena Plune (PA) and Doug Sucka (Campaign Manager).

The Judges request a full report on Nigel Faraway's Campaign Finances from BARNEY.

Philomena Plune supplies the Judges with a copy of the BREXIT Manifesto from the recent campaign which states the 3 Guiding Principles of BREXIT which are:
  1. Only a vote for BREXIT guarantees a positive move away from the Eurozone
  2. BREXIT will begin with the breaking of all physical ties to blocks in the Eurozone

  3. Residents must prepare themself for the impact of BREXIT
Doug Sucka tells the Judges that following the successful election. Mr Faraway has gone on a two week holiday for some much needed rest and relaxation.  Nigel does not want to be disturbed and so he has kept the location of his holiday retreat a secret known only to his closest assistant Tom Vampire.

Interview with a Vampire

The Judges continue their investigation at the Sector House holding cubes.  Judge Steele proceeds to interrogate Tom Vampire and offers him some encouragement in the form of a reduced sentence.  Vampire is visibly nervous and intimidated by the imposing Steele but begins recounting the first time he met Faraway by chance when they shared an elevator together.  Faraway was impressed with the sartorial elegance of Tom Vampire and said that he could use someone who projected the right impression.  He had no prior experience of politics but he surmised that his previous job as a sewage worker demolishing fatbergs in and around the Eurozone meant he could put up with a lot of shit.

Nigel Faraway and Tom Vampire
L to R: Nigel Faraway and Tom Vampire
Their relationship grew stronger as they worked closely together.  Faraway confided in Vampire.  He revealed to him that BREXIT quite literally could not happen without Nitro-9.  Tom procured the Nitro-9 from Pepe Le Peu.  Nigel had given him the briefcase to deliver to Le Peu which he assumed contained the payment for the Nitro-9.  Tom did not know when the whereabouts but he knew that it had been delivered.

Hiro calls Sector Chief Belloch to discuss the possibility of entering Tom Vampire into the winess protection programme on Luna City.  Belloch agrees to the transfer and assures Tom Vampire that he will be on a Lunar Shuttle in another 48 hours.

Tom reveals the location of Nigel Faraways holiday retreat.  He has booked a two week vacation at El Chupacabra, a luxury spa hotel which occupies the top 100 floors of Jessica Alba block.

Jessica Alba Block
Hotel Chupacabra takes up the top 100 floors of Jessica Alba Block



Welcome to The Hotel Chupacabra

Two hours later Deputy Assistant Under Concierge Hector Ramirez tells the Judges that Mr. Faraway is currently booked into Suite 666.  He tells them that he and his elderley mother gave strict instructions that he was to be left alone, no media or fans were to be allowed to see him and any deviation from that order would result in a very public review on Trip Advisor.  Ramirez also tells them that Mr Faraway was accompanied by his two sons who were exceptionally big and strong and bore no familial resemblance to Mr Faraway.

He also explained that the hotel's reputation was built on it's strict observation of client confidentiality.

Suite 666 is located on the 66th floor of the hotel at the end of a wide corridor behind a pair of synthi-oak doors emblazoned with a brass plaque on which is etched a picture of tri-vid movie actor Ricardo Montalban and the words "The Khan Noonien Singh Suite"

Hiro attemps the number 5 breaching protocal but the door resists his shoulder barge.  An eyebot emerges from the wall next to the door and demands to see a warrant.  Hiro bombards the eyebode with legal arguments, citing chapter and verse from the only book that really matters in Mega City One... The Law.  The eyebot concedes in the face of overwhelming precedence and opens the door.  It informds the Judges that Mr Faraway and his ebntourage are currently relacing on the Lido deck.

Investigating the rooms, the Judges notice that one room contains a few signs that it has been recently occupied by Iona Skye, namely the pungent odourand the collection of hotel toiletry bottels that are now filled with urine.

Judge Wallace contacts the Hotel Lobby and tells Ramirez to invent a reason to call Mr Faraway to the hotel reception.  They enact Judicial Security Override protocols and patch the hotle's CCTV feed into the suite's huge Tri-D vid screen.  They watch as Faraway orders one of the two burly henchmen to deal with it.  The henchman makes his way to reception and then is met by a waiter with a trolley.  They enter the lift and the waiter dials in floor 66. The Judges get ready to receive visitors.

NEXT PROG -> Showdown on the Lido

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Friday 15 May 2020

Mega City One - Citizens on Parade

Thanks to Lockdown, I am currently going through a phase of creativity.  Mostly this involves catching up on a lot of long overdue painting projects.  

One such project has been my Mega City One citizens.

These minis were painted in two batches the best part of 2 years apart and come from the always affordable Ground Zero Games (GZG) Star Grunt range.  Specifically these were:

Unit 1: Colourful Crazies

These were painted almost two years ago, just in time for my Judge Dredd game using the Starblazer Adventures Rules, Tales from Mega City One.  They are just everyday citizens that have had enough of the dog eat mutie existence of Mega City One and have taken up their stub gun for one last hurrah.

Mega City One Citizens - Colourful Crazies
Colourful Crazies
Unit 2: Purple Punks

This was the first of the most recent batch where I began colour coordinating the figures.  This makes batch painting a lot easier and allows easy in-game gang association.  If its purple then they are members of the purple punks or the Paisley Park Citi-Def (see the Prince reference there?)

Mega City One Citizens - Purple Punks
Purple Punks
Unit 3: The Orange Crew

This unit are mostly wearing coveralls and caps and the high-viz orange makes them easily double for a work team from Resyk or some other municipal facility.  I have two easily distinguishable units to make running a small scale Block War that much easier.

Mega City One Citizens - The Orange Crew
Resyk workers or Block Warriors?  You decide.
Unit 4: The Yellow Jackets

Continuing with the colour coordination I went with a Yellow and Blue combo for the last unit.  This gives me another distinct and identifiable team of citizens (or IKEA workers) to pit against my player's Judges.

Mega City One Citizens - The Yellow Jackets
Yellow Jackets are fierce and tenacious defenders of flatpack swedish furniture
I fully intend to broaden my range of Mega City One citizens once I find some appropriate minis.  In the old thinking box I have dreams of Kleggs (and Klegg hounds), Fatties, Protesters, Street Punks, Droids, Apes...

I am not a number I am a free man!

If you are wondering what is going on with the bases, that is a secret weapon in target acquisition and wound attribution.  I could easily have painted numbers on the bases, but that's boring and so 1999.  I feel it's much more in keeping with the Urban Jungle theme to have road markings and slogans differentiating each figure.

The Prisoner Patrick McGooghan Number 6
You are number 6... No I'm not I'm Slurm!

Thursday 14 May 2020

Prog 9 - Beneath Thatcher Towers

A continuing series of session reports from my current Judge Dredd game using Starblazer Adventures rules.

The tunnel emerges into an ancient substructure whose concrete walls and lofty ceiling are propped up by massive buttresses and columns.  The scene is dimly illuminated by a pair of lit braziers which flank a large concrete altar at the far end of the cavern.  Lying on the alter is a naked and bound Judge Steel.  15 civilians armed with an array of firearms are spread about the cavern whilst a figure armed with a sacrificial knife addresses them from the altar.

Basement Temple
Thatcher Towers - Basement Temple

Wallace issues an arrest phrase which goes unheeded as a foolish perp (#1) raises his stubgun in their general direction and he answers with a burst of 3 GP rounds.  The other Judges do not wait for further instruction.  Que fires a single shot into perp #2, Hiro a burst of GP at a third and Holmes fires a GP burst at perp #2.  In the confusion Steele manages to wrestle his hands free unnoticed.

The perps return fire Holmes takes a shot in the left arm, a bullet ricochets off Hiro's helmet and Que takes two rounds to the left arm.  The hooded cult leader drops the knife onto the altar as he ducks for cover.

Wallace's radio buzzes with static as he calls Sector Control for backup.  He launches a Grenade round at perp #3 which blows him to pieces and showers perp #7 in shrapnel. Que fires a 3 shot burst of AP at perp #4 who goes down clutching at the bloody stump of what used to be his leg.  Hiro fires 2 AP at the center of mass of a fifth perp who slumps to the ground instantly and a third shot wings perp #8 in the right arm. Holmes hits perp #6 with a close grouping to the chest.  Steele grabs the sacrificial dagger lying on the altar beside him and he cuts his legs free whilst rolling off the altar.

Perp #9 gets a lucky head hit on Wallace, perp #6 returns fire and hits Holmes in the left arm and leg.  Perp #7 wildly strafes Hiro with his stub gun hitting him in the left leg and right arm.  A new assailant, perp #11, also targets Hiro but misses.

Wallaces gets off a burst of 3 Grenades at #11 who explosively surrenders.  Que shoots 3 grenades at perp #7 killing him.  Hiro fires 3 AP rounds at perps #8 and #10 hitting them both.  Holmes runs back to the pillar nearest the exit in order to get a better signal.  Steele rolls over to the pile of clothes and reunites himself with his lawgiver "Doris".

The cultists strafe the area with stub gun fire but their lack of training and accuracy is telling and no rounds find a target.

Wallace fires a burst of 3 Grenades at perp #6 but misses.  Que downs both #8 and #10, Hiro blows up #14 with 3 Grenade rounds as Holmes makes it to the tunnel.  As naked as the day he popped out of the cloning tank, Steele leaps to his feet and kills the Cult Leader with a single GP round remarking
"Nobody puts Judge Steele on a sacrificial altar!"
His periferal vision spots two more cultists #12 and #13 on the other side of the altar and he snaps off a round at each but misses.

#12 and #13 return fire at Steele hitting him in the torso and left arm.


Wallace cuts down perps #12 and #13 with 3 grenades.  Hiro rushes at perp #6 who is frantically trying to reload and shoots him in the leg blowing off his kneecap.  He drops his gun, clutching at his mangaled leg and surrenders.  Holmes gets to the stairwell at the entrance to the tunnel and calls in backup from Sector Control.  Wallace shoots #15 in the head with a burst of GP rounds and he drops to the floor with a face that resembles swiss cheese.  Running to the leftmost pillar Que yells at the remaining cultist #9. 
"Drop your weapon, you're outnumbered!"
Stiffling the pain and screwing a hypo round into his lawgiver, Hiro chimes in
"Throw down your weapon"

Considering that the offence of Judge Homicide (Code: 101, 30 Years to Life) carries a lengthy sentence the perp retorts
"You'll never take me alive coppas!"  and shoots himself in the head.  Que mumbles to himself "You just saved me a heap of paperwork".

Surveyng the aftermath, Steele is stabilised but his serious wounds need urgent medical attention.  They cuff the two cultists, #4 and #6 who surrendered and stop them from bleeding out.  They take some robes and a stretcher and carry the pair out sealing off the scene for CSI by a team of Tech Judges.  They leave by the nearest exit and are met by a Med Wagon 30 minutes later.

NEXT PROG -> Confronting Nigel Faraway

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Wednesday 13 May 2020

Jessie's Prints Episode 6 - Spool Walls Tower Block

This week, I are mostly been printing... 

Spool Walls Tower Blockhttps://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4343675 / https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4345022 


Spool Walls Tower Block
Recycle those empty filament spools into Sci-Fi Scenery and... save the planet!

Owning an FDM 3D Printer causes you to inevitably collect empty spools of filament.  I designed this to repurpose those spools into sci-fi scenery for my Judge Dredd and Gaslands games.  The two models can be downloaded for free using the Thingilinks above.  I fully intend to add more models and accessories to this series to help recreate your little piece of Mega City 1.

Stay tuned for more updates and if you like the model don't forget to like, share, add a make and tip the designer.