A December for The Doomed

I’m not sure what bit me, why it became such a passion project all of a sudden.  I’ve been excited about The Doomed: Apocalyptic Horror Hunting for a while, and planning a campaign with a friend.  But momentum felt stalled.  I think I was stuck, as we often are, with the pressure of perfection.  I wanted to build and paint a bunch of cool stuff to make this game memorable, to share with the world, and I didn't think I could do it justice.

Written by Chris McDowell and published by Osprey Games, the game has a simple but evocative premise.  A world that fulfilled grimdark fantasy tropes was invaded by a science-fiction capitalistic Company, abused by extractive industry and uncontrolled misused science, then abandoned once the expedition was no longer profitable.  The result is that the original inhabitants are left on a dying world terrorized by the abominations left behind.  Each player controls a warband of misfit, kitbashed survivors who hunt these Horrors and clash with each other over resources and prestige.  Lore and flavor are sprinkled throughout with terse but colorful descriptions, the tagline being one of them...

We are a forgotten world. The Company came with their ships and guns, then abandoned us. Only the doomed and the horrors remain.

It leans heavily into grimdark, blanchitsu, inq28 aesthetics and encourages strange, unique, and punky kitbashes of fantasy and science-fiction models.  Although I should also point out the game is very much designed for you to “use the models you have” and not have to go to great lengths to kitbash an entire new pile of shame (which is maybe where I ended up!).

I can’t quite tell what the popularity of the game truly is, but it seems to have been well received and crops up in conversation about indie wargames from time to time.  I’ve played one test match so far (which was very enjoyable for the narrative style of the game, despite my loss on all fronts!), but haven’t been able to start a consistent campaign.  And, as I said, I was feeling creatively stuck despite the huge influence and desire to make gnarly, quirky, grimdark things for this strange world.

One day I sat down and decided to kitbash something unrelated.  It ended up being a smash of a couple of Necromunda gangers (Van Saar torso on Delaque legs) with a Custodes head and then various tech bits to make it vaguely Adeptus Mechanicus in shape and form.  I figured this could just be another possible warband member, probably Martyr Retinues, and didn’t seem to fit with any Horrors specifically.  Still, another cool and unique model on the pile that could be used in some upcoming game or another.  I had fun with it, pulling together disparate bits to make something that felt flavorful.  I wanted more.

The kitbashed Necromunda and Custodes miniature that inspired the project.

When looking for a possible fit for this model I had thought about the Mystic Court, but it didn’t feel eldritch enough for the aesthetic I’d imagined there. But why not just kitbash them as well?  Some old Stormcast Eternal bodies with different, interesting heads and arm replacements, and I soon had a Horror bashed.  I got the idea to just throw caution to the wind and start building ALL the Horrors from the game.  What’s more, I decided to post about all of them to Instagram, more as a personal commitment to accountability and progress than expecting a lot of feedback.

One of the Mystic Court kitbashes that kicked off this project.

And so it began.  I had a small backlog of previously kitbashed Horrors that I’d slowly worked on before, but I now wanted to just keep pumping them out and get through as much of the list as I could.  I was unemployed in December so it seemed like as good a time as any to throw myself into the project (and I knew that would change in January).

Each Horror was usually inspired by some recent bit, tool, STL, or post from someone else.  Some took multiple days, occasionally interspersed with other builds as inspiration waned or things needed to dry. And I started posting about them on instagram as promised to myself.  Initially the pics and videos I tried were rushed and a bit iffy, but it didn’t really matter.

The usual state of my craft desk part way through a build.

I did start writing micro fiction to go with each Horror, a small slice of the world of the game as it might be.  This was a bonus creative outlet and sometimes helped form the final shape of the miniature I was crafting. Instagram is likely not the best place to share written creative material, but it added flavor for each build and felt like the right way to introduce them. A lean into the narrative focus of the game.

So as of the end of December 2024 I have completed 21 of the 36 Horrors in the game.  I’m really happy with the progress on the project and, while a few of the Horrors have flaws that bug me a little, there’s a lot of satisfaction in having these unique miniatures (mostly) ready to play in an expansive campaign of the game.

One of the key gaps at this juncture is that I haven’t painted them yet (except for a couple of outliers that were done earlier or needed to have paint done during the build process).  I’ve not always been the fastest painter so that’s a little intimidating, but I have learned over the past month that just trying shit and seeing how it works out can be very rewarding.  So the ”painting phase” will likely include some speed paint, grim dark experimentation, and a lot less pressure on myself.

A campaign would also need some terrain (of which I have some prepared, but thinking to add to the options for the various scenarios the book offers), and possibly some NPCs.  I have a couple small warbands mostly done so that’s helpful.  Ideally my friends and I will get to play through a narrative campaign in 2025.

An in progress Martyr Retinue warband miniature for The Doomed wargame.

An in progress Inheritor Courts warband miniature for The Doomed wargame.

My in progress wargame terrain board for the Oasis (2-3) scenario from The Doomed.

I have 15 more Horrors to do (and a new job that will slow my output considerably). Oh, and technically there’s 5 other major DOOM Horrors for the possible climaxes of the game, so those are still a consideration.  The ideas are already flowing for how to tackle these builds, it’ll just be a question of time.

For now, here’s a rundown of all the Horrors completed so far copied from my Instagram posts.  Enjoy!

The Pit Serpent (2-5)

In a flash of blue light, the metal coils of the creature slithered into view above the glimmering oasis. Its immensity, the shrieking suddenness of its arrival, shattered the tense quiet that had held the approaching raiders' tongues. A fierce, chaotic chorus of piercer shots and blades rebounding from its carapace followed, the shrieks of warriors who knew not if they were the hunters or the hunted. One managed to strike the tail of the creature with his enchained spear, but before it could be fastened, before the serpent could be brought low, another bright blue gash in reality opened and closed, taking the snake and the screaming man's arm with it...

The Pit Serpent Horror (2-5) for The Doomed: Apocalyptic Horror Hunting. I'm going to start posting about the minis I've been kitbashing for this awesome skirmish wargame as I set out to try and build ALL 36 of them. Or at least a serious chunk of the list. The sparse, evocative descriptions in the book give me just enough to get excited and to get crazy with.

This Pit Serpent was built a while ago. Primarily made using bead-bot style techniques to create the coils, then EVA foam for scales, other bits for details, and clear scraps of plastic covered with clear UV resin, paint, and gloss Mod Podge for the "portals."

Devourer (1-1)

Karlick stepped cautiously over the threshold of the door, the rusted screech and frayed wiring promising lost company riches within. The blasted white sun picked out the edges of humped piles, the thrill of discovering a forgotten hoard overcoming his caution.

Then a heavy mass stirred, and a beady, hungry scowl was raised on an impossibly long neck.  The horror stood, sloppily spilling its last meal from the ever-empty hole in its belly

Karlick did not have time to scream before the teeth and digestive juices took off his head…

The Devourer Horror (1-1) I kitbashed for The Doomed by Chris McDowall.  I was heavily inspired by a woodcut image I found of the cardinal sin of gluttony, with the elongated neck.  Also much encouraged by the bits of a troll (or something) carrying a goat I grabbed from the bits bin at Mindtaker Miniatures. Fitted the monster with piggy legs and used sprue goo and greenstuff to sculpt its wounds.

The build also includes the scavenger minions (GW bits, skeleton bodies, greenstuff, and CA glue soaked dryer sheets for ragged cloaks), and nexus food piles (random bits and a lotta glue).

As the lumbering form crept out of its lair into the cool night air, one massive claw left a bloody handprint on the faded Company logo outside the door.

After the gurgling sounds of its departure had faded into the desert breeze, a shadow detached from a nearby wall. Shifting eyes over a rancid smile.  It scurried through the open door and began to gorge on the half-digested remains of Karlick’s head.

Quake Engine (3-6)

The women and children cried out in alarm as another bone-jarring thump reverberated through the shelter. Ancient masonry cracked and trickled to the floor amidst the pallid, stick-thin people, all weeping faces and soiled rags.

An armored knight, no less pale than the civilians he warded, stumbled into the room. He glared, wild-eyed, until his eyes fell upon the graybeard with the House console chained to his wrist.

"Chronicle! Have you yet discovered our salvation!"

The old man looked up with empty eyes and slowly shook his head.

"The Company's Quaking Machine does not tire, does not rest. If you cannot stop it, we are doomed..."

At that another deafening crash came from immediately overhead. A blinding light shattered a hole in the protective earth and the old stone structure that hid the people was obliterated. After the dust settled a whining, carriage sized machine dropped from its hovering over the ruin, settled on massive legs, and began to pick through the dead with heavy clawed pincers. A shard of the knight's armor was lifted to patch a hole on the underside of the machine, while the blood-stained House console was peeled from the Chronicle's unfeeling hands...

The Quake Engine Horror (3-6), the 3rd I've done out of the 36 in Chris McDowall's The Doomed wargame. I still have a a few "previously built" Horrors, but this one happened last night. I was inspired to put together a technical monstrosity coz I found cheap rhinestones at a thrift store that I wanted to do some RIVETING with. 🤣

Not much of a plan. Grab a bunch of bits that work, some trash, some kits, then start throwing it together. I started building it as a walker, but it didn't quite look right and I forgot it's supposed to have feet, so I went with a flyer. The poor doomed of this world just hear the booms of its mining munitions and assume it's a giant stomping towards them!

I'm really happy with the two dead crewmen. Something particularly unsettling about a machine that keeps on doing its work after the operators have died at the wheel.

Forsaken (3-2)

"Do you know, child, of the Forsaken? They have abandoned the families and factions that harbored them, and now wander the desolate world seeking only to pay their pain forward. They see only the abyss before all of us.  Beware their savage warcry and the sharp silhouette of their armor against the skyline. Avoid them if you can.

For it is said they carry a Company curse amidst them, a plague that even they fear. Where desperation will tear their mortal body apart and unleash a savagery unforeseen upon us all..."

I picked up one of the amazing kitbash advent calendars from @totally_not_panicking (which is such a cool idea) and want to use it to help continue my series of building horrors for The Doomed: Apocalyptic Horror Hunting (this is number four of my builds out of thirty six).

The weapons I pulled for advent day 1 could have been used for any number of Horrors, but the spikey bits inspired me to dive into the Forsaken (3-2).  Doing 20 was a bit intimidating, but some old dark eldar bodies and a bunch of heads and random pointy weapons worked.

Given that you don't "know" who the Alpha is until the end of the scenario, and they drop the blades for claws, I was inspired to make that a separate model that has mutated into a horrific abomination, the stress of battle unleashing a Company pathogen that turns them into a monster...

Mystic Court (4-2)

Mist shrouded the ruins of the old city, its moonlit glow softening and erasing the disintegrated, shattered facades of the buildings. This place had been thick with people, with life, with history before The Company arrived. Now it was a fractured sculpture of an ancient time, grumbling in its cloak of vapor.

Not many braved the cobblestone streets at night. There were rumors that things stalked the shadows. Yet the benefit of far less competition from competing warbands outweighed the possibly fictitious risks.  So Alabaster's Reborn took to the streets alight from two full moons.

They arrived at the storied Tower of Reason, stepping cautiously through the broken wall and descending the stone steps with Victor's bioluminescent glow to light their way. If any of the pre-Company artifacts were still to be found, it would be in these crypts.

Victor paused in the circular room below, glancing circumspectly from pitch-black alcove to pitch-black alcove. He was about to ask Alabaster how to proceed when the yellowish glow from his body picked out a grinning, skull-like mask that leered ominously from the shadows. Three shapes detached themselves from the darkness, eldritch energies sparking to life along the wicked storm-steel blades they bore.

"Come," said a elderly woman's voice from behind the skull mask, dry with ancient dust, "hear the wisdom of ages that the kings of old revered, intruder..."

The Mystic Court (4-2) from The Doomed wargame (the fifth im sharing out of 36 in the series). I kitbashed these from GW Stormcast Eternals, a some Eldar and Space Marine heads, and a Kromlech head.

Rage Angel (6-2)

The three strange swordsmen stood on the other side of the clearing, faces expressionless where they could be seen under their outré helmets. They had not moved since the warband had sighted them, nor had they responded to the cautious hails. Men spread out through the thickets and ruined walls, training weapons and ready for trouble. One of the neophytes cracked under the pressure and let loose an arrow towards the ominous trio.

Everyone started when the shrieking sliced across the tense silence. From behind the warband an angel appeared, charging into their lines with a flaming blade and an enraged screaming face frozen in rictus on its haloed helmet. The neophyte was cut down in a gurgling mess before he had a chance to turn.

With the angel's charge, the still swordsmen leapt into action, echoing its cursed howls and cutting the flanked warband to shreds with livid, rage-filled zeal.

None escaped.

The 6th (of 36) builds I'm attempting to bring the entire set of Horrors from The Doomed to life. This is the Rage Angel (6-2) and her retinue of Swordborn. The head of the angel came from one of my smashbash kitbash advent calendar entries, while the body was a One Page Rules Blessed Sisters Assault Sister.  Decided it needed a much more aggressive eff-yew blade so grafted on a Tyranid claw, then finished up the model with some green stuff clean-up and flames.

The Swordborn started with Wargames Atlantic Conquistador bodies and various GW bits. I kinda dig the pose I found for the one just leaning on his sword.

Grey Circle (5-1)

Tamon looked up wearily from his plough as strangers came in to sight on the nearby road. Sweating under the blazing sun as he tried to furrow the baked, dry earth, the brief distraction was welcome. As they closed he noted the black, ashy clouds spewing from the one who walked in front. Their dress and manner reminded him of other pilgrims who had walked these roads, those taken with religious fervor since the departing of The Company.

Tamon grimaced when one of the number struck out from the road and began to approach him over the field. He had no wish to hear their visions or portents, their stories of hope and salvation. But he knew better than to treat penitent souls with disrespect.

"Hello brother!" called the approaching man, his clothing thick with soot and an array of candles sputtering on his headdress, "Blessing of the Grey Circle upon you."

Tamon nodded in greeting.

"My sorrow, traveler," he said, "your Circle is unknown to me. But you are welcome here."

The pilgrim grinned, and placed a hand on the mace held on his belt. Tamon had not noticed he was armed, and now a sudden chill swept over his sweaty body. The mace appeared to glow as if heated by an inner fire, the metal looking as if it had just left the forge. Tamon put his hands up in meek supplication.

"Brother," the man said, "we are here to bring you tidings of the ashen world..."

The Grey Circle Horror (5-1) from The Doomed: Apocalyptic Horror Hunting by Chris McDowall and Osprey Games. My 7th kitbash (of 36) was these crazed cultists from a combination of Warhammer bits, Frostgrave Cultists, and some 3D printed extras. The Halo Bearer uses the body of Taddeus The Purifier from Blackstone Fortress, then a couple of bits I got out of the smashbash advent calendar. I imagined the Embalmed nexuses as fanatics who had given their body to the flame and were a symbol of burning inspiration to their brethren. A bit of green stuff sculpting of flames helped finish the project.

I'm also thinking this might make a cool Vastarian warband...

Winter Harvester (3-1)

Kethlōr pulled open the hatch they had discovered, eyes bright with purpose and cybernetic night-vision. Any unspoiled corner of the vault could be of vast importance to the Children, a treasure trove of technological innovation left behind that could only hasten their transcendence from flesh to machine.

The cell below was disappointingly small, but in the center a console stood, a faint blue glow stuttering feebly across some of the controls.  Kethlōr tried to suppress the rush of human emotion their body still felt at the thrill of discovery, and approached, interfacing with the machine with the Holy keycard of 2nd Lieutenant Tambrin they carried about their neck.

An explosion of light overloaded Kethlōr's eyes for a moment, resolving into a holographic face of tortured rage. It glared at Kethlōr pointing accusingly while mouthing silent condemnations. Doors hissed open around the periphery of the room and long-dormant guardians stirred. Behind them, a larger form raised itself on a long, sinuous tail and spun it's body such that three skulled faces each looked at the intruder in turn.

Kethlōr leaped up the ladder faster even than their Kestrel brother would have and slammed the hatch closed. They were sure it wouldn't hold.

This is my kitbash of the Winter Harvester Horror (3-1) from The Doomed apocalyptic wargame by Chris McDowall and Osprey Games.

The 8th out of 36 in my series. Did this one a while ago and was really happy with the Cryx Iron Lich Overseer from Warmachine I found at Mindtaker Miniatures to base this on. The Pale Knights are made from some Union Worker bodies (from a partial Wrath of Kings Teknes Starter Box) and GW Necron heads and bits also bought from Mindtaker. The "souls" tied in to the nexuses are just cheap plastic minis from a thrift store cut up and given electrical sparks with various bits of wire.

Steel Tyrant (4-5)

The slums erupted into panicked chaos, the source unseen and unknown to most, but the infectious fear driving any desperate soul who could to run. Victor was no different, throwing himself down one alleyway then another to distance himself from the sound of screams and thunderbolts.

But Victor was new to Haven and did not know the twists and turns as well as his neighbors. Careening through a pile of filthy trash he stumbled into a dead end, glancing wildly around for any exit. The ramshackle tenement squats rose on all sides, leaving the stone street barely lit by buzzing, blinking neon.

The sound of metallic feet trampling on the stones behind him were all that were needed to empty his bladder down his leg. He cowered as he turned to see the silhouette of a tall walking machine turning into the end of the alley. Electrical energy arced from the end of its twin weapons.

"CITIZEN" came the barked, toneless command, "YOU HAVE BEEN DEPUTIZED. FOLLOW."

Victor didn't need telling twice. This fact alone turned him from an electrocuted target to a conniving Enforcer of the Steel Tyrant.

My kitbash of the Steel Tyrant (4-5) and his Enforcers from The Doomed by Chris McDowall and Osprey Games. My 9th build (of 36) was a late-night-can't-sleep-visions-of-mechanical-monstronsities-dancing-in-my-head-fever-dream.  Based on UR-025 from Blackstone Fortress with a smashbash provided gardens of hecate sculpted head (from the Battle Royale box), then two Necron cannons for the Chain Lighting weapon.

The Enforcers are Stargrave mercenary bodies with Warhammer 40k Imperial Guard heads, Marine arms, and Votann weapons. I even made two bonus dudes to make this a 5 person squad for other wargaming fun.  Maybe One Page Rules Grimdark Future Firefight HDF?

Red Witch (5-4)

One blind sister to her left, 
One blind sister to her right,
One eye blinded for their theft,
One red lens to cast her smite!"

- Children's Nursery Rhyme, circa 3 years post-Company.

The Red Witch (5-4) and her Broken Hag minions for The Doomed: Apocalyptic Horror Hunting by Chris McDowall and Osprey Games. I don't recall where the weird, one-eyed head came from.  Might be a Corvus Belli Infinity bit picked up from a bits box somewhere? But when I read the Red Witch description that mentions a red eye, I knew I wanted to use it.  Some bizarre helmet she's managed to secure (to the detriment of her sisters).

The bodies are Bitter Nightshades Dark Maidens by @printminis with swaps for hands in some cases (I'm running out of genestealer arms to use for claws!). The nexuses are supposed to represent a curse or some other effect that turns warband members into unbound units until they are Taken Out (nasty!). I made some basic tokens using beads and 3D printed skulls, and am happy with the unintentional poisoned apple allusion those have.

Build number 10 out of 36.

Warped Hunters (1-2)

The three alien predators descended on the fort in a coordinated, deadly assault. Countless firefights across countless worlds had honed their ability to support and enhance each other. Instincts aligned such that none were ever left exposed, none were impeded from executing their mission.

The gates had been obliterated by a massive blast from the horned creature who followed through it in a bellowing charge. While alone the brute would have been an easy target, defenders on the battlements were cut down by glittering sniper fire from a distant, crested assassin before they could bring weapons to bear. As troops fell back from the onslaught they discovered themselves flanked, stunned by concussive flashes before being cut down by the sharp claws of the last of the trinity.

When the smoke had cleared the three stood over the carnage, barely out of breath, and tallied another victory. More of the slime of this planet wiped out. More of their mutual enemy destroyed. They would not rest until none remained.

The Warped Hunters (1-2), Clawed Hunter, Horned Hunter, and Crested Hunter, from The Doomed wargame.  This is my 11th kitbash out of all 36 Horrors from the game.  I enjoyed putting a little character into each of these alien predators, which is especially satisfying when your build is very much bashed out of random bits and instinct.

The Horned Hunter started with a bulky pig bod from a Wrath of Kings starter box, a random GW head (something nurgly?), and some orky arms and weapons. The Clawed Hunter is a Kroot body with a Seraphon head, Genestealer arms, and some chaosy weapon on his shoulder. The Crested Hunter is an Infinity wargame body (I think) with a Tau head and some AOS dwarf hair. Spiced it with a smashbash advent calendar provided carapace stuck on backwards.

Burning Brute (2-3)

"GIMME FUEL, GIMME FIRE!"

I don't know how much more lore you need for this horror from The Doomed.  The Burning Brute (2-3) I kitbashed from a \#warhammer40K Penitent Engine I picked up a while ago, adorned with fuel barrels and some of the maddened followers who exalt in the scorching.  I've envisioned them as the "living flame" nexuses who can, in turn, become the burning Ember minions.  Fanatics who self-immolate with crazy Company chemicals that keep them alive as they sow destruction on the world.

To round out the minions and nexuses I used a bunch of 3D printed bits from various sources, then bashed them together with reckless abandon and added green stuff flames.  I particularly liked the Penitent Hats by @Kitbashcat.

Also featuring Fire Elemental by schlossbauer on Thingiverse, then from MyMiniFactory: Heretic On Fire by 3DArtGuy, Corrupted Guard Walker by Station Forge, Scarlet Crusade Fanatics by Titan Forge, and Vehicle Stowage and Accessories Set by Treadhead Rad.

Build number 12 out of 36.

Thematically this bunch of crazies could match well with my Grey Circle build for a nasty Vastarian warband.

Sin Echo (5-3)

Aliss felt the hairs rise on the back of her neck as the smell of death wafted through the keep. Something had been to Bornasti since her last visit, and it wasn't friendly. Her chainsword hummed quietly in her left hand as she brought her piercer pistol to bear on the corners of the room.

Movement out of the corner of her eye caused her to spin and let off a shot. Shattered, fractal panes of a silvered mirror collapsed as the bullet found its mark, leaving only a few broken reflections of Aliss' own face. She grimaced at her nervous, overzealous reaction.

Then the shards of mirror moved, drawing themselves up into a vaguely anthropomorphic shape that turned her shocked expression back to her a thousand fold. The reflections of her face soured even as her own expression remained motionless, Aliss scowling angrily at herself.

A second shot reverberated around the almost empty keep.

This is my 13th Horror build (of 36) for The Doomed wargame by Chris McDowall and Osprey Games. The Sin Echo (5-3) and its attendant Wicked Traces along with the "mirrored tears in space-time" that act as its nexuses.

This build is perhaps one of my least favorite so far.  I loved the idea that came to mind, building fragmented mirrors that represent the Horror's ability to mimic warband member's abilities. But the construction of the base models out of pieces of clear plastic, superglue, and clear UV resin was really, really frustrating. And the result isn't quite what I'd hoped.

But, it's done.  The idea still stands.  The touch of silver ink added to the resin seems to have worked nicely to give each shard a mirrory feel, and I can tick off another Horror as ready-to-play.

Traitor’s Tomb (2-6)

A thin mist lay low across the ground as a pale dawn broke.  The boy and his father were the only two living souls wandering the desolate graveyard at such a time, a ponderous tread as they wove their way between moss-encrusted tombstone and twisted, skeletal trees.

Near the center of the cemetery a squat rectangular building sat, festooned with motifs of the dead and strangely wrapped in many heavy chains.

The pair stopped and looked on for some time. Finally the father spoke.

"Do you know why I brought you here?"

"To witness the tomb of the traitor and learn from his mistakes." the boy answered a little too brightly.

"You should have learned all you need by now. But see it with your eyes, boy. Feel his shame with your heart. All of our family pray to never be brought so low."

They stood in silence gazing across the dawn-lit carvings of skulls and wings, remembrances of someone who should be remembered for their sins. The father hoped his boy was soaking it in, understanding the import of their honor.

"Why does it move, father?" 

"Don’t be ridiculous, it doesn’t…"

The man stopped, mouth agape in shock. The boy was right. As if by some tremendous power the building was vibrating and wheels encased by decades of soil and rock were starting to break free.

Build 14 of 36.  This is the Traitor’s Tomb (2-6) Horror from The Doomed wargame.  Obviously a load of GW Templar Marine armor plate bits I got in a bits lot that were slapped onto a vaguely rectangular shape.  I wanted to evoke the feeling of a shrine. The “wheels” are Final Faction bits. Then I started laying down LOTS of chains with LOTS of superglue. Didn’t like the way some chains looked… so I slapped on more chains!

The Chained Wraiths are Necron torsos and heads with jewelry chain wrapped and superglued in place.  Added the “crowns” with more necron bits to distinguish them and explain their “ethereal” nature as holo projections from flying drones.

Battle Strider (3-5)

It was a cold night in the toxic swampland that encircled the planet's southern hemisphere. The things that lived now, in this post-Company world, did so quietly, killing and thriving in the dark and murky places where they were less likely to be preyed upon by others.

When the star fell out of the black heavens and smashed into the fetid water, none were mourned. When the shell that survived entry cracked open, none looked on in fear. The tendrils that crept out and began to feast on animal, vegetable, mineral, were no more abhorrent than the things they consumed.

Four days later the Bringer of Peace stood above the brown pools and decimated foliage. Advanced machines, built of the bedrock below, bristled along its ten meter body, whilst the DNA of this forsaken planet was woven into its tough, bark-like superstructure and support pylons.

It had a purpose here, a purpose honed in many thousand previous iterations. Clean up the mess...

This is build 15 in my project to bring all 36 Horrors from The Doomed to "life." The Battle Strider (3-5) immediately brought to mind Warhammer 40k Eldar Wraiths and other such walkers, but I wanted to do something a bit different.  Thankfully I came across the Elf Bio Titan by @duncan_shadow_ on MyMiniFactory and loved the idea of a biological walker, something that has used the landscape around it to construct itself. A perfect infiltrator.

I downsized the print to fit a 65mm base and ended up only printing the major body parts.  I had a cool looking robot face in my bits bin I wanted to use, and some old Eldar weaponry that would make the biology/machine hybrid fit the idea.  The pylon nexuses were constructed from various bits including some Final Faction and Snapships toys.  I added more biological growth with twine, aquarium plants, and LOADS of CA superglue.

I'm really happy with this build and can't wait to get this Horror on the table!

Oozing Bull (4-1)

COMPANY LOG 2666.10.13.19.25.47.IW12cX

-- I have made progress on the mutagenic opportunities for the native bovine species using Gern's genetic sequencing installed in the Company TR.AI.N Array. Current simulations suggest we could improve the reproductive capacity of AAA Grade specimens by over 300%, a significant boost to the Elite Food Supply subdivision.

COMPANY LOG 2666.10.31.11.02.16.IW12cX

-- TR.AI.N has earmarked iteration 409ac1b96 as having the ideal capacity-to-adrenaline ratio that should avoid the complications seen in simulations. As much as I'd like to go to labs with this before live testing, BUDGET.AI.R is threatening to pull funding without an output by the end of the fiscal quarter, so I'm approving go live. It should be fine.

COMPANY LOG 2666.11.17.01.59.24.IW12cX

-- DO NOT APPROVE 409ac1b96 FOR DISPERSAL. I REPEAT, DO NOT APPROVE 409ac1b96! ATT.AI.K DOES NOT HAVE AUTHORITY OVER THIS PROJECT. THE TESTOSTERONE OVERLOAD IS CAUSING MUTAGENIC ABNORMALITIES THAT WE CANNOT CONT... OH, COMPANY SAVE ME! --log.interrupt--

Y'know, I didn't expect to be sculpting, errr, bull's bits outta greenstuff, but then I started working on my kitbash for The Doomed Oozing Bull Horror (4-1) and I just started thinking what would be oozing? What scientific disaster did The Company commit to create this raging monster? Surely they were trying to genetically create prime breeding stock, and their efforts went awry. Don't think too hard about what those nexus pools are... 😉

The main body of the "bull" is an upsized Minotaur by @yasashiikyojinstudio who has a bunch of cool stuff on MyMiniFactory.

The Glutton minions are made from GW AOS Bloodreavers, jacked, mutated body-builders hooked on the testosterone juice from the abomination they stalk every waking moment.

This is build number 16 out of the 36 in this Doomed Horror project.

Exterminators (2-4)

The pod shuddered violently as it passed into the Bridge Portal, slipping out of one corner of the galaxy and into another.  The armored Company marines onboard did not flinch or stray from their pre-insertion checks, efficiently loading weapons and tightening gear as the countdown to ground-fall began.

"What’s the sitch, sarge?" asked Pvt. Hercan as his Blitz Gun was locked and stowed.

"Standard mop." growled the imposing figure of Sgt. Uvitos as he stood, unsecured, with his back to the door and a massive power fist grasping the rail overhead, "Retrieve company property and clean up any scum left behind."

"One of these days the scum’s gonna actually give us a fight," chortled Pvt. Tasko, miming a kick at the pod's door "Yeowww!"

The sergeant didn’t appear amused, glaring only at the countdown timer.

5. 4. 3. 2. 1.

The Exterminators (2-4) Horror for The Doomed wargame by Osprey Games. This is my 17th kitbash build out of all 36 Horrors in the game.

You might be saying “Hey, those are just Space Marines” and for the most part you’d be right.  Changed the heads on the Grunts for Leagues of Votann helmets. But the real bash challenge here was piecing these dudes together from disparate and mismatched pieces.  More than one marine has a shoulder pad acting as the back half of his torso, I'm mixing Terminator & Primaris & Firstborn bits, and a couple needed legs sawed and reposed, and I’ve used cheap air dry clay to fill a few gaps and holes.  All in all a fun way to use up bits from the bits box.

Veiled Watcher (3-3)

Furdir padded cautiously through the ruined building to stand just behind Soina’s shoulder, her attention focused through the scope of her rifle.

"How many?" he whispered.

"Seven, armed and alert." she replied, "Are you sure you want to do this?"

"Reiler leaves us no choice. It was bound to come to blood."

She didn’t reply.  Furdir sighed and turned to find his position for the ambush.

The woman standing in the shadows at the back of the room surprised him.  He might have missed her if the raven on her shoulder hadn’t croaked softly. He looked up to a face veiled by veins of blood, gore, webs, decayed leaves.

Furdir gasped, inadvertently looking down for a mere instant to draw his sword, but when he looked back up the apparition had vanished.

"What?" asked Soina.

Foreboding hung over Furdir as he stammered a reply.

"Nothing.  Wait for my signal to open fire.”

The Veiled Watcher (3-3) I made for The Doomed.  Build 18 out of 36.  Half way!

I wanted to lean into the more supernatural creepy vibe for this build and started with the Green Hag model by @yasashiikyojinstudio. I covered the face with a weird fibrous bit from @totally_not_panicking's smashbash advent calendar and used some greenstuff to blend them.  The genestealer claw held palm up seemed to be an awesome beckoning gesture for the bloodshed to come.

The Mourner minions are a variety of leftover bodies given elf Bloodbowl faces to represent masks.  I’m really happy with the poses that, I think, show a variety of grief related moods.

The nexuses are simple skeletons as "morbid portents of the bloodshed to come," but I'd imagined goring them up as part of the aesthetic.  @the_grimdark_goblin just posted an awesome paintjob that I'll have to reference when I get to that.

Voidweed (2-1)

Viset jerked her head up as the steady trot of her horse almost lulled her into dozing again. It was foolish to be traversing this road alone, doubly so to drop her guard. But the day had been long, hot, tiring. She hoped one more hour in the saddle would bring her in sight of Beggar's Rest.

The road was rough and winding, the tread of many travelers weaving in and out of the tangled undergrowth that somehow still clung on in these abysmal times. Viset heard nothing alive in the gnarled branches and thick, dry vines that surrounded her.  She smelled only the horse and her own sweat.

Another near lull, eyelids heavy, head dipping, was cut abruptly short as the horse stopped with a tired whinny. Ahead a large woody vine had fallen over, bringing down a wall of foliage with it. Viset groaned, then swung herself down off the horse and drew her sword.

It was only on the third swing, as she hacked with chipped blade on the surprisingly tough bark, that she noticed the sound of movement all around. She turned, startled to see a man standing by her horse, a spiked helmet on his tilted head.

"That was a mistake." he said.

Thorned vines wrapped themselves around Viset's leg before she had a chance to respond. The only sound she added was her scream as she was pulled aloft and dragged towards a writhing thicket of blood-stained foliage...

The Voidweed (2-1) Horror from The Doomed: Apocalyptic Horror Hunting by Chris McDowall and Osprey Games. This is my 19th kitbash attempting to build all 36 Horrors from the game.

I went with a relatively straight-forward build using aquarium plants, twine, and cut toothpicks for spines.  Misprints and bits from the bits box became previous victims dragged to their doom.  Slapped it all together with a lot of superglue.

The Thornguard Minions were fun to put together from some Frostgrave cultist bodies and Drukhari helmets.  I'm kinda enjoying posing swordfigthers with their weapons down or sheathed. The promise of action to come.

Twin Leapers (1-4)

Jericho winced as another scream pierced the cacophony of gunfire. This had been such a nice planet for Egderton's Exiles, a sweet waltz in the park, bagging trophies and goodies, impressing the locals. Now a reconnoiter into this moss-shrouded ruin of a town was turning FUBAR.

He twisted up another turn in the dilapidated stairs, rifle bouncing, checking all corners. Edgerton babbled something over the comms, the usually sedate captain now flailing as team members flatlined. Jericho just had to get out on his own.

He crested the stairs, glancing skyward before hustling across the stone roof. There was a large gap to the next building, but adrenaline and chem boosters turned his legs into loaded springs.

He landed with a squelched crack, coming down in a pool of slimy grey orbs clustered in the shadow of a broken wall. The smell made him gag, but he didn't stop to wonder what he'd broken, just kept running. Another gap. He leapt.

He was halfway across when something met him mid-air and cut through his calf with a vicious hooked limb, severing the achilles tendon and spraying blood and spent chems in a wide arc. He landed in a roll and came up shooting, trying to track the chitinous, screeching monster as it bounded from wall to wall.

He almost got it before it's mate stung him from behind...

This is build number 20 in my project to build all 36 Horrors from The Doomed.

The Twin Leapers jumped out at me (ha-ha) when I saw a Critical Role / Wizkids Games pack of Core Spawn Crawlers at Geeky Teas .  While they could work out of the box (The Doomed is great with whatever minis you have, you don't have to do this crazy thing I'm doing!), I HAD to kitbash, so used some tyranid and genestealer bits to add a little flair and differentiate the mates.  One now even has a cluster of eggs superglued to its abdomen.

The egg clusters were beads and PVA, while the Spawn were made out of tyranid arms and other random bits.  They came out a little cartoony.  Might swap the heads out in future.

Grafted Aberration (3-4)

"This little piggy went to market.
This little piggy stayed home.
And this little piggy was spliced with a hippo, three armadillos, a scorpion, two elephants, thirteen humans, and a bored cat."

- mad ramblings of a itinerant vagabond wearing a faded Company jumpsuit.

The Grafted Aberration (3-4) Horror from The Doomed by @bastionland and @ospreygames. This my kitbash number 21 out of the 36 in the game.

This Horror has a fun nexus effect where destroyed nexuses change its attacks as it morphs and mutates to deal with the threat. Technically the nexuses are to be "kept off the board," but I thought it would be fun to represent them in the model. So this is my first attempt at magnetizing parts of a model!

The base body is the abomination from the @cmongames Zombicide Invader "Survivors of The Galaxy" Box Set, and I kept it's hands and crazy jaws for the "final form" of the creature. Tyranid bits and other miscellany became the thrashing, blade, cannon, and blaster weapons and were magnetized to be able to switch them out during play. I made two heads from Wrath of Kings Teknes Union Workers, the second one getting the "tusks" from the original model.

I also tried to build up some armor with a greenstuff and milliput mix to decent effect.  My sculpting still suffers from a lack of patience... 🤣

The Fleshy Remnant Minions were bashed together with cheap thrift-store miniatures, more Teknes heads, and green stuff.

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That's a wrap on all 21 Horrors I've kitbashed so far. Comment below or on Instagram if you have questions or feedback.  Thanks! 

© 2024 Peter Johnston and licensed Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.