Train Tuesday Part 131: It’s Alive!

Greetings, fellow mad scientists! Today we’re stoked to be adding a major new story arc to our DnD Hovertrain Campaign Setting. Let’s see what our shifty robots and diabolical inventors are up to now!

The Forgotten Rails was designed and built by three geniuses here in Waterdeep. Three weird men with three very specific skills: money, muscle, and magic. The city’s mayor, Omin Dran, used his business acumen to help bring their mighty floating railroad to life (for a huge stake in ownership, of course)!

As the first Constructs began rolling off the assembly line, 3M knew it was only a matter of time before these robots would evolve and exceed human intelligence and productivity in every way. However, the Wizard is convinced a series of disturbing experiments are needed to gain valuable data and guide the next phase of the program.

The kookiest member of 3M is, by far, the Wizard Leland Farce. He is obsessed with his magical invention and monumental breakthrough with the raw material, Corederite, which powers the Hovertrains and all its Constructs. Leland’s problem is that he’s never satisfied with his invention and has become obsessed with making it even more powerful at every turn. Simply put, Mr. Farce is falling off the deep end.

Unbeknownst to Omin Dran, Leland started capturing society’s castoffs and forgotten poor so he could run dangerous experiments that tap into the living brain. He wants to transfer some of their raw cognitive functions into his growing robot workforce. DM Ben wants to start slowly unveiling this sinister plot and needs a showcase 3D print.

Enter STL Miniatures and their Dark Alchemy Set release. This one had all sorts of fun scatter terrain that we can incorporate into this secret mad laboratory.

DM Ben didn’t mind giving this two-print piece a go as Army Painter Metallics are very forgiving and often make a novice painter look good.

• Prime Flat Black | Slapchop Base.
• Core Metal: ASP Enchanted Steel.
• Large Conductor Frame: ASP Talos Bronze.
• Framing/Modules/Bolts: FAN True Brass
• Electricity: White Base & WAR Electric Blue.
• Hoses: FAN Uniform Gray.
• Body Shirt: GSW Komodo Khaki + Soft Wash.
• Body Pants: ASP Cloudburst Blue.
• Straps: ASP Hardened Leather.
• Face Bandages: ASP Pallid Bone.
• Flesh: ASP Crusader Skin + FAN Barbarian Flesh drybrush.
• Effect: FAN Dry Blood (dabbed on).

This was our first time using Army Painter’s Fanatic Dry Blood effect paint, and we loved it…so simple to apply and with such great results.

We’ll conclude today with another fun corsair miniature because every DnD article is better with pirates. This anebriated ax slinger is from Cast n Play’s wonderful Townsfolk, Volume 2 set. We’re pretty much obsessed with townsfolk because they can be used in so many TTRPG scenarios and thus, have a high re-usability rate.

Sunrise Sven was our lead painter here, and we just loved his dirty grey pants and orange-ish top. That color collab just screams scallywag. He hit all the tiniest of details on the sandals and rum bottle. The skin tone is spot on, and that wrapped, bandaged head sealed the deal here.

DM Ben has really been enjoying learning some new basing techniques, so he passed on Cast n Play’s included mini base and used AK Interactive’s water-effect basing materials and some good ol’ sand flock. This base immerses the miniature, and you can just feel him coming off a nearby beach to wreak some havoc on a new Hovertrain heist.

Next, let’s get the specifics on our snarky kitchen hand:

• Colorful Name: Tipper McGee
• Character Race: Human
• Member Rank: Foot Soldier
• Key Role: Pillage and plunder
• Painted Miniature: Casts n Play
• Weapon of Choice: A great ax and a rum bottle.

Until next time!