IN CONVERSATION

TUTORIALS
UNDERHIVE
WITH THE
CREATORS

TAKE IN
THE SIGHTS

SCENER Y
Showcase
GANG
PAINTING

HAPPY BIRTHDAY INSPIRATION

Necromunda
20 years on.,.
Version 1.0
 YAKTRIBE
YAKTRIBE
NECROMONICON

NecromonicoN
T
CONTE NT S
his book was the brainchild of Yaktribe’s Cardyfreak and has
a place for
been collated and designed by Yaktribe’s Capitan – me! The
primary idea behind this book was to celebrate the 20th anni-
4 the herd

70
An introduction to Yaktribe
versary of the games release. By pulling together years worth
of inspirational images gathered from all corners of the internet
into one place, we hope this book will serve as inspiration for return- 8 Gang Colours
10 House Escher

38
ing ex-players and new players alike wishing to delve into the rich 12 House Cawdor
dystopian world of Necromunda. 14 House Delaque
16 House Van Saar
18 House Goliath
Also included in this book is Riel Richard’s (Yaktribe’s Blood Donor) 20 House Orlock
fascinating research essay into the story of Necromunda’s development, 22 Scavvies
release and the subsequent 20 years of being kept alive by the online 24 Pit Slaves
26 Ratskins
community after being shelved by Games Workshop. It’s fitting
tribute to a game that is still as exciting and playable today as it was
28
30
Redemptionists
Spyrers
4
on release day. 32 Arbities

Also, a huge thanks goes out to everyone who has contributed

to this book. We hope you enjoy flicking through it. 34 Hired Guns
36 Bounty Hunters
38 Scum
40 Wyrds
– Capitan

74 42
Credits:
26
42 The Loaded dice
table talks
Yaktribe Inventor: David Knife - @Malo A look at the development
Research & Writing: Riel Richard - @Blood Donor of Necromunda through
Original Project Concept:
Editor & Design:
@Cardyfreak
Matt Custance - @Capitan 56 the eyes of the major
contributors, from
the conception of
www.matthewcustance.co.uk
Confrontation to the living
NCE rulebook of today

Underhive terrain
Our intention is to continually add content to this book. If you have any
questions,comments or ideas, please visit the following page:
74 58
62
64
Open Structures
Walkways
Line Of Sight Blockers
http://gaming.yaktribe.org/community/threads/yak-approved-necromunda-guide.2606/ 66 Scatter Terrain
70 Terrain Boards
If one of your images has been used and you would like a credit, let us know on the

Tutorials
above page as we’d love to include it. The images used as inspiration for other readers
have been the product of a few years worth of saving photos into a folder for personal
inspiration – Apologies for not including credits but it would be a huge undertaking to 76 Magnetising Your Minis
try track down the source of all the images. If you would like your image removed from 80 Miniature Brick Walls
this book, please get in touch via the forum link above or send a private message to 82 Making Moulds
@capitan on Yaktribe.

2 3
 YAKTRIBE

A PLACE NECROMONICON

FOR THE HE RD
By @Blood Donor - yaktribe

T
discussions about any
aspects of wargaming,
share their work on
creating and painting
miniatures and terrain, and
he spires and geography of management system as well as a cache of discuss interpretations or
Necromunda lore boast a very free downloadable resources for the game. misunderstandings with
unforgiving environment, both inside After experiencing a few years of success, game mechanics and
and out. The surface of the planet Yakromunda received a complete overhaul rules as well as finding
is dominated by vast plains of toxic in the spring of 2014 to become YakTribe feedback for any material
wastelands, spent refuse and pollution of Gaming. Now, in addition to providing they might be working
an industrial planet long past the prime players with digital and fully editable roster on or interested in. The
of its production capabilities, and dotted and campaign management tools and a forums offer excellent
across this landscape are the jagged and library of available resource documents, the resources beyond the
mountainous city spires which house the website hosts an online forum where the official and unofficial
planet’s populous. And yet juxtaposed Necromunda, Gorkamorka, and Mordheim materials submitted to the
on this imagery is a utopia for the game’s gaming communities can come together site’s library, The Vault,
community, a veritable alpine meadow for from all parts of the world to share their and these thread based
the ‘Yak herd to gather online, discuss the hobby with one another. A pair of Goliath resources are completely
game, share their work, and in general graze Juves hold off open to all members
a push from a
on the collective stoke. A pretty good life for The YakTribe forums offer discussions on a Delaque gang in for making additions
a yak. Originally operating as Yakromunda variety of topics. Members and unregistered an alleyway choke and submissions. In the
point. Photo credit
since 2010, the website began specifically users alike can stay up to date on the Armeli and Jyry
Miniatures and Terrain
as host to an online gang- and campaign- site’s news and changes, partake in casual “Loriel” Tuominen. section, the Alternative
Miniatures threads for each
of the three supported
games provide gamers
with an extensive list of
any manufacturers that
are producing appropriate
miniatures. Ever growing,
this list can help players
source a gang or force that section provides helpful guidance from An Orlock gang
defends a vault
is completely unique to them and best suited gaming peers as well as a critical and entrance from
to their own taste. Many of the offerings can supportive audience that can help flesh out an attacking Ash
be seen in the various threads within the any projects that one might bring forward. Waste Nomad gang.
Photo credit Armeli
Miniatures and Terrain section as members At the heart of this process for Necromunda and Jyry “Loriel”
are able to create threads that act as blogs are the community editions of the original Tuominen.
or project journals in an environment that rules, the Necromunda Community Edition
exposes their work to like minded gamers (NCE), and the Outlanders supplement, the
who share in their enthusiasm. Outlander Community Edition (OCE). Both
the NCE and OCE have their own dedicated
When creating fan made rules revisions development threads where the community
or additions, or when seeking clarifications actively hashes out issues and proposed
on specific mechanics within the game, improvements with open discussion and the
YakTribe’s Rules and Mechanics forum benefit of new ideas being examined from a

4 5
A PLACE FOR THE HERD - CONTINUED YAKTRIBE
NECROMONICON

range of perspectives as wide projects based on a specific and materials were used. The
as the site’s community itself. category. Members compete forums provide an excellent
With revisions being released casually alongside one development grounds for
upwards of a handful of times another developing personal members to improve their hobby
per year, the community takes and interpretations skills, and the competition series
editions form the backbone of a topic chosen by the rides at the front of that pack for
of the modern Necromunda winner of the previous promoting players to get their
community in that they offer competition, and vie for brushes dirty and their fingers all
up to date play testing and the opportunity to pick glued together.
development for the game the next. Themes are often
system after its developer created to allow entries from While YakTribe Gaming can be
officially ceased support and Necromunda, Gorkamorka, best be used as a tool for making
cut ties with the franchise. and Mordheim to all have gang rosters and tracking their
The same community relevance in the running, advances, managing campaigns,
involvement transfers itself and past competitions have and finding any rules submissions
elsewhere in the forum included characters, objective in The Vault, the glue and green
where players can receive markers, vehicles, terrain, stuff that really holds the site
help, analysis, and kudos on and even representations together and makes it something
alternative rules for various of fellow ‘Yaks. The entire more is the online community
gangs or factions, rules for competition process can on the forums. Members can use
new weapons or equipment, widely be accountable the site’s player map to discover
or any rules supplements for a large percentage of how many other gamers there
such as introducing additional the forum traffic, and has are in their area and increase
in game elements to those proven in every incantation their chances of getting games
covered by the official and thus far to be exemplary in by doing so. And they can
community rulebooks. of the warm and friendly extend their hobby to beyond
attitudes that YakTribe can the time they are able to spend
Constantly a source of be characterized by. Entrants rolling dice at the table or
inspiration and awe, YakTribe can be sure to help inquisitive painting and modelling by being
hosts a monthly contest members with explanations able to engage and participate
series in which members on how their modelling and in a global community with a
provide a work in progress painting techniques were shared enjoyment of skirmish
log and final submission of achieved, and what pieces wargaming. We ‘Yaks are a pretty
wild and independent bunch,
playing games orphaned long
ago by the company that created
them, yet within the herd here
on YakTribe Gaming there is
something to be shared. And
from this community the games
we play are better because of it.

Riel Richard
@Blood Donor ,
YakTribe Gaming
A blind standoff
occurs at the corner
of the local Hive
Guys. Photo credit
Armeli and Jyry
“Loriel” Tuominen.

6 7
 YAKTRIBE
NECROMONICON

GA N G
C O L O U R S
8 9
ESCHER YAKTRIBE
NECROMONICON

(GW Models)

@zoring - yaktribe

@capitan - yaktribe

10 11
CAWDOR
YAKTRIBE
NECROMONICON

(Mostly GW Models)

@rusty101 - yaktribe

12 13
 YAKTRIBE

DELAQUE
NECROMONICON

(GW Models)

14 15
VAN
YAKTRIBE
NECROMONICON

SAAR
(Mostly GW Models)

@andyt81 - yaktribe

@jimbodeany - yaktribe

@-FEN- - yaktribe

16 17
Goliath
YAKTRIBE
NECROMONICON

(Mostly GW Models)

@cardyfreak - yaktribe

18 19
@TINY - yaktribe
 ORLOCK
YAKTRIBE
NECROMONICON

(GW Models)

@Capitan (+ @Jimbodeany) - yaktribe

20 21
SC A V V IE S
YAKTRIBE
NECROMONICON

Scavvies are by nature

a ragtag bunch and as
a result are perfect
kit bash fodder. in
appearance, They can
range from human
cultists to hideously
twisted mutants

22 23
 t Sl a v e s
YAKTRIBE

Pi
NECROMONICON

Pit slaves like scavvies are the perfect

subject for kit bashers. in appearance,
They can range from humans with
bionic enhancements to almost
100% machine.

@loriel - yaktribe

24 @bruticus - yaktribe
25
R A T S k I Ns (Mostly GW Models)
YAKTRIBE
NECROMONICON

@obar - yaktribe

@cardyfreak - yaktribe

26 27
Rede m p t i on i s ts
(Mostly GW Models)
YAKTRIBE
NECROMONICON

@jayheretic - yaktribe

28 29
 YAKTRIBE

SPYRERS
NECROMONICON

(Mostly GW Models)

@Andyt81 - yaktribe

30 31
 YAKTRIBE

ArBITES
NECROMONICON

(Mostly GW Models)

@jonbo - yaktribe

@gorkamunda - yaktribe

32 33
 YAKTRIBE
NECROMONICON

HIRED

34
GUNS 35
 YAKTRIBE

BOUNTY
NECROMONICON

HUNTERS

@cardyfreak - yaktribe

@TULKAS - yaktribe

36 @jonbo - yaktribe
37
38
@MADSERGEANT - yaktribe
@ANDYT81 - yaktribe
SCUM

@jonbo - yaktribe

@capitan - yaktribe
39
YAKTRIBE
NECROMONICON
W y rD s
YAKTRIBE
NECROMONICON

@cardyfreak - yaktribe

40 41
THE LOADED DICE YAKTRIBE
NECROMONICON

TABLE TALKS
of the game’s more prominent personalities look after everybody as well as head up the
from yesteryear, I decided I would scrounge development on the key projects. It was an
the corners of the world wide web to find exciting time - but we were always pressing
some people who would know the answers to forward on the next new thing!” I appreciated

F
By @Blood Donor - yaktribe
these sorts of things. To my utmost surprise, his use of “exciting” as a description of the
not only was I able to get responses from pace, I would likely have called it chaotic or
the people I talked to, they were genuinely nightmarish. With conversation beginning to
interested in waxing nostalgia and sharing open up well, I got a little more comfortable
some of their stories on why they love being into the Q&A process with Mr. Priestley, and
irst announced in White While it’s parenting Warhammer 40K hive dwellers like the rest of us. Over the last was able to get some great responses about
Dwarf magazine in September universe receives a significant amount of few months I have been privileged enough how Necromunda came to be…
1995, with the official release rules and lore concocted by the fan base, to be able to talk to Rick Priestley, Andy
occurring that October, Necromunda these unofficial fan-made supplements Chambers, David Graham, and Anthony Case “When I briefed Necromunda I took some
is celebrating its 20th Anniversary often get marginalized and swept under about Necromunda, and hope you all enjoy of the work that had been done for the – by
this year. Twenty years, and the last ten the rug because the game is still thriving their wonderful insights that I am able to then defunct – Confrontation project and
occurring without any major support from and supported by the company that has share with you here. The Loaded Dice Table started again. The only things we used as I
Games Workshop, who created the game. produced it. In the case of Necromunda Talks. Shit yeah. remember were the overall ‘hive’ concept
Despite having an age older plus some artwork and specifically some

“Despite having an age older than many

than many retired tabletop As far as searches in the underhive for the names – which gave the change some sense
games and a significant time grizzled scummers that had been there long of continuity and consistency within the

retired tabletop games and a significant time

spent off shelves, Necromunda before I showed up, it was nothing short of 40K background”. Given the flavour from

Necromunda
thrives in the seedy depths striking Archeotech - hell maybe even throw Confrontation and the ingredients from
of the internet and gaming in a Mung Vase that you just sold for double Warhammer: 40K, Rick and his team began

spent off shelves,

clubs; under the radar of the sixes times ten credits – to be able to talk cooking up a new skirmish game. Rick

thrives
majority of tabletop gaming shop with Rick Priestley about what the created the artistic and conceptual side of
enthusiasts, and remembered
fondly in a past tense frame of in the seedy depths of the game means to him. The mere notion of
talking to Necromunda’s chief designer and
the individual gangs and fleshed them out
by tailoring rules to their unique style of

internet and gaming clubs...”

perspective by many others, the at-the-time studio manager of Games play, which were then brought to life by the
the game is still celebrated and Workshop had me shaking with excitement; artists and sculptors. “[T]hey were written as
played by many who savour I damned near needed a Skull Chip to sort background first and models and rules were
the unique blend of tabletop myself out. I wanted to ask Rick questions designed to fit within the central ideas for
wargaming and role playing games. Old however, the community input and fan rules about not only what types of
enough to be a celebrated “has been”, but take centre stage: players from every corner approaches he took to game
contrarily the game has grown. Changed.
Not into something unrecognizable of its first
of the globe and every House in the spire
come together to keep an ever expanding
design, but also what he liked
about being a gamer. Why he
“Given the flavour from Confrontation and the
incarnation – there have been direct efforts
to avoid this – but updated and upgraded
rules set updated, tested, and refined. Twenty
years later and here on YakTribe Gaming,
loved rolling dice and moving
miniatures around a board just
ingredients from Warhammer: 40K, Rick and his
into a more modern offering of itself. By the
players.
Necromunda is played by over 700 registered
users and a great many non registered
like the rest of us. Of course,
with a friendly charm Rick let
team began cooking up a new skirmish game...”
players, the number of which I can’t possibly me know that being a game
A bit of an anomaly for this reason, come up with given my lack of any major or designer isn’t all comfortable
Necromunda has outlived its shelf life and minor Wyrd powers. Let’s say like 46. That’s leather chairs, dapper smoking jackets, and each gang. Jez [Goodwin] in particular did
has probably done so as a result of some over 746 Necromunda gamers, collectors, endless gaming time. Looks like I failed my a lot to give a visual image to the gangs he
hideous Scavvy-like mutated side affect, hobbyists and aficionados who have refused Initiative re-roll and exhausted that Skull Chip worked on… Of the all the designers Jez was
caused undoubtedly by the amount of sump to let the game die. first game of the campaign. “Because all of probably the only one who took a serious
chemicals the game’s patron players have the creative work and gaming was focused on interest in the development of the imagery
ingested while in the hobby. Not many other The entire thought of all this made me making new products - of which there were and iconography as well as the backgrounds...
tabletop games see the type of community quite impressed, and I wondered how things quite a lot and not just Necromunda - playing Jez was very focused on the backgrounds
support that Necromunda has received for must have been when the game was just games beyond the development phase would and worlds we were creating - even if he had
all these years, which can perhaps be viewed being released. The majority of spires were be rare for me - so I’m afraid most of my no interest in the gaming side as such. He
as a double-edged Chainsword of sorts: likely mere mole-hills by comparison to their experiences will be about the development did a lot of great work on all the ranges he
orphaned for profiteering business decisions, current towering sizes – I can only imagine and presentation of the game rather than sculpted and was a genuinely creative partner
the game received no official support how much scaffolding would have been playing it post-release. By the time any game when it came to the ideas, backgrounds
or tact, but from this a new community required. But I wanted to find out more about was released at GW in the 1990’s the games and imagery for all of the games I worked
ownership and pride rose from the collapsed the game in its earlier stages, to see where designers and sculptors would be up to our on... The gangs are based on archetypes –
domes and seedy corners of the underhive. it all started and how it progressed through elbows in the next big game and various army Cawdor are the base type, then the others
the years into what it is today. In a discussion book or board game projects. As the studio are tough and bit ‘Dwarfy’, fast, elegant and
I had with @nooker about talking to some manager as well as chief designer I’d have to a bit ‘Elfy’ and so on. The idea was that each
42 43
THE LOADED DICE TABLE TALKS - continued YAKTRIBE
NECROMONICON

has a distinct character I asked Rick if he ever found that the

that is reflected in its containment of Necromunda’s setting within

It’s worth talking about the fact that

style of play and model the lower tiers of a hive structure cramped
design. That’s just basic the marketability of the game, and if the

Necromunda was part of an intended series

faction design really... I company ever wanted to include Xenos
don’t think Necromunda races in the game beyond the drastically

of games that would use the same mechanic

introduced anything new mutated/ cybernetically enhanced. “[C]
[in terms of introducing reating a specific undercity in which to set
game mechanics or play the game was all part of giving it a very
structure] – it just did a specific geography of its own, separate to
lot of good things very the hive itself. Similarly, it enabled me to
well – benefiting from build a specific world, part of the Imperium a gang skirmish like Necromunda – but the
the experience of 40K but with its own character and culture. There mechanics are being developed to scale – so
and various other game was a certain pressure to include rules for it could easily adapt to skirmish or even role
systems that went before Orks, Eldar, Space Marines, etc within the play – in which case I’d step the dice up to
it. It was a good synthesis context of Necromunda, and I think that did D100’s… [In regards to transitioning from
Rick seen at a gaming store in the earlier of mechanics”. sneak in later on, but to me that just seemed the D6 system to a D10 system], I’ve written
days of his gaming career. Photo credit
realmofchaos80s.blogspot.ca
counterproductive and not at all true to the games before that used D100s or D10s – the
Beyond his surgical backstory”. Sidelined by the larger and more first thing I ever had published was a D100
understanding of tabletop profitable Warhammer: 40000, Necromunda based game in fact – so it’s not exactly a
game mechanics, Rick even shined nostalgia had once been sculpted as the jump off for departure. Either way, you generally start
and humoured me on how the physical look skirmish-level games for a whole host of Long since independent of Games most mechanics with a 50/50 – 4 to hit on
of Necromunda – and the 40K universe – settings within the 40K universe. Workshop, with Warlord Games Rick has a D6, 7’s on 2D6, and work it from there.
has evolved in the last two decades. When been able to not only focus on his passion of Games are largely maths and geometry –
I asked him if historical miniatures games but also continue even tabletop games – you can get quite a
he ever missed his work in the skirmish-level science fiction long way on paper, but you have to play at

I don’t think Necromunda introduced anything

lasguns being arena. “I have of course continued with the same time to get a sense of feel”.
red and hive- games of similar scope, and my current

new - in terms of introducing game

dome floors project with Warlord games – Beyond the The current Necromunda community has
being green, he Gates of Antares – is also worth a mention a knack for taking more modernly released

mechanics or play structure - it just did

was immediate in that context… Necromunda just used the gaming systems - like Mantic’s Deadzone,
to reply “Mine developed version of the WH40K rules – it Corvus Belli’s Infinity, or even Ramshackle’s
still are!”. A was part of the family so to speak – and the Nuclear Renaissance - and reverse
gamer at heart,
even with the a lot of good things very well advantage of familiarity for us and for players engineering them to find new tricks that
was considerable. It was a bit clunky – D6 can be implemented back into Necromunda.
ridiculous work driven representative systems are going to be With that community adoption of rules
schedule of clunky - but the system was intuitive and play from external systems, and the upcoming
constantly creating new games and working “It’s worth talking about the fact that was potentially tense because of the number release of Beyond the Gates of Antares,
on rules Rick was able to roll the dice, and Necromunda was part of an intended series of stages. The number of stages in the Rick’s days of writing rules for Necromunda
sometimes even travel to do so: “[As for of games that would use the same mechanic resolution evens out the odds in the long run might not necessarily be over yet. It was
Necromunda], I don’t recall ever playing it in different settings to explore the wider 40K – so there are advantages. Antares – being really interesting to get to talk to Rick, and
beyond the studio – although we had quite universe. This included an Eldar Craft World, D10 based – has fewer stages to resolution my grasp of Necromunda’s formative growth
a good set-up and people did play in the A Knight World (Mechanicus and Eldar), A so it looks cleaner – but the D10’s are more through the late 90’s and early 2000’s
evenings and weekends even… I did go to Death World type of affair (Catachan), and ‘chaotic’ (in the sense of probability rather developed significantly from talking with him.
Holland to take part in a tournament for so on. The only one we got to do was Gorka than spikey death daemons) and that can
Warmaster – and I’ve played games in the Morka – which was a rushed development make the results feel more random”. With the format developed and the game
USA and Europe – though I don’t think I that was imposed upon the studio very late mechanics defined, Necromunda really leaps
went specifically to do that!”. Rick’s fire for in the day and hugely mismanaged by the Beyond the Gates of Antares is based out from the pack of other offerings at its
gaming has been anything but contained to GW sales and manufacturing – after which around a D10 mechanic, maintains similar- release because of its campaign-driven story
salad days of Necromunda, as he now co- the rest of the series was scrapped”. With yet-streamlined characteristic profiles to telling abilities. Not only does the game offer
owns Warlord Games. But even before Bolt a thriving community support for Rick’s Necromunda, and features a force size up an intensely vibrant back story and setting
Action and the other historical miniatures creation, Necromunda has had work done that involves a selection of squads without that can hold its own among any notable
games he made with Warlord, Rick’s goal for on a Commoragh version of Necromunda, embellishing up to an army size. “Antares is science fiction worlds, it offers a player
Necromunda would ultimately be cut short. and countless other fan rules have been the same level of play as Bolt Action WW2 the chance to truly create the lore of their
hosted – and made – here on the YakTribe from which it derives its Order Dice mechanic characters for themselves while playing the
site. “[It’s] nice to know that some of my – so about 6 or more units a side and a unit game. Necromunda offers a fantastic scope
original ambitions have been realised by the being 3-5 models – or bigger. It’s not really and feel from which players can develop
fan base”.
44 45
THE LOADED DICE TABLE TALKS - continued
Dog, survived through a whole campaign
YAKTRIBE
without death or serious injury despite (or NECROMONICON
maybe because of ) using a plasma gun. He
their own story lines and narratives, and that freedom fighters vs the man that can be even fought off some leadership challenges scenarios all fair and balanced in a traditional
scope and feel is largely responsible to the resolved in 1 hour 45 minutes, it can’t be the along the way... The gaming style I use tends sense as long as risk equaled reward for the
fine work of game designer and author Andy wild west because a strong element of that is to be an ‘in your face’ approach so Goliaths players and the scenario itself had a good
Chambers. From published background change and transition in a new land whereas fit that ethos pretty well, although it can’t strong narrative going. A good example
tales in the Black Library, to extensive work Necromunda is locked in eternal medievalism be said that their randomly rolled skills is the gunfight scenario... a really popular
in both the Original Rulebook and the etc etc”. Creating stories in what ever avenue necessarily supported it! For Outlanders I scenario with players, it was quick to play
Outlanders supplement, Andy has given so and tone of the game’s offerings that a player personally used Redemptionists because and had a really strong narrative so win or
much life to the underhive setting that it can choose comes from the rolled out, in- I love a good zealot (with chainsaw or lose both players were invested in it right
would overload a Bio-Scanner. A true player game experiences that make wargaming so flamethrower)... We kept playing after the from the start. The rewards were high and it
of the games he works on, Andy’s character fun, and Andy was great to share some of release of Outlanders, that much I can offered an opportunity for even the lowliest
creations go far beyond those he pens in his experiences leading gangs through the recall. Things puttered on with the Studio of street punks to pull off a victory against
written works, and his Goliath Dog Soldiers rubble and decay of the underhive. league for a while longer
exemplify this. but by that time we’d been

Rooted in the vast Warhammer 40K

In a
workplace
playing Necromunda heavily
of a couple of years plus both Jervis Johnson’s experience with Bloodbowl
universe above, Andy explained to me that
the microcosm environment of the underhive
environment,
having a
Gorkamorka and Mordheim
were starting development was absolutely key as it gave us the
progression and loot rules that rewarded
depths below in Necromunda offers a more game at your (Mordheim might have come
intimate backdrop and lore and was much disposal that later but I’m pretty sure some

gangs for every game played

easier in large to write for. “That was part can be played WFB skirmish with experience
of the point of the project; to drill in to one out over a gain was being played around
particular world and see how it works in reasonable with, Tuomas Pirinen could tell
the context of the wider universe. Creating time frame you better than me). My last
a universe in broad strokes is relatively can make an game I can recall was my Redemptionists well-established gangs. Other scenarios
straightforward because the devil is in the underhive vs a Spyrer gang, which was ugly business used the scrap-based objective system to
details, a chance to explore some of those opportunist I can tell you. When I think of Necromunda keep things interesting by encouraging
details more intimately in a semi-roleplay out of any I always think of it as being one of the best movement and introduced random events to
setting was a wonderful thing”. The game lunch break expressions of a miniatures based skirmish fill in for not having a GM. Jervis Johnson’s
is ripe with inspired themes, and really enthusiast. “We campaign I’ve known, every gang told its own experience with Bloodbowl was absolutely
thrives as a setting: Wild Western-esque played through story and I felt like the game supported that key as it gave us the progression and loot
Frontier? Lawless Barbarism in a Cage? for the base Andy at Ropecon 96. Photo credit well with scenarios and skill / gear rewards rules that rewarded gangs for every game
Overt Oppression and Class-war? Freedoms Necromunda belloflostsouls.net for extended campaign play. It was right up played, doubly so against tough opponents.
of the Fringe in Totalitarian Order? The game with there with Bloodbowl in that regard and I put That progression knitted the games together
potential for the environment Chambers the gangs we’d started with to follow the a lot of that down to the guiding influence of so nicely that some scenarios virtually wrote
engineered for the game seems limitless progression over about a year. A big studio Jervis Johnson in both games”. themselves - rescuing imprisoned gang
with tropes worthy of a university wine-and- league was part of the process so all of the members, for example, or fighting out gang
cheese function, which gives game play a core gangs were well-represented and we Providing an excellent template for leadership challenges. I’m still very proud
sense of variance and longevity. “I tend to figured the variations in skills etc. was pretty a campaign system, Blood Bowl’s to have helped create the Necromunda
think of focusing on one theme too much slight anyway. A lot of Van Saar gangs seem straightforward game setting - that of a campaign system because I feel we really
in Necromunda is a mistake; I like the wild to get started up and then falter possibly professional sports season – was quite hit gold with it. Just a few weeks into our
west elements for example, but get too because they spent too much on starting eloquently adopted by the more diverse first test campaign everybody’s gang had
carried away with that and you start trying guns and didn’t have enough gangers/juves. campaign nature of Necromunda, where the their own story with their own winners and
to jam in wild west themes scenarios all function in a cut and dry enough losers, rivalries and vendettas, challenges
that don’t fit. Likewise manner to operate without the guidance of and outrageous claims were starting to
the class war and fringe
of freedom undertones That was part of the point of the project; a game master/ dungeon master, which is
typical of role-playing games. Necromunda
go up on the notice board - it was pure
awesomesauce”. Awesomesauce indeed.
reverberate strongly for me
and I explored them some to drill in to one particular world and see how offers this kind of self guidance while still
being open concept enough that players
The in-game chronicles in Necromunda can
become so very “cinematic” quite quickly,
in my Necromunda novel
Survival Instincts. However I it works in the context ofthe wider universe could insert their campaign story and
still have games that drove their narrative
demonstrating the amount of work that went
into tailoring the game as a vessel for story
think Necromunda’s appeal beyond a simple one-off match-up. “We’d telling narratives.
is partly from embracing just come off doing 2nd ed 40K which had a
all of these themes and similar transition from Rogue Trader’s GM’d While it is not completely unique compared
not giving one too much weight above Personally I used Goliaths (the infamous scenarios to a more straight up battle game to other tabletop games that Games
the others. It isn’t a movie story line about Dog Soldiers) just because I liked them best so we had a lot of ideas floating around Workshop makes in regards to being able
visually although its a close-run thing as I like about how to do it. Necromunda worked to produce memorable campaign events
all the Necromunda gangs a lot... I remember on having a campaign and an RPG-like feel and unfurl captivating tales as played out on
the leader of the Dog Soldiers, the Grand so it wasn’t even necessary to make the the table, the composition of Necromunda
46 47
 memories from that period is attending
a store event in San Francisco - it was a
THE LOADED DICE TABLE TALKS - continued
hellish gig of five days in total with (for me)
YAKTRIBE
a 3000 mile flight on four out of those five NECROMONICON
days. However when I was there playing
as a game really allows players to invest Necromunda some of the local kids told me created by using card with plastic supports
themselves with the gangs they create and that getting into Necromunda had stopped proved to be absolutely perfect for giving
bond with these little 28mm miniatures. From I’m pretty sure someone eventually pulled a them getting into real gangs and ‘turned their that much needed three dimensional aspect -
the painting and modeling, to even creating red card but it was a long, long way into the lives around’. I’ve no idea how much of their that came late in the process for us of course,
unique one-off scenarios for a campaign, game”. Compared to many other offerings, story was bullshit and if it was true whether we’d been mostly playing on hand-built
Necromunda has a knack for producing Necromunda has a very pub-style, beers-and- everything worked out for them in the long boards put together by Nigel Stillman and
fun times around the table with friends and laughs kind of presentation with its smaller run, but I sure as shit like to believe it did”. others so we thought of that DIY aspect as a
fellow gamers. “We ran a number of different playing surface and more manageable Rules for drugs, denim vests and Mohawk fun part of the hobby”.
campaigns at the Studio to test things out or miniatures count. The game itself seems hair styles on characters, it all seems pretty
just have fun, including multiple Bloodbowl like a more mature offering when compared subcultural/ rock and roll, especially in the Having put in time as a game designer with
leagues and Ichar IV for 40K. I always to Warhammer 40K and the amount of 90’s during right-wing British politics. But Blizzard Entertainment, with notable work
remember Bloodbowl and Necromunda (and disposable income required to field an army even the company’s marketing seemed to on Starcraft 2, Andy Chambers has certainly
later still Mordheim)as being the most heavily or two. promote the D.I.Y. approach; in an age before not hung up his boots with his tabletop
subscribed and plain old busy campaigns. I prefabricated terrain kits like the Cities of gaming experiences. “I’d like to think that
think the shorter time frame of the games This more mature feel is not only created Death stuff there always seemed to be a push everything from Necromunda is still with me,
helped with that as it was possible to squeeze by the price point of Necromunda being in the White Dwarf articles for Necromunda it taught me a lot about skirmish gaming
in a game at lunch or just after work, but I “manageable during a self-sustained and/or to make your own table out of free stuff, and campaigns in general”. At present,
think it was also the roleplay without a hint of up-selling. Maybe it was Andy does freelance game development

As with all things edgy

side of the game that helped the time period in the evolution of realistic work for tabletop games, and is currently
appeal to artists, miniatures looking terrain, but the whole game felt, well, down in the lab hashing out work for Bolt
designers and painters - there a little gritty. Action from Warlord Games, Dropzone

that appealed to a certain age range

were some really lovely painted Commander from Hawk Wargames, and
and converted gangs around. “Necromunda sprang more from roots in All Quiet on the Martian Front for Robot

and combined with a low price of entry

The most memorable event the 80’s and Thatcher’s hard right Britain Peanut Studios. Terms such as “used future”
game we did was a six player than Blair’s 90’s. The destruction of British exemplify the look and feel of the underhive
(I think, maybe more) treasure industry meant that urban decay was very quite accurately, and it is this very look
hunt with stacks of playing (ie. because you only needed a few miniatures to play) real in the UK and reflected in its culture and feel that Andy’s creative works were
cards at various points on
the table, searching a stack
flipped a card producing
helped the game really take off. of punks, skinheads, rockers, mods, new
romantics, goths, ska, reggae, football
hooligans and a new kind of tribalism all
so fundamental in sculpting – not only in
background lore and character development
but in the very creation of the rules. Because
either treasure (for red cards round. Comics like 2000AD had carried if you roll a 54-56 on the Outlaw Rare Trade
- hearts and diamonds) or forward that theme of crumbling urban table, the shady scummer in the trenchcoat
a trap/monster (black cards Spades were post-secondary-student life”, but even the societies ruled over by an amoral elite and sliding you viles in exchange for a few creds
traps and clubs were monsters). As you content suggests perhaps a slightly older of course sci-fi movies from that period fed is doing so as a detail of game realism.
might imagine hilarity ensued as nothing audience. When Andy wrote the Outlanders into that as well. The movies are what stays Just don’t act heretical under the influence,
but monsters and traps ravaged all comers, supplement, including the options for using with me the most, and they were a common there’s Redemptionists afoot...
drugs in-game like ‘Slaught, Spook, and language that writers and
Spur merely echoed the punk-rock flag designers could share. Alien
that the game seemed to be flying in many
of its elements: “I think there were some
had shown us a ‘used future’
(that’s term they use at Necromunda sprang more from roots in the
vague rumblings from some quarters - it
was considered particularly edgy in the US
Blizzard for it, a time when
great strides have been made 80’s and Thatcher’s hard right Britain ...
in particular to admit that a future dystopian
hell might also include an unhealthy amount
yet everything is still rusty
and crappy looking) back in ... The destruction of British industry meant
that urban decay was very real in the UK and
of illegal drugs. Ultimately though none of 1979, then movies like Blade
the fictional drugs presented had direct links Runner, Terminator, Running

reflected in its culture...

to actual ones and they all had nasty side- Man, Total Recall, Predator
effects (see? Educational!), plus they’d been and Aliens all carried the
in the background since Necromunda was same themes, Mad Max was
called Confrontation and censoring them felt naturally a touchstone for
cowardly. From a UK perspective drugs were crazy half-feral gangs, but Escape from
a reality of any urban setting and clearly a New York and Assault on Precinct 13 had A used future ripe with strife and feuding
Andy at the Dropzone Grand Opening. source of gang tensions so we kept them in. an influence too. The western angle came set within the realm of an enormous space
Photo credit dropzone-games.com
As with all things edgy that appealed to a almost entirely from Spaghetti westerns like opera. Seems like fans could be nothing
certain age range and combined with a low a Fistful of Dollars and the Good, the Bad but happy with the offerings and potential
price of entry (ie. because you only needed and the Ugly. We knew having a lot of terrain for wonderful gaming in the forty-first
a few miniatures to play) helped the game made the game much better so we were keen millennium...
really take off. One of my fondest personal to offer some in the box, the open gantry
48 49
THE LOADED DICE TABLE TALKS - continued
the universe, but on the outside edge beyond
YAKTRIBE
the direct support of the “Imperium”. But it NECROMONICON
certainly did not represent a group of gamers
When the release of 3rd Edition for 40K gamer, and bad-mouthing the work of Games Workshop, nasty, but in the case of Eastern Fringe and
Warhammer 40K came out, many patron that was what as the ‘Fringe was more a gathering of its members there was never any hostile
gamers felt left out from the new direction Eastern Fringe players more fond of a no longer supported legal action towards the repossession of
of the game. With the momentum of the had initially been rules edition, with obvious inclusion of rules developments – in this specific case for
40K universe showing great potential, the targeted for. It Necromunda. Necromunda – from GW and into the hands
significant changes to rules structure, as well
was because of the game’s fan base.
as the streamlining of certain rules aspects,of his hive The ‘Fringe became pretty focal to the
displayed the game’s marketing being shifted dwelling friends Necromunda online scene in the mid 2000’s During what could have easily been times
towards a younger audience. Dave Graham, that the forums after the Specialist Games forums became where it seemed like there was an extensive
a 2nd Edition player who felt marginalized became host defunct. This was shortly after the release supply of great ideas with no real reign of
by the new direction of the rules, had been for what quickly of the Living Rulebook in 2003, which is officiation (lets just call it the potential “Age
gaming within the 40K universe since it’s became the often read as a rushed publication – where of Strife”), in the second half of the 2000’s
inception in the late eighties, and took a real
nexus of online problems in both the writing and changes Eastern Fringe saw a complete grassroots
shining to the previous rules instalment as Necromunda to the game’s mechanics rose from the very community overhaul of the Necromunda
well as Necromunda, which shared much discussion. “It “incomplete” status of the final product. rules with the Necromunda Rules Review.
of the same game mechanics. “I started might be a bit Left with echoed sentiments of the 2nd Problems were addressed, new approaches
playing Necromunda the day it hit shelves. I disappointing, Edition 40K fans, Necromunda fans soon were pitched, and play testing occurred all
bought it right up. I had been playing table but Eastern found that the Eastern Fringe was the across the globe before ‘Fringers would
top wargaming with an actual gaming group Fringe was born arena the game needed to be adopted by log back in and ultimately make their own
during the Rogue Trader era. So I have been from the angst the global player base so that the kinks in changes to the rules based on what they’d
with 40K pretty much since the beginning. of 3rd Edition. It the rules could be ironed out. “There was a determined. It all seems rather scientific, and
I never did Fantasy, although I have always all started (as all significant amount of player driven action resulted in unified community house rules,
wanted to give it a go, but I like the sci-fistories do) with in the Necromunda community on the EFF where the EFF was the house. “I don’t really
elements much better. It pretty much started 2nd Edition and (Eastern Fringe Forums) so it is hard to know the time table on this, it was sorta like
when I went to my local hobby store one the transition nail it down to just a few, but number one a snowball that just grew and grew. Honestly
day and I wanted something different then to 3rd. I loved 2nd Edition 40K, it had it’s David “McCragge” off the top is hands down Truckler. If it it sorta surprised even me to be honest... I
Graham rockin’ out
fantasy models and I came across an Ork problems to be sure, and we were hoping in his Games Room wasn’t for him, there would be no EFF or was never out to make EFF out to be a super
Battlewagon box. I was like “What the heck isthey would be addressed in 3rd Edition 40k. Necromunda section [on the forums]. Other giant, just a place where everyone knows
this box of pure awesomeness?” I didn’t know But sadly they were not and a bunch of other significant contributors are (in no particular your name sorta place... As far as making
what it was or for, but I bought it, and a friend
problems came about to our beloved game, order) shiver85, Danger Mouse, Goobahfish, money off the EFF, it has never been about
of mine told me about Rogue Trader, Orks making it feel like we were thrown aside and Caelwyn, and of course Ant aka Anthony that, I have always paid out of pocket. It is a
and all that. From that day on I was obsessedforgotten - all to grab the kiddies and make Case... I am not entirely sure the EFF stepped hobby and labor of love. I had tried to make
with getting my hands on all the 40K Orks as as dumbed-down a version as possible, or at in to take the helm of Necromunda. At least up some of the money back with Google ads,
I could. During my time playing Necromunda least that is how it seemed at the time. I came that was never an intention or goal of the but I decided instead I would use the Google
I was also playing a ton of 2nd Edition 40K, across a forum called Rogue Trader Heresy EFF. It just sorta happened and was player/ Ad money to fund Painting Contest rewards”.
and playing tournaments at the local game and I decided that I needed to do something EFF member driven and not something we The Eastern Fringe was certainly not the only
store. I also started painting professionally for
to preserve the game we love, so I created actively pursued as Admin/Owner of the EFF. forum on the internet where Necromunda
Black Orc Games, specifically their Hundred “Heart of the Heresy”. The main discussions Although we certainly didn’t discourage it”. was being discussed and rules fixes were
Kingdoms game. I collected tons and tons were everything Rogue Trader and 2nd Eastern Fringe quickly became
of miniatures from other games, but never Edition, including Necromunda which still a central hub for internet
had the time to play them because 2nd
Edition and Necromunda took most of my
uses 2nd Edition rules. After a time, Rogue
Trader Heresy shut down and most of those
discussion of Necromunda,
though it wasn’t necessarily in the second half of the 2000’s Eastern
time”. Graham’s love for 40K gaming caused
him to use his web development talents to
people came over to Heart of the Heresy.
A close personal friend of mine, Truckler,
the intent of McCragge from
the beginning. Although the Fringe saw a complete grassroots community
offer an online home for players wanting to suggested we move HotH off a free site and
discuss 2nd Edition 40K and all things related
on to our own domain. However, at this point
‘Fringe was of its own domain
and sported advertising on overhaul of the Necromunda rules with the
Necromunda Rules Review.
to those rules. Of course, this included he was really into Necromunda, and I was the site, it was never a money
Necromunda. starting to move on to other games. I wanted making endeavour, nor did it
the new forum to be a place where people spark much legal confrontation
The website is Eastern Fringe, and working can discuss all sorts of miniature gaming and from Games Workshop or
under the forum moniker McCragge, Dave not just GW stuff. So we decided to rename other intellectual property holders. Which being proposed after the game began losing
Graham provided disenfranchised veteran it (I never really liked HotH) and give it an at times can be a bit surprising given the support from Games Workshop, but it is
players a place to talk about 2nd Edition. homage to Rogue Trader with the name separation of content focus for both 40K and certainly one of few to have survived. Having
While Necromunda was an instant addition to Eastern Fringe; an area of the galaxy just Necromunda, as the site represented a new personally gotten into Necromunda around
his collection, McCragge remained more of a outside Imperial influence, a reckless, lawless found independent ownership of the games the fall of 2010, the internet offered a handful
place where people were free to express their with fan rules and game developments of ghost town forums catered directly to
miniature enthusiasm of their choice”. The outside the scope of the proprietary the game, with larger forums like WarSeer
new name seemed quite fitting: still within developers. Break-up periods can often get and DakkaDakka offering very occasional
50 51
THE LOADED DICE TABLE TALKS - COnTInuED
A veteren gamer, McCragge still belongs
YAKTRIBE
to an active gaming group (they probably NECROMONICON
just call him “Dave” there). “I do indeed
discussions on the topic within their focus on painter for Black Orc Games. I used to sell a still play miniature games. However, I don’t because it meant I could play games without
the larger 40K universe. lot of my painted minis on Ebay, and I have play any GW games at this time. Right now having to paint up 100+ minis”. Throughout
pics of most of my work on Cool Mini or Not my obsession is DUST Battlefield. It plays playing Necromunda, Anthony was like many
Before David Knife created Yakromunda - I was one of the first to find and contribute a lot like 2nd Edition 40k (And no wonder: gamers in that testing out and developing
under the user name Malo, the Eastern to that site. My favorite gang has always been Andy Chambers helped write the rules). I house rules and changes to how the original
Fringe was often the sole Necromunda the Orlocks. I really don’t know why, but I like also have a page on Facebook that follows game played was all part of the adventure
forum with a consistent pulse. Part of the their look and style. Kind of like an 80’s style my gaming exploits “Dave’s Game Room” of being an underhive scummer. While
activity keeping the boards alive was the gang feel I suppose... My Orlock gang colors I post pics of all the different games we many of the desired changes to the rules
creation of a free online RPG capturing the where Black and Blue, cause that’s what play there. Although answering all these occurred while he was playing with his local
flavour of Necromunda, Deadlands 3000. “A you would be if you messed with my boys! questions has made me want to break out the gaming group, it was on the online forums
member of the EFF “Mortishroom” created As far as lasgun colors LOL, I tried to make Necro gangs and give it another go with my where Anthony started to tackle the idea of
this awesome browser game that, for a brief them have a Necro feel, something found current gaming group”. Convincing veteran improving the rules set. “The old black & red
time, blew up the EFF and had the majority in the Underhive. However Plasma Pistols, Necromunda players to return to the game official forum in particular had a lot of active
of us hooked on it. Sadly Mort took it down now those have got to be red LOL... My play and for new players to pick it up rank pretty users that had great ideas for improving and
for whatever reason. But it got me thinking, style was developed based on the mini’s that darn high on my list of what I like best about expanding the game. Once Specialist Games
maybe I can do something similar, but instead came in the boxed set versus all the advice rolling dice in the underhive. Let’s hope that began to shut down, the various forums
of a space war game, I could make it based and articles in White Dwarfs and on the net. there are pictures for a couple Gang Fights soon started to die off, but it’s great to see
off of Necromunda. So I started working on Basically, my philosophy was screw heavies, going up on Dave’s Game Room Facebook Necromunda has had a resurgence in recent
a rudimentary game called “Underhive” and don’t need them, and for Juves, I wouldn’t page sometime soon... years thanks to Yakromunda... The black
it was quite popular. Popular enough I had to take them in my starting gang, however I and red forum was the first proper official
hire a programmer to help me, and is now my would only take Juves to replace gangers. My Those grassroots community rules that Necromunda forum back when Specialist
partner in both the EFF and Deadlands 3000. gang was the biggest in my gaming group churned their way out of the ‘Fringe? There’s Games was called Fanatic. Once Fanatic was
He is “Pertyboy” on the EFF. Anyway, the with a huge 13 total members. My leader a very well known man on YakTribe that downsized and rebranded into Specialist
game was getting a fair bit of popularity to it, would have the special weapon, (plasma has his fingerprints all over that constantly Games, everyone moved over to the Eastern
and while I started it out as a fun little project gun I believe, or maybe it was a pistol) and evolving document. Our very own anthony Fringe since the new official forums were a
I was worried that it might cause issues with Chainsword, followed by 4 Snipers armed case – @Anthony here on the forums – has bit naff. Incidentally, all of the discussions
IP and stuff. So I changed the games name to with 2 lasguns and 2 Autoguns. Their job was not always been “our very own”, and has in about the official Necromunda Rules Review
Deadlands 3000 and changed the premise to over watch the battlefield and take shots fact earned the experience points of a Mighty was done on the Eastern Fringe, which as
from being underground, to post apocalyptic. of opportunities. I had 2 more with shotguns. Ganger across a wide range of Necromunda far as I know you can still nosy through, and
More of a Fallout, Mad Max type game, but Their job was to stay near the bottom or forums over a lengthy gaming career. Having was a really useful resource when putting
still keeping the gang action. The game access points of my snipers to keep any written an extensive list of house rules - together the NCE”.
is a retro style game meant to be played enemy at bay and protect the snipers. The including personal takes on various gangs,
casually...while at work or bored. That too is rest where armed with varying pistols and creating additional equipment and weapons, Going all the way back to Fanatic Magazine,
a labor of love and more of a hobby at this knives and where the assault forces. With extra scenarios, and expanding the playable a large part of the hobby has always been
point”. such a large gang, Bottling out was rarely an setting of the underhive into the sump with writing homemade, fan-concocted rules. The
issue”. rules for using boats (and that list is certainly YakTribe Gaming forums have always been
It’s hard to imagine that incomplete) - Anthony has been along for marked with a friendly and encouraging
McCragge still managed to find the ride ever since Necromunda was released environment for examining game mechanics
time to paint, collect, and roll and has involved himself in every aspect of and developing alternative or independent
dice while managing a web forum the hobby along the way. As the creator and rules, but a lot of members know the
and an indie video game, but editor of the Necromunda

Christ really 20
years
he was able to be a very active Community Edition (NCE),
gamer. I asked him a few more the rules set for which
was
ago?...
questions about his Necromunda Anthony has kicked off and
gaming, which shamelessly
included asking for him to divulge
maintained open community
discussion on - and that
his preferred play tactics and development work for - has
opinions on whether Lasguns become the modern standard
should still be red. “I used to for Necromunda rules. And they’re free! democratic realities of finding general
have an extensive collection of widespread acceptance of proposed rules
miniatures, and like all the cliches, Alongside Priestley, Chambers, and Graham, changes. One of the true telling powers
it was lost to the ages. However I Anthony Case has been playing Necromunda of the NCE is the ability Anthony had to
am regaining and rebuilding with right since its release. “Christ was that really keep focus in the drive of making changes

@Nooker
new games and miniatures. I think 20 years ago?... My big brother and his before the NCE developed enough of its
my biggest strength in the hobby mates were Fantasy players which was how own momentum to find a sense of credibility
is mini painting. As I mentioned Some of McCragge’s fine I got into GW. I got pretty excited when GW within play circles. “Initially it was just written
painting skills
earlier I was hired as a mini started releasing the boxed games though, for my gaming group to use so there were a
Space Hulk, Warhammer Quest, etc, primarily lot of changes based simply on our personal
52 53
THE LOADED DICE TABLE TALKS - COnTInuED YAKTRIBE
NECROMONICON

preferences rather than for any specific From beyond the reach of the Imperium’s I found online that had a somewhat active
rule problem. Once other people started tendrils of administrative dominion within Necromunda community still and was also
showing an interest in using it I went back the Eastern Fringe, Anthony Case took the how I found Anthony Case as the NCE was
over everything trying to remove personal efforts that the community had put into the still in a somewhat infancy... There are many
bias. It’s a tricky tightrope though, since what Necromunda Rules Review and led work Yakkers from those forums who transitioned
you have an issue with others might not, on maintaining an updated set of rules for here for Necromunda, but of course are still
and you have to weigh up resolving issues Necromunda. Throughout the years of an active in those forums for other games”.
with maintaining clean rules”. Dedicated upkept passion for Necromunda, Anthony has Certainly a monster in its current state when
work on the NCE has followed suit with done great deals of work beyond the periodic compared to the early Yakromunda site,
the Outlanders Community Edition rules revisions of the NCE rule set, including a wide YakTribe Gaming respectfully houses the
supplement, the OCE, and both maintain the range of additional supplement rules for the most in-depth Necromunda scene on the
constant open-to-discussion review policy game and even developing indie video games web. The campaign and gang management
that helps them progress and avoid being available on Steam. A mere glance through the tools make playing the science fiction skirmish
pigeon-holed by flaws. One of Anthony’s YakTribe Vault demonstrates Anthony’s work game even easier, and the overall awesome
greater focal points of the NCE and OCE within the Necromunda community, which online community we have here makes getting
rules is to keep any changes being made to certainly would not be the same without him. into the game a very simple process. From
those that are minor and necessary, avoiding the honoured efforts of Rick and Andy with
to change the structure and flow of the This website has really done a great deal the game’s inception and development with
documents as much as possible to keep them Mr. Case, looking deep inside his for the Necromunda scene. It was the fall Games Workshop, to McCragge’s housing
bucket of inspiration for some rules
recognizably approachable to players whom improvements
of 2010, during the slow motion crawl of of the online community during the game’s
might not have played the game since the a vacant shoulder season in a tourism- ran-away-from-home style adolescent stage,
Original Rulebook or driven Canadian ski-town, when I started through Anthony’s development of the

Going all the Living Rulebook

era. “I actually think
the core Necro rules
what type of gamer he is and what parts of
playing Necromunda he likes best. It’s always
getting interested in Necromunda. My
good friend and at the time roommate had
been a Warhammer 40K player when he
Community Edition rules sets, and finally
here on YakTribe Gaming with Malo and all
the amazing tools and tricks that the website

the way back are pretty solid really

so any big changes I’d
entertaining to hear about the play testing
experiences from the person who sat down
was younger, and I myself had collected a
squad of Catachans as a kid since my next
has, Necromunda has certainly grown. And
changed. Not too much, but enough to make

to Fanatic love to make are more

to do with expanding
them. For example I’d
and put a lot of work into creating the rules
after all: “I do remember one time when I
started writing a Sump rules expansion. One
door neighbour had been a Blood Angels
player. We talked about how getting back
into the hobby might help curb our drinking
it easier to get into and easier to play. I can’t
help but thank everyone I was able to talk to
in this article for everything they have done

Magazine, a really like to see the

House gangs feel more
of my boats careered into the side of an
enemy’s which caused their plasma engine to
habits while we waited for snowflakes to
fall, but I didn’t like the suggested scale of
for the game. Happy birthday, Necromunda.
Next year you can get drunk in the U.S.

large part
unique to play. Not to explode and damaged a nearby bulkhead (we collecting vast 40K armies. His suggestion
the same extent as the
Outlanders, but just
were using rules for destroying buildings).
The building then collapsed, flattened both
of Necromunda had me searching all over
the internet for more information, as I had Riel Richard
of the hobby some general rules
unique to each House
and with their own
boats, killed most of the crew and so we had
to restart the campaign. We haven’t used
those destroyed building rules since”. When
not really heard of the game much before
that, and I quickly became a believer. The
internet was definitely a source of many more
@Blood Donor , YakTribe Gaming

has always special fighter type. I’d

like to see the territory
I asked Anthony what his favourite gang
was thematically speaking, as well as what
grave stones than operating websites, and
a brief stint on the Eastern Fringe led to me

been writing
system expanded too, his preferred style of play is, he responded following @Malo over to Yakromunda. The
such as being able to “I’m rather fond of all the Outlanders. If very man behind YakTribe, who also operates
upgrade territories pushed I’d probably say those ever-lovable under the alias david knife, Malo added an

homemade, fan- and attack rival

territories in differing
ways”.
rag bag Scavvies since they encapsulate a
lot of the b-movie horror film vibes which I
really like about Necro’s setting. Plus they
entirely new level to Necromunda by creating
an online gang registry and maintenance
tool, where a player could be freed from

concocted rules. With Anthony being

an active member
are just ridiculously fun to play... I do enjoy
outmaneuvering an opponent, but I play for
fun so don’t mind darting forward to bait
their stacks of scribbled stat line changes
and equipment upgrades by simply mouse
clicking their way through Malo’s program.

Artwork - Will Beck

of YakTribe, his overwatchers and push the game forward.
insights and approaches towards keeping After all nobody likes to play against a “The very first inception of Yakromunda
Necromunda updated and supported are parade of lasgunners camping inside their as the base tools was around March 2010
peppered throughout these very forums. deployment zone”. Providing the response I but there was no forums at that stage. The
Any inclined reader could search through liked the most to the question I asked all four forums weren’t added until February of
the backlogs and gain as good a sense as I gamers that I interviewed, Anthony’s take on 2011. Before that I promoted the site on
myself could of what type of tabletop rules whether or not lasguns should be red was the active Necromunda discussion areas on
maestro Anthony is. As such, I wanted to that “anything else would be heresy”. Heresy Eastern Fringe, Warseer, Dakka Dakka and
focus my interview with Anthony more on indeed. wargamerau. They were about the only places
54 55
 YAKTRIBE
NECROMONICON

unDERHIVE
TERRAIn
OPEN STRUCTURES
WALKWAYS
LINE OF SIGHT BLOCKERS
SCATTER TERRAIN
BOARDS

56 57
TERRAIN YAKTRIBE
NECROMONICON

OPEN
STRUCTURES

58 59
TERRAIN YAKTRIBE
NECROMONICON

OPEN
STRUCTURES

60 61
TERRAIN YAKTRIBE
NECROMONICON

WALKWAYS

62 63
TERRAIN
Line ofSight
YAKTRIBE
NECROMONICON

BLOCKERS

64 65
TERRAIN

@Trollmeat - yaktribe
YAKTRIBE

SCA T tE R
NECROMONICON

@andyt81 - yaktribe

66 67
TERRAIN YAKTRIBE

SCA T tE R
NECROMONICON

68 69
TERRAIN YAKTRIBE
NECROMONICON

BOARDS

@TINY - yaktribe

70 71
TERRAIN YAKTRIBE
NECROMONICON

BOARDS

72 73
 YAKTRIBE
NECROMONICON

TUTORIALS
Ke e p ‘ e m C o m i n g !
IF YOU’VE any ideas for a tutorial or have already written
a tutorial that would be the perfect fit for Necromunda
miniatures or terrain, we’d love to hear about them, please visit
the following page: http://gaming.yaktribe.org/community/
threads/yak-approved-necromunda-guide.2606/ or send a

74 75
private message to @capitan on Yaktribe.
MAGNETISING YAKTRIBE
NECROMONICON

YOUR MINIS

S
By @cardyfreak - yaktribe should be paid to both
weapons where the balance is
extremely off centre {massive

Tools you will need

ometimes I wonder clubs, chain and power
if anyone at GW swords, orlock flamers and
actually played Having a small selection grenade launchers, ratskin
Necromunda before of decent tools to hand is a massive clubs, etc are prime
finalising the designs must for doing any kind of examples}, and the arms of
for the models. I mean, how conversions. If you buy cheap models you foresee using
many stubguns does a gang crap you’ll get crap results. these weapons such as the
need? How many las-pistols? But the tools for this job champion models. Plastic
I realise that pistols can aren’t particularly expensive, bits are fine, it’s metal ones
be ‘stashed’ in the model’s so fear not. that cause problems. In
holster or secreted about his these cases I’d recommend
person but if a guy is waving The first important tool is using 2x2mm in the arms
a stubgun around, I like to say a razor saw. Also known as and 1.5x2mm in the hands to
that’s what the model has; a jewellers saw, this is a very increase the attractive force
not a bolt pistol stashed in his fine toothed hand saw that between the two parts.)
underpants. has the bonus of being very
gentle on both sides of the They won’t work on Escher
Don’t get me wrong, I’m cut, so it won’t rip both the fully however, or other really
not trying to purge stubguns mini and the weapon you’re magnetised small models. If you find
and las pistols from my
gang, it’s just certain models
removing apart. Mine is made
by X-acto.
ORLOCK gang magnets small enough to
use on these models, use a
really should have more drill bit 0.1mm larger than the
firepower. Leader models are Second important tool magnets diameter. This allows
a prime example of this. And is a pin-vise. This is a little the magnet to sit in the
the entire range of Goliath handheld drill that we will be hole comfortably without it
models. using to make the recesses dropping out, or being tough
for our magnets to sit in. If to fit because the hole is too
Fortunately there is a cheap you pin your metal models tight.
and easy way to remedy together (and you should)
this; magnets. Be warned you’ll already have one of Then we will need a bit of
though; this involves cutting these. superglue and it’s handy to
up your beloved metal minis. have a file and a hobby knife
I struggled with this for a A pin-vise without a drill magnets. These are 2mm in handy for fitting the weapon
while as I’m OCD about bit is pretty useless so next diameter, 1mm thick. There and tidying up the cuts, and
these little metal men, but I on our list is a 2.1mm drill are smaller magnets available some paper towel for cleanup
reconciled myself to the fact bit. This size is important so but these are fine for what and whatnot. You might also
that I’m never going to sell don’t use any smaller or any we need. (*edit* I’ve found find having a toothpick, or
my collection, and I’ll end bigger. You may also want to that certain weapons have a thin plastic rod or something,
up with multiples of all of use a 0.5 or 1mm bit first to little trouble staying upright handy to help locate any
them anyway because I’m make a pilot hole. This helps when magnetised with these unruly magnets. As long as
addicted to buying them. So to keep the hole centred, and magnets, and some wrists are it isn’t metallic, it’ll work.
who cares? *chop chop chop also makes using the larger a little thin for 2mm magnets
chop* diameter bit easier as it won’t too. It’s worth buying some
have as much material to 1.5x2mm magnets for the
ream out. wrists, and some 2x2mm for
the arms of some of these
Next we will need the actual guys to get some extra
magnets. I’m using 2x1mm oomph from the attractive
rare earth neodymium round force. Particular attention
76 77
MAGNETISING YAKTRIBE

- Continued
NECROMONICON

YOUR MINIS
3

1 2
Method

1
Now that you’ve stick the magnet in. We have
stopped crying for to be careful not to have
First we must select destroying your the superglue sticking the
a suitable model for precious miniature, we magnets together, so we
conversion. can man up and get really only need a tiny drop. I
I’ve chosen this on with the job. Give the cut use a small stack of magnets,
Goliath leader cos his area of the mini a quick tickle then slide the stack off to the
stubgun just ain’t gonna with a flat file to flatten off side, using my thumb to keep

5
4
cut the mustard I’m afraid. I the surface a bit, and have a magnet in the recess. You
want him to have a veritable a look where we want the may find using a toothpick
arsenal at his disposal, firing hole for the magnet to go. useful here, as sometimes
(half reliable) bolts of death, I recommend getting the the magnet can flip as you
or flaming fools, or shoving weapons you intend to use move the stack away. There’s When it’s set, simply
white hot balls of plasma up and line them up for a rough a technique to it that you’ll remove from the
their arseholes, so the choice idea of a central point for all master after a couple of tries. stack of magnets
is made. That guns gotta go. of them. Basically, it’s going You don’t have to worry and admire your
Note how you intend to to be the centre of the area about polarity at this stage work. You now have
make the cut. On this model you’ve just cut. Here’s a pic since this your first model, a magnetised model, with
it’s simple; I’ll simply cut of where my Goliath leaders but after this the way the weapons. Follow the same

3
across the top of the hand hole is (the magnet is already magnets face is vital. This first steps for as many weapons
from the fingers to the back in place in this shot). step determines the polarity as you like, and you’ll soon

2
of the gun, taking care not of all your future work. have an army of magnetised

4
to cut the trigger finger off. Using the pin-vise, drill dudes! And because you’ve
Remember, the saw is really a small pilot hole into the Now that the hand is used a razor saw and not

5
fine so it will preserve a lot model. You aren’t going all magnetised we can your rusty old hack saw, you
of detail so don’t worry, as the way through, this hole move onto the weapon. can even keep the original
long as keep a straightish line just acts as a guide for the Gauge where the hole To check the polarity, simply stick weapon (directly above the
you’ll be okay. Some models larger bit. Then use the 2.1mm should be (just dry-fit a few magnets onto the one in the model in this photo)!
might require a different bit and again, don’t go all the weapon and remember hole in the hand. Add a tiny blob of
angle of attack, or even the way through; you’re where the hole should go) glue to the hole in the weapon and
multiple cuts from different just making a recess for the and drill a hole into the stick it onto the TOP magnet, again
angles, or some of the cut magnet to sit in. Use your weapon in exactly the same being careful to avoid the glue sticking
done with a sharp hobby knife to clear up the burr manner as before, checking the magnets together.
knife; don’t be put off by this, around the hole; this ensures the depth with the magnets
just plan what you need to do that the parts will sit flush as we go and de-burring the
and... do it! with each other. Keep your hole when it’s the correct
magnets handy to check depth. Once we have our
the depth. As soon as it’s hole we can stick the magnet
flush with the surface, put a in BUT MAKE SURE THE

cardyfreak’s tip -
tiny drop of superglue into POLARITY IS CORRECT.
the hole, dab off any excess if you have a spare Marine
with some paper towel and or something, magnetise it and a bolter before doing any
Necro models to provide you with a kind of magnetic
template for the aligning the polarity of the magnets. To
align the magnet in the body of the mini, simply attach
some magnets to the Marine’s bolter and glue the bottom
magnet into the model. To align the magnet in the weapon,
stick some magnets onto the one in the marines hand and
glue the weapon to the top magnet. This will ensure all your
magnets are always aligned correctly!

78 79
MINIATURE BRICK YAKTRIBE
NECROMONICON

WALL TUTORIAL
By @fold - yaktribe

F
or my Necromunda Step 1 – Scoring Step 3 – Create Vertical Gaps Do not bother trying to leaving a wall with a more places. I’ll often apply the
terrain I wanted Horizontal Lines Using the same tool I now half paint in all the gaps – it is a naturalistic, mottled effect. wash to the top of the wall
to have several First, score the parallel lines cut, half crush the vertical gaps futile and rather unnecessary For a brand new wall you may and let gravity and chaos do
of the base layers in the brick wall with a sharp between the bricks. Obviously endeavour due to the next want to wait till the paint is it’s thing so the paint seeps
for the modular knife to a depth of 1-2mm.  I do for a convincing brick effect step. completely dry. down the wall in interesting
sections, or “risers”, built this freehand because I like the you need to offset the  [I did not photograph this ways. This step is a lot of
out of brickwork. It’s not a aged, haphazard look it gives “courses” of bricks so no bricks stage but one can imagine Step 6 – Cleaning fun, so experiment and enjoy
typical finish for Necromunda the final wall. If you’re building are aligned directly above each what it looks like - brown, Before it dries, take a damp yourself.
terrain but I have reasoned a wall in better condition then other.  For simplicity I stick with lots of blue polystyrene cloth and rub the plaster On this piece I also added a
that as it’s at the bottom you’ll want to use a ruler. with a very straight forward showing through the gaps!] off the majority of the brick blast door with rusted, flaking
of my terrain it is probably brick laying style (or “bond”), faces leaving it in the gaps paint and a few 40k themed
very, very ancient indeed. which is called “stretcher bond” between the bricks. You now posters.  Numerous ready
Over time, the underhivers but there are lots too choose have a convincing miniature to print 40k posters can be
have reinforced the brick from if you want to get fancy. brick wall! found using a simple Google
buildings and platforms and Again, here I’m not too careful search and I just paste them
used them as foundations or precise and the bricks end on to the wall with scenic
for towers, processing plants up quite irregular, which suits cement or watered down PVA.
and other industrial buildings, my purpose and makes the job
the original purpose of the faster.
brick buildings long forgotten. In this wall I’m also adding a
Besides, the opportunity bulkhead door which is quickly
to model grimy, moldering primed and hot glued in at  this
brickwork was too good to stage.
pass up and the finished effect Step 2 – Widen the Gaps Step 5 – Pointing
should lend a real feeling of Take a blunt implement – I use After a real brick wall is
decay to the table. a trowel shaped sculpting tool- laid a mason must “point”
Brickwork of course is in and quickly run it down the it by filling in the gaps with
danger of being very tedious cuts you just made to widen mortar, and we now replicate Step 7 – Weathering
to model but the following the gaps and make them a bit this on our scale model as You may skip this step if
process makes it very irregular. well. Take some ready mixed you want  a clean wall but
quick and easy to achieve a skimming/finishing plaster, for my purposes extensive
convincing effect and can and with your finger smush it weathering is required.
be used for many miniature across the surface of the wall, For this I use water (often
wargaming or model train pushing it into all the gaps very dirty water from my
scenery/terrain applications. between the bricks.  This is brush cleaning pot) and
You will need a wall or why you don’t need to worry a combination of black,
surface either made from Step 4 – Paint the Wall about painting all the gaps beige and green paints.
hard extruded polystyrene The bricks now need  a quick in the previous step.  Don’t Wet the wall to encourage
(insulation foam) or coated in coat of paint in a suitable worry, the plaster will also your washes to spread and
at least 10mm of the stuff. brick like colour. This colour coat the bricks to some then apply watered down
In this tutorial I’m making should be somewhat darker extent, but we take care of black paint to any areas
the inside surface of an arched than the finished effect that this in the next step. you want to darken, green
wall facade, so I only need to you want because the next I like to do this before the paint for any areas of lichen
finish two arch shapes and step will lighten it quite a lot.  I paint layer has fully dried or other discolouration
then glue the previously made use a mixture of PVA and MIG and still has a few damp (particularly effective if
arches on. rust pigment, which has good patches. This causes the you let it seep up the wall
coverage and adds a bit of overall tone of the bricks and from the base), and beige
strength to the wall surface. our mortar to change as the paint for limescale effects
80 two blend together in places, or to redefine the mortar in 81
MAKING Depending on how much
catalyst we add we can vary
the stiffness of the finished
YAKTRIBE
NECROMONICON

MOULDS
mould. Your RTV will generally
come with mixing instructions
for varying ratios of silicone to
catalyst. to the local Lego shop and Pot Life - This is the amount Open Faced Mould - This
For reproducing figures and buy some bits. Get a base of time you have to mix and is a one piece mould where

M
By @cardyfreak - yaktribe fine detail we should use the piece and a bunch of 4, 3 and pour the silicon or resin after the casting agent is poured
minimum amount of catalyst 2 stud pieces, with a couple it has been combined with into the top of the mould.
advised as this will make a of ones for versatility. A small the catalyst/hardening agent. Best suited for simple shapes

The basics
softer mould that is better tub and base costs about £11. The more catalyst, the shorter like bases, barrels, barriers
aking moulds suited for capturing fine detail That’s what I’ve got in the the pot life. or single sided bulkheads.
of objects and Here is a list of some common and easy release of the cast example below. I can make Care should be taken when
casting them terms and their definitions as I item. For larger moulds we about four casting chambers De-mould Time - This is the selecting an object to open
might seem like understand them. They might should use more additive to from a small tub, to fit one amount of time you have to face mould to ensure the
a complicated be incorrect, but I’m pretty sure make the silicone stiffer as it mini each. leave the casting material to object doesn’t have any
process but it is a lot easier they’re close to what’s right. will maintain a uniform shape set before taking the cast significant overhangs. This
than you think. Sure, you and reduce the chances of Resin - Polyurethane resin is item out of the mould. would prevent the original
need to take a bit of care to RTV silicone - Room warpage across the mould. So a common casting material. object from being removed
get the best results but that Temperature Vulcanising for minis use a low mix ratio, It’s more expensive than Release Agent - A silicone or from the mould so you’d
is true of most things. silicone. This is a type of rubber. for terrain pieces like bulkheads plaster but sets a lot quicker wax based product we coat know if this happened.
Most master and production and larger use a higher ratio. and harder. It’s ideal for the mould in to protect it and
Having the correct tools moulds are made out of If the ratios are incorrect the casting figures and capturing ease the release of a cast. Two Part Mould - This is a
to hand is probably the organic rubber. These are very mould will fail. Too little catalyst fine detail. Use gloves when Also vital for making two-part mould that has two pieces, or
most important piece of hard wearing and are used to and the mould won’t take handling this stuff cos it’s a moulds, as the only thing that ‘faces’, typically capturing the
advice I can give. Particularly make many casts of a shape shape properly. To much and swine to get off your hands! will stick to silicone is silicone,details of the front and back
when casting, time is of the using low melting temperature it will be brittle and difficult to Resin generally comes so the release agent acts as a of an object. This is better for
essence. You don’t want to be alloys, traditionally pewter or de-mould without tearing. in two parts, the resin and barrier between the two faces moulding complex shapes.
rummaging around for things other lead alloys. This is a bit the hardener. These are of the mould. This will be Most of your miniatures will
at the critical moment when excessive for what we need, so Mould - This is what we combined (usually a 50:50 discussed later. have been cast like this. The
pouring silicone or resin so The Lord giveth RTV. use to capture a shape and ratio) and a chemical reaction telltale sign is the mould line
always make sure you have Also know as ‘condensate subsequently reproduce. takes place causing the clear Plaster - Everyone knows running around the central
everything you need laid out cure silicone’, RTV uses the resin mixture to go hard plaster. Plaster of Paris will axis of the mini. This is where
in front of you neatly. When moisture in the air and/or Cast - The process of and opaque. This is why the work perfectly well in moulds, the two faces of the mould
your mould tips over and an additive catalyst to cure reproducing a shape using a thicker parts harden first; the but is very brittle and takes a meet. Care must still be taken
resin starts pouring out all (vulcanise) the silicone rubber mould and casting material, chemical reaction is stronger while to set. Generally I would when selecting candidates
over your table, you’ll be glad into a solid shape. Places with and the resulting product. in these deep sections. You’ll advise not to use Plaster of for this method of moulding.
you can lay your hands on high humidity cure faster than notice if you make bases Paris as we need something One piece mini’s with no gaps
some kitchen towel without ones with low humidity, and the Casting Chamber - A box or that the centre will cloud more robust. Better still is through them are ideal; for
having to go rummaging exposed surfaces will set first. other shape that is used to over before the edges. This is Dental plaster. This is the the sake of example, Cawdor
through the kitchen! However, some silicones with contain the silicone whilst the reaction at work. It is an stuff dentures are made out or Van Saar. But the newer
a catalyst will set at a uniform it sets. Can be made from a exothermic reaction, meaning of. It sets rock hard and is range of necro minis with the
rate. If we pour silicone over an variety of materials, including it gives off heat. You’ll feel really cheap- less than £20 optional weapons wouldn’t
object we can make a mould. Lego, foamcore, plastic and this through the mould when for 25kg. A general rule is if be any use if the weapons
cardboard. you cast. has the word ‘Stone’ or ‘Die’ were attached. The silicone
Foamcore and card are fine Also, resin leeches the in it, it’ll be rock solid when it would get between the mini
for open faced moulds but I moisture from the mould and sets. Notable British plasters and the weapon and would
find them a little bit of a pain over time will perish it. We can are Diestone, Herculite and stop the mini from being
to use as two parter casting counter this to some degree Crystacal. released from the mould. The

cardyfreak’ SAYS -
chambers as they can break by using release agent and This suits terrain casts solution to that would be to
Many of the apart when releasing the mould nourisher to protect more than miniatures, but not attach the weapon before
techniques I’ve used are gleaned from many sites first stage of the mould, and the mould but eventually it some plasters can capture making the mould. Gaps
on teh intrenets. rubbishinrubbishout on YouTube recreating the exact shape of will become unusable. You fine detail. They can be quite between the legs are fine, it
has some excellent video tutorials on this subject; the mould can be difficult. Lego should generally leave a heavy compared to resin. is only gaps between parts of
it is basically where I learned how to do this. Also gives you a constant size and mould for about a week to Plasters will not damage the the mini which would make
check out the hirstarts site for some great tips shape to work with, making finish setting up if you want to mould in any way, and can be de-moulding impossible that
about all things casting. This article is really just your work neater and giving cast using resin. used in a mould immediately we have to look out for.
to pull everything I’ve learned into one place for you more confidence with the Other resins include epoxy as compared to resin, where
convenience. materials at your disposal. Head and acrylic. the mould should be left for
about a week.
82 83
 OPEN FACED YAKTRIBE
MOULDS NECROMONICON

Meanwhile build the Lego Now pour out the required From this point on, time
casting chamber around the amount of silicone. From now is against us. The catalyst
object. Try to arrange the on we are trying to eliminate is now making the silicone
bricks so they always overlap, as much aeration of the react, so we must act swiftly,
just like the bond of a brick silicone as possible. This is but we need to stir the two
wall. This will help prevent very important, as air bubbles liquids together to mix them.
silicone seeping out. Build it in the silicone can ruin the But don’t rush. It’s not a mad

I
high enough so there’s two mould. The most important panic or anything, and if you
rows above the top of the technique is the way you start stirring the silicone too
object. pour the silicone. Aim to have hard you’ll introduce loads of

Stuff you will need

a long, thin stream. This will air into it. Stir the mixture so
n this tutorial we will Now that we have our tools pop any large air bubbles that it becomes a uniform colour
make an open faced clockwise from left out let’s get cracking. are in the silicone. Whenever with no streaks and marbling
mould of some generic >Silicone spatulas & syringe First, secure the object you dispense silicone, always in it. Don’t worry about a few
barriers. Barrels are also >Measuring cups (my cup is you wish to mould to a base use this technique. air bubbles, we’ll get those
good candidates for marked in 50ml increments of card with a few dabs of when we pour. My catalyst
this method, as are bases. by pouring water in and superglue. Don’t use too has a blue tint but some
I would also advise making marking the level) much, it’s purely to stop the catalysts are red, pink, green,
a few open faced moulds >Silicone and catalyst (the little object floating around in the all sorts of other colours. This
of scatter terrain and bases bottle with blue stuff in it) silicone. is just a visual guide to help
before moving onto two part >Release agent you mix the stuff correctly.
moulds. >Lego
Not only are they easier to >Lego base
make, it will familiarise you >Card
with the process of mould >Superglue
making without wasting >Disposable brushes
silicone on futile two parter >Paper towels for clean up Next, measure the
moulds, and it’s good internal dimensions of
practice to keep these handy The syringe is used to the chamber. This casting
when casting minis and what measure the catalyst. chamber measures roughly
not because I always mix up The superglue is used to 60x70x30cm. Ive rounded
too much resin and can pour secure the object to some all measurements down to Now add the catalyst.
the excess into these moulds card to prevent it floating in compensate for the slight Seeing as this is terrain and
to make more terrain. This the silicone. It only takes a few displacement the barriers its shape has no overhangs
way you’ll waste nothing and dabs, you want to retrieve the will have. This means the so it should be easy to de-
end up with loads of scatter! object afterwards! chamber has a volume of mould, I’m going for a 100-4
Use cheap brushes! This When it’s secure give the 126cm3. To fill it we need mix ratio. This will give me
process destroys them object a coating of release 126ml of silicone because a stiffer mould, but a much
agent. If its a spray, give it a 1cm3=1ml. If we were doing shorter pot time to work with.
Stuff you spray. Mine is brush on stuff this by weight, we would I use the syringe to add 5mls

will need
so I just brush a coat on. multiply the density of the of catalyst to the silicone,
Leave it to one side for about silicone (1.08g/cm3) by giving me a pot life of 10mins.
10 minutes to let the liquid the volume of the chamber
evaporate, leaving the release (126cm3). 1.08x126= 138.8g,
agent coating the object. so round it down to a neat
138g. We would need 138g of
silicone to fill the mould.
If we were casting a large
object we would have to
factor in its displacement.
This is done simply by
calculating the volume of the
object and subtracting it from
the volume of the casting
chamber.
84 85
MAKING MOULDS TWO PART YAKTRIBE
NECROMONICON

OPEN FACED MOULDS

MOULDS - Continued
Now that it’s mixed, brush And that’s it! Leave it Now peel away the card
some silicone onto the object. overnight to set, don’t be or whatever you glued the
This isn’t strictly necessary tempted to poke and prod object onto. If the objects

T
but it’s a good habit to get it or you’ll ruin the mould don’t come out with this, just
into, especially for when you by distorting it. LEAVE IT flex the mould a bit to get
start making complex moulds. ALONE! If you see bubbles them out. If any silicone has
This ensures you capture any on the surface, a short, sharp seeped between the card and
detail. blow of air will pop it. object, trim if away carefully wo part moulds are in a write off cast. Think of making the mould turns out
As you can see, we have with a hobby knife. This stuff a little more labour the way the casting material to be inadequate after the
no excess silicone in the is very easy to slice through intensive than open will be filling up from the first cast, it’s easy to widen
cup. When it sets it peels off so take a bit of care. faced moulds. We bottom of the mould; it will the vent channels with a
the cup and silicone stirrer have to consider a be displacing the air within, hobby knife. Even if we
with ease. The brush with few more mechanics of the so think of anywhere the air forget to put them in whilst
the silicone on it is useless casting process to make a could get trapped. This is moulding we can easily
now. The one with the successful mould. where we will need to provide supply them after the fact.
release agent on is fine. I’d The first, and most critical, a means of allowing the air to I like to mould my minis
recommend giving it 12 hours provision we need to provide escape. with the base on them. It
at least before de-moulding. is a way to line the two parts And don’t be tempted to gives a bit of an indication
of the mould up consistently. try to stick to many things that the mould is filled
If the mould is off centre by into the mould. Keep it adequately when the resin
even 1mm, the cast will look simple. You multiply the starts to fill the space where
terrible. The way we ensure chances of things going the base would be without
the correct alignment of the wrong if you start to crowd it pouring all over the place.
With that done we can pour faces is by using ‘keys’. These the mould. I’d recommend Obviously if you use scenic
the silicone into the casting are simply a device that will doing one item per mould. If bases you can attach the mini
chamber. Start in a corner Et voilà! You have a mould! only allow the two faces to its weapons you’re doing, you to this and when you cast it,
and pour in a long, thin I like to trim away all the engage in the correct way, can add more in obviously, it will come out with the base
stream. Don’t pour directly loose stuff and cut a slight keeping the mould lined up but for figures I’d do them already attached. Handy!
onto the object, you’re likely bevel along the sides with perfectly. They are absolutely individually.
to get air pockets. Rather, a pair of scissors to make essential to the success of One more thing about disclaimer!
let the silicone flow up and it look neater. You can cast your mould, but are very easy weapons; remember the Obviously, I didn’t actually
around the chamber. This will I’ve left the mould for 12 immediately with plaster, but to provide. I will show you shape the old sprues used to take a mould of this mini-
push the air out naturally, hours so now it’s time to see you should wait a week to how to do this later in the come in? A central trunk of that’s copyright infringement.
leaving no air pockets. As the what we’ve got. Remove the allow the mould to fully cure tutorial. white metal with the weapons The photos are purely
silicone flows you can follow casting chamber. You might if casting with resin. Good Because the shape of the branching off like a tree? instructional to show how
it about with the stream of see that the silicone has work! item we are moulding is That’s the set up I’d go for if I to bed something into the
silicone, but try not to let it seeped underneath the card, usually more complex than was doing weapons. casting chamber and provide
pour directly onto the object. don’t worry this just trims off. in open faced casting, we These are the main the required mechanisms for
may need to provide vents considerations for two keying and venting.
for air to escape from the part moulds over open
extremities of the object. If faced moulds. Particularly so without further ado,
we don’t provide adequate with ‘keying’ the moulds, let’s get stuck into it.
provision for air to escape, the success of the mould
the resulting air bubbles is entirely dependant on
will prevent the casting it. Venting is a bit more
material from filling the forgiving, as if the venting
mould completely, resulting we initially provided when

86 87
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MAKING MOULDS Now figure out if and where
you need to supply vents.
around the mini. You don’t
need to smooth the plasticine NECROMONICON
The ends of weapons that into the mini, just close the gap.
are sticking out tend to be
the most likely place you’ll Build up the rest of the

TWO PART need to provide vents. Sink a

toothpick into the clay so it
creates a channel from the tip
casting chamber. Another
two rows should suffice.
Disassemble the chamber and peel the
plasticine off the mould. Don’t worry if
the plasticine pulls the mini or vent sticks

MOULDS - Continued
of the mini to the edge of the Mix up your silicone. 50mls out with it, we can easily re-locate them
mould. will be enough. Ill be using by flexing the mould a little as we insert it
a mix ratio of 100:4 to make back into its place. If there are any signs
a relatively stiff mould. I had of the silicone seeping past the mini, cut
done a 100:2 ratio but it them off. The face should have no little
took about three days to set raggy ends sticking out. But don’t cut off
fully. If you live somewhere the keying!

Stuff you will need

warm and humid it’ll set If you have any plasticine stuck into
First of all, build the first quicker, but the guidelines for the details of the model you can remove
>Lego for the casting chamber two rows of your casting setting times are calculated this with some terps/alcohol. My release
>A base for the Lego chamber. Make it big enough at a constant temperature agent is basically paraffin so brushing
>Some plasticine or to have a gap of about half of about 25•, and its never this over takes the plasticine out. Bear in
modelling clay an inch around the mini. Then been that warm in the north mind though that release agent will leave
>Assorted brushes push in your plasticine/ clay. east of England since the a layer of wax on the mini- to much can
>Cups and containers for You can level it by pushing late Cretaceous period. affect the capture of detail.
measuring and pouring down on the plasticine with Now we provide the ‘key’ Remember to always pour
>Silicone tipped spatulas a piece of card or something, for the faces to line up. Using silicone in a long, thin stream Build up the chamber again and insert
for stirring but it’s not essential. As long the end of a pencil, thick to eliminate as much aeration the mould with the minis and vents facing
>Silicone as its roughly smooth and brush, or any other shape, as possible. up, ensuring the mini is fully engaged with
>Release agent level we will be okay. press into the plasticine in its mould.
>Clay shapers/toothpicks various places around the Give the mini a good coating
>Hobby knife Now sink the mini halfway into the clay. Try mini. Put plenty in, you can’t of silicone. This will ensure Now give the whole of this side a liberal
to line it up so every piece of the reverse of have too many, but you can all of the detail is captured. coating of release agent, avoiding the
the mini is in contact with the plasticine, but have too few. We’re not The bristles of the brush get mini as much as possible. When that dries
every part of the front of the mini is sitting pressing all the way down to into the recesses of the detail, give it another. Then when that dries,
proud of the plasticine. This will prevent the bottom of the chamber, knocking the air out of it and give it one more. It’s important that the
silicone from seeping around the back of the were just creating littles pits coating it with silicone. Don’t silicone is well coated, as the wet silicone
model, and mean that both faces will have an that will help the two sides be shy, slap it on. of the second face will bind with the first
imprint of a full side of the mini. If any part locate consistently. if there is no barrier between the two. And
of the mini gets completely encased in one With that done, we can remember to coat the key pieces.
side of the mould, you won’t be able to free pour the silicone into the
the original. You can take some plasticine out mould. Use a long, thin Mix up another batch of silicone to the
if you need to. In this example, the leading stream, starting in a corner same ratio as before, coat the mini with a
leg is too deep in the plasticine so i will of the casting chamber. Don’t brush as before and pour the silicone in
remove some. You can vary the minis depth pour directly over the mini, using the same technique as before.
and angle any way you want, just make sure let the silicone flow over it
you keep the above guidance in mind. And naturally. This will displace Leave it another 12 hours.
be aware of the feet, ankles in particular. the air leaving no air pockets.
They are easy to get sunk into the plasticine Now lets have a look and see what
and trap the mini. Remember though that Now that that’s done, we we’ve got. Disassemble the chamber and
the mould will be quite flexible so small wait. Let the silicone set-up remove the block of silicone. Peel the two
overhangs aren’t a massive problem. over night. DON’T TOUCH. sides away. You shouldn’t use too much
Next, use your clay shaper, You’ll distort the mould. force to do this. The silicone may still
sculpter or toothpick to press setting up so it is possible to deform the
the plasticine flush against 12 hours has passed. Stick mould if you are too heavy handed. You
the outline of the mini. the mould in the fridge for can use a knife to cut along the mould
This will help to eliminate fifteen minutes. This will chill line if you need to, but if you haven’t used
unsightly mould lines. If we the plasticine making it stick enough release agent the mould will be
don’t do this you’ll end up to itself better, allowing you unusable. Cut it up, retrieve the mini, and
with a MASSIVE line around to remove it without it leaving start again. If it does split, congratulations!
your mini, ruining some of a coating all over the mould. You’ve got a two part mould! You little
the detail, particularly the If you are using modelling fucking beauty, you!
face. Just press the plasticine clay you can ignore this step
88 gently so you can’t see a gap (I think). 89
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