MERCS KemVar test model

Spent some time picking out paints for the KemVar Caes de Guerra, and decided that the guinea pig would be Alejandro here.

Finished CCC Yellowjackets Breacher

With that, I have completed all 7 of the CCC Yellowjackets squad.  This guy is the most recent addition of the team, apparently his ability is to open a base-width hole in any fortification/wall.  Sounds cool, but situational at best.

Finished CCC Yellowjackets Demolitionist

That makes 6 finished, and only 1 left.

Finished CCC Yellowjackets Incinerator

5 Yellowjackets members complete, only 2 left to go!

Finished CCC Yellowjackets Sniper

That's 4 down now and only 3 left before the entire Yellowjackets team is ready to deploy!

Finished CCC Yellowjackets Assault Leader

3 down, 4 to go to finish out the CCC Yellowjackets team.  Assault Leader Danny Williams reporting for duty.

If you're curious how I painted him, the process is pretty much the same as that used in the Heavy Assault.

Step-By-Step MERCS: CCC Yellowjackets Heavy Assault

On the bench today is the Heavy Assault miniature for the CCC Yellowjackets.  For full disclosure, there's really not a lot that I'm doing to deviate from the MERCS concept art for this team.  I actually really like how the Yellowjackets are portrayed.  Other teams may get different treatment, though.

Enough of my prattle, though.  On with it!

Test Model: Yellowjackets Medic

Here's how the paint-job worked out on the model I had picked out as my test.  The medic model in the CCC Yellowjackets team seemed the most "standard" looking of them, so I figured it was a good one to get my bearings on.

An interesting thing in the rules-set for MERCS is that "facing" is extremely important.  Which direction your model is facing, what is his forward 180 degree arc, what are his side 90 degree arcs to determine flanking, etc.  I looked around a bit at some ideas others had of solidifying such facings using the base rim itself.  The one that intrigued me the most was similar to this, cutting the base into 45 degree arcs so you can easily pick out any of the relevant facing information relative to the model itself.

Let me know what you guys think of the outcome.  There'll be a step-by-step out soon using the Heavy Assault model.

Edit: Heavy Assault Step-by-Step here.

CCC Yellowjackets inbound!

My first order from MERCS came in last night!  Above, you can see what came in.  I bought the rulebook as well as their "CCC - Into the Breach" box set.  The "into the breach" part refers to that extra model in the blister.  "The Breacher" is the 7th member of the CCC Yellowjackets.

For an idea into what the fluff is all about, here's a quickie:  In the not-too-distant future Earth, the nations have become controlled and split up by mega-corporations and conglomerates.  These new super-powers compete with each other not only in the marketplace, but in clandestine fashion as well as openly hostile military actions.  The Yellowjackets are the most famous team out of the Commercial Corporate Continuity.  The CCC controls pretty much all of the east coast of North America (everything east of the Mississippi plus most of Quebec).  They specialize in nanite technology and steel compounds, and have patented a kind of flexible steel that they use in manufacturing armor.  Their MERCS units are known for having the best equipment available.

Above, you can see what's in the CCC box.  6 pewter figures, each with their own stat card, themed dice, some handy quick-rules table cards, and two cards with terrain on them.

As with on their site, the artwork used in the cards, rulebook, and packaging is amazing.  I stayed up late pouring over the rules and assembled a few of the minis.  I'll send pictures of the fully assembled minis and probably a step-by-step painting on one of them.

MERCS

In my quest for new games systems to get into, I was told to take a look at MERCS.  If you're not familiar with MERCS, you're welcome.

MERCS is a skirmish game, with each team controlling 5 soldiers.  The fluff background around the individual team members is quite compelling, and thus I've ordered the rule-set and the CCC Yellowjackets team box.  I'll post some pics and painting-shots of them when they arrive in the mail, as well as my thoughts around the gameplay itself.