"Your top five 15mm SF alien races? " Topic

What, to date ,are your top five 15mm alien races?

For me there arent enough "hard sci-fi" races out there yet, like these:
picture
picture
picture
But, if I had to pick 5 so far, these would be them:

1) GZG Alien Mercs (more packs please!)
2) Khurasans Felids (Sure…they're just kitties w/ guns)
3) Khurasans Mekanids (Needs more poses)
4) Khurasans Space Demons (sure, they're you know who…)
5) Thats it….

I honestly couldnt come up with 5. Yes, Ive seen Blue Moon's, Critical Mass', and GZG Ixx and Crusties…not for me. I'm hoping for some scarier stuff in 2011!

Now your picks!

In no particular order:

1) Khurasan Garn
2) Khurasan Space Demons
3) Spriggan Spugs
4) GZG Crusties
5) GZG Alien Mercs

If the Kra'Vak get some new sculpts, they might make the list.

Khurasan Space Demons – Great figures
Spriggan Spugs – I have a completely painted force with support, so that pushes these up the list
Higlander Studios Space Bugs (with Communist Uniforms via Battle Works Studios) – Just fun troops
Critical Mass Protolene Khanates – I like the look and the variety of weapons and troop types. Not too keen on the four leg walker that look like animals.
Rebel Scourge – Biased again since I have a painted force of these guys.

also
Rebel Sons of Thunder
Khurasan Felids
Khurasan Garn
Khurasan Vespulid

I have a LOT of bug forces, so I am a little biased in that area. I also really like the Rebel Sons of Thundar, but they need a few more poses (command etc). Garn and Felids may move up if I could just find the time to work on them.

Jeff

1. Rebel Mini Scourge
2. Khurasan Space Demons
3. Khurasan Garn
4. Rebel Shahadeen
5. Orks from that company that had to quit making them.

Khurasan Space Daemons
Khurasan Felids
Old Martian Metals Aslan

1. khurasan felids
2. rebel Scourge
3. CMG protolene
4. rebel greys
5. Khurasan space demons

1) Khurasan Space Demons
2) Rebel Minis Scourge
3) Critical Mass Protolene
4) Khurasan Felids
5) Critical Mass Astagar (and I'd like to see a few more of the mercenary fighter races expanded)

Honorable mention to GZG Crusties since they're seeing some expansion now. And I received my first pack of Garn as a Christmas present, so we'll see how they paint up.

Chris

1) Garn
2) Crusties
3) Felids
4) Ixx (I would like to see more
5) Lluurg

I would like to see some aliens come out that do not rely on "shock" factor to enhance their alien appearance. Though Blue Moon has done some of these, I will likely not buy many of them because in many cases they are too pulpy and in some cases silly.

-Eli

"Spriggan Spugs – I have a completely painted force with support, so that pushes these up the list"

Pictures please…always liked those guys.

*****

Tough call…of the ones out there, most are fun and interesting.

But as they are 15mm, I would say that beyond the "oh I like that look" the top five should also be viable units for wargaming, with multiple poses and weapon choices.

In no order:

Quar link lots of potential and more to come with mounted troops, lower tech is assumed but could easily be using gyro rocket rifles or pulse rifles rather than bullets, tons of character

Sons of Thunder surprisingly full of detail for their small size, thick and heavy, real fun little guys link with six different poses!

Felids picture space tigers! Theeeeerrrrrrre great! Tons of units/weapons/and support miniatures in the line

Crusties picture coming in with a famous face, this line is continuing to grow with new weapons/units, good crustacean fun

Spugs picture great looking and fun little bugmen, classic look

Lhurgg picture a great choice for the horde or upgraded savages aspect, as aliens or mutants, good stuff

Vespulid picture these guys are just so clean in design, I would like to see them next to the Spugs…lots of variety and additional weapon/unit choices, good looking line

Alien Mercs picture another pretty face, clean and useful as just about any army, less alien than some but certainly fun and viable

Hmmm, ok I choose not to count :)

I am new to 15mm so if I missed anyone then forgive my ignorance…there were others that I have been looking at but they just did not have enough poses, options, or flavor…in the end flavor is what brings us back to the corner noodle house :)

*****

Blue Moon has made a big push in 15mm sci-fi and should be mentioned, although I have had none in hand I do plan an order soon…

Vleta Reavers link
Mercantile Bond Soldiers link these would look good next to Rebel Minis Son of Thunder IMO

1. Khurasan Space Demons (Big hopes for Ti Monhids)
2. Khurasan Mekanoids
3. Rebel Miniatures Scourge
4. GZG IXX / Crusties (they tie)
5. Khurasan Pelagic Dominion (I love the vehicles but I can't get excited over humanoids with animal heads)

Critical Mass Games has a mercenary I would love to see expanded into a full blown race. ( The purple guy with the tail in the freak show pack.)

Ah this guy (on far right) picture

Yes thats him!

1.Felids
2. Vespulids
3.Snakemen from Critical games
4.Ixx
5.Dogmen (protolene khanate ?) from Critical mass

Dragon Gunner – I agree on wanting to see full packs of that guy. It's a very cool sculpt.

1. GZG Ixx
2. GZG Phalon
3. Quar
4. The odd tentacled creatures that look a little like plants ( Can't recall who does them)which work for 15mm.
5. GZG Kra'Vak

Rebel's Sons of Thunder, I would love some character figs BTW.
GZG's Alien Mercenaries.
ZombieSmith's Quar link
Gorilla Games' Xeloxians Gotta love a alien who is all hands link
Spriggan Spugs

Xeloxians…egads! :) picture

28mm asked for a link to my Spug pictures:

Pictures Link: link

Link to discussion Thread: TMP link

Jeff

Jeff thanks!

I used your image as my Spug vote above without knowing it was yours…karma.

Well done with your whole army.

GZG Alien Mercs
Spriggan Spugs
GZG Crusties
Rebel Greys
Khurasan Demons

Dan

Not knocking any ones choices by any means, but I find it interesting that some people have chosen a figure where there is only one mini made in a line.

I guess thats fine for RPG gaming but Im looking for Alien armies to game with so I need suitable pose options, weapon options, command options. Hoping to see more of that in Hard SF in 2011.

Your initial question didn't, in fact, specify races with multiple poses and options.

I always like the old Traveller ones – Vargr and Aslan models which I still have in a tray at home. The Vargr dog ones are a nice range of models.

I have to say that the figures that have most impressed me recently were the Khurasan Orca style killer whale aliens. Those are whacky. The GZG Crusties are also brilliant little aliens.

Like others here I like the CMG models, especially protolene which follow a similar canine theme to the original Vargr but with a bigger range of sculpts and excellent vehicles.

I forgot to mention the Chewks! They are looking stunning and you can see some of the work in progress on a couple of models I am painting here (including the drill tank) :
link

If I have to narrow it down to five: (no order)

Most of this is for sheer originality or appeal.

1. Zombiesmith Quar
2. GZG Ixx
3. Khurasan Lhurgg
4. GZG Crusties
5. Khurasan's Cnidarians

War Eagle Miniatures 12mm range which can be used with 15mm.
Felines
Canines
Avians
Minotaurs
Cemtaurs

Most of this is for sheer originality or appeal.
…
4. GZG Crusties

Guess they come in under "appeal!"

War Eagle Miniatures 12mm range which can be used with 15mm.

Is there a website with pics of these figs? I hit Google, but the first useful link was… your post about this on TMP from 2007:

TMP link

1. Khurasan Garn
2. GZG Kra'vak
3. Khurasan Vacation Alien
4. Critical Mass Astagar
5. Critical Mass Kaamados Dominion

I call them all the Reptilian Empire.

Runner up Khurasan Karkarines

So after a year how do you feel now?

In no particular order.
1) Khurasan Mekanoids
2) Crazy robot Harook
3) Khurasan Space demons
4) CMG Ygs (but need more poses)
5) GZG Crusties
6) Khurasan Vepulids

shame nobody mentioned micropanzer Raivui

shame nobody mentioned micropanzer Raivui

Were those even out in January 2011? I thought they were still just concept art.

Updating my personal top 5, now that 2012 is underway:

1) Mad Robot Harook
2) Khurasan Space Demons
3) Critical Mass Astagar
4) Micropanzer Krystrial Empire (all 3 sub-races)
5) GZG Crusties

-Chris K.

I think yes….
1) Micropanzer Raivui (Supported by Infinity game Combined army drones of course:D)
2)Khurasan space deamons
3)Khurasan Giant space deamons
4) Khurasan Vespulids
5)Crusties in enviro armour.

And, after a few weeks to think about it again . . .

1) GZG Alien Mercs (more POSES please!)
2) Spriggan Spugs
3) GZG Crusties
4) Rebel Greys
5) Khurasans Space Demons

Dan

1) Khurasan Felids (those are figures which pushed me into 15 mm scifi, I have even paid Chris Yaro to have them professionally painted)
2) Oddzial Osmy Space Worms (I have designed and persuaded Marcin to create them, seriously)
3) Criticall Mass Ygs (but need more poses)
4) Criticall Mass Astagar (but need more poses)
5) Khurasan Garn
6) Criticall Mass Naga (great that they are now expanded)
7) Laserburn / Asgard MSM2X Saurian (if anyone could customize them, I would buy a lot)
8) Khurasan Space Demons (one more set of four casual aliens would be great)

I saw some Not-Krogans (after the Mass Effect game series) on Shapeways.

All the talk of Khurasan's Garn and no meantion of those pretty sharp tooth Sharks.

1. Frogans (not-Krogan) on Shapeways
2. Sharkmen by Khurasan
3. Bugs (Highlanders and Khurasans with Bug tanks by Brigade)

Thanks all for now.

Critical Mass Astagar but with more poses.
Critical Mass Zas mercenaries (again a lot more poses are needed)

GZG Crusties
GZG Kravak

Khurasan space daemons

My Top 5:
1. GZG Crusties
2. GZG Kra'Vak
3. CMG Protolenes
4. CMG Kaamodos
5. ACP MaKat

My top five 15mm aliens:

1. Zombiesmith's Quar: I fell in love the moment I discovered them. They work great for lower tech, or even same tech aliens. They have a unique character and lots of 15mm support with new figures regularly being added to the line.

2. Khurasan's Felids: I can't resist Kzinti/Aslan like aliens, and the Felids have a great, if small, range of figures. I look forward to seeing what 2012 brings for the kitties.

3. RAFM's (Citadel) Vargr: My favorite Traveller race, and I thought Citadel got them spot on. While I like the variety of CMG Protolenes, I wish they were more like these Vargr. Limited in use to insurgents or civilians.

4. GZG's Crusties (and Micropanzer's Raivui): While similar to the aliens from District 9, I cannot help but see Kafer from Traveller 2300 in the case of the Crusties, and the Raivui as perhaps a warrior cast or genegeered soldiers.

5. Highlander Studio's Martians: I've always had a soft spot for Space 1889, and have quite a few RAFM Martians and Paroom Station Martians in 25mm packed away. Imagine my excitement when Frank Chadwick announced the new line of miniatures would be in 15mm. So far the figures look great, and I look forward to a large assortment of figures.

Honorable mention: Games Workshop's Tyranid Rippers as horde aliens. They could not be more perfect.

1. RAFM's Vargr.
2. 15mm.co.uk's Shia Kann for my ORKSIS 15mm.co.uk/Shia_Khan.html
3. SPUGs, both Spriggan's and highlanderstudios' Armoured SPUG
4. GZG's Alien Mercenaries, however I do not have these yet.
5. RAFM's Aslan

1. Stan Johansen Miniatures Draco.
2. 15mm.co.uk Grey Aliens.
3. Khurasan Miniatures Felids.
4. Spriggan Miniatures SPUGs.
5. Critical Mass Games Kaamados (I'm a lizard fan, can't you tell? :)).

Ahh, I forgot about my true love: Gorilla Games'/Battlestations Canosians Marines and Engineers. If only someone could make more of them….

1. Quar
2. Ursids
3. Vespulids
4. I kind of like the Felid as Kzin stand ins.
5. GZG Ixx (kind of like the shadows from B5)

I wish I could get some 15mm Drantakhs.

Apologies in advance if resurrecting such an old post if it's not the 'done' thing but I found the above both useful and interesting. Clearly after 3 years and the boom in 15mm sci fi things have moved on though a lot of the above still comes high on the radar when I'm window shopping as being great stuff.

I recently finished off some of Khurasan's Tigrids (Aslan/Kzin) and was doing a bit of online reseach and found this thread. Even back in 2012 they featured high on several lists. I'm late to the 15mm party and still playing catchup so this type of depository of goodness is great.

Anyone want to update their 2012 lists for 2015 or add in some new lists?

My Tigrids and thoughts here: warchest.co.uk