"Khurasan previews space monster, the Magellanic Nomad" Topic

These colossal creatures wander the void of space, mostly, and are usually observed coming from the Large Magellanic Cloud, hence the name Magellanic Nomad.

They consume matter from space, especially gases from the outer rim of stars, and are capable of generating ion power internally. They can use this to propel themselves through space, and can also vent ion blasts at threats, from the front intake ('mouth") or a number of vents on the body used for propulsion. They use their rear flipper-legs for steering, putting them in the path of their own rear ion vents in order to change vector.

The maw never closes, but it scoops up gases and the occasional solid matter and can crush anything taken in with incredible force, contracting the maw so that thousands of huge grinding plates can crush the intake to dust. Around the lip of the maw are thousands of holes containing eyes. These are shed like a shark sheds teeth, and quickly regrown, so that the loss of eyes when struck by space debris (or fire from a starship) is not an issue for the creature. There are also batches of larger eyes on the sides of the "head" for viewing to the flanks of the creature.

Nomads can travel for tens of thousands of years without making planetfall, but when they do find a life bearing planet they will land and travel the planet, consuming life forms using thousands of slender tentacles with teeth on the ends. In this way, creatures as small as insects or large as whales are taken in and consumed. The tentacles are located in banks of vents on either flank of the creature -- when in space the front flipper-legs cover these vents. In the image above two humans fleeing the Nomad may be seen to its front, at ground level.

The Nomad's flipper-legs have claws on the ends which give the creature traction as it moves across the surface of the land, partly supported as well by ion venting. When it is feeding in a liquid body the flippers propel it across the surfrace and a keel fin keeps it steady as the tentacles cascade through the liquid, harvesting.

When the Nomad has denuded the planet of life, which can take thousands of years, it will propel itself into space using "fuel" stored in its ion bladder.

Magellanic Nomads are a Class A1 Threat on the TPS (Federal Navy Threat Prioritisation Scale). Their extreme size and heavy armour make them exceptionally difficult to kill, and their ability to direct ion blasts from the vents located across their bodies makes them a match for the largest Federal vessels.

Des Hanley did the sketches above from an encounter with a Nomad when he was serving aboard the Federal Battleship King Edward III. It was the basis of the model we had produced of this planetkilling monstrosity, which has been sculpted and will soon be cast. (The only real difference is that the keel fin is much smaller than in the sketch.)

It has been made as part of our upcoming spaceship range, as an enormous biological adversary. Stay tuned, and watch the skies ….

Wow.

Budong!

Gesundheit!

"We're going to need a bigger boat"

Wow! Could you give a size approximation for 15mm? Does it compare to the Octopus God, Tentacled Mass etc?

Here's a photo of the body. The first set of flippers were made for spaceship combat -- it has the front flippers covering the fedding vents, and the rear set are out to the sides as the creature lines up a blast on an unfortunate ship.

The kit comes with a cool flying base that has an asteroid surface on it. If there's enough demand it could make an itty-bitty Nomad in 15mm scale, I guess, with different flippers to depict it walking.

Attractive. Very Wayne Barlowe-ish design aesthetic, like something out of Expedition.

Whoa.

I can see that beastie floating over my 15mm sci-fi table as a big, nasty air asset for my Space Demons!

That looks amazing. Looking forward to its availability :)

I love it! No need to make a smaller one for 15mm. Unless of course you want to make Nomadlings. That thing could swallow one (or more) of my Exterminators whole! This baby is gonna shoot to the top of my Khurasan wish list when it's released. Any idea of an ETA for this thing Jon?

@darthfozzywig,

Touche!

…our upcoming spaceship range

Can't..wait.

NICE. Jon, when the time comes, I'll cook up some stats for this cuddly beastie for SD:TNM if that's OK with you, and post 'em on the Metal Express forum.

Very cool critter.

Leland R. Erickson
Metal Express
metal-express.net

Play appropriate music:

YouTube link

Dan

neato!

Holy Klono's gadolinium guts!

Gotta wonder if that is what scared the Kra'Vak into backing off from the Siege of Sol . . . And for once, a magnificent piece of fluff for such a creature.

Oh this thing beats space demons as a threat hands down. If there's one there's likely to be more.

Will be sending it to Ravenstar to get it cast and hope to have it turned around soon! Then just need to get it painted and it's good to go.

Budong !!!

yes i know that RavenscraftCybernetics already said that but it is frelling Budong !!!!!
:)

Yet another wee timourous beastie for Cohen the Barbarian to test his metal on – we need bigger blasters!

Fantastic product, fits any number of scales and games. makes it very useable.

Spaceships – oh , there goes my budget for this year!

wow, very cool mini, i'll have to order several when it's ready.

Okay, we've been watching the skies, already. Been two months; can we get an update? ;->=

And isn't it 'test his mettle'? Not that he'd not be doing that other thing, as well…

Doug

Oh wow, spaceship range?
I was just looking at my Full Thrust fleet yesterday and thinking of breaking them out again with people being interested by space combat in my area.

Hmmm..how did I miss this one?

-Eli

"Budong!"

Glad I'm not the only one!

Will be sending it to Ravenstar to get it cast and hope to have it turned around soon! Then just need to get it painted and it's good to go.

The model go out to him yet? That was three months ago now.

Very late, but I must join in the chorus of "budong!" We need one for 28mm.

I immediately thought of the Planet Killer from the original Star Trek. Nice photo of Decker, btw. :)

What's "budong"?

Sounds like some sort of strange sexual practice.

I'm still holding onto the model as I was waiting for the castings of my first ship models, but I've got those now and should be releasing them soon so I will be sending the Nomad to be cast.

surely, he is less impressive in the middle of a mine field! But totaly awesome, of course!

Nice for 15mm as well.

If I recall correctly, a budong is giant space creature from "Farscape."

It has been made as part of our upcoming spaceship range, as an enormous biological adversary. Stay tuned, and watch the skies …

Wow! That is a *very* cool looking space monster that could fit into any number of games. I can't wait to see what else you come up with. :-)

Wow…. Just as I was pondering a Space Patrol-ish game….

I want two one for space and one for attacking remote colonies…

Alright, held my voice as long as possible.

Has there been an update about this ANYWHERE?

Doug

YouTube link

Link for non believers :)

No, no, no, not the Budong, the Nomad… ;->=

Doug