"Khurasan seeks input on fungus army" Topic

Because of the success of our fungoid set:

We've decided to expand the fungoids out to a full-fledged Fungus army for 15mm fantasy, although of course they're also perfectly usable in 15mm sci fi too. Next thing to be released will be spore shooters, to give the army some ranged combat ability:

So, what else would you all like to see to expand the concept into a full-blown army? What springs to mind are command and large monster elements -- any ideas for these or other parts?

I'd like them all to be in the same spirit as the first two codes, so basically animate fungi, not wearing armour or using artificial weapons. In other words, something that just materialises out of the forest to attack. Would like to keep plants and animals out of it if possible. Thanks in advance!

Puffball 'shroom style artillery?

Jon,

I like this idea and some ideas come instantly to mind.

1) Mushlings – A swarm type troop. Possibly the same sort of spores that the spore shooters launch.

2) Brain Fungus – These could be the mages of the fungus army

3) Instead of cavalry, how about some three or four-legged fungi, perhaps with thorny branches for armor and/or weapons?

4) I think giant mushrooms are a good idea for ogress and such.

5) Some sort of exploding puffball, suicide mushies seem in order.

6) Perhaps some sort of flying mushroom cap sort of manta thingy?

Just some thoughts off the top of my head.

-Eli

you could do some animals actually, and still get away with it. like those fungus that infect bugs and take over their bodies. they are pretty gross!

How about a take on the "Zombie Fungi" that takes over ants?

link

I know you have those cool giant ants… maybe having fungi spores (mushrooms) coming out their head as minions of the Fungi overlords?

Harold, looks like you and Heinz have the same idea! Eli the idea that a brain fungus could be a Mage/spell caster is a great one.

There is so much potential here. You have already been given some great ideas. I too like the brain fungus idea.

Example:

The starfish fungi presents some interesting possibilities for a heavy troop type.

link

thats gross.

Eli won the thread.

Floating flying gas filled bags with tendrils is what first came to my mind.
Could have fungoid riders.

Fungi infecting brains and making zombies is a good trope that could be used.

There are lots of slimy, mouldy and gelatinous fungi around. Large slimes that swallow the enemy and digest them is a classic.

I know there are the ink drop mushrooms, not sure the use, but they'd be neat.

Be good to have troops that were compatible with the Vornid.

A) Head sprues with brain alien fungus already sculpted on would be the way to go.

B) The alternative would be something that fits over most heads on figures, like a shower cap with lobes and ridges:

link

link

I would go more with a lichen-like texture.

Dan

Some sort of large Slime, Mold monster for a heavy option.

Harold, looks like you and Heinz have the same idea! Eli the idea that a brain fungus could be a Mage/spell caster is a great one.

Haha, yep!

I took too long to make my post and three better posts were posted first!

Lots of great ideas in here.

My vote Is for an assassin fungi, something loaded to the gills with Amatoxin akin to Lepiota castanada:

link

Nasty stuff, those Amatoxins…my kinda peeps….

Leland R. Erickson
Metal Express
metal-express.net

We actually already make an extraordinarily large slime monster -- here it is compared to 15mm and 28mm genocidal overlord figures for scale purposes:

Big enough?

omg how did i miss that???

First thing that came to mind – Magic The Gathering Fungusaur
link

A horde of tiny one on a base maybe overtaking another model, like a downed horse, cow, pumpkins or humanoids.

Needs a unit that infects others, maybe a fungus critter that has one or two long tendrils so it looks less CoC and more unique, though it would still crossover.

Some bits that could be added to other figures to show they were infected and are now part of the fungus, clumps to cover arms, and some for body, alt heads for others showing the fungus.
That would allow almost any model to be used, would work for Pandemic style games, Pulp and Fantasy even SciFi.

Be great if those bits could be done in a flexible material to help them cover stuff better, but not sure if that is possibility at this time.

What's CoC?

It's a dirty word!

No, it means Call of Cthulhu

How about shambling skeletons, dripping with and animated by slime molds with other sorts of fungus on thrm for second.

Also, some heavier warriors with th hard, tree type fungal growths arranged like armor might be cool.

Heinz mentioned the fungus-enslaved animals. I think that is a solid idea too. Maybe a perversion of the natural fungus farming ants with giant ants or termites. The insects tend to the fungus folk like slaves and are used in warfare as mounts and beasts of burden.

And as a possible opponent the Garden Gnomes by Peter Pig ? (;-))
peterpig.co.uk/range19.htm

Big enough? grin

Hell, no it's not big enough!

Leland R. Erickson
Metal Express
metal-express.net

Ah, are you saying that if I made a larger one you would buy it?

Maybe Truffloids that burrow under enemy lines? If nothing else, they would be good natural enemies for my pig-mounted halflings!

i think his snailmen coming up would be the deadliest possible enemies to mushroom men!!!

we have met the enemy and … nom nom nom nom

Floating flying gas filled bags with tendrils is what first came to my mind.

Memories of StarCraft: "Spawn more Overlords".

Anyway this post totally gives me ideas to use the original Fungoids as sci-fi characters, either infected humans or a new alien race…

If you look at pictures of real fungi, you can find interesting specimens that might make a cool miniature:

Ooh, those are fun. Lots of ideas for alien flora…

Leland R. Erickson
Metal Express
metal-express.net

Ah, are you saying that if I made a larger one you would buy it? grin

Nope. Gonna make my own and save my money for your Space Weasels and other mischief… now lessee, floral wire for the skeleton framework, check, Das air hardening clay, check, plastic rhinestones for the eyes and pustules, check… this is gonna be fun…

Leland R. Erickson
Metal Express
metal-express.net

How about warrior-thrall race of terrapin-oids who are mind controlled by a strain of sentient mold. Some genetically engineered to fly on feathered wings, some with a penchant for throwing hammers, some with ninja/infiltrating skills, some "undead" providing a shelled skeleton for fungi warriors, and some breathing something akin to greek fire or plasma.

The thrall warriors and fungi cohorts attack a Terran league hive world, kidnapping the Lord-Governor's daughter, and in the ensuing battle to rescue her two techno-plumbers are caught up in the intense close-quarters battles in the hive-city's maze of ventilation and plumbing, the heat of crenelated sub-level geothermic power stations, finally confronting the reptillian leader on an archaic aether-ship.

Unfortunately, the princess is in another castle…

RVandusen,

YouTube link

Dan

How about something on the lines of "Attack of the Mushroom People" great "B" movie!

I think those are a lot like my rank and file fungoids. What I'm looking for are new troop types to flesh out the line. I have some good ideas in this thread for sure.

I like the idea of fungus infected zombie humanoids. Maybe if your humanoid troops fall to the fungoids, they come back as fungus zombies. They would have a lot of cross-over appeal to sci-fi and zombie genres.

And how about just having some simple mushrooms, like on the bases of the 'mushroom people' above, in War Monkey's post; maybe about 10mm tall. They could be used as swarms or as an area effect mushroom growth marker; like a spell effect. They would have a lot of cross over appeal too, as decoration, etc.

I'd prefer some more slimy molds than the huge delectable tentacle monster you showed above.

More like the third picture rvandusen showed us.
Perhaps a bit more active than that.

Or totally passive, like a trap.

Trufflians sliced thinly,garlic butter, saute and served with toast. Yum! 8-D

Actually maybe some Redcaps with pointy sticks and rough bows suitably poisoned like in the farirytale books, beautiful old style fungoid peoples each with a purpose according to their ecological niche. Like the 'brain mushroom' idea and large exploding fungoids, You could do a fire or ooze firing one similar to the creatures from that company that cannot be named. Cheers happy sculpting. PS when are you opening again?

Those spore shooters… I would like them for sci-fi.

15mm.uk has those vegetans with bolsters and bandoliers. ..which I love ( even though its tough to envision)

These may work together as fungi come in many forms.

I think a bandolier around the neck of those shooters or a suicide vest might make them pretty deadly

If you ask me, Fungoids with AK (AKA primitive militia of natives with cheap mass produced guns )

Dare you to sculpt a giant stinkhorn! The Victorians were so afeared of them they painted them upside down in biology books.

Some Katana armed shitake types?

I sculpted these (Spore Launcher, Ogre and deformed Shaman):

There is something really captivating about evil mushrooms--it is a strange thing. Do remember that Pendraken have some really nice "fungoid types". They are marketed as 10mm, but should fit with a 15mm collection. They can be found in their Fantasy Dungeon line; one set are plain mushrooms, the other is of evil mushroom men (Funguys!). They are a lot of fun to paint.

Not to redirect the thread, but any idea when the Khurasan website will be back from the holidays? Looking to send money to someone, and you all are my first stop.

Thanks,
Tim

Insomniac,

I'm not a mushroom fan but, I must say, you made some really cool ones there!!!

Dan
PS. Without the mushroom tops those guys could pass for awesome giant alien (or lab-grown) creatures!

As it is fantasy I would love to see the heavy armour versions for once.

stacked together it looks like scale armour to me!
link

If you lump a lot of them together they make a testudos
Three shield walls emerge from cover.

@Insomniac – I would love to buy some of those…

@Jon – love the mushroom guys – hope they show up soon!

For fungi-like pillars:

TMP link

Dan

What about some humans infected with parasitic fungal infections, as in The Last of Us? Certainly a more interesting alternative to zombies.