Re-inventing Squats Concept Art

[Easy E]

Greetings,

As many of you no doubt know, there is a lively discussion going on in the Background Forum about re-imagining the Squats into 40K. It's generally been agreed that the old Space Dwarf as Hells Angels needed to be abandoned and a new direction created. I ask YOU, the artists of Warseer to help in this process.

Here is a link to the Background discussion:
http://www.warseer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46402

Without further ado, here are some of my chicken scratchs to help get the ball rolling.

http://img68.imageshack.us/img68/639...sca1lk5.th.png

http://img68.imageshack.us/img68/627...sca2gg6.th.png

http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/9688/clanca3nc3.th.png

http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/8...nca4fa1.th.png

I'm no artist, but C&C welcome. Which ones do you think work best for the new Squats (BTW we have decided to call the neo-squats Varingr)

[Zedric]

I especially like the third one, with the helmed trooper. It looks comparatively easily convertable from guardsmen, but suitably more advanced than imperial tech. That's really how the Squats ought to have been all along. I also like the "braided" mustache on the floating head in the second drawing. That's how I picture a "future dwarf."

Plus, they don't look dissimilar from the Grymn, which bodes well for my evil plan.

[Destecado]

I think it all depends on the environement that you find the Varingr in what they will be wearing. Sorry no picture at this time, but here are a couple of ideas.

The basic "uniform" of the Varingr would probably consist of coverall utilities or some kind of one piece jump suit. Its light comfortable and easily customizable. It serves just as easily for doing work as it does for going to war. Over the top can be added a combat harness (combat webbing), knee and elbow pads or forearm (bracers) and calve guards. Actually something similar to the look of the colonial marines from Aliens might work.

Underneath the utilities or in space (on board ship), the Varingr might wear a form fitting garment that looks similar to a wet suit or body stocking. Though similar in look, its function and the material it is made out of are not the same. The garment regulates body temperature, it is also covered in microscopic fibers that can be activated. These hairs are reminiscent of the hairs on the pads on a gecko's. This allows them to adhere to surfaces, which helps if artificial gravity is lost or shut off (usually when repairs to said vessel are being conducted). It also allows maintenance crews to reach and affect repairs in area or at angles that would be dangerous in normal circumstances.

[Voronwe[MQ]]

Segmented neck armour, if one are able to apply it subtle enough, might be given a try.

[Acolyte of Bli'l'ab]

I like Destecado's jumpsuit idea the best personally, I'd also take inspiration from Dr Who's Sontarans too :

http://nzdwfc.tetrap.com/archive/tsv22/g/sont1.jpg

something like that might work for them, and make them look more "evolved" human. The Sontarans are a clone-race too, that could also explain how the squat race survived, genetic engineering and cloning. Just an idea anyway

[Chiron]

the jumpsuit description puts me in mind of the Van Saars clothing, body suit with useful bits and pieces on it

[Destecado]

I like Destecado's jumpsuit idea the best personally, I'd also take inspiration from Dr Who's Sontarans too

The link didn’t work, but I’m familiar with the Sontarans. I’m a little leery of the upside down fruit bowl helmets with eye slits…at least for ground forces. Something like that might work for vac-suits. Rather than being solid metal like the Sontarans, it could instead be made of made of a polarize plastic material. Although it appears opaque on the outside, It is transparent on the inside. This increases the Varingr’s field of vision while suited up.

This helmet rather than being a separate part from the rest of the suit is one piece with the upper torso of the suit. Actually, this could be one type of suit used. Instead of being set on top of the shoulders, it is set slightly forward and is slightly oversized. This gives the suit a bit of a hunchbacked look, but offers the best field of vision. The one piece construction would save on materials. It also eliminates the difficulty one might experience trying to turn the helmet to look at something to the right or left. With the neck free of the retaining collar that would be necessary in most suits (to lock the helmet to the rest of the suit) the wear has an easier time of turning the next from side to side.

For normal ground units, I was picturing something that looked a little like this:

http://www.japanese-armor.com/images...cts/ah2314.jpg

I think we definitely need to get away from the horned helms and typical dwarfish look. A modern update of this helmet would provide good protection for the head and neck. The face mask, rather than being an integral part of the helmet is a separate piece. I have always hated the Space Marine helmets, where they take off the entire helmet leaving the head exposed. This style would allow the Varingr to remove the face mask without sacrificing the total protection of the helmet. Different attachments would include a respirator, visual augmentation or just a really scary face.

the jumpsuit description puts me in mind of the Van Saars clothing, body suit with useful bits and pieces on it

Similar to the Van Saar, yes, but that is just the base part. There will of course be finer clothes within Varingr society, these are just their "work" coths. The addition of an armored carapace covering the torso, and arm, elbow, knee and calf guards will make it look very different.

[Hellebore]

For normal ground units, I was picturing something that looked a little like this:

http://www.japanese-armor.com/images...cts/ah2314.jpg

I think we definitely need to get away from the horned helms and typical dwarfish look. A modern update of this helmet would provide good protection for the head and neck. The face mask, rather than being an integral part of the helmet is a separate piece. I have always hated the Space Marine helmets, where they take off the entire helmet leaving the head exposed. This style would allow the Varingr to remove the face mask without sacrificing the total protection of the helmet. Different attachments would include a respirator, visual augmentation or just a really scary face.



Similar to the Van Saar, yes, but that is just the base part. There will of course be finer clothes within Varingr society, these are just their "work" coths. The addition of an armored carapace covering the torso, and arm, elbow, knee and calf guards will make it look very different.

In order to get away from typical dwarfen archetypes I have been doing exactly this, combining japanese and nordic stylings, especially for the names.

Hellebore

[Voronwe[MQ]]

Japanese and nordic stylings? This is proving very interesting.

[Easy E]

For normal ground units, I was picturing something that looked a little like this:

http://www.japanese-armor.com/images...cts/ah2314.jpg

I think we definitely need to get away from the horned helms and typical dwarfish look. A modern update of this helmet would provide good protection for the head and neck. The face mask, rather than being an integral part of the helmet is a separate piece. I have always hated the Space Marine helmets, where they take off the entire helmet leaving the head exposed. This style would allow the Varingr to remove the face mask without sacrificing the total protection of the helmet. Different attachments would include a respirator, visual augmentation or just a really scary face.

That was the idea I was trying to simulate with these helmet patterns:
http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/3...nca5si5.th.png

I actaully see the front face plate as lifting up similar to the sterotypical knights helmet, it's just that my drawing skills could not do it justice.

A note on horns. Many people seem to want to get away from this look. I see it having a place in more elite/honorary units such as the Hearthguard (Highguard) units where a bit of flash is needed to accentuate the wearers rank. Even Samurai helmets (Like the one sited above) would make use of horns, cresecents, and other design elements for the higher ranks.

Edit: Some others were also hinting at a more steeampunk feel for the Varingr. Any ideas on what that would look like?

[Lockjaw]

Just kind of quickly drew this last night

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...el/varingr.jpg

Kind of went with a japanese style helmet, with ancestor faces on it.

Added the searchlight on the shoulderpad because I was watching 5th elemetn and saw the cops in the movie. and searchlights would make sense in tunnels i guess

[Voronwe[MQ]]

It would indeed make a lot of sense, though I'd make the searchlight a bit more discrete or with 'face-shields'.

[Gen.Steiner]

To be honest, there are already models that fit, superbly, the ideas put forth for Varingr 40K, produced by Hasslefree Miniatures:

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5.../Varingr01.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5.../Varingr02.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5.../Varingr03.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5.../Varingr04.jpg

They're about 20mm tall to their eyes, which makes them VERY short, but they are in-scale for 40K. I especially like the exo-suit/power armour one, which looks just right for a living ancestor.

[Easy E]

Yes, I agree that they are great models. However, they need to be gothiced up just a tad to fit into 40K in my opinion.

A good example is the stylized helmet designs we have been talking about. Functional, but also with a bit of flair above and beyond the generic sci-fi field.

@Lockjaw- Is the beard that of the troops, since you mentioned the face of the ancestor on the helmet?

I think the searchlight is a great idea. I wanted to do it myself, but my skills failed me. Perhaps if we could integrate it into the armor better? Maybe in the chestplate.

[Gen.Steiner]

Yes, I agree that they are great models. However, they need to be gothiced up just a tad to fit into 40K in my opinion.

Why? The Varingr are, as far as I can tell from the giant thread () essentially pre-Heresy humans.

They wouldn't need the buttresses, gothic arches, or winged helmets.

Surely they would look much more ... I don't know, kind of a human take on the Tau. Not so much anime but classic SF.

Besides - look at the Cadians. How Gothic are they?

[Easy E]

I agree that we don't need buttresses, arches, winged helmets, Scroll work, etc. However, the Varingr have a long artisan tradition. They are practical and pragmatic yes, but they are also proud of themselves, their lineage, and their clans. This would be reflected in the gear that each trooper has to supply on their own. Little details would help distinguish them from their fellows. This reduces the amount of standardization you would see in the army.

Don't get me wrong, I think the Grymm are great models and a wonderful base. I just think the helmets would need to be modified. Personally, I would like my Varingr to be less like short IG and something a bit more unique.

As an aside, the Varingr are more than just pre-heresy humans. They are their own culture now. Perhaps they still think of themselves as the "pure" bred humans while the Imperials are corrupted; but they are still very different from those original colonists in physical form, culture, technology, etc.

[Gen.Steiner]

I liked the idea of personalised colour schemes that was mooted some time back, I think that alone would be enough to distinguish them.

Don't forget, too, that their lack of buttresses etc is also a defining look which can just as easily be a part of their culture as otherwise.

Runes etc can be painted on or added with GS to the Grymn, but to be honest I think the personalised armour and clothing fits really nicely with the Varingr...

[Easy E]

True, and I think the Grymm would be a nice base to work with. I just think their helmets would need to modified and some GS work done.

However, I can't totally concede your point otherwise what would be the point of the thread?

@Lockjaw- Now I see the face of the ancestor. Subtle, but it totally fits the look of the Samurai helmet you were referencing. Nicely done.

[Gen.Steiner]

True, and I think the Grymm would be a nice base to work with. I just think their helmets would need to modified and some GS work done.

However, I can't totally concede your point otherwise what would be the point of the thread?

Hahaha! Good point

Tell ya what, when I order my 12 Grymn (that I'm going to use as Varingr mercenaries fighting for the Tau) on Monday I shall paint them up as Varingr and post pics on here and then we shall see what you think, eh?

[Destecado]

Why? The Varingr are, as far as I can tell from the giant thread () essentially pre-Heresy humans. They wouldn't need the buttresses, gothic arches, or winged helmets.
Surely they would look much more ... I don't know, kind of a human take on the Tau. Not so much anime but classic SF.

I agree with Gen. Steiner. Why is there such a great push to give them a steam punk look? I am really sick of people saying oh well, the Tau do mecha so the squats have to do steam punk. I am also getting tired of the whole beard and hearth guard thing. We are trying to separate the Squats from the Dwarf stereotypes, yet people are continuously falling back upon these concepts from Warhammer Fantasy.

I would personally like to see a Varingr Codex that was more like the newest Imperial Guard codex. It would allow for a greater customization of each clan, which can be far different from one another. This would allow those who wish to have Varingr with beards. Personally, mine will not.

It is also possible to have augmented suits, based off of something like the power loader from Aliens, that don’t look like Mecha from anime, but also stop the Varingr from looking like short space marines. So inspiration can be drawn from anime…after not all Anime centers on Mecha. Even those anime that include Mecha have other vehicles. Below are just two examples (from Megazone 23)

http://www.mahq.net/mecha/megazone23...-x-flagger.jpg

http://www.mahq.net/mecha/megazone23...2/flagger2.jpg

These vehicles kind of remind me of the Squat Gyrocopters that relied on huge turbines to remain aloft. Here, the turbines are replaced with ducted fans, but the principle is still the same. The vehicles could also be retrofitted for use in vacuum. Replace the ducted fan system with reaction control thrusters and the Varingr could use them to maneuver around their asteroid worksites.

In a way, they also kind of remind me of land speeders (except with ducted fans rather than anti-grav). These could be a way to work in bikes or at least land speeder style squadrons into a Varingr army.

I actaully see the front face plate as lifting up similar to the sterotypical knights helmet, it's just that my drawing skills could not do it justice.

Can I ask why we want them like “stereotypical” visors on a knight’s helm? How about a compromise? Instead of the clunky visors, what about an internalized visor like the ones in a fighter pilot’s helmet? This visor would cover the top half of the face. It may also include a heads up display which could be projected on the inside of the visor…or it could actually be a wafer design that not only incorporates the ability to display pop up windows, but also changes the optical view of what the wearer sees through it. The bottom part of the face would be covered by a mask that incorporated respirator and communications…Actually, kind of like the riders in the pictures above.

A note on horns. Many people seem to want to get away from this look. I see it having a place in more elite/honorary units such as the Hearthguard (Highguard) units where a bit of flash is needed to accentuate the wearers rank. Even Samurai helmets (Like the one sited above) would make use of horns, cresecents, and other design elements for the higher ranks.

Flash to accentuate rank…I thought that is what Stars and Bars (reference to modern ranking systems) were used for. We’ve already discussed the idea of the Varingr painting their space suits, maybe this also carries over to other clothing. It need not be a painted picture, it could also be symbols such as horns to show rank. Instead of being actual horns sticking out of the helmet, they would be painted on the side. This would be more practical (since protruding horns might get snagged).

Yes, I agree that they are great models. However, they need to be gothiced up just a tad to fit into 40K in my opinion.

You mean we should give them pail skin, black hair and make them thin, weepy and emo? Seriously though, they are not of the Imperium. They should therefore have their own feel, preferably not steam punk either.

I think the searchlight is a great idea. I wanted to do it myself, but my skills failed me. Perhaps if we could integrate it into the armor better? Maybe in the chestplate.

I think that the light should be built into the side of the helmet, that way the light is always facing in the direction that the wearer is looking, where the light is needed. It might also not be a normal light. Such lights would give away position. Maybe an ultra violet beam, which are picked up by receptors in the helmet, which translate the image on the visor for the wearer. Another idea would be a variable beam. It can be used as a normal flashlight or switched over to UV depending on the situation.

It also makes a good signal device. It allows for signals to be sent…maybe with an updated version of morse code…when radio silence must be maintained or when there is too much jamming to use normal communications. There could also be a laser range finder incorporated as well. This would be helpful with shooting or judging distance on planet, but not completely necessary. In space however this would be extremely valuable. It is hard to judge distances in space.

The laser range finder would allow you to accurately judge, which would allow for the calculation of burn time…to rendezvous with a target or judge how long it will take a ship of other object to reach a given destination. Several timed bursts from the laser range finder can also give an estimate of relative velocity of the target…it closed a given distance in the several seconds between readings…