Friday 17 February 2017

Minimalism in AoS28

Okay, so perhaps I should start by explaining a little on what AoS28 is.

Following on from the successes of the INQ28 movement and it's ethos in exploring the darker, forgotten corners of the 41st Millennium and the people who dwell within. AoS28 proposes the same ideals, but naturally, focussing on the Mortal Realms following the cataclysmic events of the Age of Chaos. Inspired by the likes of that which came before (such as Mordheim), AoS28 seeks to move the action away from the frontline 'big battles' and discover what happened to those poor souls that did not have a safe haven in which to wait out the apocalypse. Coupled with the Blanchesque aesthetic that proved very popular in the INQ28 circles, AoS28 attempts to move away from the 'luminescent' vision of the Mortal Realms promoted by Games Workshop and instead delve into a much darker pastiche.

Okay, onto explaining what I mean by 'minimalism'.

Instead of the art/music movement popular in the 20th Century, what I mean by minimalism is rather the characters in the Mortal Realms that represent the 'Man on the Clapham Omnibus'. Now, the Blanchesque aesthetic, especially in miniatures, normally includes loading characters up with all sorts of trinkets, gewgaws, furs and such, treading that fine line between what is artistic and what is overloading. But what about turning that philosophy on it's head?

That is what I mean by minimalism, the dichotomy of the heroic in the simplistic. Compared the grand armies fighting on the front line, in these forgotten corners that the AoS28 ethos espouses, the lowly spearman would become the mightiest of heroes, defending the boarders of their besieged little niche. Essentially, with minimalism, I ask how would I (or anyone living an 'ordinary' life) fare should the forces of Chaos suddenly rampage about my doorstep? What kind of weapons could I find in my own home? What kind of armour, if any?

With minimalism in mind, gone are the mightiest heroes to be replaced by Fred Bloggs armed with a kitchen knife tied to a broom handle. Gone are powerful archmages to be replaced with Jane Doe the hedge witch and her bag of petty magicks.

Just a thought.

Спасибо за прочтение

6 comments:

  1. I think this is a great idea! The thought of just making larger then life heroes is a little boring. I do not want to explore glowing immortal Stormcast, but instead the ordinary people, and how Chaos has changed them.

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  2. I wonder if AOS28 will manage to avoid cloning Mordheim in look & feel. Especially if the focus is on lowly spearmen and such.

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  3. Well said Gretchin! AoS28 is growing into it's own beast, leaving Mordheim and the old world behind.

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  4. That was a nice read, thanks. I've also found that the simple, relatable characters serve to make the grander ones seem more powerful. In an army like the Stormcast none of them seem particularly strong, because they all are. But put just one amongst the crippled town guard of some backwater village and he's a god.

    I'm looking forward to seeing what you bring to the AoS28 table.

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  5. Bring back the pathetic aesthetic to Warhammer! Excellent read!

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  6. "It's not the size of the man in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the man"

    Stormcast and Marvel Heroes, it takes a long time for them to show a bruise. Most boring fight in recent memory was Zod and Superman.

    I'd rather see mortals fight with true and apparent jeopardy - which is why I've always liked Old World Warhammer and why AoS has been alien to me.

    I really look forward to seeing this ethos brought into the Demigod wars of AoS.

    As Remnante says - this then makes the appearance of a Stormcast in their midst much more powerful event.

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