The War in the Webway

[Ryltar Thamior]

Very interesting discussion so far; and can totally see some worthwhile elements to borrow for the Horus Heresy Inq28 we're running. 

As applies construction and envisagement; as ADB says it probably depends rather inordinately upon just *which* segment of the Webway one happens to be inhabiting at the time. 

I could well see the Mechanicum sections being composed of vaguely etherial plate-sections suspended between long-running pipes (this might help explain things like the 'geometric patterns' art you've linked to featuring the Sister of Silence); while other portions of art appear to suggest an almost 'organic' surface-patina to it. That other art you linked to with the Custodes in front almost seemed to bear close resemblance to the inside of a hive from  the Aliens franchise, for instance. 

Other sections could take design-cues from Eldar terrain - particularly if you wished to have a 'hazard' or 'objective' on the board comprised of a portal to some long-abandoned Hellscape that's been sealed, and covered in runes of warding and the like (think the Gate of Khaine in Commorragh). Indeed, you could even do a segment up like some of the fan-made Necron Space Hulk tiles i've seen floating about the place - both due to the 'ancient, monolithic' nature of same and also due to the more recent fluff confirmations taht the Necrons, through their 'dolmen gate' network somewhat "hacked" the webway in order to be able to use it to their own advantage (rahter like, now that i come to think of it, exactly what the Imperium's attempting to do in 30k). 

I'll try have a think about various sci fi films and other visual media you could use for inspiration. Worst comes to worst, there's always Tron :P 

[Supe robot gangster #1]

Very interesting discussion so far; and can totally see some worthwhile elements to borrow for the Horus Heresy Inq28 we're running.

 

As applies construction and envisagement; as ADB says it probably depends rather inordinately upon just *which* segment of the Webway one happens to be inhabiting at the time.

 

I could well see the Mechanicum sections being composed of vaguely etherial plate-sections suspended between long-running pipes (this might help explain things like the 'geometric patterns' art you've linked to featuring the Sister of Silence); while other portions of art appear to suggest an almost 'organic' surface-patina to it. That other art you linked to with the Custodes in front almost seemed to bear close resemblance to the inside of a hive from the Aliens franchise, for instance.

 

Other sections could take design-cues from Eldar terrain - particularly if you wished to have a 'hazard' or 'objective' on the board comprised of a portal to some long-abandoned Hellscape that's been sealed, and covered in runes of warding and the like (think the Gate of Khaine in Commorragh). Indeed, you could even do a segment up like some of the fan-made Necron Space Hulk tiles i've seen floating about the place - both due to the 'ancient, monolithic' nature of same and also due to the more recent fluff confirmations taht the Necrons, through their 'dolmen gate' network somewhat "hacked" the webway in order to be able to use it to their own advantage (rahter like, now that i come to think of it, exactly what the Imperium's attempting to do in 30k).

 

I'll try have a think about various sci fi films and other visual media you could use for inspiration. Worst comes to worst, there's always Tron :P

Now I can't get the mental image of dark elder riding around on light cycles throwing discs at each other out of my head!

[Calas Typhon]

Vallejo White Pumice? I believe might be good to look into for the effect you might be going for on  your bases if you went for the whole mist thing. 

 

just highlight with light blues greys and lots of whites

[Progenitor]

Something that came to my mind with the discussion here is http://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/0/5993/647346-matrix_revolutions_in_the_matrix.jpg it might not follow all of the descriptions but certainly I can feel it might fit with certain interpretations of how the webway could be. 

[Marshal Rohr]

Wouldnt it be safer to just theme your army around the war with generic bases so your army isn't prisoner to whimsy and retcon?

[Dantay VI]

Clear Perspex bases... Then your bases match whatever terrain you are playing on :p

[Corswain]

 

Unfortunately I can't quite model mist in solid form for a base... How about the "walls", then?

 

try frosted plastic?

http://image.made-in-china.com/2f0j00JeutwOzMQAqi/PVC-Rigid-Frosted-Film.jpg

like this but with a white or cream basecoat underneath?

It'd be really cool to have a clear, frosted plastic base to put an LED underneath to give it a warm glow and make a tunnel made of light. Like the picture above.

[CommodusXIII]

Wouldnt it be safer to just theme your army around the war with generic bases so your army isn't prisoner to whimsy and retcon?

 

I selected a very generic basing aesthetic for my Mechanicus for just this very reason.  This Custodes project is going to be a themed army specifically for the War in the Webway - not only as an entry point into 30K, but also for a possible 40K campaign.  I have friends that are collecting Thousand Sons and Craftworld/Harlequin Eldar, so I'm working on a three-way campaign regarding the Black Library.  So, I'm willing to take the risk and be a little more adventurous than usual.

 

The descriptions of the Webway as looking different to every visitor works in my favour, to a certain extent.  Even if its appearance is retconned in the future, it's easy enough to justify the anachronism.  The struggle I've been sorting out is what is the "current" accepted aesthetic - but it seems that at the moment there isn't a clear answer.  Except for the mist, that is, but I'm already working on a novel solution to that one.

 

At the moment, I'm leaning towards a combination of all representations.  A hive/seashell-like texture (thanks Ryltar!) with some patches of both deck plating (Imperial areas) and wraithbone ruins (abandoned Eldar areas).  I'd really like to go with a shining gold color like the Visions of Heresy artwork and Progenitor's excellent analogy, but I don't know if this will work with the mist effect and the golden armour of the Custodes.  Instead, I'm leaning towards a blue/black glittery effect similar to Athrawes' artwork.  I think that that will look great under the mist, and can represent a dying portion of the Webway.

 

So, in my headcanon, the golden areas of the Webway pictured in Visions is the living section tapped into by the Golden Throne.  Maybe that's its natural state, or maybe it's a reflection of Humanity's optimism during that time.  Once Magnus destabilized everything, it began to die and turn black - like an organism rejecting a necrotic limb.  I think I can work in some subtle examples of the Webway reacting to the Mechanicum's colonization efforts, like a tree growing around an abandoned object.  And that's where my Custodes find themselves - fighting desperately to hold back the tide of daemons trying to pour into Terra, while resisting the Webway's triggered immune response to seal off that node and reject the "implanted" human materials.