Final Update: Ok, this should be the last update, The website should (I say should cause I'm using my computer as a server and my connection is fragile at best) be up soon so I can post info there instead of here. Heres the link to the homepage of the site [link] , the links don't work yet, I'll try to get them running and post them up as soon as I can. Also, it seems that a lot of people are confused as to the nature of the black age project (this is probably my fault cause I'm so damn vague). Black Age is a table top wargame, similar to warhammer 40k. Supposedly alot of people think that its a computer game or a mod (if you think i can program or even begin to program a video game your giving me way to much credit). Hopefully this doesn't deter any of y'all from helping.



WEBSITE: Thats right, Black Age now has an official website. Well, actually it has a template that will eventually be an official website. When I get the site up and running ill probably post all of my updates these instead of my journal. As of now, only the homepage is working, and even then I cant get any of the pictures to work,
Second Update: Ok, some of y'all have chosen the pieces that you want to work on so I've marked them on the list so people don't do the same thing twice



Update: I'm very pleased as some of yall have offered to help out with the Black Age Project. Instead of assigning people stuff (I cant pay anyone so I think yall should at least get to choose what you want to work on) I'm gonna post what I need drawn/written on this journal and yall can pick and choose what you want to do. I don't expect anyone to do all of this, its just a list of things I eventually want to get done. Anything you can do will be greatly appreciated (if you do draw or write anything you will be mentioned in the credits at the back of the book, probably under the title of associate artist or associate writer). Also, the list will also be updated if I need anything else done. However, since I will be using these works in (hopefully) published material I do need to have some form of quality control. The written stuff I will simply read through and if I like it Ill use it (I might also make addition/deletions for length and content purposes, I hope thats ok). As for the drawn stuff, it should near to above the quality of "imperial line officer" [link] background images (see below) should be near to above the quality of [link]
Also, if you have any questions don't hesitate to ask. A lot of the background info (such as uniforms, weapons, etc) can be found in my gallery but if your unsure Id rather you ask me and produce an accurate work than not ask not make something I cant use, it'll be less heartache on both sides. Also, if you want to do something please tell me so that I can cross it off the list, that way we don't have two people working on the same thing.

Things that need to be written

A history on the exploits of famous units or heroes (written as if it were part of a history book.) these will range from 3/4 of a page to 1/4 of a page

quotes and pearls of wisdom. these will be short (usually less than one line) and will be stuff like "Know thy enemy" and "Always keep a firm grasp on reality, or you shall risk being comsumed by your own phantoms." Most of these will be military related and have to do with how to beat an enemy or how to stay alive and be a good soldier.

propaganda and patriotic speeches (these will be short ranging from 1/4 of a page to 1/2 of a page.)

passages on certain events that will relate to thing being presented in the book, these will be used to link to rules in the book to the actual universe. the event I currently need written about are:

A sniper aiming at a high priority target (1/4 page)

An outlander caught in a gang fight (1/4 page)

Hand to hand combat between a imperial officer and a patrician officer (both have enhanced swords and pistols) (1/2 page)

A pilot strafing a ground infantry target (1/4 page)

TAKEN-An imperial infantry platoon defending a trench against an enemy assault (it will start with the enemy at a distance but will inolve hand to hand combat) (1 page)

Things that need to be drawn

Soldiers from all faction that will be present in the background (behind to text) these don't have to be super detailed as they'll not be stand alone pieces, the 1st page of the Black Age rule book [link]
contains an example of this

single soldier drawings without a background, these will be used as artwork relating to the rules being talked about in the rulebook. poses I currently need are:

A sniper aiming his gun

I character with dual guns aiming toward the somthing

a soldier charging forward with a fixed bayonet.

an imperial pilot.

a soldier (or officer) looking through binoculars

drawings of multiple characters without a background these will also be used as artwork relating to the rules being talked about in the rulebook. scenes I currently need are:

two soldiers (not officers) fighting hand to hand with knives

two soldiers firing a fixed machine gun

two soldiers firing an anti tank weapon

two soldiers carrying a third wounded soldier

a soldier pointing something out to another soldier

Soldiers drawn with a background. these will also be used as artwork relating to the rules being talked about in the rulebook. scenes I currently need are:

a soldier in a poncho in the rain

a soldier looking a around a corner at something (be creative)

a ganger hiding in an alley

a soldier giving food to a civilian child

There will also be scenes drawn with multiple soldiers with a background. These will also be used as artwork relating to the rules being talked about in the rulebook. I don't really expect any of yall to do these since they are a hell of a lot of work, but if you want to do a scene either comment or note me and I can give you information.

Colored pictured, these will be used in the colored "background" section of the book, they will need to very high quality. I don't really expect any of yall to do these since they are aslo hell of a lot of work, but if you want to do one either comment or note me and I can give you information.








Let me start by saying that I'm swamped, between activities, school, family and black age I can barely find time to sleep. To make matters worse I recently lost my art folder (contains all my sketches and concepts as well as a bunch of notes and info) at school and still cant find after a week of searching. Still, the part thats making things the hardest is the fact that I can seem to organize any of my stuff into something tangible enough to be believable. Also, I'm a terrible writer, so most of the documentation I've written is either terrible or will require hours worth of editing. This is all very depressing cause I was supposed to have a working beta of the game rules to present at the coolminiornot forum at the beginning of November. As it turns out I haven't even got the human races ironed out let alone the universe or the alien races. Needless to say I've pushed back the deadline to mid December. So, without further a due let me show what I have thus far so you see the current state of the black age universe.

As of now I have a couple of games planned (only one is under development, the others are pet project that will come later)

Black Age: Fall of Man

this is the "first" black age game I worked on and is thus far the most fully developed, most of the artwork in my gallery was made for this game. Its set in the late 3000s, when humanity has split into two rival factions, the Empire and the Confederacy. Other races include 3 "manufactured" human-ish races that were originally soldiers created by mankind to fight its wars that rebelled and set up nations of their own. None of the alien races planned are very well defined, but there are several in the works. The actual game play will revolve around small squad combat with each player controlling 5-20 men. The miniatures currently planned will be 1/36 scale models, but I have yet to find of sculptor to make such models.

Black Age: Open War

Set in the same period as Black age: fall of man. The difference will be that players will control larger armies, something like 50-100 models on each side. Players will also be able to control vehicles like tanks and aircraft

Black Age: Event Horizon

This is set in the same universe as the other black age games but is much further in the future. The setting takes place during the collision of the Milky way and Andromeda galazies. Humanity, and most of the other life in both galaxies, is wiped out, and the survivors must fight against each other to facilitate their continued existence. The gameplay for this game will be similar to Black age: fall of man, but there will more emphasis on heroes and other individual characters.

Black Age: Over the Abyss

This one is even further in the future than Black Age: event horizon, it takes place during the biblical apocalypse, and will feature many fantasy attributes as well as Sci fi ones. this one is the least worked out of the games.

Black Age: Old World

Black age in a fantasy setting, not much else on this one yet (Ive got a map of the world in the works and that dwarf I drew a long time ago was from this universe)

Needless to say, I need help. However, I cant pay, so if you want to contribute youll need to do so on a volunteer basis. If you want to help send me a note or leave a comment, anything so can do would be greatly appreciated. Also, the contest is still open if anyone wants to enter.






the contest

Ok, its more like the empire needs you, disparately. If you notice, all of my recent work has been focused on the Empire race for the Black Age table top wargame. So I'm going to initiate a contest, in fact two contests.

The first one is for you to design an variation of the imperial uniform, such as one specialised for space combat or desert warfare of something like that. the entries will be judged on their:

1. originality,
2. utility,
3. how well they fit in, (they have to look like they belong in the same universe as my
other concepts"
4. quality


The second one calls for you to create a scene involving 1 or more imperial soldiers. it will be judged under the same criteria as contest 1

The winners of each contest will receive an original drawing with up to four characters of the Black Age universe in a situation of their choosing.

Also, please tell your friends about this contest, I'm trying to get as many entires in as possible.

oh yeah, I have to tell you that if you enter the contest you are giving me permission to use your work to promote the black age project (I will give you credit if I use any of the work). And if you enter contest 1 you are giving me permission to use/modify the concept that you come up with. If this is a problem you can still enter but you must explicitly tell me I do not have permission to use your work.