Tag: minatures

From the Silver Screen to the Tabletop: Embracing Infinity the Aesthetic of PanOceania

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Andrew over at Not By Strength, By Guile recently picked up another new Infinity army and it got me thinking about my Infinity army. We both dabbled in the Infinity Code One game rules last summer and I realized I haven’t done a blog post about Infinity. In recent blog posts, I’ve talked about Age of Sigmar and about the virtual battlefields of War Thunder and how that can provide inspiration for your painted armies on the tabletop. This time though I wanted to talk not about the inspiration of the virtual battlefield, but about the cinematic inspiration from the grand narratives of film. This week I am going to write about Infinity and how “The Kingdom of Heaven” guided me to choose an army that is near to my heart: the illustrious PanOceania faction.

The Military Order Hospitaller Action Pack from the Corvus Belli Webstore. Source: Corvus Belli Webstore

Infinity and Code One: A Brief Overview

Before we dive into the knightly charm of PanOceania, let’s set the stage with what Infinity and Code One is. Created by Corvus Belli, Infinity is a tabletop skirmish game that transports players to a science fiction universe, where skirmishes and strategic battles shape the fate of the Human Sphere. It’s a game celebrated for its depth, tactical gameplay, and, notably, its highly detailed 28mm metal miniatures.


Code One serves as a streamlined version of the original Infinity game, designed to be more accessible to new players while retaining the game’s core mechanics. It offers a simplified entry point into Infinity’s expansive universe, focusing on the most iconic factions and allowing for quicker, yet equally engaging, gameplay. Whether you’re commanding a team of futuristic knights or engaging in covert operations, Code One promises a dynamic and visually stunning tabletop experience.

The JSA army from infinity. My second love and second army in the Infinity Universe.
Source: https://infinitytheuniverse.com/blog/jsa-action-pack-the-bushido-warriors

The PanOceania Faction: Knights of the Future

My journey into PanOceania started with the allure Orlando Bloom and the 2005 film “The Kingdom of Heaven”. I was already searching for a new infinity faction to place and after that movie I found myself enamored with the PanOceania faction. This faction, with its cool blue armor and knightly aesthetics, strikes an impressive pose on the battlefield. The combination of honor and valor of medieval knights with the advanced technology of the future was an instabuy for me. PanOceania is the largest, most powerful nation in the Infinity universe as well, boasting unrivaled technological advancements and a formidable military. After diving into the PanOceanian lore of how different they were from any other army I played in other table top games, I knew it was time to start this army.

Two fantastic actors. I wish Liam Neeson has a longer part! Source: IMDB © TM and 2005 Twentieth Century Fox. All rights reserved. Not for sale or duplication.

The Influence of Cinema

The visual splendor of The Kingdom of Heaven, particularly the depiction of knights, cast a profound influence on my choice. The movie of course, starring Orlando Bloom, portrays the trials and tribulations of a knight during the Crusades, blending historical epic with personal drama. It’s this blend of chivalry, honor, and the aesthetic of the knights that I hope to capture with my PanOceania army. Their armor, not unlike that of the knights in the film, symbolizes the idea of protection and a commitment to higher ideals.

Bloom looks so good in blue. Its crazy how close to the PanOceanian blue it is. Source: IMDB © TM and 2005 Twentieth Century Fox. All rights reserved. Not for sale or duplication.

JoyToy Infinity Corvus Belli PanOceania Knights Hospitallers Set

Now I have yet to put my brush to my model but I wanted to really capture the box art for this army. To aid in this endeavor, I did something I have never done before and acquired the JoyToy Infinity Corvus Belli PanOceania Knights Hospitallers Set. This set, with its finely detailed figures, will serve as an excellent painting reference, more so then just trying to copy pictures off my computer. I wanted to ensure that I capture the essence, style, and color of the PanOceania faction as accurately as my skills would allow. My main goal is to remain true to the faction’s aesthetics without deviating too much from their look. I would love for my PanOceania army project to be both visually striking and still fit the look of the world of Infinity.

I can think of a better way to get the look right then using these models as a painting guide! They look great on my desk too! Source: https://joytoyfigure.com/shop/joytoy-action-figure-infinity-corvus-belli-panoceania-knights-hospitallers-set/

Embracing the Aesthetic: Painting and Strategy

Painting these miniatures will not just be an exercise in precision. What makes Infinity different from a lot of other table top games is how brightly colored each of the armies are painted. In games like 40k or Team Yankee, most color schemes that are aimed for are dark and matte to give the units a realistic and rugged look. Infinity goes the opposite direction aimed for a bright sci-fi look instead of dark and gloomy. This meticulous attention to detail in the Infinity painting not only enhances the visual appeal of all the armies but also really adds to the flavor of this game and sets it apart from others. I hope in the next little while to get my brushes on my units and learn this bright way of painting.

Don’t mess with the knight who also some a futuristic pistol. Source: Corvus Belli Webstore

Venturing into Infinity: Key Considerations

Before the final charge into the world of Infinity and Code One, it’s crucial to ponder a few considerations that could shape your journey. 

1) Firstly, choose a faction that resonates with you.

While PanOceania caught my eye through a blend of cinematic inspiration and aesthetic appeal, each faction offers a unique play style and lore. Explore them all and find which one you like best.

2) Secondly, understand the game’s complexity.

Infinity is known for its detailed mechanics and strategic depth. Starting with Code One can help ease this learning curve, offering a streamlined yet rich experience. You can download the rules from the Infinity website.

3) Finally, community engagement is vital.

The Infinity community is a treasure trove of wisdom, from painting tutorials to strategic discussions. Engaging with fellow players can be very helpful for your understanding and enjoyment of the game. Plus a good opponent can make your tabletop battles even more thrilling.

With these considerations in mind, you’re better equipped to embark on your Infinity adventure, whether leading the technologically advanced forces of PanOceania or exploring the diverse armies that populate this vast universe.

Look how epic this pose and paint job is. Knights ready to protect the realm!
Source: https://infinitytheuniverse.com/blog/military-orders-new-troops

Conclusion: The Journey Continues

This fusion of cinema and tabletop gaming highlights the endless possibilities for inspiration in our hobby. Just as the digital landscapes of War Thunder influenced my approach to Team Yankee, the cinematic grandeur of The Kingdom of Heaven has helped me create a vision for my PanOceania army in Infinity. As I continue to bridge worlds, from the silver screen to the painted miniatures on the tabletop, the journey only deepens my appreciation for the stories we tell and the battles we enact in these shared spaces of imagination and strategy.

Stay tuned for updates on my PanOceania campaign, painting tips, and the strategic victories (and learning moments) that surely lie ahead.

The boys off to buy their next hobby project they will never finish painting. Source: IMDB © TM and 2005 Twentieth Century Fox. All rights reserved. Not for sale or duplication.

From Virtual Battlefields to the Tabletop: Bridging Worlds for Inspiration

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In the last few weeks when I’ve had a spare few minutes in between school and life, I have been playing the video game War Thunder. My best friend Andrew recently got into War Thunder again, so we have been playing together. War Thunder is a video game where you battle with tanks. After playing a few matches together, we both were discussing how playing the modern tanks of War Thunder had us both craving to play our favorite tank battle tabletop game Team Yankee. This discussion led us to talking about how the power of drawing inspiration from video games can really elevate painting a tabletop model to new heights.

The virtual battlefield of War Thunder. Screenshot by Andrew from https://notbystrengthbyguile.ca

As Andrew and I played more games of War Thunder, a game celebrated for its “realistic” portrayal of military vehicles and combat, we realized what a treasure trove of ideas there were for a tabletop game like Team Yankee. That is why this week I am going to delve into the opportunity video games like War Thunder’s can have on tabletop strategy games like Team Yankee, particularly in the realm of painting and army customization.

Who says tanks don’t need blankets? If you are cold, they are cold! Screenshot by Andrew from https://notbystrengthbyguile.ca

Team Yankee: A Cold War Tabletop Scenario

Before we bridge these worlds, let’s set the stage by introducing Team Yankee. Born from the pages of Harold Coyle’s novel “Team Yankee,” this wargame immerses players in the hypothetical conflicts of the Cold War gone hot in the 1980s. With a focus on combined arms tactics, players command tanks, infantry, and aircraft over the battlefields of Europe, enacting skirmishes that never were but could have been, had history taken a darker turn.

“Advance comrade, advance!” Photo from Team Yankee store page

The game prides itself on realism and tactical depth, allowing for an array of scenarios from quick skirmishes to prolonged campaigns. The ruleset encourages strategic planning and detailed knowledge of your units’ capabilities, reflecting the tense, strategic standoffs of the Cold War era.

War Thunder: A Muse for Miniature Painting

War Thunder is an almost perfect digital encyclopedia of military hardware, containing playable aircraft, tanks, and ships from various historical periods, including from the Cold War. It is this collection of Cold War era vehicles that started the discussion of inspiration for Team Yankee in the first place. With many different paint schemes, and historical markings for each of the vehicles, War Thunder provides a nice visual reference for those looking for inspiration to bring their tabletop armies to life.

There is no better feeling then sneaking up on someone in a 42.5 ton tank! Screenshot by Andrew from https://notbystrengthbyguile.ca

Customization and Creative Liberty

While history and historical accuracy played a part in the creation of both War Thunder and Team Yankee, there’s also room for creative expression in both. War Thunder’s vast array of vehicles and its community created custom skins highlight the potential for unique paint jobs and modifications. This creativity can be mirrored in Team Yankee, where players might be inspired to customize their forces with unique camouflage patterns, unit markings, or even hypothetical “what-if” scenarios, blending history with imagination.

Wayne Turner one of the game designers at Battlefront Miniatures (the company that made Team Yankee) shows off his painted T-80’s. Credit: Wayne Turner Battlefront Miniatures

Integrating War Thunder’s Inspiration into Team Yankee

Drawing from War Thunder for your Team Yankee miniatures involves a few steps:

  • Research: Dive into War Thunder to study the vehicles and equipment featured in your Team Yankee force. Pay attention to the details: the way light plays on surfaces, how mud splashes on a tank’s tracks, or how wear shows on edges and corners.
  • Capture Ideas: Take screenshots or notes of specific features you want to replicate on your miniatures. This could include camouflage patterns, decal placements, or the effects of weathering and battle damage.
  • Experiment with Techniques: Use War Thunder’s visuals as a benchmark for trying out new painting techniques. Whether it’s experimenting with sponge weathering, creating custom decals, or mastering the art of subtle highlights, let the game guide your brush.
  • Narrative Building: Let the historical contexts and battles depicted in War Thunder inspire the backstory for your Team Yankee units. Crafting a narrative around your force can add depth to your gaming experience, making each skirmish on the tabletop a chapter in your army’s story.
Another shot of Wayne Turner’s T-80. What a great paint job! Credit: Wayne Turner Battlefront Miniatures

Conclusion: A Fusion of Digital and Physical Realms

Inspiration can be found in many places. The supplementary relationship between War Thunder and Team Yankee showcases how digital and physical gaming realms can be used as inspiration for one another. War Thunder provides a visual and historical resource that can elevate the detail of Team Yankee miniatures, while the hands-on experience of painting and gaming with those miniatures brings the digital inspirations into the physical world. It’s always fun when hobbies intersect to not only enhance the aesthetic appeal of your tabletop forces but also deepen the connection to the scenarios you play out. I love being able to bridge history, strategy, and art together on the tabletop battlefield.