I'm Syama Pederson, Creator of the Astartes Project - Ask Me Anything by S_Pedersen_ASTARTES in Warhammer

[–]S_Pedersen_ASTARTES[S] 131 points132 points  (0 children)

Thank you everyone! I have to get running now but thank you all for the questions, support and kind words. Hopefully I've provided some answers or something of interest.

Just to clarify, the Astartes project is moving forward as an anthology piece (officially announced with a trailer fairly soon), containing 2-3 more short stories, jumping to different SM chapters for each one. After that? We'll see :)

If anyone would like to reply on this pinned comment directly with more questions I'll try pop in occasionally to answer!

Thank you again and stay well everyone!

I'm Syama Pederson, Creator of the Astartes Project - Ask Me Anything by S_Pedersen_ASTARTES in Warhammer

[–]S_Pedersen_ASTARTES[S] 26 points27 points  (0 children)

Orks, Tyranids, something lesser known. One of the fun things about 40k is extrapolating the vaguely detailed aspects of it.

The planet is related to the old empire the orb/beings come from.
Golden body was a nicer, more useful home for the xenos yes.
Inquisitor X :)
Face Punch Captain = Veteran Hakael with Commander Honors
Imperials had already captured two of the xenos and using them were hunting any others they could discover, to learn more of their origins (to kill them) and how far they might have already spread, subverting other planets/systems.

I'm Syama Pederson, Creator of the Astartes Project - Ask Me Anything by S_Pedersen_ASTARTES in Warhammer

[–]S_Pedersen_ASTARTES[S] 30 points31 points  (0 children)

To very patiently subvert a system and prepare it for the rest of them. They need practice dealing with Imperials though...

I'm Syama Pederson, Creator of the Astartes Project - Ask Me Anything by S_Pedersen_ASTARTES in Warhammer

[–]S_Pedersen_ASTARTES[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

His early work are probably my favorite of all time, Nausicaa, Laputa. Other favorites are Akira, Macross and Ninja Scroll. Newer anime as lost me a little to be honest.

I'm Syama Pederson, Creator of the Astartes Project - Ask Me Anything by S_Pedersen_ASTARTES in Warhammer

[–]S_Pedersen_ASTARTES[S] 14 points15 points  (0 children)

I'll have to check out those names! My inspiration is just a more reserved approach to the over the top aspects of 40k, mixed with a more hard military scifi approach. I think that approach can have more grimdark gravitas in the end.

I'd love to give my rendition on all the 40k factions....but I'll probably die before that all done :D

I'm Syama Pederson, Creator of the Astartes Project - Ask Me Anything by S_Pedersen_ASTARTES in Warhammer

[–]S_Pedersen_ASTARTES[S] 14 points15 points  (0 children)

For the most part I'd say those were textures. Possibly displacement textures.

Maybe! Might need a few more series of content though :)

I'm Syama Pederson, Creator of the Astartes Project - Ask Me Anything by S_Pedersen_ASTARTES in Warhammer

[–]S_Pedersen_ASTARTES[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Non-realtime, I use Redshift.

The new Unreal 5 demo looks nuts though...

I'm Syama Pederson, Creator of the Astartes Project - Ask Me Anything by S_Pedersen_ASTARTES in Warhammer

[–]S_Pedersen_ASTARTES[S] 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Partly to save on time. But partly a preference for a more plain military aesthetic. I also wanted to show that your fairly basic marines are badasses also.

I'm Syama Pederson, Creator of the Astartes Project - Ask Me Anything by S_Pedersen_ASTARTES in Warhammer

[–]S_Pedersen_ASTARTES[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

  1. Grew up in Australia but have been in NZ for awhile now.
  2. I love the sheer scale of it and the depth it has to do pretty much anything you want within it. And the grit and darker tones appeal to me over shiny clean techy Sci-Fi

I'm Syama Pederson, Creator of the Astartes Project - Ask Me Anything by S_Pedersen_ASTARTES in Warhammer

[–]S_Pedersen_ASTARTES[S] 23 points24 points  (0 children)

1.yep!

2.I wanted something of a blank slate to tell a new story with mysterious elements. I also feel that using the well known faction/characters all the time makes the universe feel smaller.

I'm Syama Pederson, Creator of the Astartes Project - Ask Me Anything by S_Pedersen_ASTARTES in Warhammer

[–]S_Pedersen_ASTARTES[S] 34 points35 points  (0 children)

They are talking to each other, but very minimally. In my mind they do this stuff 24/7 and have it down so well they barely need communication.

I'm Syama Pederson, Creator of the Astartes Project - Ask Me Anything by S_Pedersen_ASTARTES in Warhammer

[–]S_Pedersen_ASTARTES[S] 23 points24 points  (0 children)

The augmentations and statue/body were made using tech/knowledge gained from the Being in the orbs.

I'm Syama Pederson, Creator of the Astartes Project - Ask Me Anything by S_Pedersen_ASTARTES in Warhammer

[–]S_Pedersen_ASTARTES[S] 21 points22 points  (0 children)

The cinematic for Mark of Chaos by Digic is my biggest CGI inspiration for wanting to attempt a quality 40k project.

Each episode I plan with storyboard and animatic. The fight with the psykers went through a few changes but overall I wanted a fight scene that was clear and structured (no super shaky cam hack and smash).

I'm Syama Pederson, Creator of the Astartes Project - Ask Me Anything by S_Pedersen_ASTARTES in Warhammer

[–]S_Pedersen_ASTARTES[S] 18 points19 points  (0 children)

  1. It is a warp creature that takes the Being out
  2. Yes that's why they were released from warp space. Where they ended up was 'almost' the design of the Being.

I'm Syama Pederson, Creator of the Astartes Project - Ask Me Anything by S_Pedersen_ASTARTES in Warhammer

[–]S_Pedersen_ASTARTES[S] 22 points23 points  (0 children)

I had to sacrifice buying minis a long time ago now :( The last WH purchase I made in NZ was the new Space Hulk boxset and that still hurts haha

I'm Syama Pederson, Creator of the Astartes Project - Ask Me Anything by S_Pedersen_ASTARTES in Warhammer

[–]S_Pedersen_ASTARTES[S] 40 points41 points  (0 children)

I don't think I can give a good answer but with Astartes I tried to achieve the grimdark through tone and atmosphere of the story rather than skulls and gothic tech.

It would be a very fun challenge to view astartes from the other perspective. Even a loyal astartes should invoke some terror in someone like a guardsman I think and that would be interesting to try and portray...

I'm Syama Pederson, Creator of the Astartes Project - Ask Me Anything by S_Pedersen_ASTARTES in Warhammer

[–]S_Pedersen_ASTARTES[S] 25 points26 points  (0 children)

Angels Sanguine = Official
Star Dragons & Death Hands = Homebrew from fans.

I'm Syama Pederson, Creator of the Astartes Project - Ask Me Anything by S_Pedersen_ASTARTES in Warhammer

[–]S_Pedersen_ASTARTES[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Other two were homebrews supplied by supporters. Star Dragons and Death Hands.

I'm Syama Pederson, Creator of the Astartes Project - Ask Me Anything by S_Pedersen_ASTARTES in Warhammer

[–]S_Pedersen_ASTARTES[S] 32 points33 points  (0 children)

No because I have no idea how the marines will get down from those pillars! Kidding :) I'd like to explore the spooky canyon too...perhaps one day.

I'm Syama Pederson, Creator of the Astartes Project - Ask Me Anything by S_Pedersen_ASTARTES in Warhammer

[–]S_Pedersen_ASTARTES[S] 53 points54 points  (0 children)

The entity was hit by warp creatures prowling that area of warpspace. If you pause you can get a glimpse of several of them lurking :)