After enduring a constant stream of wars, raiders, and bandits, Professor Nitpik has had enough. For years, he relied on rumor and reputation to keep intruders away while he puttered in his laboratories and workshops. But times have changed, and the new arms race of his neighbors is forcing Professor Nitpik to upgrade his army or die. Nitpik has no desire to die, so he has been inventing at a furious pace in the last few years. Defending is no longer enough, and Nitpik has devoted himself to creating a new army – the Legion de Mecanique. With this new force, his generals defend the borders and raid the ruins throughout Ozz for mechanical supplies and ancient technologies.

Professor Nitpick is a great innovator and has designed a wide range of weapons to arm his mechanical men including flame shooting Napalm projectors and Plasma blasters. The robots are equipped with clockwork brains enabling them to work in formations with a precision to match many regiments of living soldiers and there armoured shells give them an impressive resilience to small arms and melee damage.

The backbone of Nitpick’s army are regiments of hard hitting melee troops, primarily Mechanical Axemen. These troops are hard hitting, heavily armoured and know no fear being programmed to continue fighting, what ever the odds.

The Automaton’s Electro-Cannon is another of Nitpik’s inventions. The cannon is lighter, has a gun shield, and uses a breech-loading mechanism that simplifies loading. When fired, the shells release a burst of energy to create a plasma ball that, although it appears very different, has the same effect as a light artillery piece. Despite lacking a standard cannon’s great noise and smoke, it creates a terrifying display.

Since cavalry is a must for every army, Nitpik created his own –not just automatons that could ride but even the automatic mounts for them. His automaton troopers are fitted with swords and light handguns. Their mounts are flame-snorting monowheels and are as terrifying as their riders.

The ranks of Mechanical Men are backed up by huge swarms of smaller robots, lethal in melee and backed up with Pulse Blasters for ranged combat.

Professor Nitpick’s Army offers a completely original and very different force for gaming in Wars of Ozz. It also paints up very quickly compared to many of the other factions armies who turn out there troops in elaborate Napoleonic style uniforms. The miniatures in this range would also be ideal for skirmish gaming in either a Victorian Steam Punk setting, maybe using In Her Majesties Name or in a retro sci-fi setting. I will certainly be putting a league together for use in Pulp Alley as well as the army that I have painted for Wars of Ozz.

Useful Links:

Professor Nitpicks’ Industrial City webstore page at Sally 4th

Something Wicked…. Gaming in the Land of Oz – Main Oz Gaming article containing introduction and extensive links.