Modding Warhammer - Project: CHAOS - Planning and Design

Do not ask which creature screams in the night. Do not question who waits for you in the shadow.
It is my cry that wakes you in the night, and my body that crouches in the shadow.
I am Tzeentch and you are the puppet that dances to my tune...

- Tzeentch, Chaos god of change and corruption


Warhammer is a dark and gritty "fictional universe" created by Games Workshop, inhabited by the thousands of individuals playing its table-top strategy games and now an MMORPG, Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning. I've been enthusiastically playing Warhammer Online since the open beta as a Dark Elf Disciple of Khaine and a Chaos Magus (join Destruction, we have cookies!). One thing that struck me about the game, in addition to the rich lore, is the strong art design of the franchise. So in tribute, I've decided to start this project focusing on Chaos and their strong ties to Tzeentch, the god of change, lies, hope, ambition, manipulation, scheming and sorcery.

The victim of this case surgery will be the popular and highly moddable Antec 300 enclosure. Antec made a sturdy and roomy case that can hold long graphics cards, up to six hard drives and an ATX motherboard. I can appreciate this mid-tower for a decent cable management compartment and great airflow. Antec includes a 140 mm exhaust on the top of the case and a 120 mm to the rear. I'll add two of my own 120 mm fans for intake at the front.



There isn't any deadlines for this project, so I'll be taking my time and doing details as I really want them. This is a relief as Way of the Warrior was a rushed build with a tight deadline. I will be making use of things learned during that project and inspiration As for the rest of the hardware, we'll see how things go, but I do have a Matrix Orbital GX Typhoon USB Tri-Color LCD slated for one of the bays. At this point it is likely I'll be going air-cooled for the rig.

So, with that rambling intro, here's my initial external sketches:









Should be posts later today or Saturday with initial photos as I start to dismantle the Antec 300 for prep and painting. There are some additional supplies on the way mainly paint (pretty colors!) As always, your suggestions and observations are welcome. Once I've posted photos of the actual case dismemberment, will ask a moderator to move this to Project Logs. Thanks for checking out Project: CHAOS.

 

Women shouldn't throw the word 'dismemberment' around so carelessly.
The only thing that bugs me is that one side panel is an offset radial pattern, while the other is a centered radial pattern. I think the right side design should be blown up and offset too.

 

I like the designs. A bit too Dungeons and Dragons for me but then again, I like kittens so who am I to talk.

Keep up the good work man.

 

Hmm, cool. Thought about incorporating the alliance / evil symbols?

 

Good theme, good case choice too. Now off to the Games Workshop store in the mall for the paints?
I love the WH40K art work and the store is to really stay away from - I have no willpower.

 

Wow, what a response! Now I'm even more excited about digging in and getting the mod done.

Had a rather long gaming session with friends today, so there are no case disassembly or cutting photos yet (gamer girl has priorities!). However, here's an in-game screenshot of what a Chaos Portal looks like in Warhammer Online to give you an idea of what I'll be aiming for.



I've got a white six-inch luminglas which will act as the centerpiece of this panel.



So this will be a kinetic and interactive part of the mod (it moves to touch as well as sound), standing out from the panel itself. The luminglas will need to have a mount cut into the panel, in addition to a method for routing the AC power cord so that it doesn't intrude on the looks. I am not certain as yet, but there may need to be a bit of EMI shielding between the luminglas and the motherboard section. This will be researched further. The gold and black rings surrounding the actual portal will be sculpted from styrene sheets and whatever else it might take for best effect. Boddaker made extensive use of styrene in his fantastic Battlestar Galactica mod. (Thanks for the inspiration!) I'll be sharing my experiences using this material in Project: CHAOS.

Much appreciation for the encouragement. I will be posting more soon.

@Cheapskate: Not being careless... you have to bear in mind I play an evil, dual sword-wielding slice and dicer, also known as a Disciple of Khaine! As far as the side panels, the portal one takes priority. I see what you mean though, and I've had some other ideas for a different panel design than the offset one. Will sketch that up and post it when done. What I have in mind will probably flow better than that current design.

@PatrickJ: Thanks This design is a stretch for me as for the last 9 years I've played "good" characters in various MMOs. I think it was Eleanor Roosevelt who suggested, "Do one thing each day that scares you." That's what I'm doing with this mod.

@mansueto: I had thought about incorporating alliance or other destruction army symbols. I decided, however, to just focus on the Chaos army for this mod. Who knows, the others could inspire whole other projects!

@jhanlon303: Thank you, John. I've never played Warhammer Fantasy or 40k. However, my boyfriend paints, collects and plays, mostly 40k. He's the official "design consultant" on this. As for GW paints... best I stay away from a shop or I might spend a whole lot more than I should. ;P

 

Here's the revised window side panel sketched out:



Part of the mod will be doing quite a bit of customization on the inside, so it made sense to show some of that off with a window that is more "open." It looks rather plain in the sketch compared to the rest of the case, but it really won't be. There are some tricks up my sleeve, including paint, and a showpiece style of grill for the cpu fan/heatsink to show front and center through the window.

Setting up a workbench computer now, so updates should come a little quicker I think (handiness helps).

 

OMG... it's a semi update!

Between home things, new grandchild and a chest cold, not much progress has been made on this project. However, there is a little to report. First is a photo of the project mascot, Ms. Lucy Chaos. ;P



Next is new workbench in the shop I've been putting together over the last couple months. Took a couple photos while installing Vista Ultimate on Way of the Warrior (you'll see to the left). I have a whopping 17 inch widescreen Hanns-G monitor installed on an adjustable arm. The rig is running Folding@Home 24/7 to earn its keep in between modding sessions. Since it is quite cool in the basement, and with all those fans, I really should overclock it some.



There's some vinyl tile I installed on the bench top, a nice travertine style marble look. The drawers aren't installed as yet, but will be soon. The computer will actually be going underneath the bench I think.

Last photo is the Antec 300 case that is the subject of this mod, fresh out of the box. Antec does a good packing job, so it was in perfect condition.



The case itself is all stripped and ready to drill out rivets. The camera batteries decided it was time to die, so I'll take more when I head downstairs next. After the drilling will be some cutting and prep for paint.

See you all soon.

 

I missed a bit...
I'm going to throw a really crazy idea your way: How about putting the plasma lens in a motherboard cover that looks like the portal? Do you have an old Dell to test the EM problem with?

-And remember that every time you yell 'dismember!', we all instinctively cross our legs in fear.

 

Nice workbench and even nicer Next-Gen modder. Get over the cold and show us what modding is about.

John

 

Cool ideas, nice plans I like the idea of using one of those reactive lumiglass things on a pc I reckon a thin earthed sheet of metal or alluminium posistioned vertically in between the lumiglass and the mobo/gfx/psu area would be sufficient earthing. Nice workshop aswell I'm sorry but you are too much of a cool tomboy to be a nanna, why aren't you knitting soft covers for pc's like those things nannas put over tissue boxes? You did post a pic of a cute baby so i guess you're girly enough to be a nanna. You're in modding aswell btw, not logs

 

Look in the "What do you look like" thread. Mom and daughter and now Gdaughter can hold their own. She will probably have some expletives for you about the knitted coozy things. No wimps allowed in Colorado - state law. Mini driving females with Dremels are cool.

John

 

Heheh, you guys make me giggle... which isn't the best thing with this cough!

I've been somewhat of a tomboy from an early age and liked working with my hands. Girl Scout crafts, scale models, ceramics, painting, typography and graphic arts, working on an Austin-Healey Sprite... and now computer modding. Oh yes, I forgot the cooking, cross-stitch work and crewel. ;P

That's an intriguing idea, Cheapskate! I will need to mull that one over. I don't have an old pc to test it on, but will do some additional research. The luminglas is thick enough that it would be a bit of a squeeze with a proper cpu cooler though. Will see what I can come up with.

John is correct... no wimpy women allowed in Colorado! I catch my trout proper, clean it and cook it up delicious!

 

I just realised that this is just the planning thread for the log So that makes me the noob and nanna the professional modder

I also meant to say sufficient shielding, not sufficient earthing, in regards to using the vertical metal or alloy sheet behind the luminglass.

 

I understand what you mean, mvagusta. I'm waiting to hear back from tech support at a company that manufacturers lumin glas and plasma lighting to see what they say about potential EMI issues and possible solutions. I will post what information they relay, if any.

Update: Official response from Wayne Strattman of Strattman Design:

Looks like it's full speed ahead on the project.

 

ahhh finally fouind this thread again. any updates on this project id like to see what u did with that lumi glass

 

No progress as yet as there's been family matters surrounding the death of my father to deal with. To be honest, I've not felt much like modding for a few days. Time depending, I might be back in the mood this next week.

 

Condolenses dear lady. I have lost both my parents and know how hard it can be. We will be here.
john

 

I'm just wondering... In the plan 1 you had two of the same logo/whatever that thing is: on the left side and on the roof. How about having only one that stretches around the corner? Might look nice.. Maybe.

Might not work with the lumin glass though.

EDIT: and to explain the idea, here are a couple of quick sketches:





I do admit that I have the weirdest fixation to the idea of having a window stretch from the side to the other, but I also think that such might actually look nice. Some careful planning, measuring and cutting needed, but might pay off IMO.

EDIT2: Uh oh I'm sorry, I just got too excited after seeing the first couple of plans to read the rest of the thread. Now I feel rather dumb..

 

sorry to here of your loss, handle your affairs wiht your family