Under the Dice Fest 2025: Day 3

Under the Dice Fest 2025 was an amazing time to see old friends!

In the past few years, the three of us at Between the Bolter and Me have made an effort to attend more gaming events and conventions, although, to be honest, we have primarily been attending events hosted by the Under the Dice/Hive Scum crew. May 16, 17, and 18 of this year was the 2nd Under the Dice Fest, and Adam and Greg made the trip to Connecticut to attend! The Under the Dice/Hive Scum crew have been tirelessly promoting the weirder and independent side of the miniature-based tabletop wargaming hobby. They have been shining a bright light on hobbyists interested in telling their own stories through miniature gaming and those willing to step outside the scope of the game rules as written, or even create their games and miniatures, to tell these stories. Every event they host is a gathering of amazing, like-minded people who are passionate about their interpretation of the miniature wargaming hobby, and something we do not want to miss. The third and final day of Under the Dice Fest 2025 featured the announcement of the winners for the first Rusted Demon, a converting and modelling competition that places more emphasis on creativity and kitbashing than on exquisite painting. In addition, there was a short narrative event for Steve’s (sovthofheaven) mech combat game, Flames of Orion.

Rusted Demon:
For more information about the inaugural Rusted Demon competition, please see our separate post dedicated to the competition! But see below for a few pictures from Rusted Demon!

Phil (bloodtrancefusion) holds the Berserker Flail aloft as he announces the winners of Rusted Demon. The Berserker Flail was handcrafted by Bill (berserkerwrks) as the trophy for the competition's overall winner. 

The talented bigbossredskullz sculpted the Rusted Demon statue. The 1st Place winner in each category was awarded one of these trophies.

The winners of the Sci-Fi Small category, from left to right: Brian (rojasnoirlac), Mike (gundamofficialhobby), Chris (pied_pewter_piper), and Matt (totally_not_panicking).

Best in Show (The Berserker Flail) - Tanner (simpsominiatures), Invasive factors which damage delicate subterranean ecosystems.

Lucian (orlandoxdoom) was awarded a trophy for being the best merch guy after spending the weekend selling Under The Dice/Hive Scum shirts!

We were fortunate to get to play a game of OFF WITH HIS HEAD! with the creator Tim (howlingmad_looping), Shane (7he_blindman), and Brian (rojasnoirlac). In the game, an angry mob has stormed the King’s castle, intent on beheading the King. Each player controls a small group of angry civilians doing everything in their power to surround the King and deal the killing blow.

The excellent artwork for the game was created by Shane (7he_blindman)! The mixed media approach to the piece really adds a lot of depth and visual interest to an already striking image.

The game uses a fantastic HOLLER mechanic, where you roleplay as your citizens shouting at the King and his guards, hoping to influence their behavior (and lure them closer to your mob so you can deal the killing blow to the King).

The ghoulish Blacksmiths (created by rojasnoirlac) march into the city, attempting to lure the King closer with promises of furnishing his army with weapons and armor of the finest quality. 

Despite their best efforts, the King is eventually surrounded by the mob and struck down. The King is dead, long live the people!

Flames of Orion:

A narrative event titled “Beneath a Dying Sun” for Flames of Orion was held on Sunday. The setting for the event was the world of Jericho IV, a planet that has become nigh uninhabitable as the star Orion is dying. Jericho IV is clustered with ancient cities that have been abandoned and forgotten as the planet has become inhospitable to human life. These uninhabited cities are rich with unclaimed relics, encouraging some brave mech pilots to venture into them from the relative safety of their lumbering mechs, hoping to come away with treasures to sell on the black market. Most of the human population that still resides on Jericho IV lives in the megacity of New Mecca, which is protected from the irradiated surroundings with a powerful shield generator. Politically, the planet is controlled by the merchant guild Cerberus, which is becoming increasingly wary of new Mega Corporations trying to move onto the planet. Cerberus is offering mercenary companies access to their slip-space portal to leave the planet if they help deter the Mega Corporations from making a strong foothold on the planet.

Innumerable abandoned cities are scattered across Jericho IV, each boasting countless riches for those daring enough to endure the treacherous conditions.

A mech trudges into a ruined city, far from the safety of New Mecca. They have heard reports of the Mega Corporations sending their mechs to scavenge relics in this derelict wasteland. Cerberus will pay handsomely to anyone who can thwart the Mega Corporations' efforts.

A lumbering mech, glowing neon pink with irradiated energy, stands amongst the silent ruins of a dead vassal state of New Mecca, its targeting arrays glitching as it hunts for unseen foes.

A scene from the megacity of New Mecca, protected from the irradiated surroundings by a shield generator.

Dark Spirit arrives and fires its two light weapons at Spirit Seeker. Despite incurring some hull damage from the volley, Spirit Seeker charges Dark Spirit and inflicts severe damage with its heat lance. 

Seeing an opportunity for glory, Mace Knight steadies its heat lance and charges the damaged Dark Spirit. As the lance strikes true, Dark Spirit’s obsidian frame vanishes, as if it slipped into the void. 

From a distant point, Final Spirit (built and painted by thoseonceloyal40k) surveys the chaotic melee erupting between Dark Spirit, Spirit Seeker, and Mace Knight. After locking its rail gun onto Mace Knight, Final Spirit unleashes a screaming projectile propelled by electromagnetic force. The projectile hits its mark, and Mace Knight explodes in a fiery ruin that engulfs the damaged Spirit Seeker.

It is hard to believe another Under the Dice Fest has come and gone, but I think everyone who was able to attend, or has looked over the photos from the event, would attest that it was a spectacular time, filled with fellowship and engaging miniature gaming. We look forward to the next Under the Dice Fest, as it continues to evolve to fit the community it is helping build!

- Adam and Greg Wier