Tuesday 29 January 2013

Tony Hough Interview




I was sent a link to an interview on the Realm of Chaos blog with Tony Hough (by the man himself no less). He was gracious enough to comment on a post I'd made a while back highlighting a piece of his old 40k artistry in case you were wondering why he'd contact me out of the blue. Very appreciated though as it's an interesting read with some great artwork as well.

I'd also recommend following the links at the bottom of the interview to Tony's own pages for more eye candy.

http://realmofchaos80s.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/the-patriarch-interview-with-artist.html


Saturday 26 January 2013

15mm Sherman Tank Painting Tutorial

Following on from yesterdays tutorial, here's one for the tanks (although in the Fow box they are British). Done by the Painting Clinic again.



Now, I don't have all the paints, washes, etc that are featured here, but certainly food for thought.

Friday 25 January 2013

15mm US Airborne Painting Tutorial

After a dig around I've found this handy video tutorial by The Painting Clinic:


Not only is this ideal for the new Flames Of War box (The Allied Troops are US Airborne), the more eagle eyed of you will notice that the video is made by a source I already link to (on the right), although I've never visited the you-tube channel.

It also answers my "base or lollypop stick" question. At least in this instance, if it's good enough for him, good enough for me!

Wednesday 23 January 2013

Open Fire! - FoW arrives


Well, finally my willpower gave in. I've been managing to resist Flames of War for ages. Not needing a new scale, relatively unfamiliar topic, concentrating on other games and money all seemed like good reasons. Then they brought out the Open Fire starter box which dragged my interest back in, but still I resisted. But in the last couple of visits to our local gaming club have had Arabiansquire playing 40k and myself hanging casually around a bit. The first time was OK (managed an enjoyable game of the Walking Dead boardgame) but the second had me watching between the 40k game and a Flames of War game, giving me the opportunity to ask questions and have a look at the FoW books. So eventually the recommendations and the desire to increase my chances of actually playing a game had me up to the local FLGS here in Livingston.


So what do I think of my purchase? Well the box is certainly full, and it's all a bit overwhelming truth be told. This is my first "mass battle" game so the amount of small figures (remember I am a 28mm Skirmish man usually) and referring to the diagrams of team and unit organisation are a bit swamping. Adding to that is that all the figures from both sides are on 2 sprues of the same colour, mixed on the same sprue. There is a good organisation sheet, however, with good photo's of the figures.

The tank kits all look OK, and painting trepidations aside will be fine.

The "Cardboard Terrain" is a slight stretch. A couple of of sheets of push out terrain tiles is what you get (small woods, walls and buildings). They do have the cover bonus' rules printed on them, so will be useful for a beginner like me, and are better than nothing.

Overall I'm happy with the box contents, overawed by the "new area"-ness of it all. I think I'll have to clip off the figures and get them teamed up as per the handy actual size pictures for squad organisation to really muster a starting point. After that it's time to hit the web. I don't even now whether to put the figures on the bases first or do the lolly stick painting technique (which will delay any play be weeks!).

Ho-hum, the fun of new toys...

Monday 21 January 2013

Last of the Barbarians

Finished off the final few figures in my "Song of Blades..." warband:


The three foot soldiers are more old Grenadier sculpts via EM4 Miniatures. The horseman is one of group of Games Workshop Chaos Marauders on what looks like a Bretonian Knight stead. As usual, more for my own future benefit, the Horse clothing is painted in Miniature Paints Leather, brushed over in GW Bronzed flesh and washed in diluted Vallejo Sepia.

And to be complete, here is the "family shot" of the Barbarian Tribe.


Tuesday 15 January 2013

Top 10 Games


The latest issue of "The Ancible" dropped through my mailbox today (or to be precise the email telling me that the new FREE issue was available for download). I look forward to this pdf mag coming out. There's always something interesting in the pages.

This is about one article within this issue - "Ten Games Every True Gamer Should Play". To the author's (Robey Jenkins) due, he does say that the article is designed to poke a few fires, so to speak. So here is the list:

10: Warhammer 40,000 Rogue Trader
  9: Malifaux
  8: Warmachine/Hordes Mk2
  7: Warhammer Ancient Battles (2nd Ed)
  6: Inquisitor
  5: Tomorrow's War
  4: Infinity
  3: Hex Hex
  2: Warhammer 40k (6th Ed)
  1: A game you wrote yourself!

As a stand alone list I'm sure we all have different entries we could put in, but it's an interesting list anyway. Rogue Trader is there as a "know your origins" game. There are justifications for all the choices. Most are down to perceived innovative mechanics which leads you up to the conclusion of your gaming quest to designing your own game.

Whether you agree with the value of said mechanics I think depends on what you are looking for in a game. At the moment, for example, I'm preferring games that have simple rules, so that I can put down a force and manoeuvre not get trumped because I didn't have or know a certain special power that a particular figure has. As such, where I can see what the author is gettng at, I would have to lean away from some of the choices made.

But download it and see what you think...


Friday 11 January 2013

Pendraken Painting Competition 2013


One of those "That time of year" events, the Pendraken Painting Competition, is upon us again. Last year I used it as a springboard to get some adventurers and some Ratmen painted. Clearly using such events as motivation is a good thing, as I 've hardly touched a 10mm scale figure/item since (although I did finish the dungeon extension eventually).

As ever these things have a habit to being timely. I am just planning out a new "Projects" page for the blog to help myself keep on track with current projects in working (or at least that’s the idea). I have a notion later in the year to try a dungeon crawl using my 10mm set, of course, and the Ganesha Games RPG "Tales of Song and Blades".  This competition should hopefully put a few more painted figures in the reckoning.

Watch this space for updates - probably around the 27th Feb!!

Wednesday 9 January 2013

Old School 40k Razorback - Finished


Finished the Old MKI Ultra Marine Razorback. As my Ultra's are all smooth clean blue I resisted the urge to weather the armour. I've also kept the surface free from any visual clutter, which again fits in with the Super Blue "theme".


There obviosuly short comings with the model (aside from my painting!). Being a cheap second hand buy there is always some compromise between condition and cost. Here I only had one side hatch for the gunner, so left it off and one of the exhausts is missing. The side rails were in poor condition so again were pulled off and a common problem with these old rhino kits always seems to be how well the sides are attached.


All these I knew before parting with my cash, so I'm obviously not too bothered. Quite happy with the end result.

As a footnote, the armour is sprayed with Army Painters Ultramarine Blue. The GW old paint for Ultramarines (Mordian Blue?) is a good bit darker. If anyone has a comparison with the new range equivalent, Macragge Blue, it would be very useful.


Sunday 6 January 2013

SoBH Campaign 3 - Battle 6

Battlefield: Shiverton Town
Weather: Normal
Scenario: Mob Rule
Defender: None

Forces:
New additions marked in purple italics

Dwarves (345 pts):
  • Valgen Maest: DWARF COMMANDER 95 Pts, XP: 2/5
    [Brain Damaged:Savage for battle]
  • Falster Vonlyr: ELITE WARRIOR 52 Pts, XP: 2/5 
  • Halgar Snowbeard: WARRIOR 42 Pts, XP: 2/5 
  • Manon Hardfoot: WARRIOR 34 Pts, XP: 1
  • Rod Grimiron: WARRIOR 34 Pts, XP: 1/4
  • Hono Pickbattler: WARRIOR 34 Pts, XP: 1/4
  • Cerri Crakshot: CROSSBOWMAN 30 Pts, XP: 0/3
  • Slii Shadesmith: THIEF 30 Pts, XP: 2
Barbarians (351 pts):
  • Ardaric Blackmaul: BARBARIAN COMMANDER 72 Pts, XP: 2/5
  • Ooko: ELEMENTALIST 34 Pts (+ 75 Pts Summoning pool), XP: 2/5
  • Erwig Bonetooth: ARCHER 56 Pts, XP: 2/5
  • Rodulf Wolfhowl: WARRIOR 42 Pts, XP: 2/5
  • Remos Arcfur: WARRIOR 42 Pts, XP: 1/4
  • Cohan Deathaxe: Veteran Warrior 30 Pts XP: 0
    Quality 4, Combat 4, Fearless, Short Move

Setup: As rolled, the Scenario had the two warbands looking to collect bounty on the heads of a head Vampire and his 3 turned minions. They are protected by glamoured townsfolk (3 townsfolk each). Victory points are gained for killing the minions or wounding the head vampire but lost for killing the innocent townfolk.

The warbands enter from opposite ends of the table, with the Vampires in the centre of the square, surrounded by their protectors.

The dwarves set off, advancing through and around the town tollbooth
,
The Barbarians came up the main street into the square. On the Vampire turn the majority of the enemy headed towards the Barbarian force - possibly something to do with having a 7 foot fire elemental on a night raid?

As the lone enemy group approached the dwarves Cerri Crackshot in advance tried to slow their advance.

One of the townsfolk went to ground and Cerri retreated to the main fold as they moved to enter the square.
As on downed towny regained his feet, the remainder moved in to meet the dwarven force in the archway, blocking their advance.


At the other end of the square two lesser Vampire minions and their retinue had reached the barbarians.

The main Vampire had moved to the side of all the action, obviously looking to his minions as buffers.

Meanwhile in the Tollbooth archway a tough toe-to-toe battle was ensuing.

The Barbarians were on the back foot, still looking to get themselves organised as they wish even under the attacks. Elderly Cohan was knocked to the ground, and was probably fortunate he didn't break a hip on the hard cobbles.

With the flanking section of Dwarves emerging from round the side of the building, Valgen's force was starting to make some headway, with the minion being knocked down and one of her protectors being killed.

The tide was beginning to turn at the other side of the square, with the barbarian brawn starting to break down the wall of enemy.

Another round and the numbers were withering and a cheer went up and the first Minion went down.

The noise coming out of the dark noise encouraged the dwarves and they attacked with new vigour. As Townsman went to the sword, another went down and as did the vampiric minion, but unfortunately no-one was close enough to finish her off before she regained her feet.

The barrier in front of the main street entrance was broken, with a townsman being gruesomely killed (causing some panic) and the second minion being slain.

With dawn soon approaching there was not much time to try and get to the main vampire before he fled. Aldaric pushed forward the elementals, with some covering fire from Erwig.
The final battles were raging. There were still too many undead powers still about.

Just as the faint glow of the new day were threatening, the Vampire and glamoured mob showed they were not to be dismissed and extinguished the Fire Elemental. And with that final action the Vampire and Minion vanished in a cloud of acrid smoke.

Battle Outcome:
  • Dwarves Killed 2 townsfolk = -2 VP
  • Barbarians killed 2 Vampire Minions for 2 VP but killed 4 townsfolk for -4 VP

A Draw


Friday 4 January 2013

Old School 40k Razorback - WIP

As a bit of a change for the holidays I thought I'd paint the 40k Razorback I'd picked up at the Glasgow Modelfest back in October for Arabiansquire. Unfortunately I didn't take a "before" picture - DOH!


I've re-sprayed the entire model in Army Painter Ultramarine blue then dry brushed in a lighter blue, which will have to remain nameless as it doesn't have a label (just to say it's a 90's Citadel paint). Everything is very blue!


Next I've painted the metal parts black and dry brushed bolt-gun metal.

More to follow...

Wednesday 2 January 2013

Tristan Flint Arrives


Well, to be fair to his painter he arrived a weeks ago, but I've taken some time to get him based. This was painted as part of a figure exchange I did with Tristan @ GWPertinent . I've just given him a plain urban base to set him off. With his colourful hairstyle and shorts he reminded me of Keith Flint of the Prodigy, so he shall forever now be named Tristan Flint.