tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59587365460781817382024-03-18T15:55:54.542-07:00Dice, Doubloons and Random MusingsA Blog of Thoughts on Wargaming, Miniature Painting, and Role-Playing GamesBillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04427050476965801867noreply@blogger.comBlogger359125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5958736546078181738.post-67315037914653365352024-03-15T19:05:00.000-07:002024-03-15T19:05:29.409-07:00Tusk: Ground Sloth Hunt<p> It's been a couple weeks since I've gotten anything on the table to play with, or even to paint for that matter. I did get another few sets of prepainted trees from Monster Fight Club, and wanted to get them on the table, so for simplicity's sake I set myself up for a couple rounds of Wessex Games' Tusk. I've got a lot of unpainted cavemen in a box in my closet and I hate playing unpainted, so I used the same batch of Lucid Eye cavemen that I used in my last game back in December. I still don't have a mammoth purchased or painted, but I did find a Reaper Bones giant prehistoric ground sloth that I painted a few years back so that was today's substitute megafauna. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZpMLJow7v3bitPW5apojyhMFMVTabdIsoZi9XEBbwyzShy5Er82IAfCfZEYl7aT_fGXsD-d3Wv26QdKJa3GAtkO7EA1-MojJI2-bf7br81SULL_ihGfpZ0OxgeJwTX6P9RhPXqn3bpesD5ewz1N_D0UCL70qqfUd5cgaN8HD2XQzqt707hS1Tu59F3XE/s2048/432354562_10102581719136116_3532764119645848768_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZpMLJow7v3bitPW5apojyhMFMVTabdIsoZi9XEBbwyzShy5Er82IAfCfZEYl7aT_fGXsD-d3Wv26QdKJa3GAtkO7EA1-MojJI2-bf7br81SULL_ihGfpZ0OxgeJwTX6P9RhPXqn3bpesD5ewz1N_D0UCL70qqfUd5cgaN8HD2XQzqt707hS1Tu59F3XE/w400-h300/432354562_10102581719136116_3532764119645848768_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>I played twice, but only took pictures of the first game since my phone was low battery. Both games lasted about 15 minutes and ended with the ground sloth being run down and killed; also in both games, Og the Hero (here portrayed by Lucid Eye's "Muok Mangod") got squished while trying to show off for his tribe. He's got a 50-50 chance of either killing the prey animal in one hit or getting killed himself, and so far on my tables it's been 100% "Og bites it."</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpAeMVW8AACnbebHOtrPRXMsdwnfDNnipObX0HiqPN5OXPYZEY_r5U6H1Jvx5nyMHp_n_tGaSqNEzMifKowMxa9xIBFDlasT9yQ5TNum4aP2H7Zqg0_ojfA6Zr0q-QuoGRqs7cmWT0UFYTTQJd63iktyziR3GOhreBAHnkyNdUA965wKGRb82H1CjlnYY/s2048/432406394_10102581719215956_1362124739528692456_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpAeMVW8AACnbebHOtrPRXMsdwnfDNnipObX0HiqPN5OXPYZEY_r5U6H1Jvx5nyMHp_n_tGaSqNEzMifKowMxa9xIBFDlasT9yQ5TNum4aP2H7Zqg0_ojfA6Zr0q-QuoGRqs7cmWT0UFYTTQJd63iktyziR3GOhreBAHnkyNdUA965wKGRb82H1CjlnYY/w400-h300/432406394_10102581719215956_1362124739528692456_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT07L65wIUpExjF58X48nC4sttCM9adHLM-2-3-mIk2-mRyR9pCUHWkf3s8-8uFgNuv1bqVLN8FD2FT1kTjEOCyPW2lEjU0Cp2yDzvibBV8c94O1e8fvT8sm3gVDOnBBaF7BYrWT0TKvjUvevI4yiEVb9KdQX3ZBntdCco2u2Xx2wdKCN9nNsh1PXCnng/s2048/432437892_10102581719151086_335173121435244782_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT07L65wIUpExjF58X48nC4sttCM9adHLM-2-3-mIk2-mRyR9pCUHWkf3s8-8uFgNuv1bqVLN8FD2FT1kTjEOCyPW2lEjU0Cp2yDzvibBV8c94O1e8fvT8sm3gVDOnBBaF7BYrWT0TKvjUvevI4yiEVb9KdQX3ZBntdCco2u2Xx2wdKCN9nNsh1PXCnng/w400-h300/432437892_10102581719151086_335173121435244782_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-LuK1t0pmCJoJJeniHKuK76wV5IrMlm5gOPKRwfq5qmaTHq3CIA9oywf-L7XUjTHKFISmao5Ux1Zd2qpmynh5sa-o5CnFuu_0K4ZsjG2EYQBkdcfgG3DbZXi5jk8bYhigY1Ta9JbmVTrgsmifFUQFHATXTfAOdQg5ct-NrcD1Stpgtwt0qlKFDCLE3zQ/s2048/432339088_10102581719166056_5449912580004893402_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-LuK1t0pmCJoJJeniHKuK76wV5IrMlm5gOPKRwfq5qmaTHq3CIA9oywf-L7XUjTHKFISmao5Ux1Zd2qpmynh5sa-o5CnFuu_0K4ZsjG2EYQBkdcfgG3DbZXi5jk8bYhigY1Ta9JbmVTrgsmifFUQFHATXTfAOdQg5ct-NrcD1Stpgtwt0qlKFDCLE3zQ/w400-h300/432339088_10102581719166056_5449912580004893402_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWXTtl9w8wn4twvb98ymOBBWsvMwinhJwHKLt3DXZJ_c1Mg-PoYD91ZRkVa5UihxKNE0DUaFX4cYAPZw4S8-cqNk9Fh8V0HHyfas0xINSkPHicQLeSquRamirSYKyray3B9Y3ekRn0J2fdTQFsiTUrrPeuTI8jtkd1Tv7Tv5zs11R-Z8S0kGJ949frucw/s2048/432419501_10102581719186016_809183956338749457_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWXTtl9w8wn4twvb98ymOBBWsvMwinhJwHKLt3DXZJ_c1Mg-PoYD91ZRkVa5UihxKNE0DUaFX4cYAPZw4S8-cqNk9Fh8V0HHyfas0xINSkPHicQLeSquRamirSYKyray3B9Y3ekRn0J2fdTQFsiTUrrPeuTI8jtkd1Tv7Tv5zs11R-Z8S0kGJ949frucw/w400-h300/432419501_10102581719186016_809183956338749457_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <p></p><p>The one thing I really haven't done that I should do for Tusk is get some fire and smoke markers prepped. Tusk offers rules for cavemen to start fires and try to hem prey in or herd them towards cliffs or marshes to kill them. The fires, once started, spread with the wind and can get out of control, even turn around and and threaten the cavemen.I think that would add a very different tactical element; as is, my painted cavemen run in with their clubs and on a 10+ on 2D6 kill the mammoth/ground sloth/Brontosaurus etc. which makes for very fast games. </p><p>I'm not sure when I'll get more cavemen painted; my wife and I are moving to a new city this summer so I know I'll be winnowing down my collection somewhat over the next couple months to minimize what we're moving. I also want to work on being better about being less of a hobby mayfly and really focus on one project at a time for six months or a year; for 2025 I really want that focus to be on prehistoric wargaming. Tusk, Savage Core, and Mana Press' "Tribal" are all on my list of games I want to try playing with painted cavemen of various types, and I've heard good things about Ganesha Games' "Palaeo Diet" - it's been described to me as "Tusk on steroids" so I'll be picking that up at some point. Cavemen and various prehistoric animals will be a great painting project, plus terrain; not just natural stuff like hills and rocks, but villages, idols, etc. </p>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04427050476965801867noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5958736546078181738.post-51378202075453557572024-02-27T15:45:00.000-08:002024-02-27T15:45:51.419-08:00Majestic 13: Special Mission "Ambush"<p> I've played another game?! Yes! I did not sleep well (or much) last night, and decided three hours of sleep in the ol' tank was not enough to fuel me through an 8 hour work day, grocery shopping and cooking dinner. So I took a personal day, did my grocery shopping early when the store was practically empty, kept meals simple for my wife and I, and allowed myself the luxury of a restorative solo game. After all, this is a special round of Majestic 13 - my first "Special Mission."</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiEfPxOM3DCl5yrU0QDh0OcB8GKlHWS76tJWJPfIf-1DX2oC4atApb0NvONuncJlALhd8HBnqh7Y_dTqnwnh2Cnz5wTk5kn_q44CpE5Et4C_HOK0bpfuWGZm_-8hAwWj8oEcA9m7wLzsvWkZ7wDOZ7cPgfyzBsfOHCSFTrcmQ33C6qOR_0eMPrTHbPk-w/s4032/IMG_6007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiEfPxOM3DCl5yrU0QDh0OcB8GKlHWS76tJWJPfIf-1DX2oC4atApb0NvONuncJlALhd8HBnqh7Y_dTqnwnh2Cnz5wTk5kn_q44CpE5Et4C_HOK0bpfuWGZm_-8hAwWj8oEcA9m7wLzsvWkZ7wDOZ7cPgfyzBsfOHCSFTrcmQ33C6qOR_0eMPrTHbPk-w/w400-h300/IMG_6007.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>The sinister invaders known as FORCE have taken note of my team, and dispatched a strike team of FORCE troopers to eliminate them. To represent FORCE on the tabletop, I painted up a half-dozen "Ferox Mercenaries" from <a href="https://khurasanminiatures.tripod.com/" target="_blank">Khurasan Miniatures</a> - this is a company that I think has flown under a lot of peoples' radars, but they make some really cool stuff in both 15 and 28mm scale, their castings were super clean and their customer service excellent and friendly. I've assembled them with helmeted heads and painted them with Turbodork colorshift metallics - "Laserface" (which shifts maroon to yellow-green) for their armor and "Let Them Eat Cake" (dark blue to red-violet) for the gun casings. Some details in silver (washed with Nuln Oil) and the eyes on the helmet picked out in Vallejo Fluorescent Green and they were done. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGQ_LJuHHSJAEv8KUlds4EvZZ6sqyNb8uAFInbfRKNaOtBXs43cG18vttdKFjjTM4vzO2nYnkuXQ42Gbz8_I6pjMY593yhdWBjLB7dT6HDHLLT67vH5U9qaV4NF5zzFM4g-sikshpun1cNGGdMBVQnsZRsz_HhZcRdqNOk7BwqNWMu4JNj7VXbYag9hHw/s2016/IMG_6015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGQ_LJuHHSJAEv8KUlds4EvZZ6sqyNb8uAFInbfRKNaOtBXs43cG18vttdKFjjTM4vzO2nYnkuXQ42Gbz8_I6pjMY593yhdWBjLB7dT6HDHLLT67vH5U9qaV4NF5zzFM4g-sikshpun1cNGGdMBVQnsZRsz_HhZcRdqNOk7BwqNWMu4JNj7VXbYag9hHw/w400-h300/IMG_6015.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I really need to make more trees my next terrain investment.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>A lot of this game boiled down to figures moving from one piece of cover to another, taking pot shots, and moving back towards other pieces of cover, so I'll just highlight a few key moments.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-6eH9NcydOPIiXD7pAiwFx7wxEGzwOvgPwjriinWdZ2tdQuR3__OKINU_ZDyKVDPsZvp72h-ePLHb54ApPZOIXTA66SZiw3r1vlUTiU5wBR-hQaJAJWd_EgkpYg2FHoSPU56-X12MJI9dz1RlZIVwMVrQ6a13WQgWXBMw6RX2tDN8tvan7V3iLR7ShyphenhyphenI/s2016/IMG_6016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-6eH9NcydOPIiXD7pAiwFx7wxEGzwOvgPwjriinWdZ2tdQuR3__OKINU_ZDyKVDPsZvp72h-ePLHb54ApPZOIXTA66SZiw3r1vlUTiU5wBR-hQaJAJWd_EgkpYg2FHoSPU56-X12MJI9dz1RlZIVwMVrQ6a13WQgWXBMw6RX2tDN8tvan7V3iLR7ShyphenhyphenI/w400-h300/IMG_6016.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I also finally got everyone's name written on their bases.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>I successfully upgraded my team's base defenses following the last game, meaning each of these FORCE troopers took 1D6+3 damage before the game even started. I rolled really well, and two of the aliens started play with 21 HP instead of their customary 30. This really helped me out a lot. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRE30bpV7eKeryzM69AdLHgPVLmisOBxlBgfzmyV3uxh6dKoZCgmM5YJmCKtmI27qQ28nwbAHPhgf4xq6OA4z3kv0YvIbffJaEM_pkuGK9GOyPet5dSl1tbTvzpCgXpw8zTBT4DEKtRtaPuC0VXI3iKp3yjoalQ5VqBs9fkwRYN7ac3lE8AeZrZPix1rg/s2016/IMG_6018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRE30bpV7eKeryzM69AdLHgPVLmisOBxlBgfzmyV3uxh6dKoZCgmM5YJmCKtmI27qQ28nwbAHPhgf4xq6OA4z3kv0YvIbffJaEM_pkuGK9GOyPet5dSl1tbTvzpCgXpw8zTBT4DEKtRtaPuC0VXI3iKp3yjoalQ5VqBs9fkwRYN7ac3lE8AeZrZPix1rg/s320/IMG_6018.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Turn 1, Agent Moseley (newly equipped with a sniper rifle) took up a position behind the chimney of an old, abandoned cabin, and on Turn 2, he scored a critical hit on FORCE Trooper # 2, killing it. Boom, headshot. Even better, both he and Agent Arnold succeeded on their saving throws to avoid taking damage when Trooper #2 subsequently imploded. Yes, the FORCE troopers implode on death, to insure that their technology doesn't fall into human hands. Stingy bastards. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvTHPqxevWPdRhIuJ45MkdLlengbwL1QbOF_9OAjM9anMq6Tj3Ubh6onzdTdPNL6_ygFJ8BxOa5FAk-5sJnnAs3WsCJVKaIclqnffXKP49BOYkxLDlsM6myGku5zklNe9U9atmIU3fDlvVC-zSCDnADbwczeVAO_xYlDylatc9lMY6Q-3kxZkIl1ns1N0/s2016/IMG_6020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvTHPqxevWPdRhIuJ45MkdLlengbwL1QbOF_9OAjM9anMq6Tj3Ubh6onzdTdPNL6_ygFJ8BxOa5FAk-5sJnnAs3WsCJVKaIclqnffXKP49BOYkxLDlsM6myGku5zklNe9U9atmIU3fDlvVC-zSCDnADbwczeVAO_xYlDylatc9lMY6Q-3kxZkIl1ns1N0/w400-h300/IMG_6020.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Turn 3, Agents Klass and Barker were temporarily blinded by an alien grenade. Both agents cleared their vision, returning fire. Turn 4, another grenade was thrown, again blinding Barker. This is becoming a theme with him after the last game. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFae7Y1c_pmkuF4dETlG89CBJgzqOMSzKrfj98X_SQXZ8Gvv00Wizug500-LNnFfuB_WQBlvSpzEl6rnkGn5y_sQKNHMDRNaRuKOHbJdStTQHp5jqsP233AfNQZkA6gxp_2lSRoYQGRyyE2l9l8XjcmdiBRYiFpq3BZ5WSRNb8wSKo20Y0lofATpKgEBM/s2016/IMG_6022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFae7Y1c_pmkuF4dETlG89CBJgzqOMSzKrfj98X_SQXZ8Gvv00Wizug500-LNnFfuB_WQBlvSpzEl6rnkGn5y_sQKNHMDRNaRuKOHbJdStTQHp5jqsP233AfNQZkA6gxp_2lSRoYQGRyyE2l9l8XjcmdiBRYiFpq3BZ5WSRNb8wSKo20Y0lofATpKgEBM/w400-h300/IMG_6022.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Immediately following this, Agent Arnold successfully Called for Aid on Turn 4, calling in a drone strike against the FORCE troopers. An attack roll was made successfully against each of the five remaining troopers, and the damage dealt was enough to kill three (#s 1, 4 and 5) of them simultaneously, while reducing the remaining two to low single-digit hit points. Unfortunately, the rolling wave of concussive implosions took both Agent Barker and Agent Moseley out of action as well, and left Agent Klass stunned. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju41zH-yg4r5CfcyGPutJZpSus9VOyzW9QswqzEMdVQQ45gOA5jJwOVQWF17n9Q-URiCgbQ_Wzrnb1CPrdDlmAFIaMao_CBcaBVdZSQIZMMb5ZSDdrd9udGN0zrQWpTphpY6yJHcKJ2aybZhdNLN4vkYx5YN4iZVBCEiFynIPSW9d7-JmIIIa6qeqITdo/s2016/IMG_6024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju41zH-yg4r5CfcyGPutJZpSus9VOyzW9QswqzEMdVQQ45gOA5jJwOVQWF17n9Q-URiCgbQ_Wzrnb1CPrdDlmAFIaMao_CBcaBVdZSQIZMMb5ZSDdrd9udGN0zrQWpTphpY6yJHcKJ2aybZhdNLN4vkYx5YN4iZVBCEiFynIPSW9d7-JmIIIa6qeqITdo/w400-h300/IMG_6024.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>The remainder of Turn 4 and Turn 5 were spent mopping up the remaining two FORCE troopers. Keel's Killers were successful in their mission, though they paid a price for their victory.</p><p>Rolling into the post-game, while Agent Moseley recovered quickly and will be good to go for the next mission, Agent Barker succumbed to his injuries, his internal organs pulverized into jelly by three concussive implosions. Majestic 13 is loathe to let a good agent go though, and a clone of Agent Barker was decanted and added to the Keel's Killers roster; an imperfect and slightly weakened copy of the original, Barker II is nonetheless a welcome addition to the team. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgigk3V3AfAcGcnNk-MoqOFBpw_76_CCwVOuaqpjdAUvAJ1_oMsdf1fxOCN3GfE_xtgvWNXBEtbcoyNtv8qY8-pwhNspE-ex50bZmWX24wfFcYebeBSUEsB2Ibinj-QXre5z_rf5lmww5_p5gTT6vWB1X7Q41jay_le3kOvbwu9k8wuCY4W3iPZEqD0nr8/s2016/IMG_6027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgigk3V3AfAcGcnNk-MoqOFBpw_76_CCwVOuaqpjdAUvAJ1_oMsdf1fxOCN3GfE_xtgvWNXBEtbcoyNtv8qY8-pwhNspE-ex50bZmWX24wfFcYebeBSUEsB2Ibinj-QXre5z_rf5lmww5_p5gTT6vWB1X7Q41jay_le3kOvbwu9k8wuCY4W3iPZEqD0nr8/w400-h300/IMG_6027.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He died doing what he loved; shooting aliens until he went blind.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Following that, my team's requests to requisition new gear got lost in the bureaucratic maze of Majestic 13, but I did successfully add another upgrade to my base; an Emergency Medical Facility was built, which will hopefully reduce my losses in the future. I know I've been really lucky so far in not having characters die every mission, but the loss of even one good soldier is too much. </p><p>What's next? Well, uh...I only have three more painted monsters that can serve as aliens on hand, and I have no idea what I'm going to use for my FORCE Shock Troopers in the next special mission yet. So I might have to slow my roll a little bit with how many games I'm playing and spend more time painting. <br /></p>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04427050476965801867noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5958736546078181738.post-43011773684401064812024-02-24T18:12:00.000-08:002024-02-24T18:12:09.569-08:00Majestic 13: Operation Eye Exam<p> What's this? Another game report already? Yes, I know it's rare that I actually play more than one game a month, but I had a couple reasons to set up for another game of Majestic 13 <a href="http://dice-and-doubloons.blogspot.com/2024/02/majestic-13-operation-mud-bath.html">after Monday's game</a>. First and foremost, it's just fun. Second, to inaugurate some newly finished terrain - a set of three prepainted MDF residential trailers from <a href="https://blacksitestudio.com/" target="_blank">Black Site Studios</a>. And three, I'm trying to take better care of my mental health this year and one of the things I've found to be really good for me is getting the table cleared off and playing games. </p><p>I had started the BSS trailer park kit back in November, gotten side tracked, and came back and finished the last unassembled trailer (as well as gluing all the windows into all three trailers) this week while riding the high of Monday's game. Between these, the Bingo Hall (also from BSS), gas station and the 3D-printed doughnut shop, I'm able to put together a properly dense urban table, and that makes me really happy. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw0-5l6rGKVpjPuHAeGcHzyhaU_ix7JyDUR6d1HNfmJ8QCtzKUf_XzTik8gU4OvgOwyNU73Y7jrXfZgtBbE210S1um8AKCIoWlsP3l50xQG8qrMV6hPAQljFWwqS7fuNARR-xUCuaDy6IhZ2MbwaRkCg6MtIJ3707bqWpUSwL7hLlw6wPp9_TkCMABJ08/s2016/IMG_5983.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw0-5l6rGKVpjPuHAeGcHzyhaU_ix7JyDUR6d1HNfmJ8QCtzKUf_XzTik8gU4OvgOwyNU73Y7jrXfZgtBbE210S1um8AKCIoWlsP3l50xQG8qrMV6hPAQljFWwqS7fuNARR-xUCuaDy6IhZ2MbwaRkCg6MtIJ3707bqWpUSwL7hLlw6wPp9_TkCMABJ08/w400-h300/IMG_5983.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <p></p><p>So for tonight's mission, Keel's Killers were assigned to hunt down an "Ocular Enigma," an elusive and stealthy creature with the ability to inflict psychosomatic blindness on anyone trying to harm it; as a secondary mission, they needed to collect two supply drops on the monster's side of the table. The characters who collected each drop would receive a +1 to damage rolls for the remainder of the game. The Killers are, as always, from Hasslefree Miniatures, while the Ocular Enigma is a Reaper Bones "Hivewarden" I painted back in 2018 with an eye towards using in Fistful of Lead: Galactic Heroes as a pulpy Big-Eyed Monster. <br /></p><p>I also had an interloper early on that threatened to make the game much more challenging:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPePuFM08aWh6NMW0Dl3zEL8qNWDAu-4ksUbVhApe4CNfnF-eiwTbZM6aU69nu5cbwY2ZItMr5sTwtmQUG8yZ5lxzCoghyphenhyphenz4GfqlRAqM6W8IAxj8uUTWr61vsE9NeFEnBARarllESGy_Q_CnSJMLj6_TH-Ixy3_U3l5TYc9HrViivomOnZvKB8gZZMs4Q/s4032/IMG_5985.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPePuFM08aWh6NMW0Dl3zEL8qNWDAu-4ksUbVhApe4CNfnF-eiwTbZM6aU69nu5cbwY2ZItMr5sTwtmQUG8yZ5lxzCoghyphenhyphenz4GfqlRAqM6W8IAxj8uUTWr61vsE9NeFEnBARarllESGy_Q_CnSJMLj6_TH-Ixy3_U3l5TYc9HrViivomOnZvKB8gZZMs4Q/w400-h300/IMG_5985.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Fortunately, he was lured off the table before he sneezed on any of my MDF. </p><p>The first two turns were a bit clown shoes; the Killers were passing their saves to avoid blindness, but failing their attack rolls or succeeding and rolling minimum (or nearly minimum) damage. For it's part, the Ocular Enigma just skedaddled around its half of the board, moving from cover to cover to try and avoid being seen. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieoD4aAqN3Id3B8N4G8qj6lnzFNyQjpuYgiPWdAdFr4O78Tx6cppmLPrKnMEP0rolwhwc2riKdgj_Mexxxm09wQFOYz2SpCQQOq-97v7vdKAffBobMFNj5jporEzFaVQo8V6ekXVYzFQWM3P5ukaUc5YDC9N4wyhvt-3OHqU2ahAaOAtoexl6o5XQVjIM/s2016/IMG_5984.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieoD4aAqN3Id3B8N4G8qj6lnzFNyQjpuYgiPWdAdFr4O78Tx6cppmLPrKnMEP0rolwhwc2riKdgj_Mexxxm09wQFOYz2SpCQQOq-97v7vdKAffBobMFNj5jporEzFaVQo8V6ekXVYzFQWM3P5ukaUc5YDC9N4wyhvt-3OHqU2ahAaOAtoexl6o5XQVjIM/w400-h300/IMG_5984.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii3Inlxi1p5BVrKYdc1cKnz24RTWSzPeSHfnRqcixnzgbiVTTisjuWDbW5BLV646T8JVk_2IZ88ZK91ZnoDxGMKaJ0BLsvmvOfX_Xvmur_ynHd_BVpAnWKhPMZW14P8nnU1qkVeFA6zVdrGdcKFd7K49LydvMuiznRncJdNdyjELFtydNpROy618EDN7I/s2016/IMG_5986.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii3Inlxi1p5BVrKYdc1cKnz24RTWSzPeSHfnRqcixnzgbiVTTisjuWDbW5BLV646T8JVk_2IZ88ZK91ZnoDxGMKaJ0BLsvmvOfX_Xvmur_ynHd_BVpAnWKhPMZW14P8nnU1qkVeFA6zVdrGdcKFd7K49LydvMuiznRncJdNdyjELFtydNpROy618EDN7I/w400-h300/IMG_5986.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>Johanna Keel got close, lined up a shot, passed her blindness...and then, because the creature had partial cover behind the dumpster, needed to roll twice and take the worse result for her attack roll.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8x8D0XW352c-jRmI55xIuoxNvVwpQntgxehojyjFnFh1Ot3AwkJSe3n8VPVzvig4x25LOe5pxl6iODepwhW24cRApTkIhQs3oCX4mJ-hfMq5tUKoThjZGfnIaOUXJZZToLNxkat53FezLDWMeuHHs0wsGRTmdHFwRFKfotbaT-4uG2dA8YbV9C6x25bQ/s2016/IMG_5987.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8x8D0XW352c-jRmI55xIuoxNvVwpQntgxehojyjFnFh1Ot3AwkJSe3n8VPVzvig4x25LOe5pxl6iODepwhW24cRApTkIhQs3oCX4mJ-hfMq5tUKoThjZGfnIaOUXJZZToLNxkat53FezLDWMeuHHs0wsGRTmdHFwRFKfotbaT-4uG2dA8YbV9C6x25bQ/w400-h300/IMG_5987.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Could have been a critical hit, but not. Critical fumble. Thanks dice. Turn 2 also saw our FUBAR result for the game:</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXUhcciKqXEyImna4iCAT9x0lcX1An3gMUyZonFjj-P1DlBImqM2OF_lMynOyAlSpMgCpgRdg-GkaYE5ewuKPl9EBMJ6sQweFiKssz9PM6_e9k9MZ0A8XnoDSxpYWZjA1UufaRSRI5-14O9La8-w2NhUhcexUaznYrsTY-CeCM6QbYNDGt4Is7QnA9j9Y/s504/IMG_5989.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="174" data-original-width="504" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXUhcciKqXEyImna4iCAT9x0lcX1An3gMUyZonFjj-P1DlBImqM2OF_lMynOyAlSpMgCpgRdg-GkaYE5ewuKPl9EBMJ6sQweFiKssz9PM6_e9k9MZ0A8XnoDSxpYWZjA1UufaRSRI5-14O9La8-w2NhUhcexUaznYrsTY-CeCM6QbYNDGt4Is7QnA9j9Y/w400-h138/IMG_5989.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p></p><p>A Time-Space Distortion struck abruptly; most of the Killers maintained their footing, but Agent Arnold was flung 11" off the doughnut shop roof, taking falling damage on top of the damage from the FUBAR. The Enigma was also bounced off a chain-link fence by the distortion, dealing more damage than the Killers had up to that point. </p><p>Turn 3, Agent Barker was struck blind by the Enigma, while Agents Arnold and Keel managed to seize the two supply objectives. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEBsnsrZ9yw8julZdZAm6-WkQBUN59eCoX__CbcAfmwMojWE5GwhrTvaL9g9bsrUGLeyZU3i8pgOil2Ni1jLY79DTpHaLcK4HAguQ7IhBqTPE-33h2HKlgJ_pN8QCdZzn2IXt6mq08ivXW-t6b78_X1ieRbj_FWNya5FNdO6GCvp7TOsvnDY6VgMKn9zo/s2016/IMG_5991.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEBsnsrZ9yw8julZdZAm6-WkQBUN59eCoX__CbcAfmwMojWE5GwhrTvaL9g9bsrUGLeyZU3i8pgOil2Ni1jLY79DTpHaLcK4HAguQ7IhBqTPE-33h2HKlgJ_pN8QCdZzn2IXt6mq08ivXW-t6b78_X1ieRbj_FWNya5FNdO6GCvp7TOsvnDY6VgMKn9zo/w400-h300/IMG_5991.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTEBN9TZqAbMtMeReGEL6cB6qZWmWbu681E32DRNoNafnNK27xuP9xownud65-afcumpp5NOcBIenh3t1Zi4vTLtEHL0DseVBUWsLWrqiV-2UlXDhsQ6bhjKtiUJEd3QeWVoKXOQsiNDbl20BfawzQefPkTYGB1OcGhOUsCTLcoEMavaWyxufMTz8K8m4/s2016/IMG_5990.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTEBN9TZqAbMtMeReGEL6cB6qZWmWbu681E32DRNoNafnNK27xuP9xownud65-afcumpp5NOcBIenh3t1Zi4vTLtEHL0DseVBUWsLWrqiV-2UlXDhsQ6bhjKtiUJEd3QeWVoKXOQsiNDbl20BfawzQefPkTYGB1OcGhOUsCTLcoEMavaWyxufMTz8K8m4/w400-h300/IMG_5990.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3PPacKUcQS_6Sr8sqn5TKh6CVFHAgD5KsVeyg3y1jXZ6yoJLQ1kS01fL-uVrngDnMofmzyi0qJhJlj4S5wFEw3lYtBOV0jyfW8Tk6YUozsk0e2o1mlSJkSTZDQ95JQuII4LzlWllOTICXOq8x-awTzz1bAfSsVJ_ZoNbNQ_sCs31knsNLLoM_UZLBtgw/s2016/IMG_5992.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3PPacKUcQS_6Sr8sqn5TKh6CVFHAgD5KsVeyg3y1jXZ6yoJLQ1kS01fL-uVrngDnMofmzyi0qJhJlj4S5wFEw3lYtBOV0jyfW8Tk6YUozsk0e2o1mlSJkSTZDQ95JQuII4LzlWllOTICXOq8x-awTzz1bAfSsVJ_ZoNbNQ_sCs31knsNLLoM_UZLBtgw/w400-h300/IMG_5992.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Keel wasn't alone however, with the Enigma sneaking up behind her. Moseley was struck blind by the creature, as was Keel when she activated again; the monster, seizing the opportunity, lashed out with its "Poisonous Visions" attack; both Keel and Moseley, despite being blind, are assailed with disorienting, nauseating visions, dealing psychic damage to both of them and inflicting the "Poisoned" status effect on both of them, halving their movement until it's cleared. The monster then darted for its next patch of cover (I imagine it making the Zoidberg "woop-woop-woop-woop" noise as it goes). </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikN9K6UCuccMbEbD7eESPy_aBL5HOTYTJrRuc2GvRxeuqBnVAvqhqL2NkeOl9VM234e1f2KfhyphenhyphenkDEosj1Fp1u1RNDTqvMXc75mvam1bpHu1ql0kablND0D9OHDXlEl93vtwX9yweyU_N4HDVCbeRF55odW2OCYKpc56olwz4OvAkUrtc1526t1ThWtzjQ/s2016/IMG_5993.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikN9K6UCuccMbEbD7eESPy_aBL5HOTYTJrRuc2GvRxeuqBnVAvqhqL2NkeOl9VM234e1f2KfhyphenhyphenkDEosj1Fp1u1RNDTqvMXc75mvam1bpHu1ql0kablND0D9OHDXlEl93vtwX9yweyU_N4HDVCbeRF55odW2OCYKpc56olwz4OvAkUrtc1526t1ThWtzjQ/w400-h300/IMG_5993.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyaUGxWe09nssEWlg01Y8HmapSIWnJAXVoMFCG0VmKCDeYJvEz1GVY_o-SUikgXm1VQ7PGaZCV6kTjvut2HmLot8FP0yefbWbV2pApnHDlMmpuIL9P3VOIXbk0Z_pqoeF0yMVECreUzSUjJbU3Pl_h6GAAune03XUhvLEKjqxF7oxlKkKP15RzVRqtOEo/s2016/IMG_5994.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyaUGxWe09nssEWlg01Y8HmapSIWnJAXVoMFCG0VmKCDeYJvEz1GVY_o-SUikgXm1VQ7PGaZCV6kTjvut2HmLot8FP0yefbWbV2pApnHDlMmpuIL9P3VOIXbk0Z_pqoeF0yMVECreUzSUjJbU3Pl_h6GAAune03XUhvLEKjqxF7oxlKkKP15RzVRqtOEo/w400-h300/IMG_5994.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-WRKwP3LADT7Qj6R9TN4YJD6pXlcnoa0fg8DLiHXOSR6roIKDpelnwfG6OfRDdrOgUGVed65KWCGUzYErXaFcO9reWGWNpIosgUq5D1jQLMXwG3iAxyjTyUtPP52uagfZoArqK8QMskKX1UE4JKwKTz4q299o-OxgnVXaRJ7Y4aOL4VwQoZFPjq8n6B8/s2016/IMG_5996.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-WRKwP3LADT7Qj6R9TN4YJD6pXlcnoa0fg8DLiHXOSR6roIKDpelnwfG6OfRDdrOgUGVed65KWCGUzYErXaFcO9reWGWNpIosgUq5D1jQLMXwG3iAxyjTyUtPP52uagfZoArqK8QMskKX1UE4JKwKTz4q299o-OxgnVXaRJ7Y4aOL4VwQoZFPjq8n6B8/w400-h300/IMG_5996.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have tokens for the "Stunned" and "Pinned" conditions, but I really need to get proper "Blinded" and "Poisoned" ones for Majestic 13.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p>Agent Arnold, sick of the monster's shit, called in a drone strike on Turn 4. Moseley, clearing his Blindness but not his Poisoned status, and Klass managed to get their respective acts together and start putting lead into the Enigma, while Barker remains Blinded. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJWTw00fY-BlZrRRetF-YVfsM31yeaJq5y95NGIAUQdFG7Vwm-GmgOZQKifsqSVK_psViNu-NXQdGYvvB-togvoUX0JrN4kc_dv6t2ql8dAwO_IBaRa67CBoIkkzoV_5n4r5o30qqXe-kGvyROBjKN0ZZKm5yGIDH2YAoLClYQAn_vLvJuWuPZL4kDkoQ/s2016/IMG_5998.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJWTw00fY-BlZrRRetF-YVfsM31yeaJq5y95NGIAUQdFG7Vwm-GmgOZQKifsqSVK_psViNu-NXQdGYvvB-togvoUX0JrN4kc_dv6t2ql8dAwO_IBaRa67CBoIkkzoV_5n4r5o30qqXe-kGvyROBjKN0ZZKm5yGIDH2YAoLClYQAn_vLvJuWuPZL4kDkoQ/w400-h300/IMG_5998.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Seeing an opening, the Enigma scales the doughnut shop to attack still-blind Barker despite having taken enough damage to activate its "Extremis" state (in which it takes bonus damage but gains an extra action). Klass and Arnold both manage to shoot the creature again, while Keel and Moseley, both still Poisoned, attempt to limp into position for another shot. </p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKe7EVuMn9KNI1TeQTXN2swWYYNB5R4IGncltcpyn0qzWJyW-bKF9qO-1_M6Pbu7S8Udz90aMqo-mbNmMpIZqFQCdqWm7qG1jPG3Su1Qfgn-ntKKn1-W0Mag4TFzTuHKRxWsMISRr_Q_TvUekOwxKDW8hpVgejuoJ1FZ7Z0qe1hnAGfX5DxrM_9RTfrcQ/s2016/IMG_6002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKe7EVuMn9KNI1TeQTXN2swWYYNB5R4IGncltcpyn0qzWJyW-bKF9qO-1_M6Pbu7S8Udz90aMqo-mbNmMpIZqFQCdqWm7qG1jPG3Su1Qfgn-ntKKn1-W0Mag4TFzTuHKRxWsMISRr_Q_TvUekOwxKDW8hpVgejuoJ1FZ7Z0qe1hnAGfX5DxrM_9RTfrcQ/w400-h300/IMG_6002.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Unfortunately, the mission ended then with the conclusion of Turn 5; the monster was sitting pretty at 7 hit points out of its original 115. One more turn (or one fewer failed shooting rolls) and this could have been a victory. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining about the design decision to have games last exactly 5 turns, no more; I think it's an excellent decision that forces strategic thinking beyond simply outlasting the monster and keeps games from degenerating into slogs. </p><p>Rolling in the post-game, I did pretty well since nobody was put Out of Action by the monster; everyone boosted their Combat skill rating (and Barker also boosted his Dexterity), and the Bureaucracy approved one of my two requested sniper rifles (assigned to Moseley) and my base upgrade: Keel's Killer's center of operations now boasts "Upgraded Point Defense Systems," which means whenever I undertake a Special Mission (in which I'm fighting directly against the soldiers of FORCE, the alien organization dropping monsters on Earth), my enemies start the game down by 1D6+3 hit points. </p><p>This is particularly useful, since my team rating has advanced to "3" which means my next mission is my first Special Mission. Which means I better get my FORCE strike team painted up soon. <br /></p>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04427050476965801867noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5958736546078181738.post-43829874193935682572024-02-19T18:20:00.000-08:002024-02-19T18:20:11.572-08:00Majestic 13: Operation Mud Bath<p> It's been a while since I've cleared the table off and had a solo game for myself, and going through my stuff as my wife and I prepare to move house this summer got me itching for another game of Majestic 13. I decided to follow up <a href="http://dice-and-doubloons.blogspot.com/2023/11/majestic-13-operation-turkey-drop.html" target="_blank">on my previous game</a>, and play mission two of what is shaping up to be a meandering, irregular campaign. </p><p>After a few dice rolls, I determined that my team of operatives, "Keel's Killers," would be entering an urban environment to A) try to take down a monster called a "Terraformer," capable of reshaping the landscape around it, and B), retrieve a series of medical supply caches. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXZBqGJGG8p8W0V2fnFjXXSmJjxmUcXiJP4DqClC7bJwPnSeShWp2KWXJs7NIOW2vv6NufGpIaaw-eshzKoGCG94Y5FHIU0SMb3N5h2iQ6uGVohyphenhyphenChEIyReJw2eGX9K_76QLRUqY3GHFpQoV_BX0wM8EjGtyJrd5zvn0lIX0-b2qrw9JQHAZbCj84wL0I/s2016/IMG_5942.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXZBqGJGG8p8W0V2fnFjXXSmJjxmUcXiJP4DqClC7bJwPnSeShWp2KWXJs7NIOW2vv6NufGpIaaw-eshzKoGCG94Y5FHIU0SMb3N5h2iQ6uGVohyphenhyphenChEIyReJw2eGX9K_76QLRUqY3GHFpQoV_BX0wM8EjGtyJrd5zvn0lIX0-b2qrw9JQHAZbCj84wL0I/w400-h300/IMG_5942.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>First action of the game, the Terraformer moved to the center of the table, turning every piece of non-scatter terrain into "Dangerous Terrain" - any time one of my operatives entered or climbed on top of one of these buildings or hills, they'd need to roll a D6; on a roll of 4+, they'd take 2D6 damage from monster-induced instability. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_XU-Xox4jemsntsFOD6asWunSvSlp5tF4CfPvbKSxu8Fjcgg9PDFPL6x2mqIXjUoBXnyAsr9P-7ecSJKoPumwjb8y1uPNF9dEhp0aJZKj86VumOwxa-HP0D_rISxanMjNcdSDvZZ5kEBNPqc1RSsQBr37OOcPo2W997FscZ2BOJbwGxRUr4YcyUuYStc/s2016/IMG_5944.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_XU-Xox4jemsntsFOD6asWunSvSlp5tF4CfPvbKSxu8Fjcgg9PDFPL6x2mqIXjUoBXnyAsr9P-7ecSJKoPumwjb8y1uPNF9dEhp0aJZKj86VumOwxa-HP0D_rISxanMjNcdSDvZZ5kEBNPqc1RSsQBr37OOcPo2W997FscZ2BOJbwGxRUr4YcyUuYStc/w400-h300/IMG_5944.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>The operatives opened fire from their various positions, raining lead down on the towering fungoid nightmare. The creature responded by charging the nearest operative it could see, which turned out to be Agent Arnold; lashing out with its dripping pseudopods, it rolled a critical hit with one of them; then, at the beginning of the second turn, it activated again and rolled a staggering double critical! Arnold was pounded into the ground before she could respond.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCPEbCiyk7NskzuhdF9xNjC9RVbXR1BnwVhTWNQvNw0owAA-OJ48Tpz2nEnL2LUZ9fZMq_IMutkSHMizOPvNTOr-4jkA9xNnLkTuHnUUg-rjXce1K0r4_s4zX8USyx8PiyJkbL_UpmrmXWYpUgRsSqJ2qYSBaB0A-lpGdXyffO0LiLT32sV77NJp5HblI/s2016/IMG_5945.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCPEbCiyk7NskzuhdF9xNjC9RVbXR1BnwVhTWNQvNw0owAA-OJ48Tpz2nEnL2LUZ9fZMq_IMutkSHMizOPvNTOr-4jkA9xNnLkTuHnUUg-rjXce1K0r4_s4zX8USyx8PiyJkbL_UpmrmXWYpUgRsSqJ2qYSBaB0A-lpGdXyffO0LiLT32sV77NJp5HblI/w400-h300/IMG_5945.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjKcdf6orXjcD-L3vhiq96ZodM1pWtojKjFMPzFmtnDUpGMR7x_UUYJ4kaNNRaVlcGMti3p_1VVSngBxhAHmeT_gpMCsHKwFutBIILM3_svq9WpKHn67AUBGrE9tvG5Emb5N7YX74hcsTiWzbLoPKhcZxgde4raux1xtRdrsjxi4OqQV0EeE036D2qyzo/s2016/IMG_5946.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjKcdf6orXjcD-L3vhiq96ZodM1pWtojKjFMPzFmtnDUpGMR7x_UUYJ4kaNNRaVlcGMti3p_1VVSngBxhAHmeT_gpMCsHKwFutBIILM3_svq9WpKHn67AUBGrE9tvG5Emb5N7YX74hcsTiWzbLoPKhcZxgde4raux1xtRdrsjxi4OqQV0EeE036D2qyzo/w400-h300/IMG_5946.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>At that point, Klass opted to fire a quick round into the monster and retreat into the bingo hall, tagging the first of the three medical caches. Keel, Barker and Moseley continued to move and fire at the creature, with Moseley drawing the creature's attention. <br /></p><p>The Terraformer charged, striking Moseley with a tendril and Stunning him with neurasthenic slime. Barker charged in and hit Moseley with a set of shock pads, clearing the Stunned condition and buying Moseley time to race to the Donut Worry and access the second medical cache.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgojcrYs6iCKehKjMBJqvXu-ndRTkGPCmUKXJTudkPuaGuZar1Hi__H-OHpI5GPDSMvIIcYVmM044gfV891spC6DXzjEtYuQEy4NZ6_GZ_h3QG0LKsKtdvN0I5xH_bPFCyaHnAS8ACJ23bvRp90LoQtN4LJR86NaxLj83DcVfDuwHtjC5tK-fI8dhWHuPk/s2016/IMG_5948.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgojcrYs6iCKehKjMBJqvXu-ndRTkGPCmUKXJTudkPuaGuZar1Hi__H-OHpI5GPDSMvIIcYVmM044gfV891spC6DXzjEtYuQEy4NZ6_GZ_h3QG0LKsKtdvN0I5xH_bPFCyaHnAS8ACJ23bvRp90LoQtN4LJR86NaxLj83DcVfDuwHtjC5tK-fI8dhWHuPk/w400-h300/IMG_5948.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgacY9opZvDdDVIzJ3uV_bKxCuAGaBB0o3RdgJOwzUcTSrClZUO0tH8IjoQTWB-A7AUmi6xv5hgFSi4I7XoOLOiNFd_BBxnOfjJtSiYm4vNABm36tt2FZmJTTFlosZ7NM71mzlmjhnzp7K5W4CZfj_vNeIXDiJtnIqrvmcgjqV7WrrgCgksCbzMB8qwll8/s2016/IMG_5949.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgacY9opZvDdDVIzJ3uV_bKxCuAGaBB0o3RdgJOwzUcTSrClZUO0tH8IjoQTWB-A7AUmi6xv5hgFSi4I7XoOLOiNFd_BBxnOfjJtSiYm4vNABm36tt2FZmJTTFlosZ7NM71mzlmjhnzp7K5W4CZfj_vNeIXDiJtnIqrvmcgjqV7WrrgCgksCbzMB8qwll8/w400-h300/IMG_5949.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbJzlH-k4zd5RaKUp4552BTbMpB2ZwdQlPqY31nbBBZvcjcoyxyEiZN_1QNrOtvaeGl8cpEXal9O-_Ckvf_M1dodJ3N_g_v-EI1SazarPM5G2p7ISmDSbK6HYPRbz5CpCsVOcn0ea6wScPUI57EjhsFSu6wJ6h1OF4DVmr0297WJu8IXSYLZflqz5Z3rE/s2016/IMG_5950.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbJzlH-k4zd5RaKUp4552BTbMpB2ZwdQlPqY31nbBBZvcjcoyxyEiZN_1QNrOtvaeGl8cpEXal9O-_Ckvf_M1dodJ3N_g_v-EI1SazarPM5G2p7ISmDSbK6HYPRbz5CpCsVOcn0ea6wScPUI57EjhsFSu6wJ6h1OF4DVmr0297WJu8IXSYLZflqz5Z3rE/w400-h300/IMG_5950.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the healing power of a Boston Creme.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Falling back towards the gas station, Barker's next action was to radio in a drone strike. The call went through, and Lockheed Martin answered with gusto. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj54U_rxIpsc6Lpz5UwZ_AGyQCDKnWHK6zgTwLrfxBoT1aGGvo5VN0pOlfdy0ccEYcdSSyaNnnapjx3J9MyptwdYCt-GCvokghqPzBr9lLojv4o5Vyb8wPXcazBVtf2Xj_9mCi280ecLcf6TuqhWnTvP-42rJ2T9X8oxzh6u4cEeghyphenhyphenn3xPGK2-xDUhH9w/s2016/IMG_5951.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj54U_rxIpsc6Lpz5UwZ_AGyQCDKnWHK6zgTwLrfxBoT1aGGvo5VN0pOlfdy0ccEYcdSSyaNnnapjx3J9MyptwdYCt-GCvokghqPzBr9lLojv4o5Vyb8wPXcazBVtf2Xj_9mCi280ecLcf6TuqhWnTvP-42rJ2T9X8oxzh6u4cEeghyphenhyphenn3xPGK2-xDUhH9w/w400-h300/IMG_5951.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Shaking the flames off itself, the Terraformer followed Barker towards the gas station, striking him with a tentacle and scoring a fourth critical hit for this game. Keel, Moseley and Klass drew the monster's attention while Barker entered the gas station and hit the third and final medical cache. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsw0HuKHCXlJ0z9nCqugmNu8lesHITbwc2lm3ytjeiM24TfdUQWz5VC4butCcHnZhfAnqO5UM0U_x75892VtXlYIh24v-OW1pAvlM7-8OJQfOcWesV89HKH3d2cnz_kvnJ0iHM1Bw5cNQ6cMCBmUQbOWeSHKZBRrrw-_mnW5tOwqqkz5xJakFtydlzy5o/s2016/IMG_5953.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsw0HuKHCXlJ0z9nCqugmNu8lesHITbwc2lm3ytjeiM24TfdUQWz5VC4butCcHnZhfAnqO5UM0U_x75892VtXlYIh24v-OW1pAvlM7-8OJQfOcWesV89HKH3d2cnz_kvnJ0iHM1Bw5cNQ6cMCBmUQbOWeSHKZBRrrw-_mnW5tOwqqkz5xJakFtydlzy5o/w400-h300/IMG_5953.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It might be less a medical cache and more a pack of smokes and a questionable hot dog.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Moseley was taken out of action by the creature's punishing strikes, and Barker emerged from the gas station to score a critical hit on the monster. This was the end of turn 5 and the last of our heroes' actions; the Terraformer activated one last time and smashed into Barker, leaving him with 1 hit point as the game ended. The monster wasn't defeated, but it was a damn close thing; when the game ended it was at 11 hit points, down from the 140 it started with. </p><p>Going into the post-mission phase of the game, Arnold and Moseley both recovered fully from their injuries and will be available to take part, unscathed, in the next mission. The team's efforts to requisition a pair of sniper rifles were denied, but they were able to upgrade their base with a Combat Training Center; Arnold, Moseley and Barker all boosted their Combat rating following the mission, while Keel and Klass improved their Dexterity. The team's overall rating improved from 1 to 2. </p><p>Overall, I'm really pleased with how the game went, even if I didn't successfully defeat the monster. The fact that I rolled four natural 20s on the monster's attacks definitely aided its survival - I wish I could roll like that in my D&D game. I do feel like I'm getting a better handle on not just playing the game as a whole (though I did forget to make FUBAR rolls after the second turn), but on using my team effectively; I definitely need to upgrade my weaponry after next game (if my bureaucracy rolls succeed), because more firepower is absolutely called for. <br /></p>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04427050476965801867noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5958736546078181738.post-47359212457016584892024-02-17T10:37:00.000-08:002024-02-17T10:37:03.819-08:00January Painting<p> *blows off the dust* I guess it's been a minute since I updated around here, huh? Well, I do have some painted miniatures to show off.</p><p>First up are "Totleger's Carvers," my first regiment for the "Defenders of Vogelburgh," my 3rd edition Empire/Halflings army for this year's Old World Army Challenge. A unit of halberdiers (or Helblitzen, as they're called in the 3rd edition Warhammer Armies book), the human figures are War of the Roses infantrymen from Front Rank (since as of 1987, GW hadn't settled on a landsknecht aesthetic for the Empire yet), supported by a mercenary ogre from Knightmare Miniatures and a particularly feisty rooster from Dunkeldorf. Chickens of various types are going to be a theme throughout this army. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjELRnAGLyGheYeVp_QMj658iFLBH7Ww7zB39cT5QVi1e4Vpmf7cddXYqQncqxJva4lSZSl4v1xqvgvy9Xpy8flhui4OmMQX2-40nDejbhFIKamgvc2vNrB1TWmKbquVexgNAeGTVGNrN-J-zxzpMSvRssGIy_gQ7hMYg6sS1ZIo-qvZtSjtzjtWvshZKQ/s1000/IMG_5739.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="954" data-original-width="1000" height="381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjELRnAGLyGheYeVp_QMj658iFLBH7Ww7zB39cT5QVi1e4Vpmf7cddXYqQncqxJva4lSZSl4v1xqvgvy9Xpy8flhui4OmMQX2-40nDejbhFIKamgvc2vNrB1TWmKbquVexgNAeGTVGNrN-J-zxzpMSvRssGIy_gQ7hMYg6sS1ZIo-qvZtSjtzjtWvshZKQ/w400-h381/IMG_5739.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWooHV6AM41WQBBW34hqvCUc5gWp6bqNOlGKMPJrIMeX0MyA7hO8R3fSMZURbXUWspIOdqbteFwW9bpCsDYlrzad4QSi8WrEOjS-vHVXIYHmxPftYOYzMpXZMo1rB2_-H6mO87YjliI1sEELZ2n75H0CPlA1bcla48R_JXl0uCc0yXq-p3bXu6BJtkYVk/s1000/IMG_5740.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="986" data-original-width="1000" height="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWooHV6AM41WQBBW34hqvCUc5gWp6bqNOlGKMPJrIMeX0MyA7hO8R3fSMZURbXUWspIOdqbteFwW9bpCsDYlrzad4QSi8WrEOjS-vHVXIYHmxPftYOYzMpXZMo1rB2_-H6mO87YjliI1sEELZ2n75H0CPlA1bcla48R_JXl0uCc0yXq-p3bXu6BJtkYVk/w400-h395/IMG_5740.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>The banner is painted on graph paper and entirely freehand. </p><p>Here's a better look at the ogre; the barrel on his base is a resin bit from Dunkeldorf, and represents the regiment's lager ration.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQY9KGyoljaeLdmElBdZ2KwgxrXJmMU_jGrGJFsRx8OGdtoayudJwgflQAPlATQgqe8tKMWoYV9fJQToUF8qyc3RZa0-OrPw8puzu1I3Mk-38HgbMpXlx4IgIUCO-tRCSm5y0v2nrKutP1oUNJ3D1Rn9gOUhgHJzwKdrfa_05_ythF4VhPKsZ0ZG0DK8w/s1000/IMG_5743.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQY9KGyoljaeLdmElBdZ2KwgxrXJmMU_jGrGJFsRx8OGdtoayudJwgflQAPlATQgqe8tKMWoYV9fJQToUF8qyc3RZa0-OrPw8puzu1I3Mk-38HgbMpXlx4IgIUCO-tRCSm5y0v2nrKutP1oUNJ3D1Rn9gOUhgHJzwKdrfa_05_ythF4VhPKsZ0ZG0DK8w/w400-h300/IMG_5743.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFg2ptZ9sb-NjdZfWOVnP7VZJ6lSrUMv6JbzMEKhyBztRzQ1kNlyBeI2267CZOwxplRpj-0SGIv1TjG0H1z7otZ6SwLcISKaJpADYtaGHJrFzmAx3fD0llMrjoq5bKwQPfwfIcRmJwPi1_NeazleP7r9C_lH9F_2RYd1F4yCRFiqOGiZJUgPZwiNc13yU/s1000/IMG_5744.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFg2ptZ9sb-NjdZfWOVnP7VZJ6lSrUMv6JbzMEKhyBztRzQ1kNlyBeI2267CZOwxplRpj-0SGIv1TjG0H1z7otZ6SwLcISKaJpADYtaGHJrFzmAx3fD0llMrjoq5bKwQPfwfIcRmJwPi1_NeazleP7r9C_lH9F_2RYd1F4yCRFiqOGiZJUgPZwiNc13yU/w400-h300/IMG_5744.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>With these figures finished around January 21st, rather than jumping right into the next unit for the Old World Army Challenge, I decided to paint up eight more orc archers from the 1987 Harboth's Orc Archers boxed set. I painted a dozen of them, including Harboth himself, back in 2021 as part of my first entry into the Old World Army Challenge, but wanted to finish the rest of the command group and enough rank-and-file to bring the unit up to a proper 20 figures. And that meant I also had to paint shields and a banner for the regiment.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjrinDK4v5o2m8J6BqdQTHNLUXCg_NN3XI_FbD4TzMtM_CRT94P400CNCARne7Y7-bv2OhkG7vpUosgRtGsK2502guAESQ8EcHNv-UL4cXi5P9eM_UYYdaHkdy_7aKtGuz05wYcgMqKYBkhqi3gqEhgVRsZEeuCh-_Pew3CZOM5hhe4QSG-IGm1JQDCAQ/s2048/424773778_10102560242814836_5706535814801882399_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjrinDK4v5o2m8J6BqdQTHNLUXCg_NN3XI_FbD4TzMtM_CRT94P400CNCARne7Y7-bv2OhkG7vpUosgRtGsK2502guAESQ8EcHNv-UL4cXi5P9eM_UYYdaHkdy_7aKtGuz05wYcgMqKYBkhqi3gqEhgVRsZEeuCh-_Pew3CZOM5hhe4QSG-IGm1JQDCAQ/w400-h300/424773778_10102560242814836_5706535814801882399_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM2xL4l-GDSGPsnzm0lITBNooJhJ3fg49_-UIlkP7IpbVJFlw8SoKQ7cem8pibZImLtXvMhO4TeWOlnnhhNJ-THpG0qgvSkIHi_K6hWqLP8BaoTz_KUMfs7MqtnceO6htjg9LrWAukcsVYNR7LzXQu4PfZUcStgBhsIaIwAaYbbNQJhcS35QawZum0gM4/s2048/422890645_10102560242949566_3577360764850255349_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM2xL4l-GDSGPsnzm0lITBNooJhJ3fg49_-UIlkP7IpbVJFlw8SoKQ7cem8pibZImLtXvMhO4TeWOlnnhhNJ-THpG0qgvSkIHi_K6hWqLP8BaoTz_KUMfs7MqtnceO6htjg9LrWAukcsVYNR7LzXQu4PfZUcStgBhsIaIwAaYbbNQJhcS35QawZum0gM4/w400-h300/422890645_10102560242949566_3577360764850255349_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>The box describes Harboth and his boyz painting their shields with the faces of particularly noteworthy enemies; I went instead for a variety of grinning, disgruntled and suffering faces, with pallid green skin and glowing orange eyes. Are they orcs? Zombies? Who knows!</p><p>I went for a similar face, framed with wild white hair, for the banner; in retrospect it's got a little bit of an Eddie vibe from the band Iron Maiden, which I think works well.</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl_KPC59SplLoCgC66GDL5D9vCiBgXQIU2fZD7hnNH6-CsEk5EG45U3p8WpIzf4JoZbqi-ZgURI_IMhdcC6lP0uDAr35W5lZCrLJt2dhLr-BhJO0iK3yBOkDANWGyXCQxLTDthRXziz41wfFe9f9TBNZa-1eusrMl9hmWuyv2vczwWVV3Pm47J8Ox2Hb0/s2048/424576061_10102560243009446_3313024513945188373_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl_KPC59SplLoCgC66GDL5D9vCiBgXQIU2fZD7hnNH6-CsEk5EG45U3p8WpIzf4JoZbqi-ZgURI_IMhdcC6lP0uDAr35W5lZCrLJt2dhLr-BhJO0iK3yBOkDANWGyXCQxLTDthRXziz41wfFe9f9TBNZa-1eusrMl9hmWuyv2vczwWVV3Pm47J8Ox2Hb0/w400-h300/424576061_10102560243009446_3313024513945188373_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>Again, the banner is freehand on painted graph paper.</p><p>Finally, here's a shot of Harboth's shield; I had originally done a plain shield for him back in 2021, but pried it off and replaced it with an original Citadel plastic shield from the 80s. As I painted the face, it started to look like one eye was squinting a bit so I added a little Carroburg Crimson wash for a bleeding, empty socket. It differentiates him just a little bit from the boyz under his command.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3jGGY-h7AkTksoLLzvC7TxrIlDPLjBgtEOXWYJM0GDFs4JQhuWSZw6PdKF9NShyphenhyphencVTIe4Fa2f5kTplgEvvZZK1t_iU_ZJTBnqmeoRR6ciHcxtvolcjGBcCwwwe01TeOwNSRZFf0bpFPMjjvr2vsikt2JV9ikEqiPHCZ1QGflGEOWlVYCYrTGMrSat6AQ/s2048/423313200_10102560243024416_5601570578905767018_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3jGGY-h7AkTksoLLzvC7TxrIlDPLjBgtEOXWYJM0GDFs4JQhuWSZw6PdKF9NShyphenhyphencVTIe4Fa2f5kTplgEvvZZK1t_iU_ZJTBnqmeoRR6ciHcxtvolcjGBcCwwwe01TeOwNSRZFf0bpFPMjjvr2vsikt2JV9ikEqiPHCZ1QGflGEOWlVYCYrTGMrSat6AQ/w300-h400/423313200_10102560243024416_5601570578905767018_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p>All in all, January was a very productive month for me; February is shaping up to be less so, but we'll see what the next 12 days bring. <br /></p><p>Also, I have bought the rulebooks for Warhammer: The Old World, as well as movement trays with spacers to adjust for the changed base sizes for the new game. I am hoping to be able to bring out my all metal orcs and goblins army and begin actually playing with them! <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04427050476965801867noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5958736546078181738.post-64651840603006037902023-12-31T11:37:00.000-08:002023-12-31T11:37:55.663-08:00RIP Bryan Ansell<p> We lost an absolute giant yesterday with the passing of Bryan Ansell.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHD39tcvvqSkaK8W0vT7P6GCE4-u1CpuyTF61BHn5NdUNH0HKBeQl7OUiSc4CAHgP4xUJiW-j46wKnXpuUJAGKvpD9n66A55GQDuk1KzqqjAFps3zjkEo7isoummxq-X_lVw51-hOJhY-rlKx9GfrZJ05HwopWAb05b2abi0Vsu12mlnCU2f0g8OGWQDg/s1175/415292067_10102547236404786_5870734888684076350_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1175" data-original-width="1078" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHD39tcvvqSkaK8W0vT7P6GCE4-u1CpuyTF61BHn5NdUNH0HKBeQl7OUiSc4CAHgP4xUJiW-j46wKnXpuUJAGKvpD9n66A55GQDuk1KzqqjAFps3zjkEo7isoummxq-X_lVw51-hOJhY-rlKx9GfrZJ05HwopWAb05b2abi0Vsu12mlnCU2f0g8OGWQDg/w368-h400/415292067_10102547236404786_5870734888684076350_n.jpg" width="368" /></a></div><p> </p><p>I had been planning to get my Oldhammer Orc army out on the table for the twice-yearly review. But in Bryan's memory, we roll up our sleeves. Today, we're all Mighty, Dark-Winged, Avenging Lords of Chaos.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_0qfxs8QZYt22h78S5ETFz_i2R_Ch_g_S35TtU4yUNjmwEWR26XleVkrXilzjQUb5vAhA787iX4e5LUHd89DUulWGNIH6NQ274KeHeRqlcNoMXjgfTU-Bfe7UERWYYjL2KoJi6LFjdfhGe9xpviW7HsSVf2REk_Azth9Bm800-tNvv01VP60yngTSmuw/s2048/416097863_10102547475021596_2402862022208879442_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_0qfxs8QZYt22h78S5ETFz_i2R_Ch_g_S35TtU4yUNjmwEWR26XleVkrXilzjQUb5vAhA787iX4e5LUHd89DUulWGNIH6NQ274KeHeRqlcNoMXjgfTU-Bfe7UERWYYjL2KoJi6LFjdfhGe9xpviW7HsSVf2REk_Azth9Bm800-tNvv01VP60yngTSmuw/w300-h400/416097863_10102547475021596_2402862022208879442_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04427050476965801867noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5958736546078181738.post-12128334209465780382023-12-16T10:32:00.000-08:002024-03-15T19:05:48.063-07:00Tusk: The Last of the Thunder Lizards<p><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIrLnD6XLnTN4JRbixxVonvKq2j2H_As7VvH9nUxKkx6Dxmszz6ZKZAI7Vl7cbOjSOcXF-lRbzsvb4YzYznQTDaBcmUOY2AvP8Fm5BHrB1GkdcE0R3K04uVtd8I747sSNpO-BH9xABWSNNVKNKxoVsoZqI0s-e5As4wFJzC63iCGvUFtzeexQV56ZlZBw/s424/64533.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="424" data-original-width="300" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIrLnD6XLnTN4JRbixxVonvKq2j2H_As7VvH9nUxKkx6Dxmszz6ZKZAI7Vl7cbOjSOcXF-lRbzsvb4YzYznQTDaBcmUOY2AvP8Fm5BHrB1GkdcE0R3K04uVtd8I747sSNpO-BH9xABWSNNVKNKxoVsoZqI0s-e5As4wFJzC63iCGvUFtzeexQV56ZlZBw/s320/64533.jpg" width="226" /></a></i></div><i> The mighty saurian lumbered slowly across the landscape, pausing occasionally to gnaw on a shrubby tree; it had been many years since it had seen another of its kind. Following the course of a swift-flowing river, the great long-necked creature wandered vaguely south. Perhaps it would find another of its kind - perhaps a female. If the saurian had the mental capacity to consider something "nice," it would have thought such a prospect so. </i><p></p><p><br />I was recently made aware of a dandy little beer-and-pretzels wargame called<a href="https://www.wargamevault.com/product/64533/Tusk" target="_blank"> "Tusk," distributed by Wessex Games</a>. Set up for solo, co-op or competitive play, players control a hunting party of cavemen, pursuing a woolly mammoth across the landscape and trying to slay it for the tribe's larder. The game also includes rules for Victorian big game hunters and relic dinosaurs surviving into the 19th century in isolated locales. While I do not currently have a woolly mammoth in my collection, I do have some Lucid Eye cavemen painted and a toy Brontosaurus on my work-from-home desk. Being geared towards solo play and me having everything I needed to play already made the decision to give it a go a no-brainer. I printed out a copy of the rules and got the table set up. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtXmMLYlvLPv_NUhOdKXjqxn-MsHD-6eziLnLvwxdp5jn0limn4Z8qnMEpiuWiULAZ6zhr1Bk4hPWJaupBceXaCl5YYJtHMUHBx4bd1f6rN9nlrYLzBV-z5ln2lt_Wptruxu8PX2lj4hTl5HJKJw3Sx88nVhbfgXtXpYcnq7pkGjJvLsSUjbdy9mqGrtk/s2048/411451857_10102540982891876_6239791812254506331_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtXmMLYlvLPv_NUhOdKXjqxn-MsHD-6eziLnLvwxdp5jn0limn4Z8qnMEpiuWiULAZ6zhr1Bk4hPWJaupBceXaCl5YYJtHMUHBx4bd1f6rN9nlrYLzBV-z5ln2lt_Wptruxu8PX2lj4hTl5HJKJw3Sx88nVhbfgXtXpYcnq7pkGjJvLsSUjbdy9mqGrtk/w300-h400/411451857_10102540982891876_6239791812254506331_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p>I put together my hunting party, consisting of Og the Hero, three melee hunters and a dog; the other troop types available are archers and fire-makers (the latter of whom can set fires that drive beasts into bogs or off cliffs). Then, I set up my table, with a river crossing one corner and a few hills, and the Brontosaurus dead center on the table. The game is written for 15mm or 6mm scale figures, but I doubled all the ranges for 28mm and increased the table size from 2' square to 3'. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbEy8B5XM8-eCJ2TehB5xgIkUP0fGdjM5rkoWBoP8lsTQwW-Un8bJt9UsGUMGrvnvFoO3LUgP-HPmQQPyEFxlO7b9omTKkLfjK5crrEXPqzrEJwFSNbXPO14QaPINQulxgeBR5Hol8BzS4fJDcUsKf9pJBAnH8w5MLilHC2-jlxdVpD02MxTwG0HZCaIA/s2048/409851381_10102540982163336_220332881077239330_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbEy8B5XM8-eCJ2TehB5xgIkUP0fGdjM5rkoWBoP8lsTQwW-Un8bJt9UsGUMGrvnvFoO3LUgP-HPmQQPyEFxlO7b9omTKkLfjK5crrEXPqzrEJwFSNbXPO14QaPINQulxgeBR5Hol8BzS4fJDcUsKf9pJBAnH8w5MLilHC2-jlxdVpD02MxTwG0HZCaIA/w400-h300/409851381_10102540982163336_220332881077239330_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>The dog ran ahead to harry the Brontosaurus around the ankles, with Og jogging not far behind. After a few turns of closing in and having the Brontosaurus turn and withdraw each time, Og, frustrated, charged in, swinging his club. Unfortunately, Og the Hero's legend ended before it truly even began, as the Brontosaurus stepped on him and kept going, oblivious to the Hero mashed flat beneath its thunderous tread. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix8KGI_FinomXCEwRbb-cZSU4NdWCXq6_yLc9Vk_dd1VGZoqrq5064yNnS1bWg1dG_vAkrTQJErc5vgiwpUTKlZhr2Ib4Gzz20_UPPky-RwppRLDNTexCwbd99CvPWyLNwEPjUa2UIzurv51IufW6oX5lo-WJYJYxSrjcsKLS2fyerNNJTjeDu7cS3Gg4/s2048/410821616_10102540982921816_7939528197201982789_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix8KGI_FinomXCEwRbb-cZSU4NdWCXq6_yLc9Vk_dd1VGZoqrq5064yNnS1bWg1dG_vAkrTQJErc5vgiwpUTKlZhr2Ib4Gzz20_UPPky-RwppRLDNTexCwbd99CvPWyLNwEPjUa2UIzurv51IufW6oX5lo-WJYJYxSrjcsKLS2fyerNNJTjeDu7cS3Gg4/w400-h300/410821616_10102540982921816_7939528197201982789_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin-Ih2NlJo-jH7p7ogZxAxOCGW7fgVeDEf2nXTAVEG661_AqkqCRZrtx4UL7_pj6CUBgzoD1-OQbf-W0sVOTLMyZrrI5ub9yDrj_YiToSYb-0E1i25uJNwestVeB1W7RVtBmsFHdp9djXHJcJqlGjNCKx1jUXhRWeoD9bvQMT0CGfNAgaZ1H453ybvJwU/s2048/410930462_10102540982861936_2822097547371776700_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin-Ih2NlJo-jH7p7ogZxAxOCGW7fgVeDEf2nXTAVEG661_AqkqCRZrtx4UL7_pj6CUBgzoD1-OQbf-W0sVOTLMyZrrI5ub9yDrj_YiToSYb-0E1i25uJNwestVeB1W7RVtBmsFHdp9djXHJcJqlGjNCKx1jUXhRWeoD9bvQMT0CGfNAgaZ1H453ybvJwU/w400-h300/410930462_10102540982861936_2822097547371776700_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>As the dog continued to keep the Brontosaurus moving, the remaining hunters closed in. Finally, one of them darted forward, jabbing his spear deep into the creature's muscular neck. With an agonizing bellow, the Brontosaurus collapsed to earth, narrowly missing taking its killer with it. The tribe would feast for the next moon. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeDjIA9GKUic-NShMKPu9RonS2eol_bEdMPZg6yIBsRU0FCQpH8TJbIFqXvQWLw0ZncMJcMz6KZOjEs7RUDtjuZimLqI-eouJ6L8Kc2VRevkYuA0bt7Ck-X0bOJrANPg7eHTACqtnNGn5DJHeAHqTFyRM4NxpaapsyOXpsjgm1jKAHls_s-bkks0PAfzE/s2048/411215955_10102540982881896_240409214633971736_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeDjIA9GKUic-NShMKPu9RonS2eol_bEdMPZg6yIBsRU0FCQpH8TJbIFqXvQWLw0ZncMJcMz6KZOjEs7RUDtjuZimLqI-eouJ6L8Kc2VRevkYuA0bt7Ck-X0bOJrANPg7eHTACqtnNGn5DJHeAHqTFyRM4NxpaapsyOXpsjgm1jKAHls_s-bkks0PAfzE/w400-h300/411215955_10102540982881896_240409214633971736_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><i>And so passed the great saurian, the last of its kind. The story of this hunt would be told and retold, echoing down the centuries, the names and locations changing to suit the needs of each new retelling. Marduk and Tiamat. Ra and Apophis. Herakles and the Hydra. All containing the germ of this one, great hunt, and the last of the thunder lizards. </i></p><p>So I really enjoyed playing this; the game took all of half an hour, making it a great pick-up game for a weeknight after work or something like that. Obviously not having archers or fire-makers on the table impacted how I played, and I'm looking forward to incorporating them into a future play-through. </p><p>The rules are simple enough that I think a six year old could learn them, but gameplay requires some thoughtful resource management - you get 1D6 "action points" per turn, used to activate figures, and there's a good chance you won't be able to activate your entire hunting party in any given turn. There's also a nice element of risk management; it's easier to kill the Brontosaurus (or Mammoth, etc.) in melee combat than at range, but each turn there's a 1-in-3 chance that a random hunter within an inch or two of the beast gets stomped into beef stroganoff. Fire can be used to force your prey into a panic, stampeding into a bog/tar pit or off a cliff; however, the fire spreads on its own accord, and can easily turn back and pen your own hunters in a deadly inferno. </p><p>All in all, I'm super happy I picked up "Tusk" and can't wait to give it another go. </p>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04427050476965801867noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5958736546078181738.post-31079589279755781822023-11-23T17:49:00.000-08:002023-11-23T17:49:29.882-08:00Majestic 13: Operation Turkey Drop<p> Today is Thanksgiving in the United States; we're neither hosting nor traveling to see family today (and a sudden positive Covid test at my parents' house has cancelled our plans for traveling this weekend), but my wife and I had a nice meal together, the cat got a rare treat of wet food (and sunk a claw into the sole of my foot, for my first-ever Thanksgiving injury), and I made the time to clear the table off and set myself up with a solo game. </p><p>Snarling Badger Studios' <a href="http://dice-and-doubloons.blogspot.com/2023/06/majestic-13-test-play-1-keels-killers.html">Majestic 13</a> has been getting talked about a lot in the wargaming Discord servers I'm in, and it sparked me to dust things off and get a game in; I've assembled and painted quite a bit of urban terrain since my last game, so I got my table set up, pulled out my crew, and grabbed my monster; I went with the Avenkian Shrieking Shock Trooper again, as I felt a little more confident going after it after my original playtest back in June. And the miniature was still *cough* out from last time.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgse01d2xuhTza7Zv5AuqsziAHhVo3qngNPUBPkaxM0WNiGo6zBo1-xFGy4r_5oFNItc-soqahzP7GBA57IGVYHtg7gaf44EVFgcXRRXw7CyH6zZOPB5eCeDNyuB6tvGzEgeK_eLVOu3Q6q9xHF2stiUNdqLUXuS_TOF4GIxVmgRT9Ekg8CoF9QMw3RMzI/s2048/405529932_10102530487993736_5084902672230111493_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgse01d2xuhTza7Zv5AuqsziAHhVo3qngNPUBPkaxM0WNiGo6zBo1-xFGy4r_5oFNItc-soqahzP7GBA57IGVYHtg7gaf44EVFgcXRRXw7CyH6zZOPB5eCeDNyuB6tvGzEgeK_eLVOu3Q6q9xHF2stiUNdqLUXuS_TOF4GIxVmgRT9Ekg8CoF9QMw3RMzI/w400-h300/405529932_10102530487993736_5084902672230111493_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>My team, Keel's Killers, deployed from their remote observation base when the Avenkian was spotted lurking around the roof of the Bingo Hall; their primary objective being the creature's destruction (before it could spoil the Senior Ladies' Bingo League's Black Friday Special), with a secondary objective of mapping the terrain on that side of the board. Johanna Keel briefed her crew behind the "Donut Worry" doughnut shop, and the crew spread out into cover.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpWYbSvGh2uqFv0ZLuTMovpd_m23FT52xNoEVGhWzfS3T9XG-qiH5c4LNKLumaTflQWS9Dikv0eHjCipyWz3nEM-26Qho0SZItzKUTqeYtADos57Rc0U5Gth5cejC5S4yIVxTnLokLau79xfkKYaqfg7GtZERfD4Sc3FlMd9EkYvwHdUNJGZEPZ9ZpHqA/s2048/404911836_10102530664589836_1431238648017468007_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpWYbSvGh2uqFv0ZLuTMovpd_m23FT52xNoEVGhWzfS3T9XG-qiH5c4LNKLumaTflQWS9Dikv0eHjCipyWz3nEM-26Qho0SZItzKUTqeYtADos57Rc0U5Gth5cejC5S4yIVxTnLokLau79xfkKYaqfg7GtZERfD4Sc3FlMd9EkYvwHdUNJGZEPZ9ZpHqA/w400-h300/404911836_10102530664589836_1431238648017468007_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>The Avenkian spotted Agent Moseley, leapt down from the Bingo Hall and charged across the street, vaulting over the chainlink fence towards Moseley's position.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrPruhDNhufeiON-fHLRc5syIUvI7HZC7yQs2qZ5Ltnl-JCJV8GzQpQ1d-KvZUPOxsJyjbyU8ia2Gtc3cszQbhEoXIGNk1A3ddFANbonv9BN6KWOfsglJld01mL5JhymvwCTeA77abiAT-Jd76awMnjmz4kXmSmCZNTuXVE_bcR8n38fmI31UIROr4t5A/s2048/405480745_10102530664604806_3301637709419655774_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrPruhDNhufeiON-fHLRc5syIUvI7HZC7yQs2qZ5Ltnl-JCJV8GzQpQ1d-KvZUPOxsJyjbyU8ia2Gtc3cszQbhEoXIGNk1A3ddFANbonv9BN6KWOfsglJld01mL5JhymvwCTeA77abiAT-Jd76awMnjmz4kXmSmCZNTuXVE_bcR8n38fmI31UIROr4t5A/w400-h300/405480745_10102530664604806_3301637709419655774_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>The crew fanned out and began firing into the creature; Moseley and Keel were both caught in the blast radius of, and stunned by, the creature's sonic scream. After killing Moseley, the Avenkian turned its attention towards the wounded Keel, though Agent Barker managed to call in aid and hit the creature with a drone strike. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJdOLQkBSUI5Tb25zXWp1dIe7HBzYjw6iDkVY8XNsXbDDAe7VAoyNzBFGvWIBYHt0NnY9dP0dvl5-Sn2SIuCkGEO0V5h4tmHxKDObMHHXCP3U4MtluPyjHHIYU-ccn-GmqUaWIO1eMp8Dd_t8zm-j5YYYXGsk4GPpL4ZcRYUVb9cKI9RMsWOUjQE5wyWs/s2048/405523999_10102530664619776_6733571103398545978_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJdOLQkBSUI5Tb25zXWp1dIe7HBzYjw6iDkVY8XNsXbDDAe7VAoyNzBFGvWIBYHt0NnY9dP0dvl5-Sn2SIuCkGEO0V5h4tmHxKDObMHHXCP3U4MtluPyjHHIYU-ccn-GmqUaWIO1eMp8Dd_t8zm-j5YYYXGsk4GPpL4ZcRYUVb9cKI9RMsWOUjQE5wyWs/w400-h300/405523999_10102530664619776_6733571103398545978_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Using a Fistful of Lead "Shock" marker to designate Keel as "Stunned."<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Agent Arnold managed to dart in and apply a medi-kit to Keel's wounds, and the surviving team-members began a series of hit-and-run attacks, trying to keep everyone out of range of the creature's retaliatory sonic blast as best they could. The Avenkian ultimately struck down Keel, but drew the fire of long range artillery.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkXyxLhdZKh-YRmpxTgel7O1ajdGJaS7NTsdURR0U8-OyFuD7puJaHhScVwzMm007OJqaVteW8cf3guwPKRLxHFP_2w6dRQPc8MVTVlnIyihWEOtL-Yf_CTuc9ouAWi7MbePuCFBPUYrbv_-zvkO6_qP6HQHyKsCSzS7Nz6ebQmzYYgeKv2XnLNFZr5wQ/s2048/405478466_10102530664629756_9213643255870749966_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkXyxLhdZKh-YRmpxTgel7O1ajdGJaS7NTsdURR0U8-OyFuD7puJaHhScVwzMm007OJqaVteW8cf3guwPKRLxHFP_2w6dRQPc8MVTVlnIyihWEOtL-Yf_CTuc9ouAWi7MbePuCFBPUYrbv_-zvkO6_qP6HQHyKsCSzS7Nz6ebQmzYYgeKv2XnLNFZr5wQ/w400-h300/405478466_10102530664629756_9213643255870749966_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>In Turn 5, the Avenkian went "In Extremis" (a condition where, once reduced below a certain HP threshold, the creature gains an extra action but begins taking bonus damage). It looked like I might not manage to kill it, but I'd get close, and I was pretty happy for that; however, on its second activation, I rolled 2D6 to see how much Extremis damage it took and...IT DIED!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEzBXATtB58L3WQKxHSFcl5zXFKYDhV06dwfoZNdegHZT6Yic3nqeDgEXk-e32j4vBdlar265H0Exuu1YysFholeiRPcKlnCfVFpkVW9qn86cRxUZNWZ4k8MwlbSShcmZ892sIatKZ2e0nNyacPeYE2Kuq6St8tTbzg-fH5jONvWjm1cPJZAaCxqxJdJs/s960/405527346_10102530664420176_16243892763835579_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEzBXATtB58L3WQKxHSFcl5zXFKYDhV06dwfoZNdegHZT6Yic3nqeDgEXk-e32j4vBdlar265H0Exuu1YysFholeiRPcKlnCfVFpkVW9qn86cRxUZNWZ4k8MwlbSShcmZ892sIatKZ2e0nNyacPeYE2Kuq6St8tTbzg-fH5jONvWjm1cPJZAaCxqxJdJs/w400-h300/405527346_10102530664420176_16243892763835579_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Keel's Killers pumped dozens of rounds of ammunition into the creature, and right as they were on the cusp of failing their mission...the monster exploded on its own. We'll call that a win. And the surviving crew members - Arnold, Barker and Klass - got tacos out of the deal.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqkWj58aANW7C33zqihEjDVrFUIPIqCApxcsqp71awVI9RYacFDPw0FQnI_7oErFXW-Gc09mflGp79d6iJF0zDDF5evGscjkE1YjxLdCftgR13LxkLvIMFUKfuMgoi5uFqm5SdERzZfw99R-d6mZO5zYZI3645TdaRcqJkXimBCCkccI3dYVjEictx0Fc/s960/405521298_10102530664445126_7384673926701518743_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqkWj58aANW7C33zqihEjDVrFUIPIqCApxcsqp71awVI9RYacFDPw0FQnI_7oErFXW-Gc09mflGp79d6iJF0zDDF5evGscjkE1YjxLdCftgR13LxkLvIMFUKfuMgoi5uFqm5SdERzZfw99R-d6mZO5zYZI3645TdaRcqJkXimBCCkccI3dYVjEictx0Fc/w400-h300/405521298_10102530664445126_7384673926701518743_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This 3D-printed taco truck is one of the best things my wife's ever bought for my table.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Going into the post-game, both Keel and Moseley recovered just fine from their injuries, and will be available for the next mission with no complications. The team rating goes from 0 to 1, and Barker, Arnold and Klass each got to boost an attribute - Barker and Arnold boosting their Combat rating, while Klass raised his Dexterity. Impressively, they actually managed to get all the new gear they requisitioned after this mission - they replenished medi-kits, added shock pads to their repertoire, and most excitingly, added an Internet Communications Monitoring Station to their base - this allows me to basically negate a FUBAR roll (each turn in Majestic 13, you roll to see if anything goes wrong, and the longer the game goes on the more likely something goes wrong). I was really pleased with these results - as Roughnecks (one of the 13 groups comprising Majestic 13), Keel's Killers take a penalty to Bureaucracy rolls during the post-game phase, making it harder to requisition new gear. But I had enough bonuses and rolled well enough to actually get everything I wanted. <br /></p>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04427050476965801867noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5958736546078181738.post-50123696117622252392023-11-16T19:08:00.000-08:002023-11-16T19:08:51.409-08:00Orc Siege Gun<p> I'll be taking part in the Old World Army Challenge again in 2024, with an amusing little WHFB 3rd edition Empire Army with Halfling Allies. In prepping for January 1st, I've been very much in an Oldhammer frame of mind, and have been keeping myself busy with some of the orcs in my collection; even if I'm taking a break for the duration of the OWAC, I'm thinking the Oldhammer Orc project is going to be a constant for me, because there will always be something to add to it, and it gives me so much joy. </p><p>The latest figure to be completed is this bunch from Warmonger Miniatures - Here we have mercenary orc "Curroneth" with his Orcquebus siege gun and crew. Another Kev Adams sculpt (like the bulk of my army), I think the mercenary orcs he did for Warmonger are some of his best and most underrated sculpts; the landsknecht style clothing and the sheer volume of looted goods they're crusted with cry out for bright colors and reward the patient painter. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtoI3zZSBR0WLZZPzYuo29J9UttbxWaFgFD7D9FYrxlS0nWpnGh84UZkRe4uhTVpkytTRNBf_oL57UY1JIvx0Pe_vnv44e2gP1QO3_IVxJItzkfnOYSFcTUqrrHp3abMxi-bd0adBlNAEHHBB6Dcrc_AHaa90R2U1j7TWu5BvlHtG_AJ-cjaBngFeyLSk/s960/401800339_10102526891945246_5999019149217690992_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="836" data-original-width="960" height="349" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtoI3zZSBR0WLZZPzYuo29J9UttbxWaFgFD7D9FYrxlS0nWpnGh84UZkRe4uhTVpkytTRNBf_oL57UY1JIvx0Pe_vnv44e2gP1QO3_IVxJItzkfnOYSFcTUqrrHp3abMxi-bd0adBlNAEHHBB6Dcrc_AHaa90R2U1j7TWu5BvlHtG_AJ-cjaBngFeyLSk/w400-h349/401800339_10102526891945246_5999019149217690992_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw29MD45nhPSsPL0NUiFkPuvxpIItleAHo8OKWvqpIBrf7GzDae0s2j0zVE8UzjE85PHT2OwDMGxUxHT9Bo-GIG8TRsjKqe7eTQ6MMIsm3CcucKiD7w_LMtQZi0cZ-LzyUBrzFaIwIBaFVdYpMSv5aCA3OtW1JsgXVKUQcpL5A3806VWvEKIUJ9h2BvR4/s960/401783059_10102526891970196_579867620110935346_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="866" data-original-width="960" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw29MD45nhPSsPL0NUiFkPuvxpIItleAHo8OKWvqpIBrf7GzDae0s2j0zVE8UzjE85PHT2OwDMGxUxHT9Bo-GIG8TRsjKqe7eTQ6MMIsm3CcucKiD7w_LMtQZi0cZ-LzyUBrzFaIwIBaFVdYpMSv5aCA3OtW1JsgXVKUQcpL5A3806VWvEKIUJ9h2BvR4/w400-h361/401783059_10102526891970196_579867620110935346_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>The "orclings" forming the gun rest as well as the reloading crew all came with Curroneth, but I added another one, similarly dressed in puff-and-slash and admiring himself in a hand mirror; I painted his clothes to match Curroneth's, with quartered red-yellow and blue-white. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNr3PIOnhQ3Bv067MLLOLoTrAjiw0yJ2Nw-Cw8GVGnco5nFdvsiBZkof_vDR5R2fglwr9QbDvSoXPk3_VittO-QZmJ7yrxsrFE7HFbilV2dOdaiCE3cDw_6nluvkHr7isDOgdZR9QdItK9WEy_Fa4wtiIYfaNXG-GOLy_8ZyX_byzAQie7r82_NQrFe2Q/s960/402044189_10102526892015106_244426714000225574_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="906" data-original-width="960" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNr3PIOnhQ3Bv067MLLOLoTrAjiw0yJ2Nw-Cw8GVGnco5nFdvsiBZkof_vDR5R2fglwr9QbDvSoXPk3_VittO-QZmJ7yrxsrFE7HFbilV2dOdaiCE3cDw_6nluvkHr7isDOgdZR9QdItK9WEy_Fa4wtiIYfaNXG-GOLy_8ZyX_byzAQie7r82_NQrFe2Q/w400-h378/402044189_10102526892015106_244426714000225574_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>I also drilled out the gun barrels; I'd gotten a little bit of flack on social media for not drilling out the horns some of my musicians were blowing, so I figured I'd get ahead of that. </p><p>Other than the "Leadbelcher" cannon in the 3rd edition list, orcs have not had access to gunpowder weapons in Warhammer Fantasy Battles; I figure I'll use this as a proxy Rock Lobba catapult if I ever get a chance to play. </p><p>***<br /></p><p>Finally, I have something very cool to share. Last week, my wife Gina found out that I have hobby "white whales" - old figures that I'd love to get my hands on given a chance. She asked for a list of what some of these white whales were, and got to work. </p><p>Top of the list was the 6th edition WHFB "Orc Warboss on Wyvern" - I fell in love with this kit the very first time I walked into a Games Workshop store in August 2001. They had a painted example on a turntable in the display case and I was absolutely entranced - the short neck and bulldog face on the wyvern was so cool to 14 year old me.</p><p>Alas, I had neither the money nor the attention span to focus long enough to build a 2000-pt 6th edition army; I bought a few boxed sets here and there - Night Goblins, Orcs, Skeletons, Chaos Warriors - but never managed to get far enough to be thinking about characters. So I never bought the Warboss on Wyvern. </p><p>Earlier this week, it arrived:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinpROQpfw7gfw38kWYI_rFlUemSw_1FWAe0iPOLtEBrZiv8Gqo43VVjIvhVwQV0cM3BTQEa89wv0kgDHoS-BoUv0FAsQTJmd7MvMvNWsKUdDzZ1gXovzPaYqgKS_HDFAx5mbugWC7x4KAqEN-NIz44K4SHU8AuebpeYWnZiQXysq7Jpc22v0FLBqfwwM0/s2048/401764825_10102525995421886_4133189565218257913_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinpROQpfw7gfw38kWYI_rFlUemSw_1FWAe0iPOLtEBrZiv8Gqo43VVjIvhVwQV0cM3BTQEa89wv0kgDHoS-BoUv0FAsQTJmd7MvMvNWsKUdDzZ1gXovzPaYqgKS_HDFAx5mbugWC7x4KAqEN-NIz44K4SHU8AuebpeYWnZiQXysq7Jpc22v0FLBqfwwM0/w400-h300/401764825_10102525995421886_4133189565218257913_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>It feels surreal to hold it in my hands. It had become a pipe dream, a mythical "if I see one for sale that's not in too-terrible a shape, that doesn't cost a kidney." I don't think I was expecting to ever actually get one. It might not get painted until spring, because my priming window is rapidly closing for the year, but I'm excited to finally get a chance to paint it. <br /></p>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04427050476965801867noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5958736546078181738.post-39268318427167549482023-10-29T14:55:00.004-07:002023-10-29T14:55:46.558-07:00Claudia and Adler<p> Recently my wife Gina asked me to paint a figure for her; not for use in a game or anything like that, just something she could have on her desk at work to make her think of me. I'd received a box of figures from <a href="https://dunkeldorf.eu/">Dunkeldorf Miniatures</a> and we went through it together; she decided she really liked "Claudia 'Schwartz' Hinkel," a crossbow-armed member of a criminal syndicate, as well as "Adler, Dieter's Cat." Dunkeldorf has consistently sent me a little baggie of extras with every order I've placed with them, and this time that included a resin base with a flagstone pattern. It was the work of a few moments to clip Claudia's metal tab off and glue her to the resin base.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRMDX_14KvUPvMQP0nZw0cwxfnEyUAqwa_k6jwujXs0nzTpzjEJnCwm8CHHBQLqCm6qVUeFlI3FUxjgXVZqxPOX2e7vTUd-dAicOdMoZ8D2HGFgm7jxuEaU0phbkBf_hG4CFDxaHzbdySx-aH8uHNX6VfEDtdJ2K8wdMsoBJq7cfCyfOhla3I-spjbCUg/s4032/IMG_5001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRMDX_14KvUPvMQP0nZw0cwxfnEyUAqwa_k6jwujXs0nzTpzjEJnCwm8CHHBQLqCm6qVUeFlI3FUxjgXVZqxPOX2e7vTUd-dAicOdMoZ8D2HGFgm7jxuEaU0phbkBf_hG4CFDxaHzbdySx-aH8uHNX6VfEDtdJ2K8wdMsoBJq7cfCyfOhla3I-spjbCUg/w300-h400/IMG_5001.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p>Talking with Gina, the only specific requests she had for color was she wanted Adler to be an orange cat with white socks, and she wanted Claudia to have purple hair; she also asked for a little flocking to be added to the base. The rest of the color scheme was left up to me; I went with a deep red for her shirt and black pants, because those are colors Gina wears a lot. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQEk1LgvBenvz8Bq07k_kqrlzRYl-YG1np6kuGuko8C9poEWnFVQEFPW2pLi_A2JJc3OUcrRIH6Jt0s2BlyfuieEsexyfJqcjdbCXGJhu3jYARPvei1t1SvJRoyOJMWt466G7eHeR9zT-Mn4PwxDdTi1KOeHCHT1Cv-f1IsaJZ6IaFeuMPsMkgpVEhrc/s4032/IMG_5002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQEk1LgvBenvz8Bq07k_kqrlzRYl-YG1np6kuGuko8C9poEWnFVQEFPW2pLi_A2JJc3OUcrRIH6Jt0s2BlyfuieEsexyfJqcjdbCXGJhu3jYARPvei1t1SvJRoyOJMWt466G7eHeR9zT-Mn4PwxDdTi1KOeHCHT1Cv-f1IsaJZ6IaFeuMPsMkgpVEhrc/w300-h400/IMG_5002.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p>I really pushed myself harder to give this the best paint job I could give it; it's not going to win any big competitions, but those are the best eyes I've ever painted and overall I'm thoroughly pleased with the job I did here. The purple I used for her hair came out glossier than I'd like, but hopefully once she's varnished that will tone down some. Her base reads "With All My Love" and once she's varnished, she'll be glued down inside an acrylic display case to keep her dust free and safe from our own cat's attention.<br /></p>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04427050476965801867noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5958736546078181738.post-24431347073515739132023-10-14T15:23:00.002-07:002023-10-14T15:23:19.449-07:00Orcs & Goblins: Boar Boyz Completed<p> In 2021, I took part in the <a href="http://oldworldarmychallenge.blogspot.com/">Old World Army Challenge</a>, building an army of orcs and goblins for 3rd edition Warhammer Fantasy Battles. I tried continuing the army the following year, in 2022, but petered out halfway through, and opted out of participating in this year's challenge. Even getting re-energized this past December and again in May, I still have a lot of orcs awaiting paint. In June, I started painting a unit of Orc Boar Riders from Knightmare Miniatures; I'd converted some of them with weapon swaps and turning one into a standard bearer back in 2021, and they'd been sitting primed and waiting their turn ever since.</p><p>I completed the first rank, including the command, in June 2023, but the second rank remained unfinished. Until now. I was sick of having a half-finished unit looking at me and making me feel guilty, so I committed myself to finishing them; today, I can call the regiment complete.</p><p>Here's the finished second rank:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCw7pgHo1g5gFSXWW3kVqRCcIdG0gBttw1nja5s6XRx3xC5Xrm6gbXc47XN9f-9nK_Pud8TueLvAdSG8HOKsa_-p2jP8UqbGWXq9JxjWd9IIRgsqBGN7AzppG_BYO1Ir2NRPtjMJISofDa6JBjycAvEDgAqewThxKRRLyiskct0FlAKMEfe2ZcihgPmNs/s4032/IMG_4894.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCw7pgHo1g5gFSXWW3kVqRCcIdG0gBttw1nja5s6XRx3xC5Xrm6gbXc47XN9f-9nK_Pud8TueLvAdSG8HOKsa_-p2jP8UqbGWXq9JxjWd9IIRgsqBGN7AzppG_BYO1Ir2NRPtjMJISofDa6JBjycAvEDgAqewThxKRRLyiskct0FlAKMEfe2ZcihgPmNs/w400-h300/IMG_4894.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>And here's the regiment as a whole: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYzLNSUzLgewJbBqRd3SMUDt4zD9we4AxXapi-fRFYdgtcB8J2hvPZkth4F5huXCAm6yGNiN_0Vz9N6dQPq9j4MmPSP4JDh4ofF15Y2IUpGup9slNioN2mEmi8KjV6e5SXqjD6CyzUiSNk7W04GKCrdN1jrubo0XksIg1-t3WVdO_vtupP730ARJo8F4U/s2048/391747470_10102511673388356_1234416041220814891_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYzLNSUzLgewJbBqRd3SMUDt4zD9we4AxXapi-fRFYdgtcB8J2hvPZkth4F5huXCAm6yGNiN_0Vz9N6dQPq9j4MmPSP4JDh4ofF15Y2IUpGup9slNioN2mEmi8KjV6e5SXqjD6CyzUiSNk7W04GKCrdN1jrubo0XksIg1-t3WVdO_vtupP730ARJo8F4U/w400-h300/391747470_10102511673388356_1234416041220814891_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDCEQHASvS_vRPpFgHRwKquvrRGkLuGcyL-S14A4Sck0eSzqcpL3hSZmRpUnt8gx-3aB3Ysbn_7hq9NkofMktjrnkIktrSpD4dKKatYh28UKWiPKOVobEomrLKEgsgIQio7lZKihRkz0eo5uhH9ytnZUfVHJ44M1y_TCQYXKEzwjWAiQ2qc7w1TRqt3jc/s2048/391756130_10102511673473186_2487373850581815218_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDCEQHASvS_vRPpFgHRwKquvrRGkLuGcyL-S14A4Sck0eSzqcpL3hSZmRpUnt8gx-3aB3Ysbn_7hq9NkofMktjrnkIktrSpD4dKKatYh28UKWiPKOVobEomrLKEgsgIQio7lZKihRkz0eo5uhH9ytnZUfVHJ44M1y_TCQYXKEzwjWAiQ2qc7w1TRqt3jc/w400-h300/391756130_10102511673473186_2487373850581815218_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's not Oldhammer if the banner isn't impractically large, right?<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdiT7GmGMQA3HHi3pstAZbTAls7sqVjdiIMeI-vcCOS7vsmOEA_z9ZCAXdfv-xN0z_Jtcj0uGBmXYfnX0PJOukpaSIdHAxRy1AO_PgltDEKtdsRcUOJelTrFo32VPLMegOEGNOafGEKTlmlUM_FX4ekUpnM0UPZQXzWwDHCTIuXZM4is5isXBnPYhZ0QI/s2048/391626128_10102511673503126_8745816672996186459_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdiT7GmGMQA3HHi3pstAZbTAls7sqVjdiIMeI-vcCOS7vsmOEA_z9ZCAXdfv-xN0z_Jtcj0uGBmXYfnX0PJOukpaSIdHAxRy1AO_PgltDEKtdsRcUOJelTrFo32VPLMegOEGNOafGEKTlmlUM_FX4ekUpnM0UPZQXzWwDHCTIuXZM4is5isXBnPYhZ0QI/w400-h300/391626128_10102511673503126_8745816672996186459_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04427050476965801867noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5958736546078181738.post-23576326613848261002023-10-07T10:41:00.000-07:002023-10-07T10:41:21.651-07:00Citadel F2 Fighters: Proof of Concept Paintjobs<p>I've decided to give the <a href="http://oldworldarmychallenge.blogspot.com/">Old World Army Challenge</a> another shot next year, with a fresh army - a 3rd Edition Warhammer Fantasy Battles Empire army, with a Halfling Allied Contingent. The premise being that these are the defenders of a small, obscure village on the outskirts of the Province of Averland, there's only going to be a handful of regular army troops and a much larger number of irregular militia types. Wargames Foundry has been kind enough to reissue a couple packs of classic Citadel F2 Fighters and F4 Mercenaries, which will make up the bulk of this militia; I grabbed a few original F2 Fighters off eBay a while back to bulk that regiment out further if need be, but decided I'd paint two of them up as proof of concept.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2cllLAuIGQRtHhd2P4GBVTHo_6kJ8ovvQMX8zlLpefNonASxxitvMFzzotRsLGAJZVmKh-NVCXEaPRBQI3rFoapBlogKjkcg339JBcp88Tr63QETGomiYEl6N3sA4ljv2Q3TOjY5hyphenhyphenUrDMb1qFOA3Cd1gJhrHVgBfWUwA8t7fx0rG47iUdEAx0zaH8U/s960/387189038_10102508237289326_8148345524738912114_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="680" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2cllLAuIGQRtHhd2P4GBVTHo_6kJ8ovvQMX8zlLpefNonASxxitvMFzzotRsLGAJZVmKh-NVCXEaPRBQI3rFoapBlogKjkcg339JBcp88Tr63QETGomiYEl6N3sA4ljv2Q3TOjY5hyphenhyphenUrDMb1qFOA3Cd1gJhrHVgBfWUwA8t7fx0rG47iUdEAx0zaH8U/w284-h400/387189038_10102508237289326_8148345524738912114_n.jpg" width="284" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">F2 Altdorf Sergeant<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>These are painted with some GW Contrast paints in conjunction with regular acrylics from Reaper and Vallejo. I wanted to see if I could produce results that I was happy with, faster than I would with regular acrylics alone. And overall, the answer is yes; I painted these guys over the span of three short painting sessions, maybe 3 1/2 hours total from start to finish, including basing. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUeOqoC2MJjJxEqtvu99shVk8yHhL_VdvxVRPS2Pn4ODuZpMTT6fjIHy6mERcrAoBngSodmcgiadLZ2OFUhWOps5ZBr2V-BV1DDoBE4aPSk2hq626ZgCAqH4sa32kV1CqUl2kPxc3pu3oyYCxERelZ88Tm6w55XsdrcmJU6YWU9H1oNFzfeJqszd3Hd8I/s960/387209077_10102508237389126_8758962310287528127_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="708" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUeOqoC2MJjJxEqtvu99shVk8yHhL_VdvxVRPS2Pn4ODuZpMTT6fjIHy6mERcrAoBngSodmcgiadLZ2OFUhWOps5ZBr2V-BV1DDoBE4aPSk2hq626ZgCAqH4sa32kV1CqUl2kPxc3pu3oyYCxERelZ88Tm6w55XsdrcmJU6YWU9H1oNFzfeJqszd3Hd8I/w295-h400/387209077_10102508237389126_8758962310287528127_n.jpg" width="295" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">F2 Imperial Foot Soldier<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>I did a bit of work here that I probably won't do on the army itself, like taking the time to paint eyes. But striped leggings, dirty leather armor (GW Snakebite Leather contrast, washed with Agrax Earthshade, then highlighted with Vallejo Plague Brown), gin-blossomed noses all feel very on brand, especially for the militia. I'm imagining they've been recruited straight from the tavern, too drunk to realize they've accepted the "Elector Count's shilling" until it's too late. <br /></p>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04427050476965801867noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5958736546078181738.post-59551686053527787792023-09-17T17:51:00.001-07:002023-09-17T17:51:24.212-07:00Fistful of Lead Fantasy: Battle for the Goddess<p> I've had cavemen on my mind lately; between seeing people painting Lucid Eye figures on Facebook, and David Sullivan's <a href="http://ilivewithcats.blogspot.com/2023/09/tiny-tin-troglodytes-because-im-364.html" target="_blank">posts on his blog</a> about the game Tribal, I've been itching for some stone age action. So I've placed another order at Lucid Eye for a copy of their "Savage Core" rules and some Ice Age-ready Amazons, and ordered Tribal 2nd edition with a tribe's worth of Bobby Jackson-sculpted cavemen. In the meantime, I got out some Lucid Eye "Neolithics" cavemen I painted last year, along with some "Cult of the Cyclops" cultists from <a href="https://forgeofice.com/">Forge of Ice</a>. Going through my terrain box, I found a Venus of Willendorf-style idol from Reaper Miniatures, and a scenario was born. </p><p>A lush, isolated valley holds the ruins of an ancient temple, and with stands the Goddess - a fertility idol of untold age and potency. Two sinister groups - one, the Cult of the Cyclops, led by the vicious and conniving Kandar-Itaa; the other, a gang of thuggish prehumans led by a terrifying and alien Pterro-Man - have converged on the valley, both with evil intentions towards the idol. </p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeg4NP0We1tlFpKx0jfVKbF7qFdr4PXRgSXoR1Crq0arcxKB7YEBrKpuS63ik1Te_SxS5pXz0TfAenzpiQbV2QDuCI1dgQB8dmKFqjt604Ycns0e2gi4jkAfrplYo48hf9Hr1AarO95aqprSkc7BEznJ8sK7Hsvico0VH2ZGaQYOMTIAEVX80kKu7HT7M/s2048/376416557_10102496437740716_5270200856447282767_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeg4NP0We1tlFpKx0jfVKbF7qFdr4PXRgSXoR1Crq0arcxKB7YEBrKpuS63ik1Te_SxS5pXz0TfAenzpiQbV2QDuCI1dgQB8dmKFqjt604Ycns0e2gi4jkAfrplYo48hf9Hr1AarO95aqprSkc7BEznJ8sK7Hsvico0VH2ZGaQYOMTIAEVX80kKu7HT7M/w400-h300/376416557_10102496437740716_5270200856447282767_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The Pterro-Man, with its second in command, Chief Mu-ok Man-God and his tribe, sought to perform a ritual at the feet of the Goddess that would give the Pterro-Man greater influence over other tribes of prehumans, bringing them under its evil sway. The Pterro-Man can fly and exert hypnotic influence over humans (in proper Burroughsian fashion), while the cavemen have an assortment of traits making them much more vicious in close combat. <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZFSsp0rjWFfTEPDvMeGM4CX5KyRTgzjJMcTatnsRG14RZOO7_TBTXqME9ygpAOqgxw9XMVhdmPqM7ZplBydNkTRwQRkA7JgllJhGaGMyChJioJ3qPO6RgrNNmwSq0UNAsGgNj5n-6nvugiIzyP0Pa7KQgw0nWTFk8kUtehKFdHgLsnABuT-6mb7E0RK0/s2048/379956071_10102496438030136_1927809178674227780_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZFSsp0rjWFfTEPDvMeGM4CX5KyRTgzjJMcTatnsRG14RZOO7_TBTXqME9ygpAOqgxw9XMVhdmPqM7ZplBydNkTRwQRkA7JgllJhGaGMyChJioJ3qPO6RgrNNmwSq0UNAsGgNj5n-6nvugiIzyP0Pa7KQgw0nWTFk8kUtehKFdHgLsnABuT-6mb7E0RK0/w400-h300/379956071_10102496438030136_1927809178674227780_n.jpg" width="400" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p>Meanwhile, under warlock Kandar-Itaa's direction, the Cult of the Cyclops seeks to corrupt the Goddess, ensuring that there would be a huge increase in the number of cyclops mutations born across all the kingdoms of the Hollow Earth. Kandar-Itaa himself has spellcasting powers, Urgu the Cyclops is large and frightening, and the rest of the cultists are armed with bronze swords and studded dinosaur-leather armor.</p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p> Both groups began to fan out as they moved towards the Goddess; before long, Urgu and one of the cultists encountered Torg the Hunter and a lesser tribal warrior, while Kandar-Itaa blasted Mu-ok Man-God with a Searing Bolt. The ape-man chief, writhing with pain, lost his next activation, while Urgu bashed Torg to death with a huge, roughly-shaped chunk of obsidian. </p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXkDDb-TY4ExpN5uk_3FtOUtu2EIuFD9kHbhtq6GaeCUQres1mn7YnYxNGWMcRB5VfEgMPMJm2LcmQW3kMitxi8whWPAs9uqhfCwavTqdWdnPJSxd0umihvYjdBe4JomGBDkLiT91S6hFplPcgyRyx8u5rQ6Q9_GV_iuYd2SlAImgH_BYlgmUJJthZEIc/s2048/380228459_10102496438010176_978994480418803557_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXkDDb-TY4ExpN5uk_3FtOUtu2EIuFD9kHbhtq6GaeCUQres1mn7YnYxNGWMcRB5VfEgMPMJm2LcmQW3kMitxi8whWPAs9uqhfCwavTqdWdnPJSxd0umihvYjdBe4JomGBDkLiT91S6hFplPcgyRyx8u5rQ6Q9_GV_iuYd2SlAImgH_BYlgmUJJthZEIc/w400-h300/380228459_10102496438010176_978994480418803557_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiHOQ-vq220SMc8ZFLEdXbfW-xNlqUMkXKiSg7_ghrUxYoAJfd1Y3EE83xrWnQoKLty3U6l-4-ZrfxoZY3r37qIZF9Kppa7IO05inEGF3ZhgPQ7eq_l0Ex-kmoR1PnSCr2oJapWDIAhZSrgxZrw65ZW4XeUVU7NktHPIe8D2qwnlrtgyfEagSAWH1Rh-Q/s2048/380136361_10102496438075046_2548937731921948740_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiHOQ-vq220SMc8ZFLEdXbfW-xNlqUMkXKiSg7_ghrUxYoAJfd1Y3EE83xrWnQoKLty3U6l-4-ZrfxoZY3r37qIZF9Kppa7IO05inEGF3ZhgPQ7eq_l0Ex-kmoR1PnSCr2oJapWDIAhZSrgxZrw65ZW4XeUVU7NktHPIe8D2qwnlrtgyfEagSAWH1Rh-Q/w400-h300/380136361_10102496438075046_2548937731921948740_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: left;">The smell of blood drew a huge predatory dinosaur into the valley, where it beelined towards the first humanoid it saw: Jaal, one of Mu-ok's tribal hunters. Jaal managed to stick the gigantic beast with his spear, and another tribal warrior raced to assist. </p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p> <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1y_0vkp98Q6_gtjgVvq0MlXlBmD9Y_u4fi3m4Ns_utpQMyPX6Jl0V7Bz5w3hRO4fldJ7fXPOq4eLAjNxhh-NxzZqUce0uCQdO1uyVcmHuheNCtes-Yd64YddrJaw8lP2UIqUBO0FU5XyG_PjvwCLPS234v-qneKcX-bPkNHfmmlyzWvy8yq1eBj877JQ/s2048/378563778_10102496437970256_3349369115583708810_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1y_0vkp98Q6_gtjgVvq0MlXlBmD9Y_u4fi3m4Ns_utpQMyPX6Jl0V7Bz5w3hRO4fldJ7fXPOq4eLAjNxhh-NxzZqUce0uCQdO1uyVcmHuheNCtes-Yd64YddrJaw8lP2UIqUBO0FU5XyG_PjvwCLPS234v-qneKcX-bPkNHfmmlyzWvy8yq1eBj877JQ/w400-h300/378563778_10102496437970256_3349369115583708810_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaeNS0xkZde1NYynh2kGIeXeYemw2x16AvKNAvt_uPQohe0VqYGFd1goYRjB7facV6-eKv9cf7M-AcT3gM0hl36FiAvT8a5UH6L2tutfsEv87eCRvPoOaTJ9GRlsIx50qowa76SUN6iX3C5-8GcazZsmMf2cyqIMCG9i4oOmR-kT82himVzcSevJ-2kkY/s2048/379990160_10102496437805586_127756873716359812_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaeNS0xkZde1NYynh2kGIeXeYemw2x16AvKNAvt_uPQohe0VqYGFd1goYRjB7facV6-eKv9cf7M-AcT3gM0hl36FiAvT8a5UH6L2tutfsEv87eCRvPoOaTJ9GRlsIx50qowa76SUN6iX3C5-8GcazZsmMf2cyqIMCG9i4oOmR-kT82himVzcSevJ-2kkY/w400-h300/379990160_10102496437805586_127756873716359812_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>The giant dinosaur quickly ate both Jaal and the lesser warrior, striking fear into the hearts of both the Pterro-Man and Mu-ok Man-God. The Man-God lived up to his name and shrugged off the fear, charging the dinosaur...and getting eaten. The dinosaur, sated, stalked off. </p><p> Meanwhile, a pair of tribal warriors charged Urgu and a nearby cultist, savagely beating them with clubs until both the cyclops and the cultist fled the battlefield. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr2ETWn47js-lRfGQMqjlh_sTUoVmFCG-wjIF__NLZu2Y80mfT_PCN52PlAmcDAh8hdTl_2QiHrgvF3T9FD3l2yRlTpPYVhxhYk6nMUYrz8kWVlQCFqd-ioOhyrHkmJXqOxHPD5mq_WcETYgstVvPoUXYEyBcHFl7zihFSc67M4W0cwzL-n8fVRhnYn1c/s2048/378541335_10102496438104986_5529666465669659978_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr2ETWn47js-lRfGQMqjlh_sTUoVmFCG-wjIF__NLZu2Y80mfT_PCN52PlAmcDAh8hdTl_2QiHrgvF3T9FD3l2yRlTpPYVhxhYk6nMUYrz8kWVlQCFqd-ioOhyrHkmJXqOxHPD5mq_WcETYgstVvPoUXYEyBcHFl7zihFSc67M4W0cwzL-n8fVRhnYn1c/w400-h300/378541335_10102496438104986_5529666465669659978_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>The Pterro-Man, rattled by the dinosaur eating so many of its underlings, was not able to put up a strong defense when Kandar-Itaa and his followers arrived in the temple. The Pterro-Man died shrieking under the hacking bronze blades of the Cult of the Cyclops, while Kandar-Itaa himself polluted the mystical power of the Goddess. A new, darker future dawned for the tribes and kingdoms of the Hollow Earth...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1NlF1AKF0LFYsZi2THmoRveceFpe09b_YjT5qnGSmWe84YECXWrd3_mnFAGL0C2jG_P83WwgfRl6XWL4rW2MqH496iVHfn9bQUunzQlO2BZZwBgnivfLUyvnSolsUQtVQWvb_IpttTwyqW3x5bIWvSzFW6SM4_h0MTbZPCEjBG2CZH5kSZ2uEGXMxMN0/s2048/378386586_10102496437770656_8823829466982084794_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1NlF1AKF0LFYsZi2THmoRveceFpe09b_YjT5qnGSmWe84YECXWrd3_mnFAGL0C2jG_P83WwgfRl6XWL4rW2MqH496iVHfn9bQUunzQlO2BZZwBgnivfLUyvnSolsUQtVQWvb_IpttTwyqW3x5bIWvSzFW6SM4_h0MTbZPCEjBG2CZH5kSZ2uEGXMxMN0/w400-h300/378386586_10102496437770656_8823829466982084794_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>All in all a great game, and a fast one too; I think this one was over in about four turns. No complaints here, because I got a late start playing tonight, so I'm very satisfied with how this one turned out. <br /></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04427050476965801867noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5958736546078181738.post-45794402326123541032023-08-26T04:56:00.004-07:002023-08-26T04:56:43.325-07:00New Terrain Haul<p>Last month, my wife wanted to buy me some terrain, and we were specifically looking at Black Site Studios' prepainted MDF buildings. They'd announced a trailer park, which seemed like a lot of fun, and we decided on adding a couple extra pieces as well - namely, a bingo hall and some dumpsters for scatter terrain. </p><p>Everything arrived the other day - an 8 1/2 lb (3.8 kg) box! And not a moment too soon; my neighbor's seven year old son is Mr. Popularity, so all the kids in our apartment complex gather at our unit to play, and my priming box almost became a target for Super Soaker practice last week. Having things prepainted is going to be a godsend I think. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy_xhMoaogTHUvcprGX8Z9sfqOlUqNl6gJfvJPa9YxmYpV3wLZ_Kc9sq8Ovq711Y-YhfREbRZReoQ6Hl5BlsCxakNXAWvQUR71KeYYGW-OzTOZYlnRge_C5Hqd8EFalXmcKzvMNJGUOMLkXul2vdenJ8td98HEcAMi4FM4fpUeKlEltf5o-wd3FQ-R8W4/s4032/IMG_4403.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy_xhMoaogTHUvcprGX8Z9sfqOlUqNl6gJfvJPa9YxmYpV3wLZ_Kc9sq8Ovq711Y-YhfREbRZReoQ6Hl5BlsCxakNXAWvQUR71KeYYGW-OzTOZYlnRge_C5Hqd8EFalXmcKzvMNJGUOMLkXul2vdenJ8td98HEcAMi4FM4fpUeKlEltf5o-wd3FQ-R8W4/w400-h300/IMG_4403.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>I assembled the dumpsters last night to give myself some relaxation post a very long and stressful work week, and it was exactly what the doctor ordered. The kit gives you two dumpsters, each comprised of 10 parts - base, four sides, a hinged lid, two side handles and a pair of casters underneath. Everything fit together beautifully, took glue just fine, and the final construction is really sturdy. The hinged lid works perfectly, and as a bonus, a figure on a 25mm round base can comfortably be placed standing inside the dumpster.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY6ZYWAf0uPN4tLIEr-dNqcbgtImRg0P86Nx7tYGGhBFj6ASzIQ7iPy9th-13F7P80oK7sVZabDMrWyXInCtSwF02UWZYvhymMx7TVWQ5OyhHywH3mSm4lGQvCMN1jSKEV6s6-Y4zi2X1EwrzfsN0mYdJbWOJ2Hh1ERuQRMYIbEfGeoIvLAU2JzXRUoi8/s4032/IMG_4421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="401" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY6ZYWAf0uPN4tLIEr-dNqcbgtImRg0P86Nx7tYGGhBFj6ASzIQ7iPy9th-13F7P80oK7sVZabDMrWyXInCtSwF02UWZYvhymMx7TVWQ5OyhHywH3mSm4lGQvCMN1jSKEV6s6-Y4zi2X1EwrzfsN0mYdJbWOJ2Hh1ERuQRMYIbEfGeoIvLAU2JzXRUoi8/w301-h401/IMG_4421.jpg" width="301" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peekaboo!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I'm hoping to spend this weekend getting the Bingo Hall assembled, because I think that will be a very fun addition to my wargaming tables. <br /></p>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04427050476965801867noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5958736546078181738.post-46491625023156179012023-08-22T11:30:00.001-07:002023-08-22T11:30:01.401-07:00Taco Tuesday<p> Not much the report here, but I did finish up a 3D printed food truck, from Corvus Designs, for my modern games. My wife bought it for me as part of my gift for our anniversary last month. The color scheme is inspired by our favorite local Mexican restaurant - they have a food truck that they use for events and catering jobs that has a yellow, green and red-violet scheme. I shifted the red-violet to just straight up bright red. I think it'll be an eye-catching piece of scatter terrain, or even a battlefield objective. After all, who says no to a taco?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggSZwDOKv9L9H85LHs1o-fVbBIIMQip_a5-j4qigBSLIiDhgdRxi7GsMhRP-ruJEsMh0s22ujldn127EuGgAs2l8sU_A2BZGIlOkd3E64mjhadXsZNOY064XbAGmcX4MOK0itcJcQljbuQmYJTsC5w1yxq2RRR7KZeojBdxIPZvakQGVcEPagpGET0fNc/s550/IMG_4370.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="412" data-original-width="550" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggSZwDOKv9L9H85LHs1o-fVbBIIMQip_a5-j4qigBSLIiDhgdRxi7GsMhRP-ruJEsMh0s22ujldn127EuGgAs2l8sU_A2BZGIlOkd3E64mjhadXsZNOY064XbAGmcX4MOK0itcJcQljbuQmYJTsC5w1yxq2RRR7KZeojBdxIPZvakQGVcEPagpGET0fNc/w400-h300/IMG_4370.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie3uQtZ-BAK7kCvEEEE9S2Z1CPPqGUse2PurygKSZykg5qrSfrwyhygwourP-HTkaBd5yXly0ODWzZzeWAp2bHXDll2fwd6iq-iaLDH1BO1RVthR2Cpa4JoNBhRSek7kaNMBvQTqeqWIdI3SE4jYY-5gATKYy2aTcRsOhaZ8UczU2lnvvSUlJcOucYsNg/s550/IMG_4371.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="412" data-original-width="550" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie3uQtZ-BAK7kCvEEEE9S2Z1CPPqGUse2PurygKSZykg5qrSfrwyhygwourP-HTkaBd5yXly0ODWzZzeWAp2bHXDll2fwd6iq-iaLDH1BO1RVthR2Cpa4JoNBhRSek7kaNMBvQTqeqWIdI3SE4jYY-5gATKYy2aTcRsOhaZ8UczU2lnvvSUlJcOucYsNg/w400-h300/IMG_4371.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04427050476965801867noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5958736546078181738.post-23934361446759045022023-07-26T18:53:00.001-07:002023-07-26T18:53:12.988-07:00G.I. Joe Project Update<p> I haven't posted about it much, beyond a couple of play reports, but the GI Joe in 28mm project I started back in January 2022 is still ongoing and still getting updated here and there with new figures. The other day I got everything I've painted to date for this project out on the table and grouped for a photo shoot. I realized I should post them here as well.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhBYkk_Xf2HWKHQb4xcyjclvLIUkH4Sj1oQzJTZ2nuIHFd73xZoBX73uZ-uDhO5ALYGs85SmmbLveGHc_DX1eoH2CVQsozzS2Df9YgWXS-Cwf-8lUZXXDBMGGGFfY9ogr8cu7CIeWJHV-nAdRS1xrLAx7vbUUpjdbxw5q3F6iZgDTpPsWX_JbbYIfA5Fw/s2048/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhBYkk_Xf2HWKHQb4xcyjclvLIUkH4Sj1oQzJTZ2nuIHFd73xZoBX73uZ-uDhO5ALYGs85SmmbLveGHc_DX1eoH2CVQsozzS2Df9YgWXS-Cwf-8lUZXXDBMGGGFfY9ogr8cu7CIeWJHV-nAdRS1xrLAx7vbUUpjdbxw5q3F6iZgDTpPsWX_JbbYIfA5Fw/w400-h300/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lifeline, Duke, Scarlett, Rock 'n' Roll, Shipwreck<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBLkBJJZTFZYt79LiGo5ExI8wT3JxXfx1mvlad2lgvlNxhAEVSnq1ITRUbhylleNtxxpZhEd0NSPh6-8k0u8XZgP-gwNkHkPGGG6omhhVNFuzEUgN_ON8ZUMLOMP5IKRrrTcvhB-X5nyK5fG-xeA5zBa2bzmmlnRNVnmVRURrgjcVtNDPCxa5H8sSooJs/s2048/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBLkBJJZTFZYt79LiGo5ExI8wT3JxXfx1mvlad2lgvlNxhAEVSnq1ITRUbhylleNtxxpZhEd0NSPh6-8k0u8XZgP-gwNkHkPGGG6omhhVNFuzEUgN_ON8ZUMLOMP5IKRrrTcvhB-X5nyK5fG-xeA5zBa2bzmmlnRNVnmVRURrgjcVtNDPCxa5H8sSooJs/w400-h300/2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alpine, Snake Eyes, Breaker, Flint, Lady Jaye, Cover Girl<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG5KzY9zkNt4YfSjEM1rhsT7XyjUbl0RMuK-MyP7ifEaL1Cw6wZpBUv_rXSvvY2tDDQQ6vTbdQZ3aPm7MvxZfsxYR7nI7dEWLu32VU793tir_fWt_ZurWCvi6q2gSV0_42AOP_hEOq1Ap7Rlcca2yYRDBEjsDwkGEYOwlrzqiU97o3vcz61VFS99cSf6A/s2048/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG5KzY9zkNt4YfSjEM1rhsT7XyjUbl0RMuK-MyP7ifEaL1Cw6wZpBUv_rXSvvY2tDDQQ6vTbdQZ3aPm7MvxZfsxYR7nI7dEWLu32VU793tir_fWt_ZurWCvi6q2gSV0_42AOP_hEOq1Ap7Rlcca2yYRDBEjsDwkGEYOwlrzqiU97o3vcz61VFS99cSf6A/w400-h300/3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mutt, Junkyard, Gung Ho, Low-Light, Sgt. Slaughter, Spirit, Roadblock<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglb6IHZjAmrNXKFWhblxMku0c9y9bxvBHYJ-bgVu40hct8Qkbm7imzvvjbl6QUYOfL5QvEBJrOgbb833bre92IoCfqx2TuTPfSrG8PunhtKbwilv75OwLIFU6AvvbVbEcWELGmE63rJ3ooVPffXi0bspIPeGcKk_Y9IcdLX_WaoJoe5Q4r3DECx__k1Kc/s2048/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglb6IHZjAmrNXKFWhblxMku0c9y9bxvBHYJ-bgVu40hct8Qkbm7imzvvjbl6QUYOfL5QvEBJrOgbb833bre92IoCfqx2TuTPfSrG8PunhtKbwilv75OwLIFU6AvvbVbEcWELGmE63rJ3ooVPffXi0bspIPeGcKk_Y9IcdLX_WaoJoe5Q4r3DECx__k1Kc/w400-h300/4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tomax, The Baroness, Xamot, two Cobra Commanders, Destro<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWKlfUn1JIwM9M2-lOr9d0Q_iaJ26Qei2TNuhFVEBCFe1eodPdCg4B_0F9d0_tD9G77X8HdrE1kDo-LcGxdo4ob8WCDBn40iXHcD20ztPcrnN4XpSb6dGirVwDdO7DyhCi-fL3I7kvP0yRgsqNIUHaI2Ek0RHeEhCuFrCJ0peohoonnGvkC96u3ClTBVs/s2048/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWKlfUn1JIwM9M2-lOr9d0Q_iaJ26Qei2TNuhFVEBCFe1eodPdCg4B_0F9d0_tD9G77X8HdrE1kDo-LcGxdo4ob8WCDBn40iXHcD20ztPcrnN4XpSb6dGirVwDdO7DyhCi-fL3I7kvP0yRgsqNIUHaI2Ek0RHeEhCuFrCJ0peohoonnGvkC96u3ClTBVs/w400-h300/5.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Storm Shadow, Major Bludd, Scrap-Iron, Wild Weasel, Copperhead<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW5Zb6B7GaGcx2stDdcS8d-CkNg6d-2wxGZuc8t6e7r5_GaY1Ot3A_v1g-cFfh6KKiEuzpktLEehc9fDRRZqm9fmdqUQPpmfgjHo4cQfrPXYnE5TLJJlUYhx4s_HrsnctddqlzWAZ4QXs0dI-HNIu2XagWfRX27P_CgME0em5FZ2zDgyfc3w97wLOR9wQ/s2048/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW5Zb6B7GaGcx2stDdcS8d-CkNg6d-2wxGZuc8t6e7r5_GaY1Ot3A_v1g-cFfh6KKiEuzpktLEehc9fDRRZqm9fmdqUQPpmfgjHo4cQfrPXYnE5TLJJlUYhx4s_HrsnctddqlzWAZ4QXs0dI-HNIu2XagWfRX27P_CgME0em5FZ2zDgyfc3w97wLOR9wQ/w400-h300/6.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Dreadnoks: Ripper, Zarana, Zartan, Torch, Buzzer<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjt41mOLY_eQfQHOUphqSgfDizGFslJidfla6n9zB22_9oLkYky587M44WIErG3fJih_wl0c3HACVZgmtknVif059SFUDuWOIQW8pGnwAkDt-ddocULUzO1_5-pYnUH8xfbY8SmoMuc9P-LurnEUJ7FI6PgdT0fN0dlBlP4aWpt7WWmJ_y-2cko09SjAc/s2048/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjt41mOLY_eQfQHOUphqSgfDizGFslJidfla6n9zB22_9oLkYky587M44WIErG3fJih_wl0c3HACVZgmtknVif059SFUDuWOIQW8pGnwAkDt-ddocULUzO1_5-pYnUH8xfbY8SmoMuc9P-LurnEUJ7FI6PgdT0fN0dlBlP4aWpt7WWmJ_y-2cko09SjAc/w400-h300/7.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Crimson Guard<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4g2mUG1psWl9SUMFKB3fdi4YyRcwxa2zZEMQn1xwGyomYo7WwlEp6eQIVrDi4FWZUucSDOqAVNvRL6ybAiPdZdK019uPl9VOOTfj6NacZtHfvDsVKWY7PTsXTL5J1DtRY3RzlHGVmLiOmTlu_OaMyXVk-lYQy5cYg57F6z5uvh6gqvvw8FMNPNPxvElA/s2048/8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4g2mUG1psWl9SUMFKB3fdi4YyRcwxa2zZEMQn1xwGyomYo7WwlEp6eQIVrDi4FWZUucSDOqAVNvRL6ybAiPdZdK019uPl9VOOTfj6NacZtHfvDsVKWY7PTsXTL5J1DtRY3RzlHGVmLiOmTlu_OaMyXVk-lYQy5cYg57F6z5uvh6gqvvw8FMNPNPxvElA/w400-h300/8.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cobra Troopers, including officer, RPG, and field medic<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04427050476965801867noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5958736546078181738.post-52007329756448208662023-07-14T17:58:00.002-07:002023-07-14T17:58:43.478-07:00Perilous Tales: A Rough Night in Devil's Gulch<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvaYd_be7Q424spb85PzLwI5-436mNH7jqVCEnQvSgzEYOidcMbuSaG3uQgO9hNzoUPToNqabMoTKTIc1Jcbh89zIfH5rLPmguFT8CsfE6Refypijljj5dYKYKt_mHo5233lErBjF7WrANI5A9P2XhS2SsT5Ybmfdct06Ou4gNn5bAoEebQT2KFfNWQK0/s475/MV5BMjAyMjQ1ODA3NF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTYwNTMxMTY5._V1_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="336" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvaYd_be7Q424spb85PzLwI5-436mNH7jqVCEnQvSgzEYOidcMbuSaG3uQgO9hNzoUPToNqabMoTKTIc1Jcbh89zIfH5rLPmguFT8CsfE6Refypijljj5dYKYKt_mHo5233lErBjF7WrANI5A9P2XhS2SsT5Ybmfdct06Ou4gNn5bAoEebQT2KFfNWQK0/s320/MV5BMjAyMjQ1ODA3NF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTYwNTMxMTY5._V1_.jpg" width="226" /></a></div><br /> I finally finished the Sarissa "Atomic Gas" gas station, and was eager to get it on the table, along with some recent scatter terrain I've done - some trash bags and a couple of pallets of cocaine from Miniature Building Authority and a humvee from Crooked Dice. Looking over the painted miniatures I had immediately available, a game of Perilous Tales began to present itself.<p></p><p>Years ago, I ran a B-horror movie review blog, watching and reviewing hundreds of horror movies over a period of about 7 years; why I stopped is too long a story to tell here, and not particularly interesting, but one thing I fell in love with during that project was 1970s made-for-TV movies. While the crown jewel of these is probably "The Night Stalker," starring Darren McGavin and introducing the world to Carl Kolchak, one that I really enjoyed was 1972's "Gargoyles," starring Cornell Wilde and Bernie Casey as the leader of the gargoyles. It's most notable for being the first film to feature the work of Stan Winston, who would go on to work on movies like "The Terminator," "Aliens," and "Jurassic Park." Now, Perilous Tales offers up Gargoyles as a villain for games; I had some gargoyles painted up. And I had some desert terrain pieces available. </p><p>While the film mostly follows an academic as he races to prevent the gargoyles from producing an army, I decided the cartel members I'd recently painted from Brigade Games' "Drug War Z" line would be my protagonists this time around. </p><p>So I had my set-up: a cadre of cartel soldiers, sent on what they believed would be a routine pick-up, instead encounter monstrous gargoyles at an isolated gas station in the American Southwest. Objectives would be <i>Forbidden Knowledge</i> (collect an esoteric artifact that one of the villains drops when slain), <i>Flip the Switches</i>, and <i>Escape</i>. <br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM_3dEg9qXLkOCuhRHHPX6gs83Wyi8O_4t5VCTCmLX5gLIqpHr85sY10orbcpVqgyEmEdWmuFFiqH5bfdUQQ_0ctyLqqlBcScJcipX0lDMe_1C4tlrpGWDmxkN4Kwtanzq22ZakN1-iVvXHLJsL1gmjUI_AP6_8jD0ELIAzEWzVR0V_NcULcuGpfSaXuQ/s640/IMG_4060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM_3dEg9qXLkOCuhRHHPX6gs83Wyi8O_4t5VCTCmLX5gLIqpHr85sY10orbcpVqgyEmEdWmuFFiqH5bfdUQQ_0ctyLqqlBcScJcipX0lDMe_1C4tlrpGWDmxkN4Kwtanzq22ZakN1-iVvXHLJsL1gmjUI_AP6_8jD0ELIAzEWzVR0V_NcULcuGpfSaXuQ/w400-h300/IMG_4060.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">left to right: Marcus, Javier, Carlos, Ramon, Hector<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjSQEmI9DH3_mmlZG95gBX29pBWIxzRc0DEqtqfBUbNkg3Xn5nPa7fJbQ-bgWqsgMhEy3yHqn0cV6ZRlxw9i9OXNs_yN8gCU0-CIwEhA_T0DPrj5wnpIgo-hW7NR7qcdmGEwX1S260bvWTzyIzqvahWIy2FuI8pGQt78SnVumab3sim268eVXIHdKpg2U/s640/IMG_4061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjSQEmI9DH3_mmlZG95gBX29pBWIxzRc0DEqtqfBUbNkg3Xn5nPa7fJbQ-bgWqsgMhEy3yHqn0cV6ZRlxw9i9OXNs_yN8gCU0-CIwEhA_T0DPrj5wnpIgo-hW7NR7qcdmGEwX1S260bvWTzyIzqvahWIy2FuI8pGQt78SnVumab3sim268eVXIHdKpg2U/w400-h300/IMG_4061.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>The cartel members advanced slowly towards the abandoned humvee and scattered cargo of cocaine. As they began to fan out, Marcus spotted something beyond the cactus patch - a winged humanoid figure, standing stock-still.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnCOCZd48RfEh1o5CNXocQnKpUFP0c-NXsv8gCG7y9UQsJzhc4ATgG7pML5mUCvCNiylFir9O1RbgGkAL31JExGMjjviD2eBzrzn_gTBvgqbKuFR0CxW7e2pArP7Cpw89pExVhD1-bMHxEgPKCQhQxbxnuD9ghEqLi0E228v8U4s56UjInraX5CJnWwV8/s640/IMG_4062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnCOCZd48RfEh1o5CNXocQnKpUFP0c-NXsv8gCG7y9UQsJzhc4ATgG7pML5mUCvCNiylFir9O1RbgGkAL31JExGMjjviD2eBzrzn_gTBvgqbKuFR0CxW7e2pArP7Cpw89pExVhD1-bMHxEgPKCQhQxbxnuD9ghEqLi0E228v8U4s56UjInraX5CJnWwV8/w400-h300/IMG_4062.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>He opened fire, but barely grazed the creature, which seemed to teleport closer in short bursts every time he blinked. Meanwhile, a ground tremor knocked Hector and Ramon off their feet. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm2gB1Gu7S_3XsMzJGzWoqemHLwwuak6qEapLk0hhf31pFBM-jGpFhhtI3vmnwW5hmirJdw9cdpNkJmxcwDqurAePRS4Lf5pUIAjRepnX9hefqu3sEWHJwHI1cLwPU-8fBK3_31O2hxnQIG2Di-Xa1htIzR6RtkGKPJfKmpLeHOqEmjlP8cEgQvwjxqfA/s640/IMG_4063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm2gB1Gu7S_3XsMzJGzWoqemHLwwuak6qEapLk0hhf31pFBM-jGpFhhtI3vmnwW5hmirJdw9cdpNkJmxcwDqurAePRS4Lf5pUIAjRepnX9hefqu3sEWHJwHI1cLwPU-8fBK3_31O2hxnQIG2Di-Xa1htIzR6RtkGKPJfKmpLeHOqEmjlP8cEgQvwjxqfA/w400-h300/IMG_4063.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>The sound of gunfire brought out a crazed, sunburned man in a pith helmet - an archaeologist who had been working in the desert and fallen under the gargoyles' sway. He swung wildly at Marcus.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyWwZQDHuw9H5DHm9xVpuTX2LG_n5AaGvsYsfWR3U_7rrv_TdbIufZJKQy_gUlmWUV205Z2VhOKKquL_2cb3MgrMS1Qc95ESQJ-pOVDOUjgFLmx-G4dXUIPyWm3vfD5hHLnwKfAw5SE3E8qF8iUfKS2OOsTlA1ZkrHZhn5SumK5X1Rx6dZSXvPCKi7B0g/s640/IMG_4064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyWwZQDHuw9H5DHm9xVpuTX2LG_n5AaGvsYsfWR3U_7rrv_TdbIufZJKQy_gUlmWUV205Z2VhOKKquL_2cb3MgrMS1Qc95ESQJ-pOVDOUjgFLmx-G4dXUIPyWm3vfD5hHLnwKfAw5SE3E8qF8iUfKS2OOsTlA1ZkrHZhn5SumK5X1Rx6dZSXvPCKi7B0g/w400-h300/IMG_4064.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>The crazed archaeologist eventually fell beneath the fists of Marcus, Javier and Hector as the gargoyle slowly advanced towards them. Meanwhile, Carlos and Ramon circled the back of the gas station, encountering another gargoyle, standing frozen, glowering at them, just as night fell.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcSJO8Ct7N3JL8rrobQGOnweVdlfSzsMFXedwjs7LbGX_C3D8t_OS4MmgwT9gyWR0KujE4tOvdnh0o1i11QXhRmbKGWr_YwFmyvVg1QZNi4usi6Uo8e15oWLSHFfdtfY9CiopkEwdSrtW8Ire1cj4-sCKToxJolyCLWjUbKv3HsI2LiziRQ4P50aLePXU/s640/IMG_4067.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcSJO8Ct7N3JL8rrobQGOnweVdlfSzsMFXedwjs7LbGX_C3D8t_OS4MmgwT9gyWR0KujE4tOvdnh0o1i11QXhRmbKGWr_YwFmyvVg1QZNi4usi6Uo8e15oWLSHFfdtfY9CiopkEwdSrtW8Ire1cj4-sCKToxJolyCLWjUbKv3HsI2LiziRQ4P50aLePXU/w400-h300/IMG_4067.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Carlos knocked over a weird stone obelisk, the destruction of which seemed to bother the creature. He and Ramon then opened fire on the beast, wounding and eventually killing it; the creature dropped an odd golden statue depicting a four-winged demonic figure. Shoving the statue into Ramon's hands, Carlos told him to get out of here, and to take the statue back to the cartel.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfnAQxQSFkAfsoU2PC3NTc0N4UNE9c4G-A1H8FuZL6F4mlYbdF51H1WmZCagRYXYxo2Vss_VPSZIZkc5rDHC4xVre6ToQOyecTpJ0Zbi8gB0A1eYALweB_3hApUTABY2TJY3U9_Wsh4HjezUoa0hFg6D8FOV-xgAG5zms_OTvCV-8oH4p2XvOALq6F4eo/s640/IMG_4071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfnAQxQSFkAfsoU2PC3NTc0N4UNE9c4G-A1H8FuZL6F4mlYbdF51H1WmZCagRYXYxo2Vss_VPSZIZkc5rDHC4xVre6ToQOyecTpJ0Zbi8gB0A1eYALweB_3hApUTABY2TJY3U9_Wsh4HjezUoa0hFg6D8FOV-xgAG5zms_OTvCV-8oH4p2XvOALq6F4eo/w400-h300/IMG_4071.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFuQA1qxPFvQVw3M0PjwEWHzLfpr0dVMGFsCTIy0ghoONNzyyrjsH5furYEaxVjtDoVcv5KAu2G6E-4jG8zTIq6ABLZUuS8a2LiwfMy-Ne9k4aK7Zv8j7lmAZl-oA_0R_WdnRHPrq84Ei4B4uhXHMQDdKvv-z94AjkNbIjuAWcWY8_NFxAUilrvaKYKfQ/s640/IMG_4072.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFuQA1qxPFvQVw3M0PjwEWHzLfpr0dVMGFsCTIy0ghoONNzyyrjsH5furYEaxVjtDoVcv5KAu2G6E-4jG8zTIq6ABLZUuS8a2LiwfMy-Ne9k4aK7Zv8j7lmAZl-oA_0R_WdnRHPrq84Ei4B4uhXHMQDdKvv-z94AjkNbIjuAWcWY8_NFxAUilrvaKYKfQ/w400-h300/IMG_4072.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Carlos then circled past the gas station towards the next strange obelisk, disturbing a swarm of bats in the process. To make matters worse, a second swarm almost immediately showed up. Weathering the bats' onslaught, once they'd had their fill Carlos pushed over the second obelisk and left, following Ramon back towards the cartel headquarters.The bats then moved on to harass Hector and Javier.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJZ-aQQ59P6FhKblX1JP_zMFKQ_bETzOc38rI9FMQmDoXq4XP_cybnYZU5Yz2NsMMpyDdWz9eOuFecvxBu06vZufEFEPbLDkutbBbMTvX-ZB9NO-soTfvyVUpJFFyhYnSr3XL_NTj0DvZ_0CA5EEPiEoW3zU7aBKhJqBkCMXD7-pfIWGlS0Z2Sqh4iKzY/s640/IMG_4074.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJZ-aQQ59P6FhKblX1JP_zMFKQ_bETzOc38rI9FMQmDoXq4XP_cybnYZU5Yz2NsMMpyDdWz9eOuFecvxBu06vZufEFEPbLDkutbBbMTvX-ZB9NO-soTfvyVUpJFFyhYnSr3XL_NTj0DvZ_0CA5EEPiEoW3zU7aBKhJqBkCMXD7-pfIWGlS0Z2Sqh4iKzY/w400-h300/IMG_4074.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7cxpwHMMwXiLw8ovWs9uvaQPedVUX7rGm7UIS-p0Y7X7ajJ-SfsgfMcFDck5Kdq5rSjS-h5XPf1FxF227OEUzplQpavuwK9J7wXljbsLWL9UCaEqy_wh0_L1QiMM5dhtCfFvRW6SzpoChw03H357r7um1jMu3UBL1Ljib6skV1Er0RGYZpaZpNxTrTVY/s640/IMG_4075.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7cxpwHMMwXiLw8ovWs9uvaQPedVUX7rGm7UIS-p0Y7X7ajJ-SfsgfMcFDck5Kdq5rSjS-h5XPf1FxF227OEUzplQpavuwK9J7wXljbsLWL9UCaEqy_wh0_L1QiMM5dhtCfFvRW6SzpoChw03H357r7um1jMu3UBL1Ljib6skV1Er0RGYZpaZpNxTrTVY/w400-h300/IMG_4075.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Marcus, Javier and Hector, meanwhile, were doing their best to kill the gargoyle crouching on a pallet of carefully-packaged bricks of cocaine, but were ineffectual at best; at least they had the benefit of the creature not being able to move while being observed, and even in the darkness of night they were close enough to keep the gargoyle contained. Eventually, however, the threat just became overwhelming, and the scene fades to black.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwoH6005W4ADySkqD8Zow2GS7mhXt6FIXZKXweO1kJuFrGJaOeTW_ak6Di-byCUwIkRu5SiHKmZZvTcp1rg0LuTe6RNBZcCYmCfJshWEvDupTLF2beHDa-Xwn48X2WU3vXu-loGqcViPVe-KTlmuuntPO8KTJV3TxYz3dStFKpwKSbQAHtRo-PBqxgEDE/s640/IMG_4076.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwoH6005W4ADySkqD8Zow2GS7mhXt6FIXZKXweO1kJuFrGJaOeTW_ak6Di-byCUwIkRu5SiHKmZZvTcp1rg0LuTe6RNBZcCYmCfJshWEvDupTLF2beHDa-Xwn48X2WU3vXu-loGqcViPVe-KTlmuuntPO8KTJV3TxYz3dStFKpwKSbQAHtRo-PBqxgEDE/w400-h300/IMG_4076.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>So that was a good time! We got two of the three switches flipped, and two heroes off the board, including one carrying the Esoteric Artifact; technically nobody died, so we scored some bonus victory points there. I'll be honest, when the second gargoyle and "Darkness Falls" both triggered at the same time I expect it to be a wash; the gargoyles are hard to kill because they have a lot of hit points, and darkness limits heroes' ability to observe (and thus control the movements of) the two gargoyles. Somehow I managed to keep at least two heroes close enough to pin the gargoyles down for the entire game. It was a nice hour and a half this afternoon and damn, that table set-up looks good if I do say so myself! I'm really pleased with the growth of my terrain collection, and this gas station is definitely worth the almost-four weeks I spent slowly building and painting it. <br /></p>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04427050476965801867noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5958736546078181738.post-71028261412171412362023-06-26T13:50:00.003-07:002023-06-26T13:50:56.399-07:00WIP - Sarissa Precision "Atomic Gas"<p> Call it a Gas Station, Petrol Station, Fuel Parlor (someone probably calls it that), it's a must for any urban or post-apocalyptic table. My wife was kind enough to get me Sarissa's "Atomic Gas" Gas Station for my birthday last month, and I've been slowly working on it over the past few days.</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVUeOv5foNTZ9U0xnESuJLCqj-PKcDB8DacAEShe9PZy5Qgvq9ZccGDh2iiLjmxVlR8HDWhEdBvMFZlRGOx1z1B0UUb6QbNeROLYFvzPGD7xnKlZWCRhcwTBhWaD82PHM8Fv99JkNOSp_IKXjC0YUqHB6PjNysURNZQJ_lw8bQO3bGdqB80OWjUphj3S4/s2048/p021_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVUeOv5foNTZ9U0xnESuJLCqj-PKcDB8DacAEShe9PZy5Qgvq9ZccGDh2iiLjmxVlR8HDWhEdBvMFZlRGOx1z1B0UUb6QbNeROLYFvzPGD7xnKlZWCRhcwTBhWaD82PHM8Fv99JkNOSp_IKXjC0YUqHB6PjNysURNZQJ_lw8bQO3bGdqB80OWjUphj3S4/s320/p021_5.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the catalog image, non-derelict version<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> </p><p>I say slowly because the weather's been really uncooperative, with days and days of smothering humidity punctuated by torrential rainstorms. Which has made getting things primed extraordinarily annoying!</p><p>Worse, I'm nearing a point where I'm going to have no choice but to stop until the weather cooperates; I don't want to glue the walls together until I have plastic sheeting glued into place for the windows, and I don't want to glue the windows in until the walls are varnished (so that the varnish doesn't frost the windows). And I can't varnish the building when the humidity's sitting at 86% for 12-15 hours at a time. So I'm painting as much as I can, getting the paper flooring glued down, and obsessively rechecking how the parts fit together. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWT_5XVNZ1IrlzYk_PSjOs-7Y6l5AMJGo9n7O0LJQWSoNyH4yOXTroJ9el7xliwr4UZ-gvKXWt-BbPe1X2E6p3AxgeO76tm09U9048_8wZJ3TbYFPbQRMlPe9xXhAr5oVj1292Gi8lFHjvr4TTrBs1NX6C2W8Po3joiJSMN7WARRbdjim9SlcIT0cB-GM/s4032/IMG_3874.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWT_5XVNZ1IrlzYk_PSjOs-7Y6l5AMJGo9n7O0LJQWSoNyH4yOXTroJ9el7xliwr4UZ-gvKXWt-BbPe1X2E6p3AxgeO76tm09U9048_8wZJ3TbYFPbQRMlPe9xXhAr5oVj1292Gi8lFHjvr4TTrBs1NX6C2W8Po3joiJSMN7WARRbdjim9SlcIT0cB-GM/w300-h400/IMG_3874.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p>I'm also working on some furnishings (purchased from Miniature Building Authority) as you can see here - out front there's a locked cage for propane tanks (not yet primed), as well as a reach-in freezer filled with bagged ice. Inside, I've got a top-down freezer filled with ice cream (placed in impulse-buy range of the front counter, just like in the gas station up the street from my apartment) and a vending machine:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNo3J8TYAeKZc1KzcTljRw_KeV0V-fmHYuVbFNGxzYfkJ0bvgxnU1AslyUV9J-z-JIxnS-RtVbkeqrgXXYPVZqrQ6C9sfWJzaUhrdmfUhPhC-2wfVsek5L5vy1v1_VnHwRH5W1JILUifmG8-z2sUwQNFITAJSYMb_rmOKspei4xGAn5dlyxwQkaRDAkD4/s4032/IMG_3863.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNo3J8TYAeKZc1KzcTljRw_KeV0V-fmHYuVbFNGxzYfkJ0bvgxnU1AslyUV9J-z-JIxnS-RtVbkeqrgXXYPVZqrQ6C9sfWJzaUhrdmfUhPhC-2wfVsek5L5vy1v1_VnHwRH5W1JILUifmG8-z2sUwQNFITAJSYMb_rmOKspei4xGAn5dlyxwQkaRDAkD4/w300-h400/IMG_3863.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p>There's a bit of a story here - "Big Red" is an American cream soda, only available in certain markets, mostly around Texas and Kentucky. The flavor is frequently mistaken for bubble gum, but is apparently a mix of lemon and orange oils and vanilla - and it's awful (or at least, a not-easily-acquired taste). My wife's father loved Big Red, and more than drinking it, he loved tricking other people into drinking it. I'll never forget his booming chuckle as he watched me take an unsuspecting sip of it. </p><p>So presented with the flat expanse of the front of this vending machine, I knew I wanted to paint something, and while looking at photos of '90s era vending machines I remembered this syrupy nightmare drink, and decided it would be funny to have a vending machine filled with nothing but Big Red (and a discontinued variant, Big Blue) awaiting the unwary, thirsty customer. The red also pops against the green-and-white scheme I chose for the gas station as a whole, drawing even more attention to it. </p><p>Looking at the weather forecast, I don't expect to be able to do any more priming or varnishing until Friday at the earliest; I might try assembling a delicate resin chair to put behind the counter, and I'm waiting on a resin cast toilet to arrive to put in the back room. I'm hoping I can maybe have *most* of the gas station done by next Monday. <br /></p>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04427050476965801867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5958736546078181738.post-76643121315541133592023-06-18T16:19:00.005-07:002023-06-18T16:19:39.085-07:00Donut Worry<p> For my birthday last month, my wonderful, lovely wife bought me a few pieces of modern terrain - a 3D-printed donut shop and a couple of MDF kits. I ordered some resin furniture from Miniature Building Authority to complement them, and started in on the donut shop, though found myself switching gears to paint orcs last month pretty vigorously. Picking up Majestic 13, and needing to be able to field urban tables, gave me the impetus to finish up the shop (and having a head cold that's left me too foggy-headed to play a game has certainly not impeded my painting either).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTeTHUKDn03253hkaU05sH_GtQNiMl8npoJks3WD1O1ekfmkRvfMCtMbWPH4uT93bdFksXYOdR1latS5thXTKo4M_tQl_m_qVndi_xDnT-gHeqvMA-erUlFjYJUuLYJs8-urbdFoTRULaKeGpGCQtl-v9PCKFmzB___buJ732CLGEUYRa0xV-3R2p2/s4032/IMG_3823.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTeTHUKDn03253hkaU05sH_GtQNiMl8npoJks3WD1O1ekfmkRvfMCtMbWPH4uT93bdFksXYOdR1latS5thXTKo4M_tQl_m_qVndi_xDnT-gHeqvMA-erUlFjYJUuLYJs8-urbdFoTRULaKeGpGCQtl-v9PCKFmzB___buJ732CLGEUYRa0xV-3R2p2/w400-h300/IMG_3823.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSfvSPNPRS9xxTUQpvSVBJF8mYQ2ItyYLyoVL5o-AttmHY9Cegurd7ddeQrT6V6UFKf0N8DfLnbLXi9HYENNr55Dy9PwVhbYuES4CEYbHhsCX1yJK6GFvEk4tQFoOPkX_TIZL-G5xoXfN65w7TGjWlHQSZznxHpqVCKVmLgx5_wgDGj-oVjJe8QG5k/s550/IMG_3824.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="412" data-original-width="550" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSfvSPNPRS9xxTUQpvSVBJF8mYQ2ItyYLyoVL5o-AttmHY9Cegurd7ddeQrT6V6UFKf0N8DfLnbLXi9HYENNr55Dy9PwVhbYuES4CEYbHhsCX1yJK6GFvEk4tQFoOPkX_TIZL-G5xoXfN65w7TGjWlHQSZznxHpqVCKVmLgx5_wgDGj-oVjJe8QG5k/w400-h300/IMG_3824.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfj0dXjeEYsimDBsm6_ZmhitPus9_FJJec1bFm3LozpHtwBjYg10ffVGaSoPcU77escujegxlkZK5Kslkc0JTZFQvayr9_TlkRjHHk0jyliAb_NSJINhla7n__97H3BR_RHxwwhachwBKVlLGbfCEVmKMdvHZDjtFcWlKi433gJMfd__c2XckKWduc/s4032/IMG_3825.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfj0dXjeEYsimDBsm6_ZmhitPus9_FJJec1bFm3LozpHtwBjYg10ffVGaSoPcU77escujegxlkZK5Kslkc0JTZFQvayr9_TlkRjHHk0jyliAb_NSJINhla7n__97H3BR_RHxwwhachwBKVlLGbfCEVmKMdvHZDjtFcWlKi433gJMfd__c2XckKWduc/w400-h300/IMG_3825.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic3qsc4pU5gkBFly5aZZDF66Mw2DNp_XixJcu5MoxPw1XN7L0PHbvDerz6Q2OP4qU_ZvGQUOcOBzfmECHghKQuATwLwic2aEc8IXjUqHigIvezGy1kQPazuMyR-mlHVHYiKpYGyX5XdPdbBdZ4r-ysjjTb8NFsL-K0fIJ36JTtA7BeZdOVMHX5mpjU/s4032/IMG_3826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic3qsc4pU5gkBFly5aZZDF66Mw2DNp_XixJcu5MoxPw1XN7L0PHbvDerz6Q2OP4qU_ZvGQUOcOBzfmECHghKQuATwLwic2aEc8IXjUqHigIvezGy1kQPazuMyR-mlHVHYiKpYGyX5XdPdbBdZ4r-ysjjTb8NFsL-K0fIJ36JTtA7BeZdOVMHX5mpjU/w400-h300/IMG_3826.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>Two notes: One, I'm very grateful that Reaper Miniatures sends out free bottles of "Breast Cancer Awareness Pink" in every order during the month of October, because I'm pretty sure I went most of the way through one bottle painting the interior and the sign. </p><p>Two, "Big Nick Was Here" is a bit of a personal in-joke. I didn't want to paint overly-raunchy graffiti in case I ever have occasion to set up and run a modern skirmish at a convention, and early in the Pandemic I was looking at playing Zona Alfa solo, re-localized from eastern Europe to the American Southwest (to better fit my collection of cacti and desert hills terrain). So Nicolai, the bandit leader from the first scenario in the book, became the American biker "Big Nick," with a Mark Copplestone biker figure painted as such. You can see him <a href="http://dice-and-doubloons.blogspot.com/2022/11/wasteland-warriors-into-zone.html">here</a>. He's such a characterful figure that I'd welcome any opportunity to put him on the table. While it's hard to justify a group of player-character Hell's Angels in Majestic 13, and there's no option for civilians to be running around the table complicating fights, I'm sure Big Nick will find a way on to the table again soon - even if under a different ruleset. Either way, his mark's here. </p><p>I'll get the building and furnishings varnished tomorrow afternoon, and then Tuesday I'll cut some clear plastic sheets to size and glue them into the windows and glue the furniture down. And then it's play time!<br /></p>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04427050476965801867noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5958736546078181738.post-68220828444835146272023-06-17T17:44:00.004-07:002023-06-17T19:14:19.596-07:00Majestic 13: Test Play #1, "Keel's Killers Vs. the Avenkian Shrieker"<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvnEgbvNmfgaWR0HoJuqcTpgOyph17hBFG5qCcICmlPIvLH97MN5FEZ76BJuzAn0Q_pt7pSiJ9UcI7en1gHo30uhwr40Qbv4K-TcGX_67ynNxzBe6GldHLqgmO3WJ6WzetAXiMDSG7us1p0PiSCPq-UKwGu5zECdZ1Hzslgg2eBBuERUVnVqDv5xos/s1165/436437.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1165" data-original-width="900" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvnEgbvNmfgaWR0HoJuqcTpgOyph17hBFG5qCcICmlPIvLH97MN5FEZ76BJuzAn0Q_pt7pSiJ9UcI7en1gHo30uhwr40Qbv4K-TcGX_67ynNxzBe6GldHLqgmO3WJ6WzetAXiMDSG7us1p0PiSCPq-UKwGu5zECdZ1Hzslgg2eBBuERUVnVqDv5xos/w154-h200/436437.jpg" width="154" /></a></div>The other day I picked up a new solo/co-op skirmish game called <a href="https://www.snarlingbadger.com/majestic13" target="_blank">Majestic 13 from Snarling Badger Studios</a>. Premise is you have a team of five operatives who belong to one of 13 organizations that have joined forces to protect the earth from an alien threat; in most games, this threat is made manifest as a single big, brutal monster with a lot of hit points. The video game series "X-COM" gets referenced quite a bit as a comparison, but I've never played it so I can't say much on that point. Realizing that I had everything I needed already painted, it was short work to print up the PDF, roll up my team, and get a test game on the table.<p></p><p> I'd initially planned on playing out my first test game tomorrow, Sunday the 18th, as I was scheduled for two RPG sessions today - but I woke up feeling a head cold coming on, so I bowed out of my afternoon in-person game, and the online game I'd been scheduled for this evening was postponed by the GM. So, with my evening suddenly free, I figured I'd move up my first playtest to tonight. <br /></p><p> My group is "Keel's Killers" - a group of roughnecks (oil rig workers, industrial welders, etc.) given guns and told to stomp mudholes in monsters. Their leader, Johanna Keel, is a veteran of Majestic 13, having pulled this new group together after being the sole survivor of a previous team. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMFBn7MWEBTKDyYrWZRE4piJJKCuox87N9mYetDV-VBNYE5XGkT0tH6hc0MBaTyBKiadWRS_s5BqIfQyJOcQocYrS0lMNpZFO8ovHoyjiFUeOb6Cu9xbqF00rYHEUvcsBHfP8N0HkxAJpjhmSXgvnwpF1qhdo-X8WzQ0y_yKQZYQL9BS_-5verKaTh/s2016/IMG_3822.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMFBn7MWEBTKDyYrWZRE4piJJKCuox87N9mYetDV-VBNYE5XGkT0tH6hc0MBaTyBKiadWRS_s5BqIfQyJOcQocYrS0lMNpZFO8ovHoyjiFUeOb6Cu9xbqF00rYHEUvcsBHfP8N0HkxAJpjhmSXgvnwpF1qhdo-X8WzQ0y_yKQZYQL9BS_-5verKaTh/w400-h300/IMG_3822.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Left to Right: Keel, Barker, Moseley, Arnold and Klass<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Rolling a few dice, I determined they'd be fighting in a wilderness area and facing off against an Avenkian Shrieking Shock Trooper, one of 26 monster archetypes presented by the game. In this case it's a pretty straight-forward brawler type that also has an area of effect attack - by shrieking, it can deal damage over a 12" radius, which is quite a bit when you're playing on a 3'x3' board! I picked a Reaper Bones "Gloom Stalker" (or in D&D terms, a Hook Horror) to represent the monster.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2kp9m9TwLhARlJJWGVgujbo8DDmhzf0mhSetTBRU008XcbI-IMRjhd3sY2v2d8nLFkQP01EYL0GiZZsxmX3jJuFEIjJkS1O-ttdAV2DsSJB_zvQzBGF1RZIKpFsB3BDB_mYH62ADIYiiNIo8YLLuqnGtsvj74kWwEfOYlMC6PqULHIuCWWKf904sA/s2016/IMG_3817.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2kp9m9TwLhARlJJWGVgujbo8DDmhzf0mhSetTBRU008XcbI-IMRjhd3sY2v2d8nLFkQP01EYL0GiZZsxmX3jJuFEIjJkS1O-ttdAV2DsSJB_zvQzBGF1RZIKpFsB3BDB_mYH62ADIYiiNIo8YLLuqnGtsvj74kWwEfOYlMC6PqULHIuCWWKf904sA/w400-h300/IMG_3817.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"If you go down to the woods to-day..."<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The monster activated first, and charged across the board into Moseley, scoring a critical hit, dealing (2D6+3)x2 damage which was...not great for Moseley. Pretty much everyone else moved in close and started shooting, which worked great until the monster took damage - another feature of its stat block is every time it takes damage, everyone within 12" needs to make a saving throw or take damage as well! After that everyone started spacing out and shooting from a distance, while Moseley tried to get away and maybe reach Barker or Arnold, both of whom were carrying medical kits. </p><p>Unfortunately, while restrained in the monster's claws, Moseley fell victim to a flash bang grenade thrown by Keel, leaving him stunned as the monster finished him off. The Avenkian then turned it's attention to Barker while the team continued to (try to) shoot at it. Arnold never successfully put a round into the monster, despite having an average chance of success. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhORe_UkY02v-qwVi6o6HBuf1ghWA2TC-T0GOPxd6IOxnI1KLFgoECoBreKDhjtxCDA5xytYTRASvM38owpHdl9_bkZQCGTPMOOxrg7y5sf4LfKRNMbz72GwbGYjvzKliK9W7vtG7rN3-2F6qWl1aZJz-a_tOZVKyP48GcSfFmUCdHukgosiGS_IVQG/s2016/IMG_3818.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhORe_UkY02v-qwVi6o6HBuf1ghWA2TC-T0GOPxd6IOxnI1KLFgoECoBreKDhjtxCDA5xytYTRASvM38owpHdl9_bkZQCGTPMOOxrg7y5sf4LfKRNMbz72GwbGYjvzKliK9W7vtG7rN3-2F6qWl1aZJz-a_tOZVKyP48GcSfFmUCdHukgosiGS_IVQG/w400-h300/IMG_3818.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <p></p><p>The game has a FUBAR mechanic - each turn, a D6 is rolled and the current turn number added to it; on a result of 6+, something has gone wrong, ranging from civilians wandering on to the battlefield, another monster showing up, or in this case, an errant drone strike potentially hitting our heroes. On turn 5, Keel took 3D6 damage from said errant drone strike. </p><p>Games end automatically after the end of Turn 5, and if you haven't killed the monster by then, you're SOL - team-members who are still alive flee the scene, and the monster becomes someone else's problem while you're debriefed and recover. At the end of Turn 5, I'd reduced the monster to half its starting hit points. Following this, there's a whole mini-game of seeing how your team-members recover (or if not, whether their cloned replacements are weird or not), and trying to requisition upgraded gear and improvement's to your team's base of operations from the bureaucracy. I haven't delved into that yet; I figure I'll play a couple of test games to get the feel of things and then maybe dive into the full campaign experience the game is geared towards. </p><p>I don't have enough knowledge of game design to feel I can truly comment on the mechanics that much, but I will say that I really enjoyed how fast-paced the game is, and the 5-turn time limit keeps things from bogging down. I felt like I picked up and fully absorbed a lot of the mechanics very quickly. Also, with charts to roll on to randomly generate locales, terrain, threats and bureaucratic complications, I feel confident in saying that this is a game that can easily stay fresh for a very long time, with no two games being the same. <br /></p><p>One thing that will take some getting used to for me is some of the spinning plates - for example, I think I forgot to roll a FUBAR check on turn 4, and I'm pretty sure I forgot about the monster's reactive area of effect ability on one of the turns where it received damage and there were team-members within 12". </p><p>All that being said, I had a great time with my first play through, and making it through with three team members intact and the monster reduced to half-hit points feels like victory enough for a first play. I'm looking forward to rolling up another table's worth of terrain and a fresh monster tomorrow. <br /></p>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04427050476965801867noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5958736546078181738.post-8483742377110837002023-06-10T05:57:00.001-07:002023-06-10T05:57:14.856-07:00"Building a Dark Elf Army," White Dwarf #144 (Dec. 1991)<p> No, I'm not switching gears and building a Dark Elf army. These scans from White Dwarf issue 144 (Dec. 1991 - I was 4 years old at the time) were posted in one of the Oldhammer groups on Facebook and I found them to be a really fascinating read and honestly, for me, thought-provoking.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4WprZwV_iZRw-0fCiqte7JZsm-yvZMYs0Lv6fBz1kDMMGv1mEOkazVM7pC2OvuyWl4wvJoVZ2YQ8Y4SlqjxanyHtfofCK-K8MDwAlhD7JA7wtW9seN28lZNQZXe0EWw6THttSkuQjYDRzs_kyEG5zl_DczcK67TrWBeJyWcHzjgRhUHMitJWiPHs7/s1430/352225375_10159472702786512_5044238795706756806_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1430" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4WprZwV_iZRw-0fCiqte7JZsm-yvZMYs0Lv6fBz1kDMMGv1mEOkazVM7pC2OvuyWl4wvJoVZ2YQ8Y4SlqjxanyHtfofCK-K8MDwAlhD7JA7wtW9seN28lZNQZXe0EWw6THttSkuQjYDRzs_kyEG5zl_DczcK67TrWBeJyWcHzjgRhUHMitJWiPHs7/w303-h400/352225375_10159472702786512_5044238795706756806_n.jpg" width="303" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCckkAIlZUIXFU035S_Z2o204zxi8C5CmNtm7Wr8EcMmqMPOnvoqJhGwCix3hiwsdCWkmnWWTyGek6K0X2qY-BRVuUorJ7-7DyD0Eb5XNRG0DPiwbKHowJ8vgd61O7weGI-zVKX8ve8fxqFhYOYyeko2K-W0KRltGY46J40TKPVe7hfyzjBHewWLp8/s1440/352112443_10159472702846512_7749389554762796874_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCckkAIlZUIXFU035S_Z2o204zxi8C5CmNtm7Wr8EcMmqMPOnvoqJhGwCix3hiwsdCWkmnWWTyGek6K0X2qY-BRVuUorJ7-7DyD0Eb5XNRG0DPiwbKHowJ8vgd61O7weGI-zVKX8ve8fxqFhYOYyeko2K-W0KRltGY46J40TKPVe7hfyzjBHewWLp8/w300-h400/352112443_10159472702846512_7749389554762796874_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVu41DBv2qCr-D2_9cBCJwOmFWcw5IDJvZMjkSXQE7l7EntoupVVo9VklcUCvnwegjvBDMuvobCL-fnCwVcDKOKqP7ThK9iW7FOMcsYQZq5wlmRa5s1q09xmNANZgAzyDeijH-y_qcrkeu9RUhGUQtSP-uzo6l0iCW3Hf4qagPdLBKvTElhJSuNYTY/s1408/352280776_10159472702941512_1796352993629808199_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1408" data-original-width="1016" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVu41DBv2qCr-D2_9cBCJwOmFWcw5IDJvZMjkSXQE7l7EntoupVVo9VklcUCvnwegjvBDMuvobCL-fnCwVcDKOKqP7ThK9iW7FOMcsYQZq5wlmRa5s1q09xmNANZgAzyDeijH-y_qcrkeu9RUhGUQtSP-uzo6l0iCW3Hf4qagPdLBKvTElhJSuNYTY/w289-h400/352280776_10159472702941512_1796352993629808199_n.jpg" width="289" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENeVRCmgaKaPOVrMZfG8kGiIuitwq-oNfrMQU4xg_dknVt9VAlehigyJaovGl15eB3vMQ8qyPBncnoJnSbBjMzmkj29IFYb-vNzFLGf7e0VdkPfDw8HcdTNrGxtP_fFkJMMDCfNCOUejqLfsfvstyr8bpJCpdZzlvIfFaW3yaMZjKTZvR0IADZOnT/s1403/352231432_10159472703041512_333161949094972217_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1403" data-original-width="1034" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENeVRCmgaKaPOVrMZfG8kGiIuitwq-oNfrMQU4xg_dknVt9VAlehigyJaovGl15eB3vMQ8qyPBncnoJnSbBjMzmkj29IFYb-vNzFLGf7e0VdkPfDw8HcdTNrGxtP_fFkJMMDCfNCOUejqLfsfvstyr8bpJCpdZzlvIfFaW3yaMZjKTZvR0IADZOnT/w295-h400/352231432_10159472703041512_333161949094972217_n.jpg" width="295" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ylYl1uLjHOCmt-Koz6W8U3gOtQOM1jYabX8dhPF_R8iJKZTqLV1MqxLu9BxXjNOX1P_85dzTOzdDa2Ece0z3691_aTk0Fr_aEz5b9W6u49PE3DHIPuWCS-pD72zZXgGnXmqimL5sYrdbtSqv3gk6Alk-RL9Rnew6VtYkt1JYs-S7Y5jfCca6p5Lw/s1391/351606179_10159472703111512_5859575549906439127_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1391" data-original-width="1035" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ylYl1uLjHOCmt-Koz6W8U3gOtQOM1jYabX8dhPF_R8iJKZTqLV1MqxLu9BxXjNOX1P_85dzTOzdDa2Ece0z3691_aTk0Fr_aEz5b9W6u49PE3DHIPuWCS-pD72zZXgGnXmqimL5sYrdbtSqv3gk6Alk-RL9Rnew6VtYkt1JYs-S7Y5jfCca6p5Lw/w298-h400/351606179_10159472703111512_5859575549906439127_n.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><p></p><p>My first visit to a Games Workshop store came almost a decade later, in August 2001. Warhammer Fantasy Battles 6th edition was in full swing and I loved the idea of building an army. However, the messaging I got at the time - less so from the staff at that Games Workshop store, but from other patrons of the store as well as message boards online - was that 2000 points was the absolute minimum army size that a game could be played with, and there was no point in me showing up for games with anything less than that. <br /><br />Being a 14 year old who only really had spending money in the summer and after Christmas, and with an oversized case of "Ooh! Shiny!" syndrome, building a 2000 point army was daunting to the point of being out of the question. I built a couple regiments of plastic figures - Night Goblins, then Skeletons, Orcs, then the hunchbacked 6th edition Chaos Warriors - but eventually felt like I'd never get anywhere and moved on to other games.<br /><br />I wonder what my hobby/gaming trajectory would have looked like if someone had sat down with me and said, "Let's make a plan to get you started with a basic, well-balanced 1000 point army, and then build from there if you want to continue"?<br /></p>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04427050476965801867noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5958736546078181738.post-54802229002221505392023-05-29T15:07:00.003-07:002023-05-29T15:07:59.022-07:00State of the Orc Army - Memorial Day 2023<p> Afternoon all, today is a federal holiday in the United States and so I had the day off work. Having gotten quite a bit of work done on my Oldhammer Orc project this month, I decided to unpack everything and get it on the table - see what I've done <a href="http://dice-and-doubloons.blogspot.com/2022/12/merry-christmas-and-state-of-orc-army.html" target="_blank">since the last review</a>, and get a sense of what I want to add. Not to toot my own horn too hard here, but I'm honestly impressed to see what I've done so far:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAfACYkxm8jXyLLOnOy0_mmLiTTxQVzTXfpchiEDfY6FjXgCbGNAzIG-5FqxgT0uouJ-WtezMnW41Q3cXloR9AvPxO7NSG5y9v-xZipErmncbtfOJpIQwVS3oIsnvVf21dlL6TsPei1KIBtdeVKoh_eENn1oVKtzWyAlWwaHvOL8JJB3e6ILo1XQn7/s4032/IMG_3699.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAfACYkxm8jXyLLOnOy0_mmLiTTxQVzTXfpchiEDfY6FjXgCbGNAzIG-5FqxgT0uouJ-WtezMnW41Q3cXloR9AvPxO7NSG5y9v-xZipErmncbtfOJpIQwVS3oIsnvVf21dlL6TsPei1KIBtdeVKoh_eENn1oVKtzWyAlWwaHvOL8JJB3e6ILo1XQn7/w400-h300/IMG_3699.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>All total, that's 115 Orcs, 47 Goblins, 15 Hobgoblins, 4 Trolls, 5 "Hobhounds," 5 Boars and 6 Wolves. A unit-by-unit breakdown (mostly) follows:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja1hBGgtQUlRBGyLgGTwmbZWBu7dwbwiGZG0dQSg5TD7_mEKspBsiM0piH6p3v4DSEIqGRvEPnlyITGUOK0i_X4tXluniGrGNpEY1J-RgcsaK6F5RNOc31qFBQoY-TFmDZJ0Q7h1YD-exl7NAFLmQhLushDDb0CEe5B1C_E4mDepFDQLMO3agAI91S/s4032/IMG_3700.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja1hBGgtQUlRBGyLgGTwmbZWBu7dwbwiGZG0dQSg5TD7_mEKspBsiM0piH6p3v4DSEIqGRvEPnlyITGUOK0i_X4tXluniGrGNpEY1J-RgcsaK6F5RNOc31qFBQoY-TFmDZJ0Q7h1YD-exl7NAFLmQhLushDDb0CEe5B1C_E4mDepFDQLMO3agAI91S/w400-h300/IMG_3700.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>A unit of Goblin Wolf Riders with bows, joined by a Goblin Big Boss. A second unit of these is in my project box, waiting to be assembled and painted.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9ttzJ3VjXvFKizPUnwJaDJUPYRnxlLWh8XOZ9sRsQy8p2J-rCrxsknENDhi_G3LCXU99LrXZcmvMVhh0kXnoce-g3hJpLRz84leifZzW0rAs96Crb4Dlq6wJ45hnbBhOgkzy3npyO4YbRMoFfOOmYyju5_aSDu8wQKFVtHwIR4Vf9SPynYuEiXm0/s4032/IMG_3701.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9ttzJ3VjXvFKizPUnwJaDJUPYRnxlLWh8XOZ9sRsQy8p2J-rCrxsknENDhi_G3LCXU99LrXZcmvMVhh0kXnoce-g3hJpLRz84leifZzW0rAs96Crb4Dlq6wJ45hnbBhOgkzy3npyO4YbRMoFfOOmYyju5_aSDu8wQKFVtHwIR4Vf9SPynYuEiXm0/w400-h300/IMG_3701.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>Harboth's Orc Archers, a classic regiment from 1987. I still need to do shields for them, and I have a large number of these in my closet that I could strip 30-year old enamel paints off and paint up if I so desired. Behind them is a Doom Diver catapult, ready to fling goblins across the battlefield. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJWHc07lCc4rk2UG649AZFAMGIdxg3z8Toz1VWBJQ8IYSQg4XGVoSahtcqo1W5XXNsxNGGc6rglXOC0t7uUSSY1fgghkizmFmUdavn3qH_WuE506kB7EwbJIfyOkNuK5uY319rukipe2g955MAvxvFlXXPDGsClQz9qCaMBD80DovyU2Nj5d8_s4sz/s4032/IMG_3702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJWHc07lCc4rk2UG649AZFAMGIdxg3z8Toz1VWBJQ8IYSQg4XGVoSahtcqo1W5XXNsxNGGc6rglXOC0t7uUSSY1fgghkizmFmUdavn3qH_WuE506kB7EwbJIfyOkNuK5uY319rukipe2g955MAvxvFlXXPDGsClQz9qCaMBD80DovyU2Nj5d8_s4sz/w400-h300/IMG_3702.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p><a href="http://dice-and-doubloons.blogspot.com/2023/05/da-red-bastids-25-orc-boyz.html" target="_blank">Da Red Bastids tribe</a>, with a unit of Bog Trolls behind them. Da Bastids are done, I have four unpainted trolls in my project box awaiting painting.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijiP88JoOmCXupD7W6bbSoBfZ3g_z2WI27H_lbAcYoUy3DhuciJYTY9JXG5sLqoXaZ4NhLAXOytua7MKEqqK4azBMlbtJXkJRSlfXE8C53lpg1a6Qhwp9UlvkPWdW8JUD42IZRE5RGtpO08jrWkezWZKABwcp2Na_1EjXUk2aynT2mnd_28vgu3ncF/s4032/IMG_3703.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijiP88JoOmCXupD7W6bbSoBfZ3g_z2WI27H_lbAcYoUy3DhuciJYTY9JXG5sLqoXaZ4NhLAXOytua7MKEqqK4azBMlbtJXkJRSlfXE8C53lpg1a6Qhwp9UlvkPWdW8JUD42IZRE5RGtpO08jrWkezWZKABwcp2Na_1EjXUk2aynT2mnd_28vgu3ncF/w400-h300/IMG_3703.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>The Black Fire Boyz, a unit of orcs that have begun wearing stolen Averland uniforms and imitating pike and shotte tactics. This unit is complete - I don't want to paint more puff and slash.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZURCO2zfwS2Pj2og7Z4bDPnNSgxl4XyuHq19x0MjOF-2Il0f4hIDyZcOm8EGaVH25bGZURmcm8AxCrVK19WZg3hjRgt34usASIP5EpwJzJYPAbPc8CNH3wfOBms6gqXh75iYsClcF25myd-AsgI6E4xcMtquJER4r0lS5GMKUxEzoJrUsaHuDyrSY/s4032/IMG_3704.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZURCO2zfwS2Pj2og7Z4bDPnNSgxl4XyuHq19x0MjOF-2Il0f4hIDyZcOm8EGaVH25bGZURmcm8AxCrVK19WZg3hjRgt34usASIP5EpwJzJYPAbPc8CNH3wfOBms6gqXh75iYsClcF25myd-AsgI6E4xcMtquJER4r0lS5GMKUxEzoJrUsaHuDyrSY/w400-h300/IMG_3704.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>The first regiment painted back in 2019, these Black Orcs will be expanded out to 15 and given new shields. Behind them is Mighty Epigruel's Slop 'n' Go Chuck Wagon. I wish baggage trains had persisted in WHFB past 3rd edition. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPYQZpLviifbw-T8HflVylXFSEk9KMhmi7-0IyYx3j1rvJzij04DdVPfthQrNU1DX5jGGBATjrqtaahZnyPDySTWUX9YshAFol9MrbesOvhLSqJdm4Hxd1B2M4FwKuAQGZyZcShrNVr8JqsJOtP5z4nD3MRWG1-SApfI1kAJiZYRLHInDW5h8QBslM/s4032/IMG_3705.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPYQZpLviifbw-T8HflVylXFSEk9KMhmi7-0IyYx3j1rvJzij04DdVPfthQrNU1DX5jGGBATjrqtaahZnyPDySTWUX9YshAFol9MrbesOvhLSqJdm4Hxd1B2M4FwKuAQGZyZcShrNVr8JqsJOtP5z4nD3MRWG1-SApfI1kAJiZYRLHInDW5h8QBslM/w400-h300/IMG_3705.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p><a href="http://dice-and-doubloons.blogspot.com/2023/05/the-kingbreakers-25-orc-boyz.html" target="_blank">The Kingbreakers</a>, my second block of 25 orcs. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAN3fJdNxy5WIdNkOwvkb7jbLz3SlJjwDorEWPzVLxShQf-G0azvmISwee5bOJPhMk-920s9vtIdSpWLg-7KQPINJkHu5jsT7ysvDF8qmXWbrTrETXYaV0L7vUYHaSjVPdLc8jwkGjSZcTK-5Bkn8U9RFpr1YdhYfI0x8ukcf_F-4fmlW7l5H_EzTA/s4032/IMG_3706.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAN3fJdNxy5WIdNkOwvkb7jbLz3SlJjwDorEWPzVLxShQf-G0azvmISwee5bOJPhMk-920s9vtIdSpWLg-7KQPINJkHu5jsT7ysvDF8qmXWbrTrETXYaV0L7vUYHaSjVPdLc8jwkGjSZcTK-5Bkn8U9RFpr1YdhYfI0x8ukcf_F-4fmlW7l5H_EzTA/w400-h300/IMG_3706.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>Some characters - a classic Orc Boar Boy, an <a href="http://dice-and-doubloons.blogspot.com/2022/12/mounted-orc-warboss-knightmare.html">Orc Commander</a> from Knightmare Miniatures, an Orc Shaman and an early 2000s Games Workshop Savage Orc Shaman. Behind them are <a href="http://dice-and-doubloons.blogspot.com/2023/05/dem-wots-got-stickas-20-goblin-archers.html" target="_blank">a block of Goblin Archers</a>. The orc shaman's staff has a crack on the shaft, and I'm concerned it's going to snap off right above his hand. I've tried wicking some superglue into the crack to bond it, but if that proves to not be enough I'll replace it with a skull just above his hand - turning the staff into a shorter walking stick. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigk3SoPagxe8Rm2OitMy_Z9iLILts4BsenF28sbukkMgqBUcwxjviOcoeLnyLVqNhX40yXXWS6HO0ObTO5I2DlmwXL6mj8pRWY_J1y6slLyyxbFTuvz_orQHNkFKeTuX-LTEU4LUrxNgTiEKIgR9OcGd9uD0bhmlNZN5NA-sYh_1YM7jBqPY_V_LXL/s4032/IMG_3707.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigk3SoPagxe8Rm2OitMy_Z9iLILts4BsenF28sbukkMgqBUcwxjviOcoeLnyLVqNhX40yXXWS6HO0ObTO5I2DlmwXL6mj8pRWY_J1y6slLyyxbFTuvz_orQHNkFKeTuX-LTEU4LUrxNgTiEKIgR9OcGd9uD0bhmlNZN5NA-sYh_1YM7jBqPY_V_LXL/w400-h300/IMG_3707.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>A unit of Knightmare Miniatures' goblins up front, and behind them an Orc chariot converted from a Foundry Beastman chariot, and in the back "The Old Guard," my Orc Big'uns regiment (joined by the Battle Standard Bearer). I have enough goblins, from a couple manufacturers, rattling around in a box to where I could bulk this unit out to 40, maybe even almost 50 if I really wanted to, but it's not the highest priority. <br /></p><p>The Old Guard are all sculpts first released between 1985 and 1996, mostly Citadel, but there are a few Heartbreaker figures in there as well. I've got 19 figures painted, and it will be bulked up to a 36-figure block. I've got more Citadel and Heartbreaker, as well as some Marauder and Alternative Armies figures in the project box waiting to be cleaned, based and painted; I think I still need to buy just 3 more figures to complete the unit. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU4M3fcxHHGYbXpztplVT_bqodGgQC4o9m5p0kRX7mScAesTNLXcUGj87pwP3zrYDPdTKl3yk3YRVBm3dJiUxDZup8D1kzhjnZWik2xkiaNSF4FhqIPFqRaJJWjtumpfYq68gApbYlD7qjeO8XsBwcdfbg0xvUa0SdX6OzUjOim4e__R-ibsf0JNuD/s4032/IMG_3708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU4M3fcxHHGYbXpztplVT_bqodGgQC4o9m5p0kRX7mScAesTNLXcUGj87pwP3zrYDPdTKl3yk3YRVBm3dJiUxDZup8D1kzhjnZWik2xkiaNSF4FhqIPFqRaJJWjtumpfYq68gApbYlD7qjeO8XsBwcdfbg0xvUa0SdX6OzUjOim4e__R-ibsf0JNuD/w400-h300/IMG_3708.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>My Hobgoblin Mercenary Contingent, not fieldable in any edition of Warhammer Fantasy Battles more recent than 3rd. I've got a dozen Mourngul Renegades, along with a Shaman and a Contingent Commander riding a Temple Dog (represented by a Reaper Krung Beast). In front, a Hobgoblin Beastmaster drives a herd of Hobhounds (represented by Knightmare Gnashers) before him. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8MgZtif8zTDzcQIM_zaWahg9__21cTeHCYAFD8H_h0NxrJYSNN8mf6vZXE0Grb2Z9WHLjPfczoDgCpTML4fdtBctuMVFhXJCYuBux7FICRBih4aaxxxDGdyv21gBrB46sGiW_CP-aX7qDdzEfGOzCXNromNudXhIhUEH6RXjSacZ7YHzxDBrx5DWt/s4032/IMG_3709.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8MgZtif8zTDzcQIM_zaWahg9__21cTeHCYAFD8H_h0NxrJYSNN8mf6vZXE0Grb2Z9WHLjPfczoDgCpTML4fdtBctuMVFhXJCYuBux7FICRBih4aaxxxDGdyv21gBrB46sGiW_CP-aX7qDdzEfGOzCXNromNudXhIhUEH6RXjSacZ7YHzxDBrx5DWt/w400-h300/IMG_3709.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>A better look at the Baggage Train. Part of me wants to add a couple more wagons (a torturer's cart and maybe a mobile shrine to Gork and/or Mork), but again, not a very high priority. </p><p>So what's left to add?</p><p>There's a couple additional units I want to add:</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>10 Orc Boar Riders. I collected these and made a few conversions (a standard bearer, musician, and a couple of weapon swaps), and they've been sitting primed and ready to go waiting for me to get a storage case to put them in afterwards. I've got the case now so these might be next on the table.</li><li>Another unit of five Goblin Wolf Riders, plus a Boss. I have these in the project box, I just need to get a Boss figure.</li><li>15 Savage Orcs, to be fielded with the Savage Orc Shaman seen above attached. I've got 13 of the Mark Bedford-sculpted Savage Orcs from 2000, a few of which need some stripping, including a full command. Just need to collect two more. </li><li>A Rock Lobber - this will be proxied with a Foundry/Warmonger "Mercenary Great Orc" carrying a gigantic medieval firearm (the "Orquebus"), surrounded by a crew of goblins ready to clean and reload between shots. This is already in my project box, though I might still add a Warmonger "Orcling" holding a telescope as a spotter. </li><li>Mangler Squig. I don't know if I'll ever play 8th edition WHFB, which introduced this unit, but I have the Knightmare "Giant Gnasher" and I'm looking forward to making a diorama base for it. <br /></li></ul><p>And a couple units that need expansion:</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Another 5 Black Orcs painted, plus shields. I've got two in my project box, I just need to pick up three more. Shields will be the kite-shaped face shields from Foundry/Warmonger. </li><li>At least two more Trolls painted.</li><li>17 more Orcs for the Old Guard. I think I've got 14 in my project box, so I'll need to source three more. <br /> </li></ul><p> This project has given me a lot of joy since I started it in 2019, and also a lot to think about. One thing I've noticed in social media spaces devoted to miniature painting and wargaming, as well as in the language used to market products to us, is an emphasis on "spend less time painting" and "get [y]our army on the table faster." Faster, faster, faster - always faster! Does 21st century life not move fast enough already?<br /><br />I've absolutely and categorically rejected this messaging. Being thoughtful and methodical in every aspect of this project has been the key to my enjoyment. Browsing manufacturers' websites, supporting small businesses, and taking the time to base coat, wash, highlight every figure...I have an army that is entirely my own, painted in my own style. I've gotten faster at it through dint of practice, rather than using tools and techniques designed to speed up the process. </p><p>Something I've seen a lot of among people playing the latest edition of Warhammer 40K or Age of Sigmar is buying an army, speed painting it, playing with it for a season, then selling it to pay for next year's army. And that's just not for me; in ten years' time I expect to still be admiring this army in a lit display case in my home. It's been an investment in my own happiness and honestly, my health (I had my annual physical last week, and I attribute my improved blood pressure to spending less time on social media and more time painting orcs), and I'm far richer for having taken the route I did with them. <br /></p>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04427050476965801867noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5958736546078181738.post-13290469658808169262023-05-27T03:46:00.001-07:002023-05-27T03:46:34.894-07:00The Kingbreakers - 25 Orc Boyz<p> I'm absolutely chuffed that I can say I've finished my second big block of Orc Boyz for my Oldhammer Orc Project. Again, the first 12 of these were painted in 2021 for the Old World Army Challenge; however, rather than using the standard bearer I'd originally painted for the unit (his banner made him effectively impossible to rank up unless I put him on the end of a row), I used the fellow I'd painted in April 2021 as a possible Battle Standard Bearer for the army as a whole. His standard - a couple of halberds and swords lashed together, topped by a skull wearing a crown - gave me the identity for this regiment once the last 13 figures were painted.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTZa5nFEItc4acJugILnIpI4Ps28rEnmM3nh-DZAQZ9TvMCYSs14BBdaeoq9vM-UW4rjw3Beyxz9x75bC8-G_LrSKkmb8gVdClAXSBe3yRijAfI3cPfXnvTT7f4JM0z0SZ8WTEtfB5dfPb0FONI48ZljPGm4ucti8RUazRlApSm_BpLJREExB5zkjN/s4032/IMG_3682.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTZa5nFEItc4acJugILnIpI4Ps28rEnmM3nh-DZAQZ9TvMCYSs14BBdaeoq9vM-UW4rjw3Beyxz9x75bC8-G_LrSKkmb8gVdClAXSBe3yRijAfI3cPfXnvTT7f4JM0z0SZ8WTEtfB5dfPb0FONI48ZljPGm4ucti8RUazRlApSm_BpLJREExB5zkjN/w400-h300/IMG_3682.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <p></p><p>These are the Kingbreaker Tribe - years ago they ambushed and butchered a king and his retinue as they crossed the badlands, and now they wander the Old World, looking for his kingdom, now theirs by right. At least, this is what they believe to be the case. In truth, they ambushed a traveling theater troupe and killed an actor who happened to be wearing a painted cardboard crown at the time. His skull and crown now sit atop the Kingbreakers' standard pole. Everywhere they go, they point at the skull and ask "Was dis your king?"</p><p>This unit also contains my first "unit filler" base, if it can be called that; it's two figures based together on a 25x50mm base instead of individually on 25x25s to form a little vignette that sits in the last rank. I call it, "Performance Review."</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjod6jOSc3NBQJAAzOmiknh2y6sjNKTCnmmCylogua2E8VA7B0BIKOnZkEmEIy0eWLzh8bOww7oFF5V2I7yJr-j-8BnM8g-v_4-HJXFAmIVXd5BGtBI0vGcpqfaWNP_ooi96ARtfi75CrZJryx5vgLiF2rdDPBJouOOr3v17nThKlcotDwjEJyOoIDa/s4032/IMG_3680.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjod6jOSc3NBQJAAzOmiknh2y6sjNKTCnmmCylogua2E8VA7B0BIKOnZkEmEIy0eWLzh8bOww7oFF5V2I7yJr-j-8BnM8g-v_4-HJXFAmIVXd5BGtBI0vGcpqfaWNP_ooi96ARtfi75CrZJryx5vgLiF2rdDPBJouOOr3v17nThKlcotDwjEJyOoIDa/w400-h300/IMG_3680.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>Yes, the orc in the red vest is vigorously picking his nose, while the orc in blue looks on contemplatively; this is the third nose-picking figure I've painted for this army, and I think the fourth with a booger hanging out of his nose. It's part of the Oldhammer charm on display here; these are oafish orcs, essentially soccer hooligans with tusks, instead of lean, mean killing machines. These are orcs who are going to forget about the enemy regiment right in front of them to get into a shoving match among themselves, and that's something that's important to me with this project. <br /></p>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04427050476965801867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5958736546078181738.post-24701703922476918612023-05-16T18:24:00.001-07:002023-05-16T18:24:54.930-07:00New Terrain Acquired!<p> Good evening readers. Today happens to be my birthday (36 this year), and my lovely wife was kind enough to treat me to some terrain for modern/post apocalyptic skirmishing, as she'd seen how much I enjoyed working on the <a href="http://dice-and-doubloons.blogspot.com/2023/04/guard-house-sarissa-precision.html">Sarissa Precision Guard House</a> last month.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4awN6BTwCDyzmGYuj8hya3dLTtBP37HRjujopWCQ4z9fWeXFds7_zbcMNZS_zG8irq4k8OwsBxIJlRUlmNRd3k8rkhNBW1IAojvJD5BpRgp0WCtLRVkgCAVtAwk---0k_C8IZImmWY4Q3eruCUr3JLYLoc1q1Lz_xNwxnUP1HP-1KiTYw0eNsSTI3/s4032/IMG_3622.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4awN6BTwCDyzmGYuj8hya3dLTtBP37HRjujopWCQ4z9fWeXFds7_zbcMNZS_zG8irq4k8OwsBxIJlRUlmNRd3k8rkhNBW1IAojvJD5BpRgp0WCtLRVkgCAVtAwk---0k_C8IZImmWY4Q3eruCUr3JLYLoc1q1Lz_xNwxnUP1HP-1KiTYw0eNsSTI3/w400-h300/IMG_3622.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>First up, she got me two more Sarissa kits - a residential trailer and a gas station! The residential trailer looks like it will be a pretty easy build (knock on wood), and maybe I'll get a few more and some model chainlink fence and make myself a proper trailer park. The broad base on it lends itself to diorama as well - I could put an old couch, a dog house, or any number of things next to the trailer and tell a little story with it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijvMO9ud8lSvVvzODXUElLTOx0tgD1jXixFixI82h7sfuHYSX3VUwlugi-HRx9t7sdXu-ZpzP5F4u5i7orGwJBIDeqHzDc5Kqlri7lShKyZlW2Rz5YbgYBz6PoqFZlqOoaVHSVEdtY-Zgdw93lqd33vXdtb8_XlUGshrlxDS_jH97-vMLdUUD2M_G2/s4032/IMG_3623.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijvMO9ud8lSvVvzODXUElLTOx0tgD1jXixFixI82h7sfuHYSX3VUwlugi-HRx9t7sdXu-ZpzP5F4u5i7orGwJBIDeqHzDc5Kqlri7lShKyZlW2Rz5YbgYBz6PoqFZlqOoaVHSVEdtY-Zgdw93lqd33vXdtb8_XlUGshrlxDS_jH97-vMLdUUD2M_G2/w400-h300/IMG_3623.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Secondly, she picked up this 3D-printed doughnut shop from Etsy, with the rationale that it makes a good companion to the gas station; given the role our local gas station convenience store and doughnut shop plays in our lives, this is an entirely reasonable rationale. It's got a removable roof and the interior is open, so I'll be adding a counter and some seating, as well as cutting some window panes from acetate. </p><p>I'm excited for these buildings to be playable inside and out, and not just blocking off a section of the table. I have 13 more figures I need to finish off for my Oldhammer Orc project first, and then I'll work on some of this. <br /></p>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04427050476965801867noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5958736546078181738.post-41428751770126680612023-05-14T17:46:00.002-07:002023-05-14T17:46:28.809-07:00Dem Wots Got Stickas - 20 Goblin Archers<p> I've been consciously putting my phone away in the evenings, and consequently have been much, much more productive as a painter - who would have guessed it? As such, I've finished off another regiment for my Oldhammer Orc Army. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEniWaQET1xeFsUyY2zmIeOHyAa1ccf1SSrLQm5vsZ1BjDiWrF49OR-FweLmlgMf1NDyfEBqYocSeiB9CgfeuEJL0onyDH871-4CHzijJ1PgY4pahxL1MZKhASI7dT2rqohvD0bJWSSve0OzKtcbxE__1pAEEWwHp3MPKLett1WDDLfX3O6hDFwIVF/s4032/IMG_3612.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEniWaQET1xeFsUyY2zmIeOHyAa1ccf1SSrLQm5vsZ1BjDiWrF49OR-FweLmlgMf1NDyfEBqYocSeiB9CgfeuEJL0onyDH871-4CHzijJ1PgY4pahxL1MZKhASI7dT2rqohvD0bJWSSve0OzKtcbxE__1pAEEWwHp3MPKLett1WDDLfX3O6hDFwIVF/w400-h300/IMG_3612.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <p></p><p>Some of the first figures I painted, way back in 2019 when I was trying to nail down color schemes and get the hang of how I wanted to paint orc flesh, were six goblin archers; five from Knightmare Games, and one from Harlequin/Black Tree Designs. I had another four Black Tree goblins, and sometime in the last year or two I ordered two packs of goblin archers from Warmonger Miniatures. Long story short, once I went through my project box, I now had enough to put together a unit of 20, respectably deployed in two ranks of 10 to maximize how many shots they can fire. </p><p>I also went back and upped the highlights on the original six to bring them more in line with the brighter colors I'd painted the new 14.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2C5LGd4P61sIslusewohBa61W7AniTP_PWW-gtOcj9Hu6TdHSnFQ-8ac2fVQhm0BHVt3ST23Ws5SqDiUK_kKjyZ0GGd1ZNMk8u4FaeQjC4XSJefRfUmpOzpmWqEXzmwIxddnyTOGBT_UeLjK3fUpYtrPEqfTrUxrDLUjWwPtwz2ne5svhMgm6goRc/s4032/IMG_3613.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2C5LGd4P61sIslusewohBa61W7AniTP_PWW-gtOcj9Hu6TdHSnFQ-8ac2fVQhm0BHVt3ST23Ws5SqDiUK_kKjyZ0GGd1ZNMk8u4FaeQjC4XSJefRfUmpOzpmWqEXzmwIxddnyTOGBT_UeLjK3fUpYtrPEqfTrUxrDLUjWwPtwz2ne5svhMgm6goRc/w400-h300/IMG_3613.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_L5b72TEGqSzANR3ZfpHJMayCPe6e9wZIxZt420B4KILndzwYhCG1BKeZx25BkTfMoQRDv-Y-z_F7gWHqGfHX_pki9Dk8H2czMH0R16F2ny3fOC525j6M5BaTkYvPiyclbv_ia401V-GIBHUQvj6A7Lm9-9o72EfMs3zhcTT7F5awnC81II76aah/s4032/IMG_3614.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_L5b72TEGqSzANR3ZfpHJMayCPe6e9wZIxZt420B4KILndzwYhCG1BKeZx25BkTfMoQRDv-Y-z_F7gWHqGfHX_pki9Dk8H2czMH0R16F2ny3fOC525j6M5BaTkYvPiyclbv_ia401V-GIBHUQvj6A7Lm9-9o72EfMs3zhcTT7F5awnC81II76aah/w400-h300/IMG_3614.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0zWa60vC1e2WchjvcCEGJoPm4WAvq0VyP1Lqa7KmT-k5SpkAKAq2Fo3OHb0LL3-FjwuuZnAFUy_87zoFF_KlOV8983DYt3jAo1eN9d_8pcJJXMX-9-M7ZXY80G7j6qRfZAwtAGv3nt9lrGZIMYlDpM2Y944-76D7LSYP_Vyyg4RKLpDmEcNRrw5Lk/s4032/IMG_3615.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0zWa60vC1e2WchjvcCEGJoPm4WAvq0VyP1Lqa7KmT-k5SpkAKAq2Fo3OHb0LL3-FjwuuZnAFUy_87zoFF_KlOV8983DYt3jAo1eN9d_8pcJJXMX-9-M7ZXY80G7j6qRfZAwtAGv3nt9lrGZIMYlDpM2Y944-76D7LSYP_Vyyg4RKLpDmEcNRrw5Lk/w400-h300/IMG_3615.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRvtug-ATcyvn_5ctSu7ESGSEUrvg7DVZSHUMipflpU_j4zg71ES50hv4G2L3rJJv5yRear-pOG4TlSOFzywwE-emRrWmIQg2PdiopktdZ34B9LnyXEb7LccYMTfdmTFXvp6eNpo1opXbD-iVz5VJ-Jo1VP4kcdgwTssU4iNs2bUM8QYFdOTe9Zkee/s4032/IMG_3616.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRvtug-ATcyvn_5ctSu7ESGSEUrvg7DVZSHUMipflpU_j4zg71ES50hv4G2L3rJJv5yRear-pOG4TlSOFzywwE-emRrWmIQg2PdiopktdZ34B9LnyXEb7LccYMTfdmTFXvp6eNpo1opXbD-iVz5VJ-Jo1VP4kcdgwTssU4iNs2bUM8QYFdOTe9Zkee/w400-h300/IMG_3616.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>And for added content, here's an instance of domestic brinkmanship that occurred last night while I was working on these. Atticus, not content with only being served one helping of "Greenies" dental treats, decided to make himself at home on my painting table in hopes I'd try to bribe him into staying away from my figures.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI5cYJXBdbhvC8a5BGTUkCbzd3yMqDP6DXKwCxeA-JO6Cv0VJtJowRxTVP9hLD-vtF0h0DC9zrX6GSHefwit0yVZQG6dHV_l8Q5F90mKTCNq6B6XwBlQ8rYNLW2dM89ATGogWd5oFaXvKdTDcleStmS8XZY5AMc5VV2gZdpQyzK_XBfgKH0sBqa_aM/s4032/IMG_3606.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI5cYJXBdbhvC8a5BGTUkCbzd3yMqDP6DXKwCxeA-JO6Cv0VJtJowRxTVP9hLD-vtF0h0DC9zrX6GSHefwit0yVZQG6dHV_l8Q5F90mKTCNq6B6XwBlQ8rYNLW2dM89ATGogWd5oFaXvKdTDcleStmS8XZY5AMc5VV2gZdpQyzK_XBfgKH0sBqa_aM/w300-h400/IMG_3606.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04427050476965801867noreply@blogger.com2