28mm Velites from Victrix

This entry makes me somewhat ashamed. I had them done two weeks ago but didn't get the basing grass done. I had them done last week but didn't get them photographed.  They are finally on the boards though.

6mm Sci/Fi Manufacturers

These are 6mm Sci/Fi manufacturers. Depending on what you are looking for you could also use 6mm historical models for some units, especially support stuff and artillery.

6mm Sci/Fi begins

These are the first models for the 6mm Sci-Fi project. I got some deals on eBay for some epic 40k models, but didn't care all that much for the rules. Rhys and I played a game the other day he liked it.

6mm Science Fiction

There was a post fairly recently on Delta Vector about his desire to develop rules to play Battletech in 6mm. That post has been percolating around in my brain for the last two months. I'm intrigued.

Old school metal mechs. Painted when I was 14.

One of the key pieces from the article is heat. This is one of the key factors of the old Battletech game. I used to love that game. I dove into the detail in the way that only a teenage boy can. I routinely fought company on company battles solo. That's record keeping for 24 mechs. I once played a game with two battalions fighting. That was 72 separate mechs worth of paperwork.

The very thought of that makes my brain blue screen now. It sounds like a night mare.  Still, I loved the game and I have the source books. On top of that, I need a game I can play with Rhys with mechs. There's no way I'm going back to the real rules, and even Alpha Strike is more record keeping than I want.

What to do? I could wait for Delta Vector to come up with his rules. I'm sure they'll be good since he's well versed in game design. On the other hand they won't be what I'm looking for, exactly.

I wrote my own. Two pages. Simple. No record keeping. They incorporate heat. I'll need to playtest with Rhys to see if he can understand them. They include rules for mechs, vehicles, infantry and flyers.

They use d20 to hit, a 20 is a crit and kills your target (head shot). Different classes use different size dice in an opposed roll against armor. Lights use d6 while Assaults use d12.

I think they will be pretty fast play and allow for the flavor of Battletech without the record keeping. There is a high level of abstraction since it's 6mm. I also have the old Battletech board game so we could easily use that for a campaign system.

As for 6mm, it has its attractions; not least of which is that it is cheap. I've picked up a bunch of Epic 40k Space Marine stuff on eBay for very little. There are some good manufacturers out there. The low cost also has the advantage of not meaning an arm and a leg in new terrain since that is just as cheap.

I'll get in a game with Rhys soon and see how the rules work. I'm sure some changes will be necessary.

Entry 9 - 7th Challenge - ECW Pike and Shotte regiment

This entry is another pike and shotte regiment for my small and really, really slowly growing ECW army. I've gotten one foot regiment done each year for the last three challenges, which means the next one will probably wait until next year. This is probably down to the fact that there's not much chance I'll be playing with this army any time soon.

This is the red regiment. They were going to be yellow, but I felt like painting red.

Entry 8 - 7th Challenge - A mix of models and some go backs.

This entry is an eclectic mix of models that have been getting bits of paint here and there and were close to finished. I like to keep spare models on the painting desk to soak up the bits of paint that are left after working on a unit. At a certain point they reach critical mass and I just finish them off.

The first entry does not count for today. It's the Celt unit from a week (2 weeks?) ago. I went back and finished the backs of the shields, since if I don't do it now it'll never happen.

Entry 7 - 7th Challenge - Eowyn, Maid of Rohan

This first entry is going to be solo because I don't think this princess deserves to be lumped in with the riff-raff that will be following.

Entry 6 - 7th Challenge - 11 28mm Uruk-Hai

My next entry is eleven Uruk-Hai from Games Workshop. I thought I had finished these off last year but then remembered that I hadn't painted the horizontal pikes because I hate them. On the other hand, we may be playing a Helm's Deep game and will need all of the nasty buggers we can field. I also picked a couple of captains up off of ebay, and they definitely needed paint.

EIR Command stand for Hail Ceasar - 28mm Warlord Games

This entry was completed right before the Challenge, though I'm just now remembering to get it posted up. This is a command stand for my Early Imperial Romans. The models are from Warlord Games.

The emperor and his praetorian guards.

Entry 5 - 7th Challenge - 32 28mm Celts

This entry was two weeks in the making. I started off strong but then had to go back to work and hobby time slowed to a crawl. These lads are another unit for my Celt army for Hail Caesar. As an aside, after the debacle of my last post I bought a tripod and a trigger for my camera. I can now take close in shots that are in focus. I still need to work on the lighting however.

First up is another warband for my army. This makes the third, so only another ten or twenty to go.

2016 Year in Review and plans for 2017

2016 is over and good riddance. On the hobby front, however, it was a good year all around.

Entry 4 - 7th Challenge - Eight RPG Characters

This next entry is eight RPG characters. These are mostly Bones but there's a couple of other manufacturers and one custom sculpt in here. I apologize for the smallness of some of these pictures. Either something odd is going on with my lenses or, more likely, I've forgotten how to take pictures. Most of the closeups did not come out.

Terry Jones

Entry 3 - 7th Challenge - Eight ECW Pikemen

This next entry is finishing up two regiments from the last two Challenges. This is eight ECW pikemen, four for my green regiment and four for the blue regiment. 

Mostly Foundry but one Warlord.

Dwarf Warrior Throng

This is another Ebay find. In addition to wanting one of each elite Dwarf regiment I wanted to fill out the ranks of the regulars. For this I needed more warriors and this regiment was another steal; $15 dollars for twenty, assembled and mostly primed.

A fully painted rank and file Dwarf Regiment. We're getting places now.

Dwarf Thunderers - Ebay repaints

I recently spent some time on Ebay filling in some blanks in my Warhammer Dwarf army. While I was mainly looking for the elite infantry regiments I found a few deals on other models that I couldn't pass up.

This first regiment is ten of the metal Thunderers. I love these models and just had to have them when I saw them for a reasonable price.

The business end of Dwarfen fury.

Kings and Things

I was digging through more boxes from my parent's house and found this old gem in one of them. My sister, cousins and I played endless hours of this game as children. I bought it 1983 - I think.

Entry 2 - 7th Challenge - 1 Dwarf Lord

This entry is a single Dwarf Lord from GW. He was painted to accompany the two units and two artillery pieces that I finished right before the Challenge. The units were Ebay re-paints so wouldn't count and the artillery were sitting there mocking me and needed to be done.

I had not planned on painting this guy but I pulled him out to use in role playing and he is such a handsome model that I just had to throw him in.

Dwarf Artillery

Before the challenge started I finished up two dwarf artillery pieces. I'm not sure why I didn't wait for the Challenge and I also am not sure why I didn't paint the crews for them at the same time.

Dwarf Flame Canon

Entry 1 - 7th Challenge - 12 Human Blood bowl players

My first entry for the year is one that I'm not even sure why I'm painting. This is my human blood bowl team from 3rd edition (? - I don't know Blood Bowl). They've been sitting in their box for five years. I found the box for a steal buried in a games store in Jacksonville NC. I have never played.

With the new edition out there is a lot of enthusiasm amongst the local gamers so that may change. Additionally, my friend Tony is moving back to Denver from New Zealand in May and has expressed an interest in playing. It's fun, from what I hear so I'll look forward to it.

The entire team. 

The 7th Annual Analogue Painting Challenge has begun!

http://thepaintingchallenge.blogspot.com/

The Challenge began last night at 2300 MST. I stayed up a bit late and got the first couple of colors put on my first entry, but you'll have to wait to see what it is. It's now been submitted and is awaiting posting. I believe this is the first year that I've managed to get an entry in on the first day, so wonders never cease.

VIIth annual Analogue Painting Challenge Prep

It's that time of the year again. Curt just announced the 7th Challenge and I have managed to get my name in the hat. I'm going for a lower point total this year since I'll be spending time building and running D&D two days a week. I've ante'd up 1000 points.

F.A.T. Mat

It's the time of the year where I buy myself all of my Christmas presents so my wife can give them to me. This year, while waiting for all of the usual sales I came across one from Frontline Gaming. They are located in San Digeo CA and are moving. They are unloading a bunch of product to make the move easier and they are having a nice sale on their gaming mats.

Edge Campaign - Quest for the Torkral Sphere - Session 6

Session 6

DM - Josh

Arbach - Half Elf Ranger - Aaron

Tak Ahnsiik - Tiefling Cleric - Brett

Peter - Tiefling Rogue - Jared

Kizmet - Dark Elf Warlock - Devin

Kizmet began to search the bodies while Peter slowly worked his way up the ramp. Arbach covered Peter, paying particular attention to the trap door that was now visible in the center of the flat ceiling. Kizmet’s search found some gold and silver as well as a pouch with a small book in it. Her ability to read any language now came in useful as she was able to ascertain that this was a book of rituals for the Cult of the Howling Wind, worshiping an elemental god of air, Arako. Peter noticed that there was writing on the walls of the tower.

Edge Campaign - Quest for the Torkral Sphere - Session 5

Session 5

DM - Josh

Arbach - Half Elf Ranger - Aaron

Farrow - Human Paladin - Nate

Tak Ahnsiik - Tiefling Cleric - Brett

Peter - Tiefling Rogue - Jared

Brand - Half Elf Monk - Matt

Kizmet - Dark Elf Warlock - Devin

Arbach had left to try and find mounts. Peter and Farrow were on deck keeping watch. Peter was positioned on the high side of the deck, about thirty feet above the desert floor. Farrow was on the lower section of deck, at ground level. As Peter looked out into the storm he saw shapes approaching through the dust. 

Big Lee hit 2 million hits and is giving things away!

Big Lee of Big Lee's Miniature Adventures just hit 2  million page views and is giving away some incredibly generous prizes. Since he's giving an extra five entries to anyone who posts on their blogs, I'm posting on my blog. I'm a mercenary bugger, what can I say.

His blog is worth a look even without the give away.

Check him out at http://www.blmablog.com/2016/08/the-big-2-million-hits-prize-draw.html

The gaming effect.

I'm sitting here after a long day at work. I'm an introvert who doesn't get enough time to recover between days. I've fed the boys, cold cereal tonight; sometimes it's all I can manage. Rhys is at his desk next to me. He's got his head phones on as he watches a minecraft play video. That means he can't really hear himself as he plays.

His desk is covered with Lord of the Rings models and Star Wars models and 15mm Sci Fi. He has a drawer full of d6. He's playing a mixture of miniatures and role playing with rules of his own design. I'm not at all clear on how it works but he's describing each model's actions, "He uses his shield" "He swings his sword". The dice rolls have some hidden significance that escapes me.

 An hour of this is worth ten hours of introverted recovery.

Edge Campaign - Quest for the Torkral Sphere - Session 4

This session was played on February 29th 2016.

DM - Josh

Arbach - Half Elf Ranger - Aaron

Farrow - Human Paladin - Nate

Peter - Tiefling Rogue - Jared

Farrow woke up confused and dazed. He was laying down and was lightly restrained. He flexed and easily broke loose. Looking around he realized he was laying on a litter with all of his gear. He sat up and saw peter laying on another litter next to him. He rolled over and slapped Peter awake.

Peter’s mouth was full of sand. He saw a worm crawl out of the sand and into his mouth. He could feel it burrowing into his brain; driving him mad. He felt a slap on the face. He opened his eyes and saw Farrow standing over him.

Edge Campaign - Quest for the Torkral Sphere - Session 3

Session 3 

Arbach awoke half buried in sand. He looked around, trying to figure out where he was. He could see the remains of the crashed gasbag. There were bodies everywhere. As he watched he saw movement in the wreckage. Kizmet came staggering out of the piled wood and canvas that had once been a flying machine.

Art by Brent Nienberg at  https://girlsandbots.com/

Edge Campaign - Quest for the Torkral Sphere - Session 2

Session 2

Following the first session we all decided that we wanted to continue playing, and a couple of others wanted to join as well. Josh runs an open table. If someone can't make it we play anyway and their character is hand waved out of it. If new people want to play then they are integrated back into the story.

Edge Campaign - Quest for the Torkral Sphere - Session 1

Back in January of 2016 I got a call from a friend. It was his birthday and he wanted to get some of the guys from the old unit together and play D&D for the night. We gathered at my house, ordered some pizza and got down to figuring out this 5th edition stuff.

The rest of them had played together before but I had not. One player was a high school friend of Josh, the birthday boy and DM. The rest of us had been in the Marines together. We got my character rolled up and started playing.

Josh has built an incredibly fleshed out world. It's interesting and compelling and makes you want to explore. The group gelled immediately and we realized that we wanted to keep playing and not just make this a one night deal.

Here's the writeup from our first session.

Role Playing

I haven't posted much lately because I haven't been doing much gaming or painting. What I have been doing is playing a some D&D 5E and doing some world building. I'm playing as a player with some of the guys I was in the Marines with. I'm also running an adventure for my sons and a guy I work with and his daughter.

A little bit of map making to add to the fun.

I do have some painting I need to get done for people, for the games. I also have my lead pile to work through, so there should be painting coming up again soon. It's just so hard with the beautiful summer weather.

Memorial Day

It is Memorial Day in the United States.  It's a three day weekend and Americans traditionally go camping and have BBQs on this day.  It's also the day we honor those who have fought and died for us.  As always today I'll be presenting you with my friend John Maloney.

WW I Airplanes

While we were in New Zealand we visited the airplane museum in Blenheim. This is partially owned by Peter Jackson and has an extensive collection of flyable WWI airplanes as well as some amazing exhibits and collections.

Holy cow.

New Zealand Army Museum

Driving south to Wellington, passing though Mordor (or at least where they filmed it) we passed signs for the New Zealand Army museum. After half a second of thought I pulled in.

The museum covers the anglo military history of New Zealand from the earliest days of colonization to today in Afghanistan.

M41A1 Walker Bulldog

6th Annual Analogue Painting Challenge - In Review

The Challenge is over. Whew! What a ride! Here's the last three months of painting.

The first entry was six Uruk-Hai.

Entry 1.

More characters for RPGs

These are two more characters for D&D. One is Bones and one is a GW Ranger of the North from their LotR line.

Visit to Hobbiton

We are currently on a two week holiday in New Zealand.

Today was the day. The Day. The day that Owyn and Rhys have been waiting for. Today we went to Hobbiton. I was not at all sure what to expect, and was a little worried that they would be disappointed.

Owyn after the tour. Better than Legoland. High praise indeed.

Early Imperial Roman Auxiliary Medium Infantry

This is my final post of the Challenge. Eighteen Early Imperial Roman Medium Auxiliary Infantry from Victrix. The savvy among you will recognize that Victrix doesn't make that set. These are actually their Republican armored infantry. I cut the feathers off of the helmets and used them as is from there.

Early Imperial Roman Auxiliary Javelin men (40 points)

This post is eight auxiliary javelin men from Victrixj. They are from the Republican Romans with Armor box. They'll be part of my EIR army for Hail Caesar.

EIR Romans from Warlord Games

This entry is nineteen Early Imperial Roman legionaries from Warlord Games.

King Theoden of the Riddermark

This entry is King Theoden of Rohan from Games Workshop's Lord of the Rings game.

The king.

Orc spears from GW

This post is twenty spear Orcs. These are 28mm models from Games Workshop.

Orcs for Kings of War

This entry is twenty Warhammer Orcs from Games Workshop. These were some of the first models I bought. In fact the archers were in the starter set which was the very first model set I got. They are finally painted.

Four Orc heroes.

ECW artillery and crews

This is another entry for the Analogue Painting Challenge. This is two ECW cannons and thirteen crew. Some of these are crew for a mortar, but I haven't gotten that painted yet.

All three crews.

28mm models for role playing

I've recently started playing D&D for the first time in 25 years. I spent a little money on the first Reaper Bones Kickstarter, so I have a lot of fantasy figures. I offered the guys the chance to pick a model and painted the figures for them. One player wasn't here that night, so he'll have to get one next time.

Peter and Farrow.

A little gaming - Lion Rampant

Nick, of Little Nicky's Gameroom, came over on Saturday and we played a couple of games. He wanted to try out Lion Rampant, and we followed that up with a Star Wars Armada game.

The lines close.

Twelve ECW cavalry

This entry is twelve 28mm ECW Cavarly from Warlord Games (despite the misleading title to draw you in).

Twelve horse.

Fireforge Men-at-Arms

This entry is 24 Men-at-Arms from Fireforge games. These are made from the Foot Sergeants box set. Slowing down a bit. I spent the weekend gaming rather than painting so this is all I have this go round.

Twelve swordsmen and twelve crossbows.

Isengard - 54 Uruk-Hai

This entry is the majority of the remainder of my Uruk-Hai. As before these are 28mm Isengard models for Lord of the Rings by GW.

First weekly entry - Warlord Games 28mm ECW Infantry Regt

My next entry was 20 28mm ECW infantry from Warlord Games. These are the Green Regiment.

Most of a regiment

Nostalgia bonus entry for 5th AHPC - 28mm goblin spider chariot

This is my entry for the first bonus round of the 6th annual Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge - Nostalgia.

I wasn't sure what to paint for this bonus round, and honestly had decided to give it a pass. Over the last week I've been reading through people's end of year/beginning of year posts (I love 'em). As I was preparing my own, something came to fruition in my tiny little brain. The death of Warhammer this year had made me (and many others) sad. It got me thinking to when I first started formal wargaming, with GW and Warhammer 6th Edition.

More Guardsmen

This next set of models were not part of the Challenge, since I had started them years ago. I finished them up while I was working on the 21 models for the last Challenge entry.

A rifle squad and a heavy bolter team

Entry 3 - Painting Challenge - 21 Imperial Guardsmen

My next entry in the Challenge was 21 Imperial Guardsmen from GW. These are 28mm models, mostly plastic. I can't stand the 40k rules. I bought an army of these guys before I realized that though. They've sat, assembled and undercoated for years.

A friend and I are planning a campaign for 2016. We'll see if it gets off the ground, but if it does, these will be the core of my ground forces. We'll be using the Chain of Command rules for the ground combat. To start we'll just play them out of the box. Once we have a handle on them we'll mod them for Sci-Fi, things like hacking, ECM, teleportation. They are candidates.

The full group

2015 in Review and Plans for 2016

2015 was a good year for my hobby. My goals and predictions for the year were not far off of reality. I accomplished a lot but did not play as much as I had hoped. I think things are well positioned for a good 2016 though, even better than the year past.

I'm terribly, terribly excited about this.

First off, a retrospective on what I planned for the year.

Entry 2 for the AHPC. Twelve 28mm Celts

My second entry of the Challenge is 12 Celt warriors from Warlord Game. These are 28mm miniatures. The three heroes are metal, the rest from their Celtic Warriors plastic box set.

Twelve Celts, angry and dirty.