Facelift and General Update

Hi folks!

Well it's been busy as expected, but things have been progressing steadily.

First, and most noticeably, I have given my blog the long-needed overhaul. The layout is much the same as before simply because I see no reason to change it, but I've updated the theme to reflect the nature of my hobby a little more. Long-term readers will have noticed my drift away from 40k into the more general realm of sci-fi wargames, and now 40k occupies a small amount of my time. I felt that my blog should reflect that. I have chosen more of a Babylon 5-ish theme, since it currently dominates my gaming efforts.

Which leads nicely on to the main chunk of the update. After a long time of planning, buying, building and painting, I am now ready to launch my Babylon 5 A Call To Arms campaign. 5 players (including myself) have so far opted to take part, and that will likely still be the number when we make our opening moves at the end of the month.

The campaign will be fought in Sector 950, during the Earth year 2261. At this point in time, both the Shadow War and the Earth Civil War are in full swing, and almost the entire galaxy is in turmoil. Sector 950 is in a relatively quiet area of space, and is home to two settled planets, a trade station, a mining colony and a scientific outpost. With many untapped resources in the sector several governments have dispatched fleets to take control of the system to exploit them, in an attempt to give themselves the upper hand in their war efforts.


The way it works is simple. Every campaign turn, each player will nominate one of the system's 10 targets to attack. If it is unoccupied and nobody else decides to contest it, the target is theirs. If another player owns it or decides to contest an attack against a neutral target, then a battle is fought and the winner takes the target. This process continues until there is a clear winner (either taking the whole system or enough of it that we agree their competitors have little hope of winning).
Each player starts out with a sizeable campaign fleet, chosen from one of the many available factions. As the campaign goes on, ships will be lost, surviving vessels will gain upgrades and experience, and resources generated from the targets can be used to buy reinforcements and carry out repairs.

We will be playing a couple of campaign turns at the end of each month, the number depending on how much fighting goes on during these turns. I will be providing reports from the frontlines here afterwards. I hope you all enjoy them. :)

And finally, to give a taste of the action...

It Lives!

Hi folks!

Yes, I did take a bit of an extended break recently. Things have been trundling along as usual, jumping from project to project as I am prone to do!

However, I have been sticking at one thing. Space Hulk. Although I was a little too young to catch the original, I've heard so much about it over the years I just had to buy this one as soon as it was announced. Since a couple of days after it arrived I have been painting the minis and sprucing the game up a little. I bought some velvet dice bags for picking the Command Point tokens and Blips from, and went around the edges of the cardboard pieces with marker pens - which I recommend that every Space Hulk owner does, since it improves the appearance massively.

Despite painting for almost 4 weeks now, I have not even finished half of the Terminators yet - I'm not a fast painter by any means as I'm sure regular readers will know by now! I've been following the guide in the recent White Dwarf and am very pleased with the results. Here are my finished ones so far:

Sergeant Lorenzo

Brother Deino

Brother Goriel

The remaining two members of Squad Lorenzo (brother Valencio and brother Zael) are on the painting table now. I will have Brother Valencio finished this week at my current rate, and will at least be close to finishing Zael.


Unfortunately time is not a luxury I will have quite as much of from now on. Summer is well and truly over and I'm back at Uni. This is my fourth and final year and not only have we been thrown right into the work but this is my last chance to really learn and prove myself before being thrown into the big, bad world. So I'm pulling out all the stops this year which is unfortunately going to have a major impact on hobby time.
On a related note, as part of our Honours Project (which is basically the focus of our final year), we must maintain a blog of our progress. If any of you would like to follow it, you may do so here:

http://ianshonours.blogspot.com/

The blog's purpose is to show both our teachers and fellow students how we're doing and give them an easy means of providing feedback and ideas. However, input from others is welcome too, so if any of you want to say anything feel free to leave a comment.


I will try to also get back into the habit of posting here, but we'll see how it goes. Take care! :)

Commission: Salamanders Master of the Forge

Hi folks!

I know I've been horribly quiet, but I did take a bit of a break from the hobby just to relax a bit.

Anyway, I'm posting up some pictures of my latest commission. The client let me know today that it has arrived safely and that they're very pleased with the result. And that's like music to my ears!

The client (one of my readers) requested a Master of the Forge belonging to the Salamanders chapter, armed with a Conversion Beamer, with a volcanic themed scenic base. Apart from that, I was given a pretty free reign with the design, so I set about sketching up how I envisioned him. Here is the first sketch:


As luck would have it, we only had a few minor details to work out, mostly concerning how the weapon would be held. In addition, we decided to magnetize the left arm to account for all the options available for secondary weapons (Thunder Hammer, Power Weapon or nothing), just in case. With those details sorted out, I ordered the bits and got to work.

Here are a couple of the first WIP images I sent along to the client.


Regular picture updates like this are absolutely crucial when you're working on figures for someone else. In discussing these, we both agreed that the Conversion Beamer had to be lowered a little more into the arm, and that the cloak might look better underneath the backpack.

With those revisions in mind, I returned to my workstation to make these alterations and start bringing the model together. The following pictures were taken a day or two before completion:



At this stage most of the pieces were still loose, and I had sent them to make sure everything was fine for gluing together. Fortunately, it was, so I put it all together and added a few finishing touches before attaching him to a scenic base as requested.

And so I present the finished product; a Salamanders Master of the Forge. Shown with all of his alternate arm options.






Once again, it was a great opportunity to work on a project that I didn't have any immediate plans to do for myself. It was especially fun to work on a Salamanders piece.

If any of you are interested in commissioning a figure or number of figures, for conversion, painting or both, see this post for full details.


And now for more general news. This past week has seen me veer back towards the realms of fantasy. Our club is starting to drum up enthusiasm for Blood Bowl and (hopefully) working towards a league. I started a Tomb Kings army last year so I'm gathering up a Khemri team to learn the rules and take part. As well as that, I picked up some extra second hand Tomb King stuff at the Claymore wargames show. If I don't go mad from painting skeletons, some pictures might make their way here.

Take care!

Quiet Spot

Hi folks!

Well it's been one of those weeks where I've posted absolutely nothing. Several reasons for this.

The first is that I'm not really into 40k much any more. Fear not, my IG, Sallies and 'nids hold too much sentimental value to be sold off or forgotten about, but my passion for the game itself has pretty much died out. I hope to find a good enough set of rules for them to hit the tables again someday.

The second is probably my lack of money. I currently live off a student loan... at least for one more year (after which I hopefully start raking in a five figure salary). Of course, that only comes in during term-time, and I then coast through the summer. I do currently have a bit of free cash, but at the moment I'm saving it for the Claymore wargames show in Edinburgh next month (gimme a shout if you're going!)

Third. My folks went down to Devon again this year, and having felt that I'd done all there was to do last year, I decided to stay home and look after the place. Along with the additional (brief) responsibilities of keeping a (relatively empty) house running, I was also deprived of the digital camera. I did actually do a couple of hobby-related things, but had no means of showing them!

And fourth, other projects. The first is the scenario pack for Urban War. I've been tasked with making my fan-made scenario pack a little more official, which includes testing and tidying up a few scenarios the guys at Urban Mammoth were working on. All my recent gaming time was devoted to that cause, and I've still a lot to do.
I've also started doing a little programming. Because I only have a year left until I'm thrown into the big bad world of the computer games industry, I need a good portfolio of programs to show off my abilities. The summer is the only time I really have to pad it out a bit.

Anyway, now that the family have returned, I hope to update you all with my recent exploits this week. I have almost finished a Babylon 5 scratchbuild (my first), the No Go Zone minis I mentioned in my last post are going to be shipped on Monday, and then tere's my latest commission piece as well.

Take care!

No Go Zone

Hi folks!

I recently came across this charming little boardgame called No Go Zone while researching a potential project idea. The rules were just under £4 ($6) on Wargame Vault so I figured what the heck, it's worth a look.

No Go Zone depicts the hijinks that ensue when the pubs close on a Friday night in pretty much any given town or city in the UK. One player plays as the side of Law (Police & Paramedics) and the other Chaos (vandals, "ladies of the night" and hooligans), and they both compete to fulfill their various conflicting victory conditions. The game can slowly escalate from a couple of coppers keeping a few vandals and roaming drunks in check to a full-on riot.

Selling points for me are
#1: miniatures - full starter set of 24 for £40, and they're full of character. In particular, the upcoming football hooligans are bang on
#2: no dice - players use a modified rock-paper-scissors mechanic called "throwing signs" to resolve actions, with bonuses for winning with certain "signs". It completely removes luck from the equation so it all comes down to the players

Having plenty of spare funds due to an impending birthday, I've placed an order for the"Friday Night" starter set of miniatures, rulebook (because I like having a proper printed copy) and a set of Riot Police. I'll give a full review of minis and gameplay when I've assembled, painted and played.

While I'm waiting, I'll be building the cardstock vehicles and board tiles which are free downloads from the site.

Quick warning though, this is most definitely not one for the youngsters. Recommended age by the publisher is 16+, and I quite agree with it. Still, it looks like a bit of slightly silly fun for adult gamers, so it's well worth a look if you're old enough.

Urban War: Viridians

Hi folks!

Today I'm oing to post up something I promised a while back but somehow got pushed aside, and that is the first of my Urban War collection: the Viridians.

The Viridians, commonly referred to as VAF (presumably Viridian Armed Forces but I haven't had that confirmed), are the military arm of a commercial empire. They have the financial backing to field very well-trained and highly-equipped troops - consequently, they protect that investment by specialising in fighting at range to minimise casualties.

I first picked up the Viridians just under a year ago at the Claymore wargames event in Edinburgh (this year's is just around the corner, 1st August). I picked up three Metropolis boxes giving me two squads of Marines and a squad of Snipers. Between various other wargames events and a few online orders I've fleshed them out considerably and can field the vast majority of their unit types.

First up, we have the basic Marines. Each Viridian strike-team must have at least four of these, using up at least 80 of the standard 300pt allowance - so it's wise to learn how to use 'em. Their Gauss Rifles provide good reasonably accurate short-mid range fire, and their combat blades go some way to helping them in close combat.




Next are two models I tend use as "Veteran" (i.e. higher CAL) Marines.



Here we have the Marine Sergeants. These guys (and girls) make for good, cheap leadership in a Viridian strike-team.



Now we move on to one of my favourites, the Sniper. Most Viridian forces tend to field at least one of these. They are very expensive, but are highly accurate and can take down even heavily armoured units with a bit of luck. They are great for reliably taking out enemy leaders or specialists that are causing problems.



The next unit, the Marine with a Heavy Gauss Rifle, is something I haven't really made much use of yet. They do have a bit more firepower han the standard Marine up close, and they're something I intend to try out more often.


Now we move on to the support weapons in the Viridian arsenal. The Heavy Machine Gun team is a common feature of Viridian armies. It is an affordable means of laying down a good amount of long ranged firepower, and adding more cheap loaders keeps it in the fight even longer.


Mortar Teams are another useful unit. being able to fire blindly, their area of effect shells mean that they should be able to at least hit something if they scatter. In my last couple of games they really made back their investment, and then some.


On to the more specialised stuff now. Here we have a Special Forces trooper, his Gauss Carbine making him a good short range fighter. These guys can act as spotters for Mortar Teams, improving their indirect fire accuracy, and can also be equipped with camouflage to conceal them from long ranged fire.


Another widely-used unit are the Shock Marines. A slight oddity in the Viridian forces, these guys are close combat specialists. Their Vibro-scythes cleave through armour like it was paper, and between their armour and Negatron Shields, they're pretty tough too.



Urban Interdicts are quite a tricky unit to use. They can drop in almost anywhere on the battlefield after the game begins, and are equipped with a pair of Gauss Pistols for close range firepower.

Up next is a Saurian Rider. They are essentially faster Marines with an extra wound and slightly more expensive. I haven't quite found a niche for them yet, but I suspect I will once I get one or two more to fully explore their uses.


With the release of the CLAU Team Actions supplement, heavy battlesuits entered the fray, and Viridians as usual have some nifty tricks. I have both of their suits, but the only one I've painted up is the Sabre. Which is basically a giant Shock Marine.


The other, the Tomahawk, is equipped with an upgunned Mortar.

A useful feature of the CLAU rules is the ability to upgrade it with an ejection system, allowing the pilot to bail out and continue the fight. The advantage of this is that the CLAU won't count as a casualty unless the pilot is also taken out. Here is the Viridian Land Pilot.


So that's my painted collection of Viridians. I still have the Tomahawk CLAU to do, as well as some basic Marines, a few Snipers, another Mortar Team, some Special Forces an a Bazooka Team. Future posts may eventually see them, but th next few will more likely show off the other factions I have.

Commission Work: Space Wolves Finished

Hi folks!

I first showed my work on these guys a few weeks ago. Quick recap: the client requested three Space Wolves character models: one in power armour, one in terminator armour and a Wulfen, and provided links to artwork to base the designs on. They were to be assembled, primed black and given snowy bases.

I received confirmation at the start of the week that they arrived safe and sound, so now I'll post the final pictures from my end. First up, the power armoured hero (banner missing from the picture - I still had some finishing touches to do):


Next, the terminator armoured hero:


And finally, the Wulfen:


More pictures available here.

The client is delighted with them, as am I. Especially because this was my first attempt at snow bases, which has been quite a learning experience. I used the profits from this commission to fill out my bits box for future projects.

If any of you would like to request commissions, full details are available here.

Something that's driving me nuts...

http://musicofb5.thegreatmachine.org/the_face_of_the_enemy-bar.zip

I know it's a long shot, but does anybody know who sings this? I kinda like it but I've exhausted my googling skills and found nothing, and now it's starting to bug me...

This Week's Pictures!

Hi folks!

As promised, some long overdue shots of what I've been up to lately.

I'll start by showing the colour scheme of my Tyranid army. I've decided on the colours used in Imperial Armour 4 - bone for the exoskeleton and either green or brownish red for the carapace. I simply spray white, dip in brown wood stain, then paint the carapace. Here's how it looks:


Now, in my last post I said I was using this on the "smaller" critters. And to clarify, I mean smaller than this:


Yep, a Barbed Heirodule. This poor beast has been sitting in a box for a year and a half, so I figured it was high time I get it painted up. That has taken the better part of last week, and I still have the arms to do.


Now, on to something considerably smaller. Many of the new scenarios I've written for Urban War require objectives and, of course, I couldn't just settle for the cut-out ones I designed. I had to go and make something a little more interesting:




Out of those, only the smallest counter is a scratchbuild. The next size up are teleport homers from the Terminator sprues, and the two largest ones are resin accessories I bought online - part of a set of three but the third picture didn't come out. :(

This Week's Activities

Hi folks!

First of all I'll apologize in advance for the lack of recent pictures... I've got a couple of things to finish off which I'll post soon.

This week I had a little rummage for a project to take my mind off things and found one of my boxes full of Tyranids. "Haven't looked at these critters in a while" I said to myself so I sat down to work on them for a bit and before I knew it, I had a horde of the beasties on my table. I assembled the last few gaunts that were on the sprues, sorted out a bunch of second hand stuff I'd bought a few months ago, magnetised two carnifexes, and just tonight I've done the same with a trio of warriors. I got some painting in as well, which I'll probably show pictures of tomorrow.

I'm dipping the vast majority of them to save time, and it gives them an appearance that I'm happy with. Only the really big stuff gets the full paint treatment, and that's what I've been doing this week. I'd like to unleash them in an Apocalypse game sometime this year since I've never used them at that level, and dipping the gribblies is the only way I'll ever get them done without going insane.

In other news, I finished Homeworld's campaign for the first time ever - I was mighty impressed. For the fellow fans out there, I came across a (legal) download of an extra "official" mission, which you can get here. It was cut from the final game, but it's quite fun, if a little unpolished compared to those that were kept. The download is basically a demo the first 4 original missions plus the extra one, doesn't require the original game so anyone who has a bit of free time should check it out.

Finally, I've also been working on a community project for Urban War, putting together a collection of extra scenarios for the game. The rulebook contains four basic scenarios, and we've created a further twelve in order to give players more choice in their games. The forum topic (the scenario pack is an attachment to the first post) can be found here.

Looking forward to next week, I'll be doing more work on Tyranids and the scenario pack most likely.