Musing on the Madness

Hello all!

Hope everyone has been well lately, as I have disappeared like a shadow in the night thanks to football season and the omnipresence of classes and homework.  Bugger that!  It's almost fall break, so let the slacking begin and the tabletop flow.

To start out today, I'd just like to take a moment to follow the trends I've had in the past few years in gaming.  As many of you who follow this blog are probably aware, I used to play a stupid amount of Warhammer 40000, which would eventually turn into disgust and then mello out into something more akin to a general boredom with the game and everything Games Workshop does with it.  Great setting, fun party game, but there are alternatives that are much better.  You don't even have to look outside the company to find one!  WARHAMMER FANTASY is the better of the two games BY FAR.  If you haven't yet played it, give it a go.  Thank me later.

However, when I started this blog it was because I had just begun to dig into some new game seriously.  I had dabbled in Warmachine and hordes, but it never really appealed to me or my friends. So I set off to find a new system that would ensnare my attention and my wallet.  Thus began the Summer of Spartan, which saw me collect 2 Firestorm Armada Fleets as well as a pair of Uncharted Seas Fleets.  Around the same time, I began this blog and made it into Auburn University here in beautiful Alabama.  With that came some of my earliest posts about Warhammer Fantasy and the tales of the Villainous Malkk and his Clan of misfits, and the brief reports of Strike Fleet Templar.

As classes picked up and time started to become something of a scarce resource, the time I had to teach people new games dwindled to almost 0, and so after enjoying a good run of games with Uncharted Seas, we resorted back to the age old game that started it all - 40k.  After a flop of a well designed campaign due to lack of participation from other members in our group, we culminated the 40k with a local tournament and a 4 way game of 40k, and with that we finally put the armies up for the semester.

As the Spring semester rolled into Summer and I went home, I managed to get some headway completed on my dusty Skaven, building into the new theme of having Asian Skaven.  Of course, over the summer I managed to dig my fingers into some new games - including finally breaking into my Infinity collection with my Tohaa and Japanese Sectorial Army and some Dreadball.  After getting a few games in, my friends and I finally decided that for our group and for the time we had available, we needed to find alternate methods of gaming than Tabletop games, and so we finally dove into the unexplored territory of Board Games and hit the jackpot...

Progress on the Asian Skaven was slow, but I managed to get a lot done where I had been stuck at an impasse for a long time.

Infinity demo table, getting some early gaming in to get familiar to the rules.

Dreadball pitch and my Orx team that has been finished, as well as my Corporation team.

And so now we flash forward to the current semester.  Still trying to work a fine balance between classes, friends, and hobby time - which is split even further between board games and a few wargames now.  We have been spending the majority of the semester playing Malifaux, which is what the main point of this whole post will be...

MALIFAUX.

At one point, I used to think that Malifaux was the most poorly designed game with the clunkiest mechanics and the oddest collection of models I'd ever seen.  That was years ago, and the game seemed to be just too odd for me.  However, when 2nd edition came out, I was strong armed into buying a box and giving it a whirl.  I have been made a believer to the snake oil that Wyrd Miniatures is peddling.  So without further ado, here is a brief overview of my experiences with this amazing game.

THE BEGINNING 

With the beginning of my Malifaux journey, it simply started with buying the Pocket Rulebook ($15) and the V1.5 metal Collodi crew box ($40) and I hit the ground running - I already had a deck of cards just lying around, and so that would work for the short term.

Before long, I already had a set of games under my belt with my Collodi crew against the likes of Rasputina and Sonnia Criid, fighting tooth and nail to get each victory point I possibly could out of those games, fighting hard.  However, this led to Rasputina seperating Collodi from the rest of his crew and picking them off one by one; Criid blasting everything in sight to bits with fire balls and bullets.  So I went back to the drawing board.  I decided to buckle down and fight smarter, not harder.  I then stumbled across this jewel:

Pull My Finger

I have spent entirely too much time on this wiki, learning how the various synergies work within the different crews and how each of the crews are good at certain fighting styles and for various kinds of missions.  And so after doing my homework, I decided that I needed to tweak my style of play and get some additions to my growing crew.  

I ended up purchasing:

Neverborn Arsenal Deck 1 ($8)

Neverborn Arsenal Deck 2 ($8)

(Dark) Fate Deck ($10)

Brutal Effigy ($9)

Hodgepodge Effigy ($9)

Bishop ($15)

And with all of that it brought my Collodi crew up to 50ss easily, and allowed me to get all sorts of nifty tricks to play against my opponents.

Early games were played on a table that wasn't quite the correct size

With everything, I simply could not resist the pull of a second Crew to get into.  And so came the Swamp Hag.

With all of this, I hope that I have intrigued you enough to continue to search about Malifaux.  When I post next, hopefully that I will be able to give you some full battle reports and show off some painted models for the Swamp Hag.  Until then, keep gaming! 

Excreting in Excitement

Hey all!

Busy post today, so let me just go ahead an outline what I'm going to talk about up front:

• Warhammer End Times: Nagash

• Malifuax

• Dreadball

• 6 Month Hobby Challenge

Let's dig right in...

Nagash

To sum it up in 3 words?  

BUY IT NOW.  

It is - without a doubt in my mind - the single best book Games Workshop has ever put out.  

The artwork is gorgeous

The new story is AMAZING.  I will pre order every single book in the series JUST BECAUSE OF THE FLUFF.  I mean, it is truly the end.  Nagash has returned, the world is in ruins, nations are crumbling - everything to make Fantasy GRIMDARK.  It is amazing.  I don't want to spoil any of the story, but seriously folks, it is ABSOLUTELY worth the money in this case, which is amazing for GW. 

Now the rules.  

I CANNOT WAIT TO HAVE SKAVEN WARLOCKS SUMMONING ZOMBIES.

The conversion ideas alone - making them steampunk, warp stone powered Zombies - makes me quiver with excitement.  The lore of Undeath is amazing, and it really isn't that bad.  I don't care that it's a money making gimmick for GW.  I love it.  I will summon all of the zombies and corpse carts and CAVALRY FOR MY SKAVEN.  

Let's take an in depth analysis of the lore of Undeath:

ITS AWESOME AND LETS YOU BUY MORE COOL STUFF.

The campaign is amazing.  Can't go into much detail because it involves so much of the story.  If you have Tomb Kings, VC, Empire, Chaos, Brettonians, Skaven, Dwarves, High Elves, or Wood Elves, this campaign will not disappoint in the slightest.  If you've got the others, just wait till the next book comes out - rumor has it the next book will feature Chaos, which I'm sure will mix Daemons, Beastmen, and Warriors all into one army list led by Archeon.... Educated guess on my part - so don't come after me with torches and pitchforks if I'm wrong.

The few other notable things are the new rules for Lords and Heroes - letting you take up to 50% of your armies points from each category respectively.  I for one will be making use of this to bring in Vermin lords and more Warlock Engineers just for the sole purpose of summoning more huge blocks of Zombies.  With allowing me to summon hordes of expendable minions, now that frees up points in my army that would have been used on Skaven slaves to be used on more important things... Like Clanrats... Or Giant Rats....  

But I digress.  

All in all, this first implementation of the End Times is absolutely fabulous.  If you only buy one other book for Warhammer Fantasy besides the rulebook and your codex, buy this. 

FINAL RATING 10/10 - must have.

So, with that being done, I'd like to say thank you to those of you who have made it this far, and want to go ahead and move right along into my second topic:

Malifaux

It's been a busy semester here at University so far, but I have managed to sneak away and corner my good friend Michael into playing a game against his brother so that I could see what this game is actually like.  Now, I have a personal disclaimer:  when I first saw Malifaux, it was in first edition.  It was awful.  The rules were so much of a cluster fluff, that the first game I tried to play I just ended up walking away.  It was that bad....

I now redact all of that hate, and am here to tell you that this game is the shit.  Pure and simple.  Watching Sonya Cridd and Rasputina go at it on the table, only for it to come down to a red jack being pulled for a lucky shot on Rasputina to end it?  Phew!  Crazy game!  And I love crazy games.  So, I pulled out my old Collodi crew and dusted them off.  Hopefully by the end of next week, I will have played atleast 1 game of Malifaux, so that I can post some photos and talk about it indepth.  

Dreadball

So this should be even faster - I saw a few videos of DB for the first time in a bit, and totally fell back in love with it.  Really going to try and push it on my group to get into some DB seriously.

THE 6 MONTH MOUNTAIN REDUCTION CHALLENGE

So, this is my big personal challenge for the year.  I had originally signed up for Garagehammers 2400 points in 12 months challenge, but finances and time made sure that I wasn't going to have any such luck.  However, I think that this challenge will be much easier to deal with in the fact that it just has to be models that you already own, and you can't buy anymore anything - with one $20 or under exception, and birthday/Christmas as well.  But, even with this simple task, I have struggled to get started.  I hopefully will have completed an entire 10 man Gutter Runner unit by the weekend, so I can focus on something else this coming weekend.

I challenge every person who reads this to commit to the challenge, or atleast attempt it.  It's a good way to get through some of those models that are never going to get done otherwise (here's looking at you Skaven Slaves).  

My plan for the challenge is to complete my Night Runner units - all 4 of them - my Poisoned Wind Globadiers, and atleast 3 skaven characters, as well as my Malifaux Collodi crew done by the end of October.  That's ~60 models in a little less that 2 months, which I think is doable... If I sit down and do a little bit of work every other day.  

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Well, I'd like to finish by once again apologizing for my lack of posting consistently.  It is something it try and do as often as I can - but time is tight right now that I am back at college, so look for one or two updates a month, unless something awesome comes up that I have to tell you immediately.  So, until next time, happy gaming.

Stay on Target...

Hey all!

So it has been a while since I last posted on here - my apologies.  Been a little crazy getting back into the swing of things with University and Marching Band starting back up.

I am happy to report that I am back with my tabletop group in Auburn, and have already had a successful game night.  I wanted to get a feel for the new Ork Codex - as I am very tempted to trade in my Chaos Marine army for a shiny new Ork army.  The marines feel like they have a bland style of play to me, and I am using all of the bells and whistles that I can fit into our games!

I took to the field with 2 squadrons 3 of Killa Kans with grotzookas, 2 standard Deff Dreads, 10 Burna Boyz, a Big Mek with a Tellyporta Blasta, Mad Doc Grotsnick, 3 meganobz, and finally a Lvl 2 Weirdboy.

I played against an all Legion of the Damned army, with the addition of a Deathwing Terminator squad.  It was an excellent game for one of us...  My Deff Dreads just mangled deep striking Legionnaires, with whatever lived through the claws getting set to flame by the Burna Boyz.  All in all, it was a nice game of The Relic, which ended with the Mega Nobz running off with the objective at the end of the game.

I really enjoy the new Ork codex, and I might actually consider swapping to them after I get a few more games under my belt.  I really love the idea of a Dread mob with a bunch of Burna Boyz and making some sort of "Wrekkin' Krew" clan army.....

Anywho, on other fronts I have continued to increase my board game collection, which now includes:

- Mansions of Madness

- Ticket to Ride

- Merchant of Venus

- Takenoko

- Forbidden Desert

- Gloom

- Power Grid (including Korea/China expansion)

- Seasons

- X-Wing Miniatures

We are beginning a new monthly board game night, starting in September, in which we will try and just kick it back and play some fun and simple games.  I am looking at grabbing some more games, including:

Cadwallon - City of Thieves

by Fantasy Flight Games

A fantasy game featuring 2-4 players running about the city of Cadwallon, robbing various places and other gangs in an attempt to earn the most cash before the city gates come crashing down.  I really like the concept of this game, and would love to get a group of guys together and just go at each other for a few hours.  This will probably be a purchase soon, just because it looks too awesome not to have.

Flash Point: Fire Rescue

by Indie Boards & Cards

A co-op game (with solo options) that is extremely embedded in the theme of... well, being a Firefighter.  It features lots of crazy action where you and your friends go in and attempt to rescue as many people as you can before buildings come crashing down around you.  Sounds awesome, theme-y, and it has options for Solo Play which is a big plus for me.

The Adventurers: The Pyramid of Horus

by Fantasy Flight Games

Similar to Cadwallon in my opinion, but with a different theme.  I am a huge fan of Indiana Jones, and so this game tickles an itch that comes from too many adventure movies and Uncharted Games.  This would be awesome to get just to run through a few times and relax with the guys.

Skyway Robbery

by Philip duBarry

This is an excellent looking Kickstarter that I am extremely tempted to back.  It just looks too awesome...

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/phantasio/skyway-robbery

Finally, the last thing that I want to talk about before I call it a night is a challenge thrown down by a gent that goes by "Deserter" on his blog and instagram.  He is challenging himself, and others, to complete his "6 Month Mountain Reduction & Painting Challenge," which is exactly what it sounds like.  It is a challenge where you don't buy any new models, paint your backlog, and post weekly progress about what you are doing.  You are allowed to get miniatures as gifts, and you are allowed 2 (and only 2) small purchases - eBay bundle, small characters, or small units.

While I complete this challenge, I may have already planned my first purchase.....

Mantic Zombies yo...

Because I may or may not have already planned and pre-ordered one of the most exciting wargaming events I have witnessed in my time playing games......

I am very, very, very excited.........

Until next time...

Game Night VI - Unexpected Country

Hey all!

So the title is sort of a lie, I have no idea how many game nights I've had this summer break.  However, the rest of the title is true.

We are fast approaching Tabletop Tuesday, where usually I'd be chomping at the bit to get some Warhammer Fantasy in, or grudgingly dragging my Chaos Space Marines out for the umpteenth time this year.  But last Tuesday, I started down a different path.  No models, just meeples.  No charts and tables comparing ballistic skills and range bands, or anything of the sort.  It was a small box of cards, a couple dozen train meeples, and some sports.  I left with a box full of Lovecraftian Horror, and a keen desire to get more meeples and more small boxes full of tokens and cards.

So what do I bring this week?  Should I pack up the old Citadel Case full of Stormvermin and Screaming Bells?  Should I dust off some Helldrakes and Demolisher cannons?  Maybe make way for the meeples?  

I am in a crunch.  This coming Friday, I will be hosting a Mansions of Madness game at my house, so I know that I don't have to drag that down to the shop.  And I know for a fact that I will be loading up my Dreadball stuff before I roll out for the shop.  So that leaves the choice still of several game systems, ranging from Firestorm Armada to Power Grid.  I know for a fact that I will most likely pick up a copy of Merchants of Venus, Diplomacy, or Twighlight Struggle - maybe to play at the store right then.  

I'm sorry that this blog has drifted away from the bad reviews about cheap games - hopefully I'll be able to sit down and really write up a review for a few games after this weeks Tabletop Tuesday, atleast for Dreadball, Gloom, and Ticket to Ride.  

Until then, happy gaming.

A Different Breed of Game

Hey all!

Sorry bout the drought of posts the past few weeks, I've been on vacation in the Northeastern part of the country.  As such I've come woefully unprepared for this blog post, but I have some ideas as to what I'd like to write about.

First things first - some GW talk.  

The new 40k Orks are freaking awesome.  And I'm really looking forward to digging into the Space Wolves vs. Orks campaign.  Might have to paint up some vanilla marines and wolf them out in fact... 

Aside from that, I purchased Triumph and Treachery finally.  CANNOT WAIT TO PLAY THAT.  Looks amazing. I've slowly been painting more Rats, this time in the form of some Nightrunners.

However, most of my time lately has been spent exploring new options...

I am a college student.  Most of my friends are college students.  We are all nerds.  We like playing with toys and games, and want more people to play with us.  

Miniature wargames are awesome.  They are expensive and time consuming - both things that college students seem to be lacking (crazy right?).  

Where am I going with this?  Well, it's the sad truth that wargames - especially the awesome sauce that is GW - is just too much for most college people to afford.  I myself have started to wonder if paying $60 for awesome models is truly acceptable for myself and my budgets.  Don't get me wrong, I absolutely adore GW stuff.  My Skaven are my favorite models period.  But it's just getting overwhelming.

As an aside, playing GW games and wargames in general is becoming harder and harder to accommodate as well - work schedules, family time, girlfriend time, and veg time - all of these compete and usually win out over hobby time.  Our group goes to a game store every Tuesday in an attempt to get some gaming in.  

This Tuesday we made a point to try and have a game night with no wargames... And it was an absolute success.  We played a card game called Gloom - where players attempt to cause as much hilarious misfortune to their characters before killing them off with morbidly funny cards.  Add in a little story telling, and boom: laughs for hours.

Great game!  

After Gloom, we cracked out a game of Ticket to Ride.  While this is a great game for beginners and as a fun simple game to play - for veteran wargamers and rpg players?  The game was fun, but not everything they were hoping for.  

Finally, I introduced the guys to Dreadball.  You may recall that some of my earliest posts were about starting dreadball.  That never happened.  I had the box set, but we never attempted to play because of the omnipresence of 40k.  So finally, we found another group at the store who ONLY plays Dreadball, and my god did we have a great time....

Veermyn and Corporation go at each other in Sudden Death!

Finally painted up my Orx team.

My Veermyn get their faces stomped in by Nameless on their 4th turn.  Ouch.

I have fallen totally in love with this system.  It's so fast and so easy that it just is a more enjoyable game then a lot of systems out there.  I've order the Veermyn team, and have finished painting up the box set.  Next week I'll get a couple more games in, but then it's back to classes the following week.  Summer has kinda flown by this year.  

After playing a few games of Dreadball, I went ahead and picked up Mansions of Madness to give a go.  Really looking forward to playing that one!  I'll post lots of pictures when we do, as I'm sure people are curious to see how it goes...

That's all I got for now folks, see you next time!

Vilified Vermin

Hey all!  

So, game day has come and gone.  Lots of craziness ensured while playing my games at the store (Paladin Tech and Games, Orlando), and I have much to talk about... Starting with how my games didn't go my way in any form.  

First things first, I began the day with a 1000 point game of Warhammer Fantasy using this force:

*See my previous posts if you'd like a full rundown of my army.  

I was playing against High Elves rocking:

lvl 2 high magic wizard

Noble w/ bsb

10 lothern sea guard 

10 Sword masters

10 Sisters of Averlorn

5 Reavers

Great Eagle with all upgrades

Bolt Thrower.

Right off the bat, I lined up my 40 Stormvermin/character combo across from the sword masters and Sea Guard, with night runners going ahead.  Against the right flank of Eagle, fast cav, and Sisters, I sent my giant rat blocks, warlock engineer, second night runner block, and my poisoned wind globadiers.

Spark Notes

-----------------

• Game starts

• Warplightning half the Sisters off

• Slings kill 4 Swordmasters

• WLC misses wildly

• Giant rats die

• FIERY CONVOCATION ON THE STORMVERMIN - KILLS 33 RATS

• Stormvermin try to stick

• Stormvermin flee

• WLC flees

• Doom Flayer Flees

• Globadiers kill Giant Eagle

• Warlock and night runners charge Sisters

• Warlock Dies. 

Chaos ensured

-- GG kid GG --

I literally have no words.  I take that back.  That was one of the most entertaining and enjoyable catastrophes I've had the pleasure of playing in a long time.  I'll be running this list until I figure out how to win with it....

What I took away from this?

- more wizards/levels

- take a dispel scroll (been doing it for 4 years, why I stopped this game?  Beats me)

- doom rocket = use on targets you can hit.  But have a backup.

ON TO THE SECOND EVENT!

So, besides getting curb stomped in fantasy, I got curb stomped at Infinity too!

Very basic table, 100 point game pitting Tohaa against ALEPH Steel Phalanx.  For face pounded, but learned so much.  In fact, I convinced a friend to learn how to play today and got two games in.

 

Tohaa from Day 2. 

Sakiel LT w/ viral combi

Kamael w/ combi rifle 

Kamael w/ LGL, combi rifle

Kamael w/ Light Rockets, combi rifle

Clipsos Infiltraitor w/ Sniper

Clipsos was the gal of the match: after only being fielded in two games her entire career so far, she managed to kill Ajax on Reactive Fire, and 3-4 guys over the course of two games today.  

Too much insanity for me.  Infinity is awesome.  Play it.  But also play Warhammer Fabtasy....😁👍

Atrocious Preparations and Asian Influx

Hey all!

So, by the time you read this it will be Monday here on the Eastern Coast of the good old US of A, which means that it usually is my first of two days off!!!

However....

This week I've been called in for some extra time to help do a little summer cleaning.  Usually this is not a bad thing - mo money is never a bad thing because that means, you guessed it, mo tabletop!

This Monday was going to be the day that I get final preparations done for my weekly expedition to the hobby shop - namely by finishing building a group of Samurai Stormvermin, getting some sand on their bases, and priming a metric ton of models to get ready for the game day.  However, that isn't in the cards for tomorrow during the day, so I will most likely get the building and basing done and get the pleasure of playing with plastic colored models *shudder*

I suppose now would be as good a time as any to tell you what the major happenings of the week are, and what will be going on Tuesday night down at the shop....

To start out with, I have been hard at work getting these lovelies ready to join a big unit of Stormvermin for a few small introductory games of Warhammer Fantasy

 Awwwwww yeeeaaaaaah.  I finally got around to actually building some freaking katana wielding rats!  These stormvermin, which will be added to my existing block of 20, will be awesome when they are down.  However, I have to get 9 more done by the end of tomorrow night in order to have that nice block done..... Plenty of time

Here they are all blocked up with what I have together.  I have 11 built of the second 20.  Just need to slap some sand on the base and they will be "ok" to go.  Id love to have them completely painted and based with a new movement tray... But I only get a few hours of hobby in a week at this point in time, so it isn't as much of a priority to get these guys done speedily, when I know that it will take a few weeks regardless of how quickly I slap them together (so I might as well do it right yeah?).

Here is the lovely army that I will be taking to the shop on Tuesday to play a game against the new Wood Elves, possibly Warriors of Chaos or High Elves too.

Chieftain w/ great weapon, enchanted shield
Chieftain w/ BSB, shield, mask of EEE
Warlock Engineer w/ Doom Rocket, Lvl 1 Wizard
---
Stormvermin w/ 38, full command, shields, doom flayer
Night Runners w/ 10, slings
Night Runners w/ 10, slings
Giant Rats w/ 5, master
Giant Rats w/ 5, master
---
Poisoned Wind Globadiers w/ 7
---
Warp Lightning Cannon

Really nothing fancy here, just wanted to try some new toys and teach some new guys with a list that isn't "meta".  Stormvermin will have the BSB and General in it, while the engineer plops in with one of the Night Runner units.  Night Runners and Giant Rats will run ahead to try and block unfavorable charges and pin some units down for a turn or two.

I've never used Poisoned Wind Globadiers, but they seem really cool.  Same story for the lightning cannon.  Should be interesting for all of the toys on the table to go at each other.  Doom Flayer just sounds freaking cool to use - plus I didnt think running both a Doom Wheel and a WLC in a 1000 point game was all that fair on newbs.

DIE DIE MAN-THINGS

So, with all of the Fantasy gaming aside, the other big things going on at the store this week are the start of a new 40k Kill Team League, in which you... bring a kill team and play some games.  Easy huh?  I'll either bring some Thousand Sons (AP3 Bolters son) or some cultists with a few possessed to make things interesting.

Probably nothing too fancy in the end.

AND ANOTHER THING!

Infinity is looking sexier and sexier.  So much so that I bought this....

The Japanese Sectorial Army, some D20, and a second Tohaa Clipsos.  I've never played a single game of Infinity, and I regret that more and more with each passing day.  I have a Tohaa army, a Japanese Army, and now I went out and purchased some more Yu Jing stuff today to go with my Japanese Sectorial: A Raiden Seibutai and a Tokusetsu Butai Doctor/Engineer.  I honestly have no idea how good or bad any of these things are.  From my understanding, there are really no bad choices - and I just really freaking liked those models, so how could they be bad?  Same goes for just about every army/model/game I pick up.  If the models follow the rule of cool, how bad could they be?

Now, when I need a break from all of the rats that just keep coming, I have 2 Infinity forces that need some love - starting with those gorgeous Tohaa models.  Anyway, that's really all that I've got for tonight guys.  I'll post more progress photos as they come, and I will make a solid effort to post photos from the games happening on Tuesday.  Until then, may the dice forever cock up in your favor.

Miscellaneous Musings and Mutterings

Hey all!

So, it'c currently 1:35 am after an eight hour shift, and I've just spent an hour working on hobby to ensure that I make some progress on my myriad of projects.  Before we go any further, I'd like to apologize.  This post will not have any pictures tonight, as I am almost collapsing to the point of exhaustion now.  So, what am I working on you might ask? Well tonight I based the next few Skaven units I am trying to get painted for the Skazian Horde, so that I can convince myself that it is absolutely ok to buy more Rats.

Based the following:

• Grey Seer
• Warlock Engineer 
• 20 Night Runners
• Doom Flayer

As a side note about the doom flayer:  That model is one of the coolest models I've ever seen.  I stumbled upon it at the new store I've started to go to lately for weekly game night.  I will be buying the other two that they have in stock when I go next week.

• Warplightning Cannon
• Jezzail Unit

Happy to get the sand on the bases so that I can start to dry brush and get those bases ready for the actual paint that is going on the models themselves.

In addition to working on the Skazians, I have really started to invest a lot of time, thought, and excitement into Infinity.  With the new edition right around the corner, I took another look at the game, and have decided to try and crank out my current Tohaa army (including the most recent addition of a second Clipsos Infiltrator) as well as getting a second army on the table so that I can demo the game, and learn two different styles of play.  For my second army, I went ahead and picked up the Japanese Sectorial Army of the Yu Jing faction - an army that I have always enjoyed the looks of.  Plus, it matches my Skazians.  Really am looking forward to learning the Infinity system so that I can get into it as much as the local gamers have.  If even a quarter of the things they tell me are true, Infinity might replace Warhammer 40k as my Sci Fi game of choice.  

I mentioned earlier that I was visiting a new game shop to get in my gaming night for the week.  I have dropped both the local Games Workshop and the local Sci Fi City in favor of a smaller shop called Paladin Tech and Games, which has (by a huge margin) better stock, better community, and better events.  The gaming community there is getting ready to launch itself into a Kill Team league for 40k, as well as learn the ropes for Fantasy.  This is a great combination for me, as 40k tends to drag itself along in games bigger then even 1500 points - I just want them to be over with after the first hour and a half.  So Kill Team is a great bridge into 40k in 40 minutes.  And this store actually has a group of players that are interested and actively pursuing Warhammer Fantasy, which is more than I can say about the local GW or Sci Fi City - so my rats may actually get the cobwebs dusted off of them and get some table time next Tuesday.  

In addition to 40k and Fantasy, the most popular systems include Warmachine, Infinity, Malifaux, and a smattering of other games.  Mordheim is gaining popularity due to its connection to the Fantasy setting that is so loved.

Anyway, thats about all I have for tonight.  Take care everybody.

Ratmen and you: The Definitive Guide to a Healthy Enslavement

Hey hey!

As many of you probably know, one of my all time favorite games is Warhammer Fantasy - with my favorite army of all tabletop wargames the Skaven.  So, I've decided to start posting a guide to collecting, building, playing, and loving your chittering horde.  I know that there are many guides to this already since the new book was released years ago, but I think that this will help me become a better player and collector of my voracious hordes.  And so, without further ado, here we go with part 1:

THE SKAVEN RACE

Standing about the size of a man, the ratmen of the Skaven race are malicious, treacherous, backstabbing, and cowardly creatures.  They are indignant towards other races, believing that they are far superior, claiming that those who live above ground are weak and a bane on the world.  The Skaven form a huge sprawling empire underground - dubbed the Under Empire - with holds under almost every civilized center of the Warhammer World.

The ratmen are organized into clans, where they are led by Warlords, Chieftains, Warlock Engineers, and Plague Priests depending on the allegiance of their particular clan.  However, this hierarchy is a farce, for the ratmen are readily plotting against each other and their superiors to rise in power.  This practice is not considered crime, but is instead a virtue - for the Skaven culture elevates cowardice, backstabbing, and lying as qualities all leaders should have when they lead from the safety of the rear.

The Skaven are led by a council of thirteen, for this is the Holy number of the Great Horned Rat, the single deity of the Under Empire.  Representatives from all of the major clans make up the Lords of Decay, claiming twelve of the seats on the council.  The thirteenth seat is reserved exclusively for the Great Horned Rat himself.  This seat of power is located in the Skaven's Capital of Skavenblight, a festering quagmire of swamps, ruined buildings, and the great contraptions of the Skaven machinations.

The Skaven at war are a sight to behold: numberless hordes of ratmen make up the bulk of the army, horrible amalgamations of mutated and twisted beasts, as well as the slipshod but deadly machines of the warlock engineers - all spurred on by the lies of their masters and the promise of unimaginable quantities of the most precious of all minerals for the Skaven: warpstone.

WHY SHOULD YOU PLAY SKAVEN?

The Skaven are truly unique, being the evil supervillain that could take over the world if he could get himself organized and put together a solid plan.  They are a humorous army, that allows for plenty of entertaining situations on the table.  They allow you to field a little bit of everything cool: magic, cannons, monsters, and hordes of expendable minions are all yours to bring to the table.  Plus, what other Warhammer race has a total and complete plan for global domination, the materials and man power to do it, but is too treacherous and evil for it's own good to do so effectively?

Skaven are random, ridiculous, play extremely hard when they are rolling well, and blow themselves to kingdom come when you're having a bad dice game.  With terrible leadership, wimpy stat lines, and a penchant for grinding combats, this army can be tough to play.  However, if you can figure it out - this army can be nigh unstoppable for you.  

Next time, I'll go over units, magic, magic items, and where you should start collecting your skittering hordes!

Until then, go with the Great Horned Rat my friend-things.

Tora-Tora Vermin-Things!!

Hey all!

Just wanted to post a quick update.  The Storm Samurai are completely painted and based!  Huzzah!  And I've got pictures to prove it!  Before I post them, just wanted to say that I've already built 20 nightrunners and will get ready to build the next 20 Stormvermin Samurai shortly.  Until then, enjoy!

First 10 complete minus bases.

First 10 done with bases 90% done.

Second group of 10 done minus bases.

Full unit complete!  Except for minor additions to the bases - namely some purple foliage and dead bushes.  I give these guys a solid "Tabletop" standard.  I seriously need to invest in a set of brushes that will work properly.

Some up close photos.

Hope you enjoyed!  As soon as I get more models painted I'll post more photos!  As I said before, the next projects are:

• Night Runners 

- prime, basecoat, paint

• Second batch of Storm Vermin

- build/convert, paint

• Grey Seer and Warlock Engineer

- paint