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

GAAAME DAY!!! Recap

Hey all!

Been a crazy few days with work, but I am finally able to post up a recap of The Critz and I's first Weekly Game Day.

We played 1000 points of 7th edition 40k.  Nothing fancy mission wise, just killing each other.  I brought my Crimson Slaughter to go toe to toe against his Orks.

My Tzeentch themed CS featured:

Lvl 2 Biomancy/Tzeentch Sorcerer with a bunch of goodies

20 Tzeentch Cultists

10 Tzeentch Possessed

3 Tzeentch Obliterators

Minimum Thousand Sons Squad

Da Orks:

Old Zogwart

30 boys with shootas, 3 big shootas, power claw nob

20 boys with shootas, 2 big shootas, power claw nob

12 lootas

10 lootas

3 Killa Kans with grotzocas

After the first turn the Orks had 'ere we go'd across the table - yes we are aware those were FAQ'd, but seeing as we are basement gamers... Who cares?  Orks should be able to use their powers.  The 30 boy squad and Zogwart proceeded to wipe the cultist out of existance.

At the end of my shooting phase of the first turn.  Not much going on.  Managed to nuke a Killa Kan with a doombolt from the thousand Sons sorcerer.  I didn't get a picture, but my possessed squad and the Sorcerer - who was possessed too thanks to CS relics - mulched all 30 boys and Zogwart in 2 turns of combat.  So good.

(I made myself a liar - this is midway through the first round of the combat)

4th turn, my depleted squad of possessed would make it into combat with the second squad of boys, after my whole army shot at them.  This combat would also last two turns, see my sorcerer nuke another nob, a killa kan, and some boys, cause the boys to run, and then the whole possessed unit glance the last Killa Kan to death.  The next Ork shooting phase would see almost 50 shots hit the possessed, and kill all of them except the Sorcerer.

End game:

My sorcerer would go on to kill the remaining 7 boys single handedly, and then charge into the smaller loota squad and mulch it.

Needless to say, the games VIP?

 

This little guy, a true combat monster!  

My level 2 sorcerer with Slaughterer's Horns, Daemon Heart, Balestar of Mannan, and Prophet of the voices.  Plus Biomancy powers Life leech, enfeeble, and Tzeentch's Firestorm (primus) thanks to his mark of Tzeentch.  Would eventually roll FNP, It Will Not Die, and Something useless on the Chaos Boon table during the game.

All in all?  A resounding victory for my Crimson Slaughter when it looked like it would be an terribly one sided game from the get go, especially after all of my cultists were slaughtered in a single round....

Any who, next Tuesday, my dreams will finally come true!  My Skaven will finally take the field again!  Against - you guessed it! - The Critz and his Wood Elves!

Until then, I'll be painting more rats!  

What day is it? GAAAAAMMME DAYYYY

Hello hello hello!

My dearest readers, tomorrow my friend The Critz and I shall embark on another stirring adventure in the lands of New Age 40k....

God help us.

Just a quick 1000 point game featuring my lovely Crimson Slaughter Chaos Marines and his spectacular array of retarded Ork Bull***t.  

I have no idea what he is bringing, so I will be bringing a lovely array of Chaos, including:

• Lvl 2 Tzeench Beatstick Sorcerer

• Possessed of Tzeench

• Obliterators.... Of Tzeench

• obligatory unit of Berserkers - Because who doesn't want a chain ax hug?

• and whatever will fill up the rest....

After that, we will be squeezing in a game of Uncharted Seas - one of my favorites - to break away from the hustle and bustle of the 40k world.

Some combination of the above will make up my fleet, with a good possibility if it simply being a Starter box battle depending on time constraints.  

Hopefully I will get some photos posted tomorrow night to sum up a glorious day of battle and maybe tonight there will be some Clan Hashiji photos to be shared... We shall see!

Clan Hashiji, now in COLOR!

Hey all! 

As promised, here are a few snapshots of WIP minis for my Asian themed Skaven, Clan Hashiji.  The models are Stormvermin, which I think would make an excellent comparison to Samurai.... Minus the whole honor and loyalty thing common to Samurai.     

 

Earlier tonight this is what the block looked like all ranked up, after priming, Basecoat of bone white, basecoat of model air silver on the weapons, and then basic blocking out of red areas.

Just a different angle of the same photo.

Couple of hours later, starting to get much closer.  Added a secret weapon wash to the armor (ruby wash), did the fur, dry brushed the fur, painted some wood base coats, painted flesh around the mouth and teeth.  And finished it with a green eye.  I am aware the fluff says Red Eyes on the Skaven.... But mine have green because it looks better with the red armor.

Still WIP at this point, but much closer.

Banner Bearer

Musician 

Hope you've enjoyed! I'm off to grab a little shut eye before tomorrow's 40k and Uncharted Seas!

Happy Wargaming!

New Age 40k and The Rats of Clan Hashiji

Hello all!

It's been a while, what with a new job, 7th edition 40k, and now my newest project that I have started on - Asian Skaven!  So lets get right to it.

7th Edition Warhammer 40k

The internet is practically boiling with resentment and unease over several parts of this new edition: Daemonology, psychic phases, force org, FAQs that don't seem to fix anything....

And I really have no answers for you.  I've played a few games of it, enjoyed it numerous times with the new Mission Rules - one of my favorite parts of the game so far - and have generally just felt like it has some good fixes in it.

However, I am a basement gamer, and generally only play 40k with my friends at home or at the local stores.  I never play pick up games with people because of some left over irritations with 5th edition.  The last time I played competitively was a few months ago at a local game stores tournament.  However, our gaming group did not particularly enjoy that event, and so we have stayed in the basement since then.  So all in all, I am probably not qualified to say how the game will be competitively, but for club gamers?  This edition may be the best one yet.

Asian Skaven mk 1.1

So, as many of you know, I have planned several new fantasy projects over the past few months, but eventually talked myself out of each and every one until this current project.  I have decided that, in an effort to make my Skaven more unique and play with units that nobody seems to run in the new book, I have begun a phase to update and improve my army, and try to double its size.  I have planned for a 2500 point Skaven addition, but I need your help.

So far, I have built and converted the following units into an Asian themed force:

Grey Seer
20 Stormvermin
3 Warplock Jezzails
Warplightning Cannon

Here is the army list I plan to make.

Units marked with * are going to be carried over from my current Skaven build.

2500 Point Asian Skaven mk 1.1
----------
Queek Headtaker
*Warlock Engineer w/ lvl 2, Doom Rocket, Warp musket, Warplock Optics
Warlock Engineer w/ lvl 2, Brass Orb
Chieftain w/ BSB, Banner of the Under Empire
---
Stormvermin w/ 39, Queeks Upgrade, shields, full command, Warpfire Thrower
Nightrunners w/ 20, slings
Nightrunners w/ 20, slings
*Giant Rats w/ 15
*Giant Rats w/ 15
---
Warplock Jezzails w/ 3
*Gutter Runners w/ 8, slings, poison attacks
Poisoned Wind Globadiers w/ 10
Poisoned Wind Globadiers w/ 10
---
Doomwheel
Doomwheel
Warplightning Cannon
Warplightning Cannon

The army will function as such:

Queek and BSB will join the Stormvermin and gun it for whatever big block of troops the enemy has.  Brass Orb Engineer will travel with one of the Nightrunner units, which both of those will attempt to slow down any large blocks of units, or kill smaller units.  Giant Rats will be there to redirect charges or get flank charges into the enemy.  Gutter Runners will go warmachine hunting, or get rear charges into enemies.  Poisoned Wind Globadiers are made to go hunting for the elite infantry in the enemies army, hopefully getting flank charges in.  They will most likely be working with the Giant Rats.  Jezzails are there for sniping enemy backfield characters, or for killing any heavy cavalry that is coming; this is the one unit that I might make more models for in order to field 5 of them or so, 3 just seems like too few.  WLC will throw their shots at any blobs that are coming towards my lines, or go monster hunting.  Doomwheels are there for shot absorbing, monster hunting, and generally terrifying my opponent into shooting them instead of my actual units.

This army should have no problem dealing with squishy T3 armies, but if you throw it up against WoC or Ogres, it is going to struggle - which is why I included the PWG, Super Stormvermin, and all that Rare goodness.

This list also lets me run units that I have not run in the past: Queek, Nightrunners, Jezzails, PWG, Doomwheels, and WLC all have thus far evaded my use.

So please comment and critique this army build.  I would love to hear how you guys would change the build - however keep in mind that I am trying to avoid units that I have experience with.  As such I would prefer if this army did not include Plague Monks, Catapults, or Slaves.

Thanks in advance for any comments, and I will try and post some pictures as I get closer to completion!  Happy Wargaming!

Edit:  

I've made some progress on the Asian Skaven, so I finally have some pictures for the first time in a few months.

My Warplightning abomination, as well as a misfire marker, represented by a Dwarf slave pulling a ruined cannon away.

After a bit of airbrushing, got the primer, basecoat, and some basic gore painted onto the Warplightning abomination.

Here I have the first half of my Stormvermin block base coated.  I've since painted the red onto the armor and added a few red details.  Still a long way to go.  The second half of the unit is quietly sitting in it's box to be built until I receive some Katanas and Halberds I purchased recently from Puppets-War.

As an added bonus, here is a photo taken during my first game of 7th Ed.  As you can see, my opponent (and myself for that matter) demonstrate a clear air of professionalism and understanding of the new rules set.