Intro to Weekly Updates

Hey All!

So, in an effort to keep this blog alive and kicking, and still have fresh material, I am going to try and make a commitment to post something once a week.  I have just started college at Auburn University, so it will probably take some adjusting, but rest assured faithful readers, that I will have something up every week - probably on Wednesdays from now on.

So, to start out this tradition, here is a brief update on everything that has been going on hobby wise for myself recently.

I ventured over to Fayetteville, Georgia, this past Sunday to get some insight into my "local" hobby store:  Treefort Games.  I have never been to a finer establishment, and would absolutely recommend it to anyone that is in the Atlanta area and has their models on them.  They are only open weekends during the fall and winter - college students are their main source of income - but they have a little bit of everything:  Spartan Games, Games-Workshop, MTG, Warlord Games, Privateer Press, and more.  Plus more board games than you could shake a stick at.  They have something like 15 tables to play on, personal booths for RPG groups, painting tables, hundreds of terrain pieces.  It is an excellent place to call your wargaming home, and I am more than willing to drive the hour and a half to get their from the prettiest village on the plains.

While I was there, I ran into not one but three Spartan Vanguards, and was swept up in a flurry of excitement.  So much so that I ended up agreeing to go back this coming Sunday and enjoy a few games of Firestorm Armada with the local player base.  And then this happened:

So I may have been so swept up into the flurry of Spartan Games rah-rah-rah that I purchased the old Shroud Mages starter box and a blister of Destroyers for them as well.  It was marked down a little, so it rounded up to about $40, so I was extremely happy.  So now I will have my mighty Shroud Mages in addition to the Terrans and RSN for Firestorm.  It is a good day for naval battle systems!

Also, on some rumors and announced awesomes from Spartan Games - Firestorm Armada and Planetfall are getting new rulebooks and new models for everyone!  We're talking a nice new rulebook, faction sourcebooks for the Zenian League and Kurak Alliance, and redone models for all the peoples!

On top of that, Firestorm Planetfall will also be getting a rulebook, alliance books, and models for all 6 core factions!  Thats enough to make me want to save some cash money back even!

And on the rumor mill, it is said from several gentlemen that Uncharted Seas is also due for a new rulebook and models to come out as well, which can only be good news now that my Dark Ironclads will be rolling into service this Wednesday probably.  Good times to be a Spartan Games supporter, as they prepare to launch themselves into a new whirlwind of releases!

On other games fronts, Space Marines are coming out next month, so we all get to see the ugly blue ducklings everywhere for the rest of the edition.

Other news from the fronts is pretty sparse.  New stuff everywhere for all games.  An awesome 2-player starter box for Dropzone Commander has been announced, but with Spartan Games Firestorm Planetfall inbound, it might be hard to break loyalty.  I'll have to compare prices for the games when the FS:P stuff comes out.

Warlord Games has dropped some new Hail Caesar kits and some new Bolt Action stuff, and that's pretty much everything I have for you today guys.  I will definitely get some pictures up of my Cerberus Heavy Cruiser and Terran R&D cruisers when I get them painted up - hopefully - on Wednesday.  And the Shroud Mages will definitely be getting put together on Wednesday as well.  Lots to do on Wednesday to get ready for Sunday!  And on top of everything I have classes (except Wednesdays) and a football game on Saturday!  So, until then, Tarum et clama dimit belli canes! 

Releases! Releases everywhere!

Hey All!

A lot going on today, so I will get started quickly for you, no meandering today!

Spartan Games is awesome in that they show you exactly what is going to be released  3 months ahead of time so that you can presumably pick out what you want and prepare to add it to your fleets.

September will have major releases for Dystopian Legions, Dystopian Wars, and Firestorm Armada.  I don't know much about Dystopian Legions besides the fact that it is another infantry based 28mm game (bah!) so I am not that excited. I know a lot of people that will be, but its not for me.

Dystopian Legions is getting the Federated States Sergeant and Specialist, as is the Empire of the Blazing Sun.

Pretty cool looking models, but still not enough to make me interested.

On the flip side, Dystopian Wars is getting the last round of First Wave upgrade boxes:  a Covenant of Antarctica Aerial Support Group, a Republique of France Attack Flotilla, and a Russian Coalition Strike Flotilla.  All three of theses are introducing new models into the line for each core nation.  Plus they look freaking beautiful.

Covenant Aerial Support Group

French Attack Flotilla

Russian Strike Flotilla

I love the French and Covenant models.  The RC is awesome, but so many people play them that it would be a disservice to the other awesome models to take any great interest in them.

Finally, we have the Kedorian Coalition, with some of the biggest models ever made for Firestorm Armada.  I will be getting some of these to supplement my RSN fleet.  They're too awesome not to get.

Kedorian Alliance Fleet

Kedorian Support Fleet

So there you have it folks, all of the Spartan Games September releases!  But there is something else....

New Lizardmen....

Now, I normally try and avoid Games-Workshop Products, but I really do have a soft spot for Fantasy.  It is one of the greatest infantry based tabletops in my opinion, and I try to get my Skaven out on the table as often as I can, unless somebody is up for Firestorm Armada or something along those lines.  These new lizards are badass.  There are resculpted Terradon Riders, which can also make Ripperdactyls, a box with the new Skink Oracle, a box that will make either a Carnosaur with a Sauras Old Blood, or a Troglodon.  Finally, there is the Bastillidon, which can come as a ranged weapon (solar laser beams) or have an Ark that spawns swarms of snakes on its back.  Either way, I have a friend that collects Lizards, so I will have one hell of a time fighting against these new dinos with my Skaven.

So that should be everything for now.  I have to go dust off my Plague monks and roll out another 40 skaven slaves so I can fight off hordes of Lizards, and gather some cash for the inevitable Kedorian purchases, as well as some more Terran reinforcements.  And then there is the matter of Dystopian Wars.....  Until then, Tarum et clama dimit belli canes! 

Lizardmen Pre-Order

Spartan Games September Releases

The Dystopian Wars Question

Hey All!

So, as you all know, I have been kicking around the idea of starting some Dystopian Wars.  Not right now mind you, but down the line when I have some more time and money, it is certainly on the list to play.  However, I want to pick the right fleets to start out with...  I want to do something similar to my Firestorm Armada plan - collect two fleets so that I can demo the game to people and have some variety to my playing.

Which leads me to my question... what fleets?  I've narrowed it down to one for certain, but I am not sure about the other.

I am going to collect Republique of France.  They have gorgeous models, an awesome play style with the mid range effectiveness, some of the best air units, FLYING BATTLESHIPS, and other interesting tidbits like that.  Plus I love the look of all of their models.

I mean come on.... thats fantastic looking (and also happens to be the starter box)

What should my other fleet be then?  Well, my thoughts were the following:

Prussians - I love their land and air models, and the no-nonsense approach to their navy models is nice in its own way.  I love that they use Tesla weapons, and that they are renowned for boarding assaults.  However, it is those same Naval vessels that make me think I might get bored with them.  I don't want to get bored painting the ships.  I love their land and air models - they are some of the coolest in the game - but I want to start on the naval side of things.

Covenant of Antarctica - Once again, their models just really get me.  I love the walker models on land (I don't care for EotBS naval stuff, which is why they wont be here on this list even though they have walkers too) and they have some interesting Air choices.  Their naval stuff is pretty cool, with the exception of the frigate, but I would get over that.

Chinese Federation - I know that they are only a naval faction at the moment... But they have awesome models.  I really want to get into the Land and Air portions of the game, and I wont be able to do that with the Chinese, but I still put them in because I could always start a third fleet for land based operations.  For instance - Chinese and French for the naval battles, then French and Prussians for land and air, eventually adding in naval units for the Prussians.... which would probably make more sense if I just added Chinese later, after two main fleets...

Free Australians - Same reason as the Chinese - they have beautiful models, but they are only naval at the moment and that would result in serious problems when I want to add land and air to the game.  Even though I really like their models....

So there you have it.  I am leaning towards either Prussians, even though I might get bored with the Naval vessels, or Chinese, just because their models are so damn cool.  I don't know though... Any help would be much appreciated!

In the meantime, I have a game of Firestorm Armada coming down the pike in the next couple days I think, so that should be awesome!  Look forward to seeing that in the near future... Until then, Tarum et clama dimit belli canes! 

The collector in me...

Hey all! 

So, even at college orientation (WAR DAMN EAGLE), I can't resist the urge to collect something for my fledgling fleets back home.  And so $20 later I have a Terran MkII Carrier that will be waiting for me when I get home.  I consider it a reward to painting the rest of the Terran Fleet and making it to college.  :) haha, anywho, until next time...

Dreadball Unboxing

Hey All!

Just wanted to take the time to show you a little something that I got on vacation!  First, let me go on and tell you that Armchair Adventurer in Honolulu, Hawaii is one of the best gaming stores I have ever been in, and that - if you get the chance - you should visit the store.  The Mad Dragon - what the owner calls himself because of the sheer volume of stock he has - would be happy to see you!

Ok, on to business.  So, I have always had a slight love affair with sports games, mostly because I can picture an absolutely fantastic game of Blood Bowl... But alas, Blood Bowl is dying.  So, who comes along?  Plucky Mantic Games of course!  And they have made a winning product this time.

The box set comes with 2 full teams of 10 models each - Marauders (Orcs) and Humans - as well as a deck of 54 game cards, the game board, a referee model, 2 ball models, the full rulebook, hex bases, cardboard tokens, and a roster pad.

After reading through their Kickstarter and the rules, as well as a fair amount of research and thought, I think that - should my first few games prove fun and I get a league going in college this fall - I will be investing in both a Forge Fathers Team and either a Robots team or a future released Teratons team.  For the near future though, I have a feeling that I will be sticking to my Orx and Humans.  Anyway, enough banter!  You want to see an unboxing!

The Box!

The Rulebook, nice paper, well designed book.

 Honestly the rules of this game are fantastically simple.  I love it, and I am going to enjoy playing this game again and again until I am blue in the face, and then play some more because it really is just that awesome.

The Board itself, complete with visitor and home sides

Counters, dice, and roster sheets

Sorry for poor quality, will take better shots beginning of
next week, seeing as I'm still on vacation and dont want
to loose any of the bits and pieces before I get home.

So there you have it.  Not really an indepth opening.  The book and the paper products look fantastic, I can't wait to rip into those models and my Firestorm Armada stuff on Monday, but until then I have to stick with the internet and trying to figure out paint schemes for all of these new figures.  And on that, I'll see you next time, but until then Tarum et clama dimit belli canes!

Update

Hey all!

Just wanted to give you a quick update on whats going on here.  Mostly the following emails:

"Your purchase X has been delivered!"

"Your purchase Y is on route!"

"Your purchase Z should be there on Thursday!"

Lots of exciting stuff coming down the pike finally.  However, I have other exciting stuff going on at the moment, so I actually wont be able to see any of my Firestorm stuff until Monday unfortunately.  However, my family and I are currently on vacation, so it isn't all bad ;)

I am trying to get over to the local store sometime in the following couple days - something of a tradition in all of my travels - and I will probably purchase something to help out the local gaming community.  The store here mostly supports Flames of War, which is something I have been looking at getting into for a while now, but they might also be selling Dreadball.

This means that I might be making some purchases if we go to the store here.  I will let you all know about my adventures to the local store if it happens, but until then, Tarum et clama dimit belli canes!

DREADBALL

Hey All!

Just wanted to tell you all about an awesome game from Mantic Games called Dreadball!

If you are at all familiar with the Games-Workshop product Blood Bowl, you've got the basic idea.  A bloody and ridiculous sports board game that uses miniatures that you paint and build.

Run human run!

Heres a synopsis:

Dreadball is set within Mantic Games "Warpath" universe, where the various races collect to watch the spectacular and gruesome games of Dreadball - which resembles football and rugby all mixed together.
The game box itself features the fearsome Marauders (Mantics Orcs) against the Corporation's team (sorta like Marines in Space).  It comes with a board to play on, and all the cards and dice that you will need in order to play.  The game is fast paced and ridiculous, but really makes for a good way for people to get into the tabletop realm if they have never played any game before, because it combines the miniatures and dice of a wargame with the conventional board and play style of a board game.  The investment for buying the full box set is $65.  However, if you have a player you are teaching, they can buy a complete team for about $20, and there are currently 8 teams available, so they wont be lacking for options.  If they do get one of the 4 "second season" teams, they will have to get the "Second Season" Rulebook - for $15.  So, for a price of $30 on average, a completely new tabletop gamer will be born into the game.

Why introduce people to tabletop gaming through Dreadball?

I have read enough accounts about how Bloodbowl was everyone first love affair with tabletops in the 80s and 90s to know that sports games grab everyone from the get go.  And what more is Dreadball than a better, cheaper, and more loved by its company Blood Bowl?  Dreadball gets people wet in the way of models and painting, yet it keeps it relatively simple with the fact that you really only need about 10 models per side.  Then you get eveything else you need in the box.  Compared to other hobbies, this seems like the perfect stepping stone into the world of wargaming, with Warpath being the next logical step after Dreadball, launching their fights from the arena to the battlefield in the same fictional universe.  Plus the models themselves are absolutely gorgeous, and would make fine places to start learning how to paint and model.

Look at them... Awesome!

Plus look at how much S**t you get in the box!!  Thats fantastic!

Board, dice, cards, counters, rules, and theres even some models!

I really have an inkling to get this game, and love every second of it.  And, if you have the same inkling, I would suggest you do the same.  Until then, Tarum et clama dimit belli canes!

A Firestorm Update

Hey All!

So, as you can probably guess after reading my blog for sometime now, I'm totally nuts for Firestorm Armada.  I have a lovely RSN Fleet in the works, riding at about 800 points.

However, due to the nature of eBay, the prospect of becoming a Spartan Vanguard, and just my sheer magpie like nature, I now have a fledgling Terran fleet in bound...

Not really too big a fan of some of their models, but the starter box was almost half off the regular price and with free shipping.  Call me a woman, but I like good sales like that.  So, I have a second fleet, and for a fraction of the price.  Now I can teach people how to play Firestorm and offer demo games, as well as become a Spartan Vanguard - yay for 20% off! - and hopefully get some epic stuff going on with this game.  I really cannot wait now.

And now I have an excuse to get some of the glorious Tarakian models as well, plus paint a fleet these wonderful colors above.... or some variation.  Anyway, stuff should start rolling in by the end of this week/beginning of next, so until then Tarum et clama dimit belli canes!

The Beauty - or the Beast?

Hey all!

I'm here to talk about something we all know about - the glory that is eBay.  I love that site!  It's fantastic, lets you get what you want for usually a fraction of the price.  I just found some amazing deals that I might have to jump on... mostly a Terran Starter Set for Firestorm Armada for half price.  Now, most of you out there will be thinking "golly jee!  that sounds like a deal, the internet is a warm and fuzzy place!"

Then you spend 4 times as much money on stuff than you would have if you had just paid full price for the one thing you wanted.  I could easily go on eBay and buy that Terran fleet... and then another chunk of change for a Dystopian Wars starter fleet.  Oh what that?  MERCS for 25% off?  Well of course I'll take three!  Oh my goodness!  Flames of War for 5% off?!  What a deal!

*poof!*

No mas dinero.

I love eBay.....

But I really hate it sometimes.