Lord Carver, BMMD

And, what better model to finish up this stretch of photobox fun, than the Lord Carver himself? I actually painted him a few months before I did that mass paint-fest for the rest of my Farrow, got them all painted in a single weekend.

I still have about as many models still in primer, maybe I should set aside another weekend... Hmm....

Farrow Brigands 2

My second set of Brigands. Really looking forward to doing my third unit in plastic...

Farrow Slaughterhousers

These guys... you know, I dont think Ive seen them do anything special in game at all yet.... At least, as of typing this way back in the distant past.

Rorsh and Brine

Brine was a pain to build. Look at that pose... that model is metal. Still, glad to have them, if only for amusement's sake.

Farrow Brigands 1

Another unit that made me kinda sad while building... I swear that NONE of the arms matched up with each other, or with the bodies, which left me with oddly placed hands and heads. Hard to get motivated to paint up the other four troopers for this unit...

Farrow War Hog

Big beastie, isnt he? I like the concept of this model, and even a lot of the details, but the material they used to make it makes me sad. Not a great plastic...

Farrow Gun Boars

Khorne month seemed to fly by, huh?

Moving on to my Farrow! First up, a pair of Gun Boars. Painted identical, except for chipped paint on some of the armor plates. Figured go red and blue, to denote who their gear was looted from.

Die 2016, die!

Well, that has been a year, hasnt it? So, yeah. Hobby stuff. This week, I got distracted a bit...

 First I decided to paint something a bit different, and dusted off a Trollblood Impaler that had been sitting for a VERY long time... Also decided to play with my light box a bit more, and try out the other colored backgrounds. I like how it looks with the blue.

I also started work on this little piggy... pic was taken while the paint was still drying, and I dont think I got much further. Yet.

So, since this is more of a year end post, how did I do, painting-wise over all that time I wasnt blogging? Well... Best guess I can put together from everything I posted over the past year on Twitter is that I worked on 424 models through the year. Whether that is slapping paint, or building, or whatever. Obviously I didnt BUY 424 models last year, many of those have just carried over a few years now.

But how many models did I actually finish work on? That number is MUCH less impressive... Best guess is... 57. Guess I am going to have to try harder in 2017.

Wargaming Rules

Been a while, huh? Cant say I forgot or anything. I just didnt feel like posting. Maybe Ill pick it back up. Or maybe not.

So, post I feel like writing? Not what you are probably thinking. While rules are involved, I am more focusing on my rules for collecting models in a particular system. I figured a while back that the easiest way to contain my "Hobby ADD" was to let it run wild. Yes, this will make sense.

I came up with a few rules, meant to keep me on track, and keep me from blowing money all over on models Id only half paint before getting distracted and moving on. Well, Im still doing that, but at least they are all reasonably themed, so I can use them together.

Easiest example is what I decided on for 40k. I play the Imperium. The way army selection works now, this is a great way to keep a varied force for painting, and for gaming. Ive got Knights. Ive got Mechanicus. Ive got Space Marines. Ive... started working on Imperial Guard. Heh. Sadly, Ive been in a bit of a 40k rut for a while. Simply lost interest in favor of 30k...

Second example would be 30k. Close but not quite what we get for 40k, with army selection being tied to previous editions of 40k. Still, I play the Death Guard Legion, and am allowed to make with allies as I like. So, a Knight, and trying to work in Mechanicum. Night Lords were there first, but count as allies now. I can also add other Legions if/when I feel like it. The reason I was a lot tighter for this system was cost. Ordering from Forge World gets spendy quick. So, I added the caveat of "if they go plastic, reconsider". Well....

The other big set I had specific rules on was Warmachine/Hordes. Tried to keep it all in faction, decided to open it up a bit. Playing Cygnar, Circle, and Farrow, but building 35pt theme forces for which ever caster/warlock I go with. Between the variety of themes available, Ill eventually get a bit of everything, and can "borrow" to go higher if needed.

Now, what about Warhammer Fantasy/Age of Sigmar? Yeah... For the past few editions allies were not really a thing, not in any significant manner. Then End Times hit, and suddenly you could build something new and exciting. Then they tore that up and said "play what you like". Gotta say, between that and round bases, Ive got a supercharged interest in the Fantasy side again. My rules for WHFB were "Add to your armies. Maybe something new if you really like it?" Last army I did was my Undead Legion. Before that, starter Skaven force. So, now Ive got Goretide in the works. Im painting Hallowed Knights. Ive got an old Ogre army, and a large chunk of Undead. Ive even picked up a decently sized Skaven force. And Ive got ideas. So many ideas. Im going to really need to lay down a new rule here, before I go a little too crazy.

Knee jerk idea for restriction is one Grand Alliance, but that doesnt really work, as I have armies from all the Grand Alliances. Well, Ogres are kinda dead in the water, and have been for a while. That clears Destruction. Undeath? Well, I might just push them off on my brother, so he can play with something of his own. Leaves Order and Chaos. On the Order side, I have Stormcast Eternals, and no interest in any of the other forces (until they redesign them, perhaps?). Chaos, oh Chaos. Love the Goretide. Very interested in doing something fun for Nurgle. Skaven can go anywhere, working for anyone. Ive got Plague Monks. Ive got Stormvermin. Clanrats all over the place. Beastmen fall in the same boat, adding variety (and cheaper bodies!) to the more influential forces.

So, I know where my loyalties appear to lay. What am I to do? Well, think Ill say my WH/AoS hobby rule is now Chaos Grand Alliance, with special exception for the Stormcast Eternals available to the Hallowed Knights. Why the Hallowed Knights caveat? I fully expect them to get special characters, and perhaps some unique units eventually. This way, I wont be trying to paint a dozen different Stormhosts. And dont think I didnt already consider that! ;)

Making bacon

As mentioned last night, Ive been working on Farrow again. Actually got about fifteen models assembled... and apparently I slacked off on taking pics, since this is the only one I could find. Rorsh (built) and Brine (laying down on the job, waiting on greenstuff to dry).

Well, my Farrow have a game lined up this week, we will see how they fare....

Pass and Review

I have always been afflicted by what I call "Hobby ADD". Anyone who has read this blog for more than a few months will likely be completely unsurprised. Tonight, I am playing around with a list of  armies I am currently working on, and some possibilities for the future... Figure I may as well go by system, that should keep things simpler to sort. Maybe.

30k
Death Guard - My primary 30k force, currently around 1700 points fully painted, and another 1300 or so waiting for my attention to swing back their way. Theme plan for them is that they are members of the 1st Great Company, and thus (mostly) loyal to Typhon, Mortarion, and Horus.

Night Lords - Still sitting at under 700 points, they started out as my 30k force, but were quickly knocked from that dark throne. I want to add a bit more, maybe move them to a full 1000 points, and use them as an allied force. Don't really have a theme for them currently, but as I write, Im getting an amusing idea to use them as Loyalists instead. I may toy with this idea...

Knight House Hodagi - Currently consists of a single Knight Errant, to be used as a Lord of War or an ally. Long term plans are to add a few more so I can play them as a Questoris Knight Crusade, or as Imperial Knights in 40k. Currently there are a few knights that don't cross over (Styrix, and the three new plastic variants), but I like them all, so Ill probably get what I like and pick the appropriate list to use what I want. Theme for this force is tied in with my ideas for Forge World Gersi, as their subject world.

Skitarii/AdMech/Mechanicum* -  My Skitarii are currently sitting at about 1000 points, with just the Onager painted (though I did work on the Vanguard earlier today!). Plan is to continue work on the Battle Maniple formation, an easy list to work with. In the longer term, I want to add models from the assorted 30k Mechanicum lists, to represent all the resources that my home-grown Forge World has available. Theme for them is that Mortarion stumbled upon and saved their world early on, and they have been supporting his interests during his part of the Great Crusade, and followed him into heresy.

*technically the Skitarii and other Adeptus Mechanicus book(s) are 40k, not 30k, however local opinion is to count them as Mechanicum until we hear otherwise.
 
Chaos Daemons (Nurgle) - Actually a bit of a placeholder, as the only model I currently have is a single Daemon Herald, with a box of Plaguebearers in the mail. Plan is use them as summoning filler for the Occult Binder (Librarian) I am converting for the Death Guard, though if things work out, I might expand into a full army. Theme here is that Mortarion is teaching some few former Librarians in the arts of binding, banishing, and controlling "witchery". Of course, who do they gravitate towards binding? You got it.

40k
Storm Fists - Im sorta losing interest in these guys at the moment. Roughly 2000 points, all painted except a unit of bikers. I have a few other boxes of Space Marines as well, but they are on hold, in case I decide to do a Chapter hop.

Dark Angels and other assorted Space Marines - In addition to the above, Ive got a few units and/or characters from the Dark Angels, Space Wolves, Minotaurs, Black Templars, and Blood Angels. Keeping them handy to use as allies, but only the first is reasonably fleshed out to play solo. Possible I will pick one of these as my next 40k army, but then maybe not. 

Red Scorpions - These guys got boxed up, and on the Forgotten Shelf, but they are still around. A full battle company, minus four rhinos. Biggest thing keeping me from doing anything with them? The yellow/brown I used for their trim is out of production, and the closest variant is still too bright. Havnt been able to mix it properly.

Chaos Marines - Ive got a bit of a collection together right now, almost all in grey plastic. I was inspired by the Crimson Slaughter, but then I got distracted and moved on. As usual. As of right now, they are somewhere between getting hauled out to the shed, and being saved for whenever Nurgle Daemonkin get done.

Necrons - Another bit of a placeholder. Currently I have two boxes of Tomb Blades, as a start to a Reclamation Legion. Might migrate from Space Marines for a while. Or maybe not.

WHFB
Warhammer is in limbo right now, really. We dont really know what is going on, what will change, what is still viable. So, no plans to work on until I hear otherwise from the horse's mouth.
Skaven - Currently I have a fully painted Island of Blood set of Skaven, and a few other units I need to finish painting, or just need to build.

Ogre  Kingdoms - Ogres are sitting at 2000 points, mostly half painted. I can (and have recently) play them, but they are mainly a filler army for when I don't or cant play something else.

Undead Legion - About 2/3s of my legion is built, about 4-5000 points all told. Nothing is painted. Nothing is even primed. Bleh.

Chaos Warriors (Nurgle) - A leftover from the Great Purge, maybe a thousand points of half painted, or unassembled Warriors. I like the idea of a Nurgle force, I just get really bored with these guys. Since Glottkin was released, Ive pulled these guys out a dozen times. Ill look at the models, or make a list, or whatever... then box them up and put them back up. Eventually Ill admit defeat.

Warmachine/Hordes
Circle Orboros - In theory my prime faction. Ive managed to collect all the models I need to make a 35 point tier 4 theme force list for every Warlock in the faction, minus Bradigus. And for that, I just need the dude himself. Problem is I bit off more that I could chew. Half the models are unopened, and maybe three of the lists are fully painted. Someday Ill knock them out. Hopefully.

Farrow - Another example of biting off more than I could chew. I ordered tier 4 for all the Warlocks, thinking "Hey, there are only a few of them, and they all share everything anyways!". Now, I still think this one is doable, if I get my ass in gear. Just a few units and beasts and Id be done. It is just a matter of looking at that box, and seeing it all.

Cygnar -This is where I have started to learn my lesson. I ordered a single theme force. Commander Stryker and his goons. I did pick up a few other models, but they are not on the radar yet. As far as I am currently concerned, Stryker1, Ol' Rowdy, 2 Lancers, and 2 units of Long Gunners are all I need to work on. Once they are dealt with, then Ill allow myself to realize I have that 35 point "All-in-One" to work on still.

Other Games
Deadzone - From what I hear, this still gets played locally from time to time, I just happen to miss out on it. My force is assembled, and one day might get painted.

Malifaux - Bit of a dead duck for me. I know some locals play it, but the locals I play with do not. I have the Seamus crew (mostly) assembled, but no feel for them.

Table - Not a game, but needed for them all. Ive got the Realm of Battle set-up, that I need to paint one of these days. Going to be a quick deal, mostly brown spray and drybrush, with some grey and bone for rocks and skulls. Also got terrain I need to sort out.

Carving a name for himself

Bit of a confession here. I wrote the blog post with pics of my Sicaran about a month ago, and hadnt really painted since. Im writing this one about 12 hours before normal post time. Lets see if I can get my buffer going again.

I decided recently that I wanted to play Thornfall Alliance for Hordes, so I jumped in feet first. Ive got a lot more to paint up, but finished up Lord Carver today.

Going with a quick and easy scheme for painting, since they are just piggies... ;)

Templecon, Ho!

Well, about this time I should be heading to Templecon. My first convention where Ill actually be participating in... a VERY long time.

I should be wandering around the Iron Arena most of the time, with a lost look on my face and a bag full of Circle Orboros, so if you see me, say hi and maybe play a game?

I may, or may not, have the wig with me.

Also, my Flock and Awe co-host Kev the Hobbit will be around, and you know what that means, right? ;)

Happy New Year and all that

Think I was supposed to do my yearly wrap-up a few weeks ago (at least going by my habits so far)... Ahh well.

Overall, I had a decent year in 2014. Dont remember off the top of my head if I had any specific goals, and dont really care anymore if I did.

I didnt game as much as I could have, and I didnt paint anywhere near as much as I wanted. My number of armies has shrunk though, so Ill call that a win.

This coming year, I think Im going to stick with two goals.

1: Build Less.
2: Paint More.

See, from mid-September to the end of December, I didnt paint at all. Nothing. I was too busy trying to build an extra 3k points of undead for a mega-battle that I ended up missing because I got sick. Well, now Ive got a decent chunk of models for the games I play built. Not all built, obviously, but I can have a decent game without stressing that I dont have enough models.

So, Im going to *TRY* to avoid starting the new shiny. Obviously I will fail, but Ill be satisfied if I can keep the financial damage to a minimum.

As of the new year, this is where I am sitting:
40k Storm Fist Space Marines
30k Death Guard Legion
WHFB Undead Legions
WM/H Circle Orboros

I do have extras tacked on to half of these, or will soon. Ive got my 30k Night Lords to use as allies, if I feel like it, and plan to add some Dark Mechanicus and a Knight household for my Death Guard, maybe even some Imperial Army too. For my Circle, Ive got all sorts of Farrow to build and paint.

I still have my Skaven force as well, and we will see if I can resist the call of the Horned Rat when the next End Times book hits....

Extra Life 2014 Wrap-up

This weekend, the Disorderlies and I did our part for Extra Life, helping to raise money for various children's medical centers across the country. 24 hours of gaming, and our team raised over $2600 for our local Johns Hopkins Children's Center. As I write this, I am physically exhausted, but with a warm fuzzy feeling right where my soul would be, if I hadnt sold it to that Damien guy years back.

I wonder what he ever did with it...

ANYWAYS.

Games played: 1500pts of 30k Death Guard vs Rob's early riser Necrons (Tie).
35pts of eKaya's Circle force vs Mike's Thagrosh (I lost).
5-way Deadzone learner game (I might have had a chance at a win).
Some World of Darkness RP. My character ended up as a Ghoul or thrall or something... but he was still moving at the end of the game, unlike the rest of the crew.
MtG card games. I got stomped. Hard.
Spartacus the board game, I won after an indecently quick game.
We tried starting Rune Wars (board game, I think), but that fell apart due to low brain juice.
Cards Against Humanity. I came in second with 12 (Mike won with 15).
We started Ancient Terrible Things, but my eyes crossed, and I woke up on the couch a little while later.
Came back to Zombie Dice.
And wrapped up with Zombies Keep Out. Discovered that that first bite token doesnt really matter when we were all exhausted at slurring our speech anyways.

As a reminder, they are still accepting donations for the rest of the year, so if you havnt donated yet and want to, it will still count! Just visit this shiny link, and help make some kids healthy!

Do you smell bacon?

So, I did something a bit silly....

Yep, that is a box of Farrow minions for Hordes. I am giving up on working on the Convergence, simply not inspiring to me anymore. Plus, you know, all the plastic mold lines in horrible places.

Now, the Farrow are actually just the first part of something silly. See, Im shooting to go to TempleCon this coming year, and... you guessed it, Im going to be running Bacon Boys. This means I should probably learn how to play them, right?

Now, that pic is from a few weeks ago, and Ive managed to slap glue and plastic and metal together a bit. So far Ive got a War Hog and Bone Swarm together, and am in the middle of some Slaughterhousers. "Bone Swarm? Isn't that for Gators?" Yeah, but Midas can use them in his theme list, and that is what I am working on building first. You know, in between units of Orks...

An update!

Yeah, blog has been kinda dead, hasnt it? Last post of any significance was back in January. Made a total joke of my goals for the year.

Oh well, moving on. Stuff that has happened in the past six months.... I am still co-hosting on the Flock & Awe podcast, going nearly weekly now.

The wife and I purchased a house, and I have a ma-hoo-sive basement/mancave/hobby area. Seriously, some people have suggested turning it into a hobby club, as I could probably get three game tables in. Just the one is fine by me though, thanks. ;)

Ive gotten some painting done here and there, though as always not as much as Id like. Ive added a few armies, and abandoned some others, often in the same day. Current list looks like this...

40k
Red Scorpions
Storm Fists
Orks
Tyranids

30k
Night Lords
Death Guard

WHFB
Skaven
Ogres

Warma/Hordes
Convergence
Circle

Also kinda working on Plague for Deadzone, and the Redchapel Gang for Malifaux, though very slowly.

Lets see, I am still making a nuisance of myself on Twitter...

The Scotland and England trip is still on, really looking forward to it now. Only about seven weeks to go!

Alright, time to wrap this up. I am intending to set up some auto posts of pics of stuff Ive painted lately, should last until I get back from vacation, plus interjecting a bit more often than I have been lately. We will see how that goes...

Looking forward to 2014

Im not a fan of resolutions. Never have been. If something is worth changing for, then why wait for a set date? Change what you need to change, and be done with it!

Having said that, I have some goals to meet in 2014. The Wife and I are doing a Wargaming tour of Scotland and England in September, and I need a 1500 point list prepared. Im planning on my Storm Fists, for now...

Lets do this all number style, shall we?

Primary Goals
1. Finish painting my Storm Fists.
2. Dust off and play with my Tyranids, once the new book is out.
3. Finish assembling my Skaven, and get back into WHFB.
4. Play at least one game a month.
5. Decide what I am doing with WarmaHordes. Continue with the Circle and Convergence, or what?
6. Get back into my "model a day" painting routine.

Secondary Goals
1. Post a model for Miniature Monday every week in 2014.
2. Continue the Top Ten.
3. Post something beside the Top Ten each week on the blog.
4. Pick up a Malifaux force, and maybe learn to play.
5. Try out Deadzone, and see if it is something I want to play.

Special Goal
Those on Twitter saw a pic I posted recently, of a rather large box... My goal for that is to have it all assembled before the end of February, and possibly have it all painted before the end of the year. It is currently a SECRET PROJECT, but will be revealed in time... And yes, DT, you should be afraid...

2013 in review

Its about that time again, isnt it?

2013 was an "interesting" year in my house. Up through August, I was expecting '13 to go down as one of my worst years yet (still wont win any awards), with car issues and the financial difficulties that often come with those.

And then, September happened. Wife and I said "No more back-lot deals!" and got something "new-ish". With a warranty. We have a car payment, but its still cheaper than the amount we were socking away to pay for repairs. And then, the VA FINALLY settled the wife's disability (only been fighting for 5 years), and we suddenly had disposable income... which means I suddenly had a proper hobby fund again.

So, enough of that, what happened with the hobby over the year? Well, I finished off all my Red Scorpions. Ive since picked up a few models to expand the Honor Guard, but they are sorta gathering dust at this point.

I started a Nurgle Chaos Marine "Black Crusade", but kinda lost interest, and they are boxed away.

Ive got a decent start on a Dark Angels force, that might be used as allies for other 40k armies.

I finished painting my Cryx, and sold them off. Decided I needed to clear them out and remove the distraction.

I have barely done any work on my Circle Orboros collection, though I did pick up a WoldWrath.

I started a Convergence of Cyriss force, currently I need to paint "blue glow" on half the models to finish them, and then paint Aurora.

I started a Skaven force, started with the IoB models, but added a Battalion box and some Stormvermin. The IoB models are done. The Stormvermin are about 30%, and the battalion is still unassembled...

I finally joined in on the Horus Heresy craze, and have a few squads of Night Lords in the works. These are going a lot slower than Id like, as they are a bit more expensive, and few of the locals seem overly interested in 30k gaming.

With winding down on the Red Scorpions, I decided to work on another Space Marine chapter. I put together a squad and Captain from the Minotaurs, but decided they were not quite what I was looking for. So, I dusted off an old favorite of mine, and redesigned the Storm Fists.

2012 in review, 2013 in the headlights

Been a quiet year on the ol' blog, huh? Posted some pictures, talked about my armies, and even posted a bit of (crappy) fanfic. The table was a bit more active though. Ill go through by system, hopefully I wont miss anything...

Oh, and before we get started, you do know my TwitPic folder has a LOT more pics then what I post here on the blog, right?

40k: This year was primarily the year of the Tyranid, I managed to collect and paint a 1500 point army. I also continued work on my Red Scorpions, they are down to a single Assault Squad, and a few Rhino/backs until the company is complete. Ive been working on those Dark Vengeance Dark Angels and Chaos Marines as well, but they are not nearly close to being prepared for anything.

Ive also bounced some half-assed projects around: some Dark Eldar, Space Wolves, and maybe that Dark Angels and Chaos Horde project from a while back, havnt really decided on that yet. There were also a TON of projects that never had models purchased for them.

WHFB: Fantasy didnt get nearly as much love. I did some work on my Ogres, but not as much as I could/should have. I also dusted off my Warriors of Chaos box, and did a bit more with them, but nothing too exciting.

This year, I did not start any new WHFB armies. Im starting to think Im moving on from this game, or maybe there was nothing that really grabbed my attention...

WM/H: More work was done here, this year. My Circle Orboros project was started and continues unabated. The collection is about half painted at this point, and I only need to buy a few more things to finish. On the Warmachine side, my Cryx are nearly all painted, only Rengrave and a Warwitch Siren remain. Im not entirely sure what my goal with this faction is. I might try to go "all the theme forces" like the Circle.

As far as other games... I didnt start any. I looked at Malifaux, but none of the factions jumped out at me, saying I had to start them. Same for Infinity. Dust Tactics and Dystopian Legions are interesting, but break my "No Alt History Games" rule.

Think that is about it for this year... Going to try to hammer out ideas for 2013, for my next post.