Beared-itorial

Well this week has been a very interesting one, not only have been playing around with some basing kits from Basecraft (Autumn kit review was this week). I have been given the great pleasure of chewing the wargaming fat with 2 fellows in what we are hoping is going to be a monthly podcast..

Flock & Awe Podcast

It is done the first episode is in the can now we just have to edit it so it is worth listening to…..

Keep your eyes peeled on the Blog for news of its release and make sure you follow/ like us on Twitter and Facebook.

Kickstarter

I know I said I wouldnt have anymore rants about KS, I said my piece and that was it but then I was shown this one HERE.

What the blue-hell is this, I mean really. Its just silly which is all well and good we all love some silliness in life but a KS from these AND it is fully funded!!!!! All I can do is shake my head and congratulate the guy………..

Convergence of Cyriss

This week we get to have a look at Father Lucant who sounds very much like a certain person in the Protectorate….. Even down to the old age

The artwork for him is amazing I am really liking the extremely alien look about him. Really gives the sense of giving up on his humanity.

As for rules revealed, his feat (Clockwork Reinforcement) which is a nice boost to the ARM of friendly Faction models (makes shield wall units pretty tough). But also allows Repair skill checks to be  auto passed. It’s an interesting one as it is ALMOST like Styrker and Darius feats combined but weaker. It is certainly a defensive feat but the repairing I feel is more fire-fighting as generally it is keeping Jacks just about running in your turn after a kicking (attrition is the game I suppose). Overall not sure about the feat, perhaps I need more time.

I suppose with his Field Marshal ability of Shield Guard he can make sure he protects important  jacks/models so I suppose the added ARM in the feat is nice.

His spell list seems to be causing people to grumble due to one spell……Purification!

After that though he continues the slight Cygnar feel with Deceleration and Positive Charge spells as well. Overall a possible interesting Warcaster who appears to want to make sure his army survives as long as possible before pulling off a Positive Charge without the worry of enemy upkeeps.

Paint/hobby Corner

This week I have been busy painting up the lootas I showed last week. There is nothing as enjoyable as making the most random thing you can from a ork body and your bits box

I am also going to make a start on my CoC bases using the lovely Steampunk basing kit from basecraft (review coming soon).

Until next week – As always any suggests/comments welcome and if you want me to cover anything let me know, as always see you hopefully next week.

Beared-itorial

Well this week has been a very interesting one, not only have I been bitten by the converting bug thanks to #BitsBoxChallenge but I also have some very exciting news…

Flock & Awe Podcast

As some of you may know there is going to be a new podcast on the scene HERE now this is going to be a little podcast with 3 guys just talking about all things wargaming.

We are hoping to get the first episode out soon and you have a listen

You can find us on Twitter and on Facebook

Malifaux

It is interesting the news of M2E has had on myself and the group I play with, as we were getting ready to diving back into Malifaux after a lengthy break. It now looks like that may be a little longer, well until the Beta comes out and then we shall see what happens from there.

It is however caused all of us to stop thinking about purchases and for myself even the newer stuff I am going to wait on. Part of me feels perhaps waiting nearly a month between announcement and release could hurt them in the short-term but have no effect long-term OR I am just being grumpy because I want to see the new rules

Convergence of Cyriss

So this week we had a little view of  Directrix and she is looking like the spell slinger of the CoC with that huge FOC of 8 and Field Marshal ability of Arc Node. She is also the first WM caster unit we have seen with her little Exponent Servitors which she can generate more of if need be.

Now that is a cape!!!

What really surprised me was her feat (Mathematical Perfection) which adjusts her RAT and MAT to match her FOC (so 8 or 6 if Denny is about) which is pretty nasty as that gets handed to her Vectors!

What this means is you can play the feat a number of ways for me, either early game shooting or late game axe to face. But I imagine she is going to be squishy so the vectors will be needed for the heavy lifting as is fitting for the Iron Mother (I do wonder if she will start being called Margaret

Her energy blast range weapon also has me excited and will make Cygnar very jealous with its POW15 and decent AoE! Although a RNG of 11 is pretty odd rather than the more traditional 8/10/12! Maybe because it is a prime number?

Her servitors are going to be very handy for both herself and her vectors as they are all about increase the damage output with their laser beams So making that range attack of hers equivalent to POW17!! While her released spell list is also interesting with Backlash and Domination plus a few support spells she is sounding like a lot of fun to play! Well at least against Warjacks

As if that wasnt enough for this week we then get to see Axis in all his shiny glory!

All I can say to him is….

Paint/hobby Corner

As mentioned I have my thirst back for Orks, which can only end badly for my bits box

I have been needing more lootas for a while, mainly as I like the GW kits but a bit of variation and uniqueness doesn’t go amiss

So thanks to @NationofLee on twitter for the bits, here are 3 of my guys. Not too over the top as you can see……

Until next week

As always any suggests/comments welcome and if you want me to cover anything let me know, as always see you hopefully next week.

Beared-itorial

This week I’ve been finishing my giant for #bitsboxchallenege for tomorrows #miniaturemonday, when I get the dates right anyway. I even have pictures

Collection run-down/State of Hobby

So I though I would do something silly or maybe therapeutic this week I am not sure which way it will go yet lol.

I am going look at ALL the armies I have and see where they stand with regards completeness and such like.

However I will say this I am surprised how many times I have a main faction and a smaller ‘test myself’ faction, a pattern perhaps!

40k

Orks - This I see as my main faction I have over 2000 points of Orks and I can probably play them as either evil sunz OR foot slogger. I could do with some more heavy Gunz I feel, but this is where my idea for Tau/Grot conversions as allies has come from (handily they should work as count-as Orks as well). So although I am still thinking about what to do with them. I am happy with how I can play them, although one or two flyers would be nice as they look like an amazing kit to play with.

Outcome - Pretty static although future proofing them with some conversion work planned

Dark Angels – I am planning on slow-growing these as after all everyone needs a SM army Now I was hoping to go all out on DW but alas the latest FAQ means I need to re-think my use of them but I will probably not need anymore Terminators thank you eBay and dark vengeance… It does mean I will need more bikes/ravenwing in general. Character wise I am pretty set again thanks to DV box set.

Outcome - Long way to go due to change in initial play style idea. Plus paint scheme means I only want to do some amount/squad level stuff occasionally.

Warhammer

Orges – These guys like the Orks are my main faction I have well over 3000 points of them and most is complete. I still have conversions to do for Maneaters, Yetis and Gorgers but that just requires me spend some time on them. I do believe this will be my FIRST completed GW army ever, as after those conversions I have no plans to buy anything else!

Outcome - Nearly done. Just some heavy conversion work to complete (which in itself could take a while) and I can actually tick an army off. Never been able to do that!!

Daemons - Mainly these will be VERY slow-grow as I am planning for them as a painting project that could turn into an army there are some techniques I want to try for instance I want all the gods to have similar flesh. So the plan is for the shading to be linked to the god but they all have flesh as base/highlight colour. Hopefully I can pull it off..

Outcome - Long way to go, completely going to change how I currently paint for these so a HUGE challenge and one I am still getting right in my head!

Infinity

Combined Arms – OK technically I only have one model for these guys but there is always the threat of more, I just never get round to it may be one of those I will play it eventually……..honest.

Outcome - Probably cold storage for now. It is a great game and the models are amazing but I need to make sure I get enough interest to keep it going in my little band of gamers!

Hordes

 Skorne – These are my main faction and also something different at the same time with the yellow scheme. I have a few more purchases for them but nothing major (well except the Mammoth ).

Outcome - Coming along nicely probably on the cusp of not needing anything more really, which is always good.

Legion – A small group of minis that will be another painting challenge as I have challenged myself to try to not use any GW washes on them, trying to break the need for the Mud

Outcome - Like the Daemons I want to challenge myself painting wise so these will be a long way off yet. No purchases planned really maybe 2/3 units needed to give me more than enough options going forward.

Warmachine

Cygnar - These guys are my main faction and honestly I do not need anything more for them as far as I am concerned I am happy with my Warcaster selection – Both Strykers, prime Nemo, Kraye and Epic Caine.

Perhaps the other versions of Nemo wouldn’t go amiss but for the Warjack, Unit and Solo side of things I can’t imagine getting anything else unless I decide to do tiers. Although let it not be said I ignore the poor mercs, I need me some Boomhowlers

Outcome - Long way to go due to change in initial play style idea. Plus paint scheme means I only want to do some amount/squad level stuff occasionally.

Convergence - The new guys on the block, I am only initially planning on the Battlebox for now, just so I can see if the faction is for me. Plus I want to try to paint metals well (beyond a drybrush and wash).

Outcome - New shiny and yes we am still tempted by such things! I have no plans to go above the battlebox for the time being. As I want to make sure they are for me, so plenty of proxying lol.

Malifaux

Gremlins – My favourite ‘faction’ in the whole game and the reason I am still interested in the game. I have pretty much everything with the exception of some of the newer stuff. This means I am not too worried about getting more as I can play them in multiple ways anyway.

Outcome - Complete except for a few purchases that round out rather than needed for them so I am in no rush at the moment.

Rail Crew – A new crew and one I picked up because of the Rail Golem and Willie Plus I wanted to play with the new plastics..

Outcome - Will only be playing small games with these guys so with what I have I probably only need the metal gamins and maybe Kaeris if I want to take them further.

Freebooters Fate

Goblin Pirates – Any easy one this I have only had inclination to do these guys (only a couple of models missing from the faction) so I am in no hurry to add to them. I have a couple of different options so these guys are set in stone.

Outcome - Pretty static although I do have the Indiegogo miniature coming soon for them. It is great for pick-up games so in no rush to add duplicates to what I have.

Dystopian Wars

Empire of the Blazing Sun - Another easy one this, as I have tried Covenant but they have gone many moons ago and as I paint my mates KoB ships that keeps me going on a painting side. Also as we concentrate on the flying/naval side of things and the relative static nature of that at the moment means I don’t have anything to get although I do have some escorts and carrier to paint.

Outcome - Done! I have some escorts and fleet carrier to paint but that is it.

Flames of War

Germans – I havent started dipping into this game yet I have the new starter box which is stunning by the way. I just not seemed to have time to delve deeper into the game. I will especially since I know about plastic solider company now.

Outcome - A ‘to-start’ project really I going to paint everything in the starter set as the mate I have talked into giving it a go is a lazy painter lol!

Overall Outcome

Well that as interesting I have more armies than I think I do but I am also surprised how many armies I have that I would consider ‘not in desperate need of things’. I have never felt like this before and in a way this makes me pretty happy as I have finally achieved something in this hobby rather than being an over-active Magpie.

Convergence of Cyriss

As we rumble closer and closer to the release of CoC, PP continue with the big tease and this week it was the Battle Engine – Transfinite Emergence Projectors which is quite frankly and insane name!!

The idea being it is a clockwork machine that uses satellites (PP’s words) called ‘Permutation Servitors’  which change how the BE is used depending on the position of these Servitors.. sounds mental!

But what it comes down to is how it ‘edits’ the BE gun which starts out as a sp10, POW10 with Auto Fire [2]. However the gun comes with a Firing Formulae rule which is shared below;

When this model makes a ranged attack with this weapon during its activation, determine the position of the Permutation Servitors this model put into play. For each completely within its left firing arc, this model gains an additional die on its attack rolls. For each completely within its right firing arc, this model gains an additional die on its damage rolls. For each completely within its back arc, this model makes an additional Auto Fire attack.

This is just crazy especially with the fact you have to pick how you will activate the Servitors while thinking how you what to use the BEs gun that turn!

I think dual BEs are going to be insane as you could load up with the Servitors in between them, then you have a silly accurate BE and one that could one-shot a lot of things

Just another cog in the grand scheme of things. Really liking how the CoC is shaping up. Although the worry about losing just one cog could shatter the whole plan is a worry. Will we have a faction of glass cannons?

One final word, make sure you check out the NQ YouTube preview for some big daddy love

Can you say SHINY!!!

Malifaux

Speaking of Malifaux today, I see we are going to get a new version of the game (2nd edition) which will have a public beta. This is great news as I know it help people with the transition from MKI to MKII for warmachine and hordes! Yes people grumped about various things but when do people not grump if given the choice!

But the biggest news ever out of Wyrd forget new editions, new dual factions, new evil babies! No THE biggest news is that Gremlins are striking it off alone and becoming their masters (faction) and not before time I might add

Paint/hobby Corner

Mainly this week it has been finishing the Giant as already mentioned but I am also getting more of my Skorne done. So I have more time for some of the conversions I have been planning recently (mainly Ogres and Tau/Grots).

As always any suggests/comments welcome and if you want me to cover anything let me know, as always see you hopefully next week.

Beared-itorial

This week I have been busy getting my giant done so I can claim my first #bitsboxchallenege for tomorrows #miniaturemonday. Just need to remember pictures :S

High Elves

So the next book is going to be the high elves, I always had a soft spot for the elves but was burned by painting white cloth NEVER again I tell you.

So what new shiny things do we have for them (bearing in mind I am not even remotely tempted by them……not even a little bit <cough>)

Really? Really? Really? What possessed them to think this up? who in their right mind would go to battle in that? Never had HEs as surfers or dare devils!

I like the Phoenix models but I have a huge disappointment in the wing connection you can clearly see it at the shoulder. After some of the recent kits I am pretty disappointed in this as I thought GW had got much better at blending the joins more organically!

The other releases are all as you would expect for HE with nothing really standing out although I am sure they will have some awesome rules!

Eldar

As appears to be the trend with GW at the moment it also looks like after HE we will see Eldar get an update after so long! Again like the WFB elves I have always liked the Eldar but I could never do them justice with a paint brush. So I look forward to seeing what new shiny things they get above the standard flyer and monstrous creature

Tau

So I have been thinking about some count-as Tau allies for my orks purely as a modelling project you understand….Keep your eyes peeled for a post coming soon with my ideas.

Convergence of Cyriss

So this week it is all about the infantry, in particular the heavy infantry. Something that hasnt really been discussed with a faction very strong about the vectors!

Reciprocators are the heavy infantry for the faction which sound extremely similar to the MoW shocktroopers regarding survivability (shield wall).

Their weapons however is where things get interesting basically this is across on infantry they get 2 modes of action/combat (Protean weaponry is their name). So for the Reciprocators that means either Set Defense OR Empowered Attack (+2 to damage rolls). Which means at DEF 14 ARM 20 they are going to be hard to shift a looking like a great defensive unit that can hit hard if need be! I imagine walking up with set defense take the charge then swing away at P+S 14.

The Eradicators troops play out a bit more different than the defensive Reciprocators. Their ARM is a point lower but is boosted that want to smash face a little more than say the Reciprocators. Their ARM is lower than Reciprocators but can be boosted by one of their 2 weapon options which is a pair of bucklers. They can then change into weapons that grant a nice boost to MAT which is always handy (no mention of P+S though). With the advantage of side step means these guys are going to be infantry shredders.

Finally the Perforators are a range unit which appear to have low RNG but then its weapon does have Armor Piercing which on a unit is nasty One of their abilities is snipe which helps a lot earlier in the game! However they can sacrifice the range for a boost to the weapons POW (empowered attack) which pushes it up to POW8 which means they move into the range that worries Khador jacks! They also get assault as standard which is just gravy on these.

On top of this all of them are ‘repairable’ so need for a UA for the mechanics to fix them like MoWs, I am sensing a nasty brick list emerging with Axis!

The heavy infantry really has me sold and the artwork for the weapons mechanisms makes them look awesome. Will be interesting to see how the model the weapons and if it will be a split of each type used.

Looking forward to seeing them certainly as the shield wall small base infantry didn’t really work for me but the bigger guys have promise.

Paint/hobby Corner

I have continued to mix it up on the painting table with some Skorne and Cygnar! I have finished my Giant for the #bitsboxchallenge tomorrow so expect pictures!

The act of converting has also got me thinking about my Orks and the fact I only have 5 lootas, sooooo expect some WIP pictures of conversions as I fill that gap

Still thinking on what CoC colour scheme to do and still cannot decide between the metal or ceramic look. I think at this stage I am going to have to wait till I have them in my hands.

In other news I have decided on a purple colour for my Legion now I just need to do some test models to see how it goes. Here Shredder Shredder shredder…

As always any suggests/comments welcome and if you want me to cover anything let me know, as always see you hopefully next week.

Steamroller Tournaments for Beginners by farfaraway.org

For all those who are starting to make the small steps onto the tournament scene in particular Steamroller for Warmachine/Hordes make sure you check out the post by Wargames @ farfaraway.org in which Owen breaks it down to 6 things.

Step 1: Understand the Tournament Format

Step 2: Read the Steamroller Documentation

Step 3: Know your Army

Step 4: Know the Game Rules!

Step 5: Gather your Forces

Step 5: Have Fun!

If you want to read more head on over to site using the link below.

Steamroller Tournaments for Beginners

Awesome Kraken Conversion

During my stumble around the internet I come across some great painting work or conversions or both and today is no different .

Over at ‘Get behind me Dice Gods’ blog they showcased a truly crazy conversion of the Cryx Kraken that is to be honest something special and certainly means you have to take it with Mortenbra