Almost a year....

So, its been almost a year since I last posted on this blog. It isn't that I have had a lac of interest, quite the opposite, I have had a great deal of interest and have been pretty busy, I have just been blogging primarily at another blog I work on.... Im trying to compartmentalize though and keep the work stuff over there and the business stuff over here. Though I may migrate the blog there to this site.... if I can just figure out how. anyway. I wanted to talk about a project that I am undertaking to rebuild a Gun Carraige I bought off a friend that has seen better days.

Experimenting with a Light box and Fenris

So, I am in the process of seperating my forces into 5th Border Legion, Unbreakable 111th, and GeneralKhador. One of my General Khador models is Fenris. I also am trying out a new photo-fu method of using a Milk Carton as a light box, works really well actually. I also noticed after the pics that I have a few details to fix on him.... I like my new lightbox. I hope you enjoy the pics.

Post Game Review, 10/16 Steamroller

Well, I really don't have too much to say. I will say I enjoyed myself immensely and had a great time. It only went three games due to the number of players and I played against Menoth in round one andlost, great game though and the first time my Conquest has been defeated. The 2nd game was Cryx and try as they might, they couldn't bring Augie down. The final game was against Legion. I went with Karchev for the sheer fun factor and it was a straight up knock down drag out heavy beast and infantry vs heavy jacks and infantry brawl. Thanks to my opponents for the great games and thanks to The Game Vault for hosting this tournament..... I might want to start talking to the pressganger about maybe running a Foodmachine event.

Game one Beginning

Game one end

Game 2 Beginning (Forgot to photograph end)

Game 3 Beginning

Game 3 end

What is painted so far

Conquest and a Juggernaut

Not a major update today, a rough shot of my Conquest in my standard 5th Border Legion, and a Juggernaut in a Unbreakable 111th Scheme I decided to experiment with. Conquest took the better part of 2 weeks, The Juggernaut was 8 hours of painting......

Dear God, the Rivets!!!!!!

Now I just need to get them appropriately based. The Juggy will probly never see table time under me as I dont plan on building a full Unbreakable 111th. My Conquest, which I refer to as Augie, a recently passed pet, recently helped me win a game in which it "Hulk Smashed" its way through 3 Circle Warbeasts and 1 Light Cav model without breaking a sweat under the command of Harkevich.

Until next time, Happy Hunting.

Of models, Historicon, and game stores

Well,

I just wanted to update everyone on my progress on.. well... everything.

First of all I have to say, I had a great time at Historicon. I ran 2 games, both of which were great. I also played in Wicked Day which was interesting. I had never dealt with Car Bombs in BattleTech before. I also played in the Grand Melee. All I have to say is I have fallen in love with the Pariah and I think I will have one already painted and based to try and win the Melee next year.

As for what I am up to now, I am running a BattleTech demo at The Game Vault on August 18th. Basically I'm planning on doing some small basic games, hopefully getting some people interested in the game and see where it goes from there.

On to the painting front.

Right before Historicon I had to finish all my Mechs for Historicon which put everything on hold. Since then I have felt kind of worn out and now on my work bench, I have four different projects I keep switching between so that I don't get bored with any of them.

They are:

Tyranids..... I know..... I have been working on these forever. They are pretty nice even though I really don't care for them. I still have to finish the Hive Tyrant, 15 Genestealers, and a Lictor and they are done. Woot!!!!

Nids Almost Done

Next up on the list is a Khador Army made up of a purchase I made for 300 for tons of Khador stuff. This army I will be selling consists of 2 Juggernauts, a Destroyer, Karchev, PSorscha, a Full Mechanicks Squad, Widowmakers, and Man-O-War Kovnik. They are all being done in a generic Khador Red.

the Khador "Red Army" sans a Mechanik, Sniper, and Juggernaut who are all on the worktable

Keeping with the Khador Theme. I have a worktable covered in my army and my in progress pieces. In the back of the pic you will notice my current army which consists of :
Karchev, p-Sorscha, Plastic Destroyer - who will be converted to Black Ivan, Devastator, Classic Juggernaut, Beast-09, Full Man-O-War Shocktroops, Full Man-O-War Bombardiers, Greylord Ternion, Manhunter, Widowmakers, Widowmaker Marksman, Full Mechaniks.

I am using them as reference for the very large expansion of my army which includes:
2 Classic Juggernauts, Classic Destroyer, Kodiak, Devastator, Spriggan, Man-O-War Kovnik, Man-O-War Drachun with Dismount, Min Man-O-War Demo Corps, Min Man-O-War Shocktroops plus one additional guy, Doom Reavers, Fenris, War Dog, Berserker, pIrusk, pButcher, eButcher, pVlad, Old Witch and Scrapjack, Behemoth, Harkevich, Kayazy Eliminators, Female Manhunter. If you haven't noticed, except for character jacks and new models that weren't built in metal, I'm trying to go as much metal jacks as possible.

The 5th Border Legion Expands......some Khador Red guys at the bottom of the pic.

Alright, now we move on to my final job int he line.... Battletech:
DCMS - Strider, Raptor, Avatar
General Camo - Pariah
CCAF - Men Shen, Phoenix Hawk Reseen
LCAF - Jumping Atlas, Atlas, Arctic Fox, Cyclops
SLDF 2750 - Spider, Hussar, Champion, Bombardier, Exterminator, Osprey, Shadow Hawk Primitive
WoB - Buccaneer, Grand Crusader, Red Shift, Initiate, Initiate
AFFS - Thunderbolt 9NAIS, Hammerhands

BattleTech and the XBox360 games

Finally, I would like to say that I had the pleasure during Historicon of hosting Paul Sjardin here at my house. Great guy, fun to talk to, and has good taste in Chinese food. I hope to have him back here next year.

I would just like to finally end the post in some pics of my game room, a constant work in progress

Wall Art

The table, mostly clean and set up for Warmachine

The messier end of the room

My car collection

Even more waiting to be done.....NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Better shot of the table

Jethro and Captain Jack Sparrow

Augie

Dont forget to visit your FLGS

www.thegamevault.net

www.ftwgames.net/

A long, somewhat lost 5th ed 40k vs Warmachine rant...Letshope 6th ed is better.

Before you read this. I was upset and angry and wanted to go find Stelek and smack him with the entirety of the internet when I wrote this. I still hate Stelek, the ugly living under the bridge troll that he is, but I though I would let this rant finally see the light of day and ask, Does 6th solve the problems I bring up in my nerd rage induced diatribe, or only enhance them?  

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I find myself writing this in a self question; What is the intrinsic value of a game, or an army for that matter? I guess the answer is how much enjoyment you get from playing it. Well going by that definition, then the intrinsic value of my Warhammer Guard army would be lower then anything, hell, most of our "armies" sit in disuse in cases not being deployed or used except in one off situations.

    I have a very large and formidable Tau army. It is a decent army considering the codex is behind the times and that they haven't received any new models in a long while. Even that army though has fallen by the wayside in recent months as I have begun playing Warmachine.

    I think the first problem lies in the games themselves. I look at what I need to tote around to play a pick up game of Warhammer 40k and what I need to tote around for Warmachine and the differences are staggering.

For 40k I need to keep available the following:
70 Fire Warriors
6 Devilfish
2 Hammerhead Chassis with 1 Skyray, 1 Ion Cannon, and 2 Railgun Turrets
1 Pihranha
16 Crisis Suits
2 Crisis Suit Commanders
1 Farsight
3 Sniper Drone Team Leaders
9 Sniper Drones
20 Kroot
6 Kroot Hounds
8 Vespids
3 Broadside Suits
8 Pathfinders
14 Gun Drones
14 Shield Drones
1 Ethereal
5 Objective Markers
Templates
Tape Measure
Codex
Rulebook
That is 189 Models carried in 4 multi-layer Pistol Cases

For Warmachine I need the following
Karchev
Sorscha
2 Juggernauts
1 Destroyer
1 Devestator
Beast 09
4 Widowmakers
1 Widowmaker Marksman
6 Mechanics
8 Man O War Bombardiers
8 Man O War Shock Troops
1 Manhunter
Templates
Tape Measure
Rulebook
that is 35 Models carried in a small 12x15 plastic case

    So for Warhammer 40K my "pick up game" equipment includes my entire collection, and to transport them it takes up the trunk of a small car. My Warmachine pick up game stuff on the other hand only takes up the area that I need for a tinly case which is smaller then my laptop bag.

    I know there ae those people who will say that I should take only wht I need, but the problem is that I might need a crisis suit army to fight army X and a fire warrior army to fight army Y, then a mix of the two to fight army Z. Honestly one of the reasons I got away from playing casual 40K outside my home was because of the simple fact that I did not, and still do not, enjoy toting around 4 pistol cases wherever I go. Instead I can condense what I need to 2 or 3 for a tournament. While I loose a great deal of flexibility at a 40K tourney I gain easier transport.

    I think the format for competative 40k though is different and irritating. I played competative 40k for a couple of years. I found it to leave a sour taste in my mouth, more on that later though. Direct comparisons though of competative 40k and Warmacine though lead me to lean towards Warmachine as being the game built for competative play with its very strict and deliberate scenario rules as opposed to 40k where the players can and will, interperet or manipulate the game and rules to thier needs to win. I can draw 2 direct examples of this, well no, 3.

1-Objective placement
    In Warhammer 40K the objectives at most lower level tournaments (and casual play) are placed by the players unless the TO has scenarios which state otherwise. This creates and issue for alot of players in that if I know my army plays well at range but sucks when you are in close, I can place my objective in a position that is adventageous to me and will allow me to defend it better while my opponent whi plays an assault army can place thiers in a position that they dont have to defend because they will likely end up with assets in that are anyway on thier way to get me.

    In Warmachine that scenarios all clearly define where the objectives are on the table. They do not deviate from that position and any scenario you may play at any store or tournament is regulated by these guidelines so that no matter where you play, you will play scenarios from the same selection of scenarios all of which have very rigid guidelines on objective placement and control.

2-Objective Control
    This one is pretty clear cut, but also isnt. Since it is shorter I will go Warmachine first. Warmachine the objectives can only be controlled by wehatever the guidelines in SR2012 (Steamroller 2012) are and they have a defined control area.

    Now on to Warhammer 40k. Yeah....... 3 Inches, has to be a troops choice. Simple enough. It is thouse 3 Inches though which make the problem even more difficult.

the Warhammer 40K rulebook states:

"At the end of a game you control an objective if there is at least one of your scoring units, ano no enemy unit (any uit, whether scoring or not), within 3" of it. As different objectives vary in shape and size, it is important to agree at the beginning of the game exactly where this distance will be measured from"

So, what is covered under Page 91 is:
Scoring unit within 3" of the objective
No enemy units within 3" of the objective
Players need to agree on where the objective is measured from
And, both Seize Ground and Capture and Control asy I cant put the objective in impassible terrain.

What isint covered:
Where on the model do you measure from?
I would assume the base. Why?
Because on Page 3 it states:
"A Model is considered to occupy the area of its base, so when measuring distance between two models , use the closest point on thier bases as your reference points."

There are those who would argue otherwise though.

I have been at tournaments where people have argued the volume of a model counts towards being within 3 inches of an objective where the objective was on a different floor of a bulding.

Since Games Workshop provides no rule stating the volume of the model counts for ranges I cant and wont accept that.

This one subject could go on forever, so I will turnicate it right here.

I all honesty, the first 2 wore me out so much, well speaking about the second, that I have completely forgotten whatthe third was. I am sure this headache I have from writing more then anyone ever should have to about the inticacies of an objective and measuring to it isnt helping.

For those who may be curious though I have always been in the camp of the objective is 3" from a point on the board in an infinate column. this negating the while spherical objective marker nonsense you get into with when it is on a floor in a building.

Essentially what I am getting at here is what is the value to me as a gamer though of Warhammer 40k when I have options out there like Warmachine, Hordes, Malifaux, BattleTech, Heavy Gear Blitz, Dystopian Wars, Mercs, and god knows games that look good which are still in development or that I have overlooked. While each game may have its ups and downs, they are all good in thier own right and quite often they dont require the sheer volumn of space as Warhammer 40k.

I will not argue the investment monetarily in a game, as each game might have diferent price points and quite frankly, I know they have different price points. I know that the games which I play might be considered pricey by someone who likes to play a different game. I could argue investment, but in all honesty, it would probly make me feel bad about all the money I have spent on my hobbies over the past decade alone.

I guess what it all boils down to is this:

Games Workshop, I like the models for 40K, I also used to love the game. Over the past 2 years though I have met some great people in tournament and casual play. I have also met many more though who turned my stomach by using the term "competitive play" to justify being a complete ass hat. Please, do me, and those who also might be disillusioned about this game a couple big favors and do two things. First, admit that this is not a tournament style competitive game due to how you handle releases and rules and second, bring the game down to a manageable level where I can carry around stuff for a pickup game without needing a baggage train.

More painting updates

I am approaching an end to the long and difficult task of painting tons of nids.....thank god. I am also painting a "Khador Red Army" of 21 points with a good number of go-to units for the faction as well as stuff for my own 5th Border Legion.

Nids done so far:

30 Gaunts on hand made bases, Carnifex and Tyrant Guard on Resin Bases

WiP Nids:

Hive Tyrant Front

Hive Tyrant Profile, he also has a custom made base

Tyrant Guard, Pre-wash

Tyrant Guard's resin base

And also my Khador WiP:

Kommander Sorscha, Juggernaut, Destroyer, Widowmakers, Battle Mechaniks, and a MoW Kovnik. All will be done in a glorious red scheme for the Motherland..... then sold.

The rest of my very large trade being assimilated into my 5th Border Legion scheme.

Yeah.... the table has become kind of a mess lately, I need to clean it up.

A random thought on painting

So, I have been painting more nids since I got off work stopping ot work on a Manhunter from time to time so I dont have to see the nids the whole timeI have realized something though. When you are doing a big army small steps can take forever. I dont mind it. In fac it is relaxing. But I have noticed that making the bases is about 2 days of work alone, basing all the models will take a few hours as well on its own.

Even thought I never intend to field this army on a tabletop as I am going to sell it, I still find a sense of satisfaction in makign them and bringing to life a horde of Tyranids that I know someone, maybe even I, will have to face down one day. Of course though, I also think I am partially driven by the want to play against armies painted to at least the same level as mine, or painted at all.

I know that might make me an elitist of sorts because I dont like playing with unpainted pieces. I think though that a fully painted and based army though lends a certain cinematic feeling to the game.

Anyway.... I do digress...

Basicaly I hate looking at crap like this:

Click to zoom in, not for the faint of heart

Yes Stelek, your army looks shitty.


What are everyone elses thoughts on painting, be it Warmachine, Warhammer, 40K, or any other game out there that you like?

GW v PP Price Comparisons

So, I saw an artile on BOLS about Warhammer 40k on the cheap. So, I naturally decided that I should compare my 2 hobbies and see what kind of price differences we are talking about. First I made a Tau list that I could like playing and then 2 Warmachine lists I woudl like playing, both at their standard tournament force sizes, 1500 and 35 respectively, and got current costs, plus taxes, and compared them. The Warhammer 40k list came out to 432.84. not bad for a Tau list at 1500, Warmachine came out to 307.57.

Now breaking it down, just to the starterboxes if you want, the Tau one can support 689 points by itself, i omitted the stealthsuits from the 1500 as i have never found a use for them. The Khador battlebox supports 11 points by itself. Everything in the Khador box though has a use, and at 49.99 vs the Tau box at 110.00 it seems a better deal. I included copies of the rosters below in case anyone wanted to compare for themselves.

Tau 1500 point list

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

1500 Pts - Tau Empire Roster - Sample Roster

HQ: Commander Shas'el
-1 Commander Shas'el - Bonding Knife; Hard-wired Drone Controller; Plasma Rifle; Twin Linked Missile Pod
--1 Crisis Bodyguard - Hard-wired Drone Controller; Missile Pod; Plasma Rifle; Targeting Array
---2 Shield Drone - Shield Generator
--1 Crisis Bodyguard - Hard-wired Drone Controller; Missile Pod; Plasma Rifle; Targeting Array
---2 Shield Drone - Shield Generator
--2 Shield Drone - Shield Generator

HQ: Commander Shas'el
-1 Commander Shas'el - Bonding Knife; Hard-wired Drone Controller; Plasma Rifle; Twin Linked Missile Pod
--1 Crisis Bodyguard - Hard-wired Drone Controller; Missile Pod; Plasma Rifle; Targeting Array
---2 Shield Drone - Shield Generator
--1 Crisis Bodyguard - Hard-wired Drone Controller; Missile Pod; Plasma Rifle; Targeting Array
---2 Shield Drone - Shield Generator
--2 Shield Drone - Shield Generator


Troops: Fire Warrior
-6 Fire Warrior, 155 pts - Pulse Rifle x6
--1 Devilfish  - Burst Cannon; Landing Gear; Disruption Pod; Flechette Discharger
---2 Gun Drones - Twin Linked Pulse Carbines

Troops: Fire Warrior
-6 Fire Warrior, 155 pts - Pulse Rifle x6
--1 Devilfish  - Burst Cannon; Landing Gear; Disruption Pod; Flechette Discharger
---2 Gun Drones - Twin Linked Pulse Carbines

Troops: Kroot Carnivore Squad
-12 Kroot Carnivore Squad, - Kroot Rifle x12

Heavy Support: Broadside Battlesuit
-1 Broadside Battlesuit - Twin Linked Railgun; Smart Missile System; Drone Controller; Team Leader
--2 Broadside Battlesuit - Acute Senses; Twin Linked Railgun; Unit Type: Infantry; Smart Missile System; Target Lock
--2 Shield Drone - Shield Generator

Heavy Support: Hammerhead Gunship
-1 Hammerhead Gunship - Railgun; Landing Gear; Targeting Array; Two Burst Cannons; Disruption Pod; Flechette Discharger; Multi-Tracker

Model List

3 Broadside Battlesuit 3@ 35.00ea (105.00)

2 Tau Crisis Battlesuit Commander - 2@ 30.00 ea (60.00)

4 Crisis Bodyguard - 1 Box Set, 3@ 24.75ea (74.25)

2 Devilfish and gun drones - 1 Box Set, 1@ 35.00

12 Fire Warrior - Box Set

1 Hammerhead Gunship - 1@ 49.50

12 Kroot Carnivores - Box Set

14 Shield Drone - 12 convert from Gun Drones with Suits, 2@ 2.99ea (5.98) (Warstore ebay store gun drones to convert)

Tau Empire Battlebox box set - 110.00

Tau Codex - 24.75

WH40k Rulebook - 57.75

Total: 412.23
VA Sales Tax (5%): 20.61
Subtotal: 432.84

Khador 35 pt list:

List 1 (35pts)
35pt Khador Roster (Standard Game)

Selections:

* Warcaster
* Kommander Sorscha
    * Warjacks
    Beast 09
    Destroyer

* Unit (19pts)
* Doom Reavers (Ldr and 5 Grunts)
* Man-O-War Shocktroops (Leader and 4 Grunts) 
* Widowmakers (Ldr and 3 Grunts)

* Solo
* War Dog 

List 2 (35pts)
35pt Khador Roster (Standard Game)

Selections:
* Warcaster (22pts)
* Karchev the Terrible
    * Warjacks
        Beast 09
    Destroyer
    Juggernaut

* Unit
* Man-O-War Shocktroops (Leader and 4 Grunts)
* Widowmakers (Ldr and 3 Grunts)

Model List
Kommander Sorscha - Battlebox Box Set
Karchev the Terrible - 49.99
Beast 09 - 54.99
Destroyer - Battlebox Box Set
Juggernaut - Battlebox Box Set
Man-O-War Shocktroops - 44.99
Widowmakers - 19.99
Doom Reavers - 32.99
War Dog - 9.99

Warmachine Rulebook (Softcover) - 29.99

Khador Battlebox - 49.99

total: 292.92
VA Sales tax (5%): 14.65
subtotal: 307.57

125.27 difference