Works in Progress...

Since my last (and first) post, I think I have accomplished a great deal without having ever actually finished anything!  Like any true Sagittarius, I have begun many new and exciting projects, among them:

    - Designing a Zone Mortalis board and playing a game or two;
    - Converting my own "Blue Falcons" Chapter of Space Marines into Crimson Fists;
    - Custom-building a Crimson Fists captain, who will count-as Pedro Cantor in-game;
    - Building a drop pod (what a nightmare that was!);
    - Buying and building squadrons of Aeronautica Imperialis models - Eldar, Imperial, and Space Marine; and
    - Buying (but not building, yet) a fleet of Imperial cruisers, escorts, and Space Marine strike cruisers for Battlefleet Gothic.

I'll take the bolter; you just stand there and look pretty!

I am now terribly thrilled at the prospect of being able to play a multiphase campaign in space, in the air, and (tactically, at least) on the ground.  I have no plans for getting into Epic at this time, although Rob has always spoken quite highly of it; I have too many other projects to complete, first, and frankly, I don't have the brain-space to learn yet another complicated rule-set.  After all, I still have a thesis to write!  And, now that the decision I have been waiting for is being published, I can really begin my work in earnest.  Once more unto the breach!  Let's take that hill!!  FOR THE EMPEROR!!!

Additionally, around-about the time I began serious work on the Moritat, I also painted a number of my Night Goblins.  Although I have not made very much progress with them, I have nonetheless posted some pictures of them here, as well.

Affording Agency

Sorry, no new models worked on the past two weeks - in adequate motivation and horrible discipline. But I wanted to discuss the importance of ensuring all players in a game have a sense of agency.  It also is a chance to vent.

Agency: 3. action or intervention, especially such as to produce a particular effect.

Importantly, when I lose a game I want to have lost because I failed at something I could correct - short of total army book/codex change!  The only way to fix a loss should not be to scrap an army and start over with a "better" army.

This means identifying tactical errors - poor deployment or committing the wrong unit to combat - or even identifying holes in the army list - a few more Gyrocopters or a unit of Hammers instead of Slayers.  If a loss is assured even if the game goes perfectly, then it is not going to be a fun game for anyone.

Wood Elf Glade Guard

First unit of Glade Guard 1/2

So I have finally returned from a summer of little to no hobby related activities. Frankly being up to the hilt in PhD work has severely limited my available time for anything else. In addition I have been to New Mexico, California, and Colorado (not to mention several places in between) in the last 60 days. Enough excuses this fall will hopefully see more work on my wood elf army.

Objective Markers & Battle Summaries

Objective(s) Complete!

This weekend has been a hobby-filled weekend.  I played a game of 40k and Fantasy, picked up the new Codex: Grey Knights, and assembled and painted 6 objective markers for 40k.  A very "productive" hobby weekend.

My game of 40k really inspired the need to make objective markers.  At the beginning of the game, my opponent and I numbered clockwise each 2'x2' section and placed a market of some kind in each (4 Inquisitorial henchmen and 2 statues).  I wanted to make sure the markers "hid" the numbers as part of a small diorama on each base.

Quick battle summaries after the break.

Dwarf Nobles

The nobles of Odinfir's Throng

Tonight, I have completed all the Dwarf Lords and Heroes, except for the Dragonslayer/Demonslayer.  Tomorrow, I will seal them with Purity Seal.  I have not gone to the n-th detail on these models; my evolving painting style means the large areas of armor and beards do not get a lot of individual detailing.

One of my disappointments is that the images are just not as sharp as I would like.  After the break, I have pictures of the four newly painted lords/heroes.

Odinfir, Dwarf Lord & 2 battles in M41

Odinfir taking a swing

For my FLGS Fantasy campaign, I am fielding Odinfir as my main character.  He is a Lord on Shieldbearers with a shield and a great weapon to start off.  No magic items, argh!  Sadly, I did not get the opportunity to field Odinfir and his throng against Chaos Demons this weekend.  My opponent never got back to me.

The last step the the Dwarf Lord will be sealing him, but that may wait until I have a few more characters to seal.  I am thinking my next model will be either a Runesmith with great weapon or a Thane with the Battle Standard.  After those two, it will leave two Thanes to paint up.

In other news, got in two games of Warhammer 40,000 this weekend.  A game Friday night, my Eldar (1,000 pts) allied with Astra Militarum (1,000 pts) against Chaos Crimson Slaughter (2,000 pts).  My game Sunday was 2,000 pts, Ultramarines vs Nurgle Chaos Space Marines.

My Return to the painting table.

Well gents and ladies, I have been on a long hiatus, plenty to paint but certain other activities have drawn me away from the much beloved painting table.  That being said, I have returned with a new set of projects, well really all the old projects just expanded upon .  Here is whats on the agenda, plus a box of wraith blades purchased after this photo was taken.

Gyrocopter & Lord

Odinfir throng vanguard

This past week and weekend I worked on my Dwarf Gyrocopter. It was a fun model to paint with nice detailing that the paint really reveals.

My FLGS has just begun a Warhammer Fantasy narrative campaign and for my forces, the Gyrocotper is a critical scouting unit.  In the lead up to the first game, the daring pilot sighted an area of interesting ruins.

I settled a few months ago on red as a unifying color for my Dwarf throng.  I used blue here to more closely associate the Gyrocopter with the sky.  I think I will eventually get at least a second one to run a two ship.  I really like the models and they may just fill the need for Dwarf cavalry.

Cannon Crew!

I hand painted the main cannon featured here months ago.  It was an opportune time to paint up its crew and base the cannon as well.  The crew was painted using basic techniques outlined in "How to Paint Citadel Miniatures."

Cannon and Crew

Gunpowder Core and Beyond

Second Regiment of Thunders

Just finished painting up my second Thunder regiment.  These are from the Battle of Skull Pass and will not be used WYSIWYG.  In games, this unit will have shields and the veteran will not have the handguns.

Runesmith & pseudo-Bachelor

I spent the day at my FLGS painting a Runesmith for my Dwarfs.   For the next 10 days or so, I am a pseudo-Bachelor and have a bit more me-time.  This means more opportunity to paint, just have to be motivated to, spending time at the store does that.

Also, I need to make a "new" list, because no-artillery list was just not doing it. Warmachines really are critical to a Dwarf army.  Where other armies can forgo warmachines, relying on monstrous creatures and magic to weaken hard hitting units, Dwarfs lack both options.  Time to add back in the Organ Guns and Cannons.

The New Wood Elves

Additional Wood Elves for the Wild Hunt

So way back when Rob and Colby first got me into this hobby they took me into a GW shop in So-Cal and urged me to choose an army that looked fun to play. So after looking at several models and thumbing through a few codices I found something in the middle of the wood elves book that made me choose them for my first army. Against the advise of the store owner and at least three strangers in the store I bought the battalion box,  some dice and supplies, and was off to build my first army.

Taking Back the Dark

Had a nice long weekend of gaming!  I spent Friday evening (8 to midnight) at the store hanging out and painting Irondrakes.  I followed it up with a 2000 pt game and finishing Irondrakes on Saturday (2ish to midnight)!  My Taking Back the Dark list (after the break) was utterly destroyed by the Dark Elves I faced (Dark Elf Sisters of Slaughter negate a lot of the advantages that Dwarfs get).

Irondrakes, The Red Embers

Irondrakes

This weekend I put in some time on my new Irondrakes.  I have used them twice now in 1,000 pt games and they have been superb!  I really enjoy playing my "Taking Back the Dark" theme, I probably needs a better name. I may theme it as an Eight Peaks force eventually.

Mission Accomplished

Well Everyone the Tomb Kings are complete.  I'm quite pleased with how they turned out.  A 500 point list with a built in regiment of renown list, having only purchased 4 boxes and a hero.

Walls & Fences

Sunday morning, I finished up the set of walls and fences that I picked up to increase the amount of terrain available for use at the store.  My son helped a bit and the walls and fences were a good opportunity to practice some core techniques.

All the walls & fences

Yet another Update.

The undead are coming along all too nicely I dare say.  Heavy use of black inks has become a thing, and I will do an at length post on that once the undead are done.

The completed Ushabti

Speaking of Dead Guys

Got cracking on the Tomb Kings army last Thursday.  Figured I'd start small and paint one skeleton...

Death Company and Dead Guys

A progress post for all you who thought I dropped off the face of the earth, which I have not.  

The Death Company and Death Company Dreadnaught

High Elves: Lions, Sisters and Shadows Army

It's about time I contribute something, so here is my High Elf army as it stands now. I chose to build an army around the idea of a group of elves dedicated to defending the northwest coast of Ulthuan from the invasions of the Dark Elves and their brethren. With that in mind, my core units are from Nagarythe and they are supported by units from the neighboring regions of Chrace and Avelorn. Alith Anar, the Shadow King and leader of the Shadow Warriors (the remnants of the noble families of Nagarythe for the most part) is the first model I got and is my centerpiece, for now. He's not quite finished to my liking, but close.

Alith Anar - The Shadow King