Epic - House Party - December '20 - Megageddon

Third attempt at herding the cats yielded some results. Saturday 13th game day at my place, on the cards Epic Megageddon.

Assembled a table based on the mdf I have, rather than aiming for a specific size. Was plenty big enough (at least until we started putting down all the models). I think it was about 7.5' x 5.5' and I needed to cut down one of the boards just a tad to get the rectangle.

[ed: Turns out it was larger than the previous board. Previous was 2100x1500, and this was 2250x1650, based on a common 1800x1200 (normal board) + 450 to each length, as all the board involved were 450 wide. fascinating stuff. [yawn]] 

Had some support beams under it to ensure stability and towels to protect the dining table. Overall... solid.

Table cloths on. I opted for the two 'blanket' mats cos they're the most similar pair I have and didn't want to mix neoprene and blanket.

Then the fun part, being able to put out as much terrain as I damn well want.

Tried to vary the terrain and put out something for everyone.

Top right was forests and ruins.

Bottom right was cathedrals and mountains.

Left side had the city dominating the centre and industrial around the sides.

This would give titans plenty of high things to break line of sight and lots of buildings for infantry to get cover in.

Overall I was pretty happy with the result, just unfolded organically too... the fun part. 

We were playing 2:1 (only 3 of us playing)   and had Imperials: marines and titans    vs  Chaos:  chaos marines and vraksians traitor guard (didn't get a starting pic of the Chaos forces).

And now a dump of pics as the game happened, from the school of playable dioramas...

Infantry hiding in the ruins. Garrison was a help for this scenario.

This was our Chaos player's first time using the Vraksians. This is our standard Thursday night blackstone crew.

Vraksians.

Chaos Marine bikes and part of the Leman Rus tank blob.

Lots of Marine tanks this time around. 

I decided against using airborne drop troops as our objective for the game was turn-by-turn held objectives giving the side points. Holding the objectives on your side was worth less than holding objectives on the enemy's side. Exactly the same as our game in November 2019.

Bottom line being that troops on the ground was far more relevant than troops in aircraft for holding objectives.

The only off board formations we had (both sides) was a set of terminators each which teleported in, and attack aircraft (thunderbolts etc).

Chaos Marines and Deathstrike launchers. There was a lot of artillery and indirect fire units on the Chaos side (and these reaching across the board *), forcing the Imperials to spread out to avoid the barrages as much as possible. This left the deployment zone feeling far smaller than it normally would have.

* this is actually a fun feature of these big board games. Needing to travel further and giving those long range weapons a chance to function in their niche.

A Malchador formation garrisoned within the city.

Minotaur artillery were active throughout the game.

Tanks a little too close to an infantry formation for comfort (and about to get stomped in an assault action).

Not satisfied with smashing tanks they summoned a big ol' Greater Demon to continue the rampage.

The city.

Just an overview of the board approximately end of turn 2.

Probably during turn 3.

And our final results...

As well as getting late in the day, things were turning rapidly in the Imperial's favour with Chaos loosing more and more troops to the point of ineffectiveness.   We started with a 4 turn limit but called it at turn 3.

Because the photo is a bit blurry, our turn by turn results were...

             Chaos         Imperial

Turn 1    13              10

Turn 2    12 (25)       8 (18)

Turn 3    7 (32)         16 (34)

There was a surprising quantity of beer consumed, but the game seemed to flow smoothly regardless (or perhaps because of).

The only real change we made from the November game was that each side activated alternately rather than each player on each side.

So any    vraks/csm  and then  any    sm/titan

This was substantially better as it allowed more flexability in terms of the army strategy, additionally the i.e. titans only had six activations so it would have forced the available options (unnecessarily). Anyway it worked well and I'll amend the scenario rules to use this method.

We also didn't bother with BTS's or any other options - just points per turn.

I mentioned the increased worth of artillery on this board but another feature I liked was the option of taking unit types that are often overlooked for standard 'tournament' games. The are LOTS of units that are thematic, in-universe and really cool, but which don't have a place in the 'standard' game play. This (and other scenarios) are a great opportunity to dust these units off and give them a run on the table.  

And that was that. Probably my last Epic of the year, but hopefully some more fun game adventures to be had in the new year.  Probably not mega for a little while as it's kind of intense, just MORE EVERYTHING.  Worth doing, but you need a break between these big games.

update 2020-12-17

I decided that the army used would be getting battle honours. It was something "more than a pickup game at club"  and required a bit of prep, organisation and elbow grease to make it happen (even though it was just 3 of us. What the hell, the event was catered even!!).

These...

 

...are the colours that the fighting units will receive. The event was fluff-named "Purging of Cersmond Secondus".  This is sideways mashup of 'Richmond' as that is used on more weather maps than 'Windsor' is. 

I had initially thought to just give them a commendation, but the 'Convoy' event (the last that received colours) was a 2 game vs one person deal... so roughly the same amount of table-time.

Dice were thrown in anger, experience points were earned...

Until next time...

Zona Alfa - Military - Part 2

original draft 2020-12-09

No great surprise that this is here, nor the contents... Seal Team 6.

Again I'm going to be a lazy sod and just use the Eureka promo pic.

Also doing up the vested attack dog, though I'm having difficultly working out which group he's meant to be attached to. The pic above clearly doesn't have anything doggy in it, but there's a pic in the "here's some we painted earlier" with a single model from above and the dog. Bit confusing but hardly show-stopping, doubt the dog will ever make it onto the table anyway.

So far everything has brushed black undercoat, and the first blocked in colours, medium grey for the dudes, brown for the dogs.    Shouldn't be a lot of detailing required for them either.

update 2020-12-10

Added some more base colours, plus details and washes are on.  Just some dry brushing to bring out the edges, then basing and good to go.  Will be doing some dry brushing for these (didn't for the usmc) as there's a lot of black/shade of grey, so the main source of variation comes from shade and dry brush.

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update 2020-12-14

Finished off on Friday I think. Happy enough with the results. Magnetised and boxed even. 

Another project scratched off the list.

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Until next time...

Zona Alfa - Military - Part 1

original draft 2020-12-02

I know this is going to be multi-part because...

The order of Eureka minis from ages ago had a few things in in; the contractors, marines and seal team 6... thinking that was it.

Anyway, contractors done ages ago obviously and I'm looking to clear some mini painting backlog... just because... aka to put off painting the AT titans.

The marines have been staring me down every time I walk through the garage, so i started having a serious look at them a couple of days ago. Seal Team will be part 2, as I couldn't be bothered with doing batched multiple colour schemes simultaneously.

I'm going to be super lazy and just post up their site pics...

Which is 16 models all up. Given they will be uniform, unlike the zombies, it should just be a matter of batch painting/washing everything. I'm hopefully anticipating a quick and easy project.  However I will probably look at adding a little subtle camo pattern, so they won't be completely plain. 

As of now they are now all black undercoated.

I honestly don't see a lot of them getting picked for table use. there's perhaps half that fit my 'paying attention' pose requirement. While none of them are yawning, 'guns aimed or at least up', 'standing or moving forward', or at least 'looking forward' are all elements.

Firstly, i'd like to use them as an alternative to using bandits as hostiles. probably skew the tables so they're more likely to arrive like giving them 2 or 3 dice slots which will come down to the table and possibly scenario being played.  Yhey'll need better stats (than bandits) probably, definitely better armour.

Secondly, they'll be more useful in specific scenarios such as attacking a populated military outpost. In this case the crouching or static looking models might get a look in.

Don't get me wrong, they're nice models, suitable for diorama-ing for sure,  but not all of them are my cup of tea for gaming.

The  "usmc squad deal" consists of the following packs...   

- usmc fireteam patrolling (4)

- usmc fireteam firing (4)

- usmc fireteam advancing (4)

- usmc marksman with m21 sniper rifle (1)

- usmc officer (1)

- usmc scout sniper team with barrett   (not part of the "squad deal")

update - some time later that day

Everyone is now super-green...

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update 2020-12-04

I had to get some extra paint to finish off some of the detailing.

Flesh colour -> leadbelcher (metal) -> dark grey -> light green (camo).

The camo is subtle, sometimes blotchy, sometimes sharper. While the green looks incredibly green in the bottle, it dries a little more subdued, especially with a darker under-colour that mutes it. Additionally... pretty much everything will now get a null oil wash (black wash) that will bring it down even more.

All the base colours were selected with darkening in mind, so there is a bit of strategy involved in the process.

After that basing, and i think i will do just a light dry brush on the textured flack jackets just to bring them out (want that done after washes) and they're about done.

Later: first wash done - much better. Everyone now has first layer of astrogranite. Will take a couple of layers to build the basing up a bit as the models are on built up metal mounds.

Later: that dried sufficiently so dolloped on some more. Think it should now hide the bubbular bases.

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Update 2020-12-06

Model kebab. Paint done. Clear protective coat... or two.

Probably the money shot.

Shows the camo a bit better possibly.

And I managed to make enough room in the box for everything. 

I'm sure I can fit seal team 6 when they arrive. not sure about the left over stalkers...

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Update 2020-12-08

Magnetised and properly boxed.

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Until next time...

Zona Alfa - Hostile Recruits and Other Little Projects

Original Draft 2020-11-16

Back when I was looking at assembling hostiles for ZA I pulled out the Zombicide box, decided the zombies were too tall, and back on the shelf it went.

In light of needing something a bit more 'horde-y' in my hostile collection I revisited the situation, did an about-face, and ordered an expansion box of Zombicide zombies.

I think that back when I originally looked I was looking at ebay with its overly bloated prices (and they still are). Now, however I have better stockist.

Given I also can't print anything at the moment dur to a ripped FEP (and I really really don't want to) it's also an expedient option.

Anywho, the box has '15 walkers, 6 runners, and 3 fatties'. I only really did a height comparison on the walkers as that's mainly what I'm interested in using, however I considering adding the runners as a small 'elite' hostile to throw onto the list of available options as well. Might up their speed a fraction (6") just to differentiate them from the regulars.

This should give me more than enough to run a zombie based horde which I think will really suit the 'Defend the Compound' mission far better than the wide spread of hostile types that I ran it with.

I've also since adjusted that mission, changing it to d10 with most rolls bringing 2 squads onto the board per turn.

Additionally, I've reviewed the hostile types, adjusting the stats slightly, giving mutants and rad-ghouls (snorks + bloodsuckers) 2 wounds each and possibly some other minor changes i can't remember.

And, just because...   

I ordered a little baggy of trees. Was cheap. Isn't going to give a lot of coverage but it will add something different again to the table. Will probably just keep adding piece by piece when it comes to tree terrain. Would have ordered a couple of these if they'd had them in stock. They didn't.

Update 2020-11-16

Going to chuck this on here cos it's another little project.

Sooooo, as often happens in my hobby space i see something on a project someone else is doing or similar and go "ooooouh, i could do that".  And that's what happened.

Someone has a bat rep (battle report) up on a post and on their board they had some chainlink fence. I'd tossed around the idea before but i was kind of hung up on the gauge of the 'wire' being used/available easily from bunnings.

Decided to see how it would look with the gutter guard i had (as used for the rock bastions) and see how that looked.

It looks... chunky. However i can live with that.

In MY zone the powers-that-be are mildly smarter than their real life counterparts and after determining that zombies and critters are not stopped by regular chainlink (see almost any zombie/critter movie for confirmation)  that the zone would be surrounded by solid fencing made of treated pine logs with rebar as the wire (sharpened to blades at the top for extra spikeiness).  

With material at hand it is not uncommon for smaller fences such as those at compounds and facilities to be constructed in a similar if toned down manner.

Drilled holes for the (approx.) 7mm dowel pieces (about 2" long) glued them in then cut segments of gutter guard. little wire loops to attach them to the dowels.  8 lengths of about 6" each.

Then broke out the plaster bucket and zuzhed up the base a little. Makes it slightly less plebeian.

Also plastered up some 3d print sandbags I'd done up. 

When that's dry it'll get a sprinkle of glue and sand. Then paint.

I think it's generally a better option for my board especially with the military base, container yards, docks etc. Will definitely get some use. And there should be enough length there to enclose some larger areas without skimping. 

Anyway, bit of fun.

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update 2020-11-19

glue and sand.

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update 2020-11-20

Brushed off the excess sand and dolloped on texture paint yesterday evening. This morning a black with primer rattle can on the fence parts. Then the very dribbly dregs of a silver rattle can over that. Then touched up the texture paint on the base again.

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update 2020-11-23

And chainlink fences done. 8 sections worth completed as planned. There's a whole bunch of subtle washes and dry brushing on the fence and base that the camera totally ignored. Better in real life as usual.

Just a quick diorama-esque pic to show scale.

Was a easy, quick, cheap project that will definitely add something to the table.

In other news:   sandbags still on the paint table - need to colour match the sandbags i already did.

Zombies were all rebased onto mdf. I like the uniformity and a little extra weight of those bases. They are all also on the paint table and have been undercoated black.

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update 2020-11-26

The two tree stands and the resin printed sandbags are now completely done. Reasonably happy with the result.

The sandbags are just thematic non-descript board filler. Will use them around the compound and military base.

Trees pretty much the same. Without a greater volume of these trees they're just going be spot pieces. They weren't the worst thing i've constructed in terms of mess and fiddliness...

Zombie reinforcements have been waiting for these other projects to finish off since those were relatively close to done and boxable.

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update 2020-11-30

Colours blocked in on the horde. Since then the basing, washes and gore has been added. Didn't bother dry brushing at all.

Will give them a spray of clear varnish some time today, and if I could be bothered making magnets they could potentially be boxed today (or they could just slide around in the box I guess).

We have our game club meet next Saturday so I won't be able to rerun the scenario that these were built for... maybe Sunday, but not counting on it.

Zombie kebab, about to get some spray.

Gore is a little more subtle/darker than the pic might indicate.

No magnets but they're sitting in the box already. Calling it done.

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Until next time...

Betrayal at Calth (BaC) - Old Project, New Movement - Part 2

Original Draft 2020-11-23

It seemed to take ages but the Orks have progress in the paint department. 

They're all base coloured, they've all got basing done. The only difference is that the ones on the right do not have the metal washer in the base.

I'm at a stage where I can possibly looking at splashing some washes around to get some class happening with them. And I think I possibly will [ed: I did].

Update 2020-11-25

Calling this 'painting done'. This is all the force now with added washes. Didn't bother with dry brushing - too much work for not enough extra pop.

They will no longer fit in this box so other accommodations required.

I need to whip out to bunnings and pick up some washer for the new models (and also the Horrors). The extra weight really helps stop them tipping (plus magnets etc).

These all also need some clear coat to protect them. Will do that first. I sometimes don't count that as painting (so boring, but worth it)...

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Update 2020-11-25

The Orks are just done with the first coat of clear sealant. One more to go.

Got some 8mm washers (outside diameter of the washer is 3/4" which is the telling measurement). Also some more epoxy. Started gluing them into bases. Did the Horrors since they're done with painting.

Had to cut out slot grooves on the Pink Horrors, but the Blue and Yellows had plain bases which makes things soooo much easier.  Stupid slota bases.

The Blue and Yellows need a slight bit of padding so i used the packaging from the epoxy (thin carboard thickness was all that was required - brings the washer flush with the rim of the plastic base).

This to hold the washer in place as the epoxy hardens. Bloody pegs, ridiculously helpful hobby tool. Think i'll get some for my hobby mates for xmas. And the paddlepop sticks are very useful too.

I guess it's like with real woodwork, you can never have too many clamps.

Once the epoxy is set and the washer aren't going anywhere I smooth on some gap filler and now wait for it all to dry before sanding.

The weight in the bases makes a big difference stopping models tipping. Especially applies to tall models, aka the blue and especially pink Horrors, and all the Orks have Choppa's (big ol' orky cleavers) raised too, so they tip.

This is the plaster filler I have/use. The brand is pretty irrelevant but this stuff is perfectly acceptable. The 5 litre tub however is very handy. Getting little tubes is annoying and far more expensive in the long run.

If you're making rock/terrain pieces then you can just goop it on without a care in the world.

The only down side is that sometimes it gets 'liquidy' and can get a bit of mould. This can be scrapped off and disposed of and the remainder is fine.  This is the second 5 litre tub I've had since I've started hobbying but it lasts years with 'normal' use.

'Arts and Crafts' for somewhat bigger kids.

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Update 2020-11-26

The Horrors are completely done. Completely. Washers in, paint touched up. No point with pics as they look exactly the same.

The Orks got washers last night and are awaiting the plaster to dry before finishing.

I have briefly considered the 'boxing' situation. I'm considering decommissioning my Epic filament armies, and reusing their boxes. These armies are/have been replaced by resin prints and I've offered them out to locals as proxy armies - not a lot of takers... not a lot of games so not a lot of reason to.

Anyway, I think the first (black templar) of those will be zip locked bagged and placed in storage sooner rather than later.

I do actually have a couple of spare art boxes around but they don't have magnetic sheets in them (as yet). Probably prefer to just recycle some space at the moment. 

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Update 2020-11-27

The Orks are completely done. Completely. Again they look the same, so no pic.

I have, since last update, bagged and archived the filament templars and now have the Chaos Demons and Orks sharing the box.

This will do until such stage as I'm ready to review the Chaos Marines, as they will probably share the box with the Demons, and the Orks will then need new digs.  I'm unlikely to add any further Demons or Chaos Marines to what I have (more than enough for BaC-ing).

It is extremely unlikely that I will be adding any further Orks. I'm not a huge fan and I probably would have only brought that add-on box if it was going for dirt cheap (so long ago I can't remember where or when I got it).

However, I am very much hanging to get these Orks on the board for some dice rolling. Just for a change from Chaos Marines.

Project done !!

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update 2020-11-28

Brought the boards out and rolled some dice. Super-hot here today so indoor and low impact activities only. 

Had about 3 or maybe even 4 games. Can't remember exactly.

I made a really nupty error early on, thinking that Orks were Stamina/HP 1 when actually they are 2. So they were dying like crazy for my first game, which resulted in my bring out more and more of them. During the second game I had the 'ooops' moment and realised they should have been a whoooole lot more resilient.

The next game they went from being underpowered to powered and grossly over-catered. Anyway it was fun pitting the Marines against hordes of Orks (hey, they were out anyway). Fun was had by all.

Next time I'll start with matched (point) lists and try that again.  

I put a small squad of jump pack marines on the table as well and an Ork Boss.

I think I have some Terminators for the Marines (one of my homebrew chapters) but they're not in the usual box. Have a feeling they're kind of in a "still painting base colours and in a box somewhere" phase. Might look them up for shiggle, to get some options for the force.

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update 2020-11-29

Just chatter this time. I ran the 'matched' lists. 1x Sgt, 1x HeavyBolter, 8x Tactical vs 2x Nobz and 10x Boyz.

The first game the Orks swarmed, and the Marines missed too much or didn't take enough shots. Once in CC range the Orks are absolutely brutal with each model putting out 4 dice (12 dice per unit) so even if you survive for a counter attack you'll be hitting back with less models. I think the Orks might have lost half their force before the Marines were tabled. I also made the mistake of moving the Marines up to far. The Orks have no choice as their Sluggas only have a range of 3 so in generally they have no option but to rush the other end. 

The second game the marines held back and controlled a handy firing lane. I think they only lost 2 models before the Orks were tabled. This Marines configuration is very much a shooting loadout so getting into CC is a really bad idea.

The third game I added 2x Chainsword/BoltPistol to the Sgt unit, boosting the Marines CC presence slightly. I also added 2x Boyz and 1x HeavyShoota, giving the Orks some long ranged capability - not too much as I still wanted the emphasis to be on a charging horde. The 'hold the line' tactics from the Marines had them whittling down the Orks before they could get into CC. 

And that was all I could be bothered with for the session.  Very entertaining and the Orks prove quite tough when sporting the right amount of HP. Basically the points match was OK. 

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Until next time...