Booby-Prize - Structures

[original draft 2019-04-15]

On the weekend i was kind of vaguely reorganising some of my game storage boxes. Lining up things... putting them in groups... lining up the groups...   :)

Had a look through my 'original' epic model box and found some laser cut terrain/structures, from memory i received them along with a wooden spoon at some tournament or other.

With very few things on the build at the moment i put them back in the box and then pulled them back out again within half an hour.

Turns out they're from these guys....
https://battlefield-accessories.myshopify.com/collections/epic
[those games mats look interesting too... neoprene ooouh...]

Nice pieces which i hadn't bothered assembling due to having copious printed structures and other things higher on the workbench.
However i figured - why not assemble them and add them to the terrain roster as they're just sitting in the box doing nothing anyway. Plus there is still a tiny bit of room in the terrain box (if i manage to shuffle the structures the right way).

[later] all assembled. not sure that they're 100% right but there weren't too many left over pieces or pieces i had to knife into place.

Each of the pieces is different; 3 bombed out apartments (2 large, 1 small), and one bombed factory/workshop. 

Hmm, let me clarify, the reason why i have them is why 'booby-prize', not because of the models themselves. nice, clean work, assembled easily. solid enough, and looking forward to putting them on the table.

Probably more interesting (to me) is what will be required for painting (i.e. what's different between mdf and plastic?).


[later: 2019-05-13]
had a wee bit of hobby motivation. enough to bog up the joints, missing connection holes and edges.

this dried and then got sanded back.

even enough motivation to spray paint them.

this is obviously my first foray into mdf... and... i just don't know.

some of the fracture cracks they burned onto the mdf get a bit lost in the 'fixing'.
i am using a 'thick' spray paint which might be adding to that. on one hand i'd like it to fill the join errors on there other there's lots of bullet holes and fracture cracks in danger of getting smoothed over entirely.
the paint is quite decent, ultra matt 'chalk' finish. not a chalk paint but 'chalk texture' if that make sense... according to the can anyway.    i quite like it. 

from the close up pic the corners aren't great so will do another round of fixing (plaster then paint) for them.... though tbh on the table it would probably make no difference at all.
no rush on these though so a mid week job.

still working out how i'm actually going to do the finishing painting, i.e. colours.


[later: 2019-05-20]
Went boring colours. Was contemplating feature top sections with bands of colours... too hard.

So just started layering over the spray, which was excellent (more on that after), washes and a lot of dry brushing.

Not much to the interiors... bit bare - threw a little astrogranite on some floors and walls just to create some texture here and there... picked bare by scavengers obviously... or due for knockdown-rebuild.

Sufficiently happy with the results - wouldn't bother getting any more myself but if i didn't print then it's a decent terrain option.
Painted, boxed, out of the way and functional. Done.


Re spray paint
What was probably more intriguing for me was this particular spray paint. Given i have a new, large project on the verge of commencement i'm contemplating using this (just this) as a 'templar' undercoat/base rather than painted black etc. Will make more sense in due course.
Probably worth investigating what other colours it comes in too (note to self).


Until next time...

Blackstone Box Hostiles

Yhay! I finally finished off the last of the box set hostiles. Yhay!

Beastmen were finished off during the week...

...and rogue psykers less than 1/2 hour ago. 

Still have the 3 ambull models to go plus 3 explorer models (priest and hobbits).

No great rush on it as we're unlikely to have a multi-player session for a couple of weeks, but nice that they're done.

Because i can, here's a group shot of all the box hostiles...

Reasonably pleased with the results in general. probably the widest variety of models i've painted in a while, with possibly the exception of the z-war one set. Rates in as 'fun - but wouldn't want to do it again'.


[update: 20190826]
Procrastinating cos i didn't want to bring the printer out. Everything got a coat of stormshield (clear protector) all the BSF and all the Necromunda i've done so far.

Until next time...

Epic Models - a middle

So i was talking 3d printing with some local folk and ended up lining everything up. i like lining things up... and grouping things... and lining up groups of things... [sigh]

Anyway, so i got all my boxes of marines and cleared the table...

i always want to play mainly marines. the other stuff is more an attempt to understand other forces but i've developed some liking for them (alternates) as well.
The imperial fists (yellow) are my first army and the most diverse set, where my intention was to print out different types of models, find out what i like, and then get 'original' models over time.
One could conclude that that plan kinda went out the window...

Mainly an excuse to chuck up some pics since i have them...

then i decided 'why not get everything out'...

so, codes:
a) dark hands - i made a set for a friend and a duplicate set as a learner/demo set
b) imperial fists
c) rust wolves (homebrew) - starter set for someone who is still to collect/use them
d) death knights - original a gift set which i got back
e) kraits divergent (homebrew) - a pet fluff project
f) black templars - my faves, i admit it
g) knight world - House Sython (homebrew)
h) ad mech titan legion - unnamed
i) eldar - nominally biel tan - attempting to understand what they do. some of everything. not sure if an particular 'tournament grade' lists possible from available models, probably/possibly
j) tyranids - quantity over quality. not a huge amount of diversity and more a fun build. again, not sure how viable the unit's i've amassed are re tournaments
k) chaos marines/red corsairs. just generic marine stuff really, could add some demons and list specific stuff (/formations) to fill it out. was kind of the initial intention but got side-tracked. one day maybe (they're fun to play against too)...
L) vraksians. varied basic units/formation. not a lot of specialist variant units. enough to assemble a couple of lists (which i've seen in use)

and that's it. that's how i've been spending my time since... wow... approximately January 2016.

most of the projects are at a 'perpetually stable point'. could probably (as per red corsairs) expand out the forces and work on actual lists. probably won't unless there is some inspiration such as a reinvigoration of the local scene but you never know.

Safe to say that my Epic progress is pretty much coming to a middle.

[couple of days later: I was at the local shops and managed to track down the new (and small) FLGS. The owner had a photon printing a 'test cube' thingy. said he'd only got it running the night before.
The printer wasn't as stinky as i'd envisaged (at all really, though he said he put on two filter pads (whatever that means)). The printer itself is a little smaller than i'd imagined, probably foot print less than the up!mini but maybe a hand-span taller. Definitely got me contemplating resin again.
If (and it's a big if) i do end up getting one i think i'd like to have a print list ready to go. the idea of continually cleaning up the printer and not printing for weeks has less appeal. i'd probably want to print out everything i want for (i.e. eldar) army upgrades (or entire rebuild) and then box it until next project. it was nice with the filament printer to be able to leave it set up and print as required but i think that's not too good for the resin printer from what i understand - could be wrong though.]

Until next time...

BSF - mission uno (really for real)

[original post draft 20190403]

spiky o'monocle done...

not a huge fan of the model or the stat line but fully intend to run him for first set of missions next session to take advantage of his vessel bonus. [bit of a waste of effort as it so happens, but such is the fate of those who put their fortune in the roll of a dice... gah...]

bit of a minor kitbash. the original model was rapier left hand and smoking a space-ciggy in the right; so a bit nonce. ended up carving off the holster as well (on the back of the model, so unseen)

spiky o'monocle re-done...

so, now he has a smaller pistola. and one of the necromunda orlock chaps is minus a gun... and a hand... and a forearm... it's not like they're getting any use at this stage anyway.
it's kind of a boxy pistol and i guess i'd have preferred something like the slimmer, eldar style pistols but i think it will do. more suitable than the previous one anyway.



[update: 20190823]
Despite this STILL not being entirely the gun i'm looking for, spikey now has a new shooter.

Mainly this is inspired as i wanted to give the dude from necromunda git pistol back. There's talk of potential necromunda games in the wind so thought i'd get him back to 'functional' (if not painted and sans rules... anywho). Had a look on ebay for bitz but there's few/none without buying a whole sprue (which is not an option). 

So, on the cards is giving the orlock gang a paint up. Probably with 'traditional'/whats-on-the-box colours or close enough.

Anyway, i managed to find spikey a spare forearm and found a (dark) eldar splinter pistol which is actually bang-on with the fluff anyway. 

It's not as ornate as i'd have liked for him, however, having a splinter pistol is far more satisfying. Will paint it screaming skull representing a wraithbone object, then a wash of agrax, then a dry brush of possibly white... maybe screaming skull... or maybe even pink (pink highlights can be narly in the right place).

the forearm was actually from a space marine so it has a 'cuff' which i'm going to highlight or accentuate with the screaming skull treatment (same as pistol), kind of tying the pistol to a controller or something like that. 


[update: 20190826]
Now complete with splinter pistol... much better.

Missions

We're planning another session this coming thursday and will probably start playing a 'for real' mission this time, keeping progress and scores and actually running for strongholds etc.  should be good.

[later]
So that happened, and was (as anticipated) good.

We started out on a fresh mission, first expedition, and started by drawing 3 challenge cards in a row...

Challenge cards don't use combat/maps and largely rely on dice rolls for success/failure [blerg]. Suffice to say that we did survive them but didn't gain a great deal of loot for the effort.

This is our first actual combat. The '3' slot was a 'twist' so we had slightly fewer hostiles to face, which was handy....

...given the last 'challenge' had dished out quite a few wounds and we were staring off the combat on the back foot (pious had 2 or 3 wounds too). By the end of the combat we had rolled off what wounds we could (i.e. all except grievous) and were as good as were going to get.

We then drew another combat map straight away, which was manageable.

Safe to say that we now see 'challenges' as the riskiest part of the game for us (at the moment). Combats allow our tactical experience to mitigate a lot of the risk. but... early days, easier enemies and settings so far.

We ended up playing 4 challenges, and 2 combats due to time. Think we started just before 6pm and walked out of the FLGS around 8pm. 2 ship 'support' features were used. Not a bad effort for our first 'true' expedition.

We rolled up a legacy card and have spicy spindle drones to look forward to...

Our final loot haul looked something like this...

The ship 'facilities' features weren't of much help (refer trader comment at the start).
We do have enough clues to hit a stronghold.
There wasn't enough archotech to purchase anything much at the trading phase (however given we were out of time we might revisit that at the start of next session instead).
Shadowguide got her perma-inspire which will certainly be a massive boon ongoing.

As per the previous session Pious and Shadowguide earned their keep on flamer and sniper duties respectively.
Grrrr Krootons was all over the board securing objectives, shooting where possible and was a nice versatile option - potentially player of the match.
Spiky O'Monocle was largely unimpressive and may well sit out the next expedition. To be fair having zero activation dice did hinder his potential a lot and once inspired his auto-gambit might be extremely helpful.
Overall game strategies included sticking to cover to avoid accruing extra (grievous) wounds, using overwatch as much as possible (very successful at times) and laying down traps and flame cover (before overwatching survivors).

There was some nervousness about attempting a strong hold this early, however the hostiles are only going to continue getting harder, the timer is counting down, and, if we maintain the cover/overwatch strategy there's no real reason delaying it should really help (aside from maybe getting some cool wargear perhaps).

Anyway, was a fun evening; progress was made, both on the mission and our knowledge of what was going on with the game, so worthwhile.


Until next time...

BSF - for real

last night we played some BSF at FLGS (top ryde). This was the first time i've played BSF non-solo.
It really changes the dynamics of the game imo, and in a positive manner.

Was just two of us playing - 2 explorers each, dividing up the admin tasks, and basically ignoring the 'leader card' aspect.

[playing the second combat map. helps to have a nice big table for all the moving parts... the author obviously inspired by fantasy flight...]

Playing solo definitely helped with learning the rules (as did investigating rule clarifications on i.e. boardgamegeek) but not having to control everything to keep things moving along created some stark differences to the solo experience. This is not to say that solo is bad or not worthwhile.

i) You don't have to remember to do everything yourself, someone else can pick up on missed steps, or side/caveat rules or conditions.

ii) which leads to being able to think about using character tricks and strengths more effectively (or at all) rather than just falling back on the most expedient way of conducting a combat,

iii) a second point of view regarding the strategy/plan is a good thing (even if it's just them egging you on to rashly use that last destiny dice to try to kill that recalcitrant critter rather than getting back into cover).

iv) more responsibility to remain combat effective / (conversely) if you're playing solo then it's possible to care less or get somewhat gung-ho if/when you start getting bored.

anyway just some post-session thoughts.

after the game we discussed how we envisaged playing with even more people might work.

we kinda concluded/guessed that it might be a bit 'hands-off' and thence less engaging.
too many cooks, too much sitting back waiting for things to play out perhaps.
could be wrong but it seemed to work surprisingly well with this format and worth a try if you have the opportunity.

it was also suggested that if we had three players it might be worth one person running the 'admin/hostile' role for a given combat card and then swapping roles for the next card etc.

this was our final disposition from the evening. only one clue, but bobot got inspired and a perma-inspire card for the rogue trader was found (who sadly was not on the table to make use of it). no wounds which was nice.
we played a combat map, then 2 mini-quests in a row, then another combat map. and that's all we had time for. might consider playing on from this position next time.

probably the stand-out character of the night was pious flamethrower who crispy-crittered hostiles with almost casual disdain. she was unlucky not to get inspired given the number of casualties she caused but most hostiles were only in groups of 2 (and she needs 3 in a hex).
bobot was surprisingly effective, notably with the power claw and also as a wound soak.
sniper pixie and krootons were effective with 'jump out, shoot, jump in' sniping duties and running on discovery markers and maglifts.
all fairly standard tactics.
a reasonably conservative mindset was maintained so lots of hiding in no-LOS positions and good use of cover helped keep wounds down. the 'blackout' twist was also helpful in suppressing incoming fire and handy if you happen to get it (combat 1).
we did use up two of the ship resources (something to remember is we carry on from this state) mainly as a 'last-game-we're-likely-to-play-now' situation.

Until next time...

Mainly (BSF) Painting - general progress

[original post draft 20190320]

A few more BSF models underway. beastmen, rogue trader finally made it up and also bobot.

[later: 20190328] bobot done. Also a slightly better pic of Navigator mcBighat. The beasties and trader are still just black.

Have a potential intro game this evening and wanted bobot completed. This means on the trader and rattlings are to be done from the explorers. and only the beastmen and psychers remain from the hostiles.

still on BSF have started painting up the barricade/cover pieces. starting with solid black, then will probably dry brush with leadbelcher to catch the edges (there is actually a pattern on the pieces) and then give everything possibly a blue wash just to make the metal a little more interesting/patterned.

[later: 20190328] these are done. quite pleased with the result. a bit of striation still showing but kind of adds to the rustic effect i think.

roughly dry brushed leadbelcher onto the raised bits, trying to generally keep off the recesses (which were quite shallow).

The a wash of (army painter) blue shade, bit hard to see the blue effect but it looks ok in real life. 

Warmonger Titan has been based in leadbelcher. the idea at the moment is to make sure the paint is thoroughly dry then chuck on some wall plaster here and there and then sand it. the striation is a bit much so hopefully i can reduce the noise a bit.
not sure what kind of final colour scheme i will be going with but something darker rather than lighter might also help hide some of the remaining lines. we'll see.

Until next time...

Terrain Add-ons and Warmonger Peekaboo

Glued the longer/simpler buttresses on the taller 'suburban' structures.

Had enough for 8 bases worth which is all but 3 of the 2-storey or more pieces.
The other 3 pieces have multiple skinny structures per base, so at least 16 prints required per piece, and i didn't print that many.  Just remembered i have half a roll of ABS i shelved in disgust a while ago.
I'm actually not minding the variation - which is the purpose of the exercise anyway. 

There are also a few (circa 3) low buildings as well, and these will also remain unadorned.

Am currently filling gaps with the add-ons and will then repainting the structures, so they're on the paint desk. So is the Warmonger - which gives an idea of sizes and scales. Might actually be pretty good.

[update 20190318: the structure painting/finishing has been done and boxed. looks good/as planned but not spectacular enough to warrant a picture.]

Until next time...