My project this week is the Forgeworld Great Unclean One I purchased recently off Trademe (NZ’s local eBay equivalent). I spent yesterday afternoon putting it together – it took 10 minutes and that includes pinning all the horns, tentacle, tongue and sword.
The model is one big lump of resin. I have undercoated it with Chaos Black spray and it will hit the painting table tonight. I’ll try and remember to take WIP shots as I paint it.
I intend painting it in my traditional Death Guard scheme that’s caused comment in the past. When my Death Guard won Best Painted at the New Zealand Grand Tournament in 2004 the guy who came second told me “I can never tell whether your stuff is well painted or just messy!”
Know your limitations – Purple and Green FTW
Last Week's Painting
Finally after a couple of weeks of inactivity I finished my two new units of Gutter Runners for my Skaven, including their skirmish movement trays. Pictures up this evening
Monday, March 7, 2011
Post-Modern Hippy Nonsense
On Saturday I played my first game of Ancients for a number of years. Prior to 2001 all I played was DBM (the prime Ancients game at the time) and I loved it. The rules were really subtle and rewarded good strategy. However the rules were really poorly presented and were a chore to learn to use. As a result new blood into the hobby was pretty non-existent. I disappeared off to 40k where I could get a multitude of new opponents and moved from there to Fantasy.
Fast-forward 5-6 years after I left DBM and the scene fractured. DBMM was the updated version of DBM, still abysmally presented, and one of the DBM authors entered the new world of “accessible’ rules and published Fields of Glory. These rules followed the GW presentation model, lots of diagrams, short sentences and pretty pictures. I really tried to like the game but it quickly became clear to me that it was the ultimate game of points denial as the rules mechanisms encouraged this style of play. The tournament scene reflected this development. After a few games the Ancients went back on the shelf.
A few weeks ago I was downstairs and saw my Mongol Conquest army which was 95% completed. I decided to finish it off and this weekend I had my first game with them. I played DBMM – of abysmal presentation – and I really enjoyed it. It was a game of push the models around and though I did win, the enjoyment was getting the army on the table and reconnecting with a bunch of gamers I haven’t played for 10 years.
DBMM won’t become my game of choice but it will be something I do play reasonably regularly. Wargamers tend to put their hearts and souls into their current love, becoming, if my own experience is anything to go by, mildly obsessive.
Sometimes it is really cathartic to stop, look around and smell the flowers.
Kumbaya, my friends.
Fast-forward 5-6 years after I left DBM and the scene fractured. DBMM was the updated version of DBM, still abysmally presented, and one of the DBM authors entered the new world of “accessible’ rules and published Fields of Glory. These rules followed the GW presentation model, lots of diagrams, short sentences and pretty pictures. I really tried to like the game but it quickly became clear to me that it was the ultimate game of points denial as the rules mechanisms encouraged this style of play. The tournament scene reflected this development. After a few games the Ancients went back on the shelf.
A few weeks ago I was downstairs and saw my Mongol Conquest army which was 95% completed. I decided to finish it off and this weekend I had my first game with them. I played DBMM – of abysmal presentation – and I really enjoyed it. It was a game of push the models around and though I did win, the enjoyment was getting the army on the table and reconnecting with a bunch of gamers I haven’t played for 10 years.
DBMM won’t become my game of choice but it will be something I do play reasonably regularly. Wargamers tend to put their hearts and souls into their current love, becoming, if my own experience is anything to go by, mildly obsessive.
Sometimes it is really cathartic to stop, look around and smell the flowers.
Kumbaya, my friends.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Natcon All Go for Christchurch
I understand that the CWS club have confirmed that they will be able to run NatCon at Easter.
Good on you guys! All the best for the event.
Good on you guys! All the best for the event.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Karak-Eight-Peak Campaign at Call to Arms
At times White Dwarf represents very little more than an advertising pamphlet. However from time to time there are articles that really capture the imagination. Last month’s issue contained the beginnings of a “Planetary Empires” campaign around the Third War for Armageddon. This continues this month and looks to be a very solid platform on which to base a variant later this year.
However, the one that really caught my eye is this month’s “Battle for Karak-Eight-Peaks”. The campaign is centred around the ongoing war between Skaven, Goblins and Dwarfs in the mountains to the east of the Empire. Played over 4-5 rounds the campaign uses rulebook scenarios as well as campaign-specific scenarios culminating in a three-way battle at the end.
I am going to run this campaign at my club, Wellington Warlords, convention “Call to Arms” in August. If you have a Skaven, Orc & Goblin or Dwarf army and would like to be involved in the two day event then please let me know. If you don’t have one of those armies but would still like to be involved then also please let me know. I’ll have spare armies that people can borrow.
Initially I’m looking at 12 players – four for each race – but that may be revised up or down depending on interest.
However, the one that really caught my eye is this month’s “Battle for Karak-Eight-Peaks”. The campaign is centred around the ongoing war between Skaven, Goblins and Dwarfs in the mountains to the east of the Empire. Played over 4-5 rounds the campaign uses rulebook scenarios as well as campaign-specific scenarios culminating in a three-way battle at the end.
I am going to run this campaign at my club, Wellington Warlords, convention “Call to Arms” in August. If you have a Skaven, Orc & Goblin or Dwarf army and would like to be involved in the two day event then please let me know. If you don’t have one of those armies but would still like to be involved then also please let me know. I’ll have spare armies that people can borrow.
Initially I’m looking at 12 players – four for each race – but that may be revised up or down depending on interest.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
There Must Be Something In The Water
A strange thing has happened over the past month – I’ve developed a strong interest in playing 40k again. I’m not sure why this is as I have no beef with fantasy and I’ve been spending most of my time painting Skaven and my Mongol Conquest army.
However I have found myself reading battle reports on Dakka Dakka as well as reading more of the 40k posts on the Bell of Lost Souls blog. It got to the stage this week where I bought Forgeworld Greater Daemons for my Death Guard and Emperor’s Children armies and the Nurgle Plague Hulk to use as a Defiler.
As I said, I’m not sure what has brought this all about. I pretty much gave the game away upon the release of the 4th Edition Chaos Space Marines which saw the trashing of the Traitor Legion background and lists. I never drank the Kool-Aid at the time 5th Edition was released and so was quite happy to let it pass me by. However, I never really fully gave it away. I still bought figures – I have a full Ork army being painted by my son, Jack though its progress keeps getting sidetracked. I generally buy the new codex when it is released – the exceptions being Imperial Guard, Blood Angels and Space Wolves, three armies I either don’t ”get” or despise – and I buy and read the various Horus Heresy novels on release day.
Perhaps I’m picking up the currents of the Warp which suggest that a Traitor Legion book would really help revive GW sales. Perhaps it’s when I look at the Forgeworld stuff there is something that inspires me to want to paint it. Perhaps I’m just getting old(er). However I do know that when I go downstairs to my gaming room and take a look at my Death Guard and Emperor’s Children, there is something that makes me want to take them out of the glass cabinet they are in and get them back on the table.
And that’s got to be a good thing!!!
However I have found myself reading battle reports on Dakka Dakka as well as reading more of the 40k posts on the Bell of Lost Souls blog. It got to the stage this week where I bought Forgeworld Greater Daemons for my Death Guard and Emperor’s Children armies and the Nurgle Plague Hulk to use as a Defiler.
As I said, I’m not sure what has brought this all about. I pretty much gave the game away upon the release of the 4th Edition Chaos Space Marines which saw the trashing of the Traitor Legion background and lists. I never drank the Kool-Aid at the time 5th Edition was released and so was quite happy to let it pass me by. However, I never really fully gave it away. I still bought figures – I have a full Ork army being painted by my son, Jack though its progress keeps getting sidetracked. I generally buy the new codex when it is released – the exceptions being Imperial Guard, Blood Angels and Space Wolves, three armies I either don’t ”get” or despise – and I buy and read the various Horus Heresy novels on release day.
Perhaps I’m picking up the currents of the Warp which suggest that a Traitor Legion book would really help revive GW sales. Perhaps it’s when I look at the Forgeworld stuff there is something that inspires me to want to paint it. Perhaps I’m just getting old(er). However I do know that when I go downstairs to my gaming room and take a look at my Death Guard and Emperor’s Children, there is something that makes me want to take them out of the glass cabinet they are in and get them back on the table.
And that’s got to be a good thing!!!
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
The Christchurch Earthquake and Natcon
As a lot of you will know New Zealand suffered a devastating earthquake in the southern city of Christchurch last week. Loss of life is currently around the 160 people number but expected to go to around 230-240.
Christchurch is 300-400 miles south of my home here in Wellington and I am relieved to report nobody in my wider circle of friends was killed or suffered major injuries. I contacted the gamers I know down there after the event and while some of them suffered property damage they are all alive and well. If you have seen the TV pictures you’ll know that the city is devastated with enormous property and infrastructure damage.
Late last week I contacted the Presidents of the two local wargaming clubs to see if we might be able to assist. The Christchurch Club is due to host the New Zealand National Convention at Easter (7-8 weeks time) and this is traditionally the country’s largest wargaming event covering all genres/periods. My suggestion was to see if we might be able to assist by having the event relocate to Wellington to take some pressure off the locals. I understand that such a strategy was agreed by the Wellington clubs and an approach has been made.
I hope that the Christchurch club takes us up on the offer. While I’m sure that they could run Natcon, I don’t think it is fair for the rest of the NZ wargaming community to expect them to do it. Already the Government is talking of an initial recovery period of 6-12 months with full recovery taking 10-20 years. The last thing the city needs is an influx of 200+ gamers.
The priorities for Christchurch gamers (and that of their families) encompass so much more than running a wargaming tournament within a short time horizon.
Please let us help out guys and devote your time to your families and yourselves.
Christchurch is 300-400 miles south of my home here in Wellington and I am relieved to report nobody in my wider circle of friends was killed or suffered major injuries. I contacted the gamers I know down there after the event and while some of them suffered property damage they are all alive and well. If you have seen the TV pictures you’ll know that the city is devastated with enormous property and infrastructure damage.
Late last week I contacted the Presidents of the two local wargaming clubs to see if we might be able to assist. The Christchurch Club is due to host the New Zealand National Convention at Easter (7-8 weeks time) and this is traditionally the country’s largest wargaming event covering all genres/periods. My suggestion was to see if we might be able to assist by having the event relocate to Wellington to take some pressure off the locals. I understand that such a strategy was agreed by the Wellington clubs and an approach has been made.
I hope that the Christchurch club takes us up on the offer. While I’m sure that they could run Natcon, I don’t think it is fair for the rest of the NZ wargaming community to expect them to do it. Already the Government is talking of an initial recovery period of 6-12 months with full recovery taking 10-20 years. The last thing the city needs is an influx of 200+ gamers.
The priorities for Christchurch gamers (and that of their families) encompass so much more than running a wargaming tournament within a short time horizon.
Please let us help out guys and devote your time to your families and yourselves.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Conversions - Screaming Bell Rat Ogre
When you build a Plague Furnace not only do you have a Seer left over but also a Rat Ogre. I decided to use him in a small Rat Ogre unit I built for a tournament last year.
The conversion is simple - Chaos stone from the Giant kit is added to the chain. And a hand swap from another Rat Ogre. Here's the unit of three Ogres I used. They are based on Back-2-basix bases.
I like it because it gives a Rat Ogre with a lot more "movement" than the standard models.
And on the table they were total crap. Disappointing! But isn't that sometimes the way with cool units.
The conversion is simple - Chaos stone from the Giant kit is added to the chain. And a hand swap from another Rat Ogre. Here's the unit of three Ogres I used. They are based on Back-2-basix bases.
I like it because it gives a Rat Ogre with a lot more "movement" than the standard models.
And on the table they were total crap. Disappointing! But isn't that sometimes the way with cool units.
Two Great Race Specific Podcasts
There have been two excellent episodes recently on the podcasts I follow.
Bad Dice had a fantastic episode with UK Masters participant Mark Wildman who has been having some recent success with his Beastmen army. It is a very interesting listen particularly in relation to where he sees the real strengths in the list.
Heelanhammer’s most recent episode is “Andy the Dwarf” and again this gives great insight into how you might look to play this race in 8th Edition. I particularly like the commentary on how his list has evolved and where he perhaps sees it heading.
Get downloading.
Bad Dice had a fantastic episode with UK Masters participant Mark Wildman who has been having some recent success with his Beastmen army. It is a very interesting listen particularly in relation to where he sees the real strengths in the list.
Heelanhammer’s most recent episode is “Andy the Dwarf” and again this gives great insight into how you might look to play this race in 8th Edition. I particularly like the commentary on how his list has evolved and where he perhaps sees it heading.
Get downloading.
The TO Speaks Back....
After yesterday's post I received the following email from Dan. As he indicated that he tried to comment directly I hope he won't mind me posting.
Hi Pete,
Ive read your blog post this morning, always interesting to read opposing views. I tried to comment on it but couldnt without one of a numerous amount of "profiles" I dont have lol :-)
Anyways, was just going to say whilst I disagree with some of your points, I do see the opposing argument as valid, especially with regard to inbuilt comp. I felt we needed to see what would happen as no tournament at "normal size" in the UK has had six games of battle line and I for one am fed up of the stories from the events I attended, as well as the games ive been involved with where you literally get a non event due to the scenarios - how tactically challenging is it if the guy on the other end gets 30 graveguard with regen or 40 horrors into the watchtower?? How does it work if a really balanced high elf or empire list with only 2 warmachines and 2 small move/fire shooting units that relies no minmal shooting support ends with them off the board first turn so they cant shoot? Logistics of scenarios such as watchtower with 80 tables is also somewhat hard work..... :-)
I do think with a stricter comp system (something I have been giving a lot of thought to recently) you can, as we did in 7th, go someway to stopping people taking things just because the scenarios arent there.
Now, 40 bloodletters - this is more tongue in cheek as its not the end of the world and not even that great if you have a well built army to counter it, its just something I feel (like the 6 dice monking you describe) which can be a bit dull in terms of it will win you games without trying against lesser opposition and against good opposition its just a boring game of "can they deliver the unit intact into you main unit". I am not talking about just 1 unit, ive got no issues with that, but look at some of the UK masters lists - 2x40 with a big horror block etc is just not a fun tactical game imo against a lot of things, not the end of the world just a personal dislike :-)
Anyways, some random chit chat :-) We will be covering the feedback from the event on the show so will let you know how the players found playing under the pack.
I think that this is fantastic comment from Dan. Positive and constructive.
Following on from this here are a few followups:
1.Valid point about variety in tournament set-up. However given the event’s status I worry that it becomes a template.
2.Tactical Challenge re Watchtower – I disagree with this as I think there is enormous tactical challenge for both players – the critical point is around not allowing him to get the mega unit in the building. Now I can go into various ways you can do this but obviously they will be situational. However I would say that if you do play Watchtower it is important the scenario bonus is meaningful to make the sacrifice of units worthwhile (As a Skaven player I sacrifice my Gutter Runner units to stop large units getting in – I concede that the Dirty Reform into a building can make this difficult, though not impossible).
3.I agree with Dan that 8 months on Comp is necessary. My preference is light comp (as previously outlined on the blog – see posts in January). I think without the scenarios the comp has to become heavier. Ripples on a pond.
4.I appreciate Dan is partly tongue in cheek with his “40 Bloodletter” comments, but we all have things we don’t like. I hate Fireballs, Dwellers and Death Magic but as a Skaven player I’m on shaky ground when I will use the Dreaded 13th Spell. I do think most things are ‘Containable” with good tactics and list construction. This might mean that your list isn’t 100% honed but you make concessions so you have tools/tactics to adapt to variety of situations.
Please don’t take this blog as a criticism of Dan (and his ideas) or those of the SCGT organisers. As Dan says it is good to have discussion on these points. It is easy to sit taking potshots at Podcasts and tournaments from behind an internet keyboard but that is not the intention here. I’d hope that the comments are constructive just as I find Dan’s comments constructive.
It’s great that Dan is seeking feedback after the event and I’ll be listening and watching with interest.
Hi Pete,
Ive read your blog post this morning, always interesting to read opposing views. I tried to comment on it but couldnt without one of a numerous amount of "profiles" I dont have lol :-)
Anyways, was just going to say whilst I disagree with some of your points, I do see the opposing argument as valid, especially with regard to inbuilt comp. I felt we needed to see what would happen as no tournament at "normal size" in the UK has had six games of battle line and I for one am fed up of the stories from the events I attended, as well as the games ive been involved with where you literally get a non event due to the scenarios - how tactically challenging is it if the guy on the other end gets 30 graveguard with regen or 40 horrors into the watchtower?? How does it work if a really balanced high elf or empire list with only 2 warmachines and 2 small move/fire shooting units that relies no minmal shooting support ends with them off the board first turn so they cant shoot? Logistics of scenarios such as watchtower with 80 tables is also somewhat hard work..... :-)
I do think with a stricter comp system (something I have been giving a lot of thought to recently) you can, as we did in 7th, go someway to stopping people taking things just because the scenarios arent there.
Now, 40 bloodletters - this is more tongue in cheek as its not the end of the world and not even that great if you have a well built army to counter it, its just something I feel (like the 6 dice monking you describe) which can be a bit dull in terms of it will win you games without trying against lesser opposition and against good opposition its just a boring game of "can they deliver the unit intact into you main unit". I am not talking about just 1 unit, ive got no issues with that, but look at some of the UK masters lists - 2x40 with a big horror block etc is just not a fun tactical game imo against a lot of things, not the end of the world just a personal dislike :-)
Anyways, some random chit chat :-) We will be covering the feedback from the event on the show so will let you know how the players found playing under the pack.
I think that this is fantastic comment from Dan. Positive and constructive.
Following on from this here are a few followups:
1.Valid point about variety in tournament set-up. However given the event’s status I worry that it becomes a template.
2.Tactical Challenge re Watchtower – I disagree with this as I think there is enormous tactical challenge for both players – the critical point is around not allowing him to get the mega unit in the building. Now I can go into various ways you can do this but obviously they will be situational. However I would say that if you do play Watchtower it is important the scenario bonus is meaningful to make the sacrifice of units worthwhile (As a Skaven player I sacrifice my Gutter Runner units to stop large units getting in – I concede that the Dirty Reform into a building can make this difficult, though not impossible).
3.I agree with Dan that 8 months on Comp is necessary. My preference is light comp (as previously outlined on the blog – see posts in January). I think without the scenarios the comp has to become heavier. Ripples on a pond.
4.I appreciate Dan is partly tongue in cheek with his “40 Bloodletter” comments, but we all have things we don’t like. I hate Fireballs, Dwellers and Death Magic but as a Skaven player I’m on shaky ground when I will use the Dreaded 13th Spell. I do think most things are ‘Containable” with good tactics and list construction. This might mean that your list isn’t 100% honed but you make concessions so you have tools/tactics to adapt to variety of situations.
Please don’t take this blog as a criticism of Dan (and his ideas) or those of the SCGT organisers. As Dan says it is good to have discussion on these points. It is easy to sit taking potshots at Podcasts and tournaments from behind an internet keyboard but that is not the intention here. I’d hope that the comments are constructive just as I find Dan’s comments constructive.
It’s great that Dan is seeking feedback after the event and I’ll be listening and watching with interest.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Crimes Against........
So the UK's biggest tournament, the South Coast GT, has decided to go for six Battleline games rather than use the scenarios.
This event is organised by the principals of the Heelanhammer podcast. Now I really like their show, the content being heads and shoulders above everything else available, with the possible exception of Bad Dice, but recently it has become a bit of a whingefest against scenarios. The key objections raised are that they have the potential to ruin the tournameny either by the creation of non-games or by eliminating the victor's ability to harvest VPs in situations where the game ends immediately.
To me these criticisms are as more an indictment of the scoring system being used in the UK tournament scene than any reflection on the scenarios. Most use wins and then VPs harvested as the basis rather than the 20-0 system used in this part of the world.
As I have said on this blog before the scenarios act as an inbuilt comp system requiring you to make concessions in your list if you want to be competitive across a range of scenarios. Removing scenarios betrays an inability or unwillingness to adapt. So your game is ruined because two units rolled a '1" on Meeting Engagement - spread your risk by having more units. You dont like the potentially unstandard deployment of Dawn Attack - deploy your most important units first.
To the outsider it looks like a reluctance to adapt or an unwillingness to think pn your feet. Throughout history there are numerous examples of Generals having to make battle in less than ideal circumstances. To me scenarios create rather than diminish the probability that you find the better general. And if you lose you can always say you were shafted by the scenario.
The other complaint regularly being voiced is how boring units of 40 Bloodletters are. Well putting aside the fact that the Daemon player probably finds it no more boring than facing 6 dice "Flesh to Stone" or "Okram's Mindrazor", I'm struggling to see how removing scenarios will do anything other than encourage those builds. One of the problems they face is removed and replaced with certainty.
Now as I said I really rate the views of those on Heelanhammer and big ups to them for their efforts in organising the SCGT but on this occasion I can't help but feel they've got it wrong.
This event is organised by the principals of the Heelanhammer podcast. Now I really like their show, the content being heads and shoulders above everything else available, with the possible exception of Bad Dice, but recently it has become a bit of a whingefest against scenarios. The key objections raised are that they have the potential to ruin the tournameny either by the creation of non-games or by eliminating the victor's ability to harvest VPs in situations where the game ends immediately.
To me these criticisms are as more an indictment of the scoring system being used in the UK tournament scene than any reflection on the scenarios. Most use wins and then VPs harvested as the basis rather than the 20-0 system used in this part of the world.
As I have said on this blog before the scenarios act as an inbuilt comp system requiring you to make concessions in your list if you want to be competitive across a range of scenarios. Removing scenarios betrays an inability or unwillingness to adapt. So your game is ruined because two units rolled a '1" on Meeting Engagement - spread your risk by having more units. You dont like the potentially unstandard deployment of Dawn Attack - deploy your most important units first.
To the outsider it looks like a reluctance to adapt or an unwillingness to think pn your feet. Throughout history there are numerous examples of Generals having to make battle in less than ideal circumstances. To me scenarios create rather than diminish the probability that you find the better general. And if you lose you can always say you were shafted by the scenario.
The other complaint regularly being voiced is how boring units of 40 Bloodletters are. Well putting aside the fact that the Daemon player probably finds it no more boring than facing 6 dice "Flesh to Stone" or "Okram's Mindrazor", I'm struggling to see how removing scenarios will do anything other than encourage those builds. One of the problems they face is removed and replaced with certainty.
Now as I said I really rate the views of those on Heelanhammer and big ups to them for their efforts in organising the SCGT but on this occasion I can't help but feel they've got it wrong.
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