So over the break between Xmas and New Year I took the opportunity to paint my Tablescapes Urban Streets table. I have received 32 tiles - 16 unscathed and 16 ruined - so I can make a 8' x 4' table if necessary. However the goal was to have a variable 6' x 4' table.
Here are some pictures of the completed tiles made up as a 7' x 4'. I still need to add rust to the metal plus some water effects.
However I'm really happy with it. Lots of pics over the page.
The Horned Rat does indeed giveth.
The new Vermin Lord is supposedly as large as the Nagash model.
The January release schedule is as follows:
10th (preorders Fri 2nd) is the new Vermin Lord
17th Thanquol End Times book and mini
24th new unit, armoured rat ogres called Stormfiends plus clam pack Warlord and Grey Seer and re release of old Warlock Engineers
Exciting times ahead for everyone's favourite race. It sounds like Thanquol might finally have made it after all his sterling efforts over the past twenty years. And to think that there were people who laughed at his plans for world domination.
As it is the end of the year I thought that I would have a look at the WHFB event attendance data for 2014 (and compare it to the previous year).
The data only contains Singles events and only those that are ranked -10 or more people.
I’ve taken the data from the Fields of Blood Rankings page which provides as complete a record as you are likely to get. Included is info for Inepticon although I’m yet to get the results.
The data has been split into three regions – North (Taupo and above), Central (south of Taupo) and South (big island below Wellington). I have done an event count, totalled attendance and calculated the average event size.
Here are the numbers:
As you can see 2014 saw an extra four events in New Zealand. The North lost one but the other two regions saw increases – Central +2 and South +3. The overall numbers of people attending events was largely the same – small overall decrease. This meant that the average size of events in 2014 decreased relative to the previous year (drop from 21 to 17). The drop in the average was greater in the Central region (around 5 participants per event).
From the viewpoint of a tournament players it is great to see an increased number of events. Having choice and variety is excellent. I’d be happier if we also saw an overall growth in numbers though. As a Tournament Organiser, the drop in average attendees is worrying. To put things in context the loss of five participants typically means about $200 less in entry fees which starts to impact the financial viability of events – especially if they are outside a bigger convention.
Hopefully in 2015 we’ll see overall attendance grow and also see the average size of events recover.
Two more days of work and then I am off for 12 days. The rundown to the break has definitely started.
I've had a funny December so far. Rather than being a period of purchases, I've spent the month selling off surplus stuff. Over the past few weeks I've sold an Ultraforge Dragon, the Fortress of Redemption and a Realm of Battle Gameboard. This has swelled the coffers most satisfyingly but the money has stayed "un-reinvested" as there is nothing pressingly required. Interestingly I think this year represents probably my least spend on new product - virtually all purchases have been books or iBooks.
Hard to see that changing in the short term. The next End Times release is up for purchase in early Jan - and rumoured to be Skaven - but it would need to involve new plastic kits for me to open the wallet apart from the ibook.
Over the first part of the break I'm looking to build my last plastic purchases - the Blightkings and Maggoth Lord. The Blightkings are going to be used as Nurgle charioteers.
I've also got my Tablescapes table and if the weather is good then that may well see some love.
Other than that the Mortis Engine and SotT still are unfinished on the painting desk and my undercoated Pestigors need some love.
Yesterday also saw me do a seasonal cull of Warhammer podcasts. There were a number of shows I have given up on. I appreciate all the efforts that people go to in putting these together but with a general blossoming in the numbers of offerings I've needed to get more picky. I've kept subs to those I enjoy the most and hit the delete subscription on the others. Generally those cut were casts where there was a large proportion on their own local tournament scene and tournament reports which while occasionally interesting can struggle for relevance to a wider audience. My playlist now comprises Heelenhammer, Bad Dice, Pointhammered, Skull Bros, Garagehammer, Kiwihammer, Hobby Craic, Jaded Gamercast and The Black Sun. As they vary from weekly to spasmodically, it provides plenty of listening.
Time for the quarterly update of the Army Ratings based on the rankings from the UK, Australia and NZ. These were last done in September so let's see how things have changed.
There is some jockeying in the UK with DoC pushing Dark Elves out of top spot. Small rise for WoC and similar drop for Ogres. The interesting development is the debut of Wood Elves in the Top 10. I expect we'll see them move up over the next few months.
In Oz the real story is the demise of WoC (counter to UK) as they drop three places. The Wood Elves continue their rise.
NZ - the smallest of the three communities - sees DoC fall from 3rd. Dark Elves take out the top spot as a number of players have piled onto the Brolock train. Again the big mover is Wood Elves, up four spots.
The consolidated table makes note resting reading. (Just repeating - for Neil you get 10 points for a 1st Place, 9 points for 2nd etc. Each race has a score from 0-30).
It really is a story of Elves and Chaos.
Both Chaos armies have taken a small hit but the big four remain well above the rest of the field. Empire retains its 5th Place (small increase) but is now being threatened by the rise of the Wood Elves that have added 9 points in the quarter. The return of Ballistic Skill shooting has been well and truly confirmed.
Both Lizards and Ogres have taken a hit points wise and there are distinct gaps opening up - Top 4, next 2, Lizards, the rest.
It will be interesting to see if this trend continues.
The last couple of weeks have seen a period of calm descend on the Warhammer World.
After the blitzkrieg that was the release of the End Times - Nagash, Glottkin and Khaine - the December lull has eased over the world. Visit any of the major Internet forums and they basically have run out of anything to say. The Ragers have raged themselves out. The Boosters likewise and it looks like perhaps they are focusing less on Warhammer and more on real life.
The books have been a bombshell, it's fair to say and I've found the community (worldwide not NZ specific) really interesting. From the first "are these official", through the FAQ and then onto the magic rules in Khaine, it has been a roller coaster.
Some of the initial booster who pushed the Nagash book as "This is new Warhammer" on their podcasts or on forums have gone very quiet with the release of Khaine. I remember saying at the time to be careful what you wish for - specifically in regard to combined armies - and I think that has probably proved to be the least of the concerns.
For me, the Legion of Chaos list has probably proved to be the most palatable but that is really because we've had the context of the Hordes of Chaos within gaming memory. The guys experiencing the most butthurt IMO are the High Elf players as their whole pantheon has been torn up and put back together like a ransom note.
As for the rules. Well I think that the mega characters remain a problem in the current context of people playing 2400 point games as the norm. This is especially true without the use of scenarios. The other rules I'm willing to wait and see. We are part way through a five book release. I can see what they are trying to do with the magic system and think it might be any interesting development - less certainty in relying on big spells.
I'm really looking forward to the Skaven book. I'm sure there will be rage, denial etc but change is good. I'd rather GW tried these things here so went we get 9th Ed mechanisms have been tested, retained or thrown away.
Roll on early January.
Jack sent me through some pics of his latest painting. Previously he had painted Medusa and Dreadlord on foot but it's good to see that he's disabused himself of such frivolities and is now concentrating on "proper" DE units.
Peg Master #1
Peg Master #2
Dark Steed Master #1
Dark Steed Master #2
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