Whats in da Gaming hood

So much gaming going on, and real life that I haven't posted much recently. I laugh as I've been told some gnat has been spreading the word that I'm getting out of Warhammer Fantasy Battle. From the Horses mouth the game is strong as it every was and we have recently picked up about 7 new players at our local club. So nah gnat you've got it wrong :) Enjoying the variety of systems that are out there and here's some of the stuff I've got on the hobby table.

It's a giant and yes I'm a hobbyist first yo.

The unit of ogres I fired together out of spare bits on the way to 1000pts for our

local WHFB League. currently have 24 playing which busted the 20spaces we initially had space for. Apologies to the guys on the wait list but the club has to cater space for other systems too.

 Sculpted a head for second hand Skragg. Also picked up a Hunter too from a swap meet.

Best way to get into the game if you're new or a vet. So much cheaper than retail.

 Zapped together some random markers for my Bloodbowl.

 Managed to pick up a new faction.

I was lucky enough to pick up Alexia and the risen too. 50pts complete!

 Some spare bits and that meant I could develop more of my minimal sculpting skills.

 Here's the 85% WIP.

Thats a quick friday blog. I'll finish off the ETC blogging with results 

and a few other tidbits. Enjoy your weekend.

New Release - Maggoth Lords

Here's the new stuff for this weekend. Warriors of Chaos, Beastmen and Daemons will get some pretty awesome reinforcements. Looks pretty sweet and Nurgly. Enjoy!

BT Thunder Stomp

Started my adventure fixing the imperfections on my first Fine Cast model. I've been told by a few people that they have had good experiences with the smaller models, but I'm not convinced just yet. After spending at least a couple of days fixing the bubbles and hollow mould spots on the Blood Thirster model and there is more to do, I got a bit bored so entertained myself by sculpting a scenic base with some bits from my bitz box. Stompy BT shatters some earth and on the way he displays some dance moves on an unfortunate Whitelion. I'm undecided on having a Elven Ax embedded on the ground nearby and figure that with a planned glowing lava theme on the base it should be enough detail.

 The Fine Cast does do the sculpt some justice with it's detail

Monster Thunderstomping and that's why you take em.

Looks like a few more weeks before I can get an undercoat on this bad boy but I'm liking how he's turning out. I think with the hobby every challenge is a opportunity to develop your skills and in this case it's definitely giving my limited green stuff experience a work out.

Board Game of the week: Ninjato

Very cleverly designed VP based board game. It has exquisite graphics and wooden shurikens to mark your moves. The combat dynamics are unique and enthralling as you take your Ninja on raids against enemy castles to elevate your house into dominance. Also recruit advisor's and prominent figure heads to gain added VP's. This was my first game of Ninjato but I have no doubt it won't be my last.

Very graceful design and once you get started it's easily learnt on your first game.

Highly recommend this game 4 out of 5 stars.

More Daemons

Some of the Daemons that a friend painted for me that will be the mainstay unit of the army. I must build a photo box at some stage and get some better lighting, not to mention a some more practised paint skills.

Very happy about how the unit filler turned out with the custom Khorne base.

The unit of Bloodletters below, which has acquired another 3 ranks. I've found that matching the colour scheme and making it look table top quality is within my skill range. Will have to ask what wash was used as it's much brighter and vibriant than my GW equivalents. .

Working on the movement base and found that the resin edges you can buy from base retailers are mint. Will have the pictures up once  its complete

Learning to paint quick

Took to using some faster than conventional techniques to quickly solve painting a whole lot of new units for a tournament. This figure took as long as it was for the paint to dry sufficiently and to blam on a coat of wash. The Internet how to home make you own magic black wash will be my next test for a cost effective  time saver. 

First up is a watered down red and watered down brown apply liberally but making sure its a thin coat.

5 mins to dry and then a coat of half blazing orange and chaos red. Add blazing orange highlights followed by sun burst yellow. With this test mini painted in less than 15mins the Blood Thirster should take next to no time.

NiCon Prep & WIP for the Week

NiCon is at the top of the table of prep this week. So I've still got a few ideas on what army to take to the event. Most of which is related to this figure that I'm working on. He needed a extension on his back leg and some green stuff to fill the gaps after a quick hobby knifing. He's head hunting for certain armies as you can see by his trophy under foot.

So just as you settle to take an army your friends supply you with another unit of that internet doomed apparently under performing army book. There's a couple of facets of the Wood Elves that would surprise a few people at the tournament but they still aren't at the top of the list. Look Aaron those models fixed up real good.

I found out about Fenris grey this week too. It's fast becoming extinct but until we still have it around the terrain cupboard is getting that coat of paint that might see some really impressive new monuments at the next tournament.

The Board Game for the week is EVO. Not really one of my all time favourites but a quick fire fun game between 2-5 players. Evolve and breed Dinosaurs in a dinotopic world. Most points gets you the cigar. Great for a quiet night in with friends and a board game.
3 outta 5 stars.

What to take to NiCon

NiCon which is the North Island Convention that's hosted in turn by a different city in NZ annually is only 3 odd weeks away. My first Big Tournament for the year and it's a bit of a headache to decide what to take. I've been trying out a few different armies out this year and they have all done well and all have their appeals.
My first choice would be High Elves as they have always been my favourite play style army in warhammer. I took them to OTT in Feb and they were immensely fun and only due to rusty play and me making mistakes did they not get higher on the podium. With a selection of three fully painted forces I can grab off the shelf they are still the most likely of the four armies I may take.
Second choice would also be Elves and the Wood Elves which I have owned and been working very sporadically on for the last five years may make an appearance. I took them out for a doubles tournament in April and they were spectacular. I was very drawn to the mythos and the Ninja Waywatchers. More so the Ninja Waywatchers and the amazing sculpts that I got in their all metal goodness before failcast. Another podium so the rumours of Internet doom for the army was another failed omen. So much like other internet omens and I wonder if they dress up in flowing robes and light a lot of candles when predictions like these are made.
Third Choice would be Daemons which I took out for a stroll and a 1400pt tournament in the weekend and won decisively. The sheer simplicity and effectiveness of the mass direct assault of the army makes them a very powerful force. As long as you know what your bad match ups are and what they are weak against I can see these guys doing very well at Nicon. The only thing that makes me hesitant to use these guys is just that they aren't as multidimensional on all phases as say the Elf armies. I've got to the stage in the hobby that I'd like to take armies that give me maximum enjoyment out of my 6 games of the tournament. The Daemons may just not fit the role but who knows if I can paint a blood Thirster in record time, the sheer novelty of something new may override any doubts.
It brings me to my final choice and that would be Warriors of Chaos. I have all the models but they haven't really seen any love after Feb's win at Fluffycon. With another 400pts to add to the list it could hatch some very devastating combo's. In all reality I've moved on from the Warriors a bit and it'll have to take some scion of redemption before I go back to them me thinks. A mate with superb painting skills has just picked up an army of warriors and I'll get to see some of his work this week which may sway me back in that direction.

Daemon Dog Days

Every where I look these days there is a shortage of Daemon lists at tournaments. With the Ogre Train and Skaven circus it seems the Daemons have taken a bypass by most and will sit on a back shelf gathering dust. Surely this cannot be as they are the favoured sons of the battle against the forces of order. So to revive the 7th edition favourites I thought it would be high time they got a run. This weekend there is a small tournament/gathering of 1400pt armies at the local gaming store in the City and a perfect time to raise some literal hell.

 Rocking it all out and a bit of green stuff harks then back to the metal models. Unit filler for the Daemonettes.

The 'Rock Band of Slaneesh', is a long awaited WIP that needs more love but no time unfortunately.

Daemon Dogs for the win and no army is complete without a unit of these guys. I had these old edition metal warhounds ready for sale for $20 and noone wanted them. I had a epiphany and went hey these guys would be perfect as some Flesh Hounds and instantly saved myself 60 buckeroos, yeah!!

Here's my list and C&C from you Daemon maestro's would be great

Herald of Khorne	Armour of Khorne	115
Herald of Tzeentch	BSB, Greater Icon of Despair	230
	Flames of Tzeentch
		Heroes	345
5 Flesh Hounds		175
		Specials	175
32 Bloodletters	MBC	414
22 Pink Horrors	MB, Banner of Change	309
		Core	723
4 x Flamers	PyroCaster	155
		Rare	155
	Total	1398

Really looking forward to tomoz, it'll be funtastic.

Daemons on board! Masters Batrep Part 1

First of a series of Batreps from the players at the NZ Masters 2011, enjoy.

I theory hammered my way through all the lists going to masters, and had a plan for most. Some of whom I knew I'd need to use my infamous daemon speed to run away as far and as demonically as possible from. Every game presents you with opportunities to lose and win in multiple places. First of which is deployment, then where you move too, what targets you pick and at what time. Get those right, and you generally win if you are able (unless the dice hate you, and they're more powerful an enemy than any opponent).You'll be familiar with my list, as it is available for viewing with the other lists on the Elven Glades blog.

Driving up I foolishly declared that I would be fine on day one if I didn't fight Mal or Pete, the former for reasons of precedent, the later for just being an all round miserable matchup for me. So, of course, I played them both.

Game One vs: Mal's Lizardmen

I purged my old daemons (yes, Daemons have daemons) with this one, I'm not really sure what happened, but I deployed well, don't think I siren'd, but my things were in bad places for Mal across the board. I stayed clear of his rockdropping airforce, and got a cunning charge on a Stegadon who was relaxing in the shade of some furies. Shortly before Mals block received daemons on all sides, he kindly dimensionally cascaded, didn't lose the frog, but thinned his own unit considerably, the following brawl was not kind to the cold blooded fellows who abandoned all hope.

Result: Victory 20 -0

Game Two vs Thom's Dorfs

This had all the makings of more delicious points to fill the Daemon coffers (Dwarves struggle against Daemons a bit in this environment), however Thom was having none of it. With my Bloodthirster deployed outside of the 48" max range of the only thing on the board that could dent him, he smugly thought hateful thoughts. Thom promptly got the first turn, fired his cannon cheerfully outside of the 48" with a nice 12" bounce, hit him smack in the head did 6 wounds. Right... what?... right... farq! It got a bit hazy after that but I dug my way out of a 650 point hole and managed to haul it back to a draw, Thom made a late double 6's charge to take what was going to be my victory and turned it back into a draw, he didn't feel that it was ok to reward my persistent devotion to killing dwarves by rolling between 2 and 11.

Result:Draw 10-10

Game Three vs Pete's Skaven

Yech, I didn't play well here, and by that I lost the game in the deployment phase. This was a red flag match for me, and I would have been cheerful with a 9-11 loss, but due to a brainfart... in my head, I would march confidently into a nearby building with my flamers and herald, his HPA would be too scared to move, his WLC would misfire and kill his grey seer, and I would then Pit of Shades his Furnace till it was gone. However, what actually happened was this. My herald would die to a hail of poisoned slingshots, my flamers turned into rats courtesy of the Dreaded 13th, and the HPA gleefully turned some fiends I had over that way into mush. The rest of my army deployed off to the far side, dug a trench and opted for trying to stop the haemorrhage, Pete looked over at that end, decided he'd done more than enough and sat his boys down for some well earned Cheesy bites. We agreed that neither was going anywhere, called the game early, and wandered off to check out other peoples battles.

Result:Loss 6-14

Evening Interlude

Headed back to the Hotel, showered, transformed into Evening Dan (put shoes on) and then Tim, Jim and myself headed to find the dinner location. Nice venue, and the food was great (When I got it, which was roughly 2 hours after everyone else had finished) and the Tronhammer and LOEN boys engaged in serious amounts of theorizing, moaning, wishlisting and all varieties of good stuff that beer can only make better.

Game Four vs: Daryl's Dorfs

Well, this game went how I was imaging the one against Thom to go, however, newly wizened to cannons at all ranges, my Bloodthirster cowered fiercely behind something impenetrable and waited for the nasty dwarf cannon to stop hurling death around the table. At first it seemed Daryl would destroy his own army before I got there, and by turn 3 I think he'd removed 2/3 of his artillery, courtesy of himself. In the end, things went miserably for Daryl, and just kinda Daemoned forward. Not a good matchup for him, no sir, but earning best sports from me, he stoically accepted each failure and wrote calmly in his book of grudges.

Result: Victory 20 -0

Game Five vs: Henry's Orcs and Goblins

This was a case of the score not reflecting the game until about turn 5, we each set and counter set diverters, tactically wheeled and measured and achieved very little for quite some time. It tipped in my favour in the end, starting a cascade of misery for Henry, who took it all very well. I don't think he had the quota of luck he deserved, starting with his Orc Lord on Wyvern with 50 attacks only landing 2 wounds on a full daemonette block, who promptly did two wounds to the wyvern, he failed two LD tests, and they ran him down sexily. His Doom Divers had obviously been at the Patriot the night before, and were utterly unable to hit my Herald who eventually didn't even bother with staying in cover and just wandered around secure in the knowledge that the Doom Divers were no threat.

The Bloodthirster gleefully went from one end of the battleline to the other, starting with blorcs, through some warmachines, and finishing by shooing some chariots off the board.

Result: Victory 20 -0

Game Six vs: Joe's Warriors of Chaos

Right, so I'm at the top of the table, with 76 points in hand, and one game to play... Hello world, meet conservative Daemon! I'd thought about Joe's list, and it wasn't one that I felt I needed to run from (He had more tricks up his Dixon sleeves than I really gave credit too) but I was not about to throw my gains away in a blood red haze of Daemon hate... so I proceeded to play like a dwarf, built my castle. However, I had still positioned well, and the way tings had gone, Joes troops were not positioned well and in response to engineering an awesome situation for myself I mucked up my one chance of bagging a sh!tton of points, left his lord on 1 wound, his wizard lord on one wound, and lost by about 170 points, enough to take it from drawland, to lossland.... population me :( I'd like to play Joe more, and without silly game 6/top table considerations, nice guy, unorthodox and you'd never have a dull game.

Result: Loss 9-11

Wrap-up

Not sure what Ant finished on, but I still had 85 points by this stage, little did I know that on the table across from me, Pete Dunn was working to sabotage my podium chances. Skaven... gawd! When you need them at their jaw-dropping crazy best, they slink away and give the other guy 20 points :( However, it's not so bad, as a specialist 2nd placer, this has taken my grand total of the last 6 tournaments to 4/6 second placings, I like to mix up who beats me on the podium, but I honestly don't feel comfortable unless I'm taking silverware. Great tournament, great bunch of players. Thanks to all involved, and who knows what I'll turn up to the next one with.

Dan - Chaoswolf