40K: 50K Point Apocalypse (Coverage from my game group PAGE and the Winter Apoc Game)

This is a video review of my game group PAGE and the annual Winter Apocalypse game for 40K. The polar spaceport is my work... just realized I never posted any of that up so I will get on that soon. Also within is all of the crazy amounts of work in terms of figures painted, club terrain and awesome stuff guests brought. If you are in the PA area and want to join us for almost any game, something specific or something different, just reach out. We are active at most area stores including Redcap's and we will also be running some events at NOVA again this year, stay tuned!

Warhammer 40k: Commissar Yarrick

Yet another addition to my Valhallens for 40K, none other than the man himself, Commissar Yarrick. Painted with an eye on the Apocalypse arc for my club's Burning Stars league, Yarrick vouched safe his formidable reputation during the utter chaos of our massive Apocalypse game this past January, Rebuffed at Barnes 595... but more on that in a minute (but go look at the Apoc pics, it is insane.)

I opted to re-sculpt where his sheathed sword originally was, back into the underlying sash, since I didn't have time to find the missing bit (and it wasn't a standout must-have looking at his stat-line.) He was a one-session paintjob in the face of the impending game, anyway. I also chose to lighten the tone of his traditional Commissariat coat since it looks better in the polar terrain.

Here you can see Yarrick on the lower left, under the Valhallen Lightning, in the first of a few Apocalyse naps. He'd lose his last wound, crumple to the ground, then come right back next turn and he did it ALL DAMN GAME on that objective, including on the last turn where he stood up one last time to contest an objective.  Seriously though he did this 4 times in a row. He has minerals.

Warhammer 40K: Holographic Tactical Display

Here is a kit bashed holographic tactical display for my Valhallan HQ. I don’t think this makes sense representing anything from the Astra Militarum codex but I suppose it could be an objective? 

Here is a before shot.

I used some Necromunda bulkheads cut and trimmed for the legs, a Mighty Empires 40K tile and a Forge World bomber cockpit control console from my buddy Lovell’s kit that his son accidentally set fire. I was able to saw the controls from the melted cockpit piece and trim it back into shape. The orderly is an old Basilisk crewman, I think.

Not a lot of work but it creates good atmosphere for the game and so, worth it!

Here are some other shots.

40K: Eversor Conversion

Here's an Eversor I painted last Saturday, for bringing to The Burning Stars league with my club, PAGE.

Not much to say really. Chopped the model in half, hunched him over more and resculpted the join. Garnished with pouches and grenades from various kits. Added a Warhammer Fantasy bit as the shoulder pad, I think, not sure the source. It married well with his chest rig/vox deal he has going on. The arms are from Catachan plastic kits and the open hand is a GW zombie hand. The Neuro Gauntlet is a paw from an old Necron Flayed one. I added a pommel/hilt for the sheathed sword too since the pack with the stowed gun I used here was for the Eversor model who has his sword in hand and had the stowed sword missing.

Painted it up for the Bio Meltdown and here is is, The Ghoul of Hammerfall, exploding in a league game near you (hopefully not while in my own lines.)

Robotech RPG Tactics, Bushido, Strange Aeons and Forge World

Seriously, you can't tell how big the box is. It would hold a tomcat.

I am supposed to be getting ready for a 40k Apocalypse game in January but... but... Kickstarter! My copy of Robotech RPG Tactics landed with what seems to be 400 eleventeen sprues of Wave 1 mecha plus cards, rulebook, dice, counters, decals and Gloval knows what else. My buddy Pete describes this as a slow-grow effort at his house. I'd have to agree. Totally going transparent bases with these, a first for me... looking at you, Litko. First impressions are good though the ruleset really does seem to be a child of litigation, where the parents (Harmony Gold and Palladium) settled on making this game but not making it a "miniature" game even though that's exactly what it is (it's detailed game pieces, NOT miniatures). That aside, the ruleset is interesting in mechanic, a hybrid of a few systems. I'm giving the stink eye towards it's army building guidelines and that some sprues were damaged in transit. That said, I've seen a lot worse. Big ups to my buddy Pete for fronting this until I could sign the adoption papers, this will be fun. For the record, the first game I ever made on my own, with written rules and playtesting, was a Robotech game using Matchbox, Orgus and Revell models plus wooden blocks for buildings. Yup, the buildings took damage. So this is a Homecoming of sorts.

At the same damn time as this large box invading my house, I jumped into Bushido, with some insanely beautiful miniatures. Actually, maybe too beautiful? I am not sure that everyone will go in for the intricate and beautifully delicate figs despite the just-as-beautifully elegant low model count rules. I went Ito Clan and I'm painting them now, eschewing all other obligations, including some Top-Secret Lurker stuff I started for Strange Aeons. Seriously, check out Bushido if you like movies like Ninja Scroll, the Avatar cartoon or almost anything Jet Lee flew through sideways.

Here's a few objective counters I made for Bushido as a warm up. I needed to work out a mossy vine recipe and stone paint scheme. Nailed it!

Finally, I'm waiting for some jeweler's saw blades that hopefully will make it through the impending Nor' Easter/Thanksgiving Slingshot Catapult/Clothesline. We'll see but I know Philly ain't Buffalo so we should be fine. Once they get here I'll be building a Forge World Avenger for my buddy Lovell.

Speaking of full plates...

Happy Thanksgiving to all my US peeps and peace to everyone else.

Warhammer 40K: First 7th edition game

MEH!!!!

Well, my buddy Joe sums it up better than I could, as far as real insightful thoughts go on the first 7th edition 40K game of the year. He is a seasoned 40k player across the last few editions and me, not so much. We share sentiments.

There are some pics of the match too. It was fun but man did it turn into a study group pretty fast... hence some dazed expressions easily and accurately perceived as bewilderment too...

http://www.rocketshipgames.com/blogs/tjkopena/2014/05/40k-7th-edition-first-play/