Goals for 2019

My hobby goals for 2019 -

1.  Paint more figures than in 2018.  So, I have to paint more than 121 figures.

2. Play more miniatures games than in 2018.  So play more than 6 games. This will tie in with another goal further down the list.

3. Complete two opposing forces for any period/genre. 

4. Kickoff my Gothic Horror/Steampunk campaign.

5. Start a games club.  We have the interest and the name already, just got to get organized about it.

6. Concentrate on smaller scales.  I have a ton of 2mm-20mm projects and I'm going to strive to focus on them this year.

7. Complete a metric shed load of terrain.  At LEAST double 2018's 6 pieces.  So goal of 12 pieces.

8. Finish my core platoon of German infantry for Chain of Command in 15mm.

9. Support small business.  The likes of Bad Squiddo, Forged in Battle, Peter Pig, Irregular, Baccus etc.

10. Play every boardgame and miniatures ruleset in my collection.  That's going to take a lot of work, but should be a fun endeavor!

Anyways, those are the goals.  First post of 2019 will probably be my 13 pages of project plans!

Happy New Year folks!!! 

2018 - A Year in Review

2018 was a very good year hobby wise.  Minimal goals, nowhere near as many purchases, and A LOT of completed figures.

Below are my favorite completed figures of 2018 -

Windle and his Balls for Guildball

Cerberus for Mythic Battles: Pantheon

Ares for Mythic Battles: Pantheon

Jackstraw for Guild Ball Farmers

Warrior Wizard for Zombicide Black Plague

Coureur des Bois for French & Indian War

All told, I finished 121 figures in 2018, ranging from 20-28mm.  121 is the 2nd most figures finished in a year since I got back into wargaming 11 years ago.  I also completed 6 terrain pieces in 2018 and played 6 miniatures games.  So, a very successful year.  Lets review a couple other goals I had for 2018 and see how they went shall we?

1.  Kill Team Tau - Completed.  I had a goal to complete a Tau force for Kill Team, and I did. Oh, AND I actually played a game with them and didn't lose! Success. 

2.  Guild Ball - I did finish a playable team of Farmers.  Still have all the other teams I own to paint but I'll count this as a successful goal. Success.

3.  Boardgame Figures - I've made progress, but nowhere near completed.  Failure.

4.  Gothic Horror/Steampunk - I got a few figures done, but not enough to play a game with yet.  Failure. 

5.  2018 6MMRPC - I succeeded in not adding more than I finished from the lead/plastic mountain. Success.

6. Play More Games - In 2017 I played 3 miniatures games.  In 2018 I doubled that with playing 6.  So, Success.

Those were the goals, and I'm definitely counting it as a good hobby year!  2019 will hopefully be even better.  In my next post, I'll lay out my plans and goals for 2019.  

I sincerely hope that everyone had a very Merry Christmas and that you all have a very Happy New Year!  See you in 2019!

Coureur des Bois for "Muskets & Tomahawks"

As I slowly work through my lead mountain, I pulled these guys out of the grim dark back of the cupboard where they've been sat for about 8 years to get them done.  North Star Coureur des Bois for The French & Indian War, or I guess in a pinch I can use them as Canadian Militia for AWI.  "Muskets & Tomahawks" by Studio Tomahawk may be my favorite set of rules ever so it's about time I got some more figures done for it.

Exceedingly crisp sculpts with LOTS of detail.  Painting FIW figures is always fun due to the myriad of colors/warpaint etc, and I think these guys turned out pretty well!

2018 Finished Figures - 121
2018 Finished Terrain - 6
2018 Games Plated - 6

Star Wars and Medieval Zombies

It's been a busy couple of weeks here at the War Room.  Side job, FD, and life have been ridiculous lately.  I did however manage to get some things painted - 

First up C3PO and Darth Vadar for Imperial Assault.  Several friends have expressed interest in some Star Wars gaming either with IA or some other sci-fi ruleset still to be determined, so I'm slowly trying to paint the figures I have.  

As much as I would LOVE to do OSL, I'm going for tabletop standard.  May go back at some point and redo him, but for now, he'll work.

The medieval zombies are more of the Gripping Beast Revenants set, slowly but surely working my way through them.  They, plus the zombies from Zombicide: Black Plague will make quite the nice horde for games set from Roman times on up to late medieval. 

I'd like to note that with the completion of these 5 figures, I have surpassed the 2015 painting numbers, making 2018 the 2nd most productive year since I got back into the hobby!

2018 Finished Figures - 114
2018 Finished Terrain - 6
2018 Games Played - 6

Roman Legionaries for Broken Legions

As part of my ongoing, soon to encompassing most of the world and multiple eons of history, horror project; I've painted up 5 Romans for "Broken Legions".  These chaps will see service against all sorts of horrors including Cthulhu and various other mythologies.

I painted them with muted colors, in keeping with their somewhat hidden purpose.  Their shields are painted with the "Evil Eye" to assist in repelling...well, evil spirits.  I've decided that they're remnants of the IX Legion, roman commanders using the reported destruction of the IXth as a cover for the creation of these hell fighters.

2018 Finished Figures - 109
2018 Finished Terrain - 6
2018 Games Played - 6

Zombicide: Black Plague Heroes

I have a bad habit of buying hybrid boardgames with a metric shed load of miniatures in them...Then wanting to paint all of them.  I backed the Zombicide: Black Plague kickstarter about 3 years ago before I deployed.  When I returned home, two big boxes were sitting there loaded to the gills with Z:BP stuff, and here it is 3 years later and I've not painted much.  Here's four more finished though! 

2 Knights and a very angry Nun

Warrior Wizard

The Z:BP figures really are A LOT of fun to paint, and I plan on using them (like almost all my figures) in a multitude of games.

2018 Finished Figures - 104
2018 Finished Terrain - 6
2018 Games Played - 6

MOP - Intro 2. Introducing Sinead Blair and Peter Fairbanks

Two more character figures finished for my Ministry of the Occult and Paranormal project.

Mrs. Sinead Blair - Note the green ribbon round her neck.

 Mrs. Blair is of Scotch-Irish lineage, an expert as such in Fairy Lore and Magick.  Described as a gentle almost ethereal lady, her calm demeanor covers a core of iron will.  She is a member of the British Contingent of the MOP. 

 

Mr. Peter Fairbanks

Mr. Peter Fairbanks is a former British Indian Army officer who served on the Northwest Frontier.  He is now the leader of the British Contingent of the MOP.

Both of these figures are from West Wind and required barely any flash removal and they painted up very well.  I don't feel that I did Mrs. Blair justice. 

As I paint more for my Gothic Horror project, I'm getting close to having the figures needed for a first game.  Now to just get some terrain going.

2018 Finished Figures - 100
2018 Finished Terrain - 6
2018 Games Played - 6

TMWWBK - 18th "Royal Irish" Regiment

I have finally launched into some stuff for "The Men Who Would Be Kings".  Starting on the Northwest Frontier/2nd Afghan War with these twelve lads of the 18th "Royal Irish" Regiment.

I hemmed and hawed for several months on what scale to do my colonial gaming in, and ALMOST went 28mm.  But.  Then I had a look through my lead mountain, and the Plastic Soldier Review website and decided that the cheaper, easier to store, and just as effective route was through 20mm or 1/72.  

This batch are 1/72 ESCI British Infantry and I think they look ok.  Finding the right shade of tan was a pain in the ass, as you may note from the Officer and Bugler being slightly "off" shades from the others.  They were my test figures and I didn't feel like re-painting them.  The officer I'll explain as; Freshly arrived from England, he purchased his uniform himself somewhere in India. Works for me anyways.    

Now to work on opponents, and terrain.

2018 Finished Figures - 98
2018 Finished Terrain - 6
2018 Games Played - 6

Zombtober "Not" Columbus

The way this month has been going work wise, this very well may be the only "Zombtober" figure I finish.  I give you - The Reaper survivor who is "not" the dude from "Zombieland" played by Jesse Eisenberg.  

It was a nice simple figure to paint, though if I'm honest...he's been sitting partially painted for about 6 years in one of my drawers.

"Not" Columbus

I'm sure he'll be useful in all sorts of games - from moderns to Post Apocalyptic.

2018 Finished Figures - 86
2018 Finished Terrain - 6
2018 Games Played - 6

The Skeleton Signpost

Finally got around to finishing this little terrain project I started about 2 years ago.  

The skeleton signpost.  I used an 8 inch round piece of mdf, a whopping big tree from Woodland Scenics, a bunch of cork sheet, and the skeleton on a post from the GW Giant kit.  It'll see use in a myriad of systems, hence why there isn't anything written on the actual sign yet...can't make up my mind as to what it should say. 

It was a long term, but fun little project, and I think it will be quite useful.

If you have a suggestion as to what the sign should say, drop me a comment!

2018 Finished Figures - 85

2018 Finished Terrain - 6

2018 Games Played - 6

MB:P - Hoplites

The seemingly never ending saga of slowly painting my way through Mythic Battles continues with the completion of these 5 Hoplites.  I wanted to make them different from the Spartans so went with green cloaks instead of red.  I'm happy with how they turned out.  Only something like 180+ minis from that set to go.  Will probably do some Amazons or heroes next.

2018 Finished Figures - 84
2018 Finished Terrain - 5
2018 Games Played - 6

Kill Team Game and a Few Thoughts

Hey all,

Went over to my buddy Kev's house the other day so that he could introduce myself and another friend of ours to the new "Kill Team" from Games Workshop.  It was a three-way mashup of my Tau vs Kevs Tyranids, and our friends Salamanders.

I'm happy to say, my Tau on their first outing - did not lose.  They didn't win...but they didn't lose haha.

So.  What'd I like?

Well, the quality of the components in the Kill Team starter box is excellent.  As you'd expect.  The terrain is pretty damn cool and isn't too "skulled" up so could work for some post apocalyptic gaming.  Terrain in the photos is not painted, but as you can see, it works.

Now, the only thing I didn't like - 

The combat sequence is way too complicated.

It was a fun day, and I'd play it again.

Deployment - Tau = Closest, to the right are the Salamanders, and across the board are the Tyranids.

A tyranid charges the Tau Gun Drone

As the tyranids get stuck in charging salamanders, Tau move to the upper levels of a bombed out building to get better line of sight.

Tyranids and Tau attacking a Salamander Position.  Who will die first?!

Another angle of the overwatching Tau

It was very nice to get my painted figures on the table so quickly after finishing them a couple weeks ago.  Now to dig out my copy of "In the Emperors Name"

More finished figures coming soon, as well as some updated plans and editorial thoughts.

2018 Finished Figures - 79

2018 Finished Terrain - 5

2018 Games Played - 6

More Guild Ball Farmers

Busy couple of weeks here in KC, as kids are going back to school, vacations are ending.  This has meant we're back in the workshop and out doing bids, which is cutting into hobby time, but I'm still trying to get a little work in every day to maintain sanity.

Finished up 6 more Guild Ball Farmers the other day - 

From Left - Thresher, Bushel, Jackstraw and Peck, Fallow, and Grange

This means I can now play games with a fully painted team.  Now just have to finish the rest of them.

Fallow

Peck

Grange

Thresher

Bushel

Jackstraw

Couple things to note -

1. I really should try again at the whole, "painting eyes" thing.  A project for another day.
2. The patchwork quilt on Jackstraw was a bloody pain in the ass, but I'm damn happy with how it turned out.

That's all for now.

2018 Finished Figures - 79

2018 Finished Terrain - 5

2018 Games Played - 5

Sci-Fi Troopers: TAU (Kill Team)

A couple weeks ago, I erroneously posted on the twitter-verse that I was "not interested and not going to get into GW's "Kill Team".  At the time, I really wasn't.  Buuuuuuuut, my good gaming buddy Kev bought the box set and has been bugging me non stop since then.

 So, because I had some Tau sitting around for a sci-fi project that's on the back burner (not anything related to 40k), I finally succumbed and told him I'd paint them up.  Which leads to this post and an ACHIEVEMENT!

Below, you will see a picture of 10 Tau infantry, 2 Drones, and a Tactical Turret........which I FINISHED in about 4hrs.  They're nothing special, but it's literally the fastest turn around I've ever had for finishing models.  13 figures in 4hrs.  I'm very pleased.  

Note, I painted them in a desert style to meld with my still on the back burner sci-fi project, but they'll work for "Kill Team" and Kev's happy.  So good all around.  Now to see if he's mastered the rules enough to teach it to me.    

That's all for now, couple more posts coming soon with more intros to my MOP forces, and some Guild Ball goodness.  Thanks for reading!

2018 Finished Figures - 73
2018 Finished Terrain - 5
2018 Games Played - 5

MOP - Intro.1 - Introducing Agent O'Brian

The Ministry of the Occult and Paranormal Intro - 1:

Long Back Tavern - Boston, MA
Early October, 1889

I sit here drinking my beer contemplating my next steps.  My name is Michael O'Brian.  I am...well...was, an agent for the United States Secret Service.  My new assignment is just that.  New.  I am now the American representative of, or to, a new agency collaboration between the United States and the British Empire called, "The Ministry of the Occult and Paranormal."

*****************************************************

"What the hell does that even mean/!"  I believe my face may have telegraphed that very sentiment as I sat across from Director Edward Thornton in his office.

"There have been some strange...situations, that we feel need to be investigated and dealt with - and we feel you're the right man for the job." He said.

When I attempted to ask a question, he shoved my reassignment order across his desk to me and said, "I know you have questions.  Address them to your British counterpart when you get to England."  I was then promptly ushered out.

**************************************************

So.  Here I sit.  I have been authorized up to 10 additional agents or consultants as part of the U.S. contingent, but I've been told I need to speak with the British first before selecting them.  So I'm on my own for now.  Hopefully they have coffee in England.

While I probably shouldn't be writing any of this down per instructions about "secrecy" given to me by the director...I feel that as one of the founding agents of a very strange agency...I may some day want a record of events so as to be able to accurately tell my story.  

(Note - I was given an address to send my reports to.  A place called "Wardenclyffe" on Long Island.   






2018 Finished Figures - 60
2018 Finished Terrain - 5
2018 Games Played - 5

PlastCraft Games Sci-Fi Noodle Shop

Taking a break from painting a bit to clear some other stuff off the shelf, I have assembled the PlastCraft Games Sci-Fi Noodle Shop from their Infinity range of products.

It comes preprinted with colors and textures and I'll be very happy to use it in my sci-fi games.

Front View

Rear View

Assembly took about an 45 minutes.  Almost all the pieces were a perfect fit and cut smooth.  The only parts that needed any trimming or carving to fit were the uprights for the sign on the roof.

This last picture is showing were I misaligned the roof panels.  It still works though as the roof is supported in three other locations.

2018 Finished Figures - 59

2018 Finished Terrain - 5

2018 Games Played - 5

6MMRPC - MB:P Heracles

Finished up Heracles a few days ago.  Pretty happy with how this first hero I've painted from the core box turned out.  Hope you guys like him.

2018 Finished Figures - 59

2018 Finished Terrain - 4

2018 Games Played - 5

Cerberus aka Fluffy

Continuing with the MB:P painting project, I give you Cerberus - Guardian of the gates of Hades.  

Lovely model, with no flash or gaps that needed filling.

2018 Finished Figures - 58

2018 Finished Terrain - 4

2018 Games Played - 5

6MMRPC - MB:P - Spartans and Hell Hounds

Next up in the saga of painting MB:P I present the three Spartans from the core box.

and the six core box sculpts (there are other sculpts in other boxes) of Infernal or Hell Hounds.

I painted the hounds in a way to try and bring up mental images of  ugly mangy fur-less nasty buggers with some rusty collars and chains.  I think I succeeded. 

2018 Finished Figures - 57

2018 Finished Terrain - 4

2018 Games Played - 5

6MMRPC - Mythic Battles: Pantheon - Ares

Continuing on with the MB:P theme, here is my take on Ares. Also about 70mm tall, this figure is my favorite out of the core box.  Finished him this morning.

Super dynamic, clean sculpt.  Badass.

On a side note, finishing this guy means that I've surpassed last years finished figures total by more than 2x!

2018 Finished Figures - 48
2018 Finished Terrain - 4
2018 Games Played - 5

6MMRPC - Mythic Battles:Pantheon - Zeus

Let's be really really honest for a second...

I went bloody well all in on the Mythic Battles: Pantheon Kickstarter.

Some days (like today), I'm really happy I did...other days (like when the mortgage is due), I'm not. 

It has all been delivered, and I'm pretty sure that there are about 15,000 miniatures in the 14 boxes I received...that's a slight exaggeration but I think you get my drift.  All the models are beautiful with a ton of detail and hardly any issues such as mold lines, gaps that need filled, flash, etc etc.  So, being me, I decided I was going to start with the core box, and work my way thru painting all the bloody models.  This post is to showcase the first one finished - Zeus.  He stands about 70mm tall, and is absolutely stunning.

   
Keep in mind that while yes, I plan on playing Mythic Battles:Pantheon as is...these figures are too freaking cool and awesome and all that jazz to not use them for other things like for instance: "Of Gods and Mortals"! 

So yes, today, I'm quite happy I went all in.

2018 Finished Figures - 47
2018 Finished Terrain - 4
2018 Games Played - 5

6MMRPC - Roger's Rangers

One of my personal favorite games is "Muskets & Tomahawks" by Alex Buchel and Studio Tomahawk.  FIW and AWI gaming being some of my Dad and I's favorite periods. 

I've had the three Gripping Beast starter sets for years and have just now gotten around to finishing 6 Roger's Rangers from the British Wilderness Force.  These sculpts are very detailed, but did have some annoying mold lines.  I plan on some day adding more detailing to the bases once I find my box of tufts/flowers/leaves etc. 

But anyways, that's a unit of 6 done, can't wait to get them to the table!  Now to tackle something else!

2018 Finished Figures - 46

2018 Finished Terrain - 4

2018 Games Played - 5