Easter surprise

At the start of the year I said I wasn't going to start any more miniature games, well, I haven't so far. (Now that's a surprise) Yes that's right, I’ve ended up playing other games using other peoples models, and acquiring a few more rule books. But I actually haven't started with miniatures from other games. I’ve managed to hold out, using stuff from my existing collection or borrow models.  I’ve also made a good dent in the mountain of metal I already have, having started on my Samurai army for FOGR and well into all those Flames of War Russians I have. Things are ticking over nicely.

So my main focus in the past few weeks has been Japanese based, with the Samurai army and putting together terrain for Ronin, Bushido and Malifaux. My 4Ground Shogunate buildings turned up the other day. They are absolutely fabulous, but extremely time consuming to put together.

My cork tile method is working a treat, and the table is starting to take shape nicely. The next big challenge is to figure out how to best do the water for the rice paddy’s. I’m going to try three different methods, the first being mixing in paint to some Kleer Resin. Which I've just pored into my first tile. (super strong smelly stuff) It looks good so far, but unsure how it will dry, fingers crossed it wont rain, as It's sitting outside so I don't stink out the house. I missed a spot when sealing the base, so had to use a bit of tape to plug the whole....resin leaking all over the place.

Yesterday I watched Lee and Paul play a game of Saga and also a little bit of Mark and Phil play a game of Drop Zone Commander. Here’s a few pic of the games.

After that I got in a game of Kings of War with Mark. A fun game which I can use all my old models. Went right down to the wire, before I lost out to the last few Goblins.

Stompy Stompy

As per usual I headed over to Mark’s for some gaming today. I took my RC tank to have a bit of a play with. I’m definitely going to have to get another one, and upgrade them to the infrared battle system. (When the budget allows of course) 

 

First game up was a 300 point Infinity game, using the YAMS system for objectives. Phil and I changed the allocation of them to make things a bit more interesting. Instead of drawing six and discarding two, so you start with knowing your four objectives.

We draw three to start with and discard one, then on turn three, we draw another 3 and discard one. So you have two objectives to concentrate on for the first 2 turns before the next two objectives (basically thinking of it as you get assigned more objectives from HQ during the mission). The only other addition rule was that you couldn't fulfil an objective you get in turn 3 before you actually get the objective. Oh yeah, and if you cant meet one of the object cards you draw because it’s impossible, just draw another card.


I ran an old Combined Army list I had printed up, that just happened to be in my game bag. I choose it simply because it had the Cascuda in it and I want to use him. So my list was

First Group
Aswange  Lieutenant – Adhesive Launcher
Caskuda
Iskaller  - Combi Rifle + Light Shotgun
Speculo Killer
T-Drone
2x Seed Soldiers
Second Group
2x Preta
2x Gaki

So here’s a rough run down of the game. Phil was using his ALEPH. I ended up with first deployment and first turn, keeping the Cascuda and Iskaller off the table to use there combat jump ability later on in the turn to go for two objectives. The first beginning search an unconscious/dead enemy for documents, followed by placing a beacon in the enemies deployment zone 10’ or less from a corner.

First I ran my Preta’s and Gaki’s up the left flank to cause some chaos (think I killed a couple of models and lost one Preta). I then walked the Cascuda on, right up by Phils deployment zone on the right flank. Simple plan… kill everything in site that could shoot back, which was only one model as it turned out, achieved that then moved in and scored my first objective by searching the body.

Phil then moved up and killed some more of my Gaki and Preta’s in a shootout on the left flank. He then proceed to kill my Cascuda with a damn combi rifle after I failed a bunch of saves really badly. Thankfully the heavy flamer of the Cascuda managed to kill his model as well. (cant recall what it was).

A bunch more shenanigans happened over the next turns as Phil killed off my remaining Gaki’s. I then walked on the Iskaller onto the board in the same place as my Cascuda did and he then proceed to slaughter the other two models that were there, a Netrod and some small harmless bot. I then placed the beacon  and setup the Iskaller up for defence of the beacon.

Turn thee and I get a mixed bag of objectives, one simple one and a choice of two hard ones. I opt for the easy one of course, which was sabotage a terrain piece and the second much hard one of “Hold” which is not be in retreat at the end of the game. (at that point I need to keep all my models on the board alive.)

So my turn three is all about getting the sabotage done and scoring my third objective, and what I hope is good placement of my models to make Phil think twice about coming to close. Thankfully Phil goes for his objectives and scores one of them. My fourth turn I get all my guys as far away and well hidden as possible. Which turned out to be just far enough to stay alive as Phil runs one of his models into my DZ to score another one of his objectives.

So I actually win 4/2 on objectives, think that's my first win against Phil using the Combined Army.

After lunch I played Will at Malifuax, and tried out the Pandora starter box, using proxies as I’m thinking of getting the starter box to expand my Neverborn crew. So with Will also using proxies as his gang hasn't shipped from Wayland yet. The photos are not what they seem.

Talk about mess with your mind, as a last minute decision, it wasn't a good one. Read the cards once, pop the models on the table and start playing. It messed with the brain a little as I tried to figure out the best way to use them and combine the abilities.

The play style is quite different from the Guild gang I’ve been playing, but still fun. So I’m definitely going to have to do some reading and searching on how to use them more effectively. Safe to say Will pretty well stomped me. He was using Seamus and kept bring back corpses. (a rather annoying ability)

 Looking forward to playing more Malifaux, I really like the cheating fate mechanic.

Malifaux - The Neverborn - Lilith Gang

I finished off my second Malifaux gang this morning. with the addition of Candy. Hoping to get a couple of games in tomorrow with them.

Lilith of The Neverborn

I got Lilith done today, and finished off the Terror Tot Nephillims as well. Only the Mature Nephillim to go and I’ll have the starter box done. Then I’ll need to learn the rules and give the game a bash. 

I’d been listening to audio books while I paint, a bit of a change from music. I’ve just finished listening to “Dealing with Dragons”. A funning light hearted story, a kids story really, but easy to listen to and didn’t take much concentration away from the painting. Well worth a listen to if your into that sort of thing. The people reading it have good voices and are interesting to listen to, no boring monotones.

Perdita and the Ortega Gang

After a hell of a week at work I wasn’t up to using the brain and gaming , I managed to find some time to get in some painting and relax a bit. Ended up over at Mark’s and we spent the day painting and talk about crap. I got stuck into the rest of the Ortega gang while Mark worked on his Flames of War stuff he needed to finish for his job. Cranked up some tunes and yakked about all sorts while painting, it was great just to relax and not worry about rules and being competitive. Think we will need to do that a bit more often, or even look at trying out playing one game in the morning, then spending the rest of the day painting and relaxing.

A bit of basing and a couple of touch up I spotted in the photos and the gang should be ready to rock, I quite enjoyed painting sort of cartoonish colours on them, going to do a similar thing with the Neverborn as well.

I stopped at my local “AO” (Alcoholics Only) A.K.A. The Wine Circle shop on the way home and shouted myself a new bottle of Scotch.. it’s ohhhoooo so nice.. , at 57% barrel strength it has a good kick and goes down nice and smooth, safe to say not much painting going on tonight.

Now all I need to do is learn the rules for Malifaux and finish of my Neverborn Crew.

Malifaux

Got a bit of painting in tonight after a crazy day at work, started on Perdita from my Ortega gang. Thought I’d try something a little different.

WIP: Miss Pack (Nurse)

I started on my first Malifaux model last night after spending some time priming a whole lot of models, some 30+ for Wahmachine and Malifaux. The Malifaux Rules book has finally shipped so I’ll that in a week, and then have a couple of gangs ready to go for my Christmas holiday, which I cant wait for.

Bad things happen

Yes, my Malifaux models finally arrived, unfortunately the rule book didn’t, but at least I can start to get them together and get ready for when the book arrives. (I found the pdf online, but you can only read so much from a PDF).

The really great surprise was getting an extra model free, I got two start boxes, The Guild – Perdita and The Neverborn – Lilith, when I opened one of the sealed  boxes to my surprise I had a one Nurse from the Resurrectionst as an extra.. oh what a shame . If I end up liking the game and ecide to get more models, I guess I’ll be getting a Resurrectionst crew.

I’ve got most of them together already. The thing that really struck me as I cleaned them up, was how soft the metal composition is, really soft compared to Warmachine/Hordes models. There is some great fine detail on them, but how long they last will come down to how careful I am when in transit.. I guess time will tell.

I’m a little disappointed in the card decks, having got two, and they are identical other than the colour on the backs of the cards, I think they could have at least done some different pictures on the different packs. But not exactly a bank breaker.

Malifaux

I just updated my laptop and found that Microsoft have released a newer version of Live Writer (which I use to do my posting to this blog), it seems a littler easier to use, and goes along the same sort of layout as Office 2010 does. Nothing earth shattering but note worthy.

I went a little crazy and decided to order some Malifaux models and the Rule book the other day. Found the PDF version online so just having a flip though that. From all the reports I’ve read it should be fun.. now I just have to wait for it them arrive. I ended up getting two box start kits since I don’t actually know anyone who plays Malifaux, so at least me and the lads can have some games straight away.

Here a great little youtube video I found, that got me inspired to jump in and start playing.