New Year resolutions

Well 2011 is now in the past. Noteable for me gaming wise was the amount of new games I have started. Over the course of the year I got into Dystopian wars, Uncharted seas, Bushido, Eden, Flames of war, and IABSM (I ain't been shot mum). Then just when I think that has got to be it along comes Dark Age.

Had a game at a mate's house a couple of days ago and it rocks. Miniatures are top draw. So looks like my first new purchase for 2012 will be a Forsaken list but more of that later in the year.

Sadly got out of Lassalle this year after big outlay for figures. Fantastic ruleset but I just could not motivate myself to paint 130+ 28mm figures that are all very similar. Painting should not be a chore.

So looking ahead to 2012 I really want to get my FOW army all finished so I can get away to a few tournaments. Apart from that lots of skirmish type gaming and with plenty of systems to choose from that should not be a problem. I have a several interests outside gaming that I really want to spend more time in this year so looks like I will be busy in 2012 :-)

Been busy today and have got all my FJ infantry stands based. Just need to put a bit of putty on tomorrow and they will be ready to paint. I have used a few extra bits from the cassino plastic base sprues that Battlefront make.

Army of the week

This week we have one of my favourite malifaux crews, Ophelia and her gremlins. They are really a parody of the Perdita crew from the guild. Tough to play with as they have low will power so against some crews they suffer. They can put out a lot of firepower and are quick however so always have the ability to surprise an opponent.

These are the latest additions to the crew the young lacroix, who are Ophelias totems (she can take three).

Last of all Ophellia herself.

First FJ stand

After a bit of experimenting and sorting the right colours etc I have finished my first stand of fallschirmjagers for FOW. Need to get a crack on as my regualr gaming mate, Bruce, has nearly painted a company of Brits. We are going to be using them for the IABSM (I ain't been shot Mum) ruleset by Toofatlardies (see link below) plus I will be using mine for FOW.
http://toofatlardies.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=30&zenid=1f04fe23b8f74c311a2665618155f602

The commander has a red spotted scarf around his neck. I have to say I enjoy painting 15mm so very quick to do and when done will look great.

New Flames of War army

Just got my new Flames of war army. It is a Fallschirmjager mid-late war list. I have a couple of malifuax models to finish on my painting table then it is full steam ahead with FOW. More updates to come...

Army of the week

New feature in a bid to get more stuff up on my blog I thought once a week I would feature one of my painted armies.
So for this week it is my ISC from Eden. Enjoy...

Gaming update

Have been a tad lazy with this blog lately so this is the start of me fixing that. A few major changes in my gaming thoughts recently that has seen me branch into a new game (Flames of war) and drop an old one (Lasalle). I have long admired Flames and have been paying alot of attention to the many tournaments they have over the year. I am a big tournament fan and really want to get into that scene again so FOW is the obvious answer. Sadly as my hobby is suppossed to be self funding that meant finding some funds... so my lasalle army is now up for sale. You can find all details on the South Island gaming forum (link below)
http://forum.nzwargamer.net/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=8972
I have also got into Uncharted Seas with an ork fleet and am still playing Eden. More news and photos of all these coming soon.

New game - Eden

I have been trying to avoid new games as I really need to get on and get my napoleonics army painted however my regular gaming mate, Bruce, introduced me to this game, Eden. Great models and after one game I was hooked. Order has gone away for some new models already. Fortunately you don't need many models to play as it is a skirmish type game. It is set in a post apocalyptic setting with five different factions; Bamakas (tribesmen), ISC (tech), Clowns (looneys), Convoy (Mad max types) and Matriachy (Religous sect). I have gone for the ICS. Here are some of the models from the factions...

The Bushido keeps on coming...

The final two models for the starter set for the Temple of Ro Kan are the peasants, so here they are...

And here is the completed Temple of ro Kan starter set...

More Bushido goodness

Finished all my monks tonight. The Ekusa model (guy on the turtle) is fantastic once I started painting it I couldn't put it down.

Puppet Wars

Wyrds new game has a new website http://www.puppet-wars.com/index.html that has all the rules, cards, maps for the game. Very slick. Can't wait to get a set.
Check some of these puppets out...

Back to Painting

Finally got some painting done and here he is, Kenko from the Temple of Ro-Kan.

Temple of Ro Kan

Assembled and ready to paint. Very easy to put together. The monk on the turtle is very cool and should paint up real nice.

More Bushido previews

Here is the greens for Bikuo, female ninja for the Prefecture of Ryu. Very dynamic model.

Haven't done much of anything modelling or painting wise as my back is still in healing mode. Shame as I have got lots to get on with.

Bushido arrives

My Bushido order turned up in the post on Saturday. I was very impressed I have to say. The models are very good, great detail. One of the best things about them was that there was virtually no flashing etc to clean up. The starter comes with dice and cards. They also included a mini rule book which was a nice touch.

Can't wait to start painting them...

Reading recomendation

Still have a bad back from Karate so bending over painting is out for the time being. Thought I would go to the library and see what I could find. Looking amongst the napoleonics section I came across this fascinating book, 'A Model Victory' by Malcom Balen.

It tells the story of a British soldier and model maker who, several years after the battle of Waterloo, was commissioned to make a model of the battle. He gathers together hundreds of stories from those that fought there in a bid to find the true crisis point and turning point of the battle so he could reflect that in his model. The probelm for him becomes who actually won the day - Wellington's forces or Blucher's Prussions? In his fight for the truth he has to fight the British establishment and Wellington himself. Only read two chapters but finding it fascinating stuff.
   
                                             

Kitsune greens for Bushido

Showed you the concept art for Kitsune earlier now here we have the greens. First time we see an actual fox which is what she changes from. This game has the potential of becoming very very cool.

New greens for Bushido

Wow check these out the greens for Nezumi. Like the rats. Starts in little rat swarm form then bingo big bad rat!! Apparently the Nezumi comes with 3 rat swarms in the blister.

Update

Been a bit quiet last few days due to a back injury suffered at Karate so no painting to show.
Had a couple of Malifuax games at the weekend with my Hoffman crew for a win and a loss. Interesting crew to play very different to my other crews. Hoffman is very reliant on synergy with the other models in his crew particulary the Peacekeeper (I borrowed my mates PK for the games).
Speaking of the Peacekeeper, mine turned up today at Aargon Hobbies. Lots of bits just about need an instruction manual to assemble it. Can't wait to get home tonight and plan my conversion.

Bushido concept art

For those Temple of Ro-Kan players out there here is the concept art for the next release for the spiritual guardians and followers of the enlighten path, The Kitsune.

Very interesting and not what I expecetd when I heard whispears about this fox girl. I figured it would be a girl that turns into a fox like the child monk and gorilla will be so two seperate figures. The temple of Ro-Kans connection to the animal world goes alot further than many expected. I sense some history between her and the nezumi. Time will tell...

Upcoming release for Bushido

Behold the art for Nezumi, the upcoming release for the Cult of Yurei.
"Nezumi is a twisted and tortured creature, able to switch his form. One moment a lowly rodent the next a horrifying hybrid of man and beast"

Can't wait to see the actual model.

Hoffman crew done

Finished now just waiting for Ryle and Peacekeeper to show up which will allow me to play up to 40ss. Have a cool conversion planned for the Peacekeeper.

My Bucket list

When I first started playing with miniature tactical devices (or toy soldiers) I had lots of airfix napoleonic figures. I loved the character and background of the Napoleonic era. The one thing that held me back was finding a rule set that did not involve having a degree in quantum physics and maths to play. Last year Andrew from Hobby Hub introduced me to Lasalle and finally I was hooked. Naturally I then went out and brought a whole army (from Perrys in the UK). Problem is there are alot of figures to paint and it is something I have struggled with. One of the reasons for this blog is to make me more accountable to finishing this army and as the title above suggests it is something I really want to achieve.

Anyway here is what I have done so far. Only one battalion done and I think I need to have seven!! Not happy with the basing for my commander too boring so will look at rebasing him.

Hoffman done.

The finished product. The rest of his crew well on the way with abit of luck all done tonight.

I ordered the Peacekeeper and Ryle through James at Aargon Hobbies. They should compliment the contents of the box set nicely and allow me to play up to about 35ss with my Hoffman crew.

Cupboards and paint stations

Thought I would give you a little look at my cupboard of figures. I have a whole lot of AT-43 models but they have been packed away to allow me some space. Besides that game has crashed as well. Rackham are a disaster. Don't get me started on the ditching of the original Confrontation... which was surely one of the best games ever, the figures were stunning. If you look hard enough you can see my Wolfen and Cadwallon figures in there.

Here is a close up of my FSA Dystopian Wars fleet. Cool game.

And finally this is my painting station. Highly mobile and very messy. Takes me a while to find the paint pot I want. I use a mixture of Vallejo and GW paints. Would just use all Vallejo but up until now we had lacked a supplier. Luckily a local bloke who has his own gaming supply business has got some in. Well done Andrew from Hobby Hub.  

Bushido teasers

Check these pics out. The temple of Ro-Kan are the Kung Fu monk faction.

Here is a model of the child monk and gorilla. Very nice indeed.