Storage Needed

Another update; damaged my shoulder at weekend (no idea how but stabbing pains aren't good for Football or painting), so a week missing training ahead (not happy).

Need some bigger storage

Having said all that, the missus was down at Watford all weekend to visit Harry Potter World so after fun filled days with the kids I managed to get a bit more painting done. Finished off the last of the Prussian Infantry I need and got an Austrian unit done. Still got Prussian Dragoons and I need to order some more Kuirassiers.

Austrian 1st Infantry Regiment

Couple of things realised; Austrians will have Imperial Yellow colours for odd numbered regiments and white for even (for variety; there is more odd numbered at Lobositz so still majority Yellow).

Also how little infantry (or how much cavalry?) did the Prussians have had Lobositz; including the Grenadiers that is 13 stands of infantry as opposed to about the same Cavalry!

I also am running out of bases - fortunately I ordered a load more last week and hopefully will have enough then.

The remaining bases

Trying to arrange a D&D night but no go as yet. Got a group we're doing Lost Mines of Phandelver with - otherwise I want to start a campaign doing either Hoard of Dragon Queen or Storm King's Thunder if anyone is interested on a Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday or at a push Sunday night in Lancaster (comment below).

Frostgrave Warband Green

So I first put these models together back in August last year and I've finally got a warband competed (well still need to do the bases). To identify mine from the missus' I've used green on every model (as opposed to the blue on the other force). Anyone, due to my Enchanter looking a bit Nordic, I've gone with that theme - cherry picked the helmets I feel match and even painted the symbol for Thor on my Man-At-Arms' shield. And in deference to my most recent guilty pleasure Acquisitons Incorporated my Warband is named Grønn Flamme.

Complete Warband

I do have more than 500 points here to allow for growth in further missions - I may need more as time goes by too.

Heidr and Bjarnn

Master and apprentice. My only slight issue with these is the rule where wizards always have a better fight value than the apprentice - Bjarnn is significantly bigger than any of my other figures.

Heidr and Bjarnn with all the things they may need.

Infantrymen

This is the core of my force, 3 infantrymen who can really deal the damage - as I've stated I recently won a copy of "Into the Breeding Pits" and our battles may primarily take place underground - alternatively in the "Hunting the Golem" mini campaign. Ordinarily I probably would have taken a bunch of thugs and thieves for a normal game.

Infantrymen again - including a nice green scarf

I will probably go a bit more shooter heavy in future but for now I only have the 2 in my force, although I intend to get some offensive weapons for my Wizards.

Tracker and Archer

Really like this Archer model and how its come out - used a bit darker brown for his clothes and think it really works.

Tracker and Archer

Also really like how the wraps (can't really call them boots) and the quills look - I will get some better pictures once based.

Man-At-Arms and Thief

These pictures do not do justice - I really like my Man-At-Arms - so much that I'm probably going to build my next DnD character around him. I did the thief in grey with thoughts of making his smock mottled and sneaky looking but I haven't dry dusted the mottle effect on yet.

Man-At-Arms and Thief with his dirty sack.

So there they are - I hope to get my other warband painted asap and then I'll probably base them all together - I also need to get some monsters and things.

Underpainting

So I had a couple of hours to myself this weekend and decided to review what minis I had. And all in all wasn't a bad time productivity wise.

My bicycle battalion got there texture added to their bases ready to be painted, and a few other early war cavalry support assets got undercoated. Also decided to undercoat my Carthaginian Army or at least bits of it before the spraycan ran out - this is a project I started over 5 years ago - woops! If I get on with this I might - might I say - get a Republican Roman Army to face them.

In other news I also wondered if anyone had any experience with RPGs in a box. I've got a few actual RPG sets but its really hard to get the continued interest in people to come along and play and really get into it. I also really want to play for once rather than DM. So suggestions and volunteers please!

A Few Firsts

Its only 2 models but for me its a couple of firsts;

• 1st time I've used a wash on a model - don't use them on my 10mm models and I didn't use them on my 20mm plastic Napoleonics.
• 1st time I've painted up larger scale skirmish models - again only previous models which weren't 10mm or smaller were my Napoleonics.
• 1st completed fantasy models. Planned lots of armies and things - never actually gone for it.

Anyhoo here they are - 2 completed Goblins for tonight (will be backed up by more part painted ones). Awful pictures but they were taken in a rush with my phone camera in bad light.

Archer

I'll get better photos up when I've done them all and based them. I'm doing the breast plates in gunmetal whilst the leather parts are a multi layer of tan and browns.

Swordsman

I'll try get pictures up of what happens tonight...

Tour of Darkness - 1st Game Review

So last night I played a quick throw down game to practice the combat system of Savage Worlds with Alex and Jon. First thoughts; really enjoyed the rules - right balance between rapidity of play and individuality of characters. Long range combat is slow (as it should be) and close range is deadly (especially M79 grenades).

However unless we were doing something really wrong, deviation for area weapons seems ridiculous; we had grenades deviate 18" long on a long throw so effectively a grenade was thrown 102 yards! And an RPG was fired at right angles to the intended target!

Also I need to make some quick play sheets - the index/contents aren't the best (or existent) in either book so much going back and forth was going on.

The session ended with Alex and Jon making their initial characters and discussions of other things to get and do. Buildings/terrain are priorities as is some vehicular support. It will take me some time but my aim is to eventually be able to field a platoon of US Grunts having optional supports of:

M113

Jeep

UH-1 Huey

M48 Patton

M50 Ontos

M728

Anything else I need? Next week I'll be running another game - another random mission probably but this time with some actual role playing and a test run with Alex and Jon's characters.

Another Update

Lack of internet at home is really killing me on this and making it really difficult to post pictures - but I promise to get some after game tomorrow.

All the Frostgrave and all but a couple of NVA from my Vietnam models have been based and undercoated. Never really done 28mm models so any painting guides would be much appreciated!

Tomorrow, will hopefully be a practice game with a couple of the players to get used to the rules (without edges and hindrances). Models are unfinished but hey ho - they'll be done when campaign itself starts. May print off an M113 template to have a play with to - may have to buy one of these if turns out to be a bit of fun!

Flames of War M113 - Shame its 15mm!

Also for information for the players (and for anyone interested) I found a free version of the rules so people can get an idea of what is happening.

Tour of Darkness Intro

So I've got most of the basic models based and undercoated and have made a few plans for buildings. I have also started to put together the first mission plan as well as an idea of how I'm going to run the campaign.

As previously posted I'd like to re-highlight the outstanding response from Baker Company upon me having issues with some of their models - there was a response within minutes of me emailing them and a promise to replace the affected models.

The campaign plan is to base the initial few missions around a Squad sized formation with a load of new recruits. The player characters will all be newly recruited grunts who have just arrived in country and been attached to a seriously depleted formation. One player will play a newly raised 2nd Lt. who is attached to the squad to learn the ropes (due to the company having its full complement of officers and therefore being put in as a platoon CO).

So squad make up will initially be

2nd Lt (attached) - Player character

Sergeant - NPC
Rifleman - ?
Rifleman - ?
Grenadier - ?

Corporal - NPC
Rifleman - ?
Machine-Gunner - ?
Assistant Gunner - ?

May also have RTO or medic attached dependent on mission and support.

I am using the Savage Worlds gaming system for this campaign and taking my inspiration off Tim in Saskatoon, I will give extra bennies for characters giving backgrounds as well as official after mission reports and/or diary entries/letters home.

As soon as I get any of this I will post this. Any ideas or suggestions will be much appreciated.

Start of Something New

So first of all I'd like to say thanks to everyone following this :) and also to everyone who's given advice and comments - but more comments on here please :p.

The terrain building has been temporarily been put on hold as I'm moving to Lancaster in a couple of weeks time but as part of that it brings new opportunities which I will now proceed to bore you with as well as some questions that I'm hoping some of you may have some answers to.

Firstly, I have really started to get back into tabletop boardgaming playing with a bunch of friends some old favourites like Monopoly alongside some which I'd heard of but had never played like Munchkin and Carcassone - both brilliant games.

As such I would like to set up a boardgaming club in Lancaster, playing any games people bring along, maybe a few drinks, maybe try out some RPGs. So any suggestions as to location or anyone who wants to get involved get in touch :)

Secondly, and related, I'd like to find a set of rules for Star Wars Skirmish. Simple you say? Well give me some suggestions. They need to be either RPG rules which kind of work as wargaming rules or wargaming rules which have an RPG element. I have an idea for a brilliant scenario based on a book by Timothy Zahn which I won't describe for obvious reasons.


Finally, as I mentioned earlier I'm moving. As such I won't have all of my modelling stuff at first and I've got one box to fit a selected amount of stuff. What do you think I need in there so I can continue with as much painting and modelling as possible.

Cool Beans :p