Project List

A bunch of people have asked me lately "what have I been working on". I feel like I haven't been as productive as usual but I'm not sure that is the case its just that lot of it isn't adding to my painted model count. Since Adepticon, I done alot of terrain work, including finishing a couple of semi done buildings, doing that miniatures scenery tavern in completion and the stone bridge from Litko Aerosystems, both the latter were pretty good time sinks, and while the bridge is totally table ready I am not super happy with it so will still tinker with it. I have another Armorcast building and some more citadel trees I want to wrap up soon. Modelwise I put some more time into my Empire Army , I need a good selection at 3K painted so I've built some more Knights and Free Company and have been working on my custom Karl Franz model, I need to do some freehand on a brown stuff cape I made, deciding how/what to do is holding me up, I also need to paint 19 Greatswords, which will take awhile. My next event will be the GT in October, as I am going to miss the Games Day tourney because its within a few days of our new daughter arriving.

I am also planning on doing the team Warhammer Ancient battles Tourney next year at Adepticon so I need to get rolling on my Celt Barbarian Army, I am still waiting on my boxes from Wargames Factory to arrive but I have a command group and 4 Chariots, but I need to get some chariot bases. 1000 points in WAB is close to 100 models, so I figure I am good for 20 tournament level/ painted models a month..its going to take me 5 months, so as long as I get serious by fall I shouldn't have issue getting it done I'm slating that to be my main fall project, which leaves me the rest of the summer. As soon as I knock out some these outstanding Empire Models, I am moving over to 40K for abit as the arrival of 5th ed has peaked my interest again and I pre ordered the "gamers edition" of the new release. I don't need any more models, I just need to finish what I have which is Captain, 2 10 man tact squads, a 6 man assault squad, a 5 man devestator squad, 3 Rhinos and a Razorback. I still need to build/ paint the Dev squad, 2 rhinos and a Razorback. I am shooting for 1500 pts, not sure where what I have falls in with the new edition but I am sure its close. If I do need more models, its definitely a terminator squad. July will be 40K month for me so while I have not talked about it much in the last year, I know no shortage of players so getting games in wont be an issue. We'll see if I get the bug, it really depends on how much I like the new rules in practice.

Last but not least is my Legend of the High Seas miniatures, like the game and there a several local guys I know interested waiting on the rulebook/minis..I got my crew assemble and primed up, I need to so some painting probably squeeze that in the week I find out I am playing a game. I really interested in working on the my ship...still figuring out how want to do the sails and rigging, it's a project..when it sees the light of day depends on whether I start playing this semi regularly.

Lost in the shuffle are my Vampire Counts of which I assembled, based and primed..exactly 4 models. I did 3 conversions the Winged Vampire Lord, the older Wight King BSB, the Varghulf, and a coversion vampire/necromancer made entirely out of Empire bits who is my favorite model of the group. I've been carefully watching my friend Bill run his- figuring out what I do and dont want to do..I am still debating color schemes trying to stay away from what I see as the standard, Black, red, blue, white color scheme GW uses. I'm thinking all Black/bone or Rust/copper and bone...I need to do some test skeletons and I am waiting on these new citadel washes that I've seem work in action at the store...before I give it shot..while I might play some 1000 pt test games with VC this year I want to really up my painting level on these guys and I want to do a custom black coach..inevitably these VC are going to be my post-adepticon 2009 army, which is fine I am still having alot of fun playing Empire.

Battle Report- Empire vs Wood Elves VI

5/24 Plastic Legions HQ

Our 6th Battle report and that doesn't count the games we played I didn't do battle reports for. I've played felix more than about anyone in WFB. This was a 3K and Felix does the honors with the battle report HERE
Note the objective based scoring was done to simulate the new Legendary Battles rules as we had originally planned to play a 6K per side game with 4 players this day but ended up having to reschedule so we decided we'd play anyway. Table was set up quite differently than originally intended for the big game. Even after all the games I have played against the Wood Elves they continue to surprise me, the big slug fest was between Karl Franz and the Ancient Treeman locked in a challenge, we both screwed up as I somehow spaced the Ghal Maraz didn't allow armor saves and Felix spaced his ward saves, given the aptly named "annoyance of nettlings" I was only hitting on 6's, I had him down to one wound when I got a hit a bunch of times, fail all my armor and ward saves and die. The battle would have been way different if we had both done the saves properly, but that's how we played it so it is what it is. My artillery dice were wretched I actually rolled a misfire on every piece of artillery in the 1st round, jeez its only a 1-6 chance where the hell is the law of averages when you need it?? The crazy dice I've see across the board (not just me) the last month is really weird, funny how we are so close to Mars this year (LOL!) Anyway I lost this one so I am ready for some vengeance next time for sure. Felix played it right going for scoring over kills and his damn Glade Guard shot the piss out of me once again, I need to remember to kill those guys ASAP. Pics are taken right after deployment, I need to get my final stuff for 3K painted- working on it...

Mighty Empires III- Round 5

5/20 @ Games Workshop, Oak Park




Josh- Chaos Undivided 9
Andre-Dwarfs 8
Jeff- Chaos Undivided 8
Anthony- Orcs and Goblins 8
Bill- Vampire Counts 6
Billy- High Elves 6
John- Empire 5- Captial built
Kenny- Ogres 4
Erik- Dogs of War 4
Joe- Lizardmen 1


STRATEGIC EVENTS

John- Survey the Battlefield
Erik- Land Grab
Anthony- All or Nothing
Jeff- Praise be to the Oracle
Kenny- Building Boom
Joe- Diplomacy @ Andre
Andre- Lead by Example
Billy- Scouts
Josh- Espionage
Bill- No Guts, No Glory

CAMPAIGN EVENTS

John- Corruption -100
Erik- All is well
Anthony- Corruption -100
Jeff- All is well
Kenny- Corruption -100
Joe- Hidden Cache ( 2 dispel scrolls)
Andre- All is well
Billy- Rebellion! (No income this turn)
Josh- Infamy
Bill- Corruption -100

Empire Points carried over

John 1
Eric 1
Josh 1
Kenny 1

Items awarded via events tables
(this can be used at no cost to the player but do count against character
item limits)

Andre: Rune of Battle, Master Rune of Challenge (and
Bill: Drakenhoff Banner, Dispel scroll x2
Josh: 2 Dispel Scrolls
Joe: 2 Dispel Scrolls


REVENUE

John-150
Erik- 250 (buys EP)
Anthony- 275
Jeff- 200
Kenny- 25
Joe- 25
Andre- 250
Billy- 0 (rebellion)
Josh- 450 (buys EP) 200 toward reinforcements
Bill- 125


ALLIANCES-

Vampire Counts- Chaos Undivided (jeff)
High Elves- Lizardmen (Joe)
Dogs of War- Ogres
Empire- Dwarfs
Chaos Undivided (Josh)- Orcs
High Elves- Dwarfs
Chaos (Josh)- Empire


CHALLENGES
All Players are default 2000 points before reinforcement purchases
exception-Empire is default 3000 points


INVASIONS

VAMPIRE COUNTS VS ORCS (E4-D4)
ORCS-MASSACRE 5EP!!

BORDER SKIRMISHES

EMPIRE VS HIGH ELVES
EMPIRE- SOLID VICTORY 4EP

CHAOS (JEFF) VS OGRES

OPEN CHALLENGES

DOGS OF WAR VS LIZARDMEN
LIZARDMEN-SOLID VICTORY 4EP

DWARFS VS CHAOS (JOSH)
3k Allies High Elves/ Orcs



Special Characters
(each army has a access to a special character who is revealed over the course of the campaign, those in bold have joined their Empires)

Dogs of War- Lorenzo Lupo
Dwarfs- Thorgrim Grudgebearer
Ogres- Skrag the Slaughterer
Chaos Undivided (josh)- Galrauch
Lizardmen (joe)- Lord Kroak
Empire- Karl Franz
Vampire Counts- Mannfred Von Carstein
High Elves- Teclis
Chaos Undivided (jeff)- Archeaon
Orcs- Grimgor Ironhide

Exploring Warhammer Legendary Battles

Given my terrain work lately I thought it would be a good time to explore the Warhammer Legendary Battles rules which came in out in White Dwarf 339. The rules look pretty good but really seemed designed for games even bigger that we are going to attempt. We'll be following the basic rules for Army selection, allies and deployment. It will also be an objective based game rather than one based on standard victory points. We won't be using massed batteries or desperation tokens, as we are all capable of doing 3000 point per team member so it will be 6K per side so those things wont be neccessary. Each players army will follow the 3K Army Organization Chart and there are some special rules for allied armies including you still only get 2 magic dice for the combined army so you need to budget your magic slightly better and one player's lord must be nominated as the "Army General" and his leadership will effect everyone on the allied team and will count as the Army General for objective scoring

The table layout is 4x8 and 4x4 connected by a bridge. (which isn't in the photo's I am currently working on it) we will seperate the tables into three sections. The Village, The Forests, and The Wastes., each section is a 4x4 section of play space. The Forces of Good, in our case it will be the Empire and The Wood Elves. Will deploy in the Village section, While the Forces of Evil will deploy in the Wastes and not within 8 inches of the bridge. So far it looks the Evil forces will be the Vampire Counts and either Chaos Mortals or Orcs and Goblins.


( The 4 X 8 Section of table, the Forest area is in the foreground, the Village in the rear, the Wastes are to the left, the bridge will be dead center connecting the two tables the gap between tables will be about 6 inches.)

The bridge only allows 20mm sized figures to be in a unit 4 wide as they cross it, meaning most infantry units are going to have reform, cross and reform again. While crossing the bridge will slow down units moving into the forest area coming from the wastes. It will also be easier to defend the bridge as units fighting on the bridge will not get their rank bonus and thus single characters will be capable of defending or holding the bridge alone. I feel the bridge as set up is balanced obstacle for both sides.

The Forest Area is neutral territory the Watchtower is capturable and one of the games minor objectives. Each player will be allowed to keep 250 points of units in reserve and reserve units are deployed anywhere in your home quarter per standard rules of a unit coming in from "off the table" Capturing the watchtower is also crucial to using your reserves as once you capture the Watchtower, you can deploy your reserves from anywhere from inside or within 6 inches of the Watchtower.


( The Wastes section of the table and where the forces of Evil will deploy, the craters will be difficult terrain and the crater interiors are treated exactly like forests for line of sight and cover purposes)

Scouts can deploy anywhere in the enemy's or your own deployment zone, and must follow standard deployment rules for scouts. Line of sight for shooting and magic is limited to seeing thru all three sections of the table, so you cannot shoot over the table edge into either the village or wastes without going thru a forest edge. Flyers on the other hand can go direct edge to edge from the Village or Wastes fly off the table into the opposing quarter as long as they have the move.

The games objectives will be as follows, rules for controlling a feature as per the rulebook

Major Objectives-
(you have controlled this feature for 2 consective turns or at the end of the game)

Capture the Village Center, Destroy the Tavern - 4 points (Evil objective)

Capture and Destroy the Obelisk- 4 points (Good objective)

Minor Objectives

Control the Watchtower at the end of the game- 2 points

Control the Bridge at the end of the game- 2 points

Captured enemy table quarters in either the Village or the Wastes 1 point each (4 per side)


Battle Objectives-

Enemy General Slain- 3 points
most expensive enemy unit is destroyed or fleeing at the end of the game- 2 points
Captured Enemy Banners- 1 point each


The are a good amount of objective points available so it should be a fun and flexible game, The games length will be either the first team to score at least 10 objective points within 6 fulls turns or go to 8 turns and call the game with whatever points are scored. Given the numerous objectives and the need to both attack your enemies and defend your own deployments zones, this looks game looks to be very tactically challenging. I am really looking forward to this and we are tentatively scheduled for either May 24th or 31st. Everyone playing is fielding mostly painted armies, so look forward to a massive battle reports with tons of great pics when this is done.

Mighty Empires III- Round 4

5/6 Games Workshop, Oak Park


CAMPAIGN STANDINGS

Josh- Chaos Undivided 7
Andre-Dwarfs 6
John- Empire 6- Captial built
Anthony- Orcs and Goblins 5
Bill- Vampire Counts 5
Jeff- Chaos Undivided 4
Kenny- Ogres 4
Billy- High Elves 4
Erik- Dogs of War 3
Joe- Lizardmen 2


STRATEGIC EVENTS

John- Lead by Example
Erik- Building Boom
Anthony- All or Nothing
Jeff- All or Nothing
Kenny- Diplomacy@Jeff
Joe- Land Grab
Andre- Scouts
Billy- No Guts, No Glory
Josh- Survey the Battlefield
Bill- Fortune Favors the Bold

CAMPAIGN EVENTS

John- Harvest moon , upgrades to Castle
Erik- Fame
Anthony- All is well
Jeff- All is well
Kenny- Thy Lord Returns (no effect)
Joe- Thy Lord Returns (no effect)
Andre- Thy Lord Returns (no effect)
Billy- All is Well
Josh- Hidden Cache (need 2 items)
Bill- Thy Lord Returns - Mannfred Von Carstein

Empire Points carried over

Josh 1
Andre 1
Billy 1

Items awarded via events tables
(this can be used at no cost to the player but do count against character
item limits)

Andre: Rune of Battle, Master Rune of Challenge (and
Bill: Drakenhoff Banner, Dispel scroll x2
Josh: (two items yet to be reported)


REVENUE

John- 275
Erik- 225
Anthony- 125+ 100 (buried treasure)
Jeff- 100
Kenny- 100
Joe- 75
Andre- 225 + 150 (buried treasure, native populace)
Billy- 200 + 100 (buried treasure)
Josh- 400
Bill- 125 + 100 (buried treasure)



ALLIANCES-

Vampire Counts- Chaos Undivided (jeff)
High Elves- Lizardmen (Joe)
Dogs of War- Ogres
Empire- Dwarfs
Chaos Undivided (Josh)- Orcs


CHALLENGES
All Players are default 2000 points before reinforcement purchases
exception-Empire is default 3000 points


INVASIONS

EMPIRE VS CHAOS (Josh) / ORC Allied
3K game CHAOS /ORCS- SOLID VICTORY- 4EP

DOGS OF WAR VS ORCS AND GOBLINS
ORCS- MINOR VICTORY -3EP

DWARFS VS LIZARDMEN (Joe)
DWARFS- SOLID VICTORY 4EP

OPEN CHALLENGES

VAMPIRE COUNTS VS EMPIRE
VAMPIRE COUNTS- MASSACRE!!! 5 EP

CHAOS (Jeff) VS HIGH ELVES

OGRES VS ORCS
ORCS- SOLID VICTORY- 4EP
(anthony accomplishes all or nothing with 3 games!!!, most impressive. he gets 6 EP this turn)


Special Characters
(each army has a access to a special character who is revealed over the course of the campaign, those in bold have joined their Empires)

Dogs of War- Lorenzo Lupo
Dwarfs- Thorgrim Grudgebearer
Ogres- Skrag the Slaughterer
Chaos Undivided (josh)- Galrauch
Lizardmen (joe)- Lord Kroak
Empire- Karl Franz
Vampire Counts- Mannfred Von Carstein
High Elves- Teclis
Chaos Undivided (jeff)- Archeaon
Orcs- Grimgor Ironhide