The 2012 Awards!

Today, as a final post for 2012, I wanted to give my own brief awards for the best models of 2012. The Best Kits (Plastic and FineCast) awarded to larger boxes of units, monsters or vehicles; and The Best Models (Plastic and FineCast) for single characters. Each was examined and rated based on how the model looks, what can be done with it, the quality of the sculpt etc...

2012, A Retrospective

Tomorrow is the last day of 2012, and what an absolutely astounding year it's been! Join me after the jump for a look back across the past year.

Whoops...

Todays post is just a short one to update you all on a little mishap that occurred to myself and David recently...

A Black Rider

To jump back, Games Workshop recently updated the FAQs for "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit" with some rather large changes! It makes for very exciting reading, I must say (Riders of Rohan no longer counting towards the bow limit!), but there was one part of it that made both David and I stop, sigh, smile and admit our own foolishness. More after the jump.

TABS!!!

Just a quick update to point out the new tabs at the top of the blog! The first of these is "The Fellowship of the Ring" - a special hub that will link to all entries regarding the Journeybook Campaign that David and I are doing, and also serve as a gallery for the models used. 

I will likely also add some more tabs soon, so keep your eyes peeled!

The Hobbit: An Ancient Enemy

Evil has been stirring in Greenwood the Great. Nothing grows there anymore, at least nothing good, and the woodsmen have begun to call the forest Mirkwood. Giant spiders stalk the stagnant foliage, and whispers talk of a shadow falling upon Dol Guldur. Radagast the Brown ventures into the ruins of the ancient fortress to seek clues - after all, they have been abandoned for years...

The Fortress of Dol Guldur upon Amon Lanc

The following is a scenario for "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Strategy Battle Game". You will need a copy of the "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" Rules Manual to use these rules. Please be aware they are untested home-brew rules designed to give a fun scenario from the film!

Battles in Middle Earth

I wanted todays blog to be a little bit different. It's essentially a collection of thoughts I had the other day having seen The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, and a chance to show off the characters from "Escape From Goblin Town".

"Bilbo Baggins"

"Thorin Oakenshield"

"Gandalf the Grey"

Today I wanted to talk about something a little different. Inspiration.

The Journey Continues

Last night, David and I made our way to Tolworth First Founding to continue our "The Fellowship of the Ring" Journeybook Campaign.

Here's some pictures and an update on how it went.

A Quick Notice

Hey guys, just wanted to give a shout out for a new blog on the block:

http://korsol.blogspot.co.uk/ - Knights of the Raven, Sons of the Lion

It's a great little blog about collecting a Dark Angels army and currently covers painting guides, a look at objective markers (how many people forget those?!) and genuine insight from a proud and dedicated collector into his work.

Give it a look!

The Hunt Begins

As stated in the previous blog entry, a friend of mine, David, and I, are working our way through the "The Lord of the Rings" journeybooks, starting with "The Fellowship of the Ring". 

The Witch King leads two of the Nazgûl in the hunt for the ring...

We both have fairly extensive collections of "The Lord of the Rings" models, and by adding the few that we need as we go, we're trying to make sure that we do use the correct models for every scenario.

Far Over The Misty Mountains Cold...

There are only two more sleeps until I see "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" at the cinema and I could not possibly be more excited about it, for to do so would run an extreme risk of spontaneous combustion.

The Goblin King interrogates Thorin's Company.

Firstly, I must apologise for the lack of updates on this blog. With "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Escape From Goblin Town" arriving in the store, and with me needing to get a whole board done, plus painting 36 goblins, their 4 characters, the 13 dwarves, 2 wizards and a hobbit, I've been just a little busy. More about all of that after the jump!

The Road Goes Ever On

Today, Games Workshop posted the new 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' products up for advance order. This has bipolarised the hobby community, perhaps completely understandably considering the seeming nature of the most vocal portion of the online community. You know what I mean.

So will 'The Hobbit' follow in 'The Lord of the Rings' footsteps as a supposed 'hobby flop'? Have 'lessons been learned'? Will 'The Hobbit' lead to, as Andrew King so eloquently put it, a fantasy renaissance? Join me after the jump where I'll be examining the facts and making a few of my own predictions.

Tournament FAQ, Q&A and Tips

I'm not normally much of a tournament player, having only attended two as a competitor, so it was with a little surprise that I found myself recently asked if I could give some tips and tricks for tournaments, by a friend of mine. Now, I'm not going to tell you tournament lists, or entertain the discussion of meta and tiers of effectiveness within codeces and army books, but after the jump we'll have a look at some ideas and common questions in regards to preparing yourself for battle effectively.

Models to Soldiers, Boards to Battlefields

I write this blog entry on a bus towards Kingston, to visit Tolworth First Founding, a wargames society that meets weekly to play various games. The iPad in my hand is asking me why I am doing this, so I thought I'd share my thoughts.

A Christmas Review - Pt1

Earlier in the week I said I'd do an unpacking, an examination and a review of a few of the new Christmas Special Edition releases, in particular; the 'Eavy Metal Edge Paint Set, and the four basing kits (Badlands, Northern Wastes, Death World and Under-Empire). I've had a few days of playing with them now, so I thought now would be a good time to share my thoughts.

Another Quick Update

Just a quick update, regarding Christmas... this arrived yesterday, much to my chagrin, as I had to price it all up and put it all away. Ah, the joys of retail!

Actually though, in fairness, it did have some rather cool stuff in it.

I'm really excited about those basing kits and the 'Eavy Metal Edge Paints too. I'll be cracking mine open on Saturday, so I'll be on here to let you guys know about them in an 'Unpacking and Examination / Review Blog'. Check back soon!

Plagued By Happiness

Christmas is fast approaching. I know this because: there is a stack of wish lists under my till at work; I walk home in the dark and cold; I hear Slade approximately eleventy bajillion times a day; and there is a box of tinsel and streamers looking at me guiltily in my stock room - waiting to be put up.

So, what does this season mean in GW Hobby Town? More after the jump.

The Forgefiend Experiment

On Monday 5th November, I was in Nottingham, at Warhammer World for a National Managers Meeting. I'm he evening, we all gathered in the Gaming Hall of a School League style tournament with each of the Battle Companies forming the 'School Teams'.

I took a Chaos Space Marine list, as discussed in a previous blog entry. I also mentioned then that I'd post a battle report for the games played. Those reports lie below.

Q&A

Last week, I asked you all to contact me through Twitter, Facebook and, in some cases, even face to face with questions you would like answered regarding the GW Hobby. Sadly, the stringencies of a National Managers Meeting (and by that I mean beer, gaming, food and, occasionally training) followed by a beyond-midnight stock check this week has pushed this post right back. Without further ado, let's go!

How I Paint: Dark Eldar

"We learnt long ago that the inscrutable universe turns upon an axis of suffering, because pain is inevitable."

- Urien Rakarth

Hekatrix Bloodbride of the Cult of the Dancing Blade

Apologies for the delays in updating. Work has been really tough this week, Managers Meeting on Monday and Tuesday, stock check til gone midnight on Thursday... and so my evenings have been mainly me sleeping. I've not even been on twitter, and missed my first #miniaturemonday in months. I'm going to be writing up a whole load of stuff properly soon, and the FAQ is just undergoing final edit.

How I Paint: Chaos Dwarves

We will remake the world into our doman; a land of cider, ash and the blackened bones of our enemies, until only we remain and those broken bodies that cower at our feet.

- Lord Asteroth

Chaos Dwarf Deathmask

A Note On Scheduling

My holiday week is already coming to a close, and I have successfully managed to do zero hobby... This depresses me.

Tyranid Winged Hive Tyrant

Fantasy Renaissance

The Muster of Rohan

I quite like this; at this rate, I won't have to think of any blogs - I'll just sit back, watch my comments and Twitter feed, and let you guys come up with my blog ideas! So, today is a bit of a 'mailbag' blog... But perhaps a little more exploratory.

Futuristic Fantasy

The Battlelines are drawn...

I just got this blog set up with a few decent entries all planned out ready for future posting, a nice ordered sequence. One of you guys comes along and says something that motivates me so much that I had to write a response immediately.

Damn you all.

Social Games and the Daemonforge

Word Bearer Chaos Space Marines seize and objective

On Monday 5th November, myself and a rather large group of Games Workshop Hobby Centre Managers (in fact, the vast majority of the UK ones, and possibly some of our Northern Europe brothers too) will be participating in a Schools League style Demi-Tournament, both as a way of showing us what the Schools League is like and, perhaps most importantly, to break ice and form bonds (much the same way Astartes Legionaries often fought each other in sparring cages).

Whilst we won't be duelling topless in spinning mechanical deathtraps, we will be having a lot of fun

How I Paint: Beastmen

From the darkling woods they come, On cloven hoof and twisted claw.
The beastmen they are called, these ones; Less than human, yet also something more.

- The Strange Tale of Doctor Malfeasant

Nazrak Bladestorm - Beastlord

From the darkest depths of the forests they come. Beast and man made one under Chaos. Since February '11, the Beastmen have been my army of choice, tearing up the battlefields of the Old World and churning the hacked remains of their foes beneath their cloven feet.

How I Paint: Space Wolves

Mjordin Stormbreaker - Wolf Lord

A Quick Note

Just a quick note regarding a comment I had through Facebook a few moments ago.

Please don't be put off by an article being called "How I Paint..." - there's more to them than just the painting information :P

And now, here's another Dreadfleet based picture. Why? Because I can.

The Swordfysh - Aranessa Saltspite's Ship

Dreadfleet

Blue Orks and Zombie Pi-Rats

The Scabrous

The model above is the Scabrous, my favourite ship from 'Dreadfleet'. I'm constantly being told that Dreadfleet was a flop, too expensive, a crap game... or that the Scabrous is the worst ship of the bunch.

I don't care. I loved Dreadfleet, I still do. I think it's magical and awesome and if you don't like it, then you must have squigs instead of brains. As for the Scabrous, what's not to love about a gargantuan undead electro-whale infested with zombie pi-rats?!

How I Paint: Mantis Warriors

"The winds of the desert care not for whose bones they scour clean." - Endymion Proverb

Mantis Warrior Captain

I'm not actually sure what it was that drew me to the Mantis Warriors. Usually, my little projects have a very stark defining moment of inspiration that draws me to them, but for these guys, it was much more of several little things...

#MiniatureMonday

I'm quite a big Twitter user. Certainly nowhere near the biggest, mind, but I enjoy tweeting and catching up with others. In my opinion, it's closer, friendlier than Facebook, due to things like hashtags joining the communities.

Hanai Duskwhisper 

Dark Elf Sorceress

But what does all this have to do with anything? Why am I always excited every time Monday rolls around? Find out more after the jump. 

How I Paint: Iron Warriors

Iron Warrior Chaos Space Marines

For the second "How I Paint" instalment  I thought I'd continue the Chaos theme by talking about the Iron Warriors that I've added to my Word Bearer force. I know, Iron Warriors and Word Bearers, it's a little unusual, but I have my reasons.

Blood And Pestilence

Ok, so it's official, I'm jumping back on the Warriors of Chaos Bandwagon... Well, I'm not really bandwagon jumping if I already have an army of them, right?? I'm just taking an opportune moment to restart it, I guess...

Nazrath the Defiled - Sorcerer of Nurgle

How I Paint: Word Bearers

Well, here it is, the first of my little "How I Paint" tutorials; though I use the word 'tutorial' loosely, it's much more of a "This is how I did it", rather than a sit-you-down-and-show-you-how-it's-done  kind of thing.

Word Bearer Chaos Space Marine Warpsmith

I'm also running under the assumption that you either have a copy of "How to Paint Citadel Miniatures" (preferable, and available here or at your local Games Workshop Hobby Centre), or are at least quite familiar with the terms used within this awesome tome of painting. More after the break!

Revisionary

Warhammer Forge - Event Exclusive "Skin Wolf"

I've been thinking about this blog a lot lately for several different reasons.
Firstly, a few of my regular friends and younger customers have often asked me for step-by-step guides (like in 'How to Paint Citadel Miniatures') for various different armies, especially, it seems, for ones I don't do. Yeah, go figure.
Secondly, the recent rise of Tom Fern's rather awesome Calth Burns blog.
Find out more after the break!

Book of the Month - Valkia the Bloody

In order to help myself have a little bit something else to talk about - something that could inspire me to further blog posts and alleviate some 'creative pressure' thinking up a topic once in a while, I've decided I want to have a "Book of the Month". This is partly brought on by me having recently come into ownership of a Kobo Touch eReader but also due to the fact that the book I'm reading now has me literally talking to everyone about it. Now, these 'reviews' won't always be new books, quite the opposite - due to my schedule, they'll likely only be new books if they're Black Library novels... As another aside, I will do my utmost to avoid any big plot spoilers, keeping to what readers would likely know from the blurb and previous encounters.

Join me after the jump where I'll talk about "Valkia the Bloody" by Sarah Cawkwell.

Not Dead Yet

Fear not, dear reader, for I am alive and well! Yes, I'm aware the blog has been inactive for the better part of TOO LONG, and I am looking to rectify this!

It's been a mix of "Lack of Anything To Write About" and "No Time To Write It". I've got a few tricks up my sleeve, courtesy of my Father, so hopefully you'll be hearing a lot more from me soon!

Why My Job Rocks

What a day...

Throne... What a day...

Poor Mans 40k

Today I wanted to discuss an alternate form of gaming, and point out that the hobby as a whole knows no bounds. Anyone can do it. Anytime. Anywhere.

 I'll let the picture above entice you in, then talk about it more, after the jump!

Building a Finecast Doombull

Today I decided was going to be another relatively lazy day - all I have to do really is some unpacking and a little bit of planning for work - and thinking of work gave me an idea. I thought today I'd post up pictures of me working on building one of my models - The Doombull, for my Beastman army.

Full details and pictures after the jump!

Slugs And Chopsticks

There's something incredibly difficult about the first line of anything you write, ever. It's a sort of intangible thing, and coming up with that perfect first line usually feels, to me at least, like trying to pin a slug down with a chopstick.
Should it be punchy and lively? Should it be quirky and funny? Should it be taciturn and to the point?

"Not quite a slug, but..."