Dealing with duplication

I suppose I am like many wargamers I buy figures because I like them, the "Ooo shiney" syndrome which when added to the I "need" a couple of those to finish off the army - "Mission creep".

I have a number of completed DBA armies - Greek, Persian, Thracian, Roman and Macedonian (and a couple of unpainted - Celtic and Carthagian). These can be morphed into HoTT armies as I have a number of bases of creatures from mythology. So this is all well and good.

To be honest the anicents aren't really the problem - HoTT armies are. I have accumulated 2 orc armies using Ral Partha miniatures. These figures can easily be used to fight Greeks or Romans etc. 

This is the Warband Army.

Made up of 3 Riders, 2 Shooters, 5 Warbands (including the general) and 4 Hordes (or Spears if I want to buff the army a bit).

This is the Blade Army. 

Made up of 2 Riders, 2 Shooters, 4 Blades (including the general) and 5 Hordes (or Spears). There is also the Orc Warmachine as artillery - not pictured. 

Then there are these 2 (effectively orc) Lord of the Rings armies. 

Angmar

Made up of the Witchking (either a Hero or Knight general), 2 Riders, 2 Beasts, 4 Warbands (including a general) 1 Behemoth and 4 Hordes.

Mordor

Made up of a Nazgul (either a Hero or Knight general), 1 Riders, 2 Spears, 3 Blades (including a general) 1 Behemoth and 8 Hordes.

There is also a 2nd Age Elf army - and recently I completed the Numenor/Early Gondor Cavalry. Plus Wood Elf, Rohan and Haradrim in very unpainted states in a box. The above discussion doesn't even to bring in the Warhammer Elf and Hobgoblin armies for even more duplication. 

The bottom line is that I don't need to store this many armies .... My current thinking is to sell off the Lord of the Rings stuff, perhaps keeping some for skirmishing ....

Any suggestions about the duplication dilemma would be appreciated. 

Yet another average film

Well I'm my weaken state I manage to watch The Last Legion with Colin Firth. Well an interesting if very cliched take on the Arthur myth. 

Some of the battle scenes were a little weak - the bad guys running to their deaths. There were lots of anachronisms with armour etc. The most of cast and probably the sets were refugees from ROME.  The story was predictable with female warrior, betrayal when they returned from rescuing Romulus. The film had aspersions to be epic - the walk over the Alps was like a scene from the Fellowship of the Ring. Unfortunately it wasn't epic - it was OK. So 3 average films seen over the weekend, will need to do better.

Filling time when you are not well

Absolutely gutted this weekend - all ready to go wild camping on Friday night followed by a 20 mile hike on the moor only to be struck down by some virus - sore throat, high temperature feeling very tired. Not going was the right thing to do but still gutting!

Not feeling well also means I don't feel like painting either so I ended up watching Season of the Witch.

What did I think of it?

Well battle scenes at the start were poorly done - crusades without horses? Charging 250+ metres across desert in full armour? Actually the armour was from the wrong century 11/12th and it is set in the 1330s. Nick and Ron had the worst helmets in the army, looked a bit playmobil.

The film ran like a RPG campaign - you could see the GM putting the background story together to get the characters to work as a team on the quest and adding in NPCs, followed by the "twist" ending where the party have to fight zombie monks and a demon (sorry spoiler there) - lots of d20 rolls needed there! Nick Cage's (and the bloke who played the scoundrel) accents were grating but I suppose within a fantasy realm acceptable. Overall a very average film not sure it made 3 out 5.

From the sick pit! :(

Update - Iron Sky 

Very silly but I liked it - some good satire in there. I'll rate it higher than Season of the Witch, so a solid 3/5. 

Ashak Rise - Orc's Drift Scenario 2 ready!

Well almost ready! Finally painted and based the required extra figures needed to run the second scenario for the old 2nd edition Warhammer scenario park - Blood Bath at Orc's Drift and thought I'd do a little photo shoot of the troops to be involved and discover that 2 of the figures that have been sitting in box files for years have incomplete bases Agggghhhh! Bloody annoying! Not a major problem as we won't be getting together to play the game until 27th March, so it can and will be sorted.

First up King F'yar - painted an based!

I have to say I am pleased with this - incidently I gloss varnish (always have had the intention to Matt later but I am too lazy!) to give the figures a bit of protection from food residue from the players hands!

Next up the Severed Hand Orcs - Melee troops first with Hagar Sheol

Any passing resemblance to the Mighty Throg and the Despoiling Hobgoblins of the Darklands is inescapable!

Next the archers.

Only ever have had 8 hobgoblin archers - so there are a couple of LotR Uruk Hai scouts lurking at the back to make up the numbers.

The hobhounds and Grashak Kra (well some hobhounds, some Ral Partha hellhounds and some Standard Games armoured Rottweilers).

Next up their Dwarfish opponents!

The unfinished base belonging to Borinn Fimbul!

The rules will be the 6th Edition with the Warband amendments for small unit actions - the commanders on the night will be allowed to sort their forces out - with units being at least 3 models strong - apart from the hobhounds.  

Good news is that I have started the Linden Way Milita so still on for the end of April!

I am really looking forward to trying out the Lion Rampant rules - an excellent way for me to use the Warhammer stuff I can't part with but rarely use .... Might have to be a solo run through as I have a busy week with work! Always in the way of a good game!

Uruk Hai and Numenorean Cavalry

Trying to clear the painting back log!

Two Uruk Hai Scout archers completed - these are going to be used in the Ashak Rise scenario as I was 2 orc archers short! Now the 3 dwarf archers to do!

Also finished 4 Numenorean Cavalry for my Numenorean/Early Gondor HotT army ...these have been hanging around converted for years! Haven't helped getting the figures for Orc's Drift done quickly. Still got all the foot to do!

ORC'S DRIFT - Ashak Rise Progress update

Well things slowed down considerably after the intial encounter at Kachas Pass. I was hoping to get another battle in before the end of February, but that now looks very unlikely.

King F'yar and his wyvern mount have been the problem - the mount was finished before Kachas Pass was played (30th January), but I have only just finished King Fyar. Well the wyvern is Reaper Mins BILE THE WYVERN - really nice sculpt by Bob Olley and King F'yar is GHAZAK KHAN - Hobgoblin Boss (got lots of Hobgoblins).

I think it has turned out quite well - but my picture taking skills are rather poor.

Still have the following 5 to paint for Ashak Rise - started!

King F'yar isn't needed for any of the preliminary scenarios for Orc's Drift, but I felt the Orcs might want the option. Got 13 figures to paint for the Linden Way scenario, so I need to get painting.

Hopefully will get Ashak Rise done by end of March and Linden Way by April, then Orc's Drift itself in May!

Also have to try out DBA 3 and Lion Rampant aswell!

Game-athon results and Reviews

Sunday was a 11 hours game-athon at Snake-eyes to celebrate his birthday. I got to play a number of games for the first time, so will take the opportunity give my first impressions of the games played. It must be noted that we played every game with at least one rules error. A bit embarrassing really, but nevermind.

Game 1: Machi Koro with the Harbours expansion (I won this one 😄)

I enjoyed this game and not just because I won it - a nice resource building game. The dice rolling mechanic reminded me of Catan (but without a board) with all players able to collect money as a result of the roll. It played quickly with 4. It was quite a light game which I think non regular gamers would be able to play and enjoy. The strategy came from what resources you chose to buy and the order you buy them - if you throw one or two dice. The Cafe/Pizza stands where the other players PAY you was a nice feature. The player inaction was limited as there is no trading or bargaining. 

Overall I liked this game and would consider buying it as I reckon I could get the family to play it. So more playing opportunites.

Game 2: A Study in Emerald (Win to Steedo)

This was a very different game to Machi Koro - a real gamers game here, causal gamers would struggle with this one. A clever game set in a Cthulhu world of the late nineteenth century with Holmes, Watson, Vampires available as allies or enemies.  In this world the Cthulhu have taken over the levers of power and control the world. You start the game knowing that you are either on the side of Cthulhu loyalists or reformists trying to re-establish human control, but not what the other players are ... You have to try a work it out from their actions. To win you have to gain a certain number of influence points - but if you win the game in first place but the player in last place is on your side - YOU LOSE! This leads to a lot of knobbling of other players even those (you believe to be) on your side.

Influence is gained by controlling cities, killing (reformists) or hiding (loyalists) royalty.

A very challenging game - where I went for the strategy of assassinating royalty - making my side clear early on. Steedo played a blinder DK and I were convinced that he was on ourside until the last few turns - he was just waiting for Snake-eyes to move out of last place!

Good game, would like to play again sometime, but I don't think I'd buy it.

Game 3: Castles of Burgundy (I won this!)

A good simple game (we played with the starter boards). It was quick to pick up, work out  a plan and not worry about the game mechanics (sign of a good game?). But if I am honest it went on a little longer than I would have liked and lacked player inactions - apart from them getting a tile before you.

I'd play it again, but wouldn't buy it.

Game 4: Coup

A good game - like it - own a copy - nuff said.

Game 5: Skulls (win to DK)

A bit like 'Spoof'- but 'Spoof' is better from what I saw - we probably played it wrong but nice coasters.

Game 6: A Game of Thrones (win to Snake-eyes)

It was probably a little late to start playing this one, but we have got the dreaded first play out the way! (First time we played Battlestar Galactica - we royally mucked it up and didn't rate the game. But when we got it back to the table we found a really enjoyable and tense game). So after Greyjoy (DK) and Lannister (me) got sucked into a war from turn one until the end of the game. This allowed the Starks (Steedo) to collect the castles of the North and Baratheon (Snake-eyes) to march around Dorne and the South collecting castles .... The result was never really in doubt!

I have high hopes that AGOT will be another Battlestar in gaming terms - So we need to get it back to the table with Sylon in as the 5th player.

Game 7: Ultimate Werewolf - One Night

Good game - played many times - in danger of over exposure with our group?

A good days gaming - thanks to Snake-eyes for hosting and the pizza!

Morts