Thursday, 6 August 2020

Wizards and stuff for Kings of War

 So I managed to finish off a couple of wizard types for the Kings of War elf and dwarf armies (obviously they can be used for Oathmark as well). Both are Reaper Bones (the elf is the harder black bones and the dwarf is the original white stuff). 


They just need some varnish and the bases to be finished off - then into battle. 
I have also started jiggering about with the Vendal dwarfs I picked up awhile ago and factoring them into the army - nine to paint. 

I did complete a mass basing exercise a couple of days ago - some more peasants for SAGA or Kings of War, the earth elementals and some Orcs. With the Orcs I did start thinking... should I sell these? Space is still at a premium and I haven’t gamed much for a while... 

Morts

Sunday, 2 August 2020

Kill Team - a practice game

I haven’t post much recently - been busy doing other stuff, such is life. However DK has just purchased his own copy of the Kill Team rules so Steedo and I felt we better have a re run through the rules before we face DK’s buffed Genestealer Cultists (and Snake-eyes improved Drukari). So with very little planning we set up the first matched play scenario from the book - Sweep and Clear in think it is called (obviously I could look it up in the book but it is not to hand). It was Steedo’s Deathwatch versus my Primaris Marines (my Adeptus Machanicus have already lost to the Deathwatch so I thought I would see if I could do any better with the Space Marines). 
We set up and remembered the scouting phase - where I was able to take a successful shot on one of the Deathwatch, getting a flesh wound. 

Starting positions.

First moves - trying to go around the flanks (the Deathwatch are after the San Miguel!).

The first turn was the the only turn I managed to win initiative - so I rushed the Reivers and Sergeant forward to take the Deathwatch in the flank, using the Intercessors to provide cover fire. Steedo has a similar strategy on the other flank. Unfortunately for me the Deathwatch put out of action my communication marine. 

The next couple of turns were pretty indecisive  - with cap wasted on rerolls rather than some of the rather good effects that they can bring - this was mainly down to some appalling dice rolls on my part (managing to roll less than three on a number of occasions with more than one dice) - I managed a few hits, but these were saved or didn’t result in Out of Action, just flesh wounds. Steedo was pushing forward to sit on the objectives, my plan was to break his team by the end of the 4th turn for the win. I had taken the risk of flesh wounds on a couple of intercessors rather than re-rolling dice. 

The Deathwatch leader heads to a objective marker.

Into the final turn and there was all to play for. Steedo’s Deathwatch were in a winning position by virtue of having a man on an objective marker. To be fair it went rather well for me two of the Deathwatch taken out of action in melee and 2 of the remaining three with flash wounds. Of my remaining 5 marines I had 3 with flesh wounds. We would both be taking a morale test - Steedo needed to roll 9 or less and I needed to roll 8 or less. If we managed it we would play another turn on a roll of 3+. 

Some success in the Deathwatch deployment zone.

The Deathwatch in the Primaris deployment zones.

So make it or break (literally) rolls were made: Deathwatch roll an 8, so pass .... I roll a 9 so the Primaris marines break! I certainly felt the dice gods were against me .... a pass and we would have had to check for shaken, and that could have changed the game. A another straight win for the Deathwatch we didn’t need to worry about victory points as a my team broke at the end of the 4th turn. However the scores at this point were 4 (1 objective 3pts and 1 OOA) to the Deathwatch and 2 (2 OOA) to the Argonauts.  



Another loss to the Deathwatch, they gave the Machcanicus a slapping last time too, this was a closer game with poor dice for me. I think that I wasn’t that far from a win. What we both need to do is get better at using the command points and picking the right tactic to use with them. 

An enjoyable evening of gaming. 

Morts


Saturday, 4 July 2020

Oathmark - first thoughts.

So I succumbed to buying Oathmark by Joe McCullough, I was holding out because I enjoy Kings of War (2nd Ed because I am too tight to buy the 3rd Edition), but Amazon were doing a very good price (sorry to the specialist games shops but the price was too good from the online behemoth!).

There were a few things putting off the purchase - all "human" sized figures on 25mm bases - now I don't have an issue with that per say (in fact I base most of my stuff on 25mm rounds these days), but the elves, dwarfs and humans I have are on 20mm squares. Also I was aware of the fact that units are in multiples of 5 for standard foot abandoned cavalry, mine are in units of 12 for infantry and 6 for cavalry. The main driver for the buying the rules was the campaign rules which seemed interesting (although the group can't seen to get any momentum for campaigns - apart from a Call of Cthulhu web based one we are playing via webex. That's probably because we don't have to travel! Lazy that is.).
Any the rules are easy to read - smashed through them in one evening. They seem logical and clearly set out - actually very good, so I might try a solo run through in the near future (along with a couple of other things ....). There is one typo in my copy (and I assume everyone else's), on page 44 the picture is over the last line of text - probably resolved in the FAQs.

The one thing which does slightly confuse me is that there are no rules for Orc wolf riders, but Orc characters can be upgraded to ride wolves - I would like some rules for these as my Hobgoblin (Orcs) have a unit or 2 of wolf riders which I don’t want to count as goblins.
The other slightly frustrating thing is that I will need to buy a supplement or two for rules on unit progression (not sure that I am too bothered about that to be honest) and undead (Battlesworn and Oathbreakers respectively). But I need to play with what I have first ....

Morts

Thursday, 2 July 2020

At last!

After missing out on the Kickstarter (years ago) I have finally got hold of a couple of Crocodile Games Wargods Minis. 
Namely the Demigods of Athena and Mars!
Really nice looking minis - would have like to get hold of the demigod of Hades 2 (but not in stock) and after seeing it the Corinthian captain looks good too. 
I don’t really have an excuse anymore for putting of the Of Gods and Mortals stuff I have been collecting for ..... years. 

So much to do ....

Morts

Sunday, 21 June 2020

A few Heroes .....

So in between the Argonauts being done I was working on 3 Viking heroes by warlord games which I was given for my birthday and 3 very old Runequest figures I have had on the painting queue for years ....

I still have to varnish and finish off the bases - but I thought I would show them off. 
The Vikings could be used for SAGA and the Runequest figures could be adventurers in Sellswords and Spellslingers (or more likely they will sit in the painted cabinet for years). 

Morts

Thursday, 18 June 2020

The Argonauts Space Marine Chapter.

The Argonauts Chapter were founded as a Primaris Chapter as part of the Ultima founding, from Ultramarines gene-stock with no mutations. 
They are a fleet based Chapter with 6 vessels - most damaged as the chapter is always questing. Searching for artefacts to support the survival of the Imperium of Mankind. Due to this the chapter is used to standing alone against many enemies and is under strength, continually moving about. 
The Argonauts have a hatred of Orks, who are regarded as barbaric destroyers of artefacts from the Golden Age of mankind in the sectors  the chapter have been operating in. The chapter has also run into issues with the Adeptus Mechanicus as their teams search for ancient technology, which had lead to exchanges of fire. 

The Veteran sergeant and intercessor from the 4th Squad. 


Intercessors with Auxiliary Grenade launcher and Auspex (again from the 4th squad)  
The sergeant and an intercessor of the 7th squad. 
7th squad intercessors - one with a stalker bolt rifle. 
The reivers of the 9th squad. 

So there is the very over powered (in teams of miniatures, rather than potency) Primaris Kill Team force. I have enjoyed painting this lot (in various sessions) - a now wish I had picked up some “Greek/Spartan” kit to really give them a proper Argonauts look ... in fact I am currently struggling against gaming “mission” creep, as another 3 intercessors could be used to make a couple of heavy weapons and a lieutenant ... and while I am at it I would want a couple of reivers so that all squads had 5 minis each - I could see a move to a small 40k force. 
Must fight the mission creep ....

Morts 

Tuesday, 16 June 2020

Kill Team - Nearly finished Space Marines

So apart from some transfers (which are in the post - I couldn’t face trying to paint the marine types on the shoulder pads), with a bit of a push I have completed (Tuffs and varnish to be added as well) the additions to my Argonauts Space Marine Chapter. 
The Auxiliary Grenade launcher and Stalker Bolt rifle. 

The veteran sergeant. 

Will post the whole team when the transfers arrive and applied. I might even try and come up with some background fluff. I must stay strong and avoid buying another 2 Reivers and Intercessors so I have 3 complete squads. 

Morts