Christmas stuff and plans for the New Year

Well here is the Christmas booty!

A couple of packs of Frostgrave figures - summoner and cultist Knight and Templar, these last 2 match up with a couple of old chaos warriors so will be a part of a 6 figure unit for Dragon Rampant/KoW or what ever I want to use them for - even frostgrave!

I am finding that Wargames, Soldiers and Strategy seems to be a better read for me than the other two magazines on the market - enjoyed the articles and don't even play ECW - might adapt a few to 18th century. 

The cold one Knights were a bit out of the blue, but a nice surprise. The currently thinking is to use 3 to convert to Drakon riders for the KoW elves - just need to source some suitable wings. One will go a a young man who likes dinosaurs and fantasy movies! Not sure what I will do with the last one!

Then there is Rogue Stars - I am quite excited about these - however they seem to have split the gaming community a bit. 

For

http://www.lead-adventure.de/index.php?topic=96358.0

Against

http://theleadpile.blogspot.co.uk/2016/12/nope.html

I am hoping than they will be a nice system part minis-game part-RPG. The rules do seem a little fiddly on the 'build' side and a decent QRS is needed. But I think that with 3-6 minis need for a squad/gang these could be a lot of fun. Steedo can dust off his old Star Wars minis to create a team, Sylon and Snake-eyes can borrow some minis and DK is bound to have something to use!

Currently I have the following plans in my fevered little mind using stuff from Starship Troopers - a Star Cops/militia squad of 5/6 using the Light Armour mobile infantry (they used SST uniforms in Firefly to save money). Using the power armoured plastics a black-ops team of 3/4. Then I think the arachnids can be a squad of nasties - probably npcs. 

Also I have a couple of mandalorians from a Star Wars game who could be the start of a nice little group of bounty hunters - I need another figure to complete the squad - a robot, IG-88 style?

Plans for 2017 - I pledge not to buy any figures or stuff until the start of February (going to a games show 😀). 

Finish stuff I have started - so SAGA Saxons first up - only 12 to go...... 

Sort out the KoW Hobgoblin/Orc forces. 

Build some more Sci-if buildings for SST/Rogue Stars. 

Get shot of stuff I don't use ..... 

Happy New Year. 

Morts

Merry Christmas - it has been busy here!

This should have been posted before Christmas ..... But I managed not to up load!

I might try another post either today or tomorrow.

First post in December and probably the last due to the numerous commitments over the coming days! I don't know why but I find Christmas a manic time of year - trying and failing to see everyone, too much food, beer (can you have too much beer?) .....

Well I'm not going to see Rogue One until the New Year, but what I have read sounds promising (I have read some of the spoilers as I was going to have to wait await to see it). 

I have managed to squeeze in a few games with DK, Snake-eyes and Steedo (who was on a bit of a winning streak). Played Nothing Personal for the first time - nicely themed and quite quick to play. Basically your are trying to get the best reputation (had I known this at the start it wouldn't have stopped Steedo winning by some margin) in the mafia by having the most influence over various gang members  - but too much influence gets then arrested! Also played Concordia for the second time - much better game this time (played faster and smoother) and I had a plan .... It wasn't a bad plan either but a poor choice on my Senator card allowed Steedo the win by 5 points! There is a lot of depth in the game which we have yet to explore. 

Finished a few things on the painting table but I haven't finished basing and varnishing some.

First up some frostgrave treasure tokens/objective markers.

The werewolf head has been stuck on a 25mm base and then green stuff to try and match the others - need a coat of varnish. Also remembered and found the old metal treasure token just after finishing these. 

A couple of big boys - a GW Chaos priest thing (probably will be used as a reduced model unit in Dragon Rampant) and a mantic Ogre hero. 

The some more evil Vikings - I now have a unit of 12 for either Dragon Rampant or KoW. The bases need finishing off. I have assembled some of the Frostgrave barbarians as a reduce model unit - so Dragon Rampant game should be on the cards soon. 

Also did these for army standard and 'the Captain' for the kingdoms of men KoW army!

Not to happy with the standard to be honest - but can't work out how to improve it.

Currently working on trying to finish off a few hobgoblin archers KoW and 12 Saxons for SAGA. 

Hopefully Santa will bring Rogue Stars and a few other bits. 

Happy Christmas and if I don't get anything else done happy new year too!

Morts

Kings of War - DK's first game.

Well DK managed to come over for a game of Kings of War. 

We played Elves versus Hobgoblins (Orcs) in a 1750 point game. The scenario chosen was Kill and Pillage (but as it turned out this was irrelevant). 

A roughly symmetrical battlefield was set out so no advantage was given to either side. DK had had a look at the free set of rules available on the mantic website, so had identified that getting the first charge in and flanks are important. 

Initial deployment. Hobgoblins to move first. 

After suffering withering archery the Hobgoblins advance. The lack of ranged weapons mean that the Hobgoblins need to get into melee fast. 

The Wyvern faces off against the Dragon and Knights - both of us trying to avoid allowing the other to get the first charge in!

 The Hobgoblins have at the Elves centre - but they have taken some damage!

We managed to fight over the only bit of bad going in the centre of the field. 

The wolf-riders (Gore riders in KoW) and the giant push at the Elven left flank. 

Due to some poor dice from DK who should have routed the Elf Guard with a combined attack by a regiment of Hobgoblins and the Wyvern in the flank - which would have allowed  the Wyvern to turn to face the Dragon - unfortunately the Wyvern was caught in the flank and taken out of the game!

Things are looking bad for the Hobgoblins - a couple of units gone and the Wyvern .....

The Knights clear out the Hobgoblins on the hill and then catch the Hobgoblin horde in the flank while the Dragon takes them from behind! 44 Points of damage .... Only snake-eyes can help them now - but he didn't come out to play!

The remainly Hobgoblin units (a giant, wizard and hero) ready for the end game. 

After the Dragon destroys the Giant and the Knights ride down the wizard - the last action Hobgoblin hero takes on the Elf horde (already weaken by the Hobgoblin horde and the fireballs from the wizard) - and routs them!

Only to become Dragon food!

A crushing win for the Elves - total wipeout! There first win against the Hobgoblins. 

Overall another good game of KoW - however I'm not sure that DK really enjoyed it and got a good feel for the rules.  In retrospect I should have done a few things differently. I don't think I should have had flying monsters in the game as they can be game changers - especially against a newbie. I think 1200 points would have been a better start game with regiments, troops, heroes and the odd monster to get a feel for the rules.

I would like to set up a mini campaign with smaller armies for the group to play. But the I want to do that with Frostgrave and Maurice.......

Also managed to get in a game of Carcassone against DK and Steedo - won that too 👍

So a good evening for me!

Morts

A few more painted!

Some Saxon thegns painted - more for SAGA and combined with the other unit of warriors a 12 men Regiment for Kings of War. 

Morts

Goodies arrived!

Well my Frostgrave "nickstarter" arrived.

So I now have the latest scenario book, a rather nice wizard screen, 3 new objective markers, a werewolf, a wizard and an apprentice .... And 20 plastic barbarians.

All very nice - I probably won't keep all of them. It would have been nice to have the barbarian sprues when I was making the Vikings and evil Vikings as they would have given more options. 

I have also picked up some Fireforge foot sergeants and plan to get some Conquest archers for both a Frostgrave and SAGA warband.

Morts

Work in progress ......

Well been doing some reviewing of stuff and thinking about the order of painting ....

Currently working on Saxons for my SAGA warband and Lion Rampant. Thegns with axes and the Warlord and Standard.

Then I have extra command figures for the Kings of War Kingdoms of Men army - mounted standard and the Captain (and a Sargent to add the the 3 I already have). Then I have the Slaughter Priest and an Ogre Hero.

All of the above have had a base coat then a wash - sepia and or black over the armour. Then hopefully a couple of hours and a unit will be complete. There are 2 more units of Saxons to do (4 thegns and 8 warriors with spears).

The plan is to finish off the Hobgoblin archers and Hobhounds next, then either some Starship Troopers stuff or some men of Gondor!

So this a plan - let's see if I can keep to it when the frostgrave stuff turns up. 

Morts

Saxons - first warriors done ...

Well I have painted 8 Saxon warriors with swords and axes for SAGA, Dragon Rampant and Kings of War. 

Not the best paint job - but a good gaming standard. Went for the green and white as had already used red on the Vikings so needed a contrasting scheme. The shields work with the Devon flag (not Plymouth Argyle!) - will be putting some red and black in some of the other shields.

Varnish and basing to go!

Morts