Blackstone Fortress - the campaign creeps on ….. slowly

The collective managed to get together (I wasn’t ill) at mine and move the Blackstone Fortress campaign on a tad further. I decide to play any characters we had used recently, so DK was Janus Draik (he really wanted to be the robot again), Sylon was Amallyn Shadowguide, Steedo was the Ratlings - Rein & Raus and I was the navigator Espern Locarno.

Tiger-King was meant to be coming along, but some DIY set off his allergies - so bailed on us. But I suppose I didn’t have to be the baddies. 

We played a combat first against the Ur-Ghul - and with Steedo’s efficient use of rhe grapling hook wizzed about the board picking up the searchable items - which turned out to be 3 of the items to make the characters inspired - so that was a win. 

The first combat - we did some good tag teaming to kill off the monsters before they could do any damage. Then we got out of there. 

The second encounter was a challenge - where DK’s character picked up a wound, but it was pretty manageable compared to some. 

The third encounter was another combat - this time against the Negavolt cultists. DK with his wound rushed forward to grab a clue - still going on about his wound and to be fair being right about a recovery roll being a character action. I rushed out to get support DK and promptly picked up 2 wounds - one being critical. Anyway we managed to fight off the cultists, grab the treasure and run. 

A this point we called it on Blackstone and had a cheese break after sort the Precipice part of the game - buffing up the Amellyn. Again we were lucky with the hostilest we faced, as although they are tough there is a limit on the number of miniatures that the explorers have to face. The masses of traitor guard generally seem to be a tougher proposition. 

I retrospect I think we should have played the next encounter, I believe we have enough clues to attack a stronghold - which is exactly what the next game will be. Although will the team be tough enough. Should be interesting. 

The cheese break was supplied by Steedo - and was very pleasant. The plan was to get Valhalla to the table, with the Valkyrie expansion. 

However, my wife came back from watching Bridgerton with Mrs Steedo and things just turned into nice chat around the breakfast bar - the box for Valhalla got to the table, but no further than that. A good evening of banter and Blackstone Fortress. 

For Father’s Day with a little help from me (and Mrs Morts) I got the following from my absent daughters - thing 1 and 2. 

Another go at getting my pallet to see if it likes whiskey - last time I was getting there. Upped the anti with single malt this time. A toblerone because you can’t go wrong with a tolberone - end of. 

A Kings of War Drakon Lord - because I liked the miniature and I am a bit worried about how the dragon model I have will stand up to play as it is pretty old - nice miniature though. 

Morts

So bits have been painted

It has been back to work and still looking for a new job/career - basically source of income. However I have managed to finished some bits and bobs. 

A unit of Saxon cavalry - Roundway Miniatures (actually British Heavy Cavalry) for a GNW army. 

An ok job on these - not too happy with the flag, but the actual design is difficult to copy in 15mm. I will be basing the whole Saxon army when the imagination light infantry-skirmishers are painted in the next week or so. Just a few more bits to complete for the 15mm GNW are finished off. 

The final three Shieldwolf Valkyries have been completed - still experimenting with speed/contrast paints. 

Not sure they are speeding up the painting process - the speed paints. But I plan to do a whole army (celts) with them at some point. 

All done with bases completed - I think they’ll look ok on a battlefield. 

I my depressed state about missing out on UK GamesExpo, I picked up a pack of plastic cyclops by Dark Alliance - I have some of there not Lord of the Rings trolls. About a tenner for 12 minis - 3 each of 4 poses, not bad as they are the size of an ogre (mantic hero one for scale).

I would say that the quality of these is a step up from the trolls I have - sculpting and production. At least 6 of these will become monster infantry for a fantasy Greek army … and I am sure that I will find extra use for them in other games too. 

Planning a game this weekend - hopefully I won’t be ill this time!

Morts

The best laid plans ….

The better half and I have had this week off and on the whole it has been rather successful. 

Wednesday we did some gardening and now the garden looks nice and neat. Thursday we managed a 17 mile bike ride (the better half’s first real ride of the year - she does spinning, but that doesn’t count. Friday was a nice little hike around Lustleigh cleave.

The bridge at Hisley Woods - some rocks around Sharpitor. 

Hunters Tor - the view across to Easdon Tor - and the rather disappointing fort by Hunters Tor. 

Some challenging ups on this walk - over 1300 ft of elevation. But some stunning views. The Cleave Inn in Lustleigh also provided a quality baguette. 

Today I was supposed to be at the UK Games Expo, with some of the collective - I was looking forward to this, and for once had come up with a list of things/companies I wanted to see. Unfortunately over night I came down with a rather unpleasant stomach bug … so I had to bail out of the trip. Gutted!

Morts

Shieldwolf - Valkyries

I had a little time so I finished off 3 of the Shieldwolf miniatures Valkyries.

These are quite nice figures - the way the wings join the body are a little bit odd - I think it is where is the chain mail, armour and feathers. I did these doing an experiment with speed/contrast paints and normal acrylics. The speed paint flesh tone is not great - so I had to paint over them. Got three more to do, so will continue with the experiment.

Off to UK Games Expo at the weekend - got myself a list of people to visit and possibly things to get.

Looking forward to it.

Morts

Tanks - An eBay bargain.

So during COVID I picked up a copy of Hit the Beach - the Flames of War starter set. Which is still almost mint in box (well on sprues), and a Zvesda Tiger 1, so I could play world war 2 games. This is also why I picked up the Airfix Battles game, by Modiphius. Obviously this project has been on the back burner for a while … as are most things at the moment. But the plan is to start it off once the Age of Reason stuff in 15mm is complete - by the year of the year. However despite it being on the back burner, I have been looking at adding to the forces - but the little tanks and stuff come in at about £6 a sprue or so, anyway I was perusing eBay when I came across this ….

The old Tanks starter set - not fully completed with cards - I haven’t got the German cards, but I have the British cards (no British tanks mind you) - but I do have the rest of the bits and bobs - tokens, woods and dice. But I wasn’t buying it for the game. This set came with 9 tanks!

I have been on the lookout for some Stug IIIs and now I have 4, and another Panzer IV (so now 4 in total with the hit the beach set). Really pleased to have picked up a Panther and Jadgpanther - them Germans really don’t need anymore tanks! For the allies the 2 Shermans here make a grand total of 10. I’m not sure if I will keep all the Sherman/Stugs/PzIVs - we will see. Of course the this mission creep means that I now want a Firefly, Cromwell and Comet and some British infantry. 

A good purchase for about £14 including postage - a right bargain!

Morts

Some pictures of the night sky and the big event

Well last weekend was the big event - and Northern lights in Southern England on the Friday night. Due to the ridiculously early start on Saturday morning, I decided to go to bed and promptly missed the lights, but was up early enough for this sunrise. 

And the start of the event. 

Then we spent the day packing up camp and checking the progress of our teams - who were doing well. So after a little discussion and a takeaway, a few of us decided to walk out to Row Tor to see if we might catch the lights. 

We didn’t, but I did take some photos and learnt how to change the settings on the phone. 

So I’m quite pleased with these - a nice little walk around. 

Sunday morning was get up early, pack up the last of the camp and wait for the teams to get in. Which they did early for us - both around 3:30pm (last year after 5, and 4:53pm the year before), so home for tea and biscuits before 5! Hurrah and Huzzah!

Just got to find out went the lights are heading south again - and we will try to see them again.

Morts

A few things done.

I finish off the Saxon Guard du Corps for my GNW armies (or Imaginations). If I’m honest these are not my best - this is not the first time that what should be the best painted unit in the army is a little bit meh. I should know better, a bit more patience. Never mind they are done now.

I also started on some of the Shieldwolf Valkyries - I’m trying to do these with contrast/speed paints.  Sort of preparation for the Celt army, which is planned for the future. 

For less that a tenner including p&p I picked up a box of techlog Dark Attack 54mm miniatures - 6 skeletons, 4 orcs, 5 elves and 5 dwarfs.

These were brought so I could use the Orcs as giant trolls on Kings of War - and as can be seen they are big chaps. The skellies are going to be used as undead giant trolls/ogres. The orcs will be used as is, but the skellies will need some work, especially on their weapons. The elves and dwarfs will be sold/moved on. 

Off to the moor for a couple of days now for Ten Tors. 

Morts