Moving In 2011

I'm going to moving this blog over to my other Google ID and folding this one.

The new blog will be located at http://allicantellyouismygutsaysmaybe.blogspot.com/

Thanks everyone.

The First Heretic - Review

I actually went through this book fairly quickly. I've see a couple of reviews which basically take it as the Word Bearers going from devout Emperor-worshipers to Heretics in only a few pages.

Oddly enough, I really didn't find that. The Word Bearers going rogue was definitely more rapid than I think most people anticipated, but it's somewhat understandable. I mean after you've been doing things one way for a century and your god-figure pops in to say you're a miserable failure; it creates a rather insane situation. Best case, you say "Dude, you couldn't have filled me in on this little nugget say like 99 years ago?" Bottom line though, when you go from zero feedback to 'You've been doing it wrong for years', people don't react well.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. The story flowed well and I'm generally a fan of authors trying to portray the Warp and its various entities. The author actually did this quite well in my opinion. In both cases, he gave enough detail to get your imagination started and left it at that. When you're trying to describe something that malleable, it's one of the ways I prefer to see it done. The characters were pretty much what I expected in terms of the Word Bearers. Devout, loyal and stoic. I'll also say that I think the main characters; Argel Tal, Cyrene and Xaphen would had more depth than they appeared to in the book. The lack of interaction with other Legions and units made it somewhat difficult to see what made the Word Bearers unique. The comparisons we saw between Lorgar and the other Primarchs like Magnus needed to be done on a Marine level rather than between Primarchs. At least, that's my thought.

The other thing I would have liked to have seen was just the Word Bearers prior to their censure. Again, it would have provided a valuable comparison, but really I was just interested in seeing how they originally did things.

All in all though, I enjoyed the book. The beginning seemed a little odd, but it made sense easily enough. There weren't many important characters and while the cast could likely have been expanded a bit, you definitely didn't need to bust out the glossary to keep track of everyone, which was nice. The Word Bearers were interesting enough and Lorgar was well portrayed as the odd man out in terms of his brothers. The Adeptus Custodes were funky and the Possessed Space Marines were cool. The book definitely fits well with the rest of the series.

Another Morning Post

Apparently I'm starting to wake up earlier. Lots of fun at any rate. Up here, when you wake up, it's basically cold and dark. Needing something to do, I've started posting here a little more.

At this point, I've decided to finish up my Bastion. It's been sitting there just needing detailing for a while now. The building itself is largely finished. I just need to add things like some of the Servo-Skulls and sensors. The greater part of the work actually comes from the add on bits like the laser cannon and communications array. At any rate, it'll let me putter about this week (and probably next while my mouth heals).

Sparky and I chatted a bit last night too and the consensus was that we should have something to do other than our little 40K campaign in the event that we have folks not showing up. Makes some sense, so now it's off to the drawing board on that as well. That's part of the reason for doing the Bastion next. Very little in terms of large painting to do, but it'll let me do an Aquila here and a sensor there while I build a scenario or two.

It's Cold and Dark

Yep, it is. -13 with the wind and the sun won't be up for a half hour or so. It's one of those mornings. I couldn't sleep, so I took a crack at that priest with the eviscerator. Unfortunately, the good ol Space Pope didn't turn out well, at least the blade of the eviscerator didn't. I tried a yellow and just wound up with too much paint on the blade. So, it's into the strip bucket for him. I'll clean him off and take another crack later on. Now, it's back to figuring out what I want to paint next.

In other news, I went over the Daemonhutners rumours from Blood of Kittens. They're somewhat interesting for me just for the fact that it might mean some heavy changes for my Witch Hunters army if the weird Inquisition units don't also wind up in the new Witch Hunters book (whenever that actually makes it out). Basically, I was going for a force of Inquisitors, Priests, Arco-Flagellants and Penitent Engines. I wound up grabbing some (Ok, quite a few) Sisters for Troops since I like the models. At any rate though, if the oddball Inquisition/Ecclesiastical units aren't repeated in the new Witch Hunters book, it looks as though I'll wind up with a second and third army rather than just a second army in terms of the Witch Hunters. Not a huge concern until a new Witch Hunters book comes out, but still, something to consider.

Death Cult Assassin

I finished my second Death Cult Assassin. The washes worked out well. The swords didn't. This model was one of a batch that I sprayed flat black before painting. I'm not sure I should have done that. Some of the flat texture made parts of the model a bit odd. I likely should have just put some Citadel Foundation straight onto the metal, but that's part of life.



I had a rather nice surprise when I gave Mike his Chaplain. He handed me a bag with a Land Raider Crusader/Redeemer kit and the Battlewagon Accessory sprue in it. Rather an early Christmas present from an old friend. So, thanks Mike.

I'm currently resisting the temptation to loot the shiny new Land Raider. It should be doable since I've a looted one I picked up from eBay which I've not finished yet and I think it might be a great home for a Deff Rolla........

At this point, I'm debating what to do next. I'm thinking either some Catachans for Nic, something Chaosy for Sean or something Orky for a change of pace. At this point though, I'm thinking a Witch Hunters Priest with an Eviscerator is probably going to win out since I've got his robe near done with spare paint from the assassin up top. I can likely have him done this week, which is rather tempting. I'm getting a wisdom tooth out on Friday and having my paint area clear of projects while I'm getting over that is kind of tempting.

Jump Pack Chaplain Finished

Well, this model officially has taken me longer to get a picture of than any other one. I fiddled around fixing imperfections on the model for about and hour before I decided that if I didn't take the picture, I'd wind up stripping the thing down and starting over. Since Mike's picking it up on Wednesday, that just wasn't going to happen.



At any rate, that's my Jump Pack Chaplain. It was a fun model to paint with lots of detail (and a corresponding number of nooks and crannies. I think I got the bling about right, but I need to spend more time on the armour and add some free hand to the parchment next time I do one of these guys.

I've decided to finish up a Death Cult Assassin next. I sort of started some coats on her with paint that I had left over from my Rhino.

Willie Nelson Charged With Possession

Um yeah. Call me crazy, but I kind of saw that one coming.

At any rate, on the painting front, my Multi-Melta Servitors.



My Order of the Sacred Rose Rhino (it'll be an Immolator too once I get that turret finished).



I think that's about the latest update. Hopefully, I'll have that Chaplain done tomorrow.

End of November

Well, November is heading out and I still can't seem to post regularly. At any rate, my batch of Multi-Melta Servitors are done and I'm nearly done the Jump Pack Chaplain for Mike.

Today I'm in an Online Learning class and the topic of blogs came up, which twigged me to post on mine.

02 October Tourney at the Gamer's Lair

Well, the bad news is that I didn't take my camera and I kind of regret that now.

The good news is that the tourney went pretty well.

I didn't have enough Witch Hunters painted to field an army and I didn't feel like breaking out my Orks (though in retrospect, I can't recall seeing an army there that would have had an easy time of dealing with them), so Sean helped me out with some models and a list. From there, I loaded up my templates and dice and went intending to just goof around.

We played through three Astronomicon scenarios. Each one was a little different, but they were definitely fun. The first one we did was a downed pilot theme and that mission just had a lot going on in it. The next two simply had easier rules to follow, so it all worked out.

The games themselves were just plain fun and each one was better than the last. I can definitely say that the players are what keeps me going back to the Gamer's Lair for tourneys. It's just a solid and fun group.

An interesting change this time in that the prizes were in the form of Gamer's Lair coupons instead of trophies, but nobody seemed to mind.

Indian Summer is Over.....I Think

Well, I seem to be running about a post per month. Busy fall I suppose. Anyway, I should have a few free weekends in October, so maybe I'll get more done.



I got my Inquisitor redone, though she may get a second trip to the strip bucket once I figure out a better way to get the paint off of the model. It's definitely lacking the clean edges, mostly due to accumulated paint in the crevasses of the model.



I got a Genestealer something done for Nic, though I need to do some additional inking on the plasma gun for contrast.



The final Possessed model is finished.



As is the Cryx Bloat Thrall I picked up last year.



In terms of stuff to work on right now, I've an Immolator on the go, which is proving interesting, but problematic as well, at least in terms of touching areas up. I'm working on the various guns at the moment to take a break from the hull. I still have to magnetize the weapons and finish the turrets. I'm holding off on the hull until next weekend when I pick up some brush on white primer.

Second Battle Sister Squad Finished

It's been a while since I've posted, but honestly, not much has happened yet. Once again, this summer proves that I'm not exactly built for heat. I haven't been terribly productive as the painting goes.

Sean, Sparky, Mike and I are getting together for a game on the 21st and I've gotten what I need painted up for it at this point: My second unit of Battle Sisters!



I've also gotten the bastion cleaned up, my Inquisitor partly finished, a Gun Servitor partly finished and my first Immolator partly assembled (yes, I realize I'll be cleaning up these part projects for a month). I also finished up one of Sean's Possessed.



As to the rest of it, Sparky and I are still working on the missions for this weekend and I'm going to try to get my Inquisitor and Servitor finished up.

Finally, some normal temperatures

By now, everyone has probably seen the hottest summer on record bit. Well, it is. Since my last post, I've gotten a Possessed and a couple of Sisters done and it's been a few weeks. It's just been way too hot to do much of anything.

Temperatures have cooled off though, so I'm looking at getting a bit more done now that things are livable.

Gamer Appreciation Day at the Gamer's Lair

We're entering the quiet season for tournaments, at least in this neck of the woods. When summer comes to Canada, folks tend to frolic outside and things to that effect. With that in mind, Doug set up a little get together at the Gamer's Lair for everyone with a few little prizes, medals, cake, that sort of thing. Maybe not a major event in gaming, but certainly a nice thing for a store owner to do.

Back from Big Bay

Not a whole bunch to tell here. I went up to Big Bay with Sparky and it was just a relaxing weekend. We got some stuff figured out for the August game and I got an inventory of what he had in terms of my Inquisitorial stuff to base.

We did some cooking, had a fire and checked out some vintage Transformers cartoons. There was apparently a GI Joe cartoon marathon on a few days ago. I'm pretty sure that one would have broken my brain.

Latest Stuff

The latest Possessed I've done for Sean and my Heavy Flamer Sister.



This guy wound up alright, but like most of this batch, I'm not entirely happy with him. I tried to get them done quickly for Sean for our last Apocalypse game and the models just wound up with too much paint on them. It's a lesson learned for next time. On the other hand, the conversions have worked our fairly well and Sean will have a full unit of unique Word Bearers Possessed based off of the old models.



This one worked out alright, though I definitely need to get better at faces and eyes. I'm also going to have to take a look at the actual fit of the heavy weapon Battle Sisters since things don't seem to be going together entirely right. It doesn't require a tonne of green stuff to fix, but it does take more than I'd like.

My First Witch Hunters List

Since we've more or less figured out that we'll have our next get together in August sometime, I've taken a bit of time to look toward what I'll want to bring as an army. For a change of pace, I'd like to do Witch Hunters. Given what I have and what I have painted, I'm looking at:

HQ:

Inquisitor Lord & Retinue - 190 points
Inquisitor Lord - Stormbolter, Word of the Emperor, Psychic Hood
3 Gun Servitors with Heavy Bolters
2 Sages

Priest - Eviscerator, Rosarius - 95 points

Elite:

6 Arco-Flagellants - 210 points

3 Death Cult Assassins - 120 points

Culexus Assassin - 120 points

Troops:

Battle Sister Squad - 270 points
9 Battle Sisters
Heavy Flamer
Flamer
Imaginifier
Frag Grenades
Sister Superior - Plasma Pistol, CCW, Book of St. Lucius, Brazier of Holy Fire
Rhino with Pintle Mounted Stormbolter and Smoke Launcher

Battle Sister Squad - 270 points
9 Battle Sisters
Heavy Flamer
Flamer
Imaginifier
Frag Grenades
Sister Superior - Plasma Pistol, CCW, Book of St. Lucius, Brazier of Holy Fire
Rhino with Pintle Mounted Stormbolter and Smoke Launcher

Fast Attack:

Dominion Squad - 247 points
4 Dominions
4 Meltaguns
Sister Superior - Combi-Melta, Power Weapon, Book of St. Lucius
Immolator with Smoke Launchers and Multi-Meltas

Heavy Support:

Retributor Squad - 205 points
5 Retrubitors
4 Heavy Bolters
Imaginifier
Sister Superior - Book of St. Lucius

2 Penitent Engines - 160 points

Orbital Strike - Melta Torpedo - 80 points

Probably not the best list possible, but it does have the odd things the I find interesting like Arco-Flagellants, Assassins and Penitent Engines. At only 4 Faith Points, it's a bit light on that end, but I figure it's a descent spot to start and to goof around a bit. It also has the benefit of my having most of the models already. I just need to get some additional Meltagun and Heavy Bolter Sisters, one Heavy Bolter Servitor and the Tanks.

One Should Never Watch The A-Team If One Has Unpainted Orks

Kind of a goofy time right now. First off, it's been hotter than a snake's ass in a wagon rut the past week or so. Not the end of the world, but it doesn't help my getting stuff painted one bit.

Second, I've been playing a fair bit of Borderlands and watched the A-Team with Sean last night. Combine that with my freshly reading Imperial Armour 8 and I'm fairly itching to do some Orks again. Sounds great right? Not when I'm trying to get a second squad of Battle Sisters done!

That aside, project wise, I'm fairly excited. For the short term, I'll probably try to build my Ork Army to the Ork Dread Mob list form Imperial Armour 8. Mostly Dreads, Kans, Lootas and Wagons with crazy weapons on them. The list will blow in terms of claiming objectives, but the model count will be low and it's going to be fun as hell to play. For Chaos, I'm still working on Sean's Possessed, but that's in the home stretch thankfully. Finally, on the Witch Hunters side, I've finished the Heavy Flamer Sister that I plan to include in Battle Sister Squad Primus. After that, it's on to the models in for Battle Sister Squad Secondus. Somewhere in there, I also need to pick up a couple of Immolators/Rhinos to transport the units.

Inquisitor Finished

Yeah, I know he's actually a Daemon Hunters Acolyte, but he just looks more Inquisitorial to me.

I still need to do some inking and detailing and something with hit boots, but he's at least tableworthy at present.

A Muggy June Evening

It's been hot of late and fairly slow going in terms of painting.

I've managed to finish up two Heavy Bolter Sisters and one with a Melta Gun. Presently, I'm working on the Acolyte from Inquisitor Cortez's retinue, though with all of the other Acolyte models I have, I'm thinking he'll be used as an Inquisitor more often. The model is just a great fit for an Inquisitor with a Psychic Hood and Inquisitorial Mandate. I'm at the point of getting him cleaned up and ready to go. I'm really not in the mood to detail the various scripts on him though, so those will wait a while.

The Sisters Have Arrived!

Battle Sister Squad Primus is ready for the table!