Saturday 31 October 2009

FTW Round Table - What is your MUST HAVE unit in your army?



It's been a while since I've taken part in a FTW collaborative post, but I thought I'd jump in with my thoughts on this one while I catch up on my corresspondants and tuck into a quick bite to eat.

The current Imperial Guard codex offered up lot's of nie new tasty treats for army commanders, we've got nasty tricks with our Pysker Battle Squads, excellent mobility and devtasting firepower combined in the form of Valkyrie's and Vendetta's, Storm Troopers with their much hyped AP3 Helguns and much more besides. My favourite, must have unit remains the same as it has for as long as I can remember though - yep, it's still those pesky Roughriders.



Despite early rumours to the contray which suggested that they'd gain a Lance in addition to their Laspistol & Close Combat Weapon, these turned out to be false, a basic five man squad with Veteran Sergeant (now just Sergeant) and Lances remains the same cost, though additional models can be added at stonking 1pt less then before... (yes a little sarcasm) and Special Weapons are now always an option for the squad if you so wish - though I still dont see why you would!

We did get the option of a Special Character of course, Mogul Kamir, and he is potentially useful, Furious Charge is handy though it balances off somewhat againt Rage which can make his unit a little unwielding against a smart opponent while Fearless is as always a double edged sword. But I'll leave him aside, I don't use him.

The simple fact is for a Guard army which is'nt ultra mobile a little Counter Assault can go a long way, that little cheap assault unit has a big range charge range with fleet and a nasty punch which means few units can truly disregard it as a low level threat because getting jumped by them hurts. It leaves your Command Squads free to issues orders and fire their own weapons without being needed for counter-assault and leaves you not needing expensive Ogryns (though that said they are of course a bit more viable then previously) and as ever they remain cheap making them disposable.

Thursday 29 October 2009

Imperial Navy Valkyrie & Vendetta (Part 3)

Tick follow, tock follow, tick follow, tock.

Times running out, this time next month my heat at this years GT will be over - and I'm painting like a crazy man.

The focus of my fustrations at the moment is my Valkyrie, with a revised list and loan of someone elses Vendetta it's the last thing I MUST get finished in time though obviously I'd like to get my own Vendetta finished as well, however for the time being I'm pleased to say so far, so good.

The sides are done bar detailing, and I'm now doing the belly, then it'll be the top section, cockbit, engines, detailing and finally getting the wings done, I'm lucky enough to have a few days off so I'm hoping to get it more or less finished by the end of the weekend.



Back to work!

Tuesday 27 October 2009

I've done something very silly...

Yes, as the title says I've done something very silly, which has kind of blown the Hobby Fund out of the water!



Now in my defence, it was a real bargin, almost 50% off from Forgeworld's price, especially given as it was someone from Exeter's other gaming club which meant no postage to pay either. I hav'nt quite decided how to justify it other then that yet! Though it is such a lovely model that it may be that it does'nt need it! It won't see the light of day for a while yet, the Warhound still needs finishing (and I must admit I am itching to get on with that), only the GT and commissions are holding me off.

I was'nt going to mention it quite yet, but a couple of people at Exeter Inquisition were demanding to know why there was no news of it - while bets were being placed on how long it would take me to finish it, talk of flying pigs and four angry men on horseback yelling something about a big game of Apocolypse were the common theme!

Commission - 54mm Female Head (Part 2)

After much tweaking I think I've got a much out of this project as I'm going too, especially given time is short. Truth be told I'm not 100% happy with the result, but it's a difficult call to make when it's my first attempt at something quite like this, the real test will be if the customer likes it as ever and how it looks if and when it get's used!

The face itself I'm fairly happy with, the hair has been the sticking point as I've been trying to get it to look similar to Ivy Valentines with only a partial success and several attempts, I think this is something I will have to practice some more once time allows.

Anyway enough babbling, I've got things to do!







Friday 23 October 2009

More D Company Infantry (Part 3)

Well thats that, the 14 Guardsmen are finished, Sergeants for 1st & 2nd Platoons and some new spare Special Weapons. Not really much more to say then that at the moment, I'll get better pirctures when I have time, right now I'm about to do another bit of sculpting and then it's straight in to the Valkyrie.

Monday 19 October 2009

EVENT - The Leeds Night Owls Warhammer 40,000 GT

I've been asked by a fellow Praetorian Wolfy, aka Ralph from the GCN Club "Leeds Night Owls", to post the following and as it's a good cause I'm only too happy to obliege, might have to see if I can attend myself! Anyway over to him!



Introducing the Leeds Night Owls Warhammer 40,000 GT

Sunday 7th February 2010 10:00 - 18:00 TBC


As some of you may know I am planning to go to Africa next year to work in a school for 4 weeks. To do this I have to raise £3500. We are already close, around £2500, but still need to make that bit extra. So, to hopefully boost the fund up a bit, I'm planning to organise a Tournament in the new year, with the following layout. If you would like to join in, or have any comments/suggestions on how to make it better, then please feel free to drop me a line.

General Info:


  • £15 Entry fee, Subs free on the day (TBC)
    1500 Points, 3 Rounds. (2 Hours Per Round; your game will be stopped if it reaches the 2 hour mark!)

  • Entrants must have their list written out and with them on the day, please be neat as others must be able to read it.

  • A small piece of Background is required for your army, and this will be one of the things used in the voting for "Best Theme"

  • Venue is the Headingley Community Centre - TBC



  • Prize Info:

    Prizes Awarded For:

  • First, Second, Third and Last Place

  • Best Painted

  • Best Sportsman

  • Best Theme

  • Best Painted

  • Most Cheesey List


  • Prize Fund so Far (Still to be assigned to what they are won with):
    Various Games Workshop Vouchers totalling to £100
    Wooden Spoon (Guess which award that is for!)
    One Kaiser Rushforth Aluminium Case with Foam Trays of your Choice
    Selection of Scenery as provided by PG Scenics
    Selection of Great Escape Models supplied by eBob - Miniatures

    Schedule for the Day:

    10:00 - 11:00 Arrive and organise first round players

    11:00 - 13:00 First round (Players randomised against Each other, Setup: Pitched Battle, Mission Objective: Sieze Ground)

    13:00 – 13:15 Players organise their armies on a table and voting is taken on best army/theme etc

    13:15 – 13:30 Lunch and organise round 2 players

    13:30 – 15:30 Round 2 and organise round 3 players (Round 1 Winners randomised against other round one winners, Same with losers, Setup: Pitched Battle, Mission Objective: Annihalation)

    15:30 – 17:30 Round 3 (Round 2 Winners randomised against other round 2 winners, Same with losers, Setup: Pitched Battle, Mission Objective: Capture and Control)

    17:30 – 18:00 Organise winners of categories, winners announced, Pack up

    Scoring:

    3 Points Win
    1 Point Draw
    0 Points Loss


    To sign up:

    Email me at the below address or in THIS thread on the Leeds Night Owl forum if your interested in signing up, and for any other comments! I cant thank you enough for your support!

    Thursday 15 October 2009

    Medusa V Campaign Praetorian Background

    Taken from the GW Medusa V Campaign Website

    Extract 1

    From the darkness they came, massive matt grey drop ships, manufactorum sized behemoths trailed by roaring plasma exhaust gases. They dropped from the heavens onto the especially cleared landing field surrounding Sybilla Tertius, the marshalling grounds of the Imperial Guard, touching down with a crash of thunder and a palpable tremble of the ground.

    Even before the engines had silenced the huge bow doors dropped open, slamming to the ground, within moment the first of the hundred’s of brightly uniformed troops began to emerge in perfect marching order. Groups of Navy personnel and Guardsmen, themselves clothes in less elaborate uniform watched on. Some laughed and joked at the ‘toy soldiers’, others feeling a strange swelling in their chests, martial pride, stirred by the sight of this body of men perfect uniforms crisp and clean, lasguns gleaming in the gathering light, all of them moving as one.

    The masses of men began forming up in squares, company formation it seemed, each block an hundred or so strong while heavy weapons batteries formed up to their flanks, the barrels of gun metal and brass glinting in the rising sun.

    Impossibly, a small group of officers emerged from the drop ships gasping maw, each mounted atop a perfect white steed, the half dozen or so men trotted to another small group of officers stood before the assembled regiment.

    “Colonel Inglis, sir! 57th Praetorian ready for inspection, sir!”

    “Thankyou Captain, inform the Dropship commander he may return to the Faile for the 75th Regiment now.”

    The scene was repeated over a dozen times that day, infantry, cavalry, armour and artillery each as immaculate and perfect in their synchronisation, a full two Brigades of Praetoria’s finest troops ready to serve and die in the Emperor’s name on this doomed world.


    Extract 2

    “Everyone out now, into the ditch! Move, move, move!”

    Three trucks were already burning, the stinking smell of burning human fat fanning out with the belching black smoke, the civilian vehicles simply weren’t built to withstand even small arms fire. Unable to go off-road around the road block ahead the column was pinned and even now more traitors were surrounding them. The Medusan PDF stood their ground, but seriously outnumbered and lacking heavy support – their two VP-12 Armored Cars having been smashed to pieces in the first exchange of fire - they were fighting a losing battle.

    Lieutenant Straeker, escort commander, didn’t know whether his distress call had been heard, his Vox man was now dead, his ruined corpse propped against one of the big trucks wheels along with far too many of his men - what little real cover existed concealing the civilians. Popping up from behind his boulder he snapped off a couple more shots with his laspistol into the advancing mass of heretics, he prayed to the Emperor for deliverance.

    With a roar of thunder two Thunderbolt Fighter-Bombers sped overhead, spilling cluster munitions from their wing mounts, the lightly armored traitors died in droves, shrapnel cutting down many of those not engulfed by the explosive wave. The traitors went to ground in what little cover existed, aghast from the unexpected attack. Even as they recovered their wits the aircraft returned, their bombs exhausted the heavy cannon they mounted spitting death into the survivors of their first run.

    This time the thunder didn’t fade, alongside the roadway pulling up alongside and shielding the convoy a column of armored vehicles advanced, a half dozen Chimera’s, a Salamander command vehicle and a pair of venerable Leman Russ battle tanks. Straeker stared open mouthed at the bold crimson and cream livery, glancing at the nearest armored behemoth he glanced emblazoned below the commanders cowl ‘Praetorian LVII’ – Imperial Guard!

    As one the Guardsmen, scarlet tunics and dark blue breeches spilled out into perfect line formation all while their armored support poured a whither suppressive fire upon the cowering traitors. An officer stepped down from the Salamander, glancing at his now formed up infantry force.

    “Sergeant, fix bayonets.”

    In one fluid motion 16” of gleaming steel connected to each Lasgun.

    The Officer drew a glowing blue powersword and pointed it towards the foe.

    “Die-hards, ADVANCE!”


    Extract 3

    +++++ Incomming Transmission +++++
    +++++ Source: Field Command Post, 5 Kloms NE Point 89 Cithaeron Line+++++
    +++++ Author: Colonel Inglis, Praetorian 57th +++++
    +++++ Destination: Edethor Sector High Command +++++

    Honoured Sirs,
    I am pleased to report initial success in our advance on the Cithareon Line, we are currently holding position at our current location pending resupply and reinforcement before assaulting the lines themselves. Advancing in Regimental Battleline Formation we encountered a considerable Xenos Tyranid horde comprising in the region of eight to ten thousand Tyranid organisms, largely of the Gaunt genus (according to our accompanying Magos Biologis). Very few larger organisms were encountered, an fact the Magos finds most intriguing and urged me to make you aware of.

    With little in the way of cover for our opposition to take advanatage of, and given our preparedness, casualties on our part were minimal (see attached assesment) though ammunition was reduced by some 40%. Our patrols have continued to encounter isolated Brood-groups throughout the past 24 standard hours. We are due to be joined by a further two Regiments and a full Astartes Company of the Strike Masters Chapter by 1100 tomorrow; we shall commence our assault on Point 89 and establish conditions on the Cithaeron Line at this point.

    Your servant,
    Colonel Leopold Inglis
    Praetorian 57th Foot

    +++++ Transmission Ends +++++

    I'll 'fess up now, that the three above published fan written extracts were sent in by one 'Col.Gravis', a bloody ungifted author who should never be allowed to put pen to paper. I've been pretty unsure where to include them, but then they were published onto the official site by those running the GW Campaign, so I suppose they could be considered at least partly canon.


    Extract 4

    Edafos North-East
    Colonel Inglis, of the Praetorian 57th, must receive a special commendation this week for leading the successful expedition to reclaim some portion of the abandoned Cithaeron Line, reaching as far as Point 89. The reports from this front indicate a force of some 10,000 Tyranid creatures, mostly from the Gaunt Genus; interestingly, very few larger beasts were encountered. Other units are moving to press this attack and give support to this advantage gained in the past few days.

    Friday 9 October 2009

    Commission - Vostroyan Nork Deddog (Part 2)

    Another quick update, the Vostroyan Nork Deddog conversion I've been working on as a commission is comming along nicely, the chainmail is finished now, and I'm in the process of tidying up the collar. Once thats sorted I'll get on with the arms before going back over the whole model to detail it (for example the facial hair, aquilla on the chest and boots), I'm really enjoying this project!


    Thursday 8 October 2009

    More D Company Infantry (Part 2)

    And just to prove it's not all just other peoples models I'm doing, work continues on the small batch of guardsmen I'm painting. I've reached the stage where I'm working on the red now, and somehow it does'nt seem so painful anymore. I dont know about you but the first few stages of painting models - especially big blocks of them - always feels like it takes forever (okay in my case it probably does!), it is litterally painful. Then suddenly there comes a point where things start to take shape, when the model ceases to be blocks of colour and is starting to take on a more of a finished look, where it all starts to come together. I know well from experience that I've reached that stage with these guys now, the red stage - I actually cant wait to get on with them again!

    The Praetorian Imperial Guard Miniature Range

    A Brief History of the Praetorian Imperial Guard Miniature Range

    The Praetorian's were created for the 1997 UK Gamesday's Mega Display 'Massacre at Big Toof River'. The original models were based on Alan and Michael Perry's Mordian Iron Guard, for the most part simply head swaps though some additional models were also created including the Standard Bearer and Kneeling with Lasgun poses.

    Due too subsequent interest in the models GW made the decision to release a platoon sized Limited Edition Box Set, this was followed by a blister release and their inclusion in the GW catalogue though some sources maintain this was an 'accident'.

    The Praetorian range was finally dropped from production in late 2007 as part of GW's reorganisation of their Mail Order and Back Catalogue/Classic Miniatures service.

    The Original Miniature Range
    The Complete Praetorian Imperial Guard Miniature Range as released was as follows.


    Lieutenant
    Sergeant 1
    Sergeant 2
    Trooper 1
    Trooper 2
    Trooper 3
    Trooper 4
    Trooper 5
    Trooper 6
    Trooper 7
    Trooper 8
    Trooper 9
    Flamer
    Meltagun
    Grenade Launcher
    Gunner Torso & Legs 1
    Gunner Torso & Legs 2
    Heavy Bolter Loader
    Autocannon Loader 1
    Autocannon Loader 2
    Mortar Loader
    Mortar Operator
    Lascannon Loader
    Lascannon Operator
    Standard Bearer
    Musician
    Missile Launcher
    Missile Loader
    Casualty 1
    Casualty 2
    Sentinel


    The 'Praetorian Sentinel' was released as a blister pack, this was the boxy Mk2 metal Sentinel but with a Praetorian Gunner Torso to replace the usual Cadian pilot, if you happen to have one of these (i.e. the actual Praetorian one), it'd be great to complete the article with a picture against a plain white background.

    Monday 5 October 2009

    Completed Commissions

    The following are modelling commissions I have completed, each thumbnail picture is a link to all post's concerning the individual commission, the most recently completed pieces are at the top.


    Please note I am NOT accepting commissions at this time.