Archive for September, 2012

Skarrd Warhead Painted

Posted: 30 September 2012 in Dark Age
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Sunday, December 25, 2011 [M&SU]
This was a fun model to paint. I tried to use a darker skin tone and limited colors as it is a apocalyptic model. The only comment is that the halberd is quite small. I would have liked a bigger halberd and I may even make one and see.

Stats are (see DA web site for cards) with amazing armor save and incredibly strong weapon (10 x2) this guy is pretty awesome. Only get 3 AP but it probably won’t matter if you can get into combat!

Bully painted

Posted: 30 September 2012 in Dark Age
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Thursday, December 22, 2011 [M&SU]
Here is my Outcast Bully painted. The base has water effects but you can’t see it in the photograph.

Its a nice model with the gear belt and the sun hat a nice feature. I tried to use a darker skin tone for him and I think it has come off ok.

Stats are as shown (cards can be down loaded from DA site) so for 60 AP you get 2 health points and Take Charge (scuts) means that he can lead them into battle. Elusive give ranges shots > 6 inches double the normal modifiers. Combined with the ability to deploy after all no infiltrating units the Bully is a very capable leader.

Skarrd arrive

Posted: 30 September 2012 in Dark Age
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Thursday, December 15, 2011 [M&SU]
I thought these guys were MIA but they arrived today . Thanks Maelstrom.

Once again they are great looking models, the Warhead is impressive and he will look great on the MA base. I wonder why any one else makes bases as the MA bases are just fantastic 😎

Brute

Posted: 30 September 2012 in Dark Age
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Tuesday, December 6, 2011 [M&SU]
I gave my new Outcast “brute” and quick paint and wash. Its a nice looking model and I think the DA have done a great job with the theme (if thats the right word) of the models. He has been mounted on a 40mm base to get an idea of scale of the “brute”.

He’s one tough model game wise with the stats card showing great armor (AR) and the special ability of Tough as Nails. Stat line is Action Points, DeFense, ARmor, MoVement, PSyche, Health Points and Point Value. Then Special abilities and then Attack Groups #1,#2 etc. You can choose a different AG for 1 AP each turn. Blok stopper means its has partial cover due to its Uber block and Tough as nails means it ignores critical armor saves failures (a roll of 20), You use D20 for all rolls. Brutal on the AG #1 is that the weapon cannot be parried and ED(2) stands for Extreme Damage and it attack is successful then you lose 2 HP’s instead of one. Thats what I mean by he is one tough model. If he hits your dead!

The L = large , on a 40MM base, then its squad size of 1-4 and then * relates to a special rule. In this case its “one brute squad per “wasteland warrior” squad. This information is in the DA Apocalypse Forcelist book. The cards are free to download from DA’s web site

 

Outcasts mounted on MA bases

Posted: 30 September 2012 in Dark Age
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Previously posted  on Sunday, December 4, 2011 [M&SU]
Just an update of the new Dark Ages Outcasts I got the other day. Nice looking models, easy to assemble once I’d worked out where all the extra bits went, I based them on the Micro Arts bio tech bases.

I don’t use a spray undercoat but prefer to undercoat with the base colors I want to use (I am using Citadel Foundations paints). It keeps the models nice and ‘bright’ , and doesn’t darken the colors. I will wash to darken but if I was going to undercoat I would use white anyway. Hand painting gives you a chance to study the model before committing to the final color choice.

 

Outcasts arrive

Posted: 30 September 2012 in Dark Age
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Previously posted on Friday, December 2, 2011 [M&SU]
Wow, that was quick service from Maelstrom. Here are the new outcasts I ordered plus some very cool bio tech bases from Micro Art. Yeah – looking forward to making these up and painting.

One of the reason for getting the Outcasts, Mongo and it is a very nice model. It will only need a touch up with a sharp knife to remove some slight mold lines and then I can assemble and mount on the 50mm bio tech base.
The bio tech bases are stunning. Maybe one of the best bases I have seen. They will really set off the models. I almost thinking of using some enviro tech light to fill the big base so it looks like water or some sort of biological agent… Cool.

Dark Age – Reading rules

Posted: 30 September 2012 in Dark Age
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Previously posted on Wednesday, November 9, 2011 [MS&U]
I have read some more Dark Age Apocalypse (DAA). The chapter on ranged assaults had some nice ideas, namely “firing into close assault”. In some game system it is just not allowed. DAA allows it but its harder than normal target number (TN) -2. For each  additional unit its another -2. Example in book had a TN of -6. Not an easy shot! The spray and stream range template attacks are cool, spray being the traditional shape and stream being a long almost rectangular shape. For height you just rotate the template 90 degrees. Another very logical rule and easy to remember.

Morale seems to be easy to remember as well. Any models activating within 8″ of a fear causing model get a fear counter if they have lower Psyche. Now the fun begins with the activated unit at -2 TN(excluding AR saves). You can try and remove fear counter so all is not lost. Panic can only happen once squad is below 1/2 size and you only test once per game! Good stuff DA as once you have “manned up” you’re in for the rest of the battle!

This guy a “Hoodoo” has the “cause fear” rule. His weapon is a “Terror blade” and his PV is 60.

Casting seems pretty straight forward with same procedure for TN and rolling.

Terrain rules look good as you can target and destroy terrain in the way. How often have you been caught somewhere or had your opponent hide out of reach behind a flimsy wooden wall!

My only issue is that the character cards you can download do not explain the special rules. The rules are in the DAA forclist book but I don’t have this yet and I want to get some models……

Overall, DAA looks very,very good. Proof will be in having a game but I think it will be lots of fun. Only problem is that I love playing Taban’s Eden and also Wryds Malifaux. They are all different system though and DAA allows more models to be fielded due to the squad idea. At least I can use the same terrain but then again its a good excuse to make some more.

Dark Age Apocalypse

Posted: 30 September 2012 in Dark Age
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Previously posted on Tuesday, November 8, 2011 [MS&U]
I got a Dark Age Apocalypse rule book and initial thought are very positive. The quality of the rule book is excellent and hard covered to boot. As soon as I read the initiative rule “the player who won may choose to make another player go first and can even specify exactly which Individual or Squad that player must Activate” it brought a smile to my face. Yeah, this is a rule that usually really irks me and lots of systems you HAVE to go first.Then I read the LOS rule “Some Dark Age miniatures have elaborate poses, which elevate them into the air or lay them flat on the ground. These poses do not apply to any game mechanics” and another smile. A very good start Dark Age rule writers! The rest of the rules seem logical and well thought out. For example; To work out the Target Number for a close combat you add the weapons assault value and the targets defense value (high DF is bad) to get the TN e.g. A warchiefs Halberd (AS = 9) is attacking a Buzz Blade (DF = 4) So the TN = 13. If you roll a D20 and get 13 or under you have hit. If the Warchied had rolled say a 12, then the Buzzblade would have to roll a TN of his armor (14) – Halberds power of 5 = 9 of a D20. Probability is not so good this time (45%) . Also because of the power of the halberd is x2 the buzz blade has to make 2 saves! (20%)

A roll of 1 is an automatic success and a roll of 20 is a critical failure. Another nice rule is the “mal” of the weapon. The “mal” is the Malfunction of the weapon and some are not very reliable e.g. A Bullys Slug Gun has a “mal” of 18 so if he rolls a 18,19 or 20 then the weapon has malfunctioned and the Bully is hit by his own Slug Gun. Bugger.

I have not quite finished reading ( and working out) the chapters on Morale, Casting and Scenarios but there seems to be at least 20 scenarios to choose from. Yeah x2. I hate it when rules books do not have any missions included so excellent work again Dark Age.

So a very good if not excellent rule set. Were the models going to be any good was the next question. I shouldn’t have worried. As soon as I saw “Mongo” I was convinced that this could be a very rewarding game to play and at collect.

Also the Skarrd and this guy look pretty mean as well
I have ordered a Dark Age Apocalypse Forcelist so I can work out what to do, but I think the Outcasts and Skarrd look very cool.

Mansions of Madness

Posted: 30 September 2012 in Board Games
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Previously posted on Monday, July 4, 2012 [MS&U]
I have not mentioned it before but I also have a large board game collection and when I saw the new FF game “Mansions of Madness”, I just had to get it. It arrived today and I was impressed with the quality of the plastic miniatures. The investigators and monsters are very nice so I thought I would post some pictures as this is a miniature model blog ( I know it a diversion from what I normally post but , these are cool….)

I will be painting them in due course and I think they will come up very nicely indeed. I will also be able to use the investigators in “Arkham Horror” which I also like a lot. I also have just got the card game “Call of Cthulhu” and enjoy this as well. I also will get the new game “Eldar sign” as soon as it released.

I just think the H.P. Lovecraft theme set in Arkham , Massachusetts is awesome

 

Mansions of Madness

Posted: 30 September 2012 in Board Games
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Previously posted on Wednesday, November 30, 2011  (I am trying to get some content from my old blog here ) [MS&U]

I had a game of MoM last night and it was lots of fun. Only my second game and I am still having to check the rule book , but the game still proceeded at a good pace and was a close run affair. The investigators won but only just! I like the suspense and moving the minis around. I must get organized and paint some of them.

Some rule tips or mistakes I made.
You can leave a puzzle partially solved and then spend an action and try to solve next turn. Some of the investigators have low Intellect. You have to unlock the door before exploring entering the room, not enter the room and then unlock? I know it seems obvious now. Awareness check uses the top value on the monster card not the bottom one , which is horror. If your the Keeper, study the seeding of the rooms so you know what is going on, helps have a smooth game without delays looking up rules. Always read the Flavor text as though you “mean it” , it enhances the whole game experience .
Also there is an expansion being released soon called “Forbidden Alchemy” and it provides lots more goodies and some reprinted cards. It has 4 new investigators, 4 new monsters, 6 new Map tiles and lots more including a new puzzle type, the ‘Alchemy puzzle’. Looks very cool and the new side effect cards can do nasty things to you. A perfect xmas treat for the ‘family’.

30th September 2012

I hope I can get a game of this in this week, its lots of fun.

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