Batcow to the rescue

This was a fun scenario! Batcow dreams that she has to rescue Batman et al., and stop the fiendish plot to poison Gotham’s milk. She got 4 of 5 objectives, but suffered a few big hits that left her unable to take out Poison Ivy in the end. As with other Gotham City Chronicles scenarios, it is quite tight and unforgiving, but the ludicrous concept made for a lot of laughs. I enjoyed making the report using the Comic Life 3 app.

Tenth bloggiversary

No-one would have believed, in the first years of the 2010s, that this blog would still be puttering on. And yet, here we are. Today is my tenth bloggiversary. I shall review the past year, peer into the next, and briefly review my decade.

The tenth year

If 2020 was my fantasy year, then 2021 has been science fiction.

I have succumbed to the grimdark, with initial impetus from Stargrave but really propelled by Five Parsecs from Home 3rd edition. Neither Killteam nor Necromunda rules have held my interest, but the nostalgic grip the setting has on me is considerable.

The crew of the Innominate. What adventures await?

I got a resin 3D printer (Anycubic Photon S) late last year. It is far from plug'n'play, but the potential is enormous. I'm not sure if it is best for unique characters and one-off models, or massive savings in printing out hordes- probably a bit of both. The ability to print a figure at whim is quite intoxicating.

My first 3D prints

The other almost game-changers are Contrast paints. I wouldn't use them for a competition entry, but for quick results they are very impressive. I'm relieved to hear Army Painter is coming up with a near-equivalent range, and will try to get this paint set en masse.

Descent heroes, with a lot of help from Contrast

Ten years in review

Looking back at my first post, my intent was threefold:

• Inspire other gamers

• Keep track of my hobby progress, whether that is gaming, painting or modelling

• Allow me to occasionally offer my thoughts on an aspect of gaming

I think I have stayed admirably close to those goals. I have maintained a discipline of aiming for a weekly post. This has been achievable and has not placed me under undue hobby-stress. I have eschewed the bright lights of Twitter and Instagram, for better or worse. 

I have gone through phases and infatuations like so many of us do. I have many neglected projects, and my lead mountain is no smaller. I tend to avoid work-in-progress posts, as I know I may not finish them in a hurry... There have been some signature staples as well as completed projects of which I am proud- here are some very concise hits and memories:

War of the Ring

On the slopes of Mount Doom

Théoden King rides out

The Wild 'Flings

The Dunwich Hoppers

"Don't throw those bloody spears at me!"

Batman and his ride

Batman and so many friends...

Blood Angel terminators for Space Hulk

The Guiding Hands genestealer cult

15mm Mephisto and friend

Realm of Battle boards

Ice zombies

Mansions of Madness 2nd Ed.

Han shot first

"Painted lightsabers? This is folly, Darth."

I have found the impressive joys of modern boardgames, and been lucky to get into good boardgaming friend groups. There is a lot that boardgames can teach the traditional miniature wargamer.

The upcoming year

In the near future, I am looking forward to the Analogue Challenge XII as a spur to my painting efforts. I'm hoping to go to post-pandemic CanCon 2022. I intend to continue my Five Parsecs saga, and fire up the printers for scenery and figures. I have a special WW1 project I'm keen to reveal here soon. More of the same!

AHPC XI output

My AHPC XI journey

Happy hobbying!

Space Dwarves

Last week's abhuman squatters were resin 3D printed Tactical Space Dwarfs from a recent Kickstarter. This was from Capritor Miniatures in Canada. They printed pretty well, and I used Contrast paint without highlights to get them to the tabletop very quickly.

My sole quibble is the identical mohawks. In the age of digital sculpting, alternative heads can easily provide a lot of variety. The tattoos were quite a fun way to reduce that sameness. The orange shoulder flashes and turquoise sights add a splash of colour.

Skull-o-meter™: 15

Five Parsecs: Campaign Game 5. Fighting the squatters

Gallius Marbec feels good. He feels confident. At the end of their last firefight, his crew had found some armour and plenty of credits. The rival threats had withdrawn. Gallius is able to pay off the entire debt on his ship. It is time to leave the relative safety of Necromunda, and scout for opportunities in an outer sector.

The crew pilot the Innominate to Hydresar X, a pioneer world on the fringe. The trip is uneventful. After planetfall, Lady Heldycryn is able to find a possible patron- a private gas mining interest. They are troubled by abhumans squatting on one of their asset locations, and will pay the crew to force them off the site.

"Chugger! Stay in cover, you big oaf!"

The squatting abhumans fire first

Fire erupts from the ruins

Chugger goes down!

Lady Heldycryn is also hit!

Julio can't get the drop either!

Konrad flanks the Squats but they shrug off his autopistol fire

The Squats return fire and wound Konrad and Marbec!

The sole unwounded, Roma is able to get her companions back to safety. She withdraws to the Squats' jeers and taunts. The last of Gallius' credits goes to chirurgeons to keep the more seriously wounded alive, but they will still need some time to recover in the sickbay. In pain and distressed, Chugger punches a hole in the ship and hurts himself further in his confusion. The crew are off to a very rocky start on a new world...