Battle record - 40k Tyranids Vs Ork Speeed Freeeaks - 16/10/25

I've been #PlayingWarhammer with a game of Warhammer 40k! After last weeks 4 hour gaming session on just the first turns we were all hoping to finish our return to 40k. We had agreed that we would come into this with open minds. We want to like 40k, I am addicted to it afterall. But to paraphrase Helmuth von Moltke 'no plan survives contact with the enemy'. 

Last week the Orks hadn't been particularly effective. 

The Tyranids however were more durable, seemed to kill whatever was put in front of them and their wealth of rules seemed disproportionate to the Ork buffs. 

As Ben and Liam started turn 2 this continued. 

Liam was lucky with his amount of shots, then many hits, but he couldn't seem to translate that into wounds. 

Even when they did, our high saves, or invulnerable saves left most of the bugs undamaged.

 As our turn started Ben and Liam had almost called it quits. Shadows in the Warp left most of the Orks battle shocked, adding to their woes.

But, when it came to our shooting and combat the dice failed us and we couldn't seem to thin the Ork Horde. The Norn Emissary, who was nigh unkillable failed to remove any of those that had surrounded him.

And with their ability to fall back, shoot and assault he was riddled with the weight of dakka.

Suddenly the game swung the other way but the damage had been done.

The game is depressing. Every unit came as a surprise and the wealth of buffs proved too much to ignore and just play the game. I couldn't enjoy our initial success while Ben and Liam felt overwhelmed. Then when the fates reversed I felt annoyed we'd gone through that complaining because all it took was some bad dice to put them in the lead. Ben admitted he too then felt bad because it was all going their way. Maybe with more games, familiarity with both the ruleset and the units may prevent the unpleasant revelations of "it does what?!" Put it this way, we only got to the bottom of turn 3 in another 4.5-5 hours. I wasn't interested in the scores but Liam checked and we were losing [just] 26 to 25. It was mentioned finishing it off next week but I have no desire because it wasn't a fun experience. 

In fairness I felt despite all the buffs there must be balance in the game for us to have been so close. We both had shocking runs of dice rolling that did very little and allowed the other players to come back into the game. So really it isn't that bad. It just brings out the worst in us, because the depth of rules and interactions gives the impression it's unbalanced. I don't want to go through a debate every time about a unit's rules and if it's OP every time we play. I didn't write its rules. As we have plenty of other game options that don't feel so overwhelming, and are more fun, so why play one that does? We may try it again sometime. It's just a shame we couldn't make it work for us.

Battle record - 40k Tyranids Vs Ork Speeed Freeeaks - 09/10/25

I've been #PlayingWarhammer with a game of Warhammer 40k! You read that right, actual 40k that I am supposedly an addict for. We had a full shed of Otty, Ben and Liam. Ben brought his Speeed Freeeaks, which was supposed to be 2,000 points, but due to balance updates was now around 1,780. I managed to combine Otty and my own Tyranids and bring it down to 1,735 [the 2,000 point list looked awesome]. Even so when Liam and Ben set up the plethora of vehicles with so many still in reserve it felt like we were severely outgunned. Anyway, we lost first turn and managed to weather the barrage of fire, mistakes were made and progress was painfully slow. I think we just managed one turn each! Our counter-attack was much more effective and quite a few vehicles were trashed. But aside from the mistakes and bad luck I actually think when we finish it off it will be close and challenging for both sides. We have the advantage but if the game turns then it could prove interesting for us all, which is the most important thing. We want to like the game but if it's no fun then what's the point when we have more pleasant game to play instead?

'nids part 382 - Leviathan Tyranids - WHITE BACKGROUND PICS ⚪

Afternoon #Warhammer Community I've been #PaintingWarhammer and after the red background pics come the white background pics. The second set of chitin highlights were such a revelation to me. I was totally in the zone. It did not feel at all tedious to do and I was motivated just to crack on and get them done.

Although, I don't think it was in one sitting. But even so I was completely reinvigorated for the last push to do all the little details that makes my scheme more than just 'tabletop'. No way Golden Demon but they're definitely smarter than the average Biovore! 😉

After the second set of chitin highlights I didn't really keep track of how long the red and black highlights took, it was just a lot quicker to crack on without interruptions.

My wife got me a 'getting started with Warhammer 40k' magazine a while back and it came with this unique Termagant [and Infernus marine]. It was like £9 or £10 and she hadn't realised the cost and was not happy when she got to the till. Typically reinforcing the pricey nature of the hobby. I'm really not sure what use he is with broods only coming in multiples of 10, but he is quite cool.

I think I'd found the first brood of 5 Barbgaunts something of a chore. But second time around it was a lot easier.

I was actually quite surprised that those same feelings didn't resurface. I'm not sure if it was the unknowns first time round.

This time I had references to work from so I knew which colours were going where and how to add the chitin striations.

Not that they're perfect, it's just I had a plan to follow. And the second highlights, although easier as you know where they are going, does require more finesse in how you apply them.

So, it's not always quicker, but perhaps it's a bit easier. 

So I still think there's some yellow flock to add on two bases but a brood of 10 definitely looks cool. Not that I can ever imagine me playing all 10. But for Armies on Parade they will look much more impressive altogether.

And the VRL's, as nobody calls them. I do think I should have been braver and swapped the arms around a bit.

The basing helps differentiate them from the original brood of three in their standard poses.

But I think arm swaps would have made them that little bit more different than their twins.

Still, they got done and that's what counts.

And they're different enough to make the brood of 6 more interesting.

And the Neurogaunts, which I love.

I think 20 of these might have pushed me over the edge though. They're not hard to do as there isn't a huge amount of model to paint.

But again GW have added a lot of detail on a very small model so they felt far more time-consuming than they had any right to be.

But look at them, they're sooo cute.

And the main guy. I can't work out if the brain glow works. I think it does, I like it at least. I don't why I'm surprised the yellow glow has turned out green when over the turquoise though. I mean it's basic colour mixing!

But it somehow surprises me but I also love it.

And the little guys. Again, does it look like a weird hivemind glow between symbiote 'neuro' beast and gaunt bioform? I think it just gives enough visual queues to sell it.

And lastly the 3 Genestealers for my Castigator base.

So, 43 models done. This may not be Poxwalker levels of Serotonin high, but I am way more satisfied and proud of my achievements than I thought I would be. Again, a lot of legacy feelings and emotions had kept me from embracing the task, just seeing it as a chore to overcome. I know many hobbyists say that should never be the case, We do this for fun, as they say in certain addictive advertising campaigns "when the fun stops - stop!" But, lets be realistic, sometimes you have to push through. And there is satisfaction from overcoming obstacles and mojo-sapping tedium. If that's what it takes to reach that zen state, sign me up. I'll happily wade through the soul sucking effort if the end result is to feel at peace and one with the project. So I might not feel quite as 'high', but definitely fulfilled in other ways as well.

Now, what's next?

'nids part 381 - Leviathan Tyranids - TO DONE! 🔴

Afternoon #Warhammer Community I've been #PaintingWarhammer on the remains of my Leviathan box set Tyranids.

I had many doubts about these. Both in whether I could get them done in time and if I was going to be disappointed with the results.

Once again I need not have worried. They look great together.

And they're so overwhelmingly busy with detail at tabletop level that I think it's hard to see if they're actually painted well! 😝

One could say that that is their biggest flaw now.

However, if I was masochistically inclined to do any more I'd still be putting Adrenal Glands on their backs for giggles.

I still have to look at my old Termagants and add their base adapters to make them 28mm. 

As much as I'd never use my movement tray I do feel sad that they are now completely redundant. I may well have some Termagants remaining on 25mm bases. 

But the Tervigon/Termagant base will probably never be used again. 

Barbgaunts next. 

Once again so proud of the almost rainbow effect that's been created. 

I did put yellow flock on the bases. I did 10 with and 10 without for the Termagants where, so I could form two distinct broods. Foolishly I have only flocked three of this brood of five Barbgaunts. 

So I may have to rectify that so I differentiate the two broods.

You can also see [particularly on the base rime] that my Vallejo Matt varnish is more satin. If you look back at the Termagants you'll see their rims are more matt as I used Vallejo Ultra Matt Polyurethane Varnish. 

I have a post to share on this at some point and the VMV came out surprisingly well in my test. 

While this time it's slightly different.

I don't know if I'm ever going to be happy with the results.

Von Ryan's Leapers.

And alongside the previous brood.

Neurogaunts, again rocking the rainbow effect with the brain glow from their little symbiote brain beasts.

Can you imagine these as creatures in Epic/Legion Imperialis/Adeptus Titanicus?

This is the Vardenghast Combat Patrol, which I think might be pretty cool, if we ever get round to playing it.

And with the Neurogaunts added too.

Plus, I also finished the 3 Genestealers that will go on my Cerastus Knight Castigator base.

And possibly the last of the Great Big Wooden Stamps of Approval.

And for the 3 Genestealers, the last Great Big Wooden Minor Stamp of Approval.