Terrain is everything - Inquisitorial Vault progress

I'm kind of on 'hobby fire' at the moment. I've a number of projects I'm fiercely passionate about and somehow, despite some of the tediousness I'm motivated to do them. I'm actually very keen to get on and do my Dark Angels, the thought of painting them appeals to me although there's still hesitancy about 'how' to paint them so I'm sidestepping that by attempting the Dark Vengeance Librarian - he's blue so that'll be different. 

But back to the post at hand is one of the other challenges my Inquisitorial Vault and as you can see the horizontal strips have been put on and you may notice they're capped with masking tape, not cable ties.

Primarily this was because I realised capping them with cable ties is a pain in the a$$ whereas butting 4 5mm strips on a piece of tape, butted up and then running a blade between them is simple, effective and super quick. It also means the cable detailing will run in one direction only which will be better visually.

Horizontals in place and I believe this is why it becomes an Inquisitorial building. Without those extra bits that 'reinforce' the structure you can pass this off as an office block but with them it makes it look far more imposing and worthy of the Inquisition.

Here's why cable ties are not such a good idea the creation of it requires you run a scalpel down the edge of the foam separating it from the card. You then make two diagonal cuts inside the foam to end up with |/\| hopefully with the interior peak lower than the card edges so that when you put the cable tie in it fits neatly. You can see I've also had to use pins to secure the strip in place while the PVA dries.

Unfortunately the verticals are taller than a single cable tie and the plastic isn't always perfectly straight. I end up using a selection of clothes pegs to keep them in place until the glue dries but it can squash the now weakened foamboard. I'll also add a spare bit of foamcard on top and weight it down to press the tie into the groove. It's worth checking progress after half an hour to ensure it's not slipped out and all messed up. It's an insane way to do it but I've persevered...

It certainly makes it more durable, which is why I also need to cap the top and backs of the verticals as they reach the balcony. This way they'll be more protected from knocks.

Here's the first set of window caps. Unfortunately I measured them to be 100% accurate which doesn't work in the real world. The cuts in the foam are not 100% and it doesn't take into account the thickness of the card. I'll tweak the templates [which is why the free Radical Collective can be a hindrance more than a help] but essentially the vertical caps are fine, but may need a little trim on the bottom row of windows. However the horizontal windows needed trimming by about 1mm each side but without removing any of the width from the shorter side of the trapezium - the bottom edge as we look at it here.

Handily these tiny wedges were useful in filling in gaps. You can see one in place in the the 2nd row down and 2nd column in the top right corner. I'd glue the foamcard, top edges then corners and then another strip of PVA part way then use a scalpel to pick up a vertical, force it into position and then add the horizontals. A relatively simple process.

The only real issue is it takes around 5 minutes to cap each window and there are 56 - 4 hours and 40 minutes. And lets not forget the 40 windows that will be in the Reformatory and the 32 that will be in the Bastille. Trust me though the repetition will hone the skills to this efficiently and it's quite therapeutic.

200,000 Mark

Whilst I've been away in windy Wales the blog has hit the 200,000 views mark. It's achieved the second 100,000 in considerably shorter time than the first but that's to be expected because more people are visiting than ever before. Thank you to everyone who has bothered to pop along, read a battle report, downloaded a wound marker or built an STC. Admittedly this is a one man ego-fest for my own hobby addiction but the continued support of other addicts in the community will push me to create things worth sharing.

My next milestones will be along the line of 200th follower, To Do List 2013/14 or my October 3rd Anniversary, whichever comes first. No doubt I'll see you then. Meanwhile you can still join my Facebook group here for more interaction and bypass coming to the site altogether, wait a minute, doesn't that impact my page views?

https://www.facebook.com/groups/144564502354384/

 

And if you don't believe it's worth joining don't take my word for it:

Neal Crankshaw29 November 2012 09:38

It is the finest facebook page in the history of facebook (not counting my own) ;)

Back to the blog, I've got a post lined up for tomorrow and quite a few in 'draft' but I've been away for a week in Pwlhelli  and a massive build up of hobby to catch up on which will eventually translate to posts. Service should continue as normal but I really want to spend time 'doing' while I have the momentum and motivation built up - who doesn't want to see my Tyranid Bastion, Inquisitorial Vault or even Dark Angles finally progress. Thanks again for all your views, comments and patronage - here's to another 200,000

Tuesday Nights Alright for Fighting (pt2.) - Adeptus Titanicus

As GW falls out of love with 'Specialist Games' it was only fitting that PeteB and I round out our evening after playing the Hobbit with some original Adeptus Titanicus action. I've plenty of Titans and weapons but we still struggled to find all the bits to arm our two machines apiece. Originally I'd planned to play the basic scenario of a one on one Titan match up but we went for two on two. As you can see the titans set up on Planet Spot with some of my future containers for cover. I'm nearest with a 

Left Death Bringer [6 Void shields] - Plasma Guns [3 barrels] on left and right carapace. Macro Cannon on right arm and Chain Fist on left.

Right Death Bringer [6 Void shields] - Plasma Cannon on left and right carapace. Defence Laser on right arm and Power fist on left.

PeteB had:

Left Eclipse [4 Void shields, but we upgraded them to 6] - Las Cannon [4barrels] on left and right carapace. Multi-Melta [4barrels] on right arm and Power fist on left.

Right Eclipse [4 Void shields] - Multi Launcher [2 barrels] right carapace. Las Cutter right arm and Defence Laser left.

Now this isn't much of a report because its kind of hard to explain what's going on, it's not like 40k where you can see 5 Hormagaunts are no longer in the picture but I'll try my best. This is us facing off across the board. 

The deal is you roll off to see who get's 'First Player' they go first [sort of]. You put orders down, Charge, Advance, First Fire or Damage. Charge is double distance, one 45° turn -1 to hit when shooting. Advance is normal distance [around 6-10cm, thats right this is all metric it is the Horus Heresy afterall, no Imperial measurements ;) ] and up to four 45° turns. First Fire, no movement, one 45° turn and +1 to Hit rolls. Damage orders may not move or fire, +1 to Repair Rolls and enemy titans receive +1 to Hit rolls. 

Series of play follows after revealing orders. If I'm second player with Chage and Advance, movement happens, Charge orders move first, First Player then Second, if no First Player Charges then second player. Advance Orders next if both have Advance First Player moves first then Second, you get the picture, it can be quite tactical, especially when you add in Snap Fire for when titans run from cover to cover [we didn't though].

PeteB was 'first player' and moved out into the open. My Left Death Bringer took some shots, the Plasma Guns were brutal and stripped away some Void Shields. I think I thought I'd got lucky with which force I'd been handed per the scenario.

PeteB took some shots but whiffed.

Left Eclipse snuck back into cover which left me high and dry as my left Titan was on First Fire and now had no target and no movement. My other titan had a few more Void Shields stripped and one of the Plasma Cannons was destroyed.

As the right Eclipse closed to take advantage of his Las Cutter my remaining Plasma Cannon ramped up to 'sustained' fire - 20cm range, hits on 4+ and every hit allows me to roll again until I miss. I stripped his Void Shield back but not enough to do damage.

The Titans clashed and PeteB was able to destroy my Power Fist before it could come to bear.

Further damage to my legs meant I could no longer charge and can only make one 45° turn during Advance orders.

Meanwhile the left Eclipse came back out of hiding and went 'Hull Down' with the container. This means I get -1 to hit him in cover but because he's touching the terrain he does not suffer -1 to hit me. If he was a couple of cm behind the cover he too would suffer -1. I stripped some more Void Shields back and damaged one of his weapons but he was able to repair some Void Shields [5+ during the repair phase]

Bizarrely the Princeps of the Eclipse decided he wanted to make the killing stroke at range and reversed. My Death Bringer with destroyed Void Shields and wonky legs went on advance and reversed, but shot with sustained Plasma Cannon fire and the Defence Laser [the most powerful very Heavy Weapon - 72cm range 3+ to hit Blast and suffers Critical hits on a 2+] and popped the kneecap of the Eclipse bringing it crashing to the ground.

My other Death Bringer had it's Void Shield generators blown out too, it's Chain Fist was damaged and so was it's legs. Out in the open it became a sitting target and despite many shots for the now deadly Las Cannons of the Eclipse bouncing of it's leg armour with no further cumulative damage eventually a shot pierced it's now mangled VSGs and this chain reaction fractured the reactor vessel at the heart of the titan. In an incandesant explosion the Titan was reduced to slag.

Flushed with success the Eclipse began hunting down my hobbling Death Bringer who was struggling to get out of the alley-way of containers with reduced turning capacity. With no shields and limited weapons the Eclipse let loose with yet more accurate Las-Cannons and fearsome Multi-melta shots blowing out the damaged hip joint leaving the titan to stumble earthwards.

The field was won by the Traitorous Scum, or as the victors would then write the history the peons of the false Emperor were overcome through the superior tactics of the great Warmaster!

PeteB and I had so much fun. This game still rocks, there's problems obviously. The Void Shield wheels are cool but they don't work too well and when movement is in cm if you have to pick a model up to change the wheel you can easily change your position quite significantly when it's returned to play. I really miss the old rulers, with the built in turning arcs. The damage table is the single biggest element/hindrance to playing. Obviously you don't want a titan to blow up in one shot but it can be quite frustrating running through the chart. A lot of my weapons are glued on, this is why it was awkward trying to find spares and kit them out properly. I realised why after the about the 20th time I moved a titan and it's weapon just dropped out of it's socket, I think we'll need to find a better mounting system.

We'll definitely be playing again, perhaps work a better set up, paint the miniature so we have a few titans each, I do have 12 Warlords! Maybe get some scenery done and be better prepared all round. Next time it should be X-Wing and perhaps another titan match up.

A freebie - Dark Angel wound markers courtesy of Chris Gillboy

 

I was doing a search on my computer to find my 4th Edition Dark Angel Codex to see how they paint Dark Angel Librarians in it and the search pulled up an email regarding Dark Angel Wound Markers which I couldn't recall ever reading. I think  the wife, bless her, must have opened it and therefore it never caught my eye. Anyway it was from a guy called Chris and I've posted the email below so you can see what it was all about:

Hi its Chris from the Lost Boys Club, you played my mate Mark last week with his space marines (and kicked his backside). Anyway, I was so inspired by your wound/hull pts markers that I decided to make some Dark Angels counters. I found a picture of the munitorium dice on google and changed it to green then coloured in the numbers using paint. Not as flashy as yours but i'm happy with the result. I only did up to no.6 as nothing in my army has more wounds/HP than that. Anyway here's a copy of the image in case you wanted to put it on your blog.

Hope to see you at the club tomorrow

Chris

So here's Chris's markers for you all to use. I can't say how happy this makes me feel. Chris could have gone the easy route, and I'd have still been happy, and printed out my markers but he's actually followed the spirit of the blog and created something new for the community and is willing to share. That is the true 'hobby' ideal there and I'm pleased to present them below for all you Imperial players out there.

  

Thanks Chris, it's emails like this that make the effort of keeping a regular blog worthwhile.

Tuesday Nights Alright for Fighting (pt1.) - The Hobbit

PeteB hooked up for a night of games, we'd hoped to get in a go on his Hobbit Goblin Town, march with the titans in my original Adeptus Titanicus and even use the force with a crack at X-Wing. Unfortunately we only managed the first two. I took photographs but I'm not sure what report they will make as the games were all new to me so details will be scarce.

First up PeteB made this awesome Goblin Town and threw me a curve ball on arrival announcing he's put it up on ebay! The auction will be over by the time you read this but at least we're giving it a go before then. We played a scenario with a package at the back of Goblin Town surrounded by my Moria Goblins who were on a weekend city break to see the sights and visit the throne of the Goblin King. Their tour guide was an albino goblin captain Grinnar [?]. Bifur, Bombur and Bofur were there to steal their packed lunches. I also had the advantage that every turn I got to roll to see if a couple of Goblins joined the tour party on a 5 or 6.

I hadn't planned to take a lot of pictures so you will see Bombur has already despatched two goblins and is now advancing on Grinnar, eventually putting a wound on him, only one left.

Meanwhile Bifur tried a different route and leapt daintily across the gap and went on to kill two goblins who'd dropped down to prevent him advancing. My Goblins couldn't hit the side of a barn with swords or arrows. I also had two goblins who tried to leap the gap to stop Bifur's rampage and one tripped and fell down the gaping chasm.

Bofur finally managed to catch up with Bombur but Grinnar had a sneaky trick whereby he could swap places with any Goblin withn 3" which he did and lashed out at Bombur with his whip [or throwing weapon?] wounding him but the dwarves despatched the confused archer in his place.

Bombur made a dash for the back of the board but a keen eyed Goblin shot him down dead!

Bofur managed to sidestep Grinnar and headed for the packed lunches but was stopped by a goblin. Bifur was surrounded by Goblins, with nowhere to be pushed back if I won this combat he would suffer 10 'to wound rolls'!

But with a mighty surge Bifur won, killing one goblin and throwing back the remaining four like they were tiny little green men [which they are!]

Grinnar snuck up behind Bofur but couldn't do anything.

Bofur had even more Goblins try to bring him down.

The four Goblins rushed into Bifur, once again pinning him against the edge of the walkway.

And yet again he threw them back but was unable to kill any.

Weight of numbers finally forced Bofur down the ladder and yet more goblins arrived on the tour mule to lend their support in defending the packed lunches against Bifur...

...who was beaten senseless by the yammering green horde.

Bifur tried in vain to bring the fight back against the Goblins but whatever happened that dice roll is never good.

Whereas half of my dice were sufficient to put an end to the dwarven lunch thieves.

The remaining Goblins sat down for some nice cheese and pickle sandwiches and that night were treated to an impromptu Goblin performance of the Spice Girls musical - Viva Forever.

A lot fun ;) now on to the march of the Titans.

Terrain is everything - some awesome terrain 10 pages worth

Quick one, I saw this thread on Warseer, some truly awesome terrain and 10 pages worth [so it makes up for the short post :) ]. I particularly like the Dawn of War Sentry Turret and the Atmosphere Processors. Loads of extra details to make them more realistic and step-by-step guides to do-it-yourself

Check it out:

http://www.warseer.com/forums/showthread.php?250009-Bunkers-barricades-and-battlefield-bits