Quartermaster General - The state of the Empire

So further to my last post here is a rough breakdown of the various units that I have. Most need to be painted or revisited, some do not;

45 x Carroburg Greatswords
16 x Reikland Knights
40 x Stirland Spearmen
6 x Bronzino's Galloper Guns
1 x War Wagon
1 x Stagecoach
2 x Steam Tanks
1 x Paymaster's wagon
7 x Great cannon
2 x Helstorm Rocket Batteries
4 x Helstorm Multi barrelled cannon
1 x Giants of Albion
56 x Ricco's Republican Guard
10 x Al Muktar's Desert Dogs
18 x Voland's Venators
21 x Breganzza Besieger's crossbowmen
20 x Birdmen of Catrazza
1 x Priest of Ulric
1 x Mercenary General
55 x Pirates (Militia)
25 Talabecland Swordsmen
19 x Bearmen of Urso
30 x Halberdiers
1 x Gotrex and Felix
1 x Mtd Priest of Ulric
35 x Crossbowmen
1 x Borgia the Besieger
1 x Lucrezzia Belladonna
8 x Knights Panther
20 x Reiksguard cavalry
70 x Pirazzo's lost legion
36 x Militia
25 x Long Drong Slayers
10 x Pistoliers
5 x Outriders

There are more infantry units than what is listed here, but I need to properly sort through them to fully appreciate what I have and can field.

Resurrection...

Well there has been a good amount of time between this post and the last. Real life takes over and there has been little to ramble about. However I am trying to resurrect Warhammer 8th Edition at my local club. We'll see how it goes. I have already played a 1000 point battle, Empire vs Kislev. A narrow victory for the Empire, but only just. My wizard was part of a unit and failed two miscast rolls  wiping out the parent unit leaving only himself and the detachment units unharmed.

As far as painting goes I have pulled out and dusted off my Empire Army. I have more to paint than not, but I'm up for the challenge and have made good progress with what I have worked on so far.

My next post will take into account the various units etc I have to work on so that I might keep track in a more meaningful way.

A fantastical return to form...well possibly maybe

First off I am still here, in the land of the living. When there is nothing good to say, say nothing at all....so I haven't for over a year. It's not for want of trying, it's just that I haven't been that inspired. I have tinkered along with bits and pieces, but nothing of particular substance that I wanted to share on this blog site.

However, my creative edge has been peaked by a return to fantasy gaming. Tomorrow I will be playing my first fantasy battle in over a two years. Yes I have dabbled in some fantasy skirmish games here and there but nothing I have felt warranted being discussed in depth. I will be heading up to the local wargames club for my first game of Kings of War. My opponent and I are both using a Bretonnian themed army so we'll see how they compare and how the rules play out. I must say I am really looking forward to it.

A couple of players have dabbled with the rules and quite enjoyed them. In a fit of fantasy madness and inspired by the rise of Oldhammer I decided to buy the Rules Only version of the Kings of War Rulebook (KoW), without all the fluff. I must say from what I have read of the rules they appear to be clear, concise and without too many exceptions as was the case with Warhammer Fantasy Battles.

Following on from the game I will give a review of the battle, with the addition of some photos. I am not promising anything. I dare not use the word 'try'!

So what else do I have in store? Well first up, I have a substantial Bretonnian army to complete. It's lain in its army case waiting to be finished since 1994 when I was given the 4th edition boxed set by my brother. Since then I have amassed a sizeable army of knights. I always like knights, especially on horseback. I just wish they weren't so much of an eye bleeder to paint! I will probably stick with the Games Workshop names for my fantasy armies as pretty much all of the models are from Citadel Miniatures.

When it comes to gaming I am no tournament player - I prefer scenario based games as that is where I tend to have the most fun. Let's face it, it is rare for warfare to be a balanced affair! What I liked about the KoW army lists are the ambiguity, a bit like the old Warhammer Fantasy lists from times passed. The open army lists allow players to create their own setting. Something which I think is long overdue. Not wanting to get into a them and us scenario the kids of the 70's and 80's sure do think creatively. Anyhow I digress. I think that KoW will be a refreshing charge, no pun intended,  back into the realm of fantasy wargaming.

I have also pulled from storage my old castle buildings, including a Citadel Miniatures Mighty Fortress purchased back in 2004 for the GW Summer campaign - Storm of Chaos. It even had a roll out at the GW Gamesday 2004. Since then, like many castles it fell into ruin, so much so that art mirrored life. I was storing the model in a greenhouse tunnel at a friends farm. As any castellan knows, rats and mice can be quite an issue if not dealt with. One of my castle towers did have, I repeat did have a nest of some rodent kind. Bloody Skaven! I have since brought the model back home where it now lies in a crate in a dry room waiting for its overhaul. It has been washed and cleaned thoroughly and I am hoping to bring you all some test updates in the near future with regard the modelling and paintwork I wish to undertake to give it a facelift.

So that's it for now - let's see how it goes. I do hope that it won't be January or February 2018 before I post again!

WIP - Ogres

The first Ogre is nearly completed. All that remains is to finish the gear on his belt and his feet. I will complete the base when all the models are completed. As I have already mentioned in my previous post I am painting up the ogres in different state colours of the Empire. the first batch are from Talabecland.

Ogre Army - Beginnings

I have decided to build the ogre army with an 'Empire' theme in mind. I have bought one box of Ironguts and a Battalion box set to get me started. As I have already mentioned this is an exercise in modelling with green or grey stuff. As you can see I have based all of the Ogres using Gale Force 9 basing materials. I began with placing larger 'boulders, blocks etc'. Next I used the fine grit, followed by their medium grit to create a more interesting base. Once the models have been painted I will add dead/winter static grass, also made by Gale Force 9.

I have added greenstuff to three of the models so far. The first model has already been undercoated black. I decided that some of the ogres would have served in the far north of the Empire, either in Ostermark or Ostland. While others would have served in Averland or Talabecland. The Leadbelchers that come with the battalion box set will be painted up either in Nuln or Nordland colours.

The next step in the process is take six models and start to work on them as a batch. Meanwhile I will do a test paint on the undercoated model.

Something to fill my time

Well the paperwork is underway and I am hurrying up and waiting. Getting myself registered in NZ is a lengthy process and while I wait for forms to come in and go out again I have put myself to work on a fantasy project to keep me occupied.

I have bought an Ogre Battalion box set and an extra box of Ironguts. The purpose of this project is to develop my sculpting skills. I have already added greenstuff to two of the ironguts, giving them a northman look. I have stopped there for the time being while I refocus on the bases as I want to give them a uniform look.

As for the rest of the army I am going to think a little harder on the theme I use. Some ideas so far - Arabic - Saracen, Northmen - vikings or an Empire feel. I will post some pics in the next couple of days of the progress I have made.

Skaven Stormvermin

Well, I said I'd get some pics up on the blog. Here they are.