Progress Report - Ogre Tyrant Karnov WIP.

Karnov! Ahhhhhh!!

I have been putting off finishing this big guy for a while now but I thought it was time to share a WIP picture of my Tyrant. I have only applied a base coat with a few highlights, need to work on the details and finishing touch(ups) before I seal the model. He is quite big. Large and in charge as they say...

Speaking of large, here is a review of one big beer from my favorite brewery Stone!

Stone Brewing Company - Stone Levitation Ale

Beer Type: American Amber / Red Ale

Appearance: 12 oz. brown bottle with a hovering silver devil on it, plus a bunch of awards (2007 Gold Medal Winner at the Great American Beer Festival). Poured reddish ambler color with a thin off-white head.

Smell: A lot of hops, some citrus, and lots of sweet malt.

First Drink: Sweet and not too bitter with hints of citrus and a sort of cereal/grain flavor.

Mouthfeel: Smooth and full-bodied like most Stone brews.

Last Drink: A lot more of the malts with a lingering sweetness and a bitter finish.

Drinkability: A good beer but not my favorite Stone brew.

Notes: This beer is good and well crafted but I think I may not like Red Ale that much if this is any indicator of the style.

Verdict: 4 out of 5

Links: Beer Advocate and Stone Brewing Company.

Tyrant Karnov Beergut, Firespitter, the Outlander.

Here is a WIP picture of a commission I hope to have very soon.

Karnov is coming! Karnov is coming!

Things I love about this model:

• His bignessticity.
• The fire-brand holding turban Gnoblar.
  
• His Mr. T like earring.
• The anchor and boathook on his belt.
• His overall "I am going to beat your ass" pose.

My addiction.

I have become what I feared most, and that is a Warhammer junkie. At times I feel my life revolves completely around the hobby. I read Black Library books, I assemble and paint Warhammer models, I play (not as much as I would like to) Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning, and I read/contribute to/listen to various Warhammer related fan websites.

Yet still my thirst for Warhammer is not sated. I dream of starting collections of 40k miniatures, specialized armies, completely modified and converted forces, and now I am even looking into playing Mordheim (I had already considered running a Warhammer Fantasy RPG campaign but my regular group of gamers aren't really the sort to want that).

Yet still I hunger for new models, new army lists, more games, and all to what end? My obsession runs so deep I asked my best friend (and loving girlfriend) to spare me two months of indecision as to what Warhammer project I should undertake next by purchasing me a new army Battalion box for Christmas. So for two months I have been spared the "what army should I begin collecting next" game I tend to play with myself, but in that time I have simply read every existing army book and planned all of the various armies I might potentially build (depending on which army she would choose for me).

And so on, and so on, and so on it goes. A short list of my current (and possibly future) projects so that I may read this at a later date and weep silently at my own insanity.

- 3000 points of Ogre Kingdoms based on the fluff I am crafting for my Tyrant Karnov (of which you have read on this blog). I am at about 1750 or maybe 2000 if I stretch my models. Still want to get Maneaters, need to fix and assemble some Butchers, find or create a Bruiser, eventually get some Rhinox Riders (although I may wait until they become official), and possible include more DoW units (which are currently being phased out by Games Workshop).
- A Dogs of War (DoW) army based on Pirates (which would include many Ogres).
- A Kislev army (or DoW army based on Kislev). Bear cav!!
- Another DoW army based on Araby (possibly being dual use for a "living" Tomb Kings force).
- My Slayer army (which sits at 1000 points currently but I wouldn't mind fleshing it out to hit 1500 or 2000 with more Dwarfs and possibly some DoW).
- A Middenheim/Ulrich Empire (or maybe DoW) themed army (no gunpowder, lots of relegious nutters and men in furry boots).
- My Troll/Monster Warriors of Chaos list (which I have proxied and it is quite fun).

And those are just the ones I have given more thought to. There are plenty more partially fleshed out ideas laying like burning wreckage on the side of some hideous Warhammer Road Warrior highway.

I have become everything I have feared and I am loving it. Lord save my (miniature) soul.

Speaking of addiction, here is a new beer review! Huzzah!

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Oskar Blues Brewery - Old Chub Scottish Style Ale

Beer Type: Scottish Ale

Appearance: 12 oz. can with plenty of green and red plaid and a big "OLD CHUB" on the front. Poured a dark brown-red color, almost black if you don't have any light on it. No head at all, but maybe this is an off batch or a mispour?

Smell: Sweet roasted malt with a bit of coffee and chocolate.

First Drink: Sweet! This reminds me of Raison D'etre by Dogfish Head brewery. All of the aromas are there in the flavor with a bit of smoke in the aftertaste. This is 8% ABV but I don't taste that at all ... dangerous!

Mouthfeel: Thick and coating with zero carbonation.

Last Drink: Still sweet but I can make out more of the sweet flavors distinctly. Caramel or toffee? Seems very simple at first but it is actually fairly complex on the tongue.

Drinkability: Never expected to have a beer that tasted like this out of a can! It threw me for a loop, and I have had another brew from this brewery called Dale's Pale Ale. I think this beer is actually better!

Notes: This is a well crafted beer and it comes in a can. Costly though as it runs about $8.99 for a sixer around these parts. I would be interested in having this on tap.

Verdict: 4 out of 5. May be higher/lower but I am still getting used to this style of beer so I will stick with personal taste.

Links: Beer Advocate and Oskar Blues Brewery.

The life and times of Tyrant Karnov Beergut, Fangsmasher, the Outlander – Part I

Here is a little "fluff" (aka story, fiction, a random string of letters and words that may pertain to something) for my Ogre Kingdoms army the Beer Gut Tribe. I had a hard time just jumping into the "now" for the BGT so I thought I would start at the beginning, with the life and times of the Beer Gut's Tyrant Karnov Beergut, Fangsmasher, the Outlander. Yeah it is a long name but that is just how the ogres do it!

I hope you enjoy this first little tale as I had fun writing it. I won't say this post or story has anything to do with the presidential election but I can't say it has nothing to do with it either.

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The life and times of Tyrant Karnov Beergut, Fangsmasher, the Outlander – Part I

Karnov was furious. That was not terribly unusual as he was often angry about something, but it was rare to see his own blood on the ground. His current source of aggravation stood directly across from him in the bone-strewn maw pit. Pulling against Dorfrog Stonechaser’s massive bulk Karnov strained to throw the other Bull over. “I will rip that shrimpy lump you call a gut right off your sorry frame an eats it!” growled Dorfrog menacingly. “You ain’t fit to be callin’ yor’selfs a true Ogre!” he continued as he threw his bulbous stomach forward, smashing into Karnov’s naked gut.

Dorfrog towered over Karnov, easily twice again as large and half again as wide. Even for an ogre Dorfrog was a bully and used to getting his way by beating down any Bull who might oppose him. Might makes right thought Karnov as he steeled his gut for another thundering attack, blinking the stream of blood out of his eyes. Straining forward against Dorfrog’s bulk Karnov twisted to the left, grabbing a fistful of the other ogre’s filth crusted breeches. Using all his strength he pushed forward, putting his front leg out behind the towering Bull, and quickly lowering himself to half Dorfrog’s height. The Bull was momentarily off balance and Karnov pressed the attack, punching Dorfrog once in the mouth.

“Keep your stupid thoughts to yor’self fore you makes me really mad!” roared Karnov as he thrust forward, crashing against Dorfrog’s gut and forcing him to the ground. “You might be big an’ your’es gut may swell, but I’m tougher an heres da proof!” Karnov rammed his head face first into the Bull’s skull with a loud crack. He continued the assault, repeatedly smashing his scarred face into Dorfrog’s now mangled face until the larger Bull failed to resist against his attacks.

Karnov forced himself up on his feet, the strain of pulling his massive girth shown in his squat muscled legs. Looking down at his now unconscious rival he put his large hand to his left ear, feeling the pulpy mass where it should have been. He would miss the ear, but it could have been much worse. Such was to be expected when two Ogres fought in a ‘guts-out’ contest.

Removing the gut plate and fighting to the death was seen as a badge of honor in ogre society, but there was no honor in this fight. Dorfrog was the younger brother of Reekus Goldmaw, Tyrant and ruler of the Goldmaw tribe. Karnov feared Reekus, but could not bring himself to respect the massive leader. While gold, silver, and jewels were plentiful for Reekus from the many assaults made on nearby traveling merchants, very little of this wealth made it to those ogres doing the fighting.

Karnov had a small gnoblar-hide pouch of his own which contained his meager wealth before Dorfrog had taken it. Such activities were commonplace among the ogre tribe, the large taking from the small, ensuring that only the most massive ogre made it to the top of the tribe. Karnov was not the largest nor the toughest Bull in the camp, but what he lacked in stature he made up for in ruthless cunning.

Waiting until the time was right, Karnov had confronted Dorfrog in front of the assembled tribe for his stolen possessions. The laughing and sneering coming from his rival had simply stopped once Karnov had removed his gut plate, throwing it at the Bull’s feet, and challenging his place in the hierarchy of the tribe. Such a thing could not be left unanswered and Karnov knew his life was the only thing truly at stake in this battle, no matter who was watching.

With a glance up at the engorged glittering beast seated in front of the maw pit Karnov drove his thumbs deep into Dorfrogs eyes. The semi-unconscious Bull struggled feebly against Karnov, grunting as he strained his head away from the savage attack. “You won’t be needin’ deese where you going!” Karnov said between clenched teeth before slamming the Bull’s head against the hard ground.

CRUNCH
CRUNCH
CRUNCH
CRUNCH
CRUNCH

Dorfrog’s head finally burst with a sickening pop, leaking what few brains he had on to the bloodstained mud of the maw pit. There was suddenly a deep foreboding silence in the camp. Karnov pulled himself away from the now unmoving corpse of Dorfrog, his mouth full of the dead Bull’s brains. Where were the cheers and accolades from his fellow Bulls? Where were the knowing grunts from the older Ironguts not wanting to give him too much credit at their own expense?

Looking at the gathered crowd outside the maw pit dug into the center of the camp Karnov saw nothing but downcast eyes. He turned his view towards Reekus Goldmaw before suddenly realizing what he had done. While family was not the most important aspect of ogre tribal life Dorfrog had been the Tyrant’s brother. His twisted sneer of hate told him everything he needed to know. It was time to go.