Progress Report - 12/25/08.

Merry Xmas! Look what I got for the holidaze!

Yup. I have joined the unholy ranks of the undead. The Vampire Counts army is actually one of the first three I had contemplated collecting when I was first getting into WHFB back in 2001. I went with Ogre Kingdoms over the dirty bloodsuckers, but now it looks like I have come full circle!

I have begun list creation for 1000 points but so far the going is quite tough. Trying to find a theme I like so I can craft a list and models to it. Right now I am tossing around the idea of a list based on Krueger the White Wolf (Ulrich Warrior Priest turned self-loathing vampire by Count Van Carstein) focused on the martial troops, but I also like the idea of a cult of Nagash with lots of Necromantic vampires and necromancers and hordes of Ghouls, Zombies, and Skeletons. Not sure how well something like that would fare on the tabletop though.

As for yesterday's tasks here is what I have done:
- Dipped the Ironguts and my Bangstick Butcher.
- Based the next batch of models.

And I am about to ..
- Seal the dipped and highlighted models.
- Prime the next batch of models (based on my two 1000 point lists).

Hope you are having (or had) a great Xmas holiday. In our house even Arnold is getting in the Christmas mood (notice my "stocking" nailed to the wall by the inventive F).

Here is one last holiday beer review for the year, and this is one that I quite enjoyed!

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Deschutes Brewery - Jubeale 2008

Beer Type: Strong Ale

Appearance: 12 oz. brown bottle with swirly impressionist type artwork. Looks pretty cool. Beer poured a dark amber with a medium white head which faded with little lacing.

Smell: Roasted malt and some sweet dried fruits. Maybe prunes or currants?

First Drink: Sweet with the malt at the front. A hint of bitterness, and a little of those dried fruit flavors.

Mouthfeel: Smooth but a little oily. Carbonation is just right.

Last Drink: More hops coming through now but it isn't a long bitter note. Just a little after the sweet taste and then its gone. Nice.

Drinkability: Very good beer, although it didn't really bring to mind the season or the holidays. Still enjoyed it quite a bit though.

Notes: I couldn't find this beer on Beer Advocate! Shocking! Purchased this from a strange little convenience store that has a huge beer selection. Pricey for a six pack at $9.99 but well worth it I think.

Verdict: 4.25 out of 5. A great pairing of the sweet and bitter without either being too overpowering.

Links: Deschutes Brewery.

Progress Report - 12/24/08.

Well here are again. I didn't lose my job (yet) so the Warhammer must continue! In the past few days I have managed to finish the painting of my Ironguts (with a lot of swearing and touch-ups) and I am ready to dip them before finishing the basing.

So today I plan to:
- Dip the Ironguts and my Bangstick Butcher.
- Base the next batch of models.
- Prime the next batch of models (based on my two 1000 point lists).
- Possibly base and prime my Slayers.

Tomorrow is Christmas! Tomorrow is the day I will received a Battalion box for my next army project! What will it be? Who knows! The suspense is killing me.

Sorry for the scatterbrained approach to this post. I am feeling a bit crazy from so much time off. Here is a review of a holiday brew to get you in the xmas mood!

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Breckenridge Brewery - Christmas Ale

Beer Type: Winter Warmer

Appearance: 12 oz. brown bottle with a festive holiday label. I like the font choice! Poured a dark brown-red color with a thin head that faded.

Smell: Hops, a little bit of malt and some spices? Something darker there too, like a coffee or chocolate.

First Drink: Hops and yeast. This is a fairly "heady" beer. Sweet with hints of chocolate as well.

Mouthfeel: Moderate carbonation and a nice medium weight in my mouth.

Last Drink: More of a lingering woody flavor with a long bitter finish (although not unpleasant).

Drinkability: Wow! 7.4% ABV. I guess that is part of the definition for "winter warmer". I feel warm and jolly!

Notes: Not sure but I think this may be the first Breckenridge brew I have reviewed. I like this beer.

Verdict: 4.25 out of 5. So far this is my winner for a "holiday" ale.

Links: Beer Advocate and Breckenridge Brewery.

More Drinkin' less Modelin'?

Well today was a pretty crappy day. I was told at 4pm that the company I have been working for the last 3 years is going to be doing some layoffs. They didn't say who it would be, or what the exact details were. I am to return to the office tomorrow afternoon at a specific time when I will presumably discover what my employment fate will be.

No job equals no money. No money equals bad times. Bad times equals no Warhammer or models.

I really hope things work out for the best, but just like my WHFB I am planning for the worst. Speaking of the "worst" ... here is a review for a fairly mediocre Holiday brew I had today.

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Spoetzl Brewery - Shiner Holiday Cheer

Beer Type: Dunkelweizen

Appearance: 12 oz. brown bottle with a festive (and slightly German) holiday label. Poured a dark amber color with a thick off-white head.

Smell: Peaches! A lot of peaches.

First Drink: There are the peaches. It is supposed to be a peach and pecan brew but all I get is the peaches. At least it tastes like real peaches and not some kind of fake flavoring.

Mouthfeel: Classic Shiner feel, almost like a soda.

Last Drink: I can just barely make out the pecans and a little bit of hops, but mostly it is still a peach party.

Drinkability: Uhh ... not a huge peach fan so I doubt I will be going back to this one (plus it is a limited edition holiday release).

Notes: What do peaches have to do with the holidays!? This beer isn't bad, it just seems too weird for it's own good.

Verdict: 3 out of 5. It isn't bad if you like peaches.

Links: Beer Advocate and Spoetzl Brewery.

Progress Report - 12/14/08.

The holidaze are coming! The holidaze are coming!!

While I was hoping to have my 500 points of Ogres totally painted by the end of November life has conspired against me. I am 90% of the way done and I just have to finish up three remaining Ironguts. So much metal on these big guys! It is really a pain in the arse to paint.

It has been a while since I featured any pictures so here are a couple (hastily taken) photos of my finished Ogre Bulls and Gnoblar Trappers. I say finished, but looking at them in these photos I can see a few things that need touching up.

The model on the far left is the first I have ever painted, while the other Bulls were done after the fact. I can see a definite improvement which gives me hope for my future models!

And here is the back. I missed some stitches on the far left Bull's pants! D'oh. I will have to remedy that soon. Still toying with the idea of some tattoos, but I want to wait until I feel better about my freehand abilities.

And here are my Trappers! I have really taken a shine to these little guys. I liked them before but now that they are painted I feel a deeper sense of attachment. Plus they have been doing a pretty good job in my most recent games. Go Trappers!

I hope to get the remainder painted in the next couple of weeks as I have time off from work. Planning on starting my next upgrade to 1000 points yet but I still need to decide between a Slavegiant or Gorger themed list. Critique, comments, and questions are welcome as always!

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.