Progress Report 12/31/11 - End of vacation, end of the year.

That's a wrap 2011! It's been quite a hectic year for me all things considered. After working in my position at the co-operative grocery store I manage for just over a year I had to completely change the way I did everything in preparation for the move to a new store. This was a massive undertaking and it ate up large chunks of my life (and time). That said... the results are truly amazing! I am really proud of what I helped accomplish. 

In the new year I will be changing my position at the store, moving from managing all the purchasing/stocking/etc to running our deli. It is a long term move and something I am quite excited by. It means giving up a lot of responsibility of the store overall but it is an area I am far more passionate about (making kick ass food for kick ass people). 

Blah, blah, blah ... how about some pictures of what I managed to get painted on the Lizardmen team yesterday? 

Yup. That's it! Just working on the basecoats before I move into adding more details, highlights, etc. I doubt I will get any more painting today as I have plans to cook some dinner, play some LoTR Risk, and have a few drinks before the year ends. Wishing you and yours a fantastic end of 2011 and all the best as we kick off the new year.

New Year (Hobby) Resolutions 2012.

It's that time again! Time to sit down and look at the year in review before planning some resolutions for the next year. So first let's see how I did this year on the resolutions I made in January 2011. 

• Finish all the Blood Bowl teams I have started - FAIL?
  I did manage to "finish" several teams - my Ogres, Vampires (which weren't even started when I made this pledge), Undead, Chaos Dwarfs, and the Amazons. I didn't finish two of the teams I had sitting around at the start of this pledge (Orcs and  Lizardmen) but I am working on them now.

• Play on the tabletop more - FAIL
  Gotta I don't think I managed to get down to the FLGS once for a game of WHFB. Crazy!! Such a failure!

• Stop buying and start painting more models - FAIL?
  While I didn't buy as much as previous years, and I did immediately start assembling and painting most of what I did buy, I still bought new stuff and didn't paint as much as I would have liked.

• Don't start any new tabletop games - FAIL?
  Bought a Necromunda gang and started assembling them to play with the local Blood Bowl folks. Never actually got any games in though...

• Be an even better sportsman - WIN
  Small incremental improvements, and I still have ways to improve, but I definitely felt like more of a "good sport" while losing all of those Blood Bowl tournaments I attended. I even got a few "best game" votes!  

• Get another four issues of the Bellower released - FAIL?
  
  This It's really hard to do a good webzine with some regularity. Hats off to all of those out there still organizing and releasing them... I was not as good at it. Managed to get a few issues released and the Bellower has migrated to a blog which I count as a success on some level.

 

So 1 out of 6 resolutions isn't too bad right? Right!?

Ok thanks cats... 

Here is a (hopefully) more attainable list for this year:

• Update the Bellower blog with "real" content at least once a week all year: I advocated for the switch, and I see a lot of potential, now I need to help build a strong web community in a secondary medium for the Stronghold. I will need help though! If you are reading this and wish to contribute in any way please let me know!

• Finish painting all of the Blood Bowl teams I have started: That means the Chaos, Lizardmen, and Orc teams all need attention. I am not counting the in limbo Khemri team I sort of started earlier this year.

• Play some WHFB somewhere, somehow: I know there are still folks playing at the FLGS and I haven't even touched the new Ogre Kingdoms book since it was released. With Vampire Counts on the way in January I have zero reason to not show up and play. 

• Attend as many Blood Bowl tournaments as possible: I went to about a half dozen events this year and I hope to match or surpass that number this year. I am just starting to get "in" with the community so perhaps I won't have to be seen as a "noob" this time around.

• Paint more models then you buy: I know I won't go a whole year without buying any new models but I will strive to paint way more and buy a lot less! I do have my eyes on the new Vampire Counts Black Knights though...

Well I can't do much worse than I did last year, but that is still a pretty intense list. The focus is really on painting and playing games so it shouldn't be too hard to get done. We'll see how I fare when we review this again next year! What do you hope to achieve in your new year of hobby?

Progress Report 12/28/11 - Vacation day four.

Haven't managed to get much hobby work done today. I finished up some touchups and basing on the vampires and that's about all (so far). Instead I spent a lot of the day reading (finished two books), cataloging new metal collection additions (so much new music to listen to), and trying hard not to answer work emails.

Here is where the bloodsuckers stand as of this moment:

 

I didn't mean to pose them so they all lined up neatly together... but they do! Next up for these guys is a varnish and some "fresh blood" before I call them "done". Then it is on to another project... perhaps the Lizards? Orcs? Chaos? Which should I finish next!?

Progress Report 12/27/11 - Vacation day three.

Yesterday I managed to get plenty of GS sculpting done on the Chaos BB team. I decided to add some small touches to each of the beastmen/bloodletters to help break up their skin tone a bit. Things like bracers, gloves, punching knuckles, shoulder pads, etc... each one got something. No pictures at the moment as they are currently drying after priming. 

Today I have managed get highlights on all of the Vampire BB team and I am working on the bases for the unfinished vampires. After that it will be a bit of blood, then static grass, then a coat of sealer, before I gore them up one last time to keep the blood looking "fresh". 

In other news... Chest of Colors posted their "Worst Miniature"  winners and losers. I know the suspense is killing you so I am posting the finalists here:

The winners are….

1. Nagash with 14,80% of all votes
2. Sunbathing orc with 12,85% of all votes
3. Minotaurs with 7,10% of all votes.

 Check out the rest of the informative post for the community response, and the "losers" of the poll. Great content! 

Progress Report 12/16/11 - Vacation day two.

Well I finally have a week off from work! Yah! Time to get cracking on some miniature building and painting (mostly painting). My goals this week are to finish painting my Vampire Blood Bowl team in time for the new KUBBL season and to finish building/converting/basing my Chaos team, then at least prime them. Extra points to me if I can get them all painted up too.

Maybe I can knock out three teams and get my Lizardmen painted up too!? Who knows! Full of inspiration at the moment (quiet down over there Skyrim..) Here's where we stand at the moment this morning:

 

 

Perhaps a little clean up is in order first...

Merry Gutmass!

Still a bit of work left to do this week... then I am taking a full seven days off! In a row! I expect to be cranking out minis and finishing up some desk projects before the year ends. Pictures to come of course...

In the meantime... happy holidaze and a merry gutmass to all!

The Bellower - "top secret" project complete.

So... the Bellower is dead. Long live the Bellower!   http://bellower.blogspot.com/

I'd go into more details here but my first post on the new blog details things pretty well. Go on! Check it out!

Painting and modeling motiviation - I listen to metal.

I listen to metal. But what does that mean? What is "metal" to you? It is a word that evokes a lot of different things for different people. When folks ask what sort of "metal" I listen to I find it hard to explain what I mean when using the term. There is a large subculture of "underground" metal bands, each with their own distinct style, and often falling into their own musical sub-genre. 

Personally I like my metal in many different styles - heavy, fast, slow, evil, psychedelic, oppressive, hard, gross, etc....

Since I have decided to post the occasional metal video or music link here on the blog (as it is typically what I listen to while painting and modeling) I thought it would be good to get some education material posted as well. As a sort of metal refresher here is a video which covers some of the early UK/US Grindcore and Death Metal pioneers such as Napalm Death, Morbid Angel, Bolt Thrower, Entombed, and Carcass. Most of the coverage is of Earache and Peaceville bands but it is good representation of what the metal scene was like at the time this was filmed.  

Enjoy!

Only 5 days left to support the APES OF WRATH!

Did you know that Three Die Block and Zlurpcast have teamed up (in a way) to get a team of APES together for Blood Bowl (or other miniature action)!? It's true! There is a Kickstarter right here!





It's not too late to get involved! I haven't made a pledge (yet) but you can't go wrong with a couple of monkeys... I mean apes... like these!!! Get the word out there!

Krampus!!

Happy Krampus everyone!!

How are you celebrating your Krampus today? Need inspiration? How about a list of a few possible Krampus related activities you can do with your friends and loved ones:

• Make yourself a Krampus mask
• Cut and or burn some bundles of birch
• Ring bells!
• Join in a parade or throw a party
• Drink, feast, and be merry (and drunk)
• Run through the streets screaming "Krampus is coming!"
• Tell a story
• Ringing more bells, and beat on a drum
• Give gifts and take gifts too
• Beatings and/or whippings!

Whatever you do, have a good time and don't forget to celebrate! It's another 364 days until the next Krampus day after all...

Off to the Underworld Cup!

Why I am awake so damn early? Because I am headed to beautiful Wisconsin for the 2011 Underworld Cup! I had intended to go to last year's event but the winter elements conspired against me and I chickened out. Not so this year! 

While I had hoped to have my additional vampires painted in time to take the Strigoi Slash, I didn't manage to get them done enough to bring along. Thus I have fallen back on my trusty friends of the Nurgland Germs making this their 4th (or 5th?) tournamnent showing in 2011. What did I choose to bring you ask? Well since you asked...

Click on the image for a more detailed look. The gist of it is this: 14 player roster, 5 normal skills and 1 doubles skill, 1 reroll. We'll see how it goes!! 

Progress Report 11/27/11 - what progress?

Trying hard to get back into hobby mode. The end of our first KUBBL season has left us with a gap between seasons that has killed much of my ambition. That and Skyrim .... Ragnar the Bardbarian must kill dragons!

So I have been wanting to practice some Khorne painting styles for my eventual (or so I say) Warriors of Chaos army, and I have been wanting a Chaos BB team, and I happen to have all the models I need to make one laying around.... so here is a crappy WIP picture of that!

 

Hopefully you get the idea from that photo. Working on test models for both. Basically I am using old Bloodletters for Warriors and new Bloodletters for the Beastmen. Still not sure what to do for the eventual Minotaur. Perhaps a Bloodthirster? Or maybe a Bloodletter on Juggernaut? Too early to tell.

In gaming news... planning on heading out to the Underworld Cup next weekend. I haven't chosen a roster yet but I am toying with the idea of bringing the Hooded Menace (undead) or the Strigoi Slash (vamps). I made a vampire roster with 15 players and 4 rerolls that seems almost too silly to pass up. More on that later this week. In the meantime... back to Skyrim!

25 worst miniatures ever made?

I just finished the Nagash trilogy from Black Library and that really drives home just how terrible this sculpt is. Here is a list and poll posted by the Chest of Colors about the 25 worst miniatures ever made.

While I don't agree with all the choices (the Kingdom Death models are cool... it's different and I like that) it is still an enjoyable read. Had me thinking... what makes a good model?

Life...

The fight.... for LIFE...

I won't bother with "sorry for not posting" apologies. Inhumate does a good job in the video above. It would be a familiar story anyway... a month since my last post... life intrudes...

Sometimes the hobby urge is strong, sometimes less so. I was working on Necromunda models. I blame that for my slow decline into a lack of modeling/posting/painting.

Getting back on the hobby horse though! Just finished up the first new season of KUBBL with my Chaos Dwarf team Dunger Mifflin. Finished with 2 wins, 2 ties, and 3 losses. Not the greatest results but the good news is I also walked away with the team casualty award and the player with the most kills award. In the process I had plenty of injuries of my own - including a dead Chaos Dwarf blocker (Phylis Vance - RIP) and a couple lasting injuries on key players. I didn't manage to sneak into the playoffs but it was a fun season and I am pumped for the next one!

I have a perverse urge to put Mifflin on the back burner and start up my Vampire team the Strigoi Slash. I had a lot of fun playing a limited version of the team at Zlurpee Bowl this year and I would love to see a more developed version of the team in our league. Plus they are kind of like the Ogre team only they suck in a different way (get it?).

Banged up this quick logo which I am pretty happy with...

The models are mostly all done, just need to paint a few more Vampires. The hard part is choosing my starting roster. Right now I am debating between these two options.

Option #1

Vampires x 3

Thralls x 9

Rerolls x 4

Total: 970gp

PRO: More players on the pitch more often with the extra Thrall. Having a little gold left in the treasury gives me some flex in what I spend my earned gold on early.

CON: One less Vampire to start with which means it will take longer to skill up a full Vampire roster.

Option #2

Vampires x 4

Thralls x7

Rerolls x 4

Total: 1000gp

PRO: Four Vampires on the pitch makes for all kinds of interesting opportunities. It really plays up the S4 and A4 madness and opens new avenues for Hypnotic Gaze.

CON: I could easily eat through my entire team in one game with no bench. I would also have no gold in reserve to buy more Thralls.

Any advice on which roster you think is better would be much appreciated. The upfront cost of the Vampires has me shying away from going with 2 although I did compete with some of the best players in the country at Zlurpee Bowl with a roster like that. Hmmm...

Beer Review - Great Lakes Brewing Nosferatu

Been too long since I posted a beer review! I promise to have at least one a week for the rest of this month and perhaps I can manage to pull that off for even longer. God knows I drink plenty of beer...

This time around I have a review of a regional seasonal brew in keeping with the month of October.

Great Lakes Brewing Company - Nosferatu Imperial Red Ale

Beer Type: American Strong Ale

Appearance: 12 oz. brown bottle with the trade mark Great Lakes Brewing label - black border with art and stylized fonts. Beer pours almost blood red into the glass with a medium ivory head.

Smell: Initial smell is sweet caramel and malt with a sour citrus note. A bit of hops bitterness comes through as well.

First Drink: Strong grapefruit citrus flavors quickly followed by sweet sticky caramel. I'm getting a bit of hops but not as much as I had expected.

Mouthfeel: Good carbonation, and easy drinking, although the finish seems a bit dry. I wanted a glass of water after the first bottle.

Last Drink: Getting more hops in the finish, and an interesting aged wood flavor? Not sure where that is coming from but it's a neat trick.

Drinkability: This is 8% ABV but you wouldn't know it without reading the label. The overall brew hides the alcohol flavor well and holds up to repeat drinks. Enjoying this one.

Notes: Great Lakes Brewing Company may be one of the only things I like about Ohio. All of the beers I have had from this brewery have been good, and their seasonal ones are just as fine. This one reminds me of some of the Stone brews in a way.

Verdict: 4.5 out of 5. Good flavor, unique finish, and a decent buzz. What more can you ask from a beer?

Links: Beer Advocate and Great Lakes Brewing Company.

Progress Report 9/26/11 - Chaos?!?

Wow. Chaos has been a word for my life... since the Chaos Cup. One of these days things will settle down enough for me to relax and enjoy some hobby time. Until then, I suggest you read Tristan's excellent coverage of his Chaos Cup games and experience because my rundown won't be anywhere near as detailed. In fact... here it is:

• Driving to Chicago. Feeling sick. Urgh.
• Got to Chicago. Drinking beer, winning a big game of Red Dragon Inn, not sleeping very much.
• Wake up to find myself blessed by Papa Nurgle. Bathroom hilarity noises ensue.
• Got to the bunker. Got the new Ogre Kingdoms army book.
• First match of the day against Amazons. Quickly scored upon after receiving the kick, manage to drive it back down the field on the return kick, crazy shit happens and my ball carrier gets knocked over. Can't manage a second half return score but keep the Amazons at bay. Lose the game 0-1 with 6 turns left on the board. 
• Second match of the day is against Wood Elves. Slap a few woodies down and keep them from scoring. Come back, kill a treeman, smash some elves, and score. Win the game 1-0 with no turns left.
• Third match of the day is against Chaos Dwarfs and fellow KUBBL coach Beaux. Crazy back and forth match, dodging with Rotters, Nurgle Warriors flying off the pitch, manage to keep things even stevens but fail several attempts to take the win at the end. Tied this game 1-1 with no turns left.
• Fourth match of the day is against Dwarfs. Lots of Dwarfs and Nurgle Warriors laying on their butts but nobody breaks armor. Manage to take out a few but crazy Dwarf dodges keep the Germs from scoring. Lose the game 0-1 with 6 turns left on the board.
• Drinking and bullshiting at the Brick House with Chance and Drew B. of 3DB and some nice folks from out West. Good fun. 
• Don't manage to sleep much with all the loud screaming going on outside my hotel room all night. 
• Wake up and finish the Skavenger Hunt then get to the venue late. 
• Fifth match is against Undead (Drew B. from 3DB/etc). Dice go south quick and the Undead smash their way to a solid win. Lose the game 0-1 with no turns left.
• Sixth match is a low table scrub-off against Halflings. Manage to have one of the most fun games of the tournament, fail several times to take the win, succeed several times in keeping the Halfings from winning, and end the game in a Tie. 1-1 with no turns left. 
• Drive home tired in the rain. Make it back and pass out for days.

So there it is. The quick and dirty version. Didn't win anything with the exception of the Skavenger Hunt prize which my league mates and I took home. I like BB events but this two-day one was rough on me. I could bitch about the two games I lost due to my opponent playing slow but that wouldn't serve much purpose and it's likely I would have only lost the game or tied it up. Still a lot of fun and I am looking forward to next year's event.

In other news... got home and started working on my Warriors of Chaos WHFB models. First up was this big boy:

I really like this model and I hope I manage to paint it in a way that does it justice! Going to be a challenge for sure. I'm still toying with my paint scheme but I did complete one test mini for what the Warriors in the force might look like. This one is a unit champion perhaps?

 

 

I am happy with these initial results but skeptical on spending this amount of time on 30-40 models. I plan on adding some fresh blood spatter to the shield and the base isn't complete but you get the idea. Thoughts?

Still plodding along with my Dunger Chaos Dwarfs in the new KUBBL season. Lost my last game 0-1 against Dwarfs after coach Beaux pulled out some super dodge manuevers, didn't roll any 1's, and pushed my ball carriers down twice as they attempted to run into the end zone. Not a great game for the Chaos Dwarfs and next up is the leagues only Slann team. We'll see how that fares... in the meantime here are a few more pics of the team:

 The "minotaur"

 My "bull centaurs"

Four of the "chaos dwarf blockers"

The other four "chaos dwarf blockers"

Coach/board marker

Off to the Chaos Cup!

Yeah! Chaos! Cup! Headed out to the Chicagoland area for three days of nerds and Blood Bowl. Bringing the Nurgland Germs out for this one. My roster isn't too mind blowing but in case you wondered what it is:

 

Yup. One reroll from Leader. On a Rotter. Should be fun! Look for a tournament report later on...

Progress Report 9/10/11 - Quick and dirty.

Sorry for neglecting you blog. My hobby life has been full of sadness and I didn't want to share that with you. My large preorder for the new Ogre Kingdoms book and models was canceled and now I am awaiting the refund for the models I paid for to buy more stuff. Sad times. Then I went to the LGS to pick up the new book and walked in at the exact moment they were selling their last copy to another person.

With all of that on my mind I have decided to wait on my Ogre expansion and focus on my lonely and deprived Warriors of Chaos. Expect to see some WIP updates of them in the coming months as I Khorne out with the metal headed dudes.

In other hobby news... our new relaunch of KUBBL starts next week and I am working to finish my Chaos Dwarf team. This one is called Dunger Mifflin (yeah, yeah it's an Office thing). Here is a quick and dirty WIP pic of the group taken on my ipod:

I am really liking how they are turning out. I had to clip the bases off and do some slight modifications to make them fit on to 30mm bases for Blood Bowl, but the random color schemes I am painting them in are turning out nice. The best part is it gives me a chance to practice a lot of painting fundamentals I have been neglecting for a long time. Hopefully they will do well on the pitch!

Next Friday is the Chaos Cup in Chicago! I'll be taking the Nurgland Germs and I just sent in my final roster today. It's a two day event and I don't expect to win too many games but I am hoping for a fun time.

That's all I got for now! Hope to get more content added here soon, including better pics of the finished Dunger Mifflin "dwarfs" as they are completed.

Progress Report 8/31/11 - Nuns the word.

This summer has been busy. Have had very little time for anything. Got some painting done on the Amazon/Nun team for Blood Bowl though. Actually painting these up for a friend to use in an upcoming event. Not 100% where I want them to be but they are getting there. Painting black and white is hard.

Sorry for the bad picture quality but I am off to get a practice game or two in with my Ogres! Got the new book, magic cards, and some models headed my way as well. Ogres!!

Expect to see more soon. Honest!

Ogre Kingdoms - new army book cover to smash you!

RAHHH!! Ogres!!

Busy with family marriage things this week. Hope to have some painted mini pics up early next week. In the meantime... look at that brutal fat dude!

New Ogre Kingdoms book information and pics!

New images and info from the new Ogre Kingdoms book due out next month! Found these on the web today... word is the whole book has been leaked to the internet. Here is the latest and greatest:

Magic:

• Ogre Magic has been reworked and spellcasting now works the same way as for all wizards. Spells are pretty much similar to what they used to be, except they last until next magic phase and are not RIP.
• Lore attribute is bloodgruel - on 2+ mage gains 1 wound and +1 to cast for his next spell, on a 1 takes an S6 hit.
• The signature spell grants stubborn to a unit within 12"/18" (the latter is presumably on a boosted casting)
• As for other magic, 2d6 2s no save missile, augment giving target +1t or all units wihin 12" +1t with higher roll, panic test spell to all enemy units 18/36", regeneration to unit/all units within 12" with higher roll, small template spell ini test needed if passed 3s hit if not 7s hit d6 wounds it can be changed to large template with higher roll needed.
• Ogre mages can take great maw, death, heavens and beasts magic.
• New mage model is the firebelly, who uses lore of fire, can be upgraded to lvl 2 for the standard price of a wizard upgrade, can take a great weapon or extra hand weapon and has S4 breath attack, flaming attacks and 4+ ward vs fire.

Magic items and big names:

• Big names still there and come out of magic item allowance. Didn't get changed that much from what you currently have. Best one is probably giantbreaker - doesn't require giant in the army - for the cost of dispel scroll model can't refuse challenges or flee but gets +1S.
• Magic items are few and generally meh compared with common items. Most interesting item is hellheart, which causes a miscast in all enemy mages within 5xD6" at the beginning of enemy magic phase - one use only, costs 2 scrolls.
• Thundermace (asl, +2s 2h weapon), or thundercrush attack instead, small template model in the centre hit with 9s d3 wound, rest hit with 3s.
• Siegebreaker (asl, +2s 2h weapon) roll to hit against ini or siegebreaker attack d6 hits with str equal to height of the building up to 10.
• Rune maw rules I think are the same as in last book (I dont see its max range use but i think this will be faq'd).
• Dragonhide banner same stats as in last book + can be used as breath weapon with 3s.

Core:

• Core units now include ironguts at 43 points, and with all command models costed at +10 points (which is same across the book).

Special:

• Special units got a lot of changes, leadbelchers will now fire D6 shots every turn, no misfires, and are move and fire with no penalty for moving.
• Sabertusk, 1-10 unit size. Each one has 3 S4 attacks, so aside from being the redirector of your dreams, it can sometimes work as a mage assassin. One costs slightly more than 4 halberdiers. T4 and two wounds.
• They can't use general's leadership or battle standard re-roll, and their own LD is 4 - and can only be joined by a Hunter - so I would say they will only come in two unit sizes - 1 or 10+hunter. This second option is not so bad - the unit will cost you some 350 points, but it has vanguard, swiftstride, and 30 S4 WS4 I4 attacks + whatever the hunter brings.
• Maneaters basically choose two special rules (you cannot chose the same special rule for two units) from a group of 8 - including poisoned attacks, sniper, stubborn, swiftride, strider, vanguard, itp, scout.
• Mournfang cavalry is the new heavy cav, with a lot of options (potentially a 2+ armour save), tons of attacks and a price tag that is in the vicinity of a bloodcrusher, depending on what armour/weapons you take. 3 wounds, D3 impact hits and a total of 7 attacks per model make them somewhat fearsome.
• Gorger is now special and gets a bit more expensive, but loses the rule by which it had to end movement closer to an enemy unit. It does have frenzy, unbreakable, killing blow and ambusher special rules.

Rare:

• Scraplauncher is rare and similar to what it does now (S3 KB catapult).
• Ironblaster is an empire cannon with horrible fluff and a pretty unpleasant misfire chart. S10 grapeshot and a special rule that allows you to roll two dice for bounce and chose the highest, even if one is a misfire.
• The two mammoth-like critters are... the stonehorn, which can have a mounted harpoon launcher (S6 D3 wounds 36" bolt thrower that doesn't penetrate ranks and is move and fire if mounted), 4+ armour save, does a lot of S6 impact hits on the charge, has dragon-like stats (but lower WS, Ld and initiative), M7, 4+ armour save and a special rule which halves the damage from all multiple-wound weapons that hit it.
• ...and the thundertusk, which is a support version of the above - has a mounted catapult that doesn't get hurt in any way by misfires, a harpoon and a 12" S6 KB weapon (chaintrap) - 3 weapons on its back, and gives all enemy models within 6" ASL. The tradeoff is - no impact hits and one less attack.
• A stonehorn can also be the mount for a hunter.

Additional:

• Clubs are hand weapons now.
• Bull charge - no info about needing 6" to charge but when calculating charge range if you roll 10 or more there is d3 impacts rather than 1.
• Giant is now stubborn!
• If stonehorn makes sucesfull charge he makes 3d3 impacts(instead of his normal attacks) +1 for each dice if charge roll was higher than 10.
• Trappers is an upgrade for normal gnobbies @25pts it makes every model in a unit that charges them take a dangerous terrain test.

Special Characters:

• Golfgag is a hero with 5a he can take 2d6x10p magic items, if golfgag joins maneaters they have always stubborn and vanguard rules from been there done that special rule.
• Bragg is 4a hero with heroic killing blow rule in challenges if he slays challenger enemy unit he was in it is disrupted for the rest of the turn.

Great stuff here! Can't wait for the new book to come out so I can start playing with some of this nasty stuff! It sounds like almost every unit got a lot better. HAH!!

The Bellower - Issue #6 Out Now!

Got it done and released! Woo hoo!

In this issue:
- Cover art by Hermut ALLMighty
- From the Gut by Hragged
- Ask Aunty Doreen by Aunty Doreen
- FAQ For New Players by Barney and Captain Lardgut
- A Giant In Chains by The Ultra-Mega Bob
- The Feeding Grounds: Thoughts From Thinling Realms by Barney, The Ultra-Mega Bob and various chatty Thinlings
- The Butcher's Cauldron: Build a Stone Hut by Reg06
- Tactics For Tyrants: Slavegiants by The Ultra-Mega Bob
- Gastronomic Rumblings From the Butcher's Pot by Eric J Goldstein
- Guts of Legend: 'Handsome' Kurg by Meathook and Hermut ALLMighty
- Armies of the Stronghold: Tribe of Dragon's Mountain by Nightmare and Barney

New Ogre unit pics!

Great way to kick off August, and right before my birthday too! New Ogre Kingdoms models!

First impressions? Undecided. I love them and hate them at the same time. Change is scary. Looking forward to seeing more detailed shots and sprues of course. I'm sure I will be a little bit poorer (while my Ogres will be a little bit richer) come September.

Ogres coming soon!

I'm really looking forward to September! New Ogre Kingdoms stuff!! Woo hoo! It's like a late birthday present for me. Been working hard on the next issue of the Bellower which I hope will be released next week - just waiting on a few last minute contributions to come together.

Not much going on in the modeling front although I did just get a bunch of Ramshackle minis in the mail this week - going to be using them as a Chaos Dwarf Blood Bowl team with the possibility of being a Goblin team as well. Hard to explain without pictures... so I will get some up soon! 

In the meantime... Ogres!!! What are you hoping to see out of the new book?

New Vampire Counts models and rules incoming - Updated with more pics!

Came across this news today while reading Mr Saturday's Mumblings - new Vampire Counts models and rules to be released soon!

A new Vampire Lord plastic kit that can be made into a Zombie Dragon or something called a "Terrorgheist". Also to be released are new plastic wraiths as well.

Also new rules in the August WD which change things up a bit for VC.

And this info was posted on Warseer by ihavetoomuchminis:

all these new rules are meant to be official rules.


The Ghoul king mount thing. It's worth some more points than a Varghulf. It can be included as a mount for a ghoul king (wich is any vampire lord with the ghoulkin vampiric power) or as a RARE UNIT.


It flies, causes terror, is large target, undead. I think it is WS3 or 5, not sure on that. S5, T6, W6, I3, A4, L??.


It has a shooting attack similar to the banshee. Roll 2d6 + number of wounds remaining of the monster - Leadership of the target unit = No armour saves allowed wounds. Not sure on the range. I think it was 18". Probably less.


Can be upgraded with poisoned attacks and/or a special rule that inflicts 3d6 S2 hits on any BtB unit when it dies.


The wraiths become a hero choice, and it seems they can join units. They are the same stats as in the VC book, and can make an special attack, replacing its normal attacks. This special attack auto-wounds and doesn't allow armour saves. The model is plastic and has 3 different heads. It's like levitating, with a cloak and a scythe.

The banshees become a hero choice (not sure if they can join units). Not new rules. The model is great. Also levitating.

It isn't specified if the wraiths rare unit of the VC book is still usable.

What i like: all, but the fact that they are giving us even less reasons to take anything but ghouls as basic units.

This stuff is getting me interested in my VC army again!! How about you?

UPDATE: Just came across a few more pictures on Warseer. Cool!

Ogre Kingdoms - New rumors abound!

New Ogre rumors are coming in fast and from what I have seen in the past I think this current round hold water. Time will tell...

From Zephyr on the Ogre Stronghold:

Phil Kelly is author.


Plastic kits:

• Rhinox Riders (on regular Rhinoxen) (box of 3)
• Scraplauncher/Skewer-slinger (Similar to Warp-cannon/plague-claw in design)
• Great Mammox with three ogre crew and plastic tyrant option (Same base as Arachnarock. Imagine a cross between a musk ox and a Mammoth)
• Yhetees (More gorilla-like, and and no more 80's hairstyle manes. Really dynamic for a plastic kit)

Finecast:

• Jahred The Red on Rhinox
• Golgfag Maneater
• Redone Goldtooth, Skrag, maneaters (box of 3, female, ninja and pirate discontinued), Tyrant/bruiser, gorger.

Rules:

• Bull Charge will work always, even though you're less than 3 ogres and charge less than 6".
• All ogres except butchers gain a basic 6+ save from their gut plates.
• Ogre Clubs negates parry save, and is a general rule for all weapons like Choppas in OnG.
• All army restrictions gone, but gnoblars do not count towards minimum core.
• Gnoblars T2, but Sharp stuff is March and Fire, Range 10".
• Weapon options for units cheaper, and minor point reductions across the board. Bulls will stay same base cost.
• Magic will be standardized. Most spells will stay similar (augments) but with greater range, and can be buffed to affect more units. May also be cast on Yhetees and Gorgers.
• Rhinox Riders are super-hard. They get regular stomp and D3+1 Bull Charge, and also has Devastating Charge. (Special Choice)
• Scraplauncher, same but moves to Rare.
• Rhinox and Mammox are mount options for Tyrant and Hunter.
• Mammox can thunderstomp everything, like the SoM Bonegrinder Giant. Insane stats, but expensive (like 290 points base.). Crew can have leadbelcher swivel guns.
• Hunter greatly improved. Move and fire with harpoon and monster-killing special rules.
• Yhetees as in SoM, but with options for 2HW or GW, and musician now. No standard-bearer.
• Leadbelchers auto-hit, and can fire every turn, but only S4, no AP. Don't come with Light Armour.

Magic Items:

• Big Names Gone.
• Half of items are Magic Weapons.
• Tenderizer and Siegebreaker will stay.
• Halfling Cookbook grants Loremaster.
• There's a banner granting the same frenzy Minotaurs have.

Plastics will be out in October. Finecast in November.

Things I like in this list of rumors (to be taken with plenty of salt):

• New plastic kits for a Rhinox, Mammox, Scraplauncher, and Yhetees.
  
• New models for Golgfag Maneater and Jhared the Red.
  
• New rules for the Ogre Club sound interesting and are quite fluffy I think.
  
• Gnoblars max caps are gone but they do not count towards Core requirements.
  
• Minor point reduction across the board with weapon options being cheaper.
  
• Hunter gets better with move and fire and monster killing abilities (heroic killing blow?).
  
• New special characters.

Things I don't like in this list of rumors (I really hope these aren't true):

• No point reduction for Bulls? That would make them the worst monstrous infantry unit in the game!
  
• Yhetees are not really improved. Same as in SoM but with different attacks.
  
• Scraplauncher moving to a Rare choice seems excessive. Must be a lot of whiners out there with big block armies.
  
• Taking away Big Names is like Dwarfs losing runes or Bretonnians losing virtues!
  
• Making Gut Magic more "standard" doesn't really appeal to me. Simplifying it does but I hope they don't ruin the flavor (pun intended).

So there you have it... my thoughts on these rumors. I'm sure you were dying to know what I thought!!

In the end I won't complain too much if the new book is of the same quality and caliber of the last two (O&G and Tomb Kings). I suspect the release of this new book will give me a reason to bust out the big boys on the table again... it's been almost a year since I played a game of WHFB!!

Progress Report 7/8/11 - Dodging my way back to you blog.

Life!!! It keeps happening without me!! I am slowly pulling myself up and out of Real Life(TM) and back into a world of tiny men (and women, and monsters, and... you get the idea) - I hope to have more meaningful content here soon. In the meantime...

Behold my Vampire Blood Bowl team! I will be playing them tomorrow (and Sunday) at the 7th annual Zlurpee Bowl! Since regular BB tournaments just aren't hard enough for me I have decided to play one of the teams listed in the rules pack - FTLOTG (For The Love Of The Game) Vampiire. That's right... two Vampires and ten Thralls will go head to head with all comers in a blood filled (probably the Thrall's) weekend of BB matches. We'll see how much love I have for the game after this one is over...

I assembled and painted this team in just under 5 days. I started with a unit of 10 Vampire Counts Ghouls I had sitting around collecting dust and thought... could I make a Vampire team out of these guys? After looking at the GW Vampire models and coming back across the Strigoi models it all came together. Beastial vampire blood sucking dudes with smaller crazy blood crazy dudes all on the pitch to drink a bowl full of bloody balls!

I only needed two vampires for this team so that's all I managed to get done! The look suitably feral and gruesome I think. The skin came out exactly like I wanted so I am pretty happy with that. 

Next up was the Ghoul crew playing the part of Thralls. Low armor average BB players with a penchant for violence... sounds about right. 

I have their bases painted with the skill I have given them for my tournament roster. I discovered later that I would probably have changed a few skills but I didn't have time to go back and paint the bases and skill text again before leaving for the event. Oh well! 

So that's it! Now I am off to Indiana with some Blood Bowl cohorts for a weekend of boardgames, beer, and blood (on the pitch only please). Here's hoping I come back with some good tales and ideas for the next time around.

Progress Report 6/11/11 - I'm still alive!!

I'm still alive! Honest!! We finished the building, move, and set up of our new co-operative grocery store and opened the doors on May 31st. The past two weeks have been just as crazy as I had to figure out the logistics of how our new store operates and ensure we had plenty of product for our new customers to buy. All that is going well so I hope to get back to some hobby related items soon. 

Quick re-cap of what happened last month:

• Beat my first round playoff opponents in KUBBL IV with the Hooded Menace only to lose badly in my second game against an undefeated Dwarf team. Some horrible dice rolls combined with my team being heavily outmatched going in kept the Undead dudes down on the pitch for most of the game. Finished the season with a record of 6 wins, 3 ties, and 4 losses. Not as good as I had hoped but a nice comeback after some tough mid-season games that left my team rocked.
  


• Attended the first Kalamazoo Blood Bowl tournament the Special K Cup. Took the Nurgle team under the name "Nurgtritional Facts" with the player names all being gross nurgle themed cereal additives. No body seemed to notice or care about that. Tournament had a ton of Elf teams due to the special rules for the event. Managed something like 1 win, 1 tie, and 2 losses. Played all of the top ranking teams with the exception of the winner. All in all it was a pretty fun day out and I did manage to walk away with the "Cereal Killer" award for most casualties (16 by the end of 4 games).
  


• Started painting my Lizardmen Blood Bowl team and got most of the painting done on my Ogre cheerleader model for a painting competition at the Ogre Stronghold but didn't manage to finish it in time. This was due to the crazy work schedule and the burst of 100 degree weather we had earlier this week when I tried to get it done before the deadline. Here's two quick shots of where she's at right now:

 

I like the way she's turning out. Not bad for a model that was missing an arm when I got it!

We're in the middle of a bit of a KUBBL downtime for the summer, or possibly due to lack of interest, but I have to get a team together for ZlurpeeBowl next month and that may involve some additional painting. Or maybe I will just take my Ogres and lose all weekend.. who knows?!