General Ramblings: Painting as a Control Measure

Yes, I'm still here. Sorry to disappoint...

Today is about obsessive collecting, and how I pace myself. Somewhat. Some of the time.

Not me. But the caption said 'Obsessive Toy Collector', which seemed appropriate...

Warhammer 40k: 6th edition Chaos

Yup, still here.

And I've been having some fun with the new Chaos Codex.

Just to be clear, I make no claims of tactical knowledge related to anything as new as this. I have made a few observations, though.

Not Dead, Just Drowning

And howdy to you too.

This is just a short post to tell you all that I am still not dead. I am drowning in work, extracurricular activities and projects, but hey...

Rather than let the blog fade quietly into oblivion, I figured I'd list my current projects. And maybe show off just why my limited hobby time is not spent blogging, right now.

FAQ'd Up: New 40k FAQ's up

Okay, so the title's misleading. GW have done a brilliant job this time around.

*Jumps up and down with excitement*

Seriously, the BBB (Big Bloody Book) FAQ alone is more of a change than the transition from 3rd to 4th edition (or so it feels).

*Jumps up and down some more*

Of course, they'll never deal with the stuff I write about.

*Stops jumping. Just as well, really*

That's what I get for being a pedantic little bastard ('I'm not little!').

Rules Conundrum: 40k Line of Sight

And finally, I'm back to doing what I started this blog for. Pointing out stupidly phrased rules.

One of my biggest pet peeves within the rules of 5th edition 40k was the Line of Sight segment. Of course, this is one of the few parts of the rules GW decided to simply copy and paste into sixth. So, while others gripe about double Force Organization Charts, Fliers and Allies, here's why the Line of Sight rules are next to unusable.

General Ramblings: The Soft Scene

You'll know by now that I'm not a fan of the 'competitive' scene. I've said enough on that score to dispel any doubt, I feel, about my attitude towards the notion that 40k is suited to competition.

So let's not do that.

Let's talk about the Soft Scene, instead.

General Ramblings: Why Do I Care?

Just a bit of fair warning: this is one of my Wall O'Text posts. I can't be bothered with finding actual relevant pictures, and won't settle for less for this one.

You've been warned.

I did a post a few days back about offending people.

It's kinda crap, really. I made the mistake of getting sidetracked and riled up...

Which has me thinking. Why do I care if people spew brimstone about how gender-biased the Hobby is? Why do I care about shitstorms and whinefests? Why do I get all annoyed when games are taken to a level they're not made for?

And the answer is: I have a lot invested in this thing we call 'the Hobby'.

Big Issues: Offending People

I'm not sure if you're one of those people who follow the gaming blogosphere. I'm not sure you regularly read the stuff published over at the House of Paincakes. But considering the fact that you are reading this, I find it likely.

And if you are, you'll be aware of the fecal hurricane thrown up in the wake of this article. Yes, I'm linking to it. Deal with it. No, I'm not going to be linking any of the brilliant, thought-out responses, nor any of the raving hate-filled ones. That, too, is something you'll have to deal with.

This is not an article about sexism in wargaming. If you're interested in that discussion, you're a big boy/girl/none-of-the-above, and can find it for yourself.

This is an article about offending people. Kind of, at least...

6th and Looking out for Number One: Tyranids

And here we go.

Yes, 6th edition 40k is out, and right about now, a whole bunch of hobbyists are trying to figure out what it'll mean for them. Me among the, surprise, surprise.

First things first. This is not a strategy post. This is not an attempt to find the 'core' of 6th. Others will do that.

This (and the other posts like it) is an attempt to pinpoint some of the things that will affect me. Hence the title. Rules that have changed for the better or for the worse. New things. New missions.

In the immortal words of Horrible (Ph. D.): "Because the status is not quo".

General Ramblings: Letting Things Slide

I've been playing a lot of Warmachine/Hordes lately. In the last week or so, I've got in seven games with my newly acquired Retribution army.

The point I'll wander from today, however, is more related to the fact that this increased playing on my part, has coincided with a general upswing in WarmaHordes locally. With this upswing has come the issue of people not knowing the rules as well as we did during the autumn, when we played the most. Also, a few people are just taking up the game.

And with this learning/relearning process comes the question 'how much do we let slide?'.

General Ramblings: Swamped

I haven't posted for a while, now.

Why?

A lot of little reasons, actually. Real Life has been a real bitch lately, for one.


But mostly? I've been getting stuff done. Hobby stuff.

Rules Conundrum: 1" Apart

I've been playing some Warhammer Fantasy lately. The system has seen a slight upswing down at the club, and combined with the rerelease of the Empire, this has got me interested again.

However, this has had me look into the Fantasy ruleset again (about a year since I played last) and a few things have popped up. Which means I've actually got something to write about. Yay!

WHFB: 8th Edition Steam Tank

[Insert witty greeting here]

I've now played two (yes, a full, staggering two) games with the new Empire Army Book. Largely, I stand by my early impressions here: things are more expensive and only marginally better.

However, as part of that article, I also stated that the Steam Tank was different, but didn't specify further.

So today, I'll be looking at the Steam Tank in some detail.

General Ramblings: Different Intensity Gaming

I play several different games. Duh...

I've recently dusted off both 40k and Fantasy after a rather long break from GW. Having played a lot of WarmaHordes and Malifaux has given me a new perspective on the games of yesteryear.

GW Getting Things Right - Ceramite White and Agrax Earthshade

Oh, how lovely it is to be able to say that our favourite evil corporation gets something right.

I got two of GW's new paints, with the express purpose of seeing if they were any good. I got Agrax Earthshade, because it's the closest thing to Devlan Mud in the new line, and Ceramite White, 'cause I've always missed white in the Foundation line.

Warhammer Fantasy: My Reactions to the New Empire

And howdy.

The Empire just saw its new Army Book released. I have an Empire army. Who better to comment on this release? Well...

I'll do what I do, and give my impressions. I'll leave the deep, strategic analysis to those better suited or more eager for the task.

The Importance of Fluff - Analyzing

I said I was going to make another post about Fluff. You have only yourselves to blame if you didn't believe me.

Today is about analyzing the Fluff.

Warhammer 40k: The Necron Project - First Tentative Steps

So, I'm starting Necrons.

General Ramblings: The Importance of Fluff

*Incarias doing the welcome-boogie*

Yes, I know it's a disturbing thought. Live with it.

Today is about fluff.

Getting Sucked Back into 40k

This'll be a short post. It might be the precursor of a long post. It might also be so much wind.

I've painted my first 40k minis since last April. Yeah, I know.

It was a five-man bunch of Necron Immortals. They were easy to paint. Not the funnest I've ever painted, but for a unit type I want at least twenty of, they're fine, and speed's more important, really.

"But why?" I hear my equivalent of the Hamster in SinnSynn's head (I haven't yet managed to determine its species, though some type of gnome seems likely) scream in frustration. All those things I've said about GW the last six months are still true, aren't they? Well, yeah...

But now a bunch of the guys have started talking about getting back on the horse (or jetbike, or whatever) and well, I guess the addiction is still there.

It also coincided well with me having painted the last Malifaux model I've bought.

So it's Necrons for me.

I'll try to post progress pictures as I go along. If nothing else, it will give me a steady source of articles to write...

That is all.

For now...

Entry-level Gaming for the Superficial

I've been quiet on here for a while. Partly, this is because Real Life keeps getting in the way, but partly, it is because my inspiration has been off doing other things.

Today, though, I've actually got something to write about.

What makes you pick up a new miniature game?

Malifaux: A Farewell to Dice

So, I've recovered from last night's raging...

And therefore, I will write an actual blog post. Yay!

As regular readers (do I have those?) may know, I've started Malifaux. And Malifaux doesn't use dice. Oh, no. It uses playing cards. Fancy playing cards, but playing cards all the same. So here's me looking into some of the for and against using playing cards instead of dice.

Rantette: The Anti-rules Association

Yup, I'm gonna rant again. I might also offend people. Yay.

This Rantette is about rules, and more specifically playing by them. But more accurately, it is about those people who think this is a bad thing.

Malifaux: Initial Thoughts

I've started playing Malifaux. As in, I've bought and partially painted a bundle of models, and have played my first five games. Just about the right amount of experience for some intitial thoughts, then.

Shorty: FAQ Victory Dance

I just had to do this.

There are updated FAQs up for 40k. I am particularly interested in this gem from the Tyranid one:

"Q: Does Shadow in the Warp affect psykers who are taking a Psychic test whilst embarked within a transport vehicle? (p33)
A: Yes."

As I stated in this and this post (the latter more specifically), the 'no' that was there before is something that has bugged me for a while.

So, a victory dance is in order.

Trust me, you're lucky this is a text-based medium, without a camera in sight. It's not pretty.

And that's all. A short post.

Ta.

Rantette: Official Forumites

Time for a Rantette (patent still pending).

I seriously hate the system with people who are afforded the authority to make official rules decisions on forums.

(Apparently) I'm a Serial Adulterer...

If you haven't read my open letter to GW, it does sort of inform this post...

And just to be very clear: I am not now, nor have I ever been, cheating on my girlfriend. I am, however, cheating on GW.

Tactics 'R Us: Coven Cryx

I’m going to give this whole ’tactics’ thing a go.

I might be crap at it.

We’ll see…

Hobby: Painted Minis

So, a new year. No reason to stop posting, really...

Today will be one of those rare hobby posts. I've painted up my Christmas gifts to myself...