Space Wolves

In preparation for a tournament at my local GW, I have started a new army. A 40k army.  Intially the tournament will be 500pts, then a 750 pt tournament and finally a 1250 pt tournament by January giving everyone the chance to collect a new army from scratch and grow along with it over the months.

But what army did I want to collect? I already had Alpha Legion Chaos Space Marines, based on the books, not the version in the computer games. So another Chaos Space Marine force was out of the question. I asked what other armies had already been picked. Necrons, tick, Orks, tick, Tyranids, tick, Eldar, tick, Imperial Guard, several ticks, Tau, tick, Chaos Deamons, tick. I asked has no one taken Space Marines? No, well, John is taking Blood Angels. So I decided Space Marines had a slot free, but than just Space Marines, I thought lets have a fruity alternative Space Marine to bring more colour to the tournament.

So, I picked, as the title gives away, Space Wolves.

A legion I have never really loved and had even more cosmetic problems with in this edition.

Now, you may already know this about me, but I specialised in Vikings at Birmingham University, while doind a degree in Archaeology and Geology. I have a great fondness for the Northmen, their artefacts, and their sagas. It is a bit of a passion.

And Space Wolves have always left me cold.

There is something about that has never rung authentic to me about noble marines, drinking beer. I've always found the stories associated with codices and rule books make them thoughtless, brutish, childlike comedy stock. I couldn't take them as a serious threat to anyone. I couldn't take them seriously as a part of the Imperium. They seemed foolish.

With the latest releace it appeared even worse, with Canis Wolfborn (or wolf wolfson as I think of him) riding a Thunder Wolf with twin wolf claws that seem to make it impossible to hold any reigns so god knows how he stays on the cow shaped behemoth he sits astride. I mean its really silly. I hate it.

And yet as I have studied the book, I have come to find the parts of the Sons of Russ that I like. The Great Companys each individualised and well described. The cover art, of a truly menancing warrior storm lasheda nd knee deep in snow, in dark grey armour matching the grim future in which there is only war, with red shoulderpads decorated with gold interlaced braiding very much like the runestone grave artefacts of real Vikings.

Space Wolves Codex: the picture that defines Space Wolves for me.

I can see their place in scheme of the Imperium better now for having read the codex thoroughly. They embody the final resting place of free moral judgement in the crushing beurocracy of humanity's existence. Each is raised to be a hero, to exercise moral choice and individual courage, and live or die by that choice. And they are frequently on the wrong side of the authorities in their history. Refusing to hand over imperial world's to inquisitor's because they know the citizens will be purged. Out and out fights with loyalists when they feel they have been too cruel to poor old bog standard humans. The tale of the first armeggedon war, and the Spce Wolves nearly starting a civik war in protest at how the loyal Imperial Guard survivors were en masse sent to penal colonies so word of the deamon's od Angron would not spread. They have a healthy rebelious streak that I find appealling to say the least. And after haing read the excellent Horus Heresy book Thousand Sons they don't always get it right and they know it. The codex is full of regrets and bad choices, that the style of warrior training can only expect to have as a down-side. These aren't the literal, dogmatic, parade ground super stars of the Ultramarines. And yet they probably share closest the trait of caring for the basic citizenry and knowing the Emperer's message of what a Space Marine was for. The guardian of the real focus of the Great Crusade, the average human. Two Legions poles apart and yet converging on the same ethical ground. The ground upon which the whole 40k Universe is opposed to. The exception that proves the rule as it were. No wonder Logan Grimnar is one of the most famous and loved personalities in the Imperium. He actually cares.

Anyway, I had justified to myself why I should take Space Wolves but what should I take?

I decided on the Great Company of Sven Bloodhowl, to be a little different and because he had the next best symbol, the firebreathing wolf.

Then I had a look at what two troops I could take. Blood Claws are juvenile recruits with WS 3 and BS 3 but still in power armour and with hack'n'slash rules. They get to counter charge a charger. They get +2A when they charge themselves. With a hand weapon and pistol (+1A) that'd be 4 Attacks per model on the charge. But they have to charge if within 6" in the shooting phase. So they have lots of Attacks but not quality attacks and they could go off half cock.

Grey Hunters are tactical marines with benefits and the second option for a Troop choice. They too can counter attack and also have WS 4, BS 4 plus the holy boltgun as standard compred to Blood Claws. They get the same upgrade options (no heavy weapon), plus a once-per-game re-roll in the assault phase for an extra 10 points, or a model with D6+1 Attacks and rending close combat special rule for 15 points. The upgrades are assault orientated as you can see. The codex makes demands that you get up close to your opponent.

I took 8 Blood Claws gave one a power fist, for boxing vehicles, and one a meltagun, again for dealing with big stuff. And I put them in a Drop Pod so they could get a charge as they arrived, or disrupt my opponent if they were bossing the game.

None of my Blood Claws wears a helmet and I have chosen the most ferocious faces I could find to better convey their special rules.

To help boost their accuracy at hitting with all those attacks I gave them the HQ choice as a leader. A Chaplain come Apothecary, the Wolf Priest. He has a cruzius to hit with, he has a rosary (wolf amulet) for the invulnerable save, and he gives his squad "prefered enemy" allowing them a better chance of hitting. Just what the doctor ordred. To keep within the points I gave the Wolf Priest runic armour (an extra pip of save and an invulnerable against psychic attacks) and a combi-melta so i had another melta-gun if I needed it. I would have liked to give him melta bombs or a Saga, or a wolftooth necklace. but points are precious at the moment.

My converted Wolf Priest, awaiting a coat of paint.

Finally I took a squad of 10 Grey Hunters, one with a free flamer the other upgrade being another flamer. Just to really make the most of the templates. I may have made a foolish pick, and revert to Meltaguns but the flamer option was free and potentiall hits a lot of models. A lot of dice rolling, even with a poor AP I'm bound to kill one or two on percentages. Quantity of dice over quality of dice here. I put this squad in a Rhino to give them some protection in the first turn, and manouevrability if i don't need the protection.

The way I see tjhe force working is the Grey Hunters are out in the Rhino APC surveying and hunting out enemy contacts. When they make on they go into a defensive mode and call in the wolf pack that cmes howling into the atmosphere in the Drop Pod. With the Blood Claws and Wolf Priest laying in to all around the Grey Hunters close in like a disciplined predator, laying down withering fire and then closing in for a superior hack'n'slash to kill all survivors. It works in my mind, just got to try it on the tabletop. I will keep you informed.

Warhammer Terrain

Some bits and bobs I'm working on. Next is three sections of Flaming Fence. Then a Vin yard, with removable vins, so you can march through it.

These are three sections of spooky "Ghost Fence" one of the new terrain you could have on the table with the 8th Edition Warhammer Rulebook.

And this is the Sorcerous Portal which if you get in 6" could cast something good or bad on you ever turn. I wanted more candles to be honest. But I may green stuff a few more of them.

A World of Chaos. A Time of Heroes. An Age of War. A Summary of Warhammer 8th.

My Empire General, "Mad" Marius Lietdorf, is back in the saddle

Well I recieved my Rulebook many weeks ago now on the 8th of July and have had chance to let it all sink in. After the hype and the flood of opinions what do I make of the new edition. And given my earlier article on the release questioning the timing of the rulebook it deserves an answer.

As I pointed out a few months ago, it seemed that five years was a bit soon for a new release of the core rulebook, something that every warhammer gamer would need to buy to continue in the hobby realistically. It is one of the few things in Games Workshops repertoire that can command such a high amount of sales. That they wanted, or needed, to use this ace card for the second time in five years, and the third time in ten years, was as I pointed out in April, a bit suspect. I won't repeat the fiscal and sentimental investigation I made then here, you should read that post yourself below.

The new rules have been met in most places with very positive reviews. I myself find I strongly agree with the thorough review given by BadDice Podcast and recommend everyone listen to it. In terms of pure game mechanics it should be celebrated forbeing clear in its language and tidying up many of the legal loopholes that cheesed us off. Good, simple, clear english in the rules with full colour diagrams. I found that even I was exploiting a legal loophole now that friendly units can never be closer than 1" inch to each other and have had to budge my Outriders and Detachments judicously apart. Quite right too.

But more than the game mechanics has been the book itself. Heaving like an Ogre's gut with extra material on the hobby, on cool miniatures, on the background, on giant pictures, on heroic last stands, on Thunderbarge's, on creating your own scenarios, on Ostland under siege, on web vidoe commentaries by the designers. This has been a great meal fully garnished. And I have relished it all. For this Games Workshop does deserve fulsome praise, you have filled my month with childlike wonder and magic again.

But what does all this mean to the company?

A look at the share price is as revealing and appealling as Keeley Hazell's birthday suit. I have to credit the Financial Times for all this data, and encourage you all to look for yourselfs. This three month snap shot graph of the company's share pirice shows an almost vertical spike at the start of July and consistent growth since then. Indeed they are approaching close to the highest price the company has hit in five years. I would also like to say that the flat part of the graph that can be seen in May is still a massive 77p up on what Games Workshop was trading at last year. It is all a success story. As the core product should be. You cannot repeat this every year, so Games Workshop has to be making hay during this magnificent harvest summer for them.

A really significant pointI want to make is how Games Workshop has been performing compared to the rest of the FTSE100. I should explain that the FTSE 100 is the average price of the 100 best companies in the UK. This year that avergae has fallen 7%, and had two rough years before that. Now Games Workshop had a tough 2008 and a stable 2009 but 2010 is starting to look very good. In comparison to the FTSE 100 GamesWorkshop's share performance has risen superbly and continues to pull away. Note this is only one way to measure a company. A way to measure a company by people who are not devoted fans of its product like you and I are. A happy return to health.

Wallets are going to be bitten on hard during 2011 and 2012 in th UK and Games Workshop has to work harder to attract each pound coin. Price increases have already been announced by Games Workshop in an effort to cover costs. I will warn you it cannot repeat playing this trump card of a core rulebook release. It will be interesting to see what July 2011 is like.

Sergeant Harker

So I have finished Sgt. Harker for a competition at my local Games Workshop Hobby Store. I think you'll agree its an ace face, I'm quite happy with how its come out and you have to say that is helped massively by how lovely the sculpt is. Its a beautiful miniature.

The "slabs of muscle" as described in his army entry in the Imperial Codex, are there on the model, long and broad and ready to be filled with paint. Adding extra lines to the muscle gives it a fibre and tensing look, and really brings the model to live. It is the flesh on this model that I feel proudest of.

The metallic less so. I ran out of time and got a bit rushed and thought that drybrushed metallic paint over black will do. And frankly I think its a bit of second division painting that detracts from the things I've done well. I'm a bit disappointed with it.

The base was just a standard gaming base (sand, scorched brown, dry brushed bestial, dry brushed bleached bone, pva static grass) so that I can give the model to my brother and he can get some use out of Sgt. Harker in his Imperial Guard Corps.

I will take some more shots of models I've painted shortly, updating the Sorcorer and the Defiler when I can.

Catch - Up!

Sorry for a while between posts I had a busy-time at work, due to someone getting married and going on honeymoon (many, many happy wishes go with you Kerry and Andy), and then I went on holiday to America, photo provided below. This year i didn't see a bear. Or the Motorcity Machineguns. But that has nothing to do with Warhammer so...

Things what I 'ave bin up to: 1) War of the Rings, beginner's winning streak. Putting in a superfast Elfhelm's Riders formation now. Converting a Marshall Elfhelm from Marshall of the Riddermark model. Green stuff helmet not brilliant. 2) Just 4 hours before leaving for Heathrow, I played a 2000 point game of 40k against my brother's new Imperial Guard. My Chaos Space Marine's won 7-4 on Kill Points. But in actually game terms I was pretty much dominant from start to finish after a superb 1st turn of shooting and better use of terrain. 3) Painted Kal Jericho and Scabbs for a competition trying out the white undercoat theory. it was certainly bolder. 4) bought a magnifer lamp with daylight bulb from Maplins. Now that's a hell of a difference!!! 5) painting Sgt. Harker for a competition in 5 days... photo's to come.

Thats what I have been up to, but of course many, many things have been happening in the world of Games Workshop. 10/07/10 will be the release date of Warhammer Rulebook 8th Edition, as I have mentioned before. I have put down a pre-release order fro the Collector's Edition, the normal edition, and the NEW magic card deck!

I did question the necessity of new rules for Warhammer, and having gone through a copy at my local GW Store with the ever effervescent Irish John guiding my eyes, it isn't just a tidy up around the edges. There is serious change in this book in nearly ever section of the game. And I see the effects of War of the Ring, (measure when and what you want, charge rolls, wider units (hoardes)) and 40k (even partial hits are hits under a template. scatter artillery dice -BS, troop types) but it is still its own game entirely i think. Whether it remains the Master Game, the man amongst the boys, the pinnacle of table-top tactics, remains to be seen (I'm sure it will).

For a thorough and more enjoyable preview of the new army book Bad Dice Podcast has a brilliant episode up this week. I highly recommend it.

Finally there will be new Deamon models in July/August, with some lovely sculpts representing some of the characters in the Army Book/Codex that are yet to be released. New Plastic River Trolls, and the most Dynamic Boar Boyz ever! I think the Boar Boyz should already go into that Citadel Miniatures Hall of Fame. Quite astounding. And, for the moment, they are only £15. I wish Great Sword's were as good value for money, I'd put a Hoard of them in my 8th Edition Army. Anyway. Also coming soon some Internet only Empire civilians, one with a dancing bear! I have already picked out the moustachioed, dashing gent with a chest full of medals to be a hero for my Empire Army.

Exciting Times Ahead!

The Ride of the Rohirrim

"Now for wrath, now for ruin, and a red nightfall!"

The War of the Ring is upon us, I tell you. The single book to play massed battles of Lord of the Rings Strategy Battle Games has been out for nearly 18 months now, and in May a new expansion is being released full of epic potential.

I have recently been convinced to give the Lord of the Rings tabletop game a go again after some time where I had let it slip. Mostly because I moved to a new town and it has never been my undying love, like say Warhammer Fantasy Battle, or 40k have. I did enjoy the skirmish game though. I really enjoyed it and I got beaten about 80% of the time. In 2004 I think it was the game I played most. Firstly for its ease to pick up the rules. Secondly because of the relative speed of a game and to set-up a table. One hour all said and done. But like I say I moved towns and left it all behind.

Until now.

On the eve of the new Battlehosts book, my head has been turned back to the One Ring. Previously I have had bands of warriors from Gondor, Uruk Hai, and my indomitable Dwarves. But in the old version of the game I only ever had 8 or so warriors on the table at a time. My collection is limited.

In this new version of the game 8 warriors make up a single stand, called a company. a collection of companys makes up a fighting unit called a Formation. And you have several formations in an army. However It cost about £16 to get 24 warriors so that will make pretty formidable formation relatively cheaply.

But who should I choose?

There is something that stirs my heart about an epic cavalry charge. There is something of the viking artisanship that appeals to my soul. There is something in the Anglo-Saxon names that chimes in my head. And as for their forlorn battlecries and deathwish saga's, well, it works for me.

I have decided to test my mettle on the Riddermark, sat high in the saddle like a complete novice my thighs chafed and red raw. I have my debut game tomorrow, tuesday the 27th.

So my novice army list is:

Theoden, King of Rohan  125pts      as my Compulsary Hero

4 Companys of Warriors of Rohan    80pts           as my Compulsary Common Formation

2 Companys of bowmen         40pts                   Common Formation

2 Companys of Sons of Eorl Cavalry          235pts         Rare Formation

w/ Marshall, Banner Bearer, Hornblower

Total: 480 pts  

To make it up to 500 points in the end I will add either one more company of bowmen or one more company of warriors. I will have to save up for them.

To those in the know how does list sound as an effective force? Will it cut the mustard? I think initially it is a pretty high fight value and a good charge, but pretty low defence values that could mean it melts away the longer the battle goes on. It has punch, King Theoden really improves everything around him, and the sons of eorl can terrorize most things in the world, but this army needs to hit a knockout early for risk of a glass jaw.

Anyway some more inspiring lines to finish, that would have me charging into certain death for the lost cause, for lost friends, and for lost innocence. I have a Rohan Mindset already.

"Arise! Arise, riders of Théoden! Spears shall be shaken, shields shall be splintered - a sword day, a red day, ere the sun rises! Ride now! Ride now! Ride! Ride to ruin, and the world's ending! Forth Éorlingas!"

Incoming! Warhammer

You are probably aware, either from Internet rumour, or being a subscriber to the official Games Workshop Newsletter, or from the double-page spread in May's upcoming White Dwarf, that the 10th July 2010 is the advertised release date of a new Warhammer Fantasy Battle Rulebook. One of the cornerstones of the company's products for sale. That by which other products are given purpose. The thing that breathes life into the sales of bits of plastic. THE CORE PRODUCT.

That it is getting a new edition is big news, that effects all Warhammer players. Unlike, say, a Skaven Army release which will be bought by a portion of the customer-base, the Rulebook will be a required purchase of all the customer-base. Its sales potential is huge. It is a necessity to the Warhammer Universe and all the tiny plastic figures and pots of paint that go with it. It is the water to the fish, the bread to the butter, the Sigmar to the hammer.

I will definitely be buying one.

As, I guess, will many others, but, is it too early. It is, perhaps, the topper-most top trump GW can ever play. A trump card that should not be played too often, as the more you play it the less effective it will be. The first thought that went through my head when I saw the news was "Its a bit soon since the last time I had to fork out for a new rulebook". It feels like I am still coming to terms with the Warhammer Rulebook and they have anounced that in July I will have to start again. As will all the other Warhammer players in the world. The last Rulebook came out in 2006, so it is only four years that the last edition of the Core Product has been on the shelves. Its a big ask of your core audience to re-invest after only four years. It seems a bit greedy and clawing to ask of us to buy a new rulebook so soon. I bet it will be answered though. Profitably answered.

And this is important. Despite what whining you may read on the internet Games Workshop is not a massively profitable company. It had a bad year in 2008 and is still recovering. It is still not close to the finiacial position it was in five years ago. But has been climbing, its share price has risen almost 95% this year. It is certainly putting its house in order. The following is a report from January.

Hannah Kuchler of the Financial Times, wrote on January 6th 2010: "Shares in Games Workshop, the model figurine manufacturer and retailer, rose 30 per cent on Wednesday when it announced that pre-tax profits would be more than 50 per cent higher than expectations.
The company increased its gross margins by rolling out one-man stores and promoting plastic rather than metal figurines. Sales remained steady."

Read that carefully. It made the pre-tax profits 50 per cent higher by cutting staff, and resource costs. (again despite the grumbling you may hear from people, GW does not make large profits, the figures for last year were they turned over £113 million pounds, but made just £7 million profit. And those profits were down to the cost-cutting measure they made. Just think how huge the costs of ticking Games Workshop over are!) The sales have remained "steady". They have not increased, they did not have a Christmas surge, they were merely steady. Stable. Same as. Stagnant. Stuck. The profit increase was a "False Economy". It was not based on what they were making more on what they shed. You cannot make a successful company that makes cuts every year. You live or die on what you sell. GW's sales are merely steady. So, unless they can make the same cuts again on places which have already been cut, they will certainly not make a 50% profit increase. They might not make a profit increase. Their business might not grow. What is left to do? How can you increase sales?

How? You make your core audience buy the core product again. And you focus on other core areas, like Space Marines and Orc releases. It is some sound tactics that any general would nod sagely at. Good Command.

I just want to make a quick refence to the statistics in the link again. Games Workshop is steadily climbing back to high position it achieved Five years ago, and the current Rulebook is Four years old. Do the maths. This rulebook has been published in a time when GW fell from the summit. It is perhaps inuendo to suggest that the current edition of the rulebook is responsible for this, as it is also true that for 18 months GW has been on a steady upward trend in share price, but it may need an update. In terms of playability, I will address this when I know whats in the book, i.e. I've once I've bought and read it with my own eyes, but I think many players and podcasts will be looking forward to this book.

Certainly the share price rise over this year has been brilliant, and they will want to take that on into 2010. So rather than being too early it might be just the right time to push on. The tide of battle is rising favourably to Games Workshop after some creative hard work and painful readjustments (think of the staff members at your local GW you don't see anymore and spare a thought for their morgage). It is at moments like these, long strived for moments where you can begin to taste a victory, that any good Warhammer player will look to press home his advantage with a decisive hammer blow.

And like a Twin-Tailed Comet here it comes.

11 Dreadnoughts in a Single Army!

HQ

Librarian - 100
Blood Lance [free], Blood Boil [free], Bike [+35]            135

TROOPS
Death Company --- *for every 5 Death Company Marines you can take 1 Death Company Dreadnought Troops choice*
25 death company - 440
Power Fist [+25]                                                            465

TROOPS
Death Company Dreadnaught - 125
Blood Talons [free]
Magna Graple [+15]                                                      140

TROOPS
Death Company Dreadnaught - 125
Blood Talons [free]
Magna Graple [+15]                                                     140

TROOPS
Death Company Dreadnaught - 125
Blood Talons [free]
Magna Graple [+15]                                                      140

TROOPS

Death Company Dreadnaught - 125
Blood Fists [free]
Magna Graple [+15]                                                      140

TROOPS
Death Company Dreadnaught - 125
Blood Fists [free]
Magna Graple [+15]                                                     140

ELITE
Furioso Dreadnaught - 125
Blood Talons [free]
any two physic powers [free]

Furioso Dreadnaught - 125
Blood Fists [free]
any two physic powers [free]

Furioso Dreadnaught - 125
Blood Talons [free]
any two physic powers [free]

HEAVY SUPPORT
Dreadnaught - 105
Multi Melta

Dreadnaught - 105
Multi Melta

Dreadnaught - 105
Multi Melta


TOTAL: 2000pts

Walkers, even if they are are Troops, cannot hold or claim objectives I believe, and there is nothing in this codex to say they can, so in terms of claiming objectives or borad quarters you only have ONE SCORING UNIT, the Death Company.

Technical Knock Out

Saint Celestine failed. Another silver, but onkly by virtue of a low turn out I reckon. The next miniature will be both Kal Jericho and Scabbs, from Necromunda. I hope to do his epic coolness justice.

And to do this I have been reflecting on a few things. The overall messiness of the final product that was Saint Celestine, and the battle against time. There were many "heavy handed", "un-blended" and "thoughtless brushstrokes" on the Celestine model that meant she wasn't the pristine paragon of virtue she is meant to be. And this seems to be fast becoming my "style". The way people are recognising my paintings is because they are more "impressionistic" than realisitic. Well thats not what I was playing for so something is going wrong!

There is clearly a flaw in my technique that needs sorting and has done for a while. I can't find anyone who is giving me any helpful tips in the slightest, so, I have decided to analyse it myself.

My conclusion is I would be helped by a more contrasted style that demarcated areas of colour plainly. Like a comic book. Black lines around everything to "fence in the colour". Making everything neater I hope. To do this I have decided to start at the start with my undercoat.

I have decided a white Undercoat wiith a quick black wash will show up all the places I need to respect quickly and thoroughly.Obviously a white undercoat is going to change the final look of the paint job a little and it'll be interesting to see how this goes.

Saint Celestine - finished

Well, here she is, and due to time constraints a number of key areas of the plan had to be jettisoned. As a result I feel that I have not entered the best possible version of Celestine I can do into this competition, but hopefully its good enough.

She is firstly all in NMM. Gold Armour, Silver sword and Brass Orb. The sword is blended down to green for the Power Weapon. Scroll work is basic scroll with lettering on the large ones at the feet.

The robe held by the cherubs is a cool blue. A unique mix of my own, 1:1 Regal Blue/Shadow Grey with a dab of chaos black. then highlighted up with various degrees of Bleached Bone added to the mix.

The bird is your common city or garden Pigeon. To black stripes on the wings, shiny green neck, yellow eyes.

The hip robe is wet blended Regal Blue into Scab Red with white added to the highlight.

The cherub's are rushed off and frankly awful.

The is no freehand design on the model due to time pressure.

The base is no longer a temple floor, and is instead a Grassy battlefield with a single rose growing under her feet. Again this change had to be made right at the last hour due to time running out.

And thats it. Hope you like it. All I can see are the mistakes. I'd like to attempt her again one day, for my own pleasure and see how much improvement I can make.

Because this whole thing is about pushing myself to keep improving.

WIP Saint Celestine

Well so far this is what I have to show you. I have precisely two more days to bring this all together. Realistically I have 9 working hours left in fact. I can't show yuo the cape at the moment because its even messier and worse blended than this is.

Company Strategy (Unsupported)

We have all noticed recently the amount of Codices and Army Books that are being released with Unit Options that don't have a model. Case in point the recent Beastmen release that had Cygors, Ghorgons, Razorgor Chariots, Jabberslythe, and a spattering of characters (which I'm less bothered about) without a model released for them in the initial release or prospect of one coming months after.

I think the last fully supported release I can remember is Lizardmen (copyright 2008) or possibly Imperial Guard (again copyright 2008), given that some items are available on forge world if you really want a Vendetta Squadron.

So by my count thats Skaven, Beastmen, Space Wolves, Tyranids that have been released without the ability to buy from Gamesworkshop all the Unit Options that are listed in their repective books. All these books are copywritten 2009 and released in '09 or '10, meaning something between 2008 and 2009 changed in the way Games Workshop went about publishing its product.

Firstly they are Unit Choices that have no models, but what ties all these Unit Choices beside that fact?

I'll list them:

i) Thunderwolf Cavalry (SW)
ii) Warp Grinder (s)
iii) Poison Wind Mortar (s)
iv) Doomflayer (s)
v)Plagueclaw Catapult (s)
vi) Hell Pit Abomination (s)
vii) Tyrannofex (T)
viii) Harpy (T) *available at Forge World
ix) Tervigon (T)
x)Sky-Slasher Swarm (T)
xi) Ghorgon (B)
xii)Cygor (B)
xiii) Jabberslythe (B)
xiv) Razorgor Chariot (B)

so 14 kits that GW does not supply, and you'd have to convert, and what links all of them? They are all larger then normal bases. A big sculpt that would be rarely bought. Even the Sky-Slasher Swarm (rippers with wings) requires a large diameter base.

These big items are not emerging from the Manufactorum at the moment, and its not something I blame GW for.

The recession is still biting and will for a couple of more years, I imagine. For most of us it is tougher leaving a recession than going into one, as we struggled through the deepest dip, interest rates are tiny and hardly reward what we have saved, as you leave interest rates increase again, costs go up as does inflation, but your wage doesn't match it, and now it is an environment worth saving in, if you have the funds spare any more. Anyway thats a whole other blog. Just take my word that leaving the recession (now till 2012 approxiamately) will be worse than 2007-2009 were.

The List above is full of luxury items in the hobby, Special, Rare and eccentric choices for the army in question, and with a low profit margin and therefore drawn out return. Something like the mould for plastic Space Marines probably makes the money back spent on original design, tooling, research amd production costs reletively quickly, and each new casting means you can count more of the retail price as profit. A profit that subsidises products that sell less well (as well as wages, costs, R&D, white dwarf, tournaments, movies, etc). Without really having any knowledge lets say it subsidises an Ogre Gorger (retail price £12) that remains on the shelf of some Hobby Shop for a year or more. I suggest that considerably fewer of these are sold every year than are sold plastic Tactical Squads. And this has to be the case so that the money from Space Marines can go on to subsidise the existence of Ogre Gorgers.

Increasing the amount of large, rare options that a space marine kit has to subsidise by 14 times (see list above) in one or two finacial years would be Economic Suicide!

The strategy it seems is to keep hooking the young kids who love to buy Space Marines and Orks and Land Raiders and generate a good revenue stream that can diverted into new releases of these extravagant and bulky models that are currently unsupported. The more that are bought the slightly more the percentage of each one sold can go towards supporting other kits, as the original costs R&D are being paid off. More people should start a Space Marine Army if you want a new Tomb Kings Army Book.

The only suggestion I would make is why include so many Bulky Beasts if this was going to be the strategy. Could someone not have tapped Andy Hoare and Phil Kelly on the shoulder and said, "These exciting new units you are putting in the book, Ghorgons? Cygors? Do you have to have them? Can't you leave Spawn in there? Or Dragon Ogres? Or Khorngors? No true. These are new and exciting, okay, but.... How about making them an expansion kit to a kit we already have? So Ghorgons are an additional kit to a Minataur, and Cygors an add on to a Giant. Much like Dark Angels get an adaptor kit, and Space wolfs just have".

The only reason I can think of is they would still not sell enough to merit it. Maybe in a year or two when something is released this is what they'll give us. An expansion kit for an already existing sculpt, and they are sat on the idea until a more advanageous market place exists. I do believe that in time they will release the models.

The books contain Art work for all the examples in my list for what the said Unit should look like. They have obviously done some work on them. And have given us some shape to convert towards.

But at the moment it is up to us to convert such units ourselves. An expensive and consuming option for you and me, but in its way rewarding and creative. That does not mean its ideal. It is rewarding and creative to get to work doing Parkour, but most times I'd rather drive.

Progress Report on Saint Celestine

Its going slowly.

The Cloak and Seraphim I am leaving seperate for now, so I have freedom of movement to paint a freehand design.

I didn't clip the base as it was too tricky and I don't have a suitable saw. I don't have the funds to buy one at the moment so it is staying as it is. I have put on a Flat Smooth surface for teh base though so I can make it a Temple floor. I guess if I put another bit of rubble on there it'll look like a derelict temple with the roof fallen in.

Any suggestions for colour schemes or designs?

Update on Sorcerer

I chipped his nose! damn.

I don't like the colour of the wings now. Might have to look at a colur wheel to see what would work.

Any suggestions?

You call that a Defiler?

This is a Defiler!

Using only parts from the Defiler kit, its an intimidating site seeing this monster stride towards your army. His Left Arm is fully moveable, and he detaches into 2 halfs at the hip for storage.

He is A Chaos Defiler with Extra Close Combat Weapon and Heavy Flamer (seen under its Right Arm). He will be a part of my Alpha Legion Army.

Works in Progress

So at the moment I have a competition deadline at the end of the month for a Saint Celestine, 40k witchhunters, at my local Games Workshop. At the moment she is undercoated black. I have a tiered coffee jar lid that i think will make a nice stand. I'm thinking of clipping the battlefield debris from her feet and have her floating on parchments, Blood Angels HQ's are, in a marble floored temple.

I guess one of the big factors in choosing between all the Saint Celestines will be the freehand on her cloak. I have to think of something to paint on it. And then practice it because my freehand ability is unconvincing. Being a Lancastrian I'm thinking of Red Roses and maybe intertwinning thorn. Or should I do fleur de lys?

I was thinking about red armour too.

Over the Easter Bank Holiday I am going to my brother's for a few games of 40k. My Alpha Legion versus his Dark Angels in what will hopefully be a three game campaign. I am working on a little surprise for him, in the form of a Chaos Sorceror. I have converted Sigvald the Magnificent with the hnd of a Dark Elf Sorceress, and the wings of a Dark Pegasus. If you haven't worked it out yet, thats a Chaos Sorceror with the Mark of Slaanesh, Wings, Force Sword and the beckoning finger which represents...Lash of Slaanesh. Move here Terminators, cluster like that, and BOOM! Defiler battlecannon. I know its become a 40k cliche for Chaos Space Marine Armies to have such a sorcerer but none of them will look like this.

Deathmaster Sknitch

Having taken this photo I have done a few touch ups, particularly that black splodge on the cloak.

I think the best blended bit of this model is his trousers. Boring but there you go.

Attempted NMM on the Weeping Blades trying for red shaded and green in the highlight to make them look deadly and magical. only the blade in front of the face seems realisitic and i was trying to copy reflections from a photo so that didn't work. I hated painting the green poison. I couldn't work our how to highlight it, i was just lost.

Pleased with his face.

"Mad" Marius Lietdorf on Daisy

Now this is just for me. He is my Empire Army General and was painted just for my own entertainment. I have to say the horse, Daisy, was the most fun miniature to paint I don't know, I really enjoyed it and most of what i tried worked.

All NMM, Gold Barding and sun, gold sword hilt, and a Runefang with a Purple tinge.

The face again looks really good but my favourite is the forkeg of Daisy. Its the best blending I've ever done.

I don't like the feathers. But he is Mad.

I have always had a thing for Averland. My Bloodbowl team when I was little were the Averland Knights. I have always liked the Mad Count. I set most of my Warhammer Roleplay Adventures in Averland. And my Empire Army has always been from Averland. So I was ecstatic when Games Workshop released this brilliant character figure for the Mad Count. He was not a profiled charcter in the book and the Runefang and Barded Warhorse are available on the plastic Empire General kit, so GW had no real reason to make this figure. But I'm overwhelmingly grateful they did. He oozes charisma.

On the table he fronts up the Yellow and Black Attack.

Big Boss on Giant Squig

This was January's Competition entry and gain it came second. I think the NMM on the sword ended up as a fail but before that dark splodge got on half way up it was looking good. I really struggle with horns and drawing lines on horns. I hate it, I can't do it.

The goblin skin, Green to yellow to bleached bone highlights, worked really well. The NMM on the leading leg is an A. The Squig looks sinewy and mean. The base is kind of a let down.

Tzeentch Lord

I painted this guy for a Regional Competition and he came second. I am fairly pleased with him, even if i wouldn't do an army in these colours. The thing that lost it for me I reckon was some stark layering particularly on the cloak where the gradient between layers was obvious. Also the Blue Flame beneath the leading boot doesn't work.

As always I was happy with the face.

Welcome

Hello, this is a blog about any topic I can think of that relates to my hobby, the products and world's of Games Workshop. It can be about what projects I am working on, models that I have painted, cool things I have seen and thought I'd share, my opinions about the hobby, games I have played, anything I can think of.

I have been in the hobby since I guess 1989, when I was 7. I went round to a friends house whose older brother had "Space Marine", what would later go on to be Epic. These were tiny scale lead miniatures and the weight of the Imperial Mole Mortar in my tiny palm was impressive. The site of the titans striding between cardboard sky scrapers was inspiring. The art of the box was engrossing. I was round that guys house almost everyday for the early years of my life absorbing all the information I could about the World's of Warhammer, fantasy and future.

That Christmas I got Space Crusade and now I owned a piece of the Universe that had consumed me. I have never looked back.

So thats where it began.

But what about the name of this site?

I have named it after mythical heretic of the 40k Universe, Cypher, the Fallen Angel. An unidientified Dark Angel rebel who has roamed the Universe for 10,000 years clad in antique armour and monk's robe, two master crafted pistols in his hands, hood covering his face, and a sword he has never ever drawn. Is he a currupting influence of Chaos? Is he a degenerate criminal? Is he the one man who knows the truth? Is he in fact saving mankind?

Thats for you to decide.

And that is one of the wonderful things about this hobby, you have so much scope to make your own decisions about all sorts of things. It is your hobby. You own it in so many more ways than you own any other game. You own it more than you own the most wide ranging Computer Game. It is your yours.

Treat it lovingly.