Showing posts with label WarpWednesday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label WarpWednesday. Show all posts

9.28.2011

Warp Wednesday 29: Steamtown

Gather, thralls and flesh-creatures, to listen to the story of Steamtown. It was not always the thriving necropolis it is today.
In 527AR, a group of prospectors from Cygnar located rich iron deposits within a hill westward of Blindwater. A small settlement was erected, and then grew, upon this hill. Soon, the settlement became a town and grew with industrial purpose. This town was named Steamtown.
The mines reached deeper into the hill. The deeper they dug, the thicker the bands of iron they found. They also began to run into sulfur pockets, which were both harmful and volatile. Although miners were falling ill, and fatal detonations began to be common, the mining continued.
Steamtown's morgue was run by a woman named Lilian, or Lily, and other than the gravedigger she worked alone. No one noticed the bodies go missing, with each of them assigned for cremation, it was almost too easy.
At the height of Steamtown's mortal life it provided great amounts of raw iron to the Cygnar capital. Being between two outposts, Steamtown's popularity with the kingdom grew, and dignitaries were sent into the Thornwood. Of course, Cygnar was not the only one who noticed the mines.
Lily was haunted by a being known to her only as Skar, who apparently was an emissary of his creator. Skar taught the mortician his master's lore of animation, Lilyy seemed to know half of the lessons already. When the delegation was set to arrive, Skar told her it was the time.
Ceremonies took place in a Steamtown glazed over with ornaments and streamers. The day was filled with cheers and speeches, while the evening was set to revelry. As Steamtown fell into a drunken sleep the morgue's doors opened and Lily began a stroll into town. Behind her came the town's dead.
Her thralls were crude creatures, just shambling automata bound to her will. Each of these zombies was built to contain a measure of sulfur and a mechanikal device. Lily was only one to watch the sun rise, but she had other things to do than watch the sun.
After her work was done, the townsfolk standing an undying guard inside the mines, she left. As agreed, Lily followed Skar to the Nightmare Empire, and was presented to Asphixious. She managed to stay in his favor, as his necrosurgeon, until his move to the mainland. She led the iron lich to the mines of her former life.
She saw that Steamtown had been repaired, likely by Khadorians, and then abandoned again. It was changed, but Skar and her were back home. The iron lich saw a more practical view. He ordered an underground complex made with mines and 'jack factory, it is called Helzforge.
Steamtown's ruins remain, picked clean and boobytrapped. The streets are infested by Lily's creations and the testing grounds for newly minted helljacks. Nice place to spend one's unlife.

8.31.2011

Warp Wednesday 28: Rabbit Thoughts

Welcome to Wednesday! Lets take a look at what is going on around here, things have been shaking in the Grimdark future these days. Finecast, Grey, Blood, Wolves, not-nice eldar, and no "Summer of Fliers" (unless you read a WD lately). Haven't touched Finecast, seen a few nightmares, how is that quality control doing? Those SMurfs...not a marine player. Not-nice eldar were refreshing, with a nice 'dex and even better models, IMO. Would have been nice to have gotten a plastic hydra kit or a nightwing....
I also heard some such thing as "codex creep" (which makes me picture a skinny dude in the corner metagaming and reading rules), that apparently describes the phenomena of newer books being better than the older ones. (Keep in mind my Daemonhunters are now unusable and Sisters...well.) The codex is one part of the formula for a great game, not the whole part. Consider tactics; terrain, placement, movement and the like. Importantly; attitude (we ARE playing with toys here).

Witch Hunters bring me to this point, my opponents mortally fear the black codex of doom. I use tokens to track faith points and vary the list with Inquisitors or the Priesthood. Although not as varied as my other forces, one of my favorites. So, a WD codex, virtually no improvements and some nerfing. Where is the Redeemer? (I dare you to try and keep the Sisterhood away from flame cannons). Sadly, the girls will be shelved until a real codex comes out, I just can't.....
So I am going to work on my Radical Inquisition force and rules, unless GW does the only thing that can save the Inquisition: their own codex. Think of it, Codex: Inquisition, with the three ordos, mercenary xenos, psychic choirs and unbound daemonhosts. Radical dude!

Until next round, be well.

8.24.2011

Warp Wednesday 27: Odin Sigma-r37

Getting to know the 609th, the priesthood of the Machine God. The combat-ready maniple known as Odin Sigma-r37 (or Gear-heads to the troops) stand ready to lend the 609th Armour a hand (and servo).
Magos-primaris Diemos maintains all the command codes for the maniple and oversees the well-being of the super heavies. Diemos is seconded by the Inquisition to maintain the health of their land raiders.
Odin Primary's forges are renowned for the quantity and quality of the heavy armour they supply throughout Segmentum Obscurrus, supplying to such chapters as the Flesh Tearers as well as the Inquisition.
Accompanying Diemos are servitors of varying ages, acquired or replaced during his long service record.
Of late, Diemos has been taken to the more aggressive servitor models and riding in the Gorgon super-heavy when his presence is required on the battlefield.
Eldest of Sigma-r37 is Magos Teej, chief of the 609th's motorpool. Such designs as the Mk I-IX 'cityfight' chimera, the MK II-VI 'Odin-alfa' leman russ hull and Mk I-V Hurricane bolters are attributed to his research coven.
Teej views the battlefield as the testing lab for the newest upgrade. The servitors that he brings with him consist of heavy energy weapons and an array of technical servitors.
During the Phasian War, Teej has also taken the OPDF's warmachines under his care. The venerable machines of the defense force have never run better.
Adept Phoboes represents the Cybernetica arm of Odin's preisthood. He designs and maintains the servitors required to preform the 609th's labors. These servitors are spread across the army, from the ships in orbit to the gunners wired into their weapons. Adept Phoboes interacts the most with the Medicae, albeit morbidly.
His personal servitors are all elder models which have been constantly modified on all levels. He prefers to maintain two heavy bolter gunners at all times, to 'delete errors.'
His experiments include controlled mutation, ogryn-modification and the Penance Engine (an engine that consumes half the fuel when supplemented by te agony of an interred heretic).
"Come play with Dolly!" This phrase is often heard being bellowed by Alt-Ogre-Ultima as it leads its fellow ogryn-servitors into battle. The modified creatures have proven to be much more transportable and controllable once the small amount of frontal lobe was replaced.
The ogryn-servitors are used as a solid defense 'plug'. When the armour is threatened, the brutes are sent in to smash the attackers and fill the gap. They can often be found accompanying Diemos in the Gorgon.
And, the obligatory daemon-bunny picture!

Until next round, be well.

5.04.2011

Warp Wednesday 26: Rabbit For Hire

Some people have enquired about the possibility of me doing commission work for them. The answer is, yes I would do commissions.
The next question is usually, how much? To which I reply with a question about how well they want it done. A super-fast job, from assembly to table-ready, or display-case quality?








Small Medium Large Vehicle/Monster Super Heavy
Tabletop 10 20 35 80 140
Character +8 +10 +16 +40 +80
Showcase +12 +20 +30 +60 +120
X Base +5 +8 +10 +20 +30
Conversion +10 +15 +20 +35 +50
Build +5 +10 +15 +25 +50

This is my pricing matrix, all projects begin at the "Tabletop" quality (a three layer per colour standard).  All of the other options are add-ons, like if the model is unassembled or requires extra basing like tiles.
I am a bit crazy, and commissioning conversions (and "kitbashes") would never be out of the question. From vanilla Ultramarines to obscure ancient kits, all projects are welcome.
So, in closing, feel free to contact me about commissions. No project is too strange or to large.

ricalope1@gmail.com

3.16.2011

Warp Wednesday 25: 3 W's

Not another squat post...or about shiny space marines...specifically. Today's Wednesday is about who does what and why. There is a great rift amongst many gamers, artists, musicians and almost anything else enjoyable.
Musicians, for example. There are some who create music for the joy of making music, and there are those who create a product that sounds like music. The difference is in the intent. Granted, musicians both sell albums and enjoy creating (otherwise they wouldn't be doing it), but the quality of the music's meaning will suffer. Please do not misinterpret me, there are as many "types" of people as there are people, and I don't mean to generalize. Intent is key.
How does that translate into gaming, specifically wargaming? Long ago our sacred gaming company was created by gamers who saw an opportunity to make a living by doing what they enjoyed. The company was driven by the creative power of spreading that enjoyment, and that enjoyment caught on, and the company grew. Eventually the company, which was run by gamers, was directed by profit. Many of the founders fled this bleak time (see: dnd, gw, m:tg...)
So we have to ask ourselves, why do we do what we do? This (wargaming) is a hobby and a game. We paint and play with toy soldiers because it is fun. If it stops being fun? Make it fun again, it is your game once you open the box. As long as everyone is playing by the same rules, who cares if they are written on a napkin or a shiny book?

Happy Wednesday.

3.02.2011

Warp Wednesday 24: Old Stuff Day

As it happens, Old Stuff Day is on a Wednesday, so today I am going to take a look back at some minis that rarely see the table. So, without further rambling, Gandalf on Cart!
This was the first model I painted for my local GW as a staff member, and he tends to remind me of the short but wikkid time I spent there wearing the red shirt. When I first assembled the cart I cut the round tops off, and then had to re-sculpt them since it would be used as a display piece.
Although small and brittle I think he was fun (and easy) to paint.
This is my scratchbuilt Ragnarok battle tank (read Leman Russ). The credit for assembly goes to Jim "the bus driver" who built it for me many years ago (4-5?).
Painted in the colors of the Odin Planetary Defense Force, I will be fielding it in the upcoming Phasian War, but it still needed some more paint. I have to thank the arrival of Old Stuff Day which prompted me to pull the old 'rok out.
This is a random bane knight. Long ago I contemplated collecting a Cryx force, a frozen bunch of wraiths, this guy was my test model.
Ice blue, rich purple, frosty black with lots of silver. As you know, I decided not to go this route, possibly because I didn't use washes back then.
I also didn't know how to put snow on bases, so it did not look right (too thin). I have since been educated by the blogosphere on proper snow tactics, thanks guys.
Heretic necron lord, or at least that is what I call him. He used to have an unliving legion (assembled and painted) but during a purging, they were sold to a dedicated necron player. I hope they are well (as well as evil robots can be).
Well, that concludes another Warp Wednesday,
...but wait, I forgot the links:

This whole Old Stuff Day thing was started by 39,999 over at 39,999. It is kind of neat, I like it. So here it goes:
My favorite of mine: Step by Step Drop Vets, boo ya!
The blog I think should have a way larger following: Daith's Forge (just look at his WIP Dracon!)
The conversion that blew my brain apart: Metal Harpies, they Muse Mindfully...
And the 'Awesome Robot Award goes to KMB's defiler, careful now....
I leave you with Warp Wednesday One.

Be well.

2.23.2011

Warp Wednesday 23: On The Table

These are not the droids you are looking for, these are my three 'test'-droids for the mercenaries. I was recently acquainted with Imperial Armour 8 (the ork/elysian one) and got some funny ideas (sky talon for IKE? A dune-buggy driven by beastmen? lolz.....)
Meanwhile, elsewhere on the painting table these two have been threatening passers by, bunnies, mountains, paint, and pirate girls for a little while. Smash and Grab have had painted skin for a while, and then I started painting eldar...
Tony stands guard over the painting table, with his cheese wedges. Mmmmmm cheese....sorry, I just like cheese. 'Awesome' is defined as 'cheese and bacon' where I come from.
And lastly, due to greater range capacity, Marshal. This beastie is what I call a 'claymore' super heavy. It has a couple of missiles.

And that is what is on the painting table (or; very wip stuff). Happy Wednesday,
Ricalope.