Board Game: Merchants & Marauders

I purchased a couple of board games from Hyggeonkel the night before yesterday, and they arrived with the postal service while I was sleeping today - and luckily, my youngest daughter, Lea, heard the doorbell.

I have not had time to read through the rules, yet, but the game looks very good. Both plastic and cardboard components seem good quality, and this Danish Design game comes with zip-lock bags for all the small components - a first for me with this kind of game!

I am looking forward to try my luck as a daring privateer on the Spanish Main!

Blood Eagle: Ivar Finished!

A couple of days ago, I thought I would never get this one finished. It felt like I was painting om and on, and yet still more details were untouched by the brushes.

Alone today, I have spent 3 whole hours to get the last touches done (and that is without painting and decorating the base).

And, yet, I just realized that I have forgotten to paint the clasp on the 'baldric'... shall have to mend that after the weekend, as I am attending Åcon in Esbjerg, and I am working this night and tomorrow night, so I shall not have time for anything but getting my camp equipment ready (tent, air mattress, air pump, sleeping bag, beer, cooler bag, etc.).

Update, 2019-10-26:

I forgot all about writing up the colour breakdown for Ivar, and by now I have completely forgotten what colours I used. As he is not part of a uniformed group, it does not really matter, though-

Name	Ivar									Points Cost
Attributes	Fate	FV	SV	Speed	Religion
Value	4+	+2	+2	+0	Pagan					26
Points	4	2	2	0						8
Traits
Armour	Læderbrynje og Let Hjælm					Encumbrance	Light	Armour Rating:	9	2
Fighting Weapon	Attack Bonus	Hands Required	Fate Modifier	Notes						Points Cost
Økse	+3	1	-1	Sundering						8
Unarmed - Unskilled	+0	1	+1							0
Shooting Weapon	Attack Bonus	Range	Hands Required	Fate Modifier	Notes					Points Cost
Jagtbue	+2	16”	2	-2						8

Latest Purchase

I approached the seller of these mainly because of the Lizardmen, but he had a few other bits and bobs that I thought might come in handy for Dragon Rampant, God of Battles, and other fantasy purposes.

None of the minis are very nicely painted (the Saurus Warriors are actually the nicest ones), but they will do for instant units for getting a game on the table in no time!

Rebel Alliance Reinforcements

While visiting Dragons Lair (the only dedicated Games Store on Funen, as far as I know) earlier today to get some paints, I stumbled over a Star Wars Armada Rebel Fighter Squadrons Expansion Pack, and I followed an impulse to purchase it.

It contains two each of A-Wing, B-Wing, X-Wing, and Y-Wing squadrons/stands.

Each type of fighter has one 'Named Character': Wedge Antilles (X-Wing), "Dutch" Vander (Y-Wing), Keyan Farlander ((B-Wing), and Tycho Celchu (A-Wing).

All the fighter types of course are different; the X-Wing clearly pack the most punch, but the diminutive A-Wing has the interesting 'Counter' rule, which allows it to return fire when attacked by a fighter squadron - even if  it is destroyed by the attack! Nasty little hornets!

I need to get some games played to get the hang of the different potentials, but I have a feeling that I am going to want to add more fighters to the Rebel forces, as I think the picture of small Rebel vessels escorted by swarms of fighters squaring off against Imperial Star Destroyers sending out wave after wave of TIE-Fighters is iconic to the Star Wars universe!

I do, however, wish that Flying Fantasy Games would sell the fighters in single-type packs instead of these mixed sets (the Imperial Fighter Squadrons Expansion Pack contains four types of TIE) with limited numbers of each type, but, sadly, it is probably not going to happen.

Got Me Some Paints

As the temperature here is close to 30 Centigrades, with no wind and extreme humidty, I have not been sleeping all too well today.

So, instead of sitting down in the study to paint or decorate bases, I opted to drive to Odense and buy a few hobby supplies I need.

OGAM: Harpies

Part of a batch I purchased last week, these are destined to become a part of a Roman/Greek OGAM warband.

I threw them in my ultra-sonic cleaner (which seems to have survived the small 'explosion' which I thought was a blown fuse), and the paint  virtually flew off the minis.

As you can see, I am one wing short, and I am probably going to get some 'Instant Mold' to press-mold a replacement for the missing part.

A Unit of Gondorian Infantry

When going through a box containing a lot I purchased over a year ago, I stumbled on 12 painted and based Warriors of Minas Tirith.

Twelve is exactly the number I need for one or two Dragon Rampant units, or one God of Battles unit (I just need some command models for the latter), and as they are painted to a fair tabletop-standard, I think I can just use them right away. Score!

More High Elves!

I bought another batch of High Elves, mainly to get some more Ellyrian Reavers so I can get two units worth of cavalry ready for Dragon Rampant - but also with a more long-term agenda of making a full God of Battles army out of them.

There is a new-on-frame Griffon Rider, which brings me up to three of these, and I am contemplating finding another, to be able to field a Reduced Models Unit of these in addition to my single Model Unit Leader.

Severe Withdrawal Symptoms

I have been watching the European Championships on a massive scale over the last three weeks, and now, with the two days break between the last group games and the first 1/8 finals, my TV feels a bit empty in the evening.

I have been at the midsummer celebration (Sankt Hans) bonfire at the scouts' club house with the kids, after sleeping most of the day and picking up a couple of second hand miniatures lots I have purchased (pics will follow tomorrow), so I have not have time to get any hobby activity squeezed in today - I hope to at least decorate some bases on either the Uruk-Hai or the Rohan warriors tomorrow afternoon.

Blood Eagle: The Three Raiders

Sigurdr Krage's warband grows slowly, but steadily. As I began painting Ivar yesterday, I am now more than half through painting the minis for this, my first Viking, warband (took me long enough!), and the task seems less daunting for each passing day, as long as I get some painting done.

I am still not sure whether I shall be able to  get the warband finished before the summer holidays, but for now I shall just  paint on, hoping for the best!

Blood Eagle: Halfdan Reporting for Duty!

I seem to be spewing them out, now (in reality, I was working on this one in between painting the white on Thorstein's shield).

Halfdan is now ready to join Úlf in securing the loot, while the rest of the raiders keep the opposition busy (at least, that is the plan).

Colours Used:

Helm:

1. C Boltgun Metal
2. C Badab Black
3. C Boltgun Metal
4. C Chainmail

Skin:

• Usual recipe

Beard (not my best recipe):

1. C Vermin Brown
2. C Desert Yellow (I think, I have a hard time remembering those yellowish paints from each other)
3. AP Skeleton Bone

Tunic:

• F Storm Green triad

 Belt and Shoes:

1. V Black Red + Black
2. V Black Red
3. C Khorne Red

 Trousers:

• Some blue-grey paint, probably C Space Wolf grey, first layer a mix with black

'Wicklers' (Dyller):

1. V Black Red
2. C Khorne Red
3. C Mephiston Red

Axe Heads:

1. C Boltgun Meta
2. C Chainmail

Hand Axe Handle:

1. V Khaki Brown
2. AP Skeleton Bone

Throwing Axe Handle:

1. C Vermin Brown
2. C Vomit Brown

Stats:

Name	Halfdan, Warrior									Points Cost
Attributes	Fate	FV	SV	Speed	Religion
Value	4+	+2	+1	+0	Pagan					22
Points	4	2	1	0						7
Traits
Armour	Hjælm					Encumbrance	Light	Armour Rating:	8	1
Fighting Weapon	Attack Bonus	Hands Required	Fate Modifier	Notes						Points Cost
Økse	+3	1	-1	Sundering						8
Kasteøkse	+2	1	-1	Can be thrown						6
Unarmed - Unskilled	+0	1	+1							0
Shooting Weapon	Attack Bonus	Range	Hands Required	Fate Modifier	Notes					Points Cost
Kasteøkse	+2	6”	1	-1						(6)

Blood Eagle Vikings: 'Group' Shot so Far

Lacking anything else to post, I made a photo of the two painted Viking raiders so far finished (I think I shall have a third one ready tomorrow).

I like the way this is going, but I am a bit miffed because of the very slow speed the project is unfolding at.

I am focussing on getting some Vikings painted at the moment, which means that the Uruk-Hai and the Rohan warriors have not had their bases finished, yet, but that is secondary to getting Sigurdr's warband on the table. I really hope to be able to finish painting this batch of Vikings before our summer holidays, but that will still mean that - apart from Åcon in about 10 days from now - I shall not have played a single game for over 8 months, which is far too long, given the amount of time and money I spend on the hobby.

Blood Eagle: Thorstein All Done!

Took me some extra time, as I had to figure out, how to use the Little Big Men Studios shield sticker, and then, as the stickers for Gripping Beast plastic shields do not really fit that very shield with the javelins and no leather rim, what I wanted to do about the rim.

I finally decided to paint on a rim, similar to the sculpted rims on the standard shields (I seriously contemplated sculpting it on, but decided that it would be too much hassle).

Colours Used:

Helm and Shield Boss:

1. C Boltgun Metal
2. C Badab Black
3. C Boltgun Metal
4. C Chainmail

Skin:

• Usual recipe

Beard:

1. V Khaki Grey
2. AP Skeleton Bone
3. WZ Legionaire Flesh

Tunic:

• Starting with a mix of Scorched Brown and Bone (5:1), successively more Bone mixed in.

Belt and Shield Rim:

1. C Scorched Brown
2. C Scorched Brown + C Bestial Brown
3. C Bestial Brown

Pouch:

1. V Black Red + Black
2. V Black Red
3. C Khorne Red

Seax Sheath:

1. C Vermin Brown
2. C Vermin Brown + C Vomit Brown
3. C Vomit Brown

Seax Handle:

• F Musket Stock Brown triad

Trousers:

• Successive lighter mixes of C Scorched Brown + Grey

 Shoes:

1. C Snakebite Leather ++ C Scorched Brown
2. C Snakebite Leather + C Scorched Brown
3. C Snakebite Leather

 White Metals:

1. C Boltgun Metal
2. C Chainmail
3. C Mithril Silver

Axe Handle:

1. V Khaki Brown
2. AP Skeleton Bone

Javelin Shafts:

1. C Desert Yellow (I think)
2. AP Skeleton Bone

Javelin 'Wrappings':

• F Rawhide triad

 Shield Backside:

1. C Graveyard Earth ++ Black
2. C Graveyard Earth + Black
3. C Graveyard Earth

Shield Front:

1. White
2. LBMS sticker
3. Gloss Varnish
4. Matt Varnish

Stats:

Name	Thorstein, young Viking									Points Cost
Attributes	Fate	FV	SV	Speed	Religion
Value	5+	+1	+1	+0	Pagan					22
Points	2	1	1	0						4
Traits
Armour	Hjælm, skjold					Encumbrance	Light	Armour Rating:	10	4
Fighting Weapon	Attack Bonus	Hands Required	Fate Modifier	Notes						Points Cost
Kastespyd	+1	1	-1	Can be thrown						6
Økse	+3	1	-1	Sundering						8
Unarmed - Unskilled	+0	1	+1							0
Shooting Weapon	Attack Bonus	Range	Hands Required	Fate Modifier	Notes					Points Cost
Kastespyd	+1	9”	1	-1						(6)

Game Cancelled!

The Dragon rampant game I had arranged for today got cancelled, as my opponent did not arrive until 4.15 in the afternoon, and it was a bit too close to the time I had to start preparing supper for starting up on a game for which we would have to decide scenario, arrange terrain, and then play using rules only one participant has knowledge of (and only from reading them a couple of times), and that one being somewhat weary from working in the garden all morning.

Too bad, but annoying things happen.

High Elf Griffon Rider: Lance Repaired

It took me a bit longer than anticipated to get the broken lance mended; it proved a bit too heavy for staying in place while the polystyrene cement settled, so I gave up on that approach, and pinned it in place instead.

To do that, I had to find my pin vice drill, which had not been in use for almost a year, and thus had time to make itself scarce (the small glass I store it in had been slowly pushed in behind my painting desk arrangement), and I managed to get a piece of graphite from a refillable pencil stuffed under my thumb nail in the process...

It is now as ready as it will get for tomorrow's game(s?) of Dragon Rampant. At some point I shall have to fix a flying stand for it, but for now it will just have to be placed directly on the table.

The other Griffon Rider from the recently purchased painted batch is missing his lance, and I think I am going to put a wire lance in his hand and make him an army standard, probably out of paper, as it is a method I have a bit of experience with.

Dragon Rampant: Warband Boxes Fixed

After preparing the attic for Sunday, I cut down a couple of printer paper cardboard boxes, one for each of the warbands. This makes storage and transportation a lot easier, and I needed that for, if I am going to bring the warbands for Åcon.

I have not placed magnetic sheets in them, as I have not had time for rebasing the miniatures onto washers.

I still need to glue the lance back in place on the griffon rider, I shall see to that tomorrow!

Preparing the Attic

As I have a game arranged for Sunday, it was time to prepare the use of the garage attic, which had not been touched since Anna's Halloween party last autumn.

So, after returning home from work (night watch) this morning, I grabbed a bucket, some dishcloths, and rubber gloves, and set about cleaning the tables and chairs.

I then played around with some table layouts as preparation for Attic Attack, as I want to have some games standing ready for the participants this year.

I am going to use the green table nearest to the stove for Sunday's game, by the way.

Dragon Rampant: Tzaxl's Bonecrushers

As mentioned in my previous post. I have a game of Dragon Rampant arranged for Sunday, and here is the Lizardmen warband that is going to face the might of Ulthúan:

Bases will have to do as they are, as I have no time for rebasing at the moment - I am busy painting my Blood Eagle Viking warband, which I hope to have ready before the summer holidays.

The army composition is as follows:

UNIT NAME/TYPE	Tzaxl's Body Guard, Leader, Elite Foot	POINTS	6
Options Chosen
Special Rules	Ranger

UNIT NAME/TYPE	Ankhatoc's Temple Guards, Elite Foot	POINTS	6
Options Chosen
Special Rules	Ranger

UNIT NAME/TYPE	Xlxhol's Flesh-Eaters, Saurus Warriors, Heavy Foot	POINTS	4
Options Chosen	Offensive (Attack Value 4+)		2
Special Rules	Ranger

UNIT NAME/TYPE	Kaigor's Killers, Saurus Warriors, Heavy Foot	POINTS	4
Options Chosen	Offensive (Attack value 4+)		2
Special Rules

UNIT NAME/TYPE	Uaxchi's Serpent Warriors, Skinks, Light Foot	POINTS	3
Options Chosen
Special Rules	Wall of Spears (Min. 6 Strength Points)

Dragon Rampant: Prince Arodon's Vanguard

I have arranged a game of Dragon Rampant in Argonor's Attic Sunday afternoon, and it will be High Elves versus Lizardmen (in other words, two armies that I have not painted anything for, myself!)

The High Elf warband looks like this:

I need to glue the lance of Prince Arodon in place, but arranging a flying stand for him will have to wait.

The army is composed as follows:

UNIT NAME/TYPE	Prince Arodon, Elite Rider Single Model Unit (1)	POINTS	6
Options Chosen	Flying (Griffon)		2
Special Rules	Wild Charge, Counter-charge, Flying

UNIT NAME/TYPE	Aenor's Death Dealers, Ellyrian Reavers, Heavy Riders	POINTS	4
Options Chosen	Mounted Missiles		1
Special Rules	Counter-charge

UNIT NAME/TYPE	Eriston's Guardians of Ulthúan, Lothern Sea Guard, Elite Foot	POINTS	6
Options Chosen	Missiles		2
Special Rules	Ranger

UNIT NAME/TYPE	Thalaweston's Blades of Vengeance, Swordmasters of Hoeth, Bellicose Foot	POINTS	4
Options Chosen	Terrifically Shiny Armour (Armour 3)		2
Special Rules	Ranger, Wild Charge, Counter-charge versus Foot, Fleet Footed

High Elf Warband Arrived!

I purchased these second hand last week, and they arrived with the mailman this morning.

There is a few repairs to do, and I shall have to paint the still only primed Ellyrian Reaver, and find one more somewhere to have two units for Dragon Rampant.

One of the Griffon Riders is also missing his lance, but a wire spear/pike and a paper banner will mend that somewhen in the future.

Roll call so far:

High Elf Knight on Griffon: Elite Rider Reduced Unit, 6 pts, Flying, 2 pts, 8 pts. (1 model)

Ellyrian Reavers: Heavy Riders w/Mounted Missiles, 5 pts (6 models)

Swordmasters of Hoeth: Bellicose Foot w/Terrifically Shiny Armour, 6 pts. (12 models)

Lothern sea Guard: Elite Foot w/Missiles, 8 pts. (6 models)

Total: 27 pts.

I now just need to make a same-size warband out of some of my recently purchased Lizardmen, and we are good to go!!

I can also double this force any time by forming the Swordmasters into two Reduced Units, getting one more Reaver and paint those two missing ones!

A Gathering of.. Snails...?

As I was taking a stroll in our back yard this evening, I noticed a lot of white/grey dots in the somewhat dry grass.

Upon further inspection it turned out to be a lot of large snails (escargots), which seem to thrive in spite of the draught we have had the last couple of weeks.

I told my family, and Anna promptly went out to see for herself, and I brought the camera to get a few shots of this abundance of wildlife.

My early use of snail poison (ferromol) seems to have worked a treat on the 'killer slugs' (Iberian Forest Slug), as I could not spot a single one today. It may also mean that there is more food for the snails, allowing them to multiply, which is a good thing in my book!

Anna insisted om having her picture taken with these two little beauties.

This is one of the great things about having a large garden with different kinds of 'terrain' - always little things to experiance/explore in the different corners of the outdoors.

Feeling Sheepish...

I have been painting a bit today, but still no finished Viking to show for it.

Instead, I present you a Manx Loaghtan from Gripping Beast that I cleaned up and glued onto a washer this evening, in between two European Championship matches.

It is OK, I guess, but still not a very nice casting (some nasty moldlines running along the back of the sheep), but when painted up, no-one will probably notice.

I expect to finish Thorstein tomorrow, as I should have plenty time for painting, but he is the member of the warband with the most details to paint, so although it seems that I have painted most of him, he may still cost me some time to do.

I've Been Footballed

The UEFA European Championship commenced yesterday, and during my work periods, for the next three weeks, I am not going to accomplish much else than watching the games on TV.

The first game is on at 15.00, just after I get up, ends shortly before 17.00 when I have to start preparing supper, the next starts at 18.00, and I can walk the dog in the pause about 18.45 to 19.00.

At about 19.45 I then read to Lea (we are half through The Two Towers right now), and then I have about 45 minutes to watch news, check updates, etc.

The last game(s) each day are on at 21.00, and I have to drive to work midways through the second half (which is fairly annoying, but you cannot have it all).

Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday I am not at work, so I shall get some painting done. but then I am at work Wednesday night and Thursday night, before having another 5 days off.

Wolves!

My latest purchase: Second-hand painted plastic GW wolves for some purposes (GoB, Dragon/Lion Rampant, Blood Eagle, etc.).

Blood Eagle: Last Gripping Beast Civilians

I did not paint anything today, because my stupid dog toppled an empty wine bottle in the conservatory, sending glass splinters all over the tiled floor - making me decide that it was time to get the rest of the bottles out of the way, which means removing the front and back labels and get them sorted after type and colour, before stowing them away in fruit cases in the far corner of the garage.

In between, while waiting for the bottles to reach the right temperature in the hot water, I worked on my Gripping Beast Dark Ages civilians, as I wanted to keep focussed on the Blood Eagle project.

All the four male peasants/shepherds have open hands in which to place some appropriate tool. I think the guy in the back with the outstretched arm (who is probably the farm owner) is going to be stabbing with a pitchfork, and the rest of them probably just holding staves,

Below are all the Gripping Beast civilians I own, and have prepped. As mentioned, I still have to put tools in the hands of the males, but we shall see about that tomorrow...

Blood Eagle: More Civilians

Painting Thorstein is painstakingly slow, probably mainly because I am still not very motivated for painting (I really need to play some games to spark my enthusiasm).

In the meantime, I turn my attention to other sub-projects in between, trying to keep some focus on the Dark Ages, and the Blood Eagle project in particular.

Got the last women and children cleaned up and glued on washers this afternoon/evening.

Next up will be the male peasants/shepherds, and then the Manx Loaghtan sheep I purchased at the same occation.

We Shall Fight in the Shade!

My recent purchase of OGAM, of course led to a renewed interest in ancient Greece, and as I was asking around on the LAF about which manufacturer makes the nicest ancient Greeks, I was offered a couple of boxes fairly cheap through the Danish gaming forum Powerfist.dk.

I decided to get them, because, as you may be well aware of, a wargamer can never have too many projects or miniatures!

As with all my other current plans, I shall start by constructing a couple of Blood Eagle warbands out of some of these, then expand them into some OGAM units to fight my Caesarean Romans, which I intend to get built/painted  first.

A Long Time Ago in a Village Far Away...

...when I had most of my gaming stuff stoved away for moving to our current abode, I started a half-hearted Kings of War project with my Warhammer 3rd Edition High Elves.

Needless to say, the project stalled during the moving process, and I haven't really touched the High Elves since then.

This is how far I got back then:

A couple of days ago, some fellow had a couple of plastic High Elves for sale, and I decided to jump in and get them, as I then have enough for a small army (and I have always liked the look of the GW Elves), which, of course, will start out with first a Blood Eagle warband, then expand into an OGAM warband, etc., etc....

The expansion of my High Elf collection arrived in the mail today.

I look forward to getting time to do something with them - I already have some ideas for their Blood Eagle profiles - but I must stay focussed on my Dark Ages project in order to get a good scenario covered for the Blood Eagle table at Attic Attack!

More Lizardmen for God of Battles (and Other Purposes)

About a week ago, I was lucky to find a not-too-expensive offer on some Lizardmen to complement my previous purchase.

Some Cold One Riders, more Saurusses and Skinks, and - more important -a bunch of metal Temple Guards.

Also a hero on a Giant Cold One, and another Slann.

I shall start constucting a Blood Gorged army for God of Battles out of my Lizardmen very soon, as I like the feel of that army list very much!

For Attic Attack. I expect to have a God of Battles table with the Lizardmen facing my undead, a Blood Eagle table, a SAGA (LotR) table, and a Star Wars Armada table, leaving two tables for participants to populate, for painting, or just for socializing.

Summertime!

Yesterday, around noon, before my in-laws visited for coffee and cake (Anna's birthday), I offered the girls the garden sprinkler for a short break form the summer heat.

Anna took a while to decide if she wanted to make use of the offer, but Lea jumped right in!

The next week should not be quite as warm as the last 4-5 days, but still with day temperatures over Celsius 20 degrees. I hope it will not prove too much for sleeping during the daytime, as I am starting my 5-night work shift Wednesday night.

Blood Eagle: Thorstein WIP

Started painting this today, but ran into a problem when painting his skin; my Dwarven Flesh seems to have been thinned a bit too much, and I cannot get it to stay on the ridge of the fingers (instead it runs into the groves between them).

I have had the pot sitting open for a couple of hours, shaking it sometimes, too let some of the water evapourate, and I shall try it again tomorrow.

I shall probably also do a bit of work on the Uruk-Hai and Rohan/Saxon bases.

It seems that I forgot a mold-line on Thorstein's right arrm, but there is really nothing I can do about it, now, without ruining the work I have already done, so we shall all just have to live with it.

Some Days, Life is Tough...

...but yesterday was not that day.

In the afternoon, my wife and kids decided to drive to the beach (in Svendborg), so I got out one of our camping sun loungers, found a shady spot, picked up a discounted frame of beers from the local SuperBrugsen, and was all set to enjoy the Celsius 28 degrees temperature.

And waht a summer's day!

Hardly a cloud in sight, and the sky as blue as the Mediteranean Sea.

As you can see, my lawn is suffering from the heat and draught, but it only means that I don not have to mow it as often, and that some of the moss will wither away.

I do have garden stuff I need to do, but there is no need for being hasty when the Danish summer shows itself from its best side!

Molly also found a shady spot

After returning from the beach, the kids fetched the garden furniture from the shed, and we were all set to enjoy a barbeque.

I took a test photo, and, somehow, Lea managed to get in it. My camra did not like the sunlight reflecting from the brick wall.

I forgot the the camera resets everytime I turn it off, thus I did not get back to the table for this photo.

And, finally, the entire family ejoying a barbeque supper. I think Anna just spotted Molly...