Dog Bowl III and Mordheim Stuff - 1/27/15

This year's Dog Bowl is fast approaching.  This will be the 5th KUBBL presented tournament and for the last three years we've held it at Marmalade Dog, a gaming convention but on by the West Michigan Gamers Guild. 

We have monkeyed around with multiple rule sets over the past four tournaments and the one we've landed on is the rule set we used last year except we are playing three rounds as opposed to four.

The tournament is free to anyone who enters the convention, therefore we don't have any income and need to get creative with our prizes.  This year Randroid and I decided we would build 3D dugouts to be used as trophies.  We are both doing our own things so each dugout will be original and different.  We used standardized dimensions but that's it.

For materials I am using foamcore board, sucker sticks (unused), balsa wood, an orange bag, and random bits.  Here is what I have so far.

Blood Bowl dugouts have three areas: Reserves, KO, and Dead and Injured.  The tiles at the bottom are for turns and re-rolls.  These dugouts will fit on some FF Field Boards.  The plan is to use the bag and sucker sticks to make chain link fence.  These need to be ready in less than two week so I need to get my butt in gear.

But...

...I have been working on other stuff too.  I made some small random things to use in Mordheim.  I used craft sticks and balsa wood just to make some stuff to take up room and such.  It's not finished or painted but I shouldn't have been working on these at all.

The picture is that good but it's a fruit stand, stocks, and gallows.  I'll post more and better pics as I go.

Game Play - Practice Games

I'm getting closer and closer to knowing all the rules but I'm still so far away.  Last night hosted two more practice games of Mordheim.  A friend of mine wanted to tryout Skaven so we played a couple Skaven versus Witch Hunters games.  I should have taken photos but I forgot.  This was my first opportunity to use some of the terrain I'm working on and it definitely adds to the game.  Once I get it painted up it'll be even better.

The first game was Break Through and the Skaven chose to be the attackers.  As the previous Storytime hinted at I dropped my two zealots and added a crossbow to one Witch Hunter and pistols to the other two.  The added shooting helped me quite a bit in this game.  The rats used their speed well and covered it with sling fire very well.  My flagellants, though tough, thought they shouldn't be there and were quickly put out of action.  My Witch Hunters passed four route test before the Skaven even had to take one.  Luckily for me they failed their first test and gave the Witch Hunters the win.  Of my eight warband members who started the game only three finish. The Skaven started with ten and routed at 7.  I won the objective but the Skaven kicked my butt.

The second game was Skirmish.  Once again the Skaven showed their speed and fighting prowess against me causing me to pass three route tests.  I was able to attack their weakest players and cause them to take their first route test which they promptly failed.  Again they won the pure number game but I accomplished the objective.  My flagellents again proved worthless in hand-to-hand combat with all three of them getting put out of action, two of them by henchmen with daggers.

I'm looking forward to getting more scenery done, my warband done, and painting up and converting the Skaven.  Hopefully we can get a campaign going soon...

Storytime - Mordheim - So Long Old Friends

Brat Khresti enters the great room with a somber look.  No one died in the battle.  We didn't gain ground but we didn't lose any either, what could it be?  There were empty seats at the table.  Vtrara and Palomnyk were not there, nor was Kihot.

Kihot entered the room.  "Vtrara and Palomnyk have served this city well and faithfully for many years, but they have decided to leave the order.  They have been called back to their homes and feel they will serve their purpose there.  Our numbers are weakened and our rank grows small, but we have been granted a great gift.  Those of us who remain are steadfast in our mission and our scope.  More than ever, we need to form an unshakeable bond for the good folk of this city.  We all need to get better, be better.  Orden Molotka will rid this city of the plague that ails it."

Update 1/14/15 - Random Thoughts

So, I've been thinking... this blog has become a bit more than a paint log for me.  I used to be huge into playing sports.  I even planned my life to include being a golf professional (not a professional golfer, see the difference).  Things happen in life and the best laid plans don't always pan out.

Anyway for the past 5 years or so I've turned the attention playing sports used to get toward gaming, Blood Bowl specifically.  Some friends asked me if I wanted to play in a local league with them and I decided, reluctantly, to give it a shot.   I started out borrowing a team and playing.  The next thing I know, I'm listening to podcasts about it, reading up on it, and even going to tournaments.  Then I decided I wanted to give painting a shot and bought my first team.  Since then I've painted those Dark Elves (2x), a Slann team (2x), a Khemri team (since stripped), an Undead/Necro team for a friend, a Norse team for a friend, my Dwarfs of Anarchy, and a bunch of sideline figures.  All for BB use.

Because of the fun I've had with Blood Bowl I've met a lot of great people that I wouldn't have met without it.  One of those people has become my go-to whenever I have painting questions and he's the one who asked me to give Mordheim a try.   We played one measly practice game and now I'm super interested.  So much so that I converted up and painted a warband (well... it's almost done) and now I'm hooked on building up some terrain for the game.

I still follow my A's, Bears, Bulls, Blackhawks, and Spartans.  I still enjoy watching golf, boxing, MMA, and occasionally soccer.  But those are things I have to watch now.  I get to actually play, paint, and build with these new hobbies and that has given me a new area to put that attention.

I haven't had much time for building, painting, converting or playing lately but I'm still getting some stuff done and I intend to get that posting done soon too.  I think I"m going to shoot for one update a week but I'll do more if I can.

The New Year!

It's funny how the calendar changing from 12/31 to 1/1 brings the feeling of renewal.  It's a totally subjective thing but the psychology of it works for me.  Anyhow, what will 2015 bring?  I feel as though I got a lot accomplished yet so much is undone.  I've tried to be a list maker but that hasn't worked so well... so what do I try now?

Instead of giving myself to-do lists I think I'll try the broad goal approach.  I'm going to list the tasks I have for myself as of now and that'll be a sort of guideline for me.

1.  Build enough terrain for a Mordheim and a WHFB table.  I have been building a lot of city-esque terrain lately and I'm having a blast doing it.  I getting faster and planning better and therefore this shouldn't be difficult.

2.  Finish my Witch Hunters.  I'm so close just finish them.

3.  Make a Skaven Warband.  Pieces acquired, now to convert them and paint them. 

4.  Assemble and paint one Blood Bowl team for me and one for a friend.

That is all I'm going to list, I'm sure other things will pop up but this is a good start.

Here are some more images for my Mordheim Foam-core work.

Three Story Inside

Three Story Outside

Three Story with Ladders

The Ruins

Two Story Inside

 

 

 

Random Filler Ruins

Before any of these ruins see paint they'll receive texture and some more damage.  They're close.  I have plans drawn up for wall towers, a saloon, a long house, and a cathedral.   I think this will be the approximate order also.  The cathedral will be quite an under taking so I plan to paint up the rest of the ruins before I build that.