Astra Militarum CP Farm: What/ Will Anything Be Done to Curb It?

If you play competitive 40k, you are familiar with the Astra Militarum CP farm, but for the uninitiated, let me explain.

Wargamers: How do you blog from your phone?

So, you guys know I am back now, but I am struggling to find an app that is easy to use for Blogger on my iPhone. I absolutely cannot make posts from the web version of the Blogger dash (all the photo menus and stuff are infuriating. I have tried a couple of apps, but they weren't able to see recent photos from my phone, only week-old or older photos. I used to have a great blogger app years ago, but it isn't there any more. I am wondering what you use and if it works easily.

Another question I have is: Do you even use blogs as your main source of looking at cool models and keeping up with the hobby? I can tell you I really don't. I am all over Pinterest, Instagram and Twitter for my hobby needs and I never really look to the blogs as my first source for any of it, even news.

What's your experience? What are your thoughts? How are you taking in your hobby?

Invasion: Maryland

It's that time again: that special time every three or so years when I must move. This time, I am heading to Maryland and will be near plenty of friends (Wolfson, it's time!) and near some hobby folks from the web ... And not to mention great stores like Dropzone Games, Games and Stuff and even FTW, though that is a little drive. If you are in the Burnie, swing into Dropzone on Saturday. I will be painting zerks and looking to BS while I wait for Wolfson.

Of course, I will also have limited access to the internet during the move, so there will be some downtime, but I will post whenever I can and also have something to post about.

Plastic Contemptor Pattern Dreadnought?

TJ here with an idea you can steal. Want a plastic Contemptor Pattern Dreadnought?let's take a look at how GW is making this possible:

Spreading Knowledge, Sharing Skills and Coming Home

A little taste of my current project, which will be done and posted soon

TJ here to discuss being a member of the community, how we help each other grow and coming to an understanding of who you are in terms of this hobby and what your voice is. I know that seems like a lot, but just groove with me a while.

How Do You Enjoy the Hobby?

I want to pose a question to the group here about how we hobby because I know not everybody plays or if they do, maybe they don't do so conventionally or maybe they just paint and maybe, like myself, it really depends on where they are in their lives at the moment. With that said, I just want to generate a little conversation and share a few thoughts.

Warhammer/ Magic: The Gathering crossover: An appreciation for the arts!

TJ here to just share a moment of supreme crossover from CoolMiniorNot.  I have a feeling this artist is just getting started on crossovers like this! I hope so anyway!

Generosity and Community

TJ here and while I wanted to bury the subject of the last couple of posts forever, I am compelled to talk about it one last time. Rather than rehash misfortunes though, I want to speak to the spirit of generosity and community I have experienced in the last few days thanks to DFG readers.

Getting Robbed: Theives Steal More Than Just Your Models!

That's right: Theft! TJ here to briefly discuss an issue I had over the weekend. Obviously, given the headline, there was a theft and while I will keep things general as there will be legal ramifications behind it, I feel compelled to talk about it because I have seen it in the community before and I think people need to be aware that not everyone is fair or honest in the world of our hobby.

The Drawing Board: Concepts for Conversions and How I Approach a Project Initially

TJ here and you are all either going to love or hate this post because it is filled with a bunch of crappy doodle I have been making in my notebooks during the less productive moments of meetings. Now normally, I would never post anything like this, but I did get an e-mail recently that asked me how I come up with my conversions and if I just endlessly peice plastic parts together until I find the right look or if I am some kind of natural ... I don't really do either. In order to come to an idea like the angry robot above, I first hit the drawing board and see what comes out of it. Let's take a look at the process.

Lords of War: My findings based on Trail by Fire!

TJ here to talk more about my explorations in 7th. This time I will be looking into the dreaded Lords of War. I will be honest, I hated the idea of Lords of War and the Escalation book when they first debuted, so with 7th edition in full swing, I decided to give them a try as an opponent to see if my standard Necrons and Chaos allies had what it took to take them on and ultimately make my own opinion as to whether or not they belong on the table in 7th edition or in regular games of 40k.

7th Edition? The End of the World or the New Dawn?

So I grabbed 7th when it came out thanks to being in a port call at the time. Since then, I have had ample time to absorb the rules and ... thanks to the magic of shameless nerds, I have even gotten some games in as well. I have purposely hung back due to the ridiculous gnashing of teeth on the internet and just waited to form my own opinion. I will say up front that I am a competitive player (as defined by popular internet terms) so if you don't care for that style, then this article might not be for you.

Formations in 40k: The Best or the Worst?

TJ here to talk about Formations in our 40k. Formations were a hot topic when they first came out and caused quite a stir. Since then, many more formations have been released and an entirely new edition came out that made room for them ... but does everyone agree that they fit in?

An Objective Perspective on 7th Edition (link)

TJ here to share a link to an article that I really enjoyed by Mike Brandt of the Nova Open. I know many folks in our audience are not necessarily tournament players, but I am almost exclusively one. Looking at 7th edition from the outside (I am deployed and see the edition as it is painted by the internet), it is hard to figure out where things are going. One blogger in particular has always been an objective source of material on matters that impact people that play in tourneys and that is Mike.

With that said, if you enjoy tourneys at any level, I think THIS ARTICLE is objective and well thought out with out jumping to conclusions or trying to "sell players" on opinions. So, if that is up your alley, check it out. If not, pass on by. As always comments are welcome.

Hump Day and A look Ahead

Hello all and with my deployment hitting the approximate half-way point, I figure I will start planning my return. With that being said, I want to get some things out in the air and bounce some ideas off the regular readers of DFG.

TJ - Over and Out - Just for Now!

TJ here to let you know that if you are reading this, I had to leave early and that I am already gone on a deployment that will take up most of my year scheduled posts are awesome!). I didn't get to finish a couple of projects I had talked about here (and at least one behind the scenes, sorry DG). That's the way the cookie crumbles though and I am perfectly fine with it. I have been in the military for years now and wouldn't trade it for anything else. That being said, I leave the blog in the hands of the team. I know they will do a great job with the time they have in their busy lives.

That being said, I will have fairly regular access to facebook and if you want to discuss things or reach me, please head over to the Dark Future Games facebook group and ask to join, I will add you there. That is also going to be the best way to share rumors with me, projects you are working on ect. Also, since my other authors and I are all pretty busy people, we are also willing to use this time to reach out to authors out there who would like a chance to write at DFG. Those interested, hit us up on the DFG facebook group, shoot a message to the group and we will get back to you as soon as possible. We are open to hobby writers (as if you couldn't tell), but also gaming writers and we are looking to expand on what we talk about here to Skirmish Games, 40k Alternatives (basically miniature games period) and if you have a voice and are a decent writer, we are willing to give you a shot.

Enough of that though, the last thing I want to say is that DFG is not going away and I am already planning some new stuff for the blog when I return. I am looking forward to the time off and the fresh ideas it will bring when I come back home. I have always enjoyed writing here because we have some of the most positive, thoughtful and talented audiences in the tabletop miniature blogosphere and I have always appreciated it. Thank you to all those who have been with us over the years as authors, outriders, readers, friends, drinking buddies, fans ect. You have made this blog what it is today.

Anyway, I will be checking in on the FB group, so stay in touch. Now, I believe I have some oceans to cross! Have Fun!

Vacation: On Trying New Things and How Time Off Can Be a Huge Boon!

So I recently had some vacation time ... both from work and also away from the hobby/ game that is 40k and all the modelling and painting which goes with it. Time away from work is always fantastic - as anyone knows, but time away from the hobby (as I face 8 months away from it starting in February) was something I felt a little odd about at first. Basically, I just didn't want to get halfway through projects before going away ... little did I know I also needed a vacation away from the hobby to really open my eyes.

Dreadknight Daemon Prince Conversion: Part 1, Help Me Make A DP

TJ here with another big baddie. Before I took off on the boat a month ago, I was building a DP out of a Dreadknight I had won at a local tourney. I just didn't feel right with where it was going, so before I left I tore an arm off of it and disappeared.

Tau Firebase Support Cadre and 40k's First True Formation

So today, GW's Digital folks released another dataslate. This one, unlike Be'Lakor yesterday, represents a formation and unlike the FW, Apocalypse and other Expansion formations, this one is meant for use in 40k. It is a detachment all to itself and has some potency that will likely see it used. I will include the details below and then pose the question of what this means for 40k and how we play our game:

Be'Lakor Review: Black Library adds a Character Over Night!

Full credit to Ana at Painting Mum for this awesome photo

TJ here to herald the return of Be'Lakor, the first Daemon Prince to the 40k universe! There is no better way to herald his return to the fluff and the rules than to do a review of the new Army List update for CSM and Daemons: