Exotic Adversaries for Silver Tower

Getting ready for our first game of Silver Tower at the club, I discovered that new adversaries could be added to the random encounter tables during play. These are called Exotic Adversary Groups. So I built a couple.

The first is this Exalted Flamer, which comes from the Burning Chariot kit for Chaos Demons.

It turned out to be the biggest model in the set so far. That's a 40mm base hiding under the entire floating disk structure.

From the same kit comes the Herald of Tzeentch. There are many, many optional parts to build this relatively small model. But, because he comes with an Arcane Tome in the adversary description in the game, I made sure to build him with a book.

Both these models were painted primarily with the airbrush.

Our first play experience in Silver Tower was fun...but the heroes ultimately lost, as enemies spawned faster than they could be dispatched. Looking forward to attempt number two.

Well, that's going to be it for Silver Tower models for a while. Time to turn to other projects.

'Til next time.

Star Wars Christmas

If you've been following this blog for a while, you know I don't talk much about my work. This is the exception post that proves that rule...

I've spent the last two years working on the space combat mini-game for the just-released MMORPG, Star Wars: The Old Republic.

SWTOR has been running live for nearly two weeks now, and I'm happy to say that it is being well received and looks like it will be a popular and viable online game for some time to come. I've been playing the game since launch day, and it's really awesome to see all the various game systems, worked on by the project's many teams, come together so well. I quickly worked my character up to level 14, got my space ship, and tried out space combat in the live environment. Everything worked! I was very relieved.

Here's some concept art for the minefield mission.

Someone posted a screenshot of their Bounty Hunter's ship in the ice field mission.

I'm very proud of all the great people I've been working with on SWTOR for the past couple of years.

Now, back to the hobby! This past Tuesday was club night, and I ran a Kursk scenario (Wounded Tiger) from the Conflict of Heroes game system. My opponent was Mark Wall, and we played twice, switching sides for the second game.

I used micro armor for all the game pieces (just laid the bases right over the game counters).

The German rescue column.

The Russian T34s and T70s rushed in to knock out the immobilized Tiger before it could be towed off the board. The Russians wound up winning both playthroughs of this scenario...volume trumps quality again, it seems.

I leave you this week with best wishes for your Christmas season. If you have time off over the holidays, hope you can get some painting in!

'Til next time.

Mixed Bag

It was an active hobby and gaming week...even with a trip to Austin thrown in.

Started off by finishing up Epic Feora, a Menoth caster who I've been interested in playing at 50 points recently.

Her molded base is a carpet of flame which I struggled a little bit to paint, but it turned out in a passable state.

Now, I also finished off two Menoth Temple Flameguard. These two pieces (on the outer edges of this photo) finish off a maximum unit...a unit I actually started painting over five years ago. As you can see from the pieces now all arrayed, the painted styles and colors are a little different between many of the models...that's what you get for doing a unit piecemeal.

Last Tuesday night, the Edmonton Wargame Group moved into its new venue, at the Riverbend community league in the city's southwest. It's a little more homey and suburban than our prior digs over at the Warriors In Time club, but everyone seemed to like the change. We also held our semi-annual auction, which raised several month's rent for the coming year. WhooHoooo.

Finally, I got those T-70s done for the Conflict of Heroes Kursk scenario I want to put together. These are 6mm micro armor pieces mounted on 1" square metal bases.

The weather's turning colder and the hobby room is heating up.

'Til next time.

Four-player SAGA

So, a number of players at our local club pre-ordered the SAGA rules from Gripping Beast...and rulesets all got delivered two weeks ago. Good excuse for a club game!

We played the four-player scenario out of these new Dark Ages rules last Tuesday night. Dave (on the left) played Welsh. Terry and Mark (in the middle) shared the Saxon command. Scott (cursing his dice on the right) played Normans. I took Viking duties again.

We each played 4-point warbands. I was the only one to take Thralls (low quality troops) and this left me with a dice deficit from the beginning of the game. Not sure if I'd do this again, though the Thralls we able to do a good job whittling down Scott's Normans while shielding my Bondi warriors.

In the end, Dave eked out a slim victory with 58 points to Scott's 57. Terry/Mark scored in the mid-40s, and I brought up the rear with just 36. But at least my Warlord survived...which was more than some of the other guys could say!

The SAGA system continues to impress, and we'll be very happy when the campaign rules come out (rumored for the next release in the line).

Still plugging away on those Khandish horsemen models from GW's LotR line.

'Til next time.

Games This Week

I was lucky to have two really fun learning games this past week.

First off, Elliot and I had a Warmachine game over at the Edmonton Wargame Group club last Tuesday night. Neither of us had played for about two months, so it was great to shake the cobwebs out, and I got to try some of my new Menoth units.

Map setup.

Part of my starting lineup...I sent these cavalry around for a left hook, while my Daughters of the Flame did the right hook.

I was able to quickly envelop Elliot's Khador brick.

But as it turned out, I just fed units into Elliot's death grinder all evening long.

A terrible loss, but I learned a lot about playing the new Exemplar Errants unit I've recently finished up.

Then, on Saturday afternoon, Dave Coltman came over for a game of SAGA. This is the new Dark Ages skirmish rule set out from Gripping Beast in the UK.

Holy crap, is it good. The rules look nice too.

We played a scenario from the book. I took Viking attackers (6-point army), while Dave played the Anglo-Dane defenders (5-point army). This was the initial terrain set up...with my longship just beaching at the base of the village.

The Vikings debark!

On my left flank, I'm threatening one of the victory buildings with some Thrall bow fire.

My Bondi spearmen break through the market to get at Dave's Huscarls.

I cleared out the first two victory buildings pretty fast, then closed in and encircled the last one. By the end of the game, I tabled Dave's army, except for his Warlord. And honestly...that was a lot of fun.

SAGA just came out this week, and it is an innovative and very fun system that relies on the players planning out their turns based on the rolls of special "saga" dice which are then applied to army-centric battle boards. Essentially, the planning and application of these dice dictate what you can do in a given turn. You can also save dice on your battle board to counter your opponent's actions in his upcoming turn...so foresight is rewarded.

I haven't been this jazzed about a new game since Disposable Heroes came out from Iron Ivan Games six or so years ago. Can't wait to play again...I think this system will see a lot of play out at the Tuesday night club.

'Til next time.

EWG Library Display

The Edmonton Wargame Group was invited again this year to set up a display in the Riverbend Public Library branch for the month of November. I went in today and put the display together.

The pics are not great...lots of glare off the display glass, but you get the idea. The top two shelves show a WWI dogfight and a dark ages stand off between Vikings and Britons.

Under the Dark Ages shelf is a WWII Normandy display.

This shot shows the Danish army along with the longboat I just finished off.

Below the Normandy village is a Warmachine display using a fine selection of Elliot's Khador troops. Unfortunately, none of the pics I took of the bottom shelf (Battlefleet Gothic) turned out...bummer.

It's October 31st, so I'll close with this pumpkin shot from the front porch. Happy Hallowe'en!

'Til next time.

First WFB Game

I played my first game of WFB (ever) last night at the club. It was a great introduction to the system. We had a three-way game. I played my new Lizardmen. Scott had is Tomb Kings out and Mark brought his Bretonnians.

Here's the ubiquitous opening table shot where you can't see anything that's going on. Lizardmen at the bottom. Kings at the top left and Bretonnians on the right.


Here is a shot of Mark's knights. OK, get this. Mark bought his entire army at a local swap meet...painted...for $25. Come on!


Here's one of Scott's skeleton blocks. He painted his army last year; very nice! It became apparent last night that Tomb Kings need an army book update. They seemed underpowered, point-for-point, when compared to the other armies on the table.


My stegadon charged a unit of Scott's monstrous infantry. The impact hits pretty much took care of them right off the bat. Go steg! My Saurus Warriors charged the skeleton block and after two rounds of combat, chewed them up.


Things didn't go quite so well against Mark's Bretonnians. Although the skinks took out a Paladin with poison javelins, this pegasus-mounted knight destroyed the whole unit in a run down.


Although the Slann whacked 5 of 12 Grail Knights with Dwellers Below, the remaining knights destroyed the Temple Guard without breaking a sweat. The Skink Priest did get a big magic missile off against the Breton general and eliminated her handily.


With the Tomb Kings getting the better of their fight with the Bretonnians they faced, we called the game after two hours as a draw. Super fun! Thank to Scott and Mark for a great introduction to the game.

'Til next time.

Harbinger Versus Epic Vladimir

Played a 35pt game of Warmachine out at the club last night against Elliot's Khador forces. I took a Tier 4 Harbinger list against his Epic Vlad warcaster.

Here is the Harbinger, along with her "bodyguards".

Here is a shot of Elliot's beautiful cavalry models, backed up with a group of snipers.

Vlad arrives on the scene with his wardog and a heavy warjack.

The killing blow comes from the Harbinger, who casts two Cataclysm spells on Vlad...knocking him into next week.

I've really been enjoying the new MkII Warmachine and can't wait for the new Hordes rules to come out this summer. I've got an Everblight army lined up at the painting table waiting for attention after I finish off a slew of Menoth models.

'Til next time.

Club Night: March 2, 2010

Soooo...Bob had to make a quick trip up to Athabasca today, so club AAR duties fall to me this week!

We had 11 players out tonight, along with a couple of visitors. To kick things off, Dave and Scott played scenario 4 of their Dark Ages WAB campaign, and things are swinging in Scott's favor. Dave's northern warband failed it's impetuousness roll and chased after one of Scott's smaller units, allowing Scott's Normans to rush a unit through the gap and achieve the scenario's victory conditions.

Hairy guys with swords...check. It's the Dark Ages. I think these are Dave's figs.

Chen-song and Bruce had a game of Dirtside II. It was 2050 in Paraguay. Chen-song's technically superior American forces wasted a lot of Bruce's low tech armor...but Bruce took the objective city with infantry and won the scenario.

Justin hosted another game of Command Decision 4. Here, Parker's late war Germans were unable to root out Russ' Soviets. Russians win.

Finally, I ran a game of late 1917 Canvas Eagles with Matt, John and first-timer, Craig.

Upholding the grand tradition of beginner's luck, Craig's first damage chit draw against John was a fuel tank explodes. At the end of the game, Craig lined up a lucky shot against Matt and drew...wait for it...Pilot Killed. Never mind that Craig lost two planes in the battle...the damage was done!

All around, another fun night at the club.