Happy Halloween!

We're just about to set out with our three little goblins for some Trick-or-Treating, but before we ventured out, I just wanted to wish everyone a Happy and Safe Halloween, may the Emperor's Light protect you from herectic, the mutant, the daemon, and the undead!

Dark Eldar - Initial Thoughts

I've been checking out the round tables discussions on the GW site regarding the new Dark Eldar. If you remember, a while back I mentioned that I was considering making this new line my first bad guy army. I had based that claim solely on the cool looking new miniatures, but as I listened to the round tables, I grew more interested in their background. Much like GW, I never really gave much attention to the Dark Eldar, so I don't know how much of the background discussion are new and how much is old stuff but this race sounds a lot like a cross between Stargate Atlantis' Wraith combined with the Borg from Star Trek. Two of my favorite villains. So is this original stuff? Doesn't sound like it, but I must admit, I am intrigued by the background and I'll be picking up the codex next week.

Pre-Painted Plastic Miniatures

I haven't been much of a fan of this new era of Dungeons and Dragons miniatures. I'm from the old school lead miniatures from Grenadier that never looked anything like the character you created, but you were able to paint them up yourself and many of them had backpacks as true adventurers should. But because I am quickly becoming a fan of the new Dungeons & Dragons game, I decided to pick up a box of the latest set of minis (Lords of Madness). I have to say that today, I am glad that I did, because I pulled an Elder Blue Dragon (very rare) and it is easily one of the finest looking figures that Wizards has produced so far. And just to make things a little more satisfying - eBay and many of the online retailers are pricing this one out anywhere from $45 to $60! Ya gotta love that.

Good Times...

Recently, I was in my local Borders (big surprise) and I found a copy of the new DnD 4th Edition 'Starter Set', the first product in the new Dungeons & Dragons Essentials line. The new line is a combination of updated info to the fourth edition and also a new way to introduce new players into the game. Feeling nostalgic, I grabbed a copy. The first thing that I love about the set is the packaging. WotC reproduced the original 'Red Box' this time around. It immediately took me back to the old days of sitting around a table with my old gaming group until sunrise, scarfing down a hot pizza from Danny's Pizzeria, potato chips and grape soda (what can I say, we were 15).

Not thrilled with trying to learn a whole new game system, I was hesitant to begin reading the material. But then something odd and wonderful happened. My twelve year old daughter (about as anti-geek as you can be), wanted to know more about the game and what's more, she wanted to learn to play. Not knowing what to say, I agreed to dive into the new set with her.

The first book is a great, easy to read introductory solo scenario (ala Choose Your Own Adventure), that takes you through the steps of character creation while working your way through a battle with goblin brigands. Before I knew it, I had created my very own character. So here I go, leaping back into an old game that had brought me hours and hours and hours of fun. Returning to D&D is liking reuniting with an old friend. Looking forward to more good times.

Shh! Don't tell my daughter's friends.

F%#$&ing Scouts!!!!

I ran into (at least in my mind), one of the most difficult plastic models to assemble. It looks easy, but noooooo, it's not. I speak of the heavy bolter scout. I could NOT for the life of me get the damn weapon and arm to match up at all. Finally, after about a half out of working with gooey plastic and strings of glue, I tossed it aside, went down to find a plastic scout from an older Raptors collection and just painted over the damn body armour. Done.

So, as you may have guessed from the rant above, that I have begun working on my Ultramarines project. I decided to step up the project because I heard from some old gaming buddies that are getting back into 40k and have even started playing already, so I need to get something together to game with. Right now, I've got:

Chaplain

Sternguard Veteran Squad (5)

Razorback

Dreadnought

Tactical Squad (10) w/ missile launcher, plasma gun

Rhino

Tactical Squad (10) w/ heavy bolter, flamer

Rhino

Scout Squad (6) w/bolters, heavy bolter, Sgt. Telion

Assault Squad (5) sgt w/ plasma pistol, power fist

Predator w/ lascannons

Haven't tallied the points yet, but I would guess right around the 1500 point range. I'm simutaneously painting and building as fast as I can.

Ultramarines - Time To Give It A Go

As promised, payday has come and gone and I ordered my copy of the Ultramarines movie. So as I anxiously await the release of the first EVER Warhammer 40k film, I find myself delving deeper into the Ultramarines Chapter. The further I research the chapter, the more fascinated I am with the volume of detail that has come into existence over the years. One of the many things motivating me to start an Ultramarines project is that it's a Codex Chapter - that basic, cookie cutter version of what a Space Marine Chapter should look like. I've collected various chapters over the years (Blood Angels, Space Wolves and Black Templars), but with the exception of the Crimson Fists (for which this blog was originally named), none of them were strict adherents to the Codex Astartes. Those non-codex chapters are great fun in their own rights and I will treasure them as part of the rich fabric that is 40k, but I find myself wanting to include such models as Legion of the Damned and even an Ironclad Dreadnought or three and unfortunately, none of the other armies offer those options. So, I'll be working on Ultramarines in the near future. True, my beloved Crimson Fists are a Codex Chapter, however, they are a chapter that is severely under strength.

I've been inspired by the recent surge of Ultramarine activity on the GW site and have jumped on the bandwagon like a monkey takes to a shiny new trinket. These next couple of weeks, I'll continue to research the chapter and test a color combinations. I may even choose to approach this project as a true collector, searching out various models vintage models to add to the army. Forge World has also added some new resin marines to their line, decked out in pre-heresy army. The possibilities are well on their way to becoming endless. Who knows, maybe I'll even stick to one 40k project for the long term just like Werner Munch in Germany. Stranger things have happened.

Ultramarines Trailer

So yeah, like most of you, I saw the trailer for the upcoming Space Marine movie and needless to say, I'm chompin' at the bit. Tomorrow's payday and I'm ordering my copy first thing in the morning. I also have an idea of which chapter I'll work on next. Sorry, I've been slow with the posting, but I've been a little busy job hunting and all. That, combined with this 'anti-gaming' funk I've been in, has kept me away from my painting and modelling. I've decided to read Legion by Dan Abnett for my next dose of 40k fiction.

I also painted a test model in Ultramarine colors, just to see if it motivates me in any way. The armour is a bit darker than the traditional 'smurfy' Ultramarine Blue (I always hated the Smurfs). I do consider myself a bit of a traditionalist, but I am glad the test model is darker after reading GW's article on the new film. Apparently, they were going for the same look. Anyway, can't wait to see and I suggest checking the trailer out. I truly rocks.

Movie Trailer

Deathwatch (Part 1)

With 33% off coupon in hand, I walked into my local Borders Bookstore, hoping to find some new and exciting novel or gaming treat to buy. You see, I like to read. A lot. I like science fiction, fantasy, history, mysteries - the usual 'geek' stuff. I recently finished the new Dungeons & Dragons novel, 'The Mark of Nerath' by Bill Slavicsek and was now in the mood for some sci fi, but first I decided to browse through the gaming section (which is way too small for a two-story bookstore), and I found the Deathwatch RPG book. I couldn't help myself. It was space marine material and I had to have it.

I have to say that this is a must for any 40k player. The art alone is among some of the best space marine art that I have ever seen. Not ever having experienced any of the 40k roleplaying products, I'm going to give this one a read. I don't know if I'll ever get around to finding a group to actually play as there doesn't seem to be much interest locally, but it is a great reference book and provides near limitless inspiration for modelling space marines, particularly the battle brothers of the Deathwatch.