2015 - Im playing to win

So, its this time of year again! I have faction anxiety. I have three factions to choose from, one of which Im familiar with but is one of the most played in the meta right now (Cryx), one of which is fun and hard and really, really good but which I am terrible at playing(Circle). And one which is good and broken but I have not had practise with (Legion). So which to choose?

I have pledged to myself that year 2015 shall be the year where I break out of the x-and-2-bracket and enter the x-and-1 or x-and-0 bracket and in order to give myself a real chance at that I need to do a couple of things, among those:

1. Play the things that give me the biggest advantage against the rest of the field 
2. Stop changing factions (i.e Learn and Master one Faction)
3. Stop caring so much about how I am perceived
4. Become better at closing games

The third one is interesting. I play Cryx now. I dont like to play Gaspy2 because he is considered cheesy. I dont like to field Denny2 (even though I like playing her) for the same reasons. I like to play Skarre2 (always have) cause she supports her army and plays the denial game. No ones think she is the shit. No one complains if I win with her.  

The point is, I am wrong in doing this. Why should I handicap myself this way. I should find the cheesiest, most broken and unfair stuff i can find and annihilate my opponents with it (I don't have to be a d*ck about it, mind you). There is those who can play sub par casters and still beat most other players. I'm not one of those players. I need my broken-ass-stuff. And if people think less off me for it: so be it! I'll bath in their tears and cherish the Lament of Their Women, as I drive them before me! 

2015 - I'm playing to WIN!

 

A new hope

I got circles on my mind these days. After reading some WTC lists I realize circle is the most fun to play and also the best faction. I should play them, I should stick to my guns, learn them and all that. So, ironically, I plan to stop playing Cryx (i.e. not sticking to my guns...) and take up my Circle again after the next tournament. Maybe this time I can get through the boring period of losing and come out the other side a winner. Maybe.

I played a game yesterday against a Denny2 tier 4 list (the NQ one) and had a blast (I played Kruger2)! Which is not a common thing against that type of list. The "quicken Chicken" is IN-SA-NE! Never before has so few models killed so many un-dead (or enslaved) infantry for so few points. It all came down to a 37% assassination from me to win: Denny was incorporeal behind a wall but I aimed with Kruger, needing 12s to hit (and getting sustained attack). I missed the first and second shot (going all in) but the last shot connected, and rolled for damage, after 2 minutes of shaking the dice whilst trash-talking my opponent, a six, a five and a five (needing boxcars). I groaned and scanned my side of the table for one more magic attack (I was feated on so couldnt advance) and found it! My shifting stones UA! I accelerated him with a griffon and shifted forward and proceeded to throw rocks at Deneghra. I missed the first but being only 3 inches from her auto-hit with the blast. Needing 9 to win and rolled 7. Acceleration shot missed but I rolled the nine for damage!!!

The excitement was short though, since we quickly realized that Acceleration gives you a star-action at end of activation, NOT a star-attack. So Denny stayed at 2 life and Kruger got eaten by a Nightmare. But still, one of the most fun games I have had playing warmachine.

2014 Almost done - what am I doing, what have I learned

So, this year is almost over and what have we done (to paraphrase)? lets se:

WARMACHINE/HORDES:

The year began with me playing circle. And complaining. I was beginning the year on a bad losing streak. I could not understand. I have since switched back to Cryx and have had some very minor success (a third and a second place in smaller tournaments). 

We went to Irland (I played Cirlce) and I went 3:3 I think. It was fun though. 

I picked up a complete army of Legion of Everblight which is assembled and awaiting paint. They might have to wait a while still (even if I'm itchy to try out that new ambush unit and Abby2). Cause now I am starting to long for circle again...

WHAT HAS CHANGED:

Why didn't I win using Circle in the beginning of this year? Why would I now? The answer to the first question is that my training games are against the same players I always face in my training games - not the best in Sweden but better ranked than me. And I have come to understand that, in order to win over great players with a faction/team/whathaveyou, you first need to learn how to win with them. I should have played some matches first against some players  at the same level as me or someone with a new faction as well maybe. So, I might give Circle another try. I'm having the itch. I want to play the Goat-Lady again. And mr. Pushy McFlightpants. 

PAINTING?

Yeah. Im doing some of that to. The painting standard of my armies has decreased steadily over the last couple of years and Im not as inspired by that as I used to be. However there is rumored to be a P3 Grand Master painting competition at SmogCon, which I will attend. And enter in at least 2 categories. More on that to come. 

Now I need to go and theory-machine some Circle.

Big Update!

I have been very productive of late. I have painted loads of stuff and played two tournaments. I been manic almost. But, now I will have a big hooby break due to moving and all the time that will consume. Also I would like to actully play the game some more. And maybe even try to see some people outside the hobby to get, well, some perspective on things.

So, First things first. For the Danish Masters, which I played, I brought a couple of new things. I painted a Stalker (I play cryx), I painted Gerlak (shown him in an earlier post) and a unit of bane thralls with UA and the obligatory Bane Lord. Also the Witch Coven got a couple of Coats.

My Cryx has been nick named "Disco Cryx", "Gay Cryx", "LCD Cryx" and "Pride Cryx" by the locals and I cant really blame them. Also I got a lot of comments from some REALLY good painters in Denmark that maybe I should choose my colors with more care :)

Well, I do know quite a bit about colors and I know how to break the rules (I think). My cryx is insane I know. But they also make me smile. Which is important I think. I hear it prolongs you life or something.

For the tournament this weekend I painted a new caster and a full unit of Mercenary's.

The tournament went well enough. 4-1 and a fifth place. Good Enough.

I Have also been fooling around with some other stuff, green stuff. I have tried to convert the screaming bell rat ogre to make the cut for my Blood Bowl team and am semi satisfied with the result. I will maybe re-do the spikes in the shoulder pads to more of the plasticard ones.

I also made this crazy ass arc node. :D

Later Skaters!

Argh! Almost forgot. Painted a little on a dwarf from Rackham to:

Now Im done! :D

MechThralls Assembely-style Painting Step-by-Step Part 3

The saga of thirty Thralls contiues

Step 6: Tubes
This is a simple step. Paint them pink and wash with lilac wash. If you want to you can then go back and highlight or drybrush them, but this is enough for me.

Step 7: Glow from the eyes

I first paint all the areas that shall glow white. Then I wash with GW green wash.

 I also apply a thin layer, the brush is almost dry at this point, of the wash to the areas I want to reflect this glow. After this I again paint white the areas I want to be the brightest.

After some touching up and further highlight of the skin they are done.

Fisnished
After finishing the bases the units looks like this.

Now I have to finish the front arc marking and re-seal them, since I got them all f-ed up by using spray sealer. Not to worry, I shall un-ruin them :)

All in all I think I spent maybe 1-1,5 hours per model. And Im happy with how they turned out. Till next time.

See ya!

MechThralls Assembely-style Painting Step-by-Step Part 1

30 Mechthralls is a lot of thralls. I have decided to paint them in one big go to get it over and done with. Fortunally they dont have a lot of detail and different parts so not many colors will be required.

Step One: Basecoating

I have allready based built the bases for the thralls, going with a mix of my armys bases. I.e one unit on the beach, one unit with a mixed beach and board walk base and the last one with just decking styled bases.

I proceed to base coat the horde using my airbrush and Vallejo's Dead Flesh. I do one thin sweep all over the model and then one more sweep covering all the skin parts with extra care. Dead flesh is the base for the skin.

Above a picture of the horde and below a picture of how my hands look after base coating. Attractive.

Step Two: Washing the skin

I use a purple wash from Games Workshop and wash all the skin bits with it.

Step three: High Lighting Skin

I use Dead Flesh again for the first highlight and then mix it with a pure with color 50/50 ratio for additional highlight. I dont bother making it perfect, this is miniatures for gaming after all, and in addition, they are the undead so what if they have some skin issues?

Step four: Open Flesh

I apply Vallejo's Gory Red in all the rips in the skin and all the parts with muscle tissue and then wash it with the purple GW wash. Simple but affective.

Next its time for the metals. Stay tuned for part 2.

Even MORE finished stuff

We are having a League at the LGS and it is a slow-grow-sort-of-thing. I have choosen cryx as my faction and apparently a color scheme that is "doopy" and "pride:iey" according to some. Here is two new jacks; seether and Reaper.

I got to play them tonight in a 20pts game. My opponent had 22 pts (due to some special league-rules), but at the end of the game he had zero, whilst I had 31 pts (Dark industries FTW!)

Good Times

What they all say

You have all said it. All you miniature painters/gamers out there. You have said:

I wont buy more minis until I have painted what I got now!

...And all of us fail.

My Current "...until I finished painting what I own now":
4 Tharn BloodTrackers
1 Woldwyrd
1 Morhvana The Autumnblade
3 Skinwalkers

1 Alexia Cianor
20 Risen grunt
3 Thrall Warrior

1 Doom Reaver Escort
1 Kodlun Kaptain Valachev

13 Bane Knights (incl. UA)
1 Tartarsaus
1 eDenny
3 Witch coven of Garhlast
1 Egrigore
3 Withershadow Combine
1 Warwitch Siren
1 BoneJack (plastic)
1 Nightmare
1 Seether
1 Reaper
1 Harrower
1 Pistol Wraith

1 Ogrun Bokur

And parallel to this insane amount of minis I have a Space Hulk game I am gonna paint to an equally insane standard and also a Assault on Black Reach Ork Warboss I just started. Im aiming for the end of june for the Privateer stuff. Updates upcoming!