Returning to Streaming

By

On 28th September 2025

In Blog

I have started streaming on the regular again, and I want to keep it up

I have been playing Assassin’s Creed Syndicate which is so far a lot of fun, the two characters are fairly different to each other

Took me a little while to get the setup back and working, but I think we are getting there with it

Had a bit of an issue where despite me telling it to record the streams at 1440p it was insisting on doing them at 720p, but that’s all sorted now thankfully, and they are being recorded in AV1 too thanks to the fantastic encoder in the 9070XT

I am gonna try and keep at it, I don’t want to be a famous streamer or make money from this, it just helps me do something that feels sort of productive!

I really should get a schedule together at some point, but I will discuss that with Lindsay and Megan at some point

Right now I am still dragging my life back together after a terrible summer, so lets get back into a decent situation first eh.

What I Am Modelling

I painted up this Ultramarines Praetor in Saturnine Armour

I spent a good chunk of the week working on Stormcast Eternals

I finished off two units of the new Liberators

But in all honesty, Thunderstrike Armour just isn’t as cool as Bastion Armour, it just lacks the presence for me

Ah well, it is what it is right

I also painted up two units of Stormdrake Guard

I am really trying to find some joy in Agr of Sigmar again, I will try and get my Stormcast out of storage and see what’s usable and what’s not, I probably do have a decent amount of Thunderstrike stuff that can be used, and some of my older Liberators can be proxied

So what’s coming up next for my painting table?

  1. Blood Angels Land Speeders
  2. Ultramarines Tactical Squad
  3. Myari’s Purifiers
  4. Tempestus Aqulions x 12
  5. Red Brigade Warband
  6. Death Korps of Krieg Engineers x 5
  7. Dark Angels Fire Strike Servo Turrets x 2
  8. Veletaris x 2
  9. Grey Knights Librarian & Brotherhood Terminator Squad x 5
  10. Dracosan

What I Am Reading

Since last I posted, I have read Final Deployment by R.S Wilt, which was an amazing book with the Tempestus Scions, my favourite 40k army!

I then listened to Other Lives by Gary Hopkins and Pier Pressure by Robert Ross as part of the Doctor Who Monthly Adventures, and to be honest they were both kind of middling!

And finally I read In Wolves’ Clothing by Ian St Martin, which was pretty good, interesting concept in that one.

What Tabletop Games I Am Playing

We played some DnD with CJ this past Saturday, I knew what was coming up cause Megan, our DM had me print the minis for the baddies, I wanted to tell Lindsay and CJ not to waste their Holy Water on the mummified cats and save it for later, but alas I didn’t

I am enjoying RPGs with this group and for a Christmas treat am tempted to ask them if I can run a one shot of something like Cyberpunk Red, WFRP or Soulbound perhaps

What Video Games I Am Playing

Playing a bit of Hell Let Loose still, me, Chris and Graham have a great time playing that as a tank crew, but only playing the good guys is certainly a disadvantage cause the Tiger is a bugger to kill!

Also getting my way through Cyberpunk and have so far completed all the gigs and scanner hustles and trying to deal with the side stories before I go and tackle the main missions

My character is maxed out, so hopefully that makes the main missions a bit easier!

Quite obviously I have been playing some Assassin’s Creed Syndicate

What Achievement’s Have I Unlocked

Trying something new here

Cyberpunk 2077 (Steam)


I Am The Law

Complete all Cyberpsycho Sightings		19/09/2025
City Lights

Complete all gigs and NCPD Scanner Hustles in City Center		22/09/2025
Greetings from Pacifica!

Complete all gigs and NCPD Scanner Hustles in Pacifica		23/09/2025
It’s Elementary

Complete all gigs and NCPD Scanner Hustles in Watson		23/09/2025
Autojock

Buy all vehicles available for purchase		23/09/2025
Mean Streets

Complete all gigs and NCPD Scanner Hustles in Heywood		24/09/2025
The Jungle

Complete all gigs and NCPD Scanner Hustles in Santo Domingo		24/09/2025
The Wasteland

Complete all gigs and NCPD Scanner Hustles in the Badlands		24/09/2025
To Protect and Serve

Complete River Ward’s storyline		24/09/2025
Little Tokyo

Complete all gigs and NCPD Scanner Hustles in Westbrook		25/09/2025
Life of the Road

Complete Panam Palmer’s storyline		25/09/2025
Judy vs Night City

Complete Judy Alvarez’s storyline.		28/09/2025
Two Heads, One Bullet

Kill or incapacitate 2 enemies with the same sniper rifle shot.		28/09/2025

Assassin’s Creed Syndicate (Xbox)

A Spanner in the Works

Complete Memory Sequence 1		13/09/202520G
A Simple Plan

Complete Memory Sequence 2		13/09/202520G
A Modern Babylon

Complete Memory Sequence 3		14/09/202520G
Blade in the Crowd

Assassinate fifty enemies		14/09/202515G
Queensbury Rules

Reach combo level 40		23/09/202515G
Unqualified Success

Complete three Templar Hunts and their challenges		23/09/202520G
Thieftaker

Bring three Bounty targets back alive		23/09/202520G
Flawless Conqueror

Secure three Gang Strongholds and complete their optional constraints		23/09/202520G
Children’s Aid Society

Complete five Child Liberation memories		23/09/202520G
WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU

Flip five vehicles by shooting their horses		25/09/202515G
A Quick and Reliable Remedy

Complete Memory Sequence 4		25/09/202520G
Friends at My Back

Recruit a gang of 5 allies.		26/09/202520G
Ordinary Criminal

Complete twenty Crowd Events		26/09/202515G
Bare-Knuckle Champion

Win three different Fight Clubs		28/09/202520G

What I Am Creating

I published the next two Just About Tabletop Standard Videos, those being Word Bearers and Salamanders

What I Am Spending

I bought a Filament Drier for the house, I have been having some issues with certain filaments, so hopefully this will help

Went for the Sunlu S2, just because it’s got a few more decent niceties compared to the S1

Two of my nibblings have demanded masks for Halloween, so I ordered some filament to print those

I also bought some more resin, cause yeah I use a lot of that!

And a new charger for my Steam Deck for beside my bed in Lindsay’s room

And I was able to grab issue 54 of Combat Patrol too

And issue 55 too

In terms of video games, I treated myself to

Getting Myself Back On Track

By

On 13th September 2025

In Blog

After a difficult summer, I am starting to get myself back on track, still need to work out a weeks schedule, but I am getting there

The studio is much tidier, I have reinstalled Windows to deal with my glitch gremlins, I am painting more, I am playing more video games, and working on my mental health more.

We have made some good investments in the houses infrastructure, replacing the homelab, getting new hoovers, and an FDM 3D printer, still have a few more things to pay for/pay off but we are getting there.

My next thing to tackle is getting on with some more physical exercise, but lets see how next week goes.

What I am Modelling

I turned my attention to the Blood Angels to get a bunch of them finished off so I can have the Combat Patrol ready to go,

I painted up the Intercessors from the Combat Patrol

Along with the Incursors, which got the patrol finished up!

Followed by a Captain in Terminator Armour

And a Chaplain on a Bike

And finally for this week, a Librarian I printed up for the Ultramarines

So whats next?

  1. Blood Angels Land Speeders
  2. Stormdrake Guard x 4
  3. Ultramarines Tactical Squad x 10
  4. Myari’s Purifiers
  5. Tempestus Aquilions x 11
  6. Red Brigade Warband
  7. Death Korps of Krieg Engineers x 6
  8. Dark Angels Firestrike Servo Turrets x 2
  9. Veletaris x 10
  10. Liberators x 10

What I Am Reading

I read Blood and Iron by Robbie MacNiven, which was flipping brilliant!

After that I read Divine Will by Andy Smillie which was short but sweet.

Then I read The Unending Storm by Nick Kyme which I was far less impressed with, you could really tell it was very early AoS fiction

What Tabletop Games I Am Playing

Had a great into game of Heresy with Ed on Friday, an incredible amount of fun was had, and there was much Chaos!

What Video Games I Am Playing

Making my way through Cyberpunk 2077, mostly working on gigs and side jobs to level up!

And I have started with a streaming playthrough of Assassin’s Creed Syndicate

What I Am Creating

I got back to the Just About Tabletop Standard series and finished published the video for the Sons of Horus

What I Am Backing

I have backed the Assassin’s Creed Animus board game on Kickstarter, because, well its Assassin’s Creed, and I love that IP

What I Am Buying

I grabbed issue 53 of Combat Patrol!

I bought Legendary on Steam, because it was 59p!

I also bought Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and Watch_Dogs 2 on Steam as well whilst they were on sale

First Blood

By

On 6th September 2025

In Blog

On Sunday, I ran the First Blood event at Durham Raiders

We wanted to have the hall available so people could come along and play some games of 3rd edition Heresy to get their head around the rules and figure out the game with all the changes

I took Ultramarines and had these two lists ready, this one for 2000 points

# ++ Crusade Primary Detachment ++ [970 Point(s)]

## High Command [135 Point(s)]

Praetor [135 Point(s)]: Bolt pistol (default), Paragon blade, One Apex Detachment

## Command [285 Point(s)]

Centurion [95 Point(s)]: Bolt pistol (default), Power fist, Frag grenades, Krak grenades

Centurion [95 Point(s)]: Disintegrator pistol, Power sword, Frag grenades, Krak grenades

Vigilator [95 Point(s)]: Nemesis rifle, Bolt pistol, Frag grenades, Krak grenades, Prime Unit (Paragon of Battle)

## War-engine [175 Point(s)]

Contemptor Dreadnought [175 Point(s)]: Gravis power fist with in-built ranged weapon, Gravis plasma cannon, Plasma blaster

## Troops [255 Point(s)]

Tactical Squad [125 Point(s)]: Frag grenades, Krak grenades
• 1x Sergeant [5 Point(s)]: Chainsword, Plasma pistol
• 1x Legionary [20 Point(s)]: Bolt pistol, Bolter, Nuncio-vox
• 1x Legionary [20 Point(s)]: Bolt pistol, Bolter, Vexilla
• 7x Legionary [10 Point(s)]: Bolt pistol, Bolter
  Prime Unit (Logistical Benefit (LB - War-engine))

Tactical Squad [130 Point(s)]: Frag grenades, Krak grenades
• 1x Sergeant [10 Point(s)]: Lightning claw, Bolt pistol
• 1x Legionary [20 Point(s)]: Bolt pistol, Bolter, Nuncio-vox
• 1x Legionary [20 Point(s)]: Bolt pistol, Bolter, Vexilla
• 7x Legionary [10 Point(s)]: Bolt pistol, Bolter

## Transport [120 Point(s)]

Rhino [60 Point(s)]: Pintle Mounted bolter, Pintle Mounted Bolter

Rhino [60 Point(s)]: Pintle Mounted bolter, Pintle Mounted Bolter

# ++ Auxiliary - Tactical Support ++ [270 Point(s), 1 Auxilary Detachment(s)]

## Support [270 Point(s)]

Heavy Support Squad [150 Point(s)]: Autocannon, Bolt pistol, Frag grenades, Krak grenades
• 1x Sergeant
• 4x Legionary [10 Point(s)]

Rapier Battery [120 Point(s)]: 3x Rapier Crew
• 2x Legionary: Bolter, Bolt pistol, Frag grenades, Krak grenades
• 1x Rapier Carrier (Gravis heavy bolter battery)

# ++ Auxiliary - Combat Pioneer ++ [220 Point(s), 1 Auxilary Detachment(s)]

## Recon [220 Point(s)]
Land Raider Explorator [220 Point(s)]: Two Sponson Mounted Twin lascannon, Dozer blade

# ++ Auxiliary - First Strike ++ [150 Point(s), 1 Auxilary Detachment(s)]

## Fast Attack [150 Point(s)]

Javelin Speeder Squadron [150 Point(s)]:
• 2x Javelin Speeder [75 Point(s)]: Heavy bolter, Cyclone missile launcher

# ++ Apex - Army Vanguard ++ [123 Point(s), 1 Apex Detachment(s)]

## Elites [123 Point(s)]

Seeker Squad [123 Point(s)]: Frag grenades, Krak grenades
• 1x Seeker Sergeant: Bolt pistol, Kraken bolter
• 5x Seeker [18 Point(s)]: Kraken bolter
  Prime Unit (Combat Veterans)

# ++ Auxiliary - Recon Demi-Company ++ [235 Point(s), 1 Auxilary Detachment(s)]

## Recon - Reconnaissance Squad Only [135 Point(s)]

Reconnaissance Squad [135 Point(s)]: Frag grenades, Krak grenades
• 1x Recon Sergeant [5 Point(s)]: Nemesis bolter, Bolt pistol
• 4x Recon Legionary [22 Point(s)]: Nemesis bolter, Bolt pistol
  Prime Unit (Combat Veterans)

## Fast Attack [100 Point(s)]

Scimitar Jetbike Squadron [100 Point(s)]: Frag grenades, Krak grenades
• 1x Scimitar Sergeant: Chainsword, Bolt pistol, Heavy bolter
• 1x Scimitar Hunter [30 Point(s)]: Bolt pistol, Heavy bolter
• 1x Scimitar Hunter [35 Point(s)]: Bolt pistol, Volkite culverin

For 3000 points I had this list

# ++ Crusade Primary Detachment ++ [985 Point(s)]

## High Command [135 Point(s)]
Praetor [135 Point(s)]: Bolt pistol (default), Paragon blade, One Apex Detachment

## Command [300 Point(s)]

Centurion [110 Point(s)]: Bolt pistol (default), Combi-melta, Frag grenades, Krak grenades, Cyber-familiar, Vexilla

Centurion [95 Point(s)]: Bolt pistol (default), Power fist, Frag grenades, Krak grenades

Vigilator [95 Point(s)]: Nemesis rifle, Bolt pistol, Frag grenades, Krak grenades, Prime Unit (Paragon of Battle)

## War-engine [175 Point(s)]

Contemptor Dreadnought [175 Point(s)]: Gravis power fist with in-built ranged weapon, Gravis plasma cannon, Plasma blaster

## Troops [255 Point(s)]

Tactical Squad [125 Point(s)]: Frag grenades, Krak grenades
• 1x Sergeant [5 Point(s)]: Chainsword, Plasma pistol
• 1x Legionary [20 Point(s)]: Bolt pistol, Bolter, Nuncio-vox
• 1x Legionary [20 Point(s)]: Bolt pistol, Bolter, Vexilla
• 7x Legionary [10 Point(s)]: Bolt pistol, Bolter
  Prime Unit (Logistical Benefit (LB - War-engine))

Tactical Squad [130 Point(s)]: Frag grenades, Krak grenades
• 1x Sergeant [10 Point(s)]: Lightning claw, Bolt pistol
• 1x Legionary [20 Point(s)]: Bolt pistol, Bolter, Nuncio-vox
• 1x Legionary [20 Point(s)]: Bolt pistol, Bolter, Vexilla
• 7x Legionary [10 Point(s)]: Bolt pistol, Bolter

## Transport [120 Point(s)]

Rhino [60 Point(s)]: Pintle Mounted bolter, Pintle Mounted Bolter

Rhino [60 Point(s)]: Pintle Mounted bolter, Pintle Mounted Bolter

# ++ Auxiliary - Tactical Support ++ [600 Point(s), 1 Auxilary Detachment(s)]

## Troops [180 Point(s)]

Breacher Squad [180 Point(s)]: Boarding shield, Frag grenades, Krak grenades
• 1x Sergeant: Bolt pistol, Bolter
• 1x Legionary [22 Point(s)]: Bolter, Bolt pistol, Nuncio-vox
• 1x Legionary [22 Point(s)]: Bolter, Bolt pistol, Vexilla
• 2x Legionary [22 Point(s)]: Graviton gun, Bolt pistol
• 5x Legionary [12 Point(s)]: Bolter, Bolt pistol

## Support [420 Point(s)]

Heavy Support Squad [300 Point(s)]: Autocannon, Bolt pistol, Frag grenades, Krak grenades
• 1x Sergeant
• 9x Legionary [10 Point(s)]

Rapier Battery [120 Point(s)]: 3x Rapier Crew
• 2x Legionary: Bolter, Bolt pistol, Frag grenades, Krak grenades
• 1x Rapier Carrier (Gravis heavy bolter battery)

# ++ Auxiliary - Combat Pioneer ++ [440 Point(s), 1 Auxilary Detachment(s)]

## Recon [440 Point(s)]

Land Raider Explorator [220 Point(s)]: Two Sponson Mounted Twin lascannon, Dozer blade

Land Raider Explorator [220 Point(s)]: Two Sponson Mounted Twin lascannon, Dozer blade

# ++ Auxiliary - First Strike ++ [395 Point(s), 1 Auxilary Detachment(s)]

## Fast Attack [395 Point(s)]

Fire Raptor [235 Point(s)]: Two Sponson Mounted Gravis autocannon batteries, Four Centreline Mounted Tempest rockets

Javelin Speeder Squadron [160 Point(s)]:
• 2x Javelin Speeder [80 Point(s)]: Heavy bolter, Two lascannon

# ++ Apex - Army Vanguard ++ [334 Point(s), 1 Apex Detachment(s)]

## Elites [334 Point(s)]

Seeker Squad [159 Point(s)]: Frag grenades, Krak grenades
• 1x Seeker Sergeant: Bolt pistol, Kraken bolter
• 7x Seeker [18 Point(s)]: Kraken bolter
  Prime Unit (Combat Veterans)

Invictus Suzerain Squad [175 Point(s)]:
• 5x Suzerain [30 Point(s)]: Legatine axe, Bolt pistol, Argyrum pattern boarding shield, Frag grenades, Krak grenades

# ++ Auxiliary - Recon Demi-Company ++ [235 Point(s), 1 Auxilary Detachment(s)]

## Recon - Reconnaissance Squad Only [135 Point(s)]

Reconnaissance Squad [135 Point(s)]: Frag grenades, Krak grenades
• 1x Recon Sergeant [5 Point(s)]: Nemesis bolter, Bolt pistol
• 4x Recon Legionary [22 Point(s)]: Nemesis bolter, Bolt pistol
  Prime Unit (Combat Veterans)

## Fast Attack [100 Point(s)]

Scimitar Jetbike Squadron [100 Point(s)]: Frag grenades, Krak grenades
• 1x Scimitar Sergeant: Chainsword, Bolt pistol, Heavy bolter
• 1x Scimitar Hunter [30 Point(s)]: Bolt pistol, Heavy bolter
• 1x Scimitar Hunter [35 Point(s)]: Bolt pistol, Volkite culverin

We rocked up at 8am and got the hall set up, and at 9am the players started rolling in, we had 7 attendees plus myself

I started to play a game with Adam and his Custodes, and oh my word they are tasty, very tough to kill with the lack of AP2 weapons in the marines, and the Hawkmen scored 8 points on the first turn, 3 from Vanguard from killing my squad on the objective, 1 for the objective and 4 for First Strike!

We got two turns in before someone else turned up and needed a game, so I let them play out a full game

After that I moistly chilled as others played games, but towards the end I got another two round game with good old Paul, of course he beat me but I learnt a lot!

It was a good day, was hoping for better attendance, but it was fine, I only lost £20 on it!

But a ton of fun was had an we met some new guys which is always great.

What I Am Modelling

I painted up this Heavy Support Squad for the Ultramarines, armed with Autocannons in MKVI Armour

After that I painted up a Praevian, also for the Ultramarines

And the MKII Centurion from Saturnine for them too

Following that I painted up another pair of Armiger Heliverins to finish the five I printed off a few months ago

I then painted an Augur Command and Control Squad made from various bits from my Bitz Box and a few 3D printed parts

And a Warboss in Mega Armour for the Orks

So where does that leave me for next week?

  1. Blood Angels Land Speeders
  2. Stormdrake Guard x 4
  3. Blood Angels Intercessors x 5
  4. Ultramarines Tactical Squad x 10
  5. Myari’s Purifiers
  6. Tempestus Aquilions x 11
  7. Red Brigade Warband
  8. Death Korps of Krieg Engineers x 6
  9. Dark Angels Firestrike Servo Turrets x 2
  10. Solar Auxilia Veletaris x 10

What I Am Reading

I finished Singularity by James Swallow, which had an interesting concept and a well written story for the 5th Doctor

I then started listening to Final Deployment by R.S Wilt, which so far is pretty decent, a Tempestus Scions book is guaranteed to grab my attention

I read Without Fear by Aaron Dembski-Bowden which was pretty good, not his best work, but pretty good.

I followed that up with Midnight Rotation by Dan Abnett, which was exceptionally good, great concept and well written.

After that I read Glory from Chaos by Chris Dows, which was fine, not the best story he has done, not the worst, it was kind of middling.

What Tabletop Games I Am Playing

Had my first game in the Gamer-At-Hart Combat Patrol League, I am playing with the Astra Millitarium Combat Patrol, Strike Force Gorgonne VI which is a Millitarium Tempestus one.

I played Alex and his Vardenghast Swarm, and they absolutely wreaked me!

What I Am Spending

Technically I bought this last week, but it finally arrived, an Arvus Lighter for the Solar Auxilia

I ordered this on payday, but it has arrived today, an Arvus Lighter to add to the Solar AuxiliaFigure this will be great for getting some dudes into Objectives #Warmongers #WarhammerCommunity #Warhammer30k #Warhammer30000 #HorusHeresy #TheHorusHeresy #SolarAuxilia #ArvusLighter

— Michael Botterill (@biggeordiegeek.uk) 2025-08-29T16:41:52.049Z

I also picked up the Battle of Hoth that I preordered from Gamers@Hart earlier in the year

To my video game library I added, Son of a Gun, EVERSPACE, Fantasy Empires, Psionic Sentry: Infinite and Tandem: a tale of shadows

It was Humble Choice, so that netted me

I also picked up Issue 52 of Combat Patrol for an extra Khâl for my squats!

Finding the Fun Again

By

On 29th August 2025

In Blog

As Warhammer: Age of Sigmar turns ten, I’ve been reflecting on how much the game has changed. and, more importantly, how much my relationship with it has changed. Somewhere along the way, the joy I used to feel slipped out of reach. I still love the models, I still love the worlds, but playing? That’s another story. And honestly, I don’t want it to stay that way. I want to find the fun again.

I was there on day one. I tried the new rules, I liked the look of the Stormcast Eternals (even if they did get called “Sigmarines” by everyone on the internet), and I stuck with it. The early days were rough, no points, no balance, just arguments about how to make a fair game. It really was the Wild West, and plenty of people hated it. They hated the death of the Old World, they hated the move to high fantasy, they said it looked like a game for kids.

But I kept going. And when the General’s Handbook finally landed, it clicked. Suddenly the game worked. By Second Edition, I was all in. Endless Spells were amazing fun, the Sacrosanct Chamber gave me my favourite models, and the Nighthaunt were some of the best villains we’d seen in Warhammer. Add in writers like Josh Reynolds, and the Mortal Realms felt alive and fresh. That was peak Age of Sigmar for me.

Then came Third Edition. The new Thunderstrike Stormcast were… fine, but they didn’t excite me like the chunky Liberators and Sequitors had. More than that, the whole tone of the game seemed to shift. Competitive play had always been there, but now it felt like the focus. And by Fourth Edition, things just broke for me. My beloved Sacrosanct models — not even six years old — were squatted. Yes, the Stormcast range was bloated, but wiping away entire playstyles in one go? That stung.

I’ll admit it: I was bitter. Very bitter. I didn’t buy the new starter box, shoved my Stormcast into storage, and picked up Greenskins instead. I joined an escalation league, but even then, the magic wasn’t there. The narrative side of the game had all but vanished, terrain felt like a box-ticking exercise, and every match seemed to orbit around the latest “meta” list. I wasn’t showing up to play anymore, I was showing up to hang out with friends, with the games themselves feeling like chores I had to get through before the actual fun started.

The return of Chaos Dwarves should have set my heart racing, after all, they were my very first army in any system, my first love in the hobby. The models themselves are incredible, beautifully sculpted, and exactly the kind of army that should make me excited to get painting and building. And yet… the thought of playing them in the current version of Age of Sigmar just turns me off. It’s not the models; it’s the game around them. The overly competitive focus, the meta-driven play, the lack of narrative feel, all of it saps the excitement I should feel for something so personal. It reminded me that no matter how much I love an army, if the game around it isn’t fun, the joy doesn’t follow and that’s something I need to fix for myself.

And part of that’s on me. Since my brain injury, I can’t hold rules in my head the way I used to. I was sharp once, but now I forget things, I get muddled, and honestly? I lose a lot. I’m used to that. But when the whole culture around the game feels like it’s built for hyper-competitive play, it leaves me feeling like there’s no space for someone like me who just wants to throw dice and tell a story.

But here’s the thing: I don’t actually want to give up. I still love the models. I still get excited when I see a new sculpt, even if I can’t muster the will to buy it. And deep down, I still want to enjoy the game. I just need to change how I approach it.

So here’s my new plan: stop chasing the meta. Stop pretending I care about tournaments. Stop playing like winning matters. Instead, I’m going to lean into the stuff that actually makes me smile. If that means turning up with a weird, suboptimal list, great! If it catches my opponent off guard, even better. And who knows? Sometimes those “bad” lists surprise people, and suddenly you’ve not only given your opponent a more memorable game, but you might even scrape an unexpected win.

That’s the kind of joy I want back. Games where my Orks run around being loud, messy, and hilarious. Games where my Knights crash into things just because it looks cool on the table. Boards that look like real places with varied terrain, even if it’s not ITC compliant. I’ve got 17 boxes of terrain that the competitive crowd says are useless, but they’re going on my tables anyway. I want battlefields that tell stories, not perfectly symmetrical chessboards where people measure gaps for half an hour before rolling a single dice.

I need to play more Heresy, it’s the game I love most. I’ve seen how stepping back from the competitive grind can change the experience. Take Graham, for example. He was once the most cutthroat, WAAC-focused player I knew locally. But since he started playing Heresy more for fun, he’s mellowed out. He still likes to win, of course, but he’s way more relaxed and chill these days. Watching him enjoy the game without stressing about the meta has reminded me that maybe I can do the same, that the joy of gaming doesn’t have to come from trophies or “perfect” play, but from simply loving the game itself.

And maybe I’ll spread my wings a bit more. Try Trench Crusade. Dip into The Old World if I can decide on an army. Play some historical with Bolt Action and maybe even some Napolionics. Explore games that don’t have the same competitive baggage, where the focus is back on narrative, creativity, and having a laugh.

At the end of the day, I don’t care about trophies or titles. I don’t care if I’m not “keeping up.” What I care about is fun. I want opponents who smile when they see my army, not because they think it’ll be an easy win, but because they know it’s going to be a fun game. That’s the whole point of this hobby.

Because let’s be honest: most of us got into this for joy. For the excitement of a new box of plastic, for the thrill of rolling that clutch dice, for the stories we tell after the game’s over. Somewhere along the line, I lost sight of that. But I’m ready to start looking for it again.

And that’s why I’ve started drafting my own little manifesto for fun gaming: a set of rules to keep myself honest and make sure the hobby stays joyful, for me and for anyone I play with.

My Manifesto for Fun Gaming

  1. Play what I love: If I like the model, the lore, or the look, it belongs in my army, meta can go to hell.
  2. Every list needs a curveball: At least one “weird” choice that isn’t optimal but makes me smile, and might just surprise my opponent.
  3. Paint at my pace: If a model sits on my desk for two months, that’s fine. This isn’t a race, it’s a hobby.
  4. Terrain should tell stories: Symmetry is for chessboards. I want tables that look like real places worth fighting over.
  5. Winning is optional, fun is mandatory: A memorable story beats a victory every single time.
  6. Celebrate the silly moments: A goblin felling a gargant with a lucky stab should be cheered louder than a finely-tuned combo working as intended.
  7. Make the game fun for my opponent: If they walk away smiling, it was a success, win or lose.
  8. Keep exploring: Try new games, new armies, or new scenarios if they spark excitement. Stagnation kills joy.
  9. No guilt, no grind: If I’m not enjoying it, I step back, take a breather, and come back when the spark’s there.
  10. Remember why I started: Dice, stories, friends, and toy soldiers. Everything else is optional.

What I Am Modelling

I started out the week by painting this Knight-Draconis, with the scheme of a Blue-Eyes white Dragon which my sister in law, Jane will get a kick out of

After that I finished up this Griffin from the BattleTech Beginners Box for the Federated Suns

For the Red Brigade I painted a Yeoman

A Trench Cleric

And a Trench Dog

I also cracked on with these Armiger Helverins for my House Taranis force

So what’s up next?

  1. Blood Angels Land Speeders
  2. Stormdrake Guard x 4
  3. Blood Angels Intercessors x 5
  4. Ultramarines Tactical Squad x 10
  5. Myari’s Purifiers
  6. Tempestus Aquilons x 11
  7. Red Brigade Warband
  8. Ork Warboss in Mega Armour
  9. Death Korps of Krieg Engineers x 6
  10. Dark Angels Firestrike Servo Turrets x 2

What I Am Reading

I finished The Silent King by Guy Haley, that was a lot of fun and wove together a lot of the novels published since 8th Edition, bringing together the Pariah Nexus and Dark Imperium stuff along with a few other bits I have yet to read

Its a shame the Dawn of Fire series has ended, if they had all been as good as that book, it would have been amazing!

I am now listening to Singularity by James Swallow, only about a quarter of the way through but so far, so good!

Also made some great progress with Era of Ruin as well, and should finish that in the next day or two, on the last story now!

What Tabletop Games I Am Playing

Myself and Megan played Unlock! Game Adventures and went through the Mysterium pack, and that was fine, a little confusing at times however.

I also played a game of Heresy with Graham, and weirdly I won!

But later on we realised that Graham remembered his Comptroller rule, he would have won by 1 point instead of me winning by 3!

What I Am Spending

I bought myself a paint top up, so glad Gamers-At-Hart are now selling Fanatic paints

I also picked up Liber Astartes, and a third Dracosan for the Solar Auxilia

In terms of video games, I did buy The Expanse: A Telltale Series, Silver Box Classics and Gimmick! Special Edition

Lucky Star

By

On 29th August 2025

In Stories

A new story, its taken me a while to get this one done, but hope you enjoy it, lovingly edited by Megan

The 15 worlds of the Torngat Rift had been colonised by humanity for over 500 years and despite the War of Ashes and 8 of the worlds joining the Accord, life here had continued much as before, with the economies of the Rift’s worlds remaining largely interlinked with thriving trade between them. 

Technically both the Confederation and the Accord had outlawed trade between the colonies, but in practice they both knew any attempt to crack down on it would result in significant rebellion, so the trade, carried out by what were essentially smugglers was allowed to continue much as it had for the past half millennium. 

The CAS Cusco mission was much the same as it had been for the past four years, routine patrols of the outer reaches of the Accord systems, mostly to ensure Confederation spy ships were detected and chased off and also to fly the flag. 

“Captain on the bridge” called out the Officer of the Watch, Lieutenant Abdi, as Captain Étienne Leclerc entered stepped onto the deck  

He took a quick look at his crew standing to attention and nodded, “carry on” he said and addressed Abdi “what have we found then Mr Abdi?”

“Small freighter, bearing two-seven-three, closing on the line, she has been trying to avoid us sir”

Walking over to the sensor operators station, Leclerc looked at the screen and saw the faint blue blip trying to stay out of their sensor range. 

“Transponder?” he asked the sensor operator. 

“It’s the Lucky Star sir”

Leclerc cracked a smile “our old friend Captain Kell” he chuckled “I suppose supplies in the wardroom have been running a little low”

Abdi through his own smile said “I think most of  the crew owe their most recent hangovers to him”

“Pipe the comms” ordered Leclerc as he stepped on the holopad and, a minute or so later, the ghostly image of Captain Kell appeared in front of him. 

Immediately Leclerc noticed he didn’t look like himself, his eyes were bloodshot and he looked very tired, his normally clean shave face had a decent amount of stubble, and he seemed jittery. 

“Capatain Leclerc” said Kell, his tone was not his normal jovial tone, it was strained and more serious, “I am afraid we are running a bit behind so I won’t be able to stay and chat, my turnaround time is going to be very tight as is it”. 

This was very odd, normally he joked about being caught and offered a bottle for the captain and a case for the lads. 

“Getting some pressure from the admirality. You know how it is Kell, but we are going to need to come aboard, heave to, and prepare for inspection” answered Leclerc, he suspected Kell was trying to run something other than his usual alcohol, possibly some narcotics. 

Kells eyes went wide, his voice cracked, and it was thin, strained “Cusco, aye aye, heaving to now”

Stepping off the holopad the signal cut off.  He activated the internal comms – “hands to boarding stations” he announced 

He then contacted the ship’s new Marines officer, Second Lieutenant Arlen Vey, “something is queer here Lieutenant, I want you to take across your section, report as soon as you are aboard”. 

“Aye aye Captain” responded Vey. 

The Type 4 shuttle, commonly called the Jollyboat by the men of the Accord navy, drifted silently across the void between the two ships, Veys 8 men and women sat inside, carbines on safety and their boots braced to the deck.

Corporal Denner, a woman with a scar running right down her left check and filled with so much sarcasm her colleagues swore it cut deeper than any knife, grinned at their new lieutenant. “First boarding sir?” she murmured 

Vey looked up from his pad “first since qualifying” he said, trying to sound as confident as possible. 

Denner smiled, a smile so wide and toothy that Vey was forced to gulp at the sight “don’t worry Lieutenant, it’s just Kell.  Only real danger from him is liver failure”

The Jollyboat clamped into the Lucky Stars airlock with a dull clang and the marines put on their helmets “docking compete” said the computer over those comms

“Visors down, weapons ready, lets be about it” ordered Vey. Denner smiled back at her fellow marines, she thought the officer was taking this action a bit too seriously 

As the airlock cycled with a hiss the smell of the Lucky Star’s staler air hit them quickly, its atmospheric recyclers weren’t maintained anywhere near as well as the navies 

Stepping on to the Lucky Stars deck, there was a slight queasiness as they adjusted to its gravity plates, which like the recyclers were clearly not as well maintained as what they were used to

Kell was waiting in the corridor with them, along with four crewmen. He immediately started talking about a coolant leak but Vey wasn’t really listening. Almost as soon as they stepped on deck his entire section had taken the safeties on their carbines off, he got the notifications though on his HUD, and he was noticing exactly what they had now. 

The crewmen were off and the uniforms weren’t right – one was clearly fitted for a star born, and the sleeves and legs were all rolled up, slight tears, buttons missing, boots that weren’t scuffed like a spacers should be  

He slipped his safety off, something was very wrong, the heartbeats of his section were up, and the air was thick with tension

The crewmen were most certainly aware that all the marines eyes were on them, and not Kell, they were making small deliberate movements 

Then with a clash, the sound of metal hitting the deck filled the air, one of the crewmen had dropped something, his ill fitting uniform had betrayed him and a pistol magazine spun across the deck

“Weapons up” snapped Vey and all 9 of the boarding parties C7 Carbines came to bear, at the same time the “crewmen” all drew their own pistols 

Kells face went white as a sheet, and a wet stain appeared down his leg 

“Drop the guns now” barked Sgt Garcia, the small corridor was now a tinderbox, ready to explode 

Kell twitched and, with panic overcoming him, he bolted towards the marines. The imposter nearest him moved his pistol and shot Kell who fell to the deck mid stride, a hole smoking in his back. 

The marines opened fire, their frangable rounds designed to shred flesh but burst harmlessly on steel lest they damage the vital systems of a space vessel, filled the air. 

Thunderclaps filled the corridor, as the marines and imposters fired on each other, the unarmoured “crewmen” stood little chance, two were felled immediately, another screamed as a shot shattered his shoulders, spinning him round into the path of another marine’s weapon, cutting him down

The fourth crewmen had the benefit of some cover and was placing his shots more carefully, but under the hail of bullets he didn’t last very long

Moments later silence returned to the corridor, broken only by the flatline hum of Denner’s vitals in Vey’s HUD, turning around to where she had been stood, she was lying against the bulkhead, her neck a bloody mess, and her vital fluids covering the deck

After getting her body back on the jollyboat, the marines carried out a search of the Lucky Star – the cargo hold was filled with crates of rifles and explosives stacked up neatly

When they opened the cold storage, they were greeted with the real crew of the Lucky Star, murdered execution style, stripped of their uniforms 

They had only spared Kell, clearly hoping to trade on his reputation as a friendly smuggler to get through Accord patrols 

Vey had been expecting the usual bribes of beer and gin, instead what he found was a war crime

A few hours later, Vey delivered his report in the office of Captain Leclerc, who sat at his desk listening with rapt detail. When he finished, Surgeon-Lieutenant Mariana López delivered the autopsy reports, detailing the exact causes of death of all those involved. 

“As for Corporal Denner” Mariana paused, clearly upset – Denner had been a very popular member of the crew – “she sustained a single gunshot wound to the left side of the neck. The round severed the carotid artery and jugular vein, causing immediate catastrophic haemorrhage. Death was rapid and the injury was not survivable under operational conditions.”

The ships XO Lieutenant Commander Tamm commented “based on our reconstruction of the incident, it was a well placed shot, clearly a well trained and capable marksman”

“They were clearly Confederation operatives” said Vey, they all were thinking it, he was sure they had been from the very beginning 

Leclerc leaned back in his chair, and steppled his fingers together and let out a long breath. “The official report will state “Terrorist cell destroyed during contraband inspection” there will be no mention of the Confederation” said Leclerc

Vey’s jaw tightened, “Sir they…”

The Captain put his hand up to silence Vey “When you leave this room, there will be no more talk of the ancien régime and any involvement they may have had here, is that understood?”

Those in attendance gave their acknowledgement. 

Vey nodded but he was visibly shaking with anger.

“Thank you for your attendance, the meeting is adjourned, and I will get the report sent off shortly. Dismissed”. The attendees all began to make their way to the door to leave but as Vey went to turn, he heard “Lieutenant, stay a minute”

When the room was empty, Captain Leclerc opened the bottom drawer of his desk and pulled out a bottle of brandy and two metal glasses   

“Sit down Vey” leclerc said as he opened the brandy bottle and poured a healthy portion into each glass. 

Vey pulled out the chair and sat down as the glass slid across the desk to him. 

“I got this from Kell about a year ago”. He took a drink and Vey took a swig of his, he wasn’t really a brandy man but this was pretty nice. 

“Son, we all know it was the Confederation who were behind it, but we can’t acknowledge”

Vey finished off his drink and placed the glass down “Sir I don’t understand why, we need to find out if they are doing this elsewhere”

“Of course they are, and we are doing exactly the same to them” Leclerc responded as he poured them both another drink “and it’s been happening for 300 years”

He paused before continuing “look the Foriegn Office would have to make a protest, the border patrols would increase and before you know it, we are back at war again”

“And god only knows we don’t have the ability to fight another war right now, we have barely recovered from the last one”

Vey looked into his drink “sir, Denner was a good marine, her death shouldn’t be attributed to smugglers and terrorists”

“No it shouldn’t, she died fighting a war that’s been going on longer than any of us have been alive” reflected Leclerc

Vey sat in silence for a long moment, staring at the amber liquid in his glass, the warmth from the brandy doing little to soothe the chill running through him. He could feel the truth pressing against the walls of the official story, suffocating, inescapable.

“I suppose,” he finally said, his voice low, “we all have a role to play in keeping the peace, stopping this Cold War from turning hot.”

Leclerc nodded, eyes distant. “Sometimes the hardest part isn’t fighting, it’s knowing who and when to fight, and who to let believe they’re safe.”

Vey drained the rest of his drink, set the glass down, and exhaled slowly. He stood, squared his shoulders, and met the Captain’s gaze.

“I understand, sir. For now.”

Leclerc gave a small, grim smile. “For now,” he echoed.

Vey turned and walked to the door, the sound of his boots echoing in the quiet office. Behind him, Leclerc sat back, alone with the brandy, thinking of all the battles, those seen and those unseen, that stretched far beyond the walls of the room.

The war would continue, hidden from the world, and yet all the same, it had already taken its toll.

Whoop A 9070XT

By

On 20th August 2025

In Blog

My RTX 3070 has bee. Great apart form one issue, VRAM, 8GB didn’t cut it and in too many games it proved to be an issue

I had planned on upgrading when the 60 series came out but struggles in games like Darktide and Cyberpunk 2077 convinced to upgrade early.

And for the first time in a very long time, I went for a Radeon card, specifically the 9070XT, the Acer Predator Bifrost 9070XT OC!!!

The card is beautiful and looks amazing in my PC and performs like a dream, especially in games where the devs have added FSR 3 and above.

My performances in Cyberpunk 2077 has gone up a hell of a lot, yeah some is via frame gen, but honestly, the AMD implementation of that feel fine.

I am sadly like far too many PC gamers and will upgrade my rig regardless if it needing it sometimes!

And in all honesty if the RTX 3070 wasn’t struggling with its VRAM in certain games I probably would have kept it as its performance is good, it’s just been hamstrung slightly which is annoying.

Also AV1 encoding is fantastic, and has been really good for my YouTube videos.

But that card is still going to live on in the house as Megan has had their rig upgraded from the GTX 1660Ti to the RTX 3070, which will give her some great gaming performance in the games they play, like Disney Dreamlight Valley and The Sims 4.

Meanwhile her GTX 1660Ti and the Ryzen 5 3600 that used to live in that rig, which I upgraded to a 5600X when I changed my CPU to a 5700X3D, well we have an idea for that!

What I am Modelling

I started off by painting this Command Squad for my Ultramarines in MKIII Armour, 5 guys all armed with Power Swords and Combat Shields

I already have a MKIII Banner Bearer from the old kit, so he will be hoping these where needed

I also painted up these two Heralds in MKVI Armour

After that I decided to get the Imperial Fists I have finished so that they can go into storage for a bit, and started out with an Overseer

Then a squad of Breachers

After that I turned my attention to The Red Brigade of New Antioch and painted a few figures for them starting with a Lieutenant

Then Lieutenant MacDonald

Followed by a Stormtrooper

And a Yeoman

Then I finished off this Draconis Combine Vindicator for BattleTech

So what does that leave me with to paint next

  1. Blood Angels Land Speeders
  2. Knight Draconis & Stormdrake Guard x 4
  3. Armiger Helverin x 2
  4. Blood Angels Intercessors x 5
  5. Ultramarines Tactical Squad x 10
  6. Myari’s Purifiers
  7. Tempestus Aquilions x 11
  8. Red Brigade Warband
  9. Ork Warboss in Mega Armour
  10. Death Korps of Krieg Engineers x 6

What I Am Reading

I listened to the next couple of books in the Doctor Who monthly range staring with Live 34 by James Parson which was pretty good, this was followed by Scaredy Cat by Will Shindler which was actually pretty dire.

I then started to listen to The Silent asking by Guy Haley, which is quite good, seems to be weaving together a few more recent threads from the novels of 8th and 9th editions.

I also read To Speak As One, also by Guy Haley, which was a nice little story covering some of Cawls entourage

What Tabletop Games I Am Playing

On Tuesday I played a game of 1500pts against Graham with my Solar Auxilia, using this list against his Mechanicum

Crusade Primary Detachment

High Command

Legatine Command Squad
 Bayonets x 4
 Blast Charger x 4
 Needle Pistol
 Power Fist
 Cohorts Vexiliia
 Augury Scanner
 Command Vox

Command

Armoured Command Section
 Dozer Blade
 Flare Shield
 Searchlight
 Lascannon
 Multi-Laser
 Prime Advantage:- Logistical Benefit

Transport

Aurox

War Engine

Aetheon Heavy Sentinel Squadron x 3
 Incinerator

Infantry Tercio

Troopa

Lasrifle Section x 20
 Bayonets x 20
 Vexilla
 Vox Interlock

Lasrifle Section x 20
 Bayonets x 20
 Vexilla
 Vox Interlock

Heavy Transport

Dracosan 
 Dozer Blade
 Searchlight 

Dracosan 
 Dozer Blade
 Searchlight

Armour Tercio

Armour

Leman Russ Vanquisher
 Dozer Blade

Leman Russ Vanquisher
 Dozer Blade

We are still learning the new Editon but we are now getting to grips with it a bit better

But Grahams Tech-Thralls were a tad more resilient and less likely to panic than my Lasriflemen

Then on Friday at Gamers@Hart, me and Russell played 1500 points, I took the this list

# ++ Crusade Primary Detachment ++ [723 Point(s)]

## High Command [135 Point(s)]

Praetor [135 Point(s)]: Bolt pistol (default), Paragon Blade, High Command Detachment Choice (One Apex Detachment)

## Command [215 Point(s)]

Centurion [100 Point(s)]: Melta bombs, Bolt pistol (default), Power fist, Frag grenades, Krak grenades

Master of Signals [115 Point(s)]: Bolt pistol, Frag grenades, Krak grenades, Command vox relay

## Retinue [210 Point(s)]

Praetorian Command Squad [210 Point(s)]:
• 1x Chosen Champion [12 Point(s)]: Power sword, Combat shield
• 1x Chosen [52 Point(s)]: Legion standard, Power sword, Combat shield
• 3x Chosen [32 Point(s)]: Power sword, Combat shield

## Troops [163 Point(s)]

Tactical Squad [163 Point(s)]: Frag grenades, Krak grenades
• 1x Sergeant [15 Point(s)]: Lightning claw, Volkite serpenta
• 1x Legionary [22 Point(s)]: Bolt pistol, Bolter, Augury scanner, Chain bayonet
• 1x Legionary [22 Point(s)]: Bolt pistol, Bolter, Nuncio-vox, Chain bayonet
• 1x Legionary [22 Point(s)]: Bolt pistol, Bolter, Vexilla, Chain bayonet
• 6x Legionary [12 Point(s)]: Bolt pistol, Bolter, Chain bayonet
  Prime Unit (Logistical Benefit (LB - Retinue))

# ++ Auxiliary - Armoured Fist ++ [530 Point(s), 1 Auxilary Detachment(s)]

## Heavy Transport [530 Point(s)]
Land Raider Carrier [265 Point(s)]: Twin heavy bolter, Two Sponson Mounted Twin lascannon

Land Raider Carrier [265 Point(s)]: Twin heavy bolter, Two Sponson Mounted Twin lascannon

# ++ Auxiliary - Tactical Support ++ [90 Point(s), 1 Auxilary Detachment(s)]

## Support [90 Point(s)]

Tactical Support Squad [90 Point(s)]: Rotor cannon, Bolt pistol, Frag grenades, Krak grenades
• 1x Sergeant
• 4x Legionary [8 Point(s)]

# ++ Auxiliary - Heavy Support ++ [155 Point(s), 1 Auxilary Detachment(s)]

## War-engine [155 Point(s)]

Contemptor Dreadnought [155 Point(s)]: Gravis bolt cannon, Gravis chain fist and combi-bolter (Gravis chainfist, Combi-bolter)

It was a great game, but I lost, and that was down to secondaries, Russell got ahead early on, but I was able to catch up, what cost me the game was not having a balanced list to be honest, not enough Line and no Vanguard

What I Am Creating

The next videos in the Heresy series went up, those being Ultramarines and Death Guard, two legions I have been collecting for a long time as well as the Thousand Sons

I also published the next episode of Edge of Empire

What I Am Spending

I bought a few games, a couple of Humble Bundles starting with this months Humble Choice that got me

And the WB Play the Legends Bundle that netted me

The rest of the games went into a second Steam account I am maintaining for whichever nibbling starts wanting to play PC games first!

And the Table Top Tag Team Bundle which got me

I also got seperatly

  • Mood:- Feeling a bit more positive
  • Caffeinated Beverages Consumed:- 1
  • In My Ears:- The Flood – Take That
  • Tabletop Game Last Played:- The Horus Heresy
  • Video Game Last Played:- Diablo IV
  • Book Last Read:- Era of Ruin – Various Authors
  • Audiobook Last In My Ears:- The Silent King – Guy Haley
  • Movie Last Viewed:- Star Trek: Section 31
  • TV Show Last Viewed:- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
  • Podcast Last In My Ears:- The WAN Show
  • Current State of Projects:- Knight Draconis about 75% done

A New 3D Printing Journey

By

On 2nd August 2025

In Blog

For a few months now we have had a list of things we want to do to improve our home infrastructure

So that’s been things like the new car, replacing the vacuum cleaner and a new home server

High on that list has been a filament 3D printer to do the things my resin one cannot, and this week, we finally got it!

We went for the ever popular and ever reliable Bambu Labs A1! Paul has the A1 Mini and raves about it, so we figured to go for the same as him.

But he has an AMS, we currently do not (long term it’s on the list)

It’s living in my studio, because the cats don’t go up there, nor will visiting children

Assembly was fine, the video helped a lot and it probably took about an hour to get from unboxing to having Benchy starting to print

We borrowed some already dried blue filament from Paul, the first thing printed, other than a benchy and a poop bin, was some replacement pegs for our Socktopus, using an STL that Lindsay found on the Bambu Handy app

We have printed a fair few things, Megan has been especially happy with the initiative tokens for DnD and this over the screen dice tower!

We also got round to printing the storage solution we have been wanting to sort out for Takenoko

We have built up a bit of a supply of different coloured filaments to use for some toys for the nibblings

It’s a really great printer, and we are really happy with it and looking forward to way it can do!

What I Am Modelling

I started off with a second Heavy Mechanised Infantry for the Trench Crusade Red Brigade

I painted the Dark Disciples from the Dark Apostle that I had painted up for the Word Bearers

After that it was some scenery for my oldie world set

Then an Overseer for my Word Bearers

Followed by an Overseer for the Ultramarines

Then a Centurion for the Ultramarines

So what’s next on the list?

  1. Blood Angels Land Speeders
  2. Stormdrake Guard x 4 & Knight Draconis
  3. Imperial Fists Breachers x 10
  4. Armiger Helverin x 2
  5. Blood Angels Intercessors x 5
  6. Ultramarines Tactical Squad x 10
  7. Myari’s Purifiers
  8. Tempestus Aquilions x 11
  9. Red Brigade Warband
  10. Ork Warboss in Mega Armour

What Tabletop Games I Am Playing

I played Graham in a last hurrah for 2.0 Heresy, of course I lost as he dismantled my Fists, but it was a really fine game

Last Sunday, we hosted CJ and played a game of Unspeakable Words and Fluxx, I won Unspeakable Words and Lindsay won Fluxx

On Tuesday I had a first game of 3.0 with Graham, we got to only 3.0, and I can tell you this, it’s a hell of a lot of fun!!!

What I Am Reading

I finished CL Werner’s Lady of Sorrows as an audio book, fairly good read, one of the twists seemed really obvious, the other, not so much.

Good story and makes me want more Nighthaunt books!

What Video Games I Am Playing

Not much this past fortnight, but I have played a little Cyberpunk 2077

Myself, Chris and Graham have started a playthrough of Diablo IV, which is pretty fun.

What I Am Creating

I published the paining videos for the Night Lords, Blood Angels, Iron Hands and World Eaters this past fortnight

And a further Edge of Empire episode!

What I Am Spending

Ok, these next two I didn’t spend money on but rather was gifted, starting out with a Sicaran Venator that someone gave to Gamers-At-Hart to distribute to the community, and this one ended ok with me

And Graham was kind enough to give me this Stugg III, for my Bolt Action Germans

I did treat myself to a MKIII Command Squad for Heresy, which will join the Ultramarines

Will be making the guys inside as all Power Sword and Combat Shield guys as I have a MKIII banner guy to join them already, but will probably print off a couple of MKVI bodies to make two more Heralds/Banner Bearers

Of course I was saving up for Saturnine, and I picked it up from Gamers@Hart last Saturday

I only bought the Liber Auxilia hoping the other two books would be coming out as ePubs, but no dice on that thus far

I have bought a couple of games

July Tournament

By

On 19th July 2025

In Uncategorised

I went to the Games@Hart July 40K Tournament, I took my Astra Militarium list which you can see below

Tempestus army (1990 Points)

Astra Militarum
Bridgehead Strike
Strike Force (2,000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Commissar (30 Points)
  • 1x Plasma pistol
  • 1x Power weapon

Leman Russ Commander (235 Points)
  • 1x Armoured tracks
  • 1x Lascannon
  • 1x Leman Russ battle cannon

Militarum Tempestus Command Squad (85 Points)
  • 4x Tempestus Scion
     ◦ 4x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 1x Hot-shot lasgun
     ◦ 2x Hot-shot laspistol
     ◦ 1x Master Vox
     ◦ 1x Medi-pack
     ◦ 1x Plasma gun
     ◦ 1x Regimental Standard
  • 1x Tempestor Prime
     • Warlord
     ◦ 1x Bolt pistol
     ◦ 1x Tempestus dagger

BATTLELINE

Tempestus Scions (140 Points)
  • 1x Tempestor
     ◦ 1x Chainsword
     ◦ 1x Hot-shot laspistol
  • 9x Tempestus Scion
     ◦ 9x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 2x Grenade launcher
     ◦ 4x Hot-shot lasgun
     ◦ 1x Hot-shot laspistol
     ◦ 2x Plasma gun
     ◦ 1x Vox-caster

Tempestus Scions (140 Points)
  • 1x Tempestor
     ◦ 1x Chainsword
     ◦ 1x Hot-shot laspistol
  • 9x Tempestus Scion
     ◦ 9x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 4x Hot-shot lasgun
     ◦ 1x Hot-shot laspistol
     ◦ 2x Meltagun
     ◦ 2x Plasma gun
     ◦ 1x Vox-caster

Tempestus Scions (140 Points)
  • 1x Tempestor
     ◦ 1x Chainsword
     ◦ 1x Hot-shot laspistol
  • 9x Tempestus Scion
     ◦ 9x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 4x Hot-shot lasgun
     ◦ 1x Hot-shot laspistol
     ◦ 2x Meltagun
     ◦ 2x Plasma gun
     ◦ 1x Vox-caster

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Taurox Prime (90 Points)
  • 1x Armoured tracks
  • 1x Storm bolter
  • 1x Taurox missile launcher
  • 1x Twin Taurox hot-shot volley gun

Taurox Prime (90 Points)
  • 1x Armoured tracks
  • 1x Storm bolter
  • 1x Taurox gatling cannon
  • 1x Twin Taurox hot-shot volley gun

Taurox Prime (90 Points)
  • 1x Armoured tracks
  • 1x Storm bolter
  • 1x Taurox gatling cannon
  • 1x Twin Taurox hot-shot volley gun

OTHER DATASHEETS

Leman Russ Demolisher (190 Points)
  • 1x Armoured tracks
  • 1x Demolisher battle cannon
  • 1x Lascannon

Leman Russ Vanquisher (145 Points)
  • 1x Armoured tracks
  • 1x Heavy bolter
  • 1x Vanquisher battle cannon

Leman Russ Vanquisher (145 Points)
  • 1x Armoured tracks
  • 1x Heavy bolter
  • 1x Vanquisher battle cannon

Valkyrie (190 Points)
  • 1x Armoured hull
  • 2x Heavy bolter
  • 1x Lascannon
  • 2x Multiple rocket pod

ALLIED UNITS

Armiger Warglaive (140 Points)
  • 1x Meltagun
  • 1x Reaper chain-cleaver
  • 1x Thermal spear

Armiger Warglaive (140 Points)
  • 1x Meltagun
  • 1x Reaper chain-cleaver
  • 1x Thermal spear

My first game was against Adam and his Tyranids, which got off to a great start when he destroyed one of my Vanquishers in one shot on turn 1, and it was downhill from there with all my models being destroyed by turn 5

My second game was against Edward and his Thousand Sons who demolished my army very quickly, meaning the game only lasted until turn 4

And in game 3 I played Shaun and his Dark Angels

And yeah in my second Primarch encounter, I learned what an absolute beast The Lion is, he systematically demolished all my tanks 😭

I really enjoy the games, but it can be quite competitive, and I know I am there to lose all three, but I really want to up my game a bit and perhaps maybe even get a draw sometimes!

I considered Knights, but in my last few games with them, they have been really quite powerful unless my opponent has the tools to deal with them!

I think for August, I am gonna try and get the Aquilons painted up, and perhaps drop the Valkyrie, and go with an extra Vanquisher

What I Am Modelling

I started off by finishing up a Swarmlord and a Hive Tyrant I have had sat in my desk for a couple of weeks.

Then I started on the Red Brigade for Trench Crusade

And painted up a pair of Mechanised Heavy Infantry

So what’s next?

  1. Blood Angels Land Speeders
  2. Stormdrake Guard x 4 & Knight Draconis
  3. Imperial Fists Breachers x 10
  4. Armiger Helverin x 2
  5. Blood Angels Intercessors x 5
  6. Ultramarines Tactical Squad x 10
  7. Myari’s Purifiers
  8. Tempestus Aquilions x 11
  9. Red Brigade Warband
  10. Ork Warboss in Mega Armour

What I Am Reading

I started on Era of Ruin, and the heat is making my normal reading time very hard, but I am about a 3rd of the way through it now.

Also started listening to Lady of Sorrows by CL Werner, and so far that’s pretty good, I do love the Nighthaunt and it’s a pleasure to have a story with them featured!

What Tabletop Games Am I Playing

I played Leon in a game of 40K last night and my Knights kind did a number on his Emperor’s Children

Fulgrim got shot off the board turn 1 by a Castellan, and after that it was all downhill, my Gallant was deleting a unit a turn and by the end of turn 3 all he had was a couple of Chaos Spawn, a Rhino and a Lord

The issue for Leon was a lack of anti-armour, I really should stop using Knight’s, they are so much fun, but they really are a handful of your army is tooled up to take them on.

What Video Games I Am Playing

A bit more Hell Let Loose and also started on Phantom Liberty in Cyberpunk 2077

What I Am Creating

My painting series of Herey Legions has continued with Iron Warriors, White Scars, Space Wolves and Imperial Fists

I also published two tutorials for tanks, a camo scheme and making muddy tracks!

Plus a 40K Combat Patrol Battle Report

And an Edge of Empire Episode

What I Am Spending

As I am pretty broke, so just a cople of games in the Steam Sale

As a household we did invest in a new handheld vacuum cleaner, a Gtech Multi Platinum.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DMA8BQDtZwc

The household infrastructure fund is meant to be saving towards a filament 3D printer, but alas the vacuum cleaner was more important, if less fun, unless you are Lindsay that is!

A Bit of a Break & Heresy Camp

By

On 4th July 2025

In Blog

I haven’t been posting for a while, alas a lot of it comes down to going through my usual summer slump and a bit of depression I have been battling, but I am trying to turn myself around.

Giving myself some projects to do, and things to try and keep me occupied, I really think I am missing Company of Legends, it gave me something to focus on, something to look forward to and these last couple of years without it, well I have been doing a bit badly.

But let’s crack on and update you on my last few months, so let’s get into it!

Heresy Camp

This other weekend, I attended Heresy Camp, run by some amazing friends of mine, and how did a not “Company of Legends” weekender go?

On Friday I met up with James at Gamers-at-Hart and we played a warm up game with our armies, my Solar Auxilia and his Sisters of Silence

To remind you, this is the list I have taken.

LI - Solar Auxilia - Solar For Camp - [3000 Pts]

## HQ [437 Pts]

Armoured Fist - Leman Russ Command Tank [270 Pts]: Leman Russ Command Tank (Armoured Fist Pattern Cohorts (Check Limitations manually), Battle Cannon, Searchlights, Smoke Launchers, Warlord, Lascannon, Multi-Laser, Cognis-Signum, Dozer Blade, Flare Shield)

Tactical Command Tercio [167 Pts]:
• 1x Tactical Command Section [167 Pts]: Frag Grenades, Krak Grenades, Meltabombs, Refractor Field, Augury Scanner, Command Vox, Cohorts Vexilla
  • 1x Auxilia Captain [2 Pts]: Void Armour, Auxilia Captain, Pistol and Combat weapon (Sub-menu) (Close Combat Weapon, Needle Pistol)
  • 4x Auxilia Companion [12 Pts]: Void Armour, Lasrifle
    Aurox Transport (Smoke Launchers)

## Elites [45 Pts]

Medicae Section [45 Pts]:
• 3x Auxilia Medicae [15 Pts]: Auto-medicus, Frag Grenades, Krak Grenades, Void Armour, Close Combat Weapon, Laspistol

## Troops [1118 Pts]

Armoured Fist - Leman Russ Strike Squadron [160 Pts]:
• 1x Leman Russ Strike Squadron [160 Pts]:
  • 1x Leman Russ Battle Tank [140 Pts]: Searchlights, Smoke Launchers, Heavy Bolter, Dozer Blade
    Turret Mounted Vanquisher Battle Cannon and Co-axial Mounted Autocannon (Co-axial Mounted Autocannon, Vanquisher Battle Cannon)

Armoured Fist - Leman Russ Strike Squadron [160 Pts]:
• 1x Leman Russ Strike Squadron [160 Pts]:
  • 1x Leman Russ Battle Tank [140 Pts]: Searchlights, Smoke Launchers, Heavy Bolter, Dozer Blade
    Turret Mounted Vanquisher Battle Cannon and Co-axial Mounted Autocannon (Co-axial Mounted Autocannon, Vanquisher Battle Cannon)

Armoured Fist - Leman Russ Strike Squadron [160 Pts]:
• 1x Leman Russ Strike Squadron [160 Pts]:
  • 1x Leman Russ Battle Tank [140 Pts]: Searchlights, Smoke Launchers, Heavy Bolter, Dozer Blade
    Turret Mounted Vanquisher Battle Cannon and Co-axial Mounted Autocannon (Co-axial Mounted Autocannon, Vanquisher Battle Cannon)

Infantry Tercio [319 Pts]:
• 1x Rifle Sections [319 Pts]: Frag Grenades, Krak Grenades, Void Armour, Auxilia Vexilla, Vox Interlock
  • 1x Auxilia Sergeant: Lasrifle
  • 19x Auxilia w/ Lasrifle and Bayonet [6 Pts]: Bayonet, Lasrifle
    Dracosan Armoured Transport (Searchlights, Smoke Launchers, Gravis Lascannon, Dozer Blade)

Infantry Tercio [319 Pts]:
• 1x Rifle Sections [319 Pts]: Frag Grenades, Krak Grenades, Void Armour, Auxilia Vexilla, Vox Interlock
  • 1x Auxilia Sergeant: Lasrifle
  • 19x Auxilia w/ Lasrifle and Bayonet [6 Pts]: Bayonet, Lasrifle
    Dracosan Armoured Transport (Searchlights, Smoke Launchers, Gravis Lascannon, Dozer Blade)

## Fast Attack [200 Pts]

Carnodon Strike Squadron [200 Pts]:
• 3x Solar Auxilia Carnodon [65 Pts]: Smoke Launchers
  Two Sponson Mounted Volkite Caliver (Two Sponson Mounted Volkite Caliver), Turret Mounted Volkite Culverin (Volkite Culverin)

## Heavy Support [900 Pts]

Aethon Heavy Sentinel Squadron [200 Pts]:
• 3x Aethon Heavy Sentinel [65 Pts]: Aethon Missile Battery, Multi-Laser

Malcador Heavy Tank Squadron [350 Pts]:
• 1x Malcador Heavy Tank [350 Pts]: Searchlights, Smoke Launchers, Vanquisher Battle Cannon, Demolisher Cannon, Hull (Left) & Hull (Right) Mounted Lascannon, Pintle Mounted Multi-Laser, Dozer Blade, Flare Shield

Malcador Heavy Tank Squadron [350 Pts]:
• 1x Malcador Heavy Tank [350 Pts]: Searchlights, Smoke Launchers, Vanquisher Battle Cannon, Demolisher Cannon, Hull (Left) & Hull (Right) Mounted Lascannon, Pintle Mounted Multi-Laser, Dozer Blade, Flare Shield

## Lords of War [300 Pts]

Macharius Heavy Tank Squadron [300 Pts]: Macharius Vanquisher Cannon
• 1x Macharius Heavy Tank [280 Pts]: Two Sponson Mounted heavy stubbers, Hull (Front) Mounted twin-linked heavy stubber, Smoke Launchers

The game was fine, I was punished for not being more aggressive with taking objectives and thus lost the game, but damn the Sisters move very fast!

After the game myself and James made our way to Moorhouse Adventure Centre where we hung out for a bit, I was going to play Zone Mortalis, but decided to come home that night cause I wanted us to pick up Graham the next morning, but there were some great games being played

On Saturday after returning with Graham, I played on Table 5 against Nick Hall and his Emperors Children including a Deamon Prince Fulgrim

The missions and environment rules were fairly punishing with vehicles and dreadnoughts moving within 3” of terrain having to fire on the nearest United friend or foe, which saw me destroy one of own Carnadons and Nick wipe out a Recon Squad of his

Deamon Fulgrim is a beast and basically ate two squads of Lasmen and my Command squad, in the end I lost by a lot!

Game 2 was on table 3 vs Johns Death Guard, which was a mostly infantry list, but damn Death Guard are tough

Combination of Mortaion, who kept healing the wounds I put on him, and a trio of Dreadnoughts just ripped apart my tanks and I was tabled again

Game 3 was against Chris’s World Eaters on Table 4 and I wasn’t tabled, which was a bonus, but his fast troops, and awesome advanced reaction made short work of my tanks.

After the game I had my tea, a lovely Chinese takeaway of chips and fried rice in curry sauce and salt and pepper chicken, after which we had a Heresy Quiz, which I did respectably in.

The next day I played Matthew and his traitor White Scars, which was tough game, the rules were a bit complicated and I was forced to keep my men out of their transports to carry the objective.

But Matthew had a pair of Whirlwind Scorpius, which just deleted all of my infantry as they tried to take the objective to the target area.

The last game, I was grudged by Mark Frost, and he is a very good player with his Daemons of the Ruinstorm, and he doesn’t use lube!

So yeah that was a horrible loss, but a very very fun game and I loved it.

Overall the traitors won the weekend, which was a shame for my side, but it was a really great weekend

I was given a little something for Edge of Empire having pioneered these events, I got some dice, Death Guard Heads and a Harlequin Shadowseer!

The award winners were all very deserving, especially Keith’s Space Wolves which won best hobby.

The guys did an amazing job, and I am looking forward to returning should they run it again!

My Own Event

I ran my own little Heresy event at Durham Raiders, and I think it went well.

We had two games of 3500pts, with some very simple missions, the whole idea of the day was for it to be chilled out and easy going.

It was a nice way to say goodbye to 2.0 and I think I would love to run some similar events for 3.0.

What I Am Modelling

I did prior to the even paint up some tokens for me and Graham to use at the event, to show us what the various status of our stuff was

There are simply primed in black, dry brushed with Leadbelcher and then washed with Nazdreg Yellow

The first models I painted afterwards were some Deathshroud for the Death Guard to complete the new Combat Patrol.

I then painted some Thousand Sons Scarab Occult Terminators for their Combat Patrol.

Alongside an Infernal Master.

Then I painted up a test piece for a new terrain project, this one is going to be for a no man’s land board for Trench Crusade, but is also going to be generic enough that it won’t look out of place in Bolt Action or Warhammer Fantasy Battle

Kind of an old worldie European looking set

I then painted up a Helbrute for the World Eaters, armed with a fist and and hammer

And then some Dark Angels Incursors

Then I painted up this Dark Apostle, who will be seeing use as a Chaplin or perhaps even a Praetor in my Word Bearers

And another Helbrute for the World Eaters followed, this time armed with a fist and Power Scourge

I then added a Knight Magaera to the forces of House Taranis

This year I want to finally play some Legions Imperialis, so I painted up the bases to make my Aeronautica models usable, went for a sandstone type scheme

And then to make my way to a fully painted Blood Angels Combat Patrol, I finished up this Impulsor for them

After that I painted a Praetor for my Ultramarines

I then painted a Gondola for Carnivale, a game I really want to play at some point soon!

And after that I finished up this Leman Russ Demolisher for the Solar Auxilia and Astra Militarium

So what’s next on the agenda?

  1. Blood Angels Land Speeders
  2. Stormdrake Guard x 4 and Knight Draconis
  3. Imperial Fists Breachers x 10
  4. Armiger Helverin x 2
  5. Blood Angels Intercessors x 5
  6. Ultramarines Tactical Squad x 10
  7. Myari’s Purifiers
  8. Tempestus Aquilons x 10
  9. The Red Brigade
  10. Ork Warboss in Mega Armour

What Tabletop Games I Am Playing

Myself, Lindsay and Graham played some Firefly at Durham Raiders, Grahams first time playing and he won!

My Knights had a game against the Necrons

I basically wiped out his army, but alas he won on points

My Solar Auxilia had a run out against Graham and Andrew, anothe loss for me!

I played Dale and his Disciples of Tzeentch in AoS, and he throughly demolished my army!

I played Craig’s Space Wolves with my Knights again

And weirdly, I actually won a game!

I also finished off the AoS League with a game against Andrews Skaven

Of course I lost!

And finally, myself and Graham had an intro game of Bolt Action in which I played the Germans (because I already have a German army) and Graham the British, I think he won, but really we were just figuring the game out

Neil who took us though it was champion

What Video Games I Am Playing

I finished Final Fantasy III Pixel Remaster, still got a couple of achievements to pick up however

I also started playing Cyberpunk 2077, at long last.

I originally bought it on GOG a few days after release, despite my system at the time only having a 1660 Ti, which wouldn’t have run it well, but I got it for under a tenner due to the very poor reviews of the state it was in at launch.

But my experience with GOG Galaxy and its cloud saves ended up having me buy it on Steam in a sale earlier this year, alongside Phantom Liberty.

I even bought Phantom Liberty on GOG, but losing all my saves in Control when GOG Galaxy crashed, has put me off GOG for anything I really want to invest time in.

So the reason I am only now just playing it now is cause with these kinds of games, I tend to wait until all the expansion are out, and then have a massive big playthough then, and well it took a bit for Phantom Liberty to come out and I was busy with other stuff.

I have still been playing some Hell Let Loose most Mondays at least and often a game on Wednesday nights as well, and the other week we had this score which was incredible!

What I Am Creating

I have started a new YouTube painting series Just About Tabletop Standard, in which I am going to paint a Marine from each of the 18 Legions from Horus Heresy.

We started out with an episode on the Dark Angels, followed by an episode on the Emperor’s Children

What I Am Spending

The grown up purchase the past few months was a new vacuum cleaner, we ended up getting a GTech AirRam Mk2 K9, and Lindsay is very happy with it, she always gets excited for new vacuum cleaners!

Our new car was also delivered, we got a Renault Mégane E-Tech which is a really nice car, quite a bit more range than our last and a few extra niceties as well, like a pair of USB-C sockets in the back and dual zone air-con

I bought some dice for my Blood Angels & Tyranids

And my Warhammer + model of Inquisitor Ostromandeus arrived

And I picked up a cheap desk mat from Temu to replace the one that Cassius has shredded up

Plus a poster for the studio

I also picked up a business card holder, specifically for use with the Firefly Board Game.

I managed to get all of the issues of Combat Oatrol I wanted, issues 37, 38, 39 and 40, to get me a Helbrute, some Chaos Terminators and some Wraithguard

To add to my pile of Combat Pattols I need to paint, I bought the Black Templars box

Which means other than Deathwatch I have all of the 9th Edition ones that can be in 10th

I upgraded the server with a couple of SSDs, one to host my websites, including this blog, and one to back up the VM images and the websites

Whilst at UK Games Expo, I did pick up the Battletech Beginner Box, I really want to play some of this game again, played it as a teenager, and want to relive my youth!

I bought Zodgrod Wortsnagga off my friend James, and I am really looking forward to getting this hairy git in the table

I also stocked up on resin

And finally a Leman Russ Assault Tank to add to the Solar Auxilia/Astra Militarium

We had three lots of Humble Choice , so I got out of that

And I also bought the Xbox Games Studio Bundle to net me

I also bought over the past couple of months

Does This Work

By

On 26th June 2025

In Uncategorised

I moved my web host and need to see if it’s working

A new blog post will come soon, it’s been a challenging couple of months for me

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