Big Geordie Geek

Goodby Cassius

On 18th May 2026

We sadly lost Cassius, our beloved one eyed dickhead of a cat 😢

He was a very loving and precious little lad, but also an utter dick head who bite your nipple if you weren’t giving him attention or snackies

He went off his food a little, something that was very unusual for him, but as it was hot and two of the others went off their food at the same time, we thought not too much of it, but a couple of days later and he was eating less and less

Initially we believed he had something up with his teeth as his breath was rather smelly, so away he went to the vets

After an initial examination followed by an ultrasound they discovered that his kidneys were failing, pretty badly and his bloods were really bad

They advised that the kindest thing would be to let him go, and that’s what we had to do, we were devestated

There were options for us, but the vet said these wouldn’t be great for his quality of life, especially given his spiciness when it came to medication

He was a beautiful boy, and we miss him so much, the house is very quiet without him as he was a huge personality

Barrington, Bonnie and Mango all seem a bit down without him around, but are slowly getting used to his absence

We aren’t getting another cat to succeed him, we are going to stick with three cats for the foreseeable future simply because we are just way too sad right now

I miss his cuddles, when he would randomly come to the studio, demand a cuddle and snackies, my nights have been very quiet without his presence

Good night sweet boy

Storage

We have now rented a storage space, annoyingly the only place we could find an affordable one was in Harrogate, which is an hours drive away, which is a ball ache, but we are paying a month, half of what most places wanted a week near us.

What is being stored in there right now is my Warhammer Scenery, 14.5 tables worth, with a couple more boxes going to join it soon, the Edge of Empire PA system and a bunch of Paul’s theatre gear.

This is great for all of us, because we have been struggling with long term storage of some stuff, my terrain has been stored in my in-laws attic, which will be replaced with some armies to clear space in my studio, but they will take up a lot less space.

What I Am Modelling

I started out by painting some bits for my Germans, starting with an officer and escort, these being from the Meuse to Volga project

Plus a couple of Anti-Tank Rifle teams armed with Panzerbüchse 39s

After that I painted a Panzer 38 (t)

And a Panzer I

Plus a Panzerjäger I

I have now also made myself a carry case for my early war German, will probably want a second cube to carry the entire army I have planned/building!

After that I turned my attentions to the Genestealer Cults and painted for them a Patriarch and his Familiars

Along with an Acolyte Iconward

Who will be escorted either by some Hyrbid Metamorphs

Or some Acolyte Hybrids

As well as a Death Korps of Krieg Command Squad

And some Combat Engineers

Plus an Artilery team, which is a fantastic little diorama piece

And finally a Squad of Kriegsmen to form the battleline!

And for a general transport case, I have now printed up a 2×2 case with the plan being to expand it to 2×3 for six cubes in total

I have printed off for it, two Edge of Empire and a Solar Auxilia and Astra Militarum cover

So what’s up next?

Blood Angels Landspeeders
Heretic Legions Warband
Cadian Shock Troopers x 20
True Wons Legionaries x 10
Krieg Command Squad x 6
German Pioneers & Officer
Cadian Command Squad x 5 & Ursula Creed
Ultramarines Saturnine Terminators x 6 & Centurion
Neophyte Hybrids x 10, Magus x 2 & Primus
Vanquishers x 10

What I Am Reading

I finished Trollslayer by William King, which was as good as the first time I read it!

I then listened to The Reaping by Joseph Lidster which was a really cool little Cybermen story, and a good story for Peri

I am currently listening to Skavenslayer by William King

What Tabletop Games I Am Playing

I played a game of Combat Patrol with Craig and his Space Wolves

Their new list is very spicy and it took me apart piece by piece

Really fun game and I really hope GW keep this mode in 11th edition.

I played a game of Bolt Action against David as part of the Escalation League

And somehow I came away with a rare win, 8-1 to me. My Snipers, Panzer 38 (t) and light mortar team did most of the heavy lifting.

At one point my Panzerbefehlswagen and Panzer 38 (t) shot all three of their machine guns at his anti-tank gun, and all 12 shots missed!

But still, it’s nice to get a win, although that rules me out for the wooden spoon!

What I Am Backing

We now have everything for Meuse to the Volga, with the delivery of the Sd. Kfz 251 pack, Panzer crew and the terrain.

I backed the German What-If (Prototype) Vehicles of World War II, it will have no value for game play for me, but could be interesting to model, or perhaps for Konflikt ’47, that delivered hella quick and I now have all the STLs.

The models are cool, as I said, more for modelling or for Konflilt ‘47 usage, where the Panther II will fit

Over There Part 2 continues to deliver and the fella who made it is a really cool guy, he is thinking of setting up a Patreon, which I will join!

I have backed STL Tabletop Printable Buildings – Part Two for some terrain I can print for my boards and potentially the club, and that’s already delivered everything!

I am also backing Cranes and Fire Engines of WW2 – Volume 1, might be cool to get some old school fire trucks for my nephews to paint

And finally, I am backing Desert Theatre: WWII North African Campaign STL System for some, well North African style terrain!

What I Am Buying

Issue 84 of Combat Patrol arrived, so now I can compete the Jackhals

I also picked up issues 87 and 88 for some Khorne Beserkers for the newer Combat Patrol

After a bit of a mixup, my Infinity’s Lament model arrived from Warhammer+

As well as Marshall Ashfield and Squire Udo

I also did I big hobby/3D printing supply top up, grabbing some much needed paints, a ton of filament and resin etc

For the planned DnD digital tabletop, me and Megan bought an old 32” TV which we are going to encase in wood and use for playing RPGs on using a digital tabletop, probably Foundry

I finally got myself the LinusTechTips Screwdriver and I have to say it’s pretty sweet, certainly the best consumer screwdriver I have handled in a long time

I also got the Shaft Extension, a set of Phillips head screwbits, plus a bit of PTM7950, not sure if I will put that in my current PC of hold it back for the next one!

Also got the Precision Screwdriver EndCap set which had to ship separately due to a checkout error

Also bought a smart plug for my studio fan

And my Humble Choice subscription got me

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla (donated to Chris)
Demon X Machina: Titanic Scion
The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria
Until Then
Planet of Lana
Artisan TD
The Procession to Calvary
Buddy Simulator 1984

Plus I bought Over The Top seeing as it was on sale!

Mood:- Tired
Caffeinated Beverages Consumed:- 4
In My Ears:- Eins, Zwri, Drei – Look Mum No Computer
Tabletop Game Last Played:– Warhammer 40k
Video Game Last Played:- Over the Top
Book Last Read:– Dropsite Massacre – John French
Audiobook Last In My Ears:– Skavenslayer – William King
Movie Last Viewed:– And They Shall Not Grow Old
TV Show Last Viewed:- Chicago PD
Podcast Last In My Ears:- The WAN Show
Current State of Projects:- About halfway through a Word Bearers Saturnine Praetor

I Think I’m Becoming a Grognard… and I’m Not Mad About It

By michael

On 20th April 2026

In Blog

I don’t remember exactly when it happened, but somewhere along the way I stopped getting excited about new codexes for Warhammer 40,000 and started getting excited about the Napoleonic Wars.

These days I’m just as likely to be reading something like French Tanks of World War II by Steven J. Zaloga as I am flicking through Warhammer content, and when I look at new projects, I’m browsing Napoleonics as well as the latest Games Workshop release.

Which led to a slightly uncomfortable realisation:

The word “grognard” actually goes back to the Napoleonic Wars, where it was used to describe Napoleon’s veteran troops, the grizzled soldiers who had seen enough to justify a bit of grumbling and bitterness.

In modern wargaming, it’s become shorthand for the kind of player who cares about historical accuracy, rules, and whether your unit really should have that equipment. A player who is less about the sci-fi settings of Warhammer 40,000, or the low fantasy of Warhammer: The Old World, and more about systems, structure, and coherence. The kind of person who can open a drawer and have multiple tiny-scale Napoleonics ready to go, with different forces representing different eras of a war.

In other words… the sort of person I may be slowly turning into.

I’ve always been a WYSIWYG player for myself, and yes, I’ll admit it—I sometimes silently judge those who aren’t. Not in a serious way, more in a “hmm… interesting choice” kind of way. Definitely not gatekeeping. Probably.

For example, my Heresy Death Guard don’t really do fragile or complicated weaponry. Very little plasma, no volkite at all. They’re bolters, flamers, meltas, and lascannons. They footslog rather than bounce around with jump packs, and when it comes to vehicles, it’s tracks and wheels only—nothing overly exotic or suspiciously floaty like grav tech.

Even when options were available in earlier editions, I tended to keep things grounded. In 2.0, they all carried chainswords when that was an option, because lore-wise it just made sense: standard kit, used sensibly, no unnecessary faffing about.

That said, I don’t expect anyone else to play like that. That’s important to me. I don’t gatekeep—I just quietly assume my way is correct and move on with my life. (Joking. Mostly.)

It’s the same with painting. Because I have the time, I insist on fully painted armies for myself. I won’t put unpainted models on the table. But I’m not about to enforce that on anyone else. People have jobs, families, studies, and significantly more important things to do than debating whether that shade of grey technically counts as “battle ready”.

What’s slightly concerning is that the same instinct that makes me design sci-fi armies like miniature historical organisations is now pulling me further towards actual historical wargaming.

Bolt Action in particular has started enabling this behaviour. Instead of building lists that are remotely efficient, I’ve found myself constructing early-war Germans as if I’m curating a museum exhibit, very specifically 1940 to 1942, carefully avoiding “just taking the good stuff” and instead focusing on what feels appropriate for the period. Which is a very normal and well-adjusted way to approach a wargame, obviously.

And I am already planning the next army: a French force to counter it, built around artillery, inexperienced conscripts, tough but flawed tanks, and hastily reactivated WWI Renault FTs.

Even outside the tabletop, it’s spilling over. I played Assassin’s Creed: Unity, told myself I was just enjoying the setting, and then suddenly I’m reading about the French Revolution and Napoleon like I’ve got a dissertation due.

So now the hobby doesn’t feel like separate systems anymore. It feels like different ways of scratching the same itch: structure, narrative, and making toy soldiers behave like they belong in a coherent universe rather than a random pile of statistics.

And I think that’s the shift. Not away from sci-fi or fantasy—but towards becoming the sort of person who says things like “coherent force structure” without irony.

As for Napoleonics, I’ve acquired some STLs and I’m just trying to figure out a system to use. Black Powder is tempting, but my friend Ken highly recommends Sharp Practice. Either way, I’m going to be that basic bitch, which, let’s be fair, I am, and play the Grande Armée.

But I am not leaving behind the Games Workshop stuff. The Horus Heresy remains my favourite setting, and the 3.0 ruleset is my favourite yet (although the missions are not great and are really holding the game back).

I like narrative-focused games, which, with the current way Warhammer Age of Sigmar and Warhammer 40,000 are played, is increasingly difficult. Standard terrain layouts make it hard to run asymmetrical, story-driven games rather than simply racking up points.

These games are very meta-driven, and that’s just not me. I want thematic armies, scenario-driven play, and less obsession with having the perfect list.

But these games do allow for a lot of freedom, exaggeration, and creativity, while historicals give me constraint, realism, and interpretation. I’ve realised I don’t have to choose one philosophy of gaming—the hobby, for me, has always been a spectrum, and I’m just expanding it. It doesn’t need to be binary.

I think this is how I’m going to approach things from now on. I want a choice of armies I can use for different systems, and that means focusing on one or two “main” armies per system and putting the rest into long-term storage.

So I need to go through what I have at home, compare it to what’s in storage, and decide what becomes my core collections, then store the rest. That doesn’t mean I won’t add to them, I probably will, because I love having variety to paint.

I’m going to keep Combat Patrols available because that’s such a fun format, but I’ll have one, perhaps two armies (so Megan and I can play together) for each system:

Warhammer 40,000
Warhammer Age of Sigmar
The Horus Heresy
Bolt Action/Achtung Panzer
Some form of Napolionics
Probably something for Sage
Legions Imperialis
Trench Crusade/WWI
Something fantasy, probably The Old World

This will give me some much-needed space and allow me to develop historicals in a way that represents different eras and theatres. For my Germans, I want a collection that covers early war, Afrika Korps, and eventually Normandy/D-Day, giving me a range of matchups. Meanwhile, my sci-fi and fantasy collections can remain more fluid and constantly evolving.

Terrain-wise, I’ve already sorted my fantasy setup, and I think that will work for Age of Sigmar, The Old World, and D&D. My home 40K terrain is probably going to shift in a new direction, I’m thinking a trench-focused set with two building styles: one sci-fi and one more real world. That way it can cover both world wars and Trench Crusade. One larger box of 3D-printed trenches, and two smaller sets of buildings.

So yeah, I’m not leaving behind fantasy and sci-fi, just expanding the hobby and making things at home a bit more organised.

I still love the grimdark of Warhammer 40,000, and I always will. But I’ve also found myself increasingly drawn to the structure, detail, and reality of the Napoleonic Wars and the World Wars.

So maybe the question was never “am I becoming a grognard?”

Maybe it’s simply that I’ve realised the hobby was always big enough for both.

What I Am Modelling

I painted up a Panzer I for my Germans, thinking of doing another one cause it seems like it’s gonna be good at supporting the infantry in Bolt Action

I added a third Wraithlord to my Iyanden army

And a Marshall to lead the Black Templars

Alongside a squad of Intercessors

After that I painted up an Sd.Kfz 265 which I need for my Bolt Action escalation list, turns out that my idea of taking a Panzer I as a command tank doesn’t work as it can only be taken in this form as the Panzerbefehlswagen

Alongside that I added a couple of Pak 36s to the Germans for some anti-tank

Plus a 2nd Forward Observer

And this test model form the Meuse to Volga Kickstarter

Plan to add models to make him part of a fully Heer squad

I then painted up Karnus the Seeker, a Lord-Celestant from the Spearhead magazine for my Celestial Vindicatiors

At the same time I also painted up the test model from Over There Part 2, a Heer Rifleman

I painted up some Hearthkyn Warriors to add to the Votann for the newer Combat Patrol

And a squad of Brôkhyr Thunderkyn for the Votann too, for the very same Combat Patrol

What’s up next

Blood Angels Landspeeders
Heretic Legion Warband
Acolyte Hybrid’s x 5, Acolyte Iconward, Patriarch & Familars x 2
Death Korps Squad x 10
Cadian Shock Troopers x 20
True Sons Legionaries x 10
Combat Engineers x 6
True Sons Daemon Prince
Krieg Command Squad x 6
German Pioneers x 10

What I Am Reading

I first listened to Red by Stewart Sheargold, which was fairly good, an interesting concept in that one.

I am currently listening to Trollslayer by William King

What Tabletop Games I Am Playing

On Easter Monday, we played our first game of Gloomhaven.

Then on Tuesday I played a game of Heresy against Graham, I took this list for the Solar Auxilia

Cohort Doctrine: Mechanised Pattern Cohort

Crusade Primary Detachment

Legatine Command Section
• 1x Legate Marshall [15 Point(s)]: Needle Pistol, Power fist
• Augury scanner, Command Vox, Charnabal sabre, Cohorts vexilla, Blast chargers

Armoured Command Section, Battlecannon, Lascannon, Dozer blade, Flare Shield

Line Command Section
• Troop Master, Charnabal sabre, Laspistol
• Augury scanner, Charnabal sabre, Auxilia vexilla, Command Vox, Blast chargers
 Prime Unit (Logistical Benefit (War-engine))

Line Command Section
• Troop Master, Charnabal sabre, Laspistol
• Augury scanner, Charnabal sabre, Auxilia vexilla, Command Vox, Blast chargers

Aethon Heavy Sentinel Squadron x 3
• Melta lance, Hunter-killer missile battery 

Lasrifle Section x 10
• Auxilia vexilla, Vox interlock, Blast chargers

Arvus Lighter, Flare Launchers, Pintle Mounted heavy stubber

Armoured Support

Leman Russ Strike Tank, Dozer blade, Vanquisher cannon and one Co-axial mounted heavy stubber

Armour Tercio

Leman Russ Strike Tank, Dozer blade, Vanquisher cannon and one Co-axial mounted heavy stubber

Leman Russ Strike Tank, Dozer blade, Vanquisher cannon and one Co-axial mounted heavy stubber
Lap

Leman Russ Assault Tank Demolisher Cannon, Lascannon Dozer blade

Armour Tercio

Leman Russ Assault Tank Demolisher Cannon, Lascannon Dozer blade

Malcador Heavy Tank, Vanquisher cannon, Demolisher cannon, Sponson Mounted lascannon x 2, Pintle Mounted multi-laser, Dozer blade, Flare Shield

Malcador Heavy Tank, Vanquisher cannon, Demolisher cannon, Sponson Mounted lascannon x 2, Pintle Mounted multi-laser, Dozer blade, Flare Shield

Infantry Tercio

Lasrifle Section x 20
• Auxilia vexilla, Vox interlock, Blast chargers

Lasrifle Section x 20
• Auxilia vexilla, Vox interlock, Blast chargers

Dracosan Armoured Transport, Twin Lascannon

Dracosan Armoured Transport, Demolisher cannon

The game was a loss for my, by a lot, but my army scored a lot more kills than normal, the Demolisher cannons proved their worth and my Malcadors were the MVP of the game

The major problem was that the intelligence of my Solar Auxilia is just not good enough to compete in a Relic mission with the Mechanicum, but the mission was great and I throughly reccomend them

On Thursday we started the Bolt Action escalation campaign and I am starting with this list

Rifle Platoon

Oberleutnant - Regular SMG

Heer Infantry Squad x 7, Regular, LMG, NCO with SMG

Heer Infantry Squad x 7, Regular, LMG, NCO with SMG

Sniper Team - Regular

Light Mortar Team - Regular

Armoured Patoon

Panzerbefehlswagen - Sd. Kfz 265

Panzer 38 (t)

I was playing Ken’s Soviet Workers Milita and it was a really nice army he had painted up

It was a pretty good game, but the game turned when Ken’s Ampulomet took out a squad of Heer, and my other squad attempted to run up the flank, but were wiped out by a combination of a machine gun team and a mortar shot!

I played a second game of Heresy against Russell, I took the list Inplayed against Graham with, just added a Stormhammer as we played 3500 points

We played a Relic mission and I lost by 7-28, just couldn’t get my scoring units on the objectives and passing intelligence tests

My fourth game for this post, was my first game of Trench Crusade against Michael, I took my Iron Sultanate using this list

4 Glory Points, 700 Ducats

Jabirean Alchemist - 116 Ducats, 2 Glory Points
Jezzail, Sword/Axe, Grenades, Reinforced Armour, Alchemical Ammunition, Holy Relic

Yüzbaşı Captain - 163 Ducats, 2 Glory Points
Janissary Veteran, Halberd-Gun, Reinforced Armour, Combat Helmet, Alchemical Ammunition, Gas Mask, Wind Amulet, Takwin Anqā Bird

Skirmisher Azeb - 89 Ducats
Light Skirmisher, Flamethrower, Sword/Axe, Standard Armour, Combat Helmet, Gas Mask

Skirmisher Azeb - 76 Ducats
Light Skirmisher, Jezzail, Sword/Axe, Grenades, Standard Armour, Combat Helmet, Alchemical Ammunition, Gas Mask 

Skirmisher Azeb - 76 Ducats
Light Skirmisher, Jezzail, Sword/Axe, Grenades, Standard Armour, Combat Helmet, Alchemical Ammunition, Gas Mask

Lion of Jabir - 85 Ducats
Wind Amulet, Standard Armour

Sultanate Sapper - 95 Ducats
Alaybozan, Trench Club, Trench Shield, Standard Armour, Combat Helmet, Alchemical Ammunition

The game was just the basic kill the other team scenario, and it was really a lot of fun, but my dice rolling was attribute and I went 2 1/2 rounds without rolling a 7 and thus didn’t hit anyone and I really think that hampered my results

It ended up being a loss of 31-17, which was fine, it was first game and I have learnt a lot, I just took a starter list suggested by one of the fan sites

Learnt an awful lot, and really had a good time!

What Video Games I Am Playing

I played Verdun for the first time, that was kinda cool

What Achievements I Have Unlocked

Verdun (Steam)

Eagle Eye

Kill an enemy from over 100 meters

06/04/2026

What I Am Backing

More of the From Meuse to Volga, 1940-1942 was delivered, including the vehicles, the pioneers and a bunch of stretch goals, including the PAK 36, which I have printed two of

And the Over There Part 2 campaign delivered its first STLs as well

What I Am Spending

I fancied watching They Were Not Divided, but couldn’t find it anywhere on a streaming service, so bought it on DVD cheap from eBay to add to the PLEX server

And myself and Megan got the Beast-Snagga Boyz Combat Patrol given that Orks are going to be getting the spotlight in 11th Edition

Also some Order Dice for Bolt Action and an XL Painting Handle

On Steam I picked up

Mood:- Having a sleep reset
Caffeinated Beverages Consumed:- 9
In My Ears:- Love is a Long Road – Tom Petty
Tabletop Game Last Played:– Trench Crusade
Video Game Last Played:- Final Fantasy IV Pixel Remaster
Book Last Read:– Dropsite Massacre – John French
Audiobook Last In My Ears:- Trollslayer – William King
Movie Last Viewed:– Aquaman
TV Show Last Viewed:- King of the Hill
Podcast Last In My Ears:- The WAN Show
Current State of Projects:- A clean desk, need to prime some stuff!

Doubles with Megan

By michael

On 6th April 2026

In Blog

Bit late with this post due to illness 🙁

A couple of Sundays ago, myself and Megan played in a doubles tournament at Games-at-Hart, and it was for Megan their first time playing against someone other than me

We took this list, the rules were two armies of 1000pts so we took this list. With me playing the Guard and Megan the Blood Angels

Our first game was against a very serious pair playing Orks and Death Guard with both Mortarian and a Gorkanaught

It was a hard game and I felt I had to be a bit strict with the pair as they tried to control the game in ways that were not friendly such as picking our cards in the app for us, something which is a real faux par and extremely rude

I could not have imagined a worst game for Megan to start with and was a very much we went through the motions to just get through it

The second game was much better, sadly Megan fell ill and had to leave 🙁

But I played a Death Guard and Astra Militarium combo which was a lot of fun to play against and a decent amount of cool banter

Massive loss again but well worth it for the game

My third game was a force of Daemons of Khorne and World Eaters, a bit closer but not by much

Another excellent game and at the end we were 3 losses down, but that’s fine with me as fun was had

The event was brilliant, but there was a degree of the issue I dislike about 10th edition, and that is the problem of armies being built around the best most destructive units with the lists not resembling an army you would see in “reality”

Hopefully something that changes in 11th

What I Am Modelling

I started out with an Anointed with an Anti-Material Gun for the Heretic Legions to use in Trench Crusade

Then I painted up a Nemesis Dreadknight for the Grey Knights to finish up their Combat Patrol

After that I painted a War Wolf for the Heretic Legions, model that reminded me a lot of a rat!

This was followed by a Leman Russ Demolisher for the Solar Auxila and Astra Militarium

For the Cadians I then painted a pair of Field Ordnance Batteries with Bombast Field Guns

And for the Orks Combat Patrol, two units of 10 Boyz

And finally a unit of Word Bearers Tactical Marines

https://www.instagram.com/p/DWVK5RCiJR1/?igsh=dnd3cG1mZXBkMDlu

And an Apothecary as well

https://www.instagram.com/p/DWVLQeLCIpZ/?igsh=MTRvZ21ydWZ6NTB3cw==

I painted up a second Hellhound for the Guard

https://www.instagram.com/p/DWiAJhciKs3IB1aN6xCvLB38Mrg8gMF-972cWA0/?igsh=MWo1cjNmZnZta29kcg==

Then rebased a few Orks to modern base sizes

https://www.instagram.com/p/DWiDTipiCL-DvhAhy1qyHcgo1-79d8VR4k188A0/?igsh=MWt4bGIyNWRzNTh2OA==

Plus a Panzer 38 (t) for my early war Germans

https://www.instagram.com/p/DWmBSWgiPAGLP57MgqactNgCeTwjLQGT3EFGCs0/?igsh=d2IweHFnNjh1NXFj

And a SD.Kfz 222

https://www.instagram.com/p/DWmBppWiBkPH_HBlrM8NCY8gKQbTJP63sah4Uo0/?igsh=bjJjaWgybHF4OHBy

I also painted a Warsmith for the Iron Warriors, but he was really a bit too grimy!

I then painted a couple of models for the Skaven from Spearhead, a Warlock Engineer

And a Grey Seer

And a couple of units of Howling Banshees for the Aeldari

As well as Zodgrod Wortsnagga for the Orks

And a couple of random Grots I found half painted in the Orks box!

So what’s up next?

Blood Angels Landspeeders
Heretic Legion Warband
Black Templar Intercessor Squad x 5 & Marshall
Hearthkyn Warriors x 10
Acolyte Hybrids x 5 & Acolyte Iconward
Death Korps Squad x 10
Cadian Shock Troopers x 20
Chaos Legionaries x 10
Combat Engineers x 10
Brôkhyr Thunderkyn x 3

What I Am Reading

I finished Soul Music by Terry Pratchett, which was very very good, but I have been displeased to hear that weirdly some schools have been banning it.

I then listened to Vainglorious by Sandy Mitchell, sad to have have finished the main series of Cain books.

Then I listened to Death Rider by Rhuairidh James which was really good, just as good as his previous shorts which are also really good.

After that it was The Nowhere Place by Nicholas Briggs which was a good idea, but badly executed.

Following that I listened to The Devil You Know by Sandy Mitchell which was a great deal of fun to listen to again.

And then it was Dead in the Water by Sandy Mitchell, again another great audio drama.

Currently I am listening the Ciaphas Cain: The Anthology by Sandy Mitchell, which I am rather enjoying

What Video Games I Am Playing

Been playing some more Final Fantasy IV Pixel Remaster

And we tried out the demo for Burglin’ Gnomes which was a lot of fun

Assassins Creed Origins got played a little too, but nowhere near enough

What Achievements I Have Unlocked

Final Fantasy IV Pixel Remaster (Steam)

Assassin’s Creed Origins (XBox)

	Elementary, My Dear Bayek Solve a papyrus mystery	30G	13/03/2026
	Raider of the Lost Tomb Complete a tomb	20G	13/03/2026

What I Am Backing

I joined a group buy for Over There Part 2 for the Afrika Korps infantry

And the first part of From Meuse to Volga, 1940-1942 was delivered, that being the HQs, Infantry Squads, HMG and LMG Teams.

What I Am Creating

We published the latest episode of Edge of Empire

What I Am Spending

Managed to get two copies of issue 79 of Combat Patrol to start off a couple of Sentinels

Plus issue 80 to complete them, along with an Issue 2 of Stormbringer

And issues 81 and 82 for the Lord on Juggernaught

And we did a 3D printing materials restock, resin and filament, plus some oil for lubing the Y-Axis on the A1 and magnets to magnetise minis

Humble Choice netted me

Mood:- Getting over the tummy bug
Caffeinated Beverages Consumed:- 3
In My Ears:- on the Dance Floor – Round Round – The Sugababes
Tabletop Game Last Played:– Warhammer 40,000
Video Game Last Played:- Final Fantasy IV Pixel Remaster
Book Last Read:– Dropsite Massacre – John French
Audiobook Last In My Ears:- Ciaphas Cain:- The Anthology
Movie Last Viewed:– Paths of Glory
TV Show Last Viewed:- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Podcast Last In My Ears:- The WAN Show
Current State of Projects:- A few new ones just hit the desk!

That Was A Chew On – Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra Screen Replacement

By michael

On 11th March 2026

In Blog

So a few weeks ago I broke the screen on my Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra, 100% my fault, I forgot to clean the tank after a print failure

So I bought a replacement screen, not cheap, but it was needed, and yesterday I fitted it, the instructional video is well, its this

You basically have to disassemble the entire machine to replace a CONSUMABLE part, its an absolute chew on and its an awful process

I am a big beliver in the right to repair, but this is the wrong way to go around it, I need 5 different sized allen keys, and there are so many different sized screw!

But I got it done and well its working, I was able to print out some Trench Crusade minis for Leon, but now I have run out of resin and won’t have anymore for at least a week!

What I Am Painting

I started out the week by painting Marshall Drier for the Death Korps of Krieg

Alongside a unit of Death Riders

After that it was a unit of Guardian Defenders for the Arldari

And then I added two units of Myrmidon Destructors that I 3D printed for my Mechanicum

So what up next?

Blood Angels Landspeeders
Heretic Legion Warband
Nemesis Dreadknight
Howling Banshees x 10
Ork Boyz x 20
Black Templars Intercessors x 5 & Marshall
Panzer 38T
Heartyn Warriors x 10
Acolyte Hybrids x 5 & Acolyte Iconward
Death Korp Squad x 10

What I Am Reading

I finished Choose Your Enemies by Sandy Mitchell, and have now started on Soul Music by Terry Prachett

What Tabletop Games I Am Playing

I played a game of Herwsy with Graham, taking this Solar Auxilia list

Cohort Doctrine: Mechanised Pattern

Crusade Primary Detachmen

Legatine Command Section
• 1x Legate Marshall, Needle Pistol, Power fist
• 1x Lifeward, Augury scanner, Lasrifle w/ Blast-charger
• 1x Lifeward, Command Vox, Lasrifle w/ Blast-charger
• 1x Lifeward, Charnabal sabre, Laspistol, Cohorts vexilla
• 1x Lifeward, Lasrifle w/ Blast-charger

Armoured Command Section, Turret Mounted Battlecannon, Hull Mounted (Front) lascannon, Dozer blade, Flare Shield

Line Command Section
• 1x Troop Master, Charnabal sabre, Laspistol
• 1x Veteran, Augury scanner, Lasrifle w/ Blast-charger
• 1x Veteran, Charnabal sabre, Auxilia vexilla
• 1x Veteran, Command Vox, Lasrifle w/ Blast-charger
• 1x Veteran, Lasrifle w/ Blast-charger 

  Prime Unit (Logistical Benefit (LB - War-engine))

Line Command Section
• 1x Troop Master, Charnabal sabre, Laspistol
• 1x Veteran, Augury scanner, Lasrifle w/ Blast-charger
• 1x Veteran, Charnabal sabre, Auxilia vexilla
• 1x Veteran, Command Vox, Lasrifle w/ Blast-charger
• 1x Veteran, Lasrifle w/ Blast-charger

Aethon Heavy Sentinel Squadron
• 3x Aethon Heavy Sentinel, Melta lance, Aethon missile battery

Lasrifle Section, Lasrifle w/ Blast-charger x 20, Auxilia vexilla, Vox interlock

Aurox Transport, Pintle Mounted heavy stubber

Armour Tercio

Leman Russ Strike Tank, Hull Mounted (Front) heavy bolter, Dozer blade, Searchlight, Vanquisher cannon and one Co-axial mounted heavy stubber

Leman Russ Strike Tank, Hull Mounted (Front) heavy bolter, Dozer blade, Searchlight, Vanquisher cannon and one Co-axial mounted heavy stubber

Leman Russ Strike Tank, Hull Mounted (Front) heavy bolter, Dozer blade, Searchlight, Vanquisher cannon and one Co-axial mounted heavy stubber

Armour Tercio

Leman Russ Assault Tank, Turret Mounted demolisher cannon, Hull Mounted (Front) lascannon, Dozer blade

Malcador Heavy Tank, Vanquisher cannon, Demolisher cannon, Two sponson Mounted lascannon, Pintle Mounted multi-laser, Dozer blade, Flare Shield

Malcador Heavy Tank, Vanquisher cannon, Demolisher cannon, Two sponson Mounted lascannon, Pintle Mounted multi-laser, Dozer blade, Flare Shield

Infantry Tercio

Lasrifle Section, Lasrifle w/ Blast-charger x 20, Auxilia vexilla, Vox interlock

Lasrifle Section, Lasrifle w/ Blast-charger x 20, Auxilia vexilla, Vox interlock

Dracosan Armoured Transport [Hull (Front) Mounted twin lascannon

Dracosan Armoured Transport [Hull (Front) Mounted twin lascannon

Lord of War Detachment

Macharius Heavy Tank, Turret Mounted Twin avenger bolt cannon, Hull (Front) Mounted Twin heavy stubber, Two Sponson Mounted heavy stubbers

It was a loss, I am struggling to score in later turns so considering adding in some 10 men Lasrifle Sections in a mix of Arvus Lighters and Aurox’s

Plus dropping some Vanquishers for Demolishers, the Vanquisher is very unreliable in 3.0 whereas the Demolisher is proving to be a lot more able to hit and do damage

On Friday I played a game of 40K against a kid at Hartlepool gamers, using this list

Astra Militarum
Grizzled Company
Strike Force (2,000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Krieg Command Squad (65 Points)
  • 1x Lord Commissar
     ◦ 1x Laspistol
     ◦ 1x Power weapon
  • 1x Veteran Guardsman
     ◦ 1x Laspistol
     ◦ 1x Power weapon
  • 1x Veteran Guardsman
     ◦ 1x Alchemyk Counteragents
     ◦ 1x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 1x Laspistol
     ◦ 1x Servo-scribes
  • 1x Veteran Guardsman
     ◦ 1x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 1x Lasgun
     ◦ 1x Master Vox
  • 1x Veteran Guardsman
     ◦ 1x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 1x Lasgun
     ◦ 1x Regimental Standard
  • 1x Veteran Guardsman
     ◦ 1x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 1x Meltagun

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

Lord Marshal Dreir (100 Points)
  • Warlord
  • 1x Laspistol
  • 1x Sabre of Sacrifice
  • 1x Savage claws

Tech-Priest Enginseer (45 Points)
  • 1x Enginseer axe
  • 1x Mechanicus pistol
  • 1x Servo-arm

BATTLELINE

Death Korps of Krieg (65 Points)
  • 1x Death Korps Watchmaster
     ◦ 1x Chainsword
     ◦ 1x Laspistol
  • 9x Death Korps Trooper
     ◦ 9x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 1x Grenade launcher
     ◦ 8x Lasgun
     ◦ 1x Vox-caster

Death Korps of Krieg (65 Points)
  • 1x Death Korps Watchmaster
     ◦ 1x Chainsword
     ◦ 1x Laspistol
  • 9x Death Korps Trooper
     ◦ 9x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 1x Flamer
     ◦ 8x Lasgun
     ◦ 1x Vox-caster

Death Korps of Krieg (65 Points)
  • 1x Death Korps Watchmaster
     ◦ 1x Bolt pistol
     ◦ 1x Chainsword
  • 9x Death Korps Trooper
     ◦ 9x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 8x Lasgun
     ◦ 1x Plasma gun
     ◦ 1x Vox-caster

OTHER DATASHEETS

Cadian Heavy Weapons Squad (65 Points)
  • 3x Heavy Weapon Team
     ◦ 3x Lascannon
     ◦ 3x Laspistol
     ◦ 3x Weapons team close combat weapons

Cadian Heavy Weapons Squad (65 Points)
  • 3x Heavy Weapon Team
     ◦ 3x Autocannon
     ◦ 3x Laspistol
     ◦ 3x Weapons team close combat weapons

Death Riders (60 Points)
  • 1x Ridemaster
     ◦ 1x Death Rider lascarbine
     ◦ 1x Frag lance
     ◦ 1x Power sabre
     ◦ 1x Savage claws
  • 4x Death Rider
     ◦ 4x Death Rider lascarbine
     ◦ 4x Frag lance
     ◦ 4x Power sabre
     ◦ 4x Savage claws

Hellhound (125 Points)
  • 1x Armoured tracks
  • 1x Heavy flamer
  • 1x Inferno cannon

Krieg Combat Engineers (60 Points)
  • 1x Krieg Engineer Watchmaster
     ◦ 1x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 1x Combat shotgun
  • 4x Krieg Combat Engineer
     ◦ 1x Autopistol
     ◦ 4x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 3x Combat shotgun
     ◦ 1x Remote Mine

Krieg Heavy Weapons Squad (75 Points)
  • 3x Heavy Weapons Gunner
     ◦ 3x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 3x Krieg heavy flamer
     ◦ 3x Laspistol
  • 1x Fire Coordinator
     ◦ 1x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 1x Laspistol

Krieg Heavy Weapons Squad (75 Points)
  • 3x Heavy Weapons Gunner
     ◦ 3x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 3x Laspistol
     ◦ 3x Twin Krieg heavy stubber
  • 1x Fire Coordinator
     ◦ 1x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 1x Laspistol

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

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

Tempestus Scions (70 Points)
  • 1x Tempestor
     ◦ 1x Bolt pistol
     ◦ 1x Power fist
  • 4x Tempestus Scion
     ◦ 4x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 2x Hot-shot lasgun
     ◦ 1x Meltagun
     ◦ 1x Plasma gun

Tempestus Scions (70 Points)
  • 1x Tempestor
     ◦ 1x Bolt pistol
     ◦ 1x Power fist
  • 4x Tempestus Scion
     ◦ 4x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 2x Hot-shot lasgun
     ◦ 1x Meltagun
     ◦ 1x Plasma gun

Tempestus Scions (70 Points)
  • 1x Tempestor
     ◦ 1x Plasma pistol
     ◦ 1x Power fist
  • 4x Tempestus Scion
     ◦ 4x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 2x Hot-shot lasgun
     ◦ 1x Meltagun
     ◦ 1x Plasma gun

And it did not go well for me, the space marines continue to have a lot of tools I cannot counter very well with what I have right now

The game was basically over at turn 3 when he took out the vast majority of my army

Was a good game nonetheless, and I am really starting to learn what I can do with my stuff

What Video Games I Am Playing

I got back into playing some Final Fantasy IV Pixel Remaster and I started streaming Assassin’s Creed: Origins

What Achievements I Have Unlocked

Final Fantasy IV Pixel Remaster

What I Am Backing

The Cube Mod Carrier delivered and I have printed the first but from it, a mini cube I want to use as a hobby case able to carry my rule books, dice, tape measures etc

What I Am Spending

I got myself 4 extra copies of issue 77 of Combat Patrol for an extra 4 squads of Cadian Heavy Support Squads, so I will be able to field a squad of each weapon

One purchase had 3 sets and I had ti purchase one as a standalone

I also picked up issue 1 of Spearhead, I am collecting an extra set of the Skaven issues for one of my nephews who is interested in the Rats!

I bought 4kg of filament to print some terrain for the club, just some basic black

And I purchased for myself, Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition on Steam, alongside Kamaeru: A Frog Refuge

Mood:- Got a headache
Caffeinated Beverages Consumed:- 9
In My Ears:- Super Trouper – ABBA
Tabletop Game Last Played:– Warhammer 40,000
Video Game Last Played:- Final Fantasy IV Pixel Remaster
Book Last Read:– Dropsite Massacre – John French
Audiobook Last In My Ears:- Soul Music – Terry Pratchett
Movie Last Viewed:– Renfield
TV Show Last Viewed:- Law and Order: Special Victims Unit
Podcast Last In My Ears:- The WAN Show
Current State of Projects:- Nemesis Dreadknight about 50% done

It’s Been A While Since I Was The GM!!!

By michael

On 3rd March 2026

In Blog

It’s been a very very long time since I have GMd, pretty much since my brain injury it’s been very difficult, it leaves me in a lot of pain afterwards due to the metal concentration needed and I get really sleepy after it.

But Megan asked for only one thing for her birthday and that was for me to write and run an adventure for her, no small task

So I set to and and went with one inspired by Nurgle from Warhammer alongside a good deal of grimdark body horror

The party responded to a summons from a village priest for magic users who could help him treat a plague that he felt was just as much an infection of the soul as it was the body

I set up the idea of a moral dilemma, that forced them to kill one of two parties, but Emma, Megan’s sister decided to simply go for the option I thought was gonna be the hardest choice, which unleaded the big bad plague Deamon if the encounter.

Of course there was no happy ending with the villagers taking some extreme actions in the end to cleanse thier souls

Hopefully it was enjoyed, nit you never know with these things

What I Am Modelling

I started out by finishing up a couple of Winged Hive Tyrants

I then painted up this Death Commando for the Heretic Legions for Trench Crisade

Tried some different techniques to do what I would have normally done, and I am pretty happy with how it turned out

I also painted this Venerable Dreadnought for the Blood RavensC despite the fact that it’s likely soon headed to Legends

I also printed out some new tokens for Heresy as I have misplaced mine

Followed by Haarken Worldclaimer of the Black Legion to join my Chaos Space Marines

After this I painted up a couple of squads of Havocs to join the True Sons

I also printed some order tokens for my Astra Militarium

And finally I painted a unit of Einhyr Hearthguard to join the Votann

So whata up next?

Blood Angels Land Speeders
Heretic Legion Warband
Guardian Defenders x 11
Myrmidon Destructors x 6
Nemesis Dreadknight
Death Riders x 5
Howling Banshees x 10
Ork Boyz x 20
Black Templar Crusader Squad x 10 & Marshall
Panzer 38T

What Tabletop Games I Am Playing

I played a game of 40K against my pal Craig at Hartlepool, decided it was time to finally, after many many years, to debut the Death Korps of Krieg on the tabletop

I took this list

Astra Militarum
Combined Arms
Strike Force (2,000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Krieg Command Squad (65 Points)
  • 1x Lord Commissar
     • Warlord
     ◦ 1x Laspistol
     ◦ 1x Power weapon
  • 1x Veteran Guardsman
     ◦ 1x Laspistol
     ◦ 1x Power weapon
  • 1x Veteran Guardsman
     ◦ 1x Alchemyk Counteragents
     ◦ 1x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 1x Laspistol
     ◦ 1x Servo-scribes
  • 1x Veteran Guardsman
     ◦ 1x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 1x Lasgun
     ◦ 1x Master Vox
  • 1x Veteran Guardsman
     ◦ 1x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 1x Lasgun
     ◦ 1x Regimental Standard
  • 1x Veteran Guardsman
     ◦ 1x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 1x Plasma gun

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
     ◦ 2x Hot-shot lasgun
     ◦ 1x Hot-shot laspistol
     ◦ 1x Master Vox
     ◦ 1x Plasma gun
  • 1x Tempestor Prime
     ◦ 1x Bolt pistol
     ◦ 1x Tempestus dagger

Tech-Priest Enginseer (45 Points)
  • 1x Enginseer axe
  • 1x Mechanicus pistol
  • 1x Servo-arm

BATTLELINE

Death Korps of Krieg (65 Points)
  • 1x Death Korps Watchmaster
     ◦ 1x Chainsword
     ◦ 1x Laspistol
  • 9x Death Korps Trooper
     ◦ 9x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 1x Grenade launcher
     ◦ 8x Lasgun
     ◦ 1x Vox-caster

Death Korps of Krieg (65 Points)
  • 1x Death Korps Watchmaster
     ◦ 1x Chainsword
     ◦ 1x Laspistol
  • 9x Death Korps Trooper
     ◦ 9x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 1x Flamer
     ◦ 8x Lasgun
     ◦ 1x Vox-caster

Death Korps of Krieg (65 Points)
  • 1x Death Korps Watchmaster
     ◦ 1x Chainsword
     ◦ 1x Laspistol
  • 9x Death Korps Trooper
     ◦ 9x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 8x Lasgun
     ◦ 1x Plasma gun
     ◦ 1x Vox-caster

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

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 battle cannon
  • 1x Twin Taurox hot-shot volley gun

OTHER DATASHEETS

Hellhound (125 Points)
  • 1x Armoured tracks
  • 1x Heavy flamer
  • 1x Inferno cannon

Krieg Combat Engineers (60 Points)
  • 1x Krieg Engineer Watchmaster
     ◦ 1x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 1x Combat shotgun
  • 4x Krieg Combat Engineer
     ◦ 1x Autopistol
     ◦ 4x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 3x Combat shotgun
     ◦ 1x Remote Mine

Krieg Heavy Weapons Squad (75 Points)
  • 3x Heavy Weapons Gunner
     ◦ 3x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 3x Krieg heavy flamer
     ◦ 3x Laspistol
  • 1x Fire Coordinator
     ◦ 1x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 1x Laspistol

Krieg Heavy Weapons Squad (75 Points)
  • 3x Heavy Weapons Gunner
     ◦ 3x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 3x Laspistol
     ◦ 3x Twin Krieg heavy stubber
  • 1x Fire Coordinator
     ◦ 1x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 1x Laspistol

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

Tempestus Aquilons (100 Points)
  • 1x Tempestor Aquilon
     ◦ 1x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 1x Hot-shot lascarbine
     ◦ 1x Sentry flamer
  • 8x Tempestus Aquilon
     ◦ 8x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 6x Hot-shot lascarbine
     ◦ 1x Hot‐shot long‐las
     ◦ 1x Melta carbine
  • 1x Gunfighter
     ◦ 1x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 1x Hot-shot lascarbine

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

The game was pretty close, and had Ingotten slightly better cards in my last two turns, it may have been a different result, but who knows. Fantastic game and I learned that Logan Grimnar is pretty mean!

What I Am Creating

I published the latest episode of Edge of Empire

What I Am Spending

I had to buy a new screen for my Saturn 4 Ultra, my own fault, I forgot to clean it after a failed print

I also managed to get hold of the other sprues for the Field Ordnance Batteries, I had tried to get them from Tesco, but I got there just a bit too late and someone else had bought up all the copies, so I had to hit up eBay 🙁

So this means I can now have two of each weapon.

I bought Max Payne for Steam, I saw it for a really good price on Humble with my Humble Choice discount and decided to just go for it

I also got Bridge Constructor Portal

Mood:- Tired
Caffeinated Beverages Consumed:- 4
In My Ears:- The Good Life – Weezer
Tabletop Game Last Played:– Dungeons & Dragons
Video Game Last Played:- Final Fantasy VI
Book Last Read:– Dropsite Massacre – John French
Audiobook Last In My Ears:- Soul Music – Sir Terry Pratchett
Movie Last Viewed:– Renfield
TV Show Last Viewed:- Chicago P.D.
Podcast Last In My Ears:- The WAN Show
Current State of Projects:- Some Death Riders for the Krieg with the horses finished

A Weekend In Nottingham

By michael

On 18th February 2026

In Blog

This other weekend we descended upon Nottingham to celebrate Chris’s 40th birthday, with a trip to Warhammer World and an in person DnD session

On Friday myself and Graham arrived at Warhammer World and had a game of Heresy with myself using the following list

# ++ Crusade Primary Detachment ++ [831 Point(s)]

Legatine Command Section x 5

- Legate Marshall, Volkite serpenta, Power sword
- Auxilia vexilla, Augury scanner, Command Vox

Armoured Command Section, Battlecannon, Lascannon, Dozer blade, Flare Shield, Pintle Mounted multi-laser [10 Point(s)]

Tactical Command Section x 5

- Auxilia Captain: Laspistol, Charnabal - Auxilia vexilla, Augury scanner, Command Vox

Lasrifle Section x 20 Lasrifle w/ Blast-charger, Auxilia vexilla, Vox interlock 
- Prime Unit (Logistical Benefit (Heavy Transport))

Arvus Lighter

Dracosan Armoured Transport, Demolisher cannon

Armour Tercio

Leman Russ Strike Tank, Heavy bolter, Vanquisher cannon and one Co-axial mounted heavy stubber

Leman Russ Strike Tank, Heavy bolter, Vanquisher cannon and one Co-axial mounted heavy stubber

Leman Russ Strike Tank, Heavy bolter, Vanquisher cannon and one Co-axial mounted heavy stubber

Armour Tercio

Leman Russ Strike Tank, Heavy bolter, Vanquisher cannon and one Co-axial mounted heavy stubber

Leman Russ Strike Tank, Heavy bolter, Vanquisher cannon and one Co-axial mounted heavy stubber

Leman Russ Strike Tank, Heavy bolter, Vanquisher cannon and one Co-axial mounted heavy stubber

Armour Tercio

Leman Russ Assault Tank, Demolisher cannon Lascannon

Malcador Heavy Tank, Vanquisher cannon, Demolisher cannon, Two sponson Mounted lascannon, Pintle Mounted multi-laser

Malcador Heavy Tank, Vanquisher cannon, Demolisher cannon, Two sponson Mounted lascannon, Pintle Mounted multi-laser

Infantry Tercio

Lasrifle Section x 20 Lasrifle w/ Blast-charger, Auxilia vexilla, Vox interlock 

Lasrifle Section x 20 Lasrifle w/ Blast-charger, Auxilia vexilla, Vox interlock 

Dracosan Armoured Transport, Twin lascannon

Dracosan Armoured Transport, Twin lascannon

Lord of War Detachment

Stormhammer Super-Heavy Assault Tank

Of course he absolutely whipped my arse, but what else do you expect with Solar Auxilia

Was a great game and we met up with Dave and Chris there

For the evening we had a lovely kebab and a night of Cards Against Humanity, which was a lot of fun, and lead to a lot of laughs

The next day we returned to Warhammer World where I teamed up with Dave and his Dark Angels to play against Adam’s Death Guard

I took this 1500 points list

Crusade Primary Detachment

Legatine Command Section x 5

- Legate Marshall, Volkite serpenta, Power sword
- Auxilia vexilla, Augury scanner, Command Vox

Armoured Command Section, Battlecannon, Lascannon, Dozer blade, Flare Shield, Pintle Mounted multi-laser [10 Point(s)]

Line Command Section x 5

- Troop Master: Laspistol, Charnabal - Auxilia vexilla, Augury scanner, Command Vox

Armour Tercio

Leman Russ Strike Tank, Heavy bolter, Vanquisher cannon and one Co-axial mounted heavy stubber

Leman Russ Assault Tank, Demolisher cannon Lascannon

Malcador Heavy Tank, Vanquisher cannon, Demolisher cannon, Two sponson Mounted lascannon, Pintle Mounted multi-laser

Infantry Tercio

Lasrifle Section x 20 Lasrifle, Auxilia vexilla, Vox interlock 

Lasrifle Section x 20 Lasrifle, Auxilia vexilla, Vox interlock 

Dracosan Armoured Transport, Twin lascannon

Dracosan Armoured Transport, Twin lascannon

Adam has a reputation as an extremely good player, and I found it to be a well earned reputation!

My army was mostly wiped out in turn 2, and at the end of the game, all of Dave’s Dark Angels had been destroyed, and all I had left were ten Lasriflemen, a Line Command Squad and a Legatine Command Squad who were hiding to maintain that LD10 with the Vox Interlinks

I ended up taking a nap in the car after the game cause I was utterly shattered, whilst the others played some more

After we arrived back at the AirBnB, we had a Chinese and played some Dungeons and Dragons together for the first time in person after 3 years of playing together

It’s was a lot of fun, but by midnight we were all utterly shattered and had to go to bed!

The next day after a McDonalds breakfast we headed back to Warhammer World where we did a tour of the Hall of Miniatures, which has changed a lot since last time I was there, I failed to find the Assassin yet again!

And then myself and the Mills brothers had a doubles games of 4k a side, in which I took this list for my 2K

Crusade Primary Detachment

Legatine Command Section x 5

- Legate Marshall, Volkite serpenta, Power sword
- Auxilia vexilla, Augury scanner, Command Vox

Armoured Command Section, Battlecannon, Lascannon, Dozer blade, Flare Shield, Pintle Mounted multi-laser [10 Point(s)]

Line Command Section x 5

- Troop Master: Laspistol, Charnabal - Auxilia vexilla, Augury scanner, Command Vox
Prime Benefit: War Engine

Aethon Heavy Sentinel, Autocannon, Aethon missile battery

Armour Tercio

Leman Russ Strike Tank, Heavy bolter, Vanquisher cannon and one Co-axial mounted heavy stubber

Leman Russ Assault Tank, Demolisher cannon Lascannon

Malcador Heavy Tank, Vanquisher cannon, Demolisher cannon, Two sponson Mounted lascannon, Pintle Mounted multi-laser

Armour Tercio

Leman Russ Strike Tank, Heavy bolter, Vanquisher cannon and one Co-axial mounted heavy stubber

Malcador Heavy Tank, Vanquisher cannon, Demolisher cannon, Two sponson Mounted lascannon, Pintle Mounted multi-laser

Infantry Tercio

Lasrifle Section x 20 Lasrifle, Auxilia vexilla, Vox interlock 

Lasrifle Section x 20 Lasrifle, Auxilia vexilla, Vox interlock 

Dracosan Armoured Transport, Twin lascannon

Dracosan Armoured Transport, Demolisher cannon

Myself and Graham got a commanding lead as my Lasriflemen seized the objectives early on for the highest points.

We only got to turn 3 but it was a lot of fun nonetheless

What I Am Modelling

I had a busy and productive week!

I started off the week by finishing an Opel Blitz for my early war Germans

And then for my future late war Germans, a Sturmgeschütz III, one that Graham bought me last year!

I also painted some Heretic Troopers for the Trench. Crusade Heretic Legions

Used a painting scheme influenced by WWII Germany simply because they were as evil a group that ever existed.

And a Heretic General

After that I finished up painting 20 Tech Thralls for my Mechanicum

These models were 3D printed and I much prefer them to the plastic ones

I was also able to paint up a couple of Astra Militarium characters, yet another Commissar

And a Primaris Psyker

After that I painted up some Hearhtkyn Pioneers for the Leagues of Votann, which completed that Combat Patrol

So what’s up next?

Blood Angels Land Speeders
Heretic Legion Warband
True Sons Havocs x 10
Einhyr Hearthguard x 5
Guardians Defenders x 11
Myrmidon Destructors x 6
Nemesis Dreadknight
Death Riders x 5
Howling Banshees x 10
Ork Boyz x 20

What I Am Reading

I finished listening to Angron: The Red Angel by David Guymer which was ok, but felt a bit of a let down as Angron barely featured at all. Lots of good concepts but also so much missed potential.

After that I listened to Something Inside by Trevor Baxendale, which was ok, but the 8th Doctor getting amnesia is kind getting a bit dull now, I am Paul McGann can really act that very well, but it’s just too used

What Video Games I Am Playing

Not played that much which is disappointing but will try better next week!

What Achievements I Have Unlocked

Hell Let Loose (Steam)

What I Am Backing

The From Mesue to Volga, 1940-1942 project successfully funded and I should get the files sometime in March

Lindsay also backed the Cube Mod Carrier project by Txarli for me, I mentioned it looked cool, and couldn’t afford it and she backed it for me to pay her back later

What I Am Spending

At Warhammer World I bought myself a Leman Russ Strike Tank, some glue, another three painting handles and some pots of paint..

The tank is going to be built as a Demolisher, cause I like Demolisher cannons and they have proven quite useful in both 40K and 30k.

As for the painting handles, well I have a fair few of them already, but I want to get to 25 cause I am far too regularly painting 25 models at a time, this one gives me 24

I grabbed the latest issue of Combat Patrol to hopefully add a couple more Field Ordnance Batteries to the Astra Militarium

It was also Humble Choice week,- that bagged me

Mood:- A bit all over the place
Caffeinated Beverages Consumed:- 4
In My Ears:- Gives You Hell – The All American Rejects
Tabletop Game Last Played:– The Horus Heresy
Video Game Last Played:- Hell Let Loose
Book Last Read:– Dropsite Massacre – John French
Audiobook Last In My Ears:- Something Inside – Trevor Baxendale
Movie Last Viewed:– Justice League
TV Show Last Viewed:- Chicago P.D.
Podcast Last In My Ears:- The WAN Show
Current State of Projects:- A clear desk!

3D Printing Really Is The Future

By michael

On 6th February 2026

In Blog

Lindsay and Megan will take the Mick out of me for this, but I really do think that within the next 10 years, most homes will have an FDM 3D printer.

When I was at school we saw an advert from the early 60s which had a family sitting down to eat breakfast, and the dad tried to have some cereal, but the milk was off, then he tried to have toast but the butter was rotten, and his daughter just says “dad, don’t you think we should get a fridge!”

And that stuck because the fridge is such a ubiquitous thing that everyone owns and I have always wondered what other things might fit the same narrative, and so far computers and mobile phones have fitted that

I think it’s going to need a model similar to the Bambu A1 Mini to hit the £99 mark for it to happen, but I really can see that coming soon.

The A1 Mini currently sells for £149.99 and I have seen it regularly on sale for £129.99, and it’s a really decent little printer that does what you want really well, and can be upgraded with the AMS Lite for 4 different filament colours/materials.

But why do I think they are going to become so common, well it comes down to the fact I think they are just so helpful, especially the FDM stuff.

So yeah with the above Instagram post, Megan wanted a Skadis door for their Kalax unit, but Ikea stopped making that, so I printed off a couple of bits in PETG to allow a normal Skadis board to be hung on the side of it

Or where we replaced pegs on the Socktopus instead of buying a new one

And of course for gaming and modelling, I have my resin printer, which is fantastic at making some amazing models.

That said I highly doubt resin will become more common, given the extra stuff needed for that with its cleaning and post processing.

But yeah, when it comes down to it, it’s not going to take much, but I am convinced they will become an essential device for most households

Stormcast Sorting

I completed one of the aims of this year, and sorted out my Stormcast Eternals army into what can be used in 4th editon and it turned out to be a lot more than I though!

Here is the doc!

What I Am Modelling

I started out with painting a Hellhound, an Artemia Pattern one, of which I still have another to paint

Love this model, so much cooler than the plastic version , but after I built it, I saw how much they sell for online and almost cried!

So much plastic could be bought for that!!!

After that I started work on 20

Lasriflemen for my Solar Auxilia to take away to Warhammer World this weekend

Along with a Command Section

A Lord Marshall

And a Couple of 3D printed Lord Marhslls too

And finally I painted up a couple of Death Korps of Krieg Heavy Support Squads up

So what’s coming up next?

Blood Angels Land Speeders
Heretic Legion Warband
Tech Thralls x 20
Hearthkyn Pioneers x 3
True Soms Havocs x 10
Einhyr Hearthguard x 5
Guardian Defenders x 11
Myrmidon Destructors x 6
Nemesis Dreadknight
Opel Blitz

What I Am Reading

I finished up The Emperors Finest by Sandy Mitchell, which yeah, I know it’s the weakest of the series

I then listened to The Settling by Simon Guerrier, which was pretty good, nice to see something that actually portrays Cromwell as the villain he actually was

Then I listened to The Last Ditch by Sandy Mitchell, which was extremely good.

I am currently listening to Angron: The Red Angel by David Guymer, and so far it’s fairly interesting

What Tabletop Games I Am Playing

It was the February tournament at Gamer-At-Hart and I took along the Astra Militarium with this list, using the Hellhound for the first time!

Bridgehead (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
     ◦ 2x Hot-shot lasgun
     ◦ 2x Hot-shot laspistol
     ◦ 1x Master Vox
     ◦ 1x Medi-pack
     ◦ 1x Plasma gun
     ◦ 1x Regimental Standard
  • 1x Tempestor Prime
     • Warlord
     ◦ 1x Command Rod
     ◦ 1x Tempestus dagger

BATTLELINE

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 Hot-shot volley gun
     ◦ 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 battle cannon
  • 1x Twin Taurox hot-shot volley gun

Taurox Prime (90 Points)
  • 1x Armoured tracks
  • 1x Storm bolter
  • 1x Taurox missile launcher
  • 1x Twin autocannon

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

OTHER DATASHEETS

Hellhound (125 Points)
  • 1x Armoured tracks
  • 1x Heavy flamer
  • 1x Inferno cannon

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 Heavy stubber
  • 1x Vanquisher battle cannon

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

Tempestus Aquilons (100 Points)
  • 1x Tempestor Aquilon
     ◦ 1x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 1x Hot-shot lascarbine
     ◦ 1x Sentry flamer
  • 8x Tempestus Aquilon
     ◦ 8x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 6x Hot-shot lascarbine
     ◦ 1x Hot‐shot long‐las
     ◦ 1x Melta carbine
  • 1x Gunfighter
     ◦ 1x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 1x Hot-shot lascarbine

ALLIED UNITS

Knight Crusader (385 Points)
  • 1x Avenger gatling cannon
  • 1x Heavy flamer
  • 1x Meltagun
  • 1x Thermal cannon
  • 1x Titanic feet

Game one and I played Sean and his Dark Angels, a very elite list with Lion, and he tore me a new one

My Scions really do die very easily for how much they cost!

My second game against Ryan’s White Scars, who also absolutely beasted me!

The White Scars are just so fast!

And my final game was against Leon, a good friend and his T’au Empire army, I did much better in this game, but my dice let me down, a lot, but I felt it was more even

The points don’t agree with that, but I felt like I was doing some damage!

What I Am Spending

An unglamourous purchase, but we had to get a new washing machine!

I bought a few games on Steam

Mood:- very tired
Caffeinated Beverages Consumed:- 3
In My Ears:- Around the World – Daft Punk
Tabletop Game Last Played:– Warhammer 40K
Video Game Last Played:- Final Fantasy IV Pixel Remaster
Book Last Read:– Dropsite Massacre – John French
Audiobook Last In My Ears:- Angron: The Red Angel by David Guymer
Movie Last Viewed:– Justice League
TV Show Last Viewed:- St Denis. Medical
Podcast Last In My Ears:- The WAN Show
Current State of Projects:- A clear desk!

Special Operations – Phase One

By michael

On 28th January 2026

In Blog

This past Sunday we held our first Heresy event for the year, we only had 10 people but that was enough to have some fun

The missions were completely rewritten by Graham, apparently my planned ones were pretty bad, but I will keep trying to get something that works, but you can download the ones Graham wrote here

Anyway game one was rather fun, we have some nice pairings and Graham was grudged, although I think James regretted it when Graham shot down his Storm Eagle

The results saw the traitors get a narrow win of 72 to 61

The second round, well I tried to get things about equal in terms of results, not quite Swiss but thereabouts.

And the games did seem a lot more balanced overall which was fantastic

For me the moment of the day was when Graham’s Kytan Daemon Engine took on Damian’s Knight-Castigator in combat, and the Kytan beat the knight severely

Again it was a traitor win, but this time a more convincing 61-45

That meant the Traitors won by 133 to 106

I think we had a good day and we are going to have to do it again soon!

What I Am Modelling

I started out my week by concentrating on finishing up my Skaventide Stormcast Eternals, and first up was the Knight-Questor

Followed by the Lord-Veritant and his Gryph-Crow

Then the Lord-Terminos and his Memorian

And finally the three Reclusians and their pair of Memorians

After that I painted a Mechanicum tall boy, a Sydonian Skatros, a model so good, I want another one!

So what’s coming up next for me!

Blood Angels Landspeeders
Heretic Legion Warband
Tech-Thralls x 20
Hearthkyn Pioneers x 3
Death Korps of Krieg Heavy Weapons Squad x 8
True Sons Havocs x 10
Einhyr Hearthguard x 5
Guardian Defenders x 11
Myrmidon Destructors
Nemesis Dreadknight

What I Am Reading

Not a lot read this week, but I have read a little bit more of Dropsite Massacre by John French, and I listened to a bit more of The Emperor’s Finest by Sandy Mitchell.

What Tabletop Games I Am Playing

I played a game of Combat Patrol against Megan, they played Drukhari against my Scions and well I started out ok, but they absolutely hammered me in the end

And later that day I played Williams Custodes and they wiped me out in two turns!!!

What Video Games I Am Playing

I finished up Final Fantasy III Pixel Remaster by unlocking the last couple of achievements I missed last year

And I have started on Final Fantasy IV Pixel Remaster as well, and it’s quite an adjustment to get round to the Active Battle System!

What Achievements I Have Unlocked

Final Fantasy III Pixel Remaster

Final Fantasy IV Pixel Remaster

What I Am Backing

I have joined a group but to get From Meuse to Volga, 1940-42, a campaign for some early World War II German STLs.

What I Am Spending

We bought a new TV stand, the old one that came with the TV was fine, but these days you really need to have soundbar cause with the thinness of a modern TV, the speakers are total shite

But the current stand with the Soundbar in in front of the TV, results in the IR sensor being blocked and out TV uses that for being turned on, which means we had to do some gymnastics if we sat down and had not turned on the TV, to get the remote in a potion to hit the IR sensor

This one was £26, it’s simple and it’s fine, does the job fantastically!

I also picked up Sniper Elite 3 with its season pass for £2.65

Mood:- Sore back but good
Caffeinated Beverages Consumed:- 1
In My Ears:- Everywhere – Fleetwood Mac
Tabletop Game Last Played:– The Horus Heresy
Video Game Last Played:- Final Fantasy IV Pixel Remaster
Book Last Read:– Dropsite Massacre – John French
Audiobook Last In My Ears:- The Emperor’s Finest – Sandy Mitchell
Movie Last Viewed:– Wonder Woman
TV Show Last Viewed:- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Podcast Last In My Ears:- The WAN Show
Current State of Projects:- Finishing up a Hellhound

For The Love Of Hot Chocolate

By michael

On 19th January 2026

In Blog

This week, I have been doing my best to stay positive and trying to focus on the things that have been positive for me, instead of focusing on the bad in the wider world

So this well, I have been super happy with hot chocolate, sounds silly, but since my doctor was a bit serious with me about my diabetes I have worked to really cut down my sugar and whilst I am imperfect at it, I am doing better, and part of that is replacing my chocolate hit with hot chocolate, which is better than the sugar bomb of say a penguin

And cause we have some sugar free syrups, I like to add a shot of chocolate (bear with me) and a shot of vanilla, which is a really nice Yule Log flavour.

And in my studio I have a Dolce Gusto machine, which I use to make some Galaxy Light which is super nice and lower in sugar.

What I Am Modelling

I started out the week by painting a Luchs I had 3D printed for my future Late War German force to play Bolt Action with

And I finished off the Stormhammer that Graham gave me for my birthday

After that I painted some Cthonian Beserks for the Leagues of Votann Combat Patrol

I also painted this random arse Liberator sent to me as part of a little gift from Hachette for signing up to Stormbringer early

After that I painted up those Prosecutors

And then finally Lord-Commander Bastian Carthalos, the Thunderborn himself

I don’t play Hammers of Sigmar, but I got him with Stormbringer, so figured why not paint him up just for fun!

So what’s coming up next for me?

Blood Angels Landspeeders
Heretic Legions Warband
Tech-Thralls x 20
Lord-Terminos, Reculsions x 3 & Memorians x 2
Hearthkyn Pioneers x 3
Death Korps of Krieg Heavy Weapons Teams x 8
True Sons Havocs x 10
Einhyr Hearthyguard
Guardian Defenders x 10
Myrmidon Destructors x 6

What I Am Reading

I finished Demolisher by Andy Clark, which was very very good

I also listened to The Kingmaker by Nev Fountain, which was a long run with a cool little twist regarding the villain

I am now listening to the next Cain book, The Emperor’s Finest by Sandy Mitchell.

And I have made a bit of progress with Dropsite Massacre by John French, but I am finding it hard to concentrate with the headaches I am getting of late (related to the brain injury, perfectly normal for me, worse in the cold)

What Tabletop Games I am Playing

I played a 3k game against Graham with this list I am taking to Warhammer World in February

Cohort Doctrine - Mechanised Pattern

Crusade Primary Detachment 

Legatine Command Section
Auxilia Vexilla, Augury Scanner, Command Vox
Marshall - Power Sword & Volkite Serpentia

Armoured Command Section
Battlecannon, Lascannon, Dozer Blade, Flare Shield, Mulit/Laser

Tactical Command Section
Auxilia Vexilla, Augury Scanner, Command Vox
Captain - Charnabal Savre & Laspistol

Lasrifle Section x 20
Blast Chargers, Auxilia Vexilla, Vox Interlock
Logistical Benefit - Heavy Transport

Arvus Lighter

Dracosan, Demolisher Cannon

Armour Tercio

Leman Russ, Vanquisher Cannon

Leman Russ, Vanquisher Cannon

Leman Russ, Vanquisher Cannon

Armour Tercio

Leman Russ, Demolisher Cannon

Malcador, Vanquisher Cannon, Demolisher Cannon, Lascannon Sponsons, Mulit-Laser

Malcador, Vanquisher Cannon, Demolisher Cannon, Lascannon Sponsons, Mulit-Laser

Infantry Tercio

Lasrifle Section x 20
Blast Chargers, Auxilia Vexilla, Vox Interlock

Lasrifle Section x 20
Blast Chargers, Auxilia Vexilla, Vox Interlock

Dracosan

Dracosan

Lord of War Detachment

Stormhammer

Graham brought his Sons of Horus and it was a very good game, but damn man, those Vanquishers really have gotten so much worse in this edition!

Just really struggled to land hits, one of my Leman Russ’s didn’t land a single hit all game!

We also played a little game of Just One on Thursday when Paul came over for tea

What Video Games I Am Playing

I finished Shadow of the Tomb Raider, which was a really fun game, although a bit is preventing me from 100%ing it 🙁

What Achievements I Unlocked

Shadow of the Tomb Raider (Steam)

	Thread the Past Restore 5 vestige outfit pieces	11/01/2019
	Good Samaritan Complete 8 Side Missions	11/01/2019
	The Chosen One Find the Silver Box of Ix Chel	12/01/2019
	Chain Gang Perform the Serpent’s Fury 3 times	12/01/2019
	Back to Where We Started Return to Paititi	12/01/2019
	To the Nines Restore and equip a matching vestige outfit	12/01/2019
	Specialized Earn all skills in one category	12/01/2019
	Legendary Hunter Hunt and loot 5 rare animals	12/01/2019
	Hydro Power Complete the Slayer’s Gauntlet Challenge Tomb	12/01/2019
	Whole World Blind Complete the Two Graves Side Mission	12/01/2019
	That Was A Breeze Complete the Path of Huracan Challenge Tomb	12/01/2019
	Sixth Sense Hunt and kill 10 enemies while Perception is active	12/01/2019
	Go With The Flow Complete The Age Makers Side Mission	12/01/2019
	Last Known Position Lose the enemy 10 times	12/01/2019
	Como Te Llama Pet 5 llamas	12/01/2019
	Caiman Conquered Complete the Zipacna’s Craving Challenge Tomb	12/01/2019
	Leaping Lizards Complete The Wrathful God Side Mission	12/01/2019
	Bleeding Edge Obtain the Grenadier Skill, equip the Umbrage 3-80 Shade weapon, and Brocken Shadow outfit	13/01/2019
	Eyes Of The Storm Obtain A Thousand Eyes skill, equip elite versions of Oathtaker’s Bow and Sinchi Chiqa Battle Dress	13/01/2019
	Spoiled For Choice Obtain Divine Bounty skill, equip Serpent Lash Godslayer weapon and Dragon Scales Legend outfit	13/01/2019
	Ready To Rumble Obtain the Volcano Skill, equip Whispering Scourge Pandemic weapon and Reptile Hide Leviathan outfit	13/01/2019
	Mushroom With A View Complete The Sixth Seal Challenge Tomb	14/01/2019
	He Ain’t Heavy Complete The Dragon and the Prince Side Mission	14/01/2019
	Beast of Legend Defeat the Nahual	14/01/2019
	Tomb Raider Complete all main game Challenge Tombs	14/01/2019
	Dressed For Success Obtain the Raptor’s Eye skill, equip the Silent Sting Scorpion weapon and Hunter’s Array Apex outfit	15/01/2019
	Monkey Do Complete the Howl of the Monkey Gods Challenge Tomb	15/01/2019
	Harmony Complete the Path of Fear Side Mission	15/01/2019
	Creature Comforts Obtain White Breath skill, equip Grip of Fear White Knuckle and Scales of Q Feathered Serpent	15/01/2019
	Treasure Hunter Find and open all the main game Conquistador treasure chests	15/01/2019
	Queen of the Damned Make an unlikely ally	16/01/2019
	Dr. Croft Complete all Artifact Collections	16/01/2019
	Surprise! Perform 5 Eagle’s Talon Takedowns	16/01/2019
	Quite the Adventure Finish the main storyline	16/01/2019
	Rite of Passage Complete Shadow of the Tomb Raider on Rite of Passage difficulty	16/01/2019
	Smart and Resourceful Complete Shadow of the Tomb Raider on Smart and Resourceful difficulty	16/01/2019
	Total Party Kill Kill 5 enemies with friendly fire	16/01/2019
	In the Moment Kill 10 enemies while Focus is active	16/01/2019
	Put Herself Together Complete the Mother Protector Challenge Tomb	16/01/2019
	Moonlight Sonata Complete the Eternal Reward Side Mission	16/01/2019
	Seasoned Pro Complete all 7 downloadable content missions and receive the Tunic of the Shorn One	16/01/2019
	Moonlit Knight Obtain Magic Touch Skill, equip Silver Strike Moonbeam weapon and Midnight Sentinel Farseer outfit	16/01/2019

Hell Let Loose (Steam)

What I Am Creating

Published the latest waited of Edge of Empire which marks the beginning of year 10 of the show

What I Am Spending

It was time for Humble Choice and from that I got

Mood:- Postive
Caffeinated Beverages Consumed:- 3
In My Ears:- You Make My Dreams – Hall & Oates
Tabletop Game Last Played:– The Horus Heresy
Video Game Last Played:- Final Fantasy III Pixel Remaster
Book Last Read:– Dropsite Massacre – John French
Audiobook Last In My Ears:- The Emperor’s Finest – Sandy Mitchell
Movie Last Viewed:– Wonder Woman
TV Show Last Viewed:- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Podcast Last In My Ears:- The WAN Show
Current State of Projects:- Working on some Stormcasts

2026 Resoltuons

By michael

On 10th January 2026

In Blog

Last year was a bust so let’s do better in 2026

Hobby Goals

These are ones I feel are going to be easily accomplished by trying to engage more with the community both through the podcast and my local gaming groups.

I have the past couple of months been posting every week in Friday Night Wargames of Hartlepool Gamers to ask what hobby people have been up to, and I think it’s helping with engagement in the group

So what are they gonna be!

Paint More Models

I mean pretty much self explanatory, here is the list of my models painted from last year, so let’s do a bit more and work on that pile of potential

Play More Games

Simple as that just play a bit more, try and play at least once every other week either at Durham Raiders or Hartlepool Gamers, and I really want to play some Bolt Action, and I am gonna bully Graham to play with me too, and some Trench Crusade would be good too

Focus on a Select Few Armies

I do like variety, it’s after all the spice of life, but there are a few armies I want to laser focus on and really develop, so let’s look at those

Astra Militarium

For 40K I really want to get these up and running as a full army with a decent variety of units available to me, I have a good selection of Death Korps of Krieg to work on first, and after that I want to go into the Cadians

The Combat Patrol subscription will be getting me an old Cadian Combat Patrol, and I will be grabbing some extra copies of it to bulk out the force

I also specifically want to add the following to the force

Chimera x 5
Taurox
Hellhound x 2
Scout Sentinel
Castellan x 2
Ministorum Priest

And that kinda ties in with this

Solar Auxilia

My Solar Auxilia list really worked ok in 2.0, but in 3.0 it’s got a lot of issues, and the main one is boots on the ground.

So I have as you will se below grabbed a Combat Force, and I can see me getting at least another two of them to really bulk out the force with Senitnels, Leman Russ tanks (which tie into the Astra Militarium) and Lasrifle Sections

I currently have a Stormhammer in the painting table that Graham gave me for my birthday

Leman Russ Tanks

This is for both of the above, because I share these tanks between both forces, but I want to add another Demolisher, two Executioners and a couple of Battle Cannon tanks

I am also going to add some Basilisks too, which will be Solar Auxilia ones, cause they look cooler

Germans

I am really wanting to play Bolt Action this year, I already have a decent sized early war force, which I am planning on expanding with the following bits

Opal Blitz
Panzer I
Panzer II
Panzer III
Krupp Protze
Stug III
Sd.Kfz 251/1 Ausf C x 2

And u want to develop a later war army as well, for which I have already printed off a Luchs

Stormcast Eternals

I kinda want to sort out my Stormcast Eternals into a useable army, most of it is painted, up I just need to separate out the Legends stuff from the current stuff and make it into an army I can field without having to have too many proxies

Paint a Baneblade

It kinda ties in to the above for both the Solar Auxilia and Astra Militarium, it’s kinda this one model that has for years been a sort of white whale and I really want to paint one, I am kinda thinking of grabbing one for a store birthday or similar to get some freebies too

This won’t be a Shadowsword or a Hellhammer, just a plain basic Baneblade (although I will if I can do some magnetisation to allow it to change up what it is)

Video Game Goals

I want to complete the following 10 games, you can follow along with this GeekList here!

Final Fantasy IV Pixel Remaster (Steam)
Easy Red (Steam)
Easy Red 2 (Stream
Assassin’s Creed Origins (Xbox)
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey (Xbox)
Assassin’s Creed Chronicles India (Xbox)
Star Wars: Squadrons (Steam)
What Remains of Edith Finch (Steam)
Firewatch (Steam)
Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice (Steam)

And I have this backup trio of

Stream More

I started streaming to get better at talking and thus better at the podcast, so I want to do more so I can improve my talking on Edge of Empire.

My AIO Broke!

Pretty much this, the AIO, or rather the hub that controls it, broke, so it wasn’t working at all, which sucks

So I decided to replace it with an air cooler, for which there really is only one choice, the Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120, for which I specifically bought the Digital version which has a screen displaying temperatures on it, simply because that was same day delivery.

I also had to get a fan hub because the AIO hub controlled all my other fans

Anyway I got the new cooler fitted and its fits ok, but alas I lost all my fans RGB due to the AIO hub having also been the RGB controller

What I Am Modelling

My first model of the year was for my Celestial Vindicators, a Lord Vigilant on Gryph-Stalker

I then finished off two units of Tzzangors to complete the Thousand Sons Combat Patrol

And a Strike Squad for the Grey Knights

Then I painted this Hellbrute for my True Sons

So what’s next for me?

Blood Angels Land Speeders
Cthonian Beserks
Tech-Thralls x 20
Lord-Terminos, Reclusians x 3 & Memorians x 2
Hearthkyn Pioneers x 3
Death Korps of Krieg Heavy Weapons Team x 8
Havocs x 10
Einhyr Hearthguard x 5
Guardian Defenders x 10
Myrmidon Destructors

What I Am Reading

Not actually picked up my book this week, but I have been listening to Demolisher by Andy Clark.

What Video Games I am Playing

I have been playing a ton of Shadow of the Tomb Raider

I have also been streaming some Easy Red, which is so bad, its actually pretty good!

What Achievements I Have Unlocked

Shadow of the Tomb Raider (Steam)

	Unwelcome Guests Get rid of the pillagers outside of Kuwaq Yaku	03/01/2026
	Hearts and Minds Retrieve Manko’s Necklace	03/01/2026
	Zoologist Collect 20 critters	04/01/2026
	First Blood Perform a Stealth Takedown from a mud-covered wall	04/01/2026
	Tables Turned Kill 5 enemies while they are searching for Lara	04/01/2026
	Underwater Archeologist Collect 5 underwater Artifacts	04/01/2026
	Up to the Challenge Complete 5 Challenges	04/01/2026
	The Underworld Get out of the Cenote alive	04/01/2026
	New Heights Complete a climb after finding the Overhang Climbing Gear	04/01/2026
	That’s a Knife! Fully upgrade the knife	08/01/2026
	I Believe Hakan Fly Rescue Hakan from the cultists	08/01/2026
	Family Ties Free Unuratu from prison	08/01/2026
	Like a Shadow Stealth Takedown 25 enemies	09/01/2026
	Playing with Fire Burn 2 enemies simultaneously	09/01/2026
	Heart of the Serpent Find the mission of San Juan	09/01/2026

Easy Red (Steam)

	First steps Learn how to play	05/01/2026
	X Kill 10 soldiers	05/01/2026

What Tabletop Games I am Playing

I played my Combat Patrol game against Jacks Imperial Knights, which I lost, quite badly!

My Scions just didn’t have the tools to deal with Knights

What I Am Spending

I got myself a Solar Auxilia Combat Force to expand that army!

I bought some game in the dying hours of the Steam Winter Sale

Easy Red 2: Normandy
Easy Red 2: Ardennes 1940 & 1944
Easy Red 2: Shanghai – Nanking
Easy Red 2: Stalingrad
Dead Island 2
Bunny Park
Gori: Cuddly Carnage
Martha Is Dead
Sniper Elite V2 Remastered
Talisman: Digital 5th Edition
Dead Island Definitive Edition
Sniper Elite
Escape Dead Island
Easy Red

Mood:- Bit unwell
Caffeinated Beverages Consumed:- 1
In My Ears:- Seems – Queen Sarah Saturday
Tabletop Game Last Played:– The Horus Heresy
Video Game Last Played:- Shadow of the Tomb Raider
Book Last Read:– Dropsite Massacre – John French
Audiobook Last In My Ears:- Demolisher – Andy Clark
Movie Last Viewed:– Muppets Christmas Carol
TV Show Last Viewed:- Letterkenny
Podcast Last In My Ears:- The WAN Show
Current State of Projects:- Preparing to build some Lasriflemen

	Reforged Love Defeated Barbariccia, the Lord of Wind	13/03/2026
	Field Research- Advanced Completed 50% of the Bestiary entries	14/03/2026
	To the Depths Arrived in the underworld	14/03/2026
	Veteran Treasure Hunter Collected treasure from 50% of the chests	15/03/2026
	Inflamed Anger Defeated Rubicante, the Lord of Fire	16/03/2026
	Moneybags Obtained 500,000 gil	16/03/2026

	Experienced Warrior Defeated 500 monsters	05/03/2026
	Overcoming Grief Defeated Cagnazzo, the Lord of Water	07/03/2026
	Smart Saver Obtained 100,000 gil	10/03/2026
	Legendary Warrior Defeated 1000 monsters	11/03/2026

	Breaking the Geneva Convention Kill an enemy medic while he is reviving someone.	16/02/2026
	Death From Below Destroy a vehicle with an AT mine	16/02/2026

	Field Research- Professional Completed 100% of the Bestiary entries.	24/01/2026
	Master of III Earned all achievements.	24/01/2026

	Inflammatory Decisions Accidentally destroyed the village of Mist.	24/01/2026
	Field Research- Basic Completed 10% of the Bestiary entries.	25/01/2026
	Apprentice Warrior Defeated 100 monsters.	25/01/2026
	Rookie Treasure Hunter Collected treasure from 10% of the chests.	25/01/2026
	Thrifty Spender Obtained 10,000 gil.	25/01/2026