Author: michael Page 1 of 58

Moved From Docker, But Its Better In The Long Run!

About a month ago, I realized that the geniuses behind Audio Book Shelf had released a native Windows version of the application. Until then, I had been running it in a Docker install. However, this method was slow and could only allocate 2GB of RAM, greatly impacting performance.

So, I decided to switch from Docker to the Windows version. Unfortunately, this transition resulted in the loss of all metadata due to differences in how Linux and Windows file structures operate.

Consequently, I find myself having to re-add all the metadata. While this isn’t an issue for much of the content, as Audio Book Shelf can scrape data from Audible, it’s a manual task for Big Finish, which constitutes the majority of my collection. Thus, it’s quite time-consuming.

Currently, I’ve managed to complete the metadata for all titles up to those beginning with ‘O’. Although it’s taking time, the effort will certainly be worth it.

Furthermore, I’ve adjusted settings so that metadata is now stored with the files rather than in a central database. This change aims to prevent similar issues in the future, particularly if I decide to switch my server back to Linux from Windows.

What I Am Modelling

I started off by painting a Loonboss on a Giant Cave Squig for my Gloomspite Gitz

Followed by a Heavy Support Squad for my Imperial Fists, armed with Heavy Bolters.

Then I painted some Spite Revenants for my Sylvaneth.

As well as a Branchwych for them too

I then finished up a Penitent Engine for the Sisters of Battle

Before painting another Loonboss on Giant Cave Squig

I am now working on some Vigilors for the Stormcast Eternals


So whats up next?

  1. Vigilors x 10
  2. Nexus Syphon
  3. Chief Librarian Tigurius & Primaris Librarians x 2
  4. Homonculus
  5. Bloodletters x 10
  6. Saint Celestine
  7. Death Company x 10, Chaplain & Rhino
  8. Stabbas x 40
  9. Wulfen x 5
  10. Ultramarines Hellbalsters x 5

What I Am Reading

Not much, but I did listen to Cypher: Lord of the Fallen by John French which was very interesting.

What Tabletop Games I Am Playing

On Wedensday I played a Hartlepool League game with Leon, and his T’au kicked my arse!

I had another game of 40K for the Hartlepool League with Dale on Saturday, and despite his very good list, I didn’t lose as badly as expoected!

What Video Games I Am Playing

I have returned to Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag.

What I Am Spending

I bought myself a few bits of DLC


Resolutions Update – February 2024

An update of where I am at now for this years resolutions!

Complete 6 Combat Patrols – 33% Complete

This month we completed the Dark Angels Combat Patrol, which will make its channel debut in April!

So it’s probably going to be Dark Angels vs Daemons

Next up, the Chaos Space Marines will be painted, these are going to be done as the True Sons warband!

We did add Blood Angels to the painting pile, for these the Librarian and Aggressors have previously been painted, so those models will join the Dark Angels.

So we now have 2 of the 6 Combat Patrols I wanted to get done this year done.

Bring My Gloomspite Gitz to 2000 Point – 56% Complete

I added a Loonboss on a Giant Cave Squig this month, and next up I am going to be painting two more units of Stabbas next along with a couple units of Fanatics

Get My Drukhari To 2000 Points

No progress

Complete My Video Game Geek Hardcore 10! – 30% Complete

This month I completed Unpacking

And I am most of the way though Yakuza 0

So this is where we stand now

Alternative Three

Also Completed

Read 40 Books – 28% Complete

This month I have read/listened to

Start the Combat Patrol Battle Reports

We continued with the publication of report 2, Ultramarines vs Drukhari

Space MarinesImperiumChaosXenos
UltramarinesAdeptus MechanicusDeath GuardDrukhari
Blood Ravens x 2Adepta SororitasT’au
Dark AngelsNecrons

Seeing Family and Warhammer World!

This weekend, we headed south to visit family. First, we attended Megan’s nanny’s 95th birthday party in Thame. Then, we went to Suffolk to see my parents and treated my oldest nephew, Dylan, to dinner for his 18th birthday. Finally, we squeezed in a quick trip to Warhammer World!

Friday, we left about 10:30 and had to stop just once to charge the car, which was done at Watford Gap, but only because bizarrely all the chargers at Leicester Forest East were offline. We then had tea at the Harvester, and stayed at the Ramada at Oxford Services.

Saturday was a bit chaotic, we got to the party fine, but, though a miscommunication, the car keys got locked in the car, and the only viable option to get back in was to smash the rear passenger window!

We did that (which was a lot of fun) and then had to zoom over to Aylesbury to get a Perspex window fitted to make the car weatherproof, so me and Lindsay got to sit in Morrisons and have a cup of tea and a piece of cake!

So we got on the road to Sudbury a bit later than planned, not arriving until 7:30pm, we got to see my parents and Dylan for a couple of hours before we had to head off to our hotel at Haverhill, via a stop at McDonalds for tea.

The next day we took a trip to Cambridge, and we had a little bit of a wander, looking at some of the university buildings, our Durham graduate, Megan, was not impressed.

But we found Warhammer at the new location, I say new, the last time I was in the Games Workshop in Durham was 1999, when it was at a totally different location!

After that, we found a Raspberry Pi store, so I had a bit of a geek out and discussed what we could do to give my current Pi4 8gb a new job!

And then we went to Nines, a buffet, the place that Dylan wanted to go to, for us to belatedly celebrate his 18th birthday.

Then we drove up to Nottingham, arriving at the Riverside Travelodge, where we ordered in some food from German Donner Kebab via Deliveroo, and settled in.

The next day, myself and Megan went to Warhammer World, where we played a game of Combat Patrol, before returning home to Hartlepool.

What I Am Painting

I started out by painting Khagra’s Ravagers for Warhammer Underworlds

These also will serve as a test to wether or not I want to do Warriors of Chaos in The Old World!

After that I concentrated on the Dark Angels and got painted the Intercessor Squad.

Followed by the Inceptors.

And finally a Redemptor Dreadnought to complete the Combat Patrol.

I am currently working on an Imperial Fists Heavy Support Squad that will be armed with Heavy Bolters


So what does that leave me with for next week!

  1. Imperial Fists Heavy Bolter Squad x 10
  2. Spite Revenants x 10
  3. Penitent Engine
  4. Vigilors x 10
  5. Nexus Syphone
  6. Chief Librarian Tigurius & Primaris Librarian x 2
  7. Homonculus
  8. Bloodletters x 10
  9. Saint Celestine
  10. Death Company x 10, Chaplain x 2 & Rhino

What I Am Reading

I finished The End and the Death Volume III by Dan Abnett and the only thing I can say is… FUCK EREBUS!!!

I also finished listening to Creed: Ashes of Cadia by Jude Reid which was very very good, really cannot wait for a sequel.

I then listened to Davros by Lance Parkin, which was very cool, nice to see Davros without the Daleks, gave a chance for his villainy to shine. And I then listened to Master by Joseph Lidster which was a nice story with a bit of a twist!

What Tabletop Games I Am Playing

As said earlier, myself and Megan played a game of Combat Patrol at Warhammer World, I played Necrons, Megan played Sisters.

We played the Archeotech Recovery mission and Megan beat me 70-20.

Her dice rolls were on fire and her Penitent Engine, just ripped through my Skorpeh Destroyers and my Doomstalker!

Fun game, and a lot of cool stuff happened!

What Video Games I Am Playing

Still playing Yakuza 0 and I have just started Chapter 11.

I also finished Halo Infinites campaign, and that was a bit bittersweet given the circumstances around why I stopped.

What I Am Creating

The next episode of Edge of Empire was published, this one is a focus on HQs in the generic Legion list!

What I Am Spending

I grabbed the next Combat Patrol to add to the studio armies, this time the Blood Angels

But I already have the Librarian and Aggressors for the Blood Angels, so those kits are going to join the Dark Angels army, that I am not building!

At the Raspberry Pi Store, I bought some stickers and a pin badge.

And at Warhammer World, I picked up a Neurolictor for the Combat Patrol!

I bought a few video games, finished up my Final Fantasy collection for Steam

Plus I got this months Humble Choice that got me


Battling Fatigue

The chest is feeling better, I am coughing less and I am able to climb stairs without needing my inhaler halfway up.

But the fatigue is another thing, I think I have spent more of the last couple of weeks in bed asleep, than awake, and its pretty annoying.

It having a marked effect on my memory as I am forgetting so much, and I have become a real burden on Megan and especially Lindsay as she has family stuff going on right now.

Hopefully I can push though it, and I will try as much as I can, that’s all I can do right.

What I Am Modelling

I started the week with a Nexus Syphon for my Age of Sigmar terrain box

And then a couple of bases of Ripper Swarms for the Tyranids

Then two units of Stabbas for the Gloomspite Gitz

And a Knight-Judicator for my Celestial Vindicators

After that it was 20 Termagants for the Tyranids

Then I painted a trio of Ork Warbikers!

I am currently working on Khagra’s Ravagers for Underworlds

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So what’s next?

  1. Khagra’s Ravagers
  2. Dark Angels Intercessors x 5
  3. Imperial Fists Heavy Bolter Heavy Support Squad x 10
  4. Spite Revenants x 10
  5. Penitent Engine
  6. Vigilors x 10
  7. Nexus Syphon
  8. Chief Librarian Tigurius & Ultramarines Primaris Librarian
  9. Homunculus
  10. Bloodletters of Khorne x 10

What I Am Reading

I finished The Talon of Horus by Aaron Dembski-Bowden, which was really, really good!

I then listened to Flip-Flop by Jonathan Morris, which was quite unique, but a lot of fun. And then I moved on to Omega by Nev Fountain, which was ok, not amazing, but not terrible.

I am now listening to Creed: Ashes of Cadia by Jude Reid which is quite good so far, and absolutely makes me want to collect a Cadian army!

And I am still reading The End and the Death: Volume III by Dan Abnett, which is a very compelling book, but a big read, especially when I have fatigue issues!

What Tabletop Games I Am Playing

A couple of games of the 40k league, but the third one I was due to play today, I utterly forgot about cause of the aforementioned issues, utterly unfair on my opponent and I feel like such a dickhead for it.

What Video Games I Am Playing

a bit more of Yakuza 0, its a weird game, but I am loving the story.

I also returned to the Halo Infinite campaign, the last time I had fired it up until last Thursday was the day Mary passed away, so I guess that explains why I didn’t pick it up again, especially as we moved house shortly afterwards.

What I Am Creating

I published the next battle report of Combat Patrol, this episode features the Drukhari taking on the Vangaurd Space Marines of the Ultramarines Chapter!

What I Am Backing

Nowt new, but I realised I forgot to pay for shipping on the Firefly: The Game – 10th Anniversary Collector’s Edition project, so we got that done, and I cannot imagine we will get it until later on in the year and not in the main wave!

What I Am Spending

A few video games were bought

I picked up a copy of Stormbringer with a Loonboss on a Giant Cave Squig.

I also bought some Deathwing Terminators for the Dark Angels army that I am NOT building!!!

And a sponsor sorted me out with a set of the Boarding Actions terrain.


Resolutions Update – January 2024

An update of where I am at now for this years resolutions!

Complete 6 Combat Patrols – 16.67% Complete

I have now gotten a Dark Angels combat patrol and bought the Bloodletters I need to complete that Combat Patrol.

The Sisters of Battle Combat Patrol is now complete with the painting of a Rhino

So on the production line, we have:-

  • Chaos Daemons
  • Chaos Space Marines
  • Dark Angels
  • Tyranids

For the Dark Angels I completed the Chaplain and Redemptor Dreadnought

Technically I did get the new Space Marines one done with the finishing up of a Librarian in Phobos armour, but I am not sure I am counting that!

I plan to purchase a Sister of Silence squad next month to allow me to get a Custodes Squad done.

Bring My Gloomspite Gitz to 2000 Point – 49.5% Complete

This month I got the Fungoid Cave Shaman and two units of Stabbas painted up!

At the moment, we have painted and ready to play, which comes to 990 points

LEADERS

Mollog
Loonboss
Fungoid Cave-Shaman
Zarbag

UNITS

Moonclan Shootas x 20
Moonclan Shootas x 20
Moonclan Stabbas x 20
Moonclan Stabbas x 20

Sitting left to build/paint are

  • Boingrot Bounders x 10 (2 Units)
  • Squig Hoppersx 10 (2 Units)
  • Loonsmasha Fanatics x 10 (2 Units)
  • Sporesmasha Fanatics x 10 (2 Units)
  • Moonclan Stabbas x 40 (2 Units)

Get My Drukhari To 2000 Points

No progress

Complete My Video Game Geek Hardcore 10! – 20% Complete

Due to a technicality, my list wasn’t finalised 🙁

So my completion of Stray and Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster don’t officially count.

So they have been replaced by Portal, which I did complete this month and Final Fantasy II Pixel Remaster.

So this month I completed Rise of the Tomb Raider and Portal and I am now playing Yakuza 0.

So this is where we stand now

Alternative Three

Also Completed

Read 40 Books – 10% Complete

This month I have read/listened to (yeah I am including audio books)

Start the Combat Patrol Battle Reports

So yay the first report went out and I am super happy with it!

And because White Dwarf included a new Combat Patrol for Space Marines, I now have that Combat Patrol for both Blood Ravens and Ultramarines!

So here is my current list of Combat Patrol options!

Space MarinesImperiumChaosXenos
UltramarinesAdeptus MechanicusDeath GuardDrukhari
Blood Ravens x 2Adepta SororitasT’au
Necrons

Space Marines Are Not A Good Starter Army

I said what I said!

But back in the day, Space Marines were the default starter army, S4, T4 and hitting on 3s with a 3+ armour save, they were decently tough, and didn’t need a lot to make them work well.

Plus they were really easy to paint and make your own.

But these days, they are not a good starter set, they have a bloated list that half the time makes little sense.

Here is the thing, how would you recommend starting a Space Marine army, its always been to recommend the Battleforce/Start Collecting/Combat patrol as they always included a Troops/Battleline, that you could build your army around.

But today, the Combat Patrol doesn’t contain a Battleline unit, the Infernus Marines aren’t one, and its a pretty elite force, simply not one that its easy to build an army around.

And even then, look at what is available, its so many units that its hard to actually look at the list as a beginner and figure out how to start an army.

A kid I know who wants to play Ultramarines was genuinely confused, because, they simply couldn’t figure out how to build an army, what they absolutely needed and how to synergise the army.

Look I am not saying Space Marines are now crap, its just really difficult to build a list as a beginner, and there is no starter box that represents the army as the very basic units which can form a decent core.

How would I fix it, well I would love to see a Combat Patrol with Intercessors at its core, the ETB Redemptor Dreadnought, and a Lieutenant.

Heck, why not release the sprue from Dark Imperium which had the Intercessors, Ancient, and two Lieutenants, then throw in an ETB kit, perhaps the Invader ATV, or as I suggested the ETB Redemptor Dreadnought.

Here is the crack, I ended up recommending the Dark Angels Combat Patrol, or the Blood Angels Combat Patrol, as these have generic units, one of which is an Intercessor Squad, a HQ and a couple of other interesting units. Actually, if you can, get both, they synergise well together, and just sell the upgrade sprues!

What I Am Modelling

I started the week by painting a unit of 10 Gutrippas for my Orruk Warclans

Followed by Snazzgar Stinkmullett the Fungoid Cave Shaman for the Gloomspite Gitz, which means I have now painted all four of the Harbingers of the Malign Portents!

Then a unit of Suppressors for the Space Wolves

After which I painted a Warlock Bombardier from the Skaven range

And then an Arch Revenant for a new Sylvaneth army

As well as Ylthari’s Guardians.

Then it was time to deal with some Tyranids, and I got the Tyranid Prime with Wings completed

And finally a Screamer-Killer.


So what’s up next week?

  1. Termagants x 20
  2. Gitz Stabbas x 40
  3. Ork Warbikers x 3
  4. Knight Judicator
  5. Khagra’s Ravagers
  6. Dark Angels Intercessors x 5
  7. Imperial Fists Heavy Bolter Squad x 10
  8. Spite Revenants
  9. Penitent Engine
  10. Vigilors x 10

What I Am Reading

I started to listed to The Talon of Horus by Aaron Dembski-Bowden, it’s a book I have started a couple of times, but never gotten past the first 30 minutes cause I get disturbed then forget about it.

But this time I am determined to listen it all!

I am also plodding on with The Tower of Nerek by David Guymer.

What Tabletop Games I am Playing

I played Matthew in the Hartlepool 40K league, and won 50-41, but that was only secured due to painting points!

I also played Edward, and I lost that game very badly to an Aeldari alpha strike, a wonderful game, even if I was hammered!

What Video Games I am Playing

I have started on Yakuza 0 and so far its interesting but werid!

I was horribly ill on Sunday, so played through Portal on my Steam Deck for the first time since 2007, I want to play Portal RTX but my 3070 struggles with it!

I did get a bit of streaming in, but its been difficult of late with Lindsay changing her work schedule.

What I Am Spending

I bought the Bloodletters I needed to complete the Chaos Daemons Combat Patrol from eBay

Along with some Genestealers, I only need four to top up my two existing units to full 10 grubby units, so if anyone wants four more to do the same…

And I got the Datacards for the Adeptus Mechanicus

We needed a KVM for the studio to allow easy switching between the media server and Lindsay’s laptop. This Ugreen one was on special offer on Amazon, so we grabbed it and it does what we need.

I also bought a few games

I also bough the Twin Sails Bundle on Humble Bundle, which got me:-

The rest of the games were given to Lindsay and Karen as I already had them.

I got some books too, The End and the Death: Volume III by Dan Abnett, both as an ePub and MP3 audio book, plus Sons of the Emperor as a MP3 audio book.

Of course I got Lords of the Lance by Graham McNeill, as a ePub and MP3 audiobook, and the Shamanslayer MP3 audio book by Nathan Long.

From Big Finish I got Dad’s Army: The Radio Series by Jimmy Perry & David Croft, Poppet by Lauren Mooney & Stewart Pringle, Danger and Deception by Alan Fennell, Fugitive of the Daleks by Jonathan Morris.

From Marvel, I got Moon Knight: Age of Anubis by Jonathan Green, and Doomgate by Jeffrey Lang as an MP3 audiobook.


Trying to be Better with Breakfast

Just as the title says, I am trying to be better with breakfast, because I am usually awful at the most important meal of the day.

So I have been trying to have something warm for the meal, whilst I am struggling to kick this winter cold, that has stuck around since Christmas.

Most days I am having knock off Ready Brek, because porridge is really good for me, and this is really easy to make.

We are keeping in some frozen sausages so the odd sausage breakfast is happening.

So far this year I have been ok, other than a morning in which breakfast was custard doughnuts, but I was feeling super crap.

Other options are bagels, set honey on toast and how can we forget about beans on toast!

What I Am Modelling

I started the new year with an Apothecary Biologis for my Blood Ravens.

Followed by the first lot of Hobgrot Slittaz from Stormbringer

After which I painted some Sternguard Veterans for the Blood Ravens

Along with a Phobos Lieutenant, which completed all the models from Leviathan for the Space Marines.

And then it was the last unit for Shadows Over Hammerhal, some Bloodreavers!

And I also painted this Rhino for my Sisters of Battle which completes that Combat Patrol!

I decided to crack on with the Dark Angels Chaplain, just cause I wanted him done

And because I need him for a Battle Report, here is the Phobos Librarian for the Ultramarines!


So whats up next?

  1. Termagants x 20 & Rippers x 2
  2. Gutrippas x 10
  3. Fungoid Cave Shaman
  4. Arch-Revenant & Ylthari’s Guardians
  5. Space Wolves Suppressors x 3
  6. Screamer Killer
  7. Stabbas x 40
  8. Ork Warbikers x 3
  9. Knight Judicator
  10. Khagra’s Ravagers

What I Am Reading

I have been listening to Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales – Wings of Fury by Brittney Morris, and I finished that, not a bad story at all, and I cannot wait to play the game!

I have been listening to Steel Tread by Andy Clark, which has been a fun story, but the accents are wrong 🙁

And to continue the Doctor Who Monthly Adventures by Big Finish I am now listening to Project: Lazarus by Cavan Scott & Mark Wright.

And I have been reading The Tower of Nerek by David Guymer, which is ok so far, moving along very nicely,

What Tabletop Games I Am Playing

I have been playing a bit of D&D with Lindsay and Megan, using the Dungeon and Dragons Adventurer magazine

I also played my first game of the Hartlepool 1000pts 40K league on Friday and lost, by a lot!

I am using this list for it

Necrons (980 Points)
Awakened Dynasty
Incursion (1000 Points)
CHARACTERS
Overlord (85 Points)
    • Warlord
    • 1x Overlord’s blade
      1x Tachyon arrow
Royal Warden (40 Points)
    • 1x Close combat weapon
      1x Relic gauss blaster
BATTLELINE
Necron Warriors (100 Points)
    • 10x Necron Warrior
        • 10x Close combat weapon
          10x Gauss flayer
Necron Warriors (100 Points)
    • 10x Necron Warrior
        • 10x Close combat weapon
          10x Gauss reaper
Necron Warriors (100 Points)
    • 10x Necron Warrior
        • 10x Close combat weapon
          10x Gauss flayer
OTHER DATASHEETS
Canoptek Doomstalker (135 Points)
    • 1x Doomsday blaster
      1x Doomstalker limbs
      1x Twin gauss flayer
Lokhust Heavy Destroyers (50 Points)
    • 1x Close combat weapon
      1x Gauss destructor
Night Scythe (145 Points)
    • 1x Armoured bulk
      1x Twin tesla destructor
Skorpekh Destroyers (100 Points)
    • 3x Skorpekh Destroyer
        • 3x Skorpekh hyperphase weapons
Triarch Stalker (125 Points)
    • 1x Heat ray
      1x Stalker’s forelimbs

What Video Games I Am Playing

I started playing Stray on New Years Day and I managed to finish it and it was a really good game, and I was not prepared for that ending emotionally.

I then started on Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster, I have never played any of the first 6 games in the series as they were never released in Europe when I was a nipper, and even then they were on Nintendo consoles, which weren’t that common in the UK.

And I managed to complete the game in about 16 hours, but missed out a few achievements thanks to a missing 3 treasure chests!

I justr finished playing Rise of the Tomb Raider, great game and great story and worked so well on the Steam Deck!

I returned to Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun, its a great game and I want to finish it, then play it again!!!

What I Am Creating

The first Warhammer 40k Combat Patrol Battle Report has been published, this one was between the Blood Ravens Space Marines Chapter and the Necrons of the Sautekh Dynasty.

We also got the final episode of Edge of Empire of 2023 out (I know)!

What I Am Cooking

We are brining back the tradition of having breakfast together on a Sunday morning, and I cooked the first one, which was croissants with ham, cheese and egg!

What I Am Spending

I bought a few little games for my Steam Deck from a Fanatical bundle, these were:-

Also it was Humble Choice, which bagged me:-

And from the Steam winter sale, I bought Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order

I have gotten a new headset, but not by buying it, my friend gave me a broken headset and said it was mine if I could fix it, turned out the dongle was borked, so after asking Logitech if I can buy replacement, they told me it was still in warranty and replaced the whole thing, which my friend was cool with as theirs had already been replaced.

And for Battle Report reasons, I now have a Dark Angels Combat Patrol box!

And in the Games-At-Hart reverse auction sale I bought Ticket to Ride Berlin and Ticket to Ride Poland cause I am a big fan of Ticket to Ride!


Blood Ravens vs Necrons – Warhammer 40,000 Combat Patrol Battle Report

Battle Reports are back, but now with a focus on Combat Patrol

Here the sinister Necrons take on the secretive Blood Ravens, who will win?

Resolutions for 2024

I will be honest, I did really badly in 2023 and I just feel too depressed to go over them

So lets try and look forwards with some new plans for 2024!

Complete 6 Combat Patrols

This one is gonna be a fun one, and a bit easier, because I have three in progress!

Tyranids are half built, Sisters just need a Rhino, which is waiting to prime and the Chaos Space Marines is on the shelf needing to be built.

My plans were set, but then Hachette came out with the news for Warhammer 40,000 Combat Patrol, which will contain NINE different combat patrols, probably coming in late September I would imagine!

So my focus for adding will be stuff not included in that, so the the three I will add to my collection will likely be the new Ad Mech one, Grey Knights, Chaos Deamons (only need one pack of Bloodletters).

Bring My Gloomspite Gitz to 2000 Point

Should be relatively easy thanks to Stormbringer, I already have 640 points painted that I completed in the last few weeks, and I am adding two units of Stabbas and a Fungoid Cave-Shaman next.

Get My Drukhari To 2000 Points

This is a carry over from last year, I am more than halfway there with 1285 points, and hopefully can finish that in 2024

Complete My Video Game Geek Hardcore 10!

I got 7 of 10 done last year, so lets try and get the full 10 this year!

I have currently got the following in the core list, that you can see here!

Yakuza 0 (Steam)
Death Stranding (Steam)
Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag (Xbox)
Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag – Freedom Cry (Xbox)
Assassin’s Creed: Rogue (Xbox)
Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales (Steam)
Stray (2022) (Steam)
Unpacking (Steam)
God of War (2018) (PlayStation)
Rise of the Tomb Raider (Steam)

And the following are an alternative 3

Marvel’s Avengers (PlayStation)
Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster (Steam)
HλLF-LIFE (Steam)

Read 40 Books

That’s it, just read 40 books, and yeah I include shorts!

Start the Combat Patrol Battle Reports

Thats what I really want to focus on this year, battle reports with the Combat Patrol format!

I currently have painted and ready to play:-

  • Original Adeptus Mechanicus
  • Necrons
  • Space Marines (Blood Ravens)
  • Drukhari
  • Death Guard
  • T’au

As previously said, sitting on my shelf waiting to be added are a Tyranid and Chaos Space Marines Combat Patrol and the Sisters just need a Rhino which is waiting to be primed.

I also am just a few units short of the Adeptus Custodes (need a single squad of Sisters of Silence), Chaos Deamons (need a single squad of Bloodletters)

The gaming table is going up in the studio tonight or tomorrow to record the first battle report which will be, Necrons vs Space Marines!!!

Christmas & New Year 2023

Hope you all had a good Christmas, mine was fine, but I was ill for most of it and for one point over 72 hours was awake for less than 10 of them!

But other than that, it was good, we went to my sister in laws for the dinner, which was nice, and we had a great time with Megan’s family.

Me and Lindsay kept up our tradition of a Chinese takeaway for Christmas Eve and a movie, this year it was Super Mario Bros. And Christmas morning it was turkey bacon stotties with mushrooms, and the egg that Lindsay has been adding recently and Tymbark Apple & Cherry juice.

We didn’t do much in the way of gifts, we limited ourselves to £25 each, so I got Megan a book and a rainbow Stich controller holder. Lindsay got a book as well, plus a bunch of Steam games, as she has decided that she wants a Steam Deck in 2024.

My favourite present was a Moopsy toy that Karen made for me, its adorable, I just need to find a place to put it in the studio!

New Years was quiet, me and the otters went to Pauls for a few hours, then returned home and they went to bed, whilst I had a chicken wrap and chips and played the last of Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered.

Hopefully 2024 is gonna be a better year, because 2023 has been challenging.

What I Am Modelling

I started off with a big batch of Ultramarines, starting with a squad of Aggressors

Followed by some Inceptors

And Finally a squad of Infiltrators

After this I turned my attention to a squad of Battle Sisters

Alongside a Repentia Superior

As well as Sister Superior Tariana Palos

And then some Shootas for my Gloomspite Gitz

I also painted some Grot Scuttlings for Warhammer Quest: Silver Tower at the same time

I then painted up Gordrakk, the Fist of Gork over Christmas as a main centrepiece for the Orruk army!

And painted up the Gaunt Summoner for Silver Tower which completed that boxset.

Plus Mollogs Mob

And finally I painted a Whirlwind Scorpius for my Imperial Fists!


So what’s coming up next?

  1. Blood Ravens Sternguard Veterans & Phobos Lt
  2. Hobgrot Slittaz x 10
  3. Termagants x 20
  4. Gutrippas x 10
  5. Fungoid Cave Shaman
  6. Arch-Revenant & Ylthari’s Guardians
  7. Space Wolves Supressors x 3
  8. Bloodreavers x 10
  9. Screamer Killer
  10. Stabbas x 40

What I Am Reading

I finished Krieg by Steve Lyons, and that was a very very good audio book!

After that I moved on to Witchbringer by Steven B Fischer, which was ok, but the lack of Cadian accents threw me. Doctor Who and the Pirates was a lot of fun from Jacqueline Rayner and Creatures of Beauty by Nicholas Briggs was a great mind trip of a story.

And finally I listened to Gloomspite by Andy Clark, which was grim as fuck!

I have now started listening to Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales – Wings of Fury by Brittney Morris, before I play the game.

I read Sammael: Lord of the Eternal Hunt by Ben Counter, which was ok, followed by Astorath the Grim: Redeemer of the Lost by Andy Smille which was really good. Then I read The Sanguinor: Exemplar of the Host by James Swallow which was actually pretty good.

I also read The Nine by Justin D Hill which was pretty good, nice look at a character we have had a lot of time with but not much background on. The Last Loyalist by David Guymer was also excellent.

Then I picked up a few more shorts, Bjorn: The Fell-Handed by Chris Wraight, Marneus Calgar: Lord of Ultramar by Graham McNeill, Abaddon: Chosen of Chaos by Aaron Dembski-Bowden, Cato Sicarius: Master of the Watch by Nick Kyme, Pedro Kantor: The Vengeful Fist by Steve Parker, Gabriel Seth: The Flesh Tearer by Andy Smillie, Dante: Lord of the Host by James Swallow, Helbrecht: The Crusader by Guy Haley, Vulkan He’stan: Forgefather by Nick Kyme, Lysander: The Fist of Dorn by Anthony Reynolds, Typhus: Herald of the Plague God by David Annadale, Logan Grimnar: Defender of Honour by Cavan Scott, Kaldor Draigo: Knight of Titan by L.J. Goulding, Kayvaan Shrike: Shadow Stalker by Gav Thorpe, Azrael: Protector of Secrets by C.Z. Dunn, Kor’sarro Khan: Huntmaster by Graeme Lyon, Torias Telion: The Eye of Vengeance by Graham McNeil and Ahriman: Hand of Dust by John French.

I also read The Staff of Asclepius by Graham McNeill which was pretty class.

What Video Games I Am Playing

I got my VideoGameGeek.com Secret Santa gift, and my super generous Santa gifted me, Stray, Yakuza: Like A Dragon and Crysis: Remastered, all games that have been high on my wish list!

Continued on with Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag.

I also completed Marvel’s Spider-Man: Remastered, total of 33 hours played and it was a lot of fun.

I have started to play The City That Never Sleeps DLC also on the Steam Deck and intend to finish it over Christmas.

Its one of those annoying episodic DLCs, which I hate, so obviously I started with The Heist, which was finished late on Christmas Day.

And yesterday I finished Turf War, which was ok, but felt less that The Heist.

And then I finished off Silver Linings just as the bell struck midnight, which I was happy with, great game, but the DLC felt disjointed because of the episodic nature.

What I Am Winning

I won a voucher from Maltesers which I combined with a voucher from some market research I did for KFC in order to buy a copy of Assassin’s Creed: Mirage, which made me very happy, as everyone knows I am a massive fan of the series.

What I Am Spending

I grabbed myself a few bits on payday, as a treat.

I got myself a Chaos Space Marines Combat Patrol, Necron Datacards, a brush and a few paints.

I also bought a few video games


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