Went To Suffolk

By

On 12th February 2023

In Blog

Last weekend, we took a flying visit to my parents in Suffolk.

We hadn’t been in nearly 3 1/2 years as a result of the Pandemic and it was nice to head down again, even if it was only brief.

It coincided with my brothers birthday, and he wanted to go to Cambridge for the day, so thats what we did, and we ate at an all you can eat buffet, which was interesting whilst on my current medication!

But it was a nice trip and I am looking forward to my next visit for my brothers wedding in April.

What I Am Modelling

I finished up the Ultramarines Lieutenants, all eight of them!

And then I painted up the Kâhl for the Leagues of Votann.

Plus an Einhyr Champuon too.

I then finished up a Broodlord for 2023 Resolutions Combat Patrol

Followed by a Lictor

After that I painted a Burnaby Battlestar Carrier for my UCM Fleet.

Plus the Titania Cruisers from the starter set!

Then I painted the Skink Priest for Warhammer Quest, which completes the heroes!

Alongside the Starblood Stalkers.

So what’s up next!

  1. Battle Sisters Squad x 10
  2. Ogroid Thaumaturge
  3. Killaboss x 2 & Stabgrot
  4. Drukhari Succubus & Wyches x 10
  5. Necron Tomb Blades x 6
  6. Imperial Fists Kratos
  7. Imperial Inquisitors x 3
  8. Kainan’s Reapers
  9. Blood Ravens Firestrike Servo Turret x 2
  10. Drukhari Reavers x 6

What I Am Reading

Making slow progress in Daybreak Legacy by Stewart Hotston still should have it finished in a day or two.

I listened to The Stones of Venice by Paul Magrs which is a great little story, and its always fun to hear Eight and Charley having lots of fun!

I am currently listening to Apocalypse by Josh Reynolds.

What Video Games I Am Playing

I completed Assassin’s Creed 2 in Assassin’s Creed: The Ezio Collection

And now I am working on Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood, which was a game I really enjoyed when I first played it!

I played a little bit of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, not much but a bit.

What I Am Creating

I published an unboxing video of the new Dropfleet Commander 2 Player Starter Set.

What I Am Winning

Won a copy of Dodge the Ball for PlayStation on Sunday

I also won a Parker pen from Octopus Office Supplies

And I won a copy of 11-11 Memories Retold from Bandi Namco.

And some cross stitch pafter a from The World of Cross Stitching, which have been given to my sister in law!

What I Am Buying

I bought a copy of the new Dropfleet Commander Stater Set from an old ATC friend who now sells models on eBay, as Extra Fox Games!

At Warhammer World I got a top up of paints and an Ultramarines dice bag!

And my missing Firestrike Servo Turrets from Forbidden Planet arrived!

I also bought myself the Celebrating Black Creators and Characters Humble Bundle, which snagged me Mafia III: Definitive Edition, Shadow Man Remastered, Shaq Fu: A Legend Reborn, Jay and Silent Bob: Mall Brawl, An Airport for Aliens Run by Dogs, Swimsanity, Marlow Briggs and the Mask of Death and Semblance.

I also purchased Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Mafia II: Definitive Edition as it was super cheap on Green Man Games.

And ew my AirPods were so dirty, I ordered a tool to help clean them, and the amount of earwax I pulled out almost made me throw up!

I also purchased the last Land Raider Proteus I needed for my Imperial Fists list for the March event!

I also grabbed some Invader ATVs from Forbidden Planet, some for my Blood Ravens and the others for my Ultramarines.

Angron and Pippin

By

On 2nd February 2023

In Blog

We got rabbits, they are adopted from a rescue and so far are acting cute, but I know they are up to something.

I am sure these little gits are planning trouble, just know it!

They are brothers and are named Pippin and Angron Eater of Cables, and yeah, they are gonna be little shits!

Ok to be fair they are hella cute and when they snuggle up and cuddle it’s heckin adorable, but still, they are up to something!

What I Am Modelling

I painted up a squad of Templar Brethren and their Land Raider Proteus transport.

The Land Raider was finished first.

Followed by the Tenplar Brethern thenselves.

After that I painted up the Hobgrot Slittaz for my Orruk Warclans army, really hoping these guys might see use in a Chaos Dwarves army one day!

The Leagues of Votann Kâhl & Einhyr Champion have got to wait a little bit as I need a specific shade, and I am topping up paint in the 6th.

So I then moved on and painted The Crimson Court.!

I got the Lieutenants for the Ultramarines on the painting desk now!

So whats coming up next?

  1. Silver Tower Skink Priest & Starblood Stalkers
  2. Leagues of Votann Kâhl & Einhyr Champion
  3. Ultramarines Lieutenants x 8
  4. Battle Sisters Squad x 10
  5. Ogroid Thaumaturge
  6. Killaboss x 2 & Stab Grot
  7. Drukhari Wyches x 10 & Succubus
  8. Necron Tomb Blades x 6
  9. Imperial Fists Kratos
  10. Inquisitors x 3

What I Am Reading

My review of The Veiled Masters by Tim Pratt can be read here.

And I published a review of Garro: Knight of Grey on Edge of Empire, here.

I listened to Sword of Orion by Nicholas Briggs, which was a bit fun, nice to hear the Eighth Doctor take on the Cybermen.

I finished The Flower Path by Josh Reybolds and you can read a review here.

I am now reading Daybreak Legacy by Stewart Hotson.

What Tabletop Games I Am Playing

On Sunday evening I played a game of Carcassonne: Winter Edition, I came second, Megan played her usual excellent field game!

What Video Games I Am Playing

Started on Assassin’s Creed The Ezio Collection again to get that completed, streaming it as planned.

So I managed to get in 6 sessions, which are also on YouTube.

https://youtu.be/0WqKFY5LTHk
https://youtu.be/a2HlMrQzR2E
https://youtu.be/Yqz-9-ATQ58
https://youtu.be/zdMLbi0tfbM
https://youtu.be/zTTICrNeJLw
https://youtu.be/Xf6mOgDvvEg

Goldeneye 007 finally hit Gamepass on Friday and of course it’s now downloaded to both the Series S and Series X!

Had a quick play on Friday and oh my it’s good!

What I am Creating

We published the very first episode of Edge of Empire for 2023 on Saturday!

And on Monday, I published the first Battle Report of 2023, a match up between the Ultramarines and the T’au Empire.

What I Am Winning

I won a copy of The Jumping Muffin Turbo on Thursday!

And a book I won arrived, not my cup of tea, but will go in the Christmas present box.

And I won a copy of The Bat Quiz too.

And I won Woodle Tree 2 Deluxe on Saturday!

I also won a Bunch of Butts, not sure where from but, it’s gonna be something to give away next Christmas.

What I Am Spending

Had to replace my Vortex mixer as the one I bought in October just died, so Amazon replaced it with the same one.

Resolutions Update – January 2023

By

On 1st February 2023

In Blog

Okay so let’s see how far I have gotten in my first month in regards to the resolutions I made for 2023.

Build & Paint a 2000 Points Army of Drukhari – 0% Complete

I started this one by building the first unit of Wyches, Succubus and Helions for the Wych Cult detachment.

The first stage of the army is to build a Wych Cult, and this is the first 500ish points as a Combat Patrol.

Everything bar the Raider is built and primed and ready to paint!

+ HQ +

Succubus:
. Agoniser & Archite Glaive

+ Troops +

Wyches:
. Hekatrix: Agoniser, Splinter Pistol
. 6x Wych: 6x Hekatarii Blade, 6x Plasma Grenades, 6x Splinter Pistol
. Wych w/ Hydra Gauntlets: Hydra Gauntlets
. Wych w/ Razorflails: Razorflails
. Wych w/ Shardnet and Impaler: Shardnet and Impaler

+ Fast Attack +

Hellions:
. Helliarch: Hellglaive, Phantasm Grenade Launcher
. 4x Hellion: 4x Hellglaive, 4x Splinter Pods

Reavers: Grav-talon
. Arena Champion: Splinter Rifle
. Reaver
. Reaver with special weapon (up to 1 for 3 models): Heat Lance

+ Dedicated Transport +

Raider: Chain-snares, Dark Lance

Build & Paint a 500 Points Combat Patrol of Genestealer Cultists – o% Complete

I built the army in its entirety this month, I had to buy a second Mining Laser and Webber for the Neophyte Cultists.

But this is the list I am building.

+ HQ +

Acolyte Iconward: Warlord

+ Troops +

Acolyte Hybrids
. 2x Acolyte Hybrid: 2x Autopistol, 2x Blasting Charges, 2x Cult Claws and Knife, 2x Frag Grenades
. Acolyte Hybrid (Heavy Weapon): Heavy Rock Saw
. Acolyte Hybrid (Icon): Cult Icon
. Acolyte Leader: Autopistol, Cult Claws and Knife

Neophyte Hybrids
. 4x Neophyte Hybrid: 4x Autogun, 4x Autopistol, 4x Blasting Charges, 4x Frag Grenades
. Neophyte Hybrid (Icon): Autogun, Cult Icon
. 2x Neophyte Hybrid (Mining): 2x Autopistol, 2x Blasting Charges, 2x Frag Grenades, 2x Mining Laser
. 2x Neophyte Hybrid (Webber): 2x Autopistol, 2x Blasting Charges, 2x Frag Grenades, 2x Webber
. Neophyte Leader: 2x Autopistol, Power Pick

+ Elites +

Hybrid Metamorphs
. 4x Hybrid Metamorph (Autopistol): 4x Autopistol, 4x Blasting Charges, 4x Frag Grenades, 4x Metamorph Mutations
. Hybrid Metamorph (Icon): Cult Icon
. Metamorph Leader: Autopistol, Metamorph Mutations

Kelermorph

Everything is built and just needs priming and painting, it might be something I attempt all in one go!

Build & Paint a 500 Points Combat Patrol of Tyranids – 0% Complete

I build a Broodlord, that’s it!

Bring my Primaris Ultramarines to 2000 Points – 27.75% Complete

This month I painted up an Intercessor Squad and I finalised the list that I am aiming for!

+ HQ +

Primaris Lieutenant
. Neo-volkite pistol, Master-crafted power sword and Storm Shield: Neo-volkite pistol

Uriel Ventris: Warlord

+ Troops +

Assault Intercessor Squad
. 9x Assault Intercessor: 9x Astartes Chainsword, 9x Frag & Krak grenades, 9x Heavy Bolt Pistol
. Assault Intercessor Sgt: Astartes Chainsword, Heavy Bolt Pistol

Infiltrator Squad: Helix gauntlet
. 9x Infiltrator: 9x Bolt pistol, 9x Frag & Krak grenades, 9x Marksman bolt carbine
. Infiltrator Sergeant

Intercessor Squad: Bolt rifle
. 4x Intercessor: 4x Bolt pistol, 4x Frag & Krak grenades
. Intercessor Sergeant

Intercessor Squad: Bolt rifle
. 4x Intercessor: 4x Bolt pistol, 4x Frag & Krak grenades
. Intercessor Sergeant

+ Elites +

Bladeguard Ancient

Bladeguard Veteran Squad
. 2x Bladeguard Veteran: 2x Frag & Krak grenades, 2x Heavy Bolt Pistol, 2x Master-crafted power sword, 2x Storm Shield
. Bladeguard Veteran Sergeant: Heavy Bolt Pistol

Redemptor Dreadnought: 2x Fragstorm Grenade Launchers, Heavy flamer, Heavy Onslaught Gatling Cannon

+ Fast Attack +

Outrider Squad: Outrider Sgt
. 2x Outrider: 2x Astartes Chainsword, 2x Frag & Krak grenades, 2x Heavy Bolt Pistol, 2x Twin Bolt rifle

Suppressor Squad
. 2x Suppressor: 2x Accelerator autocannon, 2x Bolt pistol, 2x Frag & Krak grenades
. Suppressor Sergeant

+ Heavy Support +

Eliminator Squad: Bolt sniper rifle
. Eliminator Sergeant: Bolt sniper rifle
. 2x Eliminators: 2x Bolt pistol, 2x Camo cloak, 2x Frag & Krak grenades

Eradicator Squad: Melta rifle
. 2x Eradicator: 2x Bolt pistol
. Eradicator Sgt

Repulsor: 2x Storm Bolters, Auto Launchers, Heavy Onslaught Gatling Cannon, Icarus Rocket Pod, Onslaught Gatling Cannon, Twin lascannon

So this means I need to paint:-

  • Assault Intercessor Squad x 10
  • Bladeguard Ancient
  • Bladeguard Veterans x 3
  • Outriders x 3
  • Eliminator Squad x 3
  • Eradicator Squad x 3
  • Repulsor
  • Primaris Lieutenant

Get my Weight to Under 100kg & Sustain it Below That

My weight as of publication is 115kg.

I have tried to do a couple days a week of exercise using the VR headset to gamerfy it, starting with Synth-Ryders and BeatSabre, but never really got that done, so do better next month!

Publish One Battle Report a Month – 8.33% Complete

I published the first battle report, a combat patrol game between the T’au Empire and Ultramarines.

It was published by the skin of my teeth, but it got done!

You can watch it on YouTube and see the show notes here!

Stream Twice a Week – 7.69% Complete

Ugh

We did upgrade my painting face camera to an Elgato Facecam which is an excellent piece of kit!

But the first few weeks were a struggle and I had to basically cram it all into the last week and a bit, mostly with Assassin’s Creed 2

Complete my 2023 VideoGameGeek Video Game Challenge – 0% Complete

I have completed 14.4 hours on The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.

I have gotten up to Sequence 11 complete on Assassin’s Creed 2 in Assassin’s Creed: The Ezio Collection

Read 40 Books – 10% Complete

This month I have read the following books

Get Edge of Empire Running Like a Well Oiled Machine

So far so good, the first show went out and was really good, the show notes were great and it was all done in good time!

We even successfully introduced a pre-show, exclusively for our Patreons, in which they can hear us *swear*!!!

A Bimonthly RPG Night With the Polycule – 0% Complete

Need to schedule one for February!

Combat Patrol Battle Report – T’au Empire vs Ultramarines

By

On 31st January 2023

In Battle Reports

On the planet of Grendasha Tertius, a war has been raging for the past few months as a force of the Ultramarines IVth company lead by Captain Uriel Ventris have invaded the once prosperous world to take it back from the T’au Empire for the Imperium of Man.

Leading a patrol into a devastated forge complex just outside the capital, Captain Ventris comes across a small task force of Tau lead by Sub-Commander El’Myamoto, the infamous Darkstrider.

Facing off across the ruins of the forge, the two sides open fire and begin a battle for dominance!

Army Lists

T’au Enpire

Sept Choice: T'au Sept

+ HQ +

Darkstrider

+ Troops +

Strike Team
. Fire Warrior Shas'ui: Pulse Rifle
. 9x Fire Warrior w/ Pulse Rifle: 9x Pulse Pistol, 9x Pulse Rifle
. Gun Drone
. Shield Drone
. Support Turret w/ Missile pod: Missile Pod

+ Elites +

Stealth Battlesuits
. Gun Drone
. Marker Drone
. 2x Stealth Shas'ui w/ Burst Cannon: 2x Burst Cannon
. Stealth Shas'vre: Drone Controller, Fusion Blaster

+ Fast Attack +

Pathfinder Team
. Grav-inhibitor Drone
. 5x Pathfinder: 5x Markerlight, 5x Pulse Carbine, 5x Pulse Pistol
. Pathfinder Shas'ui
. Pathfinder w/ Drone Controller: Drone Controller
. 2x Pathfinder w/ Ion Rifle: 2x Ion Rifle, 2x Pulse Pistol
. Pathfinder w/ Rail Rifle: Rail Rifle
. Pulse Accelerator Drone
. Recon Drone

Piranhas
. Piranha: Piranha Burst Cannon
. . 2x Gun Drones
. . . 2x Gun Drone: 4x Pulse Carbine

Ultramarines

+ HQ +

Uriel Ventris

+ Troops +

Intercessor Squad: Bolt rifle
. 4x Intercessor: 4x Bolt pistol, 4x Frag & Krak grenades
. Intercessor Sergeant: Power sword

+ Elites +

Redemptor Dreadnought: 2x Fragstorm Grenade Launchers, Heavy flamer, Heavy Onslaught Gatling Cannon

+ Fast Attack +

Suppressor Squad
. 2x Suppressor: 2x Accelerator autocannon, 2x Bolt pistol, 2x Frag & Krak grenades
. Suppressor Sergeant

The Flower Path

By

On 30th January 2023

In Book Reviews

I have been provided with an advance copy of the new Legend of the Five Rings book The Flower Path by Josh Reynolds, published by Aconyte Books, so here is the honest review I promised in exchange for the book.

So here is an important disclaimer which is always important to put out there first. I have a casual work contact with Asmodee to demonstrate board games for them in stores and at conventions. Asmodee being the parent company of Aconyte the publisher.

I am going to try my best to not let that cloud my judgement in this review, but I accept that subconsciously it might.

So let’s crack on with a review then!

What is Legend of the Five Rings

L5R as it’s often known is a fantasy setting for a series of card games and RPGs originally published by AEG, but now taken care of by Fantasy Flight.

It’s set in the empire of Rokugan which is heavily feudal Japan influenced, with a bit of other East Asian influences, like China and Korea thrown in as well.

It’s a fantasy setting with the usual fantasy tropes of goblins and rat men, but also oni and kitsune too.

The Story

This is the third of the Daidoji Shin mysteries and returns to the City of the Rich Frog as the theatre troupe Shin became patron of in the first book, face their opening night at the brand new Firefox Theatre, built to be the finest theatre outside of the Imperial Capital to Shin’s exacting specifications.

In his efforts to ensure success, Shin has recruited the most famous actress in all of Rokugan, Noma Etsuko, to lead the troupe since its original lead actress has left after the events of the first book.

But she doesn’t make fast friends, rather she makes many enemies amongst the cast and crew of the troupe, many of whom curse the day she joined them.

But as the curtain rises, and she walks the Flower Path of the Firefox Theatre for the first time, she collapses on stage, and subsequently dies backstage.

Knowing the killer must still be in the theatre, Shin seeks to uncover the mystery of her death as it soon becomes clear, that she had enemeies beyond the cast.

The clock is ticking and can Shin find the killer, before the show ends!

Conclusion

This is a bit of a slow start, there is a huge cast, and there is a big need to establish exactly how hated the victim is, so there is a lot of exposition as the great and good of The City of The Rich Frog descend upon the theatre for the first performance.

Yeah the initial start is a bit slow, but its overall well paced and very entertaining.

Daidoji Shin is a wonderful character, a Rokugan Sherlock Holmes but with his own distinctive qualities.

I would really recommend reading the first two books first, but thats not a bad thing because both Poison River and Death’s Kiss are excellent books!

It might not appeal to all readers, this is a book that I think would struggle to stand on its own as so much of the cast made appearances in the first two books and this story kind of expects you to have a lot of background knowledge already.

Anyway I loved this book and cannot wait for Three Oaths, the next in the series!

5 out of 5 Stars

The Flower Path is out now as a paperback, eBook and audiobook!

The Veiled Masters

By

On 29th January 2023

In Book Reviews

I have been provided with an advance copy of the new Twilight Imperium book The Veiled Masters by Tim Pratt, published by Aconyte Books, so here is the honest review I promised in exchange for the book.

So here is an important disclaimer which is always important to put out there first. I have a casual work contact with Asmodee to demonstrate board games for them in stores and at conventions. Asmodee being the parent company of Aconyte the publisher.

I am going to try my best to not let that cloud my judgement in this review, but I accept that subconsciously it might.

What is Twilight Imperium

Twilight Imperium is a much beloved strategy board game published by Fantasy Flight Games that’s currently in its 4th Edition.

First thing to know, it’s very long, my pal Drew, one of the owners of the amazing Meeple Perk, tells me it’s an 8 hour game as a minimum!

Secondly it’s an epic space opera, set in the power vacuum left behind by the decline and collapse of the Lazax Empire, as various races and factions vie for dominance and to become the new galactic superpower.

The Story

In this story we return to much of the recurring cast that Tim has developed over his previous two books, The Fractured Void, and Necropolis Empire, starting with Federation of Sol agent Amina Azad as she rescues a Hacan diplomat being held on suspicion of the murder of a close friend of his.

Very quickly other factions are drawn into the investigation specifically Captain Dampierre of the Barony of Letnev and Felix Duval of the Mentak Coalition.

Soon a vast galaxy wide conspiracy is unveiled, with secret unknown forces seeking to destabilise the major factions and plunge them into war.

Conclusion

I was really looking forward to this book and it did not disapoint, Tim Pratt writes a wonderful space opera and makes the world feel so full and alive, taking snippets from the game and building them into deep and meaningful lore that feels so fantastically well estabalished.

This book isn’t dependent on reading the previous two entries, but you are missing out if you haven’t.

This story is really good and the story is extremely intriguing a real page turner and the morally ambiguous characters add so much realism to the story, with there being no straight up good guys, with everyone having their own agenda.

This book is one I would highly recommend for sci-fi fans, and is so much more than simple tie-in fiction, but is really the kind of thing, I could see nominated for a Hugo award.

To be honest, if Aconyte don’t win a Hugo in the next decade, I would be very surprised!

I have to give this amazing book, 5 out of 5 stars!

The Veiled Masters is out now as a paperback, eBook and audiobook!

Prepping for Rabbits

By

On 24th January 2023

In Blog

Megan spoke to me and Lindsay the other week about how she has been feeling since we moved, anyway long and short we are adopting a pair of rabbits!

Currently known as Harvey and Hudson, they are being renamed Perrigrin Took and Angron Eater of Cables!

So this past week and a bit has been taken up with the task of rabbit proofing, rabbits are utter hoodlums and will chew any fucking thing.

So all the cables are being sheathed in protective coverings, the board game units are getting doors for the bottom shelves and a couple of extension cables are going into boxes.

Tomorrow Megans mum is coming round and the cage will be built!

I like bunnies, but they are pains in the bum, just so bloody naughty!

What I Am Modelling

I started the week by painting the Lord Castellan for Shadows Over Hammerhal and his trusty Gryph-Hound.

Followed by the Darkoath Warchief, I love the whole Darkoath aesthetic and I tell you, if they ever made a whole army of Darkoath, I would be on it like a tramp on chips!

After this it was the Excelsior Warpriest and his mini Gryph-Hound.

After that came a trio of Aelves, a Loremaster, Sorceress and a Black Ark Fleetmaster.

After this came the last two Silver Tower heroes, the Mistweaver Siah and the Tenebrael Shard.

And I got the Grey Seer painted up!

All I am left with now for Warhammer Quest in terms of Heroes is a Skink Priest, but I need a few paints for that, so it’s gonna wait a week or too.

I then quickly painted up a trio of Havana Destroyers for the UCM fleet.

And finally I got finished a Blood Angels Repulsor!

So what’s coming up next week?

  1. WHQ Skink Priest
  2. Templar Brethren x 10 & Land Raider Proteus
  3. Hobgrot Slittaz x 20
  4. Leagues of Votann Kâhl and Einhyr Champion
  5. The Crimson Court
  6. Ultramarines Lieutenants x 8
  7. Battle Sisters Squad x 10
  8. Ogroid Thaumaturge
  9. Killaboss x 2 & Stab Grot
  10. Drukhari Wyches x 10 & Succubus

What I Am Reading

Finished up The Veiled Masters by Tim Pratt, expect a review in the next couple of days.

I also read and finished Garro: Knight of Grey by Jim Swallow which was really good, if a bit bittersweet, a review will come this week!

And now I am onto The Flower Path by Josh Reynolds, a book I have been looking forward to for a while!

In terms of audiobooks, I listened to Sanguinius: The Great Angel by Chris Wraight.

What Tabletop Games I Am Playing

Played a game of Horus Heresy against Graham on Tuesday, it was a close game and I must admit my Dreadnought killing his Sicaran Punishers was beautiful!

A lot of it came down to my army having a lot of units which just gave up kill points and Graham managing to grab First Blood.

What Video Games Am I Playing

A little bit of The Witcher 3 and that’s it.

What I Am Winning

Another piece of shovelware, I know they are crap but the dopamine hit from winning is cool, anyway now I have The Jumping Muffin for PlayStation.

I also won a copy of Assetto Corsa Competizione for the PS5, which was nice, and certainly not shovelware!

And on Friday I won a copy of Eternal Threads on Steam!

Won my first book since the return to comping, My (Extra) Ordinary Life by Rebecca Ryan.

Not my cup of tea, but right up Megan’s street!

A Spicy Take That Shouldn’t Be Spicy

By

On 16th January 2023

In Blog

This shouldn’t be controversial, but I know some people will choose to unfollow/unfriend me for this, but it needs to be said.

No one should buy or play Hogwarts Legacy, if you claim to be an LGBTQ+ ally.

If you buy the game, or play it, then please, stop describing yourself as an ally, because when it comes down to brass tacks, you ain’t.

JK Rowling has a verifiable and blatant history of transphobia and she uses her money and influences to spread hate and bigotry against our trans friends.

If you are asking for examples, well I am gonna be honest, fuck off, they are super clear, there are numerous articles and examples and if you can’t see that, then most likely you are a piece of shit yourself.

Any purchases or streaming of the game, only benefits her, it makes her richer and allows her to do more evil.

And no, donating money to charity doesn’t make it ok, because you still give her publicity and money.

Listen to your trans and queer friends, do not buy the fucking wizard game!

You might wonder why I care, given that I am not trans, well simple I have a lot of trans friends, and I care about them.

Also, if you take Joke Rolling and her dreadful GC posses proposals, that makes me not a man.

My sez chromosomes are not XY, they are XYY, I am, to be blunt, not a standard cis male

And under the arguments put forward by the GC lunatics, I wouldn’t be allowed to use men’s toilets, because my DNA isn’t “normal”.

But there are a lot of bodies out there that don’t fit the XY/XX binary, not all of our DNA matches what we feel we are, it know ourselves to be.

If we were to mandate ridiculous DNA based classifications of gender, what happens to women with Turner Syndrome (XY) or Swyer Syndrome?

Or if we start down the inspection of peoples gender characteristics, where does a lass with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia go to take a leak?

The truth is, that there are no perverts wanting to go through the process of attaining a GRC to assault anyone, why, that’s an utterly ridiculous idea.

If a sexual predator is going to attack you, they don’t need a GRC to enter the women’s toilets, this isn’t Hogwarts where men will be magically blocked from entering without a GRC.

Just give you head a wobble, either be an ally, or don’t be.

Don’t try and dress up your decision to buy a game which contributes to transphobia and helps the creator of the IP work to against LGBTQ+ rights.

Oh and the other argument, the devs got paid a salary, they aren’t waiting hungry having worked for years with no pay, they got paid.A

And frankly, if they are happy having their name in the credits of this game, knowing the harm that she does, well, I have little sympathy for them.

Anyway that’s my take, I understand it’s spicy, but frankly it’s shouldn’t be, this should be the accepted standard, be an ally, don’t be a piece of shit and try to justify making a decision that goes against being an ally.

What I Am Modelling

I started off by painting my UCM Vancouvers for Dropfleet Commander.

And then painted up a squad of Intercessors plus a few spares for my Ultramarines.

I then started on the Heroes for Warhammer Quest, with the Knight-Questor being finished first.

A pair of Chaos Sorcerer Lords came next, one from Shadows Over Hammerhall and one from the Silver Tower Arcane Heroes.

After that came a quartet of Duardin, the Auric Runemaster, Doomseeker, Cogsmith and Grombrindal.

And finally I completed the Magistar

On the desk right now is the Lord Castellant, Excelsior Warpreist, Darkoath Chieftain and two Grpyh-Hounds.

So whats coming up next?

  1. Warhammer Quest Heroes
  2. Blood Angels Repulsor
  3. Templar Brethren x 10
  4. Hobgrot Slittaz x 20
  5. Leagues of Votann Kâhl & Einhyr Champion
  6. The Crimson Court
  7. Ultramarines Lieutenants x 8
  8. Battle Sisters Squad x 10
  9. Ogroid Thaumaturge
  10. Killaboss x 2 & Stab Grot

What I Am Reading

I listened to The Holy Terror by Robert Shearman, which was pretty good if a bit surreal, I forgot the time when the Doctors companion was a talking penguin!

I then listened to The Mutant Phase by Nicholas Briggs which was pretty good, an interesting take on a time paradox.

After that I churned through the audiobook of Cthonia’s Reckoning, I have read the book, but needed something to listen to whilst painting and this was on the list.

Not the best Horus Heresy book, but not the worst.

After that my continuing journey into Doctor Who lead me to Storm Warning by Alan Barnes, the first 8th Doctor audio!

I am now listening to Sanguinius: The Great Angel by Chris Wraight.

I reviewed Age of the Undead by C.L. Werner, which you can read here.

I spent time reading The Veiled Masters by Tim Pratt and I am not making as much progress as I’d like, but I am getting there!

What Video Games I Am Playing

A but if time playing The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and a game of Carcassonne on the Switch is about all I did this week!

What I Am Winning

Won a copy of Dolmen before Christmas in a Twitter competition, and it turned up on Tuesday.

I also won Crazy Athletics for Steam as well, so that could be fun.

I also won a €5 credit for Steam on Twitter.

And on Saturday I won, The Jumping Salad, honestly sounds like crap, but hey, I’ll take it!

I also won a copy of Doom Eternal, but I had already gotten a copy of that in my library from Humble Choice, so that was donated to my brother in law.

What I Am Spending

I bought myself a Land Raider Proteus for my Imperial Fists, I need two of these, so one this month and one next month.

I also purchased a trio of Havana Destroyers to add to my UCM fleets, which will actually be built as Havannas.

Bought myself a few games, this months Humble Choice came with Doom Eternal, Tribes of Midgard, Encased, OlliOlli World, Grow: Song of the Evertree, Conan Chop Chop, Hokko Life and The Serpent Rogue.

Plus I got Space Wolf: Special Edition from Fanatical which had a bunch of the DLC for just £1, code for the main game was given the a friend and I kept the DLC codes,

And cause I am a sucker, I paid £1.89 and got two mystery keys, got two games I already had, but not on Steam, Doom 64 and Stubbs the Zombie in Rebel without a Pulse.

Having seen it on sale for £3 I decided to keep expanding my Doom collection with the 2016 Doom game, along with Micro Machines World Series.

I redeemed them because in the future I hope to get a Steam Deck and I can’t ever see GOG, Amazon or Epic offering their launchers on that device whilst still maintaining things like cloud saves, so if it’s possible, I am trying to only buy games on Steam now to future proof as it were.

I grabbed a sticker bomb pack of Sonic stickers, I only really wanted a couple to add to my task lamp, but it was cheaper to buy a big pack, but whatever!

I saw Taco, Hat, Gift, Cake, Pizza in Aldi the other day, so I grabbed it cause Lindsay was keen on a copy.

And I added to the studios greenery with a third fake plant for the little bit on the stairs, which the girls lovingly went to IKEA to pick up for me.

Age of the Undead

By

On 15th January 2023

In Book Reviews

I have been provided with an advance copy of the new Zombicide: Black Plague book, Age of the Undead by C.L. Werner, published by Aconyte Books, so here is the honest review I promised in exchange for the book.

So here is an important disclaimer which is always important to put out there first. I have a casual work contact with Asmodee to demonstrate board games for them in stores and at conventions. Asmodee being the parent company of Aconyte the publisher.

I am also friend with Mr Werner on Facebook, however I am sure for him that’s more about connecting with fans rather than being one of my best buds, that said he is actually a really nice guy.

I am going to try my best to not let that cloud my judgement in this review, but I accept that subconsciously it might.

So let’s crack on with a review then!

What is Zombicide

Zombicide is a co-op adventure game set in a post zombie apocalyptic world, created by Guillotine Games and published by CMON.

Its someone of a Kickstarter success story and Black Plague is the standalone fantasy/medieval spinoff, but alas I do not own this version of the game.

The Story

The story sees a plague of the undead sweep over the land, and survivor of a battle against the horde, Alaric von Mertz, returns home to find its fallen to the ravenous zombies.

Swearing revenge on the necromancer responsible for his families deaths, he joins up with a rogueish thief, a witch hunter, a wizard, an Orc, a master dualist and a dwarven demolitions expert, as they make their way to a city, where they hope to find answers.

Unfortunately, the city has also fallen, and they find themselves drawn into a quest to maintain the protections for a refuge of survivors, by raiding the vault of the fortress of the cities branch of witch hunters.

But the undead lurk in every corner of the city!

Conclusion

The first thing that drew me into this book was the cover, its absolutely amazing, with World of Warcraft/Pathfinder vibes that just made me so keen to read it.

This story reads very much like a D&D campaign, and its just works so well, a group of misfits, forced to work together, despite mistrust and some bad history, as they kick down doors, kill the undead and loot the treasure.

Sounds daft, but it does read like that, but its not a bad thing, its so enjoyable to read, because it reminds me of so many nights as a 14 year old, drinking Virgin Cola and eating Wotsits in my pals bedroom as me and my friends delve into dungeons to complete an epic quest!

My only criticism, is that at times, the witch hunter, felt very much like the same character type from Warhammer books, and perhaps thats just me being more familiar with those books and the authors long history of writing in that IP that makes me associate his style with it.

Look, just go buy this book, its just such a kick arse read and I was super happy to get the opportunity to read it.

5 out of 5 Stars!

Age of the Undead is out now as a paperback, ebook and audiobook!

Happy New Year

By

On 8th January 2023

In Blog

Ok well 2023 is here and I am really hoping it it’s not gonna be the massive bag of dicks that 2020, 2021 and 2022 were, I really want this to be a better year.

I have planned out some resolutions and ideas I want to carry out, which you can see here.

For New Years Eve I spent a couple of hours at Paul’s, but the damn cold/flu has still kicked my arse and I am struggling with spending time out of the house for far too long.

So I returned home and played some The Witcher 3.

New Years Day we went to Megan’s parents and had a roast dinner, but the ill left me barely conscious for most of it.

A Less Ideal Bit

Sadly our street saw a murder this week, and a fella was purposefully run over, we ended up stuck in the house for two days unable to leave as the whole street was a crime scene.

It’s left us all a bit shaken, I mean it’s the last thing you expect, but it is what it is.

What I Am Modelling

I started off by painting the Lord Veritant for the Stormcast Eternals, need to sort out a list for the AoS Weekender for them.

After which I painted the Contemptor Dreadnought, for my Imperial Fists.

I then painted up a pair of apothecaries for the Imperial Fists too!

I then painted up Sigismund to lead my Imperial Fists in the great battles of the Horus Heresy.

And finally I finished up the Land Raider Spartan for the Imperial Fists!

I am currently preparing to work on a squad of Ultramarines Intercessors for my 2023 Resolution army.

So what’s coming up next week?

  1. Ultramarines Intercessors x 8
  2. Silver Tower Heroes
  3. Blood Angels Repulsor
  4. Templar Brethren x 10
  5. Hobgrot Slittaz x 20
  6. Kâhl & Einhyr Champion
  7. The Crimson Court
  8. Ultramarines Lieutenants x 8
  9. Battle Sisters Squad x 10
  10. UCM Vancouvers x 3

What I Am Reading

I published a review for The Siege of X-41 by Tristan Palmgren which you can read here.

And a review of Stars and Stripes by Sean Grisby and Stewart Hotson which you can read here.

I read Age of the Undead by C. L. Werner and that’s was alright, a review will come next week.

I have since started on The Veiled Masters by Tom Pratt and i have read one chapter thus

I did listen to the audio book of Hostile Takeover by David Liss and it was okay, it was fine just not up to the standards of the Aconyte novels.

What Video Games I Am Playing

New Years Eve I started my new play through of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Complete Edition with the next-gen update.

So far I have logged 4.9 hours.

What I Am Winning

I won a copy of the model railway game, Blocks Tracks Trains, which looks fairly cool.

I won a copy of The Jumping Cookie on PlayStation, so that was cool!

I also won a copy of Wobbledogs on Steam, which is cool.

I also won a copy of The Whisperer, which looks like a cool game.

A copy of Theatre of War was also won!

And for Xbox I won a copy of Silenced: The House.

What I Am Spending

I bought a little tool kit for electronics, specifically for the Nintendo Switch Triwing bit.

Megans stocking had a new shell for a Joycon, in her favourite colour, purple!

So this means in the house we will have a Joycon in the favourite colours of myself (green), Lindsay (pink), Paul (blue) and now Megan!

I also picked up some Command Strips to help me mount a few things on the wall, specifically an extension lead for Megan’s dressing table so she can easily use her hair straightens and hair dryer.

Plus it means at long last we can mount her Hue Light Strip, all 3 meters of it.

On Friday, from a yet to be announced sponsor, a new webcam, the Elgato Facecam, which really has elevated my setup above and beyond what the Logitech C920 did!

Really happy with this bit of kit, it required a bit of work on my set up, but damn it looks good now in OBS

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