Changing Medication

By

On 29th September 2021

In Blog

So we think the reason I am feeling crummy, is a change in medication for my diabetes.

To be honest though, I am gonna try and tough it out, this new medication has some real positives, it’s reduced a personal issue which was causing a lot of pain, and it’s got me feeling like I have a healthy relationship with food for the first time in a long time.

The disadvantages are that my tummy has been a bit topsy turvey, and I am having eggy burps.

I have asked the doctor if we can reduce the dose slightly, so I shall see what they say.

What Am I Modeling

I started by finishing off the Necron Canoptek Wraiths, which actually completes the resolution to paint 2000 points of Necrons this year!

The first unit is armed with Transdimensional Beamers.

The second lot have no ranged weapon upgrade at all.

I then painted up three Crypt Flayers, a Crypt Infernal and a Crypt Haunter Courtier, which leaves me with just a Aberrant Ghoul King on a Royal Terrorgheist to paint for this army.

After that I painted a Lord of Virulance for the Death Guard, alongside the Plague Marines and Poxwalkers for Blackstone Fortress.

And I also managed to paint the Skitarii Marshall, who will also serve as a Secutarii Axiarch.

I have these past few days working on some Thousand Sons Terminators & Ahriman, trying out some new techniques.

I have gotten one finished and I am really happy with him.

Hopefully the rest will be finished tomorrow.

I also finally think I have this 3D printing things sorted!

So what’s coming up next week?

  1. Magos Macrotek Enginseer & Sevo-Automata x 4 (if I can find it!)
  2. Thousand Sons Terminators x 5 & Ahriman
  3. Blackstone Fortress Rogue Psykers x 3 & Negavolt Cultists x 6
  4. Stormcast Eternals Judicators x 10
  5. Ork Nobz x 6, Painboy & Warboss
  6. Death Korps of Krieg Infantry Squad x 10
  7. Legio Custodes Caladius Grav-Tank x 2
  8. Blackstone Fortress Spindle Drones x 6 & Guardian Drones x 2
  9. Phase 1 Clone Troopers x 22
  10. Ork Shokjump Dragster

What I Am Reading

Not a sausage actually.

But I did finish listening to the Godblight audiobook, and really enjoyed it, some interesting plot points that the Black Library can build upon.

What Video Games Am I Playing

I played through Alex Kidd in Shinobi World, a game I got for my 8th birthday, leant to my friend Simon and never saw again.

But I played it though emulation on Retroarch, and you can see that video below.

I also completed Halo 3, and I kinda wish that 343 Industries would remaster this game as it looks so much worse than the anniversary version of Halo 2.

And I have just tonight started on Halo 3 ODST, which is a beautiful game.

I also started up a Minecraft realm for my nephews, so they can have their own private area to play after a few nasty incidents in the game.

What Tabletop Games Am I Playing

Tonight I got in a three way game of 40K to start my crusade off.

I am not gonna give any spoilers away as I have made a battle report for it that will be published on Friday.

What I Am Creating

As mentioned above I played through Alex Kidd in Shonobi World and made a video if that, which you can see in that section.

I also published the Battle report for the second game of the Imperium magazine.

What I Am Backing

Still just Rawr! Velociraptor! which at the point of writing this has 2 hours left.

What I Am Cooking

Actually not a thing 🙁

Warhammer 40,000 Imperium – Issue 2 Battle Report

By

On 24th September 2021

In Battle Reports, Videos

The second part of the Warhammer 40,000 Imperium Battle Report Series

Each issue I will bring you a fully painted White Dwarf style battle report.

In this second episode, we see the Blood Ravens Primaris Lieutenant attempting to prevent the Necron Warriors from escaping and activating a Canoptek Plasmacyte which in turn can awaken the Destroyer cults.

Who will prevail in this battle between the sinister Necrons and the noble warriors of the Imperium.

Schedule Sucks Still

By

On 21st September 2021

In Blog

Well my schedule is complete balls right now, it’s all over the shop and it’s really doing my head in.

I know I need it to function well, but I am having issues asking for what I need to actually keep to a scheuldule.

Lindsay’s meeting schedule is now going on the family calendar but sharing an office means I can’t do certain stuff when she is in those meetings.

The doctor has offered some great advice for helping with my sleep, which is helping to a degree, but I also need to get the days sorted out.

I dunno, guess I don’t have much else to say really.

What I Am Modelling

I started the week with a the HQ models and the MG34 MMG Team for my Bolt Action early war Germans.

I then painted up the Cultists from the Blackstone Fortress Escalation expansion.

I then began work on a Fire Raptor for the Heresy Death Guard, I have had this model for so long, originally it was intended for the Space Wolves, but plans changed.

I also managed to paint a Hexmark Desyroyer, which I must say, is the nicest model in the new Necron range.

And finally I painted three Necron Warriors that came with Imperium, this is a second set, and I have another still to do.

So what’s up next?

  1. Necron Canoptek Wraiths x 6
  2. Mechanicum Magos Macrotek Enginseer & Servo-Automata x 4
  3. Flesh-Eater Courts Crypt Flayers x 3 & Crypt Infernal Courtier
  4. Death Guard Lord of Virulence, Blackstone Fortress Plague Marines x 3 & Poxwalkers x 6
  5. Skitarii Marshall
  6. Thousand Sons Terminators x 5 & Ahirman
  7. Blackstone Fortress Negavolt Cultists x 6 & Rogue Psykers x 3
  8. Stormcast Eternals Judicators x 10
  9. Ork Nobz x 6, Warboss & Painboy
  10. Death Korps of Krieg Infantry Squad x 10

What Am I Reading

I published the review of In the Shadow of Deimos by Jane Killick and you can read it here.

Haven’t read much else this week, but I have started listening to Godblight by Guy Haley.

What Video Games Am I Playing

Playing a little bit every day, played a little bit of PUBG, some Flight Simulator and finished Halo 2 Anniversary.

I have now stated on Halo 3 and have made a decent way though it so far.

What Tabletop Games Am I Playing

I played through two solo games of Warhammer 40,000 to create the battle reports for the Imperium playlist.

The first video was published on Friday and you can see that in the Creating section.

What I Am Creating

The Vlog for Company of Legends went up on Thursday.

And on Friday the first battle reports for Imperium was released.

And look out for a new episode of Edge of Empire dropping shortly.

What I Am Backing

Still just backing Rawr! Velociraptor! at the $11 level to get the Greatest Hots album.

What I am Cooking

I managed to make a filling for a cottage pie on Saturday, but that wiped me out for the weekend 🙁

  • Mood:- Funny Tummy
  • Caffeinated Beverages Consumed:- 8
  • In My Ears:- Crocodile Rock – Elton John
  • Tabletop Game Last Played:- Warhammer 40,000
  • Video Game Last Played:- Halo 3
  • Book Last Read:– The Patriot List – David Guymer
  • Movie/TV Show Last Viewed:- Archer
  • Current State of Projects:- Canoptek Wraiths, metallics finished, just starting on the carapaces.

In the Shadow of Deimos

By

On 19th September 2021

In Book Reviews

I have been provided with an advance copy of the new Terraforming Mars book In the Shadow of Deimos by Jane Killick, 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 this cloud my judgement in this review, but I accept that subconsciously it might.

What Is Terraforming Mars

Terraforming Mars is a strategy board game designed by Jacob Fryxelius, in which you work to raise the temperature of Mars and make it habitable for human life

Players take on the role of a corporation that work together to terraform Mars, and advance human infrastructure throughout the Sol system.

The game is incredibly successful and has five expansions, a Big Box, and a spin off game.

It also has a digital version available on Windows, iOS, MacOS, iPadOS & Android.

The Story

Set in the year 2316 not long after the formation of the Terraforming Committee, a rogue asteroid crashes into a research centre and kills its sole occupant, which kicks off an investigation, an official one by Julie, the head of the UNs terraforming team, and an unofficial one by Lucas, a recent immigrant to Mars who witnessed the disaster.

As they start to dig into the accident, they quickly learn that things on Mars aren’t quite right and the corporations are keen to cover things up, to prevent damage to their profits.

At the heart of this story its a good old fashioned murder mystery, and that’s its strength, it takes a genre of book which works and gives it the sci-fi twist.

The book is one which gives the reader a broader scope than the characters, who themselves are approaching the investigation from very different sides, and you figure out things before them, and see how they reach the same conclusion as you as more information is revealed to them.

There is a healthy number of side characters as well, all of whom are responsibly well rounded and that makes the setting feel ever more real.

Conclusion

I really enjoyed this book, the story itself was competent and entertaining, but what elevated it for me was the realistic science. All too often books in sci-fi assume we will have invented fantastical machines to work miracles and wonders, but this book is more grounded and whilst things have advanced, its not unrealistic.

Things like characters returning to earth needing time in physio to readjust to the heavier gravity, just little things like that which really stand out as showing how much attention to detail there is.

My favourite scene was one in the mess hall where Lucas and some friends were playing football, and the way the author has realistically described how different a ball would behave in a lower gravity environment, plus it showed how even on the frontier, people find a way to goof off.

There are scenes that make you think, and some high paced adrenaline fuelled parts which get your heart racing, and both in a nice balance. In particular the pacing is good, it never feels too slow or too fast, just right as it builds up to the conclusion.

This is a very strong book, Mars has been the subject to many many books written about it, and for me this felt just as good as Kim Stanley Robinsons Mars trilogy, and frankly is Hugo material.

I solidly recommended this book and give it 5 stars out of 5.

You can buy the ebook now, and the paperback is published on the 11th Novermber.

Warhammer 40,000 Imperium – Issue 1 Battle Report

By

On 17th September 2021

In Battle Reports, Videos

I am starting a new 80 part series covering the Warhammer 40,000 Imperium collection from Hachette Partworks and Games Workshop.

Each issue I will bring you a dully painted White Dwarf style battle report.

In this first episode, we see the Blood Ravens entering Warzone Ramasus and the valiant Primaris Lieutenant attempt to stop a Necron Royal Warden of the Sautekh Dynasty from activating a series of Repair Nodes, which will reactivate the systems that will awaken the warriors of this tomb complex deep under the moon of Megaria.

Who will prevail in this battle between the sinister Necrons and the noble warriors of the Imperium

The Zone Mortalis Board

By

On 16th September 2021

In Blog

This post has been very delayed due to being unwell, nowt serious, just really feeling under the weather and an inability to keep any food down.

As I will mention in the Modelling section I have finished my Zone Mortalis board, well in its 2×2 configuration at least.

Really happy with how it’s turned out, it I have actually painted way more than needed so plenty of stuff to help expand it to 3×3 and perhaps even 4×4.

Next up, I think I want a Charadon box to add some big furnaces to block line of sight, and add a bit more variety and probably some more Munitorium Armoured Containers.

I also have somewhere a Repressor unbuilt that I will be building and painting up in Enforcers colours to be parked up to show that the brutal security forces of the Hive have been deployed into the area.

What I Am Modelling

I started off by finishing the Galvanic Servohaulers for my Zone Mortalis board.

I then painted the Praetors, Anhiliators, Knight-Vexillor, Knight Arcanium and Lord Imperitant from Dominion for my Celestial Vindicators alongside a Vindictor from the Getting Started magazine.

I also got the first delivery of Imperium so I painted the three Warriors that came with issue 2.

This was followed by finishing off the Zone Mortalis Terrain (for now) by painting the barriers, cranes and pipes.

I then painted up my Agamatus Jetbikes for the Legio Custodes.

And finally a pair of Remora Stealth Drones for Aeronautica Imperialis.

  1. Blackstone Fortress Cultists x 16
  2. Blitzkrieg German HQ x 4 & MG34 MMG Team
  3. Death Guard Fire Raptor
  4. Necron Canoptek Wraiths x 6, Hexmark Destroyer & Warriors x 3
  5. Magos Macrotek Enginseer & Servo-Automata x 4
  6. Flesh-Eater Courts Crypt Flayers x 3, Crypt Haunter Courtier & Crypt Infernal Courtier
  7. Death Guard Lord of Virulence, Blackstone Fortress Plague Marines x 3 & Poxwalkers x 6
  8. Skitarii Marshall
  9. Thousand Sons Terminators x 5 & Ahriman
  10. Blackstone Fortress Negavolt Cultists x 6 and Rogue Psykers x 3

What I Am Reading

I published my review of Outlaw: Relentless by Tristan Palgreen, which you can read here.

I also read In the Shadow of Deimos by Jane Killick and will release a review this week.

I am now reading Dark Avengers: Patriot List by David Guymer.

What Tabletop Games Am I Playing

Not a sausage 🙁

What Video Games Am I Playing

Not a great deal, just bits and bobs.

I completed Halo 2: Anniversary which was a lot of fun and really beautiful to behold.

Played a bit of Forza Horizon 4 and State of Decay 2.

What I Am Creating

Nowt this week, but a few things are on the production queue.

What I Am Backing

I did get an email about Car Wars giving me a chance to update my shipping address so that can’t be long in coming!

Also we are backing Rawr! Velociraptor! by The Doubleclicks, not for the plushy, sadly shipping to the UK makes that impractical, but we have gone in for the digital version of their Greatest Hits album.

What I Am Cooking

Not a thing sadly

Outlaw: Relentless

By

On 8th September 2021

In Book Reviews

I have been provided with an advance copy of the new Marvel Heroines book Outlaw: Relentless by Tristan Palmgren 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 these things cloud my judgement in this review, but I accept that subconsciously it might.

Also I won’t lie, I have looked at other reviews to see what others think, so there may be some influences from them in this book review. If I am going to quote them, I will attribute them. But if I forget to, or something is highly influenced by them, and you think I ought to attribute someone, let me know so that I can.

What is Marvel

Look at this point I would bore you with a bit of background to the game/universe, but lets not, you all know the Marvel Universe, if you don’t have you been living under a rock!

The Marvel Heroines series focuses on the female hero’s of the Marvel universe, Tristan wrote the first book in the series, Domino Strays, which I really enjoyed, so I was looking forward to this book.

The Story

This is not an origin story, this picks up very much in the middle of The Hotshots, the posse lead by Domino being a thing, and begins with them doing a job for Tony Stark, by seizing an AIM freighter headed for Boston.

When the job goes south, Inez Temple, AKA Outlaw finds herself taking the blame, and starts wondering if she is losing her mind and her health as she feels run down and seems to be missing parts of her time.

She has always counted on her wits to survive, but now feels like she is being robbed of it. Taking a journey back home to Texas, via the Xavier Institute, she has to face her past to find out why she seems to be losing herself.

Look I don’t want to go too much into the story, because frankly, I don’t want to spoil it for you, and much more would spoil it.

The story draws a lot from Outlaws limited history within the comics, which despite her being only a very recent addition to the comics, is still quite rich.

But don’t worry, you don’t need to know anything as everything you need to know is explained in the story, its very good, in the way it portrays the background you need as almost wandering thoughts within Outlaws mind as she tries to make sense of what’s going on.

Conclusion

I can’t lie, The Hotshots is one of my favourite super teams, there are kickass women, who despite having very different background and abilities, actually get on very well, a real sisterhood. This novel is set slightly before that really clicks into place and there is still a bit of tension between the original members of Dominos Posse, and the newer recruits, but by the end, they are well on their way to being that tightknit team.

This story is full of action, but at the same time is quite introspective, there is a lot of time alone, that Outlaw has to think about the journey that lead her to where she is now. The way it sort of beats around her fear that she may be developing a form of dementia is actually really emotional.

The book contains links to some of the other Aconyte Marvel novels, which I loved, although one of them I haven’t yet read, but I can see myself buying it.

I am not sure what else to say, this book is super enjoyable and I literally devoured it in two sittings.

Absolutely a 5 out of 5 stars from me, and I really hope Tristan does more Hotshots novels.

The eBook is out now and the paperback hits the shelves on 11th November.

Adventures in Emulation

By

On 7th September 2021

In Blog

I want a full suite of all of the retro consoles, sadly due to money and space, that’s not an option.

And thus I have turned to emulation, mostly using Retroarch.

Controllers

One thing I need to have are good controllers, if I cannot have the original machine I can at least have a controller that’s as close as possible.

Currently I have the following.

  • Mega Drive x 2
  • Mega Drive 6 Button
  • NES x 2
  • SNES x 2
  • Saturn
  • N64
  • PlayStation Original x 2
  • GameCube (original & Wavebird)
  • Madcatz Arcade Joystick
  • Xbox One

The N64 is the most recent addition to that list and if I am honest, the next one I want is either a DualShock 4 or even a Dualsense for PlayStation emulation.

The plan is to do some play through videos of some classics from when I was a kid, the first one I want to do is Alex Kidd in Shinobi World, I loved that game, leant it to my friend Simon and never saw it again.

PlayStation 3

The PlayStation 3 is unused for the most part, so what I have done with that is installed PS3Hen along with a big collection of Mega Drive, Game Gear and Master System Games.

Sadly it won’t run Mega CD or 32X games, which is a shame, but I will live with that, to be honest, I have set it up mostly so the nibblings can play Sonic the Hedgehog, Willem and Brandon really love those games!

I mean every time they come round the first question is, can we play the Hedgehog game.

What I Am Painting

Not much given the needed work for Company of Legends.

But here is a pair of Pallas Grav-Attack for my Legio Custodes.

Right now on my painting desk is the Galvanic Servohaulers for my Zone Mortalis board.

So what’s coming up next week?

  1. Zone Mortalis Terrain
  2. Stormcast Eternals Praetors x 3, Knight-Vexillor & Vindictor
  3. Legio Custodes Agamatus Jetbikes x 3
  4. Stormcast Eternals Anhiliators x 3, Lord-Imperatant & Gryph Hound
  5. Blitzkrieg German HQ & MG34 MMG Team
  6. Death Guard Fire Raptor
  7. Necron Canoptek Wraiths x 6
  8. Magos Macrotek Enginseer & Servo-Automata x 4
  9. Flesh-Eater Courts Crypt Flayers x 3
  10. T’au Ramora Drones x 2

What I Am Reading

I started and finished Outlaw: Relentless by Tristan Palmgreen, and a review for that will be published in the next few days.

I also managed to get around to publishing the review for The Serpent and the Dead by Anna Stephens, which you can read here.

What Video Games Am I Playing

Not a lot, a little bit of Forza Horizon 4, and some various retro games when testing out the emulation stuff.

What Tabletop Games Am I Playing

I had a game of Disney Villainous in the week with Megan, in which I obviously lost, but it was a very fun game nonetheless.

I also had a game of Horus Heresy on Saturday but I will talk about that a bit more in next weeks post.

What Am I Creating

Got a couple of videos in post production, fist a Vlog from Company of Legends and the overdue Battle Report.

What I Am Backung

The pledges for Isle of Cats: Don’t Forget the Kittens and Avatar: Legends were both collected this week.

What I Am Cooking

Well I cooked hot dogs for 29 people on Saturday, with Graham’s help!

The Serpent and The Dead

By

On 6th September 2021

In Book Reviews

I have been provided with an advance copy of the new Legends of Asgard book The Serpent and The Dead by Anna Stephens, 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.

Also I won’t lie, I have looked at other reviews to see what others think, so there may be some influences from them in this book review. If I am going to quote them, I will attribute them. But if I forget to, or something is highly influenced by them, and you think I ought to attribute someone, let me know so that I can.

What is Marvel

Look at this point I would bore you with a bit of background to the game/universe, but lets not, you all know the Marvel Universe, if you don’t have you been living under a rock!

The Legends of Asgard novels specially focus on the Norse mythology influenced Asgard with characters like Thor, Odin and Loki.

The Story

This story focuses on Lady Sif and the Valkyrie Brunnhilde as they investigate why the souls of slain warriors, including Sifs friend Gyda.

Travelling across Asgard, to try and get to the bottom of why worthy warriors are not reaching the promised afterlife and confront the dark forces behind this.

While they say its a story with a team of two, Brunnhildes girlfriend, Inge, also plays a pivotal part. And this story is a story of friendship and trust, with the relationship between the three protagonists being deep and very interesting, as the three characters all have their own distinct personality and role. Sif is the warrior, bold and brash, Brunnhilde is more thoughtful and wants a plan rather than rushing in, and then Inge is the diplomat who bridges the gulf between these two.

Of course Sif is convinced that Loki, the Trickster god, is behind the horror, and so they start a journey to find him and confront him.

Conclusion

This is a really good story, it is, at its heart an action book that quickly moves from battle to battle with little time in between, and the action itself is very well written.

That said the moments of the book I enjoyed the most, were the quieter more insightful moments in which we got a better idea of the motivations behind why the characters have chosen to undertake this quest.

There is a deep appreciation for Norse mythology in this book and it feels very well researched and whilst its identifiable a Marvel book, its not so deeply Marvel, that you need to be too familiar with that fandom to appreciate this book.

Its an interesting mixture of action adventure, epic quest, Norse mythology and a little bit of superhero mixed together, which means I think it will really appeal to a lot of people.

The thing I really loved about this book though is the characters, they were at once very identifiable as the characters from the comics, with a nice twist from the author to make them her own, and the comradery and relationships, both platonic and romantic, between these three strong female characters made this a real joy to read.

The only thing I would have liked different, would be more of those quiet character building moments, but I hope to see Anna write more Legends of Asgard novels.

4 out of 5 stars!

You can buy the eBook now and the paperback gets a release on the 28th October

Resolutions Update – August 2021

By

On 1st September 2021

In Blog

This month got off to a better start and with the weather becoming cooler I managed to pick up the pace somewhat.

Right now I am at 944 models painted for the year.

Paint 2000 Points of Necrons for Warhammer 40,000 – 93.75% Complete

This month I got the Night Scythe painted, as well as a unit of Triarch Praetorians.

This leaves me with just the Canoptek Wraiths to paint for the list.

Paint 2000 Points of Flesh-Eater Courts for Warhammer Age of Sigmar – 56% Complete

This month I painted the last block of Crypt Ghouls as well as a Crypt Ghast Courtier.

Bring My Mechanicum to 3000 Points for Horus Heresy, Including The Warhound Titan – 63.2% Complete

This month I added the Secutarii Hoplites and their Terrax Patten Termite to the list.

Paint Blackstone Fortress And It’s Expansions – 33.13% Complete

This month I completed the Beastmen, Traitor Guard and the Traitor Commissar and Ogryn from Traitor Command.

Completed Resolutions 

  • Paint the Scourge for Dropfleet Commander
  • Paint 1000 Points of Early War Germans for Bolt Action

So whats coming up next month then?

  1. Zone Mortalis Terrain
  2. Legio Custodes Pallas Grav-Attack x 2
  3. Stormcast Eternals Praetors x 3, Vindictor & Knight-Vexellor
  4. Legio Custodes Agamatus Jetbikes x 3
  5. Stormcast Eternals Anhiliators x 3, Lord Imperatant & Gryph Hound
  6. Blitzkrieg German HQ & MG34 MMG Team
  7. Death Guard Fire Raptor
  8. Necron Canoptek Wraiths x 6
  9. Mechanicum Magos Macrotek Enginseer & Servo-Automata x 4
  10. Flesh-Eater Courts Crypt Flayers x 3

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