Starting Blades of Khorne with Mortal Realms

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On 17th May 2021

In Blog

Many of you in the next week or so will be getting your premium kit with the Blades of Khorne for Mortal Realms and as such, may be thinking, can I start an army of these.

So just like with the other three packs for the Flesh Eater Courts, Sylvaneth, and Orruk Warclans, I will take a look at how to expand this pack into 1000pts and 2000pts as cost effectively as possible.

So let’s start by looking at what you get in the pack.

  • Bloodmaster
  • Flesh Hounds
  • Blood Warriors

Now if we plug that into BattleScribe, you get 380 points worth, which is 10 points lower than the Orruks.

Now as a Khorne Player myself, I can tell you that this is a weird start to a Blades army.

Generally speaking I would personally concentrate on either Mortals or Daemons, rather than a mix. But hey I am crap player and I do play a mixture myself.

So how would I expand this to 1000 points, well I would start with the Start Collecting! Khorne Bloodbound Goreblade Warband. This is most of the original Age of Sogmar starter set.

So what do you get, well in here is a Mighty Lord of Khorne, a Bloodscrator, Blood Stoker, Khorgorath, 5 Blood Warriors and 10 Blood Reavers.

And this brings you right up to 990 points which is right on the mark of where you need to be, and that’s without using any Warscroll Battalions.

Bloodmaster, Herald of Khorne: Blade of Blood

Bloodsecrator: Ensorcelled Axe

Bloodstoker: Blood Whip, Torture Blade

Mighty Lord of Khorne: Axe of Khorne, Flesh Hound

+ Battleline +

Blood Warriors: 2x 5 Blood Warriors, Goreaxe and Gorefist

Blood Warriors: 5 Blood Warriors, Goreaxe and Gorefist

Bloodreavers: 10 Bloodreavers, Reaver Blades

Flesh Hounds: 5 Flesh Hounds, Blood-dark Claws, Burning Roar

+ Other +

Khorgoraths
. Khorgorath: Bone Tentacles, Claws and Fangs

Getting to 2000 points means I think we need to pay attention to the Daemons side of things, so I would grab Start Collecting! Daemons of Khorne, which gives you three Bloodcrushers, ten Bloodletters and a Herald of Khorne on a Blood Throne, but I would build this as a skull cannon.

This then allows you to combine all of the Khorne Daemon units into a Murderhost, which is actually a really handy Warscroll Battalion.

And that gets us all the way up to 1510 points, so now I would now look at another Battalion, in this case the Gore Pilgrims for which we need to make a couple of purchases, specifically a couple of Slaughterpriests, for which there are two different models, the original one and one released a little bit later with Hackblade and Wrath-Hammer , and this brings us up to 1850.

At this point I personally would actually buy a box of Bloodreavers, these are very squishy and will die easily, which gives you Blood Tithe points, which you will want, and you will probably want a fair few more Bloodletters to summon with these eventually, but that’s something you can sort out later on.

And that brings you to 1990 points.

Bloodstoker: Blood Whip, Torture Blade

Mighty Lord of Khorne: Axe of Khorne, Flesh Hound

+ Other +

Khorgoraths
. Khorgorath: Bone Tentacles, Claws and Fangs

+ Battalion +

Battalion: Gore Pilgrims: Gore Pilgrims
. Blood Warriors: 5 Blood Warriors, Goreaxe and Gorefist
. Blood Warriors: 2x 5 Blood Warriors, Goreaxe and Gorefist
. Bloodreavers: 10 Bloodreavers, Reaver Blades
. Bloodsecrator: Ensorcelled Axe
. Slaughterpriest: Bloodbathed Axe
. Slaughterpriest: Hackblade & Wrath-hammer

Battalion: Murderhost: Murderhost
. Bloodcrushers: 3 Bloodcrushers, Hellblade, Juggernaut's Brazen Hooves
. Bloodletters: 10 Bloodletters, Hellblade
. Bloodmaster, Herald of Khorne: Blade of Blood
. Flesh Hounds: 5 Flesh Hounds, Blood-dark Claws, Burning Roar
. Skull Cannons: Burning Skull, Gnashing Maw, Hellblades, Skull Cannon

I am not gonna pretend I am a tactical genius here, this list is probably very sub-optimal, but it’s what I would do personally because I think this is a nice route to 2000 points. And if purchased from Element Games, this will cost you a grand total of £155.

I would also giver serious consideration to grabbing some extra Daemons for summoning, which can be done with the Blood Tithe points, and it really can make a big difference to the game.

And the Skull Altar can be taken for free, and is surprisingly helpful in game.

In terms of painting, I would point you towards the tutorial on YouTube for the original Age of Sigmar Release.

There are also videos for the two Khorne Underworlds warbands too.

And here are a couple of ideas for your Bloodletters.

There is a cool basing guide as well from Warhammer TV that looks ace.

So let me know what you think of my ideas, and if you are gonna give them a try out, let me know how it goes!

Just a quick note, if you do follow the links to Element Games and buy something from them, a little bit of a commission is made for Edge of Empire which helps keep the podcast running.

Mask of Silver

By

On 12th May 2021

In Book Reviews

I have been provided with an advance copy of the new Arkham Horror book Mask of Silver by Rosemary Jones, 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 Arkham Horror

Anyway that put to one side, let’s look at this book, by first looking at the game Arkham Horror which is a cooperative game, originally designed by Richard Launius, and is now in its third edition which was released in 2019.

It’s published by Fantasy Flight Games, a subsidiary of Asmodee, and is set in 1926 in the town of Arkham, Massachusetts. Each player takes on the role of an investigator, who are working to stop the Ancient Ones, eldritch horrors which lurk in the void beyond space and time.

It’s a 1-6 player game and you work together to gather clues and defeat the evil of the Ancient Ones and save the world.

As I said I haven’t actually played Arkham Horror but I do own its spin off Elder Signthe cooperative dice game.

The Story

Like the rest of the Arkham Horror novels, its set in the 1920s specifically 1923 and sees a silent movie being produced in the town of Arkham by horror director Sydney Fitzmaurice (who in my head is Nathan Lane, not sure why, just is).

His costume designer Jeany Lin is the protagonist, and her sister Renee Love is Sydney’s muse and star. Sydney has relocated his company to his home town of Arkham where he is going to film a movie filled with thrills and the occult that will make a fortune for the studio and perhaps a lot more.

The story is a very slow burner, with the majority of the book being character development and just sight hints at the horror to come.

There is a lot of background on the production of silent movies, which in itself is fascinating, you can really tell that Jones has done her research and the book is grounded in realty, which makes it all the more creepy.

As things go wrong and the behaviour of Sydney just isn’t right Jeany investigates his past to discover what is going on in the mansion, why people are being hurt during the production and why does the silver mask haunt her dreams.

Conclusion

This is a slow paced book, but it’s deliberate and thoughtful, a very clever plot that is woven together so very well.

The main characters are well rounded, and extremely believable, the background players less so, but there is enough there that they aren’t just window dressing.

Arkham itself doesn’t my really feature too much as the story is set mostly in the Fitzmaurice mansion on French Hill, with the occasional trip to a nearby diner.

But there is a truly creepy atmosphere in the story, and it makes your skin crawl just a little bit.

Jeany is a wonderful protagonist and she offers a real insight into the contribution of Chinese-Americans to early cinema, a contribution that Jones suggests you read up in the notes after the story.

The end in a way felt rushed, but in many ways was not at all, it’s quite old fashioned in that the book builds up the story and characters so that you care about them, and then concludes quite explosively!

This was a book that I really really enjoyed and it’s a shame it took me so long to read it, but I really do highly recommend it.

A solid 5 stars from me!

The eBook and paperback are out now!

Dammit Chair

By

On 11th May 2021

In Blog

I am now laid up for a couple of weeks, I tore my calf muscle a bit.

Basically a chair I bought last March broke when I sat in it, and I ended up with my leg crushed between the desk and the chair which tore an old lacrosse injury. (Yeah I know I am weird the only sport I was ever good at was one rarely played in the UK).

Anyway I am now confided to the middle level of our house, we moved my X-Box Series S up here and I am gonna be having quite a bit of time away from my painting desk.

In general I am not happy about it.

What I Am Modelling

I started the week by finishing up the Venatari for my Legio Custodes.

And on Monday night myself and Megan began the process of building the terrain for our 24 hour live stream.

After that I decided to paint up a unit of Necron Immortals with Tesla Carbines.

I then built pretty much everything I needed for my next twenty projects apart from a single Castallex.

So what’s coming up on my painting plan next?

  1. Zone Mortalis Terrain
  2. Mechanicum Secutarii Peltast x 10
  3. Flesh-Eater Courts Crypt Horrors
  4. German Hanomag & Panzer IV Ausf. D
  5. T’au Broadsides x 3
  6. Legio Custodes Vexilus Praetors x 4
  7. Mechanicum Castellax x 4
  8. Blood Angels Scouts x 10
  9. Necron Immortals with Guass Blasters x 10
  10. Flesh-Eater Courts Flesh Ghouls x 20

What I Am Reading

I finished Mask of Silver by Rosemary Jones and it was really good, I am working on a review of it right now.

I am now reading Death’s Kiss by Josh Reynolds.

What I Am Playing

Not much, but I have had games of Star Wars: Squadrons, Apex Legends and Halo Combat Evolved Anniversary

What I Am Backing

Lords of Vegas arrived, minus some cards, but it’s finally here.

I feel a bit down about it because the publisher purposefully left fulfilling European and UK backers for five months whilst prioritising the US.

They used the excuse that they were afraid of it getting stuck in a traffic jam in Kent.

I am now backing the Oink Games + project because I love their games.

I was hoping to back Castle Panic Deluxe, but the price is kinda ridiculous and way out of my league, so I very sadly have to pass on this project.

What I Am Cooking

Ha, with my leg the way it is, not a chance!

24 Hour Charity Stream 2021

By

On 2nd May 2021

In Blog

Last year I did a 24 hour painting stream for The Willow Foundation, which is an amazing cause and one very close to my heart.

We are doing this same this year, but for the Maritime Conservation Society, because, well the podcast loves Manatees!!!

What’s the Challenge

Last year I painted the battle box of Sister of Battle, alone, and it was cool, but I didn’t complete it.

This year, I am joined my Megan, and we are going to paint a tables worth of terrain!

We currently have the following in the box:-

  • Sub-Cloister x 2
  • Storage Fane x 2
  • Engine Shed x 2
  • Thermo-Exchanger Shrine x 2
  • Thermo Pipes x 4
  • Auto-choral Transmitter
  • Munitorium Armoured Container x 3
  • Haemotrope Reactor x 2
  • Galvanic Servohaulers
  • Thermic Plasma Regulators
  • Sanctum Administratus

The plan is that we will have the terrain built and primed and work in two twelve hour shifts for health reasons, since Covid I simply cannot manage a straight 24 hour shift.

We are going to paint the terrain, mostly using this guide from Warhammer TV.

We are starting to build the terrain today, and plan to have it all ready in about a week or so before priming it.

You can donate here if you would like to and we would be eternally grateful!

What I Am Modelling

I started by finishing off my Skorpekh Destroyers, Skorpekh Lord and Plasmacyte, which completed the Indomitus box set for me!

At the same time I also painted a Thermo-Exchanger Shrine for my Zone Mortalis board.

I then started work on the T’au Empire Tidewall Rampart.

I am now working on somme Legio Custodes Venatari.

So what’s coming up for me this week?

  1. Zone Mortalis Terrain
  2. Secutarii Peltast
  3. Legio Custodes Venatari x 3
  4. Flesh-Eater Courts Crypt Horrors x 3
  5. Necron Immortals with Tesla Carbines x 10
  6. German Hanomag & Panzer IV Ausf. D
  7. T’au Empire Broadsides x 3
  8. Adeptus Custodes Vexilus Praetor x 4
  9. Mechanicum Castellax x 4
  10. Blood Angels Scouts x 10

What I Am Reading

I finished Elsa Bloodstone: Bequest and you can read my review of that book here.

I then read Luther: First of the Fallen, and that was really good and I will publish a review as soon as I can.

I am now reading Mask of Silver by Rosemary Jones.

What I Am Playing

On Tuesday I played a couple of hours of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and had a few missions that proved difficult to figure out, mostly cause I was silly enough not to see some stairs!

But you can watch that session here!

I continued the play though on Thursday, and you can watch that below.

And here is a play session from yesterday!

What I Am Creating

This is a new section which I will be using to share the content I create and a way of getting me to actually do it!

What I Am Backing

The Wowstick funded, it says it’s gonna deliver in June, but I am not holding my hopes out for that.

What I Am Cooking

Haven’t cooked at all this week 🙁

Resolutions Update – April 2021

By

On 1st May 2021

In Blog

So the first few days of the month were a bust thanks to the black dog of depression.

But I did manage to get to 538 models completed this month.

Paint 2000 points of Necrons for Warhammer 40,000 – 54.75% Complete

I completed the Chronomancer, Cryptothralls, Canoptek Reanimator, and Flayed Ones for my list, along with a few other models for the army.

The Skorpekh Lord and Skorpekh Destroyers with their Plasmacyte were also painted as well.

Paint 1000 points of Early War Germans for Bolt Action – 68.4% Complete

I finished all my infantry this month, starting with the last Heer Infantry Squad, and the commander of my force a Lieutenant and Riflemen.

I also figured that it’s worth sharing the list I am building for these.

+ Compulsory  [337pts] +

Heer Infantry Squad [123pts]
. Regular NCO [13pts]: SMG [3pts]
. 8x Regular Soldier [80pts]
. Regular Soldier with LMG [30pts]: LMG [20pts]

Heer Infantry Squad [123pts]
. Regular NCO [13pts]: SMG [3pts]
. 8x Regular Soldier [80pts]
. Regular Soldier with LMG [30pts]: LMG [20pts]

Platoon Commander [91pts]
. Leutnant [91pts]: Pistol, Veteran [65pts]
. . Veteran  Soldier [13pts]: Rifle
. . Veteran  Soldier [13pts]: Rifle

+ Infantry [183pts] +

Heer Veteran Infantry Squad [183pts]
. Anti-tank Grenades [30pts]: 10x Anti-tank Grenades [30pts]
. Veteran NCO [16pts]: SMG [3pts]
. 8x Veteran Soldier [104pts]: 8x Rifle
. Veteran Soldier with LMG [33pts]: LMG [20pts]

+ Infantry Support [110pts] +

Mortar Team [60pts]
. Medium Mortar Team [60pts]: Regular [50pts], Spotter [10pts]

Sniper Team [50pts]: Regular [50pts]

+ Artillery [50pts] +

Light Artillery [50pts]: Regular [50pts]

+ Tanks, Tank Destroyers, Self-propelled Artillery and Anti-Aircraft Vehicles [210pts] +

Panzer IV AUSF D [210pts]: Veteran [210pts]

+ Transports [104pts] +

SdKfz 251/1 Half-Track ' Hanomag' [104pts]: Pintle-Mounted MMG (Forward Arc), Pintle-Mounted MMG (Rear Arc)(15pts) [15pts], Regular [89pts]

Paint 2000 Points of Flesh Eater Courts for Warhammer Age of Sigmar – 22% Complete

This month I painted a unit of 20 Crypt-Ghouls for this target, need to work out a list yet, but it’s certainly gonna need a lot of Crypt-Ghouls.

Bring my Mechanicum to 3000 points for Horus Heresy, including the Warhound Titan – 4.16% Complete

I have calculated that I have 2040 points to complete this resolution, and I started it this month by painting the first Termite for the list I am thinking of.

I have however built the Secutarii Peltasts and Castellax I intend to have painted up for this list.

Other Resolutions

  • Paint Blackstone Fortress and it’s Expansions

Completed Resolutions

  • Paint The Scourge For Dropfleet Commander

So headed into May, what’s coming up in my painting queue?

  1. Zone Mortalis Terrain
  2. T’au Tidewall Rampart
  3. Secutarii Peltast x 10
  4. Legio Custodes Venatari x 3
  5. Flesh-Eater Courts Crypt Horrors x 3
  6. Necron Immortals with Tesla Carbine x 10
  7. German Hanomag & Panzer IV Ausf. d
  8. T’au Broadsides x 3
  9. Custodes Vexellia Carriers
  10. Mechanicum Castellax x 4

Elsa Bloodstone: Bequest

By

On 28th April 2021

In Book Reviews, Reviews

I have been provided with an advance copy of the new Marvel Heroines book Elsa Bloodstone: Bequest by Cath Lauria, 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 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, the first two books in the series, Domino Strays and Rogue Untouched were extremly good, so I was looking forward to this.

The Story

So I think its best to introduce Elsa Bloodstrone first, she is a monster hunting heroine introduced to the Marvel universe by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning. She is the daughter of Ulysses Bloodstone and follows in his footsteps of protecting the world from vampires, demons and monsters. Very much a Buffy type character.

She is British, loves her tea and doesn’t take s**t from anyone, and likes to keep people at a distance, but all that changes when a woman turns up on her doorstep claiming to be her half sister who has had her Bloodstone shard stolen, the Bloodstone being what grands Elsa her powers of superhuman strength, healing and endurance.

The core of this story is less so the adventure they are on, but the relationship between Elsa and Mihaela as they travel across thje world, investigating Ulysses old bases of operation to ensure he hasn’t left anymore Bloodstone shards lying around, lest what could happen if they ended up in the hands of evil doers.

We start off being very distrust of Mihaela, who lacks the same strength and attitude as Elsa and its very much an odd couple kind of relationship, with them constantly at each others throats, in more ways than one!

Mihaelas comments about Elsas attitude and recklessness are meet with very witty, sarcastic and snarky comebacks, even in the middle of a battle. Lauria does an excellent job of getting into Elsas head, we slowly get to see more and more about why she prefers to work alone and more about why she doesn’t want her sister in her life.

Conclusion

This book is really really good, and its refreshing to get a good book about one of Marvels lesser known heroes, and I really hope that Lauria is allowed to continue this storyline as the conclusion sets up some cool possibilities.

The backstory for Elsa and Mihaela is explored very well, so if you have never heard about Elsa before, then you will have no issues enjoying this book.

Overall its a fantastic pulpy adventure with cameos by a couple of other heroes on the trek around the world and a rather cool twist that turns everything around very nicely.

This is a brilliant book, full of background, but done in such a way as to not overwhelm and crammed full of comic book style action.

Solid 5 out of 5 stars from me!

The eBook is released on the 4th May and the paperback hits the shelves on 22nd July.

A Week Off

By

On 26th April 2021

In Blog

I have had a week off as it were, mostly due to being quite off mentally and dealing with that.

But I intend to post a bit more about it this week, in the meantime, there is no Hobby Studio episode this week 🙁

What I Am Modelling

Last week I finished off with a few bits for Zone Mortalis, which you can see below.

I then moved onto some Aquilion Terminators for my Legio Custodes, two sets, one with the Firepikes to take care of horses.

I then started on the Termite for my Mechanicum, this starts off the next resolution for the year.

Then I took a Chaos Space Marines Sorcerer off the shelf, stripped it in some Biostrip and repainted it up as an Esoterist for my Word Bearers

And then it was a big blob of Crypt Ghouls for my Flesh-Eater Courts.

Whilst working on those I was also working on my 10 Hexwraiths for my Nighthaunt.

I am now working on painting the Skorpekh Destroyers and Plasmacyte for my Necrons. As well as the Skorpekh Lord.

So what’s coming up in the next week then?

  1. Zone Mortalis Terrain
  2. Necrons Skorpekh Destroyers x 3, Plasmacyte & Skorpekh Lord
  3. T’au Tidewall Ranpart
  4. Mechanicum Secutarii Peltast x 10
  5. Legio Custodes Venatari x 3
  6. Flesh-Eater Courts Crypt Horrors
  7. Necron Immortals with Tesla Carbines x 10
  8. German Heer Hanomag & Panzer IV Ausf D
  9. T’au Broadsides x 3
  10. Legio Custodes Vexillia Carriers x 4

What I Am Reading

Been reading Elsa Bloodstone: Bequest and I am almost finished, so expect a review coming soon!

What I Am Playing

I did play through Minerva’s Den, the standalone DLC campaign for Bioshock 2 this week and a video of that is now on YouTube.

Streaming video games going forward is something I need to figure out, with Lindsay now in the office I need to figure out if and when it’s possible.

On Friday Lindsay had the afternoon off, so we took off to Saltwell Park and played a game of Alhambra Roll & Write, which I came last in!

On Saturday evening, we played a couple of the quick and simple games, Pandemic: Hot Zone – North America and Ticket to Ride: London.

We all lost Pandemic and I came last in Ticket to Ride, despite it being my personal best score in that version of the game!

On Sunday, me and Lindsay also played a game of Ticket to Ride: New York in which she absolutely handed my arse to me!

Today I played some Star Wars: Squadrons and I finished the single player campaign

What I Am Backing

Still backing the Wowstick Drill, and I find myself tempted by the new Redgrass Wet Palette that’s going up next month.

The Dungeon Masters Little Black Book arrived on Sunday via Drive Thru RPG, that was a throughly decent, quick and awesome campaign.

What I Am Cooking

Not much but on Sunday I did make beans on toast for dinner and helped Lindsay make a roast for tea.

ESL – Shove It!!!

By

On 20th April 2021

In Blog

I am gonna be frank, it can go take a long walk off a short pier.

It’s just a terrible idea by the rich clubs designed to keep them earning the big bucks and take the lions share of the TV money.

I think it shows that football has strayed too far from the fans and what they want.

Let’s face it, the way things are now, more than ever it feels like a massive stitch up with the big six wanting to ride roughshod over everyone else in the Premier League and their desire to get more money because they are the big stars of the league.

I think it’s time that football and the organisations called their bluff.

Explain the consequences, but enter into no further talks, I strongly suspect that this plan is tactic to get more money from the Champions League. And if they continue on this route, the day after the season ends, expel them from the leagues, and dock them 30 points.

And if they want back in, they start at the very bottom.

I am out sick of the big clubs throwing their weight around and demanding the lions share of the money, trying to dictate the direction of the game, and only seeking to dement their dominant position.

As fans we need to say no to this and stop enabling them.

They want their own league with blackjack and hookers, fine, they can piss off and have it, but they don’t get to play in our league.

I have lots to say on the subject, but, boy am I mad about it and I don’t think Lindsay and Megan would appreciate all the swearing.

Megan’s PC

I managed to pull together the last parts for Megan’s PC this week.

And on Friday I built it, using some bits cast off from mine and some select budget pieces.

The build she has is:-

  • CPU:- Ryzen 5 3400G
  • Motherboard:- ASUS ROG Strix B450-F
  • Memory:- Corsair Vengeance 16GB (2 x 8GB) 3600mhz DDR4
  • SSD:- Crucial P1 1TB
  • PSU:- Scavenged 10 year old EVGA 750w (this will be replaced first)

Not a particularly amazing build, but she wants to run The Sims 4 with it and it should show ok at that.

Future plans for it, will be to add a GPU and a Capture Card.

What I Am Modelling

I started off the week by painting the terrain from Pariah Nexus, which involved a lot, and I mean a lot of drybrushing.

Before finishing off the terrain from Kill Team Arena.

I then started on the Heavy Intercessors and the Captain with Master-Crafted Heavy Bolt Rifle for my Blood Ravens.

But whilst various stages of those were done, I painted the last of the 3D printed terrain that Nikki printed for me.

And I painted the Battlezone Objective Set for 40K, which is going to live in the Vigulus based table I am soon to paint.

On Sunday I got the Heavy Intercessors and Captain finished.

That means everything from Pariah Nexus is painted.

I then painted some bits for Zone Mortalis, a bunch of supply crates, fuel barrels and pipes, but I will show you pictures of those next week.

So what’s coming up for my next week?

  1. Zone Mortalis Terrain
  2. Mechanicum Termite
  3. Flesh-Eater Courts Crypt Ghouls x 20
  4. Legio Custodes Aquilion Terminators x 6
  5. Hexwraiths x 10
  6. T’au Tidewall Rampart
  7. Skorpekh Destroyers x 3 & Skorpekh Lord
  8. Secutarii Peltast x 10
  9. Custodes Venatari x 3
  10. Word Bearers Esoterist

What I Am Reading

I started on Elsa Bloodstone: Bequest by Cath Lauria.

Enjoying it so far and hope to finish it in the next few days.

What I Am Playing

Not actually played anything this week 🙁

What I am Backing

The second half is my Paranoia pledge for Project Infinite Hole arrived, the R&D Fun Pack.

Still backing the Wowstick drill project.

What I Am Cooking

Not a sausage this week 🙁

Poison River

By

On 13th April 2021

In Book Reviews

I have been provided with an advance copy of the new Legend of the Five Rings book Posion River 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 also friend with Josh 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 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

Daidoji Shin is a an aristocrat of the Crane clan banished to the City of the Rich Frog, to serve as his clans trade envoy.

He has a reputation as a wastrel and is considered a disappointment to his family, so has essentially been banished to somewhere he can’t do much harm, along with his faithful, but very put upon bodyguard Kasami.

In this story he is called upon by the cities governor to conduct an investigation into the poisoning of some rice, something which could threaten to destroy the fragile peace between the clans who call the city home.

He is only asked to do this because his clan is relatively neutral, but as it turns out, he actually has a talent for investigation, his habits of wide reading and study all manor of mundane things has made him ideal for the job.

And so he throws himself into the mystery, despite the politics and dangers posed by the clans rivalries, shinobi and the criminal underworld he finds himself embroiled in.

Conclusion

Ok so this book is very typical of Josh’s writing, in that it’s engaging and full of world building.

The novel isn’t just about Daidoji Shin but for me the main character was actually the city itself, rich and literally dripping with detail, you get a real sense of a bustling city, that is essentially a tinderbox waiting to catch fire.

The supporting cast get just as much character development as the main protagonists and it really feels like Josh has had a lot of fun developing a city that he can spend years playing with and developing.

I am hoping that’s Fantasy Flight are going to develop the city as a sourcebook for the RPG as I really want to actually play around with it and enjoy some adventures with pirates and smugglers on the docks!

Daidoji Shin is himself a fascinating character, on the surface, spoiled, rich and cares for nowt but his own pleasure, but in actual fact is an intelligent man, very much in the mould of Sherlock Holmes.

The books is utterly wonderful and I am already looking forward to the sequel, which Aconyte have already sent me.

If you want a mystery novel, with snappy dialogue, a rich setting and a cast that you are just desperate to spend more time with, then grab this book.

5 out of 5 Stars

You can buy the paperback and eBook now.

Hoping Lockdown Ends On Schedule

By

On 12th April 2021

In Blog

Not much to say other than that, I am really down right now and could do with spending time with friends and family.

I just hope it all goes according to plan.

What I Am Modelling

I spent Tuesday finishing off Horticulous Slimux, a particularly disgusting character, and one that I am rather proud of.

I then moved on to the Heer Infantry Squad for Bolt Action, alongside a Lieutenant and accompanying Riflemen. That’s all the infantry for that army finished now.

After this I moved onto an Onagar Dunecrawler that’s been sitting in a box primed for way way too long.

I then started on some more Necrons, the four Crypteks, two Cryptothralls, five Flayed Ones and a Canoptek Renanimator.

The Cryptothralls were finished first.

Then I knocked out the Flayed Ones.

Followed by a Canoptek Reanimator.

And finally today I finished off the four Crypteks.

I am now working on the Pariah Nexus Terrain.

So what’s on the list going into the week.

  1. Zone Mortalis Terrain
  2. Kill Team Arena & Pariah Nexus Terrain
  3. Blood Ravens Heavy Intercessors & Captain with Master-Crafted Heavy Bolt Rifle
  4. Mechanicum Termite
  5. Battlezone Objectives
  6. Flesh-Eater Crypt Ghouls x 20
  7. Legio Custodes Aquilion Terminators x 6
  8. Hexwraiths x 10
  9. T’au Tidewall Rampart
  10. Necron Skorpekh Destroyers & Skorpekh Lord

What I Am Reading

My review of the The Qubit Zirconium was published yesterday and you can read it here.

I read Blood of the Emperor and finished that, a review will be forthcoming.

And last night I finally finished Poison River and a review of this will also be published very soon.

I have now started on Elsa Bloodstone: Bequest.

What I Am Playing

On Saturday we played Alhambra Roll and Write, and I won, which is a surprise!

On Sunday I played a couple of hours of Star Wars: Squadrons with the lads.

What I Am Backing

Gloomier has successfully funded!

Still backing the Wowstick drill, that’s got another two weeks to run.

And the first shipment Project Infinite Hole arrived, and I am most happy with it, just awaiting the R&D pack now.

What I Am Cooking

On Friday I made a slow cooker Chinese Chicken Curry for tea with chips, it looked awful but tasted amazing!

Sunday morning saw my turn for Together Breakfast, and I made Fried Chicken with Waffles and Maple Syrup.

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