Tag: Leagues of Votann

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

By

On 20th April 2026

In Blog

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

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

Which led to a slightly uncomfortable realisation:

“wait… am I a grognard?”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What I Am Modelling

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

I added a third Wraithlord to my Iyanden army

And a Marshall to lead the Black Templars

Alongside a squad of Intercessors

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

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

Plus a 2nd Forward Observer

And this test model form the Meuse to Volga Kickstarter

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

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

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

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

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

What’s up next

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

What I Am Reading

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

I am currently listening to Trollslayer by William King

What Tabletop Games I Am Playing

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

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

Cohort Doctrine: Mechanised Pattern Cohort

Crusade Primary Detachment

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

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

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

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

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

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

Arvus Lighter, Flare Launchers, Pintle Mounted heavy stubber

Armoured Support

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

Armour Tercio

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

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

Leman Russ Assault Tank Demolisher Cannon, Lascannon Dozer blade

Armour Tercio

Leman Russ Assault Tank Demolisher Cannon, Lascannon Dozer blade

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

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

Infantry Tercio

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

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

Dracosan Armoured Transport, Twin Lascannon

Dracosan Armoured Transport, Demolisher cannon

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

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

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

Rifle Platoon

Oberleutnant - Regular SMG

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

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

Sniper Team - Regular

Light Mortar Team - Regular

Armoured Patoon

Panzerbefehlswagen - Sd. Kfz 265

Panzer 38 (t)

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

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

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

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

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

4 Glory Points, 700 Ducats

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

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

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

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

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

Lion of Jabir - 85 Ducats
Wind Amulet, Standard Armour

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

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

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

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

What Video Games I Am Playing

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

What Achievements I Have Unlocked

Verdun (Steam)

Eagle Eye

Kill an enemy from over 100 meters		06/04/2026

What I Am Backing

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

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

What I Am Spending

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

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

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

On Steam I picked up

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

By

On 3rd March 2026

In Blog

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What I Am Modelling

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I also printed some order tokens for my Astra Militarium

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

So whata up next?

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

What Tabletop Games I Am Playing

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

I took this list

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

CHARACTERS

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

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

Militarum Tempestus Command Squad (85 Points)
  • 4x Tempestus Scion
     ◦ 4x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 2x Hot-shot lasgun
     ◦ 1x Hot-shot laspistol
     ◦ 1x Master Vox
     ◦ 1x Plasma gun
  • 1x Tempestor Prime
     ◦ 1x Bolt pistol
     ◦ 1x Tempestus dagger

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

BATTLELINE

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

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

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

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

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

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

OTHER DATASHEETS

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

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

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

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

Leman Russ Demolisher (190 Points)
  • 1x Armoured tracks
  • 1x Demolisher battle cannon
  • 1x Lascannon

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

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

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

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

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

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

What I Am Creating

I published the latest episode of Edge of Empire

What I Am Spending

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

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

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

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

I also got Bridge Constructor Portal

Christmas 2025!

By

On 3rd January 2026

In Blog

For us this year, Christmas was quiet and pretty simple.

We spent it at Megans sisters place, where I made the Christmas Dinner, after spending the Christmas Eve there watching Muppets Christmas Carol.

I made fresh cranberry sauce, which was basically cranberries cooked in port with sugar, I am not a fan but everyone else is, and they seemed to enjoy it, better than shop bought.

I then cooked the rest of the dinner, starting with honey glazed red cabbage cooked in red wine, normally I would add sultanas, but no one fancied them. I also did sprouts fried up with some chestnuts and bacon, and a bit of nutmeg

And the final product had turkey, beef, roast potatoes, and roasted parnsips, carrots and leek spiced with a bit of chilli and paprika.

I think it was rather nice, but I exhausted myself making it and was pretty much wiped out for the next few days

I got some nice presents, and I cannot complain about any of them

So yeah, Christmas was pretty good, and the rest of the week was fine, other than my being unwell for most of it, which meant I missed new years eve board games.

My Board Game Geek Secret Santa was very kind and got me

And my Video Game Geek Secret Santa got me

What I Am Modelling

I painted up the last (for now) units for my Imperial Fists, a squad of Veteran Breachers, all armed with Volkite Chargers!

Followed by a squad of Hearthkyn Warriors for the Leagues of Votann

Alongside a pair of Kâhls

Then I painted a Wolf Lord in Terminator Armour

And I finally finished up the Janissaries for my Iron Sultanate

So what’s up next?

  1. Blood Angels Landspeeders
  2. Heretic Legion Warband
  3. Tzzangors x 20
  4. Lord Vigilant on Gryph-Stalker
  5. Grey Knights Strike Squad x 5
  6. Cthonian Beserks x 5
  7. Tech Thralls x 20
  8. Lord Terminos, Reculsians x 3 & Memorians x 2
  9. Hearthkyn Pioneers x 3
  10. Death Korps of Krieg Heavy Weapons Team x 8

What I Am Reading

Still slowly reading Dropsite Massacre by John French.

I listened to Cain’s Last Stand by Sandy Mitchell, which was really very very very good!

And I am now listening to Demolisher by Andy Clark.

What Tabletop Games I Am Playing

I had a 5750 points game of Heresy with Graham on thew 28th, and I won!

We both took a 5000 points list plus a Warhound, and I have to say that the new Titan rules are a lot of fun and very thematic!

What Video Games I Am Playing

Really cracking on with Shadow of the Tomb Raider this past couple of weeks

What Achievements I Have Unlocked

Shadow of the Tomb Raider (Steam)

Treasures from the Past

Decipher a Monolith		29/12/2025
Survival Instincts

Defeat the Empress Jaguar		30/12/2025
Point of Interest

Learn of 5 interesting locations from civilians		30/12/2025
Asking Price

Buy an item from a merchant		30/12/2025
The Hidden City

Find Paititi		01/01/2026
Untold Riches

Gather 40 gold ore		01/01/2026
Fire of Life

Enter the Temple of Life’s inner chamber		01/01/2026
Resting Places

Uncover 3 main game Crypts’ secrets		01/01/2026
Marksman

Perform 20 headshots with the bow		01/01/2026
Look, Over There!

Kill 3 enemies while they are distracted		01/01/2026
Makeshift Arsenal

Fully upgrade a weapon		01/01/2026
Archeologist

Complete an Artifact Collection		01/01/2026
Stele Hunter

Complete 3 main game Challenge Tombs		01/01/2026
Help thy Neighbor

Complete a Side Mission		01/01/2026
Better Equipped

Get 3 pieces of equipment		01/01/2026
On the Go

Craft special ammunition 50 times		03/01/2026
Destiny’s Trialed

Complete the Forge of Destiny Challenge Tomb		03/01/2026
Heir Born

Complete the Echoes of the Past Side Mission and discover Abby’s ancient origins		03/01/2026

Hell Let Loose (Steam)

Here Comes the Gun

Win a match as the German Forces on Smolensk Day		29/12/2025

What I Am Spending

I bought a few new games in the Steam winter sale

Not Exactly Impressed

By

On 14th April 2025

In Blog

So the Switch 2 Direct happened, and I am gonna be frank, not entirely impressed.

First off, whilst it was expected that it was going to use older technology, it’s quite a bit older than I would like, but I mean it’s still PS4/Xbox One level.

I mean it’s decent tech, but it’s gonna have to rely on DLSS a lot to hit that 4k, but then again, it might actually be capable of running Breath of the Wild without dropping to like 15fps in busy scenes.

Then there is the battery life, it’s worse than the original Switch, which isn’t exactly the best in the first place.

I get why they haven’t gone with an OLED screen given the already increased price, more on that in a bit, but it’s still a disappointment to not have there there.

As well as the lack of Hall Effect sticks, because the stick drift issues with the original JoyCons are huge and I am massively disappointed that they haven’t been bothered to give us JoyCons which would have avoided these issues.

And then that takes us to the cost.

The actual cost of the console, I get it, the bill of materials isn’t going to be cheap, TSMC have been raising wafer prices like crazy since 2020.

But the tutorial being paid, the paid upgrades for OG Switch games being quite high and the cost of new games is just crazy.

Nintendo have always charged as much as they can for games and it’s very irritating that Switch launch titles are now just as expensive as they were when they first came out.

Look if you work it out, pound for pound gaming, even on the Switch is going to be not that bad value if you play for a couple hours a week and have the console for say six years.

But man it’s rough, I get it, devs need to be paid, and being a poor person, I usually wait for a game to go on sale a few years later, I rarely buy the latest games because I just cannot afford it.

But I feel like this time, the lack of first party titles, which has always been Nintendos strength, most of the third party titles being older titles that run better on my other gaming devices, it’s just not doing it for me.

Oh and out of principle, I will never subscribe to Nintendo Online, I am sorry but putting the backup of saves behind a paywall if frankly ridiculous, especially on handheld device which is more likely to be lost, broken or even stolen, I mean it has an Micro SD card slot, why can I not backup my own saves.

Look maybe in a couple of years, when decent first party titles start filtering through, I will feel different, but right now I can’t see myself getting one.

What I Am Modelling

I started off the week with Swampboss Skumdrekk for the Kruleboyz

And that actually finishes off all my Kruleboyz for now

Then a Dankhold Trogboss for the Gloomspite Gitz

Which also completes all my current models for the Gitz

Followed an Imperial Fists Command Squad, this one is seven man, cause I 3D printed up some extra bodies to take advantage of the bits on the Command Squad sprue

Plus another Herald made with a 3D printed body and spare part from the Command Squad sprue

And I also painted up The Ancestors’ Wrath Einhyr Champion for the Leagues of Votann

As well as Kâhl Yôht Grendok

And a unit of Aeldari Guardians

And for Lindsay’s birthday I made some Otter Earrings

So what’s next in the queue

  1. Blood Angels Landspeeders
  2. Kellermorph & Neophyte Hybrids x 10
  3. Ogryn Charonite Squad x 3
  4. Phallax Warders x 10
  5. Thousand Sons Terminators & Infernal Master
  6. Dark Angels Incursors x 5
  7. Ogryn Charonite Squad x 3
  8. Blood Angels Impulsor
  9. Imperial Knight Magaaera
  10. Carnivale Gondola

What I Am Reading

I finished Straight Silver by Dan Abnett in The Saint, and yeah that was a good one, it felt like it was going quite slow, and woah, it sped up and didn’t stop.

I listened to Assassinorum: Kingmaker by Robert Rath, which not only was the best Officio Assassinorum novel thus far, it’s also the best Imperial Knights novel so far.

I also listened to Three’s A Crowd by Colin Brake which was rather fun and as someone with a bit of agoraphobia, I really understood how the characters felt.

What Tabletop Games I Am Playing

Had a game with Graham at Durham Raiders on Tuesday, in which we both tested out our Heresy Camp lists.

My Solar Auxilia did ok, but BS3 combined with my dice rolling was pretty frustrating when in turn 3 I just couldn’t hit anything for toffee.

As expected for me it was defeat, but I think I learned some lessons and long term now know the army needs more scoring units

And perhaps leave the Macharius and Malcadors behind and take more Leman Russ Vanquishers instead!

On Thursday I played another escalation league game of Age of Sigmar this time against Adam, and his Seraphon

That game went the typical way and I lost badly, but I did have a lor of fun removing my Orruks from the table!

On Sunday I played a game of Flamecraft with Lindsay & Megan

What Video Games I Am Playing

I started out with Horizon Forbidden West on PS5, which I am playing on Stream

What I Am Spending

We bought ourselves Avatar: The Last Airbender – Aang’s Destiny to replace Harry Potter Hogwarts Battle.

We enjoyed the mechanics of Hogwarts Battle, but sadly the IP is tainted beyond redemption by the bigot that created it.

Avatar is far nicer and far more wholesome.

And it only cost me 70p and its worth it for the LOLs, but I got The Lord of the Rings: Gollum, which I am sure may be hilarious to play given its many many issues!

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.

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