Tag: Skaven

A Table For Bolt Action

By

On 11th August 2026

In Blog, Uncategorised

Currently I am working on developing a table for me and Graham to be playing Bolt Action on, so far it’s mostly 3D printing, and soon I will start the job of painting

But what have we got this far

First off we have 4 large intact houses, one of these has a fully modelled interior and is from Printable Scenery, the others are empty apart form a floor

Then we have a couple of small houses, modelled with interior floors

A few destroyed buildings, including some commercial ones

A couple of barns, on intact and one ruined one with a damaged tractor in in from Eskice

We also have some sheds, but on one the roof does’t sit right, so I am probably gonna glue the roof in place.

I thought a windmill will add some character, so I printed one of these

Most of the stuff there is very civilian so i thought we would add some some more military stuff starting with a bunker, and a dig in position for a panzer, which I got painted at the weekend

The big centrepiece is one I printed long ago and is a large pig pen from Printable Scenery

Of course France needs walls and bocage, so I have been printing a variety of that, but I still need to print plenty more

Also roads are needed so we have gone for these dirt tracks for the very rural feel from Printable Scenery, and these got painted up at the weekend!

We also have a doormat which I have cut up into sections to use as cornfields

The current plan is to get this all painted by end of September, ready for some games in October

I still want to print some more walls and more Bocage and some fences, probably some telegraph poles too

Hoping it will be a cool table, but we shall see

What I Am Modelling

I started out by painting up some Germans, starting with some Kradschützen

However these models aren’t that great, they are from Eskice and feel questionable in quality, they will get replaced at some point soon

Plus an 81cm Medium Mortar Team

An MG34 MMG Team

Plus a 15 cm Nebelwerfer 41

And finally the last 10 Heer for my early war German force

This bring me up to 40 troops, more than enough for what I want

After that I painted a trio of Rat Ogres

And a Clawlord on Gnaw-Beast

I then painted a Kustom Boosta-Blasta for the Orks

Alongside a trio of Deffkoptas

And a pair of Mercedes-Benz L3000s for my early war Germans

And finally a Chaplin with Jump Pack for the Blood Ravens

So what’s up next?

  1. Blood Angels Landspeeders
  2. Neophyte Hybrids x 10, Primus & Magus x 2
  3. Grundstock Thunderers x 5 & Torrk Lennsen
  4. Ultramarines Saturnine Command Squad x 3
  5. Einhyr Hearthkyn x 5
  6. Skywardens x 3
  7. Rogal Dorn Tank
  8. Wraith Guard x 5
  9. Aberrants x 10
  10. Atillan Rough Riders x 5

What I Am Reading

I finished reading The War in the West: The Rise of Germany , 1939 – 1941 by James Holland, a good assessment of the events, that didn’t glaze over the issues of the German army and its significant issues, or make out that it was a highly mechanised wonder force.

And I listened to Circular Time by Paul Cornell which was very good, and the reveal at the end was really interesting and very good

I am still reading Traitor General by Dan Abnett as part of The Lost and I have started listening to Daemonslayer by William King

What Tabletop Games I Am Playing

Had a cool game of 40k with Brian on Friday, though I admit my head wasn’t in it, we have had a rough few weeks, and I am only really just getting back on my feet

We did get to try out the new terrain I printed off for the club though!

What Video Games I Am Playing

Trying to give myself some variety, been playing Goldeneye 007 on the Xbox, a bit of Ticket to Ride and some Easy Red 2

Also started playing Star Wars: Squadrons with the new to me Logitech Extreme 3D Pro

What Achievements I Have Unlocked

Easy Red 2 (Steam)

Freeze!

Capture 10 enemy soldiers		30/07/2026
Cavalry is here

While driving a tank, support an infantry squad		30/07/2026
Granate!

Kill 3 Germans with a single grenade		30/07/2026
Another Chance

Save a tank crew after their tank is disabled		30/07/2026

Goldeneye 007 (Xbox)

Splash Damage

Unlock Paintball Mode by completing Dam on Secret Agent in 2:40 or less.		10G30/07/2026
Now try gunning for 2:05…

Complete Facility on any difficulty.		20G30/07/2026
Fly Away!

Complete Runway on any difficulty.		20G01/08/2026
Chest-Pounding Goodness

Unlock DK Mode by completing Runway on Agent in 5:00 or less.
10G01/08/2026
Dual-wielding!

Complete Surface 1 on any difficulty		20G03/08/2026
The Art of Boom

Unlock 2x Grenade Launchers by completing Surface 1 on Secret Agent in 3:30 or less.		10G03/08/2026

Ticket to Ride (Steam)

All above board

Win a game on the Nordic Countries map without claiming any tunnels		02/08/2026
Globetrotter


Earn the Globetrotter bonus in a game on the Nordic Countries map		02/08/2026
Union rail

Claim Murmansk to Lieksa using 9 of the same colour cards		02/08/2026
F-Line

Connect The Embarcadero, Market Street, The Castro and Twin Peaks in one game.		02/08/2026

Star Wars: Squadrons (Steam)

Fracture at Fostar Haven

Completed the Prologue.		10/08/2026

What I Am Creating

We published the latest episode of Edge of Empire

What I Am Backing

Clash of Eagles has been delivered, the Franco-Prussian War is one whose outcomes reverberated for over a century, so might be interesting to play some games within it

I got the STLs from No Man’s Land: War Train, WoWBuildings Does Bastogne and WW2 Desert Collection Vol.II

The MakerBot 2.0 project was funded and the files even delivered, which was super quick, that’s probably a project for next year mind!

The German Paratroopers Fallschirmjäger – Crete 1941. Part 1 has fully funded, and I am really looking forward to that for some early war Fallschirmjäger, and when part 2 goes up, there will be some Gebirgsjäger in there for me!

We got some models delivered for Join or Die Airborne Vol.2 and Merville Battery, giving me some options for Folgore and plenty for the Paras

I am now backing The QuesTable, me and Megan think this looks awesome, as well as the Modular Hobby Plate, still searching for a proper solution for paint storage expansion

For some terrain I am backing Deweycat Productions Coastal Terrain and Fields of War

What I Am Spending

I bought a Basilisk/Medusa for the Solar Auxilia which I intend to magnetise to allow for either weapon

I bought a few video games

Doubles with Megan

By

On 6th April 2026

In Blog

Bit late with this post due to illness 🙁

A couple of Sundays ago, myself and Megan played in a doubles tournament at Games-at-Hart, and it was for Megan their first time playing against someone other than me

We took this list, the rules were two armies of 1000pts so we took this list. With me playing the Guard and Megan the Blood Angels

Our first game was against a very serious pair playing Orks and Death Guard with both Mortarian and a Gorkanaught

It was a hard game and I felt I had to be a bit strict with the pair as they tried to control the game in ways that were not friendly such as picking our cards in the app for us, something which is a real faux par and extremely rude

I could not have imagined a worst game for Megan to start with and was a very much we went through the motions to just get through it

The second game was much better, sadly Megan fell ill and had to leave 🙁

But I played a Death Guard and Astra Militarium combo which was a lot of fun to play against and a decent amount of cool banter

Massive loss again but well worth it for the game

My third game was a force of Daemons of Khorne and World Eaters, a bit closer but not by much

Another excellent game and at the end we were 3 losses down, but that’s fine with me as fun was had

The event was brilliant, but there was a degree of the issue I dislike about 10th edition, and that is the problem of armies being built around the best most destructive units with the lists not resembling an army you would see in “reality”

Hopefully something that changes in 11th

What I Am Modelling

I started out with an Anointed with an Anti-Material Gun for the Heretic Legions to use in Trench Crusade

Then I painted up a Nemesis Dreadknight for the Grey Knights to finish up their Combat Patrol

After that I painted a War Wolf for the Heretic Legions, model that reminded me a lot of a rat!

This was followed by a Leman Russ Demolisher for the Solar Auxila and Astra Militarium

For the Cadians I then painted a pair of Field Ordnance Batteries with Bombast Field Guns

And for the Orks Combat Patrol, two units of 10 Boyz

And finally a unit of Word Bearers Tactical Marines

https://www.instagram.com/p/DWVK5RCiJR1/?igsh=dnd3cG1mZXBkMDlu

And an Apothecary as well

https://www.instagram.com/p/DWVLQeLCIpZ/?igsh=MTRvZ21ydWZ6NTB3cw==

I painted up a second Hellhound for the Guard

https://www.instagram.com/p/DWiAJhciKs3IB1aN6xCvLB38Mrg8gMF-972cWA0/?igsh=MWo1cjNmZnZta29kcg==

Then rebased a few Orks to modern base sizes

https://www.instagram.com/p/DWiDTipiCL-DvhAhy1qyHcgo1-79d8VR4k188A0/?igsh=MWt4bGIyNWRzNTh2OA==

Plus a Panzer 38 (t) for my early war Germans

https://www.instagram.com/p/DWmBSWgiPAGLP57MgqactNgCeTwjLQGT3EFGCs0/?igsh=d2IweHFnNjh1NXFj

And a SD.Kfz 222

https://www.instagram.com/p/DWmBppWiBkPH_HBlrM8NCY8gKQbTJP63sah4Uo0/?igsh=bjJjaWgybHF4OHBy

I also painted a Warsmith for the Iron Warriors, but he was really a bit too grimy!

I then painted a couple of models for the Skaven from Spearhead, a Warlock Engineer

And a Grey Seer

And a couple of units of Howling Banshees for the Aeldari

As well as Zodgrod Wortsnagga for the Orks

And a couple of random Grots I found half painted in the Orks box!

So what’s up next?

  1. Blood Angels Landspeeders
  2. Heretic Legion Warband
  3. Black Templar Intercessor Squad x 5 & Marshall
  4. Hearthkyn Warriors x 10
  5. Acolyte Hybrids x 5 & Acolyte Iconward
  6. Death Korps Squad x 10
  7. Cadian Shock Troopers x 20
  8. Chaos Legionaries x 10
  9. Combat Engineers x 10
  10. Brôkhyr Thunderkyn x 3

What I Am Reading

I finished Soul Music by Terry Pratchett, which was very very good, but I have been displeased to hear that weirdly some schools have been banning it.

I then listened to Vainglorious by Sandy Mitchell, sad to have have finished the main series of Cain books.

Then I listened to Death Rider by Rhuairidh James which was really good, just as good as his previous shorts which are also really good.

After that it was The Nowhere Place by Nicholas Briggs which was a good idea, but badly executed.

Following that I listened to The Devil You Know by Sandy Mitchell which was a great deal of fun to listen to again.

And then it was Dead in the Water by Sandy Mitchell, again another great audio drama.

Currently I am listening the Ciaphas Cain: The Anthology by Sandy Mitchell, which I am rather enjoying

What Video Games I Am Playing

Been playing some more Final Fantasy IV Pixel Remaster

And we tried out the demo for Burglin’ Gnomes which was a lot of fun

Assassins Creed Origins got played a little too, but nowhere near enough

What Achievements I Have Unlocked

Final Fantasy IV Pixel Remaster (Steam)

Reforged Love

Defeated Barbariccia, the Lord of Wind		13/03/2026
Field Research- Advanced

Completed 50% of the Bestiary entries		14/03/2026
To the Depths

Arrived in the underworld		14/03/2026
Veteran Treasure Hunter

Collected treasure from 50% of the chests		15/03/2026
Inflamed Anger

Defeated Rubicante, the Lord of Fire		16/03/2026
Moneybags

Obtained 500,000 gil		16/03/2026

Assassin’s Creed Origins (XBox)

Elementary, My Dear Bayek

Solve a papyrus mystery		30G13/03/2026
Raider of the Lost Tomb

Complete a tomb		20G13/03/2026

What I Am Backing

I joined a group buy for Over There Part 2 for the Afrika Korps infantry

And the first part of From Meuse to Volga, 1940-1942 was delivered, that being the HQs, Infantry Squads, HMG and LMG Teams.

What I Am Creating

We published the latest episode of Edge of Empire

What I Am Spending

Managed to get two copies of issue 79 of Combat Patrol to start off a couple of Sentinels

Plus issue 80 to complete them, along with an Issue 2 of Stormbringer

And issues 81 and 82 for the Lord on Juggernaught

And we did a 3D printing materials restock, resin and filament, plus some oil for lubing the Y-Axis on the A1 and magnets to magnetise minis

Humble Choice netted me

Space Marines Are Not A Good Starter Army

By

On 28th January 2024

In Blog

I said what I said!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What I Am Modelling

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

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

Then a unit of Suppressors for the Space Wolves

After which I painted a Warlock Bombardier from the Skaven range

And then an Arch Revenant for a new Sylvaneth army

As well as Ylthari’s Guardians.

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

And finally a Screamer-Killer.

So what’s up next week?

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

What I Am Reading

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

But this time I am determined to listen it all!

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

What Tabletop Games I am Playing

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

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

What Video Games I am Playing

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

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

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

What I Am Spending

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

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

And I got the Datacards for the Adeptus Mechanicus

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

I also bought a few games

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

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

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

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

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

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

UK Games Expo 2023

By

On 17th June 2023

In Blog

Ok this has been a long update, my health and metal capabilities have been in the damn toilet, but better later thane never!

It was a really fun weekend and I spent it demoing games on the Star Wars games, moving between being a stand greeter, Shatterpoint, Legion, X-Wing and the Deck Building game, all of which are a hell of a lot of fun.

Myself, Lindsay and Sean came down by car on the Thursday night, and got to Birmingham, around 9:30ish and we got a Dominos and hung out.

The hotel is fine, its not the best hotel, but it was okay, the biggest gripe was breakfast which had zero diabetes friendly option, but I was able to remedy that by buying some Wheetbix of my own.

It was a really fun if exhausting weekend, and once I get paid at the end of July, I am hoping to buy a Steam Deck, depending if its even in stock, cause that’s been a huge issue in the past few months 4.

I actually came away with the belief that this was the best UK Games Expo I have been to since before the plague, yes a few minor niggles, but actually really positive, probably helped by having an awesome stand manager and an absolutely brilliant team to work with.

Cannot wait for next year!

What I Am Modelling

I started off by finishing my scenery for the Imperium table, first up was the Haemotrope Reactor.

I then painted up three Ruined Factorum buildings

I then painted Tech-Priest Grombrindal who has been sitting in the pile of potential for a while now!

And then a squad of Ultramarines Outriders!

After that came Hedkrakka’s Madmob for Underworlds.

And finally I painted the Parasite of Mortrex for the Tyranids!

After that it was some Deathrunners for Silver Tower

And cause I thought I needed it for a game, I then completed a Rat Ogre for Blood Bowl!

After that I finally painted the Kairic Acolytes for Silver Tower

Followed by the ones for Shadows Over Hammerhal

So whats coming up next?

  1. Catacomb Command Barge & Overlord
  2. Swampcalla Shaman x 3 & Pot-Grot x 2
  3. The Rashaar
  4. Gutrippas x 10
  5. Beast-Skewer Killbow x 2
  6. Imperial Fists Tactical Squad x 10
  7. Soriaitas Palatine
  8. Pink Horrors x 2, Blue Horrors x 4 & Brimstone Horrors x 4
  9. Deffkilla Wartrike
  10. Ultramarines Bladguard Veterans x 3 & Ancients x 2

What I Am Reading

You can read my review of David Annadales In the Coils of the Labyrinth here!

I finished up Necropolis from The Founding Omnibus by Dan Abnett, and it was extremely good!

And I have now started on Sisters of Sorcery by Marsheila Rockwell and so far its quite canny!

I finished listening to The Lion: Son of the Forest by Mike Brooks, and thats an issue, cause now I want to start an army of Risen!

I also listened to Blightslayer by Richard Strachan, which is rather good, I had feared the loss of Maleneth but Amara isn’t a bad character, but I am still sad at losing the Witch Aelf.

I also listened to The Time of the Daleks by Justin Richards, which was ok, but not the best 8th audio so far.

And I just finished listening to Stormcaller by Chris Wraight which was great but at times a bit hard to follow

What Tabletop Games I Am Playing

Not much, but I did manage to get started with the local Blood Bowl league, and I lost my first match!

I lost 5-0 but it was a very very good match, and a lot of fun!

My team roster is as follows:-

Blitzer x 2
Gutter Runner  x 2
Rat Ogre
Skaven Clanrat Linemanx 5
Thrower
Re-Roll x 3

What Video Games I Am Playing

Bit more time on The Witcher 3 as I start on the DLC.

I also started playing Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun on stream, and that’s a lot of fun!

Also played a bit of Control on Stream too.

What I Am Creating

The second battle report of 2023 is out, and its Dropfleet Commander!!!

The new 40K podcast from the Edge of Empire team is here, its currently lacking a title, but here is our first episode!

What I Am Winning

Its been a minute, but I won these Govee gaming lights back in March, and they arrived this week, and will be getting installed on Megan’s desk in the next few days!

What I Am Spending

I bought Warhammer 40,000 Boltgun, cause hell yeah!!!

And as it’s Skulls, I got, Warhammer 40,000: Dakka Squadron, Blood Bowl: Chaos Edition and Space Hulk Tactics alongside some DLC.

I got Winds of Magic, Shadows Over Bögenhafen, Back to Ubersreik, Grail Knight Career, Outcast Engineer Career, Warrior Priest Career, Sister of the Thorn Career and Forgotten Relics for Vermintide 2.

I also got Sons of Cadia, Legacy of the Weirdboy and Horrors of the Warp for Sanctus Reach, and the Chaos Campaign for Battlefleet Gothic 2.

And I decided to treat myself to a few bargains from my wishlist!

So I bought Euro Trick Simulator 2: Road to the Black Sea, Lost Planet 2, Sleeping Dogs Definitive Edition, Metro 2033 Redux, Metro: Last Light Redux, Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil 3, Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, Wolfenstien 3D, Wolfenstein: The New Order, Wolfenstein: The Old Blood and Resident Evil Revelations 2.

Grey Goo and Kingdom Rush came in a mini mystery bundle.

And Junes Humble Choice came out and I got the following:-

I got a mini haul at UK Games Expo, the only games were Elector Counts and Catan: Soccer Fever.

And I got myself a set of bases for Carinvale and some Monitors for the UCM.

I was silly enough to buy the Warhammer stamps from Royal Mail!

I finally got my hands on Kâhl Yôht Grendok, he took a bit to get made, but he is here now and I quite like him, cannot wait to get him built and painted!

And some Word Bearers objective tokens arrived, the person who makes them is slow, but they are worth it!

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