Tag: Solar Auxilia

Second Half Slump

By

On 15th October 2024

In Blog

Since the pandemic I have noticed that in the middle of the year, I seem to keep have a slump, just all my plans, motivation and drive drops off come the heat of the summer.

I dunno what it is, this year was no different, other than a nice bump for WorldCon, I have lost all my vroom, and I don’t know why.

In the day it feels like time just gets away from me and I don’t have the capacity to fit things in, perhaps it not having a proper schedule or just never quite recovering from Covid, I just don’t have a clue.

I know Lindsay’s moving anger workspace into the studio and then out again did really throw me and screw up my flow, but given that this has been happening for the past four years, I can’t blame that.

I know that there are things I wanna do with life, I am just bad at figuring them out and sorting out what I am doing with my time and life.

Maybe now that the house is settled into its shape for what I hope is a bit more long term I can kinda sort that out.

My plan is to sit down and hopefully convince Megan and Lindsay to help me sort out some sort of reasonable schedule to help get me back on track.

What I Am Modelling

Started out with a couple of Leman Russ Vanquishers for the Solar Auxilia, these are going to be getting a lot of use at Heresy Camp in May, but I do need a 3rd one

Then I painted a couple of Squig Herds and their Hearders

Followed by a few additions to the Deathwing, starting with a Company Master from Combat Patrol

And a squad of Deathwing Terminators, the majority here were 3D printed but the Cyclone Missile Launcher is from the old plastic kit

Alongside a couple of Dreadnoughts, a Redemptor of the Deathwing

And a Ballistus Dreadnought that I 3D printed, joining the 5th Company

Finally for the Dark Angels, a 3D printed Judicator

And I also painted a random Infection Marker I found on the floor

So yeah 3D printing is starting to really reap some rewards with me being able to print some fantastic models that I am really happy with.

But I am very wary because at the same time, I don’t want to be the guy that prints everything, I like the models that companies make.

But damn the process of pouring the resin in the vat, sending the file from your PC to the printer, and seeing these amazing models come out, it’s kind of addictive!

So what’s next?

  1. Blood Angels Land Speeders
  2. Domicile Shells x 2
  3. Space Wolves Intercessors x 10
  4. Karazai
  5. Ultramarines Terminator Captain & Aggressors x 3
  6. Dankhold Triggoth
  7. Imperial Fists Dispoiler Squad x 10
  8. Paragon Warsuits with Heavy Flamers x 3
  9. Von Ryan’s Leapers x 3 & Winged Prime
  10. Ultramarines Assault Squad x 10 & Sgts x 2

What I Am Reading

Still making my way through The Saint by Dan Abnett, and Hand of Abaddon by Nick Kyme.

What Video Games I Am Playing

I finally finished Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun on Exterminatus mode, and collected all the secrets, 100% all the original games achievements!

Alas, I do have Forges of Corruption to complete still, so will stream that next week.

Also started playing the Operations on Stream for Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2.

Also been playing Stampede Racing Royale, a game that Graham helped develop!

What I Am Spending

I have been saving for a platform upgrade for my PC and in the Prime sale, bought myself this nice little B650 board to allow me to go to an AM5 processor

Also bought a few games.

Getting Back Into The Swing

By

On 29th September 2024

In Blog

After a few weeks in which I really haven’t been doing terribly well, a mixture of illness, the black dog and fatigue, I am really trying to get back into the swing of life, and actually do some stuff.

So lets try to get stuff done and not simply be depressed and sleep my life away!

Heresy Camp

Some cool lads led by Scottish Graham are running a Heresy Camp next May, and this is the list I am think of taking, bringing the Ultramarines out of Storage, and using some Legiones Auxilia.

XIII: Ultramarines

+ Rite of War: +

Rite of War: The Logos Lectora (UM)

+ HQ: +

Centurion
. Master of Signals: Artificer Armour
. . Bolt Pistol
. . Chainsword: Chainsword
. Master of Signals

Praetor: Warlord
. Legion Praetor: Argyrum-pattern Boarding Shield, Artificer Armour, Master-craft one weapon, Thunder Hammer, Volkite Serpenta

+ Elites: +

Apothecarion Detachment
. Apothecary: Bolt Pistol, Power Armour
. . Chainsword: Chainsword
. Apothecary: Bolt Pistol, Power Armour
. . Chainsword: Chainsword

+ Troops: +

Assault Squad
. Legion Assault Sergeant: Bolt Pistol, Heavy Chainsword, Power Armour
. 7x Legionary: 7x Bolt Pistol, 7x Chainsword
. Legionary w/ Options: Bolt Pistol, Power Axe
. Legionary w/ Options: Bolt Pistol, Power Axe

Tactical Squad
. Legion Tactical Sergeant: Bolt Pistol, Bolter, Power Armour, Power Fist
. 17x Legionary: 17x Bolt Pistol, 17x Bolter, 17x Chainsword
. Legionary w/ Options:: Bolt Pistol, Bolter, Legion Vexilla
. . Chainsword: Chainsword
. Legionary w/ Options:: Augury Scanner, Bolt Pistol, Bolter
. . Chainsword: Chainsword

Tactical Squad
. Legion Tactical Sergeant: Bolt Pistol, Bolter, Power Armour, Power Fist
. 17x Legionary: 17x Bolt Pistol, 17x Bolter, 17x Chainsword
. Legionary w/ Options:: Bolt Pistol, Bolter, Legion Vexilla
. . Chainsword: Chainsword
. Legionary w/ Options:: Augury Scanner, Bolt Pistol, Bolter
. . Chainsword: Chainsword

+ Fast Attack: +

Storm Eagle Gunship: Twin-linked Heavy Bolter
. Two Hull (Front) Mounted twin-linked lascannon

Storm Eagle Gunship: Twin-linked Heavy Bolter
. Two Hull (Front) Mounted twin-linked lascannon

+ Heavy Support: +

Fire Raptor Gunship: Four Hull (Front) Mounted Tempest Rockets, Two Sponson Mounted Gravis Heavy Bolter Batteries:

—————-

Allied Detachment

Legiones Auxilia (Ultramarines)

+ HQ: +

Tactical Command Tercio
. Tactical Command Section: Auxilia Vexilla, Command Vox
. . Aurox Transport
. . Auxilia Captain: Auxilia Captain, Heavy Void Armour
. . . Pistol and Combat weapon (Sub-menu): Close Combat Weapon, Laspistol
. . Auxilia Companion: Lasrifle
. . Auxilia Companion: Lasrifle
. . Auxilia Companion: Lasrifle
. . Auxilia Companion: Lasrifle

+ Troops: +

Infantry Tercio
. Line Command Section: Auxilia Vexilla, Command Vox
. . Auxilia Troop Master
. . . Pistol and Combat weapon (Sub-menu): Close Combat Weapon, Laspistol
. . 4x Auxilia Veteran w/ Lasrifle: 4x Lasrifle
. Rifle Sections: Augury Scanner, Auxilia Vexilla, Vox Interlock
. . Auxilia Sergeant: Lasrifle
. . 19x Auxilia w/ Lasrifle: 19x Lasrifle
. Rifle Sections: Augury Scanner, Auxilia Vexilla, Vox Interlock
. . Auxilia Sergeant: Lasrifle
. . 19x Auxilia w/ Lasrifle: 19x Lasrifle

+ Fast Attack: +

Carnodon Strike Squadron: Solar Auxilia Carnodon, Solar Auxilia Carnodon
. Turret Mounted Volkite Culverin
. Two Sponson Mounted Volkite Caliver

+ Heavy Support: +

Armoured Tercio
. Leman Russ Strike Squadron
. . Leman Russ Battle Tank: Heavy Bolter
. . Leman Russ Battle Tank: Heavy Bolter
. . Leman Russ Battle Tank: Heavy Bolter
. . Turret Mounted Vanquisher Battle Cannon and Co-axial Mounted Autocannon

I am going to be printing the Solar Auxilia dudes, as they are going to be specifically for only use with the Ultramarines.

I have printed the Assault Squad, alongside two new Sgts for the Tactical Squads, and I will be printing a second Carnodon.

I will need to buy a new Vanquisher however.

But I am planning on getting most of this ready by the end of January.

What I Am Modelling

I started out the week with a bunch of stuff to add to the Dark Angels, starting with a Company Master.

Then a Lieutenant armed with a Power Sword

And to finish this trip of officers, a Librarian of the Deathwing

Plus a unit of Aggressors

And here is a unit of Space Wolves Reavers for their Combat Patrol

I then painted up a unit of Neurogaunts for the Tyranids, which completes all the models from Leviathan

I needed a palette cleanser so I started work on my Aurox for the Solar Auxilia, painting with an Urban Camo scheme, that I am quite happy with

As well as a test model for the Ultramarines Auxilia allies, who will be the Calth High Guard 105th Regiment

After that I painted these Paragon Warsuits for my Argent Shroud, all armed with Multi-Meltas

And finally some Rockgut Troggoths to complete my Gloomspite Gitz Spearhead!

So what’s up next

  1. Blood Angels Land Speeders
  2. Domicile Shell x 2 & Guardian Idol
  3. Dark Angels Invader ATV x 2
  4. Ardboyz x 10, Itonskulz Boyz & Warchanter
  5. Treelord Ancient
  6. Leman Russ Vanquishers x 2
  7. Squig Herd x 20 & Herders x 4
  8. Dark Angels Redemptor Dreadnought and Deathwing Company Master
  9. Space Wolves Intercessors x 10
  10. Karazai

What I Am Reading

Currently listening to Reaper Man by Sir Terry Pratchett and I have to say the new recordings are exemplary, really something just so good about them.

Also enjoying The Saint by Dan Abnett, its a big book though and will take me some time I think.

What Tabletop Games I Am Playing

Had my first game of Spearhead against Paul, using the Orruk Warclans Kruleboyz Spearhead

As per usual I lost, but not terribly so

What Video Games I Am Playing

I finally finished God of War (2018), I will still be going back to clear up some collectables, and overall it was a decent game.

Not gonna lie, tempted to add it to Steam if I can get a good deal sometime.

I also started playing Space Marine 2 on Stream, got two campaigns going, one on my own as a single player!

And a second one I am starting with Chris and Graham!

I also started a playthrough of Marvel’s The Avengers on PlayStation 5

Originally I was gonna play it on the Steam Deck, but it only had a Silver rating on there from ProtonDB, and apparently the PS5 version has Spider-Man and the Steam version doesn’t, so yeah, no brainer

I picked up the disc for £5 when the live service side shit down a while back

What I Am Creating

The second Combat Patrol Magazine Battle Report got published, and it included the debut of my new intro video!

What I Am Spending

I got issue 3 of Combat Patrol to add a squad of Infernus Marines to the Dark Angels

I also treat myself for my birthday in a few weeks to the Hyperkin DuchesS, a controller release I have been looking forward to a lot!

I also got a few more Army Painter Fanatics paints, mostly replacing very well used Citadel ones

And I added to my Steam games library

Managing The PLEX Server Better

By

On 17th May 2024

In Blog

At the minute my servers files are all over the place, we have 13TB of space but the files are spread out randomly with some films and TV series on each drive, audio books split into 3 folders, 8 different book folders and documentaries and kids stuff spread out all over the shop!

So we are struggling with managing what’s where, and thus, we decided to expand with another 4TB of space, by adding this drive from Amazon to it

So right now I have all the films transferring into this, which should mostly fill it, the last folder is currently transferring and will need a little over 20 hours to complete the move!

Then all TV Series will be moved to the 6TB drive, and other stuff, like documentaries, kids, concerts, standup, anime etc, will move on to the original 4TB drive.

Music has already been transferred to its own dedicated 1TB drive which it’s nowhere near filling as I have still transferred barely anything of our music collection over!

That will leave a 2TB drive, which is going to store things like books, comics for which I intend to install Kavita in an attempt to do for books what AudioBookShelf is doing for audio books.

So to summarise what we have right now is

  • 4TB HDD – Movies
  • 6TB HDD & 1TB HDD – TV Series
  • 1TB HDD – Music
  • 4TB HDD – Other Media (Anime/Audiobooks/Documentaries/Kids etc)
  • 2TB – Books/Comics

The last stuff being transferred is the final TV Series stuff from the original 4TB HDD to the 6TB HDD

The process is allowing me to do some long overdue data hygiene as well!

Long term a dedicated device for the server will happen, with bigger hard drives running in RAID and offering NAS functions, but that’s gonna happen after I decide what to do about upgrading my PC next.

I am torn between replacing the mobo, CPU and RAM and moving to an AM5 CPU, or upgrading either the GPU to a 4070 Super or perhaps even just the CPU to a 5800X3D, just got to figure out what’s gonna give the best result for my meagre £s

What I Am Modelling

I started with an Aleguzzler Gargant for the Gloomspite Gitz.

Plus Johann Strehn, the greatest every hero of the Mortal Realms!

I painted up a Lasrifle Section for the Solar Auxilia

Alongside a Command Section

I then painted some Sneaky Snufflers for the Gloomspite Gitz

Followed by some Reinforcements for the Space Wolves, starting with a pair of Battle Leader.

To Accompany a squad of Primaris Infiltrators.

Who are covered by a squad of Eliminators

So what’s up next?

  1. Psychophage
  2. Megaboss on a Maw-Krusha
  3. Boingrot Bounders x 10
  4. Ultramarines Invader ATV x 2
  5. Tree-Revenants x 10 & Branch-Wych
  6. Chaos Space Marines x 10 & Dark Apostle
  7. Blood Angels Primaris Captains x 3
  8. Imperial Fists Vindicator
  9. Von Ryan’s Leapers c 3
  10. Krondys

What I Am Reading

Not had much time or spoons to read, but I did listen to Doctor Who and the Invasion from Space which was wonderfully retro!

What Tabletop Games I Am Playing

Played a league game against Joshua and his Sisters of Battle, and he tore me apart!

And I played Paul and his Leagues of Votann which beat me, but it was a really fun and fantastic game!

I also went to the November Echo Heresy Tournament in Heaton playing this 2000 points Imperial Fists list

+ HQ: +

Fafnir Rann: Warlord

+ Elites: +

Apothecarion Detachment
. Apothecary: Bolt Pistol, Power Armour
. . Chainsword: Chainsword

Contemptor Dreadnought Talon
. Contemptor Dreadnought: Gravis Autocannon, Gravis Autocannon, Havoc Launcher

Templar Brethren: 9x Brethren, 9x Combat Shield, Legion Vexilla, Meltabombs
. Champion: Bolt Pistol, Combat Shield, Master-craft a weapon, Solarite Power Gauntlet
. Land Raider Proteus Carrier: Twin-linked Heavy Bolter

+ Troops: +

Tactical Squad
. Legion Tactical Sergeant: Bolter, Lightning Claw, Meltabombs, Power Armour, Volkite Serpenta
. 8x Legionaries (collective): 8x Bolt Pistol, 8x Bolter, 8x Chain Bayonet
. Legionary w/ Options:: Bolt Pistol, Bolter, Chain Bayonet, Legion Vexilla

Tactical Squad
. Legion Tactical Sergeant: Bolter, Meltabombs, Plasma Pistol, Power Armour, Solarite Power Gauntlet
. 8x Legionaries (collective): 8x Bolt Pistol, 8x Bolter, 8x Chain Bayonet
. Legionary w/ Options:: Bolt Pistol, Bolter, Chain Bayonet, Legion Vexilla

+ Heavy Support: +

Heavy Support Squad: Lascannon
. Legion Support Sergeant: Bolt Pistol, Power Armour
. 3x Legionaries (collective): 3x Bolt Pistol
. Legionary w/ Options: Augury Scanner, Bolt Pistol

Kratos Squadron
. Kratos: 2x Heavy Bolters, Hull (Front, Right/Left) Mounted Heavy Bolters
. . Kratos Battlecannon

Sicaran Squadron
. Sicaran: 2x Heavy Bolters, Heavy Bolter

My first game was against Brendan, which was close, but not quite good enough on my part

Then I played Graham and got tabled, as usual

Followed by a game against Gareth’s Solar Auxilia who tore me apart!

What Video Games I Am Playing

Some more Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag

I finished Final Fantasy II Pixel Remaster which was a lot of fun!

And I have started God of War (2018) again, and enjoying it so far!

What I Am Creating

The next battle report has been published, so please go check it out!

What I Am Backing

I am backing CARnage 2 – STL Cars, weapons and more for auto combat games but just at the $1 level for access to the pledge manager at the end cause I cannot afford the main pledge level right now!

What I Am Spending

Lindsay and Megan wanted a better way to use Apple Fitness +, so we got an old and cheap, Apple TV HD, in cosmetically bad condition (but works great) from CEX

It’s now been attached to the back of the TV, and will also allow me to play Fantasian I guess!

I also got a Space Wolves Combat Patrol

And I used my Warhammer+ discount code to grab a couple of t-shirts from Warhammer Merch, an Imperial Fists one and a Sisters of Battle one.

And a couple more video games.

And of course it was Humble Choice time so I got

A Bit Bummed About The Stormcast

By

On 15th April 2024

In Blog

I love my Stormcast Eternals army, I mean its really fun to play with and I actually love the theme of the army, especially as I play Celestial Vindicators and their colour scheme is amazing.

My favourite chamber, is Sacrosanct and well, GW have announced that 80% of my army is being squatted, which is a real bummer.

Ok the old school Liberators look like they will be fine with the new rules, but so much of my army, seemingly isn’t going to have a Thunderstrike replacement, so yeah pretty bummed out.

It just is quite dishartneing that an army I put my heart and soul into, has lasted barly 6 years before being yeeted.

Its got me feeling really down about AoS 4.0, like I am probably gonna skip the launch box, cause honestly, I am not sure if I buy it, how long those models will be useable for.

I mean I get it, I have argued for a long time that the Stormcast range is bloated, but yeah, that was a pretty extreme solution.

So yeah, I just don’t know if I still have the passion for the game anymore, I just don’t know.

What I Am Modelling

I started the week by painting the Homunculus for my Drukhari army

After which I moved onto a batch of Blood Angels, starting with a Rhino for the Death Company

Then a few Chaplins, starting with one in Terminator Armour

Then a Primaris Chaplain

Followed by one in MKIV Armour

And finally one with a Jump Pack

After that I painted a squad of Death Company, although I left one in the storage box so I will need to get him and paint him to complete the squad

I also painted Saint Celestine and her Geminae Superia

And finally I painted the Expeditionary Navigator for my Solar Auxilia

So what’s up next

  1. Wulfen x 5
  2. Seraphim x 5
  3. Royal Beastflayers
  4. Sisters Repentia x 4
  5. Dark Angels Aggressors x 3
  6. Hobgrot Slittaz x 10
  7. Dryca Hamadreth
  8. Neurotyrant
  9. Sneaky Snuffles x 12
  10. Arco-Flaggents x 4

What I Am Reading

I listened to Grim Investigations and finished it this month!

And now I have started on Terry Pratchett’s Mort!

What Tabletop Games I Am Playing

Had a game of Horus Heresy with Russel on Friday night, we played Strike and Fade, and I lost 7-3, could have gotten a draw but alas my Terminators just failed to get to the objective in the last turn!

What Video Games I Am Playing

Got back to some Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag

What I Am Backing

Our copy of the Firefly The Board Game 10th Anniversary Collectors Edition arrived last Friday and its amazingly huge and I love it!

Cannot wait to play it!

What I Am Spending

It was Humble Choice, so I grabbed that and got

I also bought myself Ghost of Tsushima for PS5, I have been hunting for it, at a reasonable price for a while, and it was on sale at the local Argos, so I leapt on it!

Next on my want list for PS5 is God of War Ragnarok

I also grabbed a couple of extra bottles for our Sodastream, cause ours always need washing and I figure a couple extra will be helpful

I also picked up the mat for my Zone Mortalis board, it’s a 4×4 Undehive Mat from Deep Cut Studios that I ordered from Entoyment

And I also bought these Grundstock Thunderers for my Kharadron Overlord force!

I picked up some Assault Intercessors from a trade on Facebook, no bases, but I have plenty spare

And a second Solar Auxilia Battlegroup was aquired

Its Been A Tough Month

By

On 1st April 2024

In Blog

Its been a tough few weeks, we have had a death in the family and some other stuff that’s caused some challenges

I have been feeling my depression quite deep and its really doing a number on my life, I am really finding it very hard to even leave the house.

I know I need to try harder, so I am going to try and have a better month in April now that the worst is behind us, I mean that is all I can do right, just keep going and try to be better.

I had a particularly bad instance of doing my normal rushing ahead last week, and it hurt some of my friends, so I need to watch myself and keep an eye on my tendency to just rush ahead and not stop to check things are sound.

I am organising a Heresy event as part of my getting back on top of things, and tickets sold out right away, gonna try and have my Zone Mortalis table finished by then so I can set it up and try and convince someone to come play on it with me whilst I EO.

I finally finished sorting out all the metadata on the Audio Book Shelf server, and oh my word, that was a lot of stuff to deal with!

I still have to sort out the authors and series, but we will get there!

I am currently uploading my BBC Doctor Who audio books, which is a sizable pile, still need to buy The Church on Ruby Road by Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson, which is the latest release, might spend my next Audible token on it!

What I Am Modelling

Its been a bit of a weird period of time, but I have painted up two squads of Vigilors for my Celestial Vindicators.

After that I painted a Nexus Syphon and Domicile Shell for my new Age of Sigmar terrain box

Then I painted some 40K stuff, starting with a Dark Angels Primaris Librarian,

Followed by the same model for the Ultramarines

Then some Hellblasters, also for the Ultramarines.

Plus Chief Librarian Tigurius of the Ultramarines

Then I painted up the Legate Marshal for my new Solar Auxilia force

And finally a unit of Bloodletters of Khorne which finishes up the Chaos Daemons Combat Patrol

And right at the end of the month, so they count towards the resolutions, I painted two units of Gitz Stabbas

And a couple of units of Loonsmasha Fanatics

So whats next for me to paint!

  1. Homonculus
  2. Celestine
  3. Death Company x 10, Chaplain x 2 & Rhino
  4. Wulfen x 5
  5. Seraphim x 5
  6. Royal Beastflayers
  7. Sisters Repentia x 4
  8. Dark Angels Aggressors x 3
  9. Hobgrot Slittaz x 10
  10. Drycha Hamadreth

What I Am Reading

I listened to The Wormery by Stephen Cole and Paul Magrs, which was a lot of fun, and I then moved on to Scherzo by Robert Shearman which was kinda trippy and fairly interesting given that there were only two cast members.

I also listened to Lazarus: Enmity’s Edge by Gary Kloster which was pretty good, but I kinda expected the bad guy to turn out to be a Fallen, but it wasn’t and that was still cool. It actually humanised the Dark Angels quite a bit.

What Video Games I Am Playing

Finished up with Yakuza 0, and I have to admit, the story was phenomenal, really good.

I started playing through Spider-Man: Miles Morales

And I finished it as well!

And I am currently playing through a bit of Helldivers II

What I Am Creating

I did an unboxing video for the Solar Auxilia Battlegroup.

Its shite, cause I fucked up my audio levels

Also the next episode of Edge of Empire was published too!

Oh and this too!

What I Am Spending

I used some saved up Steam credit to buy some games in the sale, some that I have been wanting to get for a while, just waiting for the price to fall

So I picked up, Star Wars: Battlefront II, FlatOut, Halo: The Master Chief Collection, Sid Meier’s Alpha Centauri, Flatout and Helldivers.

I also sold my old iPhone 12 and was able to afford to buy the Solar Auxilia Battlegroup as a result, which you would have seen the unboxing for video earlier.

Really happy with this and its going to make me a nice allied force!

I also bought a few games, first was the Plaion: The Hits Bundle that netted me:-

Plus I bought Helldivers II!

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