WFB Chaos Skirmish: Jheggel-Sagg Ready

I know I promised some incremental stage shots of my Chaos lord, but I ended up painting most of him last night.  I do think that I will go back and add some more detail to him, so if that happens, I'll do a followup post on it.

Here he is!

Now he needs to wander into the wastes and find some followers!

Thanks for visiting!

--Scott

Historicon Shopping List

In addition to my buddy Lou grabbing some Old Glory Samurai packs for me, I've got a second "ninja-shopper" looking for stuff from Gripping Beast for me.  In particular, I want a box of plastic Dark Age Warriors to use for Viking Bondi.  

You can mix parts from these plastic warriors with bits from GB's plastic Viking Hirdmen boxed set, and even, I am told, with plastics from Wargames Factory.  I'll have to check that out more closely myself, but at the very least, I can get a lot of mileage out of this boxed set for some Dark Age skirmish games. 

So come Sunday or Monday I hope to have one of these boxed sets in my eager hands.  If anybody else has experience with these kits, I'd love to hear about it!

Thanks for visiting! 

--Scott

Iron Empires: Void

My good friend Chris Moeller, cover artist for many Goalsystem (and other) games, has his own Kickstarter for the latest installment in his creator-owned series, Iron Empires.  It's called Iron Empires: Void.

Iron Empires tells amazing, hard sci-fi stories about characters you can believe in.  Chris is one of those rare painters who also combines excellent sequential art and storytelling skill into his craft.

Of course I have backed it, and if you're inclined, take a look and throw some support Chris' way.

He's not a only a super artist, but a great supporter of small game companies.

Thanks for visiting!

--Scott

Fate Core: Arcane and Divine Magic

I've decided to do an occasional series on Fate Core and the many ways it can be adapted to various RPG settings and genres.  Today's installment: Arcane and Divine magic for a D&D-like setting.

Here goes!

Extra: Arcane and Divine Magic

Permissions: One aspect reflecting training, magical nature, or birthright (i.e., Troubled Initiate of the Sapphire Order)

Cost: Skill ranks in a separate [Magic] skill: Arcane Magic, Divine Magic, Dragon Magic, etc.

Beings trained in Magic automatically may use it for 2 of the four types of actions. Additional Stunts may be spent to add further allowable actions.

Overcome: Use magic for divination, healing, and enhanced movement (levitation, flight, extra speed).

Create an Advantage: Use magic to alter the environment with magic or place mental and physical impediments on a target, such as Dazed and Confused or Elemental Wall.

Attack: Use Magic to directly harm someone with your power. This works in close or up to two zones away. Targets defend with either Athletics or Will, depending upon the nature of the magic used against them. Targeted magicians may use their own Magic skill to defend against these attacks.

Defend: Use Magic to defend against hostile magics or other supernatural effects. If defend is selected as an allowable action, it may also be used to defend against Fight and Shoot attacks as well (i.e., Mage Armor, Shield, Mirror Image, etc.).

Note: Any effect that targets multiple foes, or is deemed to be extremely powerful by the GM and players, should cost a Fate point in addition to the skill roll.

So when you make a spell-casting character you write up an appropriate aspect, take a Magic skill, place it in your skill pyramid (likely at +4 or +3, but not necessarily), and then pick two of the four actions it can do. Then if you want, spend 1 or 2 of your 3 starting stunts to add other actions to it.

I could also see using one or two more other Aspects to further define your specialty. For example, if I came up with an aspect called Diviner of Terrible Truths, I could spend a Fate point to invoke that when using Magic to Overcome some mystery or hidden element.

If you give these mechanics a try, let me know how it goes! 

Thanks for visiting!  

--Scott

WFB Chaos Skirmish: A Beginning

In search of an interesting project, my buddy Andrew has delivered with a very intriguing campaign idea involving Warhammer Fantasy Battle.  A true skirmish, Andrew and a few other friends of mine plan to build very small, truly personalized Chaos warbands for some interesting skirmish action.

And our first games will feature just 1 miniature.  That's all.  A lone warrior, seemingly chosen by the Chaos gods as a champion.  To do this the five of us started by splitting a box of Chaos Marauders.  We each threw in $7 or so and got to pick three sets of the same mini from the sprues.  This will allow us to personalize our champion as he grows in power as a result of his battles and his wanderings.

After game 1, each Champion will slowly attract a retinue of followers. I plan to use a small coterie of Beastmen and eventually add a Dragon Ogre.  This wide open, RPG-based project can include any troop or creature from Chaos' considerable list of options. Daemons, Warriors, Beastmen--all are fair game!

Anyway, converted my champion, Jheggel-Sagg, today.  Here he is in his first incarnation, a simple Marauder wandering the wastes beyond his native Kislev, alone, visited only by weird visions and ghostly voices.

My plan is to paint him later this week.  I'll try to do a few posts of some step-by-step work on him as I go.

Thanks for visiting!

--Scott

Fate Core Character Building

I've been reading a lot of Fate Core lately, and so I built a D&D style monk to try some character generation out.

Name: Tharkesh, Half-Orc Monk
Description: Tall, rangy Half-Orc, light brown skin, bald, wears green robes and tan pants
Refresh: 3

Aspects
Renegade Half-Orc Fighting Monk (high concept)
Hunted by the Dynasty (trouble)
________________________________________

________________________________________

________________________________________

Skills
Great (+4) Fight
Good (+3) Athletics, Physique
Fair (+2) Empathy, Stealth, Will
Average (+1) Lore, Notice, Rapport, Shoot

Stunts
Dazing Counter (Athletics)
Sprinter (Athletics)
Deflect Arrows (Fight: Use Fight in defense against Shoot attacks)

Physical Stress
[1] [2] [3] [4]

Mental Stress
[1] [2] [3]

Those three empty lines above represent 3 additional aspects that need to be filled in via a group character generation session--chargen in Fate Core is best accomplished in the company of your fellow players. 

I'd like to try running a few Fate Core games at some point soon.  The rules remain loose enough to allow for tremendous creativity, but also provide sufficient structure to build solid characters and stories around.  I also feel like the zone rules for movement and position facilitate the use of miniatures to show relative position.

You can now order Fate Core right here!   Or order it from your FLGS!

Thanks for visiting!

--Scott

BattleTech Alpha Strike Anticipation

The release of Catalyst Games' Alpha Strike fast-play BattleTech rules are imminent--maybe just a month or two away!  In anticipation I'd like to feature my recently painted 70-ton Grasshopper. This new design of an old classic features a torso mounted cockpit and nifty vambrace mounted weaponry.

I painted this 'Mech in my Colonial Marshals scheme.

Thanks for visiting!

--Scott

Repainted D&D Half-Orc Monk

As promised, here he is!

Ready for action vs. Reaper Golem!

Of course, when this Golem comes out in Bones, I'll paint him again! 

Thanks for visiting!

--Scott

Weekend Project: D&D Minis Half-Orc Monk Repaint

I once did a partial repaint on this old D&D Miniature a few years ago, but he went away in a trade.  I have since acquired a new one, and I think I'd like to take time to repaint him this weekend.

Here he is pre-repainted:

Really a dynamite mini all things considered!  We'll see what I can make of him!

Thanks for visiting!

--Scott

Fate Core At My Door!

  My copy of Fate Core just arrived yesterday, both reaffirming my faith in Kickstarter and jump-starting my creative juices.  The question becomes, what to run with it?

With a bit of tweaking, anything seems possible.  Mage comes to mind, or some combo of Mage and Feng Shui, another of my old favorite RPGs.  I'm also tempted to get really daring and do some kind of Dark Sun conversion for that post-apoc fantasy vibe.  Perhaps painting another Bugman Warrior has got me thinking in this direction?  Not sure. 

Now I also await my cool new Fate/Fudge dice to use with the game.  Who doesn't love new dice?

Thanks for visiting!

--Scott 

Bugmen Warriors Update

I've had more than a few inquiries into the Aegis Figures Bugmen Warriors of late.  Well, I got 10 sets cast up recently, so anyone interested, let me know!

To celebrate their return, I painted a new one up!

Thanks for visiting!

--Scott

Monsters & Magic Review Posted!

My review of the  Monsters & Magic RPG is now up on Play Unplugged!

Check it out here!

Thanks for reading!

--Scott

Nobody Asked Me, But...

A bit of this, and a bit of that, on gaming...

• I am wondering when the RoboTech RPG Tactics Kickstarter plastics hit, if using them to play Alpha Strike on hex-boards from Memoir '44 might be an option?  Anybody else thought of this?  These would nicely fit the 1/285th scale plastic models that should be available by year's end.  We shall see. 

•  
  
  I've just finished reading and reviewing a new RPG, Monsters & Magic by Sarah Newton, and I am stunned at how splendid it reads how much fun it looks like it will be to play!  This fantasy game blends old and new school elements, and you can read my full review this weekend on Play Unplugged.  Should be up Saturday or Sunday.

• I wait patiently (well, not so patiently) for the Bones "bomb" to hit my FLGS.  I cannot wait to dive into the amazing releases coming.  This will infuse my personal hobby-crafting with renewed enthusiasm. 

• A library colleague of mine just turned me on to Lev Grossman's The Magicians, and while I am late to the party, man, it is good!  Makes me even more eager for the Mage 20th Kickstarter to begin. 

• Just re-read Captain America: The Bloodstone Hunt, and it remains one of my favorite Mark Gruenwald stories. It combines pulp adventure, visually interesting characters (Zaran, Crossbones, Diamondback), and centers around one of my favorite Marvel characters of all time, Ulysses Bloodstone.  

Hopefully I can get some more painting done this weekend!

Thanks for visiting!

--Scott

Reaper Bones Knight

Another entry in my growing Bones collection!

Thanks for visiting!

--Scott

Reaper Bones Wood Elf

Got a Bones Elf (Short) Bowman done last night.  I did not realize his bow had been miscast until I saw a few pics of him online.

Oh well!

I used the Army Painter Soft Tone ink on this one and was able to get some nice effects with minimal work. Good stuff!

Thanks for visiting!

--Scott

Reaper Bones Medium Dragon

Been on a bit of mini-hot streak painting Reaper Bones figures of late!  Today we have their awesome Young Fire Dragon.

Check him out!

He'll make an ideal leader for a fantasy skirmish project I have percolating.

We shall see.  Thanks for visiting!

--Scott

Reaper Bugbear Redux

As promised, more pics of the Reaper Bugbear, this time with some better light!

A meeting of the Minds! 

Thanks for visiting!

--Scott

Reaper Bones Bugbear

Last night I painted a Reaper Bones Bugbear using an old method with some new tools.  My buddy Jan hung out with me a couple of weeks ago and he brought me a bottle of the Army Painter Strong Tone ink--this is the water based stuff, not the oil-based "dip" stain I have used on and off for the last 12 years.

Anyway, after priming him black using Vallejo brush-on primer, I laid some base colors on him (a mix of Foundry, GW, and PP), then applied the Strong Tone.  Wow!  It lit him up like a firecracker!  Great stuff!  Check it out!

Pictured with Bones Bathalion.

I did very little highlighting after the wash, but I am very pleased with the outcome.  Needless to say, I cannot wait until more Bones hit the store shelves.  I hope more Bugbears are included in the second wave of Bones releases.

I'll try to take some other shots of the Bugbear with other models (and in better lighting) later this week. 

Thanks for visiting!

--Scott

Off The Shelf: An Evil Adventurer

Baraka Ein-Arm comes from the Terronus: Isle of Goblins Goalsystem game and D&D supplement I did more than five years ago (time flies!).  His true origins stem from a Warhammer Fantasy Role-Play campaign I ran back in the late 1990's.

My good friend, Kurt M., played a dwarf scholar named Baraka.  It seems he could not keep his hands off of one of the famous Doom Stones, and so he and the rest of his group quickly went Chaotic Neutral, if you know what I mean!  They were sort of like Red Lanterns well before DC Comics decided to add extra characters based on different colors.

Anyway, after having his arm snipped off by a Chaos mutant, Baraka used the Stone of Earth to fashion himself a new one!  What could go wrong?

A scale comp with Reaper Dragon Man. 

Thanks for visiting!

--Scott