FDWC Lion Rampant Campaign or How I learned to stop being a hermit and play some games.

So, a long time ago (July 2018) I wrote a blog post about turning my SAGA army into a Lion Rampant force, and now, it turns out is when I put it into practice.

Recently, a Lion Rampant Campaign was announced at the club, headed up by venerable campaign master and all around excellent gamesmaster John E, so I had no hesitation in signing up (despite not being able to make most club meetings at the moment between work and commuting) because I figured I could try and get some games in at other venues.

The Campaign is called The Rutland Chronicles, set in the 1200's and using 42pt rosters from the Early Plantagenet period.

So, first things first, I had planned on painting up the Crusader Teutonics as an Age of Crusades army for SAGA and expanding it for Lion Rampant, but, I still haven't assembled any of them, so I turned my attention to what I already had painted for my SAGA Normans, and set about thrashing out an army roster.

The Planned Roster

A - Knights (Mounted Men at Arms) @ 6pts
B - Town Militia (Foot Yeomen) with Mobile Schiltron x2 @ 4pts each
C - Mercenary Spearmen (Foot Sergeants) with Mobile Schiltron x2 @ 5pts each
D - Archers x2 @ 4pts each
E - Crossbowmen @ 4pts
F - Bidowers @ 2pts
G - Fierce Foot @4pts

As you can see, there is still a lot to be built, primed and assembled, although I cunningly fitted in as much of the Footsore Vikings I had planned to paint, just to cut down on 'extra' models to add to the list, but I was still adding 8 Town Militia, 12 Archers and 12 Crossbowmen.  Handily, the 3pts of Viking Warriors for SAGA translated straight over to both the Mercenary Spearmen units, and the 3 units of Hearthguard (including Berserkers) made up the Fierce Foot.  Finally, half the Viking Levy with bows would cover my Bidowers, meaning that I only had the Warlord/Bannerman and 6 Archers from the 7pts of SAGA to paint afterwards.  Result.

Still, that is a lot of painting just to play games, so with John's permission (and the promise of making it plausible in my campaign backstory) I fudged my roster a little for the beginning stages of the campaign.

The "Less painting required" option.

A - Knights (Mounted Men at Arms) @ 6pts
B - Town Militia (Foot Yeomen) with Mobile Schiltron x2 @ 4pts each
C - Archers x2 @ 4pts each
D - Crossbowmen @ 4pts
E - Bidowers x2 @ 2pts each
F - Fierce Foot x3 @4pts each


I managed to pull together a lot more painted figures for this version.  I dropped the 2 units of Merc Spearmen for another 2 units of Fierce Foot and a second unit of Bidowers.  The Fierce Foot are made up of the Foundry Vikings I painted up for my Jomsvikings last year, along with the 3 units of Berserkers for Age of Magic, and a unit of Viking Levy with bows ably stands in as both my Bidower units.  Finally, I replaced the 8 Town Militia I still had to paint with my Norman Hearthguard so they are now fully painted units, and the posh guys with armour that I'll hide at the back can die first.  I still have a unit of Archers and Crossbowmen to paint to have the roster fully painted, but 24 models is a bit easier than 74.

So, roster sorted (background permitting) it was time to get playing.  John very kindly offered to break me into playing by hosting a mid-week game in his shed, so off I set to Linlithgow, suitably suited and booted, to learn how to play.  After a welcome lunch (breakfast?) of soup and sandwiches (bearing in mind I was just off a nightshift and hadn't slept) Allan, Rob, John and myself braved the 20ft of rain to go to war.

Ready for War

We were playing Scenario I: A Taxing Afternoon, with John and Rob commanding the Abbot's forces out on tax collection duty, with my own force playing the part of the Attackers, ably assisted in moving far away units and offering sage advice by Allan.  If memory serves, the Abbot's forces were made up of...  2 units of mounted Serjeants, 2 units of spearmen of some description, crossbowmen, and 2 units of Bidowers.  Prior to the game, Rob and myself had both rolled Rash as Leader Traits, giving his Mounted Serjeants Wild Charge, and making my own automatically successful.  Way to feel stereotyped, huh?

Move aside peasants, the big boys are here.

The first few turns of the game saw the Abbot's forces move up the table, securing 2 or 3 objectives, and sending the Bidowers far out, and flanking hard with one unit of Mounted Serjeants, whilst the other (the Leader) stayed pretty central.  My own moves saw one unit of Fierce Foot securing a 3pt objective, whilst my Knights and Bidowers advanced up the centre of the table.  More Fierce Foot moved up my right flank, securing another objective, and more importantly, standing knee deep in cow muck behind a wall to avoid the Mounted Serjeants bearing down on them.

My own Spearmen were charged, and driven back by the Mounted Sergeants, and the Fierce Foot decided that discretion was the better part of valour, and cowered behind the wall (probably thigh deep now...) whilst the Spearmen formed up to take another charge.  In the centre, my Knights obliterated a unit of Bidowers that had had the temerity to take shots at them rather than fleeing to the safety of a nearby coo shed.  My left flank saw the Fierce Foot mow down the other unit of Bidowers, with another unit hanging back, not committing to battle, but not making off with their plunder either.

The fight on the right ended up with my Fierce Foot scrambling over the wall, destroying the mounted Serjeants, and losing 4 models in the process, before failing a courage roll and being wiped out.  Cow muck obviously not providing good traction for lauping o'er dykes.

On the left, a stalemate ensued, the Abbot's spearmen facing the choice of advancing towards my Fierce Foot in order to tempt them back into the fields for another scrap, or backing away and letting them escape with their stolen taxes.

In the centre, both mounted units clashed, with the Abbot's Men being driven back and thouroughly battered, the game then centred around a few brief and bloody rounds of combat, with only minimal movement happening elsewhere.  My Knights finally rode down the Mounted Serjeants, along with the Crossbowmen, and a unit of Spearmen, leaving only a single unit of the Abbot's men rushing home with a lot less taxes than they had expected to collect.  I had managed to pull back a few units off the table, and my Bidowers had advanced up to take the final objective, the game ending with me holding 10/11 objective points.  All that was left was to enjoy a celebratory Caramel Wafer and pack up.

Casualties - from what I remember.

Knights - lost 3 models.
Fierce Foot - wiped out
Fierce Foot - lost 1 model.
Spearmen - lost 4? models


So, yeah, my first game played in absolutely ages, and definitely a lot of fun.  There is an element of frustration at the failed activation checks, especially when it seems the other force passes all theirs, but I guess it balances out over time.  The Fierce Foot were a good choice for raiding fields, but I can see them easily being pulled out of position, and it makes escaping with loot a much harder prospect.  As for Lord Martin of Cheux, well, what an entrance, nothing like riding out and giving the men of the cloth an extremely bloody nose...

Raiding and Theiving?  Us? 

The History of Lord Martin of Cheux

Brave, stoic, honourable - all words no God fearing man would ever attribute to the amoral hedonist Lord Martin of Cheux.  4th in line to the Cheux fortune, Jean spent most of his wayward youth pursuing the pleasures of the flesh, under the guise of being a student of the arts, and was expelled from more than one establishment for drunken antics and various other indiscretions.  An accomplished swordsman, more by necessity than design, he is most commonly to be found surrounded by his closest confidantes, including his cousin, who call themselves Les Chevaliers sans Pantalons for reasons best not gone into in polite society.  Jean, after finally returning home from his studies (read, nowhere else would admit him due to his reputation) has spent his time around the inns and brothels of Cheux, falling in with a band of Scandinavian types, attracted to his free spending and drunken and baudy antics.  After one fateful night when Jean decided to host a quiet soiree at Cheux Manor, after retiring for the evening with more than one painted damsel, the very drunk, very hairy, and very reckless Scandinavians made mischief by racing the Cheux carriages around the Manor resulting in untold damages to both the carriages, horses and prized vinyards.

Jean was uncerimoniously ejected from the Manor the very next morning, with the ultimatum to restore some honour to the family name, or never darken their doorstep again.  Dejected, and somewhat unused to the lack of funds, he, alongside Les Chevaliers fell in with the Scandinavians, who planned to move on to England, and figured Jean would be entertaining enough to have along on the journey.

Having arrived in Ufford, England Jean has become interested in some petty border skirmishes happening around the Great Forest of Rutland, and has taken up residence much to the delight of the Scandinavians with a view to involving himself in the disputes.  Currently he has spoken to no one, not even the other members of Les Chevaliers, as to his designs, and they are currently engaged in speculation as to whether he intends to bring his family name honour and return home in good graces, or is petulantly looking to raise merry hell as an agent of chaos in a fight that he has no reason to be involved with.



That's it for now then, my Army Roster, first game, and character back story.  I'm going to get the last few units painted up as soon as possible, and I need to speak to John about my plans for the Fierce Foot as I know he has some concerns about them taking over.


Cheers,

John

2019 in Review

Another one bites the dust eh?   So, how did the year go?

PAINTING (8 resolutions)

1. Fully Paint Grymkin (HORDES)

 So, last year I managed to paint over 200 points of Grymkin, along with 4 of the 6 Warlocks, and played them in a few events, most notable Welsh Masters and the World Team Championship.  Being a limited release Faction, and my stylized colour scheme, means it is both cheaper and quicker to get them all fully painted.  I used the last of my Pressgang Points to pick up a second unit of Murder Crows and 2 Madcaps, along with some other stuff, so I have at least one of every available option for them.  The plan is to paint up the maximum Field Allowance for everything (jury's out on a second Death Knell though) with at least 3 of every available Warbeast, with a couple of exceptions.  I doubt I'll need 3 Clockatrice when they release in February, so, I'll do 2, and a 4th Cage Rager to run the Pat Dunford (or Mat Hickling, depends on who you believe) Dreamer list, and probably 4 sets of Crabbits, to max out the King of Nothing's warbeast points, or have spares for free cards.  I still have a fair bit of stuff to pick up, and more resin bases to order, but if I can even finish the models I own, I'll be happy with that.  So, starting Painting Resolution 1 with a target of 79 miniatures.

Well, I didn't get them all finished, but I did manage 113/175 points, so, not terrible.  I have another batch primed and ready to go though.  Lack of gaming played a big part in this, as I initially stalled after hurting my wrist in May, and kinda stopped playing shortly after that.  Half a point?  0.5/16

2. 2000 point Death army for #talesofinstahammer (Age of Sigmar)

This was a late addition to the list, but, I was already planning on doing a lot of the models for various Fantasy Dark Age gaming.  The 72 Zombies I had planned to use as Levy for my SAGA Draugr soon became 120...   I'm not going for a killer list, more, just random stuff that will be useable in multiple settings cobbled together to hit a points limit.  I had a lot of stuff already for this, so it's not a huge drain on funds, and might be subject to change depending on what the secret challenges for the Tale are.  There is a brief outline of tasks for the first 6 months of the year, followed by a 6 month open period where the plan is to finish the army, as far as I can make out, but, we'll see how it goes.  Current list adds 152 models to the tally, with some extra stuff like grave markers to be added.

Made a really strong start with this, then dropped towards the end once most of the hard work was done.  Still painted over 1500points of a 2000 point list so it wouldn't take too much work to finish this off at some point in future.  Another half point.  1/16

3. 24pt Tree Folk army in 15mm  (Dragon Rampant)

I really need to get back into my 15mm fantasy stuff, so I figured I'd do a Tree Folk/Forest Spirit/Nature based force for DR, mainly so I can throw dice with James and Sam, and it gives me the opportunity to go mad with clump foliage.  It's all going to be Demonworld models for this, which I already own, so all I really need is a couple of movement trays.  I did have to fudge the rules a little to get everything to fit, but I doubt either of them would care too much as it is thematic rather than gamey.  Another 31 models added to the tally (even if they are, mostly, small.)

Managed to get this one done.  Never played a game with them though, which seems to be a recrring theme with a lot of my projects...  2/16

4. 6pt Jomsviking force (SAGA)

I've owned a large amount of Wargames Foundry Vikings for going on 20 years now, and maybe 3 have been partially painted...  I figured it was time to rectify that, and it would give me a good start on models for Blood Eagle too.  I picked the Jomsviking for the sole reason that they can be built as an elite force, so I could get away with the lowest model count army possible.  I picked the most heavily armed and armoured sculpts I had, and sorted out enough shields with embossed emblems for them (I'll use the split shields for warrior units, and plain ones for any Levy models I get to.  Yes, I know I can't take Levy, but I can if I run them as standard Vikings)  6 Hearthguard units and Warlord adds another 25 models to the list.

Another finished project.  Probably my favourite of the year, after having owned them for so long.  3/16

5.  Taurian Army pack (Warband)

I picked these up a couple of years ago (Minotaur army, obviously) and figured I'd get them done too, as the Hordes of the Things painting went well last year.  This will add another 73 models to the list spread over 8 multibases, so, I'm not really sure how I count them.  It's a bit more than the 3-5 on a HotT base.  Sadly, I know the correct answer to this.

Okay, 8 Elements it is...

This was done at the eleventh hour, when I was spurred back to activity by James over at The Mad Tin Hatter for his charity project in memory of his son Joshua.  It was a humbling and sober moment watching his youTube video about Project Joshua, and I am glad to have been able to contribute in some way.  Hopefully the army draws attention to his cause and helps out in some way. 4/16 and a karma refill.

 

6.  15mm Worm Cult Picts (Hordes of the Things)

Despite not having seen the field of battle, I really like the miniatures I painted up last year for this, so I plan to add another 8 elements to the army, aiming to do a few new ones, and bulk out some of the options I already have painted.  I've ordered more Worms for them from Heresy Miniatures, and they are resin now, which should be lighter on the bases and easier to pin.  Again, 8 elements added to the total.







Nope.  Have the models primed and part done, but, not finished.  I was going to try and blitz them out this month, but other stuff took priority.  4/16. 

7.  Paint 4 Shadespire Warbands

So, I was planning on doing the two warbands from the original box, plus the Farstriders and picking up the Sepulchral Guard, but, seeing as I got the Nightvault box at Christmas, I'll do the Briar Queen set instead.  I'm still planning on painting Garrek's Reavers, although it might have been a better idea to do all 3 Stormcast Eternal warbands at the same time.  Another 18 models to add.

Well...  I painted one warband, and managed to get a bunch more built and primed.  Going to count this as half a point, because I have some finished figures to show for it.  4.5/16

8. 1200pt Norse Army (Of Gods & Mortals)

I've played OG&M a few times in 15mm with James, but I'm doing this in 28mm to get more of those Foundry Vikings done, and I wanted an excuse to pick up the gorgeous Odin sculpt from Nothstar.  I also wanted to paint up some Berserkers (that the Jomsvikings don't have access to, to allow me to run them as standard Vikings) and give me more stuff for Blood Eagle.  Got almost everything I have planned for the list, with the exception of a single Valkyrie (should have a female Foundry model somewhere) and some Trolls (also, these are somewhere, but I can't find them right now...)  Another 40 models on the list.

Well, this is a weird one.  I didn't really make much progress with the planned list (damned Trolls) but I did get some stuff done, and a fair amount of other minis that I can use for it (including the Jomsvikings) so, another half point.  5/16 

Total painting target - 361 miniatures/elements/multibases (443 actual miniatures).  I'd like to hit 365 miniatures painted over the year, so. getting all this done covers it (in individual models at least.) I'd also like to equal or beat my 2018 total, but really, I'm going to aim for 400 painted miniatures/elements for the year.





Okay, so just over half way with 5/8 points for painting.  My target was 400 miniatures/elements for the year, and a quick glance at the spreadsheet says - 531.  So, that's just a touch above my target and for those voices at the back, yeas, I did only count the 10mm Taurians as 1 per base.  Well happy with myself on this one, way over my expectations and surprising considering the amount of time I was away from my brushes.  Special thanks probably goes to dark wash zombies, and towards the end of the year, experiments with Contrast paint.

GAMING ( 4 resolutions)

9. Play 100 games.

Same as last year, keep hammering out games.  Doesn't matter what scale or genre, just keep putting painted figures on the table and pushing them around and having fun.  That's pretty much the whole reason for doing this, right?

I didn't break 40 games, so big fail.  Probably time to leave the house at some point.  5/16

10. Play 8 New Opponents

Again, stole this one from last year.  Probably because I managed it.  It was something that I claimed early in the year, but even then, I tripled the original figure.  It probably gets harder if I'm only playing one system, travel dependant, but as I add more painted forces to the stable, it should always be a possibility.

Managed this one, meaning I'm not a complete hermit.  6/16

11.  Play 8 board games.

Again, stolen from last year, but upped the number.  HATE should be arriving, and I'm keen to play that, hell knows if I'll ever see Rivals or Torn Armor, but I still have enough of a collection that I can do this.

Got halfway there.  TornArmour and World of Rivals didn't show up this year either, although God Tear did.  6.5/16

12.  Run APRIL FUEL DAZE 3!

Well, it's not personal gaming so to speak, but to continue the event I started as a Press Ganger, and give other people the opportunity to play, I'm planning the 3rd APRIL FUEL DAZE event.  As always, I want it to get bigger and better, and really have an impact on the Scottish Warmachine Scene.

Well APRIL FUEL DAZE 3! went off, so that's another point.  7.5/16

 

Ok, so, 2.5/4 for Gaming is more than I expected, but still an area I need to work at.  

HOBBY (4 resolutions)

13. Consistent Blogging

The plan is to continue with the same ideal as before, a weekly #workbenchWednesday post, and a monthly review post, showing where I am with my resolutions.

Big fail.  Long periods of being...  me, I guess.   Quick check says this will be the 30th post this year, so, close enough to half way.  8/16

14. Shows and Conventions

Aiming for at least 4 different shows or conventions.  Vapnartak and Carronade are pencilled in, I'm sure I can squeeze in a couple more.

Managed this one, which goes to show  (get it?) that I can leave the house when the possibility of buying new toys i on the cards.  9/16

15. Continue transferring paints to dropper bottles.

Herculean effort, glutton for punishment, call it what you will, I'm going to keep on keeping on with this one.  A quick count shows 27 Games Workshop, 74 Privateer Press and 366 Wargames Foundry paints (467 total) to be transferred.  And that isn't counting the newest P3 colours...  I managed most of the GW ones last year, so, hopefully I can at least finish them.

Nope.  No. Nein.  Non.  Not a single one done.  9/16

16. Even more blogging

I'd like to do at least one extra blog post per calendar month, on top of the weekly and monthly updates.  It could be on anything, a painting tutorial, recap of a show or event, battle report, discussion about an army list, I dunno.  I guess the plan is to just keep on putting stuff out there and hopefully build traffic on the blog.

2 articles done.   Nul points.  9/16

 

 

Well, seems that it is the blogging that is holding me back here.   It's weird,  it is so much easier to just whack pictures up on facebook/instagram/reddit and be done with it, without the need to feel like yo have to write an essay, and the engagement is a lot more immediate.  I guess I am just a bit frustrated about how slowly blogging seems to attract people, but then, I don't really engage either so...

 

 

 

 

So, I managed to get over the halfway points on my #hobbyresolutions2019 which is ok I guess, a few half points here and there making it up.  As usual, I've totally ignored certain plans, and done extra work on others, as well as taking up completely new projects.  I guess I just have to keep plugging away at it, because, between my heart and wrist, manual labour until I retire isn't an enticing prospect.

Various Contrast painted Demonworld minis.

Well, that pretty much sums up 2019, adequate but could apply himself more (It's like an old school report) so, I'll leave you with a little teaser of next year's plans before my #hobbyresolution2020 post tomorrow.  Surprising nobody, some of the projects might carry over, and there will be new stuff too, as my interests shift.

 

Stonecast Eternal

Lang may yer lum reek.  I'm off to try and finish the rest of that unit and tidy up my assembly station and desk for the New Year.

All the best,

John

#workbenchWednesday 10/07/19

Slightly delayed because stuff that ended up with me sleeping like 12hrs straight...  Hey, at least I got a rest.

Workbench is busy.

Obviously moar Vikings on the go, 2 points of Berserkers for Saga Age of Magic, along with a unit of Oathmark Dwarves for my Of Gods & Mortals force.  I've also made a start on a Mantic Troll for that too, but it is such a horrendous sculpt, that I think I'm looking for some alternative models to use.

Just not keen on the ridiculous size of the hands and shoulders compared to the tiny legs.  Plus the mould lines are bad.   Back to the drawing board with them.. If anyone has any ideas about decent Troll figures with a Norse/Dark Age vibe, let me know.  Especially if they will fit on 40mm bases.

Sidelines are still full of Cephalyx, I'll get to them soon, just really want to finish the Berserkers to have 8pts for Age of Magic, and the Grymkin stuff.  Spoken to my boy Devon in the States about getting more pill bottle lids to have more stuff ready to go on the side, which means I can start a new unit whilst the newly finished ones are drying/waiting basing stuff.

Finally, just off the workbench, a unit of 12 Viking Archers, mixed feelings about them.  Paintwise, I like them, I went a little heavier on red and yellow than normal, partly because it helps me get over painting them (it hasn't been too bad) and partly to keep them from blending in too much to my Norman Archers, though the beards definitely help.  The mixed feelings arise from the fact I didn't string the bows, but the test one I did with a spare Frostgrave bow snapped over time, and I figured the metal would just bend.  Plus, a few of the other Archer sculpts are holding the bows at an angle that doesn't lend itself to stringing them.  Finally, painted 12 guys, and only 4 count for my Paint All The Vikings project, as well as my #hobbyresolution2019 project.  Still, 12 models added to the painted tally, so all is not for naught.

Viking Archers (Wargames Foundry)

In other news, finally put some models on the table and rolled dice, blooding my Jomsvikings vs. my Normans, commanded by Sarah.  Played the basic scenario to get back into the swing of things, obviously been a while since either of us played, plus it was our first time running our prospective forces.  We called it partway through the 5th turn after a glorious charge from the Mounted Norman Warlord bounced off my hardy Jomsviking Warlord, and he was swiftly cut down.

The Wrath mechanic is definitely interesting, a bit damned if you do, damned if you don't when it comes to forcing your opponent to choose what they let you do.  I'm interested to do more testing with it, although, I think I need to bulk out my force a bit with some Warriors.

So, plan over the next week is to get the Berserkers and Dwarves finished and ready to play.  I'm going to carry the viking colours over to the Dwarves, as they will fight alongside them, rather than replicate the half and half uniform I started when I painted the metals.  Lazy I know, but should work out better overall, they are a Fantasy Dark Age force after all.

Let's be honest, they are just short Vikings right?  (Northstar Miniatures)

That's it for now then, see you next week.

Cheers,

John

Month in Review - June 2019

Well, it is the halfway point of the year, so let's have a little check in on progress to start off with.

More of this to come.

Amount	Task	Completed
78	Fully Paint Grymkin (HORDES)	23	29%
152	Paint Tales of Instahammer 2000pt Death Army (AoS)	138	91%
31	Paint 15mm Tree Folk army (Dragon Rampant)	31	100%
8	Paint 10mm Taurian Army (Warband)		0%
8	Paint 8 new elements for 15mm Picts (Hordes of the Things)		0%
6	Paint 6+ pts Jomsviking force (SAGA)	6	100%
4	Paint 4 Shadespire Warbands	1	25%
40	Paint 1200pt Norse Army (Of Gods & Mortals)	6	15%
100	Play 100 Games	36	36%
8	Play 8 new opponents	8	100%
8	Play 8 Boardgames	4	50%
1	Run April Fuel Daze 3!	1	100%
64	Maintain blog with weekly and monthly posts	23	36%
4	Go to 4 shows or conventions	4	100%
467	Transfer flip top paints to dropper bottles		0%
12	Write 1 extra blog post per month (BatRep, tutorial, review etc)	2	17%
991		28.56%
	January, February, March	2	50%
	April, May, June	3	75%
	July, August, September		0%
	October, November, December		0%

So, 5/16 #hobbyresolution2019 projects completed so far, not quite the halfway point I'd hoped for, but I guess it is OK considering my time away from stuff, and the random extras.  Let's break down the tasks I am still working on for a closer look.

1. Grymkin - I have a bunch of the newest releases already primed and started on the desk right now, and it is really only 20 Dreadrots, a few solos and Crabbits that I still have to assemble of the stuff I already own.  Should be fine once I get into the swing of it.

2.  Tales of Instahammer army - I only had 14 models still to assemble and paint before I quietly dropped from this, bit of a bugger, as I'd started off really strong.  I have the Incorporeal stuff started, and my General is assembled, with just some Bat Swarms to build.  Could probably still get it done over the next 6 months.

4. Taurian Warband Army - not touched this yet.  Still doable.

5. New Hordes of the Things Elements - well, they are all currently on painting sticks and started.  Should be doable once I get a chance.

7. Shadespire Warbands - painted one of the 4.  I have 3 more primed, but I keep changing my mind about the colourscheme for the Stormcast ones.  Again, should be easy, once I settle into it.

8.  Of Gods & Mortals army - Finished 6 figures so far.  The rest of the army is assembled, and with the exception of the archers, primed.  Enjoying painting the Foundry Vikings right now, so should be completed soon.

9.  Play 100 Games - haven't played a game since just after Welsh Masters. 

11.  Play 8 Boardgames - Nope.  The table in the Games Room has been a bit cluttered recently, and my semi-regular visit to the Warchest was postponed due to the kids being off school.

13. Maintain weekly/monthly Blog posts - Back on it after a bit of a hiatus.

15.  Transfer paints - not touched them.

16.  Extra Blog Posts - not kept up to date with these, not really been sure what to write.


So a bit of a mixed bag, still a lot I can get done over the next 6 months though, even if I can't tick them all off the list.

Still, on a more positive note or 3.

One, I finished the 6pts of Jomsvikings for SAGA over the course of two weeks.

Hearthguard unit 5/6 (Wargames Foundry)

Hearthguard unit 6/6 (Wargames Foundry)

6pts of Jomsviking Hearthguard and Warlord (Wargames Foundry)

Two, I've rearranged a load of stuff in the lair to sort my head out a bit.  Mass photodump.  I've added them from how the bookcase sits top down.  No prizes for making out what every drawer says.  I still need to go through them all again and make sure everything has bases and stuff, and figure out what ones I can get shot of as I'll never actually paint them.  But yeah, for the most part, it is stuff that I hope to get around to at some point.  The books on this unit are the games I actually have fully painted playable forces for, but I'll have to check, as I can probably add a few more now.

And next to that, I have sorted out the shelves of primed stuff, books and bases.  I might one day read these books, nevermind have painted forces for them...

Three, to date, I have painted 365 miniatures in the 6 months of this year, meaning I only have to paint another 14 to surpass last years total.

Viking Command (Wargames Foundry)

Fire Giant Warrior (Huge) (Reaper Bones 77616)

OK, so it said Fire Giant on the packet, but he is a Frost Giant now.  I cut the flails off his armour at the front, because I didn't like how they looked, and painted him up for OG&M and Blood Eagle.  He is a big lad (that's a 65mm lipped base) and being Bones suffers from shady details in place, as well as remaining a bit sticky to touch...  Still, he's done now and the 2 Viking Command were just because I figured it would be handy to have them for Blood Eagle or running units of Vikings in Dragon/Lion Rampant.

And that's it for the update.  Trailing a bit on some things, way ahead on others, and hopefully back into a good head space to keep at it.

See you Wednesday,

Cheers,

John