E Chuta!

This has been a really busy month. I haven’t had time to write about any of the things I was supposed to. So, instead of writing a proper post now, I’ll just settle for quick updates on various topics. Oh, and I do believe a skin change is in order. What do you think of this one?

Personal and professional

As some of you know, I’ve recently been promoted to Senior Store Manager in the mygamestore.fi gaming store chain. I’ve also moved from Tapiola to Katajanokka, and my place of work is now the Stadin Pelikauppa store in Kaisaniemi, instead of Tapiolan Pelikauppa in Tapiola. I’ve also taken on some new responsibilities in the chain, as in addition to managing the Stadi store, I’m also in charge of buying all of the miniatures, and boardgames related stock for the chain.

Wargaming

Wargaming is still going strong. My Red Corsairs Chaos Space Marines army totals at about 3000 points at the moment, and I think I’ve reached somewhat of a water mark with that army, as I pretty much have all of the units I’m ever going to use with this army using the current codex. The converted Chaos Space Marine Chosen squad still isn’t quite finished, as I still need to do some details on the Rhino, and the squad members. The fiery red tiger stripe camo pattern on the marines looks dead on, though, so I should really get them finished, and have some pictures taken.

My Warriors of Chaos army is at about 2000 points, and progress with these guys has been really slow. I made the mistake of taking part in a Warhammer Fantasy Battle tournament, and some bad experiences there made me pretty much lose interest in that particular game. It is quite unlikely I’ll ever dabble with the tournament side of WHFB ever again, as that game really REALLY doesn’t work very well in tournament play. As a beer and pretzels game it works just fine, however.

Role-Playing Games

I’m currently refereeing a Lamentations of the Flame Princess: Weird Fantasy Role-Playing campaign, in which one of the players is Jim Raggi, the author of LotFP. The campaign is run in English, and after minor initial language difficulties, the campaign is now running quite smoothly. We’ve played three times so far, and I have the impression the players aren’t hating it, since they keep coming back for more.

I also ran a short Vampire: The Masquerade campaign a few months back, but that one didn’t last, since pretty much all of the players were very busy, and thus organizing regular game sessions was a real pain. I also found out, that if I’m going to run a regular game, it needs to be a weekly game, or I will lose my interest in it very quickly.

Star Wars

I’ve been a fan of Star Wars for as long as I can remember. My first contact with Star Wars was the original movie trilogy when it came out on VHS in the eighties, and the ensuing toy craze. I never had any of the original toys myself, as my parents thought they were too expensive. A childhood friend of mine had lots of them, though, including the Millennium Falcon, an X-Wing Fighter, and an AT-ST Walker.

Later on I kinda lost touch with Star Wars, only occasionally re-watching the movies when they were shown on TV. Then the new trilogy came, and man was I disappointed. What it did manage to do, however, was bring me back the old movies. It also opened my eyes to the Expanded Universe, which in my case meant the Dark Horse Comics, and the Star Wars role-playing game. Comics have always been one of my loves, and the Dark Horse comics were exactly what I’d loved about that original trilogy, and had missed about the new trilogy, e.g. swashbuckling space opera, with engaging storylines, and interesting characters. I’ve since invested quite a bit in Star Wars -related comics, and have quite a collection of them.

My other connection to Star Wars is through work. Stadin Pelikauppa is really big on Star Wars, having the largest selection of Star Wars related merchandise, collectibles, and vintage toys in the whole of Northern Europe. The 501th Nordic Garrison trooping in our stores is what brought me into contact with the NG in the first place.

And so, finally, after years of being a Star Wars enthusiast, I’ve decided to take that extra step into fandom, and have decided to make a Star Wars costume of my own, hoping for eventual 501st approval with it. My project is Count Dooku. I’ve already purchased the first part of my costume; the cloak clasps and chain. The next step is getting the lightsaber, the boots (from an army surplus store), and the actual uniform, for which I have enlisted the aid of a friend, who designs, and makes clothes professionally. She did the costumes for Iron Sky, so Dooku’s costume is going to be a cinch for her.

There you have it, recent hobby-related activities handily summarized. More on various topics later on, when I have more time to spare.

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Warriors of Chaos and Chaos Space Marines update

Time for a brief update.

The Sons of Northern Darkness, my Warriors of Chaos army is now up to a painted total of around 1400 points. I recently finished my second group of 30 Chaos Marauders. I still need 20 more for the army list I’m planning, but I think I’ll take a break from Marauders for a while, and make a Chaos War Shrine instead. I plan on using the Vampire Counts Corpse Cart as a basis for it, but will probably replace the zombies pulling it with either Warhounds or Chaos Knight horses.

The Red Corsairs, my Chaos Space Marines army is up to about 2400 points. The most recent additions are three more Plague Zombies, and a squad of Chosen Chaos Space Marines and their Rhino, converted from Space Marine Sniper Scouts, and an old Mk. I Rhino respectively. We played a staff mega-battle last week, with six players total with 2000 points each on the table. My side, consisting of my CSM, Teemu’s Space Wolves, and Ville’s Necrons, managed a narrow victory over the opponents: Mika’s Orks, Hese’s Orks, and Juho’s Deathwing. The game was a blast, and we’re already planning a sequel, with the same players and armies, except for Juho, who opted for Dark Eldar instead of Deathwing. Just for kicks, here’s some of the backstory we’ve managed:

The First Battle of Hagalund had been a victory for the combined forces of the Liberators, the Red Corsairs, and the undying army of the Deceiver. The massive Ork horde, and their very unlikely ally, the Deathwing Terminators, had suffered a crushing defeat.

The C’tan had been the mastermind who’s insidious whispers of genocidal Deathwing tyranny on one side, and hollow promises of vast wealth and loot on the other, was what had brought the Liberators and the Red Corsairs, sworn enemies, together. As usual, no one invited the Orks, but a world ripe for War, Plunder, and Mayhem is something no Ork can resist. And so they came… And there was War.

What became known as the First Battle of Hagalund soon escalated into a planet-wide conflict. Death Unending! Millions of Souls sent into the Warp, and into the waiting maw of the Star Gods! The Deceiver was indeed mightily pleased with the results of his sinister machinations…

The Liberators’ view

Although the Hagalund system is far from the Liberators’ common operational zone, The Captain couldn’t let the tyranny and terror of the Dark Angels’ selfish leadership go unanswered. Overlord intelligence also suggested that the 1st Company had been in possession of lethal vortex missiles, which are classed Alpha-level WMD’s in the Liberator codices. These in the hands of the barbaric greenskins also swarming the planet would surely end in sectorwide disaster. Pre-emptive action was needed.

So the mustered Task Force Knight Giant, led by Master Chief Ares, hero of the first Battle of Hagalund, was dispatched from the Liberators’ battle fortress. Their mission: Storm Hagalund and restore the hope of a free galaxy and bring down the hammer of justice on all.

“We’ve ran out of Justice, but here’s some MK4 Hellfire rounds for you instead!”

The Red Corsairs’ retort

‎”Tell me now Ares, have you not abandoned the worship of the False Emperor, as have we? Do you not travel the space-ways in search of fulfillment and purpose, as do we? Can you not see we are more alike than you care to admit? Come now. We have much to discuss. Let me liberate you of your regrettable misconceptions concerning Our Allies who dwell in the Immaterium. They have such sights to show you, if you’d only be willing to open your eyes.” -Nergal the Tempter

The Xenos are coming…

The Warp was filled with a roaring blaze as the remnants of the 1st Company’s Taskforce, along with wounded Grand Master Belial, returned to their Chapter’s Fortress Monastery empty-handed, but assured that no Fallen was on that accursed planet.

Meanwhile in the depths of Commoragh Kirarth Dawnblade, the Archon of the Obsidian Rose Kabal, smiled as he watched the planet through an arcane holographic device. In a few weeks the planet would be consumed by the flames of war. Millions would suffer, and the battlefields would be littered with bodies. Just the place for the Dark Eldar…

An errant thought crossed the Archon’s mind. His Kabal was strong, but they were greatly outnumbered by the Orks and the mon-keigh. The answer came to his mind almost immediately. Surely the Orks would be easy to manipulate. The Dark Eldar could easily outwit the brutish Greenskins.

Kirarth turned his head slightly as he heard one of his Trueborn approach him. It never hurt to check who approached, even though he was well-armed.

“My lord, the Kabalites are preparing for war. The Wych Cult of The Scarlet Lily is also joining us, as are many Hellions and Reavers. Even the divine Lelith Hesperax has expressed her interest in this campaign. When shall we make the cattle suffer in our hands?”

The Archon let a cold smile on his face as he shuddered with the pleasure of expectation. Just the thought of those souls ready to be harvested raised his heartbeat.

“Soon”, he whispered, “very soon”.

To cap things off, here’s some pictures from the first battle.

Blood on the Snow

Yesterday the Sons of Northern Darkness marched to battle and were met by a co-worker’s Skaven army. Turned out we had time to play three games, so a little narrative was worked in. Here are the results:

Game 1: Battleline

On their journeys of conquest through the Chaos Wastes, The Sons of Northern Darkness had come upon a skittering horde of Skaven, who immediately opened fire with Warpfire magic, mortars and Plague Catapult. A handful of Chaos Marauders fell, their flesh melting off their bones. The whole Chaos army responded by marching forwards at full speed. The Infernal Gateway opened by the Chaos Sorcerer Abbath pulled half a dozen Clanrats into Hell, causing the unit to panic. More Marauders, Knights, and Warriors fell to the foul Skaven magic and the Clan Skryre war-engines, but nothing could stop the ferocious horde of northmen, as they crashed into the Skaven battlelines, crushing bodies, pulping heads, and tearing the rat-things limb from limb. It was all over for the Skaven, who broke and ran for the hills.

Summary: Skaven artillery and magic is strong. Anything that wounds without allowing a save is something a 1+ armour save 40 pts. model is wise to stay away from. My army seems to be doing what it’s supposed to be doing, that is, once all the units were in close combat, it was Good Night Gracie for the Skaven. Now I just need to figure out a way to get into melee faster…

Game 2: Blood and Glory

Abbath, emboldened by his success now made the critical mistake of joining his Chaos Warriors, as the whole army marched into what soon turned into a killing field. A direct hit from the Plague Catapult caused the Warriors to panic, and flee off the battlefield. Without their general, it took only the annihilation of the Chaos Knights to break the back of the Chaos army.

Summary: Playing a thousand point game meant my army had a breaking point of one. I have three units with banners, and a general e.g. a total fortitude of five. This meant that once my general and his unit had ran off the field on turn one (a leadership 8 roll with a re-roll!), all the Skaven had to do to win the game was direct all their magic and ranged attacks on my 5 strong unit of Chaos Knights. Not my favourite scenario…

Game 3: Dawn Attack

Having rallied his army during the night, Abbath was ready to face the Skaven on his own terms. As dawn broke, the thunder of hooves, the clang of swords on shields, and the bloodthirsty howls of berserkers signaled the Doom of the Skaven, who were too widely spaced to respond with sufficient alacrity. Tzeentchian fire tore into their ranks, axes clove skulls in twain, hell-bred destriers smashed bodies into a pulp, and the vile Skryre contraptions were torn apart with bloodied fingers. The Skaven were all slaughtered without mercy.

Summary: To crush your enemies, see them driven before you and to hear the lamentation of the women!

EDIT: Added some photos. Photoshopping courtesy of Dean Clayton.

The Sons of Northern Darkness!

Got some more pictures taken. Around a thousand points of Warriors of Chaos in about a week’s time. Not too shabby. Also, some work in progress shots of the next batch of Marauders. So, what do you think?

New Project: Warriors of Chaos

It’s been almost ten years since I had a Warhammer Fantasy Battle army. It was during the 6th Edition, and it was Orcs & Goblins. I never got those around 2-300 greenskins painted, and after a few crushing defeats against Empire gunline armies, I gave up and sold the whole lot. I haven’t been too keen on Fantasy Battle since, but now, with the brilliant 8th Edition out, the Fantasy Battle heat is on. My new army is going to be Warriors of Chaos (big surprise there…).

My first purchase was a battalion, since there are virtually no models in the box I won’t need, and it is cheaper than buying regiments one at a time. After an afternoon of cutting, gluing, rummaging through my bitz box, and base coating, the actual painting got underway. Now, less than a week later, I’ve finished a thirty strong regiment of Chaos Marauders (pictured above), and a twelve strong regiment of Chaos Warriors.

Together with a Chaos Sorcerer model originally from my old Mordheim warband (which got a new coat of paint), my army is now painted to the minimum needed to play; an army general and two core units.

My goal at the moment is to get a 2400 point army painted to a gaming quality standard within two months. The army list is included below. Any comments or feedback are appreciated.

The Sons of Northern Darkness (Warriors of Chaos 2398 pts)

Lords
Abbath of Blashyrkh, Sorcerer Lord
Level 4 Wizard, Third Eye of Tzeentch, Necrotic Phylactery, Power Familiar, Ironcurse Icon

Heroes
Gaahl the Faceless, Chaos Sorcerer
Level 2 Wizard, Mark of Tzeentch, Infernal Puppet

Horgh the Accursed, Exalted Hero
Battle Standard, Halberd, Mark of Tzeentch, Armour of Morrslieb, Stream of Corruption

Apollyon the Howler, Exalted Hero
Mark of Slaanesh, Steed of Slaanesh, Halberd, Charmed Shield, Dawnstone, Bloodcurdling Roar

Core
The Death Dealers, 15 Chaos Warriors
Mark of Tzeentch, Full Command, Shields

The Red Corsairs, 42 Chaos Marauders
Mark of Khorne, Full Command, Great Weapons

The Blood Chalice, 42 Chaos Marauders
Mark of Khorne, Full Command, Great Weapons

Special
The Plague Lords, 6 Chaos Knights
Mark of Nurgle, Musician, Standard Bearer, Banner of Rage

Rare
Chaos Warshrine
Mark of Tzeentch

Hellhammer, Hellcannon of Chaos