tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25974921592437097802024-03-05T13:03:31.560+00:00Little Odo's Grand Days OutLittle Odohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16554557447121289551noreply@blogger.comBlogger624125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597492159243709780.post-1715587762541786102023-11-07T16:01:00.004+00:002023-11-07T16:01:55.764+00:00Lone Wolf : Flight from the Dark<p>Well, I had a day off today and decided to do someting "gamey" with it. I don't usually get many days off just for myself - they are usually used either to do something planned or to go away on holiday. We have just come back from a weekend away to the city of Oxford (did lots of touristy stuff like visiting Oxford Castle, the Botanical Gardens and the Ashmolean Museum, as well as eating and drinking lots of lovely food) and I decided to book an extra day off for the hell of it.<br /></p><p>After completing a few chores and doing the weekly grocery shop during the morning and just after lunch, I decided to pull out the Lone Wolf book and character sheet for the Kai Lord I had rolled up a few weeks back. As mentioned in a previous post, I have not played one of these book adventures in a very long time and I was quite excited to get involved in some solo gaming (albeit without miniatures).</p><p>The adventure began well, as I slowly headed eastwards (don't know why, I just decided to go that way) and found a number of artifacts that I thought might come in handy as the saga progressed. I avoided a few combats, skirted a few skirmishes and generally decided to only get involved if it sounded like it might be a plot advancing combat. I wound up saving the Crown Prince from an evil Gourgaz (a tough fight that I eventually won) and agreed to carry a message to his father, the King.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSavlh9fIxW5J68ujbZdAiRYbADHAlp6T6isZDRUZkHiz3hPdqLXBFCv5dMZ1G5ldCT1LptGo5FtXlHlgrnUDzU7bPfuBarTFlg0Mv2uE3j2kYW8bgk-K_urSk_nlXtzuJLgpLdhtclTTSlqp21I1IYlj9i4k9O40kEF3HYnuMIqo6G67H0p60etGX9plw/s692/Gourgaz.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="692" data-original-width="386" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSavlh9fIxW5J68ujbZdAiRYbADHAlp6T6isZDRUZkHiz3hPdqLXBFCv5dMZ1G5ldCT1LptGo5FtXlHlgrnUDzU7bPfuBarTFlg0Mv2uE3j2kYW8bgk-K_urSk_nlXtzuJLgpLdhtclTTSlqp21I1IYlj9i4k9O40kEF3HYnuMIqo6G67H0p60etGX9plw/s320/Gourgaz.png" width="178" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">I defeated a Gourgaz - image taken from internet withjout permission</span><br /></p><p>I was just beginning to really enjoy the tale unfolding as I thought I was getting somewhere but the last few sections I passed through railroaded me (i.e. I had no say in the last couple of sections) to an unavoidable death. This left me quite cheesed-off as I would have liked to have rolled my dice to at least attempt to save myself (I most likely would have lost the combat anyway as I had been so badly wounded against the Gourgaz).</p><p>Ho hum - I guess I will roll up another charcter and start again - this time I will head in a different direction and maybe partake in a few of the lesser combats along the way to get more of a feel for the game and story.</p><p>I was left a little disappointed by my ending as I felt that I had no control over the combat. I think the adventure is probably written this way in order to end the story at certain points and force more action from the player. I would like to see the grid used to show the best paths to use and how they all interconnect with each other, but at the moment I don't want to spoil the storyline until I complete it for myself.<br /></p>Little Odohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16554557447121289551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597492159243709780.post-13552987481827259242023-10-30T15:03:00.000+00:002023-10-30T15:03:40.705+00:00MESBG : Orcs vs Gondor<p>This weekend saw a little more Middle Earth Strategy Battle Game action in the form of another Battle Companies confrontation between my youngest son's Gondorian company and my orc company.</p><p>My son set up the table and we decided on a fight to the death scenario rather than select one from the rulebook. In the end though, a narrative grew out of it and it became more of an ambush set by Gondor upon an orc patrol.</p><p>The starting positions saw my son hide all of his troops from sight of the orcs. So, I decided that I should approach the village as if I did not know they were there.</p><p>My orc archers on the right spotted the Gondorian archer over the back behind a tree and shouted across to the Black Numenorian leading the party to warn him of their presence. A general advance began on the village with a small squad of three orcs peeling off to hunt down the lone Gondorian archer.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwPWiZIdbq1jeYu06ZKUgA-w7i2GgP0gsj7s7v61F66LYeb74_HRuiSEi7S5xx7zs-_Q7nJJwy9rasrXM4i4yCFiOIeCuuFDRU8-pRo0CfJgSCJSEfnZpq-Zfs4l0GZjt8fvnKqGG1SmOmAR1bzzvLvb-Csinw2uIk33hBBTwfLdLGlnTqT-KKDtGFuRf7/s800/Batrep%20231029_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwPWiZIdbq1jeYu06ZKUgA-w7i2GgP0gsj7s7v61F66LYeb74_HRuiSEi7S5xx7zs-_Q7nJJwy9rasrXM4i4yCFiOIeCuuFDRU8-pRo0CfJgSCJSEfnZpq-Zfs4l0GZjt8fvnKqGG1SmOmAR1bzzvLvb-Csinw2uIk33hBBTwfLdLGlnTqT-KKDtGFuRf7/s320/Batrep%20231029_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>The three orcs harrassed the archer, but one of the double-handed axe wielders fell to a Gondorian shaft. First blood to Gondor. The rest of the orc company ran forward and the Gondor patrol sprung their trap. It was a bitter fight but the orcs had the better of the Gondorians in the end. The Black Numenorian with his F4 made the day (this is the first game ever that the Fight stat came into its own - the extra point of F for the orc commander proved pivotal in a couple of important melees).<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq-Dudpbff2tl-4VFof5SraN2YgJ-TbO-y3SEsbsolR5MJz77xjhTm7NZHqVPSrayL1sHaNTT56U3BXt8x3WosbuX8n2ELBn8YQCfKDpg2hP4GvmuEt13t5aStWNSbycqsxMuhZ9JtyZ7xYvYb333U87QxjE_ChMzyf0snF0ydtwoar0CVbma41K-Mw9L9/s909/Batrep%20231029_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="909" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq-Dudpbff2tl-4VFof5SraN2YgJ-TbO-y3SEsbsolR5MJz77xjhTm7NZHqVPSrayL1sHaNTT56U3BXt8x3WosbuX8n2ELBn8YQCfKDpg2hP4GvmuEt13t5aStWNSbycqsxMuhZ9JtyZ7xYvYb333U87QxjE_ChMzyf0snF0ydtwoar0CVbma41K-Mw9L9/s320/Batrep%20231029_2.jpg" width="211" /></a></div><p>The Gondorian forces were whittled down, surrounded and butchered over the course of just a few rounds, but they kept making their Courage rolls until there were just two soldiers left. They high-tailed it out as soon as their combats were over.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhijVaOt4sqeocTJRLYioDxszxTAtGGMW7mHmcxUTtpCQt9dcUzQfe3_CqmMSPDwcivswAgoiNjph6WYz8-vsg4cozRUP-o-Mf4i4mflt3FwAmm9DDD_ZkpKeRjkZPbhyphenhyphenbPXJDKgVDw9yOE1SbB1Thv6ulzsmMe7hbZaoZPrWY6gbcTvVypt48ZyWEFcET0/s641/Batrep%20231029_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="641" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhijVaOt4sqeocTJRLYioDxszxTAtGGMW7mHmcxUTtpCQt9dcUzQfe3_CqmMSPDwcivswAgoiNjph6WYz8-vsg4cozRUP-o-Mf4i4mflt3FwAmm9DDD_ZkpKeRjkZPbhyphenhyphenbPXJDKgVDw9yOE1SbB1Thv6ulzsmMe7hbZaoZPrWY6gbcTvVypt48ZyWEFcET0/s320/Batrep%20231029_3.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p>This was a solid victory for the orcs; orcs lost one two-handed axe wielder (out of a starting 10) for the price of two archers, two swordsmen and two spearman (out of a starting 8).<br /></p><p>We used the new dice tower to make the dice throwing fairer and this time it actually worked in my favour. The usual plethora of sixes every other roll by my son was nullified and the dice gods actually favoured the orcs this time.<br /></p><p>It was a fun game and over in the space of around half-an-hour. A nice afternoon's treat just before lunch.<br /></p>Little Odohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16554557447121289551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597492159243709780.post-83954267928363295922023-09-30T14:36:00.002+01:002023-09-30T14:36:14.412+01:00Lone Wolf : Starting Character Sheet<p>Now that work is out of the way for the week, I have a weekend wherein I have a few hours spare to indulge a little in my hobbies. I have been for a 5km run (not a particularly good run, but a run none-the-less), and read a number of comics (<i>2000AD</i> and <i>Red Sonja</i>) in order to whet my appetite for a deep dive into the <i>Lone Wolf</i> books I was given for my birthday.</p><p>In order to get started, I read the preamble in Book 1 : <i>Flight from the Dark</i>, and how to create a character. This prompted me to look online for an editable character sheet. I typed Lone Wolf Character Sheet PDF in the search engine and found a basic one <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/LoneWolf/comments/107u86o/editable_pdf_character_sheet_for_books_1_5/" target="_blank">here</a> that suited my purposes.</p><p>Once downloaded, I began to fill out the character sheet according to the rules. Anywhere it asked for a random number/choice, rather than roll a pencil on the randomiser in the back of the book (handy if you have no dice about your person), I rolled a d10 instead as per the rules. These rolls were all genuine for the sake of randomness and thus allowed me to create a unique starting character profile.</p><p>Page one of the character sheet...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicENi81C2fXtAG6URjS3I0ESIJEn8ZsAS4nqUFUu1iiTyTE7e_d9XqxZ-SFUM5j_pZuPzaeTeYEZf_o9HVUF6hTCnGX0cqXvf7Ua0SdOnNZ-ADborzandlGBqPrPBMt9aXT-SfTGCKY-nXMBth1Kr7l1ceX1Nq3UGesXnkGbeBehER-Orm8mJ1D-zw4uGJ/s849/Lone%20Wolf%20CS1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="602" data-original-width="849" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicENi81C2fXtAG6URjS3I0ESIJEn8ZsAS4nqUFUu1iiTyTE7e_d9XqxZ-SFUM5j_pZuPzaeTeYEZf_o9HVUF6hTCnGX0cqXvf7Ua0SdOnNZ-ADborzandlGBqPrPBMt9aXT-SfTGCKY-nXMBth1Kr7l1ceX1Nq3UGesXnkGbeBehER-Orm8mJ1D-zw4uGJ/s320/Lone%20Wolf%20CS1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>Page two of the character sheet...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsz5TLDd8Hb9aA-Dg44eWhUhwEz5c8rwfs3wLG8ZXylesXkq8Zc91JvhzmWtu2v20jowHa7X15iXatmpvUGDcPNDWPt7rAPhA1jt8-HIxHkIzPCPXak7Oba1rJ-FWdAZyJIWOwbZvEYV9-z6MEZuH7S8eiTBmH4VKdC-AWNDGjJZuJ51xJDDT0OebY1sSA/s849/Lone%20Wolf%20CS2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="849" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsz5TLDd8Hb9aA-Dg44eWhUhwEz5c8rwfs3wLG8ZXylesXkq8Zc91JvhzmWtu2v20jowHa7X15iXatmpvUGDcPNDWPt7rAPhA1jt8-HIxHkIzPCPXak7Oba1rJ-FWdAZyJIWOwbZvEYV9-z6MEZuH7S8eiTBmH4VKdC-AWNDGjJZuJ51xJDDT0OebY1sSA/s320/Lone%20Wolf%20CS2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>To get me in the groove, I also looked up a few pictures of Lone Wolf miniatures. I will try to paint up and use one of my existing figures as a point of reference for when playing the combats in future but, in the meantime, this is going to be my go-to image until I can get a figure sorted...<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1bnR3m3oRg0gM6bVUJiqVrPaYHQM513jyuJtdzQ9o0potwCh6MEK-YVWANyfgxQ3Re-6Uvnn_ngan53b_Ywp8u7qWVXELMWxnpHgqOZ03tjKj0OgRxKgnuRolX60utS7SZ8RxOu6KW3j3eIeGbXB7KpQ43J4rnXbVr3KW21fJvpsLTknW2Lv2PhJubHz4/s283/Lone%20Wolf%20mini.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="283" data-original-width="233" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1bnR3m3oRg0gM6bVUJiqVrPaYHQM513jyuJtdzQ9o0potwCh6MEK-YVWANyfgxQ3Re-6Uvnn_ngan53b_Ywp8u7qWVXELMWxnpHgqOZ03tjKj0OgRxKgnuRolX60utS7SZ8RxOu6KW3j3eIeGbXB7KpQ43J4rnXbVr3KW21fJvpsLTknW2Lv2PhJubHz4/s1600/Lone%20Wolf%20mini.JPG" width="233" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image used without permission</span><br /></div><div><p>I know he doesn't have the axe and backpack my character has, but it is an iconic image of the Lone Wolf character.<br /></p><p>Next post, I will let you know how I got on navigating the world of Magnamund.<br /></p></div>Little Odohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16554557447121289551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597492159243709780.post-9571376079736312842023-09-25T12:36:00.001+01:002023-09-25T12:36:26.075+01:00My birthday haul<p>Apologies for the lack of attention this blog has been receiving recently. I have not had my gaming mojo on, and as a result all I have been able to do is think about gaming rather than do anything practical. I am not sure if that will change any time soon as real life is just so busy at the moment.</p><p>Anyway, a few weeks ago, my birthday came around again with alarming speed, and I was lucky and very grateful to receive a few gaming related items that my loved ones hoped would spur me back into action with my hobby...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_OpnhZRF4213SzXSavNWOi5D4i64Hl1GMO0ikXxZg8lKJrrEdA7lqzShLssvw00jFmIC-RBW17-bi8nbuxvDG3bEts9nlmSt5DoId9X_Sa2UQ_oOpS5m4OPTSPvYARCmr-bsYv3JseNBSd3YO_h2mHEyMImIjJYKDasLnS29Z5FLK-oa9KczGZJujt_hL/s800/Birthday%202023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="654" data-original-width="800" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_OpnhZRF4213SzXSavNWOi5D4i64Hl1GMO0ikXxZg8lKJrrEdA7lqzShLssvw00jFmIC-RBW17-bi8nbuxvDG3bEts9nlmSt5DoId9X_Sa2UQ_oOpS5m4OPTSPvYARCmr-bsYv3JseNBSd3YO_h2mHEyMImIjJYKDasLnS29Z5FLK-oa9KczGZJujt_hL/s320/Birthday%202023.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>Over the last couple of months, as I rarely get to do any face-to-face tabletop gaming, I have picked up the rulebooks for <i>Rangers of Shadowdeep</i> and <i>Five Leagues from the Borderlands</i> in an attempt to try to get some solo gaming in. However, as they both require a little preparation and buy-in prior to gaming (figures, scenery etc.), I thought I needed something else to whet my appetite prior to getting around to a start up level of peripherals for either game. I was thinking out loud about this and my partner asked if there was anything that would do this for me. Without much thought, I mentioned the <i>Lone Wolf</i> books as a simple and low buy-in option, as I had "played" them before many moons ago.<br /></p><p>In true perfect-partner style she arranged to get me not only the first five books in the series, but also a painting station kit and cutting mat (my current mat is in a truly woeful shape and definitely needs replacing) as she knows I really want to get painting again and took on board that we don't really have the space for me to do so without causing all sorts of mess.<br /></p><p>So, all-in-all a lovely little birthday haul to get my creative juices flowing again; thank you to my family for supporting me in my hobby-related endeavours.<br /></p>Little Odohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16554557447121289551noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597492159243709780.post-61438182097913374612023-04-19T17:00:00.001+01:002023-04-19T17:00:00.154+01:00Dice Tower<p>Due to a lack of time and, indeed, inclination, my hobby time has shrunk over the last six months. Although I am more than happy to have been in solid work now for nearly two years, it is taking its toll on both my health and the time I used to have available for hobby related stuff.</p><p>My health has been a little up and down recently, with several long-term running related injuries compounding each other and resulting in an MRI scan being required on my right knee. A lot of rest and lower intensity training since November 2021 has led to most of the injuries healing but I am still under the physio to sort the last bits and bobs out (and these will take a long time apparently as I am not getting any younger). Add to this a great deal of work stress, and stress from other illnesses (which I won't go into at the moment), what time I could have available to game with is usually spent procrastinating.<br /></p><p>That said, I have been doing a little bit of hobby related stuff over the last six months, in that I have bought a few items to add to my growing pile of projects. Most of my purchases/Christmas gifts were rule/sourcebooks of one sort or another, along with a few figures and paints. I bought my youngest son, who has an uncanny ability to score a six almost every time he rolls a die, a Dice Tower for Christmas, in the hope that his relentless sea of sixes would be somehow curtailed.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp189G2T2MEMIfaaoaZMLVDQfiAimeBMvI-Q4Y2UOuw3FmzQkJC0byi_NLHVznGn_9QVXIZWOglUpTBouT72CwR__e9lAoMAs1r0sQTQM-YA5dHKyr4VQwtVVI7xwBWMjMk59vvVaKoyQXQ9AqnGnTDMBPGSXuZE6XluvAPyrgReJ1l7KgCRwRjxqn7w/s1067/Dice%20Tower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp189G2T2MEMIfaaoaZMLVDQfiAimeBMvI-Q4Y2UOuw3FmzQkJC0byi_NLHVznGn_9QVXIZWOglUpTBouT72CwR__e9lAoMAs1r0sQTQM-YA5dHKyr4VQwtVVI7xwBWMjMk59vvVaKoyQXQ9AqnGnTDMBPGSXuZE6XluvAPyrgReJ1l7KgCRwRjxqn7w/s320/Dice%20Tower.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>It is a lovely, if expensive, piece of kit that makes absolutely no difference to my dice rolling ability, which is and always has been really poor. But, my son's incessant runs of rolling sixes has been slightly curtailed in that he only rolls a six every second or third dice roll now instead of every other one! I call that a success :-)<br /></p><p>Over the last weekend we had a really good chat about what we wanted to do gaming-wise this year. We both agreed that lots of figures had to be painted and scenery built so that we can play slightly larger games than the skirmish sized ones we currently play. So, we agreed that we need a proper gaming mat, plenty more trees and bushes etc., and to paint enough figures to make a couple of armies to play a larger scale game like Dragon Rampant or something similar. We think a campaign would be a good way to go too.<br /></p><p>We got to chatting about re-purposing my large collection of Lord of the Rings figures to fit into my own gaming universe. There would be a few major factions, and a couple of minor ones who can ally with the larger armies when/if necessary.</p><p><b>Humans 1 (major faction)<br /></b></p><p>Heavy Infantry/Cavalry (Gondor), Light/medium Infantry/Cavalry (Rohan), constant allies (Wolfen)<br /></p><p><b>Humans 2 (major faction)<br /></b></p><p>Heavy Infantry/Cavalry (Easterlings), Light Infantry/Cavalry (Haradrim), summoned allies (Ushabti)<br /></p><p><b>Orcs (major faction)<br /></b></p><p>Heavy Infantry (Uruk Hai), Light Infantry (Mordor Orcs), Heavy Cavalry (Warg Riders), Light Cavalry (Fell Wolfriders), constant allies (Moria goblins and trolls)<br /></p><p><b>Humans 3 (minor faction)</b></p><p>My son wants to build a "Celtic" army that includes his Welsh and Irish (as well as a few Saxon figures)</p><p><b>Dwarves (minor faction)</b></p><p><b>Hobbits (minor faction)</b><br /></p><p><b>Fomorians (minor faction)</b></p><p>As to how this pans out over the coming months, who knows? If my lethargy doesn't kick in too much, then hopefully we can get some of this achieved and get to play some larger scaled battles by the end of the year.<br /></p>Little Odohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16554557447121289551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597492159243709780.post-41922221316690042832023-04-18T17:11:00.001+01:002023-04-18T17:11:16.353+01:00Tame the Beast<p>On Sunday, my youngest son and I decided to get our old Lord of the Rings figures out and play a Battle Companies scenario of Middle Earth Strategy Battle Game. From the older Battle Companies supplement, we randomly rolled <i>Tame the Beast</i>, which we have played before, but this time the outcome was totally different.</p><p>The small Gondorian warband, under the control of Damril, approached a small village from the east. They had heard rumors of a great beast that was attacking farmers and stealing their livestock, and wanted to be rid of the monster before it could do any more harm.</p><p>Ushnar, the orc brute approaching from the west, had also heard the same thing, but he was of a different mind. He was hoping to gain from the chaos caused by the beast, but also wanted the glory of slaying it.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzXdSY6uHxnBiwQpQSLkq9-xT6-2e4pQP5wTu3j3ivnOgWOKs7km0TpW1604-LUQ9cDlmnXPnrCCxP8mqHuXjQMYlGvdnwhKPxPvqq5ZozAJ_rV9wpQOQEPg96eDIdvp2sP4fJ687qGxVc_5aseGNsf34SL-eOaKViJVn7MXn96_G2-SciTioEmhFc9w/s800/Tame%20the%20Beast%2001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="388" data-original-width="800" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzXdSY6uHxnBiwQpQSLkq9-xT6-2e4pQP5wTu3j3ivnOgWOKs7km0TpW1604-LUQ9cDlmnXPnrCCxP8mqHuXjQMYlGvdnwhKPxPvqq5ZozAJ_rV9wpQOQEPg96eDIdvp2sP4fJ687qGxVc_5aseGNsf34SL-eOaKViJVn7MXn96_G2-SciTioEmhFc9w/s320/Tame%20the%20Beast%2001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>Damril and his faithful band of Gondorian warriors...</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiAYiD-9NSZo5lckYgA-Op66gluuNyZb0Fvf6BKC1CxX-OS_aPvQ3RXQt5Ci1M0qmIrzTe3TF7bJd-Flkmkt7euOgp_wVSivNMjGnXBklFtdeIJVyJaYgswKLuBuwQJ7JB4SQCFVtcbZ7n4SglpmEaRiRbL3eGrL4GEZK47u1W1615Wfz4DAQtNzMMEg/s800/Tame%20the%20Beast%2002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="389" data-original-width="800" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiAYiD-9NSZo5lckYgA-Op66gluuNyZb0Fvf6BKC1CxX-OS_aPvQ3RXQt5Ci1M0qmIrzTe3TF7bJd-Flkmkt7euOgp_wVSivNMjGnXBklFtdeIJVyJaYgswKLuBuwQJ7JB4SQCFVtcbZ7n4SglpmEaRiRbL3eGrL4GEZK47u1W1615Wfz4DAQtNzMMEg/s320/Tame%20the%20Beast%2002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>Ushnar's warband...</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv9n4N-6NSMH4CGEw3T5T_kZNQ6L7NAosX7gqaDQX79dzbrNhiNhrMIMkobdU139lPjn2QZaDaIM7UwPa13oiVsGdasNb_KVZHx8sv30GXOOgDKH55K5gFR51fPi8U7jJE4uYOz5rN2JhHdYbPeBWK2MLsWC430HQnAWlhAQle2qXZDoa1ZH95qOgZeQ/s800/Tame%20the%20Beast%2003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="800" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv9n4N-6NSMH4CGEw3T5T_kZNQ6L7NAosX7gqaDQX79dzbrNhiNhrMIMkobdU139lPjn2QZaDaIM7UwPa13oiVsGdasNb_KVZHx8sv30GXOOgDKH55K5gFR51fPi8U7jJE4uYOz5rN2JhHdYbPeBWK2MLsWC430HQnAWlhAQle2qXZDoa1ZH95qOgZeQ/s320/Tame%20the%20Beast%2003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>The orcs were spotted by the troll and it charged them with a roar of wild glee. The orcs were in line of sight and nearest to the troll, so they were charged as per the rules. <br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiHwC2L75Wv62T5dTEBCr3Af72HlbTMhafeJBQJoJ0OtcKUI8kKrbUPqRGQZSKTn_TiKzU7s1EqhgpFO4Pcu7KAvOYt65_8LSXQL5yieJ9pMH3WvgL9MpVz8iNSb8RMgl4WBTaumB3VtnIE-8-GunSx3DEG9i-M0dIi_j1mV51_iCVEaizd9r0oFZfEA/s840/Tame%20the%20Beast%2004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="840" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiHwC2L75Wv62T5dTEBCr3Af72HlbTMhafeJBQJoJ0OtcKUI8kKrbUPqRGQZSKTn_TiKzU7s1EqhgpFO4Pcu7KAvOYt65_8LSXQL5yieJ9pMH3WvgL9MpVz8iNSb8RMgl4WBTaumB3VtnIE-8-GunSx3DEG9i-M0dIi_j1mV51_iCVEaizd9r0oFZfEA/s320/Tame%20the%20Beast%2004.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><p></p><p>Whilst the orcs were busy trying to fight their way out of the troll's attack, Damril ordered his men forward. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTRgSNwszYvgtLl5WP3ebIyhokwJFAGaowfI-quPmdbYn7vhdYOAhbO44hBeBmigoQwZqR_CoP2M0wYWYhkSC4bbXj4aA8XUgLiqTmqolOfZCeTPIadf_zlw1_J2rB4268xe95nrTbFzqvWw9VARvzX7CrEzypdsUuDaYDV5aOIOUkpzwtvwL9U0hVaA/s940/Tame%20the%20Beast%2005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="940" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTRgSNwszYvgtLl5WP3ebIyhokwJFAGaowfI-quPmdbYn7vhdYOAhbO44hBeBmigoQwZqR_CoP2M0wYWYhkSC4bbXj4aA8XUgLiqTmqolOfZCeTPIadf_zlw1_J2rB4268xe95nrTbFzqvWw9VARvzX7CrEzypdsUuDaYDV5aOIOUkpzwtvwL9U0hVaA/s320/Tame%20the%20Beast%2005.jpg" width="204" /></a></div><p></p><p>After several rounds of combat (no less than 20 dice were rolled by the orcs without a single 6!), the orcs were forced to give way and slowly retreated as their losses began to mount.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY_1G9y7FNmW5fQeSIJuQXT6LA9blg0puIGtMgjqHcwjBcs-Y7iEhyLqEdRLg14O5dlMVFrZgDUrjcPKQFdkzcYJJeoVocNNiKevKQrvYEFE9W6nJRAF7IQ75py3uswOxoRNMJUtgh-5f-fEh8G_piWbnfrZQc-Pi-Fem0BDqyXMuPEI_BBNqdNLI3jA/s600/Tame%20the%20Beast%2006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="600" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY_1G9y7FNmW5fQeSIJuQXT6LA9blg0puIGtMgjqHcwjBcs-Y7iEhyLqEdRLg14O5dlMVFrZgDUrjcPKQFdkzcYJJeoVocNNiKevKQrvYEFE9W6nJRAF7IQ75py3uswOxoRNMJUtgh-5f-fEh8G_piWbnfrZQc-Pi-Fem0BDqyXMuPEI_BBNqdNLI3jA/s320/Tame%20the%20Beast%2006.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>Damril kept his men at a distance whilst hoping that the orcs would whittle down the troll's strength so that they could then move in for the kill.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipZj35JZ3kypyVvLwyz2lEqZ4asRV8dkCK5MVHPHjHyYOGPtem0UrK_Px3Pa3o9lR4Iyl6H4Eu9Gx8GMKjA1e4kgGfcydxem3aI3ZuWojsjkMm9xc80f98QF2THhwoBgHwIOiBCa2Ln5j69KbtFzlcZ1mw-7xeFv937b7_ut0tgExVuSgXccyelXlqcA/s789/Tame%20the%20Beast%2007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipZj35JZ3kypyVvLwyz2lEqZ4asRV8dkCK5MVHPHjHyYOGPtem0UrK_Px3Pa3o9lR4Iyl6H4Eu9Gx8GMKjA1e4kgGfcydxem3aI3ZuWojsjkMm9xc80f98QF2THhwoBgHwIOiBCa2Ln5j69KbtFzlcZ1mw-7xeFv937b7_ut0tgExVuSgXccyelXlqcA/s320/Tame%20the%20Beast%2007.jpg" width="243" /></a></div><p></p><p>In the meantime, the Gondorian archers made mincemeat of their bow wielding counterparts...</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgageHdF1nMzPgjOuyqop5JgN6jSKsQev0ZMwyVecVpQasY-Cd4tlzP7zd14ignGMSt3fynzMpFsse7m3Hvt6O7zTPp9J-pP_aCkgz2ny41FG57cPj4PBMEDHbP7cdpr3bajWzPUSB6vu28reAJHamyLaTF4YZUWd79RoSi8e9c5My8ilvdQAYhTV0YKg/s800/Tame%20the%20Beast%2008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="454" data-original-width="800" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgageHdF1nMzPgjOuyqop5JgN6jSKsQev0ZMwyVecVpQasY-Cd4tlzP7zd14ignGMSt3fynzMpFsse7m3Hvt6O7zTPp9J-pP_aCkgz2ny41FG57cPj4PBMEDHbP7cdpr3bajWzPUSB6vu28reAJHamyLaTF4YZUWd79RoSi8e9c5My8ilvdQAYhTV0YKg/s320/Tame%20the%20Beast%2008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>Until only one orc skirmisher was left and the rest of the orc rabble turned tail and fled...</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWcJGk4M3Kd1a5KYueHCJMo2LarXHMknY27LNEy_Y4L7S4bNYqklwhK6NhwN8RbFloqSS82HMs-vpmu5K9eAO5CMijZ39g-KHxag2tjCULu_YkrtMyxuX9QJ6JQUeWgXgiDpPg4WSGS2sceYSHOclWJbR5fa2sqAwa07F7-KRr_2Kbt6mJwpCz6zDPvA/s800/Tame%20the%20Beast%2009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="581" data-original-width="800" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWcJGk4M3Kd1a5KYueHCJMo2LarXHMknY27LNEy_Y4L7S4bNYqklwhK6NhwN8RbFloqSS82HMs-vpmu5K9eAO5CMijZ39g-KHxag2tjCULu_YkrtMyxuX9QJ6JQUeWgXgiDpPg4WSGS2sceYSHOclWJbR5fa2sqAwa07F7-KRr_2Kbt6mJwpCz6zDPvA/s320/Tame%20the%20Beast%2009.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>This didn't work out too well for the Gondorians as they now felt the full brunt of an angry troll that had been attacked (but not injured) and was looking for another chance of vengeance.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkXzihWsVPi-lPFa9d-3CdGV53eopw4d-faYmJSpTsj7L2qrdoaUifV0v4lBAqafBLvt1DtIvK_MLySgLoMATy5PG69NQ-_ikd1uXnPhMbLWy9MCZyfIWcHTmnSXM8kxwdJdBciWhzbtONrrbhb9EuW-P5N_Naxil9oTV2iBqe6VxwZJrdSGehEz5Dkw/s800/Tame%20the%20Beast%2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="519" data-original-width="800" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkXzihWsVPi-lPFa9d-3CdGV53eopw4d-faYmJSpTsj7L2qrdoaUifV0v4lBAqafBLvt1DtIvK_MLySgLoMATy5PG69NQ-_ikd1uXnPhMbLWy9MCZyfIWcHTmnSXM8kxwdJdBciWhzbtONrrbhb9EuW-P5N_Naxil9oTV2iBqe6VxwZJrdSGehEz5Dkw/s320/Tame%20the%20Beast%2010.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><p>The Gondorians fought bravely but slowly lost ground, and soldiers, to the enraged troll.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNa4FhxtBiJWRpkPvDutZ325_EoIgZlIiGCroYfD4opu-Hq07kFiK8ju7oaV081_t3hgUBsJd25-I8rFS0rTtE1Rgeek3YUGxQ0HIpVozzGKodZq0ZHzd7547I3s5XI72yQi_EXDKC-fy4oMZyevZbQZJY_hdUa6HPOfLYeDOecjTOLlN6cjBHPGGbzA/s800/Tame%20the%20Beast%2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="435" data-original-width="800" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNa4FhxtBiJWRpkPvDutZ325_EoIgZlIiGCroYfD4opu-Hq07kFiK8ju7oaV081_t3hgUBsJd25-I8rFS0rTtE1Rgeek3YUGxQ0HIpVozzGKodZq0ZHzd7547I3s5XI72yQi_EXDKC-fy4oMZyevZbQZJY_hdUa6HPOfLYeDOecjTOLlN6cjBHPGGbzA/s320/Tame%20the%20Beast%2011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><p>The orcs' courage had failed them, and all turned tail and fled the village except for one lone archer.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQTTkHiw4JT8QvZ_-qhKf6S9EzDdPA38L-Ir6jLDqtI1DPjhWytQMHTMOXbkNfbqrtYwZiyKvTmmzkzIW399tJ2MunXa4LoWZLDWx13mxS1MOcbcyxp3XKtsPQgeXN2bm0xqnN_Q0S32Aj4X_BLnJBtfmmYJb57z2SinIf6DaIk4t1SwjyijqmQAVSsw/s800/Tame%20the%20Beast%2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="571" data-original-width="800" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQTTkHiw4JT8QvZ_-qhKf6S9EzDdPA38L-Ir6jLDqtI1DPjhWytQMHTMOXbkNfbqrtYwZiyKvTmmzkzIW399tJ2MunXa4LoWZLDWx13mxS1MOcbcyxp3XKtsPQgeXN2bm0xqnN_Q0S32Aj4X_BLnJBtfmmYJb57z2SinIf6DaIk4t1SwjyijqmQAVSsw/s320/Tame%20the%20Beast%2012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>He too fled the scene moments later, leaving just a handful of Gondor's finest to face down the troll.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigKyJmoyjE8oHDDMbBidM4xwOcUNuegAxbGz-hGg9tzYF6MPMV-3qnj4Fj756vZGEMg_uoLbOUpXWeAG53zXBIRpe7AeMM4zx4-ROKZtsUX05yLcaRNBmms6OYQXDYVzMz7ngyu3D53cby9cEAl_afsBgNbnjeur3nHwC8Q7RhwHbzDO56fLbdj9pgEA/s890/Tame%20the%20Beast%2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="890" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigKyJmoyjE8oHDDMbBidM4xwOcUNuegAxbGz-hGg9tzYF6MPMV-3qnj4Fj756vZGEMg_uoLbOUpXWeAG53zXBIRpe7AeMM4zx4-ROKZtsUX05yLcaRNBmms6OYQXDYVzMz7ngyu3D53cby9cEAl_afsBgNbnjeur3nHwC8Q7RhwHbzDO56fLbdj9pgEA/s320/Tame%20the%20Beast%2013.jpg" width="216" /></a></div>They too thought that running away was the better part of valour, so the field was left to the triumphant troll.<p></p><p>The game ended a draw as neither side was able to down the troll.</p><p>We both enjoyed the game although we made a couple of minor mistakes with the rules as we hadn't played for a while.<br /></p>Little Odohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16554557447121289551noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597492159243709780.post-52777605225669162702022-12-13T14:03:00.001+00:002022-12-13T14:03:00.158+00:00Dark Age Irish II<p>As promised, here are the next two six-man units of Dark Age Irish warriors. The box set gives a lot of variety that can be built into the warriors you need for your force. There are ten wolfhounds, and thirty warrior bodies which can be made up with a variety of weapon types and shields. As I had already built six javelinmen, I decided to create two further units of lightly armed troops.</p><p>First up are the swordsmen...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDGIbHONNG5WCHIoH_rGCTP8lad_q44g7Iyi9J8d6cTLHaGZ7XR-1FYADQ5zXQlvKgMf60ZgnucGwRsh-GqmvxzLItJwGaCMf0w3XBALIQf4ihuJ50BdWDEQh6tBBnlePmQZU9j-tNbUCydn_jbKx8QmMsqvfzCbQFgwEy32XciI6zy2NiYfN6XEc35w/s800/Irish%20Swordsmen%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="800" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDGIbHONNG5WCHIoH_rGCTP8lad_q44g7Iyi9J8d6cTLHaGZ7XR-1FYADQ5zXQlvKgMf60ZgnucGwRsh-GqmvxzLItJwGaCMf0w3XBALIQf4ihuJ50BdWDEQh6tBBnlePmQZU9j-tNbUCydn_jbKx8QmMsqvfzCbQFgwEy32XciI6zy2NiYfN6XEc35w/s320/Irish%20Swordsmen%201.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>The shields seem overly large but, then again, if you are going into battle with no other protection, then a large shield would be most welcome; especially if you wind up in the front rank of a shield wall.</p><p>The swordsmen allow for close quarter combat to be fought, whereas the javelinmen are more support troops, along with the next batch of six who are a motley bunch of skirmishers with a variety of weapons (axes, slings and shillelaghs)...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPZQwUA-IYZf_jXdfGauygts5zeoamSeM6DoBC11VonHV85yt75gkP_zwEPn82_SwB0T-2Ac1EpNqWcAxwGb5ZX-mHlcnfBzG8Xz8-6xnIZxbQSjpOHC6KTXca5l1rnXDCiKUa20T_7I8W6bSwnShg5M3ptr9aaLe3QIyzXNLuy7h5CFldpLXtoz_5SQ/s800/Irish%20Skirmishers%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="551" data-original-width="800" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPZQwUA-IYZf_jXdfGauygts5zeoamSeM6DoBC11VonHV85yt75gkP_zwEPn82_SwB0T-2Ac1EpNqWcAxwGb5ZX-mHlcnfBzG8Xz8-6xnIZxbQSjpOHC6KTXca5l1rnXDCiKUa20T_7I8W6bSwnShg5M3ptr9aaLe3QIyzXNLuy7h5CFldpLXtoz_5SQ/s320/Irish%20Skirmishers%201.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>These troops didn't go together as well as the other figures. Three of them seem to be posed nicely but the other three, especially the two with the axes, just seem out of kilter. Maybe I should have put a little more thought into the posing before sticking them together?<br /></p><p>As mentioned in a previous post I am trying to standardise my basing and so on, so I asked my son how he would like his troops based. My son has requested 25mm flat round bases for his warriors - this system fits in nicely with my newly formed base sizing schema. I will build these up with wall filler as per my Rangers' bases and then undercoat them all in grey primer when the weather improves (six inches (15cms) of snow fell yesterday, with sub-zero temperatures not budging meaning that it remained where it fell).<br /></p>Little Odohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16554557447121289551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597492159243709780.post-22961994829908653502022-12-12T14:03:00.001+00:002022-12-12T14:03:00.161+00:00Dark Age Irish<p>Swiftly following on from yesterday's post, here is what I have been working on this weekend for my son - a few items from the sprues in the Wargames Atlantic Dark Age Irish plastic box set.</p><p>Irish javelinmen...<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrIjxi-_MiQdQtyBp0QYCCjc5gowoi-e1JWPcaqSRUtNFCd5MHGBhIBStlMw-oJQcaKd1DwXkf90HaXd_qsYT1u5F6QLk8Jq-g9-l61VUEA5BaObVrQvuJvl7_MlqvAOrqS5Hn9GbcZuTPAWqQcMJsIc6wnD2IQmTshenC1_JZLq_ShzUhT0xQ74v0hg/s800/Irish%20Javelins%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="476" data-original-width="800" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrIjxi-_MiQdQtyBp0QYCCjc5gowoi-e1JWPcaqSRUtNFCd5MHGBhIBStlMw-oJQcaKd1DwXkf90HaXd_qsYT1u5F6QLk8Jq-g9-l61VUEA5BaObVrQvuJvl7_MlqvAOrqS5Hn9GbcZuTPAWqQcMJsIc6wnD2IQmTshenC1_JZLq_ShzUhT0xQ74v0hg/s320/Irish%20Javelins%201.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />My son said that he didn't really want any javelin armed troops, but as he left it with me last weekend to do what I could for him, I decided to put together a half-dozen lightly armed infantry. I sent him the photos yesterday afternoon and he loved what he saw, so it looks like I made a good decision after all. He has given me orders on how he wants his command to look, but I said that we would look into creating those troops when he comes over to mine next - he still has two sprues at his disposal to create his command group and to add to any of the units I am currently making for him - I have suggested he either gets each unit to eight warriors to enable play in Saga or to twelve to allow for Dragon Rampant and a host of other games. He also sent me pictures of a few metal figures he wanted to use as elites and commanders, so maybe he won't want to use this box set as anything but basic troop types?<br /><p></p><p>Whilst completing the above chaps, I also made up the rest of the wolfhounds in the box. One observation with these - it would have been nice to have the two halves of each dog fit together with the two halves of the other dog, thus giving a few more variants...</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY_PWzBfNs3Vq7vXSNLkC1SCO9s11GaIKDU94uFmnmlbDar3m5bCV1j-53Ley9ynKJpuelhEve-Naw_nhbCMDh-ZFstXPyZfbl_mkVahXWBsBEOJKNeFS37ohpsG6IYy6cBKm3ejarNhVxW8PYQZiy_WWageLp6R8RlWmLMIfdA2gDJP2pYw5RkJJUIQ/s800/Wolfhounds%201c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="800" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY_PWzBfNs3Vq7vXSNLkC1SCO9s11GaIKDU94uFmnmlbDar3m5bCV1j-53Ley9ynKJpuelhEve-Naw_nhbCMDh-ZFstXPyZfbl_mkVahXWBsBEOJKNeFS37ohpsG6IYy6cBKm3ejarNhVxW8PYQZiy_WWageLp6R8RlWmLMIfdA2gDJP2pYw5RkJJUIQ/s320/Wolfhounds%201c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Whilst writing this post, I am also working on the next two units of Irish warriors. Hopefully I can get those up onto the blog tomorrow?<br /></p>Little Odohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16554557447121289551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597492159243709780.post-28863334597609886502022-12-11T13:52:00.004+00:002022-12-11T13:52:50.043+00:00Rangers of Shadowdeep<p>After another long hiatus, with not very much happening hobby-wise, I thought I would put up the few things that I have been working on for my son's Dark Age army and my Rangers of Shadowdeep collection.</p><p>Today, I will talk about my Rangers collection. I had already cleaned them up and glued them to their bases last time I spoke about them back in April, but they have moved on a tad since then. I decided to photograph them where they are currently in the painting process so I can keep a journal of how slow I have been in getting them to the table in a fit state to game with.</p><p>Here are the first five Rangers as they stand today...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigfgbyHUK-ddB2Yw-fRdDfbO4xLeLUsqm0rDti9FjLO2goWmWZ7Vl1aKo5lxTLzFBmDuIkCXJS7aZurmsZ6gYAPUN_8xjvwuRC7Dzl2WCqZqy-LaVuumGXTH__IicpWwUASpLLwI8zkvPGNv8zjLNwiBBKv8ccy6CnrjKF6G3Im11_zD4CcpD6Bs1YNQ/s1000/Rangers%20Undercoated%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="1000" height="96" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigfgbyHUK-ddB2Yw-fRdDfbO4xLeLUsqm0rDti9FjLO2goWmWZ7Vl1aKo5lxTLzFBmDuIkCXJS7aZurmsZ6gYAPUN_8xjvwuRC7Dzl2WCqZqy-LaVuumGXTH__IicpWwUASpLLwI8zkvPGNv8zjLNwiBBKv8ccy6CnrjKF6G3Im11_zD4CcpD6Bs1YNQ/s320/Rangers%20Undercoated%201.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>As you can see, the hollows in the lipped bases have been built up a little with wall filler to make a ground surface upon which the Rangers now appear to stand, and then they have been given a matt grey undercoat (courtesy of Halfords - a local UK car parts company). I may begin to use this spray undercoat more in the future as it server two major purposes for me: firstly, it is a lot cheaper than Games Workshop's spray cans and thus saves me some cash (which is always a good thing), and secondly, unlike with black undercoat, I can actually still make out the detail on the miniatures in order to paint them.</p><p>Here is the second set of five Rangers...<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjemGUGVUYpjwPSdl36UqRUviOz1nKQqEonF4ki64JjBPu0L6mFtg46vHDmBlkyBftS4YGbOHw7XDJqDt5sSmm8gn_oQNMCAb0lfR-KoAVmzMneEIRe7Z-nopcIvyLsDlSUn83f3ztP8DTJvMqf7RMZ1zfXKL9-pRQHdd_nvF5M4X1rBPkSYgYIY9ztlA/s1000/Rangers%20Undercoated%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="318" data-original-width="1000" height="102" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjemGUGVUYpjwPSdl36UqRUviOz1nKQqEonF4ki64JjBPu0L6mFtg46vHDmBlkyBftS4YGbOHw7XDJqDt5sSmm8gn_oQNMCAb0lfR-KoAVmzMneEIRe7Z-nopcIvyLsDlSUn83f3ztP8DTJvMqf7RMZ1zfXKL9-pRQHdd_nvF5M4X1rBPkSYgYIY9ztlA/s320/Rangers%20Undercoated%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>These ones seem to be a little more dynamic than the first set of five, so added together with the first five, there is a good range of activity going on. I can already see the specialist skills many of them have that they can take to the Shadowdeep.<br /></p><p>I know this is going to be a slow burn project, but the idea is that I will kind of follow the story set out in the rulebook and scenarios. These ten Rangers are an elite force known as The Grey Cloaks (yeah, original I know - there are other units and teams which I may flesh out at a later date). Each Ranger has a small band of loyal, specialist companions from whom they can guarantee support when they go adventuring into the Shadowdeep, plus the city has its militia and standing army from which to draw extra volunteers (I will need to think of a paint scheme for the militia's and army units' uniforms, as well as a brand of miniatures from whom I will purchase said figures).</p><p><br /></p><p>Real life (mostly work and illness) has got in the way of gaming quite a bit this year, and therefore my output both painting/hobbying and playing wise has diminished considerably; as a knock-on, my blogging has suffered too. I am hoping to rectify this situation next year by attempting to put aside a few hours each week, on a regular basis, to get something done. I have so many ideas and unfinished projects that I really do need to crack on with some of them.<br /></p><p>Next post will feature some of my youngest son's latest army - he is collecting a Dark Ages "Celtic" army. I have already shown you the Welsh archers in a previous post, but this weekend saw me working on his Irish warriors - a Wargames Atlantic plastic box set that will form the backbone of his army.</p>Little Odohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16554557447121289551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597492159243709780.post-74597306684424758572022-08-23T17:35:00.004+01:002022-08-23T17:44:23.026+01:00Skeleton Warband<p>A quick update on some more of the work I have been doing over the last couple of days on the undead warband I am slowly bringing together. I have now managed to complete a grand total of 20 skeleton/undead warrior types from the lead pile. I also have some other undead (4 foot and 4 mounted wights) painted by someone else that I may amend to fit in with my vision. Here's what I have achieved so far in their pre-wash/varnish glory (most have been seen before, so bear with me in my indulgence)...</p><p>First up is the command group. A set of three very old Citadel or Ral Partha (not sure which) pre-slotta figures...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVRZ_eV66TJHMM8b_D0hMNm1jOYDDoMI6gfLDmHLIVh3s2qkE2R2lnQUFm-h_eMi4ESGadSMIems0OocLbgb43-i7xW78eUbqnO5eLFhrlqznKFK3Z612JkM2oG3Jc5E-n3AATtFeeEuz5WfNZsdDgAD4ed0HKRkzWQZI0KFcyPPntrEQmbDsM3BCMog/s800/Skeleton%20Command.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="491" data-original-width="800" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVRZ_eV66TJHMM8b_D0hMNm1jOYDDoMI6gfLDmHLIVh3s2qkE2R2lnQUFm-h_eMi4ESGadSMIems0OocLbgb43-i7xW78eUbqnO5eLFhrlqznKFK3Z612JkM2oG3Jc5E-n3AATtFeeEuz5WfNZsdDgAD4ed0HKRkzWQZI0KFcyPPntrEQmbDsM3BCMog/s320/Skeleton%20Command.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>Then we have a bunch of (five) undead riders that I completed yesterday. I am not happy with the results of the verdigris; I still need a little more practice to get it right. It sometimes works but mostly it doesn't. I blame my dodgy eyes as I cannot focus on the figures themselves, so have to guess where the brush is going and hope for the best. I then try to amend any mistakes afterwards if I am able...<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd1ohdGHGpZMGwZPvLIpXmDeMf7rAMKFVeIFdNgbv9-Jz0JpsROC4TnaNH-H81dE0BvmNFcn_bCHgWeg_wPWuPEouoITg5iZRY62LbHKZmB112yp2pbQ2CZvpcuKu5YhM_hKyQRinytDUHDyH_2i41KBrdpWQfV-kN73vyKZC5y7sZAuyOYo6asxgejw/s1000/Skeleton%20Rider%20Group%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="395" data-original-width="1000" height="126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd1ohdGHGpZMGwZPvLIpXmDeMf7rAMKFVeIFdNgbv9-Jz0JpsROC4TnaNH-H81dE0BvmNFcn_bCHgWeg_wPWuPEouoITg5iZRY62LbHKZmB112yp2pbQ2CZvpcuKu5YhM_hKyQRinytDUHDyH_2i41KBrdpWQfV-kN73vyKZC5y7sZAuyOYo6asxgejw/s320/Skeleton%20Rider%20Group%201.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggtI-yn8bQ9hZtsA4FPiF4VjJN9SO_mKtvUL3WSGBiv5SqeYYSff0usHEP8EYQxkAdOhSNKYBmAc86XVK4fSg9kTJTeEtOTaeytY-bl-sqW16iQ-4n3XxuK9z2tn0pR5d8Vb2KD4nOGj8V1J8do1N0HEMLheEplX8Q8CJFOTLmCUr0-aNTHl2qo5ubtA/s1000/Skeleton%20Rider%20Group%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="348" data-original-width="1000" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggtI-yn8bQ9hZtsA4FPiF4VjJN9SO_mKtvUL3WSGBiv5SqeYYSff0usHEP8EYQxkAdOhSNKYBmAc86XVK4fSg9kTJTeEtOTaeytY-bl-sqW16iQ-4n3XxuK9z2tn0pR5d8Vb2KD4nOGj8V1J8do1N0HEMLheEplX8Q8CJFOTLmCUr0-aNTHl2qo5ubtA/s320/Skeleton%20Rider%20Group%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Finally here is the bulk of the foot troops; a dozen skeleton warriors with an assortment of weapons...<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnHdqYkR3xNeSJ-PakF-rDl64btVyx4Dh0_a860arlMsqJk2_uUVo4p_Hfta-j1T1jshE68Q3PdpROrdqdurj-5bEtYhNhKpELyynyk5lS7yx0RBfiNnDgur7X02m2591OqYGHqF5vkoyiXnkEokCxUZyl9NaHnjcpvftv2PEXjKTNwy6fqvIWJdCZ4g/s800/Skeleton%20Warriors%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="273" data-original-width="800" height="109" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnHdqYkR3xNeSJ-PakF-rDl64btVyx4Dh0_a860arlMsqJk2_uUVo4p_Hfta-j1T1jshE68Q3PdpROrdqdurj-5bEtYhNhKpELyynyk5lS7yx0RBfiNnDgur7X02m2591OqYGHqF5vkoyiXnkEokCxUZyl9NaHnjcpvftv2PEXjKTNwy6fqvIWJdCZ4g/s320/Skeleton%20Warriors%201.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqhPbhZF5YsH1e35k6P-D7MVbDvt8AWy8jgX7i_zOVhGF8R9tljSKkNN15ucqbvp_Zeti7dnQDJDDA62XRiXNRlp9jhGlJsgNW7wtTZPKGKBPcPYLmTtfhUOFd08Smo2CUq1mINhiZm7BBbgDN76WsNjIea9PY6EZoAzoY5qqXuovDnHrgCKu6SFhwBQ/s800/Skeleton%20Warriors%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="279" data-original-width="800" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqhPbhZF5YsH1e35k6P-D7MVbDvt8AWy8jgX7i_zOVhGF8R9tljSKkNN15ucqbvp_Zeti7dnQDJDDA62XRiXNRlp9jhGlJsgNW7wtTZPKGKBPcPYLmTtfhUOFd08Smo2CUq1mINhiZm7BBbgDN76WsNjIea9PY6EZoAzoY5qqXuovDnHrgCKu6SFhwBQ/s320/Skeleton%20Warriors%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Unfortunately, these miniatures are very fragile, and, ironically, I have already broken one of the arms off whilst putting it away into a protective foam carry case. I will need to repair it, and hope that the gloss varnish coat, when applied, also creates a stronger bind for the arm.<br /></p><p>To complete this warband, I am looking at rounding out the numbers to create units for Dragon Rampant. I already know that I want to get a big horde of 30-40 zombies, 6 Otherworld Armoured Skeletons (same as the foot ones above but with armour), some missile armed skeletons, a champion of sorts, and some kind of giant construct. I am not sure on the points/unit values yet, but I will calculate that nearer the time. Then I have to decide who to put them up against. The quickest win will most likely be one of my Lord of the Rings armies - probably Rohan.<br /></p>Little Odohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16554557447121289551noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597492159243709780.post-190162015108848622022-07-27T15:59:00.001+01:002022-07-27T15:59:10.218+01:00Skeletons Update<p>It has been quite a while since I last posted on the blog. Real life has a habit of getting in the way of what we enjoy, and these past three months have been no different. Nothing bad (well, I did cop Covid for the first time a few weeks back despite the vaccinations), but time was not something I had much spare of.</p><p></p><p>That said, I managed to complete some more 2000AD and Judge Dredd comics reading and finally saw the eighth season of Game of Thrones. I wasn't as disappointed as almost everyone else I have heard mentioned; yes, the pacing was a little out, perhaps one or two more episodes would have resolved this, but the ending itself made sense to me and I liked the denouement for several of the main protagonists. Maybe my several year hiatus between being caught up in the hype and watching them in the cold light of day helped in this?<br /></p><p>In addition, I did manage to get a few things done hobby wise, but didn't have the
time to post my achievements. This post is a catch up of the little bits
of painting and hobbying I managed to partake in since April.</p><p></p><p>Goblin Town goblin in my son's own style... </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzfPwVNZ2gGEsVqUMCFWTZvciCiTmDUdVpgsXnIj5kBSNjw0Zgz3XUIQN5qMMjO7kqG4cfGeyNqJbtdf_R6_PVhIRbzPkkQGikI8bXvV3dHWQFRDIs3bK07etzC3_mZxXArlgNCtdw_oeXiYBPmGJyXRkAHuS2AuiqChS3zxukkoQZ3KLAjxz-C1PpMA/s600/Goblin%20Town.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="558" data-original-width="600" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzfPwVNZ2gGEsVqUMCFWTZvciCiTmDUdVpgsXnIj5kBSNjw0Zgz3XUIQN5qMMjO7kqG4cfGeyNqJbtdf_R6_PVhIRbzPkkQGikI8bXvV3dHWQFRDIs3bK07etzC3_mZxXArlgNCtdw_oeXiYBPmGJyXRkAHuS2AuiqChS3zxukkoQZ3KLAjxz-C1PpMA/s320/Goblin%20Town.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Yep, a bright yellow goblin, painted when he was but 2 or 3 years old. He reapplied some paint a few months back and I tidied up the face and pustules, then washed it in readiness for varnishing (which still needs to be done).</p><p>More skeletons...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgON1feJTwz-IRaDhoKCx6bXg0x8Io9I_RczwC1_tamgwHONw-WUaFiTq6jHNVB1Zp3aDwXoxFbwgYGW7J54GcCb9qHpE2XL-m_UHlcqiYi6lududX_UZqlHECo0lj1K_co-bSctSvd6jKdtQEm6PSr5f3RHaClgTBPruc9de7GnjE6EYFC3gHAPodqDA/s800/Skeleton%20Warriors%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="279" data-original-width="800" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgON1feJTwz-IRaDhoKCx6bXg0x8Io9I_RczwC1_tamgwHONw-WUaFiTq6jHNVB1Zp3aDwXoxFbwgYGW7J54GcCb9qHpE2XL-m_UHlcqiYi6lududX_UZqlHECo0lj1K_co-bSctSvd6jKdtQEm6PSr5f3RHaClgTBPruc9de7GnjE6EYFC3gHAPodqDA/s320/Skeleton%20Warriors%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>The second batch of skeletons from Otherworld Miniatures. As mentioned in a previous post, I mixed up the weapon arms a little to provide a few more variants. These, as well as the previous batch, have been completed all bar a wash and matt varnish. I will get around to that in a few weeks' time when I have more miniatures to finish.<br /></p><p>The whole undead crew so far (not all finished just yet and more to order)...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikx93RAY037yGzq7SAtEApqk3PYcjTtgUb78Xw6W_9hTcnte4Izw8dXY4ODPoFoQX8ZEjtNBAnYskCEhXTAGnAlRjtIYuSegd7lxHcORN97QXR4RlofglebCBBOu41H4J0krIPy6dyG100krF45UaUnnhhAlvoucgvfzBgBIrTSVbRtA-ps-0vYRLOjA/s1000/Skeleton%20Warband%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="457" data-original-width="1000" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikx93RAY037yGzq7SAtEApqk3PYcjTtgUb78Xw6W_9hTcnte4Izw8dXY4ODPoFoQX8ZEjtNBAnYskCEhXTAGnAlRjtIYuSegd7lxHcORN97QXR4RlofglebCBBOu41H4J0krIPy6dyG100krF45UaUnnhhAlvoucgvfzBgBIrTSVbRtA-ps-0vYRLOjA/s320/Skeleton%20Warband%201.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSbs6oopNuVs3az24fsHymd5ZQ0kL6CFeq1W7lm8zeE_JXoQeAFSQ8hAo1hWZnF1YEUEyGGigkrGEQj2EcUt0aSrzV2WMcHFVDS2ZIsR9Lz327qNW6sBC19yFjgNnBAie65UXnBqhCGVQJrarTqY9cgyZ30dejvTxA2MTKjvrDV3_auhuyxHl-G64mYQ/s1200/Skeleton%20Warband%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="535" data-original-width="1200" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSbs6oopNuVs3az24fsHymd5ZQ0kL6CFeq1W7lm8zeE_JXoQeAFSQ8hAo1hWZnF1YEUEyGGigkrGEQj2EcUt0aSrzV2WMcHFVDS2ZIsR9Lz327qNW6sBC19yFjgNnBAie65UXnBqhCGVQJrarTqY9cgyZ30dejvTxA2MTKjvrDV3_auhuyxHl-G64mYQ/s320/Skeleton%20Warband%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>The first picture above shows the command group (painted several years ago) with the inital six foot skeletons and the five mounted undead (as yet unpainted).<br /></p><p>The second picture shows both sets of foot skeletons, and how far I have got with the mounted undead. These will still be a while in the finishing as they all still need a few more colours on them as well as a wash and matt varnish.</p><p>This little force is coming along nicely now though; I just need to finish painting the above, sort out a few more undead that I have in my lead mountain, and then add to the force with one more set of Otherworld armoured skeletons (basically the same foot figures with armour on) and a few one-offs to round it out. I am also looking at getting some zombies to add to these - a horde of 30-40 would be pretty neat, but with my glacial pace of painting I may be waiting until the year 3000 before I get them finished.<br /></p><p>The latest haul from my first ever Kickstarter...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPKzOFrHQhc4cpDwIHjpTl4PW1i6eh0cyc2FIYO5RlauhApeeJoQCJiQNh_4wsXwAL6hIq-l1aWbaZwXkYthgzZa4AyH0GSjeFIz3PYt4DhdCng1WvZkmJTAHMNMgWGvflgn8vLExiwPuXGfMpP0ViD4uadXoUtugzUbzBk150n53dBE0eW7232puU3w/s1000/Female%20Fellowship.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1000" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPKzOFrHQhc4cpDwIHjpTl4PW1i6eh0cyc2FIYO5RlauhApeeJoQCJiQNh_4wsXwAL6hIq-l1aWbaZwXkYthgzZa4AyH0GSjeFIz3PYt4DhdCng1WvZkmJTAHMNMgWGvflgn8vLExiwPuXGfMpP0ViD4uadXoUtugzUbzBk150n53dBE0eW7232puU3w/s320/Female%20Fellowship.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>This is a kind of female <i>Fellowship of the Ring</i> plus Gollum, so we have a couple of female humans and an elf in there too.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1weTxTwQOcnj5I-fw_0puK3-YK6aPaS3W1Pb1OcThCMvg22tIezqg2SgnV2GhWsflStoIB1pfePZHEZgvgYPQX-Jy12qkzoftSOKTV_YHSDBGhmGETWk6kc7gkUG_Af-jpUP42Q4jk9tgBjPsL4RwvQn1vQV3HiOOa4jbC4Pp5ovu6X9WwMXrLwRx9g/s1000/Half-Pint%20Heroines.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="626" data-original-width="1000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1weTxTwQOcnj5I-fw_0puK3-YK6aPaS3W1Pb1OcThCMvg22tIezqg2SgnV2GhWsflStoIB1pfePZHEZgvgYPQX-Jy12qkzoftSOKTV_YHSDBGhmGETWk6kc7gkUG_Af-jpUP42Q4jk9tgBjPsL4RwvQn1vQV3HiOOa4jbC4Pp5ovu6X9WwMXrLwRx9g/s320/Half-Pint%20Heroines.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE1DUS9XeHVPfNNvWhKVvR-3uZbdCbQJIT0lu1iCQWXIhO7pZjZEleQct9a2w-gTmgzW0Ymv_-YCSx3UHYJSZuGyBGouHqkD6RDMaj0pJugZIZK_rX7OI6d2QrDGY93My_LANTzKBOn1U_yeW-WeQcDuvSwMZgEIiCACV7QmUxEDa4oq9efWi-9hiS9g/s1000/Half-Pint%20Heroines%20stretchgoal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="579" data-original-width="1000" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE1DUS9XeHVPfNNvWhKVvR-3uZbdCbQJIT0lu1iCQWXIhO7pZjZEleQct9a2w-gTmgzW0Ymv_-YCSx3UHYJSZuGyBGouHqkD6RDMaj0pJugZIZK_rX7OI6d2QrDGY93My_LANTzKBOn1U_yeW-WeQcDuvSwMZgEIiCACV7QmUxEDa4oq9efWi-9hiS9g/s320/Half-Pint%20Heroines%20stretchgoal.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>These next two packs are the actual Kickstarter's main theme - several packs of dwarf, gnome and halfling female adventurers. The first packs are 7 of the 8 on offer (I was not over-enamoured by the halfling bar maids if I am honest, so decided not to bid for those), whilst the second picture shows the stretchgoals - the freebies.<br /></p><p></p><p>These figures are from Bronze Age Miniatures' Half-pint Heroines range. I was after some female Dwarf, Gnome and Halfling miniatures to round out my GW and fantasy forces to enable some more gender balanced RPG and skirmish gaming. I have plenty of male adventurers/soldiers but very few female. I am hoping that this will even up the numbers a little and perhaps persuade my daughters to see that dad's games are not just for boys - I did try to convert them to the dark side with some painting lessons a fair few years back but they lost interest very quickly.</p><p>I am hoping to get some more prep work done on my Frostgrave Nickstarter figures from a couple of years back, as well as the Rangers of Shadowdeep starter figures. I am looking at sorting out some more aspects of the basing prior to undercoating. Due to work etc. this may not be for a couple of weeks yet, so watch this space.<br /></p>Little Odohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16554557447121289551noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597492159243709780.post-2039717573208050002022-04-17T17:24:00.000+01:002022-04-17T17:24:01.332+01:00Glueing and Prepping<p>Long time, no post. I have been busy doing lots of stuff other than gaming recently - real life has a habit of taking over sometimes. Luckily, I have been able to dip my toes into my hobby from time-to-time, but not really had much I can comment on for the blog. I have read a few rulebooks and supplements that I received as gifts for Christmas, kept on with my 2000AD and Judge Dredd comics reading, and started re-watching Game of Thrones on the DVDs I have. I have not seen series 8 yet (I must be the only fan not to have done), so I am re-watching them all over again to prep for the final series. I have managed to avoid spoilers thus far. I have heard it is very disappointing, but I have my own ideas for an ending, so I may not find it so.<br /></p><p>Anyway, over the last couple of days we have had some very nice weather in the UK. The brighter days have meant that I can actually kind of see reasonably smallish details again. So, in order to get stuff done whilst the light holds, I broke out the most recently purchased miniatures (from the last few months for my son's but up to a few years ago for mine) that have been staring at me from their vantage points on the book shelves.</p><p>Alongside his interest in The Lord of the Rings, my youngest son has begun to show an interest in historical gaming; or, more accurately, he likes the miniatures and, as he now gets some pocket money, he decided to buy some. He has recently picked up a box of plastic Dark Age Irish warriors from Wargames Atlantic, some Welsh Archers from Gripping Beast, and a few Roman slave-type minis from Footsore, due to one of their likenesses to Grumio out of the TV series Plebs.</p><p>My figures are from a mixture of manufacturers (Hasslefree, Otherworld and Northstar) that I went to to create some fantasy wabands for RPGs and Rangers of Shadowdeep, and the Nickstarter set of ten pairs of wizards for Frostgrave. The wizards are several years old now, but the Rangers and other fantasy miniatures are maybe only a year or so old. I have kind of set myself a limitation now due to the huge backlog of unassembled and unpainted figures that I have, where I can only buy new figures when I have finished painting my latest additions to the lead and plastic mountains. I am almost there with painting those Otherworld skeletons from a few posts back (if the light holds, I will get them finished in the next week or two), and I have now broken out my other latest purchases in order to get them completed too. Once these are completed, I may treat myself to a few more of the figures to make up the last of the adversaries for some of the games I wish to play.<br /></p><p>Anyway, enough chat, and onto the lead (well pewter as it is nowadays). First up are my son's Welsh Archers. As mentioned above, they are from Gripping Beast. There are four poses and he got three of each pose. They are tidy little figures, and will make great standard warriors for any games we play with them...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhDH-_Xgsnkl863Nbsmjf1TLk4PibB_USMaXoEo8t23DDPguQ8IFfo9vZkC55WhxI4Zywg11KB43Z1Olz191_A_Jg_FTYCEDDyCkS62jWR2UdyMKSDTKlLvl0VAJQBBD2MtnfOA3EtXlgPEs9GFD1lHvVJ7JUUltyBZA7QjGANwR126YbNRxVveg-8kw/s800/Welsh%20Archers%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="236" data-original-width="800" height="94" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhDH-_Xgsnkl863Nbsmjf1TLk4PibB_USMaXoEo8t23DDPguQ8IFfo9vZkC55WhxI4Zywg11KB43Z1Olz191_A_Jg_FTYCEDDyCkS62jWR2UdyMKSDTKlLvl0VAJQBBD2MtnfOA3EtXlgPEs9GFD1lHvVJ7JUUltyBZA7QjGANwR126YbNRxVveg-8kw/s320/Welsh%20Archers%201.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I still need to glue their bows on (unfortunately we only seemed to get 10 bows instead of 12 - the bag they came in had split). They are shown alongside the Footsore Roman slave figures for a size comparison. My son wanted these mounted on Saga-style bases which came with the Welsh miniatures (I also had some spares in my bits box he could use for the Romans). Here are the Roman figures alongside a pair of plastic wolfhounds he got with the plastic Irish warriors set...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidWK_4rOZBJn350o6sTkP8pUKApfdPWIUadxXDW0Xqcrhjt02zx5XSPmZNFZ1f2Kp-AsYLgJM621MRqCuImVOAu58kfh9n_RH4VPCk0_j-J6gH8e29QaXjPPXpMgp9F4CxxkId32Zt2owGYKxHg6ow7UAHNy9dtUMQj8pscBFqJjUC5xL5ZTBzhnKUvg/s600/Roman%20Slaves%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="414" data-original-width="600" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidWK_4rOZBJn350o6sTkP8pUKApfdPWIUadxXDW0Xqcrhjt02zx5XSPmZNFZ1f2Kp-AsYLgJM621MRqCuImVOAu58kfh9n_RH4VPCk0_j-J6gH8e29QaXjPPXpMgp9F4CxxkId32Zt2owGYKxHg6ow7UAHNy9dtUMQj8pscBFqJjUC5xL5ZTBzhnKUvg/s320/Roman%20Slaves%201.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Next up are some of his new Lord of the Rings miniatures. Most of his figures for LotR are second hand from eBay. These are from a few packs he recently bought for himself, that he liked the look of...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh40p-4qZmMbHcX5kQTFEMYDegWbEA2Vbbvtl3bAZJziWz6YHwSzsuzTj_5yfYO7C8wBizEuOtPlBvlcibYnFue3YhyA5PKLbFE5tuF1TbBKNSGb7XuPBrRceFaSBlpbBPWE57FUj9P__iAufrQ5Z9a6TZdaVlQhktkaW1lJ484q497HHHthwigb76NsQ/s800/Elf%20Spearmen%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="407" data-original-width="800" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh40p-4qZmMbHcX5kQTFEMYDegWbEA2Vbbvtl3bAZJziWz6YHwSzsuzTj_5yfYO7C8wBizEuOtPlBvlcibYnFue3YhyA5PKLbFE5tuF1TbBKNSGb7XuPBrRceFaSBlpbBPWE57FUj9P__iAufrQ5Z9a6TZdaVlQhktkaW1lJ484q497HHHthwigb76NsQ/s320/Elf%20Spearmen%201.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>The Bilbo miniature is metal, and the Elf warriors and Thranduil models are resin. The Elf warriors all need their shields glued on, and Thranduil needs his sword arm glued on. These are lovely miniatures but do not scale in at all with the historical figures above; the LotR figures are a fair bit smaller and finer (more anatomically accurate), and the quality of the sculpting is much better. That said, sometimes quantity is a quality in itself, and that is where the historical figures come into their own - good value for money for decent enough figures - armies can be built much more cheaply.<br /></p><p>Next up are the last of my son's figures from this batch and the first of mine. They are Noldur's D&D figures bought from our local comic and gaming store a few months ago. Here we have a griffin and an umberhulk...<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmm4waR1RaY1nmiey55XogbfnaQ7oVHer4_0b-Qb5Hx-wP26wbFM-_2tIOXF_PhdskU424Ty9LionSOliiLItq98Tpc5ePjU16z2JM1shbWyyojRZ4JO8Rl40R0-2ApbPcxAIykwzuWSrHrmpl_pv2JyloH6rjojEhbDuJWqCIrpHThXn5Ey1Yk39QRQ/s800/Large%20Monsters%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="319" data-original-width="800" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmm4waR1RaY1nmiey55XogbfnaQ7oVHer4_0b-Qb5Hx-wP26wbFM-_2tIOXF_PhdskU424Ty9LionSOliiLItq98Tpc5ePjU16z2JM1shbWyyojRZ4JO8Rl40R0-2ApbPcxAIykwzuWSrHrmpl_pv2JyloH6rjojEhbDuJWqCIrpHThXn5Ey1Yk39QRQ/s320/Large%20Monsters%201.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>The griffin will be glued to a base the same as the umberhulk to fit in with more of my son's fantasy miniatures (all of his Lord of the Rings figures are on GW style round bases of various sizes). These figures are really nicely made and not too pricey for their size. For some reason my umberhulk came without one of its antennae - it was not in the box, so I could not have glued it back on even if I had found it. I am not too fussed actually, as it gives it a bit of character.<br /></p><p>Next up are my Rangers and RPG characters...</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix7YcK5QYa8SSMUCseQPQWn6jvsB0_FlxZ0WND-eTWtAck7QfeCnZ8CTQkJAIroSAwkr49DDtWB7ci-yZHbyVXxz-1k_qCJ_sR56b6pIyI8aW4mIg6ZqAKbiyaubh5M238AgHB_X2kJpJOxkstI8WB4JUy0lTW_wndfYK8tQTrDr4wzdQqTTMOCZx5QA/s800/Rangers%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="332" data-original-width="800" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix7YcK5QYa8SSMUCseQPQWn6jvsB0_FlxZ0WND-eTWtAck7QfeCnZ8CTQkJAIroSAwkr49DDtWB7ci-yZHbyVXxz-1k_qCJ_sR56b6pIyI8aW4mIg6ZqAKbiyaubh5M238AgHB_X2kJpJOxkstI8WB4JUy0lTW_wndfYK8tQTrDr4wzdQqTTMOCZx5QA/s320/Rangers%201.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>They are from a variety of manufacturers and I have stuck them all onto 30mm lipped round bases. I am going to begin to standardise my basing if I can from now on, so they all fit in with my Lord of the Rings figures - 20mm for hobbits and other small creatures, 25mm for standard humans, elves, orcs etc., 30mm for heroes and medium-sized creatures like wolves, 40mm for mounted figures and medium-large monsters, 50mm for large monsters, trolls and giants, and larger bases for dragons etc.</p><p>The back row consists of Hasslefree figures, the second-rear row are from Otherworld, and the two front rows are Northstar's official Rangers of Shadowdeep figures. I have yet to glue on some of their arms and weapons - hopefully at some point this week I can accomplish that?<br /></p><p>Finally, here are the first of the Frostgrave wizards that I bought a long time ago. Again, they are glued onto 30mm lipped bases to match in with the Rangers and adventurers above. Each school of magic is represented by a pair of wizards... <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1-ig_79vfZEBFlpi3gVm5WpAFkV3c3lCPB_dEKh_C7wfRVQfw_AiCX3UatlNPf-vX0gC6W4_AltzFi4V2iuneoAds_ieb-V3QODYe5RKLsUpCo5CHYtbPFYIuSMG10YmaH_rkdTVmpng0rG-0cFqE9evSi043ypXg7NeboKO9ULy0EYKWLXKeFHhrgw/s800/Frostgrave%20Wizards%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="800" height="126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1-ig_79vfZEBFlpi3gVm5WpAFkV3c3lCPB_dEKh_C7wfRVQfw_AiCX3UatlNPf-vX0gC6W4_AltzFi4V2iuneoAds_ieb-V3QODYe5RKLsUpCo5CHYtbPFYIuSMG10YmaH_rkdTVmpng0rG-0cFqE9evSi043ypXg7NeboKO9ULy0EYKWLXKeFHhrgw/s320/Frostgrave%20Wizards%201.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>From left to right, these are; a Chronomancer and apprentice, an Elementalist and apprentice, an Enchanter and apprentice, an Illusionist and apprentice, and a Necromancer and apprentice. I have yet to decide which is the master and which the apprentice - that decision will most likely come once they have been painted, or not. I still have five more pairs to prep and glue, but the light has run out for today. I am working overtime all day tomorrow (another Bank Holiday in the UK), so will not get any modelling done then - hopefully there will be some good days through the coming week that will allow me to complete these.</p><p>In addition to the figures above, I have an eleventh pair of wizards (not sure what school they belong to until I look them up again) and some treasure tokens/markers for Frostgrave. There is also a box set of 20 plastic Frostgrave Soldiers and a sprue of 5 Frostgrave Barbarians which need assembling. Hopefully the next post will see all of these glued up at least.</p><p>I am really hoping to get some tabletop gaming going again very soon; either solo or with my youngest son. I have my eye on a few new rulesets too - Sellswords and Spellslingers (for solo gaming) and the latest version of Runequest; a game I played extensively back in the day. I no longer own these rules (I have owned three different editions in the past) and the new rulebooks look lavish, so I am very tempted.<br /></p><p>So, there is plenty for me to be getting on with for now. Once the above miniatures have been fully prepped, they will need undercoating and then painting. Also, once the long summer days roll in, I may take another look at my LotR miniatures - I have over 800 to complete, although many are almost there.<br /></p>Little Odohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16554557447121289551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597492159243709780.post-38850426928479016942022-02-17T16:41:00.002+00:002022-02-17T16:41:30.768+00:00Gondor Repaints III<p>Apologies for the long hiatus between posts. I have not been well recently and I am still not fully recovered. Hopefully, I will be seeing the doctor again soon to see what is happening; I don't think it is anything serious but it is affecting my daily life, in that I do not want to do a lot at the moment except relax and/or sleep.<br /></p><p>That said, this weekend saw me pick up the energy to get my paints and brushes out again to finish off a few of my son's figures that have been stuck on the painting table for several months. I managed to complete the basing for a couple of elf repaints...</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiCr5XJ_rpFr_nxGRnV4RcfoLL56q8fHgubStvA-uwQKyx5135p_dr7w0EUemyPuZQVKyI-FfaNm1QDA0xrv8PLOiuSWfcz8CsE6LiFX7ad6ryxrnleKSgdFjSQc8WjR932ixT3r-fGQQKxlE1-16_xE8MvsmGqXL3thF_iykw1BeDt42sUU4Hf8OALfw=s800" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="725" data-original-width="800" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiCr5XJ_rpFr_nxGRnV4RcfoLL56q8fHgubStvA-uwQKyx5135p_dr7w0EUemyPuZQVKyI-FfaNm1QDA0xrv8PLOiuSWfcz8CsE6LiFX7ad6ryxrnleKSgdFjSQc8WjR932ixT3r-fGQQKxlE1-16_xE8MvsmGqXL3thF_iykw1BeDt42sUU4Hf8OALfw=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />And also the final few colours on another half-dozen or so Gondorian soldiers (the broken ones featured in the last post) and a Black Numenorian (a 2nd Age warrior of Numenor)...<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhwRWdc8Ae0WRuNPPXDj9djE-rm44xkMf5d6YDX5Jhs6G9bo6wg8LcJul_oEGycLtj3vQFh0HtIfFOBSu0vbac7eI_BBMloIzHZ1FXLJn-RYBcRXRNGTXlmhexCbXxBB2hKXWKwq4XI4CQviXwU85Pbh1z8RQTawyv1s2gbPTc7vxN8ke9oe4gyQcIUCQ=s800" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="572" data-original-width="800" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhwRWdc8Ae0WRuNPPXDj9djE-rm44xkMf5d6YDX5Jhs6G9bo6wg8LcJul_oEGycLtj3vQFh0HtIfFOBSu0vbac7eI_BBMloIzHZ1FXLJn-RYBcRXRNGTXlmhexCbXxBB2hKXWKwq4XI4CQviXwU85Pbh1z8RQTawyv1s2gbPTc7vxN8ke9oe4gyQcIUCQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEijbX-83-cAGt118Wh64MjbZMHqaXGe5QCUGJ2QO7dugJoOoz5_TTsBBZbDEw45z_EPLZ1hIHXP9Q_paqtYi8MR2hIlsciuYk-VDAKFlNX2kzqtA3WPj1cV2H-NycByYYc8x7IkD40hzgLB1dsTvBISmmiwLSoVAvlW9D-dRk_m5UJhXZL7eTjMtDxEsA=s800" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="627" data-original-width="800" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEijbX-83-cAGt118Wh64MjbZMHqaXGe5QCUGJ2QO7dugJoOoz5_TTsBBZbDEw45z_EPLZ1hIHXP9Q_paqtYi8MR2hIlsciuYk-VDAKFlNX2kzqtA3WPj1cV2H-NycByYYc8x7IkD40hzgLB1dsTvBISmmiwLSoVAvlW9D-dRk_m5UJhXZL7eTjMtDxEsA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><p>This year I am hoping to get a lot more of my own Lord of the Rings miniatures painted in order to do larger battles with my youngest son. We have played several Battle Companies sized games over the last year, but we both feel the need to go larger on occasion. I think I will go for a new system for this, and Dragon Rampant is back in the frame.<br /></p>Little Odohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16554557447121289551noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597492159243709780.post-70316119114415810952021-12-12T15:24:00.001+00:002021-12-17T12:10:20.972+00:00A Weekend of Hobbying<p>The kids came over this weekend and for the first time in ages I was able to grab some time with my youngest and get some hobby time in. We didn't really get anything fully completed but we did make some progress on some figures that have been on the shelf for several months.</p><p>I managed to fix up a bunch of his eBay Gondor purchases from my bits box, whilst he painted one of his Elf warriors. I also based up some official D&D type figures and glued the arms and shields onto my second batch of Otherworld skeletons.<br /></p><p>Gondor Before...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiwFTKsmqnDpzQG1ED-qoy4V5XJuuTm_4UM80udMEKfHS1wUgI4xj93hA2-655wGHoOH4A25otqJ9Zh3J_rSKzitsYIpgiaOAlKT-eWSiSFHHJCaY0FDmKfjBYfGlFmosVquE0SjJFRp8OTMaxbvytSjLmgdoZOX-4cZPRC2FatnkbCPSSY_tfSvrJbZw=s800" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="335" data-original-width="800" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiwFTKsmqnDpzQG1ED-qoy4V5XJuuTm_4UM80udMEKfHS1wUgI4xj93hA2-655wGHoOH4A25otqJ9Zh3J_rSKzitsYIpgiaOAlKT-eWSiSFHHJCaY0FDmKfjBYfGlFmosVquE0SjJFRp8OTMaxbvytSjLmgdoZOX-4cZPRC2FatnkbCPSSY_tfSvrJbZw=s320" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Broken Gondor figures</span><br /></div><div><p>Gondor After...<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj6dIaT0cKw3PWp2SuOP56GmKq0jHc6CiFho0elAlprggEiF6NMpr4g6yxU63_rpos9wxJcoEqY-qJG1uLrYftfw6p2UWVrRBe9QH_Ef1MnDp1IDBONkzhrKVQM6nfJRzKJDjHL4fu-tS30LHLguTdVkmnQfSnV03Knwrnjn8Izb0-dJo2SGfcuteWyLw=s800" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="428" data-original-width="800" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj6dIaT0cKw3PWp2SuOP56GmKq0jHc6CiFho0elAlprggEiF6NMpr4g6yxU63_rpos9wxJcoEqY-qJG1uLrYftfw6p2UWVrRBe9QH_Ef1MnDp1IDBONkzhrKVQM6nfJRzKJDjHL4fu-tS30LHLguTdVkmnQfSnV03Knwrnjn8Izb0-dJo2SGfcuteWyLw=s320" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Mended Gondor figures</span><br /></div></div><div><p>From left to right, the first archer had a brand new hand and bow; the swordsman had a new sword; the next archer had the bottom of the first archer's bow transplanted to the top of his bow; the second swordsman had a new sword; the third archer had a new top to his bow from the bits-box; the last Gondorian had a new hand and sword grafted on; the final chap had a new hand and spear grafted on.</p><p>I think they have turned out just fine, and even though they don't match the "official" look weapons-wise, from my POV they can be a kind of veteran unit with non-standard equipment that has been picked up when their original weaponry had been lost or broken.</p><p>I didn't get a picture of the elf that my son was painting, but I did get pictures of the other work I was able to achieve...</p><p>Skeletons...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj3UC3uRlLj84Exoyg44kF1NAXlfTtROLAGUQ1r1KiRdqrYN5bFwW35-doOuwQ3bP5av_O-MoVG0lCrikU048tdRJVqfhmCJ7K4PZc9z6a_ChmhUrypZ_lmWSE7XziTA6EYBo50JgBWBtIwm5iaQGgXSIX_IWskJaa3CN9mdJpXxQSTO6C9IEbgXu6iKg=s800" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="248" data-original-width="800" height="99" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj3UC3uRlLj84Exoyg44kF1NAXlfTtROLAGUQ1r1KiRdqrYN5bFwW35-doOuwQ3bP5av_O-MoVG0lCrikU048tdRJVqfhmCJ7K4PZc9z6a_ChmhUrypZ_lmWSE7XziTA6EYBo50JgBWBtIwm5iaQGgXSIX_IWskJaa3CN9mdJpXxQSTO6C9IEbgXu6iKg=s320" width="320" /></a></div> </div><div>These are the second set of skeletons I got from Otherworld Miniatures. I have mixed up the weapon and shield choices to make them look different to the previous set. There will be a third set purchased soon; armoured versions of the above. But, no buying new stuff in this faction until the old stuff has been painted, so that may be a few months away.<br /><p></p><p>D&D stuff...<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhtcEsGjEHkx0tRBCKytdPWotrNHptHdRWBjpdarClBHzW_F3xY9bxMnJbnW4gLDP1C4hRJO-oqozGBeQoV_40pA3xzdvyaO_2dFml2eEVBO5AjKu3t8fHeehQIp8eq-kx329gPVFISiOrvYvmaVn12jJcnn4WfjFHx3z-6g8z1DfOklf6uEsr3LAkI6g=s800" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="610" data-original-width="800" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhtcEsGjEHkx0tRBCKytdPWotrNHptHdRWBjpdarClBHzW_F3xY9bxMnJbnW4gLDP1C4hRJO-oqozGBeQoV_40pA3xzdvyaO_2dFml2eEVBO5AjKu3t8fHeehQIp8eq-kx329gPVFISiOrvYvmaVn12jJcnn4WfjFHx3z-6g8z1DfOklf6uEsr3LAkI6g=s320" width="320" /></a></div><p>At my local comic shop, I bought a handful of official D&D figures; an owlbear (for reasons unkown even to myself, owlbears are one of my very favourite monters in D&D) and four halfling adventurers. These halflings are much smaller than my Lord of the Rings ones unfortunately, so I am not sure if they will get used as hobbits in any of my games. Then again, I am not too much of a stickler for every figure being the same size - in every population there are tall people and shorter people - so I may very well use them in town or village type encounters.</p><p>My son glued a couple of paladin types to their bases and I managed to put a bit of paint on a Goblin Town goblin figure he had painted bright yellow when he was about four years old, but I didn't get photos of these yet.<br /></p><p>The kids are over again in a few weeks time for the Christmas break. Hopefully we can get these painted and finished at some point over the break to clear the decks for new stuff in readiness for completing a few projects and playing a few games with them.<br /></p></div>Little Odohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16554557447121289551noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597492159243709780.post-49960444579505561072021-11-05T09:55:00.000+00:002021-11-05T09:55:06.174+00:00Battle Systems - Northern Homestead<p>Good morning everybody - long time no post. This is due to a number of reasons, mostly good, but primarily because I have been working. After another long time out of work I managed to secure back-to-back contracts. I am still in the second role and it seems to be going well - hopefully at the end of this contract I will be back to where I want to be financially, so I can begin spending a little more time, effort and money on my hobby.</p><p>So, what have I been up to hobby-wise over the last few months? Due to my new work roles and various other reasons, I have not been able to see my youngest son often enough to do any actual playing, but we did do lots of sorting out and chatting about gaming. He has managed to put some paint onto some of his Ebay bought miniatures (not finished yet, but when they are I will feature them in a separate post) and also bought some new figures from a local comic and games shop. I bought a few one-off figures from the same comic/game shop (four halflings which are a bit smaller than the GW LotR ones and an Owlbear - one of my fave monsters from D&D), some Ghost Archipelago rule and scenario books, and some card-stock buildings from Battle Systems.</p><p>The card buildings are the main-stay of this post. A month or so back, out of the blue, my son sent me a few pictures on my phone and a link to a company called Battle Systems. He suggested that they might be good for our tabletop battles as they were quite cheap (relative to resin and plastic buildings they certainly are). They looked really good in the photos (not promo shots by the company but in-use shots by a gamer), so I thought I would buy a few to see how they turned out for myself.</p><p>There was a sale on at the web store (result!), so I was able to afford to buy enough buildings from my gaming budget to hopefully kit-out one of the scenarios in the Rangers of Shadowdeep rulebook. I chose three of the Northern Homesteads as my mainstay, plus a couple of outbuildings, as they could double-up for use as Rohan, D&D, Pathfinder and so on buildings for a quasi-Dark Age/Medieval setting. There are also options to buy snow effect roofs (rooves?) to allow gaming in Frostgrave or other cold-set climates (Winterfell or beyond the wall for Game of Thrones perhaps?).<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcq8bBCfSE_8Xk5uVpX3-y63Yexa2tRt3Lz4-jPLeN8sF62nuVWXUOBd0ysx8DzwOZl6xkl_I96PhmJIYB56YTCdu9VRWX1EXzMQvYFRYXU5g-1v16CrJvwTR-y7PAtOAH7gG5lmTxkqzb/s2048/BS_NH+Box.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1502" data-original-width="2048" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcq8bBCfSE_8Xk5uVpX3-y63Yexa2tRt3Lz4-jPLeN8sF62nuVWXUOBd0ysx8DzwOZl6xkl_I96PhmJIYB56YTCdu9VRWX1EXzMQvYFRYXU5g-1v16CrJvwTR-y7PAtOAH7gG5lmTxkqzb/s320/BS_NH+Box.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />The order was delivered in double-quick time and sat on my workbench (well, pile in the corner of the room) until two weekends back when my son was over and we decided to build the first homestead. Out of the box you get three sheets of card-stock building pieces (two the same plus another different one) and a small bag of plastic connection pieces.<br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVjAWfpGEF8RHkMCfbPk9qeg3PFx1gYK5vzEvWQYnPNculH_obtbOpiSesRuRJRfjHOM0CDSmkRLmiVroJzOFVKdh-xXnvVvOCxiQWLHllLJQumyq609ruzhO5a0QZ2BXZAL9571Q24Y4F/s2048/BS_NH+Contents.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1211" data-original-width="2048" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVjAWfpGEF8RHkMCfbPk9qeg3PFx1gYK5vzEvWQYnPNculH_obtbOpiSesRuRJRfjHOM0CDSmkRLmiVroJzOFVKdh-xXnvVvOCxiQWLHllLJQumyq609ruzhO5a0QZ2BXZAL9571Q24Y4F/s320/BS_NH+Contents.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>The pieces push out very easily, with no cutting required. The only thing you don't get is a set of assembly instructions. Now, I have made many kits over the years so thought I would be able to construct these easily, but I went about these in completely the wrong way. I tried to put the connectors at the bottom of the walls etc. thinking they would be least visible there. However, after my son looked up an online tutorial and we found out that they should be joined by slots in the middle of the walls, the building went together in seconds. We literally built it in under two minutes. Once constructed, they are very sturdy.<br /></p><p>There are three choices for the doors, two singles and a double. We decided on a simple single door for this building. As these kits are multi-purpose; they will fit in with all the other kits for completely customisable building construction, so many of the pieces can be used on other buildings. We will look at the watch towers and mead hall next so the double-doors can be used there (Meduseld anyone?) - they do look impressive.</p><p>The entry way - the door is off to one side with a porch to cover the entrance for times of inclement weather. You may also notice some holes in the thatch and flooring. There are pushout pieces to give buildings a more run-down look if required. We decided to go full-out on this building. The good thing is, the little bits that get pushed out can be used for scatter terrain later on too!<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOKIojoOEuAIhPluE3l7rTUsr3LfZUy3dKwRvyN5aURNiLOH23ajyWzMUIppvGGifHgRnZinvdMo1Jmpq5tZNmDz9zFpe3Vn_OBG8y7zSlxAhBDhPbCtc13BNhvO7hGV-wTCCwj3WM0ML5/s2048/BS_NH+Entry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1962" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOKIojoOEuAIhPluE3l7rTUsr3LfZUy3dKwRvyN5aURNiLOH23ajyWzMUIppvGGifHgRnZinvdMo1Jmpq5tZNmDz9zFpe3Vn_OBG8y7zSlxAhBDhPbCtc13BNhvO7hGV-wTCCwj3WM0ML5/s320/BS_NH+Entry.jpg" width="307" /></a></div><p></p><p>The front view - with attendant horse-head posts. Perfect for a Rohan setting.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN-Ovmzso80QYdL4gSvLHrCjfJMysyu5RR9crDuZ4sW7lsqHZmbquZOjUnAv1hImhedP-TVLBdIIomWaKSY-RCxEmVMfD2IzBdV78OzbTbNkMlq2sRdCoe_fFR1sCfMo7ofQ3DsiD15-Jj/s2048/BS_NH+Front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1911" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN-Ovmzso80QYdL4gSvLHrCjfJMysyu5RR9crDuZ4sW7lsqHZmbquZOjUnAv1hImhedP-TVLBdIIomWaKSY-RCxEmVMfD2IzBdV78OzbTbNkMlq2sRdCoe_fFR1sCfMo7ofQ3DsiD15-Jj/s320/BS_NH+Front.jpg" width="299" /></a></div><p></p><p>The rear of the building has a platform upon which your archers can stand to defend their homes from marauding uruk-hai.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfhqgHEPrFlq6VKtrWHepC25VdVl9Eerwd6gzX-ieX-wnKQEl-ncLFzp-6OxsqwCB85xjugPoWPjZHaajFmUBD-mLa2o42DMDDKexzBBRPmvaoFQCnqmBcx7NTgbw3Go0s3l46pcD9UIqx/s2048/BS_NH+Rear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1924" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfhqgHEPrFlq6VKtrWHepC25VdVl9Eerwd6gzX-ieX-wnKQEl-ncLFzp-6OxsqwCB85xjugPoWPjZHaajFmUBD-mLa2o42DMDDKexzBBRPmvaoFQCnqmBcx7NTgbw3Go0s3l46pcD9UIqx/s320/BS_NH+Rear.jpg" width="301" /></a></div><p></p><p>The side opposite the entrance shows the horse-head posts in better detail.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwjrSVGKWo_AzDYjmoNFMeHr6OJgLKNTcFJdzSZprU1lAYQ38wULt2Kwc-p42DDEDGitJnQtmq21NPAzCt9SpsRGe7xhLR-RmOhVQCEiwjEEM5y-Wue1trC0scUc7Lu20E3NmDbFP2eFbo/s2048/BS_NH+Side.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2015" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwjrSVGKWo_AzDYjmoNFMeHr6OJgLKNTcFJdzSZprU1lAYQ38wULt2Kwc-p42DDEDGitJnQtmq21NPAzCt9SpsRGe7xhLR-RmOhVQCEiwjEEM5y-Wue1trC0scUc7Lu20E3NmDbFP2eFbo/s320/BS_NH+Side.jpg" width="315" /></a></div><p>And finally an internal shot. With the kit you get internal flooring, beds, bed rolls, weapon racks and weapons; in fact all sorts of paraphernalia to sprinkle around the table top when gaming to add flavour. The weapons are a little over-sized, so I won't use them, but plenty of the other bits will be very useful as scatter.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_serCiuSPk1Fe38UG9Qoitejp53g6LUZAxmF3BkoA7MYLDJgNYguMMTDGqQ35uKMkPHncYhOtKGDTLHHU-UIAANI2fGbs-rVqODUxSEWnbiJMH4LnhpCRitZp5jj31PeZP07LoqDQo4me/s2048/BS_NH+Internal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1887" data-original-width="2048" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_serCiuSPk1Fe38UG9Qoitejp53g6LUZAxmF3BkoA7MYLDJgNYguMMTDGqQ35uKMkPHncYhOtKGDTLHHU-UIAANI2fGbs-rVqODUxSEWnbiJMH4LnhpCRitZp5jj31PeZP07LoqDQo4me/s320/BS_NH+Internal.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>Next time my son is over we will construct a few more of these buildings, most likely in different formats to make up a small hamlet. We can then fight over it with his Rohan (once re-painted) and orc miniatures before moving onto rangers of Shadowdeep once he has figures for his small warband for that game.<br /></p><p>The system also features more medieval style buildings that would suit D&D and Pathfiner more, but they could also double-up as buildings from places like Bree or towns around Gondor and the fiefdoms in Lord of the Rings.<br /></p><p>Overall, I am happy with my purchases. I will most likely try to find suitable basing material to put these on so they become even more sturdy and hard-wearing, and it will stop the flooring falling away from the buildings too when they are moved. The rest will hopefully be built in a few weeks' time, so I can photograph them all together to see how a hamlet or small village would look.<br /></p>Little Odohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16554557447121289551noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597492159243709780.post-49896443012888057262021-08-09T21:30:00.002+01:002021-08-09T21:30:22.582+01:00Gondor Repaints II<p>The weekend just gone saw the paint brushes come out again in force. I managed to paint seven more Gondorians for my son; this time it was the turn of the swordsmen.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSTdSVgdYWWRa1QrgencvfMl-WQS-CCXS79A2MzWHGfBmYfc9bd2pZYDHHAHNmmphrGXFvlcoY-4MMfZc1AgNc7e50T9z5A-lgcGl0xwbz6wh0FsYoPvd4ewHVyhbgwEeXPA9NKoWz4csW/s1000/Gondor+Swordsmen+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="543" data-original-width="1000" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSTdSVgdYWWRa1QrgencvfMl-WQS-CCXS79A2MzWHGfBmYfc9bd2pZYDHHAHNmmphrGXFvlcoY-4MMfZc1AgNc7e50T9z5A-lgcGl0xwbz6wh0FsYoPvd4ewHVyhbgwEeXPA9NKoWz4csW/s320/Gondor+Swordsmen+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Again, these are just re-paints; lots of tidying up where I could. They took maybe four hours tops to get to this stage - the waiting time between the different stages of basing took up the lion's share of time for them though. I am pleased with them even though they are just single layers of paint with no shading or highlighting. The main reason for getting these done this way was to get them ready enough to plonk down onto the tabletop with the minimum of fuss. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAr_n6JX3y2aZkNWOKNxx_yb_WNxQPnxVcpnGsGBFWRd94EUGt_8Uro7nSFLAfj2klXjnTVd3nEn-gPiQfdeNyMsEQWhM0pLQnoH4E-fqP-svtw65IHNdD3k0YGweynn84-6q4jvzp7tp7/s1000/Gondor+Swordsmen+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="1000" height="94" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAr_n6JX3y2aZkNWOKNxx_yb_WNxQPnxVcpnGsGBFWRd94EUGt_8Uro7nSFLAfj2klXjnTVd3nEn-gPiQfdeNyMsEQWhM0pLQnoH4E-fqP-svtw65IHNdD3k0YGweynn84-6q4jvzp7tp7/s320/Gondor+Swordsmen+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>There are still around half-a-dozen Gondor miniatures to be painted, but these are the broken ones. I will need to find some swords and bows from my historical bits box to complete them. This mis-match of weaponry will make the Gondor force look more like a rag-tag, battle-hardened unit of veterans than if they were all painted neatly with their "official" weapons all pristine. This worked well for his orcs, but I was a little disappointed with my work on his elves.<br /></p><p>My son's forces are really coming together now. He has more than enough now to make several Battle Companies, but there is still have a little way to go to create a couple of forces for something like Dragon Rampant. I will sit down and calculate what is required soon as I think a mass battle would suit us both nicely at the moment. He still has a force of about 30 or so Warriors of Rohan and a few less in the guise of Easterlings for me to paint up. I think, added together, there should be enough figures to make a good side and an evil side if we can also find a couple of leader types.<br /></p><p>I was due to sort out roster sheets for the two Battle Companies in readiness for this post. I have got them both written up but there are a couple of annoying issues with the PDFs that means they will be difficult to showcase. I will see if I can find an alternative version that works a little better.<br /></p><p>I have also managed to do a little bit of work on my skeletons. They are glued up now but just need shields that match the previous ones adding. Hopefully I can get a little more painting done on the undead cavalry soon too, as once these are all completed I can buy the last few skeletons I need to complete the force. As mentioned in a previous post, I am going to try to paint up units of my old figures before buying any new ones. Once the skeletons are done, I will try to move onto a force of zombies which are needed for a lot of the games I have recently bought, like Frostgrave and Rangers of Shadow Deep.<br /></p>Little Odohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16554557447121289551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597492159243709780.post-32749064226189897932021-07-29T07:57:00.000+01:002021-07-29T07:57:06.653+01:00Battle Company Re-inforcements<p>We played our second game of Battle Companies a few weeks back, but I didn't get round to dicing up the results and writing up the Battle Company rosters.</p><p>After our first game, Damril was able to recruit an extra spearman using his Influence points from winning the scenario...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwO3ebS0OqjRXV7kKt721gU1Ld9Vp258t1iNmLABnjTWsV5uNIRAG8JeEbzOIxgHp9LCmeZ5KIZGDc9AvT5HGKOl_cVcVTR4x_eann57rEFNHH5a0ahXEnUJawyADUfYbRmCtRPfAONKFk/s482/Spear+reinforcement+1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="482" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwO3ebS0OqjRXV7kKt721gU1Ld9Vp258t1iNmLABnjTWsV5uNIRAG8JeEbzOIxgHp9LCmeZ5KIZGDc9AvT5HGKOl_cVcVTR4x_eann57rEFNHH5a0ahXEnUJawyADUfYbRmCtRPfAONKFk/s320/Spear+reinforcement+1.jpg" /></a></div><p>And, after our second game, he recruited another spearman from his winner's Influence points. He still has 2 Influence points left, so even if he doesn't win the next game, he will still be able to recruit another warrior to his cause...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUmMHfwe0GmtiDoGU-DbUmFLzhlpSHzVNX3tJTYLkqcTAWRs4Jz5bhopd-pXzePask1EMrl_BhBAdoLA0vtX6S7GA3zcAdbcvl_1FNFksQlb1jGZnkU0FVUxRgsBthtVMWz9F7S39nFhdX/s483/Spear+reinforcement+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="483" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUmMHfwe0GmtiDoGU-DbUmFLzhlpSHzVNX3tJTYLkqcTAWRs4Jz5bhopd-pXzePask1EMrl_BhBAdoLA0vtX6S7GA3zcAdbcvl_1FNFksQlb1jGZnkU0FVUxRgsBthtVMWz9F7S39nFhdX/s320/Spear+reinforcement+2.jpg" /></a></div><p>However, Ushnar, the orc battle company leader, despite losing both games, was able to recuit an extra in the shape of a Black Numenorian. I managed to roll two sixes in a row to achieve this - its a shame I cannot do this in a game. Unfortunately, I lost one of my orcs in the scenario, so this new arrival was just a replacement - but what a replacement!...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8U5-eXovwCckQv245vcMDcifFxYWB33MUSQhF5d5lRlv8VcFnyWB-BSpIvXlQ13Vje50pjo5TqfKrrPefeikUNBYX5L6MZucdruj4YDZlWrJCnSL80-Q9EPxDEYGyC18BnAmy4P9wZwQH/s449/Black+Numenorian.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="449" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8U5-eXovwCckQv245vcMDcifFxYWB33MUSQhF5d5lRlv8VcFnyWB-BSpIvXlQ13Vje50pjo5TqfKrrPefeikUNBYX5L6MZucdruj4YDZlWrJCnSL80-Q9EPxDEYGyC18BnAmy4P9wZwQH/s320/Black+Numenorian.jpg" /></a></div><p>I used a 2nd Age Numenorian figure to represent this new arrival as I didn't have any of the purpose made Black Numenorians that Games Workshop designed. I like the idea of these once proud men turned evil; especially as they cause Terror in their opponents, which may come in handy against normal warriors, but I daresay my son's impressive dice rolling for his archers will come in handy for despatching this warrior in short order before he can use his full powers on the tabletop.</p><p>The camera has been a bit harsh on my paint job, showing up places where I quite seriously went over the lines - my eyesight is not what it once was, even with the aid of glasses.<br /></p><p>Anyway, this was just another short post to keep the blog turning over with my gaming stuff. Next time I will try to show off the two Battle Companies as they stand right now, including maybe a roster sheet for both at long last.<br /></p>Little Odohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16554557447121289551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597492159243709780.post-68997160296045268892021-07-28T22:02:00.000+01:002021-07-28T22:02:39.605+01:00Gondor Repaints<p>The kids have been over the last couple of weekends, so I was able to spend some time with my youngest son again to do some work on our gaming stuff. Last weekend was paperwork for Battle Companies and Rangers of Shadow Deep, which I will get written up properly in the next few posts.</p><p>This weekend we got the paint brushes and glue out to complete a few more Gondorian miniatures to go with his Gondor Battle Company under the command of Damril. Here are seven archers that we repainted in order to add to his Gondor force when they are needed...<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1m7j6wZmPWpkLbBNWL8VJ-h85mpYoIe4zKO-c_tn6LRjes9v8IDcZGDQ3JU3plEEflTGDwGpCNUjphULrnDrtv4pLQcKjH1PfrOvAOphuRSN0BjRghzw8ttnCPgopM4qaYOedFJmr7DY1/s800/Gondor+Archers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1m7j6wZmPWpkLbBNWL8VJ-h85mpYoIe4zKO-c_tn6LRjes9v8IDcZGDQ3JU3plEEflTGDwGpCNUjphULrnDrtv4pLQcKjH1PfrOvAOphuRSN0BjRghzw8ttnCPgopM4qaYOedFJmr7DY1/s320/Gondor+Archers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Apologies for the blurry picture - it doesn't do the figures any justice.<br /></p><p>This was the first time my son had really used a paint brush on his own figures. He did previously paint a Goblintown warrior at Games Workshop that he was allowed to bring home for free, but he was very young and literally painted the whole thing yellow (he wants me to re-undercoat it so he can give it a proper paint job).</p><p>He did a really good job with these archers - we went one colour at a time and most likely both of us put at least one or two colours on each figure; so it could be said that these are all a joint effort rather than full repaints just by me.<br /></p><p>His total completed Gondor force now consists of his original six (2xswords, 2xspears, 2xarchers) from Damril's Battle Company, plus the extra spearman he gained as a reinforcement after our first campaign game. He now has the seven archers mentioned above to add to that total as well as another spearman reinforcement (more on that in the next post), bringing his total to 15 completed Gondorians.<br /></p><p><br /></p>Little Odohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16554557447121289551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597492159243709780.post-8065857103666582602021-07-04T20:54:00.002+01:002021-07-04T20:54:38.962+01:00Battle Companies : Gondor vs Orcs<p>This weekend the kids were over again. Two weeks ago, when they should have been over last, I had spent a long weekend in York, so missed out on a gaming opportunity with my youngest. We didn't get the chance to update the rest of the warband roster sheet and stats, so we have carried on from last time we played. We grabbed our miniatures, rolled for the scenario and put out the scenery.<br /></p><p><b>12. Plunder the Camp</b></p><p>The
table was set up as per the scenario. In the roll-off, we determined Gondor as the defenders and the orcs as the attackers. Gondor therefore had to set up first and then the orcs could set up no closer than 6" away from the encampment.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU_01ObhhAEcOxh6m6jkIPY1Z3Ob3EaqMZ_-CssUWXW9sEU6yJEbunfa67daVbFae4rnU_78PljNnks1wDwPqOxmHzvFLwO0KZ51t7nMUghTXg7CkwQQ62nUvbBZOFwbArTKDQ-O4sqCS9/s800/PtC+0.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="668" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU_01ObhhAEcOxh6m6jkIPY1Z3Ob3EaqMZ_-CssUWXW9sEU6yJEbunfa67daVbFae4rnU_78PljNnks1wDwPqOxmHzvFLwO0KZ51t7nMUghTXg7CkwQQ62nUvbBZOFwbArTKDQ-O4sqCS9/s320/PtC+0.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Upon re-reading the scenario after we had finished playing, we realised that we had made the camp only 6" across instead of 12". Not sure if this would have made much difference to the outcome, but it was a fast-paced, exciting game none-the-less...<p></p><p>The forces of Gondor led by Damril (the five objective markers for the scenario are the barrels)...</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwKGytTGr7ywGvKtJZzR3h8C82oUUXUhFBmDvA4M7z_vVQG3CCxzdLeDlKBpTWOrczO-_RpMXaCPRpJeQmVwkBajPk5QovezOcMyvAShotty5yeHFHGWDubXn8QbtfT280QuthzjpSFSOL/s929/PtC+-+Gondor.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="929" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwKGytTGr7ywGvKtJZzR3h8C82oUUXUhFBmDvA4M7z_vVQG3CCxzdLeDlKBpTWOrczO-_RpMXaCPRpJeQmVwkBajPk5QovezOcMyvAShotty5yeHFHGWDubXn8QbtfT280QuthzjpSFSOL/s320/PtC+-+Gondor.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><p>The few days after the encounter with the troll at the previous watchtower, Damril led his patched-up men onwards to the next watchtower along the valley. Again, the small hamlet should have been uninhabited, but hopefully he could repair it a little, like the previous one, and report back to his commander that he had had some success ridding the area of a troll, an orc warband, and had reinforced the two watchtowers so that fresh guardsmen could be posted in them thus allowing freer movement of troops throughout the valley.<br /></p><p>Night was falling and the light was fading fast as Damril and his warband approached the next hamlet. In the distance he and his men could see the glow of a campfire. He whispered his orders and the troops approached the camp cautiously, but all was deemed safe when the camp password request was sounded out from behind the ruined walls. He responded with the correct code for the day and the warband made their way into the camp.<br /></p><p>The latest news and passcodes were swapped over a hot meal and then the current incumbents gathered their belongings and moved out. However, Damril was told that a new recruit, a spearman, would be his to train up over the coming weeks, thus his warband now ranked seven warriors; Damril, two archers, three spearmen, one of whom was the new recruit, and another swordsman. It was time he decided upon a couple of sergeants to help him with the chain of command.<br /></p><p>By the time the other warband had left, Damril had staked his camp and ordered the watch; no-one could see further than a dozen or so yards in front of them due to the darkness, which would make it very difficult for the archers to pick out targets when on sentry duty. Damril got his company of weary troops into position to see out the night; he was wary that the orcs they had encountered the previous day would still be somewhere in the vicinity.<br /></p><p></p><p>On the other side of the
settlement, Ushnar was approaching the camp with vengeance on his mind. He had wanted the glory of killing that troll, so he had
followed Damril and his warband throughout the day in order to spring an ambush at an opportune moment. Upon arriving at the campsite, he noticed that bundles of supplies were dotted around the camp. If he could destroy some of these, he thought, he could whittle down his enemy through hunger and fatigue, and then finish them off when they were weak and weary.<br /></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>He split his forces and gave each squad orders on what he needed them to do. With a few hooted signals, the orcs advanced upon their foe. The two orc warriors with bows loosed their arrows at the earliest opportunity, but their shafts flew wide of the mark. The Gondorian archers returned fire and felled two of the orcs charging the campsite, but this did not stop combat ensuing. The orcs had the worst of the affray and two more fell to the trusty swords of the Gondorian soldiers.<br /></p><p>The combat in the camp became more intense as more orcs joined the fray. A further orc fell to the Gondorians but they managed to set fire to two bundles of supplies. Fearing for their supplies, the Gondorians pulled back from the orcs to readjust their battle lines, but one of the swordsmen was felled by Ushnar (using his point of Might). Damril returned the favour and slew another orc (using his point of Might), before the rest of the orc warband turned tail and fled the scene.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXmgQPWEyTbOHwJSkaiFXwO5sR56drNCr0iAT_F55TeYG6PnjTNvTpow2FDwEf4O1CIMbTZov73ktmPGbuL8WIlkTNZvKfuM9c8PXRTxQLUDncs-pKHtgs3_XAhecyXvTIVg9IA1tWNZ3Q/s800/PtC+-+Final+Turn.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="692" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXmgQPWEyTbOHwJSkaiFXwO5sR56drNCr0iAT_F55TeYG6PnjTNvTpow2FDwEf4O1CIMbTZov73ktmPGbuL8WIlkTNZvKfuM9c8PXRTxQLUDncs-pKHtgs3_XAhecyXvTIVg9IA1tWNZ3Q/s320/PtC+-+Final+Turn.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>The
final score was that two bundles of supplies had been destroyed before the orcs had to retreat. This meant a victory for Gondor. Again, the orcs were cursed with rolling too many ones and twos, whilst the Gondorians were blessed with an inordinate amount of fives and sixes. If the orcs hadn't lost four of their number in the second round alone, then things might have been different and a possible draw could have been snatched by the orcs.<br /></p><p>These two
warbands are now slowly drifting apart in power; Gondor has two victories under its belt, so this gap will widen a little more. We still did not use the full rules and we will hopefully get two sergeants statted up by the
time of the next game. </p><p>Anyway, here are the Experience scores...</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Orcs - HW Orc killed Gondor swordsman</li><li>Gondor -Archer 1 killed 2H orc, Archer 2 killed spearorc, Sword 1 killed HW orc and 2H orc, Damril killed HW orc and spearorc<br /></li></ul><p>and Influence...</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Orcs - Taking part (2)</li><li>Gondor - Taking part (2), Winning the Scenario (2) <br /></li></ul><p>We ran out of time to see who survived and died or how to spend our Influence points. We will do this next time he is over.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p>In this
battle, we used the orcs and Gondor warriors that I painted up for him recently. What with my new temporary role being extended out for another three months, I will not be able to paint and procrastinate about our games as much as I was just five or six weeks ago before I started work. That said, at least we have longer evenings now, so I may be able to do something if I get the chance.</p>Little Odohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16554557447121289551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597492159243709780.post-53885209296313115762021-06-23T07:52:00.002+01:002021-06-23T07:52:57.978+01:00Fathers Day Haul<p>A little late, due to being away this last weekend, but here is a small summary of my Fathers Day haul. My kids are wonderful and always get me a small hoard of wonderful gifts. This year I had the usual scrummy Green and Blacks quality chocolate selection, as well as the beginnings of a Hobbit warband for the Lord of the Rings Strategy Battle Game...</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfti3vaKIN5ptI32T8PYrkZ5ghYC8enag4WKyunyjiH4gnzJf9LhYx5guykV_f_BtoltTs_I3GXNp65cwPxKthAshEjXBqKixUE3ofe-EDCwR1cNdl7Q3dO9yyn72ZGXmXpIWStEcYgL5d/s800/Hobbit+Militia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfti3vaKIN5ptI32T8PYrkZ5ghYC8enag4WKyunyjiH4gnzJf9LhYx5guykV_f_BtoltTs_I3GXNp65cwPxKthAshEjXBqKixUE3ofe-EDCwR1cNdl7Q3dO9yyn72ZGXmXpIWStEcYgL5d/s320/Hobbit+Militia.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>My youngest took it upon himself to go to his local GW and order up the Hobbit warband - a dozen Hobbit Militia (8 of) and Archers (4 of). He then split the cost with the rest of my kids. Add these to my big 4 (Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin - a few variants of each), Farmer Maggot and his dogs, and I have the beginnings of a great little battle company. Just a few more packs to go to complete the army.</p><p>These will be next on my list of warbands to paint after I complete the skeletons and my son's Gondor troops. I may be some time on these however, as my temporary role has been converted to a fixed term contract of three months - happy days - and this will leave me with a lot less time to spend on our hobby.<br /></p><p><br /></p>Little Odohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16554557447121289551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597492159243709780.post-22836474054851117752021-06-06T15:36:00.001+01:002021-06-06T15:36:16.406+01:00Damril of Gondor's Battle Company<p>I had a few hours' spare time yesterday and this morning that allowed me to get to work on my son's first proper named Battle Company for the Lord of the Rings Strategy Battle Game. Once again, these are just touch-ups on some second-hand miniatures we got from ebay. Some of them had very thick paint jobs already on them, so they were difficult to do anything with, but here they are in all their (re) painted glory.</p><p>Damril (front rank, first left with sword held aloft) and his Battle Company (after gaining a new spearman as a recruit for his success in slaying the troublesome troll in our last game)...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEvcPD4jNgeBxcSGR8_rlEBFOwTn7ek-G67Kv5i-T3v16MTMIgvMqJKVSj8VdY0KtXkxYbdgVkO-u6UgIAmVpS0KiGfetx5cThL2LR6bzPFJfp-K94fxcanYYPiqFcmNomTioWjXs_EwoY/s800/Damril+Battle+Company.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEvcPD4jNgeBxcSGR8_rlEBFOwTn7ek-G67Kv5i-T3v16MTMIgvMqJKVSj8VdY0KtXkxYbdgVkO-u6UgIAmVpS0KiGfetx5cThL2LR6bzPFJfp-K94fxcanYYPiqFcmNomTioWjXs_EwoY/s320/Damril+Battle+Company.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>Damril and his trusty right-hand man (although he is on his left)...<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWx2nFBezygk16a0qbiqNYdOOjQnwxzk1xehuJRzlOqX8CdUDGYN51azhDNwE9b_Y9heOZbIZplsnwsVw3v9Wt6MJnP5hvWJIkWCj8pdtLKFUa8Yn6EfEVJdQKAivmPuk2hAYU2duNrHvh/s800/Damril+and+Swordsman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="581" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWx2nFBezygk16a0qbiqNYdOOjQnwxzk1xehuJRzlOqX8CdUDGYN51azhDNwE9b_Y9heOZbIZplsnwsVw3v9Wt6MJnP5hvWJIkWCj8pdtLKFUa8Yn6EfEVJdQKAivmPuk2hAYU2duNrHvh/s320/Damril+and+Swordsman.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>The Archers from Damril's Battle Company...<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU2SNxX6ouyuv_xL2I29JsHa9GBp1F8FfTj2ejrxaXtX04HKQ2DVgOPFVmf9RZpJ3J7JQQUMtJjRbGC6bdFaCpBGjXur8k5es0QycRVN8P8RDw9Ps4mtrICWqnKNFXpFw2buCoyLr-6-OT/s800/Damril+Archers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="615" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU2SNxX6ouyuv_xL2I29JsHa9GBp1F8FfTj2ejrxaXtX04HKQ2DVgOPFVmf9RZpJ3J7JQQUMtJjRbGC6bdFaCpBGjXur8k5es0QycRVN8P8RDw9Ps4mtrICWqnKNFXpFw2buCoyLr-6-OT/s320/Damril+Archers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>And finally, Damril's spearmen including his new recruit on the right...<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisOznBROZsOazqTaBNwKvYA31Lk9v33gQmSpKoCaKfQqNDujPAdPzcwfb6K_LlMDbUrd0efM6KKcL8eigw7nhqfvkEDQJ8o796p4VtOhNhUKikwt4qluTiZIzyEaQLk1VkqWKrX35UFJuv/s800/Damril+Spearmen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="509" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisOznBROZsOazqTaBNwKvYA31Lk9v33gQmSpKoCaKfQqNDujPAdPzcwfb6K_LlMDbUrd0efM6KKcL8eigw7nhqfvkEDQJ8o796p4VtOhNhUKikwt4qluTiZIzyEaQLk1VkqWKrX35UFJuv/s320/Damril+Spearmen.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>I will have to get my son to name the rest of his troops (as I will with the orc Battle Company I am currently running alongside this one) and then we can try to find a roster sheet to make note of who they are and what they have achieved so far.</p><p>I enjoyed painting these and they didn't take as long as I thought that they would. Some of the previous paint jobs were a little crude but I was able to fix them up somewhat. I also left most of the armour as was, to give a beaten look to the crew. My son decided he wanted purple tunics on his men rather than the standard black from the films. His collection is really becoming his own now, what with him deciding to go non-canon on most of the figures.<br /></p><p>I got a couple of weeks extension to my temporary work assignment, so I will still be busy on that rather than painting miniatures during the day, but hopefully I can get a little done on the rest of the Gondor figures during the longer, lighter evenings over the coming weeks. I will also be reading the new Rangers of Shadow Deep rulebook so that we can at least get a Ranger and a few companions statted out this weekend when the kids are over. Now, I just need to look online to see if someone has any PDF versions of the Ranger character sheets so I can print a couple out as well as the Gondorian Battle Company roster sheets.<br /></p>Little Odohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16554557447121289551noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597492159243709780.post-69131585632864526452021-06-05T10:23:00.000+01:002021-06-05T10:23:06.152+01:00Rangers of Shadow Deep<p>Well, I finally saved up the pennies and ordered the Rangers of Shadow Deep rulebook from Modiphius. At the same time I also purchased a few packs of the official range of, erm, rangers from North Star. I will try to grab a few more miniatures from other manufacturers over the coming months to add to them to provide a bit of variety.</p><p>Anyway, here is my little haul that arrived during the week...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjilU9lB9O-uEak_9HUj26x2ueyCVBA4XoXSxrGN5K2XpOqq50iagqL00xNFm6SmIGrXYwVhYewuQUSOSFUwDqSa4D12IjHsO0E2CeFBVlKlGGXLB6TJTzLl-ltKgXASFKgvr_csjyrC3vr/s800/Rangers+of+Shadow+Deep.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="539" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjilU9lB9O-uEak_9HUj26x2ueyCVBA4XoXSxrGN5K2XpOqq50iagqL00xNFm6SmIGrXYwVhYewuQUSOSFUwDqSa4D12IjHsO0E2CeFBVlKlGGXLB6TJTzLl-ltKgXASFKgvr_csjyrC3vr/s320/Rangers+of+Shadow+Deep.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>I will be reading through the rule book over the next week or so, so when my son is over again we can both stat up a ranger and their companions. I am hoping to give my son that sense of wonder that I had when I first started tabletop gaming back in the early days of Basic D&D. Unfortunately we do not have the time at the moment to play as often as I did back then, so I need a set of rules that will take me at least part of the way there.</p><p>This new version of the rulebook is nicely presented with plenty of beautifully drawn incidental pictures that add atmosphere to the book, as well as lots of tables and diagrams to make things easier to understand. There are plenty of scenarios to start a ranger off on their adventures, so I am hoping that this book will give my son and I several sessions of gaming in which to get used to the rules and mechanisms.</p><p>There are many supplemental PDF adventure packs available to download too, so I can add these to the missions my son can adventure on. I have read a few other blogs of people who have played through the available scenarios and all their takes are different, with some gamers adding in their own linking aventures too. From what I have seen and heard so far, this is quite a flexible game, and should provide hours of enjoyment for us. I will write another blog entry once I have read and digested the rules.<br /></p>Little Odohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16554557447121289551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597492159243709780.post-29824044303777584272021-06-03T20:57:00.000+01:002021-06-03T20:57:09.832+01:00Battle Companies : Gondor vs Orcs<p>This bank holiday weekend saw son number two wanting to play another battle in Middle Earth. We read up on the rules for Might and Will to go along with Fate that we already knew about. We chose our miniatures and then we rolled out the scenery (I managed to find a few more items in some boxes in the garage), set up the table and then randomly rolled to see which scenario that we would play.<br /></p><p><b>10. Tame the Beast</b></p><p>The table was set up and the troll placed as if he was coming out of the barn which was as near to the table centre as made sense. As the troll moved first, we measured up and found that the Gondor troops were closest, so it headed off in their direction with the intent of mayhem (the troll is controlled by a limited set of AI instructions - I rolled the dice against Gondor, my son against the orcs)...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUKkj57aNtATs-umtUfbZBZFOiDTCRqFdJqdEqEQoB9aklOECbsHKt-WB_2HIWIPzAVeb5SFfuQuU6pPZB9MPwxHMm_cJHoLD_OzIxQVnybof2u5wvQz5lnbsUuIdxs7umS93Z2FK9XPGA/s800/TtB+0.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="683" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUKkj57aNtATs-umtUfbZBZFOiDTCRqFdJqdEqEQoB9aklOECbsHKt-WB_2HIWIPzAVeb5SFfuQuU6pPZB9MPwxHMm_cJHoLD_OzIxQVnybof2u5wvQz5lnbsUuIdxs7umS93Z2FK9XPGA/s320/TtB+0.jpg" /></a></div><p>The forces of Gondor led by Damril...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3MRW8ZlqhKkRLOWWi7PW8eH5bpaTMfwyhjrq5L2rsgekSJObym98vawnqsZe347ilvVnABz0J4dZBvktc-EB7eX0jv1_eCS5NRjnJO04wnJLhoXNo6uHyrd93TYETHtyu9-jHnzXQJ3nI/s800/TtB+-+Gondor.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="428" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3MRW8ZlqhKkRLOWWi7PW8eH5bpaTMfwyhjrq5L2rsgekSJObym98vawnqsZe347ilvVnABz0J4dZBvktc-EB7eX0jv1_eCS5NRjnJO04wnJLhoXNo6uHyrd93TYETHtyu9-jHnzXQJ3nI/s320/TtB+-+Gondor.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>The orcs led by Ushnar...<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjAbXR3zmDTK1sEsPrSBOiRNFG0JNt37igf4pAofE1Lfe9nvNNwye8vPtwdiY1VNKiFeKL12nTEGQrNZyyvHeyjG4_Krlncrhw2UWrUjkAoNV3uvNmoQvSnpKF5Q3bFGh8QMecCpYub2rl/s800/TtB+-+Orcs.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="389" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjAbXR3zmDTK1sEsPrSBOiRNFG0JNt37igf4pAofE1Lfe9nvNNwye8vPtwdiY1VNKiFeKL12nTEGQrNZyyvHeyjG4_Krlncrhw2UWrUjkAoNV3uvNmoQvSnpKF5Q3bFGh8QMecCpYub2rl/s320/TtB+-+Orcs.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>The troll...</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkr-eip8YrY_E-LXEDCkU8QldHbDrl-CGdvdKp34v8SfOGpvArKfhSQGGParK4_iGhxJz7ogQ3_UyvwKf4vn-qhMo_PPNK4X8GgKh-RDmIN_79DBMRf3HV6k3nat4ysmA6shR5e1drAeqY/s1015/TtB+-+the+Troll.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1015" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkr-eip8YrY_E-LXEDCkU8QldHbDrl-CGdvdKp34v8SfOGpvArKfhSQGGParK4_iGhxJz7ogQ3_UyvwKf4vn-qhMo_PPNK4X8GgKh-RDmIN_79DBMRf3HV6k3nat4ysmA6shR5e1drAeqY/s320/TtB+-+the+Troll.jpg" /></a></div><br />The early evening dusk added to the gloom of the weighty rain clouds skudding overhead. Damril, wanting to find shelter for the night for his patrol, remembered a small watch tower just over the next few hills. He ordered his men forward on the promise of a warm fire and shelter from the imminent downpour. Unfortunately, upon entering the environs of the tower he spotted an orc warband skulking their way through a set of ruins on the other side of the hamlet.<p></p><p>Suddenly, the door of the central barn was flung open and a small hill troll (statted as a cave troll) stepped outside finishing what looked like the last part of a stringy joint of meat. Something must have caught its attention as it stopped and sniffed the air. Unfortunately for Damril, he and his men were upwind from the beast and it had caught their scent. With a roar of rage, the troll charged towards them.</p><p>On the other side of the settlement, Ushnar was also getting ready to camp for the night. He had heard rumours of a troll in the area, so was a little more cautious approaching the village. He spotted the troll at the same time as he spotted the men of Gondor. Seeing that the troll had charged towards the men he barked out his command to follow the troll, pepper it with arrows from a distance and then close with it once the little band of men had weakened it with their efforts so that it would be easier to take down.<br /></p><p>As the troll began its charge towards the Gondorians, their two archers who were slightly apart from the main force, launched a few arrows at the beast. At the same time, the orcs also let off a volley of arrows, one of which managed to find a weak spot in its tough hide. The troll charged on regardless, seemingly not feeling the arrow that had pierced its hide, or possibly thinking that it had been one of the Gondorian arrows that had caused it harm.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtF5D5JMsX7tLOnkQs9s4168CUahyfZRPeAPQV_krVEkHMm97mu4CQMdtB0zRvRw_3PP_ziv-1WEcqKDVh4wPPcDsoVqqA3edztaGkh3hkqRnJ469Zj27czaNXyL20XkCuCa-xn6R-dpDA/s800/TtB+1+-+wound+1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="389" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtF5D5JMsX7tLOnkQs9s4168CUahyfZRPeAPQV_krVEkHMm97mu4CQMdtB0zRvRw_3PP_ziv-1WEcqKDVh4wPPcDsoVqqA3edztaGkh3hkqRnJ469Zj27czaNXyL20XkCuCa-xn6R-dpDA/s320/TtB+1+-+wound+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>Damril called for his men to be steady and to await the charge of the beast. They met it with shields, spears and swords, but the troll was more than a match for the brave warriors. It focused on Damril as its main source of hatred but was unable to strike a telling blow in its frenzied state (the first of many sets of very low rolls). Perhaps the arrow sticking from its hide was causing it to be a little more clumsy and slower than normal?</p><p>Damril and his steadfast warband attacked the troll supported by a couple of doughty archers...<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Q2HP2mnp1Mx_BlYN8yg-PmMQO1F6PxSfNEBsvwrLVU1BOjIkAy4KkV6JdnOg-_75C2S_mYpjOrInCTtC6K4mTlH0_X7WfimZvlZh84aKS7GkeLbrlBKCRW3veQCNM9n7dL9PlPv1IySX/s1291/TtB+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1291" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Q2HP2mnp1Mx_BlYN8yg-PmMQO1F6PxSfNEBsvwrLVU1BOjIkAy4KkV6JdnOg-_75C2S_mYpjOrInCTtC6K4mTlH0_X7WfimZvlZh84aKS7GkeLbrlBKCRW3veQCNM9n7dL9PlPv1IySX/s320/TtB+2.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><p>Ushnar and his rabble tracked the troll from a little distance, supported by a constant barrage of shafts from his own archers...<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOZHvYE-U5RHVwIlLicKhHigvI_DzBbqWRXBb1bsmy-XuqJo3kMcgYe598z1TTPGHMcq_Ql_FA5q5uxRfcJwmDJ_LKhC6B0rsZl-9hCORdE4sA8fBvEGw8J9fPtJKXlFfd8OzYr1chzwYr/s800/TtB+3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="389" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOZHvYE-U5RHVwIlLicKhHigvI_DzBbqWRXBb1bsmy-XuqJo3kMcgYe598z1TTPGHMcq_Ql_FA5q5uxRfcJwmDJ_LKhC6B0rsZl-9hCORdE4sA8fBvEGw8J9fPtJKXlFfd8OzYr1chzwYr/s320/TtB+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidmXs68fimNqw2aoF1AHynDSVIy9Z2SWxMWVA06fvVh3klqA0OjqYW6pGC6Wip2qzqd4Hc9a_rzo43FWXkv934TBje-liswW10pX-HM0YPv5-UiGqaqQ6AnV1nNrTsguYt47m_o6INx63T/s800/TtB+4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="389" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidmXs68fimNqw2aoF1AHynDSVIy9Z2SWxMWVA06fvVh3klqA0OjqYW6pGC6Wip2qzqd4Hc9a_rzo43FWXkv934TBje-liswW10pX-HM0YPv5-UiGqaqQ6AnV1nNrTsguYt47m_o6INx63T/s320/TtB+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>The very poor rolling by me as the troll attacking Damril kept failing to wound (it needed just a 4+ to wound)...<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfSTQ1pVD2wJaTAl17W3fPiELHaaKve7wNrfEFpAVetA2ghNUC5bhFkBF6X0lyrsjK-doL4BFNqPlQ0EOhBsco0bWDrfK0ZeUSwU-Z7kgmMQyrXmtyDgah_0EMcxJidsOZWmFerr0ZVXT-/s800/TtB+5+-+Troll+Fail+1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="593" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfSTQ1pVD2wJaTAl17W3fPiELHaaKve7wNrfEFpAVetA2ghNUC5bhFkBF6X0lyrsjK-doL4BFNqPlQ0EOhBsco0bWDrfK0ZeUSwU-Z7kgmMQyrXmtyDgah_0EMcxJidsOZWmFerr0ZVXT-/s320/TtB+5+-+Troll+Fail+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>The orcs drew ever closer to the fight as the Gondor warriors fought on trying to bring down the troll...<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWY8PoJxrMIUMDnMMG_HO-HH_-OS-yGBm7em9PuWcJk08ByBAf-kQJnukCiw7b5O1bf2Qx9CI7eqymmr-phs01mdJkp6kYLLepLOti_JT1EQBOVg8tnpXWDH_-k8s-xjfQMENtpjKI9av2/s800/TtB+6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="389" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWY8PoJxrMIUMDnMMG_HO-HH_-OS-yGBm7em9PuWcJk08ByBAf-kQJnukCiw7b5O1bf2Qx9CI7eqymmr-phs01mdJkp6kYLLepLOti_JT1EQBOVg8tnpXWDH_-k8s-xjfQMENtpjKI9av2/s320/TtB+6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>The troll still could not harm the warriors of Minas Tirith - even though it tried its luck against the other swordsman this time (we changed up the wounds remaining dice for the troll from white to red at this point to make it stand out a little more)...<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGIJrL4_2pYeQqFBepIK6A7D2ZNoD6NxhgHck5BhKk1sbN1cRwVvqn1RFGhSejhihKIw1sBB9GfAYNG72QPpwVo6MeRw-dqP_zq8LYHNw2aZQRKMgKy6WkCz3pNtJ8e-i4nMPhZaujuXm-/s800/TtB+7+-+Troll+Fail+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="679" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGIJrL4_2pYeQqFBepIK6A7D2ZNoD6NxhgHck5BhKk1sbN1cRwVvqn1RFGhSejhihKIw1sBB9GfAYNG72QPpwVo6MeRw-dqP_zq8LYHNw2aZQRKMgKy6WkCz3pNtJ8e-i4nMPhZaujuXm-/s320/TtB+7+-+Troll+Fail+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>And again...<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6hpdfBUuyw0QKUkTW9IqHBP4cchgRNb5BOTvx79MHDKHebuJ5R4LbQU9Yn5A97G7BUq4eIdg2EoNa49xovLUW-fLrtwlh5OlHxunU3QrTXYl3ayKUp_Xxk1JX1VCHsBgD7zP5nx5-F0BV/s800/TtB+8+-+Troll+Fail+3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6hpdfBUuyw0QKUkTW9IqHBP4cchgRNb5BOTvx79MHDKHebuJ5R4LbQU9Yn5A97G7BUq4eIdg2EoNa49xovLUW-fLrtwlh5OlHxunU3QrTXYl3ayKUp_Xxk1JX1VCHsBgD7zP5nx5-F0BV/s320/TtB+8+-+Troll+Fail+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>Finally, the Gondorian archers got a shot in through its thick hide as Damril and his men were forced ever backwards, but the troll's persistence against the swordsman paid off and he was beaten down by the troll's heavy club...<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5t0LHkHpLRunx1rx9wYPyI0Xq_VmSOn9wAkMazoPrUG1bGJJuPJqRyQ18bGMsaXrrT5i91ZZ0fr5ArNKMStfyOjWDVEsb_vAsMJ81h5E5H6Fx5nnygyIP-3IuZ_YN3T6lBZquwMncQbht/s800/TtB+9+-+wound+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="389" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5t0LHkHpLRunx1rx9wYPyI0Xq_VmSOn9wAkMazoPrUG1bGJJuPJqRyQ18bGMsaXrrT5i91ZZ0fr5ArNKMStfyOjWDVEsb_vAsMJ81h5E5H6Fx5nnygyIP-3IuZ_YN3T6lBZquwMncQbht/s320/TtB+9+-+wound+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>Meanwhile, the orcs were very sneaky and proceeded to take down the two Gondorian archers and, again, the troll failed to harm Damril in any way...<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXLpE5ATZ_bmkn2ooFYFvPnA6kjIXZad4hP-CzYu54V07jPgfxBDEnq3P9UkICkC3v5-N1FocycKg6GmHViwJ5kQZQH0mmaLBhbbIOdJGKLKxxpYu0YDA9vB8O-GGh2QrakrgtUnW9IGT1/s800/TtB+10+-+Troll+Fail+4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="513" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXLpE5ATZ_bmkn2ooFYFvPnA6kjIXZad4hP-CzYu54V07jPgfxBDEnq3P9UkICkC3v5-N1FocycKg6GmHViwJ5kQZQH0mmaLBhbbIOdJGKLKxxpYu0YDA9vB8O-GGh2QrakrgtUnW9IGT1/s320/TtB+10+-+Troll+Fail+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>With half of the Gondor patrol down, the two remaining spearmen deserted their leader and skipped off the board to a safer locale, taking their downed brethren with them. The orcs decided to gang up on the troll, but were unable to approach the fearsome beast (all failed their Courage rolls). That was OK though as the troll took the fight to them and again showed its prowess by rolling yet another bunch of ones and twos.. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoESI9fedMWNokzGPcDCF1VOaDRnSnUKxyH9SrUTSDhFdou99JAj9gApt8aBSf31r38arS6D4nFtMo49uKe0lLmchM67Po0A7jIEgTv5ZAZdYTxpr0tW-wJ0DobAmeh4URaQ2zgNGMLuhZ/s800/TtB+11+-+Troll+Fail+5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="489" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoESI9fedMWNokzGPcDCF1VOaDRnSnUKxyH9SrUTSDhFdou99JAj9gApt8aBSf31r38arS6D4nFtMo49uKe0lLmchM67Po0A7jIEgTv5ZAZdYTxpr0tW-wJ0DobAmeh4URaQ2zgNGMLuhZ/s320/TtB+11+-+Troll+Fail+5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>Damril, seeing his opportunity, passed his Courage test and hit the troll from the rear, killing it outright and winning the scenario for Gondor...<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTzQaSR0XapYLrmPdkEmr6dfIOLAr6jittTWftIbE8OC0hh-8H37nMDO-dGr0DCS8vNweSi4rdW2i_-NfX5fizs-gYXU43o7whcLCqjDXrSdYDwvk6oyiTot_gbBVIUDcTA_1u3m0jza8D/s800/TtB+12+-+wound+3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="545" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTzQaSR0XapYLrmPdkEmr6dfIOLAr6jittTWftIbE8OC0hh-8H37nMDO-dGr0DCS8vNweSi4rdW2i_-NfX5fizs-gYXU43o7whcLCqjDXrSdYDwvk6oyiTot_gbBVIUDcTA_1u3m0jza8D/s320/TtB+12+-+wound+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Damril roared defiance in the face of the orc rabble and, after seeing him single handedly drop the troll, they ran pell-mell away from the victorious lieutenant of Gondor. The men of Minas Tirith held the field at the end of the battle and were able to tend their wounds in the safety of the watch tower. Ushnar and his warband had to settle for shelter beneath a copse of trees several miles away.<br /></p><p> </p><p>The final move of the game was a very clever piece of gaming by my son. We had not needed to use Fate or Will during the game so far but we both had a point of Might to use. I did not find any opportunity to use it, but as a final thought before Damril left the field to the orcs, he decided to attack the troll. He passed his Courage test, won the fight and rolled a 5 to wound the troll (he was tempted to use his Might to help with Courage and Fight if necessary, but didn't need it). This would ordinarily have been a miss, but remembering how Might worked, he added the point and slew the beast. Well played him!<br /></p><p>These two warbands are going to be what we will use going forwards when playing LotR Strategy Battle Game. We still did not use the full rules and only statted up the lieutenant. We will get two sergeants statted up by the time of the next game. Anyway, we made a note of the Experience...</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Orcs - Archer wounded troll, 2H-axe killed Gondor archer, Ushnar killed Gondor archer</li><li>Gondor - Archer wounded troll, Damril killed troll<br /></li></ul><p>and Influence...</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Orcs - Taking part (2)</li><li>Gondor - Taking part (2), Winning the Scenario (2) <br /></li></ul><p>gained by each warband and will print out a roster sheet for each warband to include these. For three of his four Influence points, littlun rolled an additional warrior with Spear and Shield.</p><p><br /></p><p>In this battle, I used the orcs that I painted up for him recently. My son used his second hand Gondor warriors that still need to be repainted. He has given me instructions for how he wants them painted - we managed to get to Games Workshop over the weekend to purchase some more undercoat spray paint, a couple of paint brushes and the colour he wants his troops' tunics painted.</p><p>Unfortunately/fortunately, I will not be able to paint much over the next few weeks as I was (fortunately) able to secure a few weeks' of temporary work. Hopefully I can do a little, at least on his battle company.<br /></p>Little Odohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16554557447121289551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597492159243709780.post-40596419748062331822021-05-22T12:50:00.001+01:002021-05-22T12:50:45.904+01:00Dragon!<p>This one took a while, but I think the journey has been worthwhile. Below are a few pictures of an old magazine cover plastic dragon figure that I thought would come in useful one day as a gaming miniature. The magazine was a Hachette partworks called <i>Beasts and Beings</i>, if I recall correctly, dated from around 2008. I think I bought the first two issues, but all the subsequent figures were no good for my gaming purposes. The magazines have since been consigned to the recycling bin as they were not that great to be honest; kids would have loved them though.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOyUEGV70FRzY3sCWhnLU4PRTjKTmTCFMqynWOYMgeiZg0bp3s5hwPlWK6n_CnKZberesJaiir1DhXf53F8_8NjE29VWIcBZ_lS8uPvp_yEQoDTgDf4nIo95pGMALr0ypwpfaGaIeIIi5L/s1269/Dragon+1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1269" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOyUEGV70FRzY3sCWhnLU4PRTjKTmTCFMqynWOYMgeiZg0bp3s5hwPlWK6n_CnKZberesJaiir1DhXf53F8_8NjE29VWIcBZ_lS8uPvp_yEQoDTgDf4nIo95pGMALr0ypwpfaGaIeIIi5L/s320/Dragon+1.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><p>The model was initially (rather inexpertly) painted red, with translucent red wings. The egg was white. Unfortunately I could not find a picture on the web of the dragon in its original colour scheme, although if I really tried I probably could, but I cannot be bothered to spend too much time in tracking one down. Anyway, I didn't want to stick to the standard red dragon scheme, so decided to go down the green dragon route purely based on the Lord of the Rings ditty about The Green Dragon Inn (sung by Merry and Pippin in the aftermath of one of the battles in Rohan if I remember rightly) which happened to be going round my head at the time. Anyway, first up is the undercoated version...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuKb-_OhRrjpsYjA1treXh7M_AE2dEThWw3Lr3UfAxymjnXp7Y2ZDKyswZ1kUooF4xl96zXvbbKpWh0krsKZmdVovlTRl-dw6vL9JXkzvmO9XPN7LMoWMrSQ7esFUHgIn9guP3FtfutX6Z/s1436/Dragon.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1436" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuKb-_OhRrjpsYjA1treXh7M_AE2dEThWw3Lr3UfAxymjnXp7Y2ZDKyswZ1kUooF4xl96zXvbbKpWh0krsKZmdVovlTRl-dw6vL9JXkzvmO9XPN7LMoWMrSQ7esFUHgIn9guP3FtfutX6Z/s320/Dragon.jpg" /></a></div><p>And, the dragon in a carousel-style series of pictures to show her off from all angles...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu-D7almZN1CUNP4-nP47oaQIb3s93Rmda0FDe-EQ-U8L6Kq8XIx_8hcpIvD1bw5YNjeLMxNvutKYzDSAiIhJ_LwLJ4E_PMw9emqcn1H2WDK5v5LaRGEN1WDmCU_cLt0Z3KRf43MujDMWF/s1269/Dragon+1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1269" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu-D7almZN1CUNP4-nP47oaQIb3s93Rmda0FDe-EQ-U8L6Kq8XIx_8hcpIvD1bw5YNjeLMxNvutKYzDSAiIhJ_LwLJ4E_PMw9emqcn1H2WDK5v5LaRGEN1WDmCU_cLt0Z3KRf43MujDMWF/s320/Dragon+1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkAdmXpRK00ZtpQtqinXbLsOS_7zm_Wm9ubwkZFBwO7tU56Bnr-JEvST_t2WLDqeFkFy_ZjZO080TGpwMuUFCqxvor8RP8in3drRpZHJRJEdkBJN9gr5D2qExkIfDrI7WESLybk2nHALsm/s1353/Dragon+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1353" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkAdmXpRK00ZtpQtqinXbLsOS_7zm_Wm9ubwkZFBwO7tU56Bnr-JEvST_t2WLDqeFkFy_ZjZO080TGpwMuUFCqxvor8RP8in3drRpZHJRJEdkBJN9gr5D2qExkIfDrI7WESLybk2nHALsm/s320/Dragon+2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidgNZZOhf0dH8bJgrV36zaY3WjhdR6T2i9VYjiuOMS2AhIGITsQP-i6TmYMYDwAA0tFVR4KvpZgTKX8PdzYF8aPmezn-JYPn65tP5p8H05QcMnMF0TXIDe5eTPNdqJ28Zvb9tzf0HmHQHa/s1378/Dragon+3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1378" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidgNZZOhf0dH8bJgrV36zaY3WjhdR6T2i9VYjiuOMS2AhIGITsQP-i6TmYMYDwAA0tFVR4KvpZgTKX8PdzYF8aPmezn-JYPn65tP5p8H05QcMnMF0TXIDe5eTPNdqJ28Zvb9tzf0HmHQHa/s320/Dragon+3.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2YVoiiSMlR1havbuuU7H8e7d_UIW0Si1FdakHLqFltAF1Yx3Qe3uMuEQkH2s71lQbApu4tmV3jAEA03YObZ8gEOcxxulCO7s2w_isCqDD9tg9Y0kol0BPeexaKPUpGeq6pkz-a8w1fxFH/s1375/Dragon+4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1375" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2YVoiiSMlR1havbuuU7H8e7d_UIW0Si1FdakHLqFltAF1Yx3Qe3uMuEQkH2s71lQbApu4tmV3jAEA03YObZ8gEOcxxulCO7s2w_isCqDD9tg9Y0kol0BPeexaKPUpGeq6pkz-a8w1fxFH/s320/Dragon+4.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhukrOPBbKdKNR83_iGMJRHnok8NbGDwNIxTn-q3RwoEmCUzKYZRfU3RDO-yYM2a33xofEvuFnzjQFt0naBFiAJE6Xqb1PDqp3G4HWJSSfDbDZBfClaGZ4_Uvzr1bqrZk7jp7MOMDl6CIev/s1314/Dragon+5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1314" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhukrOPBbKdKNR83_iGMJRHnok8NbGDwNIxTn-q3RwoEmCUzKYZRfU3RDO-yYM2a33xofEvuFnzjQFt0naBFiAJE6Xqb1PDqp3G4HWJSSfDbDZBfClaGZ4_Uvzr1bqrZk7jp7MOMDl6CIev/s320/Dragon+5.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju2zgI38kS6tKaJ-ZYODJm2rcOMOAXaquqIZipsBGzoKG_F1jkWbwioRywwyxCwWUnZqpt_mpc1efRZd6a4WiPAEeaiBlIULfi_eyqIYrzv8Ts5MNDB10bEK4AvwKhO3PQF2i_9xYRWvlE/s1301/Dragon+6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1301" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju2zgI38kS6tKaJ-ZYODJm2rcOMOAXaquqIZipsBGzoKG_F1jkWbwioRywwyxCwWUnZqpt_mpc1efRZd6a4WiPAEeaiBlIULfi_eyqIYrzv8Ts5MNDB10bEK4AvwKhO3PQF2i_9xYRWvlE/s320/Dragon+6.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifjnVAPOAa1na0D_SOCi0Bzck5_jRCl1eFmy5RRKh6bwpnBfbumtmHRwJnVj-0q0JLRvcNpl1mFZjonRFPX-HCxWMetwcDgpD3LJLSon9ua-fbOiOu8gDZxWIkX0yK4TBpGfcRnq7Xafwr/s1286/Dragon+7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1286" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifjnVAPOAa1na0D_SOCi0Bzck5_jRCl1eFmy5RRKh6bwpnBfbumtmHRwJnVj-0q0JLRvcNpl1mFZjonRFPX-HCxWMetwcDgpD3LJLSon9ua-fbOiOu8gDZxWIkX0yK4TBpGfcRnq7Xafwr/s320/Dragon+7.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><p>Although the painting has been completed, I still need to varnish her to protect her from rough handling and the elements. When I eventually get around to buying some gloss paint on varnish, and some matt spray varnish for the skeletons, I will also use them for her.</p><p>She is mounted on an old CD to give you a sense of her size. The basing is a mixture of almost everything I have; GW texture basing, sand, small pieces of gravel, flock, grass tufts, flower tufts (white and purple) and some tree scatter flock. I was hoping to get a small treasure hoard on there, but I think her egg is enough treasure for anyone to plunder. If I feel the inclination, I may add some treaure at a later date. At least as she is, she will be ideally suited to wilderness encounter scenarios.<br /></p><p>So, what will I be able to use her for? I was hoping that I could use a small dragon in games of Frostgrave or any other fantasy style solo/co-op game, as well as in Dragon Rampant as a war beast of some kind, and Lord of the Rings as a cave drake or something similar. Hopefully I can find all sorts of uses for her going forward. At the moment she is sitting on my bookshelves looking lovely, and I am day dreaming over scenarios to include her in.<br /></p><p>Next week will hopefully see me carry on with prepping more Otherworld skeletons, putting some more paint onto the undead riders and starting on my son's Gondor warband. Lots to do to keep me busy.<br /></p>Little Odohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16554557447121289551noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597492159243709780.post-41516735408170639932021-05-21T12:04:00.005+01:002021-05-21T12:04:55.307+01:00Repainted Elves<p>Following on from yesterday's post about the completed elf archers, today I managed to finish off the last of the elf swordsmen. Here's the warband in its entirety...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwIZc7eOVFzSaaVsqoDMWUfFPVR546FnygfwvR9VNFUhdAYXx-p_pzhh_hLuhsn7GNCoC8PliNR6gHGONx0vrlaZp4wdNj31j-emvsba94jfLY1h8zJZXVE3UCHX209BpXE5jOBKTj3dks/s1000/Elf+Warband.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwIZc7eOVFzSaaVsqoDMWUfFPVR546FnygfwvR9VNFUhdAYXx-p_pzhh_hLuhsn7GNCoC8PliNR6gHGONx0vrlaZp4wdNj31j-emvsba94jfLY1h8zJZXVE3UCHX209BpXE5jOBKTj3dks/s320/Elf+Warband.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>The ones I completed today were the broken ones that had to be patched up with whatever spares I could find. Two turned out OK, I think, but I am not keen on the other two. Anyway, here they are; I like the ones to the left and right of the picture, but not so keen on the middle two...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGGRgaZxmGre1ixJyRN65WBNoQ0M3xIg-Vmosl2VH37EZfW6RRS4x1Z5Hgkghirzi2am9jyb4pNMWD3AplsmQPFLxR09Bwe7zgcKNOb9u7B6BKuDlks4V2icf-a4hZfkUE1BKMjfoIXrZ9/s800/Elf+Warriors+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="334" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGGRgaZxmGre1ixJyRN65WBNoQ0M3xIg-Vmosl2VH37EZfW6RRS4x1Z5Hgkghirzi2am9jyb4pNMWD3AplsmQPFLxR09Bwe7zgcKNOb9u7B6BKuDlks4V2icf-a4hZfkUE1BKMjfoIXrZ9/s320/Elf+Warriors+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>This completes the painting that I have been asked to do by my son on these elves. Here is a picture of all of the elf archers that I have completed...<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOEW7qV02uKKsTcOHohgBYviyPEPgoMI7WWq7dkd3I4RqtvsCrwA56YjZtH7LtiquNyGVgkLMKqKG0dKgMkRj4-m2JdshEhqs0fUMHBLMTbzgLHxhyphenhyphenYxXQaF9djuxHZwY-mLP0DXuqAxi7/s800/Elf+Archers+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="470" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOEW7qV02uKKsTcOHohgBYviyPEPgoMI7WWq7dkd3I4RqtvsCrwA56YjZtH7LtiquNyGVgkLMKqKG0dKgMkRj4-m2JdshEhqs0fUMHBLMTbzgLHxhyphenhyphenYxXQaF9djuxHZwY-mLP0DXuqAxi7/s320/Elf+Archers+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>And, here are the sword/glaive wielding dudes...<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ2z8813VTvZ8Dbn2-qyA8O-Ve6QQ0Db7o4WlYyiim1Ibfrfsh_ewNPU8Z00KVhXT0gv-HSnsIKkK1FY3j2b_iP3b5hwpXSUJ9E_HU4rENKD3b4c79OIes-db2q0swdVf0u1cxB5cOQyKc/s800/Elf+Warriors+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="501" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ2z8813VTvZ8Dbn2-qyA8O-Ve6QQ0Db7o4WlYyiim1Ibfrfsh_ewNPU8Z00KVhXT0gv-HSnsIKkK1FY3j2b_iP3b5hwpXSUJ9E_HU4rENKD3b4c79OIes-db2q0swdVf0u1cxB5cOQyKc/s320/Elf+Warriors+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p> And, finally, those that my son will be painting himself...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZhXjy1ibn0NuBMhoCkSHAlsdLjO48HkN8UF-Z0dlmoxwBrONZiKyP6Y_IwITtd7Y1HiAQj00fZmcEGczz3svOR1sR3Rhu6Tnj6JNam2BttUqTbH2api3wdeUZNzXvEX7vplvrqQIpLKDZ/s800/Elf+Command+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="559" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZhXjy1ibn0NuBMhoCkSHAlsdLjO48HkN8UF-Z0dlmoxwBrONZiKyP6Y_IwITtd7Y1HiAQj00fZmcEGczz3svOR1sR3Rhu6Tnj6JNam2BttUqTbH2api3wdeUZNzXvEX7vplvrqQIpLKDZ/s320/Elf+Command+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>The sword wielding elf will need to be fixed up with another blade and then littlun can get on with painting them all. I will hopefully be popping to my local GW store in the next week or two to pick up some extra paints, brushes and so on so he can get to work on these. Again, these will be used for Battle Companies and the possibility of games of Dragon Rampant if they ally with another faction. So far, for the evil side, my son has the 30 orcs that I have already painted for him, one of my old troll miniatures, quite a few Easterlings and a handful each of goblins and uruk-hai. And for the good side, he has 17 painted elves, around 30 Gondorians, and maybe 25 or so Rohan warriors on foot. Hopefully we can put together two opposing forces from these to duke it out on the tabletop.<br /></p><p>Next up for me to work on for him are his Gondor warriors of Minas Tirith. There are thirty figures from the ebay purchases, of which two are Numenorians (that will be used as sergeants/captains for Battle Companies) and five that are broken in some way (including one of those Numenorians). I will try to get some before pictures set up and then get to work on these next week if I can.</p><p><br /></p><p>I have also been working on those undead riders again; just a little bit more paint work and trying to figure out a colour scheme for them. I am not sure whether to theme them around a certain colour and whether that colour should look faded as if it had just come out of a crypt or grave. I also sorted out that dragon from a few months ago and began to finish her off too. Hopefully there will be some pictures of the dragon very soon.<br /></p>Little Odohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16554557447121289551noreply@blogger.com0