AHPC XIV - From MikeW - Warhammer Fantasy Orcs

 Well, this weekend, I have manged to squeeze out a group of 20 Orc Greenskins to go with the guys I posted a few days ago. I have used the same panting techniques as discussed in that post but have moved it on a little based upon a couple of paint gifts I treated myself to at Xmas.

The just completed batch of 20 x Orc Boys

Namely Army Painter 'Orc Skin' Speed Paint and some Games Workshop 'Air' Warboss Green. So for these guys I used the Speed Paint to block in all the green flesh areas - as the name wold suggest - and then used the Warboss Green to highlight all of the muscles on the figures. The Orc Skin paint is very vivid and possibly too much by its self, the Warboss Green, seems to mute this nicely.

I've decided to group these guys for close-ups basis similar poses, Whilst the new GW Orc figures are great - I'm not a fan of the mono-pose figures as they are mch harder to get a variety of different looks - as I'd imagine a mob of Orcs might look!

The result is, in my opinion, petty good, so I'll look to develop this further on this year's pile of shame! For those interested - I have more Orc Boys plus some Savage Orcs waiting to be painted along with a 3D printed group of Swamp Goblins riding Frogs! (Possibly Toads - I don't know the difference, either way they are lovely figures)

That said there are limitations with the mltipose kits as well!

As ever the bases are painted with a brown acrylic paint and PVA glue gloop, dipped in fine sand and when dry electrostaic grass is added using the same brown gloop, dry brushed over the sand. Base rims then painted black!

These guys with shields will be posted to re-enforce some other regiments in my collection, as I get all my Orc figures second hand sually opt to paint them as they are built, saving me that time!

Shockingly there are no skulls on any of these twenty figures! Nearest thing is two severed heads..

Some Boys with big Choppas! Some with better dental care than others...

And a parting shot of all 25 figures I have done since the start of the challenge
Just because I could take such a pictre!

AHPC XIV - From MikeW - Opening Gambit! Warhammer Fantasy Orcs and 40K Tau (Fantasy, Squirrel, Skullz)

 Hello again,  Everyone!

I thought I ought to open this year's challenge account with a taster of things to come... As well as my usual flitting between subject matters I have decided to try and build a 40K Tau Army and to continue to supppliment my Warhammer Fantasy Greenskin Army.

As ever, the opening couple of weeks of these challenges is a sparse time for painting for me, too many family commitments and pulls on my time in other areas. Hopefully, I will be able to ramp-up the production line as we move into January & February.

So on to this post - first up is a small batch of 5 x Orks, I have been evolving the way in which I paint these guys over the last year or so and this is largely due to watching too many YouTube videos on painting techniques and being easily influenced. 

These Orcs were undercoated black then drybrushed grey and finally drybrushed white, then using watered down green, I blocked in their skin before 'dressing' them with various muted browns, greys and blacks to give the look I was aiming for.

My new best friend in the painting world is Games Workshop Black Templar - when applied over a dry-brushed surface it gives a great 'shaded' black effect. I have used other speed paints form Army Painter & Citadel on these guys as well. 

Once the base colors are blocked in I can then beging on the shading and details that make the figures come to life. I used Army Painter Green Wash all over the skin areas and then suitabe 'regular' paints to add highlights where applicable. 

My other new painitng friend is Games Workshop's Air range of paint for airbrushes - I use these with a normal paint brush straight from the pot, their more 'watery' consistancy allowing for quick, easy coverage. This is how I painted in all the metal work, followed, when dry, with a dark wash to give shading.

For me the key to a good Ork is getting the mouth & teeth right - get them detailed and bold and it enhances the rest of the figure! Dark red mouths, pink lips and grimy but somehow bright teeth make a good start in this area.

I based these guys in my normal manner, fine sand with electrostaic grass.

Second up are a small group of 6 x Tau. I have long wanted to try my hand at these guys but it was only in the run up to this challenge that I decided that I'd give them a go!

I opted for a white armour with accentuated Orange panels, reason being I like the contrast between white ond orange plus I've always been worried about trying to paint white armour, no better way to learn how to paint it - I thought.

What also draws me to the Tau is their 'For the Great Good' ethos, very un-Warhammer 40K, this appeals to my perverse nature of things. Also the other fun thing about theTau is their high tech culture and their willingness to integrate alien life forms into their society and armed forces in an incusive manner.

Hence this small group incldes one drone as well as two Gue'Vesa (aka human helpers), I'll leave it to the reader to spot these! The Gue'Vesa were built from Wargames Atlantic figures, with GW helmets, weapons and equipment added.

So in painting these I undercoated in grey and then dry-brushed light grey and white coats on top of this base before using 3 or 4  glazes of thinned down white to try and give a smooth finish. Random panels on the armor were then painted orange to give a conterpoint contrast, before trying to panel line the armor with Aggrax Earthshade ink. any overruns corrected when dry with more white or orange paint.

The undersuit was painted with an Army Painter dark grey speed paint, and then details were applied to each figure such as the light blue lenses and computer panels in their helmets, weapons and armoured suits. Brass giroscopes were also added and other details appled as needed.

As with the Orcs the finished figures were coated with Matt Varnish. To give these guys a more alien feel , I have opted to use an orange poster paint to ahear the fine sand to on the bases, followed with an patchy ink wash, giving them an unearthly feel and dried grass tfts will be added to imply an arid environment.

Overall, I think that I can improve on the white armour finish, the next batch already seem to be going a bit better, in my opinion.

Apologies for the quality of the photos, the weather and light here in the UK is terrible at present, so I have had to rely on flash to get the required lighting and that is causing shadows elsewhere.... 

So there we have it, my first post of the challenge, points wise I have gone for 5 points per figure and assumed the drone counts the same as a person, please correct if this is wrong!

I have also claimed for the Fantasy section in the library for a 20 point bonus for the Orcs  and as both the Orcs & Tau about exceed 25 points I'm claiming 2 squirrels and 3 Skullz!

2023 Games and their popularity!

 by John Sears

Although no one has asked I secretly know that many of you are impatient to know what games were most popular and who hogged all the availability of evenings in 2023! So, to this end I have once again undertaken a forensic examination of the evidence and can reveal all as follows.

Mat's Ancient Naval Game

But first, a slight change to the usual order of events. To wit, as we are now operating under a strict 6 week (or slotting) arrangement per gamer with any additional slots being donated by others less bothered about putting games on; there really isn’t an overall 'hogger' of gaming weeks as the ‘slotting’ system seems to be working and is obviously very fair.

One of John's Zulu Wars Colonial Games

So, it just means the only burning interest left is the most popular period category.

First of all , I’ve lumped sub periods into generic periods that we can all identify with as follows;-

• Ancients
• Medieval
• Pike & Shot
• Horse & Musket
• Napoleonic
• Colonial
• WW1
• WW2
• Modern
• Naval *

 * Naval is an odd one as it covers pretty much all the others but I’ve kept it separate because it is different…….obviously. Next year Outer Space may have to figure as an odd period as well.

Mark's WW2 Eastern Front Series of Games

In order of weeks played we have: 

1st Place -      Medieval played for 11 weeks, 

2nd place -     WW2, played over 7 weeks 

3rd place -      Colonial played over 6 weeks.

Steve more or less did the Medievals, Mark the WW2 and me on Colonial, not exclusively but mostly.

Medievals are the winning period by a good margin

There you go chaps, you can all sleep peacefully abed tonight safe in the knowledge that your favourite wargames periods were covered in goodly fashion!!

Friday Night Games: Two Fat Lardies, WW2 What a Tankers

Friday 1st December saw Mark out on a 20mm 'What a Tanker' game at Mike's gaming establishment. Using his own model collection, and the Two Fat Lardies rules  thus scenario was set in WW2, where two Germa Tiger tanks held off a British armoured company  consisting of Cromwells,  a Sherman Firefly, some regular Shermans and an Archillies Tank Destroyer.

The Archillies and Firefly each sporting 17lb guns, the best weapons for taking out a Tiger on the British side

Part of the battlefield, British Entry end, showing bridge over river, near to some ruins and a Barbed  Wire line providing a 'light' obstical for the advancing Cromwells.

Mike W, Rupert, Phil, Nigel and Dave all played the British whilst Steve was the dastardly Hun and Mark & Mike N officiated.

A glimpse of the German end of the battlefield beyond the river crossing

British Crowells rolling onto the battlefield

MIke W's brave (or wreckless) Cromwell advancing up the main road,
having crossed the bridge it is now actively looking for the enemy 

One of the two Tigers lying in wait for the British armour,
this one knocked out he above Cromwell at the second attempt

Phil's Cromwell - a lovely model with hedge cutters attached to get through the bocage 

Mike W's replacement tank,
showing somewhat more caution in how it advances on the enemy positions

Overall a win for the Germans, with Mike W & Phil both loosing a Cromwell and Mat's Achillies taking damage, with no permenant damage inflicted on teh Germans.

Finally, it felt abit like 'Fury' for the Bitish Tankers, remind yourself of that scenario below!

Using Chat GPT to create a new Warhammer 40k Space Marines Chapter

There has been much in the news and internet about the advances of AI technologies and how much these tools can do to make life easier for all! 

An illustartive view of the colour scheme suggested by the AI,
in this case Purple & Gold, much like the existing Hawk Lords Chapter

For those that might be interested I have been experimenting with using AI to design and outline a background story for a new Warhammer Space Marines Chapter that I'm thinking about building. Now I could have taken the easy route and gone with one of the recognised 'stock' chapters such as the Ultramarines, Blood Angels or the like. 

However instead I feel like creating something new! Nothing agains the 'stock' Chapters - I had an Ultramarine army for several years! I decided that the chapter should be called 'The Emperor's Guard' but you can also tell Chat GPT to make up a suitable name for your chapter.

I asked the AI tool a simple question, which was: 

Design a warhammer 40k space marines chapter, describe their uniform colours, chapter lore, tactical docorines and details of their founding. The chapter name should be 'The Emperors Guard'

What ChatGPT replied back was as follows, in my opinion a pretty good initial summary of what would be needed to start building a new Chapter Army. In the foloowing weeks i'll be putting some of these forces together and painting as per suggestions below!

Chat GPT relied: 

Name: The Emperor's Guard

Uniform Colors:

The Emperor's Guard dons regal armor in a deep imperial purple with gold trim. Their armor is adorned with intricate engravings depicting scenes of heroism and loyalty. The chapter symbol, a stylized Aquila surrounded by laurel wreaths, is proudly displayed on the right pauldron, while the left bears the squad markings in silver. Veterans and officers wear crimson-colored robes, symbolizing their elevated status. The Emperor's Guard proudly showcases their dedication to the Golden Throne through the elegance of their armor.

Chapter Lore:

The Emperor's Guard traces its origins back to the 21st Founding, known as the 'Cursed Founding.' Initially named the 'Praetorian Wardens,' they were created to serve as an elite force in the defense of critical Imperial assets, including key ecclesiastical sites and planets of great religious importance. However, during the early years of their existence, the chapter suffered from mutations in their gene-seed that caused some concern among the Inquisition. Despite this, the chapter proved its unwavering loyalty to the Emperor and was eventually cleared of any taint.

The Emperor's Guard has since become a bastion of faith and loyalty within the Adeptus Astartes. The chapter's home world, Sanctum Imperialis, is a planet of great spiritual significance, hosting massive cathedrals and shrines dedicated to the worship of the God-Emperor. The chapter maintains a strong connection with the Ecclesiarchy, and their Space Marines often participate in grand processions and religious ceremonies, reinforcing the unity between the Imperial Cult and the Adeptus Astartes.

Known for their fervent devotion to the Emperor, the Emperor's Guard has a unique company known as the 'Custodians of Faith', responsible for safeguarding holy relics and artifacts. These elite warriors are entrusted with the protection of Ecclesiarchal representatives, ensuring that the divine word is spread across the Imperium.

Tactical Doctrines:

The Emperor's Guard excels in rapid response and versatile tactics, combining the flexibility of a Codex-compliant chapter with a strong emphasis on rapid deployment and precision strikes. They are adept at both defensive and offensive operations, adapting their strategies to the specific needs of each engagement.

The chapter places a particular emphasis on the use of jump packs and fast-strike forces to swiftly intervene in critical areas of the battlefield. Their tactical versatility allows them to counter a wide range of threats, from xenos incursions to heretical uprisings. The Emperor's Guard employs a mix of heavy support and rapid assault units, ensuring they can handle various combat scenarios with efficiency and precision.

Primarch:

The Emperor's Guard are proud descendants of the Primarch Dorian Raelius, known as the "Sentinel Lord." Raelius was a master tactician and a resolute defender of the Imperium's borders. His strategic brilliance and unyielding loyalty to the Emperor became the cornerstone of the chapter's ethos. Raelius was particularly known for his ability to inspire his warriors to stand firm in the face of overwhelming odds, a trait that has been passed down through the generations of The Emperor's Guard.

Founding:

The Emperor's Guard was founded in the early years of the 32nd millennium, during the 21st Founding, in response to the rising importance of defending Imperial religious centers. The chapter's creation was orchestrated by the Ecclesiarchy, working closely with the Adeptus Mechanicus to ensure a new chapter dedicated to both martial prowess and spiritual devotion.

The early years were challenging for the Emperor's Guard, as they struggled to overcome the suspicions surrounding their gene-seed mutations. However, through unwavering loyalty and countless acts of heroism, they proved their purity and dedication to the Emperor's divine will. The chapter's reputation as stalwart defenders of the faith has only strengthened over the millennia.

The Emperor's Guard stands as a shining example of the unity between the Ecclesiarchy and the Adeptus Astartes, with their regal appearance and steadfast commitment to the Imperial Creed. They are a beacon of hope for the faithful and a formidable force against any who would dare threaten the sanctity of the Imperium.

From the about there are quite a few hooks that I can link into to develop the look and feel of the army - purple armour sounds cool and I like the idea of gold trim. The hints at the elite 'Custodians of Faith' company also offers scope for the imagination, especially if combined wit heth notes on the chapter's tactica doctorines. I particulaly like the hint at the mutaion of the gene seed that means the Inquisition is ever watching what they do - what will this mean in terms of the tabletop model's appearance?!

So to get going on using AI, you need to set-up an account on a suitable AI engine - I used Chat GPT, you can find them here: https://chat.openai.com/

Obviously you can substitute any 40K race for Space Marines and get a similar listing to base your forthcoming work on. I have also experimented on getting AI to generate Waragmes Scenarios, based upon historic battles. These are a bit more hit and miss, the more 'mainstream' the historic period and the rules set to be used - the betetrthe results. This is as might be expected. If there is enough interest I'll share some of these results in coming weeks.

Friday Night Games: Ancient Naval

High jinx in the Mediterranean with a Naval conflict between those crazy Greeks and whacky Persians.

Friday 24th November, saw  a gripping game  put on by Mat T  using his own models and rules at Mike N's gaff. The game ended up as a strategic win for the Greeks as the Persians were denied the ability to meet their objectives. However, the Persian fleet consisting of Sidonese and allied Greek fleet performed the best on the night.

A closer view of some of these vessels

The squadron that definitely performed the worst was the Persian pentacosters, commanded by Mikey N. These guys lost 60% of their number in one game turn  with the rest fleeing for the Asian coast to face Xerxes wrath....

Ramrastic events at sea!

Warlord Epic Scots Covenanters completed!

Just a couple quick shots of the completed Epic Covenanter Scots unit, taken from the cover of this month's Wargames Illustrated. I'm pleased with the results. I have some cavalty and Artillery to finish from the free sprue - plus enentire second sprue to paint-up at some future point!

The whole unit of 80 figures, completed in suitable dower grey uniforms and blue bonnets!

Close-up of one Musketeer block and part of pike bock.
Note the halbardier on the unit's extreme right flank 
 

And the other musketeer block on the unit's left flank. I have opted to go for larger that standard (60mm x 40mm Musketeer bases and 60mm x 80mm Pike block) bases as it gives a little more room to buildd-up terrain & vegiattion and protects the figures a little better, in my opinion.

Friday Night Games: 1880s Zulu Wars, Week 2

Week two of John's Zulu Wars gane, this isa ctually a pre-quel to last week's game, a what if scenario - exploring what might have happened if a British column had attacked the Zulu camp as planned th eday before the previous battle.

In reality the British colum got lost and th ebattke was never fought.

The Britsh / Imperal forces arrive on the tabletop

The defending rebel Zulu forces

The Imperials advance over the tabletop

Close-up of rebel Zulu unit

Another rebel Zulu unit

British/Imperial forces (left) close on Rebel Zulu positions (right)

Imperial Forces pushed away after hitting the elite rebel Zulu Imps

Friday Night Games: Zulu Wars with a Twist

Friday 3rd November saw John putting on a splendid 15mm Zulu Wars game with Twist.

Opening positions for the Rebel Zulu Forces

Set in the mid 1880s we see a British expedition column consisting of some regular Dragoons and Mounted Infantry supported by Boers, Zulu Police and two impis of 'Loyalist Zulus', attempting to arrest a wayward Zulu Prince and his forces.

The rebel Zulus quickly went on the offensive attacking the British & Loyalist Zulu positions

The Rebel Zulus have four impis of warriors plus a number of rifle armed formed units.

Close-up of a rebel Zulu impi

The Loyalists were played by Rupert, Steve and Mike W  whilst the rebels were commanded by Mat, Mike N and Phil.

Close-up of the front of the British regular cavalry colum, at game outset

And the rear of the same column 

Rules were 'Principles of War' and figures were supplied by John & Mike N.

As ever I'll leave the photos to tell the story of the game as best I can...

View from the Rebel Zulu's left flank back on to their village in the center rear

On the Loyalist right / rebel left - Loyalist Zulu militiamen and Zulu Police, under the command of Mike W, advance to dislodge enemy, uner command of Mike N,  from the high ground

In the center Rebel Zulus under Mat's command, charge forward to engage Rupert's Loyalist Zulu impis.

The rebel Zulus grasp the initiative pushing forwards in the centre with their impis to try and pin the British centre and smash the outnumbered Loyalist Impis. On their left the rebels send forwards a holding force to the high ground whilst on the right rebel impis try to force the Loyalist flank.

Rebel Zulu impi but could easily be a Loyalist impi as they have same look & feel as well as game stats!

 

The encirclement begins on the rebel left flank

Rebel Zulus on their left flank become increasingly encircled by Loyalist Zulus, Zulu Police and British Cavalry, they will go on to fight to the death.

On the Rebel left the holding force is gradually battered and reduced as Britsh regular horse, Zulu Police and trained Zulu militias ultimately take the high ground.

British Horse - 15mm figures

However in the centre and left of the Loyalist line the quick rebel attack gradually won the day - after a series of crushing dice rolls the Loyalists began to loose unit after unit and whilst they punsihed the attacking rebels - it was the rebels who won the day!