Merry Meme's mas!

 o/

What better way is there to (potentially) finish out a year of waning blog posting and interest than with a good ol' meme post?

No this isn't one of my creations. I tried to build a gingerbread house once. It was a...disaster (just ask Neverness, he was there and fared no better as I recall).  

 

Clankers Update

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Making progress.

I've been moving right along on cleaning up & expanding my CIS force. I finished up the first squad of B1s, the blue squad as marked out by the tufts on their bases. 

Rather than Tufts, the specialists have cystals on their bases, whereas the Super Tactical droid's base looks like it is in a space ship or perhaps the under hive.

Wouldn't the binoculars just be hard wired in?

I also painted up a super tactical droid as well as a the four specialist droids: the repair droid (little blue bot), the medical droid (the ugly green one in the back), a recon droid (the mini Imperial Probe droid in OD green), and lastly a T-series command droid (in silver and red). 

Wat Tambor, Foreman of the Techno Union

(and also a model without any rules...)

Also as you can see I painted the Wat Tambor above. I'll likely just use him as a proxy for another T-series command droid. While the T-Series isn't all that stout of a character, neither are political leaders when on the battlefield. 

No, I didn't take these pics on the roof of my wife's white car in the garage. Why do you ask?

I also finished up some...uh...terrain pieces:

 Now those are some serious chicken legs!

I couldn't resist these goofy looking things. I was thinking maybe make them terrain that if you come into base contact with, will make a 1-white die attack and then make an immediate half range run away in the opposite direction. Or something like that. I probably ought to get the rules down before creating terrain with rules, but what can I say? My cart always leads the horse.

Is this the Ardennes? Or the Low Country?

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Well, like everywhere else in the American Southeast, we got a snow yesterday! From what I've been told, it has been 7 years since the last time it has snowed in Charleston. While the city itself is all but shut down, I work remotely and thus it was just another Wednesday. 

Still looks like paradise, just a cold one.

Nonetheless, I joined all of the other local geeks in taking pics of their toys out in the snow because why not? I mean, its not like I've never done the same in Tennessee right? So here ya go:

Patrolling the mulch bed next to my house. 

Followed by a sweep and clear of the neighbor's frigid flower beds.

There were some tight spots so had to call in the troops.

BAR gunner in the brush!

Even with the brown coats they blend decently. 

Looks like we're in the clear boys, that's a Victory for Uncle Sam!

Soooo...what would you call this?

 

Cross contamination perhaps?

I just painted this as 1-off for my own amusement. That said, after looking back on this here blog, this is the first marine that I've painted since May, and the first here in South Carolina. Ironically, it is well camouflaged for the 'aquarium basing' as Neverness likes to call it. 

My next post ought to be about the learn-to-play game of Star Wars Legion that I am going to play this evening. I will be fielding my 500 points of Rebels using my own army which is a mere 4 infantry models short of being fully painted. Usually the first time I try to play a new game, I'm lucky to have 4 models with primer, much less paint on them. 

An Imperial Scout Disk Trooper

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No one questioned his willingness to take all of those solitary, perimeter foot patrols on the forest moon of Endor...

This post with be a short but fun one! A few months ago, while still living in Tennessee, I picked up a squad of Imperial Scout troopers for Star Wars Legion. Not ones riding on speeder bikes, but rather those of the foot slogging patrol type. From this set, I've only painted one mini thus far, the Saboteur-turned-Disc Golfer. 

He's knocked more than one Ewok off of it's tree top catwalk with a well thrown disc!

My uncle is an avid disc golfer, and that is exactly what this guy looked like to me. So I smoothed off the top of his bomb to look like a frisbee, and painted it as such. Of particular note is the trooper's bag which matches my uncle's disc bag in color almost exactly. As you can see from his photo below, he's really quite pleased with it. All the more so when I said 'yes of course you can keep it!'

Of course with a basket of that size, how could he miss?

When the (mostly) unpainted hordes collide!

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'TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO DIE!'

The last words attributed to Chaplain Schaff of the Black Dragons

Screech and I got together for a game wednesday night, or rather we sorta did. We got a late start due eating out beforehand and that combined with having to work the next day meant we made it thru two measly turns. This likely also saved me from getting tabled. Nonetheless here are the highlights in lieu of a proper battle report. 

My army, that being the Black Dragons & Friends.

The 'friends' being the once thought to be extinct Incandescent Coyotes lead by Lt. Boughtflower.

Screech did his best to keep track of VPs and the scenario, however after a tactical blunder on my part turn one that I was unable to recover from, and quickly seeing which way the flames wind was blowing, I pretty much ignored all that and just tried to kill shit. 

The Salamanders in all of their unprimed glory (note: the one squad that is primed was gifted to Screech in that state). 

Whilst I did kill some stuff, due to the aforementioned blunder (and a few other errors, due to lack of gameplay), a lot more of my troops were getting killed instead. 

Oh by the way, no dreadnoughts were damaged in this engagement.

So what was my unrecoverable mistake you ask? Well, having the first go, I moved towards the Salamanders and their all weapons are assault and can advance and fire (often literally) with no ill effect detachment. AKA: the Firestorm Assault force.

Tactical error number one: Moving forward.

'But Sir, the odds of navigating a Firestorm Assault Force are approximately 3720:1!'

'NEVER TELL ME THE ODDS!'

I normally run the Dragons with the good ol' Gladius task force, but this time tried the Anvil Siege Force. What I should have done, was either stand still and ignore the lack of weapons in range, or better yet, move deeper into my own deployment zone on turn 1. 

These guys ought to have gone into reserve, rather than scouting directly into literal hell. 

Then, when the flaming banzai charge came at me, my troops could simply plant their feet and unleash hell! But, it is what it is, and at the start of Screech's first turn where EVERYTHING started to advance, I realized welp, that was dumb & I'm about to lose. 

The Incandescent Coyotes outflank to bolster my all but incinerated flank. After taking some wounds from the not so far off burna boys, a Terminator squad would deep strike in behind them, unload and...finish off a lone, wounded marine. Yeah, I'm still fine with not having any termies myself. 

I also forgot that when a Hellblaster dies, on a 4+ it gets a parting shot. No idea how I forgot this as they're my favorite type of Primaris marine. As cool as it is for every unit to have a special rule, it ultimately is a lot of crap to keep up with. Sure it is all there on the datasheet, but how much time in each game do we really want to spend reading the fine print?

Anyways, at the end of my turn 2, after the Reiver Sergeant waded thru 32 pyreblaster wounds, and some long ranged heavy intercessor shooting (losing his squad in the process), he decided to go out with just one word:

CHARGE!

Henry Rollins, Black Dragons Ancient

 

Yes, because he's carrying a Black Flag. 

This guy's been knocking about on my desk for a few months, so I decided to finally paint him up. Like all of my Dragons he painted up fairly quickly being predominantly of just one color: black (you'd think I'd have more of them painted...). Unfortunately said color makes these guys a bit difficult to photograph as they try to turn into silhouettes. 

There are 7 decals on the standard alone, including the first use of the chapter icons from my new decal sheet.

I'm not sure as to just what type of or how many accolades Mr. Rollins has racked up in his long and varied career, but with this model he gains one more: The most decals that I've ever added to a single infantry model; 11 in total, yeesh.

The left pauldron icon, and a white wing on the thigh armor plate which signifies...something.

The right side thigh plate no doubt tells of his epic deeds. That, or perhaps its just a collection of links to his personal website & webstore, Wikipedia page, Facebook and Instagram...

Armed with the Standard bolt rifle, he's not the most potent of characters, though he does make for a nice centerpiece model who will easily stand out amongst the still mostly primed black horde.  

Insert Khorney joke here. 

Black Dragons Ballistus Dreadnought for Dreadtober 2023 (pt.2)

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The flesh is weak?

Were this an Iron Hands dreadnought, then I'd be damned near done as large swathes of the machinery bitz have been dry brushed with leadbelcher. A few other bitz and bobs have had other metallic colors applied, but that's about it. This however is not an Iron Hands dread, so instead this week's forward progress can best be described as: minimal.

Its all so...monochromatic. Its seriously giving flashbacks to my old 4th ed. Iron Hands army.

The Buddha Bot

As opposed to the other meditation droid...

In all likelihood this droid powered down for a reboot and just never powered back up...or something like that. This is another Robot of the Month Club bot that I didn't quite know what to do with and so it sat (literally) on a shelf for a few months until I primed it on a whim and dry brushed it up. 

I figure that I can use this as a terrain piece for Star Wars Legion if I ever play it, as this is about twice the height of a stormtrooper. 

3-Color minimum: Vallejo grey primer, flat red & clear orange. Following that came a heavy dousing of tufts, flock and lastly matte varnish. The tufts and whatnot are to give the impression that its been sitting there, rusting for a very long time. 

Buns of steel?

Grand theft droid

New on Xbox...

...or, maybe not.

Originally, I had intended to make a little diorama with these little guys. However upon reading the rules for the forthcoming Ewok slingers, I instead decided to put them on bases to uses as possible proxies instead. I had thought of getting a droid when I ordered them off of Etsy, but I didn't. Luckily for me the seller added this 'Gonk' droid as a freebie!

Slightly different focus on this pic.

The new Ewok slingers will have the following rules which sound very Jawa (if not more so) to me:

Unhindered: You ignore the effects of difficult terrain (maybe more Ewok here).

Low Profile: While defending against an attack, if  you have cover, cancel one additional hit (50/50).

Target: After being issued an order, gain 1 Aim token (ok, this one doesn't really fit Jawas or Ewoks in my opinion).

A better view of all four.

Also their weapons are pistol ranged and 'primitive' or in the case of Jawas, crummy. The online, theoretical consensus (as they've not revealed what primitive means exactly) is that they can't inflict any critical hits. In close combat they have stones to hit with (again 50/50).

They also have the unique upgrade card of 'Insatiable Curiosity': Choose an enemy unit in base contact with this unit's leader, if that unit has a heavy weapon, equipment or basic weapon upgrade card (unique or otherwise), discard that upgrade and suffer 1 wound. So basically, they're caught stealing someone's stuff and get shot for it. That's very Jawa-ish to me. Far more so than the Ewoks. 

The classic 'Beatles' pose.

Their other upgrades are all very Ewok but still, for a mere 39 points (with the insatiable curiosity card), you get a half dozen minis of questionable value ,running around and inflicting comic relief. I've always run units like that in 40k, so why should Legion (if I ever play it) be any different? 

Showing their backsides as they flee at the first signs of enemy resistance. 

By now, its basically a foregone conclusion that I'm going to order some more Jawas at some future date. Currently however I just got a squad of Rebel Troopers and an AT-RT which were at roughly 50%, as well as an unridden Bantha for that aforementioned diorama off to keep me occupied.

A better view of the leader's pack with a droid arm sticking out of it (available at a discount, just for you...).

Those 'Wild Boys' from the 7th Company

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Firstborn Lieutenant Wild of the Ultramarines' 7th Reserve Company.

In the Indomitus era, Primaris Space Marines are king amongst the armies of the Imperium. Primaris Marines form the bulk, if not the entirety of most chapters' battle and veteran companies, whilst the Firstborn, recently graduated from the 10th company's scouts are relegated to the reserve companies until they've proven themselves worthy of crossing the Rubicon divide. 

Amongst the ranks of the Ultramarines, the Firstborn of the reserve companies spend most of their time performing such vital tasks as standing guard in the various hallways and thresholds of the unassailable Fortress of Hera on Macragge, practicing's parade drill for the tourists of Ultramar, and if they're particularly lucky, garrisoning some imperial backwater, freeing up the Primaris marines to do the real work of smiting the Imperium's foes. 

Lt. Wild is headquartered in the Fortress Of Hera's Obsidian Tower. Here he is seen surveying the wreckage of said tower, as upon hearing of his new orders, Lt. Wild suffered a very Kylo Ren-esque temper tantrum and the Obsidian Tower suffered heavily for it. 

The reserve companies are lead by by a hidebound, prideful and some would say an embittered cadre of officers who steadfastly refuse to cross that Rubicon divide. Indeed they see the Primaris marines as an afront to the Emperor's great work in creating the Space Marines. Lieutenant Wild is one such Firstborn officer, who is assigned to the Ultramarines 7th Reserve Company.

Recently, the Ultramarines'' 7th reserve company was rewarded for their particularly efficient cleansing of the roadside trash along the Roboute Guilliman (no longer) Memorial Expessway's entire length. Thus they were honored with the privilege of guarding the porta-johns along the parade route leading to the Imperial palace on the forthcoming Day of the Emperor's Ascension celebration on Holy Terra.

Note the bionic arm, his biological arm was lost in combat with the treacherous Red Corsairs.

 As the 7th company prepared itself for it's sacred duty, thru what can only be explained as a clerical error, Lt. Wild, a combat squad from one of the 7th's tactical squads, and a razorback transport and it's crew were requisitioned to detach from the rest of the company, sully their newly polished armor by repainting it in urban camouflage of all things, and report to the staging grounds of the 3rd Battle Company's Strikeforce Horridus where they were to be attached in support of an unspecified mission.

Outraged at these various indignities, Lt. Wild and his accompanying marines nonetheless followed their orders to the letter and presented themselves to the 3rd's staging ground in time for the boarding of their transports. Puzzled at the Firstborn's arrival, and in matching camo no less, the 3rd's Primaris Chaplain paused in his exhortations of 'In the Emperor's name, GET YOUR ASSES MOVING!' to inquire: 'Are you little guys lost?'

Orders or not, the camouflaging of his armor could only go so far...

Thus far, most of the 7th's 'actions' have been spent guarding the halls of their Strike cruiser from the depredations of  chapter serfs who have lost their way, or their landing zones from the local flora and fauna. The Primaris marines of the 3rd company have taken to calling their firstborn brethren 'The Wild Boys' in mockery of these ridiculously mundane tasks. 

On the rare occasions in which 'The Wild Boys' have been engaged in combat, they operate more in conjunction to, rather than in support of their Primaris brethren. Indeed the only support that they've directly provided on the battlefield is the transport of Primaris casualties* back to the transports via their Razorback. 

*For those who insist that Primaris marines cannot fit into a Razorback, I would like to remind you that those would be 'whole' Primaris marines, whereas casualties tend to not be...