Mid-Week Ramble: Model claustrophobia?

Lately you may have noticed a trend in my posts: they are dealing with games that involve a very low model count.

I appreciate the game of 40k, I do find it enjoyable, but the slow erosion of points in the codexes is forcing me to keep expanding my collections with every new codex release of one of the armies I have. For instance, I had a nice little list of Tyranids based on Space Hulk 'stealers with a couple of carnifexes... The rumors are that the cost of units have been so reduced, that they probably will not even cover half of a standard 1500 point list now. So, I am forced to buy more models.

It was the same way with the Guard. Infantry were just so freaking cheap, I had to buy more models. Now, this was mainly my fault because I got pulled into that codex for the awesome tanks. I love a good tank.

OK, now to my point: Where do you draw the line, and say "I'm not going to buy any more models for a while"? I just finished buying the models that I hope will bring my Tyranid force up to legal standards in the 1500 point range (a hive tyrant to replace the broodlord that was normally my HQ option, and 2 boxes of gaunts) and it cost me just under a hundred dollars. Can I expect this every time a new codex gets released for one of my armies? What about my Blood Angels, which are my largest force (running around 3700 points if you include my papercraft warhound titan)? What kind of devilry can I expect from GW to nerf my units and force me to buy more?

It was kind of sad, for those of you that remember my first Apocalypse battle report, to see the number of IG infantry desperately trying to fit in their deployment zone. That wasn't even all the infantry, either! I had forces in reserve, and they still didn't want to fit without being packed like sardines!

This sinking feeling is what encouraged me to start seeking alternative ways to stay immersed in the 40k universe. I think I finally hit something with Dark Heresy RPG, as it deals with few, if any, models. I am also having quite a bit of fun converting models that have individual flavor, for use with the game. Since I frequently spend my free time on the computer anyway (mainly due to time constraints or the inconvenience of dragging out all my modeling and painting supplies), I have found it a fun hobby to pour some creative energy into. I can write scenarios, game aids, or player handouts and save my work right in the middle if something else demands my attention. It makes it pretty easy to manage my time.

So does anybody else have similar feelings? Does anybody else dread playing their favorite armies, just because their model counts have climbed so high? This is why my main force is Mechanized IG, because I just can't stand moving all those infantry anymore.

Who knows, maybe GW is planning on movement trays for 6th edition.

--FP135

WH40k Role Play: Dark Heresy

I recently acquired a copy of the 40k RPG by Fantasy Flight Games: Dark Heresy. It puts the players in the position of acolytes to the Inquisition, inducted and sponsored by an Inquisitor. I wanted to get some people involved in this, so I made up a little scenario that would use the Space Hulk tiles for the "dungeon maps".

I have posted the document on the dakka forums here:
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/0/271371.page#1214495

Any comments / criticism would be appreciated, since I am a new GM and need some help refining my scenario creation!

Car trouble, and FOW for sale

Rear brakes finally have had it in the family vehicle... and we need to work so I am trying to raise money fast to pay for repairs. I would appreciate all of you historical WW2 gaming fans to check out my ebay auction on my old Flames of War rulebooks (a great WW2 game by Battlefront Games) at http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270506629838


Thanks for helping me out!
--FP135

Fox's INQ-28

Yes, I have recently made an attempt to get into the now-out-of-production specialist game of Inquisitor. For those who have not heard of the game, it is a skirmish-level game based on the forces of the Inquisition. "War-bands" of a few characters per player compete in a near-roleplaying fashion. To make things totally fair, there is a GM just like the original version of Warhammer 40k: Rogue Trader. In tribute to the great Molotov of the Conclave forums (as seen here), I have converted a couple of characters in the 28mm scale (Inquisitor is made to play in 54mm).

First up is an Astartes, next to a power-armored Inquisitor. I simply used an extra pair of Terminator legs to make the Astartes taller than his counterparts. This character will NOT be used in my warband, but if I run any campaigns in-house he may be a boss-adversary. The Inquisitor in Power Armor is a model I have had for a while, but have never gotten around to using it. This seemed like a good opportunity.



Next, we have a model I converted for my wife to play as. We settled on a name and background, which I might go into later on a new post. To summarize, she is an Enforcer for the Inquisition, also known as a Ward.



The last picture is of the character I intend on using for myself: a Veteran Imperial Guardsman Sergeant. He is equipped with a slick carbine version of the lasgun that I whipped up. I used the Pig Iron head with the gas-mask that I have used for all my Guardsman veterans, so it can fit into my regular 40k games somehow if I wish. Take a look:



That's it for now. This should keep me occupied until the new Tyranid codex arrives!

Until next time,
---FP135

Project Updates: 12/22/2009

As you can see, my bug-infested scratch-built bastion is coming along nicely.

I also have been working on a Christmas present for my son, who is almost 2. I am making him a plaque for the door to his room. This is the most grim-dark the wife would permit :P -




In a moment, I'll post the recent undertaking I have been attempting.