My goodness that's big...

... HEY, this is a wargaming blog. I'm talking about the Fortress of Redemption. OK? 

Size is everything...

Basically, it takes up a 2'x2' piece of terrain all by itself!

Yet another small distraction...

One of the 'benefits' of being in this hobby for a long time is that you can build up quite a collection of projects... this is also useful as it means there is always something to do to stop the boredom/distract you from actually completing stuff (i.e. this is keeping me from starting the Fortress of Redemption...)

This model has been sitting in the 'stuff to build' phase since the female inquisitor model was released in what, 2003?? Wow. 12 years.

I present... Inquisitor Agatha Devorax. She started life as a Adepta Sororitas, but her latent psychic ability was unable to be overcome by the rigorous training at the Convent. The only option for one of her talent and devotion to the Imperial Creed was working for the Ordo Hereticus...

I know the bolt pistol looks wonky in the photo BUT IT'S NOT IN REAL LIFE

SEE?

Note the PVA still drying on the base...

From a gaming perspective she'll have power armour, the ubiquitous 3 servo skulls, the L1 psyker upgrade (with free force sword) for Divination goodness, and the Liber Heresius for shenanigans.

Her head is from the Exorcist organist, the bolt pistol from the Canoness, a bit of brass tubing to extend the bolt pistol barrel and a bionic eye from brownstuff. Looking forward to putting some paint on this model, finally!

Terrain update

I have been busy, when I have had a moment or two to spare, trying to build all my 40k terrain before Maelstrom VIII.

Below are some pictures of where I have got to. Apart from accessories (lights etc.) in bags, I have used nearly all of my Sector Imperialis pieces.

With the addition of some Basilica Administratum pieces... 

I looooove the Shrine of the Aquila

I had inherited some extra bits so a 1.5 sized Bastion was required!

I had a few of the Mierce Miniatures 60mm bases that I started putting some scatter terrain on, which worked well.

Need more 60mm bases...

Happy to take suggestions as to what else to build from the scraps!

All that is left to build is a Fortress of Redemption... this week sometime.

And then I rolled a ‘6’

Wargaming is a game of random odds, combined with strategies and tactics and matchups designed to remove (or maximise/minimise) those random odds.

Luck (or as some cads people like to call it, ‘statistics’) is often cited (or blamed) as one of the key contributors to the outcome of a game. There is even a word to describe the application of statistics - Mathhammer. This is a noun and a verb, and there are even apps that can help you mathhammer your own... luck... out there.

  

I know that I have been a believer in swings of ‘luck’ influencing some games. While there is always an element of this to be had, bad luck is usually more because ‘I threw this unit into a combat needing three 6’s from 6 dice to win, and it didn't work, man that was bad luck and that cost me the game’ – as opposed to it being a dodgy risk via a pretty crappy statistical chance that didn't pay off costing you the game.

OR you could read something like this for a bit more analysis. I'm sure there's plenty more articles out there too.

         

Once of the key things that I loved about my Space Wolves was that I truly believed that they would pull off the impossible odds. Hero-style. It was one of the rewarding things about using them (and what all good sagas are made of). For example, at the NZ Nationals one year Wolf Lord Haakon Ironwolf made 14 4++ saves in a row (vs lascannons and plasma guns), and went on to help win the game against a force of Dark Angels (ironically, he failed two 3+ armour saves vs a bolt pistol and a CCW and was left on 1 wound). Statistically that's pretty unlikely... and some would say very lucky :). I'd say it was pretty normal (for him) <ha ha>.

So I think it is important, in the flush of the post-game excitement, to try and review what happened on the table with some measure of dispassion. The eternal struggle is to focus on actual statistics, but not at the detriment of the dynamic of the game. This helps you improve your matchups and tactics to bring them to fruition.

The danger, as in any hobby, is to focus purely on one aspect to the exclusion of all (or most) of the others.Practice your rock/paper/scissors matchups. Practice your mathhammer in your head (it will help you play better).

But play the game for the multi-faceted (and very social) hobby that it is. And make sure you and your opponent have fun.

Small steps...

So, at the behest of my (lovely) wife, I finally cleared enough space downstairs to have a table set up.

At some point some of the other stuff in the photo (kids beds etc.) will be gone leaving me maybe enough space for a second table? That'd be a bit cramped but a big game could be fun. 

Am now attempting to build terrain that fits on the Sector Imperialis table (no, no, it's still not finished...), you really are almost stuck building GW ruins to fit the raised detail footprints. I need more buildings too... :-(

Am very excited about having some space. This has been earmarked for the last year but only really is it now slowly becoming a reality.

Memorial to a great man

I'm not one for mixing hobby blog with general news, however there is a bit of a link here.

I awoke this morning (like many others I suspect) to the news that Terry Pratchett had passed away.

My first Terry Pratchett novel..

I would consider myself a big fan, although not a 'fanboy' i.e. I don't own all the Discworld novels or many of his other publications, apart from a signed copy of Johnny and the Bomb... and of course the EXCELLENT Good Omens co-written with Neil Gaiman, nor do I own many supplemental publications except The Science of the Discworld and A Blink of the Screen.

I was introduced to his writing in about 1988/89, when a mate of mine at school pressed his copies of The Colour of Magic and The Light Fantastic into my hand and told me I had to read them. We were all playing a bit of Truncheons and Flagons* in our spare time so the parallels and general amusements were many. I was hooked. A few years later I was drawn into the grimdark of 40k, which is quite the polar opposite.
* +1 Internet if you get the reference

My response this morning to Terry's passing was one of extraordinary deep sorrow and grief. Perplexed at why it has really affected me - I never did much analysis on why I enjoyed the books so much other than they were excellent sources of light hearted yet quite biting satirical commentary on all sorts of things we as a society display - I have come up with a couple of personal reasons.

• The Discworld series was a balance to my love of the 40k universe - the light and wit of the characters and stories (although Lords and Ladies is a bit dark...) vs the dark and hopelessness of the 41st Millenium
• My father passed away last year - he also was possessed of a keen wit, had a white beard for a long time (although not as nicely trimmed), and ultimately suffered from dementia, so there are some vague parallels there
• While the 40k Universe and Black Library publications continue to roll on, the Discworld series will be no more - it is the end. It has ended without an End Times of any sort. 

Sadly I noticed that my copy of The Colour of Magic has disappeared from my collection :( , which shall have to be replaced (unless I can remember who I lent it to).

Terry's publications brought laughter and happiness to many people. 

Let the Bell of Lost Souls in the Tower of Heroes toll.

Well that was quicker than expected...

Behold the (almost) finished retro HQ Immolator...

Buuuuuurn... Oh and the turret is magnetised

Thank you Grail Knight for your banner, you won't be needing it aaaany more...

Close up of detail (I hope)

I quite like the old turret. Pity heavy flamers are pants. 

Just need to do some liquid greenstuffing on the plasticard and jobs a good 'un. I was going to add a Hunter Killer missile but I'm lacking real estate really.

Adepta Sororitas progress

It seems like ages since I posted so apologies. Life, NZTC, life again, etc. conspiring against me and my efforts to do hobby time and post regularly. It's always good to blame outside influences, it saves taking responsibility for your own lack of problem ownership.

There has been zero progress on my Sector Imperialis board other than showing it to Glen (of Wrythhold) and Wil... it's just there are so many other duck-esque things to distract me.

FOR EXAMPLE... I picked up five Adepta Sororitas Immolators recently - 3 of which were the full kit and two being Rhinos with Immolator turrets. They came prepped and partially undercoated, with all the weapon options, and had the Forgeworld front plates and side doors, with a FW rear door thrown in there too - so I was pretty excited about that,

I have built three of them so far...

Eat melta death, heretics!

... note they have multi meltas (which are not glued, but I am not sure I will ever have use for the other two weapon options especially as these will be used solely for Dominions. Who scout. Or outflank.)

So I need to build and paint some Dominion squads to go in them, as I never have used Dominions before (just didn't fit with my play style/previous lists). 

Here's two squads ready to assemble. I have enough models for a third squad, but they may have to be armed with flamers not meltaguns :(

Ahh, metal unprepped models, my favourite... (not)

The fourth Immolator is going to be using the old metal top plate/turret that I got from Pete Dunn nearly a millennia ago and will be used by my HQ most likely... and here it is in bits. Note the Grail Knight banner that will be placed over where the top hatch goes (somehow). I am still figuring how this might all work (plus I need to magnetise the turret so it doesn't fall off all the time)... this may take a couple of weeks,

Lolz at the former Chaos Rhino front plate being reconsecrated...

I have also been sidetracked by Grey Knights. I was supposed to be getting my GK metal terminators finished and the GK metal Librarian done but it's uninspiring for me. So I'll probably put them on TradeMe so someone can get some use out of them.

<fzzap>

He is not going to fall backwards! And no he is not dancing!

Health and Safety - needs a hand rail for that left arm to safely descend those stairs...

Doesn't look too dull?

Once I get painting we'll see how good (or bad) my moulding and modelling of the GK script is... brown stuff and liquid green stuff can cover lots of errors, but ... :)

I am also seriously considering selling my Word Bearers on eBay. Many many hours went into this army, with assistance and support from several key people to help me realise my vision for them. You can read more about it (and more importantly see pictures, particularly on pg 3) on my modelling diary at WargamerAU. This army won me the Harlequin award at Liber Animus in 2009 and have been sitting in a box pretty much ever since.  I love the army and their background, they are a great foil for my Adepta Sororitas, but thinking about upgrading them for 7th and adding new units (like the new plastics from the Dark Vengeance box set that I have converted just for this purpose) just gets me a bit... meh. So maybe it's time for someone else to enjoy using them, 

I am also getting very excited for Maelstrom VIII coming up - I just need to get to my minimum registered and paid players so I can be confident it'll go ahead!