Showing posts with label Elves. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Elves. Show all posts

Thursday, December 15, 2011

LEGO Thursday: Adversaries

You can't always be fighting dragons or goblins, sometimes you just have to duke it out with oppositely-aligned people of your own race.

A single, tooled-up and skilled bad guy can sometimes be a handful for a whole party if done right. Here on the left is just such a character, an Elf assassin. He's just as deadly with the bow as he is with his saber. He's got all kinds of stealth and can pick a pretty mean pocket if need be.

Don't let the smile fool you, these sellsword mercenaries are relentless in their pursuit and once signed to a contract, cannot be swayed. The human is an exotic weapons master and knows a thing or two about hand-to-hand combat. The Dwarf doesn't speak, but defines his actions by sword and prowess. Both have an obvious eastern vibe going on.

Friday, February 11, 2011

Thirteen Times the Blood...Bowl


Needless to say, just the two hour sample of Blood Bowl we played the other day has really sparked my interest again in one of the best tabletop games around. So I went rummaging through my stuff today and drug out all of the fantasy football figs I could muster and did a legitimate inventory. Some of this stuff dates back to second edition, so there were some changes to be made, and certainly some swaps to go around.

The one thing I need to honest about here is that I simply don't need thirteen teams. But letting go of minis is so hard to do. There are obvious choices for the auction block, like my Orcs, I have three Orc teams. Three, really? I think one will do just fine. There's other choices too, like my Undead, I just never got my head around their style of play and frankly I like being more of a scoring team, not a inure-the-other-guy team. Aggressively speaking I could get rid of about half the teams I own, and maybe even use some of the money I make to pick up a sweet looking third party team and paint them up right.


The Deadrock Goyles here are pretty much a hall of fame team. Not the Orc roster, but these actual models. They were the scourge of a league we played in way back when and seeing them here makes me wince. They are definitely my 'alpha' Orcs, so they'll be sticking around. I may pull figs off the other teams to fill their ranks.


This is a bit of an expanded team of Orcs. It has the basics plus a bunch of extras like a converted Troll big guy and a couple of Goblins. It has a metal Orc here and there to boot in the form of Blitzers and regular Linemen. After I pick out whatever I need for the Goyles, this one will be fodder for sure and on their way out.


This is a stock team, straight from the boxed set. It's a very nicely painted team and although it doesn't have any extras in it, the crisp paintjob makes up for it. This is a case where although I like the team, it's my third Orc team, it's days are numbered.


Here's a great looking Human team, mostly from the boxed set and mostly awesomely painted! In addition to the plastic figs, there's four metal second edition players in there, as well as a metal star player. A large Ogre has defected from the Orc team he used to be a part of to this new Human team. The men on the team however are too afraid to ask him to change his uniform. I'll be hanging on to these guys for sure.


It's almost embarrassing looking at my first Human team. They're pretty much straight from the boxed set as well, with some fun extras too, like two metal star players (one of which will probably get snagged for the other Human team) and a fourth Blitzer figure. As you just saw though, this is one Human team too many, and these chaps are headed out the door. They'll probably be a good bargain for somebody.


They're small, they're fast, and they have armor made from cardboard. Still, you gotta love the Skaven, they have lots of options and variety, and if coached right can be solid. As you can see these guys are a bit of a work in progress as I still have some unpainted mutant figs to do, and I need to rebase the Rat Ogre big guy in the back. I'll be keeping these guys around, and probably add some basic linemen at one point in the future.


The High Elves are another team I want to hang on to. They're more survivable than their Dark and Wood Elf cousins, and are the same speed of the Humans, which I'm used to coaching. If I buckled down, I feel I could coach these guys fairly well.


The Undead here are pretty flexible under the rules we've been looking at (LRB5). I pulled a second edition Werewolf from the Human team (since they can't have him anymore) and put him on the roster. Also on the roster, in addition to the regular team, is a second edition Flesh Golem (looks just like Frankenstein's monster), a Vampire star player, and a converted Ghoul. I like the idea of the Undead, but their days are numbered.


The only thing keeping these Chaos Dwarves from the chopping block is their theme. As you can see the Dwarves (including Centaur big guy) all have converted cowboy hats. In addition to the regular team is the aforementioned big guy, a converted bluderbussier, and a second edition cyborg Orc which I'm only guessing is still legal. I'm still up in the air on this one, I never play them, so someone else might get more out of them.


Here's a good example of a rock solid team that has the basics plus a little extra. Chaos is a great team with plenty of hitting power and good versatility in their line-Beastmen. I've also got a Minotaur big guy in there converted from a Reaper fig. I like these guys, but I can't keep them all just because I like them, they're days are numbered.


If the large (and painted) Chaos team's days are numbered then these guys aren't long for the world in my neck of the woods! There's barely enough here to even take to the field, but add in a big guy and maybe a fourth Chaos Warrior and you should be good to go.


I don't mind my team having an armor value of a lowly seven if they have the speed (Skaven) or the agility (Wood/Dark Elves) to back it up, but what the heck are the Norse packing under those spiked helms? Umm, not enough to keep them sticking around! I did manage to poke around and find another official second edition Werewolf to put in there too.


Not only am I keeping these Dwarves around, they may be the first ones on the painting and refurbishment assembly line. I love Dwarves, so I see no reason why I'd get rid of these, although I need at least four more Linemen to fill out their ranks.

Friday, June 18, 2010

The Summer Painting Queue


I guess I will start doing quarterly "painting queue" posts. The spring edition was pretty successful, I look back at that and think, "Hmm, I painted those x32 Star Grunt II guys, and the rest of those Vikings, not too shabby..." But I can't rest on my laurels, nope!

1. Deathwatch

I've got tons o' DW posts already, you guys know what they look like by now. They're not going to paint themselves and the book is due out any time now. Time to get crackin'!


2. "Evil Ice Elves" Warband for Song of Blades and Heroes

I'm giving a shout out to my buddy Brian at Repple Depple here. He brought a box full of "freebies" to game night a while back, and many of those figs have found their way into the core of this warband. In SBH, if you've got quality troops, nine is probably more than enough. I'm going to paint them as a group, but then pick and choose according to my mood and have some options, such as a martial leader, or an arcane one.


3. Hordes of the Things, Orc Army

These guys aren't going away are they? It's a sizable Orc army, and really, shouldn't be too bad to whip into shape. I have so been dragging my feet on this one, ugh.

4. Pulp

No surprises here. Unlike the HotT army though, these pulpsters have not been around very long whatsoever. They will be fun to paint up, but I have a sneaky suspicion that they'll be making a queue comeback later on this fall if you follow me.

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Confrontation in Kustaa


The town of Kustaa sits on the southeastern edge of the Livwald Forest

The other night we were able to play a little Song of Blades and Heroes, and it was quite a blast. Prep time was minimal and the rules were very easy to pick up; being my first time to play. We fought a three-way battle with the game objective being that of a 'king of the hill' situation, but instead we used one of Andy's craters for the 'hill'. I used my Wood Elf band, Andy went with his Djedetians, and Chri3 fielded Nezumi (Skaven).


Lady Talon's Livwald Delegation was in Kustaa...


...as were the minions of Djedet


Lady Talon and her Wood Elf Companion defeat Magus Skulk...


...and in short order, his Rat Ogre bodyguard, Kingsley


Djedetian monsters attack the Tree Man in the streets...


...and with support from their masters, slay him


The sultry Sylph and giant hornet outflank the Djedetians


The Elves brace for a fly-by attack from the giant bat...


...who is subsequently laid low by their steel and magic


The Livwald Delegation bravely hold their ground, surrounded by foes

Lady Talon's life force was crushed by the mandibles of the giant scarab


The Nezumi attack the giant scorpion en masse, scoring a victory


The last seen of the lone Wood Elf Warrior was the flash of his twin blades as he cut a swath through the ranks of the Nezumi. He would fall later in the battle. The Livwald Delegation was wiped out, every last one, and what Nezumi managed to survive, fled from Kustaa and into the woods beyond the town's perimeter. Although the giant monsters (bat, scorpion, and scarab) were all killed, the Djedetians' mage-leader still lived, as did his bodyguard. Their stone golem was too slow to ever see combat, but it didn't matter. With the Elven host slaughtered, and the Nezumi fleeing in fear, the Djedetians clearly held the higher ground, err, crater in this case and were the victors of the confrontation.

I've gotta say, these SBH rules were very easy to hit the ground running with. The game moved at a quick pace, and nothing seemed too out-of-whack or unbalanced. The turn sequence was kind of neat too, and made for some tension to see if all of your forces would get to go or not (if they roll too many failures your turn ends immediately). I thought the magic was a little weak sauce at first, but it grew on me, I'll have to play it some more to really see. Overall the game had that elusive "fun" factor that's been rumored to exist.

Friday, October 2, 2009

Lady Talon's Livwald Delegation


A 300 point band for Song of Blades and Heroes
Elf Wizard: Q2+, C2 w/ magic-user, forester (70pts)
Tree-Man: Q4+, C4 w/ huge, slow, forester, tough (56pts)
Sylph (Air Nymph): Q3+, C1 w/ distract, flying, free disengage (60pts)
Wood Elf Warrior: Q3+, C3 w/ forester (36pts)
Giant Bee: Q3+, C4 w/ flying, big, animal, gregarious, poison (72pts)
Total: 294 / 300

Lady Talon has lived a long life in Sarterra, but still has many more years to come. She has been a student, a leader, an adventurer, and more. Now she serves the Elven Nation as an ambassador, approaching the other races and civilizations of Sarterra.


Brother of Lady Talon, Eledor travels alongside her wherever she goes. His skill with the blade matches the arcane ability of his older sister. His council is wise, but he can be hot tempered from time to time. His sister helps to keep his fiery emotions in check.


Upon entering the Livwald, seeking out Tuskgaarde and Vargr settlements, Lady Talon befriended this giant wasp. Though seemingly non-sentient, it nonetheless follows Lady Talon's band wherever they go, and certainly seems loyal to them.

The Air Nymph and Tree-Man can be seen here.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Even More Blood Bowl Teams


I recently became the caretaker of FIVE more teams

Remember last month when I had mentioned the cabin full of gaming? I had also said that many of our gaming buddies who had moved off still make it back for it, and Marc (who I should say is much more than just a "gaming buddy") was one such peep, coming all the way from New Jersey. This time he brought me his gaming stuff...all of his gaming stuff. He doesn't have much use for it where he's at, and doesn't have a gaming group of his own, all of which I'm lucky to have, so his stuff found a new home. I've already got one of the teams, a Chaos team shown above, below I'll detail the other four.


The Beardies

The grass is always greener on the other side, and I'm always envious of everyone else's painting skills around me, and Marc is no exception. These Dwarves are pretty much good to go as is, I'll have to look at a current roster to see what I need / could add to the group. It's also neat for me because I've never coached a Dwarf team before.


High Elves

I had Wood Elves, who were seriously fragile (but fast!), but I haven't had the chance to coach a High Elf team before. A tad slower, but thankfully better armor, they almost seem like the dream team on paper, although they're lacking in the crunch department. These guys have a nice bright color scheme too, I like them a lot.


Skaven

Going along here, it's almost like a checklist of everything team I didn't already have. These Skaven look great, and the detail on the Rat Ogre is pretty amazing. I've never looked at the Gutter Runner figs before up close, they take the cake.


The Deadrock Goyles

It's weird taking these guys into custody so to speak. This was Marc's team that took home the champion cup in a huge, fifteen team league that ran for about six months. As you can see, one of their team colors in, well, pink, and their name is the 'Goyles', so not only did you usually get beat by this team, but they're in pink! Credit goes to Marc, he was an absolute brutal player and he could pick you apart with ease on the pitch. Hopefully I'll be able to do them justice. There's a lot of vintage 2nd edition figs in there too.