White Dwarf 492

 Recently I gained a set of White Dwarfs for free, so what better time to have a look at them sporadically.

 

 

Surely, they are a bit older, but it is often fun still to read the articles.

 

Though to be honest, I skipped most of the sci-fi stuff, for some reason, and even with Emperor's Children just appearing again, I can't get my engines fired back on for the 40k setting.  I tried and I failed...

 

The magazine starts with the usual columns, reader's galleries and Worlds of Warhammer, which this time takes a look at the Free Cities.

 

The fun stuff generally, aka The Bunker articles and scenarios, contain the openings of an Age of Sigmar campaign, a Combat Patrol league, and the monthly scenarios where the card inserts are included for as usual.  The Basic Training article this month is all about moving your miniatures, and the advantages that brings along.

 

 

We get a paint tutorial on Aegis walls and a club news article, before going to an article about the creation of Combat Patrol.  Tyranid  lore is presented, before the Eavy Metal team tackles their historic enemies, the Terminators, and some fiction of Black Templars coming under attack by the beasties.

 

In the battle report this month, which also is 40k, Orks and Astra Militarum face off in a Combat Patrol encounter.

 

The Age of Sigmar section starts with an update for the Tale of Four Gamers, before there is lore on the most foul and debased fortresses in the Mortal Realms, and some fiction with a big angry Orruk.

 

 

Friends in Need details rules to play multiplayer games of Age of Sigmar, together with battleplans.  And then we move to Warcry for the Wyrdhollow Bladeborn rules, aka the Underworlds warbands of Ephilim and Domitan.  Talking Underworlds, Glory Points gives pointers for building a Nemesis deck for Skabbik's.

 

The next game system to receive some love is Horus Heresy, before going to a report of the Succession campaign in Necromunda.  Finally some Black Library fiction rounds out the magazine.

 

So, not the most spectacular issue for me personally, I mostly read the Warcry article and the Necromunda campaign update, but that was about it that caught my eye in this issue... but hey, don't look a given horse in the mouth!

Bolt Action Italian L5/30

 The first model for the Early war italian army that I'm building has been done.

 

Now, way on time as the tournament they will be used for is only in november, but I want to try and get some games in beforehand to learn the rules.

 

The model was a Vinted find, a plastic printed model of the venerable Fiat3000 tank, which is an "impressive" 50 points tankette in the new edition.

 

 

I am painting the army up not in desert, but in olive colours, to represent their efforts in Greece and the likes at the opening stages of the second world war.

 

I also marked it as "3rd platoon" as my whole armoured company will consist of 4 vehicles, so I can do a command, 1st, 2nd and 3rd just for sheer variety, and the fact every tankette will be of a different type.

 

A fun fact, during the invasion of Sicily these tanks, build in 1921, where actually the last type of italian tanks to oppose the allied forces, as two tank companies on the island still had them, AND they actually managed to hold of an attack on an airfield with the one squadron that didn't had them dug in as a sort of pillbox!

 

 

But that is music for the future!

Lord Ipsqueeck's Adventures: Bobbejaanland

 Hello everyone, and welcome to another one of my great adventures!

 

 

Because yesterday, mommy and daddy took me along to my first theme park of the year, Bobbejaanland.

 

One of the oldest and most famous parks here in Belgium, it was founded by singer and cowboy Bobbejaan Schoepen, who would have become 100 years old this year, and the park had a lot of information on that before the big birthday celebration the 18th of may.  

 

 Entering the park, daddy picked the first attraction of the day, Terra Magma, as so early there is only a 5 minute waiting line, something which went way higher during the day.  

 

It is an indoor water splash attraction, and well, we where immediatly awake after a morning shower, good idea dad!

 

While mommy went out to dry high up in the Dreamcatcher first, we moved to the next attraction I picked.

 

And that was Kinderland, which has some nice indoor rides like the Balloon Race.

 

And this classic double floored Carrousel merry-go-round.

 

After that, we hopped onto the Monorail, making a journey all around the park so I could watch what I still wanted to do today.

 

And that next one was El Rio, a great water splash ride with churning waters!

 

The next attraction had the longest waiting line... lunch.  This was perhaps the only thing not organised as streamlined as the rest of the park, and we waited over an hour for our food.  At least it was nice and tasty, so okay, we give it a pass.  The park also uses recycle cups since this year, with some different designs.  You can trade them in for a voucher, or keep them as a souvenir, which daddy did with one of them, his "childhood nostalgia coaster", the Revolution.

 

 

And then we went to Bootvaart.  I love doing these calm water rides, something together with dark rides are my absolute favorite. 

 

After a bit of smooth sailing, we did the El Paso, and once outside I decided to take matters in my own hands and lead mommy and daddy to some rides I had spotted and wanted to try.

 

Flying Orca was next, before I hopped on board the airplanes of Rode Baron and the trains of Locotmotive, perfect for visitors of my age and size.

 

 

After going back for some more Bootvaart sailing, I decided I wanted to end the day with another ride on the little trains, and then the day came to an end.

 

Daddy quickly hopped in the gift shop for a little souvenir, picking up the special 100 years Bobbejaan pin, and we drove back home for dinner...

 

... and then some happy reflecting on the day!

 

And so my first theme park adventure ends for this year.  Mommy and daddy think I didn't hear them, but I'll let you in on a little secret, we will be visiting some more parks this year during the summer holidays, so I'll happily tell all about them when it comes to pass.

 

Bye bye beloved readers, and until my next adventure!

On the Painting Desk 325

 So, models have been assembled for the next rounds of the Escalation League... and then some.

 

Now, most of the painting this week went into the models behind the screen, so you will have to wait until the battle report of the 5th round to see the reveal, just because I can.

 

But as said last week, I'm starting on the troops for the 6th round already, as well as on some characters as far as round 7, because I really want to hit the marks as soon as possible.  The reason being I also need to start and finish a MESBG army as well as a Bolt Action army by november...

 

 

Oh, and as may is "Star Wars" month, I will also be doing some work on some Legion models to add some variety to the painting scheme of red, blue and beiges...

 

Check back next week for the possible progress for sure!

Nosferatu

 Movie and pizza night, and Noshi selected Nosferatu to be the evening's entertainment.

Now, this is a remake of the 1922 movie, full with name related easter eggs on that part, while the original was an unofficial adaption of the well-known Bram Stoker Dracula story.

Early in the 1800s, a young girl called Ellen pleads for an angel to come to her and aleviate her loneliness, and her cries are answered by something far sinister.  In 1838, she has married Thomas Hutter, living in Wisburg, and who is out to get a promotion to buy them a decent house and provide for his family.  He is send to Count Orlok in Romania, ignoring pleas from Ellen who has had disturbing dreams of late.

In Romania, he is shunned by the populace for associating with the Count, and he meets the strange, reclusive Count in his castle.  Strange things start to happen to Thomas, and he eventually manages to escape the castle and be nursed back to health by nuns, as Orlok sails for Wisburg in a ship infested with rats carrying the Plague.

Ellen remains plagued by nightmares and sleepwalking, and her physician, dr Sievers, looks to his mentor.  The eccentric von Franz, a scientist with an intrest in the occult.  He believes Ellen is under the spell of a vampyr called Nosferatu, and find out he is in truth the Count Orlok.  As Thomas returns, they start hunting the monster, as one of the papers he signed is actually an occult contract to get Ellen for him and voiding their marriage.  Ellen confesses her past with the Count, who in the meantime kills their friends to force to choose him.

But the only way to destroy him is by a fair maiden's willing sacrifice, and knowing only she is the answer she conspires with von franz to lure Thomas away.  She pledges herself to him, allowing him to feed of her until the sun comes up and kills him, and she succumbs to the bloodloss in the arms of Thomas.

Now, it was okay, though I personally didn't like Willem Dafoe's performance in this film, his american accent to heavy amongst the british of the rest of the cast.  On a horror level though, Last Voyage of the Demeter which I reveiewed earlier this year was way spookier though.  

It wasn't bad, but I can't say I was wild about this movie...

Rusty Dagger: Spire of the Golem

 And so Rach'mal the Bull begins his adventures in Rusty Dagger, the cute little, tiny booklet driven, fantasy solo game.

And we do so with the scenario included in the core rules pack, Spire of the Golem!

A mysterious structure has suddenly appeared overnight, and has not been entered by any adventurers so far.  So Rach'mal sets out at first light, out to breach the doors of the Onyx Spire and gather whatever artifacts might be stored inside...

 

But let's have a short look at Rach'mal's stats first, as he sets out for his first adventure:

 

 

Needed models

In this adventure, you of course face enemies, but there is also a chance of gaining a companion, the thief Allendale.  So let's have a look at what models I selected, and where applicable, changed some of them (visually) to suit my collection better.

 

 

Allendale the Thief: the "Bokkenrijder" Crisis limited edition entrance model from 2010

3 Zombies: these are Exiled Dead zombies from Warhamer Underworlds

2 Zombie Hounds: for these, I used Mastiffs from my Chaos Dwarf collection

Rat Swarm: this is actually changed for a Giant Rat I got from Vinted

Stone Golem: a Magic the Gathering Earth Elemental that serves in my K'daai regiment

The Game

 

 

And so we set out to play the first game of The Rusty Dagger!  The token bag was prepared as was all the material and figures we needed.  I used red GW rulers to border the 6 by 10 "encounter board" on my 3x3 cobblestone battlemat and of we where for the first adventure of Rach'mal the Bull in his quest for wealth and artifacts to advance his schemes!

 

After hearing rumours of a mysterious structure having appeared a few nights ago, you set out to a towering onyx spire set in a clearing just beyond the tree lines.  A malodor of rot fills your nostrils, you encounter a man leaning against a tree, who tells you he is there for the same reasons as you: to loot the place.  He is Allendale, a skilled thief, who has been scouting the spire since it's appearance.  

 

 

Unaware of what is behind the doors, you and Allendale forge a temporary alliance, and a Candor roll succes convinces him to join your quest. 

As they travel through the halls of the spire, sounds of low groans and shuffling can be heard in front of you.  As you step into the next room, you spot a trio of zombies, out to pick your head for brains...

 

 

All three zombies advance as they receive the first three activation counters, closing the gap to Rach'Mal and Allendale. 

But with a speed belying his Dawi stature, the Bull springs forward, swinging his huge hammer and taking the first of the zombies out!

 

The second zombie attacks Rach'Mal, but it's movements are to slow and he misses before being sturck itself by the huge hammer.  The first round ends and the tokens now go back in the bag, minus the one the zombies received for their first battle round. 

Rach'Mal takes down the second zombie with a well placed hammer strike, before he moves up to attack the final zombie and wounding it.  When the third hero activation counter comes out of the bag, this final enemy is also duly dispatched by the mighty Sorcerer-Prophet of Hashut.

 

 Rach'Mal and Allendale investigate the large statue in the room, and succesfully pop open a hidden compartment, yielding them a Small Healing Potion.

 

As they advance through the hallways, a sudden click sounds as a flagstone contained a Dart trap.  Luckily both of them dodge the missiles, but time to recover is short! 

Two fierce Hell Hounds (technically, zombie hounds, but this sounded like a better name to go with the models I used) and a Giant Rat (again, actually a rat swarm) stalk the corridor in front of them.

 

 The hounds advance swiftly towards our heroes, but Rach'Mal counters one of them and smashes his hammer against it's skull, wounding it once.

 

 

Taking another swing, he smashes the beast to the floor, as he advances towards the other Hell Hound.  The beast snaps at him, but it's jaws fail to connect. 

Moments later, the Hound crashes to the floor, it's body broken and shattered by the mighty Bull headed warhammer.

 

 

Advancing on the rat, the vermin lunges forward but in all it's momentum misses (even with me accidentally rolling still 2 dice for this beastie, while it only has D6+1 for attack).

 

 

It proves no match for the Dawi'Zharr, and soon it is dispatched, as the heroes find 5 coins of Wealth in a corner in the room. 

Reaching a large door, an eerie glow shines through the cracks.  Pushing the door open, they see a large jewel with a statue in front, but as soon as they step inside, the statue starts to animate, lava flowing through the cracks of it's armoured skin.

 

 

But the golem is not alone in the room, as in a far corner two zombies are shuffling towards the heroes as well, Rach'Mal finding himself at the furthest edge away from the large beast. 

As the Golem and the zombies advance, Rach'Mal and Allendale take up positions to face the monsters, the Sorcerer-Prophet aiming for the large construct, while Allendale will try and tie up the zombies in the meantime.

 

The golem charges in, but Rach'Mal is barely saved from it's charge thanks to his skill in melee as he rolls a double 1, luckily the big beast's roll was not high enough on the D8 in it's attack dice pool! Striking back, he wounds the stone creature twice as he chips of chunks of rock from the monster.

 

One of zombies is engaged by Allendale, who wounds the undead creature, before putting a dagger through it's brain.  As the zombie falls to the floor, Allendale withdraws while the second zombie shambles after him. 

 

 

As the golem misses Rach'Mal once again, the Dawi'Zharr lands more blows onto the beast, smashing more and more of it's armour away, wounding it twice.

 

 

The last of the zombies joins the fight between the Dawi'Zharr and the construct, but it misses it's attacks. 

 

Seeing his makeshift ally being outnumbered, Allendale engages the zombie and wounds it as he attacks it from behind.  There is no honour amongst thieves, just efficiency after all...

 

 

Having had enough of this, Rach'Mal swirls his massive hammer in wide overhead arcs, crashing down onto the golem time and again until it falls to the floor all beaten and smashed to pieces, huge chunks missing from it's body and the lava slowly extinguishing in it's veins.

 

 

Oblivious to the things happening around it, the zombie clumsily tries to grab the nimble thief, who dodges around it's clawing talons over and over again.

 

Rach'Mal smites the thing back to the afterlife, and even though the zombie rolled a 6 on it's defence, the Sorcerer-Prophet had scored a Natural Success with a double 6.  Meaning all three dice came up as 6's!

 

 

As they investigate the jewel, Rach'Mal spots still a trace of life in the golem (thanks to his high Arcane score, this was an automatic success).  With a loud shout of "Look Out!" he manages to warn Allendale just in time as the golem collapses, and the spire starts to crumble.  Dodging the debris, and carrying the jewel, they both make it safely to the exit before the whole spire crumbles back into dust... 

Back in the village, they count their gains, as they sell the jewel for 10 coins worth of Wealth and an Antidote to Poison potion, something that might always come in handy.  As a result, the adventure yielded 15 coins of Wealth, the Small Potion of Healing and the Antidote to Poison, but also 2 SP's for Rach'Mal the Bull.  This causes him to level up, and I decided to spend both points on his Judgement stat, and raising his Luck from 0 to 2 in the process.  While he also learned the Mouth of Hell spell, Allendale saw the potential in sticking along with this Sorcerer-Prophet, and joins him as a Companion...

 

And so the first story of The Rust Dagger has been completed, a fun little game that with all the notes taking and picture snapping took about an hour to play out.  

 

I will definintly be playing out more of the official and fanbased ones, found on their Facebook group, over time, and continue the adventures of Rach'Mal the Bull in the world of The Rusty Dagger!