kickstarter
Hobby projects, Guildball the Union Starter Box
So, last week I painted up Fangtooth from Guildballs Union team and when I saw the starter set at a good price I couldn’t resist picking it up
Apparently this one is unique as it includes steamforged games first ‘multi character’ character. I’ll get to that.
Everything is nicely organised, with each model separated into its own zip bag. Annoyingly the box was missing the football but an email has gone off to hopefully rectify that.
Blackheart is the Captain of the team, an all action killer with good stats.
I really like the inclusion of mascots in the guildball game, it adds an additional character that does something slightly different to just an out and out normal guy. In Coin’s case he dishes out additional influence, which is limited so really useful. Some of the other team mascots give out bonuses if they are killed, Coin doesn’t but he/she seems fairly solid regardless.
As mentioned, the multi character character- Avarisse and Greede. Strictly speaking Avarisse is the player, whilst Greede sits in a harness on his belly. But at the start of a turn you can drop Greed off giving you an extra player on the field. Avarisse looks to be fairly tough, though lacks any real abilit to kick. This is offset by Greede, his kicking skill being quite high. Presumably the main tactic is to have Avarisse hold the ball, before Greede detaches with it, dodges everyone and scores/passes upfield. I see him being equally useful as a surprise attacker if I can knock down other players.
Assembly wasn’t too bad- Blackheart was a little weird in his pose so I think Iv managed to stick his head on slightly wonky, but Avarisse and Greede were far easier than I’d anticipated.
Once I’d used my Basius pad (again) it was into painting- Coin first as he was the easiest. It was a simple build up of natural green colours, before spending far too long trying to dot the eyes without him looking cross eyed.
Next up was Greede- the on field model. Whilst I felt the leprechaun was a little too obvious, I had to do it as my other half is from Norn Arn so I knew it would annoy her if she ever saw it. This was also a test for the scheme as it occurred to me he isn’t going to spend much time in the field outside of Avarisse’s harness.
Him done it was time to do him again as a part of the Avarisse model. What’s brilliant is the model comes with magnets allowing Greede to be easily removed once he’s scuttling around the tabletop. Pictures of a Greedless Avarisse will follow when Iv finished the replacement belly piece.
Finally Blackheart got painted. This is the one I’m most disappointed with, I just couldn’t settle on a colour scheme I liked so ended up just doing it brown and being annoyed. I’m keeping an eye on an alternate poses Blackheart to have another go.
The starter set was really good, the Avarisse and Greede models effectively giving an extra model for your money. Next on my shopping list are a couple more characters in order to get a full six player team on the field (and maybe some subs)
What’s on my table? 28th July
so, this week has been fairly productive. Iv managed to get a lot done as most evenings Iv been at my painting table.
First, I finally got organised with my Basius pad with some green stuff and now every Wild West Exodus model I own has a unique moulded base (besides those I’d already based). Painting of these will continue soon.
As you’ll have seen in a previous post the Mad Max Cars were all painted up and finished, though I can see a few details that need to be sorted.
Over a year ago now I mentioned my Rourkes Drift box from Warlord Games, I finally got some colour on of the British Redcoats, finalising my base colours.
Happy with the result I immediately moved on to painting up some more and getting them shaded. I hope to get the remainder of the British done over the next week or so, before getting the seemingly endless pile of Zulu warrior sprues finished too.
Final details also went onto Miedo a Morir from the Brotherhood faction of Freebooters Fate. Just the base to tidy up a little.
A dice head model from Noc’s Box- a gaming store in Dorset. I’m annoyed I missed that mould line, not sure how it happened. Again, just the base and a little tidying to do on this one- and the tie of course.
Finally, Iv also been working on some GuildBall models, but I’ll write a seperate post for that.
Painting Guildball Union Fangtooth
so, this was going to be included in my most recent ‘what’s on my table’ post but due to the size I figured it would be better off on its own.
Guildball is a game that’s recently become popular at my gaming club, mostly due to the kickstarter arriving and one of our members pledging for everything and being able to show it off. This has led to a gradual uptake of teams as well as a few crossovers with the club I the next town.
The game is a medieval sports game, based somewhere between the real origins of football and rugby and a fantasy world. It’s far more fluid than blood bowl and dreadball as it doesn’t require it’s models to move on set spaces, instead operating far more as a skirmish style game.
I’ve played a few times now but haven’t yet settled on a team, I’m also holding off a bit to see if the game drops off, as has happened with a few games recently, as fads lose their appeal. I suspect this one will last, especially as season two is on the way, but you can never be sure.
In the meantime I picked up a model I liked from the range to paint up, Fangtooth, from the Union team. He’s a fairly flexible model as he can play for the Morticians, Brewers and Fishermen as well so I’m not stuck with one team.
So the model arrived and I quickly assembled it (really quickly as it was a one piece model). I also used my recently acquired Basius 2 pad to give him a more exciting base.
You can see his base, with space for his huge feet in the centre of this picture.
Once glued to the base and sprayed I immediately painted the skin with Mephiston Red to provide a deep colour to the recesses of the skin.
Next came the layering to an actual skin tone. First drybrushing a heavy layer or emperors children over the top to take the edge off the red, before finally highlighting with Cadian Fleshtone to provide a natural colour. Due to the dirty rotten nature of Fangtooth I then dabbed Lamentors Yellow into creases and folds to make him look filthy.
Next up, the chains were picked out in Ironbreaker to break up the flesh areas. I also painted the trousers a split between Caliban Green and Averland Sunset. I always liked Stirlanders from Warhammer Fantasy so it was an easy choice on colour scheme.
A slightly clearer shot, unfortunately iPads don’t have fantastic cameras, so a lot of pictures look awful.
Loads of detail on the model, I picked out a few boils and lumps with the yellow glaze, as well as getting all the staples from his repaired wounds,
Starting to look ok
Everything was given a wash with Agrax Earthshade to dirty it up (and lazily pick out detail). I also painted the wood of the base and his mask with Rhinox Hide, before highlighting the base with Gorthor Brown.
The trousers were highlighted with Warpstone Glow and Yriel Yellow, and the mask with Gorthor Brown. I added some Screaming Bell detailing to the chains, picking out the larger links and rings.
With that the model is finished until I add a team to him and detail with some linking colours.
Kickstarter, Plotbuilder cards
So, having a bit of tidy of my hobby areas I came upon these, a Kickstarter I backed last year that shipped and got put away promptly being forgotten. The Plotbuilder cards by MN games,
Here’s what the campaign had to say
Plotbuilder is designed to help you create story arcs for any purpose, whether you’re a role player, a writer, into theatre sports, or something else entirely. Setting agnostic, the cards are able to quickly generate plot frameworks regardless of period, style or background specifics.
Each deck has 72 cards, comprising six categories of twelve options each. Along with your pledges you will receive a high quality PDF of the cards to do what you want with. Get a 12-sided die and you can generate plots that way too.
Usable at any stage of story telling, from a blank page to on-the-fly development, the Plotbuilder deck can be targeted as required. Need the primary driving force for a character? Draw a Motive card. What about a victim for the antagonist to pick on? Draw a Character card. How about a plot bubbling in the background that the protagonist might bump into? Go the whole hog and do an entire Plotbuilder story!
Millions of plot combinations can be made with the Plotbuilder deck by drawing just one card from each deck, but many cards instruct you to draw more. You won’t have the same story twice!
I picked these up to help with character creation in a few of my (yet to see progress) writings, and now Iv found the cards might actually do just that.
The cards are good quality, with a simple design and look easy to use.
As an example
In this random draw a character has been created. I have created a Sage working for a business promoting theology using misdirection in order to achieve wealth. Using the twist cards adds the deceptive characteristic meaning the sage is actually looking to destroy his ally to serve his own ambition.
The cards also provide examples from different settings- ie the sage card gives examples from fantasy, modern and futuristic settings.
Skimming through the deck there look to be many combinations, with some cards suggesting the addition of alternate cards to further enhance the character being created. All the decks need is a random death card spread through the deck and I’d be on track to write the next game of thrones.
Kickstarter, @terrorbullgames the Hen Commandments opening
So, my latest kickstarter project has arrived- The Hen Commandments by Terror Bull Games, after a quick trip out I got to opening it.
Here’s what the campaign had to say
Heninism is the religion for YOU…
It’s literally whatever you make of it!
The prophecy tells of a Holy Chicken come to save Mankind from impending doom by laying unto us a series of eggs, upon which are written ten sacred commandments for a better, more fulfilling life. Unfortunately these messages are rather jumbled and obscure. And that’s where you come in…
As a devout disciple of the Holy Chicken, it’s your job to not only work out the true meaning of the Chicken’s confused commandments, but to convince all the other disciples that you’re right and they’re wrong.
We didn’t set out with this goal, but The Hen Commandments might be the ideal drinking game. It was tested with varying groups largely in a pub setting – and, if we’re honest, mostly conceived and developed there too. It brings people together, encourages absurdity, silliness and just the right amount of awkward uncomfortableness. And most unusually for us, it can be explained and learned in under a minute.
I liked the idea and pledged for the basic game (meaning I didn’t get my name on the box) and now it’s here. The box itself is nice, with interesting cover art and good quality card making for easy storage.
First in the box, the ‘historical’ pamphlet and rulebook. It’s always good to get fluff, and always better when the rules are shorter than said fluff. In this case the rules cover two pages, whilst the fluff gets a full booklet.
Gaming accessories, corn pieces and egg timer. Low accessory requirements indicate an easy game to play.
A record pad, allowing for humorous commandment lists to be kept for the future.
A nice touch, adding baggies for each individual card deck is nice. I’d have likely bagged them myself so it’s nice to have the bags to do so.
The most important bit, the cards. These are good quality thick ones, which again is really nice. I don’t know the terminology but good card stock is a definite boon to a game.
Skimming the rules the game looks very straightforward, whilst the number of cards allows for more combinations than I’m likely to ever see. I suspect it’s a game that relies on the players as much as the rules so I’ll try to get it down to the gaming club soon.
Kickstarter, @wargamesbakery basius 2 homestead pad part two
So, you’ll have seen previously my basius 2 homestead pad arrived from wargames bakery, that post is available here.
I had a few concerns about the pad, the loss of some detail and the seeming overhang of some of the more prominent sections. I also had a concern that the thin sections would affect the longevity of the pad but having had a poke I believe it will only be an issue if I use the pad incorrectly.
With my pad here I assembled supplies to test it out, unfortunately not having any green stuff I was having to use Milliput, which I’m less a fan of. In addition I needed water and a toothbrush to keep the pad wet and clear loose milliput. Also Arrow as background noise.
Going straight for it I mixed up some epoxy and attached it to a base. Wetting the pad (perhaps overly cautious) I push the base into the mould and pull it away.
The left is the first one, with clear lines but blank edges and fingerprints. The right is the second attempt, with no fingerprints (or at least minimal) and less blank space.
Pleased I got to poking at different part at the pads and soon had these finished, with a few minor lessons as I went about placement, angles and pressure.
The overhangs were on the lower left bases, clearly having minimal effect on the process. A few of the deeper bases I need to prepare for with larger blobs of epoxy but that’s getting closer
A few more. The trapdoor handle is frustratingly unclear and the teddy less defined than in the stock picture.
Edit: having rechecked the teddy is as defined as it is in the stock photo.
Close up of the bear and something else (maybe a rock or barrel)
With the overhang clearly not an issue the lack of definition on the details is, whilst the bear is an easy paint fix the handle is going to need a look at of I want an intact one.
Looking closely I think with a sharp knife I can reshape the intended space for the ring, so I’ll take a look at the weekend.
Overall the pad will do its job. The thinness won’t be an issue, the overhang doesn’t affect presses enough to worry and hopefully the lack of detail is something I can overcome. I’m looking forward to starting to get the bases onto models and seeing how they look with paint on them.
Kickstarter, @wargamesbakery basius 2 homestead pad
So, my first backed kickstarter project has arrived (overwhelming numbers prompted a several month delay understandably). The Basius 2 Homestead basing pad from Wargames Bakery. Designed to help create unique bases this was really interesting, here’s what the campaign had to say about my pad
I chose the Homestead pad for its mix of bricks and rubble, suitable for pretty much anything.
The reverse side has already been earmarked for my Wild West exodus lawmen as a significant upgrade on using agrellan Earth from games workshop. 
The sheer detail on the pads provides an effectively infinite variety of options.
Full prints of what can come out look good, I won’t be doing anything quite as large but it’s nice to see the full board.
So, as I said mine has arrived ready for use
Of course, as a pad I can’t tell much, I need to use it to get a proper impression (no pun intended) of the base, but the bricks and rubble look to be well defined
Again, without using it I can’t be certain, but this side looms a little less clean cut- a few of the details look masked and more worrying what looks like plastic/resin flash seems to be overhanging in places so I’ll have to see how it comes out.
The trapdoor handle covered over by ‘flash’ preventing a clear cast as shown in the stock picture.
Some of the overhangs on the planks, I worry they’ll ruin the definition of the planks.
My final worry, the thin sections look as though damage could be caused with extended use. Hopefully with the pad being a stronger material than anything being pushed into it it can take the pressure.
I plan on playing around with this tonight and will update then.
#kickstarter @brightfuture_bg vermin games bright future Unboxing
So, last week I missed a parcel and couldn’t work out what it could be. I just picked it up from the sorting office and after a moments confusion at the scribbles over the envelope I noticed the word ‘Bulgaria’ and remembered I had backed the kickstarter project for Bright Future by Vermin Games.
Here’s what the project has to say
It finally happened – a crazed general pressed the big red button, releasing the missiles of war and destroying the surface world after an all-out nuclear war. In order to survive, humanity was forced to hide deep underground in the metro tunnels or in the decrepit ruins of the civil defense shelters from the Cold War.
The unimaginable forces unleashed by the thermonuclear ICBMs caught some of the survivors, mutating both their forms and minds into something new, something different.
However, these shelters were never meant for permanent inhabitation. Slowly, irradiated water starts to seep in. Most people have resigned to their fate and just plug the leaks wherever they can, but everyone knows that eventually they’re going to get flooded.
The last hope lies into the legendary Tunnel of Power, where an old, enormous, filled-with-food soviet bunker is hidden. A recent earthquake exposed an impossibly thick door with a terminal beside it. Could this be the entrance to the mysterious bunker?
The rulebook quality is good and it’s nice to see my name in the list of backers. The rules look well laid out and clear with only about ten pages there so hopefully no unnecessary padding.
A decent card stock tile and the character cards are of a good size with a nice thickness.
Overall the quality is good, the project delivered within the timeframe and I look forward to playing a game as soon as possible.
#Kickstarter, Heist by @pairadiceg (ames)
Si, I had another Kickstarter game come through, Heist by Pair a Dice Games
As you can see it was a decent backing amount and a cheap pickup game, here’s what they had to say on the campaign
In Heist, players compete to commit the ultimate art heist. By using special tools to break through top level security systems, players progress towards the big haul. But you have to hurry, as you’ll only have 3 minutes to steal the prize before the security systems fully trigger, and you’re unable to complete your heist.
The game can be played with 2-4 players and takes EXACTLY 3 minutes to complete. Set up begins by randomly laying out a series of rooms that players must progress their pawns through in order to reach the Vault and steal the prized art. Each room has a coordinating color and symbol-coded tool that can be used to bypass the security in that room and move on to the next. But you can use other cards in your thieving arsenal to make vital Hand-Offs, stop your opponents with Security Guards (or pay them off with Bribes), Sabotage your buddies and more!
Since each of your special thieving techniques requires you to do more than just play the cards (as you make alarm sounds, laugh evilly, and shout “Stop!”), this game of stealth will be anything but stealthy.
So after a slight delay (customs holding to endure the sand timer held sand and not an alternate powder it arrived and I immediately opened up.
The box design is nice and simple, and has room for everything. The instructions are straightforward with the other side offering alternate play rules for co-operative play and player numbers outside of the recommended.
lining the cards up for a game I immediately draw the vault which is the target destination so that goes to the back and all is ready.
Two player hands, you’ll see the various designs poking out, including the Mona Lisa card which is required to be played in the vault to win. If the cards drawn aren’t enough the correct ones to get through the next door it will mean discarding cards and hoping to find the appropriate one next time. The three minute time limit of the game reduces the chances for boring digging through a deck as it becomes a desperate race against time to get the correct cards in place.
The expansion included in the kickstarter adds some additional art pieces which change the game dramatically, adding new elements to gameplay.
The only criticism I have with the game is that the kickstarter exclusive alternate art card is slightly larger than the other cards in the deck so it’s easy to see where it is, though once it’s in a hand it’s less noticeable.
I hope to give the game a proper run through this evening and I’ll add my comments then.
Books, bastion by Craig gallant @wildwestexodus
so, with Outlaw mimiatures Wild West Exodus Unfinished Business kickstarter running I figured it a good time to start reading the books. Having finally found a UK stockist I trust (mentioning no names) I put an order in and less than a week later the book depository have delivered the full set of books.
I was torn between starting with the first book- the Jesse James chronicles honour among Outlaws- and the first chronological book – Bastion, in the end settling for Bastion. This being focused around the holy order of man meant it would provide a background on the overall story as well as giving me an insight that I haven’t been too bothered about so far. Whilst I like the models the bulky armour hasnt grabbed me. This actually has been a recurring theme in my interest in WWX as if favoured the more ‘realistic’ elements such as the Cowboys and Indians with less interest in the aliens and mysterious warriors, but the more I play and the more I learn the other races are becoming more and more interesting to me- which can only enhance my enjoyment of the game even if it does come at a quite literal cost.
The book starts immediately with discord and disagreement between key members of the mysterious Etta of the holy order with arguments over prophecies and chosen ones etc etc, which initially had me worried it would be a standard ‘chosen one’ style story, but it quickly moved away from that into the rest of the continent and the major players within the book.
The tale was split between three major storylines (which didn’t seem to be linked even tenuously yet interlocked nicely in their pace and felt as though there were setting up a much larger story in the near future)
The primary story is regarding giovanni Varro, a street fighter down on his luck and in the wrong place at the wrong time (this would be the potential chosen one). He ends up in training to potentially join the holy order after crossing paths with an agent of the dark council.
Second to this is another down on his luck character, a railhead crew leader who’s trainline ends up massively delayed resulting in him working construction in a new town. Meanwhile the local populace is being slaughtered by something mysterious and savage.
Finally, a focus on the active agents of the holy order as they seek an audience with Abraham Lincoln. This story held the most potential (it was also the least resolved) and also provided details on why the Ulysses S. Grant model looks like this-
Overall the book was a good read with my worries of a standard prophecy plot being resolved with the alternate stories and a broad depth of detailing over so many elements of the holy order.
The book also served to resolve my issues with the holy order as a gaming faction, I love an underdog so alls good.
Next up will be the Jesse James book, which is slightly more intriguing following a small cameo appearance in bastion.
hobbybutterfly 