A Little Variety

So I went to check out my other LGS, Genesis Games and Gizmos, and was pleasantly surprised with people actually playing WM/Hordes there! I played a great 400 point game which enabled me to field all of my forces. I also decided to try something new and use the Butcher.

Faction: Khador
Army Points: 390/400

Butcher of Khardov
-Destroyer
-Juggernaut
Manhunter
Greylord Ternion
Winterguard Mortar Crew

Faction: Circle Orboros
Army Points: 389/400

Baldur the Stonecleaver
Pureblood Warpwolf
Woldwarden
Druids of Orboros

I ended up winning, but honestly, the game came down to dice rolls: my Circle opponent charged the Butcher with Baldur, and was 1 point short of killing him. The next turn, the Butcher easily did the job with 6 focus. The game was great fun, and a learning experience for both of us. Here's some highlights from the game:

• Circle can do a great job of shutting out my warjacks (neither got to field their melee weapons!) He put up some great defensive spells, and I was unable to charge, and definitely would have gotten a fierce counter-charge if I had tried.
  
• Scattering mortars aren't all that bad (3 druids in one shot, ouch).
• The Butcher's Howl can be useful, and his melee power is amazing (He did the 24+4d6 charge, wiping out the Woldwarden), but his support leaves something to be desired, and he is hard to hide.
  
• Be more aggressive with Greylords and Manhunter! I was a bit shy to commit either of these units into combat, but I charged the Butcher first chance I got. It worked (barely!), but it is definitely not the best way to go. Oh, and don't forget to cast Blizzard on friendlies all the time, but after their activation.
• When each side has 2 or more scattering, low RAT weapons, it gets to be a paint figuring it out :P

Anyways the game was great fun, and I'm glad I now have two LGS to play at, especially considering my university schedule will probably keep me from being a super regular player.

~Max

Let it Snow

Yes, it is too early for Christmas, but the title is in reference to me finally trying out using baking powder as snow for basing, and frost on the Ice Axe and Frostfang. It works out great - the granules are much smaller than real snow, so look suited for the miniatures. Obviously I'm not full on basing the models yet - the plan is rubble > static grass > snow. On casters, jacks and solos I'll probably throw in rock + flock moss in there as well.

Wednesday was a day that brought glorious victory to the Khadoran Empire! Philodox took pictures, so you'll probably find the complete battle report soon somewhere in the PA forums. The battle was a three way duel between the soulless Everblight fiends of the Far North, the brutal Menoth Protectorate, and the ever vigilant Khadoran Northern border patrol. Anyway, Sorscha performed miraculously. Kreoss was wounded by a well placed Bombard, and then executed promptly with a Handcannon shot from the Kommander herself. Afterwards, as things began to look grim with the Juggernaut out of commission, Sorscha zoomed across the board, froze, and subsequently destroyed the unfortunately separated Lylyth.

Impressed with her performance I went ahead and picked up the Butcher. Honestly it was between that and a Circle Warpack, but I have too many unpainted models, and not enough money and time. I will wait for a better opportunity when I have more free time, probably next summer.

As for the Butcher I decided to try out priming him white, and I'm a little undecided on the result. First of all, the model seemed to prime much better than with black, and lighter colors become so much easier. Second, I was hoping to get a brighter Blood Red armor with the white undercoat, but the resulting red turned out WAY too bright, at least the way it looks now. I want him to stand out but not too much, so I'll keep plugging away and see what comes out.

Some other new stuff, I finished one Greylord Ternion and now I will paint the rest at the same time as I have figured out the scheme. I think it's pretty effective and I'll post photos when the entire squad is complete. As for the Butcher I will probably make slow and careful progress on him as I'm working on the rest of the stuff, as I want to field a fully painted army as soon as I can.

Finally I have begun coloring the front arc of the model bases Red Gore, as it looks pretty neat and gives the army a little sense of unity. I can always repaint it black if it doesn't look good after basing.

~Max