Updates and Changes

The Lord of the Rings armies are finally being painted up. Here are some pics:


This is the 350 point easterling army. There will also be armies for 500, 650, 900, 1200 and 1500 points. I'll post the pics up as I paint the models. Don't hold your breath!

Rohan is also being painted up to the same points value. I'll be honest here, I haven't started them yet.

Different Zombies

As I finalise the Vampire Counts army (just in time for the ne book next March!), I was faced with the task of filling out the zombie units. I wanted something that would take up a 40mm base, ie be 'worth' 4 zombies in a unit.

I didn't just want to cram 4 regular zombies onto a 40mm base, or do a 'scene' with 4 man-sized zombies. I've seen it before. I wanted to do something that I hadn't seen before.

I came up with two ideas. The first was the zombie shepherds. These (there are two) were made simply by adding a zombie torso, arm and head to the nurgle champion's steed. Simple yet effective. The shepherds sit in the middle of the zombie units, keeping them all moving in the right direction.






The second idea was zombie ogres. Let some big guys join in the fun. And by fun, I mean mindless shambling. A box of 6 Ogres = 24 zombies, which sounded like a great way to round out my zombie units. Painted up with pallid skin, these guys right right in. There's even a standard bearer, who has an excuse for being at the front!




These latest figures that I finished will feature in an upcoming battle report, assuming I do another Warhammer battle report this year.

Blood Bowl: New Version, New Game

Hmm, two months between updates. At least I've been busy - though not busy writing blog entries.

Legend Bowl, as the Blood Bowl League I am running is called, is progressing well. Seven stable teams, comprising Orcs, Humans, Dwarfs, Dark Elves, and Halflings are involved. I had hoped for a dozen entrants, but with competing calls on people's time, and only one chance to play per month, seven is what I could get.

The league has given me a good chance to get to grips with the new version of Blood Bowl. In short, it is excellent. Two years in development, and it shows. The changes make the individual matches and the league flow so much better than in the past.

The new version, known as LRB5 has made changes to some key parts of the game. While running, passing, blocking and throwing all remain the same, major changes to skills, team value, after match winnings, and equalising teams has really made the difference.

The new system of inducements, and journeymen players, means that league games do not become unbalanced between the haves and have-nots. Teams that suffer early injuries do not find themselves in a vicious circle with the journeymen rule, and teams of different values are made equal through inducements.

Team value is calculated differently, and is now a meaningful score of a team's ability and experience, rather than the rough guide it used to be.

The smoothness of LRB5 has appealed to old and new players alike, to judge from first hand observation.

This league will finish in October or November, and I'm going to start a second season soon after, and use Chaos Dwarfs in place of my current Orc team.

A Warhammer Primer

So you've decided to play Warhammer.

That's my assumption on writing this piece anyway. It contains a few tips on getting started in the game. I'm not going to argue the pros and cons of playing at all, I'm writing this piece for those who have decided they do want to play.

Good Looking?
Your first task is to pick which army you would like to play. There are over a dozen to choose from in Warhammer. They each have certain strengths and weaknesses, but don't worry about that right now. What you need to know is that you have to pick one. Warhammer doesn’t work in black and white. There are no good and evil alliances. Each army stands alone against everyone else.

Take a good look at the Warhammer miniatures. Which army appeals to you most, in terms of look and feel? This is the army you should choose. You are going to spend a lot of time with your miniatures, not just playing, but modelling and painting too. Looks count.

Tactical Considerations
Once you have an idea of the army you would like to take, consider your broad tactical leanings. Don't worry about details at this stage, just think in generalities. Do you want to charge in and fight as soon as possible, or stand back and shoot from a distance? Many of the Warhammer armies are deep enough to let you do either, or a mix if you prefer. Your leanings will determine the units you'll want to choose.

Your first purchase
Your first purchase should be the book for the army you have chosen. Each army in Warhammer has its own book, giving you full details of every unit you can take. Reading through the book, in light of your tactical preferences will give you an idea of the kind of army you would like to take.

Your first, second, third List
It's now time to write some army lists. Each game of Warhammer is played to a given points maximum, 1,500 or 2,000 points are common game values. Write some lists for your army to the points value you expect to be playing. Don't just write one, write many, and see what you like and dislike about each list. You can actually do this before buying the army book, either by using the in store copies on a Games Workshop store, or by borrowing from friends. Get feedback on your army lists.

Missing Something?
It could be that you don't know people who play Warhammer. Like Tango, Warhammer requires two people. Check out your local gaming clubs, which will be your source of opponents, do this before even buying an army book. Most clubs have players willing to help people into the game. See what points value the club members play to. You may be able to play in the shop you buy your miniatures from, just ask and see if there's a games night (or day) for Warhammer.

Last Word
Have fun!

Blood Bowl Leagues

I'm not usually one for posting links, but I have to share this awesome site with you.

http://www.arosbb.dk/

As far as Blood Bowl leagues go, this one is perfection. Every team has its own page, every match its own report, every player his, her or its own profile. Simply stunning.

I got to the site through the team sheet they made for Blood Bowl fifth edition. I had no idea of the treasure trove within. If you want to run a Blood Bowl league, this is the gold standard.

Blood Bowl Begins (Again)

The Blood Bowl league has now begun at my club. You know, the one I started? yeah, that one.

The fifth edition rule set is really good. So far I've found the changes and additions they have made since fourth (quite a few) to be well thought out. Blood Bowl is what you might call a 'partnership game' where Games Workshop sell the boxed set and teams, but the fans work with the designer on updated editions of the rules, which are available online for free. A good system. The proof of this will come as the league progresses and people's teams become more advanced.

In Blood Bowl your players improve over time, assuming they actually achieve things on the field, there's no points gained just for turning up! As your team progresses you have to remember which of your layers have special skills, or are maybe stronger or more agile than they started out. We'll see how people go with that.

So far there are six confirmed teams; humans, orcs, dwarves, high elves, dark elves, wood elves. I myself have three spare teams spare that new players can start offf with, so there's plenty of scope for expansion.

The league has begun. I have no idea how things will end, but it should be a fun ride.

A Blood Bowl Primer

Announcing I am getting into a new game, I took it as a given that people would know the game in question.

Blood Bowl is Games Workshop's game of fantasy football. Kind of like the football you know (wherever you're from) but played with orcs, minotaurs, elves, and so on.

The game is fast and fun. It's one of those simple to pick up games that nevertheless contains some strategic depth. Once you know what you're doing, a game should last around 1 hour.

You don't need much to play, just your miniatures, and someone with a game board. You can never have more than 16 players on your team roster, so it's not difficult to gather what you will need to play.

League play is the real draw of the game, where teams and players progress over games, becoming better at playing the game, and also weighed down with old playing injuries if you're unlucky.



The third Sunday of March is when the Blood Bowl season will be starting for me. The initial teams look like being orcs, orcs, dark elves, and humans. Since most of us have a spare team or two (four in my case) there will be plenty of room for others to join in.

A Return to Blood Bowl

I was talking to Aido on the phone today. "It's decided," he said. "We're getting into Blood Bowl. That's our next game."

Hey, thanks for consulting me.

Considering 'we' are already playing Magic: the Gathering, Warhammer, Warhammer 40k (well, I don't), and the occasional board game, and computer games too, another game just adds to the list.

Works for me. I am the only one of us who owns Blood Bowl, and I have Wood Elves, Humans, Orcs, and Chaos to choose from. I think I will do an orc team. My other teams can be made available for others to use. I also have a Beastman team, as I wrote that team into 3rd edition Blood Bowl, and it was printed way back in Citadel Journal Issue 29 (and Blood Bowl Compendium II).

Aido is going to scratch build his own board, using my original as a template, so we'll have four people playing at any one time. Which is good since there will be four of us playing initially, plus whoever else wants to join in.

The initial teams will be Orcs, Skaven, Lizardmen, and whatever Eddie wants to play. Probably orcs too.

It was good timing for me, since just last week I had looked at my collection of Blood Bowl miniatures and thought about repainting them. I did them between 1993 and 1995, and frankly they look shocking. This will give me an actual reason to repaint them.

Look for some initial league (or whatever form it takes) reports in late March.