Templecon Hangover/'Scrum Week 4

Hey all. I have been in a bit of a hungover state following the weekend that was Templecon. The week was a blast but tiring. I miss being able to just walk down stairs and grab a game whenever. I ended up playing in only 2 tourneys the team tourney and Hardcore. The team tourney was a bit of a hot mess as it took nearly 12 hours to play. I was going to try and play blood/sweat/tiers but we had a guy drop so one of our team was missing a man so I filled in. We did terribly with the team going 1-4 (only win was a bye) and I think I was 1-3 maybe 2-2. I don't really remember the last game to be honest. Here are some photos:

Hardcore was awesome. My pMadrak beast brick played well and I went 2-2. After winning the first game I lost the second game at dice down due to killboxing myself (dumbass). If I was one inch further in from the right edge I would have ended up winning on the 2nd tiebreaker. This was fine as it would have kept me in the winners bracket and I would have gotten smoked in the next round anyways (the guys I played round two played Jake aka Neutralyze in round three). I then proceeded to win game three and lose game four.

I was going to play a game with 'Gday late Saturday but it got too late and he headed up to bed. Instead I played another one of the Lost crew and played Valrus on one of the scenario tables. This game was a bit of a blur as well as I was pretty out of it by the end.

OK here is week 4 of my 'Scrum Challenge. I had a snafu with week three and almost didn't get it submitted. I forgot to send it to Goris so I had to call my wife from Templecon and have her send him an email with the attached photo. This phone called occurred at ~11:45pm Friday evening :/ I still haven't unpacked my minis from TC so no group photo this week but I will do one next week...promise. This week I did a Thrullg I had sitting on the shelf waiting to be painted. He didn't make the trip to TC so he was easily accessible.

Done...Kinda

Time is up and I have "finished' the minis for Templecon. They meet hardcore requirements but there a re a few things I still want to do on some of them. Ironically one of the only models I feel is truly done is the SSE. Anyways time to pack the car and hit the road.

Oh yeah this came today too. It is a little birthday present to myself consisting of a Saxon (needs to be converted so he isn't standing on a troll head), a full unit of scattergunners, and a bomber which is going to be used for an all metal Rok (with possible conversions)

Closer but Not There

So it is 0125 the am we leave for Templecon and still nothing is done. The KSBs are really close and the SSE got ALOT of attention and has nearly caught up with his unit. All of this work has lead to the conclusion that the runeshappers are not going to make the trip to RI. I also got my 2nd champ hero assembled and ready for early am priming. One way or the other pic tomorrow before we hit the road.

Ways to Go

I have been painting here and there over the last 2 days. I have had some decent progress but nothing finished as of yet. The KSBs and (despite not being imperative) runeshapers have seen the brunt of the work. The reason the runeshapers have had as much work done on them as they have is they shared colors I had on the palette for the KSBs. The SSE has been neglected and I fear he will not make it in time. Worst comes to worst I will drop him from lists and just max the KSB unit. Sure losing his buffs will stink but gotta do what ya gotta do. My stretch break is over back to the painting table. I am gonna throw Rounders in the DVD and try and bang out the KSB unit before bed........

Templecon Time Crunch

Templecon is right around the corner and I have a bunch of stuff I need/would like to have finished.

All of these need to be finished to hardcore standards. As you can see Janissa and Mulg are pretty close (and have been for over a year), the KSBs are OK but the SSE is way behind, the whelps are OK, and the runeshapers are so so. If push came to shove the runeshapers can be scratched. Not pictured I need to assemble and paint a second Champion Hero, touch up Boomhowler & Co, and Gudrun. these need to be basic painting requirements not hardcore. On top of this I need to get a model painted for this weeks 'scrum challenge. I think it is going to be another caber. Stay tuned hopefully there will be multiple updates with finished models over the next 18-36 hours.

WIPs

Couldn't think of a title so wip it is. I was thinking more and more about this weeks submission for the trollblood challenge and I just couldn't do whelps so I had to scramble to get something else finished. I was looking through the models I recently primed and decided to go with another member of my Kriel Warrior deathstar....the standard bearer. He doesn't have that much skin and has a much of metal so that makes him pretty fast (for me).

This is were the standard sits after about a days work on him. The skin, metal, and leathers are done. I need to highlight the tartan, do another highlight or two on the standard, paint the flames, do the base as per my normal steps, and paint his shield. There is still plenty that needs to get done in the next two days but we should be OK.

I have also gotten some work done on eBloodsong. Despite here tier list being on hold for a little bit I want to get her finished up. I have blocked in her skin and red skirt. I have also repainted her white metals (change my color selection) and started the tedious task of lining in all the yellow metals. She has a ways to go but I like how she is shaping up.

Lastly I have done a little work on our happy little whelps. I did a shading was on the EBDT whelp and painted in the red protrusions on our two grey whelps. I still hope to have them done Friday with the standard but do not intend to submit them to Goris.

Unpictured I did a little base work on Madrak who is to be submitted to 'Gday in 3 days.....look at that despite being nearly finished over a week ago I will be sending him in last minute again. I have a bunch I still want/need to get finished prior to hitting the road for Templecon in a week. My new Battlefoam trollblood load out bag should be here tomorrow so that is exciting and in plenty of time to pack. Hopefully more wip/finished pics tonight/tomorrow/Friday.

Wednesdays Games

Cash and I got to the store right about the same time. we set up a table and got ready to roll. Cash said he wanted to play 50pt games seeing as most of the tourneys he is prepping for at Templecon are 50s. I was planning on playing 35pt but said sure. I didn't really have what I wanted to fill out either list properly (Mulg) but I brought the eMadrak up yo 50pts and hit the table. As expected Cash was playing eHaley....I hate her. We played close quarters under the new SR2012 rules but played 10min turns with one 5 min extension. The game was pretty close but he was in control most of it. I was able to surprise him on Haley's feat turn as he was unfamiliar with eMadraks feat and activated him last after I walked as much of my army into melee as possible. I feated and was able to get a bunch of attacks but missed on a large percentage of them. Madrak's army was attrition down and eventually Madrak fell himself. IT was a pretty fun game and only ran into a little but of an issue with time.

We were the only people at the store so we set up for another game. This time at 35pts so that I could use my Calandra tier list. We would be playing 7 min turns with one 3 min extension. The mission was incursion.

This time he brought out eStryker. The game was really back and forth and we both had issues with the time (me a little more I think). The flag on my right was the one that went away so much of the fighting was taking place on the hill in the center....which became a big pain in the ass. I used my extension on turn two (feat turn) and barely got through everything. This cost me the next turn as I charge Rowdy with my EBDT and should have crushed him but after my 2nd initial I ran out of time again...DOH! Again we went back and forth and he left me with little to seriously threaten Stryker. The game ended on scenario with Cash winning 3-2.

At this time some other folks had rolled into the store. I grabbed one more game before I had to hit the road this time it was against the Legion of Everblight being lead by Absylonia.

I played my Cally tier list and he played an Abby tier list. We played close quarters once again and with 7 min turns and one 3 min extension. I went first and did my typical stuff. Turn two saw the burrowers pop, Cally feat, and the dygs rip down some 'beasts. I was pretty firmly in the lead until I had a few big snafus. The first were related around time (gotta get fast), second around terror/abomination, and third was forgetting Abby's feat. I ended a turn leaving the scythean with one...yes one damage circle left. This in turn saw Abby feat and the scythean clearing a LARGE section of troops. As it stood I had the opportunity to win the game. My last turn Cally cast force blow to KD Abby and use her only remaining transfer. I then walked my last 2 dygs into position to kill her....failed the command check. If I was thinking (and I wasn') I could have just shot her at 4" away to avoid the check. She was behind a wall so def 9 but the dygs should have been able to hit her anyways.

So 0-3 on the outing so not that great but I did get some thing reinforced that I need to remember. I also realize the dygs might not be the best idea with timed turns or I just need to move way faster.

This post got a little long so I should have another post later tonight with some wips of Madrak and onther project I just started.

Dec Target Hit/New Years

Looks like my last post was wrong I would get another post in prior to the New Year. I received a package in the mail today and that spurred a post. Here is a photo of my Dec PtT which consists of my Boneswarm and second Bull Snapper. The second snapper came out pretty close to the test model I put up in a RMM 2 weeks ago.

I didn't get a chance to take multiple angle shots of these fellow just the one I submitted to Gday at LH. All in all I am please with the two of them and enjoy the "speed painting" aspect I have been trying to accomplish with my Blindwater. I have done a little work on the Blackhide and was able to bang out all the skin in ~30min which, again, is really good for me.

Here are the contents of my miniature market package. I wanted to get these through mu FLGS seeing as I had a $25 store credit and to support the store but they were unable to get any of these through their distributor.

I picked up a second box of Kriel Warriors, 2 Cabers, and a second blister of Whelps. The warriors and cabers are for a Vox write up I intend to do for January based on eBloodsong. The warriors and cabers are also slotted for a Calandra Tier list I hope to have painted for Templecon (if I go) to play in the Blood, Sweat, and Tiers event. The whelps are for a list I am working on to play in Hardcore (if I go)

So that takes up the PtT part of today's post on to the New Years part. This year I have a few goal which I intend to meet. The first is to have my Trolls to fully painted status by years end. I did a little number crunching the other day and it is a bit scary. I currently own (prior to today's shipment and pending gifts) but as I stand I own 237pts and only 87pts meets hardcore standards. That's is a whooping 37%. The break down is a little more disturbing as 40% of my 'locks are done, 56% of my 'beasts, 48% of my solos, and 8% of my units.....yes that is an 8! Some of the unpainted stuff is partially painted but anyway you look at it there is a ton to get finished.

 I really need to get this done and intend to use the PtTs of 2012 to aid in this goal. Also Trollblood Scrum is setting up a weekly paint challenge to aid in fully painted status. I am not sure if I will commit to this as they want one mini painted a week and I tend to batch paint (when I paint) and I want to follow their guidelines if I were to commit. My second goal of 2012 if to not miss a PtT. This goes hand in hand with goal one but from time to time the target will not match up with my troll goals and I will still try and hit it. Goal number three is to get my Blindwater up to fully painted. This should be no where near as daunting of a task as my trolls. My final goal is to make it to one of the large conventions this year. Templecon is right around the corner but this seems to be the best bet for me.

OK so there they are down on "paper" so I have no excuse to not get them done. Have a safe and happy New Years everyone and here's is looking to fully painted 2012.

Change of plans

OK less than 24 hours after my last post and I am changing up my plans for my paint the target mini even though I was able to assemble my pEiryss last night. A combination of things went into my decision to change up. First off I was looking at Lost Hemisphere today and realized the deadline for my paint the target is 6 days away and I don't want to rush a limited edition sculpt, second the weather here is crappy (low 30s and raining) which is terrible weather for priming, and it is a work week for me cutting down on hobby time drastically. Before I came into work tonight I was thinking about it and was about to say forget the PtT this month. As I was sitting there I looked over at my shelves of minis and saw an assembled and primed pKaya that I prepped almost 2 years ago for my step son (before he lost interest in learning the game with me).

I took 30 min to lay down a little color before I had to pack up and drive into work. I was able to get the basecoat down on her pants, boots, and cloak. Depending on how tired I am when I get home and the state of the little guys I hope to get the metals based coated and maybe wash the leathers and metals. If I can get the metals based before I need to go to sleep I will be happy.

I was also able to get Boomhowler and 2 grunts assembled so we are still looking good for getting the unit assembled by the end of the week. Seeing as winter is coming and the weather isn't going to get better for some time I really need to get my airbrush set up and start practicing with it so I can prime via the airbrush.

On a side note I put in my time off request for Templcon so now just have to see if it gets approved. As it stands the hotel is fully booked so looks like I will be crashing on the floor in one of the rooms our group already has locked up.