I accept this Liebster Award on behalf of...

... well, mostly Kraken and myself to be honest. Although the WoffBoot is nothing if not a collaboration, and I like to think that East's sporadic painting updates, Leofa's ingenious conversions and Kasfunatu's epic poems have played their part in our triumph.

The most humble day of my life...

Wait - what the hell is a Liebster?

From what I can discern, a Liebster Award is a pay-it-forward way for blogs to signpost other, lesser-known, blogs that are worthy.

Quite simply, if you are nominated, you slap this badge on your site (with a link back to the nominator), then answer eleven set questions and nominate eleven of your favourite blogs to do the same

And if you break the chain, then so help me, something terrible will happen ... no, I don't think it works like that. It's just a nice thing to have. With no cash alternative.

So how did we get one?

We were nominated by the always-excellent Hoodling's Hole (Warhammer Fantasy: great painting projects, excellent rules analysis and some truly jaw-dropping battle reports). So thanks, Hoodling! I'd say your summary is pretty accurate summation of the blog:

"I don't really know what The WoffBoot Chronicles is about. The blurb at the top of the page doesn't help at all. But the writing is amusing and it's Warhammer-related"

In recognition of the collaborative nature of the blog, both Kraken and myself will be answering questions and nominating other blog. In case you have trouble telling us apart, Kraken will type in bold.

I certainly will! 

Now ... Put Them To The Question

1. Why did you start blogging?

Our once-local gaming group is now flung far and wide (and overseas). Every year we gather for a Warhammer Fantasy Battle Tournament (that got shortened to the phonetic 'WoFfBooT').

It's easier to say, although having to explain it all the time probably cancels that out. 

This blog was started as a way of posting army painting updates in the run-up to that tournament (and, for my own part, cataloguing my armies online).

It's since become a more free-flowing exchange, where we post about anything games-related that takes our fancy.

I like writing, I've always written a fair bit both for fun and occasionally for money. I play a fair bit (some would even say 'too much') of computer games as the other part of my love of tactical simulation. After doing a bit of work for gaming news and reviewing site Manapool, joining in with writing up our Warhammer activity seemed a pretty natural thing to do. Also, I'm the international element in the gang, having moved to Sweden a couple of years back. This is a good way to stay involved. I also keep a second blog about being a Dad. 

(Both those links are shameless plugs, please follow them as such.)

2. If you could change one thing about the wargaming hobby, what would it be?

The entire Citadel Miniature back catalogue would be available to purchase (in the same manner as Reaper's recent 'Bones' kickstarter). I'm not much for bashing-Games Workshop, as I still give them my money - but they'd get a lot more if they still sold their old miniatures, even as an expensive 'cast-on-demand' service. The crazy prices those models go for on eBay indicate there is a still a demand, I don't think it would undercut their plastics line (much of which is excellent), but the thought of all those lovely old models lost forever is a crime.

I like the direction the latest installment of 40K is taking, where you can completely ignore the army lists and take more or less what you like. There are benefits to staying 'on-codex' as an incentive, but it seems like a good way of opening up the game to people with older collections, smaller wallets and a more flexible approach to the rules. I wonder if the inevitable 9th Ed WFB will do something similar? 

I'd also like to see more plastic character and hero models. When they do them, they're great, and although I understand the vast and complex processes that make resin sculpts so much more expensive, I'm not sure it's entirely worthwhile. Making the game more affordable for players possible strikes me as something GW could work harder on sometimes. But I would say that, I'm poor.

3. What is best in life?

Family and friends is the obvious one, but in this context, I would say it is hearing the lamentations of your opponent after they've made an improbably-bad dice roll. So schadenfreude then. Schadenfreude is best in life

Yes, as the Chinese have it, 'Nothing is funnier than seeing your neighbour fall off a roof.' I'm with you on that.

4. Do you want to live forever? 

I'm acutely aware of the drawbacks (limb-loss, loneliness, library fines) but if I were immortal, I'd really stand a chance of cracking on with my 'to-do' list. So I'll take it.

Nope. Definitely not. I don't think I could bear being a three-thousand-year old lurking in the corners of GW two millenia from now, bemoaning how much better 43rd Ed was before they got the minis walking and talking. 

5. Fame or Fortune?

Fortune, I'd love to be idly rich. I've had a lot of practice at being idle, and I think I'm ready for it on a full-time basis.

Also, I would commission all my favourite artists and writers to continue works of my choosing. Like a Florentine patron of the arts, with more geeky inclinations.

I'm an actor, so ideally both at once, they seem to go hand in hand in my profession. But I'd settle for fame, ideally posthumously so I don't have to cope with the press. 

6. What miniatures are you most proud of having painted? 

I don't tend to aim for 'exhibition' miniatures, I just have a certain standard of painting that I steadfastly refuse to go above or below. That said, it appears my standard is creeping higher without my noticing, because I think the models I've painted over the last couple of years seem to be my best yet.

So I'm most proud of my Savage Orcs: I kept a strong theme, made a lot of conversions, and am pretty damn happy with the result.

My Warshrine conversion is the most elaborate thing I've ever built, and I'm very proud that the paintjob didn't let it down. I think my best stuff is actually some of the 40K inquisitor models I did years back. I should get photos of them up and posted at some point. 

7. How do you deal with burnout?

It doesn't really occur. Time is the biggest limiting factor for the hobby, not exhaustion, so scraping together spare hours and evenings is the real trick.

That said, I did hit upon a useful motivational tool earlier this year, when I was trying to write a book and paint an army at the same time: alternate the evenings and 'earn' the right to switch (i.e. no writing that evening = no painting the next free evening, I'd have to spend it writing again, until it was done). It worked, as I found when I'd finished an evening of writing, I was excited about painting the next day, and when I'd finished painting all evening, I'd been thinking about writing.

Swapping to a different range of models, or making scenery, or writing, or going and starting another Rome II campaign instead. As an actor, the other thing I mostly am is unemployed. Despite being a stay-at-home dad for a toddler, I generally have plenty of free time, she sleeps for several hours in the afternoon and for around twelve hours overnight. Being able to sink some of that time into painting and gaming is more than enough of a reward in itself. 

8. Why is a raven like a writing desk?

Because when there are no more writing desks in the Tower of London, it will mean the downfall of England...

Because there's one perched on the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door. Bastard thing keeps falling on me. 

9. Star Wars or Star Trek?

Star Wars. Those films are tattooed on my subconscious so much that, when I see the 20th Century Fox logo at the start any film, part of me still thinks 'here comes the beginning of Star Wars'.

So Star Wars. But not the prequels. Or the holiday special. Or most of the expanded universe. Or the Caravan of Courage.

Hey, I liked Caravan of Courage. And if anyone can find me a full and uncut version of the Holiday Special, send it over, it's worth a lot. 

Star Wars is the bigger and more fantastical of the two, so I like it heaps. The toys in the 80s probably helped prep me for playing with tiny figures as well. Trek - not so much. Too worthy and new-age-preachy, at least in the Next Generation that I grew up with. That was the only sci-fi on telly, most of the time, and it made me hang my nerdy head in shame to have to watch it. And dear god, the spinoffs! The awful, interminable spinoffs! I'd rather sit through every Xena ever made than twenty minutes of DS9. 

10. If you could only buy from one miniature company from now on, which one would it be?

I already have plenty of Games Workshops stuff in my leadpile, so I'm good there. If I could only choose one company it would be Mierce Miniatures - I love their stuff (also, it's not cheap, so it would take me a very long time to afford them, which would eke the hobby some more).

Tricky. An eclectic mix suits my buying habits. I really like the alternate take on GW armies you can find at Titan Forge, I'd like to see more stuff like that on the market. In all honesty, if I had to pick one until I died, it would have to be our great and terrible progenitor, GW itself. Conversion options, excellent detail and the correct sized bases all in one pack, even if it's dear. And I keep hoping that they'll issue a retrospective loyalty card one day so I can be buried in my leadpile. 

11. What is your favourite takeaway?

The Saffron - which serves a better Indian takeway than you might expect in rural Somerset.

Our local pizza place, Pizza Gambero, does a great fresh falafel roll. Don't get the hot sauce, though. 

Our Liebster nominations

1. Realm of Chaos 80s

Some great Oldhammer stuff in there - my favourite is the project to paint a model for the entire Warhammer Bestiary

2. Dice and Brush

This guy is in Sweden too, and his WoC paintjobs are excellent. If I ever get the courage up, I might challenge him to a match some time. 

3. The Beard Bunker

A collaborative effort, like the WoffBoot Chronicles - there's a lot of painting and converting projects going on, and it's all very good.

4. Mr Saturday's Mumblings

Partly for the cheery craic, partly for the incredible 'counts as' armies he's converted. The WoC Fimir are amazing. 

5. Company of the Damned

Lots of wargaming here, including Wood Elves, Beastmen and Bretonnian armies and reports.

6. YLVA

This is the forum for a local wargames club, rather than an actual blog. But their Valley of Death campaign is well written up and has some interesting ideas for a campaign, like a temporary trump colour for the winds of magic. You need to read Swedish for it, mind you, which I only just about do. So it might actually be dreadful and I've just misunderstood. What the hell - if your delusions are beautiful, may as well enjoy them.

7. Tales From Farpoint

Small-scale gaming, lots of imagination thrown at the hobby and always plenty going on.

8. Warhammer for Adults

Partly for the title, partly for the subtitle ('Remember when Warhammer was a game not a marketing tool?') and partly for the battle reports. Comic action! Pow!

9. Frontline Gamer

This blog's been quiet for a while, but I hope it comes back - some really interesting insights into the hobby.

10. Cult of Khaine

Old school dark elves, the way they were meant to be. To which I say 'yes please.' 

11. Mini-ventures

I just love this one: painting and converting 28mm versions of 80s' cartoons: G.I. Joe, Dungeons and Dragons, M.A.S.K.