The Tally of 2017

And for those of you paying attention, that was 2017. At least Bowie didn't die in this one.

Guys, I just discovered this brand new game ... I think it could be big.

And this is the update to "Project: Micawber", let's all say it together...

"Annual leadpile twenty terminators, annual painting nineteen terminators nineteen marines and a cultist, result: stagnation.
Annual leadpile twenty terminators, annual painting twenty terminators nought and a cultist, result: progress."

Lead and Taxes - Year in Review

Nearly lights out for 2017. Funny, the great Depression back in the 1920s and 30s gave the world superhero comics and weird pulp fiction, possibly because people wanted to shut out the awfulness of the world at the time. Have Trump et al a hand in the current continuation of the Gaming Silver Age?

Short answer - No. They have no hands in anything good.

Thrope Floats

Still working on the Stormtroopers, don't worry. Here's some filler in the meantime.

EXT: Secondary Generator

Much as I like the pack of scenic Objectives for 40K that GW do, I'm broke after Christmas. So it's time to Blue Peter my way through a set of six!

Wagner's Pimp My Ride

Reckon I can just about squeeze out a final army before New Year, if I don't hang about.

Christmas Bonus

A score of tiny catapults would have been no way to leave the Advent Challenge, really. So I kept on going.

Get On The Ready Line!

Dear Mum,

I am having a lovely time in the Imperial Guard, and have now joined my company. I have also been given my very own uniform, a nutri-ration pack (2 days’ worth, a feast!) and a four-volume copy of the Regimental Regulations.

Candlemass is coming!

O Nager Night

The original little donkey

Santa, you bastard. Whatever idiot put these tiny catapults on my Naughty list has only themselves to blame.

Leopold-Print Cloak

Another roll on the Nice List, and it takes us back to the very beginning, my Dogs of War army!

Let's find out what's new, pussycat!

Sing, Choirs of Blood Angels

Who needs repainting? We've got eyes and weapon markings already!

Okay, this is starting to feel personal. I don't know when I tabled Santa (although he plays Ynnari, so he clearly deserved it), but he's just hitting and hitting with the Naughty List now.

Roasting On An Open Fyreslayer

I didn't think I'd stacked the deck in favour of The Silver Tower, but along comes another model from Santa (the fifth one in ten draws).

At least it's a single model, so let's stoke up the fire (fyre)!

In Excelsis Moria

Yep, it's more Naughty List. I should have planned this in advance, put nothing but the most glorious miniatures on the list, albeit in large numbers or something to make them appear worse. Only then they'd have all turned into something dreadful, like first edition Blood Bowl Linemen.

Chukka 'Nother Log On the Fire

This Naughty List assignment should have been an easy swing for me: rebase a couple of war machines.

But most of my painting time this week has been eaten up by travel, so this turned into a very close-run thing.

Painting by the seat of my pants.

Of course, no-one forced me to add a couple of bullies to the mix. That was my own silly fault.

Typhoid Mary's Boy Child

Nice list again! Finally!

A-Scuttling We Shall Go

Santa's not messing around. He really wants me to finish this Silver Tower set.

It's the Grot Scuttlings! They may be from the Naughty List, but if I can't rush out eight goblins, then I might as well hand in my paintbrushes.

EXT: Coventry Carol c.1940

Sheesh. The Naughty List is just being relentless, now, I'm taking a hammering. My latest roll is a 40K ruin, but glutton for punishment that I am, I'm actually spending a CP to convert that to two rolls, so I can get the paired ruins on my commission list sorted before Christmas.

Silver Hells

Another check on the Nice List. Santa loves me!

It's the Gaunt Summoner! The toughest model in the set. Santa hates me!

Back For Morian

Finally! I got lucky and scored a roll on the Nice List!

Merry Christmas, Darkling

Another Nice List assignment, and my third attempt at pale skin.

Oh mercy, this flatters no-one.

I feel like Santa is grading me on a curve.

Turkey Gobbliners

The Naughty List is being relentless here. Even more Massive Darkness (it'll all be done by Christmas at this rate), with a stash of Goblin Swordsmen.

All I Want For Christmas Is You (Off My Back)

Santa was kind to me: another single model from the Nice List, and this is one I've really been looking forward to.

Rod Hell & Emo

Say hello to The Curseling and his Little Friend!

The Bridges of MassDarknesson County

Oh come on! I wasn't that naughty this year. I misinterpreted a rules call in my own favour that one time, Santa, and this is what I get? More Naughty list, more Massive Darkness furniture. Bridges this time.

Die Shard

I thought this title was a great pun on everyone's favourite Christmas bullet-buffet, Die Hard.

Now I'm thinking it will just bring in confused German readers looking for 'The Shard'.

Skippee ki yay!

But to the point: my first roll on the Nice List has arrived! The Tenebreal Shard from Warhammer Quest: Silver Tower.

Boxes of Delight

Nuts, more naughty list.

In The Bleak Middenheimer...

My third day of the Advent challenge, and my third strike on the Naughty List. I can't really complain, Santa knows what I've been up to.

So here's a selection box of Mordheim goodies!

Dewey Decimation System

My third challenge is another solo model from the Nice list, thank goodness. I still have Tau Light Achre after the last one.

Stormcast Liberators (Swindon - Con hold)

With one Naughty List item under my belt, I confidently awaited my next roll: another Naughty List.

Oh Come, Only The Faithful!

Namely, the Stormcast Liberators I've had sitting around since June. To arms, brothers!

O Little Tau'n of Bethlehem

Critical fail on my second result. Honestly.

Elves Off The Shelves

My first swing at the Advent Painting Challenge, and I get a roll on the Naughty List: Lord of the Rings Elves!

Let's face it: it was the only way I was getting more of them painted.

Christmas is Coming

My ass is getting fat

Please put a bolt round 

Through the old man's hat

Oh, happy days! 'Tis Woffvent once again, and thus some daily seasonal posting.

Noxtopi

A quiet couple of weeks after the genestealer marathon. I needed the rest! But now, back to work with more Tyranids.

Slice, Dice and Flambé

Second batch of Chaos Cultists (Kairic division), and here we get the answer to the question: "what is the only unit less effective than cultists with autoguns?"

Let's see those close-combat cultists!

The Great Washed (in Agrax)

Chaos Cultists! This brave band of cannon fodder has served the Thousand Sons well in their debut battles, so it would be criminal to keep playing in their base coats.

Let's whip out the Liquid Talent and get started!

Nun But The Brave: Sisters of Battle vs Thousand Sons

We bring a new faction into the Skype battles - the Sons take on the Nuns!

Rouse the Anchorite!
It's All-Skype Fight Night!

Dusting themselves down after a double-loss on the weekend, I, Stylus, will be bringing the Thousand Sons out to battle.

Whereas I, Kraken, shall be attempting a win with the Adeptus Ministorum. Yes, the seldom-seen Battle Sisters will be out in force tonight!

Shoot Like An Egyptian: Necrons vs Thousand Sons

This universe isn't being enough for two Egyptian themes...

Scarabs at the ready, in the second of my weekend realspace battles, the Thousand Sons take on the Necrons!

Tears of the Sons: Thousand Sons vs Death Guard

Apparently you don't need Skype to play Warhammer? Upon this revelation, I took my Thousand Sons out into the world for couple of floorhammer battles.

First up: the Death Guard!

The Real Steel Shady

Warhammer Underworlds: Shadespire must have had a good launch: all my social media has suddenly been filled with images of the same three models.

"You have a WOMAN'S Stormcast, my lord!"

So here they are again!

Dusty Bins

More Thousand Sons marines - but bigger, dustier and with even less dynamic poses!

 Here come the Scarab Occult Terminators: bulky armour, fancy weapons and a 90 degree restricted field of vision (like Batman!)

Greenstealers

I always said I wouldn't do this. O, obsessional hobbying, how you make fools of us all*.

Neverending Tau'ry

A fresh wave of T'au today.

It's the Worm's Turn

Mashaff!

Review: Massive Darkness

Not so long ago, I gave my final verdict on  Mantic's Dungeon Saga. Not long afterwards, CMON's Massive Darkness arrived in the post - the second big, glossy dungeoneering board game I've backed over Kickstarter in the last couple of years.

So how do they match up?

All Wight By Me

Happy Halloween! Let's start a Deathrattle army!

No, that would be crazy. Or would it? The Start Collecting! boxes have broken my will and I just don't know any more...

EXT: The Lord's Tower

One last trip to the frozen ruins!

Heard The Good Newts?

No, not the start of a Seraphon army (maybe just a little one? The kids would love it if I started painting dinosaurs). 

Little Isaac here will stand alone, defying gravity.

This wee chap slithered out of the Silver Tower Arcane Heroes box set, which means I have a variety of random heroes on my painting desk.

The Trollpuddle Martyr

Another quick-fix job from the dawn of time.

Service Guarantees Citizenship: Inquisition vs Tyranids

Nobody quits, everybody fights!
It's All-Skype Fight Night!

We've found some kind of smart bug on Planet RAH-59. Two of the Inquisition's bitterest rivals must team up to fight it. I, Stylus, will stay safely behind the front lines with the tea and medals.

But I, Kraken, will lead by example - from the front, disgorging my million young from a beaked maw! Which is how I learned to fight as an RAF cadet, many years ago. 

Warlord of Galahir: For Real This Time

Dungeon Saga! It's the final *final* quest for Warlord of Galahir. Somewhat unimpressed by the milk run that was the last mission of the campaign, we asked Kraken to unleash his inner sadist and design us a proper finale that would shed blood and test our mettle.

I didn't realise I had an inner sadist. I thought he was mostly on the outside these days. 

So we bring you the concluding chapter to Warlord of Galahir: the warlord has been slain, and now our heroes must escape the green tide and, not matter how many of them fall, to get the hostage out alive!

Da Red Devvulz

-Knock knock.
-Who's there?
-WAAAAAAAARGH

Crypt Creepers

More scouts!