Everyman and His Beard: A Return of Monthly White Dwarf

Morning Everyone,

Hope you're all doing well today?
As I am sure you are all aware, the return of Monthly White Dwarf is due to hit the shelves of Games Workshop, or your local tender, be it FLGS, hobby store, or even from the bowels of the interwebz and GWs online webstore.  I think we can all agree that excitement is running high on this one. From the veterans of yonder year who still have shelves bowing under the weight of older editions back in the day, to our new bloods who never had a chance to hold the original beast in their hands.

Yes I picked the sisters for the retro cover... Bring back Sisters of Battle... With new models dammit!!!!


What does it mean for us as hobbyists? Will it even truly change any of our hobby attitudes or habits?  No one can know until we get a few months in our hands and see what the team have for us in store.

Personally, I think it's a good move on Games Workshops part.  The weekly magazine, though not always having amazing content, occasionally, a gem would shine through here and there, but I personally never purchased it religiously. Not like when it was a monthly back in the day.

But will it definitely be the same as it once was?  We all know battle reports are coming back; and not that they were masterful insights into playing, they were definitely a good read.  Especially when we got a bit of narrative to go with the games. For me, I want to see more hobby content, more advice on painting, spotlights on private as well as GW sponsored events, store spotlights on who the regulars are, who they play and what systems would be great, help on building your own personal narratives; and one definite thing... More even page counts for each game.  Not everyone plays 40k and AoS... On that point, more expansions on the new box set games like deathwatch overkill, Imperial Knights Renegade, kill team, and hopefully we won't still be waiting for it too much longer: Blood Bowl!!!! WOOOO!!!! BLOOD BOWL!!!! (I'm not biased really....).

What are you hoping for? Have I missed anything? Are you completely meh about the whole situation, let me know in the comments.

Until next time
Jonathan

Slaanesh and Cthulhu's new Groove

Hi Gals and Guys,

Today I'm going to talk at all of you in regards to that big ole elephant in the room for games workshop that is Slaanesh; and where the Prince/Princess of Pleasure in my mind should be evolving into.

If you have been in the hobby for any amount of time, you'll be aware that of all the Gods of Chaos, Slaanesh has been, in the eyes of the Internet, the true redheaded step child of the Chaos Pantheon (Yes Tzeentch I see you in the corner ready to throw a doombolt at me, but hold off, we'll get to you in a future post) (Good 👍?) (Ok).

So getting back to the matter in hand, (please no snickering... G'ah Children...) Slaanesh sits in a position that many feel isn't conductive to the relatively "family-friendly" universe of both Warhammer 40k, Age of Sigmar, and before it finished Warhammer Fantasy.  This mentality seems to have been cemented in the disappearance of Slaanesh from the Age of Sigmar storyline post the End Times of Warhammer Fantasy.

For those that may or may not be fully aware, Slaanesh is the Dark Prince/Princess of Pleasure.  An Androgynous being obsessed with self gratification in all its forms to the detriment of all.  The easiest of which to create and show when we consider our hobby are the sexual aspects which can be accentuated on our models.  However, why focus on this solely alone? This facet only makes Slaanesh one dimensional, and I feel this wasn't the initial intention of the character.

So bear with me here for a couple of minutes;  Slaanesh is a Dark mirror to all our wants. A twisting of that which could be good, and wholesome, to that which is a dark parody.  But why a dark parody at all?  I'll tell you, it's the fear of not getting what we think we want.  Fear of being alone, fear of feeling nothing but a deep hunger that can never be truly satisfied.  The fear that when we are all alone in the dark, we have nothing to comfort us, and it will drive us mad.  At the end of the day we are all crying children, screaming at an uncaring universe.  Slaanesh is deep down just a scared child, wanting attention so it isn't left alone with the darkness all around it.

Which is where Cthulhu comes in...

If you have ever read anything of HP Lovecrafts novels (and I suggest you do), you enter into a world where everything is twisted, the world and it's horrors don't care about your pitiful existence, and terror follows on from the madness that follows from the darkness and horror of being alone with the things that go bump in the night.  See any similarities? I do...

Would it be so hard to imagine, Slaanesh moving towards a deeper horror trope, over where he/she currently is positioned?  In Age of Sigmar, Slaanesh feel asleep and now has been kidnapped nowhere to be found, the followers searching in vain to awaken their God... Maybe another little nod to the great squid himself? Maybe Games Workshop have had the same idea as me? Maybe I am just going mad myself?

Let me know what you think in the comments below.  If you have any theories I'd love to hear them too.

Until next time
Jonathan

Imperial Knights Renegade: Litany of Destruction

Mornings people of the world!!!

It's been a while since I posted up some of the models I've been working on, so I'll kick it off with a biggie but a goodie.

The Renegade Knight himself, Litany of Destruction!!!

I was lucky enough to get a hold of one of these amazing box sets for my birthday earlier this summer and have been working on getting Litany painted up to not just table ready, but to really put my all into him and make him, one of the best, if not 'the' best model I've ever managed to paint.

How he is looking for me at the minute.

How he looks by Games Workshop...

Obviously I've not quite got to the same level as Games Workshop, the poses is different (if only to fit in frame) and the lighting is a bit dodgy, I feel like he is looking amazing, amd I'm really happy how he is currently looking.

I've some more bits to tidy up and a decal to replace (accidentally rubbed it off after application) and he should be completely done.  Yes you heard that right! A hobbyist saying a model is done! 😝

Now I've not seen many reviews of the actual game that comes with the box set, but I have played and have found it a fun and interesting aside to playing with these models mainstream.  My usual gaming buddy Ian from over at the krakaddict.blogspot.co.uk have given it a whirl and maybe we can look at writing up a bit of a battle report and critique soon. Also I highly suggest popping by the Ian's blog to check out what is going on... Scenery is the name of the game right now! But he also has some very good articles on his tournament lists for Double Trouble run by Alex over at fromthefang.blogspot.co.uk another great guy amd great hobby blog!

I've also built the second knight as another Renegade dubbed Rote of Damnation, I'll post up with his progress as it becomes a bit more respectable.

For now I'll finish with some close up images I've cropped up for you all to see, any C&C's are welcome, just drop it in the comments!

Until next time
Jonathan

The Red Laughter; Or how I learned to Love messing with my gaming buddy's brain

Hello again Everyone,

Today I was thinking we should sit down and discuss something a little bit fun, a little bit crazy, and a great psychological poking stick to ram into the ribs your Gaming Buddies.

As we all know from a core perspective, not only table top wargaming, but including; computer games, console games, rpg games, board games (the list goes on and on... and let's not get into all of the real life examples of this concept...) that if you can remove enough dudez you will win by proxy.  A dead obstacles is no obstacle at all.

This mentally has always been around, and to visualise it in the perspective of 40k we cast our minds back to the past and the eponymous Imperial Guard leafblower list. A list purely designed; dependant on personal preference (I remember both infantry and tank varieties of the list) to be durable yet have enough attacks to sweep you're opponent off the board.  Why wait to play a whole game when you can just get it over and done with. This concept has never gone away, and I think never will go away from the hobby.  The power levels of each army change so they become the new hot flavour of the edition to capitalise on this approach.

Now I am not a very competitive player, and I won't tell you how to meta a list to beat these sort of armies (sorry), but what I am going to tell you about is my experiences with the Khorne Daemonkin; The Troll-tastic hunks of beef that will make your opponent think twice when it comes to sweeping you off the board.

As I am sure you are all aware Khorne care'th not from whence the blood flows.  And this is where I have began to start to play this army, from a fluffy mental perspective.  Your Warlord on the board is your avatar; so will you cry as your forces die in droves? Or will you send in the next wave with a gleeful grin upon your face.  Every death, gaining you favour with Khorne, and possibly new minions to fight on your behalf.  And this is where Daemonkin comes into its own.  It is never really a viable option to try to sweep the army, as new units will appear as the blood flows and you gain Khornes' favour.  For your opponent it becomes a game of half measures and risky attacks to avoid killing your units.  And ho' boy he really doesn't want to get stuck in combat, as either he kills you or you kill him.  This is exactly where the Daemonkin want to be.

Khorne Daemonkin is a brilliant fluffy army to play, more so than many other armies in my opinion, everyone can tap into that 80s villain lurking deep inside; a maniacal grin on my face begging my opponent to kill my army.  I've seen my opponents stop in horror, hesitating to drop the final blow, killing Khorne Daemonkin does them no favours...  My over the top tirades that they aren't killing me quick enough, slowly eating at their sanity.  "But... But... This isn't how it is supposed to be in 40k they cry"... My cackling continues as does their hesitation.

A hard fight to win has just become closer, objectives are secured, units are destroyed, as the other army runs away.  Khorne is pleased.  And at the end of it all, should you be tabled, it doesn't matter... Khorne is pleased... He Care'th not for where the blood flows...

And really, at the end of the day, win or lose, the Daemonkin player is always winning.  I love this army, it's fluffy, well rounded and messes with your opponent.  I have been tabled many times but never once have I not been happy at the end of a game.  I really suggest giving it a go, especially with a grin and a red laughter upon your lips...

Let us know in the comments below how you are pleasing your diety of choice when you hit the tables.

Until next time
Jonathan

Blog Layout Updates

Hi Guys amd Gals,

Apologies if there are any funny happenings on the blog over the next day, I will be trying to update layouts and information to make the blog much better for everyone.

Thanks for your understanding.
Jonathan

JESUS BLOODY CHAOS!!!

Hello again Everyone!

It's been a bit of a wait for my return to the blog-o-sphere, unfortunately I found my self lost in the warp (...Europe...) at the whims of the fickle Chaos Gods (...my boss...).

So with my time away from family and friends, I found my mind wander to dark and foreboding places.  Places where my darkest desires might cometh to fruition.  And as many as you know the call of Chaos is strong, and many a bright shining exemplar of all that is just a true must fall...

So with all that in mind I have betrayed Great Grandfather Nurgle, (my first foray into the clutches of damnation, was a slightly teenage and sickly affair going on maybe 10years prior to now) and have joined the ranks of Khorne so that my thirst for vengeance and anger may be sated upon my foes!

Nurgle has caused me many a Dark moment of late as I have been stripping so many old models in preparation for the reconsecration to begin (BFTBG!!!!), hands slowly melting smelling of dettol...

But moving on from that what am I actually doing right now? Well come here little ones and let me tell you a story... (wait ignore that last bit...)... I've been bitten with the red paint bug and while practicing painting red with my AoS starter set (stop snickering in the back, you, yes you! I can see you...) I feel I've come up with some good results.  As you may have already seen below depending if I've done it right, you can see the Khorgoraths of Khorne I've been working on.  Though not finished yet I think they are still is coming along nicely.

Now I currently have no gaming experience of KDK but I hope to get some time in soon and let you all know. As a suggestion Blood Reavers from AoS make brilliant cultists of Khorne just be aware if you WYSIWYG they'll be toting hand weapons only unless you're whipping the hobby knife out...

Until next time
Jonathan

Conversion: Kutlakh The World Killer

Good afternoon Everyone!

After a bit of a hiatus from travelling for work, and a few other things that have taken me out for a bit, I've finally had some time to get around to showing you my conversion of Kutlakh the World Killer.

If you have ever had a chance to read the fall of orpheus I highly suggest it.  The artwork is amazing, the storyline is gripping with a real return to the impending horror that the old necrons used to have.

The conversion utilities the overlord that accompanies the command barge a spare hyperphase blade and rod of covenant.  All the pieces fitted nicely, but converter beware; the weapons are all left handed... I had to cut off Kutlakh's thumb to make this conversion work.

Until next time.
Jonathan