Not dead, not alive

So it’s been a long time since anything has been posted here.

In light of recent events, that’s something that is likely to change.

I make no promises regarding how frequently I’ll post, but I think it’s something I want to do. I’ve got a lot of hobby projects and a lot of painting to get done. On top of that, I’m contemplating accepting commissions again.

We’ll see. 🙂

Bayou Kriel

Rivercity Slow Grow
The local gamers have set up a slow grow, paint and play slow grow league. Every month starting at 15 points we need to fully paint and play an army. Next month we go to the next point value, using the same models we started with and building on them. Seeing as how I could not build a list of unpainted models for most of my armies I grabbed my trolls that I got on a whim and a trade or two to help run my minions till Barnabas came out. I did not have a warlock unpainted so I picked one, Epic Madrak, the World Ender. 5 Fury means very little beast and I got to paint some of the cool troll troops.

Impaler was a must
Fennblades were a must
i thought a bomber was a must so I painted one

I forgot we were playing scenarios so I was wondering if a blitzer would be better…Which one to use

both were deadly, close to the same stats. But the blitzer animus won the day

 

 

 

I settled on

eMadrak +5
Blitzer 9
Impaler 5
min fennblades 5
14pts.

For some reason I have been fixated on swampy looking bases, with water effects or not. Swampy colors, dark browns, dirty greens, and the such, but I wanted a new color to make these guys pop, so I incorporated Teal, don’t ask, I don’t know why, I just like the look.

Set in stone

Captain Stompypants, Smasher of Hunger. He was going to be a one-off until I read the rules for Cassius the Oathkeeper.

It’s been another long lapse since the last post in this space. So when I received a request on Twitter to come up with a how-to for the sandstone I’m using for my burgeoning Circle Orboros army, I really couldn’t say no.

Out of the hundreds of minis I’ve painted, this really is one of my favorite color schemes. Very few of my armies follow the studio scheme; I’ve always gotta do something different. And Circle is no exception. No green or gray for me; sandstone and orange for the constructs, autumnal browns and oranges for forest/tree walkers. It’s a different palette for me and so far, it’s challenged me as a painter and forced me to come up with new ways to do things.

Since the one model I have in progress doesn’t have any stone work on it, I chose one of my resin bases for the tutorial. Four colors, one wash and about 5 minutes gets some pretty solid results.

Resin base, black primer

Basecoat the rock with Bloodstone. If you're painting a construct, you'll want to drybrush for a rougher, non-uniform look.

Drybrush the textured surface. You'll want to let the black primer shaded the recesses for you. Don't worry about being messy!

Drybrush everything with Gun Corps Brown. This is your first layer of highlight, so don't go too heavy. On a model with well-defined edges like a Wold Guardian, you'll want to make sure the highlights are visible, but not too heavy. Two more layers to go.

Drybrush with Moldy Ochre. Try not to completely cover the highlights you just did.

Final highlight: Menoth White Base. This should be your lightest, most well-defined edge.

Wash heavily with Citadel Ogryn Flesh wash. Yes, I realize this is a product from that “other company.” But since the wash is reddish, it's going to unify all four of those colors and blend everything together. We'll talk about other washes to use in a bit.

Final step: Paint the rim of the base black. Done!

If you didn’t want your stone to have a reddish hue, Citadel’s Gryphonne Sepia wash is a nice warm sepia (duh) tone. For a dirtier, grittier look, Devlan Mud is a fantastic wash that will dirty up the most pristine looking models. It’s actually what I washed all of my Cygnar with. We’ll have to revisit washes, inks and glazes in another installment. There are a lot of tips and tricks my buddies and I have discovered and they’re too good not to share.

As for the Circle force I’m working on, it’s mostly models that are a part of Cassius’ theme. I haven’t picked up everything I need to build it, so I had to substitute some models for painting purposes. The crew back in Boise is running a slow-grow painting league and I figured I’d paint along even though I won’t be able to get any league games in. If there’s one thing the 100-point painting challenge taught me, it’s the importance of structure and VERY attainable goals when painting an army.

So here’s what I’m working on for the next month or so:

Army Name: Circle SG 15
Circle Orboros
15+6 points, 12 models
Cassius the Oathkeeper  +6 points
* Wurmwood, Tree of Fate
* Gnarlhorn Satyr  8 points
Shifting Stones  2 points
* Stone Keeper  1 point
3 Warpborn Skinwalkers  5 points
Wolf Lord Morraig  5 points

The jump to 25 points will be an easy one — Megalith. He’ll be a good candidate for a step-by-step tutorial, assuming my train hasn’t jumped the tracks by then!

Wyatt, Doc, Virgil, Morgan and Stompypants. Still debating if the Shifting Stone crew will get fancy bases or not.

Wyatt. He regulated on some dwarves not too long ago. He should've killed more of the stunty bastards.

Doc? Is that you? Are you really gonna be my Huckleberry? Or is this Morgan or Virgil? Yeah, they all look alike...

Project Shiba: Behind the scenes

Hey, it’s been awhile!

I’ve been busy with plenty of painting projects and I’m actually to a point where I can write about them. A few of you may have heard about Project Shiba, in which I painted up an Ashlynn d’Elysse battlegroup as described here. After Ep6 of Lost Hemisphere Radio, in which MenothJohn describes an Ashlynn-led Highborn force, I got it into my head to paint up a battlegroup for him to help get the army started. I had started work on a Vanguard conversion, had a Nomad conversion, a Mangler and was able to acquire a custom-built Ashlynn model. It was just a matter of getting it painted and delivered.

So, what I’ve got for this space are the work-in-progress shots that show how Shiba came together.

 

Testing the color scheme on the Vanguard.

 

 

After metallics, basecoats were Gun Corps Brown and Exile Blue.

 

 

Hammerfall Khaki and Beaten Purple.

 

 

A "character" Vanguard needs character... in the form of a flag.

 

 

Merywyn the Vanguard, at the ready.

 

 

Mangler gets the same treatment with Gun Corps Brown and Exile Blue.

 

 

Bringing the colors up.

 

 

Highlights... Sanguine Base over the Beaten Purple.

 

 

The 'jacks all get Llaelese freehand.

 

 

Ashlynn conversion: Ashlynn torso and arms; Daughter of the Flame legs; Gravus cape. Thanks Adam!

 

 

Riposte!

 

 

And a gun in this hand...

 

 

The cape was very fun to paint. Oh, and I didn't paint her as a blond. 😉

 

 

By some miracle, Ashlynn's actually looking down the blade.

 

 

This was the "player to be named later" — a surprise addition to the battlegroup.

 

 

Ironclad boiler added to the Nomad.

 

 

The Nomad just might be my favorite paint job in the bunch.

 

 

Project Shiba takes the battlefield!

 

 

Kaelyssa meets the Nomad. Their first date did not go so well.

 

So there ya have it, a fairly incomplete look at Project Shiba behind the scenes. If you’re interested in hearing about Shiba’s first battle, check out Lost Hemisphere Radio’s Ep13.

Assuming I have my stuff together, I’ll get pics of my Angry Elves in this space too. 🙂

Too quiet…

It has been exactly 4 months since I last posted in this space. I wish I could say it was for something as simple as being distract by new shinys…

I haven’t stopped writing (I don’t think I could ever let that happen), I just haven’t written anything in this space since May. New job, new city… sure, that all played a part in my diminished role here. But I’ve missed writing this blog, in this space that’s been mine since 2007. Hard to believe it’s been that long.

I’m not gonna lie; there’s been something that has re-ignited my interest in this blog: TempleCon 2011. Airline tickets are purchased. Rooming arrangements are being made — and more importantly, gaming and socializing is being planned. It will be fantastic to return to the scene of my indoctrination into gaming conventions (way back in 2009!), catch up with old friends and finally meet some people I only know through the series of tubes known as teh intarwebz (Gdaybloke, I am talking about you!).

The 2011 TempleCon schedule is here, and if you’re a Warmachine/Hordes fan, you want to be there. I’ve had the opportunity to attend a number of conventions since February 2009 — TempleCon, Gencon, PAX — and they all have their strong points. But TempleCon is special because it was my first. And 2011 will be special for the absolute mayhem, carnage and shit-talking Team Ghettokore is bringing to bear. We’ve got a fantastic team assembled, now it’s just a matter of making sure everyone gets there.

Since this is the second “rebirth” for Ghettokore Studios, the blog has gone through another face lift, and I think I’m going to stick with this one. Let’s say I’ve learned a little bit about marketing and branding in the past 6 months.

As February 2011 gets closer, keep an eye on this space for updates on painting, strategy and our nefarious plans.

. . .

To focus on the immediate future, Breast Cancer Brawl: Boise 2010 is set for Sunday, Oct. 3. The event is in the capable hands of brotherscott, and I’m pretty excited to be attending. My Angry Elves will be on the table and I’m still trying to work out some creative ways to help the event raise even more money for charity. If you’re in the Boise area, you’ve got absolutely no excuse for not dropping by and checking out the event. And if you’re out of town, it’s definitely worth the trip. 🙂

PAX Invitational

Wow it has been over a year since I went into my FLGS, All About Games during the 09 Invitational with the full intention of making my opponents cry and crushing them all under my boot heel. We had just cleaned ourselves up from all of our dirty MK Field testing, and I had decided to unpack my best force, Cryx for the tourney. I then proceeded to build two of the most broken and evil armies I could muster, like 6 arc nodes with the witch coven. Anyway that is all memories and the past.

We got to host the invitational again this year. BrotherScott is running it and has made sure we all know what is going to happen. This year is sort of different for me. Yes I want to play, yes I want to win, but I am not sure what army to take. Steamroller has changed to the point that we get rewarded for playing the scenario, not just for killing the opposing warcaster as fast as possible. I have witnessed where the ability to score some CP’s has meant the difference to who played for the championship, also it was the deciding factor in third place and the further finished standings.

While I have several lists that “should” work with cryx to control some CP’s, they all need much more testing than I have been getting in. So I am not going to bring the nastiness to the tournament. I still have several more options ahead of me. I could run khador, but again, I am unsure if there is a controlling list that will work, so my blue and whites get to sit it out too. Circle has been altered from I am used to, not in a bad way mind you, they just got a shift in their abilities in mk2 and I have yet to sit down and truly digest it. Having their cards help, but I will probably have to wait for the circle book in November before they see much table time, though I may muddle through them for the Genesis event. Only two factions left…Retribution and Searforge. Uh oh memory lane time. At PAX during working mans I ran the rhullics and got looks when I loudly declared my faction. I battled long and hard, in the end lsot, but I think I represented the rhuls fine. They have won a few tournies locally too. I have got board control with Gorten, tiered or just contract, and I have assassination capabilities with him too. I can run his tier easily at tier 4, or I run his contract, which one is stronger is purely debateable.

Then there is Retribution. Rahn is a control caster, especially when running tier 3, and I have strong caster kill abilities. The one and only advantage is the status effects of fire on the phoenix myrmidon, not sure if that is a major plus yet or not. Well I can always go with what is painted more, and due to some new releases they are about equal, I doubt I will have spare time to get the slacker models painted.

I better figure it out quick, the 18th is nigh.

Its OVER!

Immoren Idol is over.

Check out the play by play over at Lost Hemisphere

YO!

I know the Ghetto crew has not been too regular. For my excuse…nah you don’t need em. What has been keeping me busy has been a bit of a step up for Gdaybloke over at Lost Hemisphere. He needed some articles wrote so he could take a full vacation, so since he is such an awesome friend, I jumped in.

As Soon as I finish with one topic that has been keeping me busy, I shall return to posting so unregularly(I will try to fix that if demanded) on this blog. The one topic that has been keeping me busy modelling wise since Cryx book came out has been epic Gaspy tier Dark Alliance, so check in at Lost Hemisphere for my Dark Natterings

Ghetto Finals

Immoren Idol, Final Round
i know I mentioned a video but video fell through as did a lot of scheduled attempts so we got cell phone pics for the long awaited fight.

In one corner, the man that has passed all challenges that not many thought he would, the Black Ops master, STRAKHOV!
who brought with him a Juggernaught, min Kayazy w/Underboss, greylords, and a koldun lord.

In the other corner, the thing so good at killing he killed a Lich Lord and made him his weapon, eAsphixious!
who brought min bloodgorger, a slayer, a deathripper, and 2 pistol wraiths.

ROUND1 :eGaspy wins the roll and goes for the kill first. He casts Hellbound on himself and everyone either runs up or moves up the board, desperate to kill the foolish Khadoran in the way.

Strakhov retorts, he casts occultation on the greylords, and superiority on his juggernaught then he moves up a bit. The koldun lord gives the juggernaught a focus and advances. The juggernaught runs up a bit and gets to charge either a pistolwraith or bloodgorgers, depending on the targets. The greylords and Kayazy’s move up to get themselves some action.

ROUND2 : egaspy holds just about everything, but he lets the Deathripper have one. The bloodgorgers charge up and get themselves some of the Kayazies. One dies to the charge. Then the Deathripper moves up and has Gaspy cast death knell, catching one greylord and three Kayazy…all dead…whoo hoo. One pistol moves up and shoots the Juggernaught, who thanks to Sup and a hill has a 14, dice go bad and it misses the first shot. The other wraith goes to the other side of the board away from the stealthed guys.

Strakhov drops the stealth, keeps the superiority. He moves into the kill box fully, tries to shoot the wraith, falls 1/2inch shy. Strakhov then pops his feat and laughs. The war dog charges and kills the corporeal pistol wraith, and returns to help the master. The koldun lord charges in, kills…nope bloodgorger is tough, nuts, I wanted to spray afterward. One Greylord charges the deathripper and misses, the other Greylord charge into the middle of the gorgers, kills his one and battle wizards 2 more dead, one making his tough roll. Kayazies charge, one enagging the deathripper and a gorger, killing the gorger. The other kayazy charges another gorger, killing it. Then the underboss rolls snake yes on his ganged charge attack on the arc node. He hits with his other attack and takes out the movement, effectively stopping its usefulness. The juggernaught charges way out there, into the pistol wraith, killing it, but then ifind I positioned myself too far out of control, no focus next turn.

ROUND 3 :Gaspy gives the slayer some focus from the souls, casts parasiote of the juggernaught, moves up a bit, pops his feat bringing back the wraiths and the gorgers, then death knells his own arc node, finsihing off its usefulness, but hitting and killing 4 more guys, leaving two guys left alive, then the feated guys charge in hurt the juggernaught and killing the last two guys. The slayer strikes the juggernaught but the dice favor me and the juggernaught lives on, but without his arms.

Strakhov has almost no choices, he has the war dog kill a gorger, he moves up and flame grenades the other, it lives through, but he battering rams it, knowing that no one can see through his cloud. The juggernaught is brave and needs a 5 to hit the slayer thanks to superiority. I move into Strakhov’s control first, then i whiff both attacks. Some turn, but he is down to the same limited models.

ROUND4 : Gaspy gives the slayer more, keeps parasite and then stands there, feeling smug with himself. The slayer proceeds to wreck the juggernaught wit ha combo strike.

Strakhov moves up getting ready to eat a charge, camping all of his focus, he tries lobbing a grenade at the lich but I miss the attack roll, which was boosted.

ROUND5: Gaspy has the slayer take two focus, and has it kill the war dog. Then Gaspy Charges Strakhov and does 7 damage.

Strakhov tries moving back for a charge, but can’t get the movement, staying in melee with Gaspy he swings anyway…

Well I run the math and I can probably live through the counter assault camping all focus, but it comes to dice ,and yes fans I took into account the slayers powerful combo strike.

ROUND6: Well turns out the dice were in the Slayers favor, with a damage roll like this

Leads to this

Gaspy moves on. Taking the Ghettokore championship. I feel a bit of sick pride, Cryx is my faithful faction and is always there for me, winning when I need them. But i was routing and playing Strakhov the whole time, ah well. Now it is time for the winner take all bash. Stay tuned.

Lost Conference Finals

Ladies and Gentlelost, after weeks of gaming and subsequent bloggery, we’re at the Conference Finals for Immoren Idol! Today we finish up the Lost Conference with a clash of victors. Who will claim the title? Rhyas or Siege? Read on, good folk, read on!

LOST CONFERENCE FINAL

Siege and Rhyas clash amidst the idyllic landscape of Ordic cottage country. Siege wins the roll and goes first.

Siege deploys near the houses, keeping one Defender near him and sending one off to the right side a bit.

Rhyas deploys centrally, intending to use the hill and fences to cover her army’s advance.

Siege is attempting to use the line of buildings to protect his flank, sending one Defender to seal the gap in one alley, and having the other sit tight against the other side of the left-most building. Siege and the Gobbers then take up positions behind the jack formation.

Rhyas’ forces move up the board. The Carnivean runs onto the hill, Rhyas gives herself Tenacity and charges a Defender for some extra movement. One shredder puts its animus on the Carnie, while the other protects itself. The Legionnaires run forward to protect Rhyas in two lines, one group right around her and one a few inches forward.

Siege sees an opportunity to clear away some of the opposing numbers, so after confirming Rhyas’ threat range, he moves forward slightly and feats, catching everything but Rhyas and the Shredders. He then annihilates half of the Legionnaires with Ground Pounder and casts Explosivo on the Defender next to him. That Defender aims and shoots the second cluster of Legionnaires, killing them as well, and leaving only two alive. The other Defender double-boosts against the Tenacitied, elevated Carnivean, causing 15 damage with the feat. Some quick measuring shows that the Carnie may have the distance to charge the Cygnaran line next turn, so the Gobbers run up to form a screen around Siege and the leftmost Defender.

The two remaining Legionnaires make their Vengeance move, getting the wall out of their way to open a charge lane. Rhyas moves up behind said wall and casts Tenacity on herself, while the Carnivean aims to spray some of the Gobber Screen, catching three (but being JUST out of range of Siege), but also snagging one of the Legionnaires. Three boosts to hit reduce both squads to a single model. The surviving Legionnaire runs to engage Siege, and both Shredders (who are quite far back) go rabid to run 16″ to engage the Defenders.

Siege’s entire army is engaged at this point, which is rather problematic given that they’d really like to finish that Carnivean off. After taking a few minutes to weigh options, Siege determines that Rhyas doesn’t have a charge lane over the wall she’s hiding behind, and decides to simply wade through the sea of chaff models. Each Defender kills a Shredder in a single swing, while Siege smashes the Legionnaire out of the way and camps two focus.

Rhyas may not have had a charge lane across the wall, but Siege neglected to check that’s she was within *walking* distance. She casts Dash for the 1″ of movement, then saunters gingerly over to the Cornrowed One. She feats for the extra attack; a boost to hit on both attacks doesn’t produce a crit, but she manages to reduce him to 6 wounds anyway. The Carnivean then walks forward an inch, sprays, boosts to hit and to damage, and finishes him off.

Victory to Rhyas.