The ADHS Diaries - part 16

It has been a little while but life has been a little tricky to endure recently, and sadly the blog fell down the priority queue for a time!

But I've still been able to get some hobby done, so let's run through what I've been up to!

A War Transformed
Well it was probably inevitable... I got the A War Transformed rulebook and promptly bought a stack of packs from Peter Pig to make up forces of French (Mother) and German (Horned God).  I'm still waiting for a 3d printed statue for one of the French units, if it doesn't show up soon I may have to order another unfortunately.  I also added a spirit figure from CPModels to the French.

Broken Legions
I found in one of my various drawers of wargaming stuff a Hermes looking mini (think it's Artizan or Crusader) who will become a Demigod auxiliary in our Broken Legions collection!

The Burning Sands
Before they closed I got some ever so slightly Hunnic styled Orc warriors and archers which I've decided will find a home as a possible encounter in the Burning Sands.  I also got some ladders from CPModels that I am thinking about keeping unglued to the various buildings I have to allow me to mix up layouts etc.

Burrows and Badgers
I've prepped and primed the Giant Bear (I've called him Worrley) and the alchemist mole (Winthrop Hathawaye), along with a couple of 3D printed market stalls I got a while back.

Carnevale
I've finally prepped the Varcolac, pair of Lacrimosa and the Unholy Union.  There's a few random minis I'd like to add across the different factions - I'm also hoping for some new stuff for the Patricians as I need more of them to balance the collection out a little, but I'm not keen on the Guard and Navy sub-themes.

Dracula's America
I picked out the Winged Plagues, Metal Golem and Lord Chompy Bits from my previous post and have based them for Dracula's America - the Winged Plagues I'll make a new creature to use as an Unwelcome Guest, Lord Chompy Bits and the Metal Golem will get stories and stats for use in some kind of special scenarios tbd!

Malifaux
I've prepped and primed whatever was of use from the second hand job lot as well as the Apex keyword stuff I got.  Then I went and dropped the tray that I put them on after priming and will have some repair jobs to try to do 😞

Middle Earth Strategy Battle Game
Etsy recently ran a special offer where they took £10 off an order of a certain size.  I saw on Threads that this was funded by Etsy itself so decided to add a few more bits to the MESBG collection - 6 Serpent Guard to join the Haradrim, 6 Warg Riders for Mordor and 6 Shieldmaidens (Riders of Rohan).  I think I'm pretty much set now, but there's a couple more bits I would really like to add!

Of Gods and Mortals
Well in another one for the 'inevitable' list, I finally got the stuff for a Japanese OGAM force - I've got various ashigaru, samurai and monks from Peter Pig, some Oni, a Kitsune and a Miko from Alternative Armies and, for the gods, Ryujin (a dragon from the CMON game Rising Sun) and I'm waiting for a 3d printed female Inari Okami.  I've already got lots of 15mm Japanese scenery for Sengoku Monster Hunter (and Daisho/Ronin), so that can be easily used with these too.  I did also get a couple of bits by Baueda from Magister Militum before they closed - a Spartan Dokana (scenery piece that can also be used in Mortal Gods) and a unit of Gall-Gaedhil that I'll use for both our Celtic and Norse forces.

Proxima Centauri
I've got pretty much everything I could need for both Rogue Stars and even Xenos Rampant games in the little sci-fi setting I started making.  But I couldn't resist adding a cheeky 28mm walker drone bot thingy from CPModels as another mech!

The Silver Bayonet
I got a few bits from Magister Militum before they shut - mostly dwarves for TSB.  I also got various elementals, giant rats, Black Dogs, bats and witches.

Looking Ahead
I'm starting to run out of steam a little on the prep and prime (Operation Winter is Coming 2023) front, but still hope to pick up a couple more things and get them done and sprayed before the weather gets too bad.  I'm not sure I'll finish the Malifaux collection in time (Amalgam, Plague, Syndicate, DUA/Umbra, Frontier and Vagrant key words still to do 😅) but who knows, right?

The ADHS Diaries - part 15

Here's the latest update for me to read back on when I need a boost!

Burrows & Badgers
I've repainted a resin well scatter piece that will see use - it's a little large, but will work for the larger beastfolk, so I'll call it Brock's Well.  I've picked up the giant Bear mini (and the mole alchemist as I continue to pick up any civilian type minis Oathsworn release!) that I need to prep.

Dracula's America
I've been chipping away painting the various Unwelcome Guests (random monster type things) - I'm hoping to take photos and write some fluff to show these off here at some point.  Then it'll be on to either townsfolk or some recurring bandit types I think.  Or maybe livestock.

Malifaux
I wasn't necessarily expecting to add to the Malifaux collection for a while, but when I saw a good deal on a second hand Lord Cooper box and the On the Hunt box I couldn't resist snapping it up.  When it arrives I'll try to post about it here to get back into posting things other than these ADHS Diaries!

Of Gods and Mortals
I've repainted a couple of resin cheapo scatter terrain pieces that will see use primarily in OGAM - an ancient arch ruin thing and a sphinx head ruin.  As I see OGAM tables as being smashed together bits of the various cultures involved these should work fine.

In other news...
I've mostly spent my recent hobby fund on rulebooks - I've got the Tribal second edition and the two History and Game Lab expansions A Viking in the Sun (Lion Rampant) and The Last Samurai Rebellion (The Men Who Would Be Kings).

The ADHS Diaries - part 14

Figured I'd log the latest activity here for me to look back on.

Burrows & Badgers
I've repainted a naff resin pool from Temu (you know the kind of thing, £1 and neon blue water).  I've added water effect tonight so shall see how that dries!

Dracula's America
I've been painting most of the things that required 'funky' paints - you know the kind of thing, technicals, contrast paints, glazes and all that jazz.  That's another 12 minis done this year!  I've got a trio of spectres from CP Models up next that should be more my preferred painting style.

Mordheim
I finished the Black Lion Brigade (Witch Hunters) and Grodrik Gromnisson's Last Hurrah (Dwarfs).  I've taken a little break from Mordheim for now; although I still have plenty to do so will be heading back to the Cursed City!

Turnip18
I painted the IXth Steckrübe Loyal (minus flags) but took a break.  The Turnip28 style is fun, but the painting isn't especially enjoyable to me.  I've still got the opposing force to do, as well as a couple of scenic pieces, but it'll need a flash of inspiration before I return to the mud and roots and tubers.

So that's it; nothing ground breaking but keeping on some steady (for me) progress.  At some point I'll take pics of the stuff I've painted this year and share pics here with some fluff and thoughts, but that'll take more spoons than I am generally running at so it'll have to wait!

The ADHS Diaries - part 13

It's been a funny old month - signed off sick with work-related stress and depression, the launch of Threads (@alexdoeshobbystuff - it's like wargaming Twitter but without the racism, misogyny and homo/transphobes!), and actually done some painting (shock!!)

Burrows & Badgers
I've ordered a couple of market stalls that I intend to add to the scenery collection for The Bear's Wood.  Hopefully they'll look as good as in the photos!

Carnevale
I finally picked up the Lacrimosa to add to the Vatican collection!  I also spotted the Varcolac (werewolf) for the Strigoi at a good price so snapped that up at the same time.  Finally I figured what the heck and ordered the Unholy Union to add to the Doctors - so many arms to work out where to put!!

Middle Earth Strategy Battle Game
The proxy Outriders, King's Huntsman and some more Rohan warriors with bows arrived and after minimal clean up have been prepped and primed to join their comrades.  I also finally got a Shagrat with sword/shield (rather than the one holding the mithril vest which is ten a penny) to add to the Mordor force - kinda felt I had to have him given I've got 9 Mordor Uruk-Hai!

Mordheim
Well first up, I only went and painted Da Iron Moonz warband (Night Goblins) - this means I've painted more this year than 2022 already and I'm actually hitting a stride painting-wise; as I write this I'm waiting for a wash to dry on the Black Lion Brigade (Witch Hunters).  I had originally planned to paint Grodrik Gromnisson's Last Hurrah (Dwarfs) but realised I was one shield down on each dude having a different design... well a quick shufti on eBay later and I have one of the Anvil of Doom guard shields, so they'll be next after the Brigade I think.

Punkapocalyptic
I wasn't sure what to get this hobby fund period and thanks to helpful Threads conversations I mostly opted to build up the terrain collection - primarily for Punkapocalyptic; some scrap/tyre/barrel barricades, a fairly large toxic pool (complete with half-submerged barrels of ooze) and a pair of billboards (TTCombat).  I think a couple of car wrecks might be good to add to this, and TTCombat do some nice ruined modern buildings that could be good options perhaps.

The Silver Bayonet
When I heard the news about Magister Militum closing/looking for a buyer I figured I'd better get stuff I really wanted ordered - all for Silver Bayonet shenanigans; bats, rats, black dogs and a cool looking Earth Elemental type thing.

Xenos Rampant
I had a £5 bonus from Amazon so figured I might as well get the XR rulebook.  It's looking rather promising indeed; I'm currently thinking it'll see use for both Star Wars and for Infinity.  This could well bump those minis up the 'to prep' queue!

The ADHS Diaries - part 11

 

Well with one thing or another *cough*brain gremlins*cough* it has been a while since I posted a diary here - but nevermind, let's run through where I am with various things that have been done since the last post!

Bolt Action
The antifascists' tractor came and is prepped.  As is the North Korean and American forces for some Korean War gaming.  I think that'll be it for Bolt Action, unless a) I get massively inspired by some relatively obscure battle and b) Pendraken have the options for me to do it.  Not like I haven't got plenty of forces to be cracking on with painting!!

Burrows and Badgers
I have the TTCombat Ancient Beacon from their Savage Domain range to build - looks a bit fiddly though so it has sat in cellophane for a while now.  I aim to get the new giant Bear from Oathsworn soon, but otherwise this collection is complete... until something else is released that'll fit in The Bear's Wood setting we have!

Carnevale
The models I mentioned last time arrived and have been prepped.  There's still a few I'd like to pick up at some point, but as it would require more cobblestone bases as well they aren't a priority. Still, got lots to be getting painted now!

Gorkamorka
I built the TTCombat Orc Lookout - and added a couple more hired gun type dudes using the new (by my standards) Necromunda minis; a krump-mad Digga (Goliath with a couple of Orky glyph bitz) and a sneaky Mutie on his bug-like steed (Dustback Helamite). That should be it for now; but maybe some more scenery if anything crops up!

Hardwired/Reality's Edge
The printed minis I'd ordered have all come - including cool versions of John Wick and Tybalt (Baz Luhrmann movie style).  Still need to decipher from Reality's Edge what else we might need in terms of NPCs/random encounters/programs but think the character-side is mostly there now unless Papsikels or UNIT9 release more cool minis 😅

Malifaux
As things stand the only things left to prep are Plague/Vermin, Amalgam, Tri-Chi, Swampfiend, DUA/Umbra, Syndicate, Wastrel and Frontier keywords.  I've got to get more bases to finish the Resser versatiles and there's a few Big Hat and Kin minis also to prep.

Middle Earth Strategy Battle Game
Everything is prepped, primed and actually sorted.  I've also prepped and primed the Gondor ruins from the starter box and the Gondor Tower I picked up.  I've got the four hobbits coming - only need a Boromir and Gandalf the Grey and I've somehow ended up with a Fellowship (OK, well not got Bill the Pony either).

Moonstone
Regular readers will know that when I don't have a good plan come a new hobby fund period that I get a bit impulsive... well that happened in April.  Thanks to a show special that Goblin King Games kindly made available on their website as well I picked up the starter set, rule book and expansion book.  To each of the forces (Commonwealth and Dominion) I added an airship and a big dude (giant/troll).  I'm planning on just using pretty much the same scenery as for Burrows and Badgers so don't anticipate needing to go too wild with this one.  Just couldn't resist the Labyrinth vibes!

Of Gods and Mortals
I'd got two gods/goddesses for the Greek force already (Ares and Athena) so figured it only fair to add second options to all the other forces we have.  They are all here (mostly via 3d printers on Etsy) - Wadjet for the Egyptians, Tyr for the Norse, Vishnu for the Indians, The Morrigan for the Celts and Perun for the Slavs.  The scales are a little mixed across the various gods and goddesses, but they are all significantly taller than the 15mm stuff I've used for troops so I'm happy enough!

Punkapocalyptic
So... what happened in April (see Moonstone above) happened again in May - I got the Punkapocalyptic starter set (Gangers and Mutards) as well as the Ganger and Mutard boxes.  I also got the Children of the Black Blood box, Momma Nutritora and a couple more Children.  I also got a couple of 3d printed Warboys - although they are a little taller than the official models they'll do to pad out the gang.  I do need some suitable post-apocalyptic terrain now though!

Rampanthammer
Everything is prepped and primed for the Empire, Nurgle and Skaven forces.  Just a matter of painting now!

Sengoku Monster Hunter
I've prepped a few more monsters from Alternative Armies that I hadn't gotten round to picking up.  Also got a gnarly 'final boss' style mini from an Etsy 3d printer - it's called 'Shrine Keeper' and looks like something out of a Sengoku JRPG.  Pretty much a must get then eh?

The Silver Bayonet
I got the Carpathians expansion - managed to find a suitable Forest Witch mini (via the Joan of Arc boardgame and a boxsplitter in France no less!).  Now to find some of the other options in 15-18mm...

Star Wars Legion
Got everything for this that I fancy - bases all sorted now too.  Only stalled because I can't face the LAAT/le build and I wanted to get it all done at the same time 😕


And everything else...
Other than the Infinity collection, everything else is all prepped and primed waiting for painting.  Infinity needs a massive amount of spoons to face assembling so unfortunately will likely sit sorted in their baggies with the resin bases.  As the resin bases are no longer available due to Antenociti's Workshop disappearing I can't really add anything more to Infinity so there's that at least in its favour!


Looking ahead...
Another hobby fund period looms and I'm trying to decide what to go for.  I know I have to finalise my Gangs of Rome KS but I'm not massively inspired by that now so will probably stick with just the rulebook.  Otherwise, the Giant Bear for Burrows and Badgers is an option to cross off the wishlist and I need to buy some resin bases to finish my Ressers... and I have spotted a couple of well-timed summer sales coming up that might mean a project or two I've been contemplating for a while become possible... all subject to change of course!! There's also the new Pendraken Russo-Japanese range that is ripe for a small project if I work out a couple of lists... decisions, decisions!  For a future hobby fund will be the final two Malifaux faction starters (Guild and Ressers) when they eventually drop at least.

It feels like the acquisition phase of my hobbying is greatly slowing down - barring 10mm Sikh Wars and Three Kindgoms China appearing somewhere that is!! 

Which means I may actually get painting and then gaming one day! 😲

The ADHS Diaries - part 10

Time for a catch up diary post... with added run down of current hobby fund purchases!

Bolt Action
I decided to get a different tractor for the antifascists (seeing as I seem to have lost part of the original one I did get...).  That'll hopefully encourage me to finish prepping this project as the vile fascists have been prepped for some time.  Then it's just the two forces for the Korean War and that's everything prepped.

Burrows & Badgers
I've got a few scenery bits and pieces coming for this from a range of sources; Alternative Armies, TTCombat, Spellcrow and a random 3D printer.

Carnevale
Well seeing as TTCombat finally added some things I'd been waiting for (ie. the Paladin of St Lazarus) to the single miniatures on their website I've got stuff coming to use up all the current cobblestone resin bases - a Barber and Butcher for the Guild, a Nurse for the Doctors, a Cat Burglar for the Patricians and the Paladin and the Angel of the Blooded Rose for the Vatican.

Gorkamorka

I finally got round to adding the Orc Lookout MDF kit from TTCombat to an order - this should go quite nicely with the Speed Freeks scenery I got recently.

Hardwired/Reality's Edge
A 3D printer I've used on Etsy had a sale on so I've ordered a selection of cyberpunk minis that I've had my eyes on for a while now.  Still need to get some minis as Avatars for Reality's Edge, but pretty well set for Hardwired once they are all prepped.

Malifaux
I've pre-ordered the Arcanist and Ten Thunders Starters.  Ties back to Mei Feng being my first purchase!  I've also got some Charm Warders coming to add to my Shenlong crew - eventually I'll get the Devoted Students box, but for now the hobby fund doesn't allow for them unfortunately.

Middle Earth Strategy Battle Game
Some actual hobby to report on this one - I've painted all the Dead of Dunharrow force! They are awaiting vegetation on bases - but still deciding what to do as I intend all the MESBG stuff we have to be based the same.  I've also prepped some stuff for the Mordor and Harad forces - got a couple more minis on order too.  I also realised I did a really shoddy job removing mould lines from a bunch of Rohan and Harad troops - luckly I spotted before priming, so I need to go back and fix that before they get their undercoat.

Rampanthammer
On a whim I've decided to add another unit each to our Empire, Chaos and Skaven armies - Dogs of War Birdmen for the Empire, an ancient Dragon Ogre for the forces of Chaos and a Plague Catapult to add to the ratmen.  Think that'll do now unless one of the 3D sculptors out there does something I can't resist.

The Silver Bayonet
I've finally ordered the Bone Cart from Alternative Armies - and seeing as their Spring Mega Event is on I took advantage and have added Jack Frost to the collection.

Star Wars Legion
I've ordered some bases that, hopefully, will match the official ones a bit better in size.  I've also ordered an Imperial Officer to add to the Empire side, mostly cause I wanted a mini with a little holoprojector communicator in their hand cause I thought it'd be cool to paint!

The ADHS Diaries - part 9

Another week done - quite a big of hobby now I look back on it!

Burrows & Badgers
I got an apprentice and two thralls to add to my Necromancer warband - these are cleaned up (minimal cause I swear Oathsworn actually clean casts!) and prepped ready for priming when weather settles.

Gorkamorka
I've received and prepped a couple of special characters - got one more to come! 

Malifaux
I've finished prepping the Performer collection - well except Carlos as he was already done! - and as a bonus I've finished prepping the Crossroads Seven.  Roll on dry and not too windy weather!

Middle Earth Strategy Battle Game
Awaiting a few 3D printed bits for this - although I did receive and prep some proxy Watchers of Kârna.  I also got a foot Rohan Royal Guard with sword so he'll become a proxy Erkenbrand (or just general Captain of course, but he'll get a red shield anyway lol).  I have a Footsore mini as a proxy Grimbold and used a Gripping Beast sprue to make some proxy Helmingas.  I did also get a Victrix sprue but they are way oversized compared to everything else so other than donating a banner pole and warhorn to the Helmingas they won't be featuring in the Rohan force!

Other than the 3D printed bits I'm waiting for (and the one Ork) I think I'll switch from prepping for a bit and maybe dip back into painting! Wish me luck!

The ADHS Diaries - part 8

After a week off the Diaries continue!

Burrows & Badgers
I got the two 'new' (I have no idea how new they are since leaving Twitter) books - and it's got me thinking about adding just a couple of shady types to my Necromancer and Ghasts to have access to a Necromancer gang.  Just have to decide on which mini to use as the apprentice 🤔

Gorkamorka
From outta nowhere! I got a decent deal on the scrap piles and barricades that I think first came out with the Speed Freeks game so figured what the heck!  It's actually got me pondering a couple of special character mercenaries to add to the collection just for fun (there's some fun 3D printed cowboy type Orks out there that have caught my eye!) - I've got a Flash Git already to add to the ones in the Digganob expansion (never did get the scrap prospector though... hmmm)

Malifaux
The Seeker keyword is now prepped for priming (well, except the Surveyors, but as they are shared with the Syndicate keyword they can wait until I tackle the Anya core box!).

Middle Earth Strategy Battle Game
Work continues on the prepping of the various forces for this - I got a great deal on a second hand Haradrim force; 17 spearmen, 18 archers, 6 mounted raiders, Suladan (foot and mounted).  I've also added some other command pieces and have some extra troop types coming eventually.  I've also added another 24 warriors to the Rohan collection - and I've got some sprues on the way to try to kitbash some command figures as they are hen's teeth on eBay!  Finally I got some spear armed 3D printed Orcs to use as Mordor Orcs to cheaply pad out my mostly Morannon force!  Sand-dipping like a boss on this lot!

Star Wars Legion
I got the LAAT/ie Gunship for an absolute steal so that helps balance out the two forces a little!  I want a couple more Officer minis to add to units (most likely one each of Rebels and Empire) but otherwise I think it'll just be characters I add from now on... famous last words!  Better get assembling and prepping it all now!

Garden ornament repaint

I've got a few whimsical garden ornaments from Poundland that I thought would work well as scatter for Burrows and Badgers - I think they are designed to look like little archways and the like for faerie-folk.  I picked one at random to have a go at repainting to see if I could improve it a little - first up, this is how it looked straight from Poundland:

Whilst it's useable as is, I wanted a different look so I decided to try my hand at some terracotta tiles, painting the ground to look like stone and repainting the wooden uprights (well, wonky uprights):

I'm pretty happy with how it has turned out - it's given me a workable recipe for terracotta tiles (Vallejo Terracotta, drybrush highlight Terracotta w/Vallejo Buff - this is my personal reminder! 😅)

I plan to repaint the other pieces as little palate cleansers in between more involved painting projects now that I know they turn out OK!

Berry Bushes

I'd picked up some 'berry' clump foliage from Serious-Play with an intention to make some scatter terrain bushes, primarily for Burrows & Badgers (but I think they'll see wider use!).

I used pill style bases - to some I added small pieces of slate to break them up a bit, then they all got the ADHS sand dip treatment.  I painted them, washed them and neatened the base edges before having a go with the clump foliage... I'd got two packs of purple and one of red - the two purple packs were a little different from each other; one seemed to have more berries (or flowers!) than the other.  So I decided to make up three of each purple and four of red.

First up the less-purple of the purple:

and the more-purple of the purple:

finally, the red:

I took a quick snap with a Burrows & Badgers mole warrioress to give a sense of size (went with a fairly 'standard' type size for that range - not dormouse or bulldog!!):

I think these look the part and provide a bit of colourful cover!

Townsbeasts

My better half got us a selection of miniatures to represent all manner of townsbeasts for Burrows and Badgers.

To start with a trio of mice called to the religious life:

Every fantasy village has some kind of tavern right? A hare barkeep and a drunken weasel are most likely found in Bear's Wood's local:

A trio of no doubt fine upstanding citizens (I'm pretty sure that magpie would sell his own grandmother if it'd make a copper coin!):

A mice on her shopping trip and a rather feisty shrew baker provide some life to the market:

A mole blacksmith also plies his trade in Bear's Wood:

There's clearly a somewhat magickal element to Bear's Wood - a seeress and an alchemist can be found offering their particular skills to the local beasts:

My wife also ordered us a trio of special characters - a mouse battledancer, a regal fox assassin, and a thieving mouse:

She also got us the Stoatbart family (I'll need their cart at some point!):

Finally a Mist-Ghast and the mouse-oleum provide a supernatural element to our games:

As always with Oathsworn stuff these required minimal clean up to get ready - Burrows & Badgers is truly a captivating range with lots of charm! I'm sure we'll add more to the collection soon!

If you notice this notice...

 

You may remember the WizKids Bounty Board I was less than impressed with - well, I figured it would be easy enough to paint up so it hit the paint table - I'm pretty happy with the result:

I wanted this to be as versatile piece - so I kept the smaller posters/notices as 'writing', but the large central one needed a bit more... I went with a generic 'WANTED' and some offer of cash - be it dollars, gold crowns or pennies!  I added a couple of tufts (Serious Play) that I used across my 15mm Dragon Rampant collection - I figured these would add a little bit of interest and texture to the bases without tying the piece too strongly into one setting or another.

Overall I'm pleased with the painted piece - and the sculpt was better quality than the fountain (mould lines aside) - but I don't think I'm likely to purchase a WizKids piece again... but never say never I suppose!

WizKids Deep Cuts - Bounty Board

I spotted the WizKids Deep Cuts range and whilst the miniatures don't really have anything that's my style, they also do some scenic/terrain pieces.  I took the plunge and ordered a couple from sellers on eBay - the first has arrived!

It's the Bounty Board:

As you can see - it's allegedly primed and 'paint ready' out of the box... so let's get it out of that box (well, blister pack but whatever WizKids):

On first impressions, I'm pretty happy with it - it's going to be useful for all sorts of games I think - Mordheim, Dracula's America, Frostgrave, Burrows & Badgers and more spring to mind straight away. So let's check that 'paint ready' status shall we... OK, it's assembled, seems primed in some light grey paint (not my first choice cause let's be honest - black is my go to - but it'll do)... wait, what's that I spy?

Rather nasty mouldlines down the two posts... now, the product is very fairly priced, it's a nice design, it has clearly been assembled and primed in the factory which is an obvious time-saver.  But can anyone tell me what is the point in it even being primed if I'm going to have to scrape down these mouldlines?!

Not very impressed at this point... I have another item from the range on its way to me so will see if it's a recurring issue or not.  Based on this, I cannot recommend this range - but watch this space to see if the range can be redeemed (if it can, I'll update this post in the interests of fairness!).

Five games on my mind right now

Hopefully it is apparent to readers of the blog that I like to mix things up hobby and game wise.  From week to week (sometimes day to day or hour to hour!) the games occupying brain space change and flow - although none ever disappear completely these days, they just go towards the back of the queue for a time!

So, here's 5 games that are on my mind right now!

Dragon Rampant - I have two projects running side by side for this system, one 15mm and one 28mm.  Whether it's the proud armies UNORP against the denizens of the dark woods (or, once lockdown is over the Human Barbarians!) or the clash of Halflings both living and dead, this ruleset will accommodate!  For the fact that I will have three painted armies for this ruleset, with another still to go, this game is never far from my mind these days.

Carnevale - the unique setting of this game and the diverse cast of gangs we have in the collection make me keen to give it a try - however I do want to 'play it painted' so it's got to wait for me to paint up a couple of gangs before it will hit the table.

Mortal Gods - I'm going to chalk this one up to my better half playing (and thoroughly enjoying) Assassin's Creed Odyssey.  The metal minis definitely suffer from the Footsore issue of hand joints (seriously, can we at least have Gripping Beast style pegs on wrists?) so they are finding themselves pushed back on the assembly queue - which at the moment means they won't get primed any time soon either unfortunately. Still, the setting is cool, the miniatures are cool (hand joint gripe aside) so this is on very much still on the brain radar.

Burrows & Badgers - I've had a couple of warbands painted up for this for a while now, but real life has gotten in the way of learning the game and getting a mini-campaign going.  With the purchase of a third, neutral NPC style warband this has bounced back up the queue - and once some suitable terrain is painted up I really hope to get this to the table to start getting to grips with the game.

SAGA - well I finally got round to picking up the Age of Vikings supplement - and the fancy dice - to make use of my Irish and Shieldmaiden armies.  I'm hopeful that the armies shouldn't be too onerous to paint once I get into a groove, so this has bumped its way up the list a little.  However, I find the writing style of SAGA (particularly the 'in character' style of rules clarifications) to jar a little in this day and age with it's 'rarr masculine man' attitude - Mortal Gods has a much better example of 'in character' elements in a rulebook (and even then I personally find it a bit cringey).

Honourable mentions go to Infinity (thanks to the Infinity Army app - seriously, I wish all companies had that kind of approach), Dracula's America (now that I have some Wild West buildings) and Sengoku Monster Hunter (which, as a game, is totally 'me')- maybe next time I do a Five games post they'll have broken into the list!

Autumn Trees and Flowering Bushes

We want to get playing some games - especially things like Dragon Rampant and Burrows & Badgers - but of course we needed some scenery actually assembled and painted!

I thought I'd start quite gently with some basics - trees and bushes (the ones I got from Arcane Scenery and Models).

I based them on appropriately sized round MDF bases, textured with my standard sand dip and gave them a quick, basic paint job.  I deliberately didn't embellish the bases further as I intend to use them with a range of games - and the minis for those games will certainly have different basing themes (for the tufts and grass etc).

Here's the taller of the trees first - with a couple of minis to give a sense of scale (as they were still hanging around since the previous photo shoot they were used in!):

I think they'll work well either placed together as a copse or as random single trees.

The bushes pack I got included two with yellow flowers and four with red - again these can be placed as groups or single bushes:

I think these will work even better as trees in 15mm games - here's the rest of the pack with a 15mm Ral Partha Orc and a Two Dragons Samurai:

I'm pleased with these - simple but will do the job, hopefully looking decent while they do it!

TTCombat - Fantasy Realms

As part of the Halfling Kickstarter from TTCombat I picked up some of their MDF scenery, which I've finally got round to assembling!

Whilst they will definitely be used for our Halfling Dragon Rampant games, I think they'll fit perfectly into Burrows & Badgers too alongside the Sarissa stuff I posted recently.

First up, the pack that is now being called Halfling Hamlet - it includes four houses, each slightly different (roof style, door/windows, wooden beams):

A nice little collection I think!

I also got a pack of walls - these seem to have been rolled in to the World War range as 15mm Walls.  There are four long and four short sections.  Due to the design they aren't the most versatile (there are no corners and the bases mean they won't look great placed at right angles) but they are decent enough for the price.

Finally, and probably most impressively - the Halfling Windmill set.  First up, a raised grain store:

And as the centrepiece for the Halfling scenery - a rather cool windmill:

I think both of these will work equally well for Dragon Rampant and Burrow & Badgers and think they'll work well alongside the Sarissa Precision range on the tabletop.

Sarissa Precision - Burrows & Badgers Scenery

Long-time readers might remember last summer when I got a couple of buildings from the Sarissa Precision Burrows & Badgers range. Well, I've got them assembled (and sand dipped as they come with base plates) and thought I'd share them before they get primed and painted!

First up, Salvor's Burrow - a really fun piece!  I'm intending to add flock etc to the roof after painting.  I've included a mini to give a sense of size:

I've also got Prickly Jane's Cottage - this I think can also be used in my Halfling-themed games of Dragon Rampant; perhaps it's a wealthier Halfling's house or even a small pub!

Both were easy enough kits to assemble (being a total novice at MDF terrain!) with the only difficult bit being the roof of the Burrow.  I'm happy enough with them and think with some flock and tufts to the baseplates they'll look rather nice on the table!