"Resident Evil 2" Board Game Report: Spider-Man & Black Widow Verses Zombies

SPIDER-MAN AND THE BLACK WIDOW FACE OFF AGAINST "RESIDENT EVIL 2"

This game was played using Scenario 1A - Getting To The Police Department from "Resident Evil 2: The Board Game" by "Steamforged Games". However, in order to allow us to set-up a quick(ish) play through, the in-game plastic figures were replaced with a handful of my painted "Copplestone Castings" zombies and a pair of re-painted "Heroclix" miniatures. The table was set-up exactly as instructed by the "Capcom" licensed game's rulebook, including the contents of its Item Decks, Tension Deck, Character Start points and zombie locations 

Spider-Man was armed with his famous web-shooters and enough web-fluid for fifteen shots. He also had the "Cool Under Fire" special skill, which meant that once per activation he "may use an item while one or more enemies are in his square without making an evade roll." The costumed crime-fighter would start the game in the top north-western corner. The Black Widow was armed with her Stingers and enough electricity for fifteen shots. She also had the special skill "Reckless", which meant "at the end of any character's activation including her own" Natalia "may take an out-of-sequence activation" and "after doing so, she must forfeit her following activation", and the "Intrigue" ability, which allows her "once per scenario" to "discard a card drawn from the tension deck without resolving the effects." The Avenger would start the game in an alleyway south of the Tiny Room.

The super-heroes would successfully complete this scenario if they all leave the playing area via the western door in the Final Room. Once a character has left the playing area though, they cannot activate."

THE TABLETOP -  THE ALLEYWAYS AND ROOMS SURROUNDING THE R.C.P.D. BUILDING

"The story so far... Whilst visiting Raccoon City on a photography assignment, the Daily Bugle's Peter Parker has uncovered some alarming report's concerning the Umbrella Corporation. Having contacted the Avenger, Natalia Romanova, for some much needed support, the friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man has donned his crime-fighting costume and started to make his way to Raccoon City's Police Department. However, both Web-head and the Black Widow soon find their way to their rendezvous point blocked by the brain-chomping Undead..."

Spotting the ghoulish zombie shuffling towards him down the alleyway, Spider-Man immediately activated and spent the first of his four actions shooting at the walking cadaver. The masked vigilante's web-shooters were a "rapid fire" weapon, which meant he could "spend one additional ammunition point to roll an extra attack dice". One of his shots pushed the zombie back, allowing the super-hero to move south and then fire both his web-shooters at his target again. The groaning corpse was nicely wrapped up in sticky webbing, and out of the game for good. As no other Undead were around nothing occurred in either the subsequent reaction or tension phases.

SPIDER-MAN HEADS SOUTH AS THE BLACK WIDOW BEGINS BATTLING NORTH

The Black Widow ran east along the alleyway she found herself in and turning to head north saw a zombie stood between her and a potentially useful item. As her "Widow's Bite" was also a "rapid fire" weapon the former Russian spy fired a double burst at the fiend, and pushed it further north up the alleyway. Disconcertingly, the creature staggered back towards her, making a loud painful groan.

Spider-Man headed south-east, opening the door to the First Room and stepped inside. Everything was eerily quiet, and the place seemed deserted. Meanwhile the Black Widow fired a second double-powered blast at her would-be assailant and brought the creature down permanently. Natalia then made her way up north to search amongst some debris, and considered whether to perhaps enter the Lower Room next time..?

THE BLACK WIDOW FINDS AN ITEM AS SHE NAVIGATES HER WAY TOWARDS THE R.C.P.D.

Peter Parker's alter-ego swung himself south across the First Room towards a potentially useful item located in its south-west corner. There was clearly no-one else in the place to worry about as far as the reaction phase was concerned, but during the tension phase it seemed the claustrophobic location was ideal for an "Undead Ambush" as two dark silhouettes outside were the wall-crawler's "only warning before glass shatters to jagged shards and death resumes its tireless pursuit!"

Suddenly, instead of simply facing something useful on the floor in front of him, Spider-Man was looking into the hungry faces of two freshly spawned zombies. Completely oblivious to her colleague's plight, the Black Widow searched the end of the alleyway she was in and discovered a green herb. This would allow Romanova to heal herself or a friend "in the same or adjacent square one level." The Avenger then kicked open the door to the Lower Room and immediately fired a double-blast at the zombie she saw inside. Unfortunately the shots went wild, and only succeeded in attracting the green-hued creature's attention. It unpleasantly stumbled towards the former Russian super-spy, it's arms outstretched...

SPIDER-MAN GETS MORE THAN HE BARGAINED FOR AS ZOMBIES BREAK IN TO HIS LOCATION

Spider-Man acrobatically somersaulted back away from his assailants, threw open the First Room's south-east door and hurled himself through it, slamming it shut behind him as he went. He was momentarily safe, but was now facing another zombie which stood between him and his passage north. Hearing the super-hero's dramatic entrance into the dark alleyway, the Undead monster shuffled south towards him.

Determined to bring down her foe fast, the Black Widow actually used her "rapid fire" "Widow's Bite" to its maximum potential and used one action to fire a triple-burst at the cadaver stomping towards her inside the Lower Room. The zombie was destroyed, allowing Natalia to race west and open the location's door. There were still a few hurdles between Romanova and the Raccoon City Police Department, but she had plenty of juice left in her Stingers, as well as a little time on her side.

To Be Continued...

Will Somebody Get This Big Walking Carpet Out Of My Way?"

"Come here, you big coward."

These four 47mm tall hard plastic miniatures of Wookie Warriors are produced by “Fantasy Flight Games” and can be found inside the company's four-figure strong "Wookie Warriors" Expansion Box for "Star Wars: Legion". "Easily assembled" this quartet show the Kashyyyk Killers "charging into the fray, brandishing their Ryyk Blades" and consists of a Bowcaster Wookie, a Wookie Warrior Leader and two Wookie Warriors.

As with my previously painted Chewbacca miniature, each figure was originally undercoated with "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna, shaded with "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade, and dry-brushed with both (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna and (lighter) Heavy Brown. I then applied a combination of "Citadel" Doombull Brown and "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade to any waist-bags, straps or ammunition pockets on the miniatures.

"What are you looking at? I know what I'm doing."

Having decided to simply pigment all of their bandoleer in "Vallejo" Gunmetal Grey, I also used this metallic acrylic paint to 'pick out' their firearms (whether holstered or not) and their shoulder-armour. All of these areas were subsequently washed with some "Citadel" Nuln Oil, before being 'highlighted' with more "Vallejo" Gunmetal Grey. In addition, I shaded the shoulder-pads and the Wookie Warrior Leader's arm-shield with a splash of "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade to help separate it from the plain dull 'steel' look of their weaponry.

"Chewie. Chewie? All right. Don't lose your temper."

As a final step, I painted the Wookies' infamous blades with "Citadel" Ironbreaker and Nuln Oil, and later dry-brushed their edges with a spot more Ironbreaker. I also dabbed a spot of either "Vallejo" Heavy Brown or Gold over the furry aliens' hair braids and gave them a quick wash of "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade for good measure.

Sticking with "Star Wars: Legion" I have made some additional progress on a number of Imperial miniatures from the range, as well as started 'boxing off' the different areas on my Leia Organa Commander Expansion figure. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the model which has especially caught my attention is that of the Emperor Palpatine, and I've been gratefully following the advice of Dave Stone ("The Game Cupboard") so as to capture Darth Sidious' unhealthy facial pallor.

"Star Wars: Legion" WIPs - An Imperial Royal Guard, Emperor Palpatine, a Scout Trooper and Leia Organa

Due to the straightforward nature of pigmenting "the Sith master of Darth Vader", I have simultaneously been working on his four Imperial Royal Guards and seven Scout Troopers. The former chancellor's crimson robed personal bodyguards actually took a bit more preparation work than I anticipated, owing to some of their parts proving to be slightly ill-fitting, and as a result I have had to apply a little 'grey-stuff' to the odd join before priming them "Vallejo" Heavy Red...

"Give Me A Weapon. I Will Destroy Him."

"By your dawn I shall be seven hundred million miles from here."

This 35mm metal Sontaran model is produced by “Warlord Games" and can be bought from their "Doctor Who: Into The Time Vortex" range as part of their two-figure boxed set "The Time Warrior". Forced "to make an emergency landing on Earth while on reconnaissance when his ship was attacked by a squadron of Rutan fighters", Jingo Linx was created by Robert Holmes and made his BBC Television debut in the 1973 story "The Time Warrior".

The Sontaran Commander in the Fifth Sontaran Army Space Fleet was initially undercoated with two layers of "Vallejo" Black, roughly dry-brushed with Heavy Charcoal and enthusiastically washed with "Citadel" Nuln Oil. I then pigmented the clone soldier's knee-pads, belt and neck armour base-coated with "Citadel" Ironbreaker as I have previously done before when painting these Classic Third/Fourth Doctor monsters.

"Doctor Who: Exterminate!" WIPs - A Tetrap, a Sontaran and a Tetrap Master

However, having checked the 'official' "Warlord Games" painting guide, and subsequently some colour photographs of actor Kevin Lindsay in his costume, it became clear that the Sontaran's knee-pads were actually black as opposed to silver, so I went back and re-painted this area in "Vallejo" Black. The remaining metallic areas were subsequently shaded with (more) "Citadel" Nuln Oil.

Linx's awkwardly held rheon carbine was 'picked out' using a combination of "Vallejo" Dead White and Pale Grey. Whilst the alien's somewhat swarthy-looking skin colour was created by shading his "Vallejo" Heavy Skintone flesh with some Strong Tone Quickshade by "The Army Painter".

"Doctor Who: Into The Time Vortex" WIPs - A Vervoid, two Cybermen and the Thirteenth Doctor

Having finished a Seventies incarnation of the "militaristic clones from the planet Sontar", I have been busy progressing another of the "Nu Who" versions, alongside a plethora of other "Doctor Who: Exterminate" figures. I've previously primed a number of the Seventh Doctor's terrifying Tetraps, but never got round to properly shading or dry-brushing them. However, as a result of getting plenty of practice in recently, 'building up' the layers of fur on some "Star Wars: Legion" Wookies by "Fantasy Flight Games", I thought I'd return to the half dozen miniatures and give them another try.

In addition, I have 'dug out' all nine of my Vervoids so as to see whether I can apply a similar dry-brushing technique to some predominantly green extra-terrestrials. Lastly, I have started base-layering, washing and detailing a few more "Warlord Games" figures for the Ninth Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge, including the Thirteenth Doctor and the start of a "Tomb Of The Cybermen" faction...

"The Dead Awaken..."

"...For the hour is come for the Oathbreakers."

These four "cartoon scale white metal" Skeleton Swordsmen are produced by “Lucid Eye Publications” and are available from the company's "Toon Realms" range. Sculpted by Steve Saleh and led by Lord Rascal, I thought this quartet would form part of the Undead Light Foot unit I'm currently building for my 'Lord Of The Toons' project using the "Dragon Rampant" rule-set.

Originally primed with two coats of "Vallejo" Dark Sand, the four miniatures were somewhat soaked in "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade and subsequently dry-brushed using (more) "Vallejo" Dark Sand. I then dry-brushed them rather more lightly with Dead White, before 'picking out' their swords and shield emblems using a combination of "Citadel" Ironbreaker and Nuln Oil.

"Who shall call them from the grey twilight, the forgotten people?"

So as to give the hand-weapons something of an edge, and to 'highlight' the details on the skeleton's ornamental armoured boss, both of these areas were later delicately dry-brushed with a little smidgen of "Citadel" Ironbreaker. I also painted each of their shields in either "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna, Heavy Blue, Heavy Violet or Black, and eventually dirtied them all up with a splash of "Citadel" Nuln Oil.

Shifting my focus away from fantasy-based miniatures and to those from "a galaxy far, far away" I have succumbed to assembling even more figures from the "Star Wars: Legion" range by "Fantasy Flight Games". Perhaps somewhat naively I still have little intention of actually using the manufacturer's models to play their 'official' "game of thrilling infantry battles in the Star Wars universe!", yet that hasn't stopped me wanting to be able to field two sizeable opposing forces with which to re-fight the Galactic Civil War with a rule-set such as "Doctor Who: Exterminate!" by "Warlord Games".

"Star Wars: Legion" WIPs - An Imperial Royal Guard, Leia Organa and Emperor Palpatine

Resultantly, I have decided to add an additional hero to my Rebel Alliance army in the shape of Leia Organa. To be honest I'm a bit disappointed that the current Commander Expansion sculpt of the princess disconcertingly depicts her during the young woman's exploits on Endor's moon during "Return Of The Jedi", rather than that of "A New Hope". But hopefully an alternative sculpt of Alderaan's senator, complete with her iconic "cinnamon buns" hairstyle, will be made available at a future date.

In addition to Darth Vader's daughter I have also based and primed both the Emperor Palpatine, as well as his four Imperial Royal Guards. The Sith Lord himself should be a reasonably straightforward piece to paint, whilst his quartet of "enigmatic warriors", including a leader and electrostaff-armed guard, are going to understandably be a bit more colourful...

"Stand By, Chewie. Here we go."

"Screaming about it can't help you."

This 47mm tall hard plastic miniature of Chewbacca is produced by “Fantasy Flight Games” and can be found inside the company's "Chewbacca Operative Expansion" for "Star Wars: Legion"; "a miniatures game of thrilling infantry battles in the Star Wars universe!" Described as "Han Solo’s ever-faithful companion", the Wookie was played by actor Peter Mayhew and made his first appearance in George Lucas' 1977 American epic space opera film "Star Wars".

The figure was initially primed with two coats of "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna, shaded with "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade, and dry-brushed with both (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna and (lighter) Heavy Brown. I then applied a combination of "Citadel" Doombull Brown and "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade to Chewie's side-bag, plus "Vallejo" Gunmetal Grey to his "trusty bowcaster" and along his ammunition belt. These areas were subsequently washed with "Citadel" Nuln Oil and highlighted with a little more "Vallejo" Gunmetal Grey.

"Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" WIPs - These four Gabriel Hounds have been primed and shaded

I then encountered something of a painting dilemma, as having previously pigmented two slightly smaller models of Chewbacca I knew the next stage was to carefully pick out the leather covering his belt's line of hard metallic shell boxes. However, the sculpting for this version of the Wookie didn't allow for me to get my brush tip in between the tiny containers and I couldn't help feeling that there was more than enough brown on display without the smuggler's bandoleer being the same colour too.

Resultantly, and any purest "Star Wars" aficionados will want to look away at this point, I have left the ammunition belt a dull metallic colour so it stands out a little better on the figure. Finally, I applied some additional "Citadel" Nuln Oil to certain areas of the Wookie, in order to darken him down a bit and break up the colour consistency of Chewie's fur.

"Lucid Eye Publications" WIPs - Lord Rascal's Skeleton Warriors

Over the past few weeks I've been scouring my favourite miniature manufacturers looking for some alternative sculpts to the somewhat softly-detailed plastic zombie dogs found inside the "Resident Evil 2: The Boardgame" boxed set by "Steamforged Games Limited". Rather embarrassingly I already own a substantial amount of unpainted models produced by "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio", but thought their wonderfully creepy Gabriel Hounds would fit the bill rather nicely, so have set to work basing, priming, shading and dry-brushing a freshly-purchased quartet of the "spectral white dogs [which] wear the face of man."

In addition, I am continuing to work through my collection of "Lucid Eye Publications" figures and been steadily building up the bleached bone on four of their splendidly characterful Lord Rascal's Skeleton Warriors. This time round I'm painting up a small unit of Spearmen for "Dragon Rampant" in the hope that I'll eventually be able to deploy a twelve-model strong Light Foot unit which will be able to utilise its "Wall of Spears" special rule... 

“You’re The Joke And Here’s The Punchline!”

"The clown prince of smash and grab!"

This 28mm scale resin miniature of Punchline is produced by “Kitbash Games” and will be one of the company's stretch goals for its upcoming "Supers Unlimited" "Kickstarter" in January 2019. "Better-known locally as Zorbo the Magnificent", this penniless clown entertainer "found two gleaming golden power gloves fallen from a smashed glass case" in an abandoned super-lair, which would transform him into a "heavy-hitting villain."

Dave Zorbavic was initially primed using two coats of "Vallejo" Heavy Green and had his trousers shaded with "Citadel" Biel-Tan Green. I then 'picked out' his big boots and tie with "Vallejo" Heavy Red, before heavily washing his bulbous footwear with "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson and his neck cloth in Nuln Oil. The mortgage defaulter's shirt was pigmented using a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Violet and "Citadel" Druchii Violet.

"Star Wars: Legion" WIPs - The three Scout Troopers have been primed, washed and dry-brushed

The criminal's power gloves were originally treated to a layer of "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna, and were subsequently painted with Gold and then a serious splash of "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade. As a final step they were dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo" Gold. I decided against simply giving the clown an entirely "Vallejo" Dead White head by leaving some of his flesh showing around his neck and bonce, and simply washed it with a little Pale Grey.

As a final step I picked out the former party entertainer's hair with "Vallejo" Heavy Red and "Citadel" Nuln Oil", and his nose with a dab of "Vallejo" Heavy Red. I chose not to shade the nose as I wanted the red to appear quite flat, and eventually decided against applying any additional red-coloured make-up to his face and mouth as well, as I rather liked the hauntingly lifeless look his pure "Vallejo" Black eye sockets and mouth slit created...

Herald Of Khorne WIPs - The "Finecast" miniature is slowly having all its details 'picked out'

In addition to working on my much appreciated Punchline, I have also been busy assembling some Imperial foes for my "Star Wars: Legion" Wookie Warriors to battle in the near future. Whilst "Stormtroopers may form the bulk of the Galactic Empire’s infantry forces" my favourites have always been the Scout Troopers, so when I saw "Fantasy Flight Games" had released them as a Unit Expansion boxed set for their "unsung battles of the Galactic Civil War" tabletop game, I had to pick the special forces team up.

Lastly, I have stumbled across a long-forgotten, partially-painted "Finecast" miniatures of a Herald of Khorne by "Games Workshop", and as I have yet to play the Second Edition of "Age Of Sigmar", I fancied bulking out my Bloodletter host with the 'savage master of brutality'. Fortunately, the imposing figure was already primed and shaded, so I have been able to quite steadily pigment all his skull trophies, and get to work on all his gold armour.

"Not Daredevil, Clown -- But The Black Widow!"

"Now, all I need to do is wait -- Wait for my prey!"

This 28mm tall plastic “Wizkids” model of the Black Widow is miniature number 057 from the Clobberin Marvel "Heroclix" range, and depicts Natalia Alianovna Romanova "during her romantic involvement with Matt Murdock in San Francisco", when she was operating "as an independent superhero" alongside Daredevil. An "Expert tactician, hand-to-hand combatant and secret agent", the Avenger was created by Stan Lee, Don Rico and Don Heck for the April 1964 issue of "Marvel Comics" "Tales of Suspense".

Having been removed from her 'clicky-base' and super-glued on to a 25mm circular stand, the former Russian spy was primed using two coats of "Citadel" Abaddon Black and heavily dry-brushed with "Vallejo" Heavy Charcoal so I could make out the sculpt's details. I then considered whether to follow the pre-painted miniature's palette of her wearing a dark blue costume (as depicted in the Seventies comic books) or stick with her more modern-day all-black attire.

"Star Wars: Legion" WIPs - General Veers' AT-AT Commander's chest plate has undergone a re-paint

After applying a "Citadel" Nuln Oil wash over 'Natasha', I settled with the darker colour scheme, and layered both the super-heroine's chain belt and wrist shooters with "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna" before applying a combination of Gold and "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade to them. As a final step I painted the Black Widow's famous red hair using "Vallejo" Heavy Red, shaded it with a splash of "Citadel" Nuln Oil" and later dry-brushed it with (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Red.

With my latest "Heroclix" figure finished, I have once again turned my attention upon my collection of partially-painted "Star Wars" miniatures by "Fantasy Flight Games", and continued pigmenting the Minnesota-based manufacturer's "Star Wars: Legion" model of General Veers. I thought this Commander Expansion would provide the perfect Imperial leader for a Scout Trooper unit with which to bitterly oppose my current Wookie Warriors.

"Star Wars: Legion" WIPs - The three Wookie Warriors are slowly getting all their details 'picked out'

Unfortunately, I wasn't that happy with how his initial all-grey look turned out, especially the AT-AT Commander's disconcertingly dark grey chest plate. Luckily, having done some research on the Galactic Empire's Imperial Army human officer I spotted several costume photographs, as well as completed models, which depicted the armour as being a somewhat striking green. So I have decided to try and imitate that colour scheme instead.

Lastly, I have been slowly picking out a plethora of pouches, pockets, ammunition belts, braid bands, buckles, shoulder-pads, hand-blasters, leather straps and bladed weapons on my remaining Kashyyyk killers. Slightly frustratingly, the furry wookies continue to 'produce' details which I haven't actually spotted until after I've started shading in all their fiddly pieces of equipment. But hopefully shouldn't take took much longer to complete before being submitted into the Ninth Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge...