Sunday 3 March 2013

"Batman Is The Hero Gotham Deserves"

This 28mm plastic model is number 124 Commissioner Gordon from the “DC Heroclix Hypertime” range by “Wizkids”. The model was re-based and despite being already pre-painted was further undercoated with a thin covering of Heavy Sienna. The trousers were then painted using Heavy Brown, whilst the policeman’s over coat was given a second layer of Heavy Sienna. Both of these ‘browns’, as well as the “Vallejo” Gold I used to pick out his trouser belt badge, were then washed with my ever-dwindling supply of “Citadel” Devlan Mud. Gordon’s shirt was painted with Heavy Bluegrey and his hair with “Citadel” Skull White. I then applied the shade Nuln Oil to both of these areas. The tie was simply given a coat of Heavy Red and heavily washed with some ‘leftover’ “Citadel” Baal Red.

Having made the decision to predominantly use the “Vallejo” range of Game and Model Color paints, following the decision by “Games Workshop” to cease production of the French-manufactured “Citadel” Foundation colours, I was in a predicament as to how to achieve a similar flesh shading effect to the one I’ve previously attained with my re-painted “Heroclix” models. In the end I went with a temporary compromise, using some of the last of my “Citadel” Tallern Flesh and Ogryn Flesh wash as the base coat, and then “Vallejo” Heavy Skintone and Fleshtone Shade for the highlights.
These three 28mm plastic models are all number 001 Gotham Policeman (Rookie) also from the “DC Heroclix Hypertime” range by “Wizkids”. Predominantly they were painted using “Vallejo” Heavy Blue and Blue Shade for their uniforms. A few of the five models I painted had their sergeant stripes removed from their sleeves with a sharp modelling knife in order to represent less experienced cops.
  
I also simply ignored the silver GCPD and collar insignia on each model, simply painting over them with blue. This was done to speed up the time it took to paint the models but also because some of them suffered from a common complaint of pre-painted models; in that their detail was already close to being lost as a result of being ‘caked’ in too thick an original coat of paint.

Details such as the sergeant sleeve stripes, belt buckle and cap badge were painted using the simple technique of applying Gold to an undercoat of Heavy Sienna, and then giving the metallic areas a wash of Devlan Mud.
This 28mm plastic model is number 019 Lackey (Rookie) from the “DC Heroclix Hypertime” range by “Wizkids”. I’ve converted two of these models by removing their crowbar hand and replacing it with a gloved pistol wielding hand from the number 016 Henchman model from the “Marvel Heroclix Infinity Challenge” range.

In order to make the models stand out a little more on the gaming tabletop, I painted their woollen hats with “Vallejo” Heavy Red as opposed to the black or dark green I’ve previously used. This red was then washed with Baal Red and Devlan Mud to significantly darken down the colour.

For those interested in using Commissioner Gordon and the Gotham City Police Department in their games of “7TV” by “Crooked Dice Game Design Studio”, I simply use the Police Constable Extra profiles found within the Central Casting chapter of the “7TV” Core Rulebook with a couple of notable exceptions. James Gordon is simply an upgraded Police Constable and so gains the Leader (1) effect, whilst all the models gain the basic weapon Pistol (4+).

In order to keep things similarly simple for the gunmen I use the ‘Eavy Extra profile, and again just give each of the hired muscle a Pistol (4+) attack.

Saturday 2 March 2013

"Atomic Batteries To Power"

This is the first in a series of games I've set during the caped crusader’s early years, using “7TV” by “Crooked Dice Game Design Studio”. In this opening engagement Batman and Robin are searching a warehouse for clues as to the secret lair of Edward Nygma. Unfortunately for the dynamic duo, the Riddler has dispatched a number of his men to the same building to ensure no such hints as to his hidden location exist.
Prologue: Having driven the Batmobile into the warehouse and gone their separate ways looking for evidence, the game actually started with only Robin being on the table. The boy wonder would need to roll a 4+ at the end of the turn to see if the dark knight was going to make an appearance. To make matters worse, the vast majority of the Riddler’s ‘Eavies immediately appeared at the opposite quarter of the 2x2 foot table.
Turn One: Automatically gaining the first turn’s initiative, the ‘Eavies started to fan out into the warehouse. Only one was carrying a pistol, so he quickly made his way beside some large pipes with a good view of a clue that had been inadvertently left on the floor in the centre of the building. Meanwhile another ‘Eavy, this time armed with a crowbar, dashed past the piping towards a second clue. Alone, but armed with his trusty battle stave, Robin moved towards the centre of the warehouse, ensuring the crates blocked any line of sight of the ‘Eavy armed with a pistol.
Turn Two: As there was no sign of Batman, three ‘Eavies decided to teach Robin a hard lesson, and rushed the youngster with their crowbars. Only “Luck” and “Dodge” saved the ‘dependable deputy’ from falling, and even then he only survived with one hit intact. A crack on the nose with his unwieldy two-handed weapon took one of the ‘hired muscle’ down but the brightly costumed crime-fighter was in trouble.
Turn Three: A bat-a-rang in the back of another ‘Eavy’s ‘ead announced the arrival of Batman, and with a heroic surge the ‘million dollar marvel’ was using some barrels as cover and dispatching the final ‘Eavy menacing Robin with another of his throwing weapons. Inspired by the presence of his benefactor, the boy wonder also heroically surged and snatched the clue up from the middle of warehouse before darting back into cover beside Batman.

Turn Four: Furious at the youngster’s boldness, the ‘Eavy armed with a pistol vaulted over the piping, and started shooting at the dynamic duo. And whilst bullets whizzed off of the barrels the caped crusaders were sheltering behind, another small party of ‘Eavies approached them; one snatching up a third (and final) clue en route.

Turn Five: Finally finding the presence of mind to actually aim his weapon, the ‘Eavy with a pistol sent Robin reeling with a shot, and the boy wonder was out of the game for good. Sensing victory, the closest of the ‘Eavies then charged Batman, claiming the clue Robin had dropped as he fell, and also causing the dark knight to grimace as a crowbar struck his cowled head.
Final Turn: Incensed by the injury to his ward, Batman flattened the ‘Eavy trying to ‘steal’ away the clue obtained by Robin, and promptly recovered it for himself. But in doing so was unable to reach the other ‘Eavies who had earlier picked up the other two clues within the warehouse.

Aftermath: Amazingly, despite the loss of Robin, the ‘scuffle in the warehouse’ had proved a draw. Batman’s single clue proved to be as valuable a piece of evidence as the combined total of the two clues recovered by the Riddler’s ‘Eavies.
BATMAN (Million Dollar Marvel)
Move: 6   Defence: 5   Hits: 3   Strength: 5   Agility: 5   Intelligence: 4   Morale: 5
Basic Special Effects: Luck (2)
Additional Special Effects: Body Armour, Heroic Surge, Fists of Fury, Daring Leap, Leader (1) and Gadgets
Attacks: Brawl/Unarmed and Sling

ROBIN (Dependable Deputy)
Move: 6   Defence: 4   Hits: 2   Strength: 3   Agility: 5   Intelligence: 4   Morale: 3
Basic Special Effects: Luck (1), Sidekick and Disarm
Additional Special Effects: Plucky, Dodge and Heroic Surge
Attacks: Brawl/Unarmed and Two handed-Weapon