Wednesday 29 April 2020

"Star Wars" 28 Battle Report: Wookie Warriors Verses Imperial Death Troopers - Part Two

CHEWBACCA BATTLES DT-F16 AND HER IMPERIAL DEATH TROOPER SQUAD
“The story so far… Mon Motha has dispatched a small team of Wookie Warriors, lead by the mighty Chewbacca, to the Forest Moon of Endor to assassinate the Emperor. However, before the fierce soldiers from the planet Kashyyyk can hope to reach their target at the Empire's newly built shield generator complex, they must first outflank a unit of Imperial Death Troopers."
THE TABLETOP - THE FOREST MOON OF ENDOR
"Star Wars" 28 Battle Report: Wookie Warriors Verses Imperial Death Troopers - Part One

With the Wookie Warriors having now secured two objectives (and nine Victory Points), the Death Troopers in the North-Eastern Wood finally pushed through the foliage and reached Objective Three [Destroyed Robot]. This gave the Imperial forces two Victory Points of their own. Whilst in the south, one of the elite stormtroopers made their way to Objective Four [Fuel Barrels] and momentarily at least, won the Emperor an additional five Victory Points. The battle was most definitely in the balance, with Objective Five [Rocky Outcrop] suddenly seeming to be crucial to either side's hopes of victory.

Believing that her forces might soon defeat those of the Rebellion, DT-F16 ordered her men to advance, whilst the Death Trooper by the Tall Rock provided some covering fire by sending a salvo of laser beams into the South-Western Wood. Despite the trees providing some substantial cover, the Wookie within took a wound. Meanwhile, the Heavy Weapon Trooper shot at the Warrior currently claiming Objective One [Energy Canister], striking the fur-covered soldier twice.
IMPERIAL DEATH TROOPERS START CAPTURING SOME OF THE BATTLEFIELD'S OBJECTIVES
In response the wounded Wookie tightened his grip on his Rykk blade and moved directly towards the Heavy Weapon Trooper. En route he pulled out his energy pistol, and despite the Imperial commando's black-coloured armour, scored a double-strike upon the elite soldier. With a roar of encouragement, the other Wookie near Objective One [Energy Canister] also moved east, seeking shelter behind the Short Rock. In the south, the warrior by Objective Two [Ruin] moved up to the Tall Rock.

Meanwhile Chewbacca travelled east to the southern edge of the Small Pool so as to have better sight of the Death Trooper by the Tall Rock, and despite the Imperial stormtrooper having some cover, managed to strike the soldier with a blast from his Bowcaster. The Wookie in the South-Western Wood aimed his weapon at the Heavy Weapon Trooper, but failed to fire owing to his being intimidated by "the heavy firepower of a DLT-19D heavy blaster rifle."

Seizing the initiative, the Wookies continued their attack with Chewbacca continuing his advance east, firing at the Death Trooper by the Tall Rock as he went. Unfortunately Han Solo's "loyal companion" was clearly having a bad day, as his Bowcaster shots went wide. The same however, could not be said for the Wookie within the South-Western Wood, who finally gathered his nerve and felled the Heavy Weapon Trooper. First blood to the Rebellion. Further south, the fur-covered warrior by the Tall Rock made his way around the bottom of the obstacle, but then failed to shoot at the Death Trooper by Objective Four [Fuel Barrels] due to the Imperial's intimidating presence.
THE DEATH TROOPERS MAKE THEIR PRESENCE FELT AS THE WOOKIES MOVE FORWARDS
Owing to the co-pilot of the Millennium Falcon's presence in the centre of the battlefield, the Death Troopers began to focus their firepower upon him. Chewie gave a roar of pain as the elite soldier by Objective Three [Destroyed Robot] winged him. But DT-F16 missed with her pistol. In the face of the fast-approaching Wookie by the Tall Rock, the wounded Death Trooper nearby fell back to support his Imperial colleague securing Objective Four [Fuel Barrels]. Together, their combined firepower mowed the warrior down before he could get within Rykk blade's reach.

With the battle most definitely in the balance now, Chewbacca claimed Objective Five [Rocky Outcrop] and a solitary Victory Point for the Rebellion, and then set about trying to ensure his remaining Warriors protected their secured assets until the fight was finished. However, the Wookie by the Small Rock made a desperate move east towards Objective Three [Destroyed Robot] in an effort to win the day early, but only managed to score a single hit upon the Death Trooper guarding his prize with his energy pistol.

Sensing the moment was finally ripe to strike, one of the Death Troopers by Objective Four [Fuel Barrels] ran west towards Objective Two [Ruin], whilst his colleague provided covering fire. Chewbacca gave another roar of pain, as Han Solo's partner-in-crime was struck once again. DT-F16 moved up to contest Objective Five [Rocky Outcrop], but made sure the large boulders were between her and the increasingly frustrated large Wookie.
DESPITE A WOOKIE HOLDING THE SOUTH-WESTERN WOOD THE DEATH TROOPERS ADVANCE
Upon her orders however, she was accompanied by one of the Death Troopers near the Small Rock, who moved to outflank the Wookie also standing close to the scenic piece. The poor fur-covered warrior was swiftly gunned down by the elite soldier's E-11D blaster rifle. The Death Trooper by Objective Three [Destroyed Robot] held his ground and wounded the remaining Wookie fast-approaching his precarious position.

As the confrontation entered its final stage, the Imperial squad pressed home its slight advantage in numbers by having the south-westernmost Death Trooper seize control of Objective Two [Ruin] and snatch six Victory Points away from the Rebellion. The black-armoured soldier even cheekily fired a successful shot into Chewbacca. To the north, another Death Trooper wrested Objective One [Energy Canister] from the Wookies, and also managed to injure the Millennium Falcon's co-pilot.

Currently controlling four of the battlefield's objectives, and contesting the fifth, the rest of the Imperial forces fired at any Wookie which they could see, with Chewbacca suffering yet another in a long line of wounds. Han Solo's long-time companion was taking a terrible beating and would surely have fallen if the confrontation had lasted much longer. Instead though, Chewie joined the Wookie in the South-Western Wood in a charge against the Death Trooper who stole Objective Two [Ruin], and together they battered the elite soldier to death. Such was also the fate of the Death Trooper by Objective Three [Destroyed Robot] who was fell quickly beneath a flurry of strokes from a Rykk blade.
THE WOOKIE WARRIORS TEAR INTO THEIR IMPERIAL OPPONENTS
With the battle over the Rebellion had managed to acquire two objectives worth eight Victory Points. But DT-F16's sudden sole presence at Objective Five [Rocky Outcrop] meant the Imperial forces had just edged the day with three objectives and nine Victory Points. Chewbacca's unit would need to retreat and rethink its plan to assassinate Emperor Palpatine...

Monday 27 April 2020

"Star Wars" 28 Battle Report: Wookie Warriors Verses Imperial Death Troopers

 CHEWBACCA ENCOUNTERS A UNIT OF IMPERIAL DEATH TROOPERS
This game was played using some homemade rules (M.I.S.S.) so as to allow us to play through a short campaign utilising many of my painted "Star Wars: Legion" miniatures by "Fantasy Flight", and took place upon a 3' x 3' "Deep Cut Studio" Forest Playmat. The battlefield was populated with a variety of scenery, including four 'wooded areas' using old "Citadel" trees.

“The story so far… The Rebellion have heard rumours that the Emperor himself has arrived on the Forest Moon of Endor to personally supervise the building of a shield generator complex. Realising that this could be their best opportunity yet to bring the Empire to its knees, Mon Motha has dispatched a small assassination team of Wookie Warriors, lead by Chewbacca to IX3244-A. However, before the fierce soldiers from the planet Kashyyyk can hope to reach their target, they must first outflank a unit of Imperial Death Troopers."
THE TABLETOP - THE FOREST MOON OF ENDOR
The Wookies, who started along the western edge of the battlefield, consisted of four warriors and Chewbacca. Three of the soldiers were armed with a Ryyk blade and pistol, whilst one carried a Bowcaster similar in design to that used by Chewbacca. Due to living on a jungle planet, the wookies would suffer no movement penalties for traversing any woodland.

Across from their position, along the eastern edge, stood six Imperial Death Troopers, including DT-F16. Four of the "inhuman revenants" were armed with an E-11D blaster rifle, whilst one carried the formidable DLT-19D heavy blaster rifle. DT-F16 held a SE-14r light blaster. All six of the elite soldiers of the Tarkin Initiative had the special conditions "Armour" and "Intimidate".

The tree-covered tabletop had five strategic locations, each worth an unknown number of victory points from one to six. These would only be revealed once they had been discovered during the confrontation and could only be claimed by an unopposed unit being in direct contact with it at the end of Turn Six.
CHEWBACCA LEADS A CHARGE AGAINST THE EMPIRE'S ELITE SOLDIERS
The Wookie warriors won the initiative and began to move east, with two of them entering the North-Western Wood, and two (including the one with the Bowcaster) entering the South-Western Wood. Chewbacca moved up to the edge of the Medium Pool, giving his weapon clear sight of Objectives One [Energy Canister], Two [Ruin] and Five [Rocky Outcrop].

On the other side of the forest, two Death Troopers rushed south around the bottom of the South-Eastern Wood, whilst two more began pushing through the North-Eastern Wood (suffering the obligatory movement penalty). DT-F16 and the Heavy Weapon Trooper moved west toward the Small Pool.
THE DEATH TROOPERS STRUGGLE TO PUSH THROUGH THE TREES OF ENDOR
Continuing their circling of the South-Eastern Wood, the two Death Troopers closed upon Objective Four [Fuel Barrels], keeping the Tall Rock between themselves and the Wookies approaching fast through the South-Western Wood. The elite imperial soldiers in the North-Western Wood continued to battle against the undergrowth, and almost reached the edge of the trees. DT-F16 and the Heavy Weapon Trooper crabbed across to the southern tip of the North-Eastern Wood. Laser beams then lashed out from one of the Death Troopers near Objective Four and from the Heavy Weapon Trooper. But they all fell short of their targets.

On the edge of the South-Western Wood, the Wookie with the Bowcaster took aim at one of the Death Troopers by Objective Four [Fuel Barrels], but failed to fire due to the Imperial soldier's "intimidate" special ability. His companion moved from out of the trees and took control of Objective Two [Ruin] for six Victory Points. Pleased to learn his Kashyyyk comrades had already 'secured' the most valuable objective on the battlefield, Chewbacca remained stationary by the Medium Pool, covering all he could survey with his Bowcaster.
THE WOOKIE WARRIORS START TO CLAIM A NUMBER OF IMPORTANT OBJECTIVES
Up in the North-Western Wood, another Warrior broke cover to reach Objective One [Energy Canister], claiming a further three Victory Points for the Rebellion. The remaining Wookie in the North-Western Wood moved to the edge of the tree-line, and pulled out his laser pistol, ready to fire upon Death Trooper foolish enough to come within range.

To be continued...

Sunday 5 April 2020

"Nothin' In There, It's Clean..."

"What'd you expect? We're just covering the bases here..."
This pair of 28mm scale pre-painted plastic models of Gotham Policemen were produced by “Wizkids” and are both miniature number 001 from their DC  “Heroclix” Hypertime range. Created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger for "DC Comics", the G.C.P.D is led by Commissioner Gordon, and "has had a long love-hate relationship with the city's vigilante known as Batman." Indeed, Gordon's replacement, Commissioner Michael Akins actually "ordered the arrest of Batman and had the Bat-signal removed from the roof of Gotham Central." Both James Gordon and detective Harvey Bullock were reinstated in "DC Comics" 2006 comic book story-line "One Year Later".

Chopped from their 'clicky' stands and super-glued to a couple of 25mm circular bases, I carefully removed the sergeant stripes from off their left sleeves with a sharp modelling knife so as to simply mark them out as low-ranking law officers. The cops were then primed using a few coats of "Vallejo" Heavy Blue and shaded in "Citadel" Drakenhof Nightshade.
 "Maybe I'm not being clear."
Each policeman's boots, holster, baton and pistol were 'picked out' with some "Citadel" Abaddon Black, whilst their firearms were later treated to a combination of Ironbreaker and Badab Black. I used some "Vallejo" Gold for the flatfoots' belt buckles, shoulder badges and cap badges, and subsequently washed these areas with a little Strong Tone Quickshade by "The Army Painter".

As I fancied slightly mixing up the two models' skin colours a little, I initially painted one of the figure's flesh with "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna, and the other with Charred Brown. However, I didn't like the way the rather watery "Vallejo" Charred Brown came out of its pot, so ended up mixing it with some "Citadel" Doombull Brown. All of these areas were later shaded using a dash of "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade.
 "Adeptus Mechanicus" WIPs - The two Warhound Titans have been shaded and dry-brushed
With my last two additions to Gotham City Police's uniform department completed, I have turned my attention to painting all the metallic areas on my Warhound Titans for "Adeptus Titanicus" by "Games Workshop". I've kept the two 'massive' warmachines in sub-assemblies to help me reach some of each model's underside, and resultantly managed to get my paint-brush everywhere it has needed to go so far...

Because I knew I'd be heavily dry-brushing the metallic beasts, I've been able to be rather brutal with my application of "Citadel" Ironbreaker and Nuln Oil. In addition, I plan to apply some “Mig Productions" Extreme Rust Wash to parts of the "god-machines", not only to suggest the wear and tear of time (and the blessing of the Chaos God, Nurgle), but also to help cover up a couple of flaws caused in their assembly, where the plastic glue badly ate into some of the miniature's detail.

Thursday 2 April 2020

(Lead) Mountain Musings - "Adeptus Titanicus" April 2020

"Adeptus Titanicus" WIP - The Warhound Titan has been assembled, primed and layered
This month's themed attempt to reduce my bloated backlog of metal, plastic and resin models will primarily focus upon "two nimble Warhound Titans" from the Adeptus Titanicus: The Horus Heresy starter set by "Games Workshop". Despite having a healthy love for the second edition of "Epic" (or rather "Space Marine") and owning a copy of "Epic: Armageddon", I had managed to resist purchasing the Nottingham-based manufacturer's Adeptus Titanicus: Grand Master Edition when it was first released on account of its disconcerting price point.

However, the company's arguably more affordable "starting point for playing Adeptus Titanicus" containing "six incredible Citadel miniatures" was a little harder to ignore, especially as the somewhat significantly smaller war machines didn't look half as intimidating to build or pigment as the formidably large Warlord Battle titans. As a result I have assembled the pair of Warhound Scout plastic kits found in the box as two Traitor titans from the Legio Mortis, which will give me a fairly straightforward palette of black, red, silver and gold (Pre-Heresy), and then Green, Black and Silver (Post-Heresy) once they have fully given themselves over to Nurgle...
"Wizkids" WIPs - The Minotaur has been primed, washed and dry-brushed
In addition to my dalliance with "Games Workshop", I will be ploughing on with some "Wizkids" figures in an effort to help bolster the amount of civilians I can field on the tabletop. Not only do I have a few non-combatants in mind, perhaps to use as simple innocent bystanders or movable objectives, but I've become increasingly aware of owning few non-super-powered civilian forces, such as actual S.H.I.E.L.D. troopers, A.I.M. operatives or Agents of Hydra.

Having recently added to my collection of G.C.P.D. officers, I also want to be able to get some S.W.A.T. forces and U.S. Army soldiers onto my tabletop too. But first, having been badly bitten by the murderous machinations of the Roxxon Energy Corporation's CEO, Dario Agger, in "The Immortal Hulk", I thought I'd paint up the insane industrialist's "Heroclix" alter-ego, the Minotaur...
March 2020 - "Wizkids" once again dominated the month with a plethora of "Heroclix" and "D&D" models
Statistics wise, the past four weeks have proved to be a highly productive March, with my interest in "Dungeons & Dragons" ruling my painting queue and instinctive need to successfully achieve my target tally in the Tenth Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge channelling my hobby mojo. Interestingly however, my love of underground tunnel dwellers didn't limit me to just a single manufacturer either, with both "Wizkids" and "Otherworld Miniatures" benefiting from my need to populate a stone-tiled gaming table with some denizens of the deep.

Alongside "Otherworld Miniatures", this period also saw another company rise in my estimation with "Precinct Omega" and their utterly bizarre "Ballmonsters!" range. Surprisingly, I actually managed to finish off an entire team of these weird-looking sporting creatures, and fully expect to have a second squad completed before the year is out.